McLean County Times

Illinois legislator laments bottleneck for 'unconstitutional' firearms card

By Robert Hadley | Sep 19, 2019

Although the bottleneck in processing Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards likely results from understaffing rather than deliberate obstruction, one area legislator faults the FOID card itself as unconstitutional.

Unsold on union benefits and politics, this school support staffer opted out

By Robert Hadley | Mar 10, 2019

Citing her impending retirement and disagreement with her union’s politics, an elementary school employee told McLean County Times that opting out of the union was an easy decision.

Elementary school teacher cites unfair treatment as reason she left union

By Robert Hadley | Mar 10, 2019

For one McLean County second-grade teacher, deciding to opt out of the union was a matter of what she considered lack of fair treatment.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Morrison, Ives urge rebuilding GOP after Rauner confesses election apathy

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

A bombshell new report that soon-to-be ex-Gov. Bruce Rauner bailed out on his reelection campaign has some Republicans fuming.

From Prairie State Wire

Rauner concedes governor's race to Pritzker

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

Incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner conceded defeat Tuesday night as Democrat J.B. Pritzker claimed the governorship of Illinois, capturing 59 percent of the vote to Rauner’s 35 percent.

McLean County reports early voting interest similar to 2014

By Robert Hadley | Oct 18, 2018

Early voting has begun across Illinois for the 2018 General Election and McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael reports no surge in interest this year versus the 2014 mid-terms.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Roskam ad exposes Casten's lobbying work

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

Democrat Sean Casten has apparently lobbied members of Congress for tax incentives and subsidies on behalf of his company, according to a new campaign ad from U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Illinois).

From Chicago City Wire

Madigan funding ensures key votes, Illinois Policy Institute reports

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

House Speaker Mike Madigan has provided a combined $15 million in funding to dozens of state representatives currently holding office, the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) reports.

From Prairie State Wire

Moving survey shows outmigration up in Illinois

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

Illinois ranks fourth nationwide in terms of outmigration, according to recent data from Stevens Worldwide Van Lines.

From Prairie State Wire

Liberty Justice Center attorney says practical, ideological reasons led to SCOTUS decision on union fees

By Robert Hadley | 6 years ago

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling this weak overturning a decades-old decision allowing unions to charge non-members for lobbying seems to belong a world away, ideologically, from the one in 1977 that said such fees were constitutional.

Regional Office of Education No. 17 improperly used grant funds to buy printers, report finds

By Robert Hadley | Apr 23, 2018

The Illinois Auditor General's office has released its financial audit of the Regional Office of Education No. 17 (ROE) for DeWitt, Livingston, Logan and McLean counties for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

Normal’s property tax hike meets thin, but strident, opposition

By Robert Hadley | Dec 27, 2017

When the Normal Town Council held a public hearing Dec. 4 to consider raising city property taxes by 6 percent, only about 10 people showed up to oppose the action, according to meeting coverage on WGLT 89.1 FM’s website.

Normal's tax levy hike expected to increase property taxes, Illinois Policy Institute says

By Robert Hadley | Dec 18, 2017

In a 2017 postscript to the ongoing battle over the state’s property taxes, the Normal Town Council voted unanimously Dec. 4 to raise the city’s property tax levy to $13 million annually, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.