/tags/capitol-news-illinois Capitol News Illinois en-US Copyright © 2024 ÍâÍøÌìÌà Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-06-17/gov-pritzker-signs-55-1b-illinois-budget-700m-new-taxes It's the largest budget in state history despite cuts and freezes. Only a handful of Democrats opposed it, and all Republicans unanimously voted against it. Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-06-17/gov-pritzker-signs-55-1b-illinois-budget-700m-new-taxes Ben Szalinski /health-science-environment/2025-05-09/illinois-state-parks-draw-highest-number-visitors-decade Illinois’ 290 state parks and 56 historic sites recorded more than 41 million visitors last year, which was the most in 15 years, according to new data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Fri, 09 May 2025 17:06:39 GMT /health-science-environment/2025-05-09/illinois-state-parks-draw-highest-number-visitors-decade Ben Szalinski /education/2025-05-09/judge-temporarily-blocks-trump-slashing-19m-east-st-louis-schools East St. Louis School District 189 stood to lose the most money — $19 million for a major HVAC project — of any Illinois district. The district's spokeswoman said the judge's decision is "encouraging." Fri, 09 May 2025 17:03:22 GMT /education/2025-05-09/judge-temporarily-blocks-trump-slashing-19m-east-st-louis-schools Madison Lammert, Peter Hancock /education/2025-04-28/tuition-fees-rising-at-illinois-universities-as-state-funding-lags-inflation-pace University leaders from across the state push for new way of determining state funding. The fiscal year 2026 proposed budget includes a 3% increase for higher education in the general fund for operating costs – which is about the same as the rate of inflation. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 21:14:41 GMT /education/2025-04-28/tuition-fees-rising-at-illinois-universities-as-state-funding-lags-inflation-pace Bridgette Fox /health-science-environment/2025-04-24/illinois-first-measles-case The Illinois Department of Public Health is working to identify potential locations of exposure, including the clinic in southern Illinois where the patient sought care, to see whether any other patients were exposed. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:46:06 GMT /health-science-environment/2025-04-24/illinois-first-measles-case Beth Hundsdorfer /government-politics-issues/2025-03-27/illinois-democrats-argue-republicans-file-latest-redistricting-suit A case brought to the Illinois Supreme Court by House Republican Leader Tony McCombie asked the court to reject the current legislative map for its partisan bias and have a special master redraw the districts. Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:45:20 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-03-27/illinois-democrats-argue-republicans-file-latest-redistricting-suit Ben Szalinski, Bridgette Fox /government-politics-issues/2025-03-19/cell-phone-ban-legislation-clears-illinois-senate-committee At least nine other states have adopted statewide policies limiting or banning the use of cell phones in schools. Elsewhere, even in the absence of a statewide policy, individual districts have begun acting on their own. Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:32:09 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-03-19/cell-phone-ban-legislation-clears-illinois-senate-committee Peter Hancock /government-politics-issues/2025-03-05/trump-administration-ends-reimbursements-illinois-food-programs USDA funds are part of nearly $2 billion being withheld from Illinois, Pritzker says. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:34:14 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-03-05/trump-administration-ends-reimbursements-illinois-food-programs Ben Szalinski /government-politics-issues/2025-02-27/pritzker-federal-funds-withheld-further-cuts-illinois As many as 770,000 Illinoisans could lose health coverage under GOP federal budget plan, according to the Democratic governor. Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:34:32 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-02-27/pritzker-federal-funds-withheld-further-cuts-illinois Peter Hancock /government-politics-issues/2025-02-27/audit-finds-illinois-noncitizen-health-care-programs-outstripped-original-cost-estimates The finding comes after Gov. JB Pritzker proposed to defund the larger of the two programs at his Budget Address last week. Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:22:27 GMT /government-politics-issues/2025-02-27/audit-finds-illinois-noncitizen-health-care-programs-outstripped-original-cost-estimates Hannah Meisel