Dilpreet Raju

Members of the Massey Commission, which is nearing an imposed deadline to submit a report of findings and recommendations, argue creating meaningful solutions for Springfield will require more than just one year of discussions. Next month, the group will host members of the Ferguson Commission to discuss transitioning the commission into a nonprofit. “(Sonya’s cousin) […]

Ule James remembers when there was no vaccine for measles. Growing up as a child in the 1960s, he said it was fairly common for people to experience bouts of disease from the deadly virus. “Back then, it was like, ‘It’s just measles. All the kids get measles, who cares?’” James said. The first measles […]

While Illinois’ cannabis market is booming and the state has made progress in diversifying new licensees, significant hurdles remain for businesses hoping to enter the expanding market, according to an independent review of the industry. Celebratory news releases have marked several industry successes in recent months – the state saw the opening of its 100th social […]

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Aug. 6 that’s aimed at providing free identification cards to more people exiting correctional facilities in Illinois.  The state already provides identification cards to people leaving the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, but the new law expands the program to every county jail and federal […]

For the last two decades, each time a governor has moved to close a large state-run facility like a prison or mental health center, a legislative oversight panel has voted on the plan. That changed on June 14 – at least for now – when only three lawmakers made it to Springfield for the Commission […]

A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s recently concluded spring session, including measures targeting artificial intelligence and allowing for digital driver’s licenses. A Capitol News […]

In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield May 15 at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance, Pritzker and panelists floated ideas to improve access to mental […]

Weeks after two high-profile resignations at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Gov. JB Pritzker on April 15 appointed the first-ever executive director to help lead the beleaguered agency. To fill the newly created position, the governor tapped Jim Montgomery, who most recently served as director of administrative services with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in […]

Amid five straight years of record overdose deaths in Illinois, a new state program aims to alleviate a shortage of professionals who work to prevent substance use disorders. Illinois’ behavioral health counselor workforce “is aging while new entrants are declining,” according to a 2019 report to the General Assembly; 56% of certified substance use disorder […]