Headlines
Human service advocates say they are worried after Pritzker's status-quo budget proposal
By: GEORGE ALEXANDRAKIS Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary: Health and human service advocates gathered at a watch party at the Illinois State Library across the street from the Illinois State Capitol to watch Gov. JB Pritzker's budget address. The lobbyists expressed concern after...
1h ago
As Illinois increasingly becomes destination for abortion access, a new public-private partnership emerges
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Surrounded by states with abortion restrictions, Illinois has become a destination for patients from across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Illinois abortion providers took care of 23% of the approximately 15...
1h ago
Former deputy in Sonya Massey killing serving prison sentence, but state officials won't say where
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson, who was convicted last year of shooting an unarmed woman, has begun serving his 20-year prison sentence with the Illinois Department of Corrections in an undisclosed location. IDOC ...
1h ago
Former ComEd exec-turned-FBI mole in Madigan probe sentenced to probation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Fidel Marquez, a former executive for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was sentenced to two years of probation Thursday for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme intended to influence ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan...
Feb 20, 2026
Battle over data centers in Illinois pits consumer costs vs. state competitiveness
By GABRIEL CASTILHO Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance a host of competing interests. Illinois consumer advocacy groups are demanding action as electricity bills rise and data ...
Feb 20, 2026
Bill drafted by Illinois high schoolers would mandate vape disposal programs
By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill drafted by two Illinois high school students would require producers of electronic smoking devices like vapes to manage the disposal of the devices through stewardship programs. The programs would collect used smoking devices and re...
Feb 19, 2026
Democrats offer muted praise of Pritzker's speech, Republicans dismiss 'campaign' rhetoric
By BRENDEN MOORE, NIKOEL HYTREK & JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Reaction to Gov. JB Pritzker's combined State of the State and fiscal year 2027 budget address fell largely along partisan lines as Democrats offered muted praise while Republicans dismissed hi...
Feb 19, 2026
Illinois Republican senator pushes to outlaw abortion, loses leadership spots
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - A Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill to outlaw abortion in Illinois has resigned from his GOP leadership position in the Illinois Senate after conversations with top Republicans. Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, on Feb. 5, intr...
Feb 18, 2026
