Category Archives: Headlines

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...
WJBC Staff Feb 10, 2026 Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, presents a bill in the Illinois House on April 18, 2024. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)

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 judge...
WJBC Staff Feb 10, 2026 The photo shows a close-up of marijuana buds before they leaf out. (Capitol News Illinois/Andrew Campbell)

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 aband...
WJBC Staff Feb 10, 2026 An oil well pumpjack is pictured. (Photo by arcturusangel at Morguefile.com)

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 ch...
WJBC Staff Feb 06, 2026

Judge rules to release evidence in Border Patrol shooting of Marimar Martinez
By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Marimar Martinez, the Chicago teacher shot five times by Border Patrol agents last fall, was granted permis...
WJBC Staff Feb 06, 2026

Conservative policy wonk Ted Dabrowski gets off sidelines with run for governor
By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor candidate Ted Dabrowski argues he is uniquely positioned to unite the fractured Illinois GOP, raise the funds needed to c...
WJBC Staff Feb 06, 2026

Illinois attorney general wins state's first civil hate crime lawsuit
By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com Amid a flurry of lawsuits filed in federal court against the Trump administration, Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office w...
WJBC Staff Feb 05, 2026

Craft Beer Thursday with Fiala Brother's Brewery & Beer Hall
WJBC Staff Feb 05, 2026

How to vote in Illinois in 2026: Early voting begins this week for most of the state
By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com Capitol News Illinois has launched its revamped 2026 Election Guide to coincide with the opening of early voting throughou...
WJBC Staff Feb 04, 2026

State looks to expand manufacturing training at community colleges
BY REECE DOWER Medill Illinois News Bureau news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The state is accepting applications for $24 million in grant funds for downstate community colleges to build six...
WJBC Staff Feb 04, 2026



