Illinois State Politics
-
‘Clearly a fumble’: Arlington Heights mayor calls out state lawmakers over lack of Bears dealJun 01, 2026 11:43 am - Hours after state lawmakers failed to act on legislation to bring a new Chicago Bears stadium to Arlington Heights, Mayor Jim Tinaglia said Monday village officials are “truly disappointed” and will continue to seek opportunities to redevelop the former Arlington Park site.
-
Session ends with $56 billion state budget, new taxes on social media companies, crypto, fantasy sports
Jun 01, 2026 9:56 am - Illinois lawmakers approved the state budget early Monday morning after slogging through the night, enacting new taxes on businesses and authorizing less spending than what Gov. JB Pritzker proposed in February.
-
What’s next for Bears stadium talks after General Assembly punts on deals?Jun 01, 2026 7:31 am - Just before the sun rose over the Capitol dome Monday morning, legislators heaved a Hail Mary pass to the end zone to try to keep the Bears in Illinois. It fell incomplete. Now negotiations to prevent the NFL franchise from bolting across state lines are headed to overtime this summer.
-
Details of $55.9B state budget take shape with just hours left in session
May 31, 2026 3:26 pm - The Illinois Senate filed a more than 3,500-page spending plan late Saturday night but how it will be paid for has not been made public. The plan filed as an amendment to...
-
POWER Act data center regulation won’t move forward this spring
May 31, 2026 7:36 am - Conversations about the POWER Act, a multifaceted data center regulation bill, are not over yet, but the bill won’t ready in time for the General Assembly’s Sunday deadline.
-
Bears megaproject bill sacked, but lawmakers draw up new play to keep team in stateMay 31, 2026 6:59 am - The Bears’ property tax break legislation for an Arlington Heights stadium failed to gain enough votes in Springfield, but lawmakers worked Sunday to craft an alternative proposal to keep the NFL team from moving to Indiana.
-
Legislators race against the clock as Bears stadium deal stallsMay 30, 2026 9:15 pm - The Chicago Bears’ plan for a new stadium in Arlington Heights faces an uncertain future as the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session nears its Sunday night deadline at midnight.
-
‘We’re getting near the end’: Clock ticking for a Bears stadium deal this weekend in SpringfieldMay 29, 2026 5:53 pm - With just two days left in Illinois’ spring legislative session, lawmakers are racing against the clock to pass property tax break legislation that would enable the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
-
Will Illinois try a high-tech solution to ‘super speeders’?May 28, 2026 4:51 pm - So-called “super speeders” could have a chance to get back behind the wheel, minus their lead feet, under legislation awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature.
-
Bills regulating insurance industry clear General Assembly, await Pritzker’s signature
May 28, 2026 4:21 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker says he looks forward to signing a pair of bills that cleared the Illinois House on Wednesday giving the state Insurance Department authority to regulate premiums charged for automobile and homeowners insurance.