Free Republic

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will again erect a Nativity Scene that will stand in Illinois’ state Capitol Rotunda Building. Opening day ceremonies regarding the Springfield Nativity Scene (SNS) will take place between 12 Noon and 1 P.M. on December 1st in the state Capitol Rotunda located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, Illinois. The public is invited to attend the event. The Springfield Nativity Scene--which was originally underwritten by the Chicago-based Thomas More Society--is meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This year the display is co-sponsored by Isringhausen Imports of Springfield and...

For the third year in a row, a Nativity Scene will stand in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda Building this Christmas season. The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) sponsors the religious display which features statues of the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in a hand-crafted manger setting. The Nativity scene is underwritten by the Chicago-based Thomas More Society http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/. "I am very honored to once again be part of a group that will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ," said Daniel T. Zanoza, Chairman, Springfield (Illinois) Nativity Scene Committee. "Besides its religious significance, the Nativity scene is a wonderful...

A controversial Nativity scene is on the verge of approval in Arlington Heights, though park district officials say they still want some questions answered from the private group that is requesting the display be installed.  On Friday, officials from the Arlington Heights Park District met with Jim Finnegan of the Illinois Nativity Scene Committee to review his group’s permit application for the Nativity display and to discuss its potential location in North School Park. Park district officials gave Finnegan a list of questions to answer — such as whether the group has insurance for the display — before it is...

The family of a 72-year-old woman is calling for change after she was arrested for a five-year-old seat belt ticket. “They said, ‘You got a warrant.’ A warrant? A warrant for what?” said Carol Fulscher, the woman arrested. “I never would’ve imagined in a million years that they would’ve arrested a 72-year-old woman,” said Jeanette Byrd, Carol’s daughter. Fulscher, comfortably sitting on her couch at her home in East Moline, was sitting in a jail cell Saturday night, December 21, 2013. “I was frightened to think that she was in a jail cell, with who knows who,” said Byrd. According...

Police say Demarcus Brandon was armed with a handgun, and tried to rob a cell phone store in the 1700 block of East 87th Street Tuesday night. The store’s owner who also had a handgun himself shot and killed him.

There are hundreds of immigration reform activists across the country who also counsel those in despair over pending deportations. Their work is often driven by the nightmarish realities of undocumented immigrants. On Friday, I received an unusual call in that I heard from an angry priest at his wit’s end over stalled immigration reform. Fr. Brendan Curran of St. Pius V in Pilsen called while standing outside the third-floor West Chicago office of Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, R-Ill. Curran said that Roskam’s staffers closed the office and turned out the lights upon the arrival of his group of 12...

PPP: US Senate IL: Dick Durbin (D) 51% - Jim Oberweis (R) 36%

A large tornado tore through Washington, Ill., east of Peoria on Sunday, the National Weather Service said, part of a dangerous line of fast-moving storms that ripped through the Midwest

SPRINGFIELD, IL, November 7, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In its report Wednesday on the Illinois legislature’s passage of same-sex “marriage,” the Chicago Tribune cited two developments since May that helped the bill’s backers get the final votes they needed: the Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling and Pope Francis’ comments on homosexuality. The paper quotes two Catholic state representatives who cited Pope Francis in explaining their decision to support the measure: Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia and House Speaker Michael Madigan. Madigan reportedly also secured between five and 10 additional votes to redefine marriage. The papal comments at issue came in an interview...

ROCKFORD - Sunday, an emboldened Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) pointed his Facebook followers to a Rockford Star editorial that lauds Kinzinger for slamming Ted Cruz and Congressional colleagues that stood against the debt ceiling being raised in last week's vote. Earlier in the week, the Congressman also criticized colleagues for how they handled the government shutdown. The home district editorial Kinzinger referenced called the small cadre of budget hawks in Congress -including Congressman Randy Hultgren, who was the only Illinois "no" vote on the debt ceiling vote - "nihilists" and "bullies": One who did show his mettle, however, was Rep....

Illegal immigrants, driving legally on the road. Next month, non-visa status people in Illinois can begin the process of obtaining a temporary driver's license. Despite the controversial law being on the books since January, many questions remain. "Public safety." "But they're here illegally." Those are the main arguments for and against a law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain a temporary drivers license for three years. "This means freedom," Claudia Fabian, who came to the U.S. from Argentina, said. "It means being not scared anymore of maybe you are not going to be stopped that day and put in jail...

Illinoisans with a felony on their records will no longer be asked about their criminal past when they apply for state jobs. Promoting the decision to what he calls "Ban the Box," State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) says the governor's administrative order doesn't mean private employers will be required to hire ex-cons. It simply means applications for state government jobs will no longer include a box indicating whether an applicant has pled guilty, or been convicted of a criminal offense, other than a minor traffic violation. State agencies would still be allowed to conduct background checks, and request information...

AURORA — The Illinois office that issues driver’s licenses is preparing to roll out its biggest initiative in 14 years: helping undocumented immigrants apply for those licenses. Come December, when appointments become available to apply for the licenses, an Aurora facility will be one of 25 designated locations across the state where immigrants can go to get them. “This is our No. 1 priority right now in our office,” said Tom Benigno, chief of staff to Secretary of State Jesse White, who leads the office that is overseeing the initiative. Benigno joined State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Alderman...

Councilwoman Jan Quillman said the night she squabbled with a firefighter she was greatly upset by the bloody "massacre scene" she happened upon when her mother-in-law injured a varicose vein.

Larry Micenheimer.  Photo courtesy Facebook. Gun haters intolerant not only of gun rights, but also free speech rights.Guns Save Life director Don Huskey, who hails from Effingham, was perplexed when signs touting his “All American SHO-Show” gun shows started turning up missing in and near Effingham during the month of September.He replaced the signs, on private property where he had owner permission to post them, and they too turned up missing.“It’s frustrating,” he told GSL’s president John Boch.  “It’s really frustrating.”Well, last week Don Huskey got some good news.Police made an arrest.Of course, just like in the opening intro to...

Nine Alleged Members of Hobos Street Gang Indicted in RICO Conspiracy for Murders and Other Violent, Drug-Related Crimes CHICAGO—Nine defendants who allegedly directed or participated in a violent, drug trafficking street gang known as the Hobos were charged today in a federal racketeering conspiracy (RICO) indictment with engaging in murders, attempted murders, robberies, and narcotics distribution. The five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury alleges five murders, solicitation of a sixth murder, four attempted murders, three robberies, and the operation of “drug spots” and “drug lines” on the city’s south side among a pattern of criminal activity between 2004...

Edward Hambrick also enjoyed choosing his own clothing Wednesday, something he could not do in 14 months at the Cook County Jail. He was locked up longer than some convicted of violent crimes, though authorities said the 40-year-old computer programmer's record is completely clean. He was among four defendants freed from the jail overnight. State's Attorney Anita Alvarez dropped gun possession charges against 103 defendants Tuesday. The Illinois Supreme Court last week ruled the gun possession charges they all faced were based on a law that is unconstitutional. "Everything is pretty much destroyed," Hambrick said of being locked up. "But...

SPRINGFIELD — Supporters of immigration rights plan a rally in Springfield on Saturday in support of two bills they say will keep the state safer. The rally is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. at All Souls Church, 449 Plainfield St., in Springfield. The bills are known as the Trust Act and the Safe Driving Act, according to a statement from organizers. The Trust Act would prevent individuals released by judges and magistrates from then being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The bill would also clarify that it is not the responsibility of local law enforcement officials to...

This past Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously in People v. Aguilar that the Illinois law that banned carry outside the home was illegal under the Second Amendment. Yesterday, this ruling caused Cook County Circuit Judge Ellen Mandeltort to reverse herself and drop charges against Deafalla Haddad. Mr. Haddad had been charged with the unlawful use of a weapon after he was found in possession of a handgun during a routine traffic stop. Cook County Circuit Judge Ellen Mandeltort last week denied Deafalla Haddad's request to drop the charges. But the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that part of...

Young lady with revolver in Arizona Today, 12 September, 2013,  the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the second amendment of the Bill of Rights applies to the carrying of arms outside of the home.  They did this by declaring the Illinois statute which makes carry of loaded firearms outside of a persons property illegal, to be unconstitutional.  From the decision http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2013/112116.pdf:    We begin with section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A), which states: “(a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he or she knowingly: (1) Carries on or about his or her person or in...