Tag: Capitol News Illinois

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Illinois’ minimum wage: $15

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com The minimum wage in Illinois was increased to $15 an hour January 1, to complete a six-year transition period since the increase was approved in 2019. As of New Year’s Day, Illinois workers making minimum wage wages rose by $1 and tipped workers will see...

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Government Kids/Youth

State could adopt ‘kin-first’ approach to foster care

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By Amalia Huot-MarchandMedill Illinois News Bureaufor Capitol News Illinoisamaliahuor-marchand2025@u.northwestern.edu Illinois lawmakers could soon make it easier for children in foster care to live with their relatives or other people close to them. Child welfare experts have long touted the benefits of foster children staying with kin. Advocates say those arrangements...

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Government

Bill aims to reduce Illinois requirements for name changes

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By Atmika IyerMedill Illinois News Bureaufor Capitol News Illinoisatmikaiyer2025@u.northwestern.edu Illinois lawmakers in early January could consider easing requirements for residents to change their names, a move proponents say will reduce risks for victims of domestic abuse, transgender residents, and others. The measure must clear the full Senate in the first...

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Government

Approximately 300 new Illinois laws for 2025

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Time to study up, Illinois. When the clock hits midnight on New Year’s Day, 293 new state laws will take effect. Those include some of the defining bills of the 2024 legislative session and others that will change how people get IDs, evaluate job postings...

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Government

State lawmakers consider Tier 2 pension changes

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Changes that would make Illinois pension systems compliant with Social Security by improving benefits for government employees hired since 2011 could be on the table when lawmakers return to Springfield in January. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2010 to create a second tier of...

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Government Infrastructure

Statewide electric grid upgrades, rate increases

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By Andrew AdamsCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois utilities are set to invest more than a billion dollars into upgrading the state’s electric distribution grid, resulting in higher rates for customers around the state. The Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday approved scaled-back plans submitted by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois, the electric...

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Government

Governor Pritzker endorses hemp regulation bill

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By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com More than five years after Illinois began issuing permits for legal production of industrial hemp, governor JB Pritzker said Friday he now favors legislation to bring the industry under tighter regulation. At a news conference in Chicago, Pritzker said in the short time since both...

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Government Tech

IBM to build new quantum computer in Chicago

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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...

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Government

Illinois electors cast official votes for Harris, Walz

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By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois officially awarded its 19 electoral votes Tuesday to vice president Kamala Harris and Minnesota governor Tim Walz, the unsuccessful Democratic candidates to be the next president and vice president of the United States. During a ceremony at the Statehouse that lasted only about half...

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Government Money

Illinois better prepared for recession than in recent past

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com State lawmakers will face a projected budget deficit and slowing revenue when they return to Springfield in January 2025, but a new report shows fiscal decisions made in recent years have put Illinois in a better position to handle a recession than any time in...

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Crime Government

Illinois Board of Elections certifies election results: A nearly 11-point victory in Illinois for Harris

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By Beth HundsdorferCapitol News Illinois Four years before police said he caused a crash that killed a DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy, Nathan Sweeney pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and having 44 grams of heroin in his car – an offense that, if properly reported to the secretary of...

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Government

Secretary of State calls for federal investigation of Kane County traffic cases

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By Beth HundsdorferCapitol News Illinois Four years before police said he caused a crash that killed a DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy, Nathan Sweeney pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and having 44 grams of heroin in his car – an offense that, if properly reported to the secretary of...

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Education Government

The next school reform push in Illinois: testing and accountability Local officials say grading systems need fresh overhaul

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By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Education officials from five statewide organizations are pushing for fundamental changes in the way student achievement is measured each year and how schools are held accountable for meeting the state’s academic standards. In a new report entitled Vision 2030, organizations representing local school boards, superintendents,...

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Crime Government

PPP loan fraud in Illinois

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By Amalia Huot-MarchandMedill Illinois News Bureaufor Capitol News Illinoisamaliahuor-marchand2025@u.northwestern.edu A state watchdog has identified at least $7.2 million in fraudulent claims and more than 275 instances of misconduct by state employees accused of bilking a federal program designed to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, the Office of...

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Government Money

Bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com A long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying subminimum wage to workers with disabilities will soon head to governor JB Pritzker’s desk after being approved by the Senate Thursday. The Senate took a bipartisan 43-11 vote to pass the legislation that supporters dub the...

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Government

U.S. Supreme Court asked to review Illinois late mail-in votes

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By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com The conservative group Judicial Watch is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case filed by U.S. representative Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, challenging Illinois’ law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted 14 days after the election. Under Illinois law, ballots postmarked by Election Day can...

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Illinois Democrats brace for Trump administration return

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By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com During Donald Trump’s first term as president, Illinois governor JB Pritzker and Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly spent much of their time enacting laws and policies in direct opposition to the conservative agenda they saw coming from the White House. Those included the 2019...

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Environment Government Infrastructure

State electric vehicle chargers in Joliet, many more to come

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By Andrew AdamsCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com With nearly half a million dollars of state funding, a new electric vehicle charging station opened in Joliet on Monday. It is the first of hundreds of charging stations set to be installed over the next 18 months as part of a state-funded grant program....

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Government

‘Millionaire tax’; Underground Railroad

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By Ben Szalinskiby A week after ballots were cast, former Illinois governor Pat Quinn said the November 5 election results show voters are willing to support a graduated income tax structure to provide property tax relief. Quinn, who left office in early 2015, made a stop at the Illinois Capitol...

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Government Money

Pritzker’s budget office projects $3.2B deficit

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By Jerry NowickiCapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com The first extensive public look at next year’s State finances contains a warning to lawmakers from the governor’s office: “The ability to fund new programs will be severely limited” next fiscal year. That comes from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, which projected a...

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