Cocktails-to-go, new state agency among laws taking effect July 1
July 1 marks a second New Year’s Day in Illinois as a new budget takes effect along with more than a dozen new state laws. In addition to the state’s nearly $56 billion fiscal year 2027 budget being implemented and the 1-cent motor fuel tax increase being suspended for the remainder of the year, 14…
Read MoreAmerican agriculture deeply rooted in nation’s 250-year-old history
By PHILIP NELSON Illinois Farm Bureau President There is perhaps nothing more quintessentially American than our great nation’s agricultural heritage. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence, we should stop for a moment during our cookouts and pool parties to reflect on the farm families who have fed, fueled and helped build this…
Read MoreNew law brings farmland assessment changes
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek Farmland values could level off and eventually decline under changes to the state’s Farmland Assessment Act included in the budget package signed June 16 by Gov. JB Pritzker. Public Act 104-0468 extends the vegetative filter strip assessment, adjusts the income capitalization rate and makes other technical updates to the Farmland Assessment…
Read MoreRising protein demand puts more pork on plates
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek As Americans want additional meat-based protein in their diets and diverse culinary experiences, pork is being plated on more tables across the country. Total pork consumption in the US this year is estimated to total 21.9 billion pounds, up about 185 million pounds from 2025, according to USDA. The department is…
Read MoreISVMA Encourages Illinois Pet Owners to Stay Informed About New World Screwworm While Emphasizing Risk Remains Low
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA) is encouraging pet owners to learn the facts about New World screwworm and take simple preventive measures to protect their animals, while emphasizing that the parasite remains rare in the United States and should not be a cause for panic. New World screwworm is a…
Read MorePrediction market Kalshi sues Illinois over its push to regulate sports bets
byMaggie Dougherty CHICAGO — Prediction market Kalshi, which offers trades on everything from the World Cup top goalscorers to the winners of the reality show Love Island and the 2028 Democratic primary, sued Illinois on Tuesday, June 23, over its latest push to regulate sports bets on the platform. The most recent move in the…
Read MoreAddicted to gambling in Illinois: ‘Someone has decided they can make money off you’
byCasey TonerandMaggie Dougherty This story is a collaboration between Capitol News Illinois and Illinois Answers Project. Editor’s note: Some individuals in this story are identified only by first name and last initial at their request to allow them to speak openly about their addiction without fear of reprisal for actions taken when gambling. CHICAGO — When…
Read MoreAg traders shift focus to weather, upcoming reports
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek Crop markets are focused on weather following a lackluster world agricultural supply and demand report from USDA. The June 11 report estimated a three-million-bushel increase in old-crop corn carryout but otherwise left old and new-crop estimates the same for corn and soybeans. “That was expected because in June, it’s too…
Read MorePritzker signs bill protecting medical records for abortion patients in Illinois
byNikoel HytrekandUIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act into law on Wednesday, June 24, which prevents abortion information from being shared with out-of-state entities, shielding it so abortion-seekers are protected from potential retaliation for receiving legal healthcare in Illinois. The law was signed on the…
Read MoreNew Illinois driving test age requirements start July 1
byJenna SchweikertandUIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) A law taking effect July 1 will raise the age at which older drivers must take a driving test to renew their license. The 2025 law, titled the Road Safety and Fairness Act, also creates a process for immediate family members to report cognitive or physical health declines to…
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