State News

By DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek Consumers will likely pay more for butter into the holidays and prime baking season compared to last year no matter how you slice it. Butter prices rose 24.6% in August compared to last year while the overall cost of groceries increased 13.5%. Cheese, milk and other dairy prices are expected to…

Post-pandemic data shows scores falling, but student growth accelerating By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Student test scores continued to fall last year but new data shows Illinois’ students are on the path to recovering from the learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. Numbers from standardized tests administered last spring show…

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $91,731 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of Illinois. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to Hoyleton Youth…

Pritzker, Bailey refuse to get specific in some important areas By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey generally stuck to their talking points Thursday at their first debate on the same stage. The questions and answers were similar to those posed during a…

Pritzker, other leaders say Illinois will remain a safe haven for women seeking abortion By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Vice President Kamala Harris came to Chicago Friday to rally voters who support abortion rights and urge them to turn out in the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking at a roundtable discussion on…

An estimated six million taxpayers across the state set to receive income, property tax rebates CHICAGO – Income and property tax rebates will begin being sent to an estimated six million qualified taxpayers beginning today, September 12. The rebates are the result of Gov. Pritzker’s Illinois Family Relief Plan, which also provided grocery, gas, and…

New facility will enhance will increase preventive patrol presence, help solve violent crime, and improve regional safety EAST ST. LOUIS — Governor JB Pritzker along with state and local leaders today announced the location of a new state-of-the-art Illinois State Police (ISP) Metro East Regional Headquarters and the release of capital funding to begin the…

BELLEVILLE – Alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of energy for area residents, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Cahokia, on Thursday introduced a $200 million rebate program that would deliver an estimated $170 to Ameren residential and small commercial energy customers. “Residents are unfairly being hit with significant increases to their…

Pritzker, Lightfoot say they’re welcome, accuse Texas governor of racism By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – About 60 migrants arrived in Chicago Wednesday on buses from Texas as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing policy to send undocumented immigrants to so-called “sanctuary cities.” But Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor…

Encourages the public to conduct business online at ilsos.gov Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits are being extended until December 1, 2022. The previous extension was set to end on July 31, 2022. As a result, expired driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s…