Mitchell Armentrout

His Black Excellence in Bleu has raised more than $1 million since it was formed last year, some of that from groups with a stake in his legislative decision-making. Unlike campaign contributions, such giving is harder to track.

In a Springfield debate that pits big cannabis companies against the burgeoning hemp industry, all agree weedlike products such as delta-8 should be kept away from kids. So why haven’t lawmakers figured out how to regulate them?

Only 30% of Illinoisans have gotten a Real ID with the federal deadline coming May 7. But standard state drivers licenses and IDs will suffice for most situations unless you’re flying and don’t have a passport, according to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Uncertainty in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration has made a tough state budget season even more difficult for Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats who control Springfield.

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago claims sanctuary policies in Illinois that keep local authorities from cooperating with the deportation effort are “exacerbating” a crisis at the U.S. southern border.

In the final minutes of his term, Biden pardoned Kinzinger and other members of the Select Committee on the January 6th Attack. “I am not nervous, I’m not scared, and I will not back down,” Kinzinger said.

State lawmakers who stood in the way of recent legislation that would’ve regulated intoxicating hemp products have received significant campaign cash from the industry — while some backers of the proposal got money from the rival marijuana industry.

Midway through Gov. JB Pritzker’s three-year plan to relocate 123 residents from the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, the state faces “significant barriers” to fixing a troubled system, according to a independent monitor.

Bipartisan legislation introduced in Springfield would also create a system for relatives to ask the state to step in if they think their aging loved ones are no longer capable of driving.

Gov. JB Pritzker waved off concerns that a fiery House Democratic caucus meeting that tanked one of his prized legislative priorities would throw off his party as it faces a budget crunch and a second Trump administration.