By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker joined members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus on Monday to sign a measure aimed at advancing equity in education in the state. House Bill 2170, known as the Education and Workforce Equity Act, contains over 20 provisions aimed at […]
By SARAH MANSURCapitol News Illinoissmansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced new federal funding to expand the state’s food assistance program for school-age children who would normally receive free or reduced-price meals. Pritzker said the additional funds to the existing Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program will help feed […]
By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a criminal justice omnibus bill backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Monday, abolishing cash bail, overhauling police certification and reforming use-of-force standards among numerous other provisions. Pritzker signed the legislation, House Bill 3653, referred to as the “Safe-T Act,” during […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Jerry NowickiCapitol News IllinoisJnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
