Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Pritzker announces Census updating Illinois’ count by 46,400 people
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office says it will continue challenging the state’s estimated population decline. Others say Illinois leaders need to enact business friendly policies to grow, instead of denying the state is shrinking.
Millions more federal tax dollars could be coming to Illinois after Pritzker announced the U.S. Census Bureau approved the state’s request to include 46,400 Illinoisans to the rolls moving forward.
Chicago Sun-Times: Metra overhauling fares, eliminating ticket windows
Big changes are coming to Metra over the coming weeks as the commuter rail agency introduces a new fare structure Feb. 1.
Metra is overhauling ticket prices, reducing zones from 10 to 4, eliminating 10-ride passes, and closing the rest of its ticketing windows.
Chicago Tribune: More Chicago-area suburbs pass ordinances to curb migrant drop-offs
Chicago suburbs have begun to crack down on buses of migrants arriving from the southern border with little to no coordination, facing the fallout of increased border crossings that are for the first time in over a year being brought directly to their doorsteps.
For days now, several municipalities outside of Chicago have borne the brunt of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s unwavering practice of busing migrants across state lines. Buses began arriving outside Chicago after the city tightened restrictions on when and where they could arrive. Over a dozen other suburbs are now using Chicago’s rules as a blueprint so migrants will stop coming unannounced.
Daily Herald: With buses coming to suburbs and Chicago, state launching intake center for migrants
Illinois will launch an intake center in Chicago for migrants being transported here from Texas, state officials announced Wednesday.
The facility will be within Chicago’s city-run bus landing zone near the Maxwell Street Market on the Near West Side. Six heated tents are under construction and should open within weeks, according to a news release.
WCIA: DCFS still failing to find appropriate care for kids, leaving them locked-up, report shows
An annual report to legislators, prompted by a WGN Investigates series, shows the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is still leaving kids in crisis in psychiatric hospitals and juvenile jails longer than necessary.
Newly released numbers show 296 kids were locked in psychiatric hospitals longer than medically necessary in the past fiscal year. DCFS also revealed 45 youth were in juvenile jails beyond their release dates. Both circumstances continues to occur due to a shortage of appropriate shelter space and foster care options, especially for kids with severe psychiatric or behavioral issues.
Capitol News: Madigan trial delayed until October for SCOTUS review of bribery statute
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan won’t be spending his 82nd birthday in a federal courtroom this spring after a judge on Wednesday granted his request to delay his bribery and racketeering trial originally set to begin April 1.
Madigan claimed the small victory while appearing in court for the first time since he was indicted nearly two years ago, opting to show up in person to a hearing at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse Wednesday afternoon despite having been granted permission to appear via videoconference. Sporting a black suit and royal blue tie, the former speaker spoke only once during the hearing.