Bree Gonzales Stories | Kankakee Times

Bradley restaurant owner: 'One man who stood with us to challenge the governor’s authority to shut us down: Tom DeVore'

By Bree Gonzales | Oct 13, 2022

Tom Spellman, owner of The Hoppy Pig Restaurant in Bradley, is drumming up support for Tom DeVore's candidacy for Attorney General among restaurant owners and small business owners across the state.

Rowe files suit over constitutionality of SAFE-T Act's no-cash bail provision

By Bree Gonzales | Sep 21, 2022

Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe recently filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn – on constitutional grounds – the criminal justice reform SAFE-T Act.

Bailey: 'Under JB’s watch, the Kankakee Metro area lost 3,399 jobs'

By Bree Gonzales | Aug 10, 2022

Republican candidate for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has called out Gov. J.B. Pritzker over jobs lost in the state.

Nagel: ‘And the general begins ... Nagel vs. Joyce’

By Bree Gonzales | Jul 1, 2022

Phillip Nagel has won the GOP primary for the 40th State Senate District.

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Butler attends American Cancer Society Relay For Life event in Kankakee County

By Bree Gonzales | Jun 7, 2022

Democrat candidate for the First Congressional District Chris Butler attended the Relay for Life of Kankakee County Business Before Hours event.

Bailey's family releases update: 'He understands what he has been through, and how much hard work is ahead of him'

By Bree Gonzales | Apr 1, 2022

The Bradley Police Department has issued an update from the family of Officer Tyler Bailey, who suffered a gunshot wound at the same time his partner Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was killed.

Congresswoman Kelly should ‘immediately donate ALL FUNDS they have received from Madigan while in office’: Ramos

By Bree Gonzales | Mar 5, 2022

Congressional candidate Ashley Ramos is asking for more to fall, including her opponent, after former Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan’s indictment.

Barickman to Pritzker: 'Do the right thing and help the people of Illinois believe again in our state government'

By Bree Gonzales | Jul 14, 2021

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) recently took the Senate floor to call on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to live up to his campaign promise to veto partisan-drawn legislative maps.

Bennett: 'I ask Gov. Pritzker to help our small businesses'

By Bree Gonzales | Jun 23, 2021

With Illinois returning to Phase 5, Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) requested Gov. J.B. Pritzker to follow the lead of other states that are assisting small businesses come back after pandemic shutdowns.

Barickman: 'The governor could’ve used his amendatory veto and struck those pay raises right out of here'

By Bree Gonzales | Jun 22, 2021

Disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not remove the salary increases for lawmakers in the omnibus appropriation bill for the fiscal year 2022, state Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) was consistent in opposing Senate Bill 2800.

Barickman: Democratic-drawn maps 'maintain their grip on power'

By Bree Gonzales | Jun 7, 2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the Republicans did not act on an independent redistricting commission. But Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), lead Republican on the Senate Redistricting Committee, before the governor approved the maps, urged for an independent redistricting commission.

Barickman: 'Let’s stop with the games and politics'

By Bree Gonzales | Jun 4, 2021

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) called out lawmakers to stop playing politics, as he commented on Senate President Don Harmon’s (D-Oak Park) bill, SB 2800.

Barickman: 'What we've seen thus far has been anti-democratic and anti-American'

By Bree Gonzales | May 29, 2021

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) questioned the Democrats' process in creating their recently released legislative maps, which he dubbed anti-democratic.

Barickman discusses constitutional deadline with redistricting hearing witness

By Bree Gonzales | May 18, 2021

Minority Spokesman for the Senate Committee on Redistricting Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) discussed with a witness her point of view on the constitutional deadline.

Barickman: Emergency housing assistance bill does not prioritize 'renters who have been impacted by COVID'

By Bree Gonzales | May 10, 2021

As House Bill 2877, the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act, is headed to Gov. Pritzker's desk, many Republicans, including Sen. Jason Barickman, expressed objections that it won't really benefit the right people needing help.

Pritzker-appointee testifies as resident, public health professional

By Bree Gonzales | May 9, 2021

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) questioned a Pritzker-appointee witness who expressed a desire to keep districts the same.

Redistricting hearing witness Austin: 'I do not want to change the boundaries'

By Bree Gonzales | May 7, 2021

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) was confused when a witness admitted to opposing redistricting.

Barickman: 'I stand in opposition' to Labor Relations bill

By Bree Gonzales | May 5, 2021

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) justified his opposition to the recently passed Senate Bill 525 authored by Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) amending the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

Barickman wants 'citizens drawing maps, not politicians' when it comes to redistricting this time in Illinois

By Bree Gonzales | Apr 3, 2021

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), a member of the Senate Redistricting Committee, recently participated in a hearing where he raised concerns about what data will be used.

Haas: Health care reform bill comes at 'such great cost'

By Bree Gonzales | Mar 19, 2021

House Bill 158, a healthcare reform bill, looks too costly to state Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee).

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