by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 30, 2025 CHICAGO — Illinois students won’t need to fill out applications for most state universities to be admitted — if they have high enough grades. With his signature, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday approved a bill creating the direct admissions program. Along […]
Author: Capitol News
‘I have work to do,’ Pritzker says in launching third-term reelection bid
by Ben Szalinski and Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 26, 2025 CHICAGO — In a hot gymnasium on Chicago’s South Side, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday morning he’s running for a potentially historic third term as governor. In his announcement speech, Pritzker said he is running to “protect” the […]
Attorney General Raoul joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s termination of federal grants
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 25, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced this week he has joined another multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds that had previously been approved for states and other grantees. The complaint, filed […]
Advocates await action on bill protecting rights of immigrant students in Illinois
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12 students who may be in the country without legal authorization from being denied access to a free public education. House Bill 3247, […]
Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 16, 2025 Gov. 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 […]
Pritzker defends Illinois’ immigration laws in theatrical congressional hearing
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 12, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of […]
Baby food safety, press freedom, public defender measures will head to governor
by Ben Szalinski and Jade Aubrey, Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker will have hundreds of bills to review after lawmakers concluded their spring session, including measures protecting press freedoms and baby food, as well as creating a state public defender’s office. Lawmakers voted along party lines […]
Amid court battle, lawmakers look to push back ‘swipe fees’ ban
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have decided to delay a ban on “swipe fees” for another year as bankers are locked in a court battle with the state over the ban. Lawmakers passed the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act last spring as part […]
Shield law, university admissions, foster placement bills clear General Assembly
by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois June 2, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – More than 150 bills moved through the General Assembly in the final week of the legislative session and will make their way to the governor, including measures touching on drug approval, college admissions […]
Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals. Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, […]