Category: Government

Hernandez challenges Trump’s attacks on families, laws

State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, condemned the cruel, destructive and unlawful orders President Donald Trump has issued during his first weeks in office, passing a series of formal resolutions aimed at calling out Trump’s extremism and moving Illinois in a fundamentally better direction. “President Trump has made it plain that

Aurora mayoral responses to survey: Jazmine Garcia

The Voice contributor, Marissa Amoni, and other community members, wrote several questions for Aurora mayoral candidates in the consolidated primary election to answer. Below are answers from candidate Jazmine Garcia. How will you work to restore our riverfront along the Fox River, especially north of downtown and RiverEdge Park? I

Illinois students remain at or above national average

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Fourth and eighth grade students in Illinois generally scored as well or better than the national average in reading and math, according to results of the latest round of national test results. But their scores remain below pre-pandemic levels and, in the case of reading,

Rep. Davis announces Helping Households Bill Package

State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has introduced a legislative package to help Illinois families thrive. The Helping Households Bill Package contains six bills to remove burdens, reduce costs, and increase access to critical services for Illinois residents. “We can’t just talk about promoting strong family values, we need to do

Aurora mayoral responses to survey: John Laesch

The Voice contributor, Marissa Amoni, and other community members, wrote several questions for Aurora mayoral candidates in the consolidated primary election to answer. Below are answers from Aurora alderman at-large, John Laesch. How will you work to restore our riverfront along the Fox River, especially north of downtown and RiverEdge

Illinois House lawmakers file almost 1,800 new bills

By Jade AubreyCapitol News Illinoisjaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers kicked off their spring legislative session roughly three weeks ago, but lawmakers in the House have already filed more than 1,800 bills that could be acted on before the General Assembly adjourns in May. The vast majority of the ideas won’t make it

House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map

By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans allege in a new lawsuit filed with the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges the current House map fails to meet state constitutional requirements that districts

‘Blatantly unlawful’ federal spending freeze sends state scrambling; Illinois among several states filing lawsuit to block freeze 

By Ben Szalinski & Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  State agencies, nonprofit organizations and a host of other entities that rely on federal funding were thrown into chaos Tuesday following the release of a White House memo that froze – at least temporarily – the distribution of all federal grants, loans

Aurora City Council approves renewal of APD Youth Explorers program

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council approved a Resolution at the Tuesday, Jan. 28 Aurora City Council meeting, to authorize the Chief of Police to sign and execute the annual memorandum of understanding with Learning for Life, a District of Columbia non-profit corporation for the Aurora Police Department Youth

Reader’s Voice: Donald Trump and the rule of law

January 27, 2025Dear editor; Concerning Donald Trump and the rule of law. Thoughts of an honest, compassionate, non-corrupt Executive Branch of the United States government proved delusional when we as the American electorate voted Trump, once again, as our president and supposed leader of the free world. For some Trump

Reader’s Voice: Presidential pardons, detrimental to law

January 23, 2025Dear editor; Our most recent presidents, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama, have collectively granted more than 11,700 pardons, with president Biden holding the record at more than 8,000 pardons. By granting a pardon voids not only the offence, but it can void the monetary damages owed

Rep. Davis opens petition against far-left legislation

State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has launched a petition opposing newly filed legislation that would legalize prostitution in Illinois. “This proposal highlights the absurdity we face in Springfield every day,” said Rep. Davis. “Legalizing prostitution won’t protect anyone – it will only give a dangerous industry legal cover to exploit

Constitution gone: Presidential power grabs to martial law

John & Nisha Whitehead That didn’t take long. Within days of Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights disappeared from the White House’s website. While the Donald Trump Administration insists the removal of these foundational documents will eventually be restored to the site, the timing and

Bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

By Ben Szalinskibszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comCapitol News Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Tuesday, Jan. 21 signed a long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying less than the minimum wage to workers with disabilities. The bill applies to businesses and other facilities that hold what is known as a 14(c) certificate, named after the

Illinois bill could raise age for mandatory senior license tests

By Ashley Sorianofor Capitol News Illinoisand Medill Illinois News BureauAshleySoriano2025@u.northwestern.edu Older drivers in Illinois could face fewer barriers to renew their driver’s licenses next year as part of a bill that would raise the age for the state-mandated annual driver’s test from 79 to 87. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias