Illinois

Speak Now Against the Day in Illinois: Fracking and Coal Rush Are National Crises

by Jeff Biggers

What happens in Illinois, doesn't stay in Illinois -- especially when you're dealing with the national ramifications of a combined fracking and coal mining rush unparalleled in recent memory.

i am a Champaign county citizen and recently got a felony conviction, as I have worked in healthcare for over 30 years. Now i can't obtain a well paying job, my conviction had nothing to do with a job and i feel it was a family matter blown out of proportion because it had to deal with money i was forced to plea guilty for theft and now I'm living off of nothing my life is almost of a homeless person even tho i have a roof over my head. it is very hard for me to even pay the restitution ,because of the article printed in the news gazette after my sentence, the article caused me to loose a good job and now i have to work for a temp service, all i ask is someone to look at the laws and regulations about healthcare workers and try to help some good workers get back to work

by Thomas H. Clarke

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Senate voted Friday to  approve a bill that would allow Illinois residents with serious illnesses to use medical marijuana if their physicians recommend it.

The full  Senate voted 35-21 to approve the measure, which received approval from the full House of Representatives on April 17 and now heads to the Governor’s desk for approval.

If Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signs the bill, Illinois will become the 19th or 20th state to legalize medical marijuana in some capacity. Maryland recently passed a bill to establish a medical marijuana  program, as well.  In addition to Illinois and Maryland, 18 states plus the District of Columbia allow the medical use of marijuana.

by Gail Collins

Let's talk about what makes a delinquent state legislature. I know it’s been on your mind.

The newest political trend in New York involves corrupt state legislators attempting to curry favor with federal prosecutors by wearing wires to work. Perhaps there have been worse fads. There was a time, not long ago, when Assembly members could punch in early in the day, leave to play golf and still be recorded as voting “yes” on every single bill that hit the floor.

Officials recently revealed that a 74-year-old senator named Shirley Huntley secretly recorded assorted pols who she invited over for a chat while claiming to be laid up with a broken ankle. She was sentenced to prison for embezzlement anyway, but not before putting an entirely new spin on the concept of visiting the sick.

There was also a state assemblyman who was wired up for virtually his entire two-term career, before resigning recently to pursue a new life as a defendant in a perjury case.

Immigration. Yes. Chicago Youth Violence. Yes. Education. Yes.

On this spoken word project titled ILL POETS SOCIETY, six (6) poets from across the great state of Illinois were brought together to expound on the modern day issues facing America. The crown jewel of this project is a spoken word piece titled "Chi City Youth" by Jazmine McKinney. From the outset, she captivates audiences with her wordplay as she expresses the grief in her soul for her family, friends and community. To download the album for free, visit www.TheShow1045.com.

The film is available for checkout at local public libraries and cultural centers within the Champaign-Urbana community. This project was funded by SORF and supported in part by a City of Urbana Arts Grant.

by Toolbox for Education and Social Action

Workers at the former Republic Windows & Doors have been much celebrated in the press for their victory over Bank of America. Their story is an inspiration, and a precious victory that we will continue to cheer. True to the cooperative movement, their transition to become New Era Windows was supported by a network of allies who propelled the workers into the limelight and helped them overcome those banks that were deemed too big to fail. Theirs is a story of sharing ideas and making a joint effort at movement building, with co-op developers, unions, and the workers themselves as players.

The Great Recession has quietly devastated public services on a state-by-state basis, with Republican and Democratic governors taking turns leading the charge. Public education has been decimated, as well as health care, welfare, and the wages and benefits of public sector workers. The public sector itself is being smashed. Since the recession began, states have made combined austerity cuts of at least $337 billion, according to the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities.Seattle teachers protest budget cuts, Jan. 24, 2012