Category Archives: Top Stories

Report: Illinois stalls in efforts to expand preschool compared to other states
Article Summary A 2025 nationwide report on statewide early childhood education found that Illinois stalled in efforts to expand preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Recent governor-led initiatives aimed...
TJ Carson Apr 22, 2026 Students are pictured at a Rochester Elementary School pre-K classroom. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)

Spain, Illinois House GOP come out against state redistricting constitutional amendment
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois House Republicans are accusing the other side of the aisle of using a proposed constitutional amendment for gerrymandering. On Tuesday, State Representative and Deputy Min...
TJ Carson Apr 22, 2026 Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, speaks during debate over a bill reforming public transit in northeastern Chicago in the early house of Oct. 31. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)

OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois to open pediatric specialty care center
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) - OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria is expanding with a new facility designed to make appointments faster and easier for families. Opening next spring, the OSF Healt...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois unveiled plans Tuesday for a Pediatric Specialty Care Center, set to open next spring. (25 News)

Pritzker executive order bars state employees from using insider info in prediction markets
Article Summary JB Pritzker signed an executive order Tuesday barring state employees and elected officials from using information obtained in their official capacity to place bets on prediction marke...
TJ Carson Apr 22, 2026 Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi allow users the ability to bet on real-world events such as the outcome of elections or whether the Bears will leave Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois screenshot by Maggie Dougherty)

OSF HealthCare and law enforcement promote Drug Take Back Day
PEORIA, Ill. - OSF HealthCare is partnering with Peoria Police for Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. Sandy Salverson tells WMBD's "Greg and Dan" that prescriptions can be dropped off at O...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 (Drug Enforcement Agency)

Rivian starts production of R2 SUVs, deliveries expected later this spring
By Abhirup Roy SAN FRANCISCO, April 22 (Reuters) - Rivian on Wednesday started production of its smaller R2 SUVs, with customer deliveries expected later this spring, the electric-vehicle maker said, ...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 FILE PHOTO: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe stands next to a R2 SUV at an unveiling event in Laguna Beach, California, U.S., March 7, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo

Iran seizes ships in strait after Trump halts attacks
By Steve Holland, Parisa Hafezi and Jonathan Allen WASHINGTON/DUBAI, April 22 (Reuters) - Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway afte...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 People walk on a street, amid a ceasefire between U.S. and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 20, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Illinois House unveils new version of Bears' megaprojects bill
Article Summary House lawmakers met for several hours behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss the latest amendment to a bill aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois. The bill's House sponsor say...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, updates reporters about a megaprojects bill
aimed at incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights.
(Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)

Peoria looking for vendors to develop housing at Expo Gardens
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) -The City of Peoria has unveiled plans for the former Expo Gardens property, having bought the site last year. The property, located on West Northmoor Road, was originally purch...
Julia Bradley Apr 22, 2026 (Expo Gardens)
Three vessels hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, crews safe
DUBAI, April 22 (Reuters) - At least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) ...
Thomson Reuters Apr 22, 2026


