Tag Archives: Capitol News Illinois
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)
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...
Feb 12, 2026
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)
