The U.S. Department of Education has abruptly terminated the long-standing “Ready To Learn” grant, a move that will strip $23 million in funding from PBS children’s shows and educational initiatives nationwide. The decision, announced last week, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce or eliminate […]
by Isabella Schoonover and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois May 9, 2025 CHICAGO — The Trump administration took the unprecedented step of halting work on the next National Climate Assessment last week, dismissing all 400 volunteer scientists who were tasked with writing the new version of the report. […]
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois May 7, 2025 A federal judge in New York issued a preliminary order Tuesday blocking the Trump administration from cutting off states’ access to hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds for public schools, including more than $77 million for Illinois. U.S. […]
by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 8, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker issued an executive order Wednesday that bars state agencies from collecting and disclosing data about autism to the federal government unless it’s medically or legally necessary. The order was in […]
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois May 5, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — The General Assembly’s independent forecasting commission has improved revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year despite growing economic volatility. That’s good news for state lawmakers who are in the final weeks of crafting the fiscal year 2026 budget set […]
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois May 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — A plan to overhaul the way Illinois funds public universities is running into stiff opposition from the state’s largest higher education institution, the University of Illinois System. The plan, which has been in development for the last four years, […]
by Sonya Dymova and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois May 2, 2025 CHICAGO — Michelle Nolasco, a 20-year-old DePaul University student from Orland Park, Illinois, held a sign that read: “I was supposed to be at school … Instead, I am here, fighting for mi familia y mi […]
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois May 2, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Two Democratic leaders in the Illinois Senate openly expressed their disagreement this week about Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal to allow community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs in certain high-demand employment fields. The exchange between Senate Majority Leader […]
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois April 30, 2025 President Donald Trump marked the 100th day of his second term on Tuesday as Gov. JB Pritzker has spent the week calling on Americans to pressure congressional Republicans to oppose Trump’s agenda and highlighting how Trump’s policies affect Illinois. “I’m deeply […]
by Sonya Dymova, Capitol News Illinois April 28, 2025 McHENRY — John Gerend, a Vietnam War veteran from Lake Villa, Illinois, was exposed to Agent Orange while on duty. Suffering from diseases associated with exposure to the toxic chemical, he said he still considers himself fortunate. “I’ve had some issues […]
