Illinois Public Media News

Less than an hour before Gov. Bruce Rauner was scheduled to deliver his State of the State address, lawmakers in the House and Senate voted to override his veto of a small, technical school funding bill necessary to implement the massive school funding reform that Rauner has listed as his main accomplishment.

On The 21st: Last summer, President Trump's tweet that transgender individuals should be barred from military service triggered multiple lawsuits. But that ban has been stopped in its tracks, and the Pentagon is currently accepting transgender recruits. Plus, we talk to Chris Mooney about what to expect from Governor Rauner during the State of the State address. We also we learn more about the Brookfield Zoo's oldest animal, and kick off our series of interviews with candidates for Illinois Attorney General, starting with Republican Gary Grasso.

Four Democrats running for Congress in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District have different views on the recent vote to re-open the federal government. 

Yesterday we heard from Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows about what township government does in places like Champaign and Urbana, and how it’s been replaced in two similar-sized Illinois cities, Belleville and Evanston. But how did the township form of government come to the state? And what is its future here?

Many research labs across the country use animals for testing products such as make-up or medicines. For the past decade, advocates have pushed to get more of these animals — especially research dogs — adopted after they are no longer needed. Just a handful of states have policies in place. Illinois just recently joined that list.