Springfield News
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DEC 04, 2020
Illinois State Police director Brendan Kelly and Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault executive director Carrie Ward on Thursday discussed the latest gains and needs for reducing the state’s DNA backlog during a Senate hearing.
While the Illinois State Police has significantly reduced its DNA backlog in recent months, more work needs to be done to provide faster results in order to help victims’ families and improve trust in the community, a panel of lawmakers were told Thursday. -
DEC 03, 2020
State Rep. Will Davis and Jorge Perez of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association called for the state to require companies receiving a tax credit to follow through on reporting their diversity spending.
Seizing on ongoing efforts in to bring equity to minority and female-owned businesses in Illinois, three state lawmakers on Wednesday called for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to enforce a law that requires additional reporting for companies that receive tax credits. -
DEC 02, 2020
During a Tuesday legislative hearing, Rep. Dan Caulkins challenged Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity assistant director Michael Negron about the inclusion of a clawback provision in the state’s Business Interruption Grant program.
Requiring businesses that receive financial assistance from the state to comply with Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive orders is “government overreach” and an “abuse of power,” Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) said Tuesday during a legislative hearing. -
DEC 01, 2020
A new report from Illinois Public Interest Research Group finds the key legislation at the heart of federal probe resulted in massive profits for ComEd and little benefit to customers.
In the years since Illinois lawmakers approved an energy modernization law that’s central to an ongoing federal investigation, Commonwealth Edison has seen its profits skyrocket and received less scrutiny from state regulators all while ratepayers have seen little benefit, according to a new report from Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). -
NOV 30, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker said Nov. 25 he was not considering another effort to push another graduated income tax amendment ballot measure.
When Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed income tax amendment failed earlier this month, it became the latest in a long line of ballot measures rejected by Illinois voters.
Pritzker largely blamed the failure of the amendment on billionaires and Republicans while others have said outstanding questions and increased scrutiny from the ongoing federal investigation that’s implicated House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) were equally responsible. -
NOV 25, 2020
Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) pressed Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs director Linda Chapa LaVia for answers about the COVID-19 outbreak at LaSalle Veterans Home on Tuesday.
An early assessment of the deadly outbreak of COVID-19 at the LaSalle Veterans Home found the facility had been using the wrong hand sanitizer, employees were lax on mask use, some staff members who tested positive for the virus continued to work due to staff shortages and some workers may have attended a Halloween party.
