Gubernatorial candidates focus on investigations in latest debate

Democratic gubernatorial challenger JB Pritzker said that his Republican opponent is accountable for health problems that occurred in the Quincy Veterans' Home. In their last televised debate, held Oct. 11 in Quincy, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic challenger JB Pritzker both said their opponent is unfit for office and that a criminal investigation hangs over the other's campaign.

Duckworth fears migrant kids at shelter are hungry and scared

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth raised concerns about an organization that cares for migrant children separated from their parents Monday, saying she worried they were hungry and stressed. Heartland Alliance runs a number of shelters in the Chicago area, primarily for unaccompanied minors -- children who arrive in the U.S. from other countries without an adult.

politicsSocialism Can Work in the Heartland a ” With a RebrandThe…

Last week, a 28-year-old socialist - who had campaigned on a call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement - defeated the chairman of the House Democratic caucus in a primary election. Republican operatives promptly salivated: For decades, GOP candidates had been leveling attacks against a fictional Nancy Pelosi, one who supported "open borders" and "collectivism."

Pulse of the Voters: Will character play a role in the fall election?

CNHI News IndianaRobert Ashley says he voted for Donald Trump in 2016, but he says it was more of a vote against Hillary Clinton than in favor of Trump. CNHI News IndianaAnnie Grayson doesn't hold back in expressing her feelings about President Donald J. Trump.

Legislation would make attack aboard train federal crime

U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and John Hoeven of North Dakota marked the anniversary of the shooting of an Amtrak conductor in suburban Chicago with the introduction of legislation that would make such an attack a federal crime. On Wednesday, the Democrat Duckworth and the Republican Hoeven introduced the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Parity Act that calls for those suspected of assaulting or intimidating rail crewmembers to be charged under federal law.

Trump’s divisive pick to run NASA wins narrow confirmation Source: AP

NASA's latest nail-biting drama was far from orbit as the Senate narrowly confirmed President Donald Trump's choice of a tea party congressman to run the space agency in an unprecedented party-line vote. In a 50-49 vote Thursday, Oklahoma Rep. James Bridenstine, a Navy Reserve pilot, was confirmed as NASA's 13th administrator, an agency that usually is kept away from partisanship.

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.

Cindy Hyde-Smith swearing in gives US Senate historic number of women

Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith was sworn in as the first female senator from Mississippi on Monday, bringing a record number of 23 women serving in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Roger Wicker, her GOP colleague from Mississippi, escorted her to the front of the Senate chamber so Vice President Mike Pence could swear her into office.

US Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan has been deported to Mexico

The deportation follows an earlier decision by US authorities to deny Miguel Perez's citizenship application because of a felony drug conviction , despite his service and the PTSD he says it caused. Perez, 39, was escorted across the US-Mexico border from Texas and handed over to Mexican authorities Friday, ICE said in a statement.

Vets use podcasts to bridge the civilian-military divide

A communications sergeant attached to a Special Forces unit, Tran was on a patrol near Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq in 2003 when he got hit. He quickly got back to work after receiving a few staples and a tetanus shot, but complications forced his medical discharge from the Army a year after returning from overseas.

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"I had my legs blown off in Iraq, and because I had my legs blown off in Iraq, people are listening to me. I'm not going to get my legs back, and that's fine, but if that gives me a platform to talk about the things that are important to me, like education and jobs, that's great."

Duckworth to become first senator to give birth in office

Sen. Tammy Duckworth will make history when she becomes the first sitting senator in history to give birth later this year, her office said Tuesday. "Bryan and I are thrilled that our family is getting a little bit bigger, and Abigail is ecstatic to welcome her baby sister home this spring," she said in a statement.

Duckworth, Saying She’s Pregnant, Would Be First Sitting Senator to Give Birth

Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, will become the first United States senator to give birth while in that office when she delivers her second child this spring, she announced on Tuesday. Ms. Duckworth, who gave birth to her daughter Abigail in November 2014 while serving in the House of Representatives, is already one of only 10 women who have given birth while serving in Congress.