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Politics

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State

State Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-45) and Winnebago County Sheriff Caruana host a call to 40,000...

Sen. Chesney hosts 4th Tele-Town Hall Meeting with Sheriff Caruana

Updated: Sep. 6, 2023 at 6:02 PM CDT
|
By Jake Pearson
Organizers will reach out to 40,000 homes across Illinois’ 45th district as a public forum about current state issues.

Politics

FILE - The Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA basketball team, in Milwaukee, is seen...

Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates expected on-stage for the first GOP debate

Updated: Aug. 22, 2023 at 2:50 PM CDT
|
By The Associated Press
To qualify for the Aug. 23 debate, candidates needed to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the RNC

State

Life and Death at 30k feet; Sen. Duckworth fights to equip airplanes with EpiPens

Life and Death at 30k feet; Sen. Duckworth fights to equip airplanes with EpiPens

Updated: Jul. 25, 2023 at 3:18 PM CDT
|
By Molly Martinez
A 2003 law requires epinepherine on board, but enforcement is another story

Politics

The announcement comes one year after the Supreme Court overturned the abortion rights once...

House Democrats introduce Abortion Justice Act

Updated: Jun. 23, 2023 at 1:32 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
Supporters call the bill ‘unapologetically aspirational," as legislators mark the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs ruling which ended protection for abortion under Roe versus Wade.

Politics

Democrats reintroduce a bill to federally protect contraception

Democrats reintroduce bill to safeguard access to contraception

Updated: Jun. 14, 2023 at 6:36 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
This month marks one year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion

Politics

They plan to utilize discharge petitions

House Democrats deploy rare tactic to force GOP to debate gun reform

Updated: Jun. 13, 2023 at 7:28 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
Discharge petitions require 218 signatures

Politics

House lawmakers discuss gas stove bills

House Republicans turn up the heat on two bills to block a nationwide gas stove ban

Updated: Jun. 6, 2023 at 12:26 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives started to debate two bills that would block any attempt to regulate the kitchen appliance.

Politics

Senators urge the President to use his constitutional powers if no deal is reached

President pressured to invoke 14th amendment to raise the debt ceiling if deal isn’t reached

Updated: May. 19, 2023 at 10:49 AM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
Negotiations between the President & top GOP leaders have progressed but have not yet produced a deal.

Politics

Sen. Ed Markey stands with activists who want to expand the Supreme Court

Bill to expand U.S. Supreme Court reintroduced in Congress

Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 5:18 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
Senator Markey, Rep. Cori Bush call for expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court to 13 justices.

Politics

Lawmakers say the legislation would save parents significant money

Bill promises to lower childcare costs for families, increase pay for workers

Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 7:20 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
The bill would also expand access to Pre-K and Head Start programs in addition to increasing worker wages.
7 Day Forecast
7 Day Forecast

News

Carol Gustafson becomes Roscoe’s Village president

Updated: Apr. 5, 2023 at 12:00 AM CDT
|
By Kayleigh Randle
Roscoe has chosen a new village president, removing Mark Szula from his seat as Roscoe village president.

News

Thomas A. Heister gets re-elected as Pecatonica’s village president

Updated: Apr. 4, 2023 at 11:31 PM CDT
|
By Kayleigh Randle
Votes are in and Pecatonica voters chose to keep Thomas A. Heister in his seat as village president.

Politics

Consolidated Election results for Tuesday, April 4

Updated: Apr. 4, 2023 at 3:29 PM CDT
|
By WIFR Newsroom
It’s a big day for communities across the stateline as voters choose their next local officials.

News

Investigation underway after uncontested alder left off Byron ballot

Updated: Mar. 29, 2023 at 12:46 PM CDT
|
By Meghan Schobinger
Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook assures the public that it will not affect any race on Tuesday, April 4.

News

Get to know RPS 205 school board candidate Jude Makulec

Updated: Mar. 22, 2023 at 8:23 AM CDT
|
By WIFR Newsroom
Makulec is running for re-election.

Politics

Climate activists say President broke ‘promise’ by approving the Willow Oil Project

Updated: Mar. 21, 2023 at 6:17 PM CDT
|
By Jamie Bittner
ConocoPhillips has said the project will produce an estimated 180,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak.

News

Mayor makes pick for Rockford 11th Ward vacancy

Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 7:41 AM CDT
|
By Marta Berglund
The appointment will be up for approval by the City Council next week.

Politics

Sen. Tammy Baldwin pushes for legislation that would require relabeling of plant-based milks following release of new FDA guidance 

Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 2:49 PM CST
|
By Stetson Miller
Senator Tammy Baldwin has reintroduced legislation that would limit what can be labeled as milk to dairy products.

Politics

Lawmakers push to reform laws as majority of United States legalize marijuana

Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 9:26 AM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Lawmakers push changes to federal laws on marijuana, with a special focus on banking regulations.

State

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Chicago police officers at Elmhurst event

Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 6:00 PM CST
|
By CBS Chicago Team
DeSantis’ visit is causing a stir in Chicago’s mayoral race.

Politics

Lawmakers take a hard look at the dangers teens & kids can face online

Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 4:59 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Senate hearing looks at whether legislation is needed to protect children online.

State

Amid ‘unprecedented’ prolonged revenue boom, Illinois finds budget breathing room

Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 at 9:25 AM CST
|
By Capitol News Illinois
For the current fiscal year and the one before it, that’s led to another uncommon Capitol occurrence: budget surpluses in the billions of dollars.

Politics

Lawmakers call for investigation against gun company that they say is marketing to kids

Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:32 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
The Senators believe there is little difference between the JR-15 and an AR-15.

Politics

‘Life at conception’ act reintroduced in Congress as Republicans control the House

Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 2:56 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
“It’s an obvious fact," says Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.)

State

Pritzker issues statement on Illinois judge’s decision regarding assault weapons

Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 5:23 PM CST
|
By CBS CHICAGO and WIFR Newsroom
The judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking enforcement of the ban.

Politics

Republicans push abortion restrictions as March for Life rally comes to Washington D.C.

Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 6:27 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Days before the March for Life rally, the House GOP advanced a measure called the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.”

State

Pritzker speaks about success in Illinois, inflation during Davos panel

Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 5:16 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
The Pritzker administration said the governor is at the event to discuss political and social priorities, but it is also an opportunity for the governor to be seen by a larger audience.

State

Illinois Senate approves new chamber rules

Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 5:49 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
The rules haven’t changed drastically since the 102nd General Assembly, but Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) hopes some of the amendments will improve efficiency.

State

Gov. JB Pritzker signs bill banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines

Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 10:53 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act into law Monday night. It was a whirlwind for Democratic sponsors and advocates who watched intense negotiations to improve the plan over the past week.

Politics

Republicans flex their new House majority with new committee chairs

Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 5:47 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
House Republican leadership announces new committee and conference chairs.

State

Pritzker, Raoul take oath for second term in Illinois

Updated: Jan. 9, 2023 at 11:09 AM CST
|
By WIFR Newsroom
The ceremony was followed by an open house hosted by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

State

Illinois House Democrats pass assault weapon ban

Updated: Jan. 5, 2023 at 8:36 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
Democrats hope they now have the momentum to pass a ban six months after the Highland Park mass shooting that left seven dead and dozens more injured.

Politics

The constitutional argument over eliminating cash bail in Illinois

Updated: Jan. 3, 2023 at 6:34 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
Chaos was the word of the weekend as many county leaders across the state were confused about what they should do. The Illinois Supreme Court quickly stepped in and justices will now decide whether the Pretrial Fairness Act is constitutional.

State

Looking ahead: Illinois politics in 2023

Updated: Dec. 30, 2022 at 4:50 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
As 2022 comes to an end, you may wonder what state leaders have planned for the new year.

Politics

How the U.S. will pick its next House speaker

Updated: Dec. 28, 2022 at 8:47 AM CST
|
By Brendan Cullerton
Current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-CA, is the frontrunner to become the next speaker of the House, but he is short on the votes required

Politics

Afghan refugees left in limbo as Congress fails to act on bill

Updated: Dec. 23, 2022 at 2:37 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Legislation to sort out Afghan refugee status remains stalled in Congress.

Politics

“Diversity is necessary at the table”: Nancy Pelosi’s last official acts

Updated: Dec. 22, 2022 at 4:39 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Nancy Pelosi is stepping down as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Politics

Nation’s most senior Senator delivers farewell speech

Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 at 9:06 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
For the past 48 years Senator Patrick Leahy has served the nation and his home state of Vermont.

State

‘Everyone’s friend’: Illinois leaders remember Sen. Scott Bennett

Updated: Dec. 19, 2022 at 8:35 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
Illinois leaders held a memorial service Monday to honor the life of Sen. Scott Bennett. The 45-year-old Democrat died unexpectedly on December 9 after complications with an undiagnosed brain tumor.

Politics

Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Katie Couric throws support behind cancer screening bill

Updated: Dec. 13, 2022 at 7:29 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Journalist Katie Couric joined lawmakers to announce the ‘Find it Early Act' for cancer screenings.

State

Krishnamoorthi co-sponsoring plan to ban TikTok in US

Updated: Dec. 13, 2022 at 2:24 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
An Illinois congressman is co-sponsoring a bipartisan plan to ban TikTok in the United States.

Politics

The Senate’s most senior member prepares to retire

Updated: Dec. 9, 2022 at 4:36 PM CST
|
By Jamie Bittner
Senator Leahy was first elected in 1974.

State

Illinois Sen. Scott Bennett dies at 45

Updated: Dec. 9, 2022 at 3:32 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
The Champaign County Coroner reported that the Democratic lawmaker died of natural causes at 1:15 p.m. Friday.

State

Illinois saw fourth lowest midterm turnout in past 40 years

Updated: Dec. 6, 2022 at 6:25 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
The Board reported that 51% of registered voters participated in the election, compared to 57% for the 2018 midterm.

State

‘SAFE-T Act’ trailer bill passes IL Senate; moves to House

Updated: Dec. 1, 2022 at 2:27 PM CST
|
By WIFR Newsroom
Bipartisan legislators have urged a swift passing of the trailer bill so that it can go into effect January 1, 2023.

Politics

Hakeem Jeffries wins historic bid to lead House Dems after Pelosi

Updated: Nov. 30, 2022 at 2:48 PM CST
|
By LISA MASCARO
The closed-door vote was unanimous, by acclamation.

Politics

Mary Jane Theis sworn in as Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice

Updated: Nov. 14, 2022 at 5:58 PM CST
|
By Mike Miletich
Mary Jane Theis became the fourth woman to be installed as Chief Justice of the state’s highest court.

News

Illinois elects Democrat Eric Sorensen to US House seat

Updated: Nov. 10, 2022 at 12:49 PM CST
|
By The Associated Press
A battleground race between newbies aiming to fill retiring U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos’ seat in Illinois’ 17th district tipped in Democrat Eric Sorensen’s favor.

Regional

Barnes concedes as Johnson claims Senate win

Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 at 10:45 PM CST
|
By Colton Molesky, Tyler Peters and Juliana Tornabene
Johnson’s campaign also condemned major news services for not declaring him the victor yet.

Politics

President Biden, House Minority Leader McCarthy say they are willing to work across the aisle following the midterms

Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 at 6:04 PM CST
|
By Josh Rultenberg
President Biden addressed the results of the midterm election and his own political future on Wednesday.
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