State witness protection program finally gets millions in funding, but has yet to get off the ground
Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposes $30 million for a witness protection program that received the same amount in last year's budget after years of neglect. But the program has yet to relocate any witnesses and has spent only a tiny fraction of the allocation.
chicagotribune.comLawmakers pass energy bill, โskinnyโ budget as session ends
The politically divided Virginia General Assembly worked through dozens of pieces of legislation, including a major energy bill and stop-gap budget bill, on Saturday as lawmakers reached the end of their regularly scheduled session without a deal on the entire state spending plan.
Prosecutors fighting no-cash bail law argue that legislators should have put the question to voters
Prosecutors challenging a state law that eliminated cash bail argued in a court filing that the measure should have been put to voters as a proposed amendment to the state constitution.
chicagotribune.comGov. J.B. Pritzker stresses education in $49.6 billion budget proposal while blasting a โvirulent form of nationalismโ in national schools debate
Gov. J.B. Pritzker stressed additional funding for education in his $49.6 million budget proposal while also using the occasion to blast โa virulent form of nationalismโ that he said has infected the debate over school curriculums and the content of library shelves in this country.
chicagotribune.comIllinois Attorney General makes initial argument in appeal of ruling that halted move to cashless bail days before it was to take effect โ Chicago Tribune
The Illinois Attorney Generalโs office's initial argument in an appeal of a judgeโs ruling that a state law eliminating cash bail violates the Illinois Constitution pushes back on assertions that the reform measure infringes on judicial power.
chicagotribune.comNations express 'deep concern' at Israeli punitive measure
More than 90 countries have expressed โdeep concernโ at Israelโs punitive measures against the Palestinian people, leadership and civil society following the U.N. General Assemblyโs request for an advisory opinion by the U.N.โs highest counr on the legality of Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem
washingtonpost.comGov. J.B. Pritzker signs amendment to criminal justice overhaul weeks before cash bail set to end
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law changes to a controversial criminal justice overhaul, making good on assurances he made during his successful reelection campaign that the measure would be amended.
chicagotribune.comMidterm 2022 elections: Live results for Illinois
On the ballot this Tuesday is every statewide office, as well as one U.S. Senate seat, two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court, all 17 of Illinoisโ representatives in Congress, every state senator and representative in the General Assembly, and scores of county and judicial offices.
chicagotribune.comIntense lobbying ahead of UN vote on Russian annexations
Western nations are engaging in intense behind-the-scenes lobbying for a Western-backed U.N. resolution that would condemn Russiaโs โattempted illegal annexationโ of four Ukrainian regions and demand that Moscow immediately reverse its actions
washingtonpost.comRussia seeks secret UN vote on condemning Ukraine annexation
Russia called for a secret ballot vote next week on a Western-backed resolution that would condemn its โattempted illegal annexationโ of part of four Ukrainian regions and demand that Moscow immediately reverse its actions. Russia apparently hopes it would get more support from the 193 nations in the General Assembly if their votes are not public. Russia vetoed what would have been a legally binding Security Council resolution on Sept. 30 to condemn annexation referendums in the four Ukrainian regions as illegal, declare them invalid and urge all countries not to recognize any annexation of the territory claimed by Moscow.
news.yahoo.comRussia vetoes UN resolution calling its referendums illegal
Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have condemned its โillegalโ referendums in four Ukrainian regions, declared that they have โno validityโ and urged all countries not to recognize any โpurported annexationโ of the territory by Moscow
washingtonpost.comUN chief warns: 'World is in peril,' and 'paralyzed'
Speaking at the opening of the General Assemblyโs annual high-level meeting, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres told world leaders that nations are โgridlocked in colossal global dysfunctionโ and arenโt ready or willing to tackle major challenges. (Sept. 20)
news.yahoo.comState Superintendent encourages families to apply for free meals
Virginia is expanding eligibility for free meals during the 2022-2023 school year through funding provided by the General Assembly in the state budget. Students with families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Previously, students from families with an income at or below 130% of the poverty level were eligible for free meals.
Local lawmakers react to Gov. Glenn Youngkinโs push to ban abortions after 15 weeks
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has tapped four Republican lawmakers to draft new legislation banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy: Senator Siobhan Dunnavant, Delegate Margaret Ransone, plus local lawmakers Delegate Kathy Byron and Senator Steve Newman.
Illinois 2022 primary live election results
On the ballot this Tuesday is every statewide office, as well as one U.S. Senate seat, two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court, all 17 of Illinoisโ representatives in Congress, every state senator and representative in the General Assembly, and scores of county and judicial offices.
chicagotribune.comIndiana court strikes down emergency law fought by governor
The Indiana Supreme Court on Friday threw out a law that gave state legislators increased power to intervene during public health emergencies, agreeing with arguments from Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb that the move violated the state constitution. The courtโs unanimous decision settles a legal fight that began more than a year ago when Holcomb sued over a law that was a response to his efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law gave legislative leaders authority to call the General Assembly into an โemergency sessionโ if the governor declares a statewide emergency.
news.yahoo.comFuel retailers sue state over requirement that stations post signs advertising gas tax freeze
A trade organization that represents gas station owners alleges in a lawsuit that a requirement that businesses display signs advertising a freeze on the stateโs gas tax violates their freedom of speech and is unconstitutional.
chicagotribune.comTunnel contractor pokes through Virginia Capitol ceiling
- A contractor working on a $25 million tunnel that will connect Virginia's Capitol to a nearby legislative office building "inadvertently" poked through the ceiling of a subterranean Capitol extension earlier this year, causing debris to fall into the visitors center cafe, a state official said.
War in Ukraine spurs bid to take a closer look at UN vetoes
Two days into Russia's attack on Ukraine, a majority of U.N. Security Council members voted to demand that Moscow withdraw. It was the latest in decades of vetoes โ on issues ranging from the Korean War to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to climate change โ that at least temporarily stymied the council that was designed to be the U.N.'s most potent component. A round of venting followed over the veto power afforded to just five of its 15 members: China, the United States, Russia, France, and Britain.
news.yahoo.comGov. J.B. Pritzker takes shot at GOP as he signs $46B election-year budget, $1.8B in largely temporary tax relief
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $46 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, delivering $1.8 billion in largely temporary tax relief as he seeks a second term.
chicagotribune.comAfter long being mired in politics, Lincoln museum has โpotential to be incredibly greatโ under restructuring plan
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield has long been mired in political shenanigans, but advocates hope a bill just passed by state legislators will lead to better and more transparent institution.
chicagotribune.comMaryland lawmakers override gov's veto of abortion expansion
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a measure to expand access to abortion in Maryland was overridden on Saturday by the General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats. It creates an abortion care training program and requires $3.5 million in state funding annually. Del. Emily Shetty said she was supporting the measure on the House floor as a mother who had experienced a high-risk pregnancy.
news.yahoo.comUN taking up 3 resolutions on Ukraine humanitarian crisis
The United Nations is facing three resolutions Wednesday on the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine after Russia decided to call for a vote on its Security Council resolution that makes no mention of its attack on its smaller neighbor
washingtonpost.comGov. Glenn Youngkin wants Virginia lawmakers to suspend gas tax for 3 months
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Wednesday that he wants the divided General Assembly to pass legislation that would suspend the state gas tax for three months, a move he estimated would save drivers 26 cents per gallon at a time when prices have skyrocketed.