Capitol Cast: Illinois

The two major political parties offered a glimpse into their 2024 strategies at the Illinois State Fair this week. Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki analyze the major speeches from Governor's Day and Republican Day festivities.

Illinois leaders recently renamed a mental health facility in the capitol city after a woman, once committed against her will, who fought for the rights of those with mental illness and those unjustly held. You can read more about the renaming at capitolnewsillinois.com. Author Kate Moore helped bring the renaming to reality, writing about Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard in her book, “The Woman They Could Not Silence.” Capitol News Illinois reporter Molly Parker talked with Moore for this episode of CapitolCast.

Capitol News Illinois Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki talks about the news outlet's latest expansion with its incoming broadcast director Jenn Fuller and investigative reporter Molly Parker.

The Capitol News Illinois team breaks down the highlights of the just-completed 2023 spring session.

The disaster declaration brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic officially ends Thursday, May 11. Gov. JB Pritzker reflects on what that means and how Illinois got through the last three years.

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses what they're watching in the final three weeks of the legislative session.

The Capitol News Illinois reporting team takes a look at the state of state government in the final one month of the legislative session and recaps the week's developments in the ComEd Four trial.

An interview with Illinois' new state superintendent of schools, Tony Sanders.

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses the week that was in state government, including the trial of the "ComEd Four," Gov. JB Pritzker's mention of tax cuts and a pair of regulatory measures involving ride-shares and new nuclear power construction.

Capitol News Illinois' Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker of Lee Enterprises Midwest discuss their reporting on Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center and the impending changes at the facility with CNI Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki.