Illinois in Focus

The mantra on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Illinois' Democratic party leaders was “when we fight, we win.” Monday evening’s speeches included President Joe Biden seemingly passing the torch to Kamala Harris. Earlier in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was not selected to be Harris’ running mate, hinted at vying for a third term for governor. Support this podc...

Monday begins the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and leaders from both parties in Illinois are outlining how they see the major event impacting taxpayers. Just as with the Republican National Convention last month in Milwaukee, the DNC in Chicago will cost taxpayers $75 million. Law enforcement agencies from around the area are on the ground with security perimeters around the United Ce...

Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday tha...

Politics continued taking over the Illinois State Fair Thursday with Republican Day. In Springfield at the fairgrounds Wednesday, Democrats during Governor's Day said their piece on why they need more power. Thursday, Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said Democrats bring taxpayers “one big hurt.” Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f...

 Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday th...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the comments from Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates about the finances of the Chicago Public Schools and ongoing negotiations for a new teachers union contract. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com f...

Greg Bishop reviews the comments former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk made on X about Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday night. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adverti...

Greg Bishop reviews a statement from Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announcing he will retire following pressure from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others after last month's police involved shooting death of Sonya Massey in Springfield. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an...

A challenge against Maryland’s gun ban is likely to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court before gun ban challenges from other states. Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Maryland’s ban on semi-automatic firearms. “The assault weapons at issue fall outside the ambit of protection offered by the Second Amendment because, in essence, they are military-style weapons designed for sust...

There is agreement from all sides about the need for reforms for how police are hired in Illinois, but what reforms there need to be is still unclear. Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued taking questions Thursday about the aftermath of the police-involved shooting death of Sonya Massey last month in Springfield by then-Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, and what policies could change to preve...

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says he will continue leading the office he was elected to despite calls from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to resign. In the early morning hours in Springfield on July 6, Sonya Massey was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputy Sean Grasyon. Massey had called for help with a suspected prowler, but body camera footage shows Grayson shooting Massey in her home. He wa...

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over a handful of other prominent Democrats that included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. President Joe Biden announced last month he was not seeking reelection and endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee. Speculation on who would be her running mate surrounded several prominent Democrats including Pritzker. Tuesday morn...

There’s a lot more to the newly enacted law eliminating Illinois’ grocery tax in 2026. Local governments can now impose their own 1% tax, along with other sales tax increases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he signed House Bill 3144, touting relief he said the measure will bring.  Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?so...

 Dozens of measures impacting employers, education, health care, criminal justice and more are now law after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted 59 bills Friday. The Illinois General Assembly approved more than 450 measures during spring session that ended in May. Pritzker has been holding bill signing ceremonies for some measures, but others are announced enacted in news releases. Late Friday, Pr...

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that illegal immigration and inflation are devastating the Black community. The former president engaged in conversation with political journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Trump said he wants to stop people from invading the country illegally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See http...

Greg Bishop reviews the latest headlines around Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and who could be the Democratic party's pick for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

Illinois took center stage in national politics this week after former President Donald Trump made comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’ race. Trump made headlines for comments about Harris in Chicago with the National Association of Black Journalists Wednesday. Harris later said it’s the “same old show” from Trump.  Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/...

The failures of the Secret Service around the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump are mounting but members of Congress say there’s not been enough accountability. Trump suffered a wound to the ear, a spectator was killed and two others were critically wounded when a sniper opened fire in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a campaign rally on July 13. Former Secret Service Director Kimbe...

Members of Congress, including Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, are working to get answers to what happened before, during and after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13. A joint hearing is underway unpacking the failures of the Secret Service that day in Butler, Pennsylvania. Durbin wants to know what changes are being made leading up to the Democratic National C...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the ongoing questions Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is getting about whether he's being vetted by Vice President Kamala Harris to be her vice presidential running mate in the 2024 election. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...

Questions persist around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is or is not being vetted as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was not seeking reelection. He later endorsed Vice President Harris to be the nominee. Democratic leaders, including Pritzker, followed suit with endorsements of Harris. Alongside the names of Democratic governor...

Questions persist around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is or is not being vetted as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was not seeking reelection. He later endorsed Vice President Harris to be the nominee. Democratic leaders, including Pritzker, followed suit with endorsements of Harris. Alongside the names of Democratic governor...

As the Illinois governor weighs in on a potential vice presidential nomination, a socialist alderman from Chicago is expressing frustration with the Democratic Party. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN he’d be reluctant to give up his post as governor of Illinois, but the possibility of being vice president would be appealing. “It’d be hard to resist a call and consideration if the nominee called me to a...

Vetting for potential candidates to run alongside Kamala Harris in her bid for president is underway, with a number of prominent elected Democrats under consideration, according to published reports. A Tuesday afternoon report by the Wall Street Journal said the Harris campaign sent vetting materials to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the recent headlines around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could be the running mate for presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our...