Illinois ranks near bottom in social mobility | Illinois
(The Center Square) – With Illinois now ranking among the hardest states for residents to improve their economic and social status, Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste insists he’s focused on making sure more of them are being afforded their best chance for upliftment. “Only growing our state with new jobs, new opportunity and more people is […]
Advocate: Bipartisan support for IL CO2 pipeline eminent domain prohibition | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A bipartisan effort is underway to eliminate the option of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines in Illinois. Carbon sequestration advocates say the process of storing carbon dioxide could benefit the environment and provide future energy options. Getting the industrial byproduct to storage locations requires pipelines. But, property rights advocates like […]
Illinois quick hits: Illinois Supreme Court sued over judge’s removal | Illinois
Illinois Supreme Court sued over judge’s removal The Liberty Justice Center has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Illinois Supreme Court justices for what the LCJ says was the unconstitutional removal of Judge James R. Brown. The retired judge was recalled to Cook County circuit court in December 2025 to help fill judicial vacancies. […]
State lawmakers offer partisan responses to Pritzker’s budget address | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are offering mixed reviews of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address. Following the governor’s State of the State speech on Wednesday, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said he gives the governor a lot of credit for prioritizing important programs. “I heard a lot of shared priorities. We’re continuing […]
Illinois group pushes drug pricing bill opposed by business groups | Illinois
(The Center Square) – An effort is underway to work at controlling prescription drug prices in Illinois, but there is a stack of industry opposition. Citizen Action Illinois, a progressive policy and political coalition, is pushing for measures at the statehouse to establish a prescription drug affordability board, or PDAB. “Creating a prescription drug affordability […]
IL lawmaker intros bill to regulate third-party lawsuit investing | Illinois
Amid a growing push nationwide for new laws to regulate the booming business of third-party lawsuit investing, a state lawmaker has introduced legislation in Springfield in a bid to bring greater transparency to the practice in Illinois, as well. State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, filed HB5244 in the Illinois state House of Representatives. “Other states are acting, […]
Taxpayers funding $52.8M Route 9 upgrade; residents raise safety concerns | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois is set to receive $52.8 million in federal taxpayer funding to overhaul roughly 6 miles of Illinois Route 9, but a proposed sidewalk near Bloomington High School is drawing sharp opposition from nearby homeowners who say the project creates new safety risks and disrupts long-standing neighborhoods. The IDOT project, funded with […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Bills filed to create small business accounts | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Democratic state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Republican state Rep Amy Elik, R-Alton, have filed legislation to create small business asset purchase accounts. HB 4874 and SB 3614 allow small businesses to receive income tax deductions of 50% in the tax year they contribute funds to the account or withdraw funds. […]
Group: Raising minimum wage could cause drastic inflation | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have proposed raising the state’s minimum wage to $27 per hour in 2032, but an employment policy researcher says the move could trigger drastic inflation. House Bill 5367 and Senate Bill 3821 provide for incremental increases, starting on July 1st of this year. Citing research by economists and Bureau […]
WATCH: Attorney cites positive impact of corruption trials 1 year after Madigan conviction | Illinois
(The Center Square) – One year after a federal jury convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to promote unlawful activity, a defense attorney who worked on the case says public corruption trials are worth the taxpayer expense. After a trial lasting more than four […]