Category: Government

Governor signs $53.1 billion Illinois budget

By Andrew Adams, Jerry Nowicki, & Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker Wednesday, June 5, signed the State’s $53.1 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, the largest in State history. The signing caps months of work – and tension – among top Democratic Party leaders in Springfield

Taxes to increase on sports betting, video gambling

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com In order to boost infrastructure spending and avoid a projected fiscal cliff facing the State in the next couple of years, Democrats who control State government are betting on two of its most rapidly growing revenue sources: Sports wagering and video gambling. The industries –

Reader’s Voice: Count Aurora fairly: Aurora mayor

June 3, 2024Dear editor; According to the 2020 Census report, the City of Aurora’s population declined from approximately 197,000 in 2010 to now around 180,000, indicating a loss of 17,000 residents. However, the decline is an unfortunate and unacceptable product of a faulty 2020 Census report, which exacerbates inaccuracies and

Tax proceeds distribution difficulties from Illinois Cannabis Tax Act hurts Blacks and Hispanics in Illinois R3 Communities

Dear Governor Pritzker, I hope this message finds you well. I’m Marcus Robinson, also known as Coach HYPE, a military veteran, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Gametime Life Skills, based in Aurora. Our organization is proud to affiliate with MLB’s Nike RBI Program, which fosters youth baseball and softball development.

Health insurance changes target ‘utilization management’

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A package of health insurance reform measures that Gov. JB Pritzker called for at the beginning of the legislative session will soon be headed to his desk for his signature. The Illinois House gave final approval Saturday to a pair of bills that limit the

Measure targets ‘legacy’ admission at public universities

By Dilpreet Raju, Cole Longcor, & Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers missed a self-imposed Friday deadline for passing a budget, but they had approved more than 250 bills last week as of Friday afternoon. Amid the flurry of legislation was a measure prohibiting State universities from admitting students based

Potawatomi Nation closer to acquiring land

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a step closer to acquiring a 1,500-acre state park in DeKalb County, much of which was once part of a reservation that was illegally seized from the tribe in the mid-19th Century. As the Senate worked through its last

Aurora Mayor’s Award to Fox Valley Mall

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented his Mayor’s Award of Excellence to representatives from the Fox Valley Mall at the May 28 Aurora City Council meeting. International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Global Awards are the most recognized achievement for professional excellence in the marketplaces industry. The