Category: Government

Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, presents a budget bill on the House floor early Saturday morning before lawmakers adjourned for the summer around 3 a.m..
Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, presents a budget bill on the House floor early Saturday morning before lawmakers adjourned for the summer around 3 a.m.. Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams

Budget vote brings Illinois General Assembly’s 2023 spring session to a close

House gives final OK to $50.6 billion spending plan  By Peter Hancock  Capitol News Illinois The 2023 spring legislative session came to an end in the early hours of Saturday morning after the Illinois House gave its approval to a $50.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that

Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, on the Senate floor in March.
Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, on the Senate floor in March. Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki

Illinois legislature approves bill to tighten restrictions on red-light camera industry

Bill hailed as first step toward broader ethics reform  By Andrew Adams Capitol News Illinois Lawmakers in Springfield have unanimously approved a measure that would place new restrictions on the red-light and speed camera industry’s involvement in state and local elections and government.   House Bill 3903 would ban automatic traffic enforcement

Abusive clergy exposed in State sex investigation

By Hannah Meisel Catholic dioceses in Illinois failed to disclose hundreds of abusive clerics before the State opened what would become a years-long investigation into sex abuse within the Church, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday. Included in a scathing 700-page report published by Raoul’s office at the end of

Owners of large properties receive Aurora Mayor’s Awards

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Tuesday, May 23, at the Aurora City Council meeting to many individuals and organizations for their efforts in honor of National Preservation Month. Honored were owners of nine houses and three large redeveloped properties. The redevelopment

State prepares to wrap up session with bills

By Andrew Adams and Hannah Meisel As the State General Assembly prepares to wrap up its Spring legislative session this week, Democratic Party lawmakers are advancing a bill that would mandate job postings to include a salary range in a move they say would promote equity within the workplace. Meanwhile,

Reader’s Voice: Situation at Mexican border alarming

May 15, 2023Dear editor; Can the incompetence of the Joe Biden administration be any clearer than the alarming humanitarian situation we have on the Mexico border? Estimates show thousands of immigrants are coming across the border every day. The current situation is out of control and dangerous. A robust, well-regulated

National security less threatening than trampled rights

By John & Nisha Whitehead How far would you really go to secure the Nation’s borders in the so-called name of national security? Would you give the government limitless amounts of money? Surround the entire country with concrete walls and barbed wire? Erect a high-tech, virtual wall of AI-powered surveillance

‘Common carriers’ companies could be held liable

By Nika Schoonover Ride-share companies such as Uber and Lyft would be subject to the same level of liability as other forms of public transportation under a measure moving through the General Assembly. House Bill 2231 would classify ride-shares as “common carriers,” meaning the companies can be held liable, rather

Sherman Jenkins honored at Aurora City Council

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented a proclamation to retiring Aurora alderman-at-large Sherman Jenkins at the Aurora City Council meeting, Tuesday, May 9, in honor of his service to the City. Mayor Irvin proclaimed September 27 as Sherman L. Jenkins Day, his birthday, in the city of