Peter Hancock
Herald-Whig
Contact Peter
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Peter:
Pritzker hits the road to sell his budget plan
One day after delivering his budget address, Gov. JB.. Pritzker took to the road Thursday to rally support for his proposed “Smart Start” program to expand access to preschool and → Read More
Approaching ‘Medicaid cliff’ could leave hundreds of thousands uninsured
As many as 700,000 Illinoisans may stand to lose their Medicaid coverage after March 31, but the Department of Healthcare and Family Services says it is working to reduce that → Read More
‘Omnibus’ health care bill passed amid criticisms
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A law recently signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker will extend the deadline for the state to transfer criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial from jail → Read More
Rifle Association files federal suit against assault weapons ban
The Illinois State Rifle Association has joined forces with other gun rights advocates in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s new ban on the sale and manufacture of semiautomatic → Read More
Pritzker signs assault weapon sales, manufacturing ban
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave final approval Tuesday to a bill banning the purchase, sale and manufacture of semi-automatic assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles and ammunition, and large-capacity → Read More
House advances assault weapon ban, Senate giving it ‘extensive review’
A bill that would ban the sale and manufacture of assault weapons in Illinois advanced out of the state House on Thursday and now awaits action in the Senate. → Read More
Bills target pawnbrokers for tighter rate limits
Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus are pushing legislation to put pawnbrokers under the same interest rate caps as payday lenders and other small-dollar, short-term lenders, but the pawn → Read More
New year to bring new laws in Illinois
By now, almost everyone in Illinois has heard that Jan. 1 will mark the beginning of a significant change in the state’s criminal justice system – the elimination of cash → Read More
Lawmakers hear more pleas for assault weapon ban
A legislative committee on Thursday heard more witnesses call for a ban on high-power, semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines, but some experts said that alone won’t solve the problem of → Read More
Lawmakers hear from advocates for assault weapon ban
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Victims and survivors of multiple mass shootings urged state lawmakers on Monday to pass a ban on assault weapons, arguing that communities throughout Illinois have felt the → Read More
Pension debt grows to $139.7 billion
Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew by $9.8 billion, or 7.5 percent, in the fiscal year that ended June 30, due in large part to market losses in a volatile economy. → Read More
Tax credits, prison reform pass in veto session
Illinois lawmakers last week passed significant legislation dealing with electric vehicle manufacturing incentives and the availability of hygiene products for prisoners in the state’s correctional system. → Read More
Madigan, McClain enter not guilty pleas
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime political ally Michael McClain entered not guilty pleas Tuesday to bribery and corruption charges involving utility giant Commonwealth → Read More
Attorney general candidates clash over SAFE-T Act, public health measures
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Attorney General Kwame Raoul accused his Republican challenger Thomas DeVore of making “dangerous” remarks, while DeVore accused the Democratic incumbent of failing the state’s school students by → Read More
Voters to decide who should be state’s chief fiscal officer
When former Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly spent more than two years at an impasse in negotiating a state budget from mid-2015 into 2017, the office of → Read More
Illinois takes Equal Rights Amendment to appeals court
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Attorneys for the state of Illinois joined their colleagues in Nevada and Virginia Wednesday in asking a federal appellate court to declare that the Equal Rights Amendment → Read More
Pritzker makes abortion rights central issue
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that abortion rights will be a central issue in the 2022 election, not just in his bid for reelection but in → Read More
GOP rallies at State Fair to ‘Restore Illinois’
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republicans gathered for their annual day at the State Fair on Thursday to showcase their candidates in the Nov. 8 election, vowing that the party will “restore → Read More
State Police questioned over handling of report on alleged Highland Park shooter
Officials from the Illinois State Police faced questioning Wednesday from Republican lawmakers who said the agency had authority to reject a gun permit application from a man who later allegedly → Read More
2022 Illinois State Fair officially opens
The 2022 Illinois State Fair officially got underway Thursday when Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Secretary of State Jesse White cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of the main entrance to → Read More