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.

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, greets people at an Illinois Farm Bureau event in Shirley, Illinois, on Aug. 10, 2026. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois governor’s race: JB Pritzker, Darren Bailey spar over Trump tariffs, farm economy at ag forum

August 11, 2026 at 9:02 a.m.

Republican nominee Darren Bailey accused Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker of hating President Donald Trump "more than he loves Illinois" and Pritzker blamed Trump for the economic strain on the state's...

Construction at the new Compass Datacenters 197-acre site in Hoffman Estates on June 23, 2026. Compass is constructing five hyperscale data centers on the former Sears Headquarters campus. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

How to regulate data centers in Illinois at the center of latest proposal

August 7, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A broad consensus is emerging in Springfield, according to key corporate, labor and environmental lobbyists.

State Rep. Carol Ammons and her attorney Mutaqee Akabar exit the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana on July 16, 2026, after pleading not guilty on wire fraud and other charges. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois House committee opens investigation into indicted Rep. Carol Ammons, adding woes for Democrats

August 6, 2026 at 6:39 p.m.

A special Illinois House committee opened its investigation into Democratic state Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, who was indicted on federal criminal charges alleging she orchestrated a scheme to enrich...

House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch answers questions at a press conference hours after the end of the spring legislative session at the State Capitol, June 1, 2026, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Speaker Welch told lawmakers he backed Harry Benton’s reelection to prevent loss of union support

August 5, 2026 at 7:29 p.m.

Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch told some lawmakers last month of his concerns in 2024 that Harry Benton, the former Plainfield lawmaker and a union ironworker, had been bashing Welch to...

Gov. JB Pritzker chats with ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones while surveying damage from Tuesday night's EF-3 tornado in Aroma Park, March 12, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs protections against insurance rate hikes

August 4, 2026 at 3:13 p.m.

Drivers and homeowners in Illinois will have greater protections against insurance rate hikes after Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation prohibiting excessive increases.

Then-state Rep. Harry Benton sits at his desk in the House chamber during the spring legislative session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 27, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

An ex-staffer and the Illinois speaker: 2 differing responses to the Harry Benton harassment report

July 31, 2026 at 8:01 p.m.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch continues to face scrutiny after the Friday release of a legislative inspector general's report found ex-Rep. Harry Benton's harassment violated state law.

Watchdog finds ex-Illinois Rep. Harry Benton violated law with sexual harassment, third victim revealed

July 31, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey’s report still left unanswered key questions about how Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch handled allegations first raised by a staffer for ex-state Rep. Harry...

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaks during a program at the National Conference of State Legislatures Summit at McCormick Place on July 29, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Speaker Welch pledges to CTU he’ll push for more CPS funding amid scrutiny over handling of harassment claims

July 29, 2026 at 7:16 p.m.

It's the latest opportunity the Hillside Democrat has had to court progressive-minded interests as he navigates uncertain support among his own members, many of them progressives, as leader of the...

Legislators, visitors and others stand outside the House and Senate chambers during the spring legislative session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 28, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Democrats’ single-party rule and diminished GOP may shield Springfield from Benton scandal reforms

July 26, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A monthslong Tribune investigation into Benton found that Welch’s office first knew about highly questionable behavior by the lawmaker in 2023. That’s when a young Benton staffer filed a lengthy...

State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, left, sits in the House chamber as lawmakers discuss bills at the State Capitol in Springfield on April 8, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission votes to release report on Harry Benton harassment investigation

July 23, 2026 at 5:57 p.m.

The state’s Legislative Ethics Commission voted unanimously to publish a report outlining an investigation into the conduct of disgraced ex-state Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

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