The lead: Welcome to Capitol News Insider
For months, we've been telling you about our impending launch of Capitol News Insider. The day has finally come.
And we're going to have some fun with it.
You're reading the first Daily Digest on our live site. Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski and I will be updating this page daily, breaking some news and sharing some analysis along the way.
The space will evolve, and we're going to want your feedback: send us an email at insider@capitolnewsillinois.com with thoughts.
But here's the deal: This site and this space in particular will be driven by ease of reading and speed. And it'll look good and be easily accessible on whichever device you choose.
Here's the three main prongs of Insider:
Quick updates in the Daily Digest and live posts
Each morning we'll publish the Daily Digest with a rundown of state government news that we'll update throughout the day with the major happenings in state government. When we've got a story coming, we'll post a teaser on the right side rail, and you can decide whether you want to be notified about it. Which takes us to:
A state-of-the-art text alert system
Here's the rundown, but first a promise: You're in control.
We won't spam you and send texts frivolously. It'll get busy in May, but otherwise we'll be sending alerts on the stories you need to know about when you need to know about them. And you can toggle them on and off with ease over at the column on your right.
- News alerts. We’ll make sure you know when somebody’s been indicted, resigned, or a big bill passes, signed or is vetoed.
- Session alerts. This one’s for those under the dome. Know when lawmakers go to caucus and get the scoop on what they’re discussing, if we can get it. Be alerted of bombshell developments, when the budget deal is struck and other major process news.
- Bears alerts. Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski have been as plugged in to the Bears beat as anyone. When they know something, we’ll text you so you’ll know, too.
- Story-specific alerts. Each morning, we’ll post to the front page of right side rail what stories we’re working on and what they're about, and you can click "Notify Me" to get a text when the story is live.
Exclusive reporting and early access
There's a lot that goes into reporting that doesn't make the final cut. We'll share the brief tidbits that we find along the way to publishing our stories, share exclusive video and audio as we have it, and continue to break stories such as our dispatch from the Senate hallway where Bill Cunningham told us the House’s Bears bill was dead, our brief that Harry Benton was booted from caucus, our monthly budget updates from Ben Szalinski, and our scoop that Sen. Linda Holmes would retire.
And you'll continue to get the twice-weekly email newsletter you've grown accustomed to receiving, though it'll look a little different.
What will that look like today? Stay tuned for exclusive sneak peeks from our recent interviews with Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey. Click "Notify Me" at the right to be texted when they are ready.
That's the rundown. Now, onto the news. And Go White Sox, who play the Guardians at 4 p.m. in Cleveland. The Southsiders lead the series 1-0.