Politics and Government

Son Of Ex-Transportation Chief LaHood Takes Seat In Congress

By Willis Kern • Sep 17, 2015
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The son of former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is the newest House member, replacing a disgraced former congressman in a reliably Republican district in central Illinois. Republican Darin LaHood was sworn in today, and Republicans now hold 247 of the 435 House seats, the most since 1931.

AP Exclusive: Aides Worked For Rauner, Paid By Comptroller

By Willis Kern • Sep 17, 2015

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that three people in Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration began doing work for him while on the state comptroller's payroll. Emails show that two employees were arranging hiring for the governor's Cabinet agencies just weeks after the Republican was elected.

Planning For The Town's Next Plan

By • Sep 17, 2015
Brad Basham Photography / bbasham.com and Town of Normal

The Town of Normal is following its twin to the south and developing a new comprehensive plan. The plan, when finished, will guide the Town for the next two decades. The City adopted its plan, guided by the McLean County Regional Planning Commission, earlier this year. And the Town of Normal plan won’t be adopted until late 2016, leaving plenty of time for community and citizen input.

Mayor Lining Up Alderman Sales Tax Votes

By • Sep 15, 2015
City of Bloomington

A key piece of funding that could go a long way to help solve the City of Bloomington structural deficit and help fund other initiatives is being discussed by Bloomington Aldermen. Mayor Tari Renner joined WGLT's Mike McCurdy during Sound Ideas.

Kotowski Leaves State Senate

By Jim Browne • Sep 15, 2015

State Senator Dan Kotowski says he's stepping down from the Illinois Senate next month to become president of a nonprofit group that benefits at-risk children and families. Kotowski says his last day representing the 28th District in Chicago's suburbs will be October 5. The Park Ridge Democrat has held the seat for nine years. Kotowski will be president and CEO of ChildServ, which has offices in Chicago, Elgin, Naperville and Waukegan and also does work in Chicago's southern suburbs. The nonprofit provides family support groups and youth group homes, among other services.

Prosecutors Call Aaron Shock Behavior, "Deceptive"

By Jim Browne • Sep 15, 2015

Federal prosecutors say Aaron Schock has "deceptively refused" to hand over all of the documents they've subpoenaed as part of an investigation into the former congressman. Assistant US Attorney Timothy Bass wrote documents not yet turned over include emails between Schock and congressional staffers, his campaign treasurer, his friends and sister. The Peoria Republican has turned over about 10,000 financial records. He is to make another nearly 3,000 records available by Thursday for a judge to decide if they will be given to prosecutors.

Bloomington Council Highlights Priorities At Weekend Retreat

By WGLT's Michael Hill • Sep 14, 2015
WGLT's Michael Hill

Bloomington council members are beginning to narrow down their priorities for the next fiscal year. Aldermen met with Mayor Tari Renner and city staff during a retreat over the weekend to discuss the city's goals for the future. Renner said the group is committed to working together on those goals.

"We really are beginning to know, and work, like each other and move forward and that's only good news for our great community."

Hastert Case Delayed

By • Sep 11, 2015

A federal judge has given lawyers for former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert more time to file pre-trial motions in his hush-money case. Attorneys for the Illinois Republican and federal prosecutors filed a joint motion Thursday asking for a two-week extension of Monday's filing deadline.

The two sides say they've been discussing issues Hastert's lawyers may raise. They say the extension may give them time to address those issues so the motions won't be necessary. U. S. District Court Judge Thomas Durkin granted the motion Friday without comment.

Schock Appears

By • Sep 11, 2015

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock has made a rare public appearance since resigning from his congressional seat earlier this year amid an intensifying spending scandal.  
 

Crain's Chicago Business reports the Republican attended a Navy Seal Foundation fundraiser Wednesday at a Chicago hotel with other high-profile guests. His appearance came on the eve of a special election to replace him, won by Republican State Senator Darin LaHood.  

Pres Candidate Walker Unveils 'Day One' Platform During Eureka Stop

By IPR's Cass Herrington • Sep 10, 2015

Wisconsin Republican Governor and Presidential Candidate Scott Walker stopped in Eureka to unveiled his "on day one" campaign platform at President Ronald Reagan's alma mater. IPR's Cass Herrington reports.

Walker spoke from the stage where the 40th president gave his first political speech as a college freshman. Walker likened himself to Reagan who he calls a fighter for small government and American values.

Central Illinois Republican Calling For Compromise

By Jim Browne • Sep 10, 2015

As the budget stalemate continues, Republican State Representative Bill Mitchell of Forsyth says the state needs a budget, and that means the Governor and legislators have to compromise. Mitchell isn't pointing the finger at any one party for the impasse:

Twittergate Finalized

By AP • Sep 9, 2015

The Peoria City Council has approved a $125,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a man whose home was raided by police over a fake Twitter account he created depicting the mayor as a lewd fan of drugs and alcohol. There was no discussion. When the deal was announced last week, attorneys for 30-year-old Jon Daniel of Peoria called it ``a civics lessons'' for governments around Illinois that parody isn't cause for a police investigation. The deal includes no admission that Peoria did anything wrong. Daniel has said he is satisfied with the settlement.

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