Author: Capitol News

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With graduated tax failure, ‘there will be cuts, and they will be painful,’ governor says

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Backers of a graduated income tax constitutional amendment conceded defeat Wednesday for Gov. JB Pritzker’s marquee policy proposal which was projected to bring in more than $3 billion annually to state coffers. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, voters had rejected the amendment […]

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Pritzker pressures local officials to enforce mitigation orders

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – As state leaders continue to face pushback from the restaurant industry and even some county and municipal governments regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday put pressure squarely on the shoulders of local elected officials. “The fact is that local officials […]

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COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to reach new second-wave highs

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to climb as the entire state is either subject to increased mitigation measures or will be starting Wednesday. A Capitol News Illinois analysis of weekly hospitalization averages shows the average number of hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients […]

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State announces 2nd round of broadband expansion grants

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – State officials on Monday announced the opening of a second round of grant opportunities for businesses and organizations to expand access to broadband internet service in underserved communities. Speaking at a news conference in Staunton, about 40 miles northeast of St. Louis, Gov. […]

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2020 census counting to end on Oct. 15

By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinois | Report For Americartroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration could shorten the U.S. Census count on Tuesday, just hours after the Illinois government committed an additional $1 million to outreach. The Trump administration originally tried to shorten the end date […]

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More than 2 million mail-in ballots requested in Illinois

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – More than 2 million Illinois voters have requested vote-by-mail ballots and more than 26,000 such ballots have already been returned, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. That means about a quarter of the state’s registered voters had requested vote-by-mail ballots as […]