Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12 students who may be in the country without legal authorization from being denied access to a free public education. House Bill 3247, known as the “Safe Schools for All Act,” passed both chambers…

Capitol News Illinois by Janelle O’Dea for the Illinois Answers Project CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — Arianna Norris, 63, paid cash for her home in Cahokia Heights. For as long as she’s lived there, during intense rainstorms, water surrounds her property and last year her basement started flooding. Norris was around four years ago when residents in…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — A group of Republican lawmakers filed a lawsuit this week that seeks to nullify legislation they say would indelibly alter both the business and legal landscape of Illinois. Senate Bill 328 would amend a key provision of Illinois civil law by allowing, in certain kinds of cases, any company authorized…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — The parents of a 10-year-old girl who allegedly was assaulted repeatedly by a 14-year-old student in the Taylorville School District have filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and the school bus company. The lawsuit, filed by a Chicago law firm, contains five counts against the Taylorville School District…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO — Just over one year ago, the Illinois legislature approved spending more than $700 million to attract and support a new industry: quantum technology. Now, representatives of other countries, federal research labs and a network of private organizations with ties to the state are beginning to ink deals and make agreements…

Capitol News Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect July 1 is the largest in state history and is supported…

Capitol News Illinois UPDATED: This story has been updated with a historical overview of Illinois corruption cases, new character letter details, and photos. CHICAGO — The number of years former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spent in Springfield has often been used as shorthand to explain his outsized impact on state government and politics. His…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO — Transit agency officials in Chicagoland met this week and formally began the process of planning for next year’s budget, including drawing up plans for major service cuts and potential layoffs. It’s the latest chapter in an ongoing fight between public transit officials and state lawmakers over funding. Public transportation agencies’…

Capitol News Illinois by Alex Nitkin for ILLINOIS ANSWERS PROJECT CHICAGO — For most new parents, finding last-minute child care usually means an afternoon of frantic phone calls and around $100 dropped on a trusted babysitter. For Brian and Fiona Peterman, it means walking across their backyard. In 2021, Fiona’s mother, Louise D’Agostino, was scanning…

Capitol News Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota were summoned to Washington, D.C., by committee Chair James Comer,…