Capitol News Illinois – Page 7

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‘Blatantly unlawful’ federal spending freeze sends state scrambling; Illinois among several states filing lawsuit to block freeze

On January 28, 2025January 28, 2025 By admin

By Ben Szalinski & Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com State agencies, nonprofit organizations and a host of other entities that rely on federal funding were thrown into chaos Tuesday following the release of a White House memo that froze – at least temporarily – the distribution of all federal grants, loans

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Bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

On January 21, 2025January 21, 2025 By admin

By Ben Szalinskibszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comCapitol News Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Tuesday, Jan. 21 signed a long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying less than the minimum wage to workers with disabilities. The bill applies to businesses and other facilities that hold what is known as a 14(c) certificate, named after the

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Illinois bill could raise age for mandatory senior license tests

On January 21, 2025January 21, 2025 By admin

By Ashley Sorianofor Capitol News Illinoisand Medill Illinois News BureauAshleySoriano2025@u.northwestern.edu Older drivers in Illinois could face fewer barriers to renew their driver’s licenses next year as part of a bill that would raise the age for the state-mandated annual driver’s test from 79 to 87. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

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Karina’s Bill to remove guns from domestic violence situations

On January 14, 2025January 15, 2025 By admin

By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been 18 months since Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter Daniela were shot and killed on Fourth of July weekend at their Chicago home, allegedly by her husband. Gonzalez had filed for an order of protection from her husband just two weeks before her

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Illinois invests to prevent homelessness

On January 14, 2025January 14, 2025 By admin

By Atmika IyerFor Capitol News Illinoisand Medill Illinois News Bureauatmikaiyer2025@u.northwestern.edu With homelessness increasing in Illinois, a coalition of shelter providers and advocates is calling for a $100 million increase in state funding to prevent homelessness and provide shelter to people without homes. That would come on top of the $290

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Voting open for new Illinois flag

On January 14, 2025January 14, 2025 By admin

By Jerry NowickiCapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinoisans can now vote on whether they want a new state flag. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office officially opened the voting portal on Friday, and votes will be accepted through Feb. 14. Voters can choose from 10 designs for a new flag, the current

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Hemp regulation bill stalls amid Democratic infighting

On January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 By admin

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill that would have imposed regulations on new types of intoxicating substances derived from hemp stalled in the Illinois House Tuesday, Jan. 7, dealing a political setback to governor JB Pritzker after he strongly supported the legislation. “I was tremendously disappointed,” Pritzker said at

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Illinois’ minimum wage: $15

On December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 By admin

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

Government Kids/YouthAmalia Huot-Marchand Capitol News IllinoisLeave a comment

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

On December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 By admin

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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Bill aims to reduce Illinois requirements for name changes

On December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 By admin

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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Approximately 300 new Illinois laws for 2025

On December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 By admin

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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State lawmakers consider Tier 2 pension changes

On December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 By admin

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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Statewide electric grid upgrades, rate increases

On December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 By admin

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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Governor Pritzker endorses hemp regulation bill

On December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 By admin

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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IBM to build new quantum computer in Chicago

On December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 By admin

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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Illinois electors cast official votes for Harris, Walz

On December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 By admin

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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Illinois better prepared for recession than in recent past

On December 10, 2024December 10, 2024 By admin

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

On December 3, 2024December 3, 2024 By admin

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

On December 3, 2024December 3, 2024 By admin

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

On December 3, 2024December 3, 2024 By admin

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,