Embrace values of civility, community, Ray LaHood tells ICC graduates

That was the message Ray LaHood brought to the graduating class of Illinois Central College on Saturday morning during commencement ceremonies at the Peoria Civic Center. "Men and women, singly or as part of larger families, living their lives in decency and love, working hard, being honest, quietly attending to their duties, are the very cornerstone of community life," the former congressman and Cabinet official - himself a former community college student - told the assembled crowd.

Illinois seeks talks on keeping Asian carp from Great Lakes

Illinois has proposed negotiations with federal officials and other states in the Great Lakes region over fortifying a Chicago-area lock and dam to prevent Asian carp from invading Lake Michigan and threatening its native fish. Gov. Bruce Rauner said his state was willing to team with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on paying for the project but wanted changes to a $275 million draft plan the federal agency released last year.

Ives, McSweeney Endorse Shaw For ILGOP Chairman

Sunday, State Representative and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives joined State Representative David McSweeney in announcing their endorsement of Committeeman Mark Shaw for Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party over incumbent ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider. The split between the two candidates is lining up to be similar to the one the Illinois Republican Party showed in the Illinois Republican Primary Election earlier this year.

Religious and LGBT groups clash in 2 states over adoption

Republican legislators in Kansas tried Thursday to break a political stalemate over a proposal to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes. House and Senate negotiators drafted a new version of a bill that would prevent the state from barring agencies from providing foster care or adoption services if they refuse to place children in homes violating their "sincerely held" religious beliefs.

Don’t get mad, get even

State Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, who last week announced he's running a third-party campaign for governor, said Thursday that he is being denied regular services provided by Senate staff, and he may file a lawsuit to fight that denial on his constituents' behalf. "It's totally unconstitutional," McCann said.

Dem Rep signs on as chief-co of anti-prog tax rez

Calls to protect Illinoisans from a progressive income tax are now coming from both sides of the aisle in Springfield. State Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Smithton, signed on as chief co-sponsor to House Resolution 891 on April 27. The resolution was filed in March by state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and states that Illinois should not scrap its constitutionally protected flat income tax.

Don’t forget about independent expenditures

Analysis of pre-primary campaign finance reports for 45 candidates in 15 state house races in 14 state legislative districts shows that 86 percent of money raised came from donors giving $1,000 or more, while only 5 percent came from donors giving less than $150. The selection of races was chosen for its geographic diversity, includes both Republican & Democratic primary contests, as well as races with and without incumbents.

Illinois Democrats’ plan to override gun dealer veto fizzles

President Pro Tempore of the Senate Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park, seated, presides over the Illinois Senate Wednesday, April 25, 2018, next to Senate Parliamentaran Giovanni Randazzo at Illinois State House in Springfield, Ill. Harmon is sponsor of legislation to require state licensing of firearms dealers, which was vetoed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

House Democrats talk to Cambridge Analytica whistleblower

WASHINGTON>> House Democrats, frustrated by what they see as GOP inaction and with an eye on midterm elections, held the first of what they hope to be several interviews today with witnesses who have not been interrogated in the Republican-led Russia investigations. Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees interviewed former Cambridge Analytica employee Christopher Wylie, who revealed that a data-mining firm affiliated with President Donald Trump's campaign gathered millions of Facebook profiles to influence elections.

Kellyanne Conway goes off on CNN’s Dana Bash for asking about…

Mitt Romney fails to secure Utah GOP nomination, will face primary - West Valley, Utah Mitt Romney did not win the Utah Republican Party's nomination on Saturday, meaning he must compete in a June primary election as he seeks to replace retiring US Sen. Orrin Hatch. Romney forced into GOP primary for Utah Senate nomination - Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney - failed to secure the Utah Republican Party's nomination for Senate on Saturday, triggering a June primary.

Appeals court upholds national injunction against targeting ‘sanctuary cities’

A federal appeals court in Illinois upheld a nationwide injunction Thursday that blocks the Trump administration from withholding federal money to hundreds of "sanctuary cities" in the United States. The grant money, which comes from a program called the Byrne JAG, is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local governments.

Durbin, Duckworth announce $5 million in DOT funding to repair Illinois roads damaged by flooding

WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth today announced $5,004,113 in grant funding to repair roads and infrastructure across Illinois damaged by flooding and severe weather. The funding which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief and Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads programs will support reconstruction and repair efforts in nine Illinois counties.

Illinois county votes to become ‘sanctuary county’ for gun owners

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said they decided to "flip the script" and "make this a sanctuary county like they would for undocumented immigrants." Illinois county votes to become 'sanctuary county' for gun owners Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said they decided to "flip the script" and "make this a sanctuary county like they would for undocumented immigrants."

The Latest: Court hears arguments in Aaron Schock appeal

A lawyer for former Republican Rep. Aaron Schock says prosecutors are aiming to be the first to imprison a former member of Congress over ambiguous rules the U.S. House set for itself. Attorney Benjamin Hatch made the arguments Wednesday before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago as he seeks the dismissal of the corruption case against the former Illinois congressman Schock, who is charged with misusing government and campaign funds.

Patti Blagojevich takes to Fox News to press her husband’s case

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will not hear former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appeal, marking the end of a decadelong legal road and virtually guaranteeing he will remain in prison until 2024 barring a presidential pardon or commutation. A Monday statement from Patti Blagojevich says she understands "the judiciary" is "no longer an option" for winning her 61-year-old husband's release.