Author: Capitol News

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Lawmakers move to pause – then further regulate – carbon dioxide pipeline development

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After state regulators rebuffed several proposed carbon transport projects over the past year, lawmakers have moved to formally ban new projects until the federal government sets forth new safety rules. The technology is used to take carbon dioxide – a powerful greenhouse gas […]

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Senate Democrats send $53.1B spending plan to House

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Two days after the General Assembly was scheduled to adjourn its spring session, Democrats in the Illinois Senate advanced a $53.1 billion budget to the House Sunday night, where leaders expect it to pass without changes. The fiscal year 2025 spending plan, which came together […]

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With recession fears subsiding, new state economic forecast expects ‘firm but steady growth’

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state’s two main fiscal forecasting agencies agree: Illinois’ finances will see a strong close in the final 3 ½ months of the fiscal year before things tighten a bit next year. It’s a picture laid out in Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget […]

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Cook County judge orders Trump removed from GOP ballot but holds decision pending appeal

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A Cook County judge on Wednesday ordered former President Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the March 19 Republican primary ballot but stayed her order until Friday to give time for an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. In a lengthy decision, […]

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Pritzker proposes over $2B in spending growth, backed by tax increases for corporations, sportsbooks

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday proposed growing state spending by over $2 billion in the upcoming fiscal year while making a handful of corporate, sports wagering and other tax changes to pay for the increase.  Pritzker’s plan, laid out to lawmakers during his […]

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Board of Elections allows Trump’s name to stay on ballot

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Former President Donald Trump’s name will appear on the March 19 Republican primary election ballot in Illinois, barring any extraordinary action by state or federal courts to remove him. The Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to deny an objection based […]

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As online DMV services plagued by no-shows, secretary of state launches changes

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com  Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched an online appointment system in September for Illinois drivers needing to come to a driver’s services facility, ostensibly to reduce wait times.  The “Skip-The-Line” program introduced upgrades to the secretary of state’s website as well as a shift in policy, requiring […]

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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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Measure banning vaping indoors in public places clears General Assembly

By NIKA SCHOOONOVERCapitol News Illinoisnschoonover@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A measure that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes inside of public buildings in Illinois  needs only a signature from Gov. JB Pritzker to become law after it received final approval from lawmakers this week. House Bill 1540 passed the Senate on a 42-11 […]