Category: Policy

Aurora City Council Unanimously Approves Ordinance Prohibiting The Use Of City Property For Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities

At a special meeting on Wednesday night, the Aurora City Council unanimously approved a City Ordinance that prohibits the use of City property for civil immigration enforcement activities.  The Ordinance is specifically tailored to prohibit the use of any City-owned and controlled property, including parking lots, buildings, or parks, as a

State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, is joined by a coalition of advocates at a Statehouse news conference to push for a $300 per-child tax credit. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)

Capitol Briefs: Tax credits for children, manufacturers among new legislative proposals

Insurance coverage for fertility treatments, child internet regulations also introduced By Andrew Adams Cole Longcor& Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com After failing to pass a child tax credit last year, advocates returned to Springfield Wednesday to propose a scaled back version of the policy which they say would still reduce child poverty

Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers introduce police reform measures, advocates look to end tipped wage

Proposals draw support from gun safety groups, worry from law enforcement advocates By Andrew Adams& Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Chicago — Families of gun violence victims are asking the state legislature to reform how police handle unsolved murder investigations through legislation introduced this week. House Bill 4753, sponsored by Rep.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pictured in Springfield. (Illustration by Capitol News Illinois)

Capitol Briefs: State gets ‘average’ lung cancer grade, announces opioid settlements, manufacturing grants

Lung Association rates state policies; opioid funds top $1.3 billion; ‘Made in Illinois’ program launches By Cole Longcor& Jennifer FullerCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The American Lung Association’s 2023 “State of Lung Cancer” report shows Illinois has “a lot of work to do” to ensure individuals at high risk for lung cancer

Donald Trump faces legal review in Cook County court after the Illinois State Board of Elections rejected a request to remove his name from the 2024 ballot. (Capitol News Illinois illustration by Andrew Adams. Original photo by Gage Skidmore used under CC-SA 2.0 license.)

Group challenging Trump’s ballot access in Cook County court hopes for quick decision

Judge asked to overturn Board of Elections ruling By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A national voting rights organization is asking a Cook County judge to overturn a ruling from the Illinois State Board of Elections and block former President Donald Trump from being listed on the March 19 Republican primary

State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, is pictured at a committee hearing in Chicago in July 2023. Cunningham is the lead sponsor of a bill to curtail the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. (Capitol News Illinois file photo by Andrew Adams)

Democratic leaders poised to revisit Biometric Information Privacy Act after court rulings

Business groups have long sought changes to statute that’s led to hundreds of lawsuits By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Nearly a year ago, the Illinois Supreme Court asked the General Assembly to clarify a 15-year-old law that’s led to hundreds of lawsuits and several high-dollar settlements with companies alleged to

Illinois Governor-appointed board would have authority to cap drug costs

Lawmakers introduce bill to create State prescription drug price oversight board

Governor-appointed board would have authority to cap drug costs By Alex Abbeduto  Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  A new bill in the Illinois General Assembly would create a board of health care experts that would have the authority to set price limits on prescription medications.  House Bill 4472 was introduced Wednesday by

State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, is pictured at the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules hearing Tuesday in Springfield. The committee objected to proposed permanent rules governing the state’s assault weapons ban, although the ban and registration requirement remains in place. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)

Lawmakers clear path for assault weapon registration rules

Some members record symbolic objection, saying rules are too vague and complicated By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Springfield – New permanent rules will soon go into effect spelling out how people who own assault weapons and related items that are now heavily regulated in Illinois can register them with the

Two employees of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office national conference on sexual violence against children

Two Kane County SAO staff members give presentation at Bolivian conference about sexual violence against children

Key message: Child’s word is sufficient evidence of abuse Two employees of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office recently traveled to the South American country of Bolivia to address hundreds of judges, prosecutors and medical and mental health officials at a national conference on sexual violence against children. Assistant State’s

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

Aurora Civilian Review Board holds first meeting, elects leadership

It was another historic night in Aurora Thursday, Aug. 19 when the Aurora city government marked a milestone in its police reform efforts. A year after the City launched its C.H.A.N.G.E. Reform Initiative, the first public meeting of the recently-formed Aurora Civilian Review Board (CRB) was held at Aurora City

Civilian Review Board reduced to 20 candidates in Aurora

By Jason Crane Twenty Civilian Review Board semifinalists were announced at the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform. Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented the update about the Civilian Review Board (CRB). The establishment of the City of Aurora’s Civilian Review

Past time for top-down overhaul of criminal justice

After the police-involved killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks, bipartisan legislative efforts to work on much needed policing reforms, have hit a snag. Despite nationwide momentum, voting 55-45, US. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill that would address some policing practices, including the use of force and

Kane County sheriff to explore Humanizing the Incarcerated

Ron Hain, Kane County sheriff, and Nathan Lanthrum, Lighthouse Recovery, will discuss “Humanizing the Incarcerated” at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Avenue in Aurora. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. Hain and Lanthrum will discuss racial disparity in jail populations,