Pritzker: Broader reopening to begin next week
State still grappling with vaccine hesitancy in some communities By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday, May 6, that Illinois will enter the “bridge” phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And, barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin on June…
Read MoreGOP leaders call out House Dems for redistricting ‘hypocrisy’ – Dems say behind-closed-door process is ‘normal’
By GRACE BARBIC and SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois gbarbic@capitolnewsillinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republicans continue to demand a “fair” redistricting process, following a news report depicting Democratic lawmakers meeting behind a closed door to discuss the map-making process. The “secretive” room on Capitol grounds where House Democrats are said to be drawing maps…
Read MoreIllinois law enforcement community honors officers killed in line of duty
Fallen officers from 2019 and 2020 honored in Springfield By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinois tkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, members of Illinois’ law enforcement community gathered in Springfield Thursday, May 6, to honor officers killed in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020. In a…
Read MoreBill proposes standardized election procedures
GOP senators call for uniformity across all counties By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Two Republican senators have introduced legislation to standardize the way local election authorities across Illinois handle elections, from the training of election judges to posting information about delays in election night ballot counting. Sens. Sally Turner, of the…
Read MoreIllinois House votes to endorse ‘abolition amendment,’ D.C. statehood
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House voted Wednesday, May 5, to endorse a proposed U.S. constitutional amendment that would finally eliminate what some see as the last vestige of slavery in the United States – forced labor by people convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison. House Joint Resolution…
Read MoreState lawmakers consider lifting ban on betting on in-state colleges, universities
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – State lawmakers are considering a number of changes to Illinois gambling laws, including a measure that would lift the prohibition on gambling on in-state colleges and universities. Other measures discussed by the House Executive Committee Wednesday, April 28, would legalize and regulate certain internet gambling programs,…
Read MoreHigh court: Petition circulators confined to gathering signatures for one party
Cannot serve one party in primary then an independent in general election By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — An Illinois Supreme Court decision Wednesday clarified that the state election code prohibits a person from collecting signatures for both a party candidate in a consolidated primary and an independent candidate in the consolidated…
Read MoreFor Your Health: Welcome spring with healthier comfort foods
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center A bright spot for many of us last year was the opportunity to hone our cooking skills. This may have been more from necessity than any real desire to be the next José Andrés or Rachael Ray. Still, reluctantly or not, we’ve joined the ranks of our…
Read MoreFor Your Health: Welcome spring with healthier comfort foods
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center A bright spot for many of us last year was the opportunity to hone our cooking skills. This may have been more from necessity than any real desire to be the next José Andrés or Rachael Ray. Still, reluctantly or not, we’ve joined the ranks of our…
Read MoreState drops most child support interest charges
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state is no longer charging interest on late child support payments that are made through the Department of Healthcare and Family Services unless it’s ordered by a court, and all of the outstanding interest charges that those parents owed have been zeroed out. A spokesman…
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