Capitol Cast: Illinois

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its resurgence in Illinois; Exelon says it plans to close two nuclear power plants next year; a program to expand broadband access statewide gets started as students prepare for another semester of online learning; and tobacco use is up among Illinois teenagers. Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki, Ray Troncoso and Rebecca Anzel analyze the week's news.

Jerry Nowicki and Peter Hancock discuss Gov. JB Pritzker's roadmap for a new clean energy policy as well asrecap the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its grip on the state's economy.

Reporter Raymon Troncoso talks with Jordan Powell, president and CEO of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association about how and why COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities. Theme music, "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A rebellion within House Democrats is threatening House Speaker Michael Madigan’s grip on power. Schools are preparing to reopen amid a pandemic that seemingly won’t go away. And Capitol News Illinois is taking on a new project with a new reporter.

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the power of conversation to highlight misunderstandings and bring Illinoisans together, and Jones’s hope this era’s civil rights movement is not fleeting. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, the Deputy House Republican Leader, discusses how the Black Lives Matter movement is resonating in largely rural, white regions like his, and how he thinks Republicans can find common ground with those who are calling for broad-scale reform. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project series, "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, speaks with Capitol News Illinois about what tools lawmakers can use to advance racial equity in the state. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr. (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about improvements he said the legislature needs to make, and his message for Illinoisans — that this social movement is one society needs to tackle together. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about achieving racial equity in banking, how the media treats issues of racism and more. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-Olympia Fields) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the role of what she called “attitude” in changing public sentiment toward race, and how negative media portrayals of black communities do more harm than good. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/