Lizzie Seils

Following viral videos in recent months depicting large groups rushing into stores and stealing as much merchandise as they can carry, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a bill meant to crack down on those types of crime.

An review required by law of the Department of Children and Family Services made key findings on how the state in ensuring the quality of care for children.

Illinois Democrats gathered downstate Wednesday to urge the US Senate to vote for the Women’s Health Protection Act and codify the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade into law. But they also said they are prepared in the event of abortion loses its legal protection.

Four fire fighters were honored today for losing their lives in service to their communities through the fire department. It’s a large sacrifice, but to the fire fighters at the memorial today, they say what they do is nothing out of the ordinary.

In the final week of the spring legislative session, some lawmakers were calling for a complete transformation of the agency

Eleven officers who died in the line of duty were recognized for their service.

Increased funding for Illinois’ higher education system may do one thing the industry is hoping for: bring more students into the classrooms.

The Illinois Manufacturing Association held its third annual online competition for the coolest thing manufactured in the state.

The elimination of cash bail is fast approaching for Illinois following the passage of the SAFE-T act in January 2021. Some judges have even begun the transition to no cash bail, but prosecutors are saying no cash bail will make their job a lot harder.

For the ninth time, the Cook County Juvenile Court has haled the embattled DCFS Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for keeping a youth in a medical facility longer than necessary.

In an attempt to address DCFS worker safety, lawmakers moved ahead on a bill that would give assaulting a caseworker a harsher penalty, but it never made it through the final step.

The stage is fully and finally set for the Illinois primary, which is shaping up to have some contentious competitions in congressional and statewide races.The Illinois State Board of Elections officially certified the ballot after an hours-long meeting going through the over dozens of objections filed questioning the validity of a candidates residency or petition signatures that were turned in in early March.

A nationwide oversight agency is reporting that corporations often aren’t paying their fair share.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul was a major proponent of the bill, even making appearances on the floors of both chambers to drum up support for the legislation.

In an emergency situation, a dispatcher is often the first point of contact after someone dials 911, but, they aren’t considered first responders like firefighters, police or paramedics.

Nursing home reform reached its culmination after passing the house with unanimous support.

Hundreds of pairs or shoes were left empty in remembrance of the 347 children who have died while under Department of Children and Family Services care since April 2019, when A.J. Freund of Crystal Lake was killed by his parents.

Nursing home reform, that stalled last year in negotiations, has now passed the Senate unanimously.

In a yearly tradition, gun owners in Illinois took to Springfield streets to advocate more less restrictions on firearm usage and ownership.

One part of a larger legislative package passed out of committee today with some concern from Republican lawmakers.

As carjackings continue to be a growing concern in the state, Democratic Senators introduced a package of two bills they believe will help reduce carjackings statewide.

During the pandemic, visitation was restricted in medical facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A bill moving out of the Illinois House would prevent families from not being able to visit their loved ones due to visitation restrictions.

The state’s top Medicaid provider is revealing significant progress toward a compromise.

Illinois Democrats have released a package of several bills trying to address crime in Illinois, but they argue they want to take a different approach.

Illinois lawmakers passed legislation last October to address concerns with corruption and conflicts of interest. They intended to bring more light to government; instead, some argue the law has made things cloudier.

Employers may be required to provide more breaks for employees after a bill expanding workers rights passed both Houses.

College costs can easily soar into the six figures. Senators are pushing legislation that would try to ease those costs.

Senators are pushing legislation that aims to crack down on organized retail crime, infamously known as smash and grabs where a team runs into a store grabbing any and all merchandise.

Opioid deaths in Illinois have increased twentyfold in one decade, and a large part of the deaths have to do with the powerful, lab-made fentanyl.

For Peoria Democrat Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, the Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act is personal; she and other colleagues have faced consequences from their natural hair before.

When a fire rages in a small community, volunteers are often the only people available to help. As less and less volunteers are available, representatives form the Illinois Firefighter’s Association call the shortage a “public health crisis.”

A bill moving through the Senate would allow prisoners to finish their high school diplomas while they serve time via remote learning.

Republican lawmakers are once again calling for reform of the Department of Children and Family Services.

Some Republican lawmakers are calling for their bills providing tax relief to be considered.

A bill moving through the Illinois House looks to prohibit restricting visitors during emergency orders like ones that were enacted during this pandemic.

Print-disabled voters, typically those who are visually impaired, often can’t cast a ballot without assistance. The blind community argues this hurts their ability to vote privately and independently.

One week after candidate hopefuls lined up to be the first name on the ballot, other candidates lined up for the last hour of filing to beat the clock and get a spot at the bottom.

Illinois lawmakers are looking to fill the $4.5 billion hole in the unemployment insurance fund that was created after thousands of people were left out of work earlier in the pandemic.

As stressors from the pandemic to gas prices increase, mental illness is on the rise according to the CDC. Over time, they’ve seen an increase in anxiety and depression, especially in children.

Wives and children of four fallen officers gathered in Springfield to urge Senators to continue a slate of bills supporting police.

Michael Madigan and longtime colleague Michael McClain pled not guilty in arraignment hearings over the phone Wednesday.

Paper petitions stacked ten inches tall, covered in plastic wrap and shielded from the wet snow held candidate’s tickets onto the ballot for the 2022 race.

For decades, jail time and drug charges have often been the way drug addiction is handled in the Illinois justice system.

Following the indictment of former Speaker of the House Michael Madigan Wednesday, Republican representatives spent the final minutes of Friday’s session calling for stronger ethics reforms.

Legislation passed out of the Illinois House aims to pay back public school teachers for the cost of their education.

Illinois Republicans are calling former Speaker Michael Madigan’s indictment a dark mark on Illinois’ history, but they are not surprised with the result.

Masking melodrama has stalled action in the House several times this legislative session, but the arguments gained new strength after the statewide mask mandate was lifted yesterday.

As the Illinois mask mandate lifts, Gov. JB Pritzker was at Navy Pier encouraging people to show their smiles and - despite recent denials in the Supreme Court - showing he had his own reason to grin.

Republican legislators introduced a package of bills they argue will give parents more control over their children’s education.