by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — A bill that bans carbon sequestration over, under or through portions of the Mahomet Aquifer passed out of the Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday. The bill has been a point of contention in […]
State of Illinois
Native ancestors’ return to rest: A paperwork-laden process underway in Illinois
by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 19, 2025 Two of the country’s largest collections of Native American human remains are held by museums in Illinois. To the director of one of the museums, the work to rebury those remains at the behest of […]
Trump Administration Terminates Federal Digital Equity Program, Halting $23.7 Million in Illinois Grants
Illinois officials and community leaders are voicing strong opposition after the Trump Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), abruptly terminated the Digital Equity Capacity Program in mid-May. The move halts more than $23.7 million in planned federal grants that would have expanded digital […]
After 150 years, Mary Lincoln’s ‘madness’ still haunts American psyche
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois May 16, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — On May 19, 1875, a Cook County jury handed down a verdict in a case concerning the health and welfare of Mary Lincoln, widow of the former president who had been assassinated a decade earlier. After listening to only […]
Illinois Supreme Court’s Role in Ending Slavery Explored in Upcoming Online Event
A new public program set for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, will shed light on a little-known chapter of Illinois history: the persistence of slavery in a state that entered the Union as “free.” Titled “The Presumption of Freedom: The Illinois Supreme Court and the Fate of Slavery in Illinois,” the […]
Illinois Senate Advances Bill to Safeguard Worker Protections Amid Potential Federal Rollbacks
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with a sweeping measure designed to lock in workplace safety and labor standards, even if federal protections are weakened or repealed in the future. Senate Bill 1976, sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), cleared the Senate Labor Committee this week and is now poised […]
IHSA, Lawmakers Announce Agreement to Expand Opportunities for Illinois Student-Athletes
Illinois high school athletes could soon find it easier to play for both their school teams and club squads during the same season, thanks to a new law and a shift in the state’s high school sports rules. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and state lawmakers say they’re responding […]
Illinois Lawmakers Ready to Advance Bill to Guide AI Technology in Schools
Illinois lawmakers are poised to pass landmark legislation that would create the state’s first comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in K-12 schools. The proposal, which has garnered bipartisan attention in the final weeks of the legislative session, tasks the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) […]
Landmark Illinois Study Reveals Unpredictable Patterns in Farm Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A recent study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment provides valuable insights into the spatial variability of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in agricultural settings, highlighting the impact of management practices and offering recommendations for more accurate measurements. The research, conducted by a team including Nakian […]
Governor’s office cuts revenue projection by $500M in latest downward estimate
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois May 14, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker’s office is now projecting state revenues to come in about a half-billion dollars below the baseline projections assumed during his February budget address. The latest downward revision comes as lawmakers are entering the final two-week stretch […]