Hannah Meisel News Today

Democrats needed three tries to pass their $1.1 billion revenue plan just before 5 a.m.

After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Illinois house of representatives passed proposals to increase the gambling tax rate.

Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach the 60 votes needed to approve more than $1.1 billion in revenue increases, including a tax hike on sportsbooks and businesses, to balance the $53.1 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2025.

The fiscal year 2025 spending plan, which came together over a stretch of late nights and closed-door dealmaking, spends $400 million more than what Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed in his February budget address.

Will lawmakers agree to put public money toward the stadium project? Also, the governor said a state pension law that lowered benefits may need to be revisited.

Gov. JB Pritzker will give his sixth state budget address this week, laying out his plan for a fiscal year.

Prosecutors played FBI recordings of McCann at trial prior to his plea.

The government should rest its case against ex-state Sen. Sam McCann on Thursday.

McCann is expected to plead guilty. He is accused of converting hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars to personal use.