Olivia Olander – Page 25

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain’s corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/baiduhai)

Democrats try to move on after ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction as GOP calls for greater state ethics reforms

February 13, 2025 at 6:25 a.m.

Democrats applaud conviction of former leader, ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, as GOP argues it shows need for more ethics reform.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with reporters inside his ceremonial office on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Illinois Capitol building in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Banks opposing state’s landmark credit card fees law keep up arguments in court, Springfield

February 7, 2025 at 4:50 p.m.

Financial services in Illinois are hoping small wins lead to a major reversal of a landmark state law on credit card fees, as the calendar teeters closer to a July...

Gov. JB Pritzker arrives to speak with reporters from his ceremonial office on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Heading into budget season, Gov. JB Pritzker faces major challenge to show ‘Illinois can govern itself’

February 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

A projected $3.2 billion budget hole is just one of the challenges facing Gov. JB Pritzker as he prepares his next spending plan.

A family picks up their child at Two Rivers Head Start Agency on Sullivan Road in Aurora on Jan. 28, 2025. Earlier Tuesday Donald Trump's administration announced a freeze on federal grants, which could affect Illinois Head Start child care programs. However, a federal judge late Tuesday afternoon temporarily blocked the freeze. Two Rivers is among programs that would be
in danger of shutting down without the necessary federal funding. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Trump administration’s surprise federal funding freeze sows havoc across Illinois before being blocked by federal judge

January 29, 2025 at 9:53 a.m.

The Trump administration's surprise federal funding freeze spurred discord and pushback in Illinois even as a judge temporarily blocked the effort.

State Sen. Dan McConchie attends Republicans Day at the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 19, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Former Illinois Senate GOP leader Dan McConchie resigning to start nonprofit accessibility group

January 27, 2025 at 4:16 p.m.

Sen. Dan McConchie, who previously served as Senate Republican Leader, will resign from the General Assembly next week.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks during a news conference held by the Democratic Party of Illinois at Manny's Deli in the West Loop on Nov. 5, 2024. On Tuesday, Illinois joined three Western states in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of President Donald Trump's executive order about ending birthright citizenship. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Illinois joins in lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship

January 21, 2025 at 10:01 p.m.

Illinois joined three other states in a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' offices at 6201 S. Emerald Drive in Chicago on Jan. 17, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

DCFS has made small steps in improving child placement but troubling issues persist

January 20, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Illinois' child welfare agency has made small steps in improving how kids in its care are placed, but problems persist.

Linda Hall, right, protests alongside workers and former workers at Madden Mental Health Center, Jan. 8, 2025, in Hines, to bring attention to their complaints that management has allowed an unsafe work environment for employees. Madden and the Illinois Department of Human Services are also defendants in a lawsuit that alleges negligence by the family of a man who died by suicide in 2023. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Lawsuits allege negligence in mental health center suicide, another issue for embattled state agency

January 9, 2025 at 9:24 a.m.

In another problem for a troubled Illinois agency, two lawsuits allege negligence in the suicide of a state mental health center resident.

Officers wear body cameras while ordering activists to disperse in Union Park near the United Center during the first day of the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Statewide police body camera requirement kicked in Jan. 1, but full compliance picture unclear

January 3, 2025 at 2:48 p.m.

Beginning New Year's Day, every on-duty police officer in Illinois will be required to wear a body camera under the 2021 SAFE-T Act.

Some 300 new state laws take effect Jan. 1 covering everything from road safety to artificial intelligence, most of them passed during a two-year legislative term that enters its final days when lawmakers return to Springfield later this week. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

New Illinois laws for 2025 include minimum wage bump, artificial intelligence protections

January 1, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

The New Year brings new laws in Illinois including a minimum wage bump and measures aimed at artificial intelligence.

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