Headlines
In a blow to banks, pioneering swipe fee law survives first legal challenge
By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary A federal judge has upheld a first-of-its-kind Illinois law that protects consumers and retailers from paying so-called credit card "swipe fees" on taxes and tips. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act was passed in l...
23h ago
Trump administration again rejects Illinois' request for disaster aid from August storm
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com The Trump administration has again rejected Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration covering severe storms that took place in northern Illinois in August 2025. The denial by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, released Saturday, Feb...
Feb 11, 2026
'More listening and less talking': Darren Bailey insists results will be different in 2nd run for governor
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Former Republican state legislator Darren Bailey is trying to improve on his 2022 campaign for governor by taking a new approach to voters in the Chicago area. Bailey is leaning heavily on his running mate from Cook County, Aaron ...
Feb 11, 2026
Judge blocks Trump's $10B child care funding freeze that targeted blue states, including Illinois
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction in the case concerning the Trump administration's freeze on $10 billion in child care and family planning funding to five blue states, including Illinois. Judge Vernon S. Broderick of the So...
Feb 10, 2026
Pritzker backs longtime political ally Margaret Croke for comptroller
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois Bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker is supporting Rep. Margaret Croke for comptroller in the Democratic primary. Croke has been a close ally of Pritzker since the governor launched his first campaign in 2017. Pritzker's endorsement could allow Crok...
Feb 10, 2026
Even though marijuana is legal in Illinois, clearing old criminal records still a challenge
By: KAITLIN BENDER-THOMAS Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary: Illinois residents can face long delays in clearing their marijuana-related records even after judges approve expungement and sealing orders. Although law enforcement agencies have 60 days to comply with court orders, r...
Feb 10, 2026
Taxpayers could be on the hook for millions in cleanup costs from oil and gas wells
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary A new report suggests Illinois could be on the hook for plugging and cleaning up thousands of inactive and abandoned oil and gas wells scattered across the state. Oil production was once a major industry in Illinois, but it has stea...
Feb 10, 2026
Pritzker's new budget report could set tone for conservative 2027 spending plan
By JERRY NOWICKI & BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The governor's office sought to quantify the cost of federal funding cuts, freezes and policy changes less than two weeks before he is scheduled to give his annual budget address. The biggest changes would be to co...
Feb 06, 2026
