New legislation on texting while driving passes House, moves to governor’s desk
By Hannah Smith, Staff writer
June 1, 2018
Filed under State
A new bill moving to the governor’s desk will put stricter punishment on drivers found to be texting while driving.
Illinois approves Equal Rights Amendment, 36 years after deadline
By Rick Pearson and Bill Lukitsch
May 30, 2018
Filed under State
The Illinois House voted Wednesday night to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment more than 45 years after it was approved by Congress, putting it one state away from possible enshrinement in the U.S. Constitution amid potential legal questions.
Opinion: Another disappointing lack of transparency in Illinois government
By The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill. Editorial Board
May 21, 2018
Filed under State
It's a simple request, really. We all, to some level, depend on government services. Since residents provide the tax dollars they need to operate, we request government agencies be run in an efficient, transparent manner.
New program will help pregnant women addicted to opioids
By Kaley Johnson, Belleville News-Democrat
April 21, 2018
Filed under State
The program pulls together St. Louis and metro-east resources to provide long-term treatment for expectant mothers in the metro-east who are addicted to opioids.
McCann joins intense race for governor
By Nick Draper, Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.
April 21, 2018
Filed under State
State Sen. Sam McCann announced his intention Thursday to run for governor as a Conservative Party candidate, garnering a quick — and scathing — response from the incumbent governor.
Under Rauner, penalties sought against Illinois polluters have plummeted
By Michael Hawthorne | Chicago Tribune
February 2, 2018
Filed under State
Illinois slowed down the policing of air and water pollution under Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Do you favor legalizing marijuana? Then here’s whom to vote for.
By Joseph Bustos | Belleville News-Democrat
January 19, 2018
Filed under State
The eight candidates running for governor are mostly divided along party lines, with the Democrats generally in favor of the idea and Republicans against legalizing the drug beyond the state's current medical marijuana program.
Illinois Supreme Court again upholds conviction of Drew Peterson for murder of his third wife
By Matthew Walberg | Chicago Tribune
January 19, 2018
Filed under State
Drew Peterson's options for getting a new trial for the 2004 murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, have grown thinner after the Illinois Supreme Court on Friday declined to rehear his appeal.
Bald eagles came back from brink, but are numbers dropping again? An Illinois researcher fears so
By Ted Gregory | Chicago Tribune
January 17, 2018
Filed under State
In this very important month for the bald eagle, Terrence Ingram is trying to upend conventional wisdom about our majestic national symbol.
Earlier abduction attempt reported on day Chinese scholar went missing at U. of I.
By Jason Meisner and Dawn Rhodes | Chicago Tribune
January 17, 2018
Filed under State
The young University of Illinois graduate student was walking to a bus stop one morning last June when a clean-cut man wearing aviator sunglasses pulled up in a black sedan and flashed a badge.
Judge orders Illinois to expand medical marijuana qualifying conditions to include pain
By Robert McCoppin | Chicago Tribune
January 17, 2018
Filed under State
A judge has ordered Illinois officials to add intractable pain as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, a ruling that could greatly expand access to the drug.
Rauner tours Lincoln prison, touts reforms helping female inmates
By Brenden Moore | The State Journal-Register
January 16, 2018
Filed under State
The governor said the reforms, which seek to create female-specific programs and address the unique challenges that female offenders face, have set a new national standard for criminal justice reform.
