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The Illinois State Capitol is pictured in Springfield. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Hundreds of Bills Pass, Including Changes to Illinois’ Biometric Data Privacy Law

Lawmakers passed more than 200 bills this week ahead of their scheduled May 24 adjournment. Many of the measures will soon head to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, including a bill that changes how damages accrue under Illinois’ first-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks to an audience of professionals from the behavioral and mental health field at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library on May 15, 2024. (Dilpreet Raju / Capitol News Illinois)

Pritzker Pledges to Expand Access to Mental Health Care in Illinois

State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, is pictured in a file photo from 2023. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Lawmakers Consider Tax Break for News Publishers, State-Sponsored Journalism Scholarships

The Chicago Archaeopteryx was unveiled Monday at the Field Museum. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

The Chicago Archaeopteryx, the Field Museum’s Newest Dinosaur, Meets the Public

May 6, 2024 | Patty Wetli
Skull of archaeopteryx embedded in rock

Chicago’s Archaeopteryx

May 6, 2024 | WTTW News
Brandis Friedman (WTTW News)

May 6, 2024 - Full Show

May 6, 2024 | WTTW News
The office building at 100 North Western Avenue in Chicago, on Monday, May 6, 2024, where an office of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is located. (AP Photo / Charles Rex Arbogast)

New Lawsuit Claims Dozens of Juveniles Subjected to Sexual Abuse in Illinois Detention Centers

May 6, 2024 | Matt Masterson
(WTTW News)

Probe Opened Into Allegations of Excessive Force by Chicago Police Officers During Pro-Palestinian Protests

May 6, 2024 | Heather Cherone
A section of a human brain with Alzheimer’s disease is displayed at the Museum of Neuroanatomy at the University at Buffalo, in Buffalo, N.Y., Oct. 7, 2003. (AP Photo / David Duprey, File)

A Subset of Alzheimer’s Cases May Be Caused by Two Copies of a Single Gene, New Research Shows

May 6, 2024 | Associated Press
A graphic that says “Where in the World is Archaeopteryx”? (Nicole Cardos / WTTW News)

Where in the World is Archaeopteryx?

May 6, 2024 | Patty Wetli
Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Birds Are Dinosaurs: How a Family Tree That Spans T. Rex to Pigeons Informs Our Understanding of Life on Earth

May 6, 2024 | Nicole Cardos
Jingmai O'Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles, with the Chicago Archaeopteryx specimen, at the Field Museum, March 2024. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

The Field Museum Now Has an Incredibly Rare Fossil Proving Birds Are Dinosaurs. Here’s a Behind-the-Scenes Look at How They Got It

May 6, 2024 | Patty Wetli
Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. (WTTW News)

Meet Jingmai O’Connor, the Punk Rock Paleontologist Who Leads the Field Museum’s Archaeopteryx Team

May 6, 2024 | Patty Wetli
(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

7 People Killed in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

May 6, 2024 | Matt Masterson
(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Johnson’s Senior Leadership Team More Diverse Than Previous Mayors’ Cabinets: Analysis

May 6, 2024 | Heather Cherone
David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo / Chris Carlson, File)

Methodists End Bans on Gay Clergy and Same-Sex Marriage, Closing 50 Years of Battles for Mainline Protestants

May 5, 2024 | Associated Press
In this combination photo, President Joe Biden speaks May 2, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C., left, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, May 1, 2024, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo)

Denial and Uncertainty Are Looming Over a Biden-Trump Rematch 6 Months Out From Election Day

May 5, 2024 | Associated Press
LSU’s Angel Reese, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft on Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Chicago Sky Debuts Watched Widely on Fan’s Livestream After WNBA is Unable to Broadcast

May 4, 2024 | Associated Press

Week in Review: Pro-Palestinian Protests Grow; Pritzker Pushes Back on Bears’ Stadium Proposal

May 3, 2024 | Paul Caine
Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling speaks at a news conference May 3, 2024. (WTTW News)

Top Cop Defends Investigation Into Officers for Ties to Proud Boys and Oath Keepers That Won’t Lead to Discipline

May 3, 2024 | Heather Cherone
A casket carrying the body of fallen Officer Luis Huesca is carried by fellow officers before funeral services April 29, 2024. (Credit: Chicago Police Department)

After Manhunt, 22-Year-Old Charged in Killing of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca

May 3, 2024 | Matt Masterson
(WTTW News)

Mental Health Care Access is Key for Shooting Survivors’ Healing, Gun Violence Prevention

May 3, 2024 | Emily Soto

Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, May 2, 2024 - Full Show

May 2, 2024 | WTTW News
Five years after being shot, Chicago police Officer Derrick Jones Jr. discusses the road to recovery. (WTTW News)

5 Years After Shooting Put Him in a Coma, Chicago Police Officer Reflects on the Road to Recovery: ‘I’ve Learned to Forgive’

May 2, 2024 | Joanna Hernandez
Uniformed officers honor the families of their fallen colleagues during the annual Police Officers Memorial on the Illinois State Capitol grounds Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Springfield. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Fallen Chicago Police Officers Among 6 Honored at Illinois Capitol

May 2, 2024 | Cole Longcor — Capitol News Illinois
(WTTW News)

Many of Chicago’s Gun Violence Survivors Left With Unmet Physical and Emotional Needs, Study Finds

May 2, 2024 | Sean Keenehan
Dancing at Millennium Park. (Patrick L. Pyszka / City of Chicago)

Millennium Park to Celebrate 20th Anniversary With Free Music, Movies and Workouts. See the Summer Lineup

May 2, 2024 | Angel Idowu
Officer Luis M. Huesca (Chicago Police Department / Youtube)

Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca

May 2, 2024 | Matt Masterson
(WTTW News)

Reproductive Rights Advocates Suing Chicago After Permit to March During DNC Rejected

May 2, 2024 | Matt Masterson
(WTTW News)

CPD Officers Probed for Ties to Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Won’t Be Disciplined, Department Says

May 2, 2024 | Heather Cherone
State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, smiles on the House floor after Republicans chose not to debate his proposed election law changes, instead voting present then leaving the chamber for a news conference. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Within Hours, Illinois Democrats Introduce and Pass Changes to Ballot Access and Advisory Questions

May 2, 2024 | Capitol News Illinois

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, May 1, 2024 - Full Show

May 1, 2024 | WTTW News
File photo of a homeless encampment in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Illinois Taking Steps to Reduce High Rates of Homelessness in Black Community

May 1, 2024 | Paul Caine
Chaz Ebert appears on “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” on May 1, 2024. (WTTW News)

Chaz Ebert Encourages Universal Love, Vulnerability in New Book ‘It’s Time to Give a FECK’

May 1, 2024 | Shelby Hawkins
A rendering of the proposed new stadium for the Chicago Bears on a redesigned Museum Campus. (Credit: Chicago Bears)

Chicago Bears’ Plan to Use Taxpayer Funds on New Lakefront Stadium a ‘Non-Starter’ for Pritzker

May 1, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky