Capitol News

Capitol News Illinois WAUKEGAN — Robert Crimo III, the man accused of carrying out a mass shooting in Highland Park in 2022 that left seven people dead and prompted the passage of a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines in Illinois, pleaded guilty Monday to all charges stemming from that shooting. Crimo’s trial on…

Capitol News Illinois A new Illinois bill aims to add some oversight of families who homeschool their children, a response to concerns that the state does little to ensure these students receive an education and are protected from harm. The measure, known as the Homeschool Act, comes after an investigation by Capitol News Illinois and…

Capitol News Illinois CARBONDALE — The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to review a case challenging a since-repealed Carbondale ordinance intended to create a buffer between anti-abortion activists and those seeking reproductive care. Carbondale officials declined to comment and have given no indication they plan to reinstate the ordinance, though anti-abortion activists vowed to…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – As Black History Month comes to an end, the Illinois State Museum this week honored Black Springfield residents who excelled in their military service to the country – from forgotten heroes of the Civil War to soldiers deployed in France during World War I who earned the nickname “Black Devils”…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — Public transportation reform in the Chicago area is at the top of state lawmakers’ to-do list this spring, but exactly what that reform will look like remains unclear. Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace, along with the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees some aspects of the Chicago area’s transit…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – As the cost of housing continues to rise, Illinois realtors are pushing legislation to make it easier for first-time homebuyers to save for a down payment. Senate Bill 148 would enable Illinois residents to open a special kind of savings account that could only be used to pay eligible costs…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — As the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget Director Alexis Sturm warned a House committee that uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s economic and administrative policies could affect Illinois revenue, the president announced new tariffs will take effect Tuesday on imports from some of Illinois’ top trading partners. After initially pausing…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – A pair of health care programs that benefit noncitizens – one of which is already on Gov. JB Pritzker’s budgetary chopping block – far outstripped its original estimated price tag and cost the state of Illinois $1.6 billion through last summer, according to a new audit of the programs published…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration this week of continuing to withhold nearly $1.9 billion from Illinois state agencies, nonprofits and small businesses, despite the fact that an order to freeze those funds was rescinded after a federal judge issued a ruling blocking the freeze. Meanwhile, Pritzker also warned…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education is not telling schools to stop any diversity, equity and inclusion lessons or programs, the state’s education chief told a House committee this week, even as the Trump administration threatens to pull federal funding from schools that don’t stop. State Superintendent Tony Sanders informed…