State of Illinois

State of Illinois

Illinois Attorney General Leads Coalition Urging Congress to Ban Concealed ICE Tactics

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in a call for Congress to enact new restrictions on how federal immigration agents operate, particularly criticizing the use of masks and unmarked vehicles by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. The coalition issued a collective letter […]

State of Illinois

Illinois Steps Up for LGBTQIA+ Youth Crisis Support After Federal Funding Cuts

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has committed to preserving dedicated mental health support for LGBTQIA+ youth on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, stepping in after the federal government ended funding for specialized LGBTQIA+ services last month. The move ensures that, despite the loss of federal dollars, young […]

State of Illinois

17 Governors Demand Trump Administration Release $6.8 Billion in Withheld Education Funding

Governor JB Pritzker led a coalition of 17 governors demanding that Education Secretary Linda McMahon immediately release $6.8 billion in federal education funding that the Trump administration is withholding from schools across America. The governors from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, […]

State of Illinois

State Farm Announces Mixed Rate Changes for Illinois Customers: Auto Rates Drop While Home Insurance Soars

State Farm, the Bloomington-based insurance giant, is implementing significant rate changes for Illinois customers, with auto insurance rates decreasing while home insurance rates spike dramatically. The company announced these changes as part of its response to evolving claims patterns and severe weather trends affecting the state. State Farm will reduce auto insurance rates […]

State of Illinois

Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs.

by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois July 15, 2025 Article Summary Congress’ latest budget package slashed federal tax incentives for solar developments. Industry insiders said the latest federal policies create “a lot of uncertainty.” Illinois facilitates significant funding for the renewables industry, particularly for solar, which provides some insulation against […]

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 […]