News

Republican State Representative Kay Hatcher announced last fall she wouldn’t run for the 50th district seat she has held since 2009. It didn’t take long for four Republicans and a Democrat to come forward and announce their intentions to replace her. We continue our primary election previews with a look at the candidates in the district that covers portions of southern Kane and northern Kendall counties. 

Click the link above to hear Matt Streb discuss the Democrats competing in the 14th and 18th Congressional Districts, and the Republicans seeking the nomination in the 8th District.

In the interview, Streb also explains why it's important for underfunded and even unpolished candidates to compete for the right to challenge well-funded and experienced incumbents.

One energy analyst says discussion about closing some of Exelon's nuclear power plants in Illinois should be viewed as a real possibility.

A state panel has released nearly two dozen recommendations to deal with the increase in patients expected under the Affordable Care Act.  However, some of those ideas will be hard to get approved.

As Illinois gun owners increasingly are allowed to carry their firearms as they go about their daily lives -- a new poll shows half of Illinois voters feel less safe. Qualifying gun-owners began receiving their licenses to carry loaded firearms earlier this month.

Hog farmers are dealing with a devastating virus that is wiping out newborn pigs.

Ogle County Farm Bureau President and Polo, IL hog farmer Brian Duncan says he has seen the effects of the PED virus.

"We are doing all we can, but I guess I have just been resolved that it's not a matter of if, but when," Duncan said.

In 2010, political newcomer Adam Kinzinger defeated an incumbent Congresswoman, Debbie Halvorson, in the 11th Congressional District. Halvorson, a conservative Democrat, had high marks from the National Rifle Association. Kinzinger had the nascent Tea Party on his side.

What a difference four years makes.

When it comes to finances, the State of Illinois has a poor reputation.   New research shows how the state's negative perception is costing taxpayers. 

Illinois already has the worst credit rating among states.  And while that adds to the cost of borrowing money, Illinois winds up paying even more because investors view it as risky of default.

The March 18 primary election in northern Illinois includes several contests for the office of county sheriff. The number of hopefuls varies significantly, with a high of seven candidates in Winnebago County, where incumbent Democrat Richard Meyers will not be running for re-election.

Democratic candidates are:

A deadly virus that’s plagued U.S. hog farms for almost a year has triggered record-high prices for pork heading to market this spring and summer. That means you’ll likely be paying more for pork and bacon, at least for the next few months.

The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus – or PEDv – hits piglets the hardest.

Once they contract the disease, they can’t properly digest milk from their mother… and many simply wither away. The disease isn’t a threat to humans, but millions of pigs have died.