Category Archives: Local News
Aubrey: Illinois lawmakers pass bill to raise age of senior driving tests
By JADE AUBREY Capitol News Illinois jaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - A bill unanimously passed by the Senate on Thursday and on its way to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk will increase the age t...
May 25, 2025 The secretary of state’s downtown driver services facility is pictured in Chicago. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)
Szalinski, Hancock: State budget talks enter final week amid fears of congressional cuts
By BEN SZALINSKI & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers have one week to pass a new state budget with little room for new spendin...
May 25, 2025 Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, sits for an interview with Illinois Lawmakers’ host Jak Tichenor on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Fox: Responding to Supreme Court, lawmakers look to expand lawsuit protections for press
By BRIDGETTE FOX Capitol News Illinois bfox@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers are seeking to extend lawsuit protections to regular news reports following a recent ruling by the ...
May 25, 2025 The Illinois Capitol overlooks the state Supreme Court building in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
"Insurance coverage isn't a timeshare": Springfield Sen. Turner condemns insurance companies as patient safety bill passes Illinois Senate
Anesthesia services, regardless of duration, would be covered by insurance companies under a measure led by State Senator Doris Turner. "Insurance companies have taken advantage of people for far too ...
May 24, 2025 Anesthesia equipment is seen in an operating room at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., May 13, 2019. Picture taken May 13, 2019. REUTERS/Rosem Morton
Aubrey: Illinois General Assembly passes bills aimed at helping mothers
By JADE AUBREY Capitol News Illinois jaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers passed two bills this week that aim to support mothers in the state. One bill requires employers t...
May 24, 2025 State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, speaks to chief of staff Clayton Harris shortly after passing a bill that mandates employers give nursing mothers paid time to pump breast milk. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Adams: Summer electric price spike fuels policy tensions in Springfield
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Customers around Illinois will see significantly higher prices on their electric bills next month. The average residential customer...
May 24, 2025 A set of electric meters in Chicago. Residential Commonwealth Edison customers will see an average $10.60 increase in monthly bills this summer. Ameren customers can expect an even larger increase. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
ALPLM announces new "Lincoln: Sight, Sound & Touch" exhibit open through August 24
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum announced on Friday that their new exhibit, which lets visitors explore history using their eyes, ears, and hands, opened that very same day. The in...
May 23, 2025 Young Mr. Lincoln (Credit: ALPLM)
Illinois unemployment statistics show decrease in April unemployment rates over the year across eleven metro areas, including Springfield
The State of Illinois released on Thursday afternoon the various unemployment rates and bits of data from the U.S. BLS and IDES regarding the state for the month of April. As it noted: "For the second...
May 23, 2025 Now Hiring sign on a lawn (Credit: Ernie Journeys; Unsplash)
Aubrey: Bill establishes commission to increase communication on public health issues
The commission will include Illinois doctors, veterinarians and public officials By JADE AUBREY Capitol News Illinois jaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - A bill creating an interdisciplinary...
May 22, 2025 Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, speaks on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
SIU School of Medicine announces 74 new physicians from 2025 graduating class
SIU School of Medicine announced on Thursday that a "fresh crop of new physicians" had been, on May 17, awarded degrees as part of the SIU Class of 2025. The commencement ceremony at the University of...
May 22, 2025 SIU School of Medicine administrative building (Credit: SIU School of Medicine website)