Taryn Phaneuf News
Taxpayer watchdog launches ad campaigning calling out Beiser's budget vote
ALTON – State Rep. Dan Beiser, a Democrat, is one of six Illinois legislators targeted in an ad campaign over how they voted on budget-related bills that came up this year.
National, local races capture St. Clair County voters' attention in lead up to November elections, says GOP chair
St. Clair County voters can begin voting by mail on Aug. 10, a signal that the election countdown is near.
Should investigators hired by the State's Attorney be able to arrest suspected drug traffickers?
A special investigation unit designed to crack down on drug trafficking on main thoroughfares in Madison County is on hold while the Illinois Supreme Court reviews the legality of a program that arguably gives state’s attorneys their own police force.
County Electoral Board considers candidate's petition to run for County Board
An Independent candidate looking to get on the ballot in the Madison County Board District 2 race faces objections that may keep him from running.
Insurer raises questions about unclaimed benefits bill; Hoping for Rauner's amendatory veto
SPRINGFIELD — In a legislative session noted as one of inaction until the brink of a new fiscal year, one bill Illinois lawmakers did manage to pass was a measure that requires life insurance companies to make an effort to track down beneficiaries of unclaimed policies, contracts and accounts when they know the policyholder has died.
Lawsuit claims plaintiffs law firm uses data from privacy app to file TCPA claims
Legal reform advocates think they’ve found a prime example of plaintiffs attorneys “gaming the system” to collect big awards under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Mayors support stopgap budget to fund education, local government
GODFREY — A group of 41 mayors in Illinois threw their support behind a bill that was one of many proposed to temporarily fix the state’s budget.
GOP candidate for MC State's Attorney prioritizes crime deterrence
“The state’s attorney job is not to have a high conviction rate," said Republican candidate for Madison County State's Attorney, Ron Williams. "That’s not the right metric to use. The state’s attorney should be deterring crime.”
Judge dismisses 201 lawsuits in latest chapter of businesses' battle against Illinois False Claims Act
CHICAGO — Abuse of an Illinois whistleblower law will continue to sour businesses toward the state if lawmakers don’t take steps toward reform, attorneys and business advocates say.
Regional superintendent: School funding battle likely to be 'strung out'
Superintendent Robert Daiber: "It isn’t that I am personally in favor of Chicago Public Schools getting more money than everybody else, but they have to make their expenses.”
New domestic violence court aims to reduce offense and help victims
EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County Circuit Court will open a Domestic Violence Accountability Court on June 1 — the second such program in the state.
Law Day 2016 reveals children's side of Miranda rights
Some of the detainees in the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center say they learned too late the cost of not understanding or not embracing their right to stay silent during a police interrogation.
Missouri lawmakers raise the bar on expert witnesses in adopting Daubert standard
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri legislators have agreed to raise the standards of expert witnesses, passing a "Daubert" bill that modifies guidelines for admitting testimony.
Trustee favoring transparency makes good on promise to get finances online; Guy would like to see property tax cut in Collinsville Township
COLLINSVILLE — With its annual expenditures published openly online, any citizen of Collinsville Township can see that the municipality is bringing in much more in revenue than it spends.
Madison County GOP slates former public defender for state's attorney; Candidate focusing on crime and prosecution rates
Ron Williams believes that, if elected as Madison County’s next state’s attorney, he could reduce the violent crime rate by 17 percent in a year.
Physicians find ways around state laws aimed at reducing cost of dispensed prescriptions, report says
Despite efforts to reduce prices for physician-dispensed prescriptions, a new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that the dispensing of new drug products in several state, including Illinois, has led to higher prices.
Meier's bill would shut down future attempts of judges seeking to run for election instead of retention
In a bill headed to the Illinois House of Representatives’ executive committee, a local representative wants to solidify election laws pertaining to judges.
Illinois Bar Foundation expands program to meet legal aid needs around state
CHICAGO — Continuing its financial support of families who can’t afford a lawyer, the Illinois Bar Foundation has opened its Fellows Program to allow non-lawyers to join.
Americans for Prosperity 'thrilled' after residents reject Cahokia annexation referendum
Voters shot down a referendum to annex the Parkfield Terrace neighborhood into the village of Cahokia.
Americans for Prosperity continues campaign against property tax hike in Cahokia annexation referendum
Believing that new taxes won’t solve local government problems in Illinois, the state’s chapter of Americans For Prosperity continues its outreach to voters, urging them to oppose tax increase referenda in Tuesday’s elections.