R Cary Capparelli: AI is scary and Congress needs to control its use in both the private and public sectors by instituting protective laws.

We are in a time where saying no or saying yes is becoming more than the product of a philosophical discussion. There are very real consequences to the decisions we make. Being on the sidelines is becoming less an option.

House Republicans rushed to approve legislation on Wednesday that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements ahead of the midterm elections, a long shot Trump administration priority that faces sharp blowback in the Senate

Raja Krishnamoorthi: I intend to address the affordability crisis head-on. President Trump and his Administration have hurt working families through reckless policies like blanket tariffs that have fueled rising prices. Read Krishnamoorthi's full questionnaire here

On this episode of Talk Line, state Sen. Li Arellano Jr. drops by to discuss what happened during the October veto session and what Illinois residents can expect in the 2026 spring session.

Julie Bickelhaupt: Rising property taxes, declining affordability, rural hospital access, local agriculture, and the need for reliable infrastructure are constant concerns I hear across the district. Read Bickelhaupt's full election questionnaire here

Protecting democracy in challenging times: Recent events across our country have underscored how vital it is to defend the principles of democracy.

Don Tracy on top priorities for the U.S. Senate: I will push for common sense solutions that make life more affordable for working families. This includes lowering energy and gas costs, health care costs, taxes, and inflation. Read Tracy's full election questionnaire here

Steve Botsford, U.S. Senate candidate: Allowing large financial firms to buy up large numbers of single-family homes distorts local markets and makes it harder for families to buy or rent at reasonable prices. Read Botsford's full election questionnaire here

Pamela Denise Long on immigration priorities: 1. No amnesty. 2. Change the “nation of immigrants” rhetoric. 3. Change the “legal good/illegal bad” narrative: Mass immigration both legal and illegal hurts the American citizen. Read Long's full election questionnaire here

Bryan Maxwell, a senate candidate on his top priority: Passing Medicare for All, to begin gradual transition of Americans to the Medicare program. Read Maxwell's full election questionnaire here

Jonathan Dean on a top priority for the U.S. Senate: Addressing the affordability crisis by temporarily allowing folks to use pretax dollars for everyday necessities, such as groceries, child care, and student loan payments. Read Dean's full questionnaire here

Robin Kelly: People are paying too much for healthcare. I will never give up fighting for Americans to have access to quality care. As a member of the Medicare for All Caucus, I am working to make Medicare for All the law of the land. Read Kelly's full questionnaire here

From Capitol News Illinois: Governor candidate Ted Dabrowski argues he is uniquely positioned to unite the fractured Illinois GOP, raise the funds needed to compete statewide and win back suburban voters crucial to a Republican victory

Mike Simmons: I will advocate for major federal investment in public transit, including CTA and regional rail, because reliable transit is essential to economic opportunity in Chicagoland. Read his full election questionnaire here

If you were governor of Illinois, you might assume your primary job would be to govern Illinois.

A Democratic candidate for DuPage County sheriff has dropped out of the race

Sanjyot Dunung: If elected, my top three legislative priorities in my first year in the U.S. House will focus on restoring affordability, strengthening economic security, and defending our democracy through competent, responsible governance

Junaid Ahmed on local issues that would guide work in Congress: Rising housing costs, underfunded schools, and the real economic pressure facing immigrant and working-class families. Read Ahmed's full questionnaire here

Last December marked the 10th anniversary of my monthly column in the Ogle County Life. Thanks to those who have read it, and to the Ogle County Life for faithfully publishing it during that time.

President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion government funding bill Tuesday that ends the partial federal shutdown that began over the weekend and sets the stage for an intense debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding

The latest in a series of protests against the Trump administration in traditionally red McHenry County took place Sunday in McHenry.

Hundreds of people assembled along Route 31 in McHenry Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, to protest recent actions by ICE, particularly the shootings of two American citizens in Minneapolis.

Republican candidates for Illinois governor said cooperating with local authorities and "handing over the bad guys" from the local jails to ICE would "stop the chaos" on the streets, as one candidate said.

Roberts: There seems to be a big fuss lately about fraud in state governments, as evidenced by the misuse of federal funds in Minnesota.

Andy Bittman was elected to the Huntley District 158 school board after opposing COVID-19 rules, but abruptly resigned in late December. Board President Paul Troy recognized him while acknowledging their heated exchanges.

Democrats voted to block legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies Thursday as they continued to negotiate with Republicans and the White House on new restrictions for immigration enforcement

From Capitol News Illinois: The three candidates — Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton — all to varying degrees called for ICE to be dismantled but differed on the extent

President Donald Trump is headed to Iowa on Tuesday as part of the White House’s midterm-year pivot toward affordability, even as his administration remains mired in the fallout in Minneapolis over a second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers this month

Around 2,000 protesters gathered in South Elgin to protest what they called the 'murder' of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minnesota. Several politicians joined the protesters calling for accountability and justice.

Hundreds of people protested in South Elgin Sunday against the fatal shooting by federal immigration authorities the day before of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis.

Indivisible of Ogle County held an "emergency protest" in downtown Oregon on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, with approximately 120 people attending carrying signs criticizing the Trump administration's deployment of ICE officers and the Saturday shooting death of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar stopped in Sterling this week as part of their “Take Back Illinois” bus tour through suburban Chicago and northern Illinois.

Two Republican Party candidate forums will take place in McHenry County Thursday, Jan. 22 and Sunday, Jan. 25

“Can a Republican win for governor? Can a downstate farmer win for governor?” Those were the questions that former state senator and former and current GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey had for a crowd of around 30 supporters in Sterling on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Three Illinois governor candidates have committed to appear at a Saturday morning, January 24, breakfast forum at the Quality Inn in Bradley.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly introduced articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, regarding self-dealing for personal benefit and obstruction of Congress. Kelly said Noem used her position to guide a federal contract to a firm operated by a friend

Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen's son Ted is running for state treasurer in Delaware, making no mention on his campaign website of his politically well father whose party's views fall on the opposite aisle.

Indivisible McHenry County held what organizers say was 14th protest in past year, brings out residents with family affected by ICE

More than 600 people came out Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, on Route 31 in McHenry for an anti-ICE protest, organized by Indivisible McHenry County. The national organization encouraged protests over the weekend in response to the death of Renee Good Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Protesters in Princeton denounced the shooting of a motorist by ICE agents Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Over the past year, few issues have sparked as much debate as the use of food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

A Rockford Democrat running against Rep. Eric Sorensen in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District primary has officially been removed from the ballot, leaving Sorensen without a primary challenger as he seeks a third term

From Capitol News Illinois: A new poll shows Darren Bailey holds a commanding lead in a four-person Republican primary for Illinois Governor

The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, sounding a note of disapproval for his expanding ambitions in the Western Hemisphere

Attendees will explore what’s new in politics, and how it affects people.

State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, will host a series of upcoming office hours events, including one in Byron.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants Republicans to reach a deal on health care insurance assistance by being willing to bend on a 50-year-old budget policy that bars federal money from being spent on abortion services

Don’t let the prospect of ad hoc government support payments sway crop marketing plans in the current window of opportunities, according to an agricultural economist.

The Kane County Board is accepting applicants for a District 9 vacancy that resulted from the recent resignation of Gary Daugherty.