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Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan Investigated Over Ties To Boeing

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is under investigation by the Pentagon's Office of Inspector General because of allegations he improperly advocated on behalf of his former employer, Boeing Co. Last week a Washington-based government watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), filed a formal complaint with the IG, alleging Shanahan promoted Boeing over competitor Lockheed Martin in discussions with Pentagon staff. CREW also alleges that Shanahan...

Workers With Disabilities Still Face Subminimum Wages

Drinkin' With Lincoln Episode 3: Before The Presidency, Before The Beard

Sessions from Studio A - The Perrilles Project

By Carl Nelson • 13 hours ago

The Perrilles Project was formed by jazz musicians who met while attending NIU School of Music. Check out their live set, recorded at The House Cafe in DeKalb, as well as an interview with drummer and bandleader Paul Perrilles.

Illinois Lawmakers Look To Make Medical Cannabis Program Permanent

By Jaclyn Driscoll • 16 hours ago

In the midst of the recreational cannabis debate, Illinois lawmakers are also looking to make the medical cannabis pilot program permanent, but it will include a few changes.

Final Hemp Rules Will Allow Farmers To Plant Hemp This Summer

By Jaclyn Driscoll • 16 hours ago

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has submitted their final draft of rules for the industrial hemp program. There were a few noteworthy changes made from the initial draft that was posted back in late Dec. 2018.

Hundreds Rally At The Capitol To Protest Abortion Bills

By Maureen Foertsch McKinney • 16 hours ago

Hundreds of anti-abortion protestors filled the Capitol rotunda today following the passage of a measure that would repeal parental notification of abortion.

Meanwhile, a group of Republican lawmakers are speaking out against legislation intended to expand abortion rights throughout Illinois.

State Representative Terri Bryant, a Republican from Murphysboro, also spoke out against another proposal being considered that would completely overhaul abortion throughout the state.

Perspective: A Roomette With A View

By Deborah Booth • 21 hours ago

On a cold blustery afternoon in February, we drove to Union Station to take the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Albuquerque, a 25-hour train trip. We had booked a roomette and packed books, games, downloaded shows, and snacks. We were ready for the adventure to begin.

We settled into our roomette, a small space with two facing seats and a tiny closet. At about 10, an attendant made the seats disappear, to be replaced with two bunk beds. Hard as it was to imagine, the roomette seemed to shrink when this happened.

Gov. Pritzker Surveys Freeport Flood Damage

By Chase Cavanaugh • Mar 20, 2019

Governor J.B. Pritzker surveyed flood damage in Machesney Park and Freeport Wednesday. The nearby Rock and Pecatonica Rivers reached record levels. The latter crested at its highest level since 1933.

Pritzker praised local officials for their evacuation and damage control efforts and said he would provide additional support from the state.

“I’ll be here today, but I’ll be back whenever this community needs more help, and of course, our emergency management officials are going to be on the ground, helping every single day," he said.

Springfield Man Accused Of Killing Deputy Sheriff Pleads 'Not Guilty'

By Susan Stephens • Mar 20, 2019

The 39-year-old Springfield man accused of killing McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Keltner pleaded not guilty in federal court in Rockford Wednesday morning.

A federal grand jury indicted Floyd E. Brown Tuesday for Keltner's death earlier this month. Keltner was working as a member of a U.S. Marshals Service task force when he was shot and killed while trying to serve a warrant at a Rockford hotel.

Trump Backs Public Release Of Mueller Report

By Brian Naylor • Mar 20, 2019

Amid signs that special counsel Robert Mueller will soon complete his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, President Trump says that he looks forward to seeing the report and that it should be made public.

Answering questions from reporters on the South Lawn of the White House prior to traveling to Ohio on Wednesday, Trump said of Mueller's report, "Let it come out. Let people see it — that's up to the attorney general."

Rookie Lawmaker Making Mental Health Priority

By Jaclyn Driscoll • Mar 20, 2019

State Rep. Karina Villa is a 40-year-old Democrat representing West Chicago. She's one of dozens of fresh faces at the Illinois State Capitol this year and also one of seven lawmakers in the House of Representatives whose election flipped a red seat blue -- from Republican to Democrat.

Pritzker Agrees To Pay Raises & Back Pay To Thousands Of State Home Aide & Child Care Workers

By Daisy Contreras • Mar 20, 2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has agreed to pay raises and money owed to the state’s more than 40,000 child care workers and home aides.

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Kushner Used Private Email To Conduct Official Business, House Committee Says

By Tim Mak • 6 hours ago

Jared Kushner's attorney told the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that Kushner uses private messaging applications and personal email to communicate about official White House matters, the committee wrote in a letter to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone on Thursday.

President Trump Backs Israeli Sovereignty Claim Over Golan Heights

By Daniella Cheslow • 6 hours ago

The Trump administration has backed Israel's claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The move comes weeks before Israeli general elections and reverses the position U.S. administrations have held for decades.

President Trump made the announcement via tweet Thursday.

"After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" the president wrote.

Thousands of migrants like Castillo are crossing the border every day and turning themselves in to the Border Patrol. They're fleeing poverty and violence in Central America.

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