Ben Szalinski
Statehouse Reporter | Capitol News IllinoisBen joined CNI in November 2024 as a Statehouse reporter covering the General Assembly from Springfield and other events happening around state government. He previously covered Illinois government for The Daily Line following time in McHenry County with the Northwest Herald. Ben is also a graduate of the University of Illinois Springfield PAR program. He is a lifelong Illinois resident and is originally from Mundelein.
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The State Board of Elections voted 4-4 along party lines as to whether Senate President Don Harmon should pay a nearly $10 million fine for allegedly violating state campaign finance laws in 2024. -
Dick Durbin, who is not seeking reelection in 2026, was one of eight members in the Senate Democratic caucus to join Republicans in supporting a procedural vote to begin the process of passing legislation to fund the government. -
Nearly 2M Illinoisans could lose benefits as federal shutdown continues. -
Illinois Democrats blame Trump and congressional Republicans for elongating the federal government's shutdown. -
Illinois' governor says 'I like to play cards' as returns show $1.4M in gambling income -
The Illinois General Assembly will return for the annual fall veto session from Oct. 14-16 and Oct. 28-30 with several key items on its agenda. -
Illinois Republicans say the governor’s rhetoric is sowing more division. -
Dabrowski joins race with more than $1 million raised so far. He'll likely face off against the 2022 GOP nominee Darren Bailey, who has yet to formally announce. -
Bailey is likely the biggest name to enter Republican primary, despite a 2022 loss to Gov. JB Pritzker. -
Noem told reporters that Illinoisans should focus on the needs of “American citizens” and “make them the priority, because they’re the ones who invested in this country.” -
New law clarifies Illinois' statute to bypass eviction process. State law previously required property owners to go through a lengthy eviction process in court to remove squatters who claimed legal rights to a property. -
New requirements mandate Illinois pay for a greater share of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP.
