by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois September 3, 2025 Article Summary The Trump administration has demanded Illinois turn over its complete statewide voter registration database, including sensitive information such as voters’ dates of birth, driver’s license and Social Security numbers. The Illinois State Board of Elections has given DOJ a […]
Author: Capitol News
Hundreds of police departments use camera company accused of breaking state law
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois August 27, 2025 Article Summary Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias alleged that Flock Safety, a police tech company, illegally shared data with federal border enforcement. This escalates an ongoing conflict between Giannoulias and the agency. Flock officials admit they didn’t create strong enough compliance […]
Trump threatens Illinois’ federal funding for eliminating cash bail
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois August 26, 2025 Article Summary President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to block federal funding to states that eliminated cash bail. Illinois eliminated cash bail as of 2023 under the Pretrial Fairness Act. Trump claimed Illinois is less safe since cash […]
DOJ demands Illinois voter personal information by Sept. 1
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois August 25, 2025 Article Summary The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking access to Illinois’ complete, unredacted statewide voter registration database, including voters’ personal information such as dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. The Illinois State Board of Elections […]
In response to military deployment, Pritzker tells Trump: ‘Do not come to Chicago’
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois August 25, 2025 Article Summary JB Pritzker and the state’s top Democrats condemned President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the military in Chicago to fight crime. The state’s leaders said Trump’s plan has similarities to authoritarian regimes. Deploying troops to Chicago raises legal questions […]
Pritzker signs law expanding lawsuit protections for Illinois news media
by Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois August 22, 2025 Article Summary Article Summary The Citizen Participation Act now explicitly protects news reporting from “strategic lawsuits against public participation.” The Illinois Supreme Court had previously ruled that news reporting itself wasn’t covered if it was not investigative in nature or eliciting […]
Billboard for Proud Boys hate group removed in southern Illinois after public pressure
Billboard for Proud Boys hate group removed in southern Illinois after public pressure by Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois August 19, 2025 Article Summary The recruiting billboard for a right-wing extremist group, the Proud Boys, was removed in Clinton County after an outpouring of outrage. The advertising company that put […]
Election lawyers, Obama alumni renew Illinois redistricting reform push
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois August 19, 2025 Article Summary Former federal officials are backing an effort to reform the state legislature’s redistricting process. Congressional districts would be unaffected. Illinois’ state Senate map gives a partisan advantage to Democrats, and its House map isn’t compact enough, according to researchers […]
Billboard promoting far-right group Proud Boys springs up in southern Illinois
by Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois August 18, 2025 Article Summary A billboard promoting the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group, has been put up near a high school in Clinton County in southern Illinois. The group, which has been labeled a hate group, has ties to the Jan. 6 […]
DOJ demands sensitive Illinois voter registration data after state responds
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois August 15, 2025 Article Summary In response to a July letter, the Illinois State Board of Elections provided the U.S. Department of Justice with the same limited voter data that it provides to political parties. The DOJ, however, countered that it wanted more specific […]