January, 2017 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

ILA: Hutchinson amendment threatens people's right to safety

By Kankakee Times | Jan 31, 2017

If an amendment recently introduced in Springfield by state Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) passes muster, Illinois dwellers could face what the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) considers taxation of citizens’ Second Amendment rights.

Bourbonnais Public Library District Board of Trustees to continue discussion on legal counsel options

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 31, 2017

Bourbonnais Public Library District Board of Trustees decides to continue discussion on legal counsel options at its recent meeting.

Manteno Police Pension Board reviews RFPs from vendors

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 31, 2017

Manteno Police Pension Board reviews RFPs from vendors at its meeting yesterday.

Kankakee School District No. 111 Board approves workers comp insurance

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 31, 2017

Kankakee School District No. 111 Board approves workers comp insurance at a recent meeting.

Grant Park Community Unit School District No. 6 Board adopts 2016 tax levy

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 31, 2017

Grant Park Community Unit School District No. 6 Board adopts 2016 tax levy at a recent meeting.

Parkhurst sponsors effort to deliver valentines to veterans

By Carol Ostrow | Jan 30, 2017

State Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) recently urged friends and constituents to participate in an effort to send valentines to local veterans in a posting on her Facebook page.

IGNN releases state's charity, community service numbers for 2016

By Kankakee Times | Jan 30, 2017

Illinois residents donated millions to charity in 2016 and contributed millions of hours of community service valued at more than $7 billion, according to the Illinois Government News Network.

Kankakee County faces challenging financial figures

By Carol Ostrow | Jan 30, 2017

In a regularly scheduled morning meeting on Jan. 25, the Kankakee County board's finance committee came to confront the county’s overall fiscal scenario, acknowledging weak spots in the jurisdiction’s financial fabric during its session.

State responds to over 140 child trafficking charges in 2016

By Kankakee Times | Jan 30, 2017

The United States is considered one of the top destination points for child trafficking with cases reported in all 50 states, including 143 investigated calls to the hotline for allegations of human trafficking in 2016 by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

Protests greet Madigan's controversial re-election as House speaker

By Kankakee Times | Jan 30, 2017

In one of the first votes by the newly sworn-in Illinois House, long-serving House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) was re-elected to a 17th term in that seat.

New House GOP Conference chair says voters have mandated reform

By Kankakee Times | Jan 30, 2017

GOP legislators in Springfield received their marching orders in November's general election to keep pushing for reform, the newly named House Republican Conference chairman said during a recent interview.

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Plan to recycle sand from Kankakee River flooding surfaces at conference

By Carol Ostrow | Jan 30, 2017

A plan to recycle sand deposits left by 2015’s Kankakee River flooding was among several ideas slated for discussion at the recent Kankakee River Watershed Conference at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.

Condon to speak on Illinois Civics Academy for Teachers

By Keri Carbaugh | Jan 29, 2017

Dr. Kristine Condon will speak on the launch of the Illinois Civics Academy for Teachers at Kankakee Community College (KCC) at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Feb. 8.

Some AFSCME members disapprove of union's negotiating tactics

By Kankakee Times | Jan 27, 2017

Not all Illinois public employees who are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) are gung-ho and in lockstep with the government-worker union's negotiating tactics.

River Valley Metro Mass Transit District Board of Trustees acts on expense reimbursement ordinance

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 27, 2017

River Valley Metro Mass Transit District Board of Trustees acts on expense reimbursement ordinance at its meeting this week.

Bourbonnais Township Park District votes on mitigation plan for Willowhaven Park and Nature Center

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 27, 2017

Bourbonnais Township Park District votes on mitigation plan for Willowhaven Park and Nature Center at its meeting this week.

Kankakee County Executive Committee votes on appointments to various county boards

By Jenie Mallari-Torres | Jan 27, 2017

Kankakee County Executive Committee votes on appointments to various county boards at its meeting earlier this week.

Momence City Council approves promotion in street and alley department

By Lhalie Castillo | Jan 27, 2017

Momence City Council approves promotion in street and alley department at a recent meeting.

Dropping home values, high property taxes push Illinois toward financial cliff, analyst says

By Kankakee Times | Jan 27, 2017

Illinois residents burdened with falling home values and high property taxes are headed toward a cliff if Springfield doesn't do something soon to pull the state back from the precipice, a financial analyst said.