Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota were summoned to Washington, D.C., by committee Chair James Comer, R-Kentucky, to answer […]
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Gun rights groups continue push to overturn Illinois assault weapons ban
Gun rights advocates once again are asking a federal appeals court in Chicago to overturn Illinois’ ban on assault-style firearms and large-capacity magazines in a case that may be destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. In briefs filed June 6 with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, attorneys representing plaintiffs challenging the law urged the court […]
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State highway cameras could be used to investigate human trafficking
A bill passed in this year’s legislative session would rewrite the definition of a “forcible felony” to allow Illinois State Police to use images obtained from automatic license plate readers in cases involving human trafficking and involuntary servitude. Automatic license plate readers are cameras that capture images of vehicle license plates. After obtaining pictures captured […]
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Lawmakers pitch public transit and funding reform
With two days left in the legislative session, lawmakers in Springfield announced a pair of plans for how to reform Chicagoland transit agencies after two years of debate, one of which would come with a spate of new taxes. The proposals give new power to the agency that oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter […]
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Illinois Times is now a Report for America Newsroom
Illinois Times has been selected as a Report for America newsroom, allowing us to hire an additional full-time reporter starting in July. This position is partially funded by a grant of $25,000 for the first year – we are expected to raise $35,000 from community support to cover our share of the reporter’s salary. Before […]
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Lawmakers seek to reverse Illinois law penalizing companies that boycott Israel
A growing number of state lawmakers are moving to repeal a 2015 Illinois law penalizing companies that boycott Israel to protest its policies toward Palestinians. Amid concerns about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, lawmakers in Springfield supporting human rights for Palestinians have increasingly signed on to legislation opposing the decade-old anti-boycott law. But so far, […]
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Governor’s office cuts revenue projection by $500M in latest downward estimate
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office is now projecting state revenues to come in about a half-billion dollars below the baseline projections assumed during his February budget address. The latest downward revision comes as lawmakers are entering the final two-week stretch to approve a budget before their May 31 deadline amid increasing economic uncertainty. While Pritzker’s office […]
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Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem a no-show at Governor’s Mansion
On Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Secretary Kristi Noem would be visiting Springfield the following morning to tout her “Making America Safe Again” agenda and speak out against Gov. JB Pritzker’s immigration policies and Illinois’ status as a sanctuary state. No time or location for her press conference was publicized, but […]
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Major solar development opens in Sangamon County
Sangamon County is now home to the largest solar power development east of the Mississippi River. On April 30, Swift Current Energy, a Boston-based firm, held a ribbon-cutting at its Auburn office for the Double Black Diamond solar farm. The collection of solar panels was erected on more than 4,000 acres in western Sangamon County […]
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50501 protest held outside Capitol
A 50501 protest took place in front of the Capitol on Saturday, May 3. The grassroots movement has been organizing gatherings in all 50 states to protest the actions of the Trump administration. An initial protest in Springfield was held Feb. 5, one of dozens of protests that took place across the nation that day. […]
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GOP outraged by Pritzker speech
During a rip-roaring speech in New Hampshire last week, Gov. JB Pritzker called for mass national protests and “disruption,” assailed “do-nothing” Democrats for their “simpering timidity” and labeled President Donald Trump a “madman” who cannot be reasoned with. The Jewish Ukrainian-American governor said of Trump: “Stop tearing down the Constitution in the name of my […]
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‘Never asked to be a part of this somber club’: Illinois honors fallen police officers
Nine Illinois police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024 were honored at a ceremony in Springfield Thursday. The Illinois Peace Officers Memorial takes place every year on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died on the job in the prior year. Families of the officers are […]
