State Rep. Jackie Haas continues to recognize small businesses in and around her district, each month visiting a local business and highlighting their achievements. This month, Rep. Haas recognized The Swanky Home, a home décor and gift shop in Bourbonnais. Rep. Haas presented the owner, Anna Kolokythas, with an official certificate of recognition from the […]
Category: State News
Posted in1-Draft, State News
Newly signed laws include creation of tourism districts, criminal justice reforms
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois nschoonover@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday signed 15 bills into law, tackling policy areas from tourism to prison reform and making it easier for people previously convicted of felonies to legally change their name. The laws passed the General Assembly in their recently concluded lame duck legislative […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
Capitol Cast: Budget Address Preview
Capitol News Illinois Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki takes a look at the state budgeting process and what to expect when Gov. JB Pritzker gives his fifth state budget address on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Capitol News Illinois · Budget Address Preview
Posted inCrete, Kankakee, Monee, State News
Haas to Hold Office Hours for 79th District Residents
In an effort to ensure every 79th District community has access to her office, Rep. Jackie Haas will host office hours in the northern part of her district. While Rep. Haas’ main district office is in Kankakee, this is a way for area residents to easily access important state resources, meet their State Representative, and […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
Impending Medicaid changes could leave hundreds of thousands uninsured
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – As many as 700,000 Illinoisans may lose Medicaid coverage in the months following March 31, but the Department of Healthcare and Family Services says it is working to reduce that number and help those affected find health insurance elsewhere. Medicaid is a health insurance program for […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
‘Tired of being abused:’ Watchdog report shows Choate patients forced to handle own excrement
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois & MOLLY PARKER Lee Enterprises Midwest news@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Lee Enterprises, along with Capitol News Illinois. Newly released reports from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ watchdog office reveal shocking instances of cruelty, abuse and poor care of patients […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
Advocacy groups push for expansive paid family, medical leave in Illinois
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A coalition of advocacy and labor groups is pushing for a state law to give Illinois workers 26 weeks of paid leave if they need to recover from an illness, domestic or sexual violence, or take care of a sick family member or new child. The […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
On Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, advocates spotlight ongoing racial disparities
NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois nschoonover@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers and advocates commemorated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Tuesday, calling attention to the disproportionate impact the disease has on Black communities. “It’s important that we commemorate or we talk about that on February 7, so that we can spark a debate with all of our […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
Approaching ‘Medicaid cliff’ could leave hundreds of thousands uninsured
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – As many as 700,000 Illinoisans may stand to lose their Medicaid coverage after March 31, but the Department of Healthcare and Family Services says it is working to reduce that number and help those affected find health insurance elsewhere. Medicaid is a health insurance program for […]
Posted in1-Draft, State News
CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker preparing for fifth state budget address next week
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker’s second-term legislative agenda will kick off in earnest next week as he proposes his fifth annual state budget to lawmakers in the General Assembly. But while a governor’s proposal usually provides the framework for the state’s annual spending plan, it rarely makes it through the General […]