Illinois’ two state fairs drew over 1 million combined visitors for the second year in a row, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. About 714,000 visitors attended the Springfield fair, while a record 287,000 visited the one in Du Quoin. Springfield’s attendance was the third-highest in its history but set a new single-day attendance record of […]
Maggie Dougherty
Maggie Dougherty is Chicago-based state government and politics reporter for Capitol News Illinois. She previously served as a summer intern with Illinois Times while finishing her master's degree with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
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Report: New data centers could create more than 120K Illinois jobs, though mostly temporary
A new study predicts data centers expected to be built in Illinois over the next decade would create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in new property tax revenue. But many are skeptical the touted benefits will live up to their promises or outweigh the environmental and energy burdens. The study by the Illinois […]
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Illinois inches closer on battery storage, solar goals
For Illinois to meet its ambitious decarbonization goals, the state’s energy grid will need more battery storage to make use of solar and wind power when the sun doesn’t shine and wind doesn’t blow. State regulators took the first major step last month toward bringing new energy storage online, a key component of legislation that […]
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Illinois recognizes gambling addiction, allowing new treatment options
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Friday that officially recognizes gambling disorder as an addiction in Illinois. The legislation, Senate Bill 2749, updates the state’s existing Substance Use Disorder Act to codify gambling addiction under the same framework as alcohol and drug use disorders, allowing the Illinois Department of Human Services’ behavioral health division to offer […]
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These 9 Illinois communities say they’re interested in new nuclear facilities
Illinois has opened the door to a new era of nuclear energy generation, but a question remains: Where would new nuclear power plants go? It’s an issue that Gov. JB Pritzker directed state agencies to explore this spring, when he signed his first executive order of the year and as the state seeks to stave off projected energy shortfalls that could […]
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Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation bill that aims to mitigate risks
Gov. JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation modeled after similar bills in California and New York on Monday, furthering a push for a state-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations. “Congress and the president ought to be passing similar legislation, but they’ve so far been unwilling, because many are captive to special interests that […]
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Gov. JB Pritzker suspends tax breaks for data centers, urges more discussion
CHICAGO — In a surprise move, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that he is putting a pause on all new state tax incentives for data centers and calling on lawmakers to pass new data center reforms during the fall veto session. The governor has directed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to pause […]
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What does Gov. JB Pritzker’s nuclear energy executive order do?
During his recent State of the State and budget address, Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new direction for nuclear energy in Illinois, aimed at staving off predicted energy shortages as the state moves toward carbon-free power generation. Pritzker signed an executive order the morning of the address, saying it “sets a new nuclear energy framework for Illinois — […]
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Oversight panel OKs rule on digitized prison mail in Illinois with new changes
A state legislative oversight committee Friday permitted the Illinois Department of Corrections to formally adopt permanent rules that allow it to scan and digitize mail of those in custody, in a blow to prison reform advocates. The rule was originally introduced under pressure from Republican legislators and the IDOC workers’ union after a series of substance exposures […]
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Illinois maternal mortality report finds rise in pregnancy-related deaths
Preventable pregnancy-related deaths rose and stark racial disparities remained in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s most recent maternal mortality report. The report studied 219 deaths that occurred in Illinois in 2021 and 2022 during or within one year of pregnancy. The two committees that reviewed the deaths determined 94 to be related to pregnancy. This […]
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Illinois Accountability Commission hears testimony about excessive force by ICE agents
A newly formed commission heard sobering testimony about federal agents’ excessive use of force, just days after Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino was spotted back in the city. The Illinois Accountability Commission held its first public meeting Dec. 18 in the city’s Little Village neighborhood to compile an official public record of misconduct by federal agents during […]
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Illinois leaders ‘won’t back down’ following Trump’s order limiting AI regulation
Illinois lawmakers vowed to keep fighting for protections against artificial intelligence after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Dec. 11 to shield tech companies from state laws. Trump’s order targets state regulations, including several in Illinois, that he said are inconsistent with national policy on AI. Critics said Illinois will not be swayed by the influence […]
