Category Archives: Local News
Fox: Shield law, university admissions, foster placement bills clear General Assembly
By BRIDGETTE FOX Capitol News Illinois bfox@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - More than 150 bills moved through the General Assembly in the final week of the legislative session and will make thei...
Jun 03, 2025 Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Romeoville, speaks on the House floor on Saturday, May 31, the final day of session. Avelar’s bill regarding non-FDA approved drugs passed the House this week. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
After numerous delays, Illinois AG announces fed is disbursing checks for victims of Prehired student loan deception
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced victims of the fraudulent credentials bootcamp student lender Prehired LLC will finally start receiving long-delayed relief payments from a more than $30 m...
Jun 02, 2025
Adams, Fox: Senate's transit funding, delivery tax proposal stalls in House
By ANDREW ADAMS & BRIDGETTE FOX Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - With public transit agencies in Chicagoland facing a fiscal cliff and the potential for thousands o...
Jun 02, 2025 Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, signals to a parliamentary officer during the vote on his transit reform package just before midnight on May 31. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Hancock: Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state's Medicaid program, the jo...
Jun 01, 2025 State Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, presents her Medicaid legislation on the House floor on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Szalinski, Nowicki: New taxes on sports bets, nicotine products as Democrats pass $55.2B budget
By BEN SZALINSKI & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget ...
Jun 01, 2025 House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and members of his Democratic caucus applaud members of their staff early Sunday morning after the chamber approved the $55.2 billion budget bill. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
"One-stop shop for students": new law streamlines Illinois college admissions process
The Illinois General Assembly has approved the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Per the law, beginning in July 2026 and once a year thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commissio...
May 31, 2025
Cook: Illinois criminal justice advocates tout 'Clean Slate' legislation as 'economic boon'
By REILLY COOK Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Criminal justice reform advocates say legislation to seal criminal records for certain nonviolent crimes, which pa...
May 31, 2025 Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, speaks on the Illinois House floor on Friday, May 30. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Ruiz-Branch: IL advocates highlight critical services for seniors
Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection Illinois residents and elected officials are participating in a statewide day of advocacy to bring awareness to the Older Americans Act. Services provided b...
May 30, 2025
LLCC notes new solar array delivering major energy savings and environmental benefits to community
Lincoln Land Community College announced on Thursday that it had completed installation of its newest solar array behind the Child Development Center at 5090 Shepherd Road in Springfield. It noted tha...
May 30, 2025 Solar array (Credit: Zbynek Burival; UnSplash)
ICC announces energy efficient tips on Thursday to help offset summer energy costs
The Illinois Commerce Commission released an alert on Thursday, hoping to educate Illinoisans on the myriad ways to keep cool and offset coming energy price spikes; summer costs are expected to rise o...
May 30, 2025 Thermostat (Credit: Isens USA; UnSplash)