Veteran Statehouse reporter Hannah Meisel joins Capitol News Illinois reporting team
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
news@capitolnewsillinois.com
Longtime Statehouse reporter Hannah Meisel has joined the Capitol News Illinois team as a full-time state government and politics reporter.
She’s had a number of assignments covering the Statehouse and Illinois government since the 2014 legislative session, most recently serving as Statehouse editor for NPR Illinois from 2020 until after the November 2022 election. Prior to that, Meisel worked at The Daily Line, Law 360 and Illinois Public Media in addition to various assignments for other outlets.
Throughout her career she’s been a frequent guest on TV and radio programs throughout Illinois and beyond, including hosting a weekly public television roundtable show and being tapped as a featured speaker and panelist for live events. Meisel has excelled in both print news and broadcast formats, and she has developed a wide-ranging knowledge of state government and extensive sources.
In 2020, The Washington Post named her one of the outstanding political reporters to follow in Illinois. In 2021, she won the Illinois News Broadcasters Association’s Crystal Mic Award for best small market radio reporter in the state.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a team that shares my vision of what state government coverage could – and frankly – should look like as a responsible answer to a seemingly never-ending news cycle that, unfortunately, tends to focus on the wrong things,” Meisel said. “I’ve witnessed CNI grow and mature since its inception and I’m really excited about what we can achieve together.”
Meisel’s experience will help grow CNI’s multimedia footprint while shoring up the coverage that has been the backbone of the news outlet since it launched in 2019 – thoughtful, analytic coverage of Illinois government from the Statehouse to government agencies, courts and the political landscape.
“Hannah is one of the most well-connected reporters in the state and is a wealth of institutional Capitol knowledge,” CNI Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki said. “She’s another strong addition to the well-rounded, talented roster of reporters we’re building at Capitol News Illinois.”
She joins veteran reporter Peter Hancock, investigative powerhouse Beth Hundsdorfer and Nowicki, who make up CNI’s full-time reporting crew working from the basement of the state Capitol in Springfield.
Meisel is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the U of I Springfield’s Public Affairs Reporting master’s program, through which Capitol News Illinois hosts a reporting intern each legislative session. This year’s PAR reporter is Nika Schoonover.
The hiring announcement comes at a time of rapid expansion for Capitol News Illinois, as the outlet prepares to launch a broadcast operation this year. The hiring process for those new positions continues, and Meisel’s public radio experience will be vital in ensuring a successful launch.
The expansion is largely made possible by a $2 million, three-year investment from the McCormick Foundation. The Illinois Broadcasters Association and Southern Illinois Editorial Association have also made significant financial contributions to the expansion effort.
Capitol News Illinois operates solely on grants and donations. It does not charge a subscription for access to its coverage or a fee to publish its stories. The McCormick Foundation and Illinois Press Foundation have been the major donors to CNI during its first four years of operation.
Meisel’s first official day was Friday, Jan. 20, after freelancing with CNI for the end of the 102nd General Assembly’s “lame duck” session earlier this month.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide, as well as hundreds of radio and TV stations. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Illinois News
Classifieds
Sisters Took an Eclipse Trip
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave The excitement over the solar eclipse was not lost on four Monee sisters, who drove to Indiana to experience it first-hand. Eliese “Lisa” Diercks, Christi Holston, Sheila Langenfeld and Nancy Langenfeld take what they have dubbed “The Sister Trip” every year, and this time decided it would be to French…
Peotone Hires New Officer
Spread the loveBy Andrea Arens In a time when municipalities are struggling to fill their rosters, the Village of Peotone was lucky enough to swear in a new officer at the April 8 board meeting. Officer Daniel Napoli, a lifetime resident of Peotone, graduated from the police academy recently and was sworn in with his…
Ryan Marion Appointed Manteno County Board Representative
Spread the loveBy Stephen Nelson At the Tuesday, April 9, Kankakee County Board meeting, Chairman Andy Wheeler announced the appointment of Ryan Marion to fill the vacated seat formerly held by Ray Fairchild, who resigned his board seat in February without offering the board any official reason for his decision. The county board voted 19-4…
Clove Alliance Welcomes Community at Business Before Hours April 24
Spread the loveClove Alliance is opening its doors to the community for “Business Before Hours,” a casual networking event coordinated with the Kankakee Country Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, April 24, from 7:30-9 a.m., guests can tour Clove Alliance’s main office building at 1440 West Court Street in Kankakee, enjoy coffee and rolls, and network…
Angel’s Helping Hands Now an Alternative
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave The Crete Police Department and Crete-Monee School officials have joined forces with Angel’s Helping Hands to offer at-risk youth an alternative to school discipline or arrest. “Angel’s Helping Hands is a pilot diversion program tailored for at-risk youth,” CPD Chief Scott Pieritz explained. “We partnered with them through the Crete-Monee…
Monee Police Blotter: April 2 – 7
Spread the loveApril 2, at approximately 4:45 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot of a business in the 25600 block of Friendship Drive. The officer learned the registered owner had an active warrant out of Will County for traffic offenses. Louis P. Shuttlesworth, 51, of Chicago, was…
Kennedy Plays with OP Vikings 16U National Hockey Championship Team
Spread the loveFor Connor Kennedy, a 16-year-old junior at Peotone High School, holding a hockey stick is as natural as breathing. Connor, the son of Peotone residents Marcia and Tim Kennedy, has been in love with the sport since he was three and has been playing, in one way or another, since that very young…
Beecher Police Blotter: March 30 – April 1
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each of the defendants are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. March 30, Kevin Gonzalez, 23, of 5245 S. Kedzie, Chicago, was stopped at Corning and Dixie Highway due to the driver holding a cell phone and found not to possess…
Rep. Haas Passes Multiple Bills Through Committee
Spread the loveRecently, State Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) passed four bills through committees, with all scheduled to be read and debated on the House floor. “I am proud to say four bills I filed have moved out of committee this week,” said Rep. Haas. “All of these bills received unanimous, bipartisan support. These bills will…
Rotary Jigsaw Puzzles Still Available
Spread the loveIn need of a gift? The Bradley-Bourbonnais Rotary Club still has their annual jigsaw puzzle available for purchase, with a limited number of puzzles available at Joy’s Hallmark, Ba Da Bloom Flower Shoppe, the Kankakee County Museum, King Music, Rubber Rose Books and Prints, the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Stefari’s West,…
FHOF Names New Vice Presidents
Spread the loveFranciscan Health Olympia Fields has added two new vice presidents to its ranks. Fulton Porter III, MD, FACP, FHM, is the new Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, and Michael Randall is the new Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. “We at Franciscan Health Olympia…