capitol news illinois

As the state’s chief fiscal officer, the comptroller is often referred to as manager of the state’s checkbook

Task force considers changes to qualified immunity for Illinois law enforcement officers (Springfield, IL) - A new state task force continued discussions Thursday as to what changes could be made to the way state law approaches qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.

Illinois to invest over $40 million in workforce training (Springfield, IL) - Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday that the state will award more than $40 million in workforce training grants, focusing on communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and youth who are particularly at risk of violence.

Advocates ask lawmakers to slow down remap process (Springfield, IL) - Voting rights advocates and minority community members urged Illinois lawmakers on Thursday to take more time in redrawing legislative district maps so the general public can have more time to study whatever new maps will be proposed.

News briefs: Some IDES offices open for appointments; eviction moratorium amended, extended (Springfield, IL) - As federal unemployment benefits created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire next week, Illinois continues to see high unemployment rates, although things have improved from one year ago. 

Democratic leaders seek to dismiss redistricting lawsuits (Springfield, IL) - Lawyers for Illinois’ Democratic legislative leaders last week filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Republicans and a Mexican American advocacy group regarding newly drawn legislative maps, calling the challenge “purely speculative” until full U.S. Census data is released.

State revenues surged in previous fiscal year (Springfield, IL) - Revenues flowing into state coffers surged in the fiscal year that ended June 30, spurred largely by an influx of federal funds, the delayed deadline for filing income tax returns last year and an economic recovery that boosted income and sales tax collections beyond what had been estimated.