JB Pritzker

Leadership at YWCA McLean County is pitching government bodies for financial help to address the area's childcare crisis. President and CEO Liz German said there are significant gaps in the state subsidy for childcare — and change is not coming fast enough.

Gov. JB Pritzker said he doesn't want to see McLean County farmland given up for data centers. He said the state should be pumping the brakes on the industry rather than rolling out the red carpet for it.

Speaking to the group of well over 100, Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey emphasized that despite his loss to incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker four years ago, he thinks Illinois residents are ready for change wherever they live.

The leading candidates for governor respond to questions about school funding and education policy during their State Fair appearances.

McLean, Champaign, Ford, Marshall and Tazewell counties are included in the proclamation, which makes additional state resources available to assist response and recovery efforts.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey both appeared at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable forum at Funk Farms Trust in Shirley.

In a letter sent to President Donald Trump on Thursday, Gov. JB Pritzker asked the president to send direct payments of $1,700 to Illinois families. He also encouraged Trump to stop seeking new ways to enforce tariffs and to support legislation that would require corporations to pass refund relief back to consumers.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed sweeping regulations Friday aimed at social media companies and cracking down on “addictive algorithms” that keep kids glued to their screens.

The Illinois governor is showing up in presidential polls, and he’s building coalitions with state parties while also strengthening his national name recognition. He’s also explored fundraising that doesn’t include self-funding — if a presidential run is truly in the cards.

According to one study, Illinois is losing $6.2 billion a year from people exiting the workforce due to childcare challenges. Experts say a new statewide department dedicated to early childhood is unlikely to provide immediate relief.