Politics and Government

Illinois reform groups are calling on Governor Bruce Rauner to release details about his upcoming meeting with the legislative leaders.

The LIFE Center for Independent Living is working with Connect Transit to determine who is eligible to use Connect Mobility buses. The service provides door-to-door rides for people with disabilities, and currently allows all applicants that can provide a doctor's note for a documented disability or anyone age 65 and over.

Illinois Republican Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville (13th District) says President Obama is missing out on making economic progress by rejecting the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. That's one of the topics covered during a Sound Ideas interview with WGLT's Willis Kern.

US Representative Rodney Davis spent part of his day Tuesday touring the new crisis and detox unit at Bloomington's Chestnut Health Systems. During the tour, Chestnut Chief Operating Officer Alan Sender told the Republican times are tough.

Davis held a round table at the center, focusing on mental healthcare, and discussed a bill from Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Tim Murphy. The measure promises more beds for patients, and a tele-psych system to make up for a shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists. Davis says the mental health system is 'broken.'

The Immigration Project is marking 20 years of serving immigrants throughout central Illinois and parts of southern Illinois. To meet an increasing caseload, the group recently opened a satellite office in Champaign.

Attorney, author and justice advocate Sister Simone Campbell is best know for leading Nuns on the Bus tours across America to draw attention to the concerns of low income workers, immigrants and people with disabilities. She's known to many in McLean County too, having given the 2013 Jim and Gwen Pruyne Lecture at New Covenant Community Church in Normal.

The McLean County Health Department is revising its proposed budget for next fiscal year, after some members of the county board health committee questioned the recommended removal of nearly 50% of drug court funding. County Administrator Bill Wasson says most of the drug court funds are being restored.

The Town of Normal is continuing to pursue an underpass under railroad tracks that bisect the Uptown area. In this excerpt of a Sound Ideas interview, Mayor Chris Koos told WGLT's Mike McCurdy that state and federal dollars remain in place to help pay for the project and federal officials have communicated that the project could be ideal for a future Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application.

The Town of Normal is preparing a property tax levy, which will be brought before council members next month.

Republican Governor Bruce Rauner made a pitch for his budget vision at a McLean County Chamber of Commerce event at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. That vision does not apparently include members of unions, who were stopped by city police before they could enter the theater. Rauner, who came into office preaching an anti-union message, now says he's no longer pushing for state "Right to Work" legislation.

Connect Transit is looking at other options after being turned down for a federal TIGER Grant for a Downtown Bloomington transfer station. The grant would have replaced small shelters now on Front Street. Connect Transit General Manager Andrew Johnson says he's not discouraged.

The McLean County Health Department wants to shift money away from drug court treatment and to other programs. Next year's proposed budget reduces county funding for drug court by $100,000 at a time when the county just asked for and received mental health funding from increased sales taxes in Bloomington and Normal. Health Department Director Walt Howe says changes in federal programs can replace the money because single men are now eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid.

The Bloomington City Council remains reluctant to change city policies for sick leave buyback. Aldermen voted in favor of a resolution to have staff look into the issue further, but have not made any adjustments to the rules that are currently in place for grandfathered employees.