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Sandoval charged with bribery, tax fraud
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval was formally charged in federal court Monday with bribery and tax fraud. The indictment comes one day before lawmakers are set to return to... — Updated 1/28/2020
State senators to choose new president Sunday
The Illinois Senate will hold a special meeting Sunday to elect a new chamber president. Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, surprised his colleagues at the end of... — Updated 1/16/2020
Reform advocates push for tighter lobbying controls
Government reform advocates in Illinois are urging state lawmakers to impose stricter rules on lobbying activity at the Statehouse, including a ban on lawmakers themselves working... — Updated 1/16/2020
Pritzker reflects on first year in office, looks ahead to 2020
One year ago, on Jan. 14, 2019, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker was sworn into office. A billionaire businessman from Chicago with no prior experience as an elected official, he took... — Updated 1/14/2020
New gun dealer regulations to take effect Friday
New rules governing how retail gun dealers do business go into effect Friday and include the types of records they must keep, how weapons and ammunition are to be stored and the... — Updated 1/13/2020
Farmers gather for state's first Hemp Summit
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director John Sullivan said Tuesday that interest in the newly-legalized hemp industry continues to build, but more work needs to be done for the... — Updated 12/26/2019
Researchers suggest more state funding for schools would help lower property taxes
A pair of researchers are suggesting the best way to reduce property taxes in Illinois is for the state to take over a greater share of funding for public schools and consolidate some units of local government. Frank Manzo, policy... — Updated 12/19/2019
Pritzker expected to sign letter consenting to refugee resettlement
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he fully supports allowing refugees to resettle in Illinois and he is expected to sign a letter to the Trump administration to that effect... — Updated 12/17/2019
First motions for marijuana expungements filed in Cook County
Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx filed motions in court Wednesday to vacate more than 1,000 low-level marijuana convictions, following through on a recently-passed state l... — Updated 12/12/2019
Pritzker signs bill promoting diverse workforce on capital projects
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday aimed at ensuring minority workers have access to jobs created through the state's new $45 billion capital improvements... — Updated 12/12/2019
Illinois harvest running behind schedule
As the month of December arrived, many Illinois farmers were still working to harvest their corn and soybeans - the state's two largest field crops - and agriculture officials are... — Updated 12/10/2019
Signs bill tightening language on conflict of interest, public use, expungement
The Trump administration is about to impose new regulations that would tighten eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, in a... — Updated 12/5/2019
Embattled state Sen. Martin Sandoval resigns
State Sen. Martin Sandoval, whose Statehouse office was raided by federal agents in September, announced late Wednesday that he will step down from his seat effective Jan. 1. "Respe... — Updated 12/2/2019
U.S. Supreme Court won't review Illinois 'felony murder' law
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal challenging a controversial state law that allows someone to be convicted of murder if a death occurs during the commissi... — Updated 11/26/2019
Pritzker vetoes retroactive tax break for private jet parts
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday vetoed a bill that would have provided a sales tax exemption on the sale of private jet parts and components retroactive to 2010 and... — Updated 11/26/2019
Chicago casino bill appears stalled; legalized marijuana clean-up in question
Two major issues that lawmakers were expected to deal with during the fall veto session regarding a Chicago casino and the upcoming legalization of adult use recreational marijuana... — Updated 11/14/2019
Lawmakers gearing up for final week of veto session
Illinois lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on Tuesday, with all eyes waiting to see what, if any, action will be taken on ethics reform in the General Assembly. But a host of... — Updated 11/12/2019
Amtrak ridership hits record highs on two Illinois lines
Amtrak routes that connect Chicago to St. Louis and Milwaukee saw record numbers of riders in the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 while the national passenger rail system... — Updated 11/11/2019
Manar to push bill making Daylight Saving Time permanent
If Sen. Andy Manar has his way, people in Illinois would move their clocks ahead one hour this coming spring, then never have to change them again. Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said in a... — Updated 11/7/2019
Senate GOP bill would give inspector general more autonomy
Republicans in the Illinois Senate unveiled a bill Wednesday that would give the legislative inspector general independent authority to launch investigations and issue subpoenas, so... — Updated 10/31/2019
Pritzker's veto of Obamacare protection bill survives in Senate
The Illinois Senate voted Wednesday to sustain Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker's veto of a bill that would have prohibited him, or any future governor, from seeking federal approval... — Updated 10/31/2019
Chicago Teachers Union pushes bill to redirect district funds
Chicago Teachers Union representatives are asking lawmakers for legislation that would force Chicago Public Schools to direct more of its state funding to services aimed at... — Updated 10/29/2019
Support building for ban on red-light cameras
SPRINGFIELD – Bipartisan support appears to be building in the Illinois General Assembly for a statewide ban on red-light cameras. Those are devices that some municipalities i... — Updated 10/10/2019
