Category Archives: Local News
Szalinski: Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes
It's the largest budget in state history despite cuts and freezes By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois Bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois' fiscal year 2026 budget in...
Jun 16, 2025
Fire Prevention Week 2025 theme announced on Monday: Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home
The theme for this year's National Fire Prevention Week - scheduled for the week of October 5-11 - has been announced as of Monday morning, and it's focusing on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety. As the stat...
Jun 16, 2025 Lithium battery for a computer (Credit: Mika Baumeister; UnSplash)
Monday evening's Massey Commission public meeting to be held on Springfield's east side for first time starting at 5 p.m.
The Massey Commission has scheduled tonight's public meeting for the east side of Springfield for the first time. Activities begin with a healing circle at 5 p.m. followed by the commission meeting at...
Jun 16, 2025 Massey Commission (Credit: Massey Commission webpage)
Fire heavily damages horse barn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds early Sunday evening
Fire heavily damaged a horse barn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds early Sunday evening. Firefighters were called to Barn 39 at about 6 p.m. Fire officials said all horses in the barn were quickly le...
Jun 16, 2025
Ruiz-Branch: Chicago Jewish group leads hunger strike for Gaza
Local Jewish advocates for Palestinians are joining forces to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They are calling on the U.S. to stop arming the Israeli military and to end the widespr...
Jun 15, 2025 Jewish communities have fasted for centuries in times of collective mourning and catastrophe. (Adobe Stock)
Szalinski: Pritzker defends Illinois' immigration laws in theatrical congressional hearing
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois' immigration policies as he was peppered wit...
Jun 15, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Pritzker and two other Democratic governors were summoned to address the committee about “sanctuary state” policies. (Screenshot from U.S. House Oversight Committee livestream)
American Cancer Society: Disparities in treatment, other issues persist for Illinois LGBTQ+ community
The American Cancer Society has issued a report detailing key issues with the quality of healthcare for Illinois's LGBTQIA+ community. "The American Cancer Society's special report, Cancer in People w...
Jun 14, 2025 Young mothers playing with baby girl in living room.
Ruiz-Branch: Study: Incarceration costs families billions each year
Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection A new study highlights the high price of incarceration, and says the annual total cost to families of Americans behind bars is nearly $350 billion. The stud...
Jun 14, 2025 While Illinois has seen a significant decrease in it's prison population, its incarceration rate is still relatively high compared to other states. (Adobe Stock)
Meisel: Ex-Speaker Madigan sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison for bribery, corruption
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO - The number of years former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spent in Springfield has often been used as shorthand...
Jun 14, 2025 Flanked by his two daughters, former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, departs the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after receiving a 7 ½-year prison sentence on corruption charges. He was also fined $2.5 million. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
IDNR: Know anything about wild turkeys? Help needed in survey of Illinois turkey population
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteer citizens to assist with scientific surveys of wild turkey broods, in order to aid biologists in monitoring turkey population trend...
Jun 13, 2025