Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump spewed lies and attempted to gaslight the American people during the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. “We endured two hours of baseless claims, shameless propaganda and the ramblings of a wannabe dictator outlining his plans to steal American elections,” Pritzker said […]
Illinois quick hits: Chicago man faces charges in road-rage shooting; migrant accused of murdering church volunteer; Illinois Liquor Control Commission launches new system | Illinois
Chicago man faces charges in road-rage shooting A Chicago man is facing aggravated firearm charges after an alleged road-rage shooting on the Kennedy Expressway. Police say Rene Garica, 52, fired a weapon at another vehicle and struck a 14-year-old passenger on I-90 near Ogden Avenue last Wednesday. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Migrant […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Road fund could help renovate Soldier Field | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Chicago Park District officials are reportedly planning to use Illinois gas tax revenue to help transform Soldier Field into a concert and special event venue. Fox 32 Chicago reports that the $630 million proposal would break down to $130 million in stadium renovations and half a billion dollars in surrounding infrastructure. […]
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 […]