A challenge against Maryland’s gun ban is likely to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court before gun ban challenges from other states. Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Maryland’s ban on semi-automatic firearms. “The assault weapons at issue fall outside the ambit of protection offered by the Second Amendment because, in essence, they are military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense,” the opinion stated. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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There is agreement from all sides about the need for reforms for how police are hired in Illinois, but what reforms there need to be is still unclear. Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued taking questions Thursday about the aftermath of the police-involved shooting death of Sonya Massey last month in Springfield by then-Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, and what policies could change to prevent such events in the future.

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Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says he will continue leading the office he was elected to despite calls from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to resign. In the early morning hours in Springfield on July 6, Sonya Massey was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputy Sean Grasyon. Massey had called for help with a suspected prowler, but body camera footage shows Grayson shooting Massey in her home. He was fired and faces murder charges. For having hired Grayson, calls for Campbell to resign are growing. Several members of the Sangamon County Board are looking to place an advisory question on the November ballot asking voters if Campbell should resign. Campbell is up for reelection in 2026. 

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Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over a handful of other prominent Democrats that included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. President Joe Biden announced last month he was not seeking reelection and endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee. Speculation on who would be her running mate surrounded several prominent Democrats including Pritzker. Tuesday morning, Harris chose Walz.

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There’s a lot more to the newly enacted law eliminating Illinois’ grocery tax in 2026. Local governments can now impose their own 1% tax, along with other sales tax increases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he signed House Bill 3144, touting relief he said the measure will bring. 

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 Dozens of measures impacting employers, education, health care, criminal justice and more are now law after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted 59 bills Friday. The Illinois General Assembly approved more than 450 measures during spring session that ended in May. Pritzker has been holding bill signing ceremonies for some measures, but others are announced enacted in news releases. Late Friday, Pritzker’s office announced the signing of 23 House bills and 36 Senate bills.

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Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that illegal immigration and inflation are devastating the Black community. The former president engaged in conversation with political journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Trump said he wants to stop people from invading the country illegally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Greg Bishop reviews the latest headlines around Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and who could be the Democratic party's pick for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.

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Illinois took center stage in national politics this week after former President Donald Trump made comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’ race. Trump made headlines for comments about Harris in Chicago with the National Association of Black Journalists Wednesday. Harris later said it’s the “same old show” from Trump. 

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The failures of the Secret Service around the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump are mounting but members of Congress say there’s not been enough accountability. Trump suffered a wound to the ear, a spectator was killed and two others were critically wounded when a sniper opened fire in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a campaign rally on July 13. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last week after a U.S. House hearing failed to get answers. On Tuesday in a U.S. Senate hearing, Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe told U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, those on the ground making decisions that day have not been fired.

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