Truth in Accounting’s 13th annual Financial State of the States ranked Illinois 48th in the country, the same rank as last year. Only two other states, New Jersey and Connecticut, graded worse than Illinois for fiscal health. The review is of the states' fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021.

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The candidates discussed several topics, including crime, Chicago, and the performance of the Department of Child and Family Services and its director Marc Smith. The department has had significant issues despite budget increases in the past three years.

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A recent donation of nearly $14 million to a political action committee signals voters will be getting a barrage of political ads heading into the final few weeks before the Nov. 8 election.

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Incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker faced off with Republican challenger Darren Bailey in the first of two televised debates in Bloomington on Thursday over issues like the SAFE-T act, abortion, education and the state's budget.

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Voters, candidates and lawmakers alike are speaking out in support or opposition of the controversial SAFE-T Act and proposed constitutional amendment as early voting has already begun in Illinois.

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Another Illinois state lawmaker faces bribery charges related to the red-light camera industry.

The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois released a three-charge indictment of state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, Tuesday.

The first charge states Jones accepted benefits in exchange for “opposing legislation that required the study of automated traffic enforcement systems located outside of Chicago, and would limit any legislation regarding [Illinois Department of Transportation’s] study of and recommendations concerning” red light cameras.

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In the wake of more migrants arriving in Illinois on buses from Texas, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued another disaster proclamation. Pritzker also activated 75 members of the Illinois National Guard to assist with the busloads of asylum seekers sent to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

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Voters can expect more political ads. The most recent ones in the race for Illinois governor seem to spell out the top issues before voters.

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Expect more foreign nationals to be bused from Texas to Chicago as the city’s “sanctuary” status is being used by Texas’ governor to highlight the nation’s porous border with Mexico.

Chicago is now on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of bus stops for undocumented foreign nationals after flooding into the Lone Star State.

Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/abbott-expect-more-foreign-nationals-to-be-bused-to-chicago-from-texas/article_2e3a4110-2a23-11ed-ba82-73bec9f09c02.html

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Illinois has the 7th highest student loan debt in the nation, standing at $61.6 billion for 1.6 million borrowers.

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