November 29, 2023 Today’s headlines: Gun owners in Illinois have just a month left to register their semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines that are restricted under a new state law. But relatively few gun owners have complied thus far. The state is adding 48 small businesses to the “Illinois Made” program. State public health officials…
Millions of people in the U.S. rely on monthly benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to pay for groceries. Recently, the government increased these benefits by 12.5% for the next year to match inflation. But even with the increase, SNAP benefits are not enough to cover what many families need this time of…
November 17, 2023 Today’s headlines: Governor J.B. Pritzker is stepping in with new funding to help Chicago deal with its immigration crisis. Even though it’s been unseasonably warm this week, Illinois Transportation officials say winter weather is coming and they want you to be ready. The Urbana Police hired a consulting firm this year to…
November 16, 2023 Today’s headlines: Rising seas, hotter summers, and more rain are all on the way—and in some cases are already here. The Biden Administration’s National Climate Assessment is out and the findings for the Midwest aren’t all dire. A new project called PrEP for Teens is looking to increase the number of teenagers…
November 15, 2023 Today’s headlines: Some Chicago police officers would get better pension benefits under a bill passed by state lawmakers last week if it’s signed by the governor. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin says the Supreme Court’s newly-announced ethics code “falls short” of what the standard should be. Bradley University students and faculty…
November 10, 2023 Today’s headlines: President Joe Biden made a stop in the northern Illinois city of Belvidere yesterday to meet with workers who are celebrating the re-opening of an idled assembly plant. Illinois lawmakers have passed a measure that they hope will sharply reduce delays in getting licenses for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals….
November 9, 2023 Today’s headlines: President Joe Biden is speaking to United Auto Workers members in Belvidere today. Veterans Day is this weekend, and the state of Illinois is looking to honor veterans at home. Illinois state lawmakers are split over how to elect members to Chicago’s school board. In today’s deep dive, we’ll listen to…
November 8, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers are demanding to know how the Department of Employment Security will recoup money paid out through fraudulent unemployment claims. With just days left in the fall legislative session, Republican lawmakers are urging their Democratic colleagues to preserve the Invest in Kids Act. Illinois lawmakers ordered an audit of the state-run…
November 3, 2023 Today’s headlines: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office says he had “positive” and “productive” conversations in Washington D.C. yesterday about the ongoing migrant crisis. The window to register high-powered, semi-automatic firearms with the state is soon closing but many Illinois gun owners say they’ll refuse to comply. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the…
November 2, 2023 Today’s headlines: Many Venezuelan migrants are seeing snow for the first time while sheltering in or outside Chicago police stations. Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood supports a House Republican proposal to provide an additional fourteen billion dollars in aid for Israel. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says the state legislature won’t be sending any…
November 1, 2023 Today’s headlines: A couple of Illinois lawmakers are hoping to combat digital threats as the use of Artificial Intelligence grows. A Dutch Electric Vehicle parts company is launching a new line of fast EV chargers that are built entirely in Illinois. “Uncle Joe Cannon” is a new student-created documentary that takes another…
October 27, 2023 Today’s headlines: Some people with developmental disabilities protested at the Illinois capitol this week as part of their push to be paid the same as everyone else. Substance use disorder — mainly overdosing on fentanyl — was a leading cause of death for pregnant people in Illinois in recent years. The Fighting…
October 26, 2023 Today’s headlines: A measure to let Illinois legislative employees unionize has cleared the state House and is on its way to the Senate. Illinois lawmakers won’t be overriding Governor J.B. Pritzker’s veto of an energy bill. The final piece of property from the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul is now…
October 25, 2023 Today’s headlines: A measure that would allow Illinois legislative employees to unionize is moving forward at the statehouse. More pregnant people in Illinois are dying and most deaths may be preventable, according to a new report from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Chicago Public Schools is transitioning to an elected school board….
October 20, 2023 Today’s headlines: There’s a new deadline coming up for undocumented residents 65 or older who want health insurance through the state of Illinois. With just five months to go until the 2024 Presidential primaries, Illinois election authorities are tightening up security at the polls and online. Cook County leaders want to expand opioid…