A State Senator Had Thousands of Dollars in Ticket Debt. Now She’s Fighting to Make Sure Others Won’t.
A Q&A with Illinois state Sen. Celina Villanueva, who introduced a bill to end driver’s license suspensions for unpaid red-light and speed camera tickets.
Some Nonprofit Hospitals Aren’t Earning Their Tax Breaks, Critics Say
Half of all charity care in Chicago falls to one health system.
Chicago Is Making the Case for Releasing Pregnant Inmates
Women in jail typically have limited prenatal support and return to custody soon after giving birth. One program is testing a different approach.
The Deep Divide: State Borders Create Medicaid Haves And Have-Nots
State borders can highlight Medicaid’s arbitrary coverage.
In Hair and Nail Salons, Beauty Experts Are Now Looking for Signs of Domestic Violence
Illinois requires cosmetologists to undergo training to learn the signs of domestic violence in order to renew their professional licenses.
Dispatching a 'Battle Buddy' to Help Distressed Veterans
An initiative in Joliet, Illinois, sends police officers with military experience to respond to calls for service involving veterans who need help.
A State Will Require Civics Education in Prisons
The goal of the new Illinois law is to reduce recidivism, help former prisoners reintegrate into their communities, and boost voter turnout.
Legal Challenge Over $14 Billion in State Debt Is Sidelined For Now
A judge has blocked the Illinois case from proceeding, but the think tank CEO who brought it says he plans to appeal.
Teaching Consent as Part of Sex Ed
Sex ed classes in Illinois schools must include a lesson on consent under a state law that goes into effect in January.
Leveraging Technology to Clear Criminal Records
Cook County, Illinois, will automatically expunge low-level convictions for marijuana offenses using software from Code for America.
The Latest State to Prohibit Smoking in Cars With Minors
In Illinois, people smoking in a car carrying a child can now face fines up to $250. At least nine other states have similar policies.
29 Dogs Died in a Kennel Fire. Legislators Hope to Prevent it From Happening Again.
Illinois became the first state in the country to mandate safety protections for dogs and cats in kennel facilities.
At Hearing on Financial Aid Scandal, Lawmakers Grill Officials and Look to Close a Loophole
Illinois politicians considered denying admission to students whose families exploited the guardianship law to qualify for aid they wouldn’t otherwise receive, saying it was an “injustice.”
Parents Are Giving Up Custody of Their Kids to Get Need-Based College Financial Aid
First, parents turn over guardianship of their teenagers to a friend or relative. Then the student declares financial independence to qualify for tuition aid and scholarships. Lawmakers in Illinois are calling for an end to the loophole.
Employers Barred from Asking for Job Applicant Wage Histories in More and More States
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Putting the city’s light-rail vision to a vote in Phoenix … Looking for a regulatory sweet spot for housing in Des Moines ... Declaring a water emergency in New Jersey.
New Democratic Majorities Lead to Rush of Bills—and Conflict
With new trifectas, Democratic leaders in six states had the opportunity to push through many new laws. But there were also clashes, both internally and with Republicans.
How One City Dramatically Cut Its Murder Rate
With a focus on community policing and engagement with neighborhood groups, Aurora, Illinois has become a model for cities across the country.
The One Political Job Where Women Are Overrepresented
A new study finds that women are more likely to hold county clerk positions, possibly because the job’s responsibilities conform to traditional gender roles for women in the workplace.
Gap Grows Between Well-Off and Troubled State Public Pension Plans
The findings from The Pew Charitable Trusts come as the U.S. enters a record phase of economic expansion.
Why is One State Hemorrhaging Residents?
People are leaving Illinois in droves.
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