Kankakee Times

Aqua Illinois helps customers with bill payments

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 12, 2021

Aqua Illinois gave nearly $800,000 to help with bill payment for COVID-19 hardships.

Kankakee School Board expects $6 million deficit in 2021 budget

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 8, 2020

The Kankakee School Board passed a fiscal year 2021 budget for the district last week.

Kankakee employs new technology to quickly identify locations of gun violence

By Kyla Asbury | Sep 28, 2020

In an effort to reduce gun violence in the city, Kankakee's police department will make use of a $48,000 grant for a ShotSpotter system.

From Prairie State Wire

Republican lawmakers disappointed in governor's budget proposal

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Illinois Republicans were disappointed after hearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal last week

From Prairie State Wire

Bipartisan group of lawmakers, fair-mapping advocates speak out against gerrymandering

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

A bipartisan group of legislators and policy watchdogs met Thursday to discuss their commitment to bringing fair district mapping to state and local politics throughout Illinois.

From Prairie State Wire

Republican leaders would have liked more from Pritzker's speech, but will run with 'spirit of collaboration'

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

While House and Senate Republicans were critical of many aspects of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's State of the State address on Wednesday, most remain hopeful that he was sincere about bringing about a spirit of bipartisan collaboration.

Pritzker's State of the State failed to address most pressing issues, Sen. Barickman says

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 1, 2020

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) wants fair maps to be a focus for this year's legislative agenda, but was disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not discuss the idea during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

Parkhurst urges reform, not graduated tax rates

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 1, 2019

House Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) said Illinois needs reform, not a new tax system.

Bennett on graduated income tax structure: 'Stop digging,' bring people back to Illinois

By Kyla Asbury | May 31, 2019

House Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Watseka) said Monday that Illinois has dropped in population because it already has such a high tax burden, and the graduated income tax structure would make that even worse.

Bill to amend Worker's Compensation Act passes despite opposition from Barickman

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 11, 2019

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) spoke out in opposition of a bill that changes how certain workers' compensation claims are recovered in Illinois.

From Prairie State Wire

Bill changing sunset on privatization of water systems passes House

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

A bill that changes the sunset date on previous legislation that involves the privatization of public water systems has passed in the Illinois House of Representatives.

From Peoria Standard

Republicans blast proposed Pritzker tax hike

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

Proposed tax hikes by gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker could not come at worse time for the state, Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) said at a recent news conference on Pritzker's proposed tax hikes

From Prairie State Wire

Janus ruling changes union enrollment process

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

A recent Supreme Court ruling reverses the way public employees now join unions.

From Prairie State Wire

Supreme Court's ruling means public sector employees now must opt into unions

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

After the landmark decision in Janus v. AFSCME today, public sector employees no longer are required to opt out of unions they don't wish to participate in, but now must opt-in to become members.

From Prairie State Wire

Founder of Liberty Justice Center Hughes lauds Supreme Court's union decision

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

The attorney for Mark Janus said a recent U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Janus vs. ASCME case is a giant win for constitutional freedoms and public sector employees nationwide.