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Legislators Question DCFS Director on Contempt Citations, Child Deaths, Employee Safety
House committee leader vows to ensure safety of children, workers. By Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com It was a full afternoon of questioning for Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith, who appeared before the House Human Services Appropriations Committee for a three-and-a-half-hour virtual hearing Friday. “This hearing comes in the…
Senate Republicans offer ‘voter empowerment’ amendments
Measures would give voters direct say in legislative process, they say By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Republicans in the Illinois Senate have again introduced a package of proposed constitutional amendments that they argue would give voters more of a direct say in the legislative process. “We’re reintroducing these constitutional amendments in…
Speaker names new house budget negotiation team
Longtime chief budgeteer Harris will lead team to navigate his final state budget By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced a new House budget negotiation team Tuesday, led by House Majority Leader and chief budgeteer Greg Harris, D-Chicago. Former Speaker Michael Madigan appointed Harris to…
Bill focuses on increasing supplier diversity in wind and solar projects
Utility companies would be required to submit annual diversity reports By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Aiming to increase diversity in wind and solar jobs, a proposed measure in the Illinois General Assembly would require more transparent reporting on the level of participation of minority-owned businesses in clean energy jobs. Rep. William…
Next Phase of Construction Along I-80 to Begin
State to invest $32 million into I-80 road improvements. By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced the beginning of the next phase of construction along the Interstate 80 corridor that will modernize Houbolt Road in Joliet. The state investment in the public-private partnership is $32 million, according…
Task Force Hears from Law Enforcement on Rising Crime Rate
Police chiefs, sheriffs warn lawmakers about impact of SAFE-T Act. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Police chiefs and sheriffs told a panel of state lawmakers Friday that they need more resources and support from the public and the General Assembly to combat a rising rate of violent crime in Illinois. Some…
Latest COVID-19 surge has likely peaked, Pritzker says
Numbers of hospitalizations, and patients in ICU or on ventilator, declining in Illinois By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the recent surge in COVID-19 cases spurred by the omicron variant has peaked, but he cautioned that another variant could appear at…
Republicans Announce Effort to Repeal SAFE-T Act; Democrats Call It ‘All for Show’
GOP says criminal justice reforms are ‘damaging and dangerous.’ By Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Republicans are calling for their Democratic counterparts in the Illinois House to join them in efforts to repeal criminal justice reforms, known as the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, commonly known as the SAFE-T Act. Reps. Patrick Windhorst…
Teacher Shortage at Crisis Level in Central Illinois
Educators report burnout, exhaustion, and no clear end in sight. By Taylor Vidmar Lee Enterprises For Capitol News Illinois Editor’s Note: Taylor Vidmar is a student in the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois-Springfield. She is a reporting intern at the Capitol for Lee Enterprises. SPRINGFIELD – There was once a time…
Better Politics, Smarter Government: Illuminating Illinois’ triumphs and travails through literature
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was distributed by Capitol News Illinois on behalf of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. By JOHN T. SHAW Several years ago, the staff of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute was preparing for our Renewing Illinois Summit for university and…
Bill Would Require New Residential Buildings Be Ready to Accommodate EV Charging
Advocates say the bill is necessary for EV access in multifamily homes. By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A measure before the General Assembly would require new and renovated residential or commercial buildings to set aside parking spaces that could easily be converted into electric vehicle charging stations. Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston,…
Cook County judge cites DCFS director for contempt
Finds agency failed to move children from inappropriate placements By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com A Cook County judge found Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt for the continued improper placement of two state wards. Cook County Circuit Judge Patrick T. Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 6, also fined…
Demmer joins the race for state treasurer’s office
Deputy minority leader in Illinois House seeks to unseat two-time Democratic incumbent By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, announced he will run for state treasurer on Tuesday. If he wins the Republican Party nomination, he likely would face two-term incumbent Mike Frerichs, who is seeking reelection. In Tuesday’s…
COVID Surge Prompts Multiple State Responses
General Assembly calls off in-person sessions next week. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A continuing sharp spike in COVID-19 cases being driven by the omicron variant has pushed the state’s hospital capacity to its limits and is prompting the state to bring in additional health care workers from other states and…
Welch reflects on first year as House speaker
Cites energy bill, redistricting as major accomplishments By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – One year after being named speaker of the Illinois House, Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch says he is proud of the accomplishments he and his colleagues achieved and he looks forward to building on that record. “I actually thought 2021…
Illinois DOC Pauses Inmate Intake Due to COVID-19 Surge
County sheriffs say it increases strain on local jails. By Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Department of Corrections announced Tuesday that it would pause intake of inmates from county jails amid the COVID-19 surge. As of Friday, IDOC reported 1,042 staff members and 1,684 inmates were positive for COVID-19. Sheriffs who are charged…
Lawmakers Prepare for Shortened 2022 Session
Surge in COVID-19 cases will cut number of in-person session days. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The 2022 session of the Illinois General Assembly will be even shorter than originally planned due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Democratic leaders announced. The session was originally scheduled to start this week,…
