Illinois
New bill changes Illinois election slate rules
ILLINOIS (WIFR) – Six months away from November, Illinois lawmakers change election laws that prevent candidates from being slated in.
The bill, originally presented as a child welfare bill, declares only candidates who run in the primary election can be on the general election ballot. Illinois State Board of Elections public information office Matt Dietrich says the burden will now be on each political party to make sure someone runs in each state-wide primary race.
“They would not have a chance then to slate a candidate after the primary to fill that vacancy and nomination,” Dietrich clarifies.
Tensions along party lines rose after Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law. 35th District State Senator Dave Syverson sees this bill as an abuse of power by the Democrats. He says the bill was signed at historic speed without any public input. He believes it is wrong to pass a bill that would change election laws this close to the general election.
“For the ruling party just to take choice away from the public is wrong … it shouldn’t be about Chicago style political muscle, it should be about an open process,” Syverson says.
On the other side of the argument, State Representative Dave Vella hopes the bill will return power to voters and independent candidates. He says for too long, many slated candidates ran without connecting with their constituents.
“I think I’m hoping that this will force the candidates to go out and talk to the voters,” Vella says. “And forces the candidates who don’t want to go through that process, to do it and you want that right, you want people to put the work in if they are going to represent you.”
The bill also places three advisory questions onto the November ballot for citizens to consider pertaining to the security of election workers, invitro fertilization and tax increases on incomes of more than $1,000,000. For certain offices, including state constitutional officers and judges, it pushes back the filing period by four weeks.
Copyright 2024 WIFR. All rights reserved.
CHICAGO – Multiple Republican candidates are competing for the chance to take on Gov. JB Pritzker in this year’s gubernatorial election.
Former state lawmaker Darren Bailey, who lost to Pritzker in the 2022 general election, is the frontrunner for this year’s GOP primary as well. He and conservative entrepreneur and researcher Tom Dabrowski are slated to participate in a debate on Fox Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to discuss the major issues facing the state.
Darren Bailey and Tom Dabrowski are running in the Republican primary for Illinois governor. (Getty Images, Dabrowski campaign)
Election Day is March 17, but early voting begins this month across the state.
Illinois governor’s race: Who is running to challenge JB Pritzker?
How to watch the debate
The debate will air live on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. and you can watch on Fox Chicago, Fox32Chicago.com, and on the FOX LOCAL app.
The debate will be moderated by Fox Chicago’s Political Editor Paris Schutz.
Viewers can have their voices heard and help shape the conversation by submitting questions to ask the candidates. Select questions may be answered live on air during the debate.
Submit your questions to Parisonpolitics@fox.com.
A man was shot inside Springfield Mall in Springfield, Virginia, on Friday evening, and a suspect is in custody, according to police.
A man was shot inside Springfield Mall in Springfield, Virginia, Friday evening and a suspect is in custody, according to police.
The shooting happened around 5:30 p.m., Fairfax County police told WTOP. Responding officers found a man inside the mall who’d been shot in the upper body. He was taken to a local hospital with injuries police said were not life-threatening.
Police said they have recovered a gun and that a suspect is in custody.
The scene is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the public, police said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
How chocolate became the symbol of Valentine’s Day
Chocolate didn’t become romantic by accident. Here’s how Victorian-era marketing turned it into Valentine’s Day’s go-to gift.
Couples across Illinois will set out tomorrow for dinner dates and romantic excursions to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
But as we near the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the weather is becoming increasingly finnicky, with rain and cold one day followed by sunshine and warmth the next.
So what will the weather be like Saturday, Feb. 14? Here’s the forecast.
Chicago Valentine’s Day forecast
Saturday will be partly cloudy in Chicago with a high of 48-53 degrees during the day and low 40s near the lakeshore. The low will drop to around 32-37 at night with a chance of rain south of I-80.
Peoria Valentine’s Day forecast
Saturday will be partly cloudy in Peoria with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 31.
Springfield Valentine’s Day forecast
Saturday in Springfield will bring a high of 50 degrees and a low of 35. Sunshine will give way to increasing clouds and periods of rainfall in the afternoon.
Bloomington Valentine’s Day forecast
Sun will give way to clouds Saturday in Bloomington, with a high of 49 degrees and a low of 32.
Champaign Valentine’s Day forecast
Sun will give way to clouds Saturday in Champaign, with a high of 46 degrees and a low of 34.
Rockford Valentine’s Day forecast
Rockford will start off sunny and warm Saturday, with increasing clouds as the day goes on. The high of 55 degrees will near the city’s 2006 record of 59, with a low of 29 at night.
Galesburg Valentine’s Day forecast
Sun will give way to clouds Saturday in Galesburg, with a high of 52 degrees and a low of 28.
Carbondale Valentine’s Day forecast
Saturday will be cool with occasional rain in Carbondale, giving way to possible localized flooding. The high will be around 49 degrees and the low will be 42.
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