Capitol News Illinois A second protest against the Trump administration took place in front of the Illinois Capitol Monday, less than two weeks after the first such protest was held. The protest was part of the “50501 movement,” which calls for 50 protests in 50 states on one day. This is the same entity that…

Capitol News Illinois The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk of an outbreak of the bird flu in humans is low, although Illinois’ health department is preparing for the possibility. On Friday, the Trump administration reportedly laid off 1,300 probationary employees of the CDC, which has led nationwide efforts to contain…

Capitol News Illinois The impending closure of a University of Illinois soybean research lab due to federal funding cuts could impede the study of a fungal disease that experts say would decimate the crop if it makes its way into the country. The federal government has designated 63 biological agents and toxins, including Ebola virus…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO — Gia Biagi made her name building parks. Now, she’s leading the department that oversees more than 145,000 miles of roads, 7,000 miles of railways, 1,000 miles of waterways and 26,000 bridges. In December, Gov. JB Pritzker tapped Biagi to replace former Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. Biagi took…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — The relative ease of budgeting following the pandemic thanks to federal aid and strong tax revenue surpluses for the state appears to be over. Gov. JB Pritzker will present his seventh budget proposal Wednesday as the state faces a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2026, which begins…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – As the Trump administration has begun enacting mass deportations in recent weeks, activists and public officials in Chicago have been scaling up protections for immigrants. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have both vowed to leverage state law to limit such arrests, leading the Trump administration to…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers voiced a wide range of reactions Wednesday following former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction on multiple federal corruption charges. Republicans, who have long complained about his style of leadership, amplified their call for broader ethics reform in the Capitol while Democrats tried to put the Madigan era behind…