@GovPritzker
"I will not let our challenges crush the spirit I’ve always brought to this job. Facing this moment requires that every happy warrior find a little bit of a nomadic warrior in them as well."
@GovPritzker
recognizing
@Nomads4Pritzker
.
#twill
"He is a farmer who knows what it means to put in an honest day’s work, puts people first, and is not beholden to the political insiders who have corrupted the Illinois government."
@TulsiGabbard
@DarrenBaileyIL
#twill
Black mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white mothers, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Trump said the press never shows his crowds, no matter who is covering them. Wonder why the former president decided to hold this rally on grass instead of the grandstand for the fairgrounds? There’s only a few thousand people here. Probably wouldn’t fill the stands.
#twill
Anti-Semitic signs have returned to Springfield. I just asked this woman if she knew
@GovPritzker
’s family history. She said it doesn’t matter “because he’s a hypocrite.” However, she will not do an interview.
Pritzker: “I choose to fight for dreamers and immigrants...working families and union workers...and women who deserve equal pay for equal work.”
#ILprimary
@GovPritzker
@Nomads4Pritzker
Pritzker: "To anyone who thinks they can come into this state and try to force some right wing, MAGA war on a woman’s body - you will never get an inch of Illinois."
#twill
BREAKING: The Illinois House votes 64-43 to pass the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. This plan now heads to the Senate for consideration.
#twill
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules votes 9-0 to reject IDPH’s attempt to reintroduce emergency rules for school COVID-19 protocols regarding masking, testing and exclusion. Members said IDPH couldn’t move forward with the rule because of ongoing court action.
#twill
@GovPritzker
@Nomads4Pritzker
"There’s no nice or easy way to say this — but until the
Republican Party is ready to expel the extremists in their
midst, we need to do it for them — at the ballot box."
@GovPritzker
#twill
MONDAY:
@DarrenBaileyIL
will be endorsed by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police tomorrow morning at 10.
@ThomasDeVore76
is set to receive the Chicago FOP endorsement for Attorney General around 10:30.
#twill
It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life for me. And I’m feeling good. I’m so happy to be back covering state politics as the new Capitol reporter for
@wandtvnews
. Thank you to everyone who supported me over the past month. Time to get to work!
#twill
BREAKING: Gov. JB Pritzker is ordering all bars and restaurants close for the rest of the month in order to curb the spread of
#coronavirus
. This will go into effect at end of business Monday. Pritzker says delivery and drive up options will still be available.
#twill
Now that the graduated income tax failed to get enough voter support,
@GovPritzker
announces the inevitable. "There will be cuts. And they will be painful." All Illinoisans can expect a tax hike as well.
#twill
There was a period in my life that I didn’t think I could get a job as a TV news reporter. Today, I am beyond grateful to be named the
@inbatweets
Small Market TV Best Reporter. Thank you to everyone who has helped me become the journalist I am today. 📺
#twill
Good morning from the Adams County Fairgrounds. We’ll have full coverage of tonight’s Save America rally. Former president Trump has already endorsed
@RepMaryMiller
. Will
@DarrenBaileyIL
get his endorsement right before the primary election?
#twill
The Illinois Gaming Board has approved sports betting licenses for casinos in Alton, Elgin, Aurora, Joliet, Des Plaines, East St. Louis and East Peoria.
#twill
BREAKING: Illinois House and Senate Democratic leaders have released their revised congressional map proposal. They note this map better reflects the Latino population growth. Redistricting hearings are tentatively set for Tuesday and Wednesday.
#twill
BREAKING: The Illinois House has voted 62-51-3 to repeal parental notification of abortion. Two members did not vote. This proposal now heads to
@GovPritzker
’s desk for final approval.
#twill
The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found anti-Asian hate crimes rose by 339% last year. The
@IllinoisAAC
continues to see these crimes occur across the country and in Illinois. They renewed calls today to end this racial violence.
#twill
Something positive during this terrible year: My mom had her final radiation treatment today. She was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer early into this pandemic. After surgery and months of radiation, mom can proudly say she kicked cancer’s ass. I can’t wait to hug her again!
Miller claims there won’t be a
#COVID19
breakout when everyone goes home today. He says the experts must use common core math for their projections. “What they have been feeding you is absolutely political bullshit.” The crowd cheers. I don’t think
@IDPH
experts would agree.
Illinois Democrats have released their new proposed legislative maps. The public will have a day to check out changes to the districts before the redistricting special session tomorrow. New Senate map:
New House map:
More than 10 million people around the world are living with Parkinson's Disease. There's no cure right now, but doctors won't stop working until there is. I'll wear this pin on air all month and donate to help my dad and so many others with PD.
@ParkinsonDotOrg
#FutureOfPD
I had to support
@brendenmoore13
and the excellent team at the State Journal-Register today. Gannett is trying to roll back their print deadline from 9pm to 4pm on June 1. Earlier deadlines drastically cut content available for readers. Support
@SaveTheSJR
and local journalism!
Many have seen social media debates about changes to the bail system, but you likely haven't heard from survivors of violence. Let's put the political rhetoric aside for a few minutes. Listen to women who secured protections for survivors.
@ILCADV
@TheCAASE
@ICASA_endrape
#twill
.
@GovPritzker
signed a bill into law earlier this year to protect access to gender-affirming care. Many Missouri families and providers will likely travel across the border for this essential health care.
#twill
#INBOX
|
@AGAndrewBailey
's office is issuing an emergency regulation on gender transition interventions for minors to clarify that since these interventions are experimental, "state law prohibits performing experimental procedures in the absence of specific guardrails."
#moleg
BREAKING:
@GovPritzker
is calling for lawmakers to return to Springfield for a special session to “further enshrine our commitment to reproductive health care rights and protections.”
#twill
I remember my first day as a producer for
@HOIABC_News
. Four years later, I am honored to report on Illinois politics and government. People doubted I would become a reporter, but I am so thankful that I never gave up on my dream. Cheers to more stories and growth!
#twill
@GovPritzker
.
@DarrenBaileyIL
chose not to come to the spin room to face questions from reporters. His campaign spokesman walked in and said it was clear Darren won the debate tonight. He then walked out without taking any questions.
#twill
IL is now the third state to require insurance companies to cover mental health care. It's also the first state to move to a system where mental health professionals respond to mental health emergencies.
@RobertJPeters
@RepKellyCassidy
@AccessLiving
#twill
I am very excited to announce that I have accepted a job offer to work as a News Producer for
@25NewsWEEK
and
@HOIABC_News
. Central Illinois has become a second home over the last five years and I can't wait to join the Peoria team in June!
U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran says he doesn’t fear death. He just invited the crowd to go to
@SenatorDurbin
’s Springfield home with him. Curran is running against Durbin.
April is
#ParkinsonsAwarenessMonth
. You’ll see me wear this gray pin throughout the month for my dad and the nearly 60,000 Americans diagnosed each year.
#KnowMorePD
I had a friend ask me if there was reliable information about the SAFE-T Act. She is an anchor in LA and there are several local stations there sharing information from conservative talk radio hosts like Dan Proft and Annie Frey. She was so glad I was able to fact check.
#twill
The Secretary of State's Office says there were about 800 people at today's rally. That's the largest crowd they've seen for the Reopen Illinois group.
#twill
I believe art can change your life. Today marks five years with my prosthetic right eye. The ocularist team helped me feel comfortable enough to look in the mirror again and smile like I used to.
While Rauner left Illinois in a fiscal disaster, he laughed when I asked him to respond to the state's eight credit rating upgrades under the Pritzker administration. "Credit agencies love tax hikes," Rauner said. "And they love federal bailouts."
#twill
.
@DarrenBaileyIL
said current gas prices are devastating for working families and people on a fixed income. He believes
@GovPritzker
should have removed or suspended the gas tax instead of freezing the cost of living adjustment for six months.
#twill
SIGNING DAY:
@GovPritzker
will sign the massive criminal justice reform bill at Chicago State University tomorrow at Noon. Lawmakers, law enforcement, and community activists will be at the signing ceremony.
@ElgieSims
@RobertJPeters
@RepSlaughter
Well Springfield, it’s been an amazing year. I can’t believe how quickly the time flew by. Thank you to Charlie Wheeler and
@UISedu
for giving young journalists the opportunity to master public affairs reporting skills under the dome. The experience is unforgettable.
Judge Thomas Cunnington is a Republican serving Kankakee County. The Illinois Supreme Court has five Democrats and two Republicans. The highest court will likely side with lawmakers who fought for the criminal justice reform.
#twill
"My optimism has waned. Honestly, because I said the other day that the federal government is like Lucy with the football. And I feel like Charlie Brown."
LIFE UPDATE: I’m happy to announce I have moved back to Springfield to be the Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief for
@CareersAtQuincy
. Viewers from the Peoria, Quincy, Rockford and Carbondale markets can watch us cover their politicians daily.
#twill
The Illinois House Reproductive Health and the Dobbs Decision Working Group is highlighting their plan to protect abortion and gender-affirming health care. This plan heads to the House floor tonight.
@RepKellyCassidy
@PPIAction
@EqualityILL
#twill
INBOX:
@ILComptroller
says the state's rainy day fund has now reached $2 billion.
@susanamendoza10
says a $2 billion reserve could run the state for roughly 15 days compared to the 2017 rainy day fund of $48,000 which would last less than 30 seconds.
#twill
This has been such a hard week for our downtown Springfield community. You have to enjoy the little moments of happiness. So happy to see my friend Winston in between live shots tonight!
@wandtvnews
#twill
"You know what I'm doing? I'm teaching my children that no, you're not going to die from COVID-19. You might get sick. Everybody might get sick, but there's a 99.6% recovery rate with this virus." - Michael Rebresh, the organizer who decided to spit at me
#twill
A group of about 150 people gathered outside the Illinois Capitol Complex Saturday for the "Million Unmasked March." The parents and guardians argue their children shouldn't be forced to wear masks to attend school this fall.
There is too much hate in the world right now. An entire section of my web story tonight is about the racial undertones at today’s rally in Springfield. Yes, I name the woman proudly displaying the swastika poster. We have to do better.
#twill
While organizers stressed this wasn't a political event, many people held flags or posters supporting President Donald Trump or bashing Gov. JB Pritzker. Rep. Darren Bailey was also welcomed as a hero for his court battle against the governor.
My friend Ben Allison would’ve turned 27 today. Ben died after a hit and run accident near campus in 2015. He was one of the best DJs on our staff and one of the nicest guys you could meet. His family asks us to raise a toast each year on his birthday. We miss you, Ben!
White is fighting for his employees who have struggled during the stay-at-home. He says communities should choose when they want to reopen. Peoria recently joined several local governments to create a Heart of Illinois reopening plan.
@25NewsWEEK
@HOIABC_News
While Trump's backing may help
@DarrenBaileyIL
in the primary tomorrow, I asked how the former president’s endorsement will affect his chances in November against
@GovPritzker
.
#twill
This is Billy Hatfield’s last day working at the Capitol Bureau. He’s been with me since day one and I don’t think the bureau would be what it is today without him. Billy is always dedicated to our stories and constantly makes creative decisions with his shots and editing.
A battle that started in 2020 with a downstate lawmaker challenging COVID-19 executive orders has become a fight for the governor’s office in November.
@GovPritzker
@DarrenBaileyIL
#twill
Good morning from the Illinois Senate. This is the third day of lame duck session and the three-year anniversary of our Capitol Bureau! Thank you to all of the viewers who have trusted me to provide in-depth coverage of Illinois state government and politics since 2020.
#twill
Illinois will ban police from lying to minors during interrogations starting January 1.
@GovPritzker
signed a bill into law today making Illinois the first state to ban the deceptive tactic. Terrill Swift says this could've saved his life.
@RobertJPeters
@LtGovStratton
#twill
BREAKING: The Illinois House has passed the plan to create the Department of Early Childhood on a 93-18 vote. This bill now heads to
@GovPritzker
’s desk for his signature.
#twill
Adam White, owner of RC Outfitters, is the first speaker today. He is currently in a court battle against
@GovPritzker
over the stay-at-home order and reopened his athletic store in Peoria. The case has been moved to Sangamon County.
I was one of maybe 10 people wearing a mask inside a large store. Several people gave dirty looks and one laughed walking past me. Think many will have a big wake up call when the indoor mask mandate is back Monday. We’re still in a pandemic! 😷
"So many people are awaiting trial right now, sitting in jail just because they can’t afford to pay money bond. The further that this gets delayed or pushed back, the longer that injustice would continue."
@endmoneybond
@RepKamBuckner
@RobertJPeters
#twill
BREAKING: The Illinois House passes a plan solidifying protections for providers and patients receiving abortion and gender-affirming care. The bill championed by
@RepKellyCassidy
passed on a 67-41 vote and now heads to the Senate.
#twill
I just scheduled an appointment for my dad to get his first shot of the
#COVID19
vaccine. He rarely leaves home except for work with limited people in the office. As someone dealing with Parkinson's and hypertension, I'm so happy he'll get vaccinated soon.