By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News These steps reintroduce programs which were briefly cut off by the so-called Good Friday cuts earlier this year, such as the state’s Tobacco Quitline and immigrant services programs. Gov. Bruce Rauner insists a partial shutdown of state government is not the goal of his standoffs with Democratic lawmakers and labor unions.…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News The payback for a wrongful conviction could include eight semesters of college tuition. A bill passed by the legislature makes this possible. With a then-governor emptying Death Row (2003) and Illinois eventually outlawing capital punishment (2011), the state has had a sorry history with wrongful convictions. “About $26 million a year…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News Abortions in Illinois are declining, following a nation-wide trend. The state’s yearly abortion numbers remain low after reaching the lowest number of 40,750 abortions. Between 2010 and 2013, the state saw a 2.6 percent decrease in abortion numbers. The state normally channels woman from other states to receive abortions here due…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News If the governor signs an anti-heroin bill, it would be one of the legislative highlights for Illinois lawmakers in 2015. Heroin is the drug cited most frequently when addicts are admitted for treatment said bill sponsor, State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge). “In the most recent year available, about 1,200 people…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth has reservations about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Duckworth, now a Democratic congressman from Hoffman Estates, said she’s for trade, but she’s worried about whether the partners to the deal will comply with the terms. “My concern is that when we enter into a trade agreement, it needs…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News Members of Illinois’ congressional delegation from both parties agree another short-term extension of transportation funding isn’t acceptable. Before leaving Washington last week, Congress passed a two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, the latest in a series of short-term fixes. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) said, “Next time, Congress must pass…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News The Illinois economy continues to grow, but the growth has slowed, at least for now. This is according to the monthly Flash Index from the University of Illinois, based on state collection of personal and corporate income tax and sales tax. It came in at 106.5 this month, down from 107.1…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News SPRINGFIELD – Illinois remains No. 3 in the nation when it comes to political corruption as the new standing are out. This is according to a University of Illinois study of 2013 data. On a per capita basis, only Louisiana and the District of Columbia had more political and government corruption…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News SPRINGFIELD – A package of measures to reform police work passed the Illinois House this yesterday afternoon by a vote of 102-7. It requires more training and independent review of police-involved deaths, bans choke-holds, and establishes rules if police departments want to equip their officers with body cameras. This makes Illinois…… MORE
By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News The Illinois House has passed the State Representatives Kathleen Willis’s proposed bill to outlaw e-cigarette possession to all under 18. E-cigarettes are a hot topic this summer as it is often questioned whether it is safe or not, especially for people under the legal age limit to purchase and use this…… MORE
