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State Week in Review
HD 1: Sat @ 6:30AM-7AM | Sun 6:30AM-7AM

A look at the past week in Illinois state politics and government. It is the longest running public affairs program on NPR Illinois and was patterned after the popular PBS show Washington Week in Review.

HD 1: Sat @ 6:30AM-7AM | Sun 6:30AM-7AM
HD 2: Sat @ 5PM-5:30PM

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  • Both sides in the debate over cash bail argued before the Illinois Supreme Court this week. We also talk with a reporter about a series that uncovered abuse and neglect at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.
  • The four individuals will stand trial for an alleged scheme that has become the biggest Illinois political scandal since the Blagojevich Administration.
  • Lori Lightfoot was rejected by voters Tuesday, becoming the first Chicago mayor to be denied a second term in four decades.
  • The Florida Republican governor attended a police sponsored event in the suburbs. His visit became a topic in Chicago's mayoral race days before the election.
  • Gov. JB Pritzker delivered a combined State of the State/Budget Address this week that focused heavily on increased funding for education and social services. The nearly $50 billion spending plan brought criticism from Republicans. They raised concerns about costs of new programs, like an expansion of child care services and making preschool available to all kids over the next four years. Still, with Democrats holding supermajorities in the General Assembly, Pritzker is likely to get his way this spring.
  • Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver his next budget proposal on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Pritzker has priorities, but he'll need to balance costs with what is expected to be a revenue slowdown. Also, a number of candidates are vying to be the leader of the state's largest city. Lori Lightfoot is trying to become the first woman re-elected to the job. Meanwhile, one of the perceived frontrunners, Paul Vallas, now faces questions over his residency.
  • This week, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the COVID-19 public health emergency will officially end May 11, the same day a national proclamation will expire. Our panel provides some context to the historic decision.
  • The legal action is happening at both the state and federal level.
  • Separate lawsuits have been filed against Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons.
  • After Gov. JB Pritzker signed a prohibition on the sale of assault style guns and large capacity magazines, numerous sheriffs publicly stated they view the new law as unconstitutional and they don't plan to enforce it. Our State Week panel discusses the situation.