By Jenna SchweikertCapitol News Illinoisjschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com Capitol News Illinois has launched its revamped 2026 Election Guide to coincide with the opening of early voting throughout much of the state. The guide has a rundown of key dates, information on how to register and vote early, and a lookup tool to put
The City of Aurora government will host a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. to honor the seventh anniversary of the Henry Pratt Company Mass Shooting, which took the lives of five company employees and injured five Aurora police officers Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. The ceremony, which will
February 3, 2026Dear editor; As far back as Apostle Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, it’s been said that “It rains on the just and the unjust.” I’m probably the last person who ought to quote Scripture, but I believe that this verse means that God’s blessings (sun)
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on his vote in favor of the funding package that reopens the government, locks in Democratic wins in the budget, and provides a two-week window to negotiate meaningful changes to ICE: “(The) vote is a win for Democrats and for the people
By John & Nisha Whitehead In 2021, amid a global pandemic, warnings that the federal government might repurpose warehouses into detention facilities on American soil were dismissed as speculative, alarmist, even conspiratorial. Five years later, what was speculation is a blueprint for locking up whomever the government chooses to target.
By Ben Szalinskibszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comCapital News Illinois Who wants to manage Illinois’ checkbook as the State faces growing financial uncertainty? Three State legislators and the treasurer of one of the State’s largest counties have raised their hand. Incumbent comptroller Susana Mendoza — who has first took office in 2016 in the middle
By Jenna SchweikertCapitol News Illinoisjschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com New work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are in effect as of February 1, threatening benefits for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisians. Adults aged 18 to 64 without dependents under age 14 will be required to work, participate in SNAP Employment and
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker is continuing to push a plan he introduced two years ago to reform Illinois pensions. The governor announced on Monday he is reviving a plan he introduced during his 2024 budget address that calls for fully funding pensions by 2048 and changing
State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, applauds governor JB Pritzker’s leadership on embracing the bold ideas for pension reform and a plan to pay down the state of Illinois over $140 Billion pension debt. “Throughout my tenure as pension chair and now pension-appropriations chair, we have thoughtfully studied and evaluated the
State representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) released a statement after governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that three organizations in the Aurora area would receive financial awards as part of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The three organizations in the Aurora area to
February 2 U.S. congressmen Bill Foster (D-IL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s digital identity infrastructure and protect individuals, businesses, and government programs from rapidly rising identity fraud and theft. The Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act establishes a government-wide approach to
By John & Nisha Whitehead What does it say about a political movement that demands absolute reverence for life in the womb yet shrugs when the government kills, cages, or brutalizes the living? What does it say about a government—and a political movement—that claims to value the unborn, but once
By Brenden MooreCapitol News Illinoisbmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois’ once-sleepy Democratic primary for retiring senator Dick Durbin’s seat heated up January 27 as the three leading contenders used their first live debate to cast themselves as the strongest bulwark against president Donald Trump and his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. The hourlong debate,
By Olivia ArditoMedill Illinois News Bureaunews@capitolnewsillinois.com Flu cases are increasing rapidly in Illinois as the state sees its worst flu season in more than 15 years. At least 100 people have died from the flu this season in Illinois, with 77 of those deaths occurring this month alone, according to
The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County (lwvckcil.com) has announced plans for two upcoming candidate forums, which will feature candidates in contested races who are on the ballot for the upcoming Tuesday, March 17 Illinois General Primary Election. The first forum will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday,
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council viewed a summary about a gas main that was damaged Wednesday, Jan. 21 near Rush-Copley Hospital at the Tuesday, Jan. 27 City Council meeting. Interim Fire Chief Kevin Nickel explained a construction company was installing a new sign and hit a five-inch supply
State representative Stephanie Kifowit announced that the City of Naperville has been awarded a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant to support major improvements at the Nike Sports Complex, a key recreational asset serving families, athletes, and residents throughout the community. The funding is part of a
January 27, 2026Dear editor; Have we had enough hostility and chaos from all sides? It was Abraham Lincoln who counselled, “We’re just about as happy as we decide to be.” What’s true with people is also true with nations. Our political and media leaders at all levels should be cautioned
State representative Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, and State senator Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, recently visited the site of a new water tower in North Aurora, a project they worked to include within the state’s 2026 budget to ensure accessible drinking water for residents and businesses. “The weather may be dreary, but the
“…The House will be taking up the 2026 Homeland Security funding bill. After reviewing the text of the legislation, I will be voting no. “Last year, Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ increased ICE’s funding to exceed some countries’ military budgets. Since then, ICE operations have terrorized U.S. citizens and immigrants in
