State and local leaders from the western suburbs called for money from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that passed Congress over the weekend to be used to rebuild a 13-mile segment of the Eisenhower Expressway.
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Work is currently underway to reopen the shuttered Westlake Hospital, 1225 W. Lake St. in Melrose Park, as Woodlake Hospital. Westlake Hospital closed in 2019.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker and an entourage of top state officials planned to depart for the United Kingdom Tuesday on a weeklong hunt for climate-friendly investment and to tout Illinois’ new clean-energy law at the global climate change summit in Scotland.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. JB Pritzker hopes Illinois will become the country's hub to build and drive electric vehicles. Pritzker signed the massive clean energy plan into law last month and hasn't taken his foot off the pedal.
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In 2016, Illinois passed a decent enough energy bill. It shored up the state’s (relatively modest) renewable energy standard and kept its existing nuclear power plants open. It was a compromise among varied interests, signed into law by a Democratic legislature and a Republican governor. At the time, I figured it was the best any state in the coal-heavy Midwest was likely to do.
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Illinois’ revised legislative maps are the subject of ire from government transparency groups and organizations like the Latino Policy Forum, and they’re the subject of federal lawsuits brought by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) as well as Illinois Republicans.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. JB Pritzker signed a massive clean energy bill into law Wednesday, saving the nuclear fleet in Illinois and starting the process to decarbonize the state's energy sector. Sponsors say it also ensures communities of color have an important role in clean energy moving forward.
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After months of negotiations on the bill, the Illinois Senate on Monday sent the legislation to Pritzker’s desk on a 37-17 vote — with three senators voting present — after the Illinois House voted last week to pass the measure.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed into law a pledge to eliminate the state’s climate-damaging carbon emissions within a quarter-century, including money to keep clean-power nuclear plants running and incentives for purchasing electric vehicles.
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“This is what decentralized, collective leadership looks like,” declared House Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll not long after the chamber approved the climate/energy bill on an unexpectedly lopsided 83-33 roll call on September 9.
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“This is what decentralized, collective leadership looks like,” declared House Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll not long after the chamber approved the climate/energy bill on an unexpectedly lopsided 83-33 roll call on Sept. 9.
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Chris Welch, a civil litigation attorney, took his first shot at elected office in 2001 when he pursued a spot on the Proviso Township High School District 209 board. Faculty and staff from Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois, where Welch had graduated 12 years prior, had encouraged him to run amid intense union strife. “I didn’t realize I was launching myself into political life,” he says.
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State’s first Black House Speaker says his position allows young black kids to see themselves in the role, lauds his first legislative session at the helm.
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It was clear from the start of the start of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly that this year would be different.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch is the first Black person to serve in the leadership role in Illinois. While that accomplishment is historic by itself, many feel his first session is one most lawmakers will never forget.
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Even those who didn’t vote for Welch gave him glowing reviews as Mike Madigan’s replacement.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch recapped his first session as the leader of the Illinois House on Capitol Connection.
In a one-on-one interview, Welch discussed the state budget, ethics, energy negotiations, redistricting, and explained how he’s different than his predecessor.
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Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the super-majority he now leads passed a bevy of bills during the first legislative session with Welch at the helm. Democrats say he did it with a “refreshing” collaborative approach. But Republicans say, for them the new boss is the same as the old boss.
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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are staying open for business as they await a possible deal on a sweeping energy proposal that would keep the state’s fleet of nuclear power plants online while providing incentives for development of more wind and solar generation.
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It’s T minus 15 days for Illinois state lawmakers to get everything they need done this legislative session.
As always, the budget is priority one.
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