By Maggie DoughertyCapitol News Illinoismdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com In a surprise move, governor JB Pritzker announced Friday that he is putting a pause on all new state tax incentives for data centers and calling on lawmakers to pass new data center reforms during the fall veto session. The governor has directed the Illinois
By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinois Over hundreds of pages in legal filings this week, a group of well-known Chicago-based journalists, podcasters and voice actors accused tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and others of “stealing” their voices to train Artificial intelligence. The nine class action lawsuits, filed in Chicago’s
The Sierra Club Valley of the Fox will host its monthly program on Data Centers, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S Batavia Ave., Batavia, and on Zoom. Are data centers an asset to our communities or a threat? What can local municipalities do
By Nikoel HytrekCapitol News Illinoisnhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com The Illinois General Assembly continues to debate what to do about data centers as the artificial intelligence business keeps booming, and communities complain about their energy bills, noise and environmental impacts. Data centers are warehouse-like buildings that house computer servers and other infrastructure that power
March 29, 2026Dear editor; I recently heard Donald Trump announced he is having his signature put on paper currency. There also will be a new minted gold coin bearing his head shot. Of course, headshots or portraits of living presidents are not allowed in current legal code. One has to
Todd Thorson is on a mission, helping people, especially senior citizens, stay safe, confident and empowered in a fast-changing digital world. Thorson, founder and chief technology officer at Yorkville-based Tanj Cybersecurity and Technologies, presented “Cybersecurity for Kids Over 60–8 Ways” at Riverview Diner in Montgomery February 17. He was the
My relationship with technology is strained. I miss the days when I could write in peace, without constantly being offered “suggestions” from a program created by a C-student in English. I also resent the expectation that we must all purchase personal phones that track our every move and keystroke, then
By Maggie DoughertyCapitol News Illinoismdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers vowed to keep fighting for protections against artificial intelligence after President Donald Trump signed an executive order December 11 to shield tech companies from state laws. Trump’s order targets state regulations, including several in Illinois, that he said are inconsistent with national policy
Aurora Mayor John Laesch, left, addresses “Think AI – Tech Town Hall” November 13.
September 28, 2025Dear editor; Artificial Intelligence (AI) has accelerated at a lightning pace from a niche technology to a force driving modern life. No longer science fiction; it now shapes classrooms, hospitals, companies, and homes. The question remains: Does its implementation yield more opportunities or more peril? The data suggests
By Andrew AdamsCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com IBM, the tech giant known for revolutionizing computing over the past 70 years, is setting up shop on Chicago’s South Side to develop what could be the field’s next big leap: Quantum technology. It’s part of a multi-year effort from governor JB Pritzker, state officials
Data centers are a key element in fight over electricity costs in northern Illinois By Andrew Adams A Texas-based company broke ground on a new data center in Aurora on Wednesday, the latest in a boom of data storage facility developments in northern Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker at the groundbreaking
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our society, impacting many aspects of our everyday lives. If you’d like to learn more about its capabilities, an upcoming Aurora Public Library District (APLD) program entitled, AI Playground: Experiment & Learn, will give a basic introduction to AI and provide the opportunity to
March 4, 2024Dear editor; In November 2023, the Citizens of Aurora, Ill., took a significant step towards embracing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) by being host to its inaugural AI Summit. Organized by Jim Schweizer, lead AI researcher at Aurora-based Global Data Sciences Inc., the event aimed to educate
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
State inks new incentive deal for manufacturing plant, is ahead of schedule on pre-K growth By Cole LongcorCapitol News Illinoisclongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com The State on Wednesday announced it inked another tax incentive deal aimed at boosting manufacturing while Gov. JB Pritzker said his plan to add more preschool seats in early childhood
By Jason Crane Aurora Chief of Police Keith Cross and Deputy Chief of Police Matt Thomas presented an Aurora Police Department (APD) public safety technology update at the Committee of the Whole meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 21. The presentation outlined the ways the APD is leveraging technology to build a safer
Wikipedia defines Artificial Intelligence (AI) as “… perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by humans … [including] speech recognition, computer vision, translation between languages, as well as other mappings of inputs.” Currently, AI is reported as either dangerous, useful or just silly. Some reports
Aurora mayor Richard Irvin (second from left) is joined by executives of Seefried Properties, Endeavour Edged Electric, and ComEd at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Aurora Tech Park campus.
The popularity of a small piece of technology is on the rise among young computer programmers, and its name might make you hungry. Raspberry Pi is a cost-effective, super versatile, computer that is the size of a credit card! Today, virtually every industry has developed a use for Raspberry Pi,
