The Latest Breaking News from Illinois

A photo of a black-bellied whistling-duck at Wolf Lake forwarded by Dave Gajewski led to the rabbit hole around the mysteries of the species and their advance north; a chance to step back and consider the big picture in the outdoors.

GLENCOE, Ill. — On a wet December afternoon, Emma Donnelly leads a class of 4- and 5-year-olds down a muddy path at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The kids jump into puddles, climb trees and roll in dirt before running up a hill overlooking a lake where they spot a small…

Illinois Republican Darin LaHood, a Kevin McCarthy backer involved in negotiations, told the Sun-Times on Wednesday night that “I believe we are making progress. The two sides are working diligently together.”

We’ve grown up under the constant threat of gun violence. We should be the last generation to grow up doing active shooter drills.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker begins his second term Jan. 9 emboldened by a decisive reelection victory, a slew of wins in November by Democratic candidates he helped fund and a series of legislative successes that formed the foundation of his bid for another four years in Springfield.

In a day of tumult on the House floor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in three votes, fails to win the speakership. Downstate Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., was among those refusing to support McCarthy.

Mike Noonan was the consummate Illinois political insider. He now runs a “budtique” in southwestern Michigan.

The Damen Silos property, which is right on the river, should have been part of a master plan focused on helping to redevelop the land along the Chicago River in a way most beneficial to city residents.

“I’m pretty proud of what we’ve been able to achieve,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who starts a second term as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee when the new 118th Congress kicks off on Tuesday.

Here’s an issue-by-issue report card for 2022 on some of the topics examined over the year by the Editorial Board.

CHICAGO — Just hours before the elimination of cash bail and other pretrial policies were supposed to go into effect, the Illinois Supreme Court on Saturday halted the implementation of the landmark policies statewide.