Tag Archives: Capitol News Illinois
DCFS timeline in foster child's death reveals 10 caseworkers, but no credible findings of abuse
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Two days before police found Mackenzi Felmlee gasping for breath at the bottom of the stairs, her caseworker noted the fo...
Aug 25, 2025 The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services released a timeline into the case of Mackenzi Felmlee, inset, who mysteriously died in her Fairview Heights foster home. (Capitol News Illinois file photos)
United Methodist Church buys billboard space that hosted Proud Boys sign
BREESE, Ill. - In response to the uproar over a Proud Boys message displayed on a billboard near Central Community High School, the United Methodist Church has a simple message: "Hate Divides, Love Un...
Aug 22, 2025 The United Methodist Church announced it will rent the billboard space where a Proud Boys hate group billboard cropped recently. They’ll replace it with a “Hate Divides… Love Unites” campaign. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Molly Parker, artwork provided by the United Methodist Church)
New laws aim to shield providers of abortion meds, ban ticketing in schools
By PETER HANCOCK & BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker signed the final two bills from the spring session Friday, giving his approval to more than 430...
Aug 22, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker signs a bill in Springfield on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Pritzker signs law expanding lawsuit protections for Illinois news media
A state law designed to prevent lawsuits that curtail public participation in government now explicitly protects the news media. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a measure into law on Thursday that was spurred...
Aug 22, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions from the news media at the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Insurance industry opposes regulation, blames inflation, climate change for rate hikes
Insurance industry officials defended recent homeowners insurance rate spikes this week, blaming such factors as inflation and climate change while warning that attempts to regulate their ability to s...
Aug 21, 2025 A 2023 storm caused extensive home damage in parts of Springfield, including trees falling on homes. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Election lawyers, Obama alumni renew Illinois redistricting reform push
CHICAGO - A group of former Obama administration officials and election lawyers announced Tuesday they are attempting to reform the way the state draws district maps for the state legislature. They wa...
Aug 20, 2025 Bill Daley, left, and Ray LaHood, right, speak at a launch event for their campaign to change how Illinois draws its legislative maps. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Senate President Harmon appeals $10M fine for improper campaign contributions
CHICAGO - How long can a political candidate's decision to loan their campaign money allow them to take unlimited donations from donors? As long as four years for a state senator, according to Senate ...
Aug 20, 2025 Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is pictured on the Senate floor. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Billboard for Proud Boys hate group removed in southern Illinois after public pressure
BREESE, Ill. - After strong community opposition, including a county board meeting where dozens of people spoke against it, the Proud Boys billboard that was put up near a high school in Clinton Count...
Aug 20, 2025 A Lamar Advertising representative on Monday moves an ad for the far-right extremist group Proud Boys; the sign was taken down entirely around noon Tuesday. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Molly Parker)
DOJ demands sensitive Illinois voter registration data after state responds
SPRINGFIELD - The U.S. Department of Justice is insisting Illinois election officials hand over the state's entire computerized voter registration database, including sensitive information such as dri...
Aug 18, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Illinois newsrooms receive $4 million from state through tax credits
By JOHN VOLK Medill Local News Initiative Forty Illinois local news entities operating 120 outlets are receiving $4 million in state tax credits under a new law designed to encourage the retention and...
Aug 08, 2025 Left to right: Jeff Rogers, Don Craven and Anna Brugmann.
