John Bucy’s older daughter “seemed a little frustrated” with him this week when he wasn’t home to take her to school for her first day of kindergarten. The Texas House lawmaker from Austin hopes one day she’ll understand.

The race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is getting more crowded as state Sen. Mike Simmons launches his campaign.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker will announce that he will seek a third term next year, answering a question about his immediate political future but leaving unanswered whether he will pursue a longer-term goal of running for president in 2028.

Despite political maneuvering in each state, the borders of Illinois and Indiana are unlikely to change.

BREAKING: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who halted state’s death penalty but was imprisoned for corruption, dies at 91

After 10+ years of negotiations and failed efforts to reduce plastic use, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation to prohibit large retailers from offering single-use plastic bags and ban the use of foam containers in the state. From @addisonwright.bsky.social for @chicagotribune.com:

Gov. JB Pritzker, lawmakers moving sluggishly on Illinois ethics law reforms despite uptick in convictions By Dan Petrella, Jeremy Gorner & me www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/28/g...

With measles spreading across the country, the Illinois Department of Public Health unveiled a new online tool Wednesday that allows people to look up measles vaccination rates and data about the risk of outbreaks at individual schools across the state.

The Democrat-led Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday said Republicans waited too long to contest the 2021 redrawing of legislative districts that has maintained Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate.

After making history in 2017 as Aurora’s first Black mayor and cruising to reelection four years ago, Richard Irvin now faces a political challenge partly of his own making as he seeks a third term leading Illinois’ second-largest city.

1/6: Over 30,000 face losing their health insurance as @govpritzker.illinois.gov proposes cutting coverage for those 42-64 years old immigrants who are in the country without legal permission to balance the state’s budget, potentially leaving many uninsured again.

Cutting the program for the 42-to-64 age group is a significant piece of Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to balance a $55.2 billion state budget proposal. The governor estimates it will save $330 million as costs are rising and growth in income and sales taxes is slowing.

The University of Chicago is among over 50 universities under investigation for alleged racial discrimination as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which his administration said excludes white and Asian American students.

Peter Goldsmith received notice President Trump’s administration had terminated the federal government’s agreement to fund the Soybean Innovation Lab at U of I. He wasn't alone in Illinois. Local impact of Trump's freeze/cuts by @petrellareports.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/28/t...

Honored to have worked on this project with some very sensitive and smart journalists!

Illinois groups receiving aid dollars that help developing nations say freezing federal funds hurts jobs at home.

Madigan, Blago in-depth on State Week in Review with host Sean Crawford, Charlie Wheeler and me www.nprillinois.org/government-p...

Cook County prosecutors are seeking a union with the Teamsters www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/c... (Cook County PDs are already unionized with AFSCME)

Illinois’ senior senator has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate after he says he received information that President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, had been “personally directing the ongoing purge” of agents at the bureau.

Elon Musk's SpaceX wants to launch 25 Starship rockets this year. The last one exploded, sending debris raining down on the islands of Turks & Caicos. He now has power over the federal agency that licenses launches. @propublica.org @heathervogell.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/elon...

While you were sleeping: The Trump administration has terminated more than $900 million in Education Department contracts, taking away a key source of data on the quality and performance of the nation’s schools.

The kind of content that only @robertloerzel.bsky.social can provide.

The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Took a look at the prospects for a new station now, as a redevelopment proposal for the surrounding area moves forward www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...

Employees and associates of the world's richest man, Elon Musk, are taking power in government and taking over federal computer systems. ProPublica is documenting who's involved and what they're doing. This is the DOGE tracker.

President Donald Trump’s administration went to court Thursday to challenge sanctuary policies in the state of Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago that limit the powers of state and local police to assist federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.

An update on our investigation with ProPublica on schools using police to ticket and fine students: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/04/i...

A projected $3.2 billion budget hole is just one of the challenges facing Gov. JB Pritzker as he prepares his next spending plan.

In far south suburban Manteno, Wendy Howard had been “torn” over President Trump’s deportation plan, worried about how it will affect families and young children. But Pavuluri, she says, is different. He is responsible for her daughter’s death. @ckubzansky.bsky.social

Mayor Brandon Johnson on the federal grant freeze this morning, from @aliceyin.bsky.social Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.

“You’re Dr. Phil,” the man said to television personality Phil McGraw, who, while standing alongside federal agents, peppered the man with questions about his citizenship and alleged crimes. @petrellareports.bsky.social @nellsalzman.bsky.social @jake-sheridan.bsky.social

In its quest to get a million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, Illinois was counting on $148 million in federal funding to help build a statewide network of public EV chargers. Now that funding has been frozen.

The findings are particularly relevant for NE Illinois, where more than 777K tons of sewage sludge from Chicago and Cook Co. have been spread on farmland during the past 8 years — in many cases near residential areas. Only LA distributed more sludge to farmers. This story is developing.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the face of Gov. JB Pritzker’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been fined $150,000 for violating a state revolving-door ethics law when she left her job as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to become president and CEO of Sinai Chicago hospital system.

Our latest in @chicagotribune.com corruption series: PAPER TIGERS. Intentionally weak government oversight gives Illinois public officials cover for corruption. Story with @petrellareports.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/15/i...

Illinois law mandates quick action when a health care provider is charged with certain serious crimes. But a Tribune investigation of 35 such cases found it often took weeks or months for state regulators to require a chaperone or take more drastic action. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/06/i...

This is the thing.

This is an appreciation post for all of the @chicagotribune.com winners at the CJA awards - including our Medical Misconduct investigation, named "best of the best." I'm proud to work with such great colleagues. chicagojournalists.net/2024/11/20/c...

As the nation’s leading nuclear energy producer, Illinois is uniquely positioned to capitalize on or fall victim to the latest rush for the carbon-free but controversial power.

Not sure which to root for…🤔

Let me just draw your attention to the dollar figure here. The costs of failing to protect female patients from Dr. Fabio Ortega are approaching Dr. Larry Nassar levels for Endeavor Health.

As the Kim Foxx era comes to an end, she describes it as “sweet sweet” rather than “bittersweet. And she defends her often turbulent tenure. “My greatest satisfaction is that they (her opponents) were proven wrong. @adquig.bsky.social and Madeline Buckley: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/19/s...

As the @chicagotribune.bsky.social continues to explore root causes in our state's shameful culture of governmental corruption, our latest installment focuses on LOBBYING. The ongoing Mike Madigan trial is constantly intersecting with the world of lobbying and Springfield. 🧵 1/13

The cozy relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists, coupled with some of the flimsiest regulations in the country, contributes to the greed and graft that permeate Illinois politics. Read more in the latest installment of “Culture of Corruption.”