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| DATE | THUMBNAIL | TITLE | DESCRIPTION | DOWNLOAD ASSETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/26/26 |  | SOYBEAN GAP | Illinois grows more soybeans than any other state, but almost none end up on Illinois tables. The gap persists as farmers plant higher-yielding commodity beans over food-grade varieties, leaving the state reliant on imports despite a trade crisis and calls for more local processing infrastructure. Reporter: Tara Sun/Medill. Word Count: 1,650 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 a.m. | print assets |
| 05/22/26 |  | BROADVIEW SIX FALLOUT | In the wake of shocking revelations in federal court Thursday of prosecutorial misconduct in the case of the "Broadview Six" protesters, U.S. Sen Dick Durbin on Friday confirmed the former assistant U.S. attorney, who has been on assignment in Washington, D.C., serving as counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, was fired. Additionally, defense attorneys are preparing to ask for sanctions against the prosecutors, demanding in a Friday filing that the U.S. Attorney's office preserve internal communications about the case. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 5:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/22/26 |  | FRONTIER AI REGULATION | A bill that seeks to regulate the most powerful artificial intelligence models passed the Illinois Senate this week. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, UIS PAR. Word count: 1,200 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/22/26 |  | ILLINOIS REPRO | Illinois abortion advocates are urging lawmakers to do more to protect reproductive healthcare as the legislative session moves into its final days and the federal landscape keeps shifting. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek, UIS PAR. Word count: 1,000-1,100 words. Photo: AP: The photo accompanying this story is owned by the Associated Press and may not be republished. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 05/21/26 |  | BROADVIEW SIX VACATED | A federal judge on Thursday vacated the planned May 26 trial of the remaining “Broadview Six” protesters after a closed hearing with the federal prosecutors involved in grand jury proceedings that resulted in charges against the group in October. Defense attorneys have been demanding to see unredacted transcripts from the grand jury room for weeks, suggesting government lawyers may have done something untoward that resulted in a rare conspiracy charge. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 7 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/21/26 |  | PRESCRIPTION DRUG BOARD | Senate Bill 3496, sponsored by Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, passed the house narrowly. It would establish an independent board with the power to set the maximum price that a drug can be sold for in the state, also referred to as an upper payment limit. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, UIS PAR. Word count: 1,200-1,300 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. | print assets |
| 05/21/26 |  | SPECIAL PROSECUTOR RULING | A Cook County judge on Thursday denied a petition backed by more than 400 community leaders and elected officials calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate and charge federal immigration agents alleged to have abused their powers during “Operation Midway Blitz” this fall. The ruling alleviates, at least temporarily, months of pressure put on Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke for not opening investigations into federal agents, as the judge found the state’s attorney does not have the authority to do so without a request from law enforcement. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/21/26 |  | SCHOOL CHOICE | Senate Republicans called on the governor to opt Illinois into a federal school choice program. Reporter: Marisa Guerra Echeverria/Medill. Length: 700-1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/21/26 |  | AFTER-SCHOOL FUNDING | Some lawmakers are expressing frustration that it took the Illinois State Board of Education until April to release $18 million in funding for after-school programs that was included in this year's budget. Operators of those programs are being told they now must spend that money by Aug. 31 or return it to the state. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 1,000 - 1,200 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/21/26 |  | GLOCK BAN | Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the firing mechanism design used by Glock, effectively banning the sale of the popular gun in Illinois. Gun rights advocates say the bill would do nothing to reduce gun violence, but supporters of the bill say the gun can be easily modified into an automatic weapon. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/20/26 |  | SENATE ROUNDUP | A look at a handful of bills that passed the Senate on Wednesday. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek & CNI. Length: 800-1,200 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 5/20/26 |  | UNEMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT | The Illinois General Assembly is considering extending unemployment benefits to paraprofessionals, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school support staff during the 10 to 11 weeks of summer break. Reporter: Molly A. Wallace. Length: 1048 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: File. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/19/26 |  | NICOR RATE REQUEST | Consumer advocates are calling for regulators to reject 80% of Nicor's $220.8 million rate request, citing wasteful capital spending, excessive shareholder profits and "lavish" executive bonuses. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 500-700 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/19/26 |  | VOTE BY MAIL | Ahead of this year’s elections, the U.S. Postal Service is making changes that could alter mail voting procedures, Congress is considering the SAVE America Act to tighten voter ID guidelines and exercise more federal control over voter rolls, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether ballots should be counted if they arrive after Election Day. Illinois officials say they’re ready to handle those changes. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 2000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/18/26 |  | BROADVIEW SIX TRIAL | The misdemeanor trial for the remaining "Broadview Six" protesters is set for next week after a lengthy pretrial conference Monday afternoon. But after U.S. District Judge April Perry agreed to look at the unredacted grand jury transcripts as soon as the government provides them, defense attorneys believe there's still a chance the entire trial is canceled if she finds anything questionable about what prosecutors told grand jurors in October. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 500-700. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/18/26 |  | BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE | A bill aimed at limiting law enforcement’s use of biometric surveillance in Illinois has stalled, with its backers pausing efforts to advance it this session amid concerns over how the current environment could shape the debate. Reporter: Naomi Taxay, Medill. Length: 1000-1,200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 05/15/26 |  | BIPA AI VOICE | A group of Illinois-based journalists, podcast hosts and voice actors filed nine class action lawsuits this week against tech giants like Google, Adobe, Apple and Amazon for allegedly "stealing" their voices to train AI voice technology. The lawsuits, filed in Chicago federal court, represent a new frontier in Illinois' strongest-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 05/15/26 |  | 340B DRUGS | A bill that would expand access to a discount drug program known as 340B could end up costing the state more than $43 million a year, according to a memo from the Department of Central Management Services. The bill, which has generated huge lobbying campaigns, passed the Senate nearly a year ago, near the end of the 2025 session, and is still awaiting a final vote in the House. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 700 - 900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/15/26 |  | DHS RAID TORTS | Immigrant rights groups this week took the first step toward suing the Trump administration over a military-style raid on a Chicago apartment building in September, filing federal tort claims seeking millions of dollars in damages for immigration agents' actions on Sept. 30, 2025, including zip-tying children and adults, undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens alike in a middle-of-the-night operation in the early weeks of Operation Midway Blitz. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 1000-1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 05/15/26 |  | SCHOOL CHOICE | Education advocates and legislators weigh the costs and benefits behind the decision to opt Illinois into the federal school choice tax credit. Reporter: Marisa Guerra Echeverria/Medill. Length: 1700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. | print assets |
| 05/15/26 |  | IDOT LOAN ASSISTANCE | The Illinois Department of Transportation announced this week it will soon repay up to $60,000 in student loans for eligible employees over four years as part of an initiative to make IDOT more attractive to recently graduated engineers in an increasingly competitive job market. Reporter: Aidan Klineman. Length: 1000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 05/14/26 |  | SENATE AI PACKAGE | State senators introduced a package of eight bills regulating AI this week, citing a lack of federal action despite constituent issues as their motivation. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 2000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/14/26 |  | POWER ACT PRESSURE | Environmental advocates continue to pressure lawmakers to require more transparency about data centers’ water and energy use as the legislative session creeps toward the finish line. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 1,400-1,500 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/13/26 |  | BUDGET UPDATE | Both the governor's office and General Assembly's independent budget commission have revised revenue estimates downward as lawmakers finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget. Growing economic uncertainty and pessimism is to blame. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/13/26 |  | COACH FIRING | The Carterville School Board voted Tuesday night to begin the process of firing John “Jake” Wakey, the Carterville High School assistant football coach and teacher charged with nine counts of sexual abuse against students, including members of the football team. Reporter: Jackson Brandhorst/Saluki. Length: 900 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/13/26 |  | COUNTY CLERKS | We are redistributing a story initially published Monday about how county clerks are battling election information. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, UIS. Broadcast/audio/video: Youtube embed codes. ETA: 5/13 at 7 a.m. We will move the full 4,500-word story as well as a shortened version at about 2,500 words, along with photos. We have also activated the republish button, so you can move directly from our site. Story must include this copy: This article was produced by Capitol News Illinois through the Healing Illinois: Democracy Lives Here Reporting Project with the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub at Northwestern University. Healing Illinois — an Illinois Department of Human Services initiative managed with the Field Foundation — supports storytelling and community collaborations to address racial and systemic inequities across the state. | print assets |
| 05/12/26 |  | PRITZKER BROADBAND LETTER | Gov. JB Pritzker will be sending a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday, urging the release of broadband funds under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Illinois and California lag behind other states in approval times for their BEAD proposals. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/12/26 |  | FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL | Over 25 firefighters were honored for acts of bravery and service in an annual ceremony, including a Chicago firefighter who died last year from injuries sustained battling a garage fire. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/12/26 |  | ROUTE 66 BASEBALL | The Joliet Slammers Baseball team kicked off the celebration for the Route 66 Centennial with a baseball game at the Old Joliet Prison. SIDEBAR TO MAIN ROUTE 66 STORY. Reporter: Julia Levy/Medill. Length: 500-600 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/12/26 |  | ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL | The Route 66 centennial marks 100 years since the historic highway was established, with Illinois hosting celebrations across the state as home to the Mother Road’s starting point. A drive down Illinois' 300-mile stretch of Route 66 reveals the people and establishments that have kept the highway alive for generations. Reporter: Chloe Park/Medill. Word Count: 1500-1600. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: Embargoed until Tuesday, May 12 @ 6:15 a.m. | print assets |
| 05/11/26 |  | SPECIAL PROSECUTOR RULING | A Cook County judge on Monday delayed her ruling on whether to appoint a special prosecutor in lieu of Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke to investigate federal immigration agents' alleged abuses during Operation Midway Blitz this past fall and possibly bring charges. More legal back-and-forth in the case further complicates what eventual prosecutions might look like. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 700-900. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/11/26 |  | SNAP CUTS GROCERS | As thousands of Illinoisans lose federal food assistance this month, independent grocers are bracing for the impact. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word count: 1400. Photo: yes. Broadcast/audio/video: no. ETA: 12pm | print assets |
| 05/09/26 |  | DATA CENTER ECONOMY | One of the most controversial things in Springfield right now is data centers, and there have been long conversations in the Illinois General Assembly about what to do about them as the artificial intelligence business keeps booming and communities complain about energy bills, noise and environmental impacts they have. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek, UIS. Word count: 1,200 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Published | print assets |
| 05/08/26 |  | SCHOOL SEXUAL ASSAULT | The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would ensure students who initiate a sexual assault at school or a school-related place or event are expelled. Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, filed the bill after an incident in Taylorville. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Word Count: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/08/26 |  | CARTERVILLE COACH | The Williamson County sheriff is expected to announce charges filed against the former assistant football coach and teacher at Carterville High School following an investigation into sexual abuse allegations. Reporter: Jackson Brandhorst/Saluki Local Reporting Lab & Molly Parker. Word count: 800-900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/07/26 |  | BROADVIEW SIX UPDATE | A federal judge on Thursday officially dismissed the main conspiracy charge against the remaining "Broadview Six" ICE protesters after defense attorneys earlier this week accused prosecutors of reneging on their promise to drop the charge. But conflict still remains over whether grand jury transcripts will be handed over to the judge and defense lawyers to scrutinize for potential prosecutorial misconduct. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBA | print assets |
| 05/07/26 |  | POLICE MEMORIAL | The Capitol will host its annual Police Memorial. We will cover the event, fallen officers who will be memorialized, and distribute photos. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word count:400-700. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: TBD. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/07/26 |  | BUDGET UPDATE | Lawmakers are digging into final details of the budget ahead of the May 31 deadline, but ideas of what should be in the budget differ across parties and even among Democrats. Progressives are seeking more taxes even as the latest data shows revenue is up from last year and projections are on track for the remainder of FY26. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,200-1,500 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/06/26 |  | EBF REVIEW | As lawmakers prepare to craft the 10th education budget under the Evidence-Based Funding formula, officials from some schools are complaining they are still woefully underfunded while Republicans are asking what has been gained from the billions of additional dollars already spent. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/06/26 |  | JOHNSON SPRINGFIELD | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visited Springfield on Wednesday to call on lawmakers to increase funding for local governments. During his visit, the mayor also sought to block a Bears stadium bill and gain more taxing authority for the city. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 900-1,400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: reader .Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/06/26 |  | ISP IMMIGRATION SHOOTING | Illinois State Police are investigating the fatal Sept. 12 shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzales by an ICE agent in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park in the early days of Operation Midway Blitz. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 700-900 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/06/26 |  | ISU STRIKE | Illinois State University non-teaching staff returned to work Wednesday after ratifying a new contract to end a monthlong strike. AFSCME Local 1110, the union representing more than 300 building services, grounds, dining services and other ISU employees, said more than 95% of them approved the five-year contract. Reporter: Jerry Nowicki. Photo: File. Length: 400-500 words. ETA: 1:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/06/26 |  | PEOPLES GAS TESTIMONY | Consumer advocates and the attorney general's office filed testimony on Tuesday calling for massive cuts to Peoples Gas's proposed $205 million rate increase. Consumer advocates called for a two-thirds reduction in spending, while the attorney general's office went further, urging regulators to reject the entire request and instead order a small cut to existing rates. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/05/26 |  | BROADVIEW GRAND JURY | Lawyers for the remaining "Broadview Six" are renewing their request to see unredacted transcripts from the three grand jury sessions that led to the indictment of the politically active protesters stemming from a late September demonstration outside an ICE facility in Chicago's suburb of Broadview. The case is set for a May 26 trial.Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/04/26 |  | VOTER DATA LAWSUIT | The Trump administration’s lawsuits seeking access to sensitive voter registration data in dozens of states, including Illinois, is one part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to purge state voter rolls of people suspected of not being United States citizens, according to documents filed recently in federal court in Springfield. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: no. Audio/video: no. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/04/26 |  | MAY DAY PROTEST | Coverage of a May Day protest last Friday. Reporter: Chloe Park/Medill. Length: 800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/Audio/Visual: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 05/01/26 |  | DOJ SCHOOLS INVESTIGATION | The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced an investigation into 36 public school districts in Illinois "to determine whether they have included sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI) content in any class for grades pre-K-12," citing Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, and recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions as the basis for the inquiry. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 700-900 words. Photo: AP. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. The photo accompanying the story is owned by the Associated Press and is not available for republish. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 05/01/26 |  | SNAP-EBF | The Illinois State Board of Education is requesting $200,000 in its budget for next year to develop a new way of counting low-income students. The number is important to local districts because it is used to calculate how much money local districts receive under the Evidence-Based Funding formula. But officials worry the number could decline artificially in the future due to federal changes in eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP and other programs. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 600 - 900 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/30/26 |  | GAS SETTLEMENT | Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office has secured settlements with Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, which will include $125 million in bill credits saving customers about $5 a month on their bills. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 400 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/Audio/Video: No. ETA: 4:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/30/26 |  | SAFE-T ACT | Illinois politicians are weighing in on what works and what doesn't with the SAFE-T Act following the murder of a Chicago Police officer by a man who was granted pretrial release. Republicans are calling for changes with Gov. JB Pritzker blames the judge. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/30/26 |  | PRIVACY GENDER ABORTION | A bill to strengthen privacy for transgender and abortion patients passed the Senate Executive Committee in a 9-4 vote. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 500-700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: SOT/reader/radio. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader radio SOT |
| 04/30/26 |  | ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION REPORT | Gov. JB Pritzker will join the Illinois Accountability Commission on Thursday to introduce the findings of its monthslong investigation into misconduct by federal agents. The commission is expected to announce prosecution referrals to the Cook County State's Attorney. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/29/26 |  | REMAP AMENDMENT | Senate President Don Harmon tells CNI that the Senate will not considered a proposed constitutional amendment to rewriting redistricting rules in the state after today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He says lawmakers need more time to evaluate the ruling and what it means for the state. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-1,000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/29/26 |  | BROADVIEW 6 HEARING | A hearing is scheduled in federal court where, among other things, lawyers will debate the government’s wish to use protest chants as evidence at trial. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 1100 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/29/26 |  | QUANTUM JOBS | Gov. JB Pritzker and IBM announced the company’s new FutureNow Chicago delivery center at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. The center will create 750 full-time jobs in AI, cybersecurity, data science, quantum computing and more. Reporter: Aidan Klineman/Medill. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/29/26 |  | IRMA APPRENTICESHIPS | IRMA has launched a retail apprenticeship program through state grant funding. So far, the program has had a small cohort with strong results. Reporter: Hannah Webster/Medill. Length: 1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: Noon | print assets |
| 04/28/26 |  | ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION FINAL | The final hearing of the Illinois Accountability Commission's featured testimony from Marimar Martinez, the Chicago teacher's aid shot five times by a Border Patrol agent last fall. The commission's report with findings and policy recommendations is due on Pritzker's desk by Thursday morning. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/28/26 |  | ISU STRIKE | Illinois State University staff members have been on strike for three weeks seeking higher pay from the university. The union took to the Statehouse to voice their concerns while Gov. JB Pritzker spoke about the university's alleged hiring of replacement workers. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/28/26 |  | NATIVE AMERICAN SUMMIT | People from several Native American tribes gathered in the Rotunda of the Illinois Capitol building to raise awareness and share information about important issues for Native communities. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 500-700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: no . Audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 04/28/26 |  | MENTAL HEALTH COURTS | The courts offer an alternative to incarceration. Outcomes depend heavily on local services. ETA: 7 a.m. Tuesday | We will distribute a collaboration between Illinois Answers Project and Mindsite News. To republish, reach out to Jim Daley, jdaley@illinoisanswers.org, at Illinois Answers Project. |
| 04/27/26 |  | MADIGAN CONVICTION UPHELD | The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's bribery convictions, rejecting arguments a three-judge panel heard earlier this month from Madigan's high-powered appellate lawyers. This comes after another three-judge panel on the 7th Circuit ordered the release from prison of and a new trial for two people who allegedly bribed Madigan in a related trial. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 700-900. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. Photo: File. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/27/26 |  | ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION | The first of the Illinois Accountability Commission's final two days of hearings featured testimony from the mother of Katie Abraham, the Chicago woman to whom the Trump administration dedicated 'Operation Midway Blitz' after she was killed by a drunk driver from Guatemala. Abraham's mother is expected to testify that DHS did not seek her permission before using her daughter's name for its immigration enforcement campaign. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Word count: 800-900. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Video: Yes. ETA: 4pm | print assets |
| 04/27/26 |  | SWIPE FEE UPDATE | A federal agency says Illinois can’t limit credit card swipe fees for federally chartered banks, even though a federal judge earlier this year ruled that it can. A look at two recent filings and what it means for an ongoing Illinois lawsuit and law. Reporter: Jerry Nowicki. Word count: 800-1,100. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: File. ETA 1 p.m. The photo accompanying this story is owned by the Associated Press and may not be republished. | print assets |
| 04/27/26 |  | WATER SUPPLY | Drought and hot temperatures have burdened Illinois since last summer, and despite rain improving conditions this spring, the long-term lack of precipitation and high temperatures have impacted water supplies across the state. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek, UIS. Word count: 1,600-1,700 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Embargoed until Monday, April 27 at 7:15 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/24/26 |  | SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ARGUMENTS | A Cook County judge on Friday heard arguments in a push for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate allegations of abuse by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz in the fall. The judge is set to rule on May 11. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 800-1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5:30 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/24/26 |  | BUILD HEARING | Illinois lawmakers on the Senate Executive Committee on Thursday heard testimony from affordable housing advocates, municipal leaders and members of the public on components of Gov. JB Pritzker's Building Up Illinois Developments plan on Thursday. Reporter: Aidan Klineman, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Word Count: 900 words. Photo: No . Broadcast/Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. The photo accompanying the story is owned by the Associated Press and is not available for republish. | print assets |
| 04/24/26 |  | JOB READY IL | Ahead of an estimated 150,000 Illinois households losing access to federal food assistance on May 1, Illinois launched two websites aimed at providing work, training and volunteer hours to those households. Job Ready IL collects training programs and employment opportunities, while Serve Illinois shares volunteer opportunities. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, UIS. Word count: 900-1,000 words. Photo: Screenshot. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/23/26 |  | MILLIONAIRES TAX | Voters will not see a tax on millionaires on the ballot in November after the House failed to have enough Democratic votes to pass the resolution. Many progressives wanted to see a 3% tax on income above $1 million. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/23/26 |  | DATA CENTER WATER | Lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency about how much water data centers use to cool their facilities at the final hearing in the House Executive Committee. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/23/26 |  | SPRINGFIELD TOURISM | A deep dive into tourism in the capital city and how recent events have affected it. We will distribute photos and the story, including photos from Illinois Times. You must credit the photographer and outlet on all photos. Reporters: Erika Tulfo and Jacques Abou-Rizk, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Length: 2,100-2,300 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/22/26 |  | BEARS UPDATE | The House passed a massive economic development bill on Wednesday, but the Chicago Bears aren’t satisfied. Reporters: Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski, Jerry Nowicki. Length: 1,950 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/Audio/Video: No. ETA 9:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/22/26 |  | CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT | The House passed a constitutional amendment to rewrite Illinois' redistricting laws. Voters would get the final say in November if it passes the Senate. An amendment to approve a millionaire's tax was still be considered. Reporter: Ben Szalinski & Brenden Moore. Length: 900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/22/26 |  | PRESCHOOL REPORT | A new national report analyzing state-funded preschool programs found Illinois has slowed on progress towards enrollment and funding goals, in line with national trends. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/22/26 |  | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE | A nationwide school bus driver shortage, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, persists in some parts of the country. But in Illinois, efforts to attract new demographics of bus drivers and make hiring easier have paid off. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1,000-1,100 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photos: Yes. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/21/26 |  | PREDICTION MARKETS | Gov. JB Pritzker has signed an executive order prohibiting state employees from using nonpublic information to profit through prediction markets. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Word count: 800-900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/21/26 |  | PLASTIC PELLET FREE WATERS | Plastic pellets are the building blocks of plastic manufacturing and are the subject of a recent bill proposed by House Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, that grants the Illinois EPA emergency rulemaking powers to prevent plastic pellets spills during its production process as a result of stormwater runoff. Reporter: Gabriel Castilho. Word Count: 1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/21/26 |  | BUDGET TALKS | Legislative Democrats are working through budget talks with six weeks left to go in the spring session. April revenue numbers will provide guidance for the finals weeks, but many progressives are still calling for raising taxes. A proposal to create a new tax on millionaires is also up in the air. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,200-1,400 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/21/26 |  | BEARS | The Illinois House is closing in on passing megaprojects legislation that would allow the Bears to negotiate their property taxes for up to 40 years in Arlington Heights. Amended language includes property tax relief measures and explicit guarantees that the tool can't be used for data centers. State Rep. Kam Buckner expects the bill to be heard in committee on Wednesday. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Word count: 750-1000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. ETA: EOD. | print assets |
| 04/20/26 |  | IMMIGRATION COURT UPDATE | Federal judges on Monday are hearing arguments in two cases highlighting the uncertainty of the Trump administration's future immigration enforcement plans in Illinois. In a morning hearing, a judge denied the state of Illinois' request to protect against any future orders to federalize national guard troops, while another judge will hear arguments this afternoon on enforcing compliance with an expired consent decree forbidding warrantless arrests of undocumented immigrants. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 800-1000. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/visual: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/20/26 |  | UIS STRIKE ENDS | University of Illinois Springfield faculty reached a tentative agreement with administrators over night, ending a two-week lockout over the rate of pay increases. Classes resumed to normal schedules on Monday. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Word Count: 400-600. Photo: File. Broadcast: reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/20/26 |  | SAVE OUR SNAP RALLY | Changes H.R. 1 made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could put 150,000 Illinois households at risk of losing their benefits. Advocates, including one Chicago mom on SNAP, held a rally on April 14 to push support for state assistance for those losing their benefits. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, UIS. Word count: 1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/17/26 |  | BARBARA FLYNN CURRIE | UPDATED 4/18/26 at 11 A.M.: Retired state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a 40-year veteran of the Illinois House and the chamber's first woman Majority Leader, has died at age 85. Currie was regarded as a trailblazer for women in Illinois politics and worked until her death as chair of the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 600-800 words. Photo: AP (no republish). Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/17/26 |  | FRIDAY BILL BRIEFS | A rundown of a few of the hundreds of bills that passed this week, including a ban on cell phones in schools and a nonprofit savings bill backed by the treasurer. Reporter: Capitol News Illinois. Word count: 1,100-1,400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/17/26 |  | ENERGY DATA CENTERS | UPDATED 4/17/26 at 2:30 P.M.: A House committee got an overview of how data centers are driving up energy demand and threatening potential shortfalls in its second of three planned hearings on the matter. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek, UIS. Word count: 947 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/16/26 |  | SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION | The Illinois House took a bipartisan vote to pass a bill led by Gov. JB Pritzker that's designed to protect children from addictive algorithms on social media platforms. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Word Count: 400-600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/16/26 |  | STORY: BILLS BRIEFS | A roundup of bills that saw action this week. Reporters: Peter Hancock, Ben Szalinski, and Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1450 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/16/26 |  | 3-D PRINTER HOMES | Two men promised a $1.1 million 3D printer could fix Cairo, Illinois’ housing crisis. More than a year later, the one duplex it printed still isn’t finished and has cracked walls. This story sheds a light on a failed bank loan, political intrigue and the broken promises that resulted. Reporter: Molly Parker / with ProPublica. Length: 6,500 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/15/26 |  | MAKERS MADNESS WINNER | Astronauts just returned from their first voyage around the moon since 1972 and a device built by an Illinois company helped fuel the mission’s success. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek, UIS. Word Count: 700 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photos: Yes. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/15/26 |  | CREDIT CARD CHAOS | “Credit cards may not work for sales tax or tips starting July 1.” By now, you’ve heard that claim, but whether it’s true depends on who you ask. A deep dive into the credit card transition landscape and whether a repeal of Illinois' first-in-the-nation swipe fee law will be repealed. Reporter: Jerry Nowicki. Length: 1,900 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photos: Yes. ETA 4:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/15/26 |  | BAILEY CHICAGO | GOP candidate for governor Darren Bailey has moved into a Chicago apartment as part of his campaign’s focus on winning over Chicago voters. Bailey said he’s trying to balance keeping support from his base while also winning new voters in the Chicago area. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/15/26 |  | AI DEBATES | Lawmakers are considering dozens of bills to regulate AI, concerned about harms the technology is causing. But amid conflicting interests and uncertainty on federal regulations, the path forward remains unclear. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1200 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/14/26 |  | COMED FOUR APPEAL | The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday will hear appellate arguments for two of the "ComEd Four," prominent Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, who are both serving two-year prison sentences for their corruption convictions related to bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 900-1100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 04/14/26 |  | STATE HEALTH INSURANCE | The cost of state employee health insurance is expected to rise 9% in the upcoming fiscal year, to a total of $4.6 billion. That includes $2.8 billion from the state's general revenue fund. That's slightly less of an increase than the state has seen in recent years. The Department of Central Management Services says the increases are generally due to continuing health care inflation and legislative mandates for various procedures and coverage. Reporter Peter Hancock. Length: 500 - 700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3:30 pm. | print assets |
| 04/14/26 |  | CORRECTIONS AUDIT | A legislative commission grilled the Department of Corrections on Tuesday over an audit released in the fall that contained 40 findings of improper procedures and other problems at the office. Findings ranged from failing to follow the state's purchasing system to not tracking people who are released from custody. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-900 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/14/26 |  | CELLPHONE BAN | A bill would require some sort of restrictions, all the way up to an outright ban, on cellphone use in public schools. Illinois is one of just eight states that have no ban. Reporter: Sam Freeman, Medill. Length: 1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/14/26 |  | YOUNG FARMERS | The average age of an Illinois farmer is 58, and the young people who want to take their place are facing a range of obstacles, from the high cost of land and estate taxes to machinery to the mental toll that the pressures of farming take. Here's how the state is trying to help close the gap. Reporter: Rebecka Pieder/Medill. Length: 2,050 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/13/26 |  | UIS STRIKE UPDATE | Faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield remain on strike Monday as the picket enters a second straight week. UIS says agreements have been reached on professional development and parking, but there remains distance with the union over salary increases. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-1,000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/13/26 |  | COMED CREDITS | A CEJA-era policy is bringing in unexpected relief amid high energy prices for ComEd customers, who will see about $19 back on energy bills in April and higher credits in May. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/11/26 |  | RESTRAINT CHAIRS | Travis Braden settled his civil rights case with Williamson County for $27,500 after he was restrained in a chair for days — a practice deemed “torture” by the United Nations. This is a follow-up in an ongoing Illinois Answers Project series. Reporter: Grace Hauck, Illinois Answers Project. Length: 800-900 words. Photos: Provided. ETA: 7 a.m. Saturday. | Republish directly from the Illinois Answers Project page |
| 04/10/26 |  | BILL BRIEFS 2 | The Illinois House passed dozens of bills on Thursday, including measures banning junk fees and seeking more price transparency for Illinois consumers and establishing an abortion fund pushed by Gov. JB Pritzker. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, Nikoel Hytrek, Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,300 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/10/26 |  | EPA REPEAL | Trump’s EPA reverses landmark climate change ruling. What does it mean for Illinois? Environmental organizations fear these changes could potentially extend the lives of coal plants, and a local union pledges to push to keep them operational beyond the 2030 deadline for closure. Reporter: Gabriel Castilho/Medill. Length: 1250 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/09/26 |  | MADIGAN APPEAL ARGUMENTS | Attorneys for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will appear in front of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday afternoon, arguing Madigan was wrongfully convicted for bribery as they reason prosecutors didn't prove he had any corrupt intent. The arguments fall a few days before Madigan marks six months in a West Virginia federal prison. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 900-1100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/09/26 |  | K-12 BUDGET | The Illinois State Board of Education appears before a House appropriations committee today to present its $10.7 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. ETA: Thursday | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/09/26 |  | BILL BRIEFS | The Illinois House passed more than 50 bills on Wednesday, including measures restricting where immigration detention centers can be located and cracking down on fees on apartment renters. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert, Brenden Moore, and Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,300 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/08/26 |  | DATA CENTER IMPACTS | In the first of three subject matter hearings about data centers, members of the House Executive Committee heard from mayors, representatives from labor and data center groups about the local impacts data centers have on communities. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 3:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/08/26 |  | SPEED CONTROL DEVICES | State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow drivers with suspended licenses for speeding or reckless driving to use speed control devices in their cars rather than lose driving privileges. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500-700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 04/08/26 |  | H2A FARM VISAS | A lack of domestic workforce participation in agriculture pushes Illinois farmers to employ foreign workers through the temporary H-2A non-immigrant visa program. Illinois’ employment of farmers through the visa program has grown rapidly, filling 4,488 positions in 2025. Reporter: Georgia Epiphaniou, Medill. Length: 1,700-1,800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Wednesday at 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/07/26 |  | WAYMO CARS | For the last year, legislators in Springfield have been trying to work through a variety of issues raised by skeptics of the autonomous vehicles, known as AVs. Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said AV legislation has a long road ahead to address constituent concerns over safety, insurance and job losses for rideshare and cab drivers. Reporter: JACQUES ABOU-RIZK, Medill. Length: 1,400-1,500 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/06/26 |  | ABORTION ACCESS FUND | Gov. JB Pritzker and Democrats have added a new abortion access measure to their agenda that would allow people with limited or no insurance to get financial assistance for abortion care in Illinois. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 1,000-1,100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/03/26 |  | CANNABIS LICENSING CASES | A Cook County judge on Wednesday will hear the final cannabis licensing case in a yearslong legal saga over Illinois' lottery system for cannabis business licenses. The plaintiff alleges the state "improperly allowed hundreds of ineligible applications into a dispensary license lottery, altering the odds and outcome" of the license lottery. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 900-1100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/03/26 |  | PREDICTION MARKETS SUIT | The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued Illinois and other states on Thursday for their efforts to regulate predictive markets as illegal gambling. Reporter: Casey Toner, Illinois Answers Project. Length: 587 words. Photo: IAP/CNI file photo. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBA | Republish directly from the Illinois Answers Project page |
| 04/03/26 |  | UIS STRIKE | Faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield went on strike Friday following months of negotiations seeking higher cost of living pay adjustments. The strike comes as state lawmakers reevaluate higher education funding. Reporter: Ben Szalinski & Jenna Schweikert, UIS PAR. Word Count: 800-1,100 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: reader/VO. Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets reader VO |
| 04/03/26 |  | WAUKEGAN CEJA | While the state program that created them is still relatively new, Illinois' clean energy workforce hubs are struggling to convert training into employment. State data shows 15%, or 124, graduates statewide have secured jobs in the sector. Reporter: Reece Dower, Medill. Length: 1,700 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/02/26 |  | ICE VIOLATIONS | CE agents entered the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse on Wednesday morning with the intent to take custody of a person who was scheduled to appear for a hearing today, in a violation of a state law banning such detentions at courthouses. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/video: No. ETA: 8 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/02/26 |  | PEOPLES GAS RALLY | Peoples Gas customers and utility watchdog groups gathered in Daley Plaza on Wednesday to protest the company's January rate hike request. Reporters: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 04/02/26 |  | GAS LETTER | Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on Congress to allow the use of year-round of E15 gasoline — a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline that is cheaper than regular fuel and increases demand for corn. In a letter sent to members of the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce obtained by Capitol News Illinois, Pritzker argued that year-round E15 would help spur domestic energy production and stabilize fuel markets. Reporter: George Alexandrakis. Length: 491 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 a.m. | print assets |
| 04/01/26 |  | PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS | House Republicans are calling on General Assembly Democrats and Gov. JB Pritzker to consider their proposals for property tax reform. Their comments come after a study found massive property tax increases in Cook County over the last 30 years. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-900 word. Photo: File. Broadcast: VOSOT/reader/radio. Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader radio VOSOT |
| 04/01/26 |  | ISP FLEET FUNDING | It will take 18 years for the Illinois State Police to replace their vehicle fleet with the current funding rate, ISP Director Brenden Kelly told a Senate appropriations committee. The cost of vehicles has risen significantly and more than 1,000 vehicles have surpassed their lifetime. Reporter: Ben Szalinski.Length: 800 words.Photo: File.Broadcast: Reader, radio, VOSOT.Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 12 p.m. | print asset broadcast reader radio VOSOT |
| 03/31/26 |  | WAREHOUSE POLLUTION BILL | A proposal that would have created the first statewide regulations aimed at curbing pollution generated by fulfillment centers, parcel hubs and sorting facilities failed to receive a committee vote in either chamber of the General Assembly. Reporter: Gabriel Castilho, Medill. Word count: 900-1,000. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/31/26 |  | HOUSING ZONING DISABILITIES | Local zoning rules can create barriers for organizations seeking to provide community integrated living arrangements for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Reporter: Rebecka Pieder, Medill. Length: 1,100-1,200 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Published. | print assets |
| 03/30/26 |  | SHORT-TERM GUARDIANSHIP | Operation Midway Blitz brought hundreds of federal immigration agents to the Chicago area last fall and led to more than 4,500 arrests. What happens to the children in these situations? One option for parents is to complete a short-term guardianship form for their children to protect them should the parents be detained, deported or disappear. Reporter: Olivia Ardito, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Word count: 1,200 words. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 3/28/26 |  | NO KINGS SPRINGFIELD | Over a thousand protestors attended Springfield's "No Kings" demonstration on Saturday afternoon, the third in a series of demonstrations protesting the Trump administration. Carrying handmade signs and American flags, protestors said they were there to support others and stand up against federal actions they called discriminatory. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word count: 500-600. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/27/26 |  | PLUG-IN SOLAR | A bill to make solar power more accessible to renters and others who face barriers to rooftop solar is moving through the Illinois Senate. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 500-600 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/27/26 |  | BILL BRIEFS | A final look at bills that passed committee for the week. Bills covered will include human composting, rideshare unionization, juvenile Trial fitness and potentially more. Reporter: CNI team. Length: 1,000-1,200 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print asset broadcast reader |
| 03/27/26 |  | MIDAMERICAN ENERGY HIKES | MidAmerican Energy Company has filed a request to raise energy rates in northwestern Illinois. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 350-400 words. Photo: file. Audio/visual/broadcast: No. ETA: Publishing Friday, March 27th at 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/26/26 |  | HIGHER ED FUNDING | A bill that would overhaul the way Illinois funds its public universities passed out of a House committee today, although the University of Illinois System still opposes it. It calls for dramatic increases in higher education funding, with new money distributed according to a formula similar to the Evidence-Based Funding formula that governs K-12 school finance. The bill is substantially the same as one that failed to pass out of a Senate committee last year. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/26/26 |  | DENTISTS | Two Venezualian dentists were charged with operating an illegal practice in Granite City aimed at the Hispanic community. Police learned about the dental office set up in a residential neighborhood from a patient who had a root canal that went bad. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer. Length: 1,350 words. Photo: Yes. Audio/visual: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/26/26 |  | OTHER COMMITTEE BILLS | The Illinois House passed more than 150 bills out of committee from Tuesday to Wednesday as it worked toward a Friday deadline to move legislation to the full House. The measures included a ban on junk fees, classification of “child torture” as a Class X felony, a retry at a nonprofit savings bill the governor recently vetoed, and a bill to strip Chicago’s authority to alter the minimum wage for tipped workers. Reporters: CNI Team. Length:1,300-1,500 words. Photo: File. Audio/video: No.ETA 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/25/26 |  | ICE DETENTION | An Illinois House committee advanced legislation that would ban immigration detention centers within 1,500 feet of schools, daycares, cemeteries, parks, forest preserves, public housing, private homes or places of religious worship. It's a direct response to ICE's use of a processing facility in Broadview as a detention center, which became a central point of conflict between federal officers and protestors. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/25/26 |  | COMMITTEE ROUND UP | State lawmakers passed several bills in committee so far this week, including initiatives proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker and others such as allowing human composting of deceased remains and banning junk fees, which have struggled to make it to the governor's desk in recent years. Reporter: Team report. Length: 1,000-1,500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/25/26 |  | PDAB COMMITTEE | Legislation to establish a prescription drug affordability board passed out of committee Tuesday evening, despite deep and varied concern from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 600-700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/25/26 |  | GASOLINE PRICES | Illinois retailers fear another delay by the federal government over the use of E15 ethanol gasoline will lead to even higher prices this summer at the pumps. Reporter: George Alexandrakis/Medill. Length: 1,200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/24/26 |  | SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DEMAND | A Cook County judge on Tuesday heard arguments regarding immigration advocates’ demand for a special prosecutor to be appointed in order to investigate and possibly charge immigration agents for violations people’s rights during last fall’s Operation Midway Blitz. A group of advocates, attorneys and elected officials claim Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is abdicating her responsibility to investigate agents, but she says her office has limited scope. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 800-1000 words Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/24/26 |  | INSURANCE BILL | A bill that would give the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to regulate both homeowners and automobile insurance has passed the House and could soon be debated in the Senate. Gov. Pritzker called for oversight of homeowners insurance after State Farm announced a 27% rate hike in Illinois last summer. Secretary of State has been calling for similar authority over auto insurance, saying consumers are being rated on factors that have little to do with their driving record. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/23/26 |  | SCOTUS MAIL BALLOTS | The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices on Monday appeared skeptical of the validity of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, in a case that could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of voters during the upcoming midterm elections. To republish, visit Stateline.org. Reporter: Jonathan Shorman, Stateline. Length: 1,100-1,200 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | To republish, visit Stateline.org. |
| 03/23/26 |  | RAW MILK | Raw milk advocates saw RFK Jr.’s appointment as a win for their agenda. However, a turnaround isn't likely in the cards in Illinois, as the state’s Department of Public Health still heavily regulates and warns against the product and a bill to loosen that regulation has received little to no support in the General Assembly. Reporter: Olivia Ardito. Length: 800-900 words. Photo: Provided. Broadcast Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/20/26 |  | CARTERVILLE FOOTBALL FOLO | The Carterville school district said at a board meeting Thursday that it has taken several steps to improve student safety after the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office announced it had opened a sexual assault investigation involving an assistant football coach and teacher. District officials also said the employee had previously been disciplined, in 2009, for sending inappropriate text messages. The district has now opened a new internal investigation into two additional messages it recently received, allegedly sent by the coach in 2022 and 2025. Officials said they are also reviewing past complaints and strengthening policies related to staff communication with students. Reporters: Jackson Brandhorst, Molly Parker.Length: 900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/20/26 |  | COMED DATA CENTERS | The Illinois Commerce Commission ruled that Commonwealth Edison may implement new tariff provisions for data centers, meant to protect normal customers from bearing the infrastructure costs of those projects. Reporters: Maggie Dougherty and Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 pm | print assets |
| 03/20/26 |  | LOCAL FARM GRANTS | The Illinois Stewardship Alliance encourages farmers, food businesses, cooperatives, and community organizations across the state to apply for the fiscal year 2026 Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) program. The deadline is March 27. Reporter: Rebecka Pieder, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Length: 700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/AV: No. ETA: 6 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/19/26 |  | CROKE WINS COMPTROLLER | The Associated Press called the Democratic primary for comptroller in favor of Rep. Margaret Croke. Croke received 34% of the vote in a closely contested race. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 300 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/visual: No. ETA: ASAP. | print assets |
| 03/19/26 |  | SCOIL AMAZON | A ruling from Illinois' high court could leave companies on the hook to compensate employees for required pre- and post-shift activities. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word count: 300-400 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/19/26 |  | ASSAULT WEAPONS | Lawyers for the gun industry have filed a new argument in favor of declaring Illinois' assault weapon ban unconstitutional. In a new court filing, they cite a March 5 decision from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that found large capacity magazines are protected as "arms" under the Second Amendment. Attorneys for the state say that decision is an outlier and that it has no bearing on the Illinois case. The three-judge panel has not yet issued a ruling in the case. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 700 - 800 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/19/26 |  | HS VOTER REGISTRATION | A proposed bill that would require every Illinois high school to provide students with a chance to register to vote by the time they graduate passed a House committee unanimously this week. Reporter: Amy Wong, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Word count: 1,000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/video: None. ETA: noon. | print assets |
| 03/18/26 |  | REPUBLICAN UNITY | Illinois Republicans say they are united following a tough primary season where some candidates for governor argued the party's nominee, Darren Bailey, has no chance to beat JB Pritzker. The party held a breakfast in Naperville on Wednesday to outline steps forward toward November. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/18/26 |  | DATA CENTERS POLITICS | Political factions are coalescing around data center regulations, boosting the chances that lawmakers will pass regulations like the POWER Act this year. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 1,300 words. Photo: file. Audio/video/broadcast: No. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/17/26 |  | U.S. SENATE | Rundown of the Senate winners for both Dem side and GOP side. Will tack on a short rundown of congressional races at the end. Photo: Yes. ETA: We’ll aim to have ASAP based on results or by 10 p.m. if the major races are still undecided. | print assets |
| 03/17/26 |  | COMPTROLLER/STATEWIDE | Story includes a rundown of the winner on the competitive Democratic side for comptroller and quick round of other, statewide races. Photo: File. ETA: ASAP | print assets |
| 03/17/26 |  | REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR | Story includes a rundown of the winner on the GOP side. Photo: Yes. Video: Short. ETA: ASAP Tuesday night. | print assets |
| 03/17/26 |  | EPSTEIN JUDGE | Andrew Carruthers was once the local attorney for the notorious Jeffrey Epstein in a collection matter. Carruthers, now a Madison County judge, was one of the names that comes up in the 3 million documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in their Epstein document dump. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer, Janelle O'Dea. Length: 1,500. words. Photo: Yes. Audio/visual: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/16/26 |  | HIGHER ED ATTAINMENT | Gov. Pritzker issued an executive order Friday establishing a working group to set a new goal for higher education attainment in the state. The order comes after the state fell slightly short of meeting the previous goal, set in 2009, that 60% of adults in the state would hold a high-quality postsecondary credential by 2025. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 500 - 600 words. Photo: stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/16/26 |  | SPORTS BETTING TAX | Chicago's steep new tax on sports betting is creating a backlash in Springfield that could lead to new restrictions on whether municipalities should have the power to tax gambling revenue. Reporter: Erika Tulfo, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Length: 1,200-1,300 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/16/26 |  | BROADVIEW 6 PROSECUTIONS | A federal judge on Friday granted prosecutors’ motion to dismiss charges against two of six Democratic officeholders, candidates and activists indicted last fall after protesting outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility near Chicago. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 1,000. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA 11:30 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/14/26 |  | FEMALE CPR TRAINING | With stigma surrounding CPR performance on females, A Naperville High School senior, alongside state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, is leading a bill to normalize the protocol on women, by requiring secondary schools to use female manikins or chest covers during CPR training. Reporter: Georgia Epiphaniou/MEDILL. Length: 1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/13/26 |  | CARTERVILLE TEACHER | The Carterville school district employee who is the subject of a criminal sexual assault investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has been identified in subpoenas obtained by Capitol News Illinois under the Freedom of Information Act. The Illinois State Board of Education, which oversees teacher licensure and investigates educator misconduct, has also subpoenaed the district for his personnel records. Reporter: Molly Parker, Jackson Brandhorst. Length: 1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Audio/visual: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/13/26 |  | PREDICTION MARKETS | In a few years, prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have gone from pariahs to poster children for all that is hot and trendy in the financial world. While states like Illinois call the markets illegal gambling, they have flourished with the full-throated support of Trump administration officials, who argue they have final say over regulating the markets — which often means little regulation at all. Reporters: Casey Toner (IAP) and Hannah Meisel (CNI). Length: 2,600 words. Photos: Yes. Reader: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: Embargoed until Friday, March 13th. | print assets |
| 03/12/26 |  | SCOIL AT WIU | The IL Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases today during a special session at Western Illinois University in Macomb. The day on the road was part of the court's tradition of "riding the circuit" so people in all parts of the state can see the Court at work. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/12/26 |  | LOUD COMMERCIALS | A bill to regulate loud commercials on streaming services passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Thursday. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 300-500 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: SOT/radio/reader. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader radio SOT |
| 03/12/26 |  | FOG PETITION | A coalition petitioned the ICC to end ongoing workshops researching the future of natural gas in Illinois, citing a statewide resource adequacy report that concluded the state still relies on natural gas. Other stakeholders argued that while the report should be taken seriously, it's not a reason to cancel the proceedings. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1100 words. Photo: Yes. Audio/video/broadcast: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/12/26 |  | ELECTION SECURITY | There has been a lot of talk of increasing federal pressure on state elections, but how much will it really factor in for Illinois as it heads into the first federal election since Trump’s return to the White House? Reporter: Reece Dower/Medill. Length: 1,500 words. Photo: Yes. Audio/video/Broadcast: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/11/26 |  | COMMITTEE ROUND UP | Senate committees have moved bills this week ahead of a Friday deadline on boating insurance, municipal pensions and faculty workloads at colleges and universities. A bill to allow ridershare drivers to unionize remains stalled, however. Reporter: Team report. Length: 800-1,100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/11/26 |  | ABLE ACCOUNTS | Approximately a quarter-million more Illinoisans with a disability are now eligible for savings accounts that allow them to save and invest money to improve their quality of life without risking their federal benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 547 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. audio/video: No. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/11/26 |  | ABORTION ACCESS | While Republican legislators continue to push against abortion, Illinois remains a leading state in the nation providing access. Providers and advocates continue to support Illinois residents and out-of-state patients through financial support, logistics coordination and shield laws. Reporter: Sam Freeman and Olivia Ardito / Medill. Length: 1,500 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/10/26 |  | SCOIL - GUN RIGHTS | The Illinois Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in a case that challenges part of the state's FOID law. James Benson was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. But the underlying prior felony was possessing a firearm without a permit. He argues that is unconstitutional under the U.S. Supreme Court's latest standard that says restrictions on gun rights must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of regulating firearms. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 700 - 800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/10/26 |  | WETLANDS PROTECTION ACT | While the Trump administration moves to slash federal protections for some waterways and wetlands, Illinois lawmakers hurry to pass a wetland protection bill again this session. Reporter: Gabriel Castilho/Medill. Length: 1,500 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/09/26 |  | BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCEMENT | Gov. Pritzker announced that global biotherapeutics firm CSL will invest nearly $1.5 billion to construct a new manufacturing facility in Kankakee, marking one of the largest life sciences investments in Illinois history. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/09/26 |  | HOMELESS HEALTH | Homeless people are much more likely to face emergency room visits, hospitalizations and premature death than the general population, and state officials are struggling to stem the crisis, according to a new report by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Reporter: Jacques Abou-Rizk, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Word count; 1,400. Photos: Yes, Medill. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Monday, March 9, 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/07/26 |  | ILLINOIS TIMES INVESTIGATION | A man sentenced to five years in federal prison for defrauding the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency out of $13 million has collected $1.5 million from the state for the same line of work since being sentenced. Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the Illinois Times and republished with permission. Outlets republishing this story must prominently credit the reporter and Illinois Times atop the story. Reporter: Dilpreet Raju. Word count: 3,000. Photo: Yes, Illinois Times. Audio/video/broadcast: No. ETA: Saturday | print assets |
| 03/06/26 |  | CARTERVILLE FBI TIP | More than a year passed between when the FBI received a tip about possible sexual misconduct involving a Carterville High School employee and when the school district placed the individual on leave and notified the state’s child abuse hotline. Reporters: Saluki Local Reporting Lab, Molly Parker. Length: 1,000. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/06/26 |  | GRAYSON ILL | Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson is hospitalized in an undisclosed hospital, lawyers confirm. Grayson, who is battling cancer, received a 20-year prison sentence in connection with the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer. Length: 500 words. Photos: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/06/26 |  | MEDICAL DEBT | Illinois and Cook County have erased more than $2 billion in medical debt combined for over a million residents through a partnership with a nonprofit that buys medical debt for pennies on the dollar. Reporter: KAITLIN BENDER-THOMAS, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Length: 1,500-1,600 word. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 10 a.m. | print assets |
| 03/05/26 |  | CARLYLE INDICTMENT | A federal grand jury delivered a four-count indictment against former Carlyle Police Chief Mark Pingsterhaus for wire fraud and theft. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer/Janelle O'Dea. Length: 1000 words. Photos: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/05/26 |  | LOCAL GOV FUNDING | Illinois municipal leaders are calling on state lawmakers to raise the share of income tax revenue that goes to local governments after Gov. JB Pritzker's proposed budget calls for reducing that proportion. Though it would leave funding flat, local leaders say flat funding amounts to a funding cut as costs rise. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: reader. Audio/video: no. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/05/26 |  | BLUE RIBBON EVENT | The state awarded 28 schools in the Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools award program at an event in Springfield Wednesday evening. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 300 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: ASAP | print assets |
| 03/04/26 |  | UTILITY TRANSPARENCY | Illinois lawmakers call for legislation to improve transparency of utility costs and eliminate certain hidden fees. Reporters: Maggie Dougherty, Nikoel Hytrek.Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/04/26 |  | 340B DRUG PRICING | Advocates for safety net clinics and other health care providers are pressuring lawmakers to pass legislation that they say will prevent drug manufacturers from limiting access to discounted medications that are purchased through the federal 340-b program. The bill passed the Senate last year and is awaiting a motion to concur in the House. Drug manufacturers deny they're limiting access but say the program has grown out of control and needs significant reform. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/03/26 |  | VOTER DATA LAWSUIT | Eighteen former Justice Department attorneys have filed an amicus brief in federal opposing the Trump administration's effort to access sensitive, unredacted data from the state's voter registration database. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 500 - 700 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/03/26 |  | PRITZKER EPSTEIN | Gov. JB Pritzker said he has never met Jeffrey Epstein following comments former President Bill Clinton made to a House oversight committee. A spokesperson for Clinton also said the president was referring to a trip he took with Pritzker to Africa that had nothing to do with Epstein. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 900-1,100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/02/26 |  | EPSTEIN COMMISSION | Illinois lawmakers call for legislation to create a new commission to investigate crimes connected to Jeffrey Epstein's network that occurred in Illinois or targeted Illinois victims.Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 03/02/26 |  | MENDOZA ENDORSEMENT | Comptroller Susana Mendoza has endorsed Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim to be her successor. The move puts Mendoza at odds with Gov. JB Pritzker, who has endorsed Rep. Margaret Croke. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 400-600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 03/02/26 |  | ROAD FUND | With the passage of SB 2111, legislators raise alarm about the quality of Illinois’ roads and infrastructure projects originally supposed to be completed with the Road Fund, a source of funding that will now largely go to operate Chicago’s public transit. Reporter: Jacques Abou-Rizk and Amy. L Wong / Medill. Length: 1,700 words. Photo: Yes. Graphic: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/28/26 |  | ICE LEGISLATION | After two American citizens were killed in Minneapolis, Illinois leaders push for greater accountability and transparency from ICE and immigration raids. Reporter: Sam Freeman/Medill. Length: 1,450 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/27/26 |  | WARRANTLESS ARRESTS | U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings is expected to issue an order today regarding the release of dozens more immigrants arrested without warrants amid Operation Midway Blitz. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-100 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 pm | print assets |
| 02/27/26 |  | DRUG ABUSE ADVOCACY | High school students from across Illinois working with the Illinois Prevention Network visited the Capitol on Wednesday to advocate for drug and substance related policies. Reporter: Medill / Georgia Epiphaniou and Jacques Abou-Rizk. Length: 900-1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/27/26 |  | PDAB BILL | Citing high prescription drug prices, lawmakers and activists are reviving a dormant push to create an Illinois prescription drug affordability board. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1,250 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. (Friday) | print assets |
| 02/26/26 |  | TAX SALE DELAY | UPDATED 2/27 at 5:30 p.m.: Lawmakers voted Thursday to continue delaying a Cook County property tax debt sale, in order to allow the legislature to consider reforms to come into compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court decision. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 500-600 words. Photo: file. Broadcast/audio/video: no. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/26/26 |  | BEARS PROGRESS | A bill that could help the Chicago Bears move to Arlington Heights progressed in the General Assembly on Thursday as the team also considers moving to Indiana. A look at what the bill does and where it stands in Springfield. Reporter: Ben Szalinski & Brenden Moore. Word count 1,000-1,500. Photo: Yes. Broadcast / audio / video: SOT. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader SOT radio |
| 02/26/26 |  | SOYBEAN PAYMENTS | On February 28, Illinois soybean farmers will receive Trump's bridge payments, modest relief after months of tariff-driven losses. But for many farmers, the payments feel like a band-aid on a dam about to break. This story examines the current state of soy in Illinois. Reporter: Rebecka Pieder. Length: 900-1000 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: Yes ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/25/26 |  | BRIEFS PACKAGE | University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen says the state's flagship university is still opposed to a proposed overhaul of the state's higher education funding system. And multiple groups who are at risk of losing their federal funding are asking Illinois lawmakers to fill in the hole with state dollars. Reporters: Peter Hancock, Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 1,000 - 1,200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30. | print assets |
| 02/25/26 |  | GOVERNOR DEBATE | Three of the four GOP candidates for governor met on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first time. Darren Bailey, the frontrunner in early polls, was absent. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,100-1,200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 9:30 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/24/26 |  | ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION | The state commission tasked with investigating actions by federal immigration enforcement officers held its third public meeting Tuesday, hearing from a dozen experts about the impact of 'Operation Midway Blitz' on health, education, public safety and economic vitality in the Chicagoland area. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. | print assets |
| 02/24/26 |  | ALGORITHMIC PRICING | Legislators have introduced two bills looking to regulate use of consumers' personal data in price setting. Both would require companies to disclose the use of data in price setting. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 950 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/23/26 |  | NUCLEAR ORDER | Governor Pritzker issued an executive order that he says sets a new framework for nuclear energy generation in the state. The order sets deadlines for identifying potential sites for nuclear plants and a review of existing nuclear regulations. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 pm | print assets |
| 02/23/26 |  | GRAYSON PRISON | Sean Grayson, who was convicted in October of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, is serving his prison sentence at an undisclosed location out-of-state. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer. Length: 1,100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/visual: No. ETA: Noon | print assets |
| 02/23/26 |  | ABORTION RESTRICTIONS | Illinois abortion providers took care of 23% of the approximately 155,000 Americans who traveled out of state to get abortions in 2024, according to research from the Guttmacher Institute, an independent abortion policy research organization. A look at the state's abortion care landscape. Reporter Nikoel Hytrek, UIS PAR. Word count: 1,200 words. Photo: Provided. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/21/26 |  | HEALTH ADVOCATES REACT | Some express concern, disappointment over inability of Illinois to offset many federal funding cuts to services, mental health and after-school programs following Pritzker's budget address. Reporter: George Alexandrakis/Medill Length: 600 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:50 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/21/26 |  | DATA CENTERS | Lawmakers are trying again to regulate the data center industry as Pritzker moves to pause incentives. Reporter: Gabriel Castilho/Medill. Word Count: 1,800. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 noon. | print assets |
| 02/19/26 |  | COM-ED SENTENCING | Sentencing for Fidel Marquez, former Com-Ed executive who cooperated with the federal government in its investigation into the Com-Ed Four and former House Speaker Mike Madigan. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/19/26 |  | BEARS UPDATE | Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill to help the Chicago Bears move to Indiana, with the team following up in a statement that they will be exploring a site in Hammond near the state line. The bill's progress comes after Gov. JB Pritzker's office says the team asked Illinois lawmakers to postpone a Thursday hearing on the bill following negotiations on Wednesday. Reaction from people involved in conversations in Illinois. Reporter: Brenden Moore & Ben Szalinski. Word Count: 800. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/19/26 |  | VAPE DISPOSAL BILL | Two Illinois high school students helped to draft a bill recently introduced by Rep. Kelly Cassidy that would require producers of electronic smoking devices like vapes to create and finance disposal programs. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/18/26 |  | LAWMAKER REACTION | What’s the Black Caucus, Latino Caucus, comptroller, progressives, GOP and others saying about the budget proposal? LEAD: Brenden Moore. ETA: End of Day. | print assets |
| 02/18/26 |  | SPEECH RHETORIC | Rhetoric of the speech/What else is he proposing this year? A look at Pritzker’s likely use of rhetoric amid his growing national profile. LEAD: Peter Hancock. ETA: End of Day. | print assets |
| 02/18/26 |  | BUDGET NUMBERS | Updated: 2/18 at 5 p.m. A look at the overall spending picture, look at key line items and spending growth all wrapped into one story. LEAD: Ben Szalinski. ETA: Brief at noon, full story later in the day. | print assets broadcast reader radio VOSOT |
| 02/18/26 |  | HOUSING PLAN | Updated: 2/18 at 10 a.m. Gov. JB Pritzker will propose sweeping changes to local zoning laws in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 1,200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. audio/video: No. ETA: 5 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/17/26 |  | ANDERSON ABORTION | A Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill to outlaw abortion in Illinois has resigned from his GOP leadership position in the Illinois Senate after conversations with top Republicans. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 719 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 02/17/26 |  | MENDRICK PROFILE | DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick was the first candidate to announce plans to run for governor in 2026. He's now in a four-way race for the GOP nomination and lags behind his competitors in fundraising. But he remains hopeful his grassroots campaign that focuses on public safety and crime reduction will catch on with voters. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 1,000 - 1,200 words. Photo: Screenshot. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: Podcasts. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/17/26 |  | BEARS STADIUM NEGOTIATIONS | Illinois lawmakers say there is “positive momentum” behind legislation that would assist the Chicago Bears’ bid to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights, including a long-term property tax freeze and more than $850 million in infrastructure commitments. The shift comes as Indiana advances competing legislation to lure the team across state lines. But negotiators caution that no deal has been reached.Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 1,400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: NOON. | print assets |
| 02/17/25 |  | SENATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE | Seven candidates for U.S. Senate in Illinois have responded to Capitol News Illinois' questionnaire ahead of the 2026 race. We emailed all candidates, inviting them to respond. The responses will be published without editing for clarity or length. Reporter: Capitol News Illinois. Word Count: 17,000-18,000 words. Photo: Graphic. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7:30 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/16/26 |  | BUDGET PREVIEW | Gov. JB Pritzker will present his eighth budget on Wednesday amid growing strains on state finances. Illinois is facing a great deal of uncertainty over how much federal funding it will receive in the future. That also comes as Congress saddles states with new cost requirements while cutting social service programs. Reporters: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,800-2,100 words. Photo:File. Broadcast: Reader.Audio/Video: No.ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets broadcsst reader |
| 02/14/26 |  | PENNY SHORTAGE | Months after the U.S. Mint halted penny production, Illinois retailers are frustrated with the lack of clarity around addressing the coin’s shortage. Reporter: Erika Tulfo/Medill Illinois News Bureau. Length: 1,300 words. Photos: Yes Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/13/26 |  | WARRANTLESS ARRESTS | U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings will hear oral arguments today to decide whether remaining ICE detainees arrested without warrants during Operation Midway Blitz should be released on bond. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/13/26 |  | ICE ACTION DU QUOIN | ICE agents detained five men in Du Quoin in late January as they were on their way to work at a local sawmill. The arrests represent one of the first publicly reported immigration enforcement actions this far south in Illinois since President Donald Trump expanded enforcement efforts at the start of his second term. Reporters: Jackson Brandhorst, Lylee Gibbs, Saluki Local Reporting Lab. Length: 1,300–1,500 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/13/26 |  | HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE | A bill that would give state regulators more authority to control the rising cost of homeowners insurance could get a second chance at passage when lawmakers return to the Statehouse next week. The bill, which Gov. JB Pritzker called for last year, failed on the House floor on the final day of the fall veto session. But it is back on the calendar for a possible second attempt at passage. Insurance industry officials say they're still opposed. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. Friday, Feb 13th. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 02/12/26 |  | HEIDNER PROFILE | Rick Heidner was a late entrant into the GOP gubernatorial primary, but is betting that his alignment with President Donald Trump, business background and outsider status will persuade enough Republican primary voters to make him their standard-bearer against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. Our latest GOP governor podcast and profile subject. Reporter: Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore. Photo: Yes. Length: 1,800-2,000 words. Broadcast/audio/video: Podcast. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets soundlcoud podcast video podcast |
| 02/12/26 |  | SENATE GOP | In the first major Republican primary debate for U.S. Senate, the candidates pitched their ability to flip the seat red while breaking subtly with President Trump on tariffs and nationalizing elections, and outlined contrasts on Jan. 6 pardons and the minimum wage ahead of the March 17 primary. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 1,000 words. Photo: Screenshot. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBD. | print assets |
| 02/11/26 |  | MARTINEZ LAWSUIT | UPDATED: 2/12 at 12:00 p.m.: Marimar Martinez, the woman shot five times by a Border Patrol agent last year, is now launching her own civil lawsuit and releasing evidence that her attorneys say refutes DHS's "smear campaign" against her. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800-1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/11/26 |  | POWER ACT INTRO | Sen. Ram Villivalam, with members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, introduced a bill to regulate data centers and mitigate concerns about prices, energy supply and environmental impacts. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 600-700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast, audio, video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/11/26 |  | INTERCHANGE FEES | UPDATED: 2/11 at 1:50 p.m.: Illinois' first in the nation legislation banning interchange fees on tax and tips survived a major legal hurdle after a judge ruled to uphold the law on Tuesday, but opponents have already vowed to appeal and called on legislators to repeal the law before its July 1, 2026 compliance deadline. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 1000-1200 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: Noon. | print assets |
| 02/10/26 |  | FEMA REJECTION | The Trump administration has again rejected Illinois’ request for a major disaster declaration for severe storms in northern Illinois in August 2025. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 400-500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/10/26 |  | DARREN BAILEY PROFILE | Capitol News Illinois unveils its second GOP governor profile/podcast combo interviewing Darren Bailey. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,300-1,500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: Podcast. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets soundcloud podcast video podcast |
| 02/10/26 |  | MARIJUANA RECORDS | Since legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020, Illinois has expanded legal pathways to expunge and seal marijuana-related criminal records, but people continue to face long delays, even after courts grant relief. Reporter: Kaitlin Bender-Thomas, Medill. Length: 1,300 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Tuesday, Feb. 10 | print assets |
| 02/09/26 |  | PRITZKER COMPTROLLER ENDORSEMENT | Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed Rep. Margaret Croke for comptroller in the Democratic primary. Croke is a long time close ally of the governor. Croke is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination to replace Susana Mendoza. Reporters: Ben Szalinski. Length: 400-600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: reader. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 02/09/26 |  | OIL WELLS | A new report suggests Illinois could be on the hook for plugging and cleaning up thousands of inactive and abandoned oil and gas wells scattered across the state. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 1,600-1,700 words. Photo: Morguefile. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9 | print assets |
| 02/08/26 |  | APARTMENT COMPLEX PROPUBLICA | The Trump administration has claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken over the building. But new documents make no mention of the gang and reveal federal agents had information about “illegal aliens unlawfully occupying apartments.” Please republish directly from ProPublica website.Reporter: Melissa Sanchez and Jodi S. Cohen, Propublica. Word count: 1,500 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. SUNDAY, Feb. 8. | Republish directly from ProPublica website |
| 02/07/26 |  | QUANTUM FUNDING | The first in a three-part explainer series with a data-driven look at public and private investment in the 128-acre Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, or IQMP. Reporter: Binghui Huang, Illinois Answers Project. Word count: 1,200-1,600 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No.ETA: 7 a.m. SATURDAY, Feb. 7. | Republish directly from the Illinois Answers Project page |
| 02/06/26 |  | CHILD CARE FUNDING FREEZE | Updated: Monday, Feb 9th at 4:00 p.m. We're waiting for a federal judge's decision on whether to grant a preliminary injunction for the $10 billion child care funding freeze. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Photo: Screenshot. Length: 300-500 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 02/06/26 |  | GOMB BUDGET UPDATE | The governor's office released a new report quantifying the impact of enacted or threatened federal funding cuts and painting a somber budgetary tone less than two weeks ahead of his budget address. Reporter: Jerry Nowicki & Ben Szalinski. Length: 900-1,100 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 02/06/26 |  | MARTINEZ SHOOTING | U.S. District Court Judge Alexakis is expected to issue a ruling this morning on a motion to release evidence from DHS’s dismissed case of Marimar Martinez, the woman shot five times by Border Patrol agents in October.Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 1000-1200 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Yes. Audio/video: No. ETA: after ruling. | print assets broadcast files |
| 02/06/26 |  | DABROWSKI INTERVIEW | Gubernatorial candidate and longtime conservative policy wonk Ted Dabrowski trades think-tank influence for a place on the ballot, arguing he can unite a fractured Illinois GOP, win back suburban voters and offer a more electable alternative to Gov. JB Pritzker in the 2026. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 1,500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: Podcast. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/05/26 |  | HATE CRIME LAWSUIT | Amid a flurry of lawsuits filed in federal court against the Trump administration, Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office won a historic first in Illinois last month by successfully trying the state’s first civil hate crime lawsuit. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word Count: 500-600. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: File. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 02/04/26 |  | EARLY VOTING | Early voting opens Feb. 5 in much of Illinois and Capitol News Illinois has launched its 2026 Election Guide. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 500-700 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: File. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/04/26 |  | MANUFACTURING GRANTS | As the U.S. sheds manufacturing jobs, Illinois is accepting applications for $24 million in grant funding to establish training facilities at community colleges aimed at bolstering the state’s manufacturing labor pool. Reporter: Medill Illinois News Bureau, REECE DOWER. Length: 1,200-1,400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 02/03/26 |  | MARTINEZ FORUM TESTIMONY | Marimar Martinez, shot five times by Border Patrol agents in Chicago, testified at a public forum on Feb. 3, where panelists and members of Congress called for reformation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and civil liability of federal agents. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 02/03/26 |  | PRITZKER PENSIONS | Gov. JB Pritzker is sticking with a plan to reform Illinois pension payments that he introduced two years ago, but did not move forward in the legislature. The plan calls for funding 100% of pensions by 2047. Reporters: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500-700 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 02/03/26 |  | ILLINOIS WHO | Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that Illinois will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 500-600 words. Photos: file. Broadcast: No. Audio/visual: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 02/03/26 |  | CARLYLE CHIEF PROBE | The former chief of police in downstate Carlyle, Mark Pingsterhaus, is being investigated for possible charges that include wire fraud and theft of federal funds, according to a search warrant obtained by CNI. Reporters: Beth Hundsdorfer, Janelle O'Dea. Length: 1,350 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/Visual: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 02/03/26 |  | CHILD CARE WORKERS | Pamela Franks, a 30-year child care provider explains why she would likely have to close her business if a federal freeze on child care and family services programs goes into effect. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 997 words. Photo: submitted. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3 | print assets |
| 02/02/26 |  | SENATE MONEY | Gov. JB Pritzker donated $5 million to an outside PAC supporting Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s U.S. Senate bid, providing a long-awaited fundraising lift as new quarterly reports show her still trailing Democratic rivals Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Reporters: Brenden Moore & Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-900 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print asset |
| 02/02/26 |  | COMPTROLLER PREVIEW | Capitol News Illinois interviewed the Democratic candidates for comptroller in recent days. We'll preview the race and break down their answers to our questions. Word count: 1,600-1,800. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: YouTube podcast interviews. ETA: Monday 7 a.m. | print assets |
| 01/30/26 |  | ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION | The governor's Accountability Commission meets Friday in Chicago concerning actions at the hands of federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Word Count: 1,000. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/Visual: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/30/26 |  | STUDENT LOAN TAXES | After a law protecting borrowers expired on Dec. 31, certain types of student loan forgiveness are now considered taxable income for federal and state taxes and are prone to a tax hike of up to $10,000. Reporter: Sam Freeman/Medill. Word Count: 1,200. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: Noon Friday. | print assets |
| 01/29/26 |  | SENATE DEBATE 2 | The top three Illinois Democrats vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate sought to position themselves as the best candidate to fight the Trump administration and restore trust in government Thursday night. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 1,200-1,400 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Published Thursday evening. | print assets |
| 01/29/26 |  | GRAYSON SENTENCING | Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson will be sentenced for his second-degree murder conviction today in Springfield. We will republish a story from Illinois Times. News outlets republishing the story MUST prominently credit Illinois Times. Reporter: Dean Olsen, Illinois Times. Length: TBD. Photo: File/Illinois Times. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA:TBD. | print assets |
| 01/29/26 |  | SOS LAWSUIT | A first amendment advocacy group filed a lawsuit against Illinois' Secretary of State Tuesday, seeking to overturn a 1986 Illinois law that bans nonprofits from using the names of political parties without their permission. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 650 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Yes. Audio/video: No. ETA: 10:30am | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/28/26 |  | AG CASES | Illinois has filed or joined 51 lawsuits against the Trump administration since January 2025, challenging a wide range of executive orders, funding freezes and regulatory changes. Here is a brief description of the suits and where they stand. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 1,000. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 01/28/26 |  | NEW SNAP REQUIREMENTS | New work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program go into effect Feb. 1, which IDHS says could threaten benefits for over 300,000 Illinoisians. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 300-500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: Wednesday AM | print assets |
| 01/27/26 |  | ILLINOIS FLU RATES | Illinois is having one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. Doctors attribute it to low vaccination rates and high amounts of vaccine skepticism. Vaccine rates, they say, are changing in part due to RFK Jr.’s new standards for vaccinations, especially for children. Illinois legislators fought back by passing a bill with its own state standards. Reporter: Olivia Ardito/Medill. Length: 800-900 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Yes. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/27/26 |  | SENATE DEM DEBATE | The Democratic primary for Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat heated up over ICE at debate between the three leading candidates Monday night in Chicago. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton clashed with frontrunner Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi over campaign donations from an ICE contractor while calling for the total abolition of the agency. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 800-1,000 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/Video: No. ETA: TBD UPDATED 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/26/26 |  | SUPREME COURT STERIGENICS DECISION | The Illinois Supreme Court decided that emissions permits have no relevance in applying pollution exclusion clause in general liability insurance policies. The certified question originating from the Seventh Circuit Court settles conflicting precedent cases. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 500-800 words.Photo: File.Broadcast/audio/video: No.ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/26/26 |  | RURAL HEALTH FUNDS | Illinois will receive $193 million for each of the next five years to expand health care access for the approximately 1.9 million people in rural areas — or about $101 annually for every rural Illinoisan. The money comes from the $50 billion federal Rural Healthcare Transformation Program fund, which Congress created to offset federal Medicaid spending cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or H.R. 1, that passed last summer. But health care organizations said the money will not be enough to compensate for Medicaid cuts. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 911 words. Photo: Graphic. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: Monday | print assets |
| 01/23/26 | | SCOIL - GRAIN BELT EXPRESS | The Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that the Grain Belt Express - a project that seeks to bring wind-generated power from Kansas, across Missouri and Illinois to connect with the MISO and PJM power grids via direct current lines - has met the state's legal requirements and is clear to proceed. The question now is whether it can after the Trump administration last summer cancelled a $4.9 billion loan that had been approved by the Biden administration. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 700 - 1,000 words. Photo: stock/file. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 01/23/26 |  | TRUMP RESOLUTIONS | Illinois House Democrats kicked off their spring session this week in a mostly symbolic fashion, denouncing President Donald Trump’s policies in series of resolutions criticizing immigration raids, and cuts to health care and child care programs. Reporter: Georgia Epiphaniou and Erika Tulfo, Medill Illinois News Bureau. Word count: 700-800 words. Broadcast/audio/video: No. Photo: Yes. ETA: 3:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/23/26 |  | HIGHER ED BUDGET | The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a $2.7 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year, a 4.6% increase over the funding level lawmakers approved for this year. But their request came at the same time Gov. JB Pritzker announced he was reducing this year's higher ed budget by $30.5 million. Both moves prompted criticism from the union that represents university employees. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 01/23/26 |  | COMED GRID PLAN | Electric utility Commonwealth Edison filed its 2028-2031 grid plan last week, requesting $15.3 billion, which is expected to raise average utility bills by $2.5-$3 per month, on top of other rate increases. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: EOD | print assets |
| 01/23/26 |  | INTERSTATE SHOOTING | For the fourth year in a row, the number of shootings on Illinois interstates has dropped. The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting interstate shootings statewide decreased 31% in 2025, compared to 2024, with zero fatal interstate shootings in Illinois in 2025. Key to this development has been the expansion of an automated license plate reader program. Reporter: Rebecka Pieder/Medill Local News Bureau Length: 1,200 words. Photo: Yes. ETA: Friday a.m. | print assets |
| 01/22/26 |  | MURDER FOR HIRE ACQUITTAL | A federal judge is expected to make a ruling on whether to grant a motion to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit brought by protesters this fall in the midst of the Trump administration’s Chicago-area “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement campaign. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’ order restricting immigration agents’ use of riot control weapons against protesters has been put on pause by an appeals court, but the judge earlier this month said she had reservations about granting plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissal motion given agents’ actions in Minnesota and their expected return to Chicago this spring. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Length: 700-900 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: TBD | print assets |
| 01/22/26 |  | APARTMENT RAID INVESTIGATION | The Illinois Department of Human Rights is investigating the owner of a South Side apartment building following a massive federal immigration raid at the residence last year. The investigation alleges the owner coordinated with authorities as a way to scare residents of color. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 700-1,100. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: reader. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/22/26 |  | PRITZKER BUDGET CUTS | Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget office has identified hundreds of millions of dollars in budget reserves for the current fiscal year as the state faces constant uncertainty over the economy and federal funding. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Word count: 700-800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: EMBARGOED UNTIL 9 a.m. | print assets |
| 01/21/26 |  | RIDESHARE UNION | Rideshare drivers rallied at the Capitol on Wednesday in favor of a bill that would allow them to unionize. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Word count: 600-900. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: VOSOT/Radio/Reader. Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader radio VOSOT |
| 01/20/26 |  | LEGIONNAIRES' AT SHAPIRO | The Illinois Department of Public health officials confirmed a case of Legionnaires’ disease at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee on Wednesday. Reporter: Beth Hundsdorfer. Word Count: 800 - 1000 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 8 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/20/26 | | TRUMP ONE YEAR | Tuesday marks one year since President Donald Trump took office and Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul held news conferences reflecting on how the administration has impacted Illinois.Reporter: Ben Szalinski & Maggie Dougherty. Word Count: 700-1,100. Photos: Yes. Broadcast/audio/video: no. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/20/26 |  | AFFORDABILITY AGENDA | House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch says this spring’s election-year legislative session will be squarely focused on tackling Illinois voters’ priorities. Interviews with legislative leaders in the House. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Word Count: 1,500-1,600. Photos: Yes Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: TUESDAY MORNING JAN. 20 | print assets |
| 01/19/26 |  | MEDICAID PROVIDER TAXES | Changes in federal law contained in President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" threaten to cost the Illinois Medicaid program billions of dollars per year in both state and federal funding. The changes affect a key mechanism states have used since the 1980s to fund their share of Medicaid costs and draw down more federal matching funds.Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 1,000 - 1,200 words. Photo: stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 6:30 a.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/16/26 |  | STRATTON PAC | A PAC supporting Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton's Senate campaign launched its long-awaited first advertisement on Friday, giving her candidacy a boost as she seeks to chip away at frontrunner Raja Krishnamoorthi, who's had the TV airwaves to himself up until this point. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 800-900 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 6 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/16/26 |  | REQUESTED DOCS FOLLOWUP | When the Illinois Attorney General on Jan. 9 sued the Trump administration for freezing $1 billion in child care funding for Illinois, he said the freeze came with no real accusations or proof of fraud, and accused the administration of making unreasonable requests and targeting Democratic-led states for political reasons. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 808 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/16/26 |  | CLEAN SLATE ACT SIGNED | Gov. JB Pritzker signed the long-debated Clean Slate Act, which will automate the record sealing process for nonviolent crimes. Advocates say it will seal records for over 1.7 million Illinoisians and allow workforce reentry. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: Screenshot. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/16/26 |  | GOP FORUM | The four leading contenders for the GOP nomination for governor shared stage for the first time at a candidate forum in Tazewell County. They largely agreed on the issues while each pitching themselves as the most electable candidate in November. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 800-1,000 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 12 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/15/26 |  | MAIL BALLOTS | Illinois county clerks warn a new USPS rule could disrupt mail-in ballots. The new rule states that postmarks will no longer accurately reflect the date the USPS took possession of a piece of mail, which election officials rely on to count ballots that arrive after Election Day. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 500 - 700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: broadcast reader, radio, VOSOT. Audio/video: Yes. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader radio VOSOT |
| 01/15/26 |  | EPA REPORT | Illinois appears to be ahead of the national median wage gap, a new report finds, but inequity persists in the lowest wage occupations. A 2021 amendment to the Equal Pay Act intended to promote wage transparency by mandating certain businesses to report wage and demographic data, but researchers say the law should include all employers for accurate reporting. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 600 - 700 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/14/26 |  | HHS GENDER LAWSUIT | Illinois joined other states in a new lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the department threatened funding to states over noncompliance with the Trump administration's definition of gender, saying states are out of compliance with the administration's interpretation of Title IX. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/14/26 |  | EDUCATION BUDGET | The Illinois State Board of Education voted today to approve a $10.9 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. That's slightly less than this year's budget, but only because funding for early childhood education is being shifted to a new state agency. The remaining budget calls for only modest increases in K-12 education due to flattening revenues and a luke-warm economic outlook. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/14/26 |  | SCOTUS BOST RULING | The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that U.S. Rep. Mike Bost has standing to challenge Illinois' election laws as a candidate for public office. The ruling overturns lower court rulings that found Bost did not have standing to file such a lawsuit. Bost origionally filed a lawsuit to challenge Illinois' law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted two weeks after election day. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600 - 900 words. Photos: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 P.M. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/14/26 |  | SAFE-T ACT CHANGES | Some of Illinois’ top Democrats say they’re open to considering targeted changes to Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act this spring if a forthcoming judicial report says they’re needed.Reporter: Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki. Word count: 1,300-1,400. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA 11 a.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/12/26 |  | VOTER DATA LAWSUIT | Labor organizations and public interest groups are lining up to intervene as codefendants in the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking access to Illinois' unredacted voter registration database. Illinois is one of 22 states being sued for voter data, including sensitive personal information. Two former DOJ officials say the administration has no legal authority to seek the information and they warn about dangerous consequences if states are forced to release the data. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 1,000 words. Photo: stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: noon | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/12/26 |  | SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RETIRES | Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced she will retire on Jan. 29. Theis is a Democratic justice who has been on the court since 2010 and stepped down as chief justice last year. First District Appellate Court Justice Sanjay Tailor has been appointed to fill Theis' seat until Dec. 2028. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 500 words. Photos: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4:30 P.M. | print assets |
| 01/12/26 |  | ILLINOIS SUES TRUMP | UPDATED 1/12/26 at 6:58 p.m.: Illinois is suing the Trump administration, alleging the unlawful and coercive deployment of Border Patrol agents into Chicago and across the state violated constitutional protections, federal law and state sovereignty while sowing fear through aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 600–800 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: EOD. | print assets |
| 01/12/26 |  | EXTENDED OPEN ENROLLMENT | Get Covered Illinois, the state's official health insurance marketplace, announced today that it is extending the open enrollment deadline by 16 days. Residents can now enroll through Jan. 31, 2026 for coverage beginning Feb. 1. Reporter: Jenna Schweikert. Length: 300-400. Broadcast: No. Video/Audio: none. Photo: File. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/12/26 |  | PRITZKER MEDIA | Amid clashes with Donald Trump, JB Pritzker has shifted to an all-channels media strategy — national TV, podcasts and social creators — to shape perceptions of Chicago and raise his national profile heading into 2026–2028. Reporters: Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore. Length: 2500 words. Photo: file. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 9 a.m. | print assets |
| 01/09/26 |  | PRISON MAIL | The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is expected to take action today on an emergency rule which has allowed the Department of Corrections to scan and digitize prison mail since August. The Department sought to make the rule permanent, but it has faced criticism for violating civil rights of incarcerated people. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600-800 words. Photo: Yes. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 5 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/09/26 |  | NICOR GAS HIKE | Nicor Gas filed a $221 rate hike request with the Illinois Commerce Commission Friday. If approved, Nicor expects customers to see an increase of around $6 per month, an annual increase of 6.7%. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 400 - 600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/09/26 |  | AG CHILDCARE LAWSUIT | UPDATED 1/9/26 at 6:40 p.m.: AG Kwame Raoul announced on Thursday that he and four other state attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over the $10 billion freeze in federal child care and family services funds. Reporter: Nikoel Hytrek. Length: 500 - 600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/08/26 |  | RIOT WEAPONS CASE | A federal judge on Thursday expressed reservations about granting a voluntary motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for federal immigration agents' use of force — including riot control weapons like tear gas — against protesters during this past fall's "Operation Midway Blitz." Lawyers for the protesters, journalists and clergy who sued in October reiterated their desire to voluntarily dismiss the suit Thursday, but U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis said she had a responsibility to the class she'd already certified, and punted her decision on dismissal to later this month. Reporter: Hannah Meisel. Word count: 500-700 words. Photos: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 6:30 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/08/26 |  | ENERGY BILL SIGNED | Gov. JB Pritzker signs the Clean and Reliable Grid Act, a win for environmentalists and affordability advocates. The bill brings more battery storage to the grid, lifts a moratorium on large-scale nuclear power plants, gives more power to regulators and requires utilities to implement new "virtual power plant" programs. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 600 - 800 words. Photo: File/screenshot. Broadcast: VOSOT/radio/reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader VOSOT radio |
| 01/08/26 |  | BAILEY DOGE PLAN | Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is proposing an Illinois DOGE plan modeled after the controversial Trump administration proposal. Bailey says his plan will be different and not as partisan and focus on more targeted cuts. One of Bailey's opponents, Ted Dabrowski, is also campaigning on cutting state spending. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-900 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 4 P.M. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/08/26 |  | IL DEMS NOEM IMPEACHMENT | Illinois Democrats are calling for the impeachment or resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following a shooting involving ICE agents in Minnesota. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Length: 600 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 3 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/07/26 |  | FUNDING FREEZE | UPDATED 1/7/26 at 1:54 p.m.: The Trump administration has frozen distribution of about $10 billion in child care and family assistance funds to five Democratic-led states, including Illinois. The freeze affects services provided through Child Care and Development Block Grants, Social Service Block Grants, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The administration said without evidence that the action is in response to "serious concerns" about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 900 words. Photo: Stock/file. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/video: No. ETA: 1 p.m. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/06/26 |  | WELCH ON BEARS | House Speaker Chris Welch called the Bears asking for money for their stadium project "insensitive" during a speaking engagement in Chicago as residents wants lawmakers to address other issues. Welch said affordability issues will be a top priority for state lawmakers during the spring session that begins this month. Reporter: Ben Szalinski. Length: 600-900 words. Photos: File. Broadcast: Reader. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 6 P.M. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/06/26 |  | PEOPLES GAS | UPDATED 1/8/26 at 10:30 a.m.: Peoples Gas has filed for a $202 million rate increase for its Chicagoland territory that would take effect in 2027. It would raise the average residential bill $10-11 a month. PIRG was monitoring a protest today in Evanston. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 800 words. Photos: Yes. Broadcast: Yes. Graphics: Yes. ETA: 5 P.M. | print assets broadcast reader |
| 01/06/26 |  | IDHS DATA BREACH | The Illinois Department of Human Services acknowledges it stored private health information about hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents on a publicly accessible website for more than three years. But the agency will not explain why it took officials so long to discover the problem, or why it took more than 100 days after the discovery to make the legally required public notification. Reporter: Peter Hancock. Length: 800 - 900 words. Photo: Stock/File. Broadcast: No. Audio/video: No. ETA: 11 a.m. | print assets |
| 01/05/26 |  | GRADUATED TAX LONGSHOT | Gov. JB Pritzker says a graduated income tax is not a priority for 2026, despite mounting budget pressures and renewed efforts by some Democratic lawmakers to revive the proposal. Reporter: Brenden Moore. Word Count: 1,500 words. Photo: File. Broadcast: No. Audio/Video: No. ETA: 2 p.m. | print assets |
| 01/02/26 |  | MATERNAL MORTALITY | Illinois’ latest maternal mortality report shows 94 pregnancy-related deaths in 2021–22—91% deemed preventable—with substance use, mental health, and discrimination driving persistent racial disparities, prompting new Medicaid home-visiting supports. Reporter: Maggie Dougherty. Length: 1,250 words. Photo: File. Broadcast/audio/video: No. ETA: 7:30 a.m. | print assets |
