Illinois

Brenda Knuth, a 61-year-old woman from Hoopeston, Illinois, was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $2,500 for voting twice in a federal election. The sentencing occurred on June 26, 2026.

Arkansas father Jimmy Don Lewis, 48, and son Brayden, 22, died in a plane crash in an Illinois field after returning from a St. Louis Cardinals game. The crash occurred Thursday night.

Gambling addiction cases are increasing in Illinois. Casey Toner from the Illinois Answers project discussed the issue on ABC7.

Jesus Vargas was sentenced to life in prison without parole for stabbing a man to death in 2022 and attempting to cover up the murder. The conviction occurred in March, and the case is in Lake County, Illinois.

Illinois' assault weapons ban withstood a legal challenge, though future challenges are anticipated. Chicago's first fully-elected school board race is becoming highly competitive.

Dr. Nirav Shah, a Maine Senate contender, faces criticism from Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth over his past handling of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak during his tenure as Illinois' public health director. Shah defended his response during a CNN interview, citing CDC reviews and past appointments by the Biden Administration, while Duckworth opposes his candidacy, highlighting the outbreak's deadly consequences.

Mexican officials are preparing for a legal battle over deaths of citizens during U.S. immigration enforcement. The case of Silverio Villegas-Gonzales in Illinois is highlighted as part of this issue.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' law banning semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reversing a lower court's ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional. The decision emphasized the law's alignment with firearm regulation traditions, while a dissent argued it violated Second Amendment rights. Illinois officials celebrated the ruling, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reversing a lower court ruling that found the law unconstitutional. Chief Judge Michael Brennan dissented, arguing the ban violates Second Amendment rights, while Illinois officials celebrated the decision as a public safety victory. The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027, marking the second consecutive year of double-digit hikes. The expiration of enhanced subsidies, rising healthcare costs, and regulatory changes are cited as reasons, while enrollments in Marketplace plans dropped by 2.6 million in February compared to the prior year.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a lower court's ruling that found the law unconstitutional. The decision supports the 2023 Protect Illinois Communities Act, enacted after a 2022 Highland Park shooting, and asserts the law aligns with firearm regulation traditions. The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to seek Supreme Court review, while Illinois officials called the ruling a victory for public safety.

A federal appeals court upheld an Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a previous lower-court ruling. The decision enforces the state's prohibition on the sale and possession of such firearms.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a lower court's ruling that found the law unconstitutional. The decision, in a 2-1 ruling, affirmed the law's compliance with the Second Amendment and its role in addressing gun violence. The law, enacted after a 2022 Highland Park parade shooting, faces opposition from gun rights groups seeking Supreme Court review.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois's ban on semiautomatic weapons, overturning a lower court's ruling that deemed the law unconstitutional. The 2-1 decision affirmed the law's compliance with the Second Amendment, citing its alignment with firearm regulation traditions and evidence linking assault weapons to mass shooting severity. The law, enacted in 2023, prohibits AR-15 rifles, large-capacity magazines, and related attachments following a 2022 Highland Park parade shooting.

Illinois voters have supported a non-binding referendum recommending a millionaire's tax twice in recent years, but a constitutional amendment to implement it has failed to gain traction. Progressive politicians have advocated for taxing the wealthy to assist lower-income individuals, though legislative efforts have not succeeded.

A federal appeals court has upheld Illinois' ban on assault weapons. The decision maintains the state's existing restrictions on these firearms.

A Cyclosporiasis outbreak is spreading in Illinois, with 161 cases reported. The CDC advises individuals experiencing symptoms to consult a local healthcare provider.

Former Governor Pat Quinn is advocating for the 'Millionaire Amendment' to reduce Illinois property taxes, which he claims are among the highest in the nation. The proposal suggests implementing a new tax on millionaires to provide relief to homeowners.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' assault weapons ban, and the U.S. Supreme Court will review the issue. The decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals maintains the state's prohibition on assault weapons.

An 8-year-old girl, Kinslee Tschida, was killed by a lightning strike while playing in her backyard in Illinois. Her family is mourning her death.

New legislation has been proposed in Illinois to amend property tax code, aiming to help local communities certify projects as megaprojects. The initiative is part of efforts to keep the Chicago Bears in the state.

A federal grand jury has indicted Democratic Rep. Carol Ammons and her husband on wire fraud charges. The article also discusses the protecting renters ordinance.

John Deere owners and independent repair shops will gain access to diagnostic and repair tools under a new FTC settlement, ending the company's restriction to authorized dealers. This follows a $99 million class-action settlement in April and addresses complaints about withheld software and anticompetitive practices.

John Deere must allow equipment owners and independent repair shops to fix their machinery under a new FTC settlement, ending restrictions on accessing diagnostic tools and software. The agreement follows a separate $99 million class-action settlement in April and requires Deere to avoid retaliating against customers using non-authorized repair services.

John Deere owners will gain the right to repair their equipment under a new FTC settlement requiring the company to provide diagnostic and repair tools to equipment owners and independent shops. The settlement, secured by the FTC and attorneys general from five states, addresses complaints that Deere withheld software and restricted repairs to authorized dealers.

John Deere owners will gain the right to repair their equipment under a new FTC settlement requiring the company to provide diagnostic and repair tools to equipment owners and independent shops. The agreement, secured by the FTC and attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, prohibits Deere from retaliating against those who choose non-authorized repairs and follows a separate $99 million class-action settlement earlier this year.

Chicago Board of Education members aligned with Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union urged Governor JB Pritzker to hold a special legislative session to increase education funding, citing a $700 million deficit in Chicago Public Schools' budget. They advocated for progressive tax policies targeting wealthy individuals and corporations, but legislation for a millionaire's tax stalled in May.

Obamacare premiums are projected to rise by a median of 14% in 2027, with 77 insurers across 16 states and Washington, D.C., proposing increases. The hikes follow the expiration of enhanced subsidies and rising healthcare costs, leading to fewer healthier enrollees and higher costs for those with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level.

John Deere has agreed to settle an antitrust case brought by the Federal Trade Commission and several states over its tractor repair requirements. The lawsuit accused the company of monopolizing the tractor repair industry by restricting access to software tools needed for repairs, and the settlement requires it to provide independent repair providers with the same services as authorized dealers.

John Deere settled an antitrust lawsuit with five states and the FTC, agreeing to provide independent repair shops access to its proprietary diagnostic tools for 10 years. The settlement addresses allegations that the company restricted farmers' ability to repair equipment through non-authorized dealers, driving up costs.

Health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans are projected to rise by a median of 14% in 2027, with no proposed decreases. Insurers attribute the increases to rising healthcare costs, expired subsidies, and regulatory changes. The analysis by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF reviewed 77 insurers across 16 states and Washington, D.C.

Obamacare premiums are projected to rise by a median of 14% in 2027, with insurers citing rising healthcare costs and expired subsidies as key factors. A report by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF found 77 insurers across 16 states and Washington, D.C., proposing increases, with none requesting decreases. Marketplace enrollments have dropped by 2.6 million since last year.

Illinois health officials report an increase in cyclosporiasis cases, a contagious parasite causing gastrointestinal issues. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is monitoring the situation.

Sam Altman proposes a 5% government stake in OpenAI, offering $320 per household. The US Treasury compares the AI market to the dotcom bubble, while Samsung reports record profits from AI chips and Illinois enacts a strong frontier AI law.

Attorneys have withdrawn from a legal dispute involving Resilience Healthcare's West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, citing 'fundamental disagreements.' The hospital's future remains uncertain ahead of a scheduled court hearing.

Illinois Rep. Harry Benton resigned from office amid an ethics inquiry. The allegations leading to the inquiry remain undisclosed, with questions still lingering.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed AI regulations requiring third-party audits and safety plans for large AI developers like OpenAI and Anthropic to mitigate catastrophic risks. The law imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, including $1 million for first violations and $3 million thereafter, and mandates reporting critical safety incidents within 72 hours.

Illinois has become the first state to require third-party audits of AI models for the largest artificial intelligence labs. The Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act (S.B. 315) mandates audits of safety plans to address AI risks.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a new AI protections bill, making Illinois the third state to regulate AI. The law, set to take effect in 2028, is described as one of the strongest AI safety laws in the country.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, which targets the most powerful AI companies in the country.