We're hiring! Capitol News Illinois seeks three reporters to: -Cover state government from Springfield -Write enterprise stories from Chicago -Cover the state's relationship with the federal government in a hybrid role Find out more at the link: buff.ly/Q0BJkuy

We're still seeking documents related to the care of Mackenzi Felmlee, who died in a foster home in 2024. DCFS says "significant communication within the department" led to the agency missing two court dates after we sued. We served their office twice. My story:

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

“Unfortunately, there was significant miscommunication within the Department regarding this matter,” DCFS said in a statement regarding its failure to respond to a lawsuit filed against the agency by Capitol News Illinois. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. ➡️ buff.ly/YGdVdST

Grid operator PJM wants states and utilities to hold data centers responsible for buying their own power — or risk being cut off from grid service. Jeff St. John reports for Canary Media buff.ly/VGyym0D

PJM’s big new data center plan: Make the states figure it out

PJM proposes new rules requiring data centers to secure their own power or face grid curtailments.

capitolnewsillinois.com

The Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously to keep Sean Grayson in prison. The former Sangamon County deputy is 6 months into a 20-year second-degree murder sentence for killing Sonya Massey. He had applied for release, citing a cancer diagnosis buff.ly/j5BnwKL

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

“First of all, I received a full briefing about the video and about the circumstances back in January. So that's six months, really when it happened, we were made aware. Did not watch the video back then,” Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. ➡️ buff.ly/p0mX5br

Rachel Tarrence: Pritzker says he has now seen the January Illinois State Police shooting video, but defers to local decision

Gov. JB Pritzker says he viewed the Rachel Tarrence shooting video but defers to local prosecutors' decision.

capitolnewsillinois.com

The Illinois Senate’s fifth-most senior Democrat is the second member of the chamber’s leadership team to plan an exit from state government in recent months. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. ➡️

Linda Holmes, a 20-year Illinois Senate Democrat, will step down from ballot

Veteran Illinois Sen. Linda Holmes will leave office, citing health concerns after nearly two decades in the Senate.

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Illinois ended the fiscal year $1B ahead of where it thought it would be last May. But much of that revenue was already allocated in a supplemental spending plan. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. ➡️ buff.ly/lfMvtrS

The strong close is mitigated by the fact that lawmakers already allocated more $830 million in supplemental fiscal year 2026 spending.

Illinois ended fiscal year 2026 with tax collections topping projections by more than $1 billion.

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With just 10 days left in the legislative session, many big-ticket items await resolution. Inevitably, some will sink and some will swim. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports buff.ly/UzI7bMU

Session cheat sheet: What’s ahead as Illinois General Assembly nears its conclusion?

Key Illinois legislative fights remain unresolved as lawmakers race toward the May 31 adjournment.

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The five-year deal includes immediate lump sum payments of $1,500, an immediate 3.5% wage increase, and annual raises of 3%. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports.

Striking ISU staff return to work after ratifying new 5-year contract

Illinois State University workers ended their strike after approving a new contract with raises and bonus payments.

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The Fighting Illini men's basketball team was honored in the Illinois Senate Wednesday for their Final Four appearance. In the photos, Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, and Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, greet the team, and Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, holds the South Regional Championship trophy.

Democracy Lives Here. Launching May 11: five IL newsrooms reporting on what's working to strengthen democracy across the state. Supported by @FieldFoundation, IDHS, and @MedillSchool. Stay tuned. #HealingIllinois

What does it actually take to run an election? Capitol News Illinois is reporting on Illinois county clerks — their evolving roles, their challenges and the practices that strengthen faith in electoral processes. Coming May 11. Stay tuned. #HealingIllinois

The latest investigation from Molly Parker has been months in the making. But it's well worth the read capitolnewsillinois.com/news/3d-prin...

3D printed homes, an abandoned $590,000 deposit, the FBI: What really happened in this small town?

Article Summary Two men promised a $1.1 million 3D printer could fix Cairo, Illinois’ housing crisis. More than a year

capitolnewsillinois.com

By now, you’ve heard that claim that credit cards “may not work for sales tax or tips starting July 1.” But whether it’s true depends on who you ask. @nowickipress.bsky.social reports. buff.ly/peCChdU

‘Credit card chaos’? Financial institutions bet big on repeal of first-of-its-kind Illinois law

Illinois financial institutions are spending big in an effort to get state lawmakers to repeal a law banning credit card fees on tax and tips

capitolnewsillinois.com

The polls are closed in Illinois. Follow along for election results: capitolnewsillinois.com/elections/pr...

Primary Results 2026

Election results are made available to Capitol News Illinois through a partnership with the Associated Press and the AP Fund

capitolnewsillinois.com

@brendenmoore.bsky.social is chasing the candidates on this primary election day, and the @capitolnewsil.bsky.social team will be following the results. #thread

We've unlocked @brendenmoore.bsky.social's analysis of the governor's State of the State address. Read it here: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/moore-a...

Moore: After sounding the alarm, Pritzker says Illinois answered the call

Article Summary JB Pritzker revisited his warning from last year about rising authoritarianism in the Trump administration, arguing that aggressive

capitolnewsillinois.com

The latest update from @brendenmoore.bsky.social on the Bears stadium capitolnewsillinois.com/news/insider...

INSIDERS ONLY: A Tuesday update on the Bears stadium bill

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: While the Indiana House approved a bill Tuesday aimed at luring the Chicago Bears over the state line,

capitolnewsillinois.com

2026 State of the State & Budget Address 📸 by @nowickipress.bsky.social @benszalinski.bsky.social has a full breakdown of the Budget Address ➡️ loom.ly/uDUajVQ

Ahead of the budget address, @capitolnewsil.bsky.social is launching a new, insider product. capitolnewsillinois.com/become-an-in...

Become an Insider

The Capitol News Insider newsletter delivers independent Statehouse reporting, analysis, and forward-looking coverage for professionals who need to know what’s

capitolnewsillinois.com

The @chicago.suntimes.com Operation Midway Blitz case tracker has been updated. It reflects today's dismissal of the case against Erik Meier, as well as the deferred-prosecution agreement reached in the case of Jamie Hernandez: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/tracker...

Tracking every known federal prosecution in Chicago tied to Trump’s immigration blitz

Every known federal prosecution in Chicago tied to Trump’s immigration blitz

chicago.suntimes.com

Jon Seidel@jonseidel.bsky.social · 8mo ago

NEW: U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez has granted the feds' motion to dismiss in the Operation Midway Blitz case against Erik Meier. He's the 16th of 32 known Midway Blitz defendants cleared. No known convictions.

Illinois is suing the Trump administration, seeking a long list of restrictions on immigration officials. @brendenmoore.bsky.social reports ➡️ https://loom.ly/ljmzI0o

Lawsuit puts Illinois on offensive against ‘menacing’ immigration raids

Article Summary Illinois filed a 103-page lawsuit that seeks to severely limit federal immigration agents’ authority to execute the types

capitolnewsillinois.com

Illinois lawmakers could consider changes to the controversial SAFE-T Act this spring. @benszalinski.bsky.social and @nowickipress.bsky.social have more ➡️ https://loom.ly/0U6ZGLQ

Top Democrats say they would consider small changes to Illinois’ SAFE-T Act

Article Summary JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch signaled they’re open to amending the SAFE-T Act after a

capitolnewsillinois.com

Illinois education officials seek modest funding increase amid budget uncertainty. Story by @pqhancock.bsky.social. https://loom.ly/q6BI4M0

State education board OKs $10.9B budget request

Article Summary The Illinois State Board of Education is seeking only a modest increase in funding next year in light

capitolnewsillinois.com

Illinois sues Trump admin over latest funding threat targeting noncompliance on gender policies and trans rights. Story by @maggiedough.bsky.social. https://loom.ly/22M1WM8

Illinois among 12 states to sue as Trump seeks forced compliance with gender order

Article Summary Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a multi-state lawsuit Tuesday challenging a policy by the U.S. Department of

capitolnewsillinois.com

A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court allows U.S. Rep. Mike Bost to challenge how Illinois counts mail-in ballots. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/9Bt0AXk

U.S. Supreme Court allows Mike Bost to challenge how Illinois counts mail-in ballots

Article Summary The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican from Murphysboro, can file a

capitolnewsillinois.com

Gov. JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) met with farmers and agriculture officials in Taylorville, IL to discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs on beef and soybeans farmers. Photos by @nowickipress.bsky.social

Yesterday, @CapitolNewsIL published six stories on state government and court news. We've got an equally busy slate today. Check out our Capitol News Recap newsletter to follow along us11.campaign-archive.com?e=[UNIQID]&u...

Now’s a good time to note CNI & the Illinois Press Foundation (our parent org) separated from the Press Association a few years back. We’re 2 separate orgs & I’m as surprised by all this as anyone Don Craven remains our lawyer & ally — few have done more for press freedom than him.

Capitol Fax@capitolfax.bsky.social · last yr.