Burke Signs On As Co-Sponsor of Gang Registry Bill

Bill would make Illinois's gang database accessible to the public, but critics say bill is too vague about who gets entered into system.

State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th District) signed on as a co-sponsor to HB 3082, a bill that would open the Illinois State Police’s gang member database to the public. HB 3082, State Police Gang Database, was introduced by Rep. Deborah Mell (D-40th District) of the city’s Northwest Side, and is currently before the state house rules committee. Connect with Patch: Oak Lawn / Beverly-Mt. Greenwood / Evergreen Park Illinois’s Statewide Organized Criminal Gang Database is currently available only to prosecutors, police and other statewide law enforcement agencies. Mell would like to list the names of known and alleged gang members, including their last known address, photos, tattoos, other physical marks and favorite hangouts. The registry is …

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State Reps Pop In at Saint Xavier's Fellows Class

State Reps. Kelly Burke (D-36) and Renee Kosel (R-81) visit former Chicago alderdman Virginia Rugai's fellows class.

Illinois Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Local state lawmakers react to Illinois Senate's passage of same-sex marriage bill.

Local Lawmakers React to Illinois Senate's Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Bill

With the bill legalizing same-sex marriage clearing the Illinois Senate, it's now up to the Illinois House to make it a reality. See how your local senator voted.

Illinois took a giant step closer toward legalized same-sex marriage with the passage of the marriage equality bill – SB 10 – in the Illinois Senate on Thursday afternoon. The Senate passed the bill – with 34 in favor, 21 against and two abstentions. The bill still has one hurdle left to clear when it goes before the Illinois House where it needs 60 votes to pass. See how each member of the Illinois Senate voted, by clicking on the pdf. If passed, the state law defining marriage would be changed from an act between a man and a woman, to two people.  State Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District) said he initially had reservations about the bill after attempts to pass it during last month's veto session. The Beverly Democrat brought his …

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Burke Wins 36th District State House, Shelstrom Loses 30 Pounds

Democrat Kelly Burke tops contest in 36th District State House race against Republican challenger Bob Shelstrom, cruising to second term.

Evergreen Park Democrat Kelly Burke easily cruised to her second term in the Illinois State House, beating Republican challenger Robert Shelstrom of Palos Park. Burke carried Chicago’s 18th, 19th and 21st Ward precincts by 84 percent to Shelstrom’s 15 percent, with all but two precincts counted. In the suburbs, Burke defeated Shelstrom by 64 percent of the vote, with 66 of 72 precincts counted for the Illinois State House’s 36th District seat. Burke, who was headed into Quigley’s South Side Irish Pub in Oak Lawn to celebrate her victory with her family, said she hoped to have the opportunity to continue working to fix the state’s fiscal mess in her second term. “I spent a lot of time on the budget trying to get state’s finances in order,” …

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Patch on Politics

State House: Endorsements with a Chuckle and a Shake of the Head

The Tribune dislikes Madigan, and splits its endorsements in the Southland's State House races. Hurley, Burke, Alm and Kalnicky are endorsed.

The editorial board of the Chicago Tribune prefers Democrats in the House districts serving the Chicago Southland and Republicans in the districts serving Will County. And in the 22nd District — a democracy-free zone and the stomping ground of House Speaker Michael Madigan — they see nothing to like. Why? For one, Mike Madigan's Republican opponent is a longtime Democrat. Never mind what his name is. It doesn't matter. In the 35th, the Trib endorses Fran Hurley, a 19th Ward cutout who worked for Ginger Rugai and Matt O'Shea, over Republican Ricardo Fernandez, of Orland Park, a physical therapist with a doctorate who's taught full time at Northwestern University and Governors State University. When Patch asked Fernandez what sets him apart …

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Dean Casper

3:09 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Great observation on the Trib. They talk a good game about reform, but then endorse the enablers from both parties that allow the corruption and incompetence to continue. Why would anyone who is interested in good government and want Madigan's 42 year reign to end want Hurley elected? Madigan attempted to prevent Hurley from even having an opponent, and has been working for the Machine her entire…   more ›

Grant Training for Community and Faith-Based Organizations

State Reps. Bill Cunningham (35th) and Kelly Burke (36th) are hosting a free, half-day workshop in partnership with IDHS for non-profit organizations on Sept. 18. Deadline to register is this Friday.

Do you work for a non-profit or faith-based organization? State Representatives Bill Cunningham (35th District) and Kelly Burke (36th District) are partnering with the Illinois Department of Human Services to host a half-day grantsmanship workshop. Representatives from community and faith-based agencies and organizations will learn how to create effective programs or fine-tune an existing programs. The workshop is taught by IDHS representatives and includes: The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Green Hills Library at 8611 W. 103rd St. in Palos Hills. The workshop is FREE and pre-registration is mandatory. Registration is limited to 40 participants and will be on a first come, first served basis. On-site registration…

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Nolan

10:15 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Hopefully you follow it up with communication to the representatives' offices, but this is a good start. Also, using government funds to support religious organizations is illegal. It goes against the separation of church and state.   more ›

Palos Republican Jumps Into 36th District Race

Bob Shelstrom, of Palos Park, will challenge incumbent State Rep. Kelly Burke in the 36th District.

Voters looking to cast a ballot for a Republican in the Illinois House 36th District in March's primary election were met with a blank space . That will change in November as a GOP candidate has stepped forward to challenge the incumbent Democrat. Bob Shelstrom, an engineer from Palos Park, was nominated by the Republican committeemen from Palos and Worth townships to carry the GOP banner in the general. Shelstrom stepped forward after noticing no Republican candidates on the ballot when he went to vote.  Shelstrom is a frequent and vocal critic of the spending practices of Palos Consolidated School District 118, High School District 230 and the Palos Fire Protection District.  In a statement announcing his candidacy, Shelstrom pledged to …

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Rock Bobster

1:34 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012

Right, Mike. Why don't you tell us about Ms Burke's plan about how she'll solve the pension crisis? The financial meltdown in our bond ratings? The way she intends to bring our business environment rating up from being the 48th worst in the nation? How does she plan to replace the 370,000 well paying Illinois jobs that have been lost due to Madigan's mismanagement and corruption? Why hasn't she …   more ›

St. Xavier's National Championship Football Team Will Be Honored at Assembly

Local and state legislators will join in historic celebration of St. Xavier University's national championship football season.

Some political bigwigs want to meet and greet Saint Xavier University’s football big wigs. State senator Ed Maloney, congressman Dan Lipinski, city alderman Matt O’Shea and state representatives Kelly Burke and Bill Cunningham will join St. Xavier president Christine Wiseman at a special assembly to honor the Cougars’ national championship football team. The assembly will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 17) at Saint Xavier’s Shannon Center, 3700 West 103rd Street. “It’s going to be one of the greatest afternoons in the history of SXU athletics,” Saint Xavier athletic director Bob Hallberg said in a news release. “We anticipate a large turnout from the community as well as the university faculty, staff and especially students as we celebrate …

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Letter from 95th Street: Oak Lawn's Economic Recovery A Mixed Bag

Some business segments in the village are reporting revenue gains, while others still languish.

With the joint House-Senate Revenue Committee ready to take on the mantle of reviewing the state’s corporate tax structure in the Illinois General Assembly, Oak Lawn’s small businesses continue to cling to what little profit gains they’ve made during the nation’s worst economic crisis in 80 years. The Cornerstone Café, whose owner expressed his anxiety to Patch in January when the state’s business tax rose from 4.9 to 7 percent, has since shut its doors. Another venerable Oak Lawn business—Pat’s Hobbies and Craft—shut its doors after more than 30 years of doing business on 95th Street. Four other businesses have called it quits so far in 2011, according to tracking information by the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce. “I’m afraid that the hobby…

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