By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News Life Center for Independent Living is planning on keeping its doors open, even while its budget is waiting for state funding. Associate Director Jill Doran was a guest on a recent community forum and said they will do everything they can to keep services, like independent living skills training, community education…… MORE
The Illinois Yellow Dot Program made an appearance at the Illinois State Fair, with a chance for new participants to sign up. The program was launched in 2011. Participants place a yellow sticker on the lower left corner of the driver’s side rear window and fill out a card, which is kept in the glove…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News The battle between Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner will be playing out through T.V. ads this week. The ads, purchased by Rauner’s campaign committee, began airing yesterday across the state, specifically targeting House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), who is the House majority leader, doesn’t…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News As Illinois’ 2010 construction program comes to an end, state spending on roads and transit will drop from $1.1 billion this year to $352 million next year. According to the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, at least $1.8 billion dollars is needed every year. This past spring, Governor Bruce Rauner, along with…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News A couple of bills await action by Governor Bruce Rauner addressing health care. The first bill would require doctors to provide a hepatitis C screening for patients who are baby boomers born between 1945 to 1965. Hepatitis C is a liver disease whose symptoms don’t appear until the patient is very…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News An Illinois congressman says Illinois is getting the short end of the stick at both ends from the federal government. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Naperville) says Illinois has and continues to pay higher taxes due to our high incomes. However, the state gets less in federal spending because of funding formulas…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News Five-thousand volunteers in Oregon are participating in this new tax where drivers are charged based on how many miles they drive instead of how many gallons of fuel they buy. Oregon will be the first state beginning July 1st to actually attempt it. Michelle Godfrey, spokeswoman for Oregon’s Road Usage…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News PEORIA – The Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum opened Friday, welcoming 300 visitors. It features six interactive exhibits where parents and grandparents can watch while their children explore. Museum director Rebecc,a Shulman Herz, said children need opportunities and inspiration to become “anything they want to be.” The museum’s backers include the Junior…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News With no music, theater, or foreign language, the schools in Sandoval, Ill., don’t offer kids much to put on a college resume. Kade Gambill, 17, defies that. The junior is the school board’s first student member and he tried to rally support for a new school funding bill in Springfield. He…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News These steps reintroduce programs which were briefly cut off by the so-called Good Friday cuts earlier this year, such as the state’s Tobacco Quitline and immigrant services programs. Gov. Bruce Rauner insists a partial shutdown of state government is not the goal of his standoffs with Democratic lawmakers and labor unions.…… MORE
