LaHood expressed reservations about some enforcement activities in urban areas such as Minneapolis and Chicago but said, “I think we’re headed in the right direction in terms of some of those problems we’ve seen in the past.”

Buyer wants to reorient the paper toward the political middle.

“In the last 10 years or so, the number of children who were actually seen in the schools in Chicago dropped by a half … not because there wasn’t a need, but because we couldn’t get providers synced into that program,” state Sen. Julie Morrison said. “Across the rest of the state, the program has been working just fine. So this is really a simple fix.”

“To be clear, there are definite advantages to the governor’s pension proposal, including long-term savings. Illinois has too often focused on the short term instead of thinking about long-term policy. But, man, I just do not see how Democratic legislators are gonna agree to take away any cash buffers while the state budget is under constant federal siege, with more likely on the way.”

Illinois and five other Midwestern states opted out of a federal waiver regarding the weight of E10 gasoline, hoping the federal government would require year-round sales of E15. Gov. JB Pritzker renewed his call for year-round E15 sales last month, saying the fuel blend with 15 percent ethanol would increase demand for corn by 2 billion bushels a year.

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran said the bills do not contradict the SAFE-T Act. “There have been at least three, maybe four amendments to the SAFE-T Act already. This is hyper-focused on domestic violence,” Curran said.

House Bill 4459, sponsored by State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, would let counties and townships in unincorporated areas adopt permit rules for certain open burns. Republican lawmakers are warning the bill is vague, punitive, and unfairly targets rural residents, while the Democratic sponsor says critics are mischaracterizing her intent.

One of the strongest proposals Gov. JB Pritzker included in his plans was to extend the state’s pension buyout program. Pritzker’s office estimates these payments have reduced the state’s unfunded pension liability by about $2.9 billion and that extending the program through fiscal year 2028 could reduce liabilities by another $1.4 billion.

“For years, Ted Dabrowski wielded influence behind the scenes in Illinois Republican circles, serving as a go-to source for conservative research and commentary through his stewardship of thinktanks Wirepoints and the Illinois Policy Institute. With Republicans largely relegated to the policymaking sidelines in Democrat-dominated Springfield, Dabrowski’s efforts have mostly proven an academic exercise. That could change this year.”

“Illinois has built a good framework for fair school funding. But that structure remains undermined by a pension funding system that totally ignores it, benefits wealthier school districts more than poor ones and treats Chicago differently than everyone else. Fix the pension funding structure, and evidence-based funding will be better able to deliver on its promise.”

In the comment letter, Raoul and the coalition argue that the NHTSA’s decision to pretend EVs and EV sales do not exist is bad law and bad agency decision-making, among other claims.

The registration program, which would include a $10 annual fee, aims to create a database of business owners, building owners, and emergency contact information. “It almost seems like, to me, ‘I got to check in with Big Brother and make sure that I’m doing what they want me to do,’ and that I almost work for them instead of them work for me,” real estate broker Kyle DeLong said.

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos is a South Chicago–based nonprofit that describes itself as cultivating “immigrant and low-wage workers to build collective power, defend their rights, and challenge exploitation.” The organization also engages in political advocacy – pushing for higher minimum wages and stronger labor regulation. It also provides services for undocumented immigrants.

Federal immigration officials in Illinois who were chasing down an alleged Venezuelan gang member in Illinois were obstructed by agitators, according to DHS. DHS said when the suspect tried to barricade himself inside an apartment — after ramming his car into police — bystanders gathered around the officers and began throwing rocks and bottles at them. According to DHS, local police would not assist.

“Teachers unions are demanding an immediate rejection, and given Pritzker’s role as one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics, the easy political move would be to treat anything connected to Trump as automatically toxic. But governing isn’t about reflexes. It’s about results.”

6,000 at U of I; 300,000 nationally.

The state’s new quantum manufacturing park promises about 300 positions, but most are highly specialized technical roles, not entry-level manufacturing work. And each one comes with a public price tag in excess of $100,000 per job.

“For our part, it seems obvious — and something that the overwhelming (number) of residents of this blue state would support — that a law barring state and local law enforcement from cooperating to deport convicted violent criminals in this country illegally should be amended to allow for that. And do so without going through the bureaucratic hoops of obtaining a judicial warrant.”

Illinois tax collections are up $1.6 billion year-over-year for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) through the end of January, according to the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. This uptick in tax receipts reflects a 5.3 percent increase from fiscal year 2025 (FY25).