Capitol News
Expansion of Medicaid for noncitizens sent to governor
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to otherwise ineligible noncitizens is now awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s approval. That provision was part of an “omnibus” Medicaid bill, House Bill 4343, that passed through the General Assembly on the final day of the session. And while Medicaid…
Moody’s gives Illinois second credit upgrade within one year
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois on Thursday received its second credit rating upgrade from Moody’s Investors Service within one year, moving up one notch but remaining in the worst shape of the 50 states. It’s the third upgrade between the three major credit ratings agencies during Gov. JB Pritzker’s tenure,…
ANALYSIS: Late-night legislating not unusual in Illinois, but process can be messy
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] It was 6 a.m. Saturday, April 9, by the time lawmakers adjourned their regular spring session which had been scheduled to conclude the day prior. When all was settled, lawmakers had passed 236 bills from April 1 to April 9, more than half of the 411 that cleared…
CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker signs $46 billion budget into law
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed his final first-term budget into law Tuesday, a roughly $46 billion spending plan buoyed by pandemic-driven revenue windfalls and a current-year surplus that helped the state pay down debts and offer temporary tax relief. The plan includes $500 million beyond statutory requirements to the state’s…
Pritzker lifts public transportation face covering requirement
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker officially lifted the state requirement that face coverings be worn on public transportation Wednesday after a federal judge overturned the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mask mandate. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of the Middle District of Florida ruled on…
What’s in Illinois’ $46 billion budget package?
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills Tuesday that make up a roughly $46 billion Fiscal Year 2023 state general revenue funds budget that includes increased funding for education and human services and $1.8 billion in mostly-temporary tax relief. Pritzker signed the bill during a…
Pritzker signs final first-term budget ahead of reelection push
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoi [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed his final first-term budget into law Tuesday, a roughly $46 billion spending plan buoyed by pandemic-driven revenue windfalls and a current-year surplus that helped the state pay down debts and offer temporary tax relief. Between the three budget-related bills signed Tuesday –…
Appellate court declines to block enforcement of vaccine, testing mandate
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A state appellate court ruled this week that it will not block enforcement of the Pritzker administration’s mandate that certain categories of public employees either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing. The 2-1 ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeals upheld a Sangamon…
Session Recap: Bills allow pharmacists to administer preventive HIV meds, fentanyl test strips
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Legislation allowing pharmacists to administer or dispense preventive HIV medication and fentanyl testing strips were among health-related measures passed by the Illinois General Assembly during the final week of session. House Bill 4430 allows pharmacists to order and conduct testing and dispense pre- and post-exposure HIV…
Session Recap: Union-backed wage theft measure will head to Pritzker
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing “Session Recap” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on many of the more-than 200 measures that passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly during the final week of spring session which adjourned at 6…
Man who received pardon for felony arson and became fire chief is now also a police officer
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Jerame Simmons spent nearly 24 years as a convicted felon after pleading guilty to arson in 1999 until a 2021 pardon cleared that record and allowed him to head the department that put out the fire he started. Now, he’s not only a fire chief, but also a…
CAPITOL RECAP: Budget passes after all-night session
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers worked until the early hours of Saturday to pass a $46.5 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as a $1.8 billion package of mostly-temporary tax cuts that Democrats said are intended to soften the impact of inflation on working families. After 3 a.m.…
Session Recap: Illinois lawmakers pass bill to combat organized retail theft
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing “Session Recap” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on many of the more-than 200 measures that passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly during the final week of spring session which adjourned at 6 a.m.…
Session Recap: Lawmakers pass limits on campaign contributions in judicial races
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing “Session Recap” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on many of the more-than 200 measures that passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly during the final week of spring session which adjourned at 6 a.m.…
Lawmakers wrap up session with early-morning passage of $46.5 billion budget
By JERRY NOWICKI & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers worked until the early hours of Saturday to pass a $46.5 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as a $1.8 billion package of mostly-temporary tax cuts that Democrats said are intended to soften the impact of inflation…
Pritzker taps former Rauner chief of staff, former judge for PRB
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday named a former Cook County judge and the chief of staff of his Republican predecessor to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Both of those appointees, ex-Cook County Judge Robin Shoffner and Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s chief of staff Rodger Heaton,…
Pritzker, legislative Democrats announce budget agreement
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders of the General Assembly announced Thursday they had reached agreement on a $45.6 billion budget package that would include $1.8 billion of mostly-temporary tax relief. Senate President Don Harmon, of Oak Park, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside,…
Nursing home payment reform drives $700 million to improve staffing, quality of care
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would inject more than $700 million annually into Medicaid-funded nursing homes to increase staffing levels and improve quality of care unanimously cleared the Illinois House on Thursday, one day after clearing the Senate. It will head to Gov. JB Pritzker who praised its…
CAPITOL RECAP: Budget framework surfaces as negotiations continue
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The House on Wednesday, April 6, unveiled a $45.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. Revenues are expected to be just over $46 billion. The negotiations on an agreed proposal continued Wednesday and the bill numbers were likely to change before a budget…
House Dems release $45.6 billion budget as negotiations continue
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the Illinois House unveiled their own tax cut proposals and outlined spending tied to recent public safety measures at a news conference Wednesday, just three days before the scheduled April 8 adjournment of the 2022 regular session. Those provisions are part of a $45.6…
GOP asks for a performance audit for state’s child protection agency
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – In the wake of the recent deaths of five children who were in contact with the state’s child protection agency and eight contempt citations against the agency’s director, House Republicans on Wednesday asked for a performance audit at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.…
DCFS releases details of 8-year-old’s death as hearing on 30-year-old consent decree looms
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – In the weeks before 8-year-old Navin Jones died, the Department of Children and Family Services had investigated his parents for nabbing him from his legal guardian and had received a hotline call reporting that the child didn’t go to school and was berated, bruised and starved.…
Senate Democrats unveil legislation aimed at addressing carjackings
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled legislation Tuesday to address the increase in carjackings by protecting victims and providing additional resources to law enforcement in targeting and capturing offenders. House Bill 3699, sponsored by Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, would aim to provide additional resources to metropolitan law enforcement…
Paid COVID-19 leave for vaccinated educators signed into law
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Public school, community college and public university employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now entitled to paid administrative leave for any days they miss this school year due to coronavirus-related issues. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed House Bill 1167 into law, which provides…
Local News
Feds indict Summit police chief, building inspector
Indictment says they shared a bribe over liquor license for the Mars Bar A federal grand jury this week indicted Summit Police Chief John Kosmowski and building inspector Bill Mundy with sharing a bribe from a business owner in 2017 to facilitate the transfer of a liquor license for the Mars Bar. The indictment returned……
Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S.……
New ward map OKed
Reflects Madigan’s power By Tim Hadac The City Council this week approved a new ward map that, among other things, will see all of Clearing and most of Garfield Ridge shifted to the 13th Ward. Midway International Airport also would shift from the 23rd Ward to the 13th. Monday’s 43-7 vote means the issue will……
Pop’s to celebrate National Italian Beef Day with week of specials
Palos Heights-based Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage is beefing up May this year with a week-long celebration of National Italian Beef Day at each of their locations. As part of the celebrations, Pop’s is hosting an interactive contest on their Facebook page during the week of National Italian Beef Day from Monday, May 23, through……
‘Small Island, Big Song’ workshops enrich classroom learning at MVCC
From staff reports Coming from some of the smallest islands in the world, performers from “Small Island, Big Song” talked about climate change, indigenous cultures and island history from their homelands to students in select sociology and geography classes at Moraine Valley Community College last month. The group performed their musical and spoken word endeavor……
Pathlights names new executive director
From staff reports Elaine Grande has been appointed Executive Director by Pathlights’ Board of Directors effective May 30. Grande brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience and becomes only the third Executive Director in the Palos Heights nonprofit’s 46-year history. She currently leads all Pathlights program and services as Director of Program Development……
‘You knew this would happen’
Neighbors angry, but not surprised by shooting By Tim Hadac What a number of Southwest Siders living along the Pulaski corridor have been warning about appears to have occurred. A 22-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and buttocks as he stood with a group of people in a parking lot at 7050……
Cubs come through for Gage Park
Leaders of the Gage Park Baseball & Softball Association, along with Chicago Park District officials, are all smiles as they celebrate the coming renovation of their diamonds, courtesy of a grant from Cubs Charities. Details in today’s Gage Park column. –Supplied photo To view this page you will need to log in or sign up…
Health care expansion planned for Brighton Park
Esperanza secures $4.2 million for 47th/California From staff reports Esperanza Health Centers is one of 26 finalists to receive more than $33.5 million in grant funding from the city’s Recovery Plan Community Development grant program. The award of $4.2 million will enable Esperanza to break ground on a long-awaited expansion of its current Brighton Park……
Forgive Ukraine’s debts, Chuy says
Bill passes House, issue heads to Senate From staff reports Legislation designed to bring debt relief to Ukraine—a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th)—was passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure instructs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to use their voice and vote to pursue comprehensive relief……
