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.

Chicago city worker sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to threatening Illinois state lawmaker

January 23, 2026 at 11:57 a.m.

Joseph Haggerty's conviction for threatening Republican Sen. Andrew Chesney of Freeport comes amid growing concerns Republicans and Democrats have been subjected to violence and threats.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul leaves after a news conference addressing his office’s efforts to combat unlawful actions by the Trump administration, at the State of Illinois building on Jan. 20, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul look back on first year of Trump 2.0

January 20, 2026 at 6:41 p.m.

The first 365 days of the second Republican Trump administration have had a seismic impact on Illinois, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski talks in Chicago on Jan. 6, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Republican hopeful Ted Dabrowski defends TV ad likening Gov. JB Pritzker to communist Poland, Ecuador turmoil

January 20, 2026 at 5:53 p.m.

Ted Dabrowski was also critical of GOP rival Darren Bailey's loss four years ago to Pritzker, saying of the downstate farmer and former lawmaker: “I don't think Darren understood how...

Rick Heidner speaks during a forum for Republican gubernatorial candidates hosted by the Tazewell County Republican Party at Five Points in Washington on Jan. 15, 2026. (Troy Stolt/for the Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Republican governor hopefuls target JB Pritzker as Rick Heidner apologizes for past Democratic donations

January 16, 2026 at 3:11 p.m.

At a forum of Illinois Republicans running for governor, Rick Heidner tries to explain contributions to former Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis attends as Charles Beach is installed as the new chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in a ceremony Dec. 1, 2025, at Chicago-Kent College of Law. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis retiring after four decades on the bench

January 12, 2026 at 7:36 p.m.

Theis' retirement allows the high court to appoint 1st District Appellate Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor as Theis' successor, making him the first Indian American to serve on the court.

The moon hangs above the Illinois Capitol building on Oct. 15, 2024, in Springfield. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois lawmakers return to Capitol facing $2.2B budget gap while pushing election-year affordability message

January 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Affordability will be a key political theme of the coming Illinois General Assembly as leaders signal proposals from health care to a Bears stadium will be filtered through a cost-of-living...

Gov. JB Pritzker stands while people applaud after he signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act at Joliet Junior College on Jan. 8, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs sweeping Illinois energy law boosting batteries and renewables that GOP opposed

January 8, 2026 at 6:40 p.m.

The measure comes as state officials have warned Illinois may face energy shortages but Republicans warn massive battery installations called for in the bill would be partly backed by a...

Daphne Williams, director of the Smarty Pants Early Learning Center in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, reads to children on Jan. 7, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Child care providers and parents worry about federal freeze of $1B for Illinois. ‘It really helps these parents.’

January 8, 2026 at 9:55 a.m.

Child care professionals, parents, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and other local leaders expressed horror Wednesday after the federal government announced that it would freeze about $10 billion in funding for...

The new entrance and visitors center under construction at the Illinois Capitol building in Springfield, Nov. 7, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

$350M Illinois Capitol renovation nears completion following weather delays

January 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The second major overhaul of the Capitol in just over a decade will include updated offices and enhanced security, as well as a refurbished Senate chamber finished last year.

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, center, speaks with aldermen after a committee meeting on April 16, 2025, at City Hall. “We can say with some confidence that there were inadequate controls around the PPP loan program and widespread fraud,” Witzburg told the Tribune. “ (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Hundreds of public employees investigated by the state of Illinois improperly took millions in PPP loans

December 29, 2025 at 4:14 p.m.

Without naming individuals, the report listed more than 100 state employees who received more than $2.8 million in PPP loans.

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