Peter Hancock

Listen: Social media regulation, zoning policy and higher ed funding - how the big issues are shaping up as lawmakers pass the midpoint of the session.

Legislative halftime Illinois lawmakers passed the midpoint of the session this week, the self-imposed deadline for each chamber to send its non-budget, non-tax related bills to the other chamber. Peter Hancock, Ben Szali

https://youtu.be/u6m0zZSnm5w?si=StudtY43doQEYn6F

IL State Superintendent of Education presents $10 9b budget request to lawmakers The Illinois State Board of Education is requesting $10.9 billion dollars to fund public schools for the next fiscal year. State Superintendent of Education ...

Public school funding looms large as lawmakers put together FY 2027 budget.

State education officials present $10.9B budget request to fund public schools Illinois education officials requested $10.9 billion for public schools as lawmakers prepare to finalize the next state budget.

Listen: Who's to blame for Illinois' high property tax burden? We take a look in this week's edition of Capitol Cast.

Property taxes take center stage A report by the Cook County treasurer's office set off a statewide debate this week about who's to blame for Illinois' high property tax rate and what, if anything, state lawmakers can do to provide s

Illinois lawmakers are off this week, but here's our podcast explaining where they left off after committee deadline week. We'll be back this Friday with another Capitol Cast. Stay tuned.

Committees clear the decks Dozens of bills advanced in the Illinois House this week as lawmakers worked to meet a deadline for most nonbudget legislation to pass out of committees. Peter Hancock talks with Brenden Moore, Ben Sz

This week on Capitol Cast - a follow-up to an earlier episode about upward mobility in Illinois. Young people born into low-income households have a harder time rising up the economic ladder. But what are the pathways that work? Listen in.

Upward mobility - Part 2 In a follow-up to a report we featured last year, new research shows there are some education and career pathways that enable young people who grow up in lower-income households to climb up the econom

This week, I talk with historian Jason Emerson about his new book, "The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln's Widow, As Revealed by Her Own Letters." (Monday will mark the 150th anniversary of her commitment to an "insane asylum" outside Chicago.)

A new perspective on Mary Todd Lincoln May 19 will mark the 150th anniversary of Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of the slain president, being declared legally insane and committed to an asylum outside Chicago. Historian Jason Emerson discusses h

Sen. Dick Durbin, speaking to local media from his backyard in Springfield about his decision to retire at the end of this term.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin answers questions at retirement announcement | Capitol News Illinois At his home in Springfield IL, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin answers questions on not seeking reelection, what he would look for in a successor, what Democrats ne...

On this week's Capitol Cast, I talk with author Patrick Wohl about his book on a 1990 GOP primary for an Illinois House seat that drew national attention. "Down Ballot: "How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion.

Down Ballot: Interview with author Patrick Wohl Peter Hancock talks with author Patrick Wohl about his book, "Down Ballot: Howa Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion." The book chronicles the 1990 Republican primary in Illinois' 5

New on Capitol Cast: Hannah Meisel, Ben Szalinski and I discuss Michael Madigan's convictions on federal corruption charges and the political legacy he leaves behind in Springfield.

Madigan convicted Michael J. Madigan, a dominant figure in Illinois politics for the better part of 40 years, was found guilty in federal court this week on multiple corruption-related charges. Peter Hancock, Hannah Me

Check out this week's podcast as the CNI team explains how the Trump administration dominated the attention of state government officials.

Illinois vs. Trump From lawsuits over immigration policy to threats of a possible trade war, state government officials in Illinois spent most of the week focusing on news coming out of the Trump administration. Peter H

In honor of MLK Day Weekend, we look back this week to the early civil rights movement of the 1860s. U of I Prof. Wayne Pitard discusses his new book, "Watchman, Tell Us: John J. Bird and Black Politics in Post-Civil War Illinois."

Remembering Illinois civil rights leader John J. Bird Wayne Pitard, author of the book "Watchman, Tell Us: John J. Bird and Black Politics in Post-Civil War Illinois," discusses the life and legacy of one of the state's early civil rights leaders.