Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson met with reporters Tuesday at the Indianapolis Convention Center as the NFL Combine got underway. Here are four of the most interesting things the Bears said Tuesday.

From Capitol News Illinois: As state legislators emphasize affordability this session, several lawmakers are taking aim at regulating algorithmic pricing that uses consumers’ personal data

President Donald Trump will deliver his State of the Union on Tuesday and while some representatives from Illinois will be in attendance, some are choosing to stay home.

From Capitol News Illinois: A recent executive order by Gov. JB Pritzker set a new goal to begin development on new nuclear power plants by 2033, with the intention of bringing online enough energy to power up to two million Illinois homes

From Capitol News Illinois: Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, who was convicted last year of shooting an unarmed woman, has begun serving his 20-year prison sentence with the Illinois Department of Corrections in an undisclosed location

From Capitol News Illinois: Surrounded by states with abortion restrictions, Illinois has become a destination for patients from across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022

The Chicago Bears will need to clear up some salary cap space over the coming weeks to get under the cap. Here are a few potential Bears players who could become salary cap casualties.

Mochrie and Sherwood's amusing, PG-rated family show includes variations on many of the games showcased on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, including “Sound FX” and “One Word Expert.”

From Capitol News Illinois: The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance a host of competing interests.

From Capitol News Illinois: Providers warned that flat funding combined with rising operating costs and continuing funding cuts at the federal level could strain services statewide

High winds contributed to a devastating house fire that collapsed the roof of a Fox River Grove home.

Check out photos of the potential site of the new Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond, Ind., by photo editor Scott Anderson. The sites include Wolf Lake Memorial Park in the 2300 block of Calumet Avenue and Lost Marsh Golf Course

The day after Indiana made a major play to lure the Bears, officials involved in negotiations with the team on this side of the state line played defense, saying the team still is very much interested in Arlington Heights

Three men were rescued off thin ice on Pistakee Lake near Johnsburg Thursday and quickly brought back to shore by responders from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

The Chicago Bears will head to Indianapolis next week for the NFL Scouting Combine as the NFL offseason takes shape. Here are three things that we can learn from the Bears at the combine.

From Capitol News Illinois: Two Illinois high school students worked with a legislator and stakeholders to draft a bill mandating disposal programs for electronic smoking devices like vapes

From Capitol News Illinois: Fidel Marquez, a former executive for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was sentenced to two years of probation Thursday for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme intended to influence ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

The Chicago Bears made their first cost-saving move of the offseason Thursday. Chicago announced that it released linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga.

Lake County is slated to receive more than $3 million in federal funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, signed by President Trump on Feb. 3.

The Lake County Board on Feb. 10 voted to legislatively support the Illinois Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act, reaffirming the County’s commitment to supporting responsible firearm regulation.

Gurnee Park District’s director of parks and planning, Kraig Owens, has been honored with the Jim Berousek Distinguished Alumnus Award from Western Illinois University.

The staff at the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery announced those laid to rest at the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery.

A new environmental initiative is taking root in Lake County this spring as the Illinois 4‑H Green Communities Tree Program partners with Lake County 4‑H, the Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Round Lake Park District to restore oak ecosystems across the region.

In celebration of Black History Month, ShadowBoxX Gallery is proud to present ESSENCE, a group exhibition featuring eight contemporary black visual artists: seven men, one woman, seven Nigerian, one American.

The Waukegan Historical Society, in partnership with the Waukegan Park District, is honoring Black History Month with a special monthlong exhibition and guest lecture at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.

From Capitol News Illinois: Republicans were less generous in their assessment of the budget picture Pritzker painted. But they found some items to agree on, including slightly less charged rhetoric than his 2025 speech, which was delivered just weeks into Trump’s second term

The Chicago Bears announced Thursday that they promoted Jeff King to be the team’s new assistant general manager. He'll replace Ian Cunningham, who left to become the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons last month.

The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Northwest Indiana took a key step Thursday morning. The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed an amended Indiana Senate bill 24-0 that would set up a framework for a new Bears stadium in the area.

The long-stalled legislation would allow the Bears to negotiate directly with local taxing bodies over the amount of taxes that should be paid on at least a portion of the sprawling property for up to 40 years

From Capitol News Illinois: In his eighth State of the State address, Pritzker focused on affordability issues affecting Illinois residents and blamed President Donald Trump for the state’s tight financial condition

If you woke up feeling like your car needed a bath Wednesday, you’re not imagining it. A wide swath of northern Illinois was hit with “dirty rain” overnight.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 with minimal new spending. Pritzker’s plan does not include major new taxes but would create a new tax on social media companies

The Chicago Bears officially announced four changes to Ben Johnson’s coaching staff on Wednesday for the 2026 season.

Illinois residents planning to vote by mail in the March 17 general primary are encouraged to get that ballot in the mail extra early, or use a drop box instead.

From Capitol News Illinois: A Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill to outlaw abortion in Illinois has resigned from his GOP leadership position in the Illinois Senate after conversations with top Republicans

From Capitol News Illinois: JB Pritzker will propose a plan during his State of the State address to drastically limit local governments’ authority to restrict the types of structures that can be built on property zoned residential

A combination of warm temperatures, dry conditions, and strong westerly winds will lead to an increased threat for fire spread on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

In a letter sent to Chicago Bears season ticket holders Tuesday, team president and CEO Kevin Warren announced that season ticket prices would go up by an average of 13.5% in 2026. Warren cited “detailed analysis and market research” as the reasoning for the increase.

From Capitol News Illinois: Mendrick has been a vocal critic of the state’s SAFE-T Act, and also says public schools should return to focusing on teaching basic skills such as reading, writing and math, and that they should have to compete with private schools for enrollment

An Illinois appeals court on Friday reversed lower decisions and ordered Republican congressional candidate Tedora M. Brown’s name to be added to 11th District ballots.

Eliminating income taxes on young people, encouraging companies to hire more Americans, and slashing regulations are among the solutions to affordability problems proposed by some Republicans running for U.S. Senate.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles will need to find a way to boost his defensive line this offseason in order to help the Bears build upon a successful 2025. Here's a look back at how Poles has tackled the line during his first four years in Chicago.

From Capitol News Illinois: Lawmakers say a long-stalled proposal to help the Chicago Bears build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights is gaining “positive momentum,” as negotiations intensify over a bill that would freeze the team’s property tax assessment for up to 40 years

The Republicans running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat have different ideas for U.S. immigration policy, some of which diverge from President Donald Trump’s approach.

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider and Democratic primary opponent Morgan Coghill are split on Israel’s military action in Gaza – debating whether it’s a genocide or even a war at all.

Democratic front-runners in the primary race for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat sparred over campaign donations and weighed in on space aliens at a Monday debate hosted by Fox 32.

The two Democratic hopefuls in the primary for the 52nd state House seat shared similar views during a weekend League of Women Voters candidate forum at the Barrington Area Public Library.

Gov. JB Pritzker will present his eighth budget on Wednesday and outline a plan to deal with limited revenue growth and significant uncertainty over the future of federal funding for the state

The 14th annual Fox River Summit will be held March 12 in Burlington, Wisconsin and is open to those from Illinois and Wisconsin who have an interest in the Fox River.

Be prepared for sudden changes in visibility with some locally dense patches of fog Monday morning.