Women behind bars are often survivors of abuse. A series of new laws aim to reduce their sentences
Advocates for domestic violence survivors in Illinois celebrated earlier this month when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law making it easier for those who are incarcerated to get reduced sentences.
‘Hitting kids should never be allowed’: Illinois bans corporal punishment in all schools
Illinois will soon become just the fifth state in the nation to prohibit corporal punishment in all schools.
Biden to designate 1908 Springfield race riot site as national monument
President Joe Biden is expected to sign a proclamation designating a national monument in Springfield, Illinois, at the site of a 1908 race riot that later fueled the formation of the NAACP.
US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds
A new report shows the number of monthly abortions in the U.S. went up slightly in the first three months of 2024 compared with before the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade.
Wind power can be a major source of tax revenue, but officials struggle to get communities on board
An Associated Press analysis of county tax data across three states — Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska — found wind companies rank among the biggest taxpayers in many rural communities, with their total tax bills at times outstripping that of large farms, power plants and other major businesses.
TRACKER: 2,668 DNC delegates clear the path for Harris nomination in August
After President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s pick to run against former President Donald Trump, the party’s leaders started to rally behind her.
A dam fails after rain, wind, tornadoes pound the Midwest. The Chicago area is cleaning up
Severe storms in the Midwest have overtopped a dam in southern Illinois and left the Chicago area cleaning up.
Illinois may soon return land the US stole from a Prairie Band Potawatomi chief 175 years ago
Illinois is poised to right a 175-year-old wrong by returning land in northern Illinois guaranteed to a Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation chief in 1829.
Facial recognition startup Clearview AI settles privacy suit
Facial recognition startup Clearview AI has reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects’ privacy rights.
States bet on boosting taxes for online sports betting companies like DraftKings, FanDuel
States are looking to increase their take from the $16 billion online sports gambling industry as it expands across the country with big partnerships.
‘Home Alone’ house on sale for 2nd time since iconic movie was filmed
Located on 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, the house hit the market over the weekend for the second time since the 1990 film was released.
A 19th century flag disrupts leadership at an Illinois museum and prompts a state investigation
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is under the spotlight again after a manager failed to consult a collections committee before purchasing a 21-star flag, supposedly from 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state to join the Union.
Travel alert: More severe weather forecast in Midwest as Iowa residents clean up tornado damage
Several tornadoes have been reported in Iowa and Illinois as storms downed power lines and trees.
Man is found fit to go on trial in attacks that killed 4 in Rockford, Illinois
A man has been found fit to stand trial on charges of killing four people and injuring seven others during a series of frenzied attacks in northern Illinois in March.
`Micropreemie' baby who weighed just over 1 pound at birth goes home from Illinois hospital
A baby girl who weighed just over one pound when she was born prematurely has beaten the odds and gone home with her parents after six months at a Chicago area hospital.
Survivors of alleged abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities step forward
Three men who say they were sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers have stepped forward with their stories as part of a lawsuit chronicling decades of disturbing allegations of systemic child abuse.
Lawsuit alleges decades of child sex abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers statewide
A lawsuit alleges that child sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers was pervasive and systemic for decades.
Illinois governor's office says Bears' plan for stadium remains 'non-starter' after meeting
Illinois Gov_ J_B_ Pritzker’s office says the Chicago Bears' proposal to fund a new lakefront stadium remains a “non-starter."
Donovan Clingan, UConn power back into Final Four behind 30-0 run in 77-52 rout of Illinois
Defending national champion UConn powered its way back into the Final Four behind a 30-0 run led by Donovan Clingan, who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Huskies crushed Illinois 77-52.
Terrence Shannon Jr. leads Illinois past Iowa State 72-69 for first Elite Eight trip since 2005
Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 29 points and Illinois reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005, beating Iowa State 72-69 in an East Region semifinal on Thursday night.
Suspect charged with murder, attempted murder in deadly Rockford rampage
A 22-year-old man has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in a frenzied deadly rampage that unfolded in a matter of minutes in a northern Illinois city.
Illinois finally gets past opening weekend of March Madness with 89-63 rout of Duquesne
Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 30 points, Marcus Domask added 22 and No. 3 seed Illinois made fast work 11th-seeded Duquesne in an 89-63 victory to reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.
Quoting Dr. Seuss, 'Just go, Go, GO!' federal judge dismisses Blagojevich political comeback suit
A federal judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit by ex-governor and ex-con Rod Blagojevich seeking a return to public office by quoting Dr. Seuss.
Shannon scores Big Ten tourney-record 40 points as No. 13 Illinois tops Nebraska 98-87 in semifinals
Terrence Shannon Jr. scored a career-high 40 points for a Big Ten Tournament record to lead a second-half surge by 13th-ranked Illinois in a 98-87 victory over Nebraska in the semifinals.
Lauderhill man accused of shooting suburban Chicago cop ‘numerous times’
A Lauderhill man is facing an attempted murder charge in Illinois after police said he shot an off-duty police sergeant working a private security detail at a suburban Chicago trucking company Monday.
Edey helps rally No. 3 Purdue to 77-71 win at No. 12 Illinois to clinch outright Big Ten title
Zach Edey had 28 points and eight rebounds as No. 3 Purdue rallied in the second half to beat No. 12 Illinois 77-71, becoming the first team in 17 years to win consecutive outright Big Ten regular-season championships.
Trump appeals judge's decision to remove his name from Illinois primary ballot
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have appealed an Illinois judge’s decision ordering election officials to remove the Republican’s name from the state's March 19 primary ballot.
Illinois governor's proposed $53B budget includes funds for migrants, quantum computing and schools
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is outlining a $52.7 billion state spending plan with more money for the migrant crisis, education and quantum computing.
Illinois election officials to weigh recommendation to remove Trump's name from March primary ballot
A retired judge has recommended to an Illinois election board that former President Donald Trump's name should be removed from the Illinois primary ballot, but he says the decision should be left to the courts.
Man suspected of killing 8 people in suburban Chicago was related to most of the victims, police say
A man suspected of shooting and killing eight people in suburban Chicago this weekend was related to most of the victims, authorities said Tuesday, a day after the 23-year-old fatally shot himself during a confrontation with law enforcement in Texas.
Terrence Shannon Jr. scores 16 in his return, No. 14 Illinois beats Rutgers 86-63
Justin Harmon scored 18 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 16 in his return to lead five Illinois players in double figures as the No. 14 Illini beat Rutgers 86-63.
Judge ends suspension of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who faces rape charge
A federal judge has reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since he was charged with rape in Kansas.
Some US states and NYC succeed in getting 2020 census numbers double-checked and increased
Illinois is adding tens of thousands of people to its population total, and California is getting misplaced sailors on an aircraft carrier put in the right location.
Jahmir Young, Julian Reese lead Maryland to 76-67 win over No. 10 Illinois
Jahmir Young scored 28 points and Julian Reese had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Maryland to a 76-67 victory over No. 10 Illinois.
Trial is postponed for an Illinois man charged with killing 7 at a Fourth of July parade in 2022
A judge has postponed the trial of an Illinois man accused of killing seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 after his lawyer on Wednesday asked for more time to review evidence.
Trey Kaufman-Renn's breakout night helps No. 1 Purdue hold off No. 9 Illinois 83-78
Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a season-high 23 points, Lance Jones added 17 and top-ranked Purdue held off a late comeback bid to beat No. 9 Illinois 83-78.
Illinois suspends star basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. following rape charge
Illinois has suspended basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. after he was charged with rape for an alleged incident that happened when the football team played at Kansas in September.
The Supreme Court refuses to block an Illinois law banning some high-power semiautomatic weapons
The Supreme Court has declined to put on hold a new Illinois law that would ban high-power semiautomatic weapons like the one used in the mass killing of seven people at a 2022 parade in a Chicago suburb.
Bam Adebayo scores 23 points as the Heat cruise to a 118-100 win over the Bulls
Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds, and the Miami Heat blew out the Chicago Bulls 118-100 on Monday night, two nights after blowing a 21-point lead in the same building.
DeMar DeRozan scores 23 as Bulls erase 21-point deficit and end Heat’s winning streak at 7 games
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and the Chicago Bulls rallied to beat Miami 102-97 on Saturday night, halting the Heat’s winning streak at seven games.
New vehicles from Detroit's automakers are planned in contracts that ended UAW strikes
Stellantis plans to build a new midsize pickup truck, along with battery-run versions of six Jeep, Ram and Dodge vehicles.
Milk carton shortage hits school lunchrooms in New York, California and other states, USDA says
A shortage of half-pint milk cartons is affecting school meals in cafeterias across the U.S. School officials from New York to California are scrambling for backup options after a main supplier of cartons said demand has outstripped supply.
Illinois city tickets reporter for asking too many questions, in latest First Amendment dustup
Officials in a suburban Chicago community have issued municipal citations to a local news reporter for what they say were persistent contacts with city officials seeking comment on treacherous fall flooding.
Major Navigator CO2 pipeline project is on hold while the company reevaluates the route in 5 states
One of the two biggest proposed carbon dioxide pipeline projects in the Midwest is being put on hold so the company can reevaluate the route.
Chicago-area man charged in connection to Juneteenth party shooting where 1 died and 22 were hurt
Authorities say a suburban Chicago man has been charged in connection with a June shooting where one person died and 22 others were injured.
Capitol rioter who attacked Reuters cameraman and police officer gets more than 4 years in prison
An Illinois man who attacked a police officer and a Reuters cameraman during the U.S. Capitol riot has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.
An Abe Lincoln photo made during his 1858 ascendancy has been donated to his museum in Springfield
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has obtained an original 1858 photograph of the future president with an interesting backstory.
Dog dies of neglect under watch of ‘evil’ pet sitter in Sunny Isles Beach, police say
An Illinois woman is accused of neglecting two dogs, one of whom starved to death, after she was hired to watch over them in Sunny Isles Beach.
No. 7 Penn State defense gets five takeaways and pulls away from Illinois in 30-13 victory
Cam Miller, Abdul Carter, Daequan Dixon and Johnny Hardy had interceptions and No. 7 Penn State took advantage of five Illinois turnovers to beat the Illini 30-13.
Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color. Illinois is the first state to abolish it
Critics of cash bail as a condition of pretrial release say it is especially unfair to Black people and other people of color.
Man sent to prison for 10 years for setting a fire at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic
A man who set a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Former 'Family Feud' contestant Timothy Bliefnick gets life for wife's murder
A judge has sentenced a former contestant on the television game show “Family Feud” to life in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of his estranged wife in western Illinois.
Illinois governor signs ban on firearms advertising allegedly marketed to kids and militants
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law banning firearms advertising that officials determine produces a public safety threat or appeals to children, militants or others who might later use the weapons illegally.
Feds capture Illinois man wanted in Keys on 260+ child pornography charges
U.S. Marshals captured a suburban Chicago man wanted in South Florida for possessing child sexual abuse material, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Illinois to ban advertising for guns allegedly marketed to kids and militants
Illinois will soon outlaw advertising for firearms that officials determine produce a public safety threat or appeals to children, militants or others who might later use the weapons illegally.
US judge blocks new Illinois law allowing state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers
A federal judge has blocked a new Illinois law that allows the state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers if they use deception to interfere with patients seeking the procedure.
Misleading clients on abortion could cost Illinois pregnancy centers
Crisis pregnancy centers in Illinois that are popping up near abortion facilities to offer information about alternatives face penalties if they disseminate misleading or untruthful information.
Illinois is first state to eliminate cash bail, a penalty affecting low-income communities most
Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail as a condition of pretrial release from jail on Tuesday.
Trial date set for father of suspect in mass shooting at July 4 parade in suburban Chicago
An Illinois judge has set a Nov. 6 trial date for a father charged with helping his son obtain a gun license three years before the son allegedly shot dead seven people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago.
Tornado touches down near Chicago's O'Hare airport, disrupting hundreds of flights
A National Weather Service team will survey damage in northeast Illinois, where fierce winds from suspected tornadoes ripped roofs from buildings, downed trees and sent residents scrambling for safety as sirens sounded.
Haze, heat and storms are bringing danger and discomfort to many parts of the US
Smoky haze, hot weather and powerful storms brought dangerous and uncomfortable conditions to parts of the U.S. heading into a long July Fourth weekend that typically draws Americans to outdoor gatherings.
At least 6 killed, dozens injured in weekend shootings across US
At least six people are dead and dozens injured in a string of weekend violence and mass shootings across the U.S. The shootings — in suburban Chicago, Washington state, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Southern California and Baltimore — follow a surge of violence over the past several years that experts say accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic.
Parking lot party shooting leaves 1 dead and at least 22 people hurt in suburban Chicago
Authorities say one person is dead and at least 22 are wounded in suburban Chicago after a shooting early Sunday during a large gathering in a strip mall parking lot.
De La Cruz hits 2-run double as Miami Marlins rally past Chicago White Sox 6-5
Bryan De La Cruz hit a two-run double in Miami’s three-run ninth inning, and the Marlins beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Sunday.
Sharing the sentence: Separation takes toll on incarcerated moms and their kids
Tens of thousands fewer women were incarcerated in the U.S. between 2019 and 2020 due to COVID-19, but as prison populations creep back to pre-pandemic norms, more children are being separated from their mothers, putting them at greater risk of health and behavioral problems, and making them vulnerable to abuse and displacement.
Catholic clergy sexually abused Illinois kids far more often than church acknowledged, state finds
Illinois’ attorney general has released the results of a sweeping investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, saying investigators found that 451 clergy sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950.
Supreme Court lets Illinois keep ban on sale of some semiautomatic guns for now
The Supreme Court says that Illinois can, for now, keep in place a new law that bars the sale of certain semiautomatic guns and large-capacity magazines.
Marlins stop 5-game slide with 14-inning win over Cubs
Garrett Hampson scored on Adbert Alzolay’s balk in the 14th inning, and the Miami Marlins stopped a five-game slide by outlasting the Chicago Cubs for a wild 5-4 victory on Sunday.
32 dead as tornadoes torment from Arkansas to Delaware
Residents across a wide swath of the U.S. are racing to assess the destruction from fierce storms that spawned possibly dozens of tornadoes from the South and the Midwest into the Northeast.