The ex-Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey is asking for medical release from a state prison — and maintaining that Massey “attacked” him. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. ➡️ buff.ly/VaWLjg3

NEW: America's blood supply "alarmingly" low, patient care at risk, Red Cross says

The U.S. is running low on blood. Here's why that's dangerous

The supply of blood donations is not keeping up with the hospital demand.

axios.com

More details on the bill Pritzker signed Friday, officially recognizing compulsive gambling as an addiction under state law: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinoi...

Illinois recognizes gambling addiction, allowing new treatment options

Article Summary JB Pritzker signed a bill last week that officially recognizes gambling addiction under the state’s Substance Use Disorder

capitolnewsillinois.com

Maggie Dougherty@maggiedough.bsky.social · 2w ago

BREAKING: Pritzker just signed Sen. Morrison's bill to reclassify gambling disorders under the Substance Use Disorder Act. People we spoke to thought this move would go a long way to making treatment options more affordable and accessible for people with gambling addiction.

BREAKING: Pritzker just signed Sen. Morrison's bill to reclassify gambling disorders under the Substance Use Disorder Act. People we spoke to thought this move would go a long way to making treatment options more affordable and accessible for people with gambling addiction.

Maggie Dougherty@maggiedough.bsky.social · last mo.

My latest with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social' @ctoner.bsky.social digs into vast expansion of gambling in Illinois, and the gaps in treatment for those addicted. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/addicte...

Curious about the status of new nuclear power in Illinois? You might enjoy what I hope is a reader-friendly explainer on Illinois’ nuclear power generation, and what’s to come.

Capitol News Illinois@capitolnewsil.bsky.social · 2w ago

Illinois asked communities if they’d like to host new nuclear power. Nine said yes. @maggiedough.bsky.social reports on the state’s nuclear legacy, and what the future may hold.

Sixteen days before CPD Officer Krystal Rivera was killed by her partner last year, Carlos Baker was referred to a program designed to help troubled officers. He was not enrolled because an email went unanswered. Illinois Answers’ latest investigation with @chicago.suntimes.com:

Chicago Police Failed to Place Troubled Cop Under Strict Supervision Before He Fatally Shot Partner

Carlos Baker was referred to a program that subjects officers to intense oversight. But Baker wasn’t enrolled before he shot Officer Krystal Rivera because a supervisor didn’t respond to an email.

illinoisanswers.org

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has fatally shot a motorist in Maine, the second ICE-related fatality by force this week. Protesters took to the streets of Maine, demanding accountability.

How J.B. and Penny Pritzker helped transform Chicago into a global hub for quantum computing--and the massive data center that comes with it. https://bit.ly/4v26Q9D

Inside the Pritzkers' ‘Quantum Prairie' - Chicago Reader

How J.B. and Penny Pritzker helped transform Chicago into a global hub for quantum computing--and the massive data center that comes with it.

chicagoreader.com

Gov. JB Pritzker signed landmark AI legislation on Monday, joining California and New York in a push for a state-driven national standard on AI. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. buff.ly/jurccfl

Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation bill that aims to mitigate risks

Illinois approved landmark AI safeguards, creating new transparency and safety rules for powerful AI developers.

capitolnewsillinois.com

House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch called on Rep. Harry Benton to resign, saying LIG findings revealed conduct “outrageous, unethical and unbecoming” of a House member. If Benton refuses, Welch says he’ll move to expel him. @brendenmoore.bsky.social reports. buff.ly/XrTJ1b7

Speaker Welch to Rep. Harry Benton: Resign or be expelled

Chris Welch calls for Harry Benton to resign or face expulsion after misconduct findings in the Illinois House.

capitolnewsillinois.com

What happens when the town next door wants to put in a data center? Today, a developer in Hoffman Estates withdrew its rezoning request after outcry from nearby residents. But absent state legislation, more and more areas are grappling with the question: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/develop...

Developer withdraws rezoning request for controversial data center in Hoffman Estates

Article Summary A developer has withdrawn, for now, a rezoning request for a large-scale data center in Hoffman Estates, a

capitolnewsillinois.com

Thanks to @brianmackey.com for having @ctoner.bsky.social and me on to talk about our recent investigation into gambling in Illinois. Our conversation also features recovering gambler Jimmy M., host of a gambling recovery podcast (and source in our series). Check it out if you have time!

The 21st Show@21st.show · last mo.

Gambling is seemingly everywhere in Illinois these days ... and the state invests relatively little to help those who have gambling problems. We talk about that with @ctoner.bsky.social from @illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @maggiedough.bsky.social from @capitolnewsil.bsky.social.

Talked gambling addiction and the state’s response to it this afternoon on our Capitol Cast podcast - soundcloud.com/user-5920901...

State-sponsored gambling addiction

Maggie Daugherty discusses a story she cowrote with the Illinois Answers Project that explores the impact that legalized gambling has on people who suffer from gambling addiction. Brenden Moore discus

soundcloud.com

Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 4514 this afternoon, giving public utility customers the right to request a public forum and submit written feedback on rate hike proposals to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

My colleagues @alexnitkin.bsky.social @binghuihuang.bsky.social @drewjayadams.bsky.social investigated former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's promise to plant 75K trees by 2027. They even put together a really cool tool that shows you tree stats for your area! illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/26/c...

City Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities Persist

City departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage.

illinoisanswers.org

@maggiedough.bsky.social and I sat down with more than a dozen compulsive gamblers in recovery about let them speak at length about their own lives. It is at turns sad, frightening, infuriating, occasionally funny and painfully human 🧵 illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/24/w...

What Compulsive Gamblers Know

The hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can't stop betting

illinoisanswers.org

In Illinois, 1 million people are estimated to be compulsive gamblers or at risk of becoming one. Illinois Answers and @capitolnewsil.bsky.social spoke anonymously with people whose gambling spiraled into an addiction that cost them money, relationships and peace of mind. These are their stories.

illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/24/w... "They’ll give you tickets to the Cubs game just to go in their little suite area, but I know it’s just like they lure you in so that you just spend a lot more and more and more."

What Compulsive Gamblers Know

The hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can't stop betting

illinoisanswers.org

illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/24/a... Our story on Illinois lawmakers including Gov. JB Pritzker balancing the budget off the backs of gamblers. Last year people in the state lost $7.7 billion gambling. Of those losses, more than $4.1 billion went to sportsbooks, slot machines and casino operators

Addicted to Gambling in Illinois: ‘Someone Has Decided They Can Make Money Off You’

People in Illinois lost more than $7.7 billion gambling last year.  As lawmakers increasingly bet on gambling to pay the state’s bills, they have only spare change to treat compulsive gamblers

illinoisanswers.org

@ctoner.bsky.social and I sat down for hours with Illinois residents addicted to gambling. We decided that their stories -- often shocking and heartbreaking, sometimes funny or hopeful -- should be told in their own words: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/what-co...

Maggie Dougherty@maggiedough.bsky.social · last mo.

My latest with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social' @ctoner.bsky.social digs into vast expansion of gambling in Illinois, and the gaps in treatment for those addicted. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/addicte...

My latest with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social' @ctoner.bsky.social digs into vast expansion of gambling in Illinois, and the gaps in treatment for those addicted. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/addicte...

A story about how Gov. JB Pritzker presided over the expansion of a predatory and extractive industry. This, by @ctoner.bsky.social and @maggiedough.bsky.social #chicago capitolnewsillinois.com/news/addicte...

illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/24/w... @maggiedough.bsky.social and I spoke at length with people addicted to gambling. What they shared with us was sad, shocking, occasionally funny, infuriating and profound. Something to think about next time you Kevin Hart doing an ad for Draft Kings

What Compulsive Gamblers Know

The hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can't stop betting

illinoisanswers.org

This is actually really cool? I was just able to access journal articles that I couldn't last week due to paywalls. Folks should check it out, this could be a major resource for students / researchers.

Capitol News Illinois@capitolnewsil.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Regardless of where they live, Illinoisans can now access quality online databases thanks to a new state program. @nhytrek.bsky.social reports. ➡️ buff.ly/4VbGqgZ

Gov. JB Pritzker put a pause on data center incentives, bringing cheers from environmental and consumer advocates but harsh words from labor leaders. @maggiedough.bsky.social reports buff.ly/VyYuAg7

Gov. JB Pritzker to suspend tax breaks for data centers, urging more discussion

Pritzker pauses Illinois data center tax incentives amid concerns over energy costs and water use.

capitolnewsillinois.com

#BREAKING U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth call on Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign, calling his tenure "riddled with chaos, deep internal dysfunction, and alleged misconduct." Reporting w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Durbin, Duckworth want Chicago's top federal prosecutor to resign over botched 'Broadview Six' case

The call from Illinois’ Democratic senators comes nearly two weeks after the case against a group of Operation Midway Blitz protesters collapsed amid claims of misconduct by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutr...

chicago.suntimes.com

NEW: A group of activists have built an awesome new tool to help immigration attorneys and the general public know when an ICE flight is headed to their area. gillianbrockell.com/habeas-fligh...

Habeas Flight Watch: New tool helps track ICE flights to your city

Activists have been quietly piloting a live map of ICE flights to help immigration attorneys with habeas filings. Now they say it's ready for everyone to use.

gillianbrockell.com

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com · 2mo ago

News incoming (good news from me for once!) …

We found cases in which Cook County prosecutors knew someone was in ICE custody and still requested a warrant when that person failed to show up to traffic court. Advocates argue it’s a violation of defendants’ due process rights. (Co-published with @chicagoreader.com)

ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court.

Cook County prosecutors are asking judges to issue warrants for people who were no-shows in traffic court — because they had already been deported.

buff.ly

Gov. Pritzker penned a letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Tuesday, seeking the release of $1 billion in broadband infrastructure funds, calling the delay “unusual and targeted.” @maggiedough.bsky.social has the story. buff.ly/OD9NS1W

Pritzker urges feds to release $1B in broadband funds to Illinois

JB Pritzker is urging federal officials to release $1 billion in broadband funding delayed for Illinois infrastructure projects.

capitolnewsillinois.com