News and Issues
Indiana lawmakers advance Illinois secession bill. Why some Democrats voted for it
IndyStar By: Kayla Dwyer February 18, 2025
Illinois shouldn’t dismiss Indiana’s overture to snap up “separatist” downstate counties – Wirepoints
Wirepoints By: Ted Dabrowski February 17, 2025
Secession From Illinois Is in the Air
Wall Street Journal – Opinion , by The Editorial Board February 07, 2025
Indiana border bill energizes Illinois movement to create nation’s 51st state
Illinois Economic Digest , by Carson Gerber, CNHI News Indiana State Reporter, Washington Herald-Times February 02, 2025
33 Illinois counties explore formation of a new state. Here’s what could happen
Springfield State Journal- Register, by Steven Spearie January 31, 2025
Rural Midwesterners fight to split ‘failed’ blue state in two after years of Democrat chaos
Daily Mail UK, by JAMES REINL 18 January 2025
Could Indiana actually take counties from Illinois?
13WTHR Indiana, by Mike Potter January 15, 2025
“Splitsville”: Separatist movements are gaining steam in Blue states.
The Spectator, article by Dave Seminara December 26, 2024
New Illinois Movement Gains Steam After Election
Axios Illinois, article by Justin Kaufman December 4, 2024
Note: Axios is a left-of-center publication. We appreciate that Justin Kaufmann, the author of this article depicted the topic in a balanced way and not as a Republican vs Democrat conflict. In fact, he looks at the movement for a new state as a civil rights issue, because we are lacking representative government.
G.H. Merritt Chairman of New Illinois and Illinois State Representative Brad Halbrook, guests on Leland Vittert’s NewsNation “On Balance”
News Nation “On Balance” November 27, 2024
A Look at the New State Movement in IL, CA, and Oregon
Fox And Friends November 18, 2024
The Rural Areas Pushing for Divorce From Democratic Cities
News Story from The Wall Street Journal Nov 17, 2024 | 7:52 PM by Joe Barrett
“Group lays out plan to make ‘New Illinois’ state”
Interview on “Illinois In Focus” of America’s Talking Network
October 30, 2024
March Meeting at Palmer Arena: New Illinois State Split Organization Forms Vermilion County Committee
News Story from VCF (Vermillion County First) Feb 14, 2024 | 7:52 PM
State-split group creates committee in Southern Illinois, shares reasons for its existence
By ROBERT ROBBINS The Southern Illinoisan 2/3/2024 7:52 PM
New Illinois State Split Organization Forms Southeastern Illinois Committee
January 31, 2024 by Villagers Voice
New Illinois’ sets meetings to pursue forming new state
FOX 2 now Feb 22, 2023
Southern Illinois Ratchets Up Efforts to Split from Corrupt Chicago
HEADLINE USA – December 9, 2022
Organization Pushes For New State Amid Illinois’ ‘Fiscal Catastrophe’
The Daily Caller – 12/8/2022
Secession movements gain traction in US amid deepening political rifts: ‘A long-standing problem’
Fox News Dec 2, 2022
Downstate Illinois residents gather to learn more about creating 51st state
TV News Story from KHQA ABC News Oct. 17, 2020
Even some Cook County residents are looking for a new Illinois
Wirepoints, February 25, 2020
“Exit Option” complicates picture for Illinois Pension reform” by Bill Bergman. 1.23.20.
article from the Daily Herald Jan. 23, 2020
Do governments ever go out of business? How about Illinois governments?
article From Truth in Accounting, Dec 3, 2019
New Illinois pitches separation from Chicago to White County
article from The Navigator. November 20, 2019
Quincy Tea Party in Adams County hosted a presentation on New Illinois by Chairman G. H. Merritt.
September 3,2019
Libertarian Party of Chicago hosts presentation by New Illinois
August 6, 2019
the Libertarian Party of Chicago hosted a presentation by New Illinois at The Piggery in Lakeview, near Wrigley Field. Rep. Brad Halbrook, New Illinois Chairman G. H. Merritt, and Tom Kozik (formerly of New California and now a resident of Kane County) presented the case that the state split can be a win-win for Chicago as well as the rest of the state.
“Meet the People working to kick Chicago out of Illinois”
article from the Chicago Tribune Aug. 1, 2019
“These Illinois Republicans are rallying around a bill to kick deep-blue Chicago out of the state“
article from the Washington Post, May 20, 2019
Paul Preston, President of New California, guest appearance on “American Thought Leaders” – The Epoch Times – Apr 17, 2019
New California began in 2016. Paul serves on the advisory board of New Illinois, and his help has been invaluable to New Illinois.
Rep. Brad Halbrook (102nd District) sponsors HR101, the resolution to split the State of Illinois
Article from “Guest Commentary” – The News Gazette Apr. 7, 2019
Rep. Brad Halbrook (102nd District) is the chief sponsor of HR101, the resolution to split the State of Illinois. Here he explains what the New Illinois movement is all about – returning power to the people.
Townhall Meeting Effingham Performance Center
March 10, 2019, A townhall meeting featuring elected officials and other speakers was held at the Effingham Performance Center. The center was packed with a capacity crowd of 1600. Rep. Brad Halbrook asked the crowd, “Who wants to separate from Chicago and Cook County?” The entire crowd rose to their feet and cheered! Brad went on to explain the process for making the state split happen.
New Illinois holds its first informational event of 2019
Event held at the DeKalb public library, March 9, 2019. Speakers included Congressional Candidate Jim Marter, Rep. Brad Halbrook, G. H. Merritt and Paul Preston from New California.
Rep. Brad Halbrook and cosponsors Darren Bailey and Chris Miller introduced HR101, a resolution to split the State of Illinois.
February 7, 2019
