By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker denied a since-recanted comment by former president Bill Clinton that Clinton thought the pair may have traveled together on a plane owned by convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. His denial was in response to a 90-second video clip of Clinton’s closed-door deposition
By Brenden MooreCapitol News Illinoisbmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Christening it as part of a “nation-leading” response to aggressive federal immigration raids, governor JB Pritzker signed legislation December 9 allowing Illinois residents to sue immigration agents who arrest them in or near courthouses or if they believe their constitutional rights were violated. The new
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois agencies must identify spending reductions and create reserves in their budgets to prepare for an economic downturn, according to an executive order issued Tuesday by governor JB Pritzker. Pritzker said the order is designed to combat federal policies by the Trump administration that are
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker said political leaders — starting with president Donald Trump — need to do more to condemn political violence. “He actively fans the flames of division, as he did on Friday, regularly advocates violence for political retribution, and in more than one case,
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com In front of gleaming skyscrapers along the Chicago River, Illinois’ Democratic leaders showed a united front Monday against president Donald Trump’s threats to deploy the military into Chicago’s streets to fight crime with one message: “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago.” “You are neither
By Andrew AdamsCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed 266 laws on Friday, moving closer to finalizing his part in approving — or rejecting — over 430 laws sent to him by lawmakers this spring. The new laws include measures to make public defenders more independent, tighten safety regulations at
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Gun owners in Illinois will soon be required to take additional measures to keep their weapons out of the hands of children under a new law signed Monday by governor JB Pritzker. In addition, law enforcement officers in the state must now start tracing the
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that former deputy governor Christian Mitchell will be his running mate for the 2026 campaign. Pritzker’s selection, made just days after announcing a third campaign for governor, comes from a close circle of trust in Pritzker’s administration. Mitchell previously served
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News IllinoisBszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at president Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect July 1 is the
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker’s office is now projecting state revenues to come in about a half-billion dollars below the baseline projections assumed during his February budget address. The latest downward revision comes as lawmakers are entering the final two-week stretch to approve a budget before their
By Jade AubreyCapitol News Illinoisjaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order May 7 that bars State agencies from collecting and disclosing data about autism to the federal government unless it’s medically or legally necessary. The order was in response to a move by the U.S. Department of Health and
February 25, 2025Dear editor; During his recent budget address, governor JB Pritzker pretentiously proclaimed, “We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one,” referring to president Donald Trump. Ironic when you consider it was Pritzker who issued at least 41 consecutive disaster
By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com A month into president Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, governor JB Pritzker last week warned that the breakneck pace at which the Donald Trump administration has been remaking federal policy could be a harbinger of something darker. “It took the Nazis one
Illinois governor JB Pritzker announced the 2025 recipients of the Order of Lincoln, the State’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service. Recipients are Bonnie Blair, Sandra Cisneros, Jeanne Gang, Janice K. Jackson, Carol Marin, and Julieanna L. Richardson. This year’s Lincon Laureates will be honored at the upcoming
By Hannah Meisel and Andrew Adams Illinois governor JB Pritzker is set to join state legislative and business leaders on a trade mission to Japan next week to explore clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences, quantum, and other “key growth industries,” according to the governor’s office. Members of the delegation will
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
The Democratic National Convention wrapped up Thursday, Aug. 22, launching the country into the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election. Vice president Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination and will face off against former president Donald Trump in November. Illinois Democrats met daily during the convention at hotel
By Hannah MeiselCapitol News IllinoisHmeisel@Capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois governor JB Pritzker Wednesday, July 31 signed legislation aimed at curtailing the practice of “captive audience” meetings, a strategy businesses sometimes use to dissuade workers from forming a union. The law, dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” was a top priority this Spring
By Jerry NowickiCapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday, July 9 he is “all in” for president Joe Biden after visiting the White House last week with other Democratic Party governors. He went to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president and members of the Democratic Governors Association Wednesday,
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
