Cole Henke

Springfield

Capitol Bureau Chief at WCIA-TV (Champaign, IL)

Nexstar Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief | Former Daily Illini Sports Editor | UIUC Grad |

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Articles

What new increases are in store for next Illinois budget

4 days ago | yahoo.com | Cole Henke

Illinois’ new budget starts in July and will bring new increases, but some of those increases may come from more than you’ve heard. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief Cole Henke looks at how lawmakers are relying on $1.16 billion in ‘new revenue’ to balance out the state’s budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
What new increases are in store for next Illinois budget

4 days ago | ourquadcities.com | Cole Henke |Brian Weckerly

by: Cole Henke , Brian Weckerly Posted: Jun 2, 2025 / 09:09 PM CDT Updated: Jun 2, 2025 / 09:09 PM CDT Illinois’ new budget starts in July and will bring new increases, but some of those increases may come from more than you’ve heard.
Legislature bumps right up against midnight deadline as they pass $55 billion budget

6 days ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — It was a race against the clock as lawmakers tried to pass a budget package before the midnight deadline. Ultimately, they were able to get it done, getting the three branches of the budget package passed minutes before the start of June. The budget includes $55.2 Billion dollars in spending, and is balanced using just over one billion dollars in new tax increases.
Lawmakers unveil $55.2 billion state budget as deadline looms

1 week ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — With just over a day to get it passed, lawmakers unveiled their state budget for the coming fiscal year. It includes $55.2 billion dollars in spending, and is balanced using just over one billion dollars in new tax increases and revenue streams.
Former Governor Jim Edgar honored with dedication at the Illinois State Library

1 week ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — A room on the first floor of the Illinois State Library will now be named after former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially dedicated the Jim Edgar Reading Room on Wednesday. Edgar revealed in February that he has pancreatic cancer. The former Governor served from 1991-1999, and he also served as Secretary of State prior to that.
Pritzker says he will veto any budget with ‘broad tax increases’

1 week ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Governor Pritzker drew a line in the sand Wednesday, as lawmakers scramble to pass a budget before the end of May. He said he would veto any budget that included broad tax increases, echoing similar sentiments from his February budget proposal. “I’ve been opposed to any taxes that are broad based or that would affect working families in this budget,” Pritzker said.
‘Bring Your Own New Clean Energy’: a proposed fix for Illinois’ power grid shortcomings draws criticism from manufacturers

2 weeks ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Illinois has a growing energy problem. There are a few reasons for why that is — coal and natural gas plants are closing, and regional grid operators are acting too slowly in connecting new wind and solar projects to the larger grid, but above all else, the state is using more energy than it ever has.
Illinois House passes carbon sequestration protections for Mahomet Aquifer

2 weeks ago | wcia.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill to stop carbon sequestration projects from being constructed near or underneath the Mahomet Aquifer, which provides clean drinking water for almost one million people in Illinois. “As many know of the Mahomet Aquifer in Central Illinois is a sole source, clean drinking water for nearly a million people in our state,” Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) said on the floor.
Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments over Sean Grayson's pretrial status

3 weeks ago | wgntv.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The Illinois Supreme Court is now weighing whether or not to let former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson be released with special conditions ahead of his October trial. The legal fight — which is separate from the criminal trial — has been going on since he was arrested shortly after Massey’s death.
Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments over Sean Grayson’s pretrial status

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Cole Henke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The Illinois Supreme Court is now weighing whether or not to let former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson be released with special conditions ahead of his October trial. Grayson is charged with the murder of Sonya Massey. While on duty, he shot and killed Massey in her home after she called 911 in July 2024.