Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a legal victory for Illinois schools on Wednesday, following his office’s July lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to freeze federal education funding. The lawsuit was part of a broader multistate action, with Illinois joining a coalition of states arguing that the administration’s move […]
State of Illinois
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 […]
Governor Pritzker Warns of Rural Hospital Crisis as Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Illinois Communities
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker met with southern Illinois healthcare leaders on this week to address the impact of federal budget cuts on rural hospitals. He warned that nine facilities across the state face closure risks that could eliminate over 500 hospital beds and 2,500 jobs. The roundtable discussion, held at […]
Illinois Expands Reproductive Health Protections With New Shield Law and Campus Access to Contraception, Medication Abortion
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed two groundbreaking bills aimed at fortifying reproductive health care across the state. Governor Pritzker signed an expanded state shield law (HB3637), which enhances legal protections for health care providers engaged in offering reproductive health services that are lawful in Illinois. This legislation extends the […]
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 […]
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Pushes Back Against Trump’s National Guard Threats to Chicago
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sharply rebuked President Donald Trump’s statements on Friday after the president suggested that Chicago would be the next U.S. city to face a federal National Guard deployment due to crime and public safety concerns. Speaking from the White House, President Trump alleged that Chicago was a […]
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 […]