Category Archives: Headlines
As Illinois increasingly becomes destination for abortion access, a new public-private partnership emerges
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Surrounded by states with abortion restrictions, Illinois has become a destination for patients from across the country since the...
Feb 23, 2026 Megan Jeyifo, executive director of Chicago Abortion Fund, speaks at a news conference announcing the Prairie State Access Fund in January. (Submitted photo taken by Alicia Hurtado, Chicago Abortion Fund)
Former deputy in Sonya Massey killing serving prison sentence, but state officials won't say where
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson, who was convicted last year of shooting an unarmed woman, has begun...
Feb 23, 2026 Sean Grayson, former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, was convicted Jan. 29, 2026, of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey. (Source: Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department)
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 probati...
Feb 20, 2026 Fidel Marquez, a former Commonwealth Edison executive-turned-cooperating witness, leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse with his attorney on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, after his fifth day of testimony in the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
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...
Feb 20, 2026 While the AI race sparked heightened interest in data centers, most of the centers in the state are multi-tenant retail centers — shared by numerous organizations and highly connected with telecommunications, cloud computing and other providers. The Digital Realty center on Chicago’s South loop is an example. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Gabriel Castilho)
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 ma...
Feb 19, 2026 Pontiac High School students Andrew Diaz and Allison Hovaniec helped draft the bill that would mandate vape disposal programs. Completed as part of a class assignment, the duo said the experience was “life changing.” (Photo provided by teacher Paul Ritter.)
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 202...
Feb 19, 2026 House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, center, R-Savanna, is joined by Reps. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, and Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
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 pos...
Feb 18, 2026 Illinois State Sen. Neil Anderson, accompanied by pastors and family at the Illinois Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 17, speaks about his bill to outlaw abortion by legally defining fertilized human eggs as “people” and triggering homicide laws. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Nikoel Hytrek)
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 ...
Feb 18, 2026 The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
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'...
Feb 18, 2026 Gov. JB Pritzker enters the House chamber for his 2025 budget address. (Capitol News Illinois file photo by Andrew Adams)
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 h...
Feb 12, 2026 Republican candidates for U.S. Senate participate in a debate hosted by hosted by ABC-7 Chicago in partnership with Univision and the League of Women Voters on Feb. 11, 2026. (Screenshot of ABC-7’s debate feed)
