McLean County Times

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Knapp to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Aug 1, 2022

McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp, a Republican, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Yedinak to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Jul 27, 2022

Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak, a Republican, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

McLean County school districts divided on conforming to state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Eight school districts in McLean County are divided on conforming to Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Livingston County school districts opting out of state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Seven school districts in Livingston County are opting out of Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Report: Kinzinger donated to GoFundMe for "Jan 6" killer Michael Byrd

By LGIS News Service | Jun 11, 2022

The husband of a woman shot and killed by U.S. Capitol security guard Michael Byrd says Jan. 6 commission member U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger donated to Byrd's GoFundMe page and bragged about the donation on social media.

Kinzinger slammed after calling for Ukraine "no fly zone," U.S. "declaring war on Russia"

By LGIS News Service | Feb 27, 2022

Bloomington native and U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)'s call for a U.S. military-enforced no-fly zone has drawn stern criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike as well as world leaders who claim it would be akin to the "United States declaring war on Russia.”

ISU campus minister Grizzard: White McLean County Republicans who oppose “racial justice… worse than the KKK”

By LGIS News Service | Feb 22, 2022

Illinois State University Campus Minister Phil Grizzard of Normal says white Republicans who oppose policies he says will lead to “racial justice” are “worse than the KKK.”

Rep. Brady opposed removing protections for COVID-19 vaccine foes

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2021

Rep. Dan Brady (R-Normal) voted against legislation that would remove legal protections now available to opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates through Illinois’ Health Care Right of Conscience Act.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ non-teaching public employee jobs down 6.9% in wake of pandemic

By LGIS News Service | 3 years ago

The size of Illinois’ combined local and state government workforces declined 6.9% from July 2019 to July 2021, representing the fifth largest gap in public-employee job recovery during the pandemic, a Pew Charitable Trusts study concluded.

Flanagan-Cornell Unit 74 among 47 districts facing discipline after defying governor’s school mask mandate

By LGIS News Service | Sep 4, 2021

Nearly 50 public school districts, including Flanagan-Cornell Unit 75, have been placed on probation by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for defying Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently reissued mask mandate, according to an LGIS News Service tally.

Cornell CCSD 426 among 47 districts facing discipline after defying governor’s school mask mandate

By LGIS News Service | Sep 3, 2021

Nearly 50 public school districts, including Cornell Community Consolidated School District 426, have been placed on probation by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for defying Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently reissued mask mandate, according to an LGIS News Service tally.

From Prairie State Wire

Top marginal tax rate in Illinois could reach 54.29% under Biden plan

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

Under Democrat Joe Biden’s federal tax plan, the top marginal tax rate in Illinois could hit 54.29 percent, according to a new analysis by the Tax Foundation.

Analysis: Livingston County retiree households could pay $3,897.17 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 6,844 retirees in Livingston County could pay as much as $3,897.17 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the McLean County Times.

Analysis: McLean County retiree households could pay $4,657.07 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 22,640 retirees in McLean County could pay as much as $4,657.07 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the McLean County Times.

Covid-19 cases in McLean County nursing homes number only 2, with zero deaths

By LGIS News Service | Apr 23, 2020

Coronavirus cases among McLean County nursing home residents numbered only two as of April 21, none of whom died as a result of the virus, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

From Prairie State Wire

Hundreds of ICU beds, nearly 2,000 ventilators not in use in Illinois, tally shows

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

Close to 60% of the Illinois’ ventilators and nearly 30% of the state’s intensive care unit beds remain available to treat COVID-19 patients, according to hospital utilization numbers reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

From Chicago City Wire

EXCLUSIVE: Confirmed flu cases in Chicago continue to drop as COVID-19 cases keep climbing

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

The number of influenza cases in Chicago has been plummeting in recent weeks, with no flu-related intensive care unit hospitalizations reported during the week ending April 4, the Chicago Department of Public Health reports.

From Prairie State Wire

175 Illinois nursing homes rated ‘much below average’ in federal database

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

The number of Illinois nursing homes ranked “much below average” now numbers 175, according to a database managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Yednock refuses to disavow Sandoval’s role in mock Trump assassination pics

By LGIS News Service | Aug 29, 2019

Rep. Lance Yednock (D-76) refused to join the call for state Sen. Martin Sandoval to step down over photos taken at a recent fundraiser for the Chicago Democrat showed guests pointing a gun at President Trump.

Roll Call: Brady votes against legalizing recreational marijuana

By LGIS News Service | Aug 9, 2019

State Rep. Dan Brady (R-105) on May 31 voted against legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois.