Category Archives: Homepage
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...
7h ago 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)
Marimar Martinez, Chicago woman shot and briefly charged by Border Patrol, moves to sue
By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Marimar Martinez, the Chicago teacher's aide shot five times by a Border Patrol agent last fall, will relea...
7h ago
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 payi...
Feb 11, 2026 A state law banning “swipe fees” was upheld by a judge, although opponents say they will appeal. (Nathana Rebouças via Unsplash)
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 p...
Feb 11, 2026 This graphic from the National Weather Service shows the impact of the August 2025 storm in the Chicago area.
'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 tak...
Feb 11, 2026 Former Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey greets supporters at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 18, 2022. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
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 billio...
Feb 10, 2026 Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks about his office’s actions against the Trump administration during a Jan. 20, 2026, news conference marking the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Maggie Dougherty)
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...
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...
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...
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...
Feb 06, 2026
