Politics

Debbie Lewis, right, early in-person voting intaker, hands Eddie Johnson, left, his ballot, in Cleveland, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Many GOP states have imposed new voting rules this year, some mirroring Trump’s midterm proposals

By Gary Fields

October 12, 2026 at 7:14 a.m.

President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to pass a proof-of-citizenship law, signed an executive order...

The Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield, Ill., on May 6, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Attorney and former Robbins police chief compete to represent 36th District in Illinois House

By Olivia Stevens

October 12, 2026 at 5:14 a.m.

Republican state Rep. Rick Ryan faces challenge from Democrat David Sheppard, a former Robbins police...

The planned Amtrak maintenance facility site at the existing railyard near Rate Field is shown Oct. 6, 2026. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Who knew about Amtrak’s Bridgeport plans, and when did they know?

By Talia Soglin

October 12, 2026 at 8:07 a.m.

Public records reveal some early awareness of Amtrak's Bridgeport plans by local officials, though questions...

Then-state Rep. Harry Benton sits at his desk in the House chamber during the spring legislative session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 27, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

An ex-staffer and the Illinois speaker: 2 differing responses to the Harry Benton harassment report

By Rick Pearson

July 31, 2026 at 8:01 p.m.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch continues to face scrutiny after the Friday release of...

Asia Football Confederation President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, left, poses with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an inauguration ceremony for the new building of the Asia Football Confederation on Oct. 30, 2018, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Vincent Thian/AP file)

Gianni Infantino abandons plans to sell FIFA World Cup profits to private equity following massive pushback

By Graham Dunbar

July 31, 2026 at 7:54 p.m.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to...

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is seen from the Washington Monument, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool

By Eric Tucker

July 31, 2026 at 5:58 p.m.

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of...

FILE — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during an event in Kerrville, Texas, July 4, 2026. The federal government designates terrorism groups. But Governors Ron DeSantis in Florida and Abbott in Texas have gotten into the game, and a focus is CAIR, one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in the country. (Christopher Lee/The New York Times)

CAIR, a Muslim nonprofit, gets a terrorism label in Florida and Texas

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

July 31, 2026 at 4:26 p.m.

CAIR is challenging the Texas and Florida terror designations in court, arguing that they violate...

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks on July 6, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs law aimed at protecting kids from social media algorithms

By Olivia Olander

July 31, 2026 at 4:59 p.m.

The law mandates parents to input their child’s age when a device is set up....

A barge moves through the lock at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, the site of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project to combat the movement of invasive carp and other nuisance species into the Great Lakes, Dec. 5, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Gov. JB Pritzker says the Trump’s halting of Brandon Road carp project an attack on Great Lakes water

By Olivia Olander

July 31, 2026 at 4:55 p.m.

The Pritzker administration said it had asked the federal government to reverse its July 24...

Rodric Bray, Senate president pro tem, takes questions after a bill to redistrict the state's congressional map was defeated, Dec. 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP)

Indiana Senate President Bray won’t seek re-election to leadership post

By Alexandra Kukulka

July 31, 2026 at 2:43 p.m.

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray announced Friday he won’t seek reelection to serve...

A Palestinian man rides his bicycle by the rubble of buildings that were destroyed during the Israel Hamas war, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Hamas says it will disarm if Israel halts strikes and withdraws from Gaza, but obstacles remain

By Samy Magdy

July 31, 2026 at 1:17 p.m.

Hamas said Friday that it will begin disarming as part of a deal announced by...

Watchdog finds ex-Illinois Rep. Harry Benton violated law with sexual harassment, third victim revealed

By Rick Pearson

July 31, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey’s report still left unanswered key questions about how Democratic House...

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady speaks to supporters Dec. 3, 2024, during a township caucus at Orland Chateau banquet hall in Orland Park. (Daily Southtown staff)

Orland Township among defendants in First Amendment lawsuit brought by Supervisor Paul O’Grady

By Olivia Stevens

August 3, 2026 at 9:46 a.m.

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady claims political rivals violated his First Amendment rights during a...