By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois governor JB Pritzker signed sweeping regulations August 1 aimed at social media companies and cracking down on “addictive algorithms” that keep kids glued to their screens. House Bill 5511, known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, imposes a series of requirements on social
By Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski, & Jerry NowickiCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Disgraced ex-Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, violated state law by committing two acts of sexual harassment, according to a summary legislative inspector general report made public Friday afternoon. LIG Mike McCuskey said the instances were “part of a pattern and practice
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com A new Illinois state program took effect Saturday to provide food benefits to people who have recently become ineligible because of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program started August 1 after state lawmakers
By Brenden Moore & Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com July 25 is now officially Emmett Till Day in Illinois. Illinois governor JB Pritzker signed legislation codifying the designation ahead of what would have been Till’s 85th birthday. It was one of 78 bills the governor signed last week. Till, a 14-year-old
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Students in all Illinois public schools will soon have to abide by rules barring them from using cellphones or other personal electronic communication devices during school hours unless they have been given specific permission to use them. Although many districts already have similar policies in
By Brenden MooreCapitol News Illinoisbmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com The Democratic Party chairs in Will and Kendall Counties chose Jessica Dixon Heitman Monday night to complete the term of former Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, and replace him on the November ballot. Benton resigned following an ethics investigation that found conduct described as unbecoming of
From farm to table to trash can, what happens to food is bigger than leftovers. Producing food uses valuable resources like water and fuel, and when uneaten food ends up in landfills, it contributes to financial losses, social inequity, and environmental harm. Illinois households are invited to be part of
By Maggie DoughertyCapitol News Illinoismdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation modeled after similar bills in California and New York Monday, July 6, furthering a push for a State-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations. “Congress and the president ought to be passing similar legislation, but they’ve so
By Naomi TaxayMedill Illinois News Bureaunews@capitolnewsillinois.com Earlier this year, administrators at Lake Zurich High School confronted a growing challenge facing schools nationwide: students using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of their classmates. After reporting the matter to police, the district launched a series of student and family education
By Nikoel HytrekCapitol News Illinoisnhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com The overturn of Roe v. Wade four years ago has wrought numerous changes for Illinois’ abortion ecosystem, turning the state into a destination for tens of thousands of people across the United States who need abortion services. Rising costs and a growing number of abortion
As Illinois families prepare to celebrate Independence Day, secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias urges residents to leave fireworks to trained professionals and attend organized community displays. Giannoulias joined fire safety officials and medical professionals to highlight the serious injuries and tragedies that occur each year during Fourth of July celebrations.
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed the eighth budget of his tenure June 16 as he and Illinois Democrats gear up for an election-year battle centered around affordability — though he had to issue a clean-up veto aimed at addressing late-night drafting errors. The fiscal year 2027
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers approved the Illinois budget early Monday morning, June 1, after slogging through the night, enacting new taxes on businesses and authorizing less spending than what governor JB Pritzker proposed in February. “It’s allowed us to be prepared for the great reality we face
In response to the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Illinois State Budget in the Illinois General Assembly, State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) released the following statement: “I voted no on this year’s budget because it is packed with tax and fee increases, which will have a direct effect on
State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2027 Illinois State Budget, a balanced spending plan that strengthens investments in education, public safety, healthcare, and essential services while maintaining Illinois’ commitment to fiscal responsibility. “As lawmakers, one of our most important responsibilities is passing a balanced
By Allison ClementsExecutive director,Illinois Housing Council Illinois is in the grip of an affordable housing crisis that reaches every corner of the state. Nearly 300,000 affordable rental homes are missing for our lowest-income residents. Rents have climbed to unsustainable levels, and homeownership is increasingly out of reach. The consequences are
Illinois lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton invites Illinois students in grades sixth through 12th to submit an essay in celebration of America’s 250th year. Please choose one of the following prompts for a submission:•The future I want to help build: Imagine the next 250 years.•My community’s story: How has your community
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com A “millionaire tax” proposal floated in the Illinois House failed to gain enough traction in Springfield this week, making it increasingly unlikely that voters will be asked to approve the measure in November. House speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday night
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com The biggest item on Illinois lawmakers’ agenda this spring is still a work in progress with six weeks left in the legislative session. Democrats are entering the home stretch of budget negotiations ahead of their scheduled May 31 adjournment while monitoring better-than-expected revenue growth alongside
By Jenna Schweikert, Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski, and Nikoel HytrekCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois House approved legislation April 8 that would prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of any home, school, day care center, park, forest preserve, cemetery or place of worship.
