Olivia Olander

Olivia Olander is the Chicago-based state government reporter at the Tribune, covering Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois General Assembly and state agencies. She previously covered labor and employment policy for POLITICO in Washington. Olivia is a graduate of Northwestern University and grew up in the suburbs of San Diego.

The Senate finishes an invocation before a floor session at the Illinois Capitol during the legislative session on Oct. 30, 2025, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

New Illinois laws taking effect in 2026 touch on policing, expand abortion access and regulate some AI use

December 28, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Beginning Jan. 1, roughly 300 new laws will take effect regarding public safety, reproductive rights, higher education, environmental protection and the role of emerging technologies.

Gov. JB Pritzker smiles after signing the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, a state transit funding and reform bill, at Union Station, Dec. 16, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

JB Pritzker signs transit bill that should avert major service cuts, but cautions that ‘transformation’ takes time

December 16, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday celebrated his enactment of a new law that advocates say will avert catastrophic service cuts on Chicago’s public transit systems and make the region’s trains...

Filmmaker Rob Reiner after an interview in Chicago on June 18, 2014. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)

Days after seeing Rob Reiner and wife, Gov. JB Pritzker mourns deaths and blasts Trump’s response to tragedy

December 15, 2025 at 6:51 p.m.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker last week headlined a Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles co-hosted by Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker answers questions during an interview at the governor’s office in downtown Chicago on Dec. 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs controversial Illinois medical aid-in-dying law amid strong debate and opposition

December 15, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Illinois now joins at least 10 other states, among them California, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, as well as Washington, D.C., in allowing medical aid in dying.

Flanked by elected officials and community activists, Gov. JB Pritzker holds up the bill enacting protections for immigrants in Illinois against unjust federal action, during a news conference at La Villita Community Church in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood on Dec. 9, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs Illinois immigration law that curbs courthouse arrests and expands right to sue agents

December 9, 2025 at 3:55 p.m.

A new Illinois law enables individuals to be better able to sue federal officers for knowingly violating their rights and codifies a zone around courthouses where people are exempt from...

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss attends a rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago after the announcement that the Trump administration has unilaterally ended the collective bargaining agreement with federal unions, Aug. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss questions how Trump-Northwestern deal impacts protests and campus oversight

December 8, 2025 at 4:42 p.m.

Evanston Mayor and congressional candidate Daniel Biss is calling on the Trump administration to explain how its recent agreement with Northwestern University could affect protests, community partnerships and immigration enforcement...

Volunteers drop off Christmas trees that were unloaded from the USCGC Mackinaw before they were to be delivered to families in need during the annual voyage of Chicago’s Christmas tree ship on Dec. 6, 2025, at Polk Bros. Park in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

Kristi Noem appearance at annual Christmas tree offload sparks protests at Navy Pier

December 7, 2025 at 1:48 p.m.

U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Secret Service and Kristi Noem made an appearance at the 26th annual Christmas tree ship ceremony at Navy Pier.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to Shawn Christopher, of Youth Civic Light Opera of Chicago, after a news conference at Navy Pier on Dec. 3, 2025, highlighting Illinois’ plans to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois to celebrate United States’ 250th birthday with public art, history initiatives

December 3, 2025 at 5:08 p.m.

As President Donald Trump toys with bringing a UFC wrestling match to the White House next year to commemorate the 250th, Illinois’ approach announced this week was more restrained.

Gov. JB Prtizker holds Illinois House Bill 767 after signing it on Dec. 2, 2025, at the Illinois Department of Human Rights office in Chicago’s West Loop. The legislation formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other shots for young children across Illinois. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker signs law on Illinois vaccine guidelines amid ongoing tumult with Trump administration

December 3, 2025 at 4:20 p.m.

The new law, part of the Illinois governor's ongoing battle with the Trump administration, expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other shots for young children across Illinois, among other changes.

Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, which houses the Simpson-Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Chicago, on Dec. 2, 2025. Federal research funding is scheduled to be restored to Northwestern after the university accepted a deal with the White House. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Northwestern deal with Trump administration divides students, faculty

December 2, 2025 at 5:46 p.m.

Northwestern's deal with President Trump restores nearly $800 million in research funding and halts probes related to federal anti-discrimination laws.

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