Years of population decline mean that Illinois will lose one of its 18 United States House of Representative seats for the next decade. Illinois’ population, as determined by the 2020 decennial census, dropped in the past decade from 12,830,632, to 12,812,508. That’s a loss of 18,124 between the 2010 and 2020 census. And not surprisingly many of the factors that
A Southern Illinois Judge has ruled Illinois’ FOID card law unconstitutional, paving the way for the Illinois Supreme Court to take up the issue. The case is The People of Illinois vs. Vivian Claudine Brown. Four years ago, Brown was accused of possessing a firearm without a FOID card. On April 27, Judge T. Scott Webb dismissed the charges against
With the start of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) statewide road construction season, April 26-30 has been designated as “Work Zone Safety Awareness Week” in Illinois. In 2019, 842 people were killed and 39,100 injured in work zone crashes nationally. Illinois averages 6,400 crashes in work zones each year, resulting in 1,700 injuries and 34 deaths. More than 9
On April 26, 39 new State Police Troopers reported to patrol districts throughout the state to begin their patrol duties, joining veteran Troopers in the effort to safeguard the public and Illinois roadways. The Troopers of Cadet Class 132 were commissioned at a graduation ceremony April 23 at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly
Thousands of new bills are filed every year by lawmakers in Springfield. Some of them feature popular, widely-accepted ideas to make the state better, while others seem a little more out of left field. Every week, the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus is highlighting legislation that is outlandish, not very well thought out, or just plain bad for the people of
Syverson sponsors People’s Independent Maps Act Aims to restore public trust in Illinois’ redistricting process Seeking to address Illinois’ longstanding history of gerrymandering, State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is sponsoring legislation that would remove politicians from Illinois’ redistricting process. Senate Bill 1325, otherwise known as the People’s Independent Maps Act, would change the redistricting process so that a 16-member Independent
Thousands of new bills are filed every year by lawmakers in Springfield. Some of them feature popular, widely accepted ideas to make the state better, while others seem a little more out of left field. Every week, the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus is highlighting a few of the bills that are outlandish, not very well thought out, or just plain
On March 30, Republican legislative leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives came together to introduce the People’s Independent Maps Act, a proposal to allow Illinois legislative redistricting maps to be determined by an independent commission. The state’s current system of drawing legislative maps gives current officeholders the power to draw district lines, allowing partisan politics to influence
On March 24, it was announced that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers gave approval to move forward with the Ho-Chunk Nation casino, hotel, convention center and water park resort located just miles from Rockford in Beloit, Wisconsin. After the announcement, State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), who has championed the development of the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, expressed his frustration with
The Illinois Senate and House Redistricting committees began this week to hold the first of many hearings as the once-a-decade remap process gets underway. Every 10 years, following the decennial U.S. census, lawmakers are required to update legislative and congressional districts to match changes and shifts in population. Historically, Illinois has a notorious reputation for partisan, “gerrymandered” district maps. The
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