Mawa Iqbal

Stories by Mawa Iqbal
Illinois’ controversial private school scholarship program is ending
Lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to keep alive a program that sent 9,700 students to private schools this year with taxpayer support.
Illinois lawmakers warn that a government shutdown would ripple through the state
If Congress doesn’t pass a federal spending bill by Oct. 1, agency closures will disrupt numerous routine functions for Illinois residents.
Courts in counties across Illinois take first steps into a world without cash bail
Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to abolish cash bail. The historic change took effect on Monday, prompting confusion and long days.
Downstate leaders say they will need help handling the historic end to cash bail
Judges will be limited in who they can hold in jail pretrial. Rural leaders say they don’t have the staffing to handle the change.
Crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion providers in Illinois by nearly 3 to 1
Among the 102 counties in Illinois, 42 have crisis pregnancy centers but no in-person abortion providers.
Illinois Supreme Court decision means future sales and possession of AR-15s will be banned
The Illinois Supreme Court is upholding the state’s ban on assault weapons.
Thousands of Illinoisans lose health insurance as pandemic-era protections end
More than 47,000 Illinois residents have been kicked off their Medicaid insurance plans as of Aug. 1.
Catholic abortion doulas comfort the faithful in a post-Roe world
Catholic doulas navigate between religious belief and their commitment to maternal reproductive health, including abortion care.
Illinois continues to enact abortion protections a year after Roe v. Wade reversal
A year after Roe v. Wade fell, Illinois Democrat and GOP lawmakers fight for legislation.
Illinois Democratic lawmakers want to crack down on ‘crisis pregnancy centers’
CPCs are accused of deception — and steering patients away from seeking abortion care. A new bill would allow patients to take legal action against CPCs if they felt misled.