In the News
The numbers are grim: 71 overdose deaths in DuPage and Will counties so far this year. Last year, Kane County tallied 27 heroin fatalities. Fifty percent of all addicts are doomed to die from their dependency.
Still, there is reason for hope.
Inaction on immigration reform will have negative consequences for the mostly white, male-dominated Republican Party during next year's election, according to a group of protesters who vowed Saturday to vote Illinois' GOP congressional delegates out of office if they do not work towards passing legislation that would overhaul the nation's broken immigration system.
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner is one of 21 elected heads of larger Illinois municipalities who recently wrote to the state's congressional delegation in Washington imploring members to overhaul immigration laws as a way to repair and boost the economy.
The leaders signed a letter that says new laws focusing on all immigrants, regardless of citizenship status, will create jobs and raise revenues. An estimated 11 million immigrants are living in the U.S. illegally.
ICE has worked to develop and implement some critical improvements to the system, though additional reforms remain needed. One overarching obstacle overshadowing much of this: the bed "mandate." As Congress returns from the brink of the fiscal cliff, and as a new candidate prepares for confirmation to lead the Department of Homeland Security, now is a key moment to consider responsible ways to shrink the federal budget.
(CBS) – Suburban Congressman Bill Foster (D-Ill.) says the budget impasse on Capitol Hill could be resolved easily at this point, and with a debt crisis coming, it should be.
While food and airline safety inspectors stay home, national parks remain closed and basic scientific research grinds to a halt, a private gym reserved exclusively for members of the House of Representatives remains open.
A gym for Senators is also still open.
Though congress members pay small monthly fees, the gyms are run largely on taxpayer dollars.
House Democrats have a new strategy to force their fellow members of Congress to feel the pain of the shutdown — stripping them of their gym privileges.
Such a move would not just block members from burning carbs, though. It would also prevent the members who sleep in their offices from availing themselves of the showers that keep them from offending.
WASHINGTON — Two House Democrats are going after the congressional dumbbells.
Reps. Patrick Murphy of Florida and Bill Foster of Illinois demanded Wednesday the shutdown of the House gym, which has stayed open even while much of the federal government has closed.
They said it's outrageous that lawmakers enjoy access to their "exclusive gym and spa" while other Americans are making sacrifices because of the government shutdown.
The federal government may be closed, but the gyms for members of Congress are still open. That doesn't sit well with U.S. Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL, 11) and Patrick Murphy (D-FL, 18).