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from Illinois state agencies, nonprofits and small businesses, despite the fact that an order to freeze those funds was rescinded after a federal judge issued a ruling blocking the freeze.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…