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.

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No solution after pension summit

Feb 11 2013 | 6:21 pm - Union leaders Monday used a “pension summit” in Burr Ridge to once again call on top Illinois lawmakers to negotiate with them over changes to teachers' and state workers' retirement benefits State lawmakers have been gridlocked on the...

Kotowski a central player in gun debate

Feb 10 2013 | 1:01 am - Before being elected to the state Senate, Democrat Dan Kotowski of Park Ridge was a visible player in the emotional debate over guns in Illinois. Kotowski worked for six years as the executive director for the Illinois Council Against Handgun...

Gov. Quinn backs Cullerton's pension plan

Feb 07 2013 | 7:41 am - Gov. Pat Quinn threw his influence squarely behind Senate President John Cullerton's plan to cut the state's pension costs, endorsing it over a competing proposal pushed by suburban Democratic Rep. Elaine Nekritz. "I urge all of you to be part of...

Illinois Senate gets same-sex marriage plan moving

Feb 06 2013 | 11:14 am - Democrats restarted the push to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois Tuesday, setting the stage for a potential Valentine's Day vote in the full Senate. A Senate committee approved legalizing same-sex marriage by a 9-5 vote. Of suburban members on...

Big question looms in pension debate: Are cuts legal?

Feb 05 2013 | 7:50 am - As lawmakers resume the debate over Illinois's growing retirement fund debts in the coming weeks, perhaps the biggest looming question is whether cutting employees' pension benefits as proposed is legal. No one knows for sure how the Illinois...

Schaumburg District 54 sues over pension penalties

Feb 01 2013 | 7:46 am - Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 has sued the state's retirement fund for teachers in an attempt to get back about $97,000 in penalties the district had to pay after giving three consecutive 22 percent raises to an administrator, raising...

Local roads, bridges, bike paths get state money

Jan 31 2013 | 8:01 am - Several projects to improve suburban streets, bridges and bike routes are getting funds from a state and federal program, Gov. Pat Quinn announced Wednesday.

Springfield session begins with full plate of money woes

Jan 28 2013 | 7:08 am - When lawmakers return to Springfield this week, suburban officials will be among the leaders on a handful of tough issues. The underlying challenge will once again be the state's troubled finances. "I expect this year to be even tougher than last...

Cameras approved for Lake County courtrooms

Jan 25 2013 | 7:32 am - Lake County judges will be able to open their courtrooms to cameras for the first time, after the Illinois Supreme Court gave its approval Thursday. "Our 15 circuit judges have expressed unanimous support for this pilot project," Lake County Chief...

Brady committee to analyze GOP's 2012 election losses

Jan 25 2013 | 7:32 am - Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is organizing a committee of the party faithful to analyze the GOP's significant 2012 election losses and plan for 2014. Republicans suffered big losses in the suburbs in November, falling in the three...

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