Illinois General Assembly

When state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch was sworn in for another term as speaker of the Illinois House this month, he called on his colleagues to “rise to the occasion” and confront the moment that faced them.

McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman says state law limits his office’s ability to work with ICE on the mass deportations that President-elect Donald Trump has promised.

Revenue returns remain on track halfway through Illinois’ budget year, though it’s next year that is causing concern in the Capitol

Amid a $770 million budget gap facing Metra, Pace and the CTA, and a proposal to merge the three into a supersized agency, Regional Transportation Authority leaders have issued their own transit rescue plan.

With homelessness increasing in Illinois, a coalition of shelter providers and advocates is calling for a $100 million increase in state funding to prevent homelessness and provide shelter to people without homes

A measure awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature will help protect transgender people and victims of domestic violence who seek to change their names, according to its proponents

Illinoisans can now vote on whether they want a new state flag

Lawmakers in Springfield approved a measure that aims to protect warehouse workers whose workdays center on hitting quotas.

Lawmakers this week passed a bill aimed at boosting the development of renewable energy generation, but its proponents said the final measure was a “skinny” version of what they had hoped to pass

"Karina's bill" clarifies that local law enforcement must temporarily remove guns from a person who has an order of protection against them when the alleged victim successfully seeks firearm removal as a remedy in court

A bill soon heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would direct foster care officials in Illinois to prioritize placing children with relatives

Illinois lawmakers in early January could consider easing requirements for residents to change their names, a move proponents say will reduce risks for victims of domestic abuse, transgender residents and others

Changes that would make Illinois pension systems compliant with Social Security by improving benefits for government employees hired since 2011 could be on the table when lawmakers return to Springfield in January.

Here are official results for the 2024 November election for the DeKalb County circuit clerk, coroner, state's attorney, as well as DeKalb County Board, local legislative races and referendums.

Here are official results for the 2024 November election for the Kendall County Board, circuit court clerk, state's attorney and local legislative races, as well as the Sandwich treasurer referendum.

Here are official results for the November 2024 primary for the La Salle County Board and its chairperson, the La Salle County auditor, and the Bureau County state's attorney and coroner, as well as local judicial races and referendums.

Here are official results for the November 2024 for the Kane County Board, countywide offices and local legislative races, as well as several referendum questions.

For the second time in the span of seven months, then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called up Chicago Ald. Danny Solis after reading about a proposed real estate development in the alderman’s ward.

Then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis had already been cooperating with the FBI for a little more than a year in June 2017 when he received an unexpected voicemail from powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

A long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying subminimum wage to workers with disabilities will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after being approved by the Senate

An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday

Illinois lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday for the first time since May following news earlier this month that they’re facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1

Preliminary, unofficial election results show no seats in the state House or Senate have changed party hands, although a few races remained too close to call according to the Associated Press

McHenry County-area icumbent Statehouse members, both Republican and Democrat, were leading their respective challengers.

State Rep. Suzanne Ness’ fourth annual diaper drive is underway and runs through Monday, Nov. 4, with dropoff spots throughout the 66th District she represents.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Amy Briel: The repeal of the Illinois grocery tax was a good start to easing taxpayer burden and I believe we can do more by expanding the childcare tax credit

Peter Janko, the challenger in the Illinois House 69th District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Joe Sosnowski, incumbent Illinois House 69th District state representative, is seeking reelection and answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Liz Bishop: I support the general concept of Karina’s Bill to remove rearms from the possession of anyone having an order of protection against them, as well as from anyone who has had a FOID card revoked for any other reason.

Mary Mahady, the Democrat challenger in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Steve Reick, the incumbent Republican in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Four years after Speaker Michael Madigan's stunning political fall, he will spend the next two months in a Chicago federal courtroom watching as his long-awaited corruption trial unfolds to determine whether he picks up another moniker: convicted felon.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Suzanne Ness: The data shows that the new system is working as was intended: those most considered a threat are being held regardless of ability to pay, and those who are not a threat, are released until their trial

What policies would you support to ease the burden onIllinois taxpayers? Candidate Laurie Parman: I believe that a good start to easing the tax burden for Illinois retired citizens would be to make a no-tax policy on social security.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maria Peterson: While it is too soon to make definitive pronouncements about the success SAFE-T Act, based on the data so far, we can be somewhat optimistic

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maura Hirschauer: We have seen that the changes made in SAFE-T Act are working. Dangerous people are being held and kept off the streets.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? David Simpson: Equal education funding across the state will lower property tax.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Gabby Shanahan: To provide real relief, we need to enact comprehensive spending reform to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Are there any changes/adjustments that you would like to see made? Candidate Jim Lanham: Some additional offenses need to be added to offenses not eligible for cashless bail.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Dan Ugaste: Overall it is not working well, but I do support some parts

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Are there any changes/adjustments that you would like to see made? Linda Robertson: I am committed to keeping citizens safe in our communities. The SAFE-T Act has reduced the adverse impacts on people who do not have the money to post bonds.

Should Illinois impose a state parks fee that is earmarked for maintenance of those facilities? If so, how should it be implemented? Randi Olson: At this point, there should not be a state park fee. At some point, there is a possibility we might need one.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Jeff Keicher: Illinois needs to grow its way out of the property tax hole it finds itself in, we can’t tax our way out.

To combat an ongoing teacher shortage, Illinois has passed a bill which will allow for greater flexibility in when teaching candidates can take subject area certification exams.

One year after Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate the use of cash bail, the impact on the state’s criminal justice system appears to have been far less dramatic than people on either side of the debate had predicted

Democrats gathered in Springfield Wednesday for their annual rally at the Illinois State Fair amid a surge of enthusiasm and a renewed sense of optimism about their chances of retaining the White House in November.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed a measure designating the “giant puffball” as the state’s mushroom after signing hundreds of bills on Friday, completing action on legislation sent to him by lawmakers this spring.

Truth in sentencing? Proposed Illinois law would mean all people who are in prison would serve half their sentences, and it would apply retroactively.

Calls of “Justice for Sonya” rang through the sanctuary of a church on Chicago’s West Side on Tuesday at a rally hosted in response to the death of Sonya Massey on July 6. 

As the flow of billions of dollars in federal pandemic-related aid is about to end, many students in Illinois are still struggling to catch up academically from the learning loss that occurred when schools were forced to close.