Category Archives: Headlines
Bloomington Township votes to add questions to November ballot
By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - The Bloomington Township held a special meeting Monday night to vote on adding three questions to the November ballot. Over 200 voters showed up to the meeting he...
Jun 02, 2026
Lawmakers pass bill to shield abortion information from digital medical records
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary In the final week of the session, a handful of laws to protect reproductive rights passed the legislature. One wo...
Jun 02, 2026
Construction begins on transformation of former State Farm headquarters in downtown Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - Construction is officially underway on a major redevelopment project in downtown Bloomington. The former State Farm headquarters building is being transformed into the new G...
Jun 02, 2026
'This is going to be a bad deal for Pritzker if we lose the Bears:' said Darren Bailey
By WMBD TV PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - Republican Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey was in Peoria Monday, criticizing Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic state lawmakers for being unable to pass a bill to b...
Jun 02, 2026
Friends of Constitution Trail enhance trail with tree planting
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - The Constitution Trail runs around the entirety of McLean County, and the friends of said trail are planting trees to make the trail more beautiful. "The Friends of Constitu...
Jun 02, 2026 The main portion of the trail is located in Bloomington-Normal. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)
'We didn't have time': Pritzker, leaders defend adjourning without Bears deal
By BRENDEN MOORE & BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged Monday that the Chicago Bears may be on their way to Indiana. But ...
Jun 02, 2026 Gov. JB Pritzker responds to reporters’ questions at a morning news conference on June 1. Pritzker said a Bears deal is not off the table, but still a long way from fruition. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Session slog ends in $56B budget, new taxes on social media companies, crypto, fantasy sports
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Democrats largely joined together to support the fiscal year 2027 budget as Republicans warned the plan will harm th...
Jun 01, 2026 Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, criticizes Gov. JB Pritzker’s budgeting on the Senate floor during debate of the budget on June 1, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Rideshare drivers could unionize in Illinois under bill passed by General Assembly
By JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com Over the past five months, a sea of rideshare drivers in yellow T-shirts flooded the Illinois state Capitol almost weekly,...
Jun 01, 2026 Supporters of the rideshare union bill celebrate in the Senate gallery after the bill passed on the floor. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert.)
Coroner IDs man killed in Saturday wreck near Mackinaw
By WMBD TV MACKINAW, Ill. (WMBD) - The Tazewell County Coroner has released the name of the man killed in a Saturday wreck on Illinois Route 9. Coroner Charles Hanley said Jefferey Foster, 62, of Armi...
Jun 01, 2026
Schools to get funding increase, but less than some had urged
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Illinois lawmakers approved a budget after 4 a.m. Monday that includes the full $350 million increase in Evidenc...
Jun 01, 2026 Sen Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, debates Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, on the Senate floor before the chamber approved the fiscal year 2027 budget. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
