Peter Hancock
@pqhancock.bsky.social
Reporter at Capitol News Illinois.
University enrollment in Illinois grows to 10-year high despite some declines capitolnewsillinois.com/news/univers...
University enrollment in Illinois grows to 10-year high despite some declines
Article Summary Total enrollment at public universities in Illinois reached a 10-year high of nearly 190,000 this academic year. Deputy
capitolnewsillinois.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
University enrollment in Illinois grows to 10-year high despite some declines capitolnewsillinois.com/news/univers...
On this week's Capitol Cast, UChicago's Susan Stokes discusses her new book, "The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies."
Democracy backsliding
Democratic values and institutions are coming under attack in the United States and around the world. In her new book,
soundcloud.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
On this week's Capitol Cast, UChicago's Susan Stokes discusses her new book, "The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies."
Turmoil at CDC prompts Illinois, other states, to issue their own vaccine guidance.
Illinois to issue its own vaccine guidelines
Article Summary JB Pritzker has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop independent guidelines for administering common vaccines,
capitolnewsillinois.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Turmoil at CDC prompts Illinois, other states, to issue their own vaccine guidance.
On this week's Capitol Cast: Ben Szalinski, Jerry Nowicki & I look at the emerging GOP field for governor. Plus, who's next in line for Illinois Supreme Court chief justice.
GOP gov field takes shape
The list of potential Republican candidates for governor grew this week. Ted Dabrowski, who publishes the conservative newsletter Wirepoints, formally announced his candidacy. And the party's 2022 nom
soundcloud.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
On this week's Capitol Cast: Ben Szalinski, Jerry Nowicki & I look at the emerging GOP field for governor. Plus, who's next in line for Illinois Supreme Court chief justice.
Illinois elections board refuses to give DOJ sensitive voter data capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinoi...
Illinois elections board refuses to give DOJ sensitive voter data
Article Summary The Trump administration has demanded Illinois turn over its complete statewide voter registration database, including sensitive information such
capitolnewsillinois.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Illinois elections board refuses to give DOJ sensitive voter data capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinoi...
Check out this week's podcast on the new/rebooted "Fair Maps" campaign seeking to end partisan gerrymandering in the General Assembly.
soundcloud.com
September 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Check out this week's podcast on the new/rebooted "Fair Maps" campaign seeking to end partisan gerrymandering in the General Assembly.
Reposted by Peter Hancock
Insurance officials blamed factors such as inflation and climate change for recent homeowners insurance rate hikes in Illinois. @pqhancock.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/s9OLQw0
Insurance industry opposes regulation, blames inflation, climate change for rate hikes
Article Summary JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have suggested Illinois should exercise more regulatory authority over premiums that insurance companies
capitolnewsillinois.com
August 21, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Insurance officials blamed factors such as inflation and climate change for recent homeowners insurance rate hikes in Illinois. @pqhancock.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/s9OLQw0
On this week's podcast,an extremist group tries to recruit in southern Illinois, a top legislative leader appeals a $10M fine, and other news of the week from the CNI news team.
Proud Boys, Harmon appeal, SLAPP suits & redistricting
The CNI news team discusses major stories of the week, including the brief appearance of a recruiting billboard for the far-right group called the Proud Boys, Senate President Don Harmon appealing a $
soundcloud.com
August 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
On this week's podcast,an extremist group tries to recruit in southern Illinois, a top legislative leader appeals a $10M fine, and other news of the week from the CNI news team.
This week on Capitol Cast, we break down what happened during Democrat and Republican days at the #IllinoisStateFair.
Fair roundup
The Illinois State Fair marked the unofficial launch of the 2026 election cycle. Democrats and Republicans brought major names to the stage to help showcase their candidates and fire up their supporte
soundcloud.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
This week on Capitol Cast, we break down what happened during Democrat and Republican days at the #IllinoisStateFair.
Trump's DOJ demanding access to sensitive data on Illinois voters.
DOJ demands sensitive Illinois voter registration data after state responds
Article Summary In response to a July letter, the Illinois State Board of Elections provided the U.S. Department of Justice
capitolnewsillinois.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Trump's DOJ demanding access to sensitive data on Illinois voters.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressing Illinois Democrats at County Chairs Assoc. breakfast.
August 13, 2025 at 3:48 PM
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressing Illinois Democrats at County Chairs Assoc. breakfast.
Illinois to change scoring system on state assessments. Reading, math proficiency rates expected to go up.
State education board to vote on new test scoring system
Article Summary Illinois has long had some of the most rigorous proficiency standards in the nation for student performance. The
capitolnewsillinois.com
August 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Illinois to change scoring system on state assessments. Reading, math proficiency rates expected to go up.
Illinois Dems bring in the big guns ahead of Governor's Day at the State Fair.
Jeffries, top Illinois Dems hope voters will punish Republicans in 2026
Article Summary U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made a stop in Springfield one day before keynoting a breakfast with
capitolnewsillinois.com
August 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Illinois Dems bring in the big guns ahead of Governor's Day at the State Fair.
Partisan tensions rising as Texas Dems camp out in Illinois to prevent vote on Trump-backed redistricting.
Pritzker: FBI can’t arrest Texas lawmakers sheltering in Illinois
Article Summary Dozens of Democratic lawmakers from Texas are staying in Illinois to prevent the Texas Legislature from adopting a
capitolnewsillinois.com
August 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Partisan tensions rising as Texas Dems camp out in Illinois to prevent vote on Trump-backed redistricting.
Reposted by Peter Hancock
The Trump administration has asked Illinois election officials for access to a massive database containing Social Security and driver’s license numbers. A former Justice Department voting law expert says the request goes way beyond the department’s legal authority.
Trump administration requests voter data from Illinois elections board
The White House is seeking access to a massive database containing Social Security and driver's license numbers. A former Justice Department voting law expert says the request goes way beyond the department's legal authority.
trib.al
July 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The Trump administration has asked Illinois election officials for access to a massive database containing Social Security and driver’s license numbers. A former Justice Department voting law expert says the request goes way beyond the department’s legal authority.
#OTD in 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, with former Pres. Harry Truman in attendance. Here's our podcast with UChicago's Colleen Grogan marking the 60th anniversary. soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
July 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
#OTD in 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, with former Pres. Harry Truman in attendance. Here's our podcast with UChicago's Colleen Grogan marking the 60th anniversary. soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
DOJ seeks sensitive voter data in Illinois and other states. Request comes alongside Judicial Watch lawsuit over maintenance of state/local voter rolls.
Trump administration requests voter data from Illinois elections board
Trump administration seeks Illinois voter data, raising legal and privacy concerns ahead of court hearing.
capitolnewsillinois.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
DOJ seeks sensitive voter data in Illinois and other states. Request comes alongside Judicial Watch lawsuit over maintenance of state/local voter rolls.
While the 7th Circuit weighs challenges to Illinois' 2023 assault weapons ban ...
Pritzker signs bills addressing gun storage, tracing of firearms
Illinois enacts new gun laws on safe storage and firearm tracing amid ongoing court battles over gun rights.
capitolnewsillinois.com
July 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
While the 7th Circuit weighs challenges to Illinois' 2023 assault weapons ban ...
Ryne Sandberg, Cubs legend and Hall of Famer, dies after battle with prostate cancer chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/07...
Ryne Sandberg, Cubs legend and Hall of Famer, dies after battle with prostate cancer
Sandberg still holds the modern-era franchise record for runs scored (1,316). Among right-handed hitters, he leads the pack in career singles (1,624) as a Cub and triples in a season (19 in 1984).
chicago.suntimes.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Ryne Sandberg, Cubs legend and Hall of Famer, dies after battle with prostate cancer chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/07...
A new study in Illinois shows upward mobility is harder than we'd like. Check out this week's Capitol Cast podcast - our first with video!
Upward mobility in Illinois
YouTube video by Capitol News Illinois
www.youtube.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A new study in Illinois shows upward mobility is harder than we'd like. Check out this week's Capitol Cast podcast - our first with video!
60 years ago this month, LBJ signed Medicare into law and enrolled Harry Truman into the program. Tucked inside the bill was another new program few people noticed at the time - Medicaid. Listen to this week's podcast about how we got from there to here. soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
July 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
60 years ago this month, LBJ signed Medicare into law and enrolled Harry Truman into the program. Tucked inside the bill was another new program few people noticed at the time - Medicaid. Listen to this week's podcast about how we got from there to here. soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
No Kings protest at the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield.
June 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
No Kings protest at the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield.
This week, I interview Fred Tsao if ICIRR about the Chicago-area protests against the Trump admin's immigration policies, and Ben Szalinski analyzes Gov. Pritzker's appearance at a congressional Oversight Committee hearing on "sanctuary" laws.
soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
Immigration roundup
Protesters took to the streets in Chicago and other major cities this week as the Trump administration stepped up its efforts to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Gov.
soundcloud.com
June 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This week, I interview Fred Tsao if ICIRR about the Chicago-area protests against the Trump admin's immigration policies, and Ben Szalinski analyzes Gov. Pritzker's appearance at a congressional Oversight Committee hearing on "sanctuary" laws.
soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
soundcloud.com/user-5920901...
This week, I interview historian Jason Emerson about his new book, "The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln's Widow, As Revealed by Her Own Letters." (Monday will mark the 150th anniversary of her being declared insane and committed to an asylum outside Chicago.)
A new perspective on Mary Todd Lincoln
May 19 will mark the 150th anniversary of Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of the slain president, being declared legally insane and committed to an asylum outside Chicago. Historian Jason Emerson discusses h
soundcloud.com
May 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This week, I interview historian Jason Emerson about his new book, "The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln's Widow, As Revealed by Her Own Letters." (Monday will mark the 150th anniversary of her being declared insane and committed to an asylum outside Chicago.)
And now the chain reaction begins ...
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin to retire after more than 4 decades in Congress
Sen. Dick Durbin announces retirement in 2027, ending a 44-year career and sparking Democratic succession speculation.
capitolnewsillinois.com
April 23, 2025 at 9:09 PM
And now the chain reaction begins ...