Stories by Capitol News Illinois

Illinois libraries are funded by a mix of property taxes and state and federal grants. Librarians have said it’s often difficult to decide what to prioritize when budgets get tight, and many Illinois libraries have reported they don’t offer online database subscriptions.

The grants come as thousands of Illinoisans are losing access to federal food assistance, placing more strain in local food pantries.

Local and state Republican leaders criticized the plan for potential harm to Lincoln and Logan County after the area has seen economic hardship in recent years.

The bill is part of a larger package regulating AI and is modeled after legislation in California and New York as states seek to establish a national regulatory standard.

The push comes after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocked a lower court decision that temporarily prohibited the use of telehealth for abortion care.

The Higher Education Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Engineers Pilot Program will reimburse engineers up to $15,000 annually after four years of service at the agency.

The eight bills tackle consumer protections, chatbot transparency and how AI can be used in schools. Lawmakers said the lack of federal policy was part of their motivation for introducing legislation, by banding together with other states to create a standard.

Two firefighters from Chicago and Addison also received the Medal of Honor, the highest award given to a firefighter in the state.

The road that helped stitch the nation together with automobile travel turns 100 this year. As the starting point for Route 66, Illinois plays a central role in launching centennial celebrations.

Data center projects around Illinois are expected to generate millions in taxes, which contribute to schools and city services. There are leaders who question whether the benefits make up for increased energy prices and water use.

When households lose their benefits, they spend less at the grocery store, and the already-thin profit margins of independent grocers become even slimmer.

The ceremony honored Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, the event is a tradition to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous calendar year.

Multiple representatives from different tribes spoke about the importance of gathering and speaking with elected leaders to remind them about Native issues.

Water supplies vary across the state because different regions rely on different sources, and some water is easier to access than in other regions.

A lack of domestic workforce participation in agriculture pushes Illinois farmers to employ foreign workers through the temporary H-2A non-immigrant visa program.

Illinois Medicaid and private insurance plans are already required to cover abortion services.

The ruling is based on a civil suit brought against Amazon by two former employees after they were not compensated for pre-shift health screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calls for regulation are bipartisan, but the specifics are still being negotiated between lawmakers, data center companies and trade groups.

The bill resembles a federal law that gives the Federal Communications Commission authority to regulate the volume of commercials on TV stations, cable and satellite TV services.

Last November, the Trump administration proposed a stricter definition for “Waters of the United States,” excluding seasonal streams, marshes, bogs, swamps and mangrove forests from protection under the 1972 Clean Water Act.

These accounts allow people with disabilities to save and invest money without risking their federal benefits. People with more than $2,000 in assets are not eligible for Supplemental Security Income.

A new state transit law redirects revenue from the state’s motor fuel tax and interest from the Road Fund — funding historically used to fix roads — to public transportation.

The current Kratom Control Act in Illinois from 2014 only prohibits its sale to minors under the age of 18, but it does not require any labeling, testing standards, licensing or additional taxation.

Citing high prescription drug prices, lawmakers and activists are reviving a dormant push to create an Illinois prescription drug affordability board.

The measure is the latest in a series of delays because Illinois is the last to change state law in accordance with a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Since 2022, Illinois has seen more travelers seeking abortions from out of state than any other state in the country.