IL Senate approves Department of Corrections director despite fierce opposition | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Despite a myriad of ongoing issues at the Illinois Department of Corrections, state senators approved the nomination of Acting Director Latoya Hughes to stay in charge with a six-figure salary. Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed Hughes as IDOC’s acting director in April 2023. During the second-to-last day of the General Assembly’s fall […]
Illinois soybean farmers face uncertainty amid MAHA push against seed oils | Illinois
Illinois soybean farmers face a potential market shakeup if public sentiment, and eventually policy, turns against seed oils, experts warn. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, has been outspoken about reshaping America’s diet, saying in a video that Trump has promised him “control of the public health agencies.” “We’ve […]
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker to sign tax, toll increases to bail out transit | Illinois
Pritzker to sign tax, toll increases to bail out transit Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he looks forward to signing public transit legislation into law. The General Assembly passed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act in the final hours of the fall veto session early Friday. The bill authorizes the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to raise […]
WATCH: Energy bill opponents say increases IL electric bills by $8 billion passes | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have passed wide-ranging energy legislation, but opponents say it will lead to higher electricity bills. Senate Bill 25, also known as The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), passed the state Senate by a vote of 37-22 Thursday night after the House advanced it Wednesday. Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, […]
WATCH: Tax proposals draw questions from Pritzker and GOP state rep | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering progressive revenue measures in the final hours of the fall veto session, but their proposals are drawing questions from both sides of the aisle. Although some Illinois Democrats have joined progressive groups in calling for new taxes, Gov. J.B. Pritzker says lawmakers have a lot more work to […]
Illinois quick hits: Raoul joins SNAP benefits lawsuit; disaster declaration denial appealed | Illinois
Raoul joins SNAP benefits lawsuit Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general and governors in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Raoul and the coalition argue that the agency has access to billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated […]
Illinois quick hits: Group criticizes elections board vote; charges filed in Clark County crash | Illinois
Group criticizes elections board vote A government integrity and accountability group says Democratic members of the Illinois State Board of Elections rescued state Senate President Don Harmon from having to pay a nearly $10 million penalty for alleged campaign finance violations. Last week, the board deadlocked along partisan lines on whether to grant Harmon’s appeal. The […]
Illinois child welfare agency to update number of missing children | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The number of missing foster children on the radar of the state’s child welfare agency will be clarified this week as a potential Illinois Statehouse candidate looks for answers. Public records obtained by Bailey Templeton from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services show in 2023, 16 children did not […]
Primary election filing to begin Monday for Illinois Dem, GOP candidates | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Candidates hoping for a spot on 2026 primary election ballots are expected to line up Monday outside the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield. Monday is the first day of the filing period for Democrats and Republicans seeking state and federal offices in Illinois. Candidates often arrive early, hoping to […]
High superintendent pay fuels debate over Illinois school consolidation | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new Illinois Policy Institute report reignites debate over how schools are run and how much top administrators are paid, but one national education expert warns district consolidation could make things worse, not better. The report shows the 10 highest-paid superintendents in Illinois earned over $4.2 million in 2024, with many overseeing […]