Around the state on September 22

The state Senate and House are in session today after the Governor and Senate President Emil Jones urged party leaders to take up the ethics bill again. For more on the special session, check out the SJ-R.
If a recent poll has any merit to it, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s popularity is plummeting. The public opinion [...]

Around the state on September 17th

Sen. Barack Obama stepped his way back into Illinois business Wednesday when he called Senate President Emil Jones and urged him to pass ethics legislation. The House was called into a special session earlier this month, and Obama wants Jones to bring the Senate back to weigh in on the topic. Read more at the [...]

Around the state on September 15th

After getting blasted over the weekend by rain, Gov. Rod Blagojevich declared seven counties disaster areas on Monday. Will, LaSalle, Kane, Grundy, DeKalb, DuPage and Cook county were all declared disaster areas. Read the Tribune for more. 
Here’s a YouTube video showing some flooding around Des Plaines:

Blagojevich doesn’t think he’s “cuckoo,” despite [...]

Around the state on September 12th

Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he supports Barack Obama, but he also said he doesn’t like how democrats are dragging Gov. Sarah Palin’s name through the mud. Read more on Clout street, and it also features an .mp3 of Blagojevich. 
Sen. Dick Durbin blasted Sen. John McCain in a conference call, saying the Republican presidential nominee is, [...]

Around the state on September 10th

A meausre to lease the Illinois lottery has garnered some support — at least enough to make it out of a house committee. The move could potentially raise $10 billion, much of which would be used for a capital construction plan. Read the SJ-R for more.
The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously voted down Gov. [...]

Around the state on September 5th

The Illinois House of Representatives will be back in session a little sooner than planned. According to the SJ-R, the House will be back in session starting Thursday at the request of Speaker Michael Madigan to start talking about a statewide construction plan. 
Former U.S. House Minority Leader Bob Michel didn’t sugarcoat his message to Illinois Republicans [...]

Around the state on September 3rd

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin isn’t too familiar with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the State Journal-Register reports. However, he found a recent comment by Palin to be a little perplexing.
Maybe the hug did mean something. When rivals Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Speaker Michael Madigan hugged at the Democratic National Convention, it may have been a sign [...]