After taking the months since George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police to put together an agenda to end systemic racism in Illinois, Black state lawmakers are now calling on their colleagues in the legislature to support their demands for policy changes to four key "pillars."
Read MoreRepublicans in the Illinois House of Representatives on Monday moved to create a special committee to investigate a deferred prosecution agreement that implicated powerful Speaker Michael Madigan in an alleged bribery scheme with ComEd that prosecutors say lasted nearly a decade.
Read MoreIllinois’ Black legislators plan to capitalize on the intense focus on inequalities instigated by the killing of George Floyd to push forward this fall a robust policy agenda to root out systemic racism.
Read MoreIn the wake of nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, Chicago-area Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch is calling for a statewide response to hold police accountable for excessive use of force and to address what he sees as “institutional racism” that has devastated many black communities in Illinois.
Read MoreAn Illinois lawmaker said the state needs to invest $1 billion into black communities that have been historically ignored, adding that it would just be the beginning.
Read MoreBlack elected officials are demanding transformational change in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer and the attention it has brought to police brutality and systemic racism, and they’re demanding the state provide money to back it up – at least a billion dollars.
Read MoreA group of state lawmakers are calling for police reform and at least a billion dollars of investment into black communities.
For the fourth day in a row, members of the Joint Caucus of Black Elected Officials held a "Day of Action" event discussing the death of George Floyd and solutions to systemic racism.
Read MoreAn array of elected officials from across the state gathered in Maywood on Sunday to make a series of demands as Gov. J.B. Pritzker stood mere feet away. All of those gathered stood underneath the shadow of Maywood native son Fred Hampton, whose bronze bust was the focal point of the June 7 gathering in front of the Fred Hampton Aquatic Center, 300 Fred Hampton Way.
Read MoreRick Pearson is joined by Democratic State Rep. and chairman of the powerful House Executive Committee, Emanuel “Chris” Welch to discuss the past session and what’s next. Chris highlights several issues dealt with during the session including the overall need for a state budget, the casino bill, and more.
Read MoreWill students in Illinois go back to school in the fall?
The state's top education official said Wednesday she doesn't know.
Read MoreA state lawmaker is urging people to boycott large banks like JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America for allegedly making the process of applying for federal COVID-19 emergency small business loans harder than it has to be, especially for minority business owners.
By Michael Romain
Read MoreRep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-7) was one of several local leaders praising the state’s plans to reopen Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park to treat COVID-19 patients, saying he hopes it will be up and running within weeks
By Steve Schering
Read MoreAnother area hospital will find a new purpose as a center to treat COVID-19 patients.
By Mudo Odwige
Read MoreDuring his daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that Westlake Hospital, 1225 W. Lake St. in Melrose Park, will be reopened temporarily in order to accommodate the growing number of patients coming into area hospitals in the west suburbs.
By Michael Romain
Read MoreState Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch and a Chicagoland nonprofit on Tuesday called for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reopen Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park to help with the coronavirus crisis.
By Manny Ramos
Read MoreIllinois State Representative Chris Welch (D-7) joins Mark to talk about his efforts to encourage Governor Pritzker to reopen Westlake Hospital and other previously closed hospital facilities across the state in order to increase the number of hospital beds and medical resources available across Illinois to address the COVID-19 crisis.
Read MoreBy Greg Bishop
Illinois state lawmakers were joined by some high-profile helpers to try to get a measure allowing college student-athletes to get paid endorsement deals across the finish line.
Read MoreBy Sam Dunklau
Two professional basketball players said it's only fair to allow college athletes to seek sponsorships and other lucrative deals if colleges and universities are profiting at the same time.
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