Category: State News

Pritzker signs $1.5B plan to overhaul public transportation, avoid service cuts by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois December 16, 2025 Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to provide $1.5 billion in new revenue for public transportation agencies while…

Downstate Road Districts to Suffer From Recently Passed “NITA” Bill The 2025 Illinois transit bill, known as the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act (SB 2111), was signed into law on December 16, 2025. The bill impacts downstate road districts primarily…

OSF HealthCare to withdraw Ottawa replacement hospital permit and begin fresh planning process  December 8, 2025 (Ottawa, Illinois | December 8, 2025) – OSF HealthCare announced today the withdrawal of its current permit application (#24-011) to replace the OSF Saint Elizabeth…

Illinois lawmakers approve state-specific vaccine guidelines, punt on gambling bill by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois November 5, 2025 Article Summary Illinois lawmakers passed 24 bills during the two-week fall veto session. House Bill 767 would allow IDPH Director Sameer…

Lawmakers approve $1.5B transit funding package without statewide tax increases by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois October 31, 2025 Article Summary A new transit funding bill passed Thursday night raises $1.5 billion for public transportation agencies, mostly in the Chicago…

Krishnamoorthi spends $450K per week on TV ads in Senate race by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois October 16, 2025 Article Summary Raja Krishnamoorthi raised $3.1 million and spent $5.9 million last quarter, bringing his total cash on hand at…

Hundreds of police departments use camera company accused of breaking state law by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois August 27, 2025 Article Summary Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias alleged that Flock Safety, a police tech company, illegally shared data with…

New Republican to run for Illinois governor as election season begins by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois August 14, 2025 Article Summary Ted Dabrowski, the president of a conservative public policy research organization, said he plans to announce his campaign…

Pritzker signs police background check expansion in Sonya Massey’s honor by Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois August 12, 2025 Article Summary Police departments will be required to request detailed background history from past employers, who will be mandated to provide…

State-backed quantum park plan expands with new company, computer by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois July 23, 2025 Article Summary Quantum computing company Infleqtion will open an office in Illinois and build a quantum computer on Chicago’s South Side. Infleqtion…

Kelly leans on experience in Illinois’ Democratic Senate primary by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 25, 2025 Article Summary U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Matteson Democrat, is running for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat, emphasizing accomplishments throughout her career….

Intoxicating hemp remains unregulated in Illinois following legislative inaction by Isabella Schoonover, Simon Carr and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois July 16, 2025 Article Summary Industrial hemp production was legalized in the U.S. and in Illinois in 2018….

Advocates await action on bill protecting rights of immigrant students in Illinois by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12…

Mascot ban stalls as Native-backed land conservation bill advances by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois June 3, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ legislative session concluded without passage of a Native American K-12 school mascot ban,…

Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal…

Pritzker signs order to protect personal autism data in response to federal action by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 8, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker issued an executive order Wednesday that bars…

  Advocates push for mandatory minimum nurse staffing ratios at Illinois hospitals by Grace Friedman and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois May 5, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Health care unions continue to rally for legislation to address understaffing they…

Lawmakers seek ways to prevent data centers from straining Illinois’ power grids by Leonardo Pini and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois April 9, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Illinois has been at the forefront of the data center boom, but…

Bill banning dwarfism slur as mascot passes House by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois April 8, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — The House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban public schools from using mascots that…

It’s not just Chicago. Downstate public transit agencies face funding challenges by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois April 7, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Outside the busy systems of buses and trains moving about a million commuters around Chicago and its suburbs…

Billions were pledged, but many Illinois university construction projects stalled by Ryan Grieser and The Saluki Local Reporting Lab, Capitol News Illinois March 24, 2025 Buildings on Illinois’ college campuses were falling apart when lawmakers approved $2.9 billion for higher…

Proposal stalls to strengthen law mandating foster kids move placements with luggage, not trash bags by Erin Drumm and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois March 18, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Four years ago, the General Assembly unanimously approved a…

Pritzker’s community college initiative stalls in House committee by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois March 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — One of Gov. JB Pritzker’s top legislative initiatives stalled in the General Assembly this week when the chair of the House…

Cell phone ban legislation clears Senate committee by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois March 19, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Legislation that would prohibit public school students from using cell phones and other wireless communication devices during class time cleared a Senate…

Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois March 4, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — The Trump administration has stopped reimbursing Illinois for a program designed to help farmers and supply fresh food to Illinois food…

Illinois bill aims to add more oversight of homeschooling  Following a ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois investigation, an Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require families to tell their public school districts if they are homeschooling. By Molly Parker…

Pritzker to call for expansion of 4-year degree offerings at some community colleges by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois February 19, 2025 Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction to Martin Torres’s job title. SPRINGFIELD –…

Pritzker says federal funds still being withheld; warns of further spending cuts 770K Illinoisans could lose health coverage under GOP federal budget plan By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration this…

Lawsuit threatens Illinois minority teachers scholarship by Jordan Owens and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois February 25, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed continuing funding for a program aimed at getting more minority teachers in classrooms…

As federal deadline approaches, Illinois Secretary of State urges residents to “Get Real” by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois February 20, 2025 With a deadline approaching for U.S. citizens to obtain Real IDs, Illinois…

State official: renewable investments ‘best thing’ to lower energy costs by Andrew Adams and Leonardo Pini, Capitol News Illinois February 18, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — With an increasing number of officials warning Illinois might struggle to meet its renewable energy goals,…

Committee advances bill to ban vehicle searches based on smell of cannabis by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois February 18, 2025 An Illinois Senate committee advanced a bill on Tuesday that would strictly limit police’s ability to search a vehicle…

New state transportation chief hopes for ‘a good kind of disruption’ by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois February 14, 2025 CHICAGO — Gia Biagi made her name building parks. Now, she’s leading the department that oversees more than 145,000 miles…

House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans…

House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans…

Illinois Shelter Alliance calls for $100M state funding boost to fight homelessness by Atmika Iyer and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois January 14, 2025 CHICAGO – With homelessness increasing in Illinois, a coalition of shelter providers and advocates is…

Potawatomi land transfer clears General Assembly by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois January 9, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Nearly two centuries after losing its reservation in Illinois in a land sale that most people now concede was illegal, the Prairie Band…

Local journalism tax credit application window opens by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 6, 2025 News organizations in Illinois can now apply to receive tax credits for journalists that were on their payroll…

Federal judge strikes down Illinois assault weapons ban, setting up likely appeal by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois November 8, 2024 SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in East St. Louis on Friday struck down Illinois’ assault weapons ban on the…

By the numbers: Unions lead the way on funding state elections in Illinois by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois October 30, 2024 This year in Illinois, there are no statewide elections. There are no fights over a Supreme Court seat….