Illinois becomes first state to require Asian American history to be taught in schools

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act into law Friday, making Illinois the first state in the country to require a unit of Asian American history to be taught in public schools.

New Illinois law expands healthcare for residents

Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill into law that expands healthcare for Illinois residents.

Pritzker signs new Illinois law that allows college athletes to be paid

College athletes in Illinois can profit from endorsements and hire agents under a plan signed into law Tuesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Pritzker signs $42B state spending plan into law

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $42 billion spending plan for Illinois on Thursday that includes $2.5 billion in spending from a multiyear federal relief package.

Exelon threatens to close 2 power plants after Illinois lawmakers fail to pass energy bill

On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker threw down a political marker after state lawmakers failed to approve a 900-page energy proposal that has electric utility giant Exelon renewing its threat to shut down two nuclear power plants in Illinois.

State lawmakers to vote on rate increase for Illinois electricity consumers

When Illinois lawmakers reconvene in the state capitol on Tuesday, at the top of their agenda will be an energy bill that includes utility reform.

Illinois Republican leaders sue to block Democrat-drawn legislative maps

Illinois Republican leaders filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging new legislative district boundaries that were drawn and approved by Democrats who control state government, saying residents were “robbed” of a fair and transparent process for creating maps that will be used for elections over the next decade.

Illinois electricity consumers, beware! Rate increase alert

Nine-hundred pages of energy legislation pending in the Illinois State Capitol also contains a rate increase for electricity consumers. The only question: just how big will it be?

JB Pritzker flips on map promise, signs Democrats' version

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday signed a law establishing legislative district maps to govern elections for the next 10 years after promising as a candidate that he would veto maps drawn by politicians.

McHenry Township Clerk's first openly transgender elected official shares coming out story

McHenry Township Clerk Danielle Aylward paid her taxes in single dollar bills in 2016 as part of a tax protest. She says that sparked her run for McHenry Township Clerk. 

Pritzker celebrates passage of state budget as critics pounce

While critics complain the new state budget is actually a half-billion dollars out of balance, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker took a victory lap Tuesday afternoon.

Illinois Legislature’s $42B budget heads to Pritzker's desk

The Illinois Legislature worked past its midnight deadline to approve a $42 billion state budget early Tuesday.

$41-billion budget, trickier issues face Illinois Legislature on final day

Illinois lawmakers were piecing together a $41.3 billion state budget Monday, based on tax revenue sources that rebounded much faster from the global pandemic than expected and including $2.5 billion in spending from a multiyear federal relief package.

Illinois bill bans police from lying during questioning

Minors are considered especially vulnerable, and have a much higher rate of confessions to crimes they did not commit.