State News

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE REMOVES OVER 1.25 TONS OF ILLEGAL DRUGS FROM ILLINOIS ROADWAYS

Friday, January 19 by Jc Tinsley

Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Leo. P. Schmitz announces that ISP criminal patrol operations were successful during 2017. Criminal patrol operations are aimed at safeguarding the public by increasing highway safety and reducing criminal activity on Illinois Interstate highways. During...

Severin Announces Grant Money for Local Public Schools

Thursday, January 18 by Jc Tinsley

On Friday, State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) announced that the following school districts will be receiving grant money from the Secretary of State’s School Library Grant Program.Benton CHSD #103 will receive $750, Benton CCSD #47 $819, Carterville CUSD #5 $1,571.25, Christopher Unit School District...

Shimkus Kicks Off Annual Valentines for Heroes Program

Monday, January 15 by Jc Tinsley

Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) is once again asking constituents to participate in his annual “Valentines for Heroes” program. The congressman’s district offices will collect valentines for distribution throughout the region to veterans and those currently serving in the military.“Thousands of...

Illinois Bicentennial Office and Illinois Humanities Announce Historical Road Scholars Speaker Bureau

Monday, January 15 by Jc Tinsley

The Governor’s Office of the Illinois Bicentennial and Illinois Humanities today announced a yearlong partnership: The Bicentennial Road Scholars Speakers Bureau. The announcement was made at the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities in Edwardsville.This year’s edition of Illinois Humanities’ popular...

Illinois Department of Insurance Takes Claims to Federal Appellate Court on Behalf of Former Land of Lincoln Policy Holders

Thursday, January 11 by Jc Tinsley

Jennifer Hammer, the Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), has asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C. to require the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to honor its statutory and contractual obligations...

National Delegates Adopt IFB Policy Recommendations

Thursday, January 11 by Jc Tinsley

Voting delegates of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), including 21 from Illinois, addressed several of Illinois Farm Bureau’s (IFB) priority issues during the 2018 AFBF Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Nashville Jan. 5-10.Policy Debate“Our delegates successfully introduced several submittals on farm...

Reis Says IL Spent $396 Million on Illegal Immigrants

Thursday, January 11 by Jc Tinsley

A new state audit revealed that Illinois has spent $396 million on taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants.According to audit findings released last month by the Illinois Auditor General, the State of Illinois spent $38.2 million on the Expanded ALL KIDS...

Director Hammer Answers Questions on Mental Health Parity in New Video

Wednesday, January 10 by Jc Tinsley

The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) has released a public service announcement aimed at answering questions about mental health parity. The video addresses parity, substance abuse reatment and how to get assistance if you believe your insurance company has unfairly denied you coverage.“Here at...

Governor signs Senate Bill 1607

Tuesday, January 9 by Jc Tinsley

Illinois takes another step toward reducing recidivism with the governor’s signing today of Senate Bill 1607, which makes corrections to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act (Public Act 99-0938).A drafting error in Public Act 99-0938 foiled the...

Governor to lawmakers: Amend SB 444 to increase Invest in Kids eligibility

Tuesday, January 9 by Jc Tinsley

Gov. Bruce Rauner sent Senate Bill 444 back to the General Assembly today, stating in a veto message that efforts to correct for errors and unintended consequences in last summer’s historic school funding reform law did not go far...