Jeremy Gorner

Jeremy Gorner is a beat reporter for the Tribune's Metro staff, covering Illinois state government from the Statehouse in Springfield. He previously covered the Chicago Police Department for the newspaper, and he joined the Tribune in 2006 to cover breaking news for its online news desk.

Cardinal Blase Cupich helps to lead a procession around Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park following an outdoor Ash Wednesday Mass on Feb. 18, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Cardinal Cupich and Catholic nuns sue Illinois to block medical aid-in-dying law ahead of Sept. 12 start

September 3, 2026 at 7:16 p.m.

Illinois joined at least 10 other states and Washington, D.C., in permitting a law that allows a terminally ill patient to request and ingest life-ending medication.

An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services office building at 6201 S. Emerald Drive in Chicago on Jan. 17, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

DCFS audit finds some improvement but persistent problems under 2020 law sparked by Decatur toddler’s death

September 3, 2026 at 2:52 p.m.

A state audit acknowledged some improvement but flagged continued trouble spots for the Department of Children and Family Services under Gov. JB Pritzker.

Michael P. McCuskey, then a member of the Illinois State University board of trustees, speaks on April 22, 2014, in Normal. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

Lobbyist says Illinois ethics watchdog breached confidentiality in Harry Benton sexual harassment investigation

August 29, 2026 at 4:18 p.m.

Lobbyist part of Harry Benton sexual harassment investigation says in recent letter to Illinois' four top legislative leaders that the legislative inspector general who looked into the situation "violated the...

Gov. JB Pritzker and running mate Christian Mitchell greet people on the lakefront while kicking off a bus tour during his reelection campaign on Aug. 26, 2026, near Adler Planetarium in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker pounces on President Donald Trump in campaign bus tour kickoff

August 26, 2026 at 6:44 p.m.

Gov. JB Pritzker took aim at a familiar political target Wednesday as he kicked off a statewide campaign bus tour, blaming Republican President Donald Trump for many of Illinois' struggles.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey speaks with supporters during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 20, 2026, in Springfield. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Morning fog at Illinois State Fair for GOP day is a metaphor for a party short on money and message discipline

August 20, 2026 at 8:44 p.m.

Shut out of statewide offices since Bruce Rauner lost the governorship to Democrat JB Pritzker in 2018, the Illinois GOP used Republican Day to kick off campaigns for its little-known...

Gov. JB Pritzker talks with a supporter before taking the stage during Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 19, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Democrats tout party dominance at State Fair but it’s clouded by harassment scandal and fraud case

August 19, 2026 at 8:02 p.m.

At the Illinois State Fair, Democrats' dominance fell against the backdrop of House scandals that have sullied their brand, including Speaker Welch's handing of sexual harassment complaints and an indictment...

Karl Goeke, foreground, president of the Illinois Education Association, endorses the reelection campaign of Gov. JB Pritzker, center, at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn on Aug. 17, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker accepts a state teachers union endorsement while casting doubt on $150M CPS funding push

August 18, 2026 at 9:29 a.m.

The push for Chicago Public Schools funding is exposing new fault lines ahead of the Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session, setting up a potential fight over school funding when...

Bears Chairman George McCaskey, left, and team President Kevin Warren arrive to speak at Halas Hall on Aug. 13, 2026, during training camp in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears have had ‘minimal’ talks with Illinois legislators as stadium focus remains on Hammond

August 13, 2026 at 6:43 p.m.

The Chicago Bears have had "minimal" discussions this summer with Illinois lawmakers as the team zeroes in on two potential stadium sites in northwest Indiana.

A Favorite Healthcare Staffing office along the 5500 block of North Cumberland Avenue on Oct. 11, 2023, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois audit: State agency paid staffing firm $78.5M for contractors not actively working

August 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Illinois auditor general found several oversight issues with the state's Emergency Management Agency-Office of Homeland Security, which helped coordinate the state's response to COVID-19 and the migrant crisis in...

Gov. JB Pritzker and other state officials unveiled the 2026 Butter Cow sculpture at the Dairy Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Aug, 12, 2026. The fairgrounds host the annual Illinois State Fair beginning this week, and this year's theme of the Butter Cow is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66. (Jeremy Gorner/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois State Fair’s 2026 Butter Cow honors Route 66’s 100th anniversary

August 12, 2026 at 6:28 p.m.

The Illinois State Fair opens Thursday and runs through Aug. 23 with various food and beer kiosks, booths and tents, carnival rides, livestock showings and live music.

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