Latest news with #CapitolNewsIllinois
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois lawmakers pass $55B budget with new taxes, no transit or Bears stadium funding
The Brief State lawmakers passed a $55 billion budget just before the midnight deadline over the weekend. The budget includes new or increased taxes on sports betting and tobacco products. Lawmakers did not pass plans to address a fiscal cliff facing the state's public transit system or funding for a new Bears stadium. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State lawmakers passed the budget for the next fiscal year, meeting their midnight deadline. Leaders worked late into the evening with just minutes to spare last night to pass the $55 billion budget that now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk. What they're saying The governor said in posts on X, the social media site, that he will sign it. "I'm grateful to Speaker Welch, President Harmon, the budget teams, and all the legislators and stakeholders who collaborated to shape and pass this legislation. I look forward to signing my seventh balanced budget in a row and continuing to build a stronger Illinois," Pritzker wrote. The budget includes just over $1 billion in new taxes and revenue changes, Capitol News Illinois reported. Republican lawmakers in the minority blasted the Democratic majority for the increase in taxes. "Speaker Welch said the quiet part out loud: tax and spend Democrats are thriving in Illinois…at the expense of Illinois families," said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie in a statement. "Rather than pursuing meaningful structural reforms to secure our state's future, Democrats chose to prioritize politician pay raises, steal from the rainy-day fund, and funnel money into their own pork projects." By the numbers The new taxes include: A 25-cent tax per wager for sports betting licensees' first 20,000 wagers and 50 cents per wager after that Increase in tobacco products from 36% to 45% Subjecting businesses that move profits to other countries to the state's corporate income tax Republican lawmakers and business entities like the Illinois Chamber of Commerce were critical of the new taxes. "This breaks the commitment to avoid new taxes and sends the wrong message to employers across the state," the Chamber said in a statement. Lawmakers also decided to cut a controversial program to provide health insurance for more than 30,000 noncitizens between the ages of 42 and 64, which would save about $330 million. A $110 million program for seniors will remain in place. The proposal to cut the program had come under fire from Latino lawmakers and activist groups, as well as progressive groups. The new budget will also not add $43 million to a property tax relief program. The $307 million in mandated additional K-12 education funding was approved. The final budget plan was passed without some key issues addressed, including added funding to prevent a fiscal cliff facing the region's public transit agencies and funding for a new Bears stadium. The transit funding was an especially big issue as the Regional Transit Authority faces a $770 million shortfall in 2026 and warned of possible significant service cuts as pandemic funding ran dry. Transit officials and union groups were pushing for lawmakers to approve more funding to avoid such a cliff. The Labor Alliance for Public Transportation said in a statement: "Last night's failure to pass a comprehensive transportation bill to avert a fiscal cliff jeopardizes Illinois transit systems with expected cuts, massive lay-offs, and service disruptions for the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra. As the General Assembly adjourns with neither reform or revenue, transit riders and workers alike are left concerned about the future of our communities."
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Newsweek
Illinois Limits Colleges' Use of ChatGPT
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Illinois lawmakers are seeking to limit the use of artificial intelligence at community colleges in the state. In a 46-12 vote, the Illinois Senate approved a bill that would bar community colleges from using artificial intelligence instead of human instructors to teach classes, the Capitol News Illinois reported on Thursday. Why It Matters The advent of artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT raised concerns at schools and colleges across the country about how easy it is for students to cheat. Some schools have forbidden the use of AI. But some colleges and professors have turned to AI to help teach classes. The New York Times recently reported that a student at Northeastern University demanded a refund on tuition fees after discovering her professor used ChatGPT to produce lecture notes for a class. Google Gemini, OpenAI ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot app icons are seen on a screen. Google Gemini, OpenAI ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot app icons are seen on a To Know House Bill 1859 amends the Public Community College Act so that "each board of trustees of a community college district shall require the faculty member who teaches a course to be an individual who meets the qualifications in the Illinois Administrative Code and any other applicable rules adopted by the Illinois Community College Board," according to a summary. It does not prohibit faculty members from "using artificial intelligent to augment course instruction," the summary says. But it prohibits colleges from using AI "as the sole source of instruction for students" in lieu of a faculty member. Some Republicans opposed the measure, arguing that it restricts the ability of local community college boards to offer courses in subjects where qualified human instructors are scarce, the Capitol News Illinois reported. State Senator Mike Porfirio, a Democrat and the bill's top sponsor in the Senate, said it was protecting the interests of students and human instructors. What People Are Saying State Senator Sue Rezin, a Republican, said, per the Capitol News Illinois: "I'm concerned that this bill will take local control away from the community college to be able to make decisions that are in the best interest of their students." State Senator Mike Porfirio said, according to the news site: "I think if anything we're guaranteeing that our students receive proper instruction and also that we acknowledge the role that instructors, faculty, staff play in students' lives." What's Next The bill returns to the Illinois House, which has to approve an amendment made in the state Senate before it can be sent to Governor JB Pritzker to be signed into law.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's Illinois stop on immigration laws called ‘publicity stunt'
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Two hours in the state capital was enough for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to criticize Illinois' immigration laws and its governor while invoking the 2023 murder of a local progressive activist. Her short Wednesday visit largely served as an opportunity for an official from President Donald Trump's cabinet to take photos highlighting immigration policies in a Democrat-run state. Noem visited a DHS office where she briefly spoke with two people being processed for deportation and then held a news conference with family members of people murdered by noncitizens. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with one of the two men being processed by ICE officials during her visit to Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jade Aubrey) To illustrate her point, Noem held the news conference on the same block where Springfield progressive activist Emma Shafer was murdered in 2023. Shafer was allegedly stabbed by her partner at their Springfield home. 'She lost her life to an illegal alien that's still out, at large, probably in this state,' Noem said at a news conference in Springfield. 'We can't confirm that because the local law enforcement and the state law enforcement are barred by state law, with the support of Gov. (JB) Pritzker, from sharing any information.' The suspect in the case has not been arrested and Springfield police said last year the man, a Mexican national, may have fled the country. Noem's remarks appalled one of Shafer's friends who was protesting near the news conference and said Shafer would be advocating for immigrants. 'Emma Shafer would have never supported Trump's policies and would have never supported what Kristi Noem had to say,' Francesca Butler told Capitol News Illinois. 'Emma would want Kristi to know we should lead with compassion and humility.' Democratic State Senator Willie Preston, D-Chicago, criticizes DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during a rally at the Statehouse immediately following Noem's news conference. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock) Noem said she was not in contact with Shafer's family and was unaware they were at another site protesting her visit. Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said the Republican lawmakers at the news conference didn't know Shafer was going to be mentioned, but 'you have to mention all the people that have been killed by people that shouldn't have been here.' Democratic lawmakers and immigration activists protested Noem's visit outside the Governor's Mansion and Capitol Building. State law does not protect people in Illinois from deportation. Federal officers under Noem's leadership can still make arrests and deport people in Illinois. Under the 2017 TRUST Act signed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois law enforcement is prohibited from arresting a person based solely on their immigration status and in most cases, cannot assist immigration officials with detaining people based on immigration status, according to the Illinois Attorney General's office. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem speaks in front of a house in the neighborhood where progressive activist Emma Shafer, a Springfield woman who was killed in 2023, allegedly by her boyfriend, who was from Mexico. She is joined by Republican lawmakers and family members of people identified as crime victims. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jade Aubrey) 'This governor has bragged about Illinois being a firewall against President Trump's immigration enforcement agenda, and it is very clear that he is violating the constitution of the United States because it is a federal law that the federal government set and enforce immigration policies,' Noem said. Noem claimed Illinois laws make the state less safe, citing a series of crimes committed by people in the U.S. illegally. 'Governors like JB Pritzker don't care if gang bangers, rapists and pedophiles roam free in this state,' she said. 'If they are here illegally, he's going to protect them.' Pritzker slammed the visit as a 'publicity stunt' and said Illinois complies with federal immigration laws. 'Trump-Noem publicity stunts do not make our communities safer or our immigration system smarter,' Pritzker said in a statement. 'Illinois doesn't need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe. Like the millions of Americans asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the Secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the Homeland.' Pritzker has repeatedly said he supports the federal government deporting people who are illegally in the country if they are convicted of violent crimes. Republicans are continuing to call for the TRUST Act to be repealed – unlikely in the Democrat-controlled legislature. 'These are crimes that the state could have prevented, had the option to prevent them, and decided not to,' McClure said. Noem's first stop in Springfield was a federal field office where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were processing two men. Noem spoke with ICE officers and one of the two men who were being held in the room while their fingerprints were being scanned. The ICE officer told her that the men were from Guatemala and would eventually be deported because they were illegally in the U.S. Noem asked one of the men a series of questions, including whether he was aware he was being detained and would ultimately be deported, and if he had family in Guatemala. He responded yes to both questions. When an ICE officer told Noem that the man had also been charged with battery, she asked him whether he knew what he was being charged for, to which he replied that he did not understand the question. Noem's visit also comes a day after Pritzker agreed to testify next month to the U.S. House Oversight Committee about Illinois' immigration policies. The Republican-led committee plans to probe Pritzker, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz about 'policies that shield criminal illegal aliens from immigration enforcement,' according to a news release. Noem's visit also comes less than a week after President Donald Trump's Department of Justice sued Illinois for the second time over state laws aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants. Read more: Illinois locked in legal battles with Trump administration over immigration policy In February, the U.S. Department of Justice sued over Illinois' 2017 'sanctuary state' law. Last week, the Trump administration sued Illinois again, this time over Illinois' new requirement that employers notify workers whose U.S. employment eligibility is flagged when run through the federal E-Verify system, which compares workers' employment eligibility federal form I-9 with other federal databases. Illinois law now requires employers to inform workers of their rights to correct their I-9 forms, if flagged by E-Verify as a possible undocumented immigrant, and of impending worksite inspections from ICE. The feds allege the law 'disincentivizes' employers from using E-Verify and 'encourages unlawful employment of aliens in the United States.' Hannah Meisel contributed to this report. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Duckworth endorses Lt. Gov. Stratton for U.S. Senate seat to replace Durbin
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth endorsed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday in the 2026 Democratic primary for Illinois' open seat to replace longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. Duckworth's endorsement comes after Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed Stratton on Friday, one day after she entered the Senate contest. With no other Democratic candidates announcing campaigns for the 2026 primary by Monday morning, Stratton secured the endorsement of two of the state's top Democrats before fielding any competition. Read more: Stratton secures Pritzker's backing in Senate bid, positions herself as 'fighter' of Trump | Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announces U.S. Senate campaign 'Juliana has not only proven to be an experienced and effective Lieutenant Governor — she's demonstrated time and again that she truly understands and cares for working people,' Duckworth said in a statement. 'Their struggles are her struggles. Their wins are her wins.' Duckworth, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates, will take over as the state's senior senator in January 2027 after Durbin's term ends, as he announced last week he plans to retire. An Army veteran who earned a Purple Heart while serving in Iraq, Duckworth was elected to the Senate in 2016. 'Her many years spent in public service, along with her experience as a mom to four daughters and a caregiver to her own mother, have given her the tenacity, grit and perspective to be a true advocate on behalf of working families,' Duckworth said of Stratton. Durbin told reporters at his Springfield home last week that he will likely not make any endorsements in the primary. Stratton secured Pritzker's endorsement Friday. The two have spent the last six years leading Illinois following two successful elections. Pritzker praised Stratton as a 'champion for women's rights, for job creation, for rural families, for farmers, for criminal justice, for early childhood education,' and credited the lieutenant governor as having played an integral role in his administration. Asked Friday whether his endorsement tamps down a competitive race for Durbin's seat, Pritzker said, 'Anybody who wants to run should run. But I'm telling you this is the person whose best able to serve with integrity, with honor.' Stratton, of Chicago, has quickly risen through the ranks of Illinois politics after first being elected as a state representative in 2016. She was elected lieutenant governor two years later as Pritzker's running mate during the 2018 campaign. It's still unclear whether other Democrats will announce they are joining Stratton in the primary as whoever enters the race will go in knowing they won't be endorsed by two of the state's leading Democrats. U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood, of Naperville, Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, Robin Kelly, of Matteson, and state Treasurer Mike Frerichs, of Chicago, all have said they are considering entering the race. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brimfield Superintendent reacts to House Bill that would ban Native American mascots
BRIMFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — A bill that would ban Native American mascots in the state of Illinois has cleared the Illinois House, according to Capitol News Illinois. Central Illinois schools, including the Brimfield Indians, would be affected by the legislation if it passes the senate. 'We've been preparing for this probably 15, 20 years,' Brimfield superintendent Chad Jones said. 'I mean, this is an old thing. This is not something new. Proactively, we are preparing for it so that we wouldn't have to change everything in our schools.' Jones said that the high school, when it moved to its new building over a decade ago, adopted a more general 'B' with a feather, as opposed to a Native American as the logo. He also shared that the grade school's gym, which still has the word 'Indians' on the floor, is set to be re-done to have the standard 'B' with a feather sometime this summer. With the potential change, and many years of planning for this potential day from the school district, Jones talked about what potential names they've floated around. 'Nothing formal or really decided, just some discussion,' Jones said. 'I've heard bison, I've heard Red Hawks. We would probably leave it up to the staff and students to kind of narrow it down to maybe three choices and then have like a community type vote, if that's what we had to do.' If the bill is adopted, the deadline for a submitted name, logo and/or mascot change would be July 1, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
