Illinois Releases Funds for Energy Efficiency Upgrades at Water Treatment Plants
In The States
Illinois Releases Funds for Energy Efficiency Upgrades at Water Treatment Plants
2023-12-18 22:30:34
by Dan McCue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is making $750,000 in grant funding available for the development and completion of energy efficiency projects at public water supply facilities across the state. The grants, drawn from U.S. Department of Energy... Read More

Chinese EV Battery Maker to Build $2B Factory in Illinois
In The States
Chinese EV Battery Maker to Build $2B Factory in Illinois
2023-09-08 20:25:38
by Dan McCue

MANTENO, Ill. — Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd., a global EV battery developer headquartered in China, announced Friday that it is going to build a $2 billion “gigafactory” in this small community about 50 miles south of Chicago. Gotion specializes in... Read More

EPA Waives Fuel Rule in Four States After Indiana Refinery Fire
Regulation
EPA Waives Fuel Rule in Four States After Indiana Refinery Fire
2022-08-30 18:25:02
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued an emergency fuel waiver to help alleviate fuel shortages in four midwestern states whose supply of gasoline has been impacted by an electrical fire at a BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana. The... Read More

<strong>Avian Flu Reported in Poultry in Kansas and Illinois</strong>
Health
Avian Flu Reported in Poultry in Kansas and Illinois
2022-03-14 19:29:49
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Agriculture Department is confirming two cases of avian flu in Kansas and Illinois among flocks of poultry. So far, no humans have been infected. The flocks are under quarantine and will be depopulated, the Agriculture Department... Read More

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Indicted on Racketeering, Bribery Charges
In The States
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Indicted on Racketeering, Bribery Charges
2022-03-03 16:59:55
by Reece Nations

CHICAGO — Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted on federal charges Wednesday alleging he was involved in a racketeering conspiracy. Madigan served as speaker from 1983 to 2021 and also held numerous other government positions, including representative of... Read More

School Year Delays, Virtual Learning Instituted Amid COVID-19 Spike
In The States
School Year Delays, Virtual Learning Instituted Amid COVID-19 Spike
2022-01-06 00:14:47
by Reece Nations

SAN ANTONIO — COVID-19 infection rates continue to complicate the school year as some districts have either delayed their start dates or shifted to virtual learning in response to the growing spike in cases. As many schools nationwide have either... Read More

New Laws Take Effect Nationwide
In The States
New Laws Take Effect Nationwide
2022-01-03 21:12:37
by Reece Nations

SAN ANTONIO — New laws added to the books around the country during last year’s legislative sessions have now gone into effect with the arrival of the new year. Measures governing redistricting, police reforms, minimum wage increases and more with... Read More

Pritzker: Illinois a ‘Force for Good’ by Cutting Carbon Gas
In The States
Pritzker: Illinois a 'Force for Good' by Cutting Carbon Gas

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed into law a pledge to eliminate the state's climate-damaging carbon emissions within a quarter-century, including money to keep clean-power nuclear plants running while shuttering coal-fired plants. The legislation invests... Read More

Smart Home in Illinois Serves as Test Site for New Health Products
Technology
Smart Home in Illinois Serves as Test Site for New Health Products
2021-08-31 20:17:57
by Alexa Hornbeck

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Researchers in Illinois have developed a smart home called the McKechnie Family LIFE Home, an interactive living space equipped with smart appliances and innovation labs to study how home-based technologies may improve health for older individuals or... Read More

Democrats Set to OK New Legislative Maps Over Criticism
In The States
Democrats Set to OK New Legislative Maps Over Criticism

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Democrats on Tuesday are expected to approve new legislative boundaries over objections from Republicans and some community groups that the process was unnecessarily rushed and maps drawn behind closed doors to keep Democrats in power.  Tuesday's... Read More

Illinois Democrats Plow Ahead Despite Pleas to Go Slow on Redistricting
In The States
Illinois Democrats Plow Ahead Despite Pleas to Go Slow on Redistricting
2021-06-04 13:03:30
by Dan McCue

After two days of public hearings, Illinois Democrats quickly approved new boundaries for state House and Senate district that will ensure their control of the legislature for the next decade, And they’ve since sent their proposed maps to Democratic Gov.... Read More

Census Estimates Show Population Decline in 16 States
State News
Census Estimates Show Population Decline in 16 States
2021-01-22 21:03:04
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — New Census Bureau estimates show 16 states saw population declines last year as the nation experienced its slowest overall growth since the Great Depression, a new Pew Charitable Trusts analysis shows. According to the analysis, which first appeared... Read More

IL-15: Mary Miller (R)
House Watch
IL-15: Mary Miller (R)
2020-11-01 09:04:22
by TWN Staff

About Miller: Mary Miller is a Republican running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 15th Congressional District. Her campaign website described her as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a local farmer, and a business manager. Miller... Read More

IL-03: Marie Newman (D)
House Watch
IL-03: Marie Newman (D)
2020-11-01 08:52:48
by TWN Staff

About Newman: Newman is running for Congress because “We need a real vision with a real plan. As part of that plan, we need to solve the ‘patchwork of jobs’ issue prevalent here, where folks try to make ends meet... Read More

IL-13: Rodney Davis (R)
House Watch
IL-13: Rodney Davis (R)
2020-10-30 23:47:50
by TWN Staff

About Davis: On January 3, 2017, Davis was sworn in to his third term as the congressman for the 13th District of Illinois, a 14-county district covering both urban and rural areas of Central and Southwestern Illinois. As a member... Read More

IL-13: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan (D)
House Watch
IL-13: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan (D)
2020-10-30 23:46:02
by TWN Staff

About Londrigan: In 2018, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan came within less than one percent of the vote of unseating incumbent Rodney Davis. In Congress, she will oppose tax giveaways to corporations and the wealthy. She will support a labor union's right... Read More

Schneider Unveils Plan to Reinstate SALT Deduction
Taxes
Schneider Unveils Plan to Reinstate SALT Deduction
2020-10-15 20:38:27
by Reece Nations

WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., revealed plans to fully repeal the cap on the state and local tax deduction that was included in the Republican-backed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The state and local tax deduction, also... Read More

Primary Day a Mixed Bag in the Three States Holding Contests
2020 Elections
Primary Day a Mixed Bag in the Three States Holding Contests
2020-03-17 21:52:22
by Dan McCue

The first presidential primary day held against the backdrop of self-quarantines and widespread shortages of toilet paper and hand sanitizer was a mixed bag for the three states that opted to go ahead with the vote despite concerns over the... Read More

Davis Investigates Automatic Voter Registration System Failures in Illinois
Voting
Davis Investigates Automatic Voter Registration System Failures in Illinois
2020-03-02 19:28:22
by Dan McCue

In the wake of complaints that Illinois' news automatic voter registration system is riddled with problems, Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill, last week convened a congressional listening session to get a handle on the problem many fear is compromising voters' rights.... Read More

llinois’ Recreational Marijuana Sales Brought $10 Million in Tax Revenue in January
State News
llinois’ Recreational Marijuana Sales Brought $10 Million in Tax Revenue in January

CHICAGO — Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois generated more than $10 million in tax revenue in January, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The state collects sales tax and a cannabis excise tax on recreational marijuana sales. January sales... Read More

Illinois Customers Spent $40M on Recreational Marijuana During First Month of Sales
State News
Illinois Customers Spent $40M on Recreational Marijuana During First Month of Sales

CHICAGO — Customers spent $39.2 million on recreational marijuana during the first month of legal weed sales in Illinois, and operators say they don’t expect sales to slow down any time soon. Sales to Illinois residents totaled more than $30.6... Read More

Recreational Weed is Legal in Illinois, But Medical Marijuana Requests Are Up. Here’s Why.
State News
Recreational Weed is Legal in Illinois, But Medical Marijuana Requests Are Up. Here’s Why.

CHICAGO — Since recreational weed went on sale in Illinois three weeks ago, long lines have formed outside dispensaries, stores have established buying limits, and some have run out of product. All that was expected, based on what’s happened as... Read More

$3.2 Million in Legal Weed Was Sold in Illinois on First Day
State News
$3.2 Million in Legal Weed Was Sold in Illinois on First Day

CHICAGO — Customers spent almost $3.2 million on legal weed in Illinois on the first day of recreational marijuana sales Wednesday, marking one of the strongest showings of any state in the history of pot legalization. “This is particularly impressive... Read More

Illinois Loses Population for a Sixth Straight Year
Research
Illinois Loses Population for a Sixth Straight Year

CHICAGO — Illinois’ population went down by an estimated 51,250 people in 2019, or 0.4%, marking the sixth consecutive year the state has lost residents, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Since the turn of the decade,... Read More

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