Author: Capitol News

State of Illinois

Housing funding cut in Illinois budget as homelessness increases

by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 4, 2025 Article Summary Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget reduced funding for programs serving homeless people by more than $14 million from the previous year. JB Pritzker’s “Home Illinois” initiative aimed at reaching “functional zero” homelessness saw a $26.6 million cut. That program […]

State of Illinois

Federal food assistance changes threaten benefits for thousands of Illinoisans

by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 8, 2025 Article summary The domestic policy law signed by President Donald Trump last week creates new work requirements that could jeopardize food assistance benefits for 360,000 Illinoisans. Illinois will be required to cover a greater portion of the administrative costs and benefits […]

State of Illinois

State ends fiscal year with record revenue

by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 2, 2025 Article Summary: Illinois closed fiscal year 2025 with record $54 billion in revenue. While that marked a surplus from the enacted budget, the extra revenue was anticipated when lawmakers approved the current-year budget in May. It doesn’t give lawmakers any extra […]

State of Illinois

Attorney General Raoul joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s termination of federal grants

by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 25, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced this week he has joined another multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds that had previously been approved for states and other grantees. The complaint, filed […]

State of Illinois

Advocates await action on bill protecting rights of immigrant students in Illinois

by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12 students who may be in the country without legal authorization from being denied access to a free public education. House Bill 3247, […]