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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Democrats are pushing to redraw legislative district maps required each decade despite not having the latest Census data. The only witness at a hearing this week to agree with their approach to the decennial remap was American University social scientist Allan Lichtman, who’s a $200,000 paid consultant. Democrats say that the…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are reviving negotiations over President Joe Biden’s sweeping investment plan. On Tuesday, they prepared a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal that would be funded with COVID-19 relief money as a counteroffer to the White House ahead of a Memorial Day deadline toward a bipartisan deal. White House press secretary Jen Psaki…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois governor unveiled a splashy tourism campaign this month called “Time for Me to Drive.” It touts hot spots from Galena to the Shawnee National Forest with lyrics set to a 1970s hit by Illinois band REO Speedwagon. But Democrat J.B. Pritzker left out a key factor: The highest gas prices…
TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo is denying that a U.S. warning for Americans to avoid traveling to Japan will have an impact on Olympians. Japan is determined to hold the Tokyo Games that start July 23. The U.S. cited a surge in coronavirus cases in Japan caused by virus variants that may even pose a risk…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson has appointed the first Black woman to serve as a Missouri Supreme Court judge. The Republican governor on Monday named Missouri Eastern District Appeals Court Judge Robin Ransom to the high court. She’s replacing Judge Laura Denvir Stith, who retired in March. Ransom will join Chief Justice…
NEW YORK (AP) — It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son. The Weeknd was on hand to accept the most wins of the night —…
RED BUD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Police are investigating after an early morning shootout left one person dead and a police officer injured in southwestern Illinois. Police in Red Bud responded to a call of gunfire around 1:40 a.m. Sunday. Police allege a male suspect shot an officer and a second officer fatally shot…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is allowing eligible Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. to apply for a new 18-month designation for temporary protected status. The decision announced Saturday reverses a Trump administration effort that had sought to end the special consideration. In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited security concerns, social…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Democratic legislators have released proposed maps for the state’s 118 House and 59 Senate districts that they say “ensure the broad racial and geographic diversity of Illinois is reflected in the General Assembly,” but that Republicans called partisan. State Sen. Omar Aquino, chair of the Senate’s redistricting committee, said in a…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations between the White House and Senate Republicans over President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan are hitting a crucial stage ahead of talks Friday. The latest GOP offer has left some dismay in the administration that there hasn’t been more movement off the Republicans’ initial $568 billion proposal. A Republican says…