Illinois Legislators Pass Bills Allowing Transgender, Nonbinary Individuals to Change Vital Records
By Christine Misner   |   06.17.21
Just in time for LGBTQ Pride Month, the Illinois Senate passed House Bill 2590 requiring county clerks to issue new marriage certificates upon request to reflect legal name changes for transgender and non-binary individuals. It passed by a vote of...
HHS Sec. Becerra Denies Existence of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban He Voted Against
By Christine Misner   |   05.17.21
In a May 12 appearance before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), repeatedly denied U.S. law banned partial birth abortions. The problem? U.S. law does ban partial birth abortions and Becerra himself even voted against the law.
Drag Queen Sunday at a Central Illinois Church
By Christine Misner   |   05.01.21
At first glance someone viewing Bloomington, Illinois’ Hope United Methodist Church’s Sunday morning worship service online might chuckle about the 1980s style “big hair” worn by the redheaded woman addressing viewers on April 11. But looks can be deceiving. That particular Sunday was Drag Queen Sunday, and the person speaking was Ms. “Penny Cost,” the drag alter ego of Isaac Simmons, Hope Church’s director of operations.
Trafficking Expert and Survivor Speaks Out Against Repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion Act
By Christine Misner   |   04.12.21
During the spring General Assembly’s legislative session, Democrat state lawmakers introduced the Repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (HB 1797 and SB 2190). Parents for the Protection of Girls hosted a press conference in opposition to the bill which...
Illinoisans Overwhelmingly Support Parental Notice for Minors Prior to Abortion
By Christine Misner   |   03.29.21
Democrat state lawmakers introduced the Repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (HB 1797 and SB 2190) in the Illinois General Assembly’s spring legislative session. The bill would repeal the current law and allow minor females to obtain abortions without...
Peoria Homeschool Convention Offers Insight and a New Way for Parents
By Christine Misner   |   02.27.21
Many parents, and even grandparents, in Illinois might be giving homeschooling another look after the passage of controversial new teaching standards and proposed new sex education instruction beginning in kindergarten for public schools. The 2021 APACHE Homeschool Convention, to be held March 11-13 in Groveland, Illinois will provide information to families interested in homeschooling, offer advice to homeschooling veterans, and include practical workshops for those at all levels.
Gardner: Stop Big Tech and Big Businesses Silencing of Conservative Voices
By Christine Misner   |   01.28.21
Following the January 6th lawlessness at the Capitol in Washington D.C., Twitter permanently suspended President Donald Trump’s account and thousands of other conservative users began reporting their accounts were suspended or they had lost large numbers of followers. The migration...
Abortion Nightmare Closure
By Christine Misner   |   01.15.21
The Office of the Indiana Attorney General (OAG) has completed its final report into former Illinois resident and late abortionist, Ulrich Klopfer. In 2016, Klopfer’s license to practice medicine in Indiana, where he had three clinics, was revoked. Following his...
Rape-Kit Backlog Increases Despite Politicians’ Efforts
By Christine Misner   |   12.22.20
Many government officials and progressives in Illinois like to tout the state as being a leader in championing the women’s rights. In April 2020, a report in the Chicago Tribune showed a shocking backlog of rape kits waiting to be tested by the Illinois State Police. Women across the state have suffered for years while waiting for the DNA of their attackers to be tested in hopes of having their cases solved and their violators brought to justice. Since that report brought the problem to the public’s attention, the ISP has made progress, but there are many kits still to be tested with more rape crimes adding to that number.
Red Cross Called Out For ‘Misleading’ Climate & Disaster Claims
By Christine Misner   |   11.25.20
The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) called out the International Red Cross for releasing what it calls a “grossly misleading” report on climate change. The Red Cross report claims the number of climate and weather-related disasters have increased by 35% since 1990, when a UN report released in October shows climate-related disasters have declined by 15 percent in the last 20 years.
White Paper: Marijuana Use Causes Brain Damage in Teens
By Christine Misner   |   11.17.20
Since January, when the recreational use of marijuana became legal in Illinois, state-licensed stores have sold more than $500 million worth of the drug. Illinois is one of 15 states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational use of the drug. In 1996 California legalized the medical marijuana. Nearly a quarter century later, 36 states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia now permit it. Over this period marijuana use has become acceptable in most of the United States. But has this acceptance brought harm to young people?
Black Pro-Life Coalition Calls on Government to Investigate Planned Parenthood for Racial Discrimination
By Christine Misner   |   10.30.20
Planned Parenthood has been called out by the National Black Pro-Life Coalition for “systemic racism” and targeting pregnant Black women in a racial discrimination claim filed against the organization. This network of Pro-Life and Pro-Family organizations wants the federal government to “investigate and hold Planned Parenthood accountable for their continuing violations of civil rights laws as their services have had a tremendously negative and lasting impact on Black women and children--and overall, the Black family.”
Graham Calls for Prayer and Fasting this Sunday, Oct. 25th
By Christine Misner   |   10.21.20
Nearly a month after calling Christians to the nation’s capital for a prayer march, Franklin Graham is calling on them again, this time to join him for a day of prayer and fasting. The IFI board of directors and staff will heed this call, and we intentionally fast and pray for our state and nation this Sunday.
Human Trafficking, Humanity, and History
By Christine Misner   |   09.24.20
In recent years some organizations and movements on the left have placed a greater emphasis on the role of slavery in our nation’s past. To their view, this “original” sin surrounding the nation’s beginnings cast a permanent pall that cannot ever be overcome. Black Lives Matter (BLM) and The 1619 Project are two of the most prominent examples of this, but neither seek to engage and end slavery for its present-day victims.
Illinois State Board of Elections Sued for Failing to Provide Requested Voter Data
By Christine Misner   |   09.23.20
As Election Day November 3 nears tensions in the country continue to run high. The candidates, parties, and voters are expressing worry over mail-in balloting which is being promoted over in-person voting due to the recent pandemic. In the midst of this unease, the Illinois Conservative Union (ICU), along with Judicial Watch, have filed suit against the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE).
Christine Misner
Christine Misner

Christine Misner grew up in northeastern Missouri, but now lives and works in central Illinois. She loves to write, travel, and discuss politics. You can follow her on Twitter @LCMisner.

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