Black-owned businesses in Illinois face significant barriers to growth and opportunities that would enable them to compete with their white-owned counterparts, a problem that many Black leaders say is directly tied to Black unemployment rates and the deterioration of Black neighborhoods. That was the message state lawmakers heard Oct. 8 when three Senate committees held […]
Capitol News Illinois
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Black Caucus highlights racial health disparities
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is drawing attention to national and statewide health disparities between Black and white Americans in an effort to educate fellow lawmakers and build consensus for action ahead of the fall veto session. At an Oct. 9 news conference outside of the Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, ILBC Chairwoman state Sen. […]
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Steps to fairness include drug penalty reform, elderly parole
The Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee and Special Committee on Public Safety held the latest in a series of hearings related to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ legislative agenda Sept. 29, focusing on reclassifying offenses, drug penalty reform and elderly parole. “We must confront the vast disparities in how individuals throughout the state are sentenced,” […]
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Lower compulsory school age to 5?
Illinois lawmakers may soon consider legislation to lower the state’s compulsory attendance law to include 5-year-olds, a measure advocates see as a way to expand access to early childhood education opportunities, especially among Black and low-income families. That was just one of the issues discussed Sept. 24 during a virtual joint hearing of the Illinois […]
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Child welfare officials cope during pandemic
Child welfare officials in Illinois told a panel of state lawmakers Sept. 14 that the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered but not completely prevented their efforts to monitor children at risk of abuse or neglect. “Without question, the pandemic has been and continues to be extremely challenging for all of us, both personally and professionally,” Marc […]
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State’s wealthiest person gives $20 million to anti-graduated tax committee
Illinois’ wealthiest man and frequent Republican political donor Ken Griffin has pledged $20 million to a group dedicated to defeating a graduated tax constitutional amendment. Griffin, who is the founder of the hedge fund Citadel, has previously donated tens of millions of dollars to the campaign of Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauner. He’s also given […]
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Madigan hearings to begin next week
A special investigative committee of the General Assembly will begin meeting at the Capitol next week to decide the fate of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Madigan, a Chicago Democrat and the longest-serving legislative speaker in U.S. history, was implicated in a bribery scheme in July when officials from the utility giant Commonwealth Edison admitted […]
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State investing $40M in Cairo river port
The state of Illinois is about to invest $40 million into developing an inland river port that officials hope will produce thousands of new jobs and turn the small town of Cairo into a major shipping hub. Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to Cairo Aug. 4 to announce the project, calling it “a game-changing investment for […]
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Census can ’empower’ Asian Illinoisans
Elected officials in Illinois who make up the Asian-American Caucus, along with local community organizations, held Asian-American Census Day July 31 to promote participation in the census among Asian Illinoisans. During a news conference in Chicago’s Chinatown Square, Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, spoke about how the census has benefited the Asian community and why taking […]
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Pritzker warns of return to restrictions in counties with growing infections
Gov. JB Pritzker on July 30 traveled to two of the four counties in Illinois that are now in danger of having to reimpose economic restrictions because of rising COVID-19 numbers, warning that bars, restaurants and other businesses could be forced to close again if people don’t follow public health guidelines. “As much as I’d […]
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Number of House Democrats calling for Madigan’s resignation grows
Cracks are beginning to show in Michael Madigan’s hold over the House Democratic caucus that he has led as speaker for all but two years since 1983. Three more members of that caucus called for Madigan to resign this week, at least as House speaker and chair of the state’s Democratic Party. They join another […]
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State unveils six-year road, bridge plan
Gov. JB Pritzker joined Illinois Department of Transportation officials Tuesday, July 21, to unveil a six-year, $21.3 billion statewide road and bridge improvement plan that is an extension of the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure package passed last year by the General Assembly. IDOT is tasked with unveiling a multiyear plan each year to detail how it […]
