Category Archives: Local News
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
Third day of the Sangamon County Fair features grandstand show by country musicians Tracy Byrd with Jake Worthington
Day three of the Sangamon County Fair features the grandstand show by country musicians Tracy Byrd with Jake Worthington. The Longmeyer Band and a 90's country tribute group are set to perform in the ...
Jun 13, 2025 Sangamon County Fair (Credit; Visit Springfield)
Illinois Sec. of State Giannoulias set to crack down on unlawful use of license plate reader data after reports surface of police use in recent days
The state of Illinois is investigating an automatic license plate reader system used in a northwest Chicago suburb after a Texas sheriff accessed the system to look for a woman who recently had an abo...
Jun 13, 2025 License Plate Camera (Credit: Mother Flocker; UnSplash)
Szalinski: Pritzker to tell Congress 'both parties are to blame' for broken immigration system
Illinois governor to outline state's migrant crisis response to a U.S. House committee By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker will tell a congressio...
Jun 12, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to reporters following an event at the Illinois State Library in Springfield on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
APL announces date and time for ADOPT Group Art Show and JV Ice Cream Social in mid-July
The Animal Protective League announced on Thursday afternoon the date and time for this year's DIM Art House ADOPT! Group Art Show and APL Junior Volunteer Ice Cream Social Fundraiser. The organizatio...
Jun 12, 2025 English Bulldog
Szalinski: 'This issue isn't going away': Illinois lawmakers delay pension reform again
Fiscal year 2026 budget allocates money to address Social Security compliance concerns By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Public employees hired si...
Jun 12, 2025 Union members in the We Are One Illinois coalition hold a rally at the Illinois Capitol in November 2024. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
Public open house at Springfield's Dana-Thomas House this evening to outline the latest plans for a greenway in Third Street Corridor Redevelopment Project
A public open house this evening will outline the latest plans for a greenway in the Third Street Corridor Redevelopment Project stemming from the Springfield Rail Improvement Project. The open house ...
Jun 12, 2025 Dana-Thomas House (Credit: Visit Springfield)
Cook: Clean Slate' Act to seal nonviolent criminal records loses in race against time
But the sponsor says the bill in Illinois could be brought back by the fall, or even sooner By REILLY COOK Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - The "Clean Slate" Act,...
Jun 12, 2025 Lawmakers and advocates from the Live Free Illinois coalition rally on the steps of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on April 10 in support of a bill to seal certain criminal records. The “Clean Slate” Act passed the House but not the Senate. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Reilly Cook)