Capitol Cast: Illinois

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill designating Juneteenth as an official state holiday. Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki take a look at the importance of that holiday as well as other news from the Statehouse over the past week.

As Illinois enters Phase 5 of the state's reopening, Gov. JB Pritzker reflects on how the state responded. Plus, the Capitol News Illinois team discusses the energy bill that will be debated next week, staff shortages at state parks, and other issues.

Gov. JB Pritzker talks about the accomplishments of the 2021 session, legislative redistricting and the prospects of an energy bill that would transition Illinois to a carbon-free power industry.

A look at the state of mental health care in Illinois, including discussions with experts and lawmakers.

Gov. Pritzker announces a path to full reopening while also revising his budget proposal by adding $350 million for K-12 education. And the controversies over redistricting continue at the Statehouse. CNI's Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki and Sarah Mansur discuss.

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses Gov. Pritzker's energy proposal, a new report on a COVID-19 outbreak at a veterans home, landmark health care reform legislation and emergency housing assistance.

State Rep. Tim Butler, the ranking Republican on the House Redistricting Committee, talks about the GOP's proposal for an independent redistricting commission.

What does the Illinois Treasurer do? We speak with Treasurer Mike Frerichs about his role in Illinois state government and some of the programs his office oversees.

The Illinois Senate was back in the Statehouse and passed some significant legislation while the House continued to hold remote committee meetings. The CNI team discusses some of the major developments.

Capitol News Illinois Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki talks with Gov. JB Pritzker about the state's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, whether the pandemic has affected his relationship with lawmakers, and whether his use of executive authority over the past year has redefined the powers of the governorship.

On the anniversary of Gov. JB Pritzker's statewide disaster declaration, the Capitol News Illinois team discusses how the pandemic has affected everyday life in Illinois, and how close the state is to emerging from it.

The CNI news team discusses the election of a new Democratic Party state chairwoman, the state's staggering pension debt, pushes to reopen more activity in the state and other news of the week.

A new survey of Illinois school districts shows a large and persistent teacher shortage that is getting worse in many parts of the state. The Capitol News Illinois team takes a close look at the numbers statewide and in some particular regions.

Governor JB Pritzker delivered his third budget address since taking office and longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigned from the General Assembly. The Capitol News Illinois team discusses the budget and the significance of Madigan's departure.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, discusses the new House Rules, the new state party chairman and the future of the Republican Party in Illinois.

Acting Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II discusses the state of agriculture in Illinois, the emerging market for industrial hemp, the impact of COVID-19 on the ag industry and prospects for the new Biden administration.

Newly-elected Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaks with Capitol News Illinois' Peter Hancock about the challenges now facing the state and how he plans to approach his new job.

The Capitol News Illinois team breaks down the General Assembly's lame duck session and the election of a new House speaker.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed positive signs in Illinois as federal funding for state responses is about to run out. Troubling outbreaks occurred at state-run veterans homes and the attorney general joined a multi-state antitrust suit against Facebook.

The CNI news team breaks down the new surge in COVID-19 cases, how that's affecting the General Assembly and the results of the Nov. 3 general election that produced changes in the state Supreme Court and the Legislature.

As Election Day nears, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in Illinois. The Capitol News Illinois team discusses the upcoming votes for a graduated income tax amendment and two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court as well as a legislative push for statewide police reform.

Voters in Illinois and across the country are shattering records for early voting this year. Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, talks about what that means as well as the pros and cons of early voting.

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses a new surge in COVID-19 cases, record level advance voting ahead of the 2020 elections, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda and other major news of the week.

An interview with former Gov. George Ryan about his new book, "Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois."

The U.S. Attorney's office has given the Special Investigating Committee a green light to pursue its probe into Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the ComEd bribery case. Rep. Tom Demmer, the ranking Republican on the panel, discusses what's next. Plus, a roundtable discussion of the 2020 Census and the state of the coronavirus pandemic.

A special Investigative Committee got underway this week to examine House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal. And Black and Latino lawmakers became upset when finalists were announced for the first 75 "social equity" marijuana business licenses was announced.

A special committee is about to meet to investigate House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in an alleged bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Peter Hancock talks with two members of that committee, Democratic Chairman Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Republican Rep. Grant Wehrli.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its resurgence in Illinois; Exelon says it plans to close two nuclear power plants next year; a program to expand broadband access statewide gets started as students prepare for another semester of online learning; and tobacco use is up among Illinois teenagers. Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki, Ray Troncoso and Rebecca Anzel analyze the week's news.

Jerry Nowicki and Peter Hancock discuss Gov. JB Pritzker's roadmap for a new clean energy policy as well asrecap the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its grip on the state's economy.

Reporter Raymon Troncoso talks with Jordan Powell, president and CEO of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association about how and why COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities. Theme music, "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A rebellion within House Democrats is threatening House Speaker Michael Madigan’s grip on power. Schools are preparing to reopen amid a pandemic that seemingly won’t go away. And Capitol News Illinois is taking on a new project with a new reporter.

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the power of conversation to highlight misunderstandings and bring Illinoisans together, and Jones’s hope this era’s civil rights movement is not fleeting. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, the Deputy House Republican Leader, discusses how the Black Lives Matter movement is resonating in largely rural, white regions like his, and how he thinks Republicans can find common ground with those who are calling for broad-scale reform. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project series, "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, speaks with Capitol News Illinois about what tools lawmakers can use to advance racial equity in the state. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr. (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about improvements he said the legislature needs to make, and his message for Illinoisans — that this social movement is one society needs to tackle together. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about achieving racial equity in banking, how the media treats issues of racism and more. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-Olympia Fields) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the role of what she called “attitude” in changing public sentiment toward race, and how negative media portrayals of black communities do more harm than good. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, discusses the issue of racial inequities in the Metro East area and the mood of that community in the wake of protests that have erupted in Illinois following the killing of George Floyd. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project, "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, shares his thoughts on the May 25 killing of George Floyd, how he thinks Illinois should move forward amid the protests, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its financial impacts, and what role the media plays in shaping the conversation. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightford talks about her source of hope and how she does not want Illinois to miss its chance to address systemic racism. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, talks about how Illinois can move forward in the wake of protests and demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. His key message: Listen to the voices of the unheard. Music credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, state Rep. Marcus Evans reflects on his experiences with police and how he would like to see the conversation around policing in the U.S. and Illinois focus on “bad individuals” using police powers wrongly, rather than a condemnation of policing in general. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, Illinois state Rep. Curtis Tarver talks about what he is seeing as daily demonstrations in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, continue, as well as what changes he thinks must occur. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, state Rep. Chris Welch talks about his reaction to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, as well as his perspectives about the nationwide protests that event sparked and where he thinks the state of Illinois should go from here. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Capitol News Illinois launched its new "Perspectives on Progress" podcast series Monday, June 8 in an effort to broadcast conversations about race in America and Illinois. To begin the series, the Statehouse news bureau reached out to the 31 members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to hear their perspectives and share their experiences with racism and their thoughts on what actions, legislatively or otherwise, are needed to move forward. Our first guest is Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago. MUSIC CREDIT: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A week after the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a historic special session, the state has entered Phase 3 of the reopening plan. Reporters Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki, Rebecca Anzel and Ben Orner analyze the status of the pandemic and how the General Assembly responded to it.

Four interns with the University of Illinois Springfield's Public Affairs Reporting program talk about their experience covering the Illinois Statehouse during a pandemic. Guests are Kade Heather, Tim Eggert, Neil Earley and Ben Orner.

Michael Belsky, executive director of the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and local government revenues and what they should be doing to brace for it.

The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the Illinois economy. Economist Kenneth Kriz of the University of Illinois - Springfield talks about how it could impact state revenues and services, while Frank Manzo of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute talks about one way the state might be able to blunt some of the impact.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the Illinois economy, forcing Gov. JB Pritzker and state lawmakers to completely rethink the budget plan for the next fiscal year. Sens. Andy Manar (D) and Dan McConchie (R), the chair and minority spokesman of a Senate budget committee, share their views.