Illinois Legislature

While the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has escalated fears of political violence, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch has been on high alert since June 14, when Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home.

Chris Balkema won a special election last year in the 53rd Senate District, a large, mostly rural district north of Bloomington-Normal. It stretches from the Peoria area to the Indiana border.

High school and community college students in Illinois will soon be able to earn automatic admission to most state public universities based on their GPA — without even having to apply.

Disagreements over property taxes and public funding have driven the discussion of the Bears’ desire to leave century-old Soldier Field, where the team has played since 1971.

A bill pending in Springfield would give nursing home residents a better opportunity to sue facilities over retaliation claims that advocates say are rampant across Illinois. But a powerful industry trade group with deep financial ties to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon is lobbying against them.

A message of sadness and resistance was echoed by more than a dozen Democratic state lawmakers who voted to keep Illinois one of the most welcoming states for immigrants.

State Sen. Dave Koehler, a Democrat from Peoria, is seeking a sixth term against Sally Owens, a first-time candidate and small business consultant in Peoria.

Massey was shot and killed by a former sheriff’s deputy. Her family believes the law should be changed to prevent officers from bouncing around law enforcement agencies.

Illinois politics can be difficult to understand. But there is help to be found in the new book, Illinois Politics: A Citizens’ Guide to Power, Politics, and Government.

“It’s all trial and error right now,” said Greg Bernal, a two-year resident of Phoenix Towers in Bloomington.