Author: Capitol News

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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. […]

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State driver services facilities to require appointments in more than 40 locations

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Drivers who need to renew their license at a secretary of state facility will likely have to make an appointment starting this fall. Starting Sept. 1, 44 driver services facilities in medium- to large-sized cities around the state will require appointments for driver services – […]

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Cash bail will end in Illinois as justices rule SAFE-T Act provisions constitutional

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18.  The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an […]

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Stalled bills include repeal of subminimum wage for disabled workers, BIPA reform

By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOISnews@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – While hundreds of bills cleared the General Assembly in the final month of the legislative session, some big-ticket measures will have to wait until at least the fall. Sponsors of several stalled bills say they will consider reviving their proposals when lawmakers return to […]

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Pritzker signs anti-book ban legislation

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Monday that seeks to protect public and school libraries from pressure to ban, remove or restrict access to books based on “partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” Speaking at the Harold Washington Library Center in downtown Chicago, Pritzker said there […]

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Lawmakers approve measure giving utilities control over new downstate transmission lines

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — In the final hours of their spring session last week, lawmakers approved a controversial measure that would give existing power companies in downstate Illinois, notably Ameren Illinois, the first crack at installing new transmission lines. The measure applies to companies that already own […]