Illinois News & Current Events | Public News Service

<a href= — The Chicago Police Department reported recovering 458 ghost guns in 2021, up from 139 in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

IL Governor Signs Ban on 'Ghost Guns'

Illinois has a new law banning the sale and possession of "ghost guns," essentially untraceable firearms that are sold in kit-form online or at gun sh…

The White House announced this week plans to invest an additional $250 million in domestic fertilizer production, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has limited the supply of fertilizer globally. (Adobe Stock)

President Highlights Agriculture Initiatives During IL Visit

President Joe Biden used his trip to Illinois Wednesday to tout several new initiatives he said will support American farms. The president's trip …

According to the Pew Research Center, about 56% of Illinois residents believe abortion should be legal. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood of Illinois Braces for Potential Surge in Patients

As the future of abortion access is in limbo, Planned Parenthood of Illinois is preparing for a potential surge in patients from surrounding states…

The Blessing Health System provides coverage for about 100,000 people across three states. (Adobe Stock)

Program Delivers Health-Care at Home for Rural Patients

By Liz Carey for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Service C…

In a September 2021 Gallup poll, about one-quarter of respondents indicated they were working from home full-time. (Adobe Stock)

As Folks Continue Telecommuting, Experts Urge Ergonomic Focus

Many Illinoisans find themselves still working from home, and ergonomic and health experts say it's past time to take a more critical look at their …

The art of Isabel Strauss, one of the Key Change contributors, superimposes existing images over architectural renderings to "redefine spatial relationships between bodies and objects, histories and futures." (Image by Isabel Strauss)

Art Exhibition Highlights Chicago's Housing Issues, Potential Solutions

An upcoming art exhibition in Chicago aims to provide a new framework to view the city's struggles with housing, past and present. Hosted by the …

The Spire STL pipeline connects into the larger Rockies Express Pipeline, which stretches 1,700 miles across eight states. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Declines to Hear Appeal on IL Gas Pipeline

A 65-mile gas pipeline in western Illinois is in limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider reinstating federal authorization for the …

A report from the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab compared more than 7,000 OneGoal participants to students from the same communities with similar academic profiles. (Adobe Stock)

IL Program Aims to Boost College Enrollment for Low-Income Students

Students from low-income communities in Illinois have historically faced numerous barriers to higher education, but one Chicago-based program offers …

Illinois's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last September, is a nearly 1,000-page plan to transition Illinois to clean energy by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IL Clean-Energy Plan to Spur Job Creation

By Laura Aka for Working Nation.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Working Nation-Public News Servi…

More than 4.5 million ballots were cast during Illinois's last gubernatorial election in 2018. (Adobe Stock)

IL Lawmakers Weigh Bill to Increase Ballot Access for Visually Impaired

Lawmakers are set to wrap up their work in Springfield today, as Illinois's legislative session comes to a close. Among many items they'll be …

carafem uses nondescript shipping boxes for mailing packages, in case folks are worried about neighbors or other members of a household finding out they are receiving abortion pills. (Melissa Grant/carafem)

IL Telemedicine Abortion Provider Aims to Allow Discretion, Break Stigma

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Department operates five facilities across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Officials Undercount Incarcerated Kids

A new report revealed in 2019, young people in the United States were locked up in juvenile facilities nearly a quarter million times, and current …

A 2020 report from the Brennan Center notes that "several stud�ies of remote witness testi�mony by chil�dren found that the chil�dren were perceived as less accur�ate, believ�able, consist�ent and confid�ent when appear�ing over video." (Adobe Stock)

IL Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Ending Virtual Hearings in Juvenile Court

At the beginning of the pandemic, Illinois transitioned most of its court operations online. Now, two years later, advocates and lawmakers are …

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who backed a nonpartisan redistricting process on the campaign trail, last June signed into law new House and Senate maps drafted by lawmakers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Fair Redistricting Process in IL Could Curb Power Brokering

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is facing 22 charges of bribery and racketeering. The Chicago Democrat led the chamber for decades…

Per a poll commissioned by Compassion & Choices, 61% of Midwestern voters indicated they support medical aid-in-dying legislation. (Adobe Stock)

IL Advocates Work to Build Support for Medical Aid In Dying

Advocates in Illinois are working in communities across the state to garner support for medical aid in dying, which they say guarantees terminally …

According to the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, there are nearly 32,000 abandoned lots in Chicago, some of which are finding new life as community gardens. (Adobe Stock)

Public Leadership Program Aims to Bring Sustainable Food System to Illinois

From farm to table, a public leadership program is working to bring more sustainable food systems to the greater Chicago area. The HEAL Food …

Many of Illinois' soil and water conservation priorities are laid out in the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, which was released in 2015. (Adobe Stock)

IL Advocates Push for Greater Awareness of Soil Health

Illinois environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers in Springfield to recognize the importance of soil health. The General Assembly is …

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that, nationwide, student enrollment in community colleges from 2020 to 2021 fell by 5.6% (Adobe Stock)

Amid Statewide Enrollment Slump, Chicago Colleges Work to Re-Enroll Students

Since the pandemic began, enrollment in Illinois community colleges has declined to its lowest point in years, and now, one school is working to keep …

Seamus Ford is the co-founder of the Harambee Community Garden in West Chicago. According to the Trust for Public Land, there are more than 29,000 garden plots in city parks in the 100 largest U.S. cities. (Jordyn Harrison)

In Chicago, Community Gardens Give New Life to Abandoned Land

By Jordyn Harrison for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Jordyn Harrison and Jonah Chester for Illinois News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-…

The Northern Ireland Department of Justice reports that, from April 2020 to April 2021, there were 2,267 cases of kids coming into contact with the criminal-justice system, down from 2,723 in 2019-2020. (Adobe Stock)

For IL Juvenile-Justice Reform, Irish Approach Seen as Model

As lawmakers in Illinois and across the nation consider reforms to the nation's juvenile-justice system, one country across the Atlantic could serve …

According to the White House, up to 10 million American households are serviced by lead water pipelines. (Adobe Stock)

New Federal Aid Could Boost IL Lead Pipeline Removal Efforts

Illinois has more lead pipelines than any other state in the nation, but a new plan from the Biden-Harris administration could boost the state's lead-…

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 15,000 water bodies across the country have nutrient-related environmental problems. (Adobe Stock)

IL Bill Could Impact Waters as Distant as Gulf of Mexico

Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill proponents say could benefit water quality not only locally, but in places as far-flung as the Gulf of …

The new grants are via the 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital program, which also calls for $25 billion to repair roads and bridges. (Adobe Stock)

IL Allocating $220 Million to Support Transit, Ports Projects

The state of Illinois is allocating nearly a quarter-billion dollars to support new downstate transit and ports projects. Roughly half will go …

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project would use electric barriers, bubble screens and noisemakers, all to help prevent the spread of invasive carp into the Great Lakes. (Rock Island District)

Federal Funds Coming to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to use federal funds for a project to help keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. It is proposing using …

According to the Izaak Walton League of America, 80% of streams across the United States are not adequately monitored for pollution. (kurgu128/Adobe Stock)

"Citizen Science" Leads Group to Conservation Achievements

One hundred years ago today, the Izaak Walton League of America was founded in Chicago, with a mission of local stewardship of wild places, citizen …

Across the nation, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly. (ricka_kinamoto/Adobe Stock)

Chicago Teachers Union Urges City to Take Safety Requests Seriously

The Chicago Teachers Union held a day of action yesterday, outdoors and in their cars, in an effort to safely push back against returning immediately …

The prices of beef and veal in the last year have skyrocketed 20%. Fresh fruits and veggies cost 4% more than at this time last year. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Inflation, Supply-Chain Issues Heighten IL Food Insecurity

Supply-chain issues, inflation and job loss during the pandemic have put many families' food security at risk. In Illinois, hunger remains higher …

Black students are more likely to be suspended for discretionary reasons such as dress code or hairstyle. (simona/Adobe Stock)

Starting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools

Starting Jan. 1, a law goes into effect banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools. Studies have shown one in five Black women working in …

Multiple forms of rental assistance are available in Illinois, including help with up to 18 months of rent, a Court-Based Rental Assistance Program for folks already facing eviction, and legal representation. (burdun/Adobe Stock)

IL Rental Assistance Can Cover Up to 18 Months

Illinois residents struggling to pay rent or facing eviction can find out if the state has funds or services to help. Teri Ross, executive director …

Studies have shown defendants are more likely to have judges set higher bail amounts when their hearings are conducted by video. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Remote Court Hearings Compromise Attorney-Client Relationships

As the court system works to catch up from pandemic disruptions, many courts continue to use remote technology or are testing new ways to incorporate …

Illinois is one of many states where lawsuits are either happening or expected around the redistricting process. (dark_blade/Adobe Stock)

Groups Challenge IL Legislative Maps, Cite Voting Rights Act

CHICAGO -- Court hearings in legal challenges to Illinois' proposed legislative maps are underway. Groups are challenging the maps, citing the Voting …

Maywood Mayor Nathaniel Booker joined the governor to announce funding for water assistance. (Office of J.B Pritzker)

Financial Assistance Available for Stopping Water Shutoffs in IL

CHICAGO -- Illinois residents struggling to pay utility bills can apply for assistance through the state, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced this week $…

Most families of four making up to $300,000 per year would be eligible for savings on child care if the U.S. Senate passes the Build Back Better Act. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

IL Groups: Build Back Better Would Improve Children's Health

CHICAGO - Children's advocates in Illinois are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it passed the House last month…

Advocates for eliminating group-home settings for foster care say they are more expensive per child than in-home placements with families, and lead to worse outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Family Foster Homes, Not Group Homes

CHICAGO -- Group homes and large institutional foster-care settings should be phased out, according to the latest survey of kids in the system…

Black youths are disproportionately impacted by the lack of a minimum age for criminal responsibility in Illinois; 60% to 62% of kids age 10 to 13 who are arrested are Black. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

CHICAGO -- At this week's World Congress on Justice with Children, Illinois experts and researchers shared ways the U.S. could work to get back in …

Compassion and Choices has a "Dementia Values and Priorities" toolkit that can help folks start conversations about their wishes for their care. (Windy Night/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge End-of-Life Planning During Alzheimer's Awareness Month

CHICAGO -- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in Illinois, and groups advocating for end-of-life planning say now is the time to …

Illinoisans who fought for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act are urging the federal government to follow the Prairie State's lead. (ink drop/Adobe Stock)

IL Leaders Urge Major Climate Investments During COP26

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- As talks continue in Scotland at the annual international climate summit, Illinoisans are among those urging the U.S. to follow …

Nearly 80% of farmers do not have the option to change service providers if their connections are slow, according to a 2019 report from the United Soybean Board. (Budimir Jevtic/Adobe Stock)

Report: Farmers Need Broadband Access in Offices, Fields, Community

FILLMORE, Ill. - A new report says farmers in the United States need better broadband and in more places - their home offices, their fields and their …

The Violence Against Women Act has been stalled in the U.S. Senate since it expired in 2019. (nito/Adobe Stock)

Creating Space for LGBTQ Illinoisans to Discuss Domestic Violence

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and advocates want to shed more light on how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual…

People living with disabilities make up roughly 30% of the U.S. workforce, while their unemployment rate is more than double the overall rate. (Kaspars Grinvalds/Adobe Stock)

Disability Advocates Urge More Inclusive Work Environments, Hiring Practices

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- As businesses across Illinois and the nation work to fill open positions, advocates for people with disabilities say they should …

Illinois codified the right to abortion in June 2019. (gistavofrazao/Adobe Stock)

IL Reproductive-Rights Groups Protest Abortion Bans Before SCOTUS Session

CHICAGO -- Reproductive-rights advocates took to the streets across Illinois and the U.S. over the weekend to protest the new Texas law banning …

The U.S. Senate already passed a bipartisan physical infrastructure bill, but some U.S. House lawmakers say it needs to go hand-in-hand with the larger budget reconciliation bill. (sdecoret/Adobe Stock)

Calls from Sustainable Businesses to Take Bold Action on Climate Change

CHICAGO -- More than 300 companies from Illinois and across the U.S. have signed a letter, urging Congress to curb climate change by modernizing the …

Roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

IL Immigrant Allies Urge Congress to Pass Pathway to Citizenship

CHICAGO -- Advocates for immigrants and refugees in Illinois traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to push for a pathway to citizenship for up to …

The Biden administration has pledged not to raise income taxes on people making incomes of less than $400,000 a year. (Adobe Stock)

Support Grows Among Wealthy for Higher Taxes on High Earners

CHICAGO - More than 200 high-net-worth individuals signed a letter this week urging Congress to move forward on the $3.5 trillion budget bill - even t…

Dulce Ortiz of Clean Power Lake County was among those who spoke at the signing of landmark clean-energy legislation in Illinois. (Office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker)

Landmark Climate, Jobs Law Hailed in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The historic clean-energy bill signed into Illinois law yesterday includes measures from closing coal and natural gas plants by 2…

Ten artists from across the country are coming together to draw 40 chalk portraits of passengers and crew members of United Flight 93. (Rosemarie/Adobe Stock)

Chicago Artist Among Those Drawing Chalk Portraits of Flight 93 'Heroes'

BARRINGTON, Ill. -- Many have called United Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes on Sep. 11, 2001, the first battle in the war on terror…

Activists last week sent Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau some clean Great Lakes water as a symbolic reminder of their shared responsibility to safeguard the Great Lakes. (AndriiKoval/Adobe Stock)

Chicagoans Call for Canada to Support Closing Line 5

CHICAGO -- Groups concerned about water quality and the environment are asking Canadian as well as U.S. officials to back efforts to close the Line 5 …

Resettlement agencies in Illinois helped 37 people from Afghanistan from July 2018 to 2019. In the coming weeks and months, 500 refugees are expected to come to Chicago. (vivalapenler/Adobe Stock)

Chicago Prepares to Welcome Hundreds of Afghan Refugees

CHICAGO -- In the coming weeks and months, more than 500 Afghans are expected to make their homes in Chicago, following the U.S. withdrawal from and …

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