Archive for August 2025

Left to right: Jeff Rogers, Don Craven and Anna Brugmann. Forty Illinois local news entities operating 120 outlets are receiving $4 million in state tax credits under a new law designed to encourage the retention and hiring of journalists, according to documents released this week. The organizations that have received credits represent a cross section…

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference at a Homeland Security office in Lombard on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Screenshot via U.S. Department of Homeland Security livestream) Article Summary Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made her second visit to Illinois Friday to call on the state to end “sanctuary” immigration laws. Barbara…

Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan departs the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after receiving a 7 ½-year prison sentence on corruption charges on June 13, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams) Article Summary A judge has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s motion to remain free as the legal appeal process plays out…

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to reporters outside the Illinois State Fairgrounds after cutting a ribbon to officially open the fair on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock) Article Summary Dozens of Democratic lawmakers from Texas are staying in Illinois to prevent the Texas Legislature from adopting a Republican-backed congressional redistricting…

Gov. JB Pritzker and wife MK unveil the 2025 Illinois State Fair butter cow on Wednesday, Aug. 6, in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki) SPRINGFIELD — State officials ushered in the start of the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday with the annual unveiling of the butter cow. The sculpture is made of…

Former Commonwealth Edison lobbyist and City Club of Chicago director Jay Doherty leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Aug. 5, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams) Article Summary Jay Doherty, a longtime lobbyist and consultant for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, has been sentenced to a year in prison for his role in a…

The Illinois Capitol is shown in May 2024. (Capitol News Illinois file photo) Article Summary JB Pritzker signed 124 bills into law on Friday, a significant chunk of the 436 sent to him by lawmakers in the spring session. The governor still has hundreds more bills to consider. The measures signed Friday affect Chicago public…

(Cesar Calderon, Illinois Answers Project) Small clinics and hospitals are drowning in denied and delayed claims from Illinois Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). To cope, some have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether. Meanwhile, MCOs see increasing profits, but aren’t meeting patient care metrics. By Rachel Heimann Mercader, Illinois Answers Project ILLINOIS – On a weekend night,…

Gov. JB Pritzker and Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu talk to reporters from the DuPage County Democrats headquarters in Carol Stream after Democrats fled Texas to prevent a vote on a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Hannah Meisel) Article Summary Texas Democrats fled to Illinois Sunday night in an effort…

Diners sit at bar patios near Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, before a home game against the Orioles on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams) Article Summary The Chicago Cubs will host the 2027 MLB All-Star Game, the team’s fourth time hosting the event. The announcement comes…