December 12, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: More bills enacted into law; former ComEd CEO seeking Trump pardon

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

More bills enacted into law

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office announced more than a dozen bills were enacted Friday.

Aside from the medical aid in dying bill, Pritzker signed 14 bills.

One measure decouples the state tax code from several provisions of the federal tax code that Republicans warned would make the state less competitive.

Former ComEd CEO seeking Trump pardon

Convicted former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore has joined former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan by requesting clemency from President Donald Trump’s pardon attorney.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Pramaggiore has been paying lobbyists in Washington DC to explore “matters relevant to the pardon process.”

Pramaggiore is scheduled to begin serving a two-year prison sentence Jan. 12 for her role in a scheme to bribe Madigan.

New casino proposed

The Illinois Gaming Board is planning to consider plans for a new riverboat casino in East Peoria at its next meeting Feb. 5.

Boyd Gaming and Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino representatives presented their plan at the board’s meeting on Thursday.

The IGB is also expected to consider Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s license renewal request in February.

As of Dec. 8, total reported 2025 tax revenue from casino gambling, sports wagering and video gaming amounted to nearly $1.76 billion in Illinois.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: Hegseth: U.S., Israel will soon have ‘complete control’ over Iran’s airspace

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square American and Israeli forces have begun taking control of Iranian airspace, and in a few days, it will be uncontested airspace, Secretary of War Pete...
Do No Harm claims racial discrimination in civil rights complaints against 2 health groups

Do No Harm claims racial discrimination in civil rights complaints against 2 health groups

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Do No Harm filed two individual civil rights complaints against healthcare organization Kaiser Permanente and health center CommUnityCare for offering what it describes as racially...
Clark County Graphic.6

Clark County Bans Kratom Sales in Unincorporated Areas

Clark County Board Meeting | Jan. 16, 2026 Article Summary: The Clark County Board voted unanimously to prohibit the sale, possession, and delivery of Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine products within the...
Senate Judiciary confronts rise in child trafficking and sextortion

Senate Judiciary confronts rise in child trafficking and sextortion

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday heard from witnesses about the growing number of instances of child sex trafficking and exploitation. Some senators say there...

WATCH: Gov. Ferguson signaling income tax bill may be dead for session

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Nine days remain in the 2026 legislative session in Olympia, and the proposed income tax has yet to reach the House floor and reports circulating...
Lawmakers consider SNAP, other amendments to 2026 farm bill

Lawmakers consider SNAP, other amendments to 2026 farm bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Lawmakers on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated dozens of amendments to the long-overdue 2026 farm bill during the Tuesday night markup. The Farm, Food,...
Los Angeles school board borrows $250M for settlements

Los Angeles school board borrows $250M for settlements

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Los Angeles Unified School District recently borrowed $250 million to settle claims of sexual abuse. That's in addition to the $500 million that the...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: California Voter ID measure gets over 1 million signatures

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: California Voter ID measure gets over 1 million signatures

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square An initiative imposing new voter identification requirements in California is one step closer to getting on the ballot. Roughly 1.35 million signatures were collected during...
As fighting intensifies overseas, Republicans push harder to get DHS funded

As fighting intensifies overseas, Republicans push harder to get DHS funded

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square As fighting continues overseas, Republicans have ramped up calls to Democrats to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which not only regulates immigration...
Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers may face higher costs if the city follows through with a reported bond deal. The...
State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Conservative state treasurers, auditors and comptrollers protected and recovered $28 billion in taxpayer dollars from “waste, fraud, and abuse” in 2025, according to a report...
Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Chaos in global energy markets following the launch of Operation Epic Fury is expected to drive record demand for U.S. exports of propane and butane,...
Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker met with Cook County health officials Tuesday to announce a $1.8 billion...

WATCH: Trump threatens to end all trade with Spain

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to end all trade with Spain over disagreements about military spending. The president cited Spain's reluctance to...
Denver City Council votes to ban masks on ICE agents

Denver City Council votes to ban masks on ICE agents

By Derek DraplinThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will not comply with a new Denver ordinance that bans law enforcement, including federal agents, from wearing...