Government

John Walker: When it comes to public safety in our community there is nothing that I will let stand in the way and that includes money

Kouame Sanan: In my opinion, staffing the city for first responders is necessary, and I believe it is adequate because it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Linh Nguyen: More can always be done to ease taxpayer burdens. Our airport is a tremendous opportunity that is underutilized.

Cohen Barnes: One of the key ways we will continue to ease taxpayer burdens is by attracting more retail businesses and restaurants to DeKalb

Katie Heiden on a top issue for District 308: If certain types of federal funding dissolves, how that will affect our programs and resources at district 308

Brandi Robinson: Improving reading and English proficiency, as well as state test scores in Oswego Community Unit School District 308 (or any district), requires a multi-faceted approach

Heather Martin: The district can improve reading scores by evaluating and strengthening the reading curricula across the district so that teachers have ample resources and support

Erika Sieh: I would like to see the district bring back the literacy specialists that had to be eliminated several years ago due to budget cuts

Wayne Jett on his top priority for McHenry: Responsible development to meet the growing needs of our residents. It’s important to follow the comp plan while also making sure we’re not putting a large burden on our other taxing bodies in the process

Christine Bassi, candidate for McHenry Mayor: The City should be dictating to developers what the residents want, not allowing corporate landlords who overwhelming do not live in the community they develop to tell us what they think we need.

Kenneth Willis on a project Morris should tackle in the future: Repairing streets and sidewalks and alleys where needed

Matt Eber: In my opinion the top three issues facing the school now is the facilities, increasing proficiency of the students, and continuing to enhance the course offerings and opportunities for all our students

Genevra Walters on a top priority for Kankakee: Community policing is a strategy that emphasizes building ties and working closely with members of the community to enhance public safety and trust in law enforcement

Christopher Curtis on a top priority for Kankakee: Public Safety: This was the number 1 priority 4 years ago and will always remain the top priority. We will continue on the same path as the past 3 years, as it has been effective

A former DeKalb police chief has a new gig in the city.

Colton Otto: We should actively support local businesses by streamlining permits, ensuring business-friendly zoning and eliminating unnecessary regulations.

Rovel Pollock: Improving student achievement starts with recognizing strengths and celebrating progress while addressing areas for growth

Todd Latham on a top priority for Sandwich: Infrastructure: Streets, Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer by applying for Federal and State grants with local matching funds or obtaining low interest rate loans

Candidates are on ballot for April 1 consolidated election.

Gregory Klemstein: Our current reliance on individual septic systems for businesses and residences (properties under one acre) inhibits our growth

Carolyn Waibel: The facts are we do not have any specific ecological data to prove the removal of the dam is necessary for the betterment of the health of the Fox River and its ecosystem

Is keeping the dam important to you? Why? Vicki Spellman: Keeping the dam is important to me and many residents in my ward and throughout St. Charles.

Beth Foreman: As a village of only 6,300 residents, the challenge is to attract businesses to provide services to a relatively small community.

Keith Von Allmen: Lowering the tax burden on residents and businesses is important for maintaining a strong and thriving community

Josh Hagen on a top priority for Johnsburg: The village needs to work with these businesses to build up and thrive, instead of constantly throwing roadblocks and unnecessary regulations in their way

JD Sylvanus: Workforce housing is a critical need in our community, and it must be developed thoughtfully and proactively, based on real demand, not as a reactive solution

Steve Dixon: I believe we are experiencing a trend towards multi-family housing because there is a lack of it in the area

As the cost of housing continues to rise, Illinois realtors are pushing legislation to make it easier for first-time homebuyers to save for a down payment

Two northern Illinois Republican lawmakers addressed constituent questions this week largely focused on fiscal spending after Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker unveiled plans for a $55.2 billion state budget.

State representative also wants to allow special deer, turkey, combination hunting licenses for landowners with at least 20 acres in counties where CWD has been identified.

An appellate court on Friday ruled in favor of Cesar Guerrero on whether he will appear on the ballot for Joliet Township supervisor. Now, Guerrero is seeking damages in a civil rights complaint.

Public transportation reform in the Chicago area is at the top of state lawmakers’ to-do list this spring, but exactly what that reform will look like remains unclear

See when State Sen. Li Arellano Jr.'s mobile constituent services will be visiting your town.

Plans to redevelop two downtown DeKalb buildings – the former Eduardo’s Restaurant and McCabe’s – became one step closer to reality this week after the City Council approved two TIF loans.

A key price gauge declined last month, a sign that inflation may be cooling though stiff tariffs threatened by the White House threaten that progress

A candidate for mayor voiced some concerns this week for newly approved bus route changes in DeKalb. The changes, which city staff said were meant to address safety, ridership numbers and route efficiency, take effect March 9.

To accommodate the demand for REAL IDs, the Illinois Secretary of State has increased the number of daily appointments at the appointment-only licensing facilities in Chicago area.

Tom Connelly: My top three priorities for Batavia are: (1) development and economic growth, (2) fiscal responsibility, and (3) strengthening our sense of community

Illinois is highly dependent on oil and gas from Canada, meaning consumers could be in line for higher energy and gas prices due to tariffs. About 72% of Illinois’ imports, or $47.4 billion, from Canada in 2023 was oil and gas

Joel Perez: We have great things going on in Mendota currently

The Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program covered noncitizen adults age 55 to 64 and was later expanded to cover those as young as 44. It cost $485.3 million over its first two years, roughly 284% more than the combined original estimate for both programs

Judge says Will County clerk 'had no cause' to keep Cesar Guerrero off April 1 Joliet Township ballot. State's attorney is appealing ruling,

Pritzker also warned this week that as many as 770,000 Illinoisans stand to lose Medicaid health care coverage under a Republican-backed budget resolution that cleared the U.S. House Tuesday

President Donald Trump says he plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting next Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China

A pair of health care programs that benefit noncitizens far outstripped its original estimated price tag and cost the state of Illinois $1.6 billion through last summer, according to a new audit of the programs

Gov. JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration this week of continuing to withhold almost $1.9 billion from Illinois state agencies, nonprofits and small businesses

The U.S. Agriculture Department predicts record egg prices could soar more than 40% in 2025, as the Trump administration offered the first new details Wednesday about its plan to battle bird flu and ease costs

The Trump administration says it is eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world

The Homer Township Republican primary on Tuesday saw challengers defeat the incumbent board members, including Supervisor Steve Balich.

Ryan Bongard: The number one issue facing Ward 2, in terms of public safety, is the increase in traffic throughout our neighborhoods