(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order yesterday requiring all state agencies to identify a 4 percent spending reduction this year over fears of a recession. The Governor warned that a slowing economy, which he blames on President Trump, will hurt state revenue and the state would be proactively prepared. Critics say never mind that the fact that Pritzker has raised the state budget by $16 billion in the past seven years and that Illinois sets new spending records every year under Governor Pritzker’s leadership.
(SPRINGFIELD) Starting next year, Illinois public libraries must stock overdose antidotes and train staff, a move supporters say will save lives, although critics say the move will only add new burdens. House Bill 1910 would require statewide public libraries to keep a supply of opiod antagonists, such as naloxone, a nasal spray that can reverse an overdose. The law also mandates at least one staff member on duty at all times be trained to administer it. The Illinois Family Institute, a critic of the move, argues the measure reflects a trend of libraries “looking for relevence” by expanding into roles beyond their traditional mission.
(CHICAGO) Southern Illinois lawyer Tom DeVore, who filed dozens of lawsuits against the Pritzker administration during the COVID-19 pandemic before losing as the GOP candidate for Attorney General in 2022, will have his law license suspended for 60 days beginning October 10th, per an order from the Illinois Supreme Court. The suspension for the rural Greenville man arises from misconduct involving a sexual relationship with a law client.
(SPRINGFIELD/DU QUOIN) The numbers are in and the combined attendance at the 2025 State Fairs in Springfield and Du Quoin topped one million. While the Illinois State Fair had 723,079 visitors, the second-highest turnout in its history, the Du Quoin State Fair set a new attendance record with 282,202 visitors, surpassing the previous record set a year ago.