WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Some consider it a complicated, once-a-decade, politically hazardous and legally explosive undertaking. And it is happening in Illinois: redistricting. State lawmakers are using census data to draw boundaries for Illinois’ state and congressional legislative districts.

Representatives from minority groups are weighing in on legislative redistricting. Recent census data show Illinois' Asian and Latino populations have grown faster than other minority groups in the last decade.Teresa Haley is with the NAACP.

Updated at 5:54 p.m.The Illinois House has formed its own redistricting committee, a few days after its state Senate counterpart got started with public hearings.

Illinois state senators are hearing from Chicago area residents who want a say in redistricting, the once-a-decade, highly contentious and political process that determines boundaries for legislative districts.

Minority group advocates say Illinois took a big step Monday toward protecting their political voices with the signing of the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011.“The rules in the districts are gerrymandered so they are rigged against anyone who may have a group in a particular area,” sai

As Illinois lawmakers gather Wednesday in Springfield to hear Gov.

The city of Chicago lost nearly seven percent of its population over the past decade, according to U.S. Census data released Tuesday.Chicago had close to 2.9 million residents in 2000.