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 Marklund Hyde Center on April 18, 2024, in Geneva. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Nonprofit files complaint against Illinois, says state should not have blocked disability housing in Elgin

November 20, 2025 at 6:39 p.m.

Illinois says Marklund got ahead of itself in asking to build multiple community-based homes before it had successfully run one, while the organization says the state is being arbitrary.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Gov. JB Pritzker at the Apostolic Palace on Nov. 19, 2025, in Vatican City. (Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media)

Gov. JB Pritzker meets pope in Rome, discussing Trump’s Chicago immigration crackdown

November 19, 2025 at 2:48 p.m.

Pope Leo discussed with Pritzker their shared concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices in Chicago.

Illinois’ new digital wallet drivers licenses and state identification cards for iPhone are displayed at a secretary of state event on Nov. 18, 2025, at Moonlight Studios in Chicago’s West Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois launching digital driver’s licenses and state IDs on iPhones for airports, restaurants and bars

November 18, 2025 at 4:25 p.m.

Illinois residents on Wednesday will be able to add their state driver’s license or state ID to their Apple Wallets. Mobile IDs will expand to Android users by sometime next...

Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions at the Illinois Capitol during the legislative session, Oct. 30, 2025, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker renews push for Illinois homeowners’ insurance rate oversight after bill fails in state House

November 14, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

A legislative defeat of a bill requiring insurance companies to justify homeowners' insurance rate hikes marked a rare setback for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

A motorist unplugs a charger from his EV in a parking lot next to a fast-food restaurant at 11050 S. Doty Ave., Nov. 11, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois sees record EV sales as Trump administration ends federal tax credits, but state goals still far off

November 13, 2025 at 6:15 a.m.

Illinois hit a record share of electric vehicle sales last quarter as federal tax credits ended, but the state remains far from Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2030 goal of 1 million...

Congressional candidate and content creator Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh is embraced by a supporter following a hearing for indicted Broadview immigration protesters on Nov. 12, 2025, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and 5 others plead not guilty in Broadview ICE protest case

November 12, 2025 at 7:11 p.m.

In what several defendants say is a political prosecution, six men and women were charged with blocking a federal agent from entering ICE's facility in Broadview during a protest in...

Gov. JB Pritzker in the Illinois Capitol during the legislative session Oct. 30, 2025, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s still deciding whether ‘right-to-die’ legislation should become Illinois law

November 3, 2025 at 3:50 p.m.

Gov. JB Pritzker said he was still deciding Monday whether to sign legislation that would permit doctors to help terminally ill people end their lives.

CTA Blue Line trains roll along the rails as vehicles move along the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago on Oct. 31, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois lawmakers pass mass transit funding bill. Here’s what that means for CTA, Metra and Pace riders.

November 1, 2025 at 6:12 p.m.

For months, Illinois transit leaders warned of a doomsday scenario that would hobble the region’s mass transit systems. That scenario seems to be in the rearview mirror.

State Reps. Kam Buckner and Eva-Dina Delgado exit after talking with reporters following a House committee meeting on a transit funding plan during the legislative session at the Illinois Capitol on Oct. 29, 2025, in Springfield. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Democrats push through massive $1.5 billion plan that overhauls Chicago-area public transit

October 31, 2025 at 6:35 p.m.

The plan includes a state motor fuel sales tax, using interest from the state’s road fund, a sales tax increase in the Chicago metro area and a sharp increase in tolls...

Senate President Don Harmon speaks at an executive committee hearing before introducing legislation in response to aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics during the legislative session at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield on Oct. 30, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois lawmakers pass bill to tackle constitutional violations in immigration raids, ban courthouse arrests

October 31, 2025 at 3:05 p.m.

State lawmakers approved formally banning federal agents from arresting people near courthouses and allowing individuals to sue if their rights have been violated in civil immigration arrests.

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