(SPRINGFIELD) Federal courts are reducing operations and stopping payments to workers due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. Government. The U.S. District Court in Chicago said in a statement last Friday that it and other District Courts are doing their best to deal with the lapse in appropriations that’s requiring a workforce reduction in the U.S. Attorney’s offices as well as other agencies, especially with respect to civil cases across the nation.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board announced last week the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2026 Law Enforcement Camera Grant program. This grant provides over $56 million in state taxpayer funding to equip police agencies throughout Illinois with video technology and much more. Individual awards of up to $3 million are available through the statewide program.
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois lawmakers are urging Governor J.B. Pritzker to join a new federal school scholarship tax credit program. It was earlier this year that Congress passed a key bill that included the creation of a federal tax credit for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations, but states across the country have to opt into the program which is set to begin in 2027. Downstate Republicans, like State Representative Adam Niemerg and others are urging the Governor to add Illinois to the program, noting that the Land of Lincoln stands to lose out on millions in scholarship funds for statewide children.
(SPRINGFIELD) Youth deer hunters in Illinois set a new season record with a preliminary total of 4,714 deer harvested from October 11th to the 13th. The top harvest county was Randolph with 259 deer taken, followed by Pike County with 164. Youth hunters with unfilled, valid youth deer permits, may still hunt during the upcoming firearm deer seasons, November 21st through 23rd and December 4th through 7th. Learn more at the dnr.illinois.gov website.