Watch what you say; it can now be recorded without your knowledge or consent. The Illinois Supreme Court decided this very thing last week in a pair of unanimous decisions that invalidated a state law requiring “two-party consent” to record conversations. The decisions bring Illinois in line with the majority of other states and further […]
Patrick Yeagle
Patrick Yeagle started writing for Illinois Times in September 2009. Originally from Farmer City, Ill., he graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a second major in journalism. He then graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 2009 with a Master's degree from the Public Affairs Reporting program. In addition to Illinois Times, his work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the Peoria Journal-Star, the Northern Star, the Parkland Prospectus and other publications. Yeagle writes about state government, the environment, energy, healthcare, elections, education, community issues, and more. He enjoys taking photos of news events, cityscapes, very small objects and wildlife. He enjoys running and has completed a marathon, three half-marathons, a 198-mile relay race and several shorter races. Other hobbies include cooking, gardening, making music and outdoor activities.
Posted inNews
Health insurance deadline approaches
James Hayes, Harvard Park Elementary principal, and Peggy Cormeny, family and community engagement coordinator for Springfield Public Schools, appear outside the school, which recently hosted an event helping families enroll in health insurance. Photo BY PATRICK YEAGLE A national deadline to enroll in health insurance looms at the end of March, and Springfield Public Schools […]
Posted inNews
What is Madigan planning for the income tax?
House Speaker Michael Madigan hoto BY PATRICK YEAGLE UPDATE: On Thursday afternoon, Madigan announced a plan to tax personal income over $1 million at an extra 3 percent, bringing the effective rate for people earning more than $1 million to 8 percent. Individuals with income under $1 million would continue to pay the current […]
Posted inNews
Gambling expansion proposal downsized
Following Gov. Pat Quinn’s 2012 veto of a bill to expand gambling in Illinois, a Chicago-area lawmaker is ready to try again, this time with a pair of scaled-down proposals. Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island, announced last week he would file two amendments to an existing bill in the Illinois General Assembly, presenting two distinct […]
Posted inNews
Bruce Rauner’s nursing home problem
Bruce Rauner may easily win the Republican primary in Illinois’ race for governor, but he faces a much tougher battle in federal court, where his investment company is accused of illegally trying to avoid paying up in a wrongful death lawsuit. Rauner, a wealthy businessman from Winnetka, has downplayed allegations that his company offered substandard […]
Posted inNews
A beacon for ex-cons
Before he was even 12, Lorenzo Louden had shot a man and slept with two prostitutes. Growing up so early, it’s no wonder he preferred gang life to school and eventually wound up in prison. Now 57, Louden runs the Springfield-based nonprofit Tower of Refuge with his wife, Bevey. Using his life experience and her […]
Posted inNews
IEPA pushes for rules on coal ash disposal
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is pushing for rules on coal ash ponds like the one shown here, in which Springfield City Water, Light and Power stores the coal ash from the Dallman 4 power plant. PHOTOS BY PATRICK YEAGLE Illinois coal power plants consumed more than 48 million tons of coal in 2012 – […]
Posted inNews
What’s making us sick?
In 1984, an engineer named Stanley Watras set off a radiation detector at the nuclear power plant he was helping to build in Pottstown, Pa. The power plant hadn’t started producing power yet, so plant officials were perplexed at how Watras could have become so radioactive. What they found revealed a potential danger in homes […]
Posted inNews
Texas-like abortion bills introduced here
Photo FROM METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Two bills to impose tougher regulations on abortions were introduced last week in the Illinois General Assembly, prompting an outcry from abortion rights groups. Proponents say the bills are about protecting women, but opponents say the proposals are meant to make it harder for abortion clinics to operate. The bills […]
Posted inNews
Mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate
Chris Cline, billinaire owner of Foresight Energy, contributes liberally to Illinois politicians. PHOTO COURTESY HAVAGUT A political committee controlled by one of the state’s top mining regulators has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from a major coal mine owner. Anthony “Tony” Mayville, supervisor of mine safety enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural […]
Posted inNews
Group pushing for school funding vote
A group of parents, teachers and volunteers is pushing the Springfield Public Schools board to place a school funding referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. The group, Invest in 186, has proposed a plan that would raise between $8 million and $10 million. The money would begin to replace millions of dollars which were cut […]
Posted inNews
Sniffing out trouble
Springfield patrol officer Dave Pletsch prepares for a training search with his dog, Utah, in a building on the Illinois State Fair Grounds. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE Inside a livestock building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, a man is hiding stashes of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine in state-owned work vehicles parked inside for the […]
