Dan Petrella – Page 2

Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, questions Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general and President Donald Trump’s pick to take the job permanently, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 15, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

GOP senator singles out former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during Todd Blanche DOJ hearing

July 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was singled out by a Republican senator on Wednesday as someone who should not be put in "charge of a ham sandwich" during acting Attorney...

An employee holds a Colt Match Target 9 mm AR semiautomatic rifle at Suburban Sporting Goods in Melrose Park on June 30, 2026. The rifle was available for out-of-state purchase. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Federal appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban, overturning lower court ruling

July 9, 2026 at 6:14 p.m.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Illinois law is "consistent with our regulatory tradition."

A gallon of regular gas at the Shell station at Jackson Boulevard and Morgan Street in Chicago sells for $5.90 on May 18, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

New Illinois laws take effect Wednesday including gas tax freeze and changes for driving tests and tuition

July 1, 2026 at 2:33 p.m.

Among the laws going into effect Wednesday is the state's $55.9 billion budget and a six-month pause on a scheduled increase of a per-gallon gasoline tax that would otherwise jump...

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker holds a press conference in Chicago, June 24, 2026, to sign the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act (HB 5295) into law. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs law blocking out-of-state access to Illinois abortion records without patient consent

June 24, 2026 at 7:10 p.m.

Four years after Dobbs ruling that overturned the federal right to abortion, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also expanded a medical order that allows many pharmacists to dispense certain contraceptives without a...

Rainbow PUSH Coalition President and CEO Yusef Jackson talks with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters as part of the group's annual national convention on June 11, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Hillary Clinton urges grassroots movement at Rainbow PUSH, warns of ‘revolution to turn the clock back’

June 11, 2026 at 7:25 p.m.

Gov. JB Pritzker closed out the second day of the conference by connecting federal cuts to the social safety net with Republican-led efforts to roll back protections for voting rights and...

Gov. JB Pritzker, center, walks in with Senate President Don Harmon, left, and House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, right, for a news conference hours after the end of the spring legislative session at the State Capitol in Springfield on June 1, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

The details of Illinois’ budget raising social media, crypto and fantasy sports taxes and pausing gas tax hike

June 30, 2026 at 9:36 a.m.

A nearly $56 billion spending plan is headed to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk after the Illinois legislature approved it in another overtime spring session.

Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions after the end of the spring legislative session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on June 1, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Gov. JB Pritzker touts wins in $56B Illinois budget, but some work in election-year plan went unfinished

June 1, 2026 at 6:31 p.m.

Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated a $56 billion spending plan while dealing with session failures — no Bears stadium deal, no housing reform — as he gears up for a reelection...

State representatives debate and vote on bills in the final night of the spring legislative session at the State Capitol, May 31, 2026, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Illinois lawmakers pass $56B budget deal backed by gas tax windfall and some election-year tax breaks

June 1, 2026 at 9:11 a.m.

Democrats' plan calls for diverting $150 million of gas sales tax windfall — money that otherwise would flow to mass transit — to help fund day-to-day state operations and stave...

People attend a Senate executive committee hearing in room 212 late into the evening during the spring legislative session at the State Capitol, May 30, 2026, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Illinois lawmakers roll out $55B budget plan as Bears stadium talks back to square one on final day of session

May 31, 2026 at 7:13 a.m.

With one day left until the Illinois General Assembly's scheduled adjournment, lawmakers worked to find tax increases and revenue diversions to finance a new state budget while a plan to...

House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, center left, and Senate President Don Harmon, center right, head to their offices after a meeting with Gov. JB Pritzker during the spring legislative session at the State Capitol in Springfield on May 29, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Uncertainty marks Illinois legislature’s final weekend as lawmakers debate Bears stadium, gas tax and budget

May 30, 2026 at 12:04 p.m.

The lack of movement on the major issues has increased tensions and exposed internal dissention among Democratic lawmakers toward their legislative leaders and Gov. JB Pritzker.

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