Stories by Amanda Vinicky

As Democratic contenders for the White House battle it out over their visions for transforming health care in America, President Donald Trump continues to try to position himself as responsible for bringing down costs.

A big-time labor leader is cooperating with federal agents. Our politics team weighs in on that and more in our weekly roundtable.

Why are allies of House Speaker Michael Madigan writing checks to an ousted campaign operative? Our politics team weighs in on that and more in our weekly roundtable.

Getting a parking ticket is an annoying part of city life for most Chicago residents and visitors. But for some people, it can be life-altering.

A medical sterilization plant in west suburban Willowbrook that’s been shuttered since February would reopen under a proposed court order, but not if residents who leave near the facility have their way.

John Paul Stevens was a born-and-bred Chicagoan who rose to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Local legal scholars, historians and attorneys who worked with Stevens reflect on his life.

Even as President Donald Trump cracks down on undocumented immigrants, Illinois is expanding services available to them. What services are – and aren’t – on offer.

Chicago is on the list of cities targeted for a large-scale immigration raid that could come as soon as Sunday, according to national reports.

State legislators laid out a rapid pace in the new gambling expansion law that will give Illinois six new casinos, including one in Chicago – so fast that it appears the state is already struggling to keep up.

The outage means people cannot file for unemployment and 29,000 of the 86,000 claimants who are already certified will see their payments delayed.

Chicago’s water meter installation program is on an indefinite hold after new data showed an increased level of lead in some metered homes.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been upfront recently that city residents should expect to pay more in taxes to help fill persistent budget holes. One she’s eyeing? A tax on services.

If you filled up your gas tank Monday, you may have noticed it got pricier. What’s behind that bump, and what other new laws are going into effect at the start of Illinois’ new fiscal year.

Illinois is on the road to legalized marijuana. What that means for local law enforcement.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s newly appointed Chicago Board of Education ushered in some changes during its first meeting Wednesday. 

Recreational marijuana is all but a done deal in Illinois. Late last month, Illinois became the first state in the nation to approve such a measure via a legislative body. On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to make it final.

A recent investigation revealed that Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady has a “business interest” in Midwest Electronics Gaming, a prominent video gaming company. On Tuesday, Brady commented on the business.

It’s a program that costs the city more than $100 million a year, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot says that under Ald. Ed Burke, it was “ripe for corruption.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to set some restrictions on outside employment for aldermen. We analyze the latest batch of financial disclosure forms to find out who could be impacted.

Passing and managing a budget is one of government’s most basic functions, but as he signed a new $40 billion spending plan into law Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called it a “watershed moment.”

Chicago is getting a massive casino that could rival Las Vegas operations in size and scope. But where will it go? Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t offering a site, but an opinion: not downtown.

Illinois could become a very different state, thanks to a bunch of measures legislators approved over the weekend. Here’s a rundown of budget bills and the new public works program.

During a whirlwind week in Springfield, Illinois lawmakers voted for a host of measures that left rookie Gov. J.B. Pritzker claiming triumph for the progressive agenda he’d promised.

By Saturday night, Republican representatives joined with Democrats who control the General Asssembly to agree to a massive package of bills comprising a $40 billion budget.

Six months from now, when Illinois residents ring in the New Year, they need not settle for a swig of champagne. They’ll be legally able to toke up.

A $39 billion budget. A public works program. Casinos. Legalized recreational marijuana. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers have a single day – until 11:59 p.m. Friday – to wrap up all of that, and more.