Dan Petrella

As Texas Democrats plan Illinois departure, lawmaker hopes daughters will one day see ‘dad fought back’ While the standoff appears to be drawing to a close, Texas Democrats in Illinois have laid the groundwork for declaring victory even if the Texas GOP eventually passes its map.

John Bucy’s older daughter “seemed a little frustrated” with him this week when he wasn’t home to take her to school for her first day of kindergarten. The Texas House lawmaker from Austin hopes one day she’ll understand.

Competition for 9th Congressional District heats up as 2 state legislators join large Democratic field The race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is getting more crowded as state Sen. Mike Simmons launches his campaign.

The race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is getting more crowded as state Sen. Mike Simmons launches his campaign.

Gov. JB Pritzker running for a third term in 2026, but remains mum about presidential bid JB Pritzker’s decision to run for governor again settles a significant issue for next year’s election season, where candidates will be vying for an open US Senate seat as well as several in C…

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker will announce that he will seek a third term next year, answering a question about his immediate political future but leaving unanswered whether he will pursue a longer-term goal of running for president in 2028.

Despite moves by Indiana lawmakers, Illinois’ borders unlikely to change. Here’s why. Despite political maneuvering in each state, the borders of Illinois and Indiana are unlikely to change.

Despite political maneuvering in each state, the borders of Illinois and Indiana are unlikely to change.

Former Gov. George Ryan, who halted state’s death penalty but was imprisoned for corruption, dies at 91 Illinois’ governor from 1999 to 2003, George Ryan’s 35-year political career was sullied by a conviction for corruption in 2006.

BREAKING: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who halted state’s death penalty but was imprisoned for corruption, dies at 91

After years of negotiations, state lawmakers consider measures to phase out plastic bags, foam food containers Illinois lawmakers are considering two measures designed to cut down on the use of plastic bags and polystyrene meal containers.

After 10+ years of negotiations and failed efforts to reduce plastic use, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation to prohibit large retailers from offering single-use plastic bags and ban the use of foam containers in the state. From @addisonwright.bsky.social for @chicagotribune.com:

Gov. JB Pritzker, lawmakers moving sluggishly on Illinois ethics law reforms despite uptick in convictions
By Dan Petrella, Jeremy Gorner & me
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/28/g...

Illinois unveils online tool showing measles vaccination rates by school The new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard uses school vaccination data to project and estimate the size of a measles outbreak in individual Illinois schools.

With measles spreading across the country, the Illinois Department of Public Health unveiled a new online tool Wednesday that allows people to look up measles vaccination rates and data about the risk of outbreaks at individual schools across the state.

Democratic-led Illinois Supreme Court rejects GOP challenge to legislative maps that kept Democrats in control Democratic majority on Illinois Supreme Court said Republicans waited too long to argue 2021 redrawing was unconstitutional political gerrymandering.

The Democrat-led Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday said Republicans waited too long to contest the 2021 redrawing of legislative districts that has maintained Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Illinois Democratic Party targets Richard Irvin as he seeks third term as Aurora mayor Incumbent Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, a GOP governor candidate in 2022, is facing reelection opposition from Illinois Democrats led by Gov. JB Pritzker.

After making history in 2017 as Aurora’s first Black mayor and cruising to reelection four years ago, Richard Irvin now faces a political challenge partly of his own making as he seeks a third term leading Illinois’ second-largest city.

1/6: Over 30,000 face losing their health insurance as
@govpritzker.illinois.gov proposes cutting coverage for those 42-64 years old immigrants who are in the country without legal permission to balance the state’s budget, potentially leaving many uninsured again.

Immigrant families scramble as state health insurance for some noncitizens faces the axe in Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget plan The impact of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to eliminate a health insurance program for noncitizen immigrants ages 42 to 64.

Cutting the program for the 42-to-64 age group is a significant piece of Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to balance a $55.2 billion state budget proposal. The governor estimates it will save $330 million as costs are rising and growth in income and sales taxes is slowing.

University of Chicago under investigation as part of Trump’s anti-DEI initiative The University of Chicago is among over 50 universities under investigation for alleged racial discrimination.

The University of Chicago is among over 50 universities under investigation for alleged racial discrimination as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which his administration said excludes white and Asian American students.

Illinois hit by President Donald Trump’s cancellation of foreign aid contracts A major soybean lab at the University of Illinois among the victims of President Donald Trump’s termination of foreign aid.

Peter Goldsmith received notice President Trump’s administration had terminated the federal government’s agreement to fund the Soybean Innovation Lab at U of I. He wasn't alone in Illinois. Local impact of Trump's freeze/cuts by @petrellareports.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/28/t...

Honored to have worked on this project with some very sensitive and smart journalists!

President Donald Trump’s moves to end foreign aid agency hit close to home in Illinois Illinois groups receiving aid dollars that help developing nations say freezing federal funds hurts jobs at home.

Illinois groups receiving aid dollars that help developing nations say freezing federal funds hurts jobs at home.

State Week: Madigan convicted, Blagojevich pardoned We discuss the federal trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wrapping up and President Trump's decision to issue a pardon to Rod Blagojevich.

Madigan, Blago in-depth on State Week in Review with host Sean Crawford, Charlie Wheeler and me www.nprillinois.org/government-p...

Cook County prosecutors seek to unionize in first major drive in decades A group of assistant state’s attorneys seeks voluntary recognition of a bargaining unit that would represent hundreds of lawyers.

Cook County prosecutors are seeking a union with the Teamsters

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/c...

(Cook County PDs are already unionized with AFSCME)

Dick Durbin seeks watchdog inquiry into Kash Patel, alleges behind-the-scenes role in purge at FBI Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate after he says he received information that President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel,…

Illinois’ senior senator has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate after he says he received information that President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, had been “personally directing the ongoing purge” of agents at the bureau.

One Agency Tried to Regulate SpaceX. Now Its Fate Could Be in Elon Musk’s Hands. The Trump ally and DOGE chief is expected to turn his budget-slashing sights on the FAA’s little-known commercial spaceflight office, which has proposed fines and grounded SpaceX after explosions and ...

Elon Musk's SpaceX wants to launch 25 Starship rockets this year. The last one exploded, sending debris raining down on the islands of Turks & Caicos. He now has power over the federal agency that licenses launches. @propublica.org @heathervogell.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/elon...

Elon Musk’s Team Decimates Education Department Arm That Tracks National School Performance The Trump administration canceled $900 million in contracts overseen by the Institute of Education Sciences, which partners with scientists and education companies to compile and make public data abou...

While you were sleeping: The Trump administration has terminated more than $900 million in Education Department contracts, taking away a key source of data on the quality and performance of the nation’s schools.

The kind of content that only @robertloerzel.bsky.social can provide.

The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Could redevelopment plans change that? A new Pink Line station wouldn’t be the first at the intersection of Madison and Paulina streets.

The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Took a look at the prospects for a new station now, as a redevelopment proposal for the surrounding area moves forward

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/u...

Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been unleashed on federal agencies. ProPublica is attempting to document who is working with him and what they are doing.

Employees and associates of the world's richest man, Elon Musk, are taking power in government and taking over federal computer systems. ProPublica is documenting who's involved and what they're doing. This is the DOGE tracker.

Trump administration sues Illinois, Cook County and Chicago over sanctuary immigration laws The Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit challenging sanctuary immigration laws in Illinois.

President Donald Trump’s administration went to court Thursday to challenge sanctuary policies in the state of Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago that limit the powers of state and local police to assist federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.

Hoping to ‘Trump proof’ students’ rights, Illinois lawmakers aim to end police ticketing at school Citing an urgency to protect students’ civil rights in a second Trump administration, Illinois lawmakers have filed a new bill that would explicitly prevent school police from ticketing and fining …

An update on our investigation with ProPublica on schools using police to ticket and fine students: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/04/i...

Heading into budget season, Gov. JB Pritzker faces major challenge to show ‘Illinois can govern itself’ 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 projected $3.2 billion budget hole is just one of the challenges facing Gov. JB Pritzker as he prepares his next spending plan.

Chicago man arrested by ICE asks forgiveness, victim's mother supports possible deportation ICE has not released details about Chicago arrests this week, leaving Dr. Phil McGraw’s video of Sai Pavuluri’s detention as one of the few tacitly confirmed cases.

In far south suburban Manteno, Wendy Howard had been “torn” over President Trump’s deportation plan, worried about how it will affect families and young children.

But Pavuluri, she says, is different. He is responsible for her daughter’s death.

@ckubzansky.bsky.social

Mayor Brandon Johnson on the federal grant freeze this morning, from @aliceyin.bsky.social

Unclear right now how this would affect CTA, which gets federal COVID-19 relief funds to keep running trains and buses, and just signed an agreement for a huge federal grant for the Red Line extension.

‘You’re Dr. Phil.’ TV personality says he joined immigration raids in Chicago for ‘transparency.’ The presence of ‘Dr. Phil’ at Chicago federal immigration raids raises questions about the propriety of the operation and highlights a presidency that favors reality TV.

“You’re Dr. Phil,” the man said to television personality Phil McGraw, who, while standing alongside federal agents, peppered the man with questions about his citizenship and alleged crimes. @petrellareports.bsky.social @nellsalzman.bsky.social @jake-sheridan.bsky.social