Sangamon Sun

From Prairie State Wire

House committee passes bill banning kids under 12 from playing on tackle football teams

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With 11 yes votes, a bill banning youth younger than 12 years old from playing on organized tackle football teams passed the House Mental Health Committee on Thursday.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 15% of Illinois residents enrolled in food stamps program

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans – or about 15 percent of the state’s population – were on food stamp rolls in January 2017, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

Analysis: Metro Srpingfield SNAP participation costs fell 7.42 percent over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 23, 2018

Welfare offices in Lincoln and Springfield saw food stamp costs drop by an average of 7.42 percent from January 2015 to January 2017, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: On campuses of all sizes, Illinoisans pay higher in-state tuition than Midwest peers

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

An Illinoisan attending the University of Illinois will spend nearly $8,000 more per year than a Missourian at Missouri State University-Springfield, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of 116 four-year public universities in 10 Midwestern states based on enrollment.

Analysis: 1,594 people in Metro Springfield left food stamp rolls over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 9, 2018

The number of people receiving food stamps in two Metro Springfield locations dropped by 3.7 percent as President Trump entered office, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of federal data.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: U of I in-state tuition tops list of 115 Midwest schools spanning 10 states

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With an annual price tag of $15,058, the University of Illinois charged the highest in-state tuition for 2016-17, according to Higher Education Tribune.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 150,000+ Illinoisans left food stamp rolls as Trump entered office

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

The number of food stamp recipients fell over two years at 54 of 66 Illinois welfare offices analyzed by Prairie State Wire.

Analysis: Proposed K-12 budget would cost Metro Springfield residents $125M more in income taxes

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 31, 2018

Metro Springfield residents would pay $125,041,719 more in state income taxes if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

Sangamon has 6th highest abortion rate among largest Illinois counties in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 17, 2018

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Sangamon County ranked No. 6 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Report: Sangamon ranks 10th among largest Illinois counties for abortions performed in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 16, 2018

Sangamon County accounted for 319 of the 38,382 abortions performed statewide in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Analysis: Greenview HS tops rankings with highest rate of students who fail annual tests, still graduate

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 12, 2017

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, Springfield-area high school graduation rates remain high, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Analysis: India is most common country of origin for international students attending University of Illinois-Springfield

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 21, 2017

There are 1,604 students from India attending the University of Illinois-Springfield on federal student visas, making it the most common country of origin for international students at that school.

Analysis: 34% of University of Illinois-Springfield's students are international

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 20, 2017

With 1,844 international students from 37 countries attending the University of Illinois-Springfield on federal student visas, the group makes up 34 percent of the total student body, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of data obtained from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

State Sen. Sam McCann took money from taxi cab lobby to help ban ride-sharing

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 17, 2017

Chicago's taxi cab cartel donated $180,750 to 61 state legislators in 2014-15, including state Sen. Sam McCann (R-Springfield), encouraging them to help preserve their traditional monopoly by banning ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in Illinois.

Analysis: Rochester CUSD tops local peers with 35% of students passing annual tests

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 15, 2017

Rochester Community Unit School District 3A had the highest rate – 34.8 percent – of students locally who passed the annual state assessments this year, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data.

Thirty state lawmakers, including Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, leaving office

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 9, 2017

The Illinois General Assembly will see 30 lawmakers not return, including Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Leland Grove).

Critics say HB 40 likely to increase number of abortions over 310 on record for Sangamon County in 2015

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 28, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently announced he will sign controversial abortion funding expansion House Bill 40 into law, which critics say will increase the number of abortions from the reported 310 in Sangamon County in 2015.

Raising funds along the way, Gov. Rauner rides motorcycle to Springfield

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 27, 2017

For the third year running, Gov. Bruce Rauner has participated in the Governor’s Ride to Springfield, a fundraiser ride down Route 66 dedicated to bolstering support for Illinois’ veterans.

Enrollment now open for 2017 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 1, 2017

Youth across Illinois can now obtain their Deer Permits at participating vendors in preparation for the upcoming 2017 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt, scheduled Oct. 7-9.

Springfield students to be eligible for private school scholarships in new state program

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 31, 2017

A new public school funding bill recently passed by the Illinois Legislature, SB1947, includes a scholarship program that would award donated funds to students in lower-income families — up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level — to provide them the opportunity to attend private schools.