Jim Dey: “Redistricting is inherently political, each party vying to draw the most advantageous maps possible. Democratic super-majorities in Springfield provided them a free hand — absent legal problems — to feather their own political nests. It’s an ugly process that reveals that it’s a rare politician who doesn’t put his interests first.”

Since the original launch on Aug. 11, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says only 141,889 people have signed up for Vax Verify, an online portal that provides public access to the Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange (I-CARE).

Nurse-midwives who have dual certification can supervise births in Illinois, but the practice of midwifery within the state has been illegal since 1992. State Sen. Cristina Castro said after the bill becomes law, she wants to look into getting midwife services covered under Medicaid.

In Goshen, IN, as an example, the owner of a $225,000 home pays $2,375 in real-estate taxes. In B-N, it is more than twice that, at $5,153.

Rep. Steve Stadelman (D-Loves Park): “I think there needs to be a serious, open and frank discussion on the future of local news and how its future will affect government. As people rely less on traditional news organizations, we’ve seen a rise in media outlets that push a political agenda.”