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Illinois

Critics of governor’s budget proposal: Disappointed, insulted, deeply concerned; but comptroller praises ‘targeted approach’ as revenue proposals draw ire of GOP, interest groups

By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR  and JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The annual process of negotiating the state budget kicked off Wednesday with Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposing a $52.7 […]

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Governor proposes $1.8B billion in spending growth, backed by tax increases for corporations, sportsbooks; budget fills previously projected deficit with changes to tax code

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday proposed growing state spending by about $1.8 billion in the upcoming fiscal year while making a handful of […]

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Governor’s budget office projects major surplus to give way to deficit unless Legislature acts; Pritzker to lay out budget in speech Wednesday

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. J.B. Pritzker will give his sixth state budget address this week, laying out his plan for a fiscal year that government forecasters in November […]

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State regulators once again flex muscle in rejecting utilities’ grid plans, lessening rate hikes; ComEd included

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday curtailed proposed rate hikes and rejected grid plans from two major electric utilities, mirroring a series of […]

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Supreme Court won’t block Illinois’ assault weapons ban; challenge pending in lower courts

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Supreme Court issued two orders this week turning down requests to block enforcement of Illinois’ assault weapons ban while challenges to […]

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Advocacy groups say ‘Healthy Illinois 2028’ is missing key areas of focus: racism, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance abuse

By DILPREET RAJUCapitol News Illinoisdraju@capitolnewsillinois.com A new state health report pinpoints racism as a public health crisis while also noting Illinois needs to improve in the areas of maternal and […]

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Gas company rate requests cut, Nicor by 30 percent; low-income customers set to receive new discounts

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission have unanimously approved rate hikes for four major natural gas utilities, but the little-known regulatory body’s decision […]

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Final decision on natural gas rate increases expected before the end of the year; higher electricity rates also proposed

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Utility customers throughout Illinois will likely see higher natural gas bills beginning in January after staff at the state’s utility regulatory agency recommended rate increases […]

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Pritzker urges Biden to intervene amid ‘untenable’ pace of migrant arrivals; buses from Texas accelerate as Illinois counts 15,000 new arrivals in 13 months

By HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com As Chicago prepares for an increase in the already steady stream of migrants arriving from the southern U.S. border, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is again publicly […]

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Top Writers

Larry Lough

Larry Lough

Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.

Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.

Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.

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