After bill signing, commission to study carbon capture at Mahomet Aquifer | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A water, land and wildlife advocate says a new law restricting carbon sequestration will protect most of the Mahomet Aquifer. One of 124 bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed last Friday, Senate Bill 1723 is slated to take effect Jan. 1. Prairie Rivers Network Climate Policy Director Andrew Rehn supported the measure […]
Educator urges Illinois teachers to reject union pressure, politics and coercion | Illinois
(The Center Square) – With the Illinois Education Association’s mid-September opt-out deadline approaching, critics call for a permanent opt-out option instead of yearly reaffirmation, arguing union influence restricts school choice and teacher autonomy in Illinois. Sarah Fletcher, a former charter school educator and now the Head of School at White Horse Academy, a private school, […]
Chicago alderman defends Tier 2 pension upgrade signed by governor | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers will be expected to provide larger payments for retired police and firefighters after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a Tier 2 pension bill into law. House Bill 3657 is one of 124 bills the governor signed last Friday. The measure amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the […]
Illinois quick hits: Missing child recovered; Feds release frozen education funds | Illinois
Missing child recovered U.S. Marshals in northern Illinois say they worked with the Chicago Police Department to recover a child who was reported missing seven years ago. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had custody of the missing infant in 2018, when it was suspected that the child was with the biological mother […]
DOE cancels $4.9B loan for energy project Illinois lawmaker calls a ‘scam’ | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy has canceled $4.9 billion in federal loans for the Grain Belt Express, a proposed multistate transmission line that faced pushback from Illinois landowners over concerns about property rights and eminent domain. State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, praised the DOE’s decision and called the project a “scam” […]
Pritzker signs 124 bill impacting Chicago pensions, AI, buses, bicycles and more | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed 124 bills Friday impacting everything from Chicago police and fire pensions to the use of artificial intelligence for mental health therapy. Effective immediately, House Bill 3657 makes changes to Tier 2 Chicago Police and Firefighter pension benefits. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the measure was incomplete […]
WATCH: Youth mental health screenings may have long-term impact, IL legislator warns | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a bill which requires Illinois’ public school districts to provide universal mental health screenings. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 Thursday at Chute Middle School in Evanston. The governor said annual screenings for kids in grades 3 through 12 will be available by 2027. “They provide early […]
IL manufacturing leader: EU trade deal has benefits | Illinois
(The Center Square) – An industry advocate says Illinois manufacturers could benefit from a new U.S. trade agreement with the European Union, even though the deal includes tariffs. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this week that the EU would pay the U.S. a tariff rate of 15%, eliminate tariffs […]
Illinois quick hits: Gas rate increase public comments; insurance regulations urged | Illinois
Gas rate increase public comments The Illinois Commerce Commission is encouraging Northern Illinois Gas Company (Nicor) customers to publicly comment on the utility’s proposed rate hike at a hearing in Elgin Thursday evening. Nicor filed a request for a $308.6 million general increase in January 2025. Customers unable to attend the hearing may submit comments via the ICC […]
Economist explains flight of people, dollars from Illinois | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Outmigration has taken a major toll on the Illinois economy, according to a new report by Unleash Prosperity. Using data from the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Census Bureau, analysts found that Illinois lost 881,012 residents from 2012 to 2022. Economist Stephen Moore said only New York and California suffered […]