Select an RSS feed from the list below

  • Top DailyHerald.com headlines
  • Top DailyHerald.com Sports headlines
  • Top DailyHerald.com Business headlines
  • Top DailyHerald.com Life & Entertainment headlines
Go

View the complete list of DailyHerald.com RSS links |

Subscriber Total Access Learn more
loading
Home Delivery Order Customer Service

Mike Riopell

State Government Writer

Mike Riopell is the Daily Herald's state government writer, working out of the Capitol Complex in Springfield. He started there the day after Election Day 2010 after several years reporting on politics and government for several downstate newspapers. Earlier, he worked in the Daily Herald's Lake County bureau.

Riopell tries to cover the machinations of state government and politics from a suburban perspective, focusing on local politicians and policy that has a big impact in the suburbs. This includes the Friday Suburban Political Recount column he co-writes with political writer Kerry Lester and their blog of the same name.

He particularly enjoys stories that take data the state keeps - from gambling revenues to food stamps usage and child support delinquency - to reveal changes to life in the suburbs.

He has a master's degree in public affairs reporting that he earned partly via an internship in the Daily Herald's Statehouse bureau in 2005.

Riopell lives in Springfield with his wife and daughter, and enjoys haphazard attempts at home repair, being outside and cycling, particularly his bicycle commutes to work at the Capitol Complex.

Complete the form below to send Mike a message

Your full name
Your e-mail address
Your phone number
Your message
items 1-10 out of 427
1 2 3 4 Next > Last >>


Budget showdown looming in Springfield

May 26 2012 | 4:46 pm - State lawmakers foreshadowed a showdown over the Illinois budget Saturday, starting to advance a schools spending plan that would cut schools more deeply than a Senate proposal. The House and Senate are supposed to agree to a plan by a Thursday...

Senate targets former Oak Brook chief's pension

May 26 2012 | 4:46 pm - The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that would strike down a pension-sweetening law that boosted former Oak Brook police chief Thomas Sheahan's pension and left the town with a $750,000 debt as a result.

Pension debate: Higher school cost in, raised retiring age out

May 25 2012 | 8:42 pm - As lawmakers appear to be stepping back from two proposals to cut teachers' pension benefits, a plan to have local school districts and community colleges take over the state's share of future retirement costs remains in play.

Bill inspired by Elgin school stabbing goes back to House

May 25 2012 | 4:47 pm - The Illinois Senate Friday approved legislation inspired by an Elgin case in which a teacher was stabbed, sending to the House a plan that would try to prevent school violence.

Plastic recycling plan fails by one vote

May 24 2012 | 6:03 pm - The Illinois House Thursday narrowly rejected a proposal to create a statewide recycling program for plastic shopping bags based on an effort already going on in Lake County.

Cook County could get Medicaid reprieve

May 24 2012 | 10:21 pm - As part of a greater package deal to try to cut the state's Medicaid costs, Illinois lawmakers Thursday sent Gov. Pat Quinn a plan that could let Cook County enroll 100,000 more people in the program in 2014 to try to save the county money.

Plastic bag recycling plan rejected

May 24 2012 | 7:14 pm - The Illinois House Thursday narrowly rejected a proposal to create a statewide recycling program for plastic shopping bags based on an effort already going on in Lake County.

Batavia woman can't be sued over steamy online hoax

May 24 2012 | 8:53 pm - A Batavia woman can't be sued for creating more than 20 fake personalities online to foster an Internet relationship with a California woman, who spent $10,000 on gifts for her phantom love, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled today.

Illinois Senate budget called premature

May 24 2012 | 5:24 am - They've yet to agree on how to answer the state's two most pressing financial challenges — spending on health care for the poor and public pensions — but Illinois Senate Democrats drove forward with a budget plan Wednesday evening that...

Illinois House passes gambling bill with more casinos, slots at racetracks

May 24 2012 | 5:38 am - The Illinois House approved a sweeping gambling expansion plan Wednesday, renewing an effort to build new casinos and put slot machines at Arlington Park that has stalled since last year. The plan would allow for 1,200 slot machines at the Arlington...

items 1-10 out of 427
1 2 3 4 Next > Last >>


Back to Company Directory

Blog: Political Recount

» Read more blog posts

Latest Tweets

» Read more Tweets