The Trump Administration froze about $10 billion in social services funding for five Democrat-led states. Also, Gov. JB Pritzker is touting a new energy law as a way to ensure the grid remains stable while addressing the cost for customers.

We discuss the latest State of Local News report produced by the Local News Initiative at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

On this episode, we look back on the stories that made news over the past year in state government and politics.

The first Illinois Accountability Commission public meeting took place this week. Also, the governor signs major legislation.

The law places limits on where immigration enforcement agents can detain people. It also gives those who believe their constitutional rights have been violated legal recourse.

IDPH will now be able to form guidelines using a combination of the CDC’s guidance, recommendations from the World Health Organization and other medical and scientific disease prevention experts — and require that immunizations recommended by the state be covered by state-regulated insurance plans.

The focus of immigration enforcement this year has been in the Chicago area. But ICE has also been active downstate, in many smaller communities.

The immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago area has gotten quieter, but not silent.

The retiring senator was among a handful of Democratic lawmakers to help Republicans reopen the federal government after the longest-ever shutdown.

State lawmakers passed some key legislation during their fall session, but several other measures failed to get through or were never called for a vote.