Ben Orner
The Herald-News
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Past articles by Ben:
Vote-by-mail expansion headed for Pritzker's signature after Senate passage
Bill also allows curbside voting, makes Election Day a state holiday this year → Read More
Illinois House advances major expansion of mail-in voting, would make Election Day a holiday
Senate passage, which was still possible Thursday night, is needed to send the bill to Gov. JB Pritzker to sign. The 26-page amendment proposes unprecedented changes to state elections law to facilitate the 2020 general election and make voting easier and safer amid societal restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would require county election officials, by Aug. 1, to mail or… → Read More
Meat supply chain begins to feel effects of COVID-19
Packing, labor issues affect abundance and availability of products → Read More
Lawmakers take aim at plastic pollution with package of bills
Includes plastic bag tax, Styrofoam ban, bottle recycling rebate → Read More
Durbin claims USDA playing favorites with trade war aid, hurting Illinois farmers
Senator says Illinois soybean farmers get less per acre than red-state cotton farmers → Read More
Illinois soybean farmers hurt by coronavirus hit to Chinese economy
Economic slump increases skepticism about China’s ability to honor trade deal → Read More
Helicopter in crash that killed Kobe Bryant previously owned by state of Illinois
Under the direction of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state sold the helicopter along with four other surplus aircraft in 2015 for $2.5 million. Rauner said selling the aircraft “also avoided an additional $1 million in inspections and repairs,” according to an Associated Press story after the sales. The winning bid for the helicopter was $515,161, placed by user “Jimbagge1,” according to a… → Read More