Ill State News

Illinois House minority leader responds to controversial assisted suicide bill signing

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed legislation allowing assisted suicide to become law. Opponents state the legislation, SB 1950, faced significant objections from coroners, medical experts, religious communities, and disability-rights advocates. Throughout debate, concerns were raised about the bill’s lack of guardrails, the exclusion of key stakeholders, and the potential risks it creates for vulnerable families. […]

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Governor Pritzker signs bill expanding end-of-life options for terminally ill patients

CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker has signed the Medical Aid in Dying bill (SB 1950), a law that will provide qualified terminally ill patients with the option to seek medication to peacefully end their lives on their own terms in consultation with physicians.   To ensure the highest safeguards for patients, the law is effective in September

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Treasurer Frerichs encourages the Gift of Education this holiday season

SPRINGFIELD – Struggling to find the right holiday gift for a child? Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has one. Invest in a young person’s future by contributing to their Bright Start 529 college savings account.   “Every time you make a Bright Start contribution, that kid sees that you believe in them. That’s a powerful

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State announces 2025 Illinois Human Rights Award recipients

CHIGAGO – Deputy Governor of Health and Human Services (HHS), Grace Hou, and Director of Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), Jim Bennett, today presented IDHR’s annual Human Rights Awards to Youth Outlook and Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in recognition of International Human Rights Day, December 10, during a ceremony at 555 W. Monroe St.,

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New 2026 laws: Gun storage, police background check changes

By BEN SZALINSKICapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Gun owners in Illinois must take new steps in 2026 to secure their firearms in their homes, particularly when children are present.   Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 8, known as the Safe Gun Storage Act, in late July, which prohibits gun owners from storing their weapons

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Funding opportunity for new EV charging stations

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the third official notice of funding opportunity through the Illinois National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will provide approximately $65.6 million for the construction of charging stations across the state. The latest opportunity builds on the first two rounds, which awarded funding for 62 charging stations along

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FBI offers $25,000 reward in triple homicide involving juvenile victim

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, is announcing a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the unknown subject(s) involved in the homicides on Hoover Street on October 09, 2025.   On October 09, 2025, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded to

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Despite enormous trade losses, Trump’s aid to Illinois farmers cut in half

SPRINGFIELD, IL — History is repeating itself as President Donald Trump announces a tariff aid package in response to his self-manufactured trade crisis that began shortly after he took office in January.   Due to the last major trade war during Trump’s first term, U.S. agricultural export losses exceeded an estimated $27 billion from mid-2018 to

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Stay merry and safe: Fire safety comes first this holiday season

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – As holiday celebrations get underway, the OSFM, Camp I Am Me by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and the Springfield Fire Department urge residents to keep fire safety at the top of their holiday checklist.   According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) more than

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Illinois unemployment rate stable, payroll nearly unchanged in September

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in September, down -2,200 (0.0%) to 6,162,600. The August monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -13,300 to -2,200.   The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Trade, Transportation and

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