Dupage Policy Journal

Italian Americans now 'defending' rather than 'perpetuating' their role in building America

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 9, 2023

Columbus Day is Monday October 9 and for many Italian Americans the yearly national holiday now comes with the ignominy of having to fight for their place in American society all over again.

D99 parent again appeals to superintendent to remove 'pornographic' book from school library shelves

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 29, 2023

The father of two attending D99 is again appealing to Superintendent Hank Thiele to remove “Gender Queer,” a book with images of gay sex, from the school’s library.

Death threats are the thanks ‘Gays Against Groomers’ get for trying to protect children from pornographic books

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 19, 2023

The Illinois Chapter Leader of Gays Against Groomers asked that his name be withheld from this story. He, and colleagues in other state chapters of the one-year-old, grass roots movement, have received death threats over their fight to rid school libraries and public libraries of books with depictions of gay sex between child, drag shows and the promotion of the transitioning of minors.

Darien parent continues nationwide fight over ‘pornographic’ library books

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 14, 2023

An ex-Democrat now Republican Committeeman from Darien finds himself in the middle of nationwide battle to shield children from school library books that contain graphic depictions of gay sex. Terry Newsome is getting good at the fight.

Powers of oft-criticized police torture commission expanded under upcoming legislation in the General Assembly

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 19, 2023

The jurisdiction of a controversial state-level commission charged with investigating claims of police torture would be expanded statewide under legislation almost certain to be introduced early in the new legislative year.

Breakthrough Ideas' Ives alleges she has more evidence of unlawful voting

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 19, 2021

Former Illinois state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) presented more evidence on Friday that she alleges confirms that Breakthrough Ideas, the policy group she co-founded, was correct in its initial assessment of an unlawful vote by a former DuPage County resident.

Ives: Tribune 'inexcusably lazy and incurious' in coverage of DuPage County voter rolls

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 9, 2021

The Chicago Tribune’s opinion piece about the investigation of Breakthrough Ideas, the policy group headed by former state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), into the DuPage County’s voter rolls demonstrates how “inexcusably lazy and incurious” the paper is in its coverage of voting irregularities, Ives said in a statement.

Ives calls out Tribune/DuPage County Clerk over misinformation regarding voter’s status

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 4, 2021

Former State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) said that the Chicago Tribune published inaccurate information it received from the DuPage County Clerk’s office regarding the voting status of a former DuPage County resident.Ives, now CEO of the policy advocacy group, Breakthrough Ideas, said that a voter she used as an example of shoddy maintenance of voter lists in DuPage County voted using an old DuPage County address after moving out of the county.

Advocacy group investigation: DuPage County voter registration list riddled with inaccuracies, 'corrupted' data

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 22, 2021

More than 1,300 DuPage County residents relocated months prior to the November 2020 elections yet voted using their old addresses in the county, a four-month investigation by the policy group, Breakthrough Ideas, has found.

Burr Ridge’s Capri Ristorante hit with police warnings for allegedly violating indoor dining ban

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 11, 2020

Burr Ridge Chief of Police John Madden said his department has warned the Capri Ristorante “verbally and in writing” of allegedly being in violation of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Nov. 2 order banning indoor dining throughout the state.

Burr Ridge mayor's request for pay increase criticized as 'outrageous' at board meeting

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 13, 2020

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso’s push for a fivefold increase in the mayor's salary got off to wobbly start at the village board meeting Monday night.

DuPage GOP chair says Wilson's battery charges 'bite' but bigger issues may be at play

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 1, 2020

DuPage Republican Party Chairman Jim Zay says that aggravated battery charges for biting a police officer might be the least of Democratic precinct committeewoman Samantha Wilson’s problems.

Parent: Remote learning in Glen Ellyn costly, ineffective

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 1, 2020

Less than two weeks into the school year, fully remote learning in Glen Ellyn District 41 has been an anxiety-ridden, costly adventure in ineffective learning, one district parent told the DuPage Policy Journal.

Gov. Pritzker overreaching pandemic powers according to Naperville Park District lawsuit

By W.J. Kennedy | May 25, 2020

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker faces yet another lawsuit challenging the legality of his serial stay-at-home directives under Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act (IEMA).

Taxpayer advocate: Defeat of Burr Ridge home rule proposal could mean trouble for Pritzker’s progressive tax

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 27, 2020

The shellacking Burr Ridge voters delivered to a home rule ballot question on March 17 is a sign that taxpayers have become increasingly suspicious of tax increase proposals disguised as fairness and good government initiatives, said local business owner and village trustee, Zach Mottl, who helped lead a fight against the proposal.

'Rumblings' of possible Illinois Sterigenics plant reopening to aid coronavirus fight

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 27, 2020

An industry source told the DuPage Policy Journal that there have been “rumblings” about reopening the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook in light of the emergency reopening of one of its plants in Georgia under the coronavirus crisis.

'Biased' Tribune reporting cited in shortage of medical supplies needed in coronavirus fight

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 23, 2020

For over a year scientists have been refuting the Chicago Tribune’s reporting that emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO), from a medical equipment plant in Willowbrook, Sterigenics, presented a danger to the public.

Burr Ridge mayor told to “sit down and shut up” at home rule meeting

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 13, 2020

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso was told to “sit down and shut up” at a meeting of village residents in opposition to a home rule question on next week’s ballot.

Burr Ridge tax restriction policy under proposed home rule government 'unenforceable,' attorney says

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 23, 2020

A Burr Ridge attorney leading a fight to defeat a home rule push by village officials said that recent board approval of a policy to restrict future tax increases if voters approve home rule is “unenforceable.”

From Prairie State Wire

Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady said to have voiced private support for abortion funding, gun control legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

Former high-level aides to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has revealed that Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told the then governor he was right for signing HB 40 in September 2017, the law requiring Medicaid funding of abortions. At a separate meeting, Brady also recommended that the governor sign gun control bills should they reach his desk.