Author: Capitol News

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Lawmakers move to pause – then further regulate – carbon dioxide pipeline development

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After state regulators rebuffed several proposed carbon transport projects over the past year, lawmakers have moved to formally ban new projects until the federal government sets forth new safety rules. The technology is used to take carbon dioxide – a powerful greenhouse gas […]

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With recession fears subsiding, new state economic forecast expects ‘firm but steady growth’

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state’s two main fiscal forecasting agencies agree: Illinois’ finances will see a strong close in the final 3 ½ months of the fiscal year before things tighten a bit next year. It’s a picture laid out in Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget […]

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Cook County judge orders Trump removed from GOP ballot but holds decision pending appeal

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A Cook County judge on Wednesday ordered former President Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the March 19 Republican primary ballot but stayed her order until Friday to give time for an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. In a lengthy decision, […]

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Pritzker proposes over $2B in spending growth, backed by tax increases for corporations, sportsbooks

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday proposed growing state spending by over $2 billion in the upcoming fiscal year while making a handful of corporate, sports wagering and other tax changes to pay for the increase.  Pritzker’s plan, laid out to lawmakers during his […]

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Board of Elections allows Trump’s name to stay on ballot

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Former President Donald Trump’s name will appear on the March 19 Republican primary election ballot in Illinois, barring any extraordinary action by state or federal courts to remove him. The Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to deny an objection based […]

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As online DMV services plagued by no-shows, secretary of state launches changes

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com  Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched an online appointment system in September for Illinois drivers needing to come to a driver’s services facility, ostensibly to reduce wait times.  The “Skip-The-Line” program introduced upgrades to the secretary of state’s website as well as a shift in policy, requiring […]

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Gun laws, scholarship tax credits, nuclear energy – but not new spending – on table for veto session

By JERRY NOWICKI,PETER HANCOCK,HANNAH MEISEL& ANDREW ADAMSnews@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – When lawmakers return to the Capitol next week for their annual fall veto session, they have a full agenda, including a handful of vetoes from Gov. JB Pritzker to consider overriding, in addition to deciding whether to revive a private school […]

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Pritzker calls Illinois’ support for Israel ‘unequivocal’ after weekend’s Hamas attacks

By HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday condemned the deadly attacks on Israel over the weekend by the militant group Hamas, telling those gathered outside a synagogue in Chicago’s north suburb of Glencoe that Illinois “unequivocally stands” with the people of Israel. The governor, who himself is […]

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Illinois to invest more than $23 million in abortion access, reproductive health care initiatives

By HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com As another of Illinois’ border states is set to enact a near-total abortion ban this week, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced several new programs to help address the influx of out-of-state abortion seekers the state has seen in the 13 months since the U.S. […]