By Jerry Nowicki and Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.comjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker outlined a $41.6 billion budget proposal Wednesday that would hold most state agencies at flat funding levels but which relies heavily on changes to the state’s corporate tax structure that lawmakers have not yet approved. The budget […]
Author: Capitol News
Panel approves ‘culturally responsive’ teaching standards
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A legislative panel on Wednesday allowed the Illinois State Board of Education to move forward with new rules that call on colleges and universities in the state to change the way prospective teachers and administrators are trained in order to make them more […]
Census delay creates redistricting uncertainty
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are required to draw new legislative and congressional district maps this year, but that process may be thrown into chaos because of delays in producing the census numbers needed to draw equal districts. The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that due to the […]
State to expand vaccine eligibility to individuals with underlying conditions
By TIM KIRSININKASCapitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday that the state plans to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to individuals of all ages who have comorbidities and underlying conditions by Feb. 25. Speaking at a news conference in Quincy Wednesday, Pritzker said the expansion of eligibility under […]
Pritzker’s office says no tax hikes, flat spending in upcoming budget
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s office says he will propose a budget with no tax increases for the upcoming fiscal year, and the deficit is now projected at about $2.5 billion less than previously thought. The governor introduces his proposed budget each year, but lawmakers in the General Assembly have […]
Legislative Republicans seek measures allowing voters to recall lawmakers, overturn state law
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Republican lawmakers from both chambers of the General Assembly are promoting three legislative proposals to give voters greater authority to amend the state constitution, recall legislative leaders and other lawmakers, and repeal recently-passed state laws. The “Voter Empowerment Project” includes three amendments to […]
Lame Duck Look Back: Feasibility of body camera mandate
By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An omnibus criminal justice bill passed by the General Assembly last month would, if signed by the governor, mandate all Illinois law enforcement agencies to use body cameras. The legislation, contained in House Bill 3653, would amend the state’s 2015 Law Enforcement Officer-Worn […]
First-time jobless claims drop sharply
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – First-time unemployment claims in Illinois dropped sharply in the last week of January as most regions in the state slowly began reopening following the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported Thursday that 40,008 workers filed initial claims for […]
Education bill to revamp social studies classes
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Social studies classes in Illinois public schools are about to get a major overhaul, with more emphasis on Black history and the contributions of other underrepresented groups to American culture. In addition, within the next few years, all school districts in the state […]
Black Caucus passes criminal justice omnibus bill through Senate
By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking during Tuesday’s lame duck session. The legislation is made up of several provisions that touch all facets of the criminal justice system. The Pretrial […]
