Headlines
Former ComEd exec-turned-FBI mole in Madigan probe sentenced to probation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Fidel Marquez, a former executive for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was sentenced to two years of probation Thursday for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme intended to influence ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan...
1h ago
Battle over data centers in Illinois pits consumer costs vs. state competitiveness
By GABRIEL CASTILHO Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance a host of competing interests. Illinois consumer advocacy groups are demanding action as electricity bills rise and data ...
1h ago
Bill drafted by Illinois high schoolers would mandate vape disposal programs
By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill drafted by two Illinois high school students would require producers of electronic smoking devices like vapes to manage the disposal of the devices through stewardship programs. The programs would collect used smoking devices and re...
Feb 19, 2026
Democrats offer muted praise of Pritzker's speech, Republicans dismiss 'campaign' rhetoric
By BRENDEN MOORE, NIKOEL HYTREK & JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Reaction to Gov. JB Pritzker's combined State of the State and fiscal year 2027 budget address fell largely along partisan lines as Democrats offered muted praise while Republicans dismissed hi...
Feb 19, 2026
Illinois Republican senator pushes to outlaw abortion, loses leadership spots
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - A Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill to outlaw abortion in Illinois has resigned from his GOP leadership position in the Illinois Senate after conversations with top Republicans. Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, on Feb. 5, intr...
Feb 18, 2026
Pritzker proposes $56B budget with minimal new spending, tax on social media companies
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 with minimal new spending. Outside of key areas like pensions, education and health care costs, discretionary spending under Pritzker's proposal would rise b...
Feb 18, 2026
Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control
By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker will propose a plan during his State of the State address to drastically limit local governments' authority to restrict the types of structures that can be built on property zoned residential. Accessory dwelling...
Feb 18, 2026
Illinois GOP Senate candidates take stage in first major debate
By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Don Tracy, Jeannie Evans and Casey Chlebek pitched themselves as best positioned to flip a Senate seat Democrats have held since 1985. None directly criticized President Donald Trump, but each signaled differences on tariffs and ...
Feb 12, 2026
