Read more about the article Darin LaHood cuts campaign spending in halfUS House Office of Photography
Darin LaHood's most recent official photograph.

Darin LaHood cuts campaign spending in half

Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood spent $1.2 million to get re-elected in 2018, half of what he spent in the previous election cycle. LaHood, Republican Congressman for Illinois’ 18th District, spent over $2.2 million for his 2016 special election campaign, when he ran for the seat of Aaron Schock, who resigned after being charged with campaign fraud.

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Illinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood spends nearly $5 million on first election

Lauren Underwood spent about $4.9 million to win her seat in the election for Illinois’s 14th congressional district. Most of Underwood’s expenditures from 2017-2018 were on TV advertising and payroll processing. Underwood’s campaign spent $2,498,871 million on TV Advertising alone, according the FEC. The payments were to the company “Ethica” in Garden City, NY.

Continue ReadingIllinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood spends nearly $5 million on first election
Read more about the article Congressman Jesús García uses almost $1 million in first campaign yearUS House Office of Photography
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's most recent official photograph.

Congressman Jesús García uses almost $1 million in first campaign year

In his first campaign year in the election cycle, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García of Illinois’s 4th congressional district spent nearly $1 million after winning against Mark Wayne Lorch of the Republican Party with more than 86% of the votes. García was elected to Congress in November 2018 and sworn into office on Jan. 3 of this year. He is one of only three congressmen who are newly elected. The 15 other Illinois congressmen were re-elected for this term.

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Read more about the article Fundraising focus for unopposed primary candidate John ShimkusUS House Office of Photography
The most recent official photograph of John Shimkus.

Fundraising focus for unopposed primary candidate John Shimkus

Despite being unopposed in the Republican primary and winning reelection to his seat by 41 percentage points over Democratic challenger Kevin Gaither, U.S. Rep. John Shimkus still spent $1.8 million during the 2018 election season. Shimkus spent the most money on Gula Graham Group. The Washington, D.C.-based fundraising firm received $500,519 from Volunteers for Shimkus during the 2018 campaign. Another fundraising company, The Voyageur Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, received $57,000.

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Read more about the article Dem. Rep. Sean Casten buys big media with big moneyFacebook
Sean Casten speaking at Glen Ellyn Metra Station announcing $14.4 million in funding for the station on November 25, 2019.

Dem. Rep. Sean Casten buys big media with big money

Democrat Sean Casten spent $6.7 million in the 2018 congressional election to become the representative for Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District, a Chicago west-suburb district…

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Read more about the article Rodney Davis campaign targets media, quadrupled advertising in 2018US House Office of Photography
Rodney Davis's most recent official photograph.

Rodney Davis campaign targets media, quadrupled advertising in 2018

Davis’s campaign spent about nearly $4.1 million in the 2018 election cycle. In the 2016 cycle, he spent $2.4 million. The organization that received the most of Davis’ money was Strategic Media Services. This company specializes in advertising for political candidates. Davis paid Strategic Media Services a total of $1.9 million in the 2018 election cycle.

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Read more about the article Mike Quigley’s campaign favors sporting events for fundraisingUS House Office of Photography
Mike Quigley's most recent official photograph.

Mike Quigley’s campaign favors sporting events for fundraising

Democratic congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois’s fifth congressional district spent over $1.2 million to win re-election in his 2018 House race against Republican challenger…

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Read more about the article Veterans Assistance Commission can’t meet demand for help
File photo. The hands of veterans as they wait outside the meeting room for the Veteran's Assistance program on the first Monday of the month at Brookens Champaign County Building on Monday, November 3, 2014. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Veterans Assistance Commission can’t meet demand for help

Due to a tight budget, Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission has had to turn away 138 veterans so far this year requesting financial help. Last year they turned away 151 veterans.  The organization  receives funding from Champaign County. They provide temporary financial assistance to veterans, including helping with mortgage or rent payments, utility payments, and food and family essentials. As of this fall, they’ve spent about $69,750 of the budget, Superintendent Brad Gould said. There are over 9,000 veterans in Champaign County , according to the latest figure from U.S. Census Bureau. The low budget has been a problem for several years. In 2014, the commission had to turn away 177 veterans. According to the commission annual report, 52 percent of the budget goes towards helping veterans with their rent, 6 percent towards helping with mortgage and 42 percent goes towards helping with utilities.

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Read more about the article Report shows toxic contamination at coal ash sites throughout IllinoisJack Brighton/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Andrew Rehn of the Prairie Rivers Network presents the report "Cap and Run: Toxic Coal Ash Left Behind by Big Polluters Threatens Illinois Water" in a packed room at the Illinois state capitol building in Springfield.

Report shows toxic contamination at coal ash sites throughout Illinois

A new report published by several state environmental groups shows severe pollution of groundwater at nearly every known coal ash storage site in Illinois.

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Read more about the article Public comments now open on Dynegy plan to stabilize the Middle Fork River near coal ash ponds
Dynegy proposes to build wall of rock for more than a third of a mile along the Middle Fork River to stop riverbank erosion near two of the company’s coal ash ponds near Oakwood, Illinois. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on the proposal until December 28. (SCI Engineering/from open records request)

Public comments now open on Dynegy plan to stabilize the Middle Fork River near coal ash ponds

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comment on a proposal by Dynegy Midwest, LLC to install a rock wall to prevent millions of gallons of coal ash from polluting the Middle Fork River in Vermilion County.

Continue ReadingPublic comments now open on Dynegy plan to stabilize the Middle Fork River near coal ash ponds