CHICAGO – Illinois police now have more flexibility when responding to domestic violence cases involving juveniles.

What we know:

A new law ends the long-standing rule that police must arrest juveniles accused of domestic violence.

Instead, officers can now refer them to counseling, family services, or other programs that help address the root of the problem, according to Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser.

The law, known as Public Act 104-0290, was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August. Mosser and State Rep. Matt Hanson led the effort to change the law.

Why it matters:

Since 1986, officers under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act have had to make arrests in nearly every domestic violence case, even when the situation involved a child. The intention was to protect victims and ensure accountability.

Sometimes, however, Mosser said that approach did more harm than good.

“Throughout my career as a prosecutor, I have specialized in domestic violence cases and seen how this behavior is often learned and passed down through generations,” she said in a statement. “Because research shows that young people’s brains are still developing, we must treat them differently from adults. Our Juvenile Justice Center is filled with youth accused of domestic violence, and many of them need counseling or family support, not detention. This law gives officers the flexibility to connect kids and families to the help they need instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all response.”

Rep. Hanson added, “Allowing law enforcement to use discretion in response to juvenile domestic violence situations is overdue, and they now have the ability to help and support young people when diversion is a safe alternative to an arrest.”

What’s next:

The law took effect on Thursday.

Mosser’s office is offering training for police departments across the state to help them learn how to apply the new rules.

ILLINOIS – Toll costs for Illinois truck drivers could increase 30% by 2027 under a new transit funding bill approved by state lawmakers last month.

Illinois lawmakers approved Senate Bill 2111 on Oct. 31, which now awaits approval from Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The legislation, also known as the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, calls for toll increases for most drivers and new sales taxes in the Chicago region to fund public transit investments.

One section of the bill states: “To the extent consistent with the Toll Highway Act and the provisions of any outstanding bond indentures, tolls for passenger vehicles shall be increased by 45 cents, with proportionate reductions for reduced fare programs, and tolls on commercial vehicles shall be increased by 30% effective on January 1, 2027.” It also authorizes biennial increases of up to 4% starting in 2029.

For passenger vehicles, the toll increase is modest, a flat 45-cent hike for toll crossings.

For commercial vehicles, such as semi-trucks, toll costs would increase by 30% per crossing.

According to Illinois Tollway, truck costs can range anywhere from under $2 to over $16 depending on the toll plaza, time of day and size of the truck. A 30% increase could add up to $5 per toll crossing.

The funding generated by these changes is expected to provide more than $1 billion annually for public transit agencies in northern Illinois and help prevent service cuts and fare hikes for bus and rail riders.

Gov. Pritzker has not yet signed the bill, but previously offered this statement on Oct. 31 indicating support:

“Illinoisans deserve a world-class transportation system that connects communities across regions, drives economic growth, and helps every resident – no matter where they live – access transit to live, work, and enjoy the state. I am grateful for the work by leaders in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly in taking steps to make this vision a reality.

“The legislation makes important changes to how Illinois operates and manages our transportation network, including investing in new capital projects that will make our public transit and tollways more modern, efficient, and reliable for riders. I am pleased the legislation also avoids new broad-based state taxes on Illinois working families. Instead, it directs existing state revenue streams to flow towards public transit systems while enabling independent bodies like the Regional Transportation Authority and Tollway Board to decide how to best meet their users’ needs.

“I look forward to signing it into law and ensuring fiscal responsibility, fairness across the state’s transportation networks, and world-class transit that keeps Illinoisans moving forward.”

With the governor’s formal approval, the tolling changes would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s worried about how President Donald Trump might respond to the growing controversy over documents tying him to Jeffrey Epstein.

“My great fear, of course, is that with the release of that information, which I think will be devastating for Trump, he’s going to do everything in his power to distract,” Pritzker told The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview on Wednesday. “What does that mean? I mean, he might take us to war with Venezuela just to get a distraction in the news and take it out of the headlines.”

Pritzker, widely seen as among the top potential Democratic presidential contenders in 2028, also directed some of his sharpest criticism at members of his own party. He said the decision by seven Democratic senators and one independent to side with Republicans in a Senate vote to end the government shutdown was an “enormous mistake” that played right into Trump’s hands.

“I’ve been on team fight from the very beginning,” Pritzker said. “And I don’t appreciate when we’ve got Democrats who are caving in and doing basically what the Trump administration wants.”

Pritzker did not join calls for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to step aside, which has come from some Democrats who think he should have fought harder. “I’m not sure this is the one thing that people should focus on to put them over the edge about it,” the governor said.

He was instead more critical of the group of Democratic senators who voted for the deal, which included Sen. Dick Durbin, his own state’s senior senator.

“We were winning,” said Pritzker, pointing to resounding Democratic wins in elections across the country last week. “I do not understand why people caved when we were on the verge of getting real change.”

Since Trump’s reelection, Pritzker — an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune — has been among the president’s fiercest Democratic critics. On Wednesday, he described Trump as “a narcissist” and said he believed the president “has dementia.”

Pritzker’s comments about Trump’s use of the politics of distraction came as newly released documents reignited scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. In a 2019 email to a journalist, Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls,” but what he knew — and whether it pertained to the sex offender’s crimes — is unclear. The White House accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president.

But few governors have witnessed Trump’s use of force as directly as Pritzker, who has seen federal agents descend on Chicago and its suburbs in recent months as part of “ Operation Midway Blitz.” More than 3,300 people suspected of immigration violations have been arrested since September, with some raids involving helicopters, tear gas and nighttime operations.

“This is part of the militarization of our American cities that Donald Trump is engaging in,” Pritzker said. “And it’s dangerous. It shouldn’t happen, but he’s got a purpose behind it. And it’s to affect our elections in 2026.”

Pritzker said the large immigration crackdown seen in Chicago would soon expand to other states, saying that he had spoken recently to North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein after reports that the administration might send federal forces into Charlotte.

“I’m hoping that the pushback will finally lead them to ratchet down their efforts,” said Pritzker.

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