• News in brief: U.S. Rep. Bost contracts COVID; Black caucus debuts final pillar; judge rejects tax lawsuit request; a GOP bus tour
  • Republican Rep. Dan Ugaste faces Democrat Martha Paschke in the race to represent House District 65


  • News in brief: Durkin calls for Pritzker to demand answers; Wilson contracts COVID-19; a West Nile death; ratepayers frustrated over Ameren’s recent net metering decision
  • During a Thursday Senate hearing, Sen. Cristina Castro called for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to involve lawmakers more on their outreach efforts to minority-owned business and communities.


    A panel of lawmakers on Thursday said the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) needs to improve its communication with their offices in order to more effectively reach out to minority-owned businesses and communities.
  • News in brief: Pritzker says proposed budget cuts could include slashes to grants and personnel; seniors stump for graduated income tax
  • Gholdy Muhammed, an associate professor at Georgia State University, encouraged a panel of Illinois lawmakers on Wednesday to rewrite the state’s education standards as part of an effort to make education more equitable.


    The state’s learning standards and assessments need to be updated to ensure Illinois’ education system is more equitable, a panel of state lawmakers were told Wednesday.
  • Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced seven “guiding principles” that will serve as starting points for reforming the state’s criminal justice system.


    Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced seven “guiding principles” that will serve as starting points for making the state’s criminal justice system more equitable.


  • News in brief: Welch announces Madigan probe delay; Frerichs cancels press conference; Senate committees take on violence reduction and crime victim help
  • Illinois recorded its deadliest two-month span in terms of opioid overdose deaths earlier this year since 2018, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.


    More Illinoisans died of opioid overdoses in May than any other month since as least January 2018, according to a new report from the state Department of Public Health.

    Illinois recorded more than 250 opioid overdose deaths in April, followed by 269 in May, making it the deadliest two-month period on record since 2018. Since then, the previous monthly record for opioid overdose deaths was set in Dec. 2019, when nearly 250 Illinoisans died.
  • Democrat state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray is facing a challenge from Republican Laura Hois


    The Republican and Democratic candidates in the race to represent Illinois House District 81 are quick to note their opposition to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. But beyond that, incumbent Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray and Republican challenger Laura Hois have little in common.