Illinois in Focus

Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday that Illinois Republicans have the wrong policies. “It’s embarrassing for them,” Pritzker said. “No wonder the Illinois GOP is a super minority party.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Politics continued taking over the Illinois State Fair Thursday with Republican Day. In Springfield at the fairgrounds Wednesday, Democrats during Governor's Day said their piece on why they need more power. Thursday, Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said Democrats bring taxpayers “one big hurt.”

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 Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday that Illinois Republicans have the wrong policies.

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Greg Bishop reviews some of the comments from Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates about the finances of the Chicago Public Schools and ongoing negotiations for a new teachers union contract.

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Greg Bishop reviews the comments former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk made on X about Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday night.

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Greg Bishop reviews a statement from Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announcing he will retire following pressure from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others after last month's police involved shooting death of Sonya Massey in Springfield.

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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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