Quincy Reporter

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

By LGIS News Service | Jul 27, 2022

Adams County State’s Attorney Gary Farha, 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.

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

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

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

Quincy Schools Superintendent Webb: Enforcement of Pritzker mask mandate "not feasible for QPS"

By LGIS News Service | Feb 6, 2022

Quincy School District 172, which includes eight schools and 6,324 students, is now mask-optional.

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.

Central CUSD 3 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 Central Community Unit School District 3, 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.

Analysis: In 'pandemic' year, Adams County to see fewest deaths since 2016

By LGIS News Service | Oct 28, 2020

Adams County is on track to see a total of 967 deaths in 2020, down from 984 in 2019 and lower than the five year average of 981, according to an analysis by the Quincy Reporter.

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: Adams County retiree households could pay $3,320.47 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 13,218 retirees in Adams County could pay as much as $3,320.47 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 Quincy Reporter.

From Prairie State Wire

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

By LGIS News Service | 4 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 | 4 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 | 4 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).

From Peoria Standard

Roll Call: Tracy votes against unbalanced state budget

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy (R-47) on June 1 voted against a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

From West Central Reporter

Roll Call : Frese votes against unbalanced state budget

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

Illinois state Rep. Randy E. Frese (R-94) on May 31 voted against a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

From Peoria Standard

Roll Call: Tracy votes against allowing teachers to “spike” their pensions

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-47) on June 1 voted against a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

From West Central Reporter

Roll Call: Frese votes against allowing teachers to “spike” their pensions

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

State Rep. Randy E. Frese (R-94) on May 31 voted against a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

From Peoria Standard

Roll Call: Tracy votes against abortion rights bill

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy (R-47) on May 31 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

From West Central Reporter

Roll Call: Frese votes against abortion rights bill

By LGIS News Service | 5 years ago

Illinois state Rep. Randy E. Frese (R-94) on May 28 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

From Prairie State Wire

Springfield considering gas tax hike even though Illinois already pays among the most in U.S.

By LGIS News Service | 6 years ago

Even without the increases in the Illinois gas tax now being proposed by state lawmakers, Illinois has the 10th highest state gas taxes in the nation, according to July 2018 numbers from the Washington-based Tax Foundation.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Only 3 other states, District of Columbia have $15 minimum wage

By LGIS News Service | 6 years ago

If a current Senate bill clears the House and is signed into law, Illinois will join three other states and the District of Columbia in soon paying a minimum wage of $15 per hour.

From Chicago City Wire

Are taxes and bans the future of plastic shopping bags in Illinois?

By LGIS News Service | 6 years ago

The state legislature adjourned before taking action on Senate Bill 1597, which would require Illinois consumers to pay a 5 cent fee for every single-use paper or plastic bag, but similar proposals are being considered at the county and local levels.