Author: Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Another attempt is being made to legalize certain fireworks and tax them in Illinois. The Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act would impose a 6% tax on consumers purchasing ground-based sparklers or fountains for personal use, beginning July 1, 2025. The measure says retailers must register with the Department of Revenue,…

(The Center Square) – According to Bloomington Public Schools District 87 documents, staff were directed to participate in “Privilege Walks,” where teachers start on a line and take a step forward for each “privilege” they identify with, like being white, a male, having married parents, etc. Illinois state Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, anticipates diversity, equity…

(The Center Square) – Two recently introduced bills seeking to change lobbying regulations are sitting in committee awaiting advancement. House Bill 1169 would amend the Lobbyist Registration Act and direct the Illinois Secretary of State to grant a fee waiver to nonprofits with an annual budget of less than $5 million. Alisa Kaplan, Reform for…

(The Center Square) – From July 2024 to February 2025, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights has received over $63 million in Illinois taxpayer funds, according to the Illinois Comptroller vendor payment system. ICIRR received nearly $4 million of taxpayer money this month for Illinois Welcoming Centers. According to the Illinois Department of Human…

(The Center Square) – A former McLean County Board candidate is urging government employees to come forward ahead of an Illinois State Board of Elections hearing concerning an ethics complaint. Before a recent election, officials were accused of soliciting donations for a political action committee seeking to eliminate the position of county auditor. Chad Berck…

(The Center Square) – Aaron Del Mar, while speaking at a Lincoln Day Dinner in Lincoln, Illinois, hosted by the Logan County Republicans, suggested he plans to run for “higher office.” Del Mar was Gary Rabine’s running mate in the 2022 gubernatorial primary. The pair lost to former state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia. “I’m strongly…

(The Center Squad) – The Nation’s Report Card that measures how well students across the country are learning has just been released for 2024. The results for Illinois aren’t good, according to Wirepoints president Ted Dabrowski. Dabrowski said Illinois’ 8th grade students outperforming national averages in both reading and math on “the nation’s report card”…

(The Center Square) – An Illinois state legislator introduced a bill that would freeze local government property tax levies at the 2025 amount for levy years 2026-2030. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, sponsors House Bill 1497 and said nearly every local government needs to figure out how to save money, and they need to find…

(The Center Square) –  An Illinois state legislator introduced a bill that would freeze local government property tax levies at the 2025 amount for levy years 2026-2030. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, sponsors House Bill 1497 and said nearly every local government needs to figure out how to save money, and they need to find efficiencies and…

(The Center Square) – A handful of the nearly 300 new laws going into effect Jan. 1 impact parents. Senate Bill 3136 allows drug-addicted mothers, who give birth to babies whose toxicology screens come back positive, to maintain their parental rights. Opponents say that’s dangerous and subverts accountability. State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, urged a…