Rhonda Gillespie
2015 Public Affairs Reporting Program Graduate Intern - Illinois IssuesRhonda Gillespie is in the Public Affairs Reporting graduate program at University of Illinois Springfield and covers state government and politics for Illinois Issues magazine. She was previously managing editor of the Chicago Defender newspaper and a reporter for other Chicago and national news, university and trade outlets. She can be reached at (217) 206-6524.
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The ongoing budget clash between Democrats and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has complicated financial planning for non-profit organizations across…
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Despite overwhelming support from voters at last fall’s general election, an increase in the minimum wage appears to be dead in the spring session of the…
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Some social service agencies and funeral homes are set to resume business as they had before the now-infamous Good Friday elimination of several state…
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Several mayors from around the state say the millions of dollars the governor thinks they have stored up doesn’t exist. Gov. Bruce Rauner has called for…
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A Chicago community organization is questioning why a House resolution is calling for a probe of how it uses state money. Lawmakers have asserted that the…
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Amtrak officials say they don’t yet know which services would be affected if Illinois cuts its funding. But the rail company says it’s sure there would be…
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Officials with The Autism Program said they felt shock April 3, when they were told their state funding was canceled — effective immediately. The Good…
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Organization and business leaders say they were stunned by a Good Friday notice indicating state funding for some programs would be immediately…
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Illinois has until recently paid for the cost of burial of its indigent dead. That changed on Good Friday, when the administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner…
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Editor's note appended.Last week’s short-term budget fix underscores tensions between some Democratic lawmakers and the new Republican governor. House and…