Illinois state Sen. Brian W. Stewart (R-45) on June 1 voted against a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

Illinois state Sen. Dave Syverson (R-35) on June 1 voted against a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

Illinois state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-90) on May 31 voted for a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

Illinois state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-70) on May 31 voted for a fiscal year 2020 budget that was $5.3 billion in the red, increasing state taxes and spending by record amounts.

State Sen. Brian W. Stewart (R-45) on June 1 voted against a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-35) on June 1 voted against a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-90) May 31 voted for a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-70) on May 31 voted for a $40 million budget package that included a hidden gem for teachers -- the removal of a 3 percent cap on end-of-career pension spiking for Illinois educators.

Illinois state Sen. Brian W. Stewart (R-45) on May 31 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

Illinois state Sen. Dave Syverson (R-35) on May 31 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

Illinois state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-90) on May 28 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

Illinois state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-70) on May 28 voted against a measure that will bring sweeping changes to the state’s abortion laws.

Even without the increases in the Illinois gas tax now being proposed by state lawmakers, Illinois has the 10th highest state gas taxes in the nation, according to July 2018 numbers from the Washington-based Tax Foundation.

Illinois has 13 Division I college basketball teams eligible for the NCAA tournament.

If a current Senate bill clears the House and is signed into law, Illinois will join three other states and the District of Columbia in soon paying a minimum wage of $15 per hour.

The state legislature adjourned before taking action on Senate Bill 1597, which would require Illinois consumers to pay a 5 cent fee for every single-use paper or plastic bag, but similar proposals are being considered at the county and local levels.

Sycamore voters will decide who will serve as aldermen when they head to the polls on April 2.

Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) contributed $21.1 million to 30 state House races this election cycle, including $3,445,351 to 22 fellow Democrats in the week leading up to Tuesday’s general election.

The results of the Dekalb County Board races have been released.

Jeff Keicher of the Republican party has been declared the winner in the House District 70 race against Democratic candidate Paul Stoddard.