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

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...
Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois bill, the “Let the People Lift the Ban Act," SB2884, would let local...
Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls...
Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a 4.5% spending increase in its budget for fiscal...
lake land college.2

Policy Change Relaxes Grade Exclusion Requirements for Returning Students

Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | Dec. 8, 2025 Article Summary: Trustees voted to reduce the waiting period required for students to apply for grade exclusion, lowering the...
Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day after an Illinois state representative said there was no budget transparency from J.B. Pritzker’s office,...
Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has notified Illinois officials that the state is violating...

WATCH: Resolution condemning federal immigration law enforcement sparks debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Democrats are calling for investigation, prosecution and impeachment of federal immigration law enforcement. State Rep....
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.00 PM

Casey City Council Bans Sale and Possession of Kratom Products

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council on Monday unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale, possession, and delivery of Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine...
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.46 PM

Council Pursues Site Readiness Grant; Discusses Outsourcing Code Enforcement

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council approved a resolution to support a Regional Site Readiness Grant application and began discussions on potentially...
Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Saint Charles, worries Chicago’s newfound plan to divide annual advance supplemental...
Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget says it has identified more than $480 million of budget...
Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Pritzker administration’s recent announcement of $36 million in state grants for local park projects is...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general has advised the city’s human resources and finance departments that from 2020 through 2024,...