Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., meets with Illinois National Guard members at the Capitol on Wednesday, hours after President Joe Biden’s inauguration. | provided Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said if the Illinois National Guard has “competent people who can administer these
Tag: Illinois
No. 21 Northwestern women beat Illinois 73-54
Northwestern’s Lindsey Pulliam scored a season-high 28 points against Illinois. | Kamil Krzaczynski/AP Lindsey Pulliam scored 19 of her season-high 28 points in the third quarter and grabbed six rebounds for the Wildcats. Lindsey Pulliam scored 19 of her season-high
Plywood down, National Guard leaves Capitol as protests fizzle — but Springfield still wary as coronavirus lingers
A worker removes sheets of plywood from windows at the Illinois State Capitol on Thursday. | Andrew Sullender/Chicago Sun-Times State senators canceled next week’s session at the Capitol over coronavirus concerns. But while fears over the public health crisis remained,
Cannabis taxes fund $31.4 million in state grants to groups helping poor communities
The Cannabis Regulation and Trust Act legalized adult-use cannabis in Illinois as of Jan. 1, 2020. It also required 25% of revenues from cannabis taxes to fund grants helping communities suffering from economic disinvestment, violence, and the multilayered harm caused
Ex-Chief Justice James Heiple dies after brain hemorrhage
Illinois Supreme Court Justice James Heiple in 1997 | AP file Heiple wrote the so-called “Baby Richard” opinion involving the rights of birth parents in adoption cases. PEORIA — James Heiple, a former chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court,
House Speaker Welch picks diverse leadership team for ‘tough session and some tough decisions ahead’
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, stands to vote for himself as Illinois Speaker of the House last week at the Bank of Springfield Center. | Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP file “Our caucus has a very deep
Cockburn leads No. 22 Illinois to 79-65 win over Penn State
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks against Penn State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. | Holly Hart/AP Kofi Cockburn had 21 points and 12 rebounds, leading No. 22
Happy people who treat everyone nicely
Luncheon with the Rotary International in Fairfield, Illinois, January, 2017. The town of 5,000 is in Wayne County, which voted 84.4 percent for Donald Trump in 2020, more than in 2016. | Photo by Neil Steinberg Fairfield, Illinois, which voted
North Side state senator to resign after helping pass landmark social legislation: It’s time for ‘fresh eyes and fresh energy’
Illinois State Sen. Heather Steans speaks during a press conference at New Life Community Church in Little Village Friday morning, July 31, 2020. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other officials announced the “21st Century Illinois Transformation Model,” which will place youth
General Assembly made history, but much left undone
The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. | AP file Illinois legislators ran out of time on bills to, among other things, expand vote-by-mail, allow lawmakers to conduct business remotely during the pandemic and eliminate newly expanded income tax deductions for
Positive coronavirus tests force postponement of Illinois-Michigan State game
Coach Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team had to postpone Saturday’s game against Illinois. | Carlos Osorio/AP No decision has been made on rescheduling the game. Michigan State is postponing its game this weekend against No. 22 Illinois, moving a third
Illinois’ hasty police, justice ‘reforms’ undermine public safety
The Illinois State Capitol | AP Photos This soon-to-be law weakens the ability to fight crime and protect the public. It is a recipe for further carnage. The package of police and justice reforms rushed through by the Illinois General
Madigan vacates Springfield apartment, fueling speculation about resigning from Illinois House
Illinois Rep. Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is no longer speaker, and now has moved out of his Springfield apartment, a spokesman confirmed Monday. | Associated Press file photo “They were downsizing. He doesn’t expect to be there as much. He probably
Illinois National Guard members in D.C. for the Biden inauguration; city in lockdown after Capitol attack
Illinois National Guard members in Washington for the Joe Biden inauguration are, from left, Private First Class Fatima Perez; Capt. William Konovsky; Sgt. Courtney Lee; and Sgt. Ammar Keith. | Sun-Times/Lynn Sweet As of Sunday, there were 267 members of
No. 21 Ohio State powers past No. 14 Illinois
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was hounded by Ohio State all game Saturday. Here he’s pressured by Duane Washington Jr. (4), Kyle Young (25) and E.J. Liddell. | Holly Hart/AP The Illini, often mentioned as a possible Final Four team, sustained
A lesson for Illinois on cash bail? New York, California also got rid of it, but reforms didn’t last
Under a reform measure awaiting the governor’s signature, people in Illinois charged with most crimes wouldn’t have to be held at the Cook County Jail or otherwise lose their freedom pending trial. | Sun-Times file A bill awaits Gov. J.B.
Ayo Dosunmu is a true statesman: Ranking the 10 best current college basketball players from Illinois
Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu dribbles up court against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game. | AP Photos Illini guard is among nation’s leading scorers, but he’s No. 1 on list of Illinois products excelling in
New House Speaker Welch’s chief of staff tests positive for the coronavirus
Lawmakers and staff talk in the Illinois House during a lame duck session at the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday. | Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP “I am a confirmed positive,” Jessica Basham said in a statement
New Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch ‘whirlwind’ rise was years in the making
New Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (right) thanks state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, for his nominating speech. West is one of many young Black legislators Welch has mentored on his road to being elected speaker. | AP His successful
Feds: COVID-19 pandemic did not affect grand jury that indicted Madigan pals
House Speaker Mike Madigan listens to debate during a session of the Illinois House of Representatives at the Bank of Springfield Center in May. | Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP file Prosecutors respond to an unusual defense request,
IDPH updates sports policy, will allow some games and practices
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker gives an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois during a press conference at the Illinois State Capitol, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Springfield, Ill | AP Photos The Illinois Department of Public Health updated its
Speaker Welch charts ‘new direction’ for Illinois House
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch addresses the Illinois House of Representatives, during its session at the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday. | Justin L. Fowler /The State Journal-Register, distributed by the Associated Press Welch, 49, has already accomplished the first
Prosecutors seek restrictions on Rittenhouse after bar stop
Prosecutors in Wisconsin have asked a judge to order an Illinois teen charged with killing two people and wounding a third in a violent protest over a police shooting to stay out of bars and away from white supremacist groups.
Illinois deer hunting: A belated update before the seasons end
File photo scene from a deer blind during Illinois’ 2020-21 deer seasons. | Dale Bowman With Illinois deer hunting ending on Sunday, Jan. 17, here is the last update (a bit delayed on my part). I will be very curious
History in the House — Welch succeeds Madigan and becomes state’s first Black speaker: ‘It’s time to get to work’
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, takes the oath of office to become the Illinois speaker of the House for the 102nd General Assembly for the Illinois House of Representatives at the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday. | Justin
Illinois House elects Welch first Black speaker — moments after Madigan finally agrees ‘it’s time for new leadership’
Illinois State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, joins lawmakers at their desks as they are sworn in for the 102nd General Assembly at the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday. | Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP State Rep.
Senate advances Black Caucus’ legislation, bill on social equity in cannabis licensing
Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. | AP file In a session that went into the early morning, the Senate passed a follow up to legislation from 2019 aimed at improving the social equity commitment in the state’s cannabis licensing program.
Icing out the ducks: Aaron Yetter’s final blog of the season off the aerial waterfowl surveys
View of Pool 19 near Hamilton, Illinois on Jan. 5.: Plenty of ice with only a few pockets of open water. | Credit: Aaron Yetter/Illinois Natural History Survey Icing out of the ducks leads Aaron Yetter’s final blog of the
Military Chiefs Remind Troops of Their Oath After Fallout From Assault on Capitol
Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, asked the acting secretary of defense, Christopher C. Miller, this week for the military’s various law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the F.B.I. in investigating whether current or former
Pritzker and beleaguered state Veterans’ Affairs chief agree it’s time for her to leave
Linda Chapa LaVia, director the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, in November. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file A former Democratic state representative, Linda Chapa LaVia was tapped by Pritzker to lead the department in 2019. “What we want to do