By NIKOEL HYTREK CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency about how much water data centers use to cool their facilities at the final of three data center-focused hearings in the House Executive Committee. Undisclosed water use is one of the most...

By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November. House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said the proposal did not have e...

By BRENDEN MOORE, BEN SZALINSKI & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The Illinois House approved a major economic development bill that includes a provision the Chicago Bears see as necessary to building a domed stadium in Arlington Heights. The measure is 10 time...

By WMBD TV NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - AFSCME Council 31, representing certain Illinois State University employees, has sued the school, saying it broke the law by hiring temporary replacement workers to "win" against its union workers. The union that represents some 350 buildings, grounds and dining services emplo...

By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com A nationwide school bus driver shortage, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, persists in some parts of the country. But in Illinois, efforts to attract new demographics of bus drivers and make hiring easier have paid off. Illinois school dist...

By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Tuesday barring state employees and elected officials from using information obtained in their official capacity to place bets on prediction markets. The order applies to all employe...

By WMBD TV MACKINAW, Ill. (WMBD) - The Mackinaw Police Department warned the public on Tuesday that scammers were impersonating law enforcement. The department said it had received reports of being contacted by scammers via calls or text that claim to be law enforcement, said a Mackinaw police Facebook post. Those scam...

By WMBD TV NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - Illinois State University workers are heading into their third week of striking with no additional bargaining sessions in sight. AFSCME Council 31 represents building, grounds, and dining service employees of the university. The union and ISU bargaining teams met at the table last Wedne...