Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) presents a redistricting bill in the House in May 2021. [Blue Room Stream] 

With 14 years of experience in the General Assembly, Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) has been tapped for leadership positions before or asked to make a heavy lift to move a controversial bill through the House. Now as the first Latina to lead the Democratic Party of Illinois, Hernandez must guide the party through its first campaign season without former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) at the helm since the mid-1990s.

Republican treasurer candidate Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) is warning Democrats’ budgeting tactics could cause them to push for a tax increase or a retirement tax as his race with Treasurer Mike Frerichs heats up. And more Democratic candidates are hitting Illinois TVs, including the first ad supporting the Workers’ Rights Amendment.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks at a news conference at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 office in Chicago Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Chicago Fraternal Order of Police announced Monday they are endorsing Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) for governor as the 2021 SAFE-T Act and recent legislation boosting support for police departments remain hot topics in this year’s campaign.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in April. [Blue Room Stream] 

Patronage and political hires have long been a closely monitored problem in Illinois, but a federal appeals court ruled Friday that Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration has successfully insulated state government from the risk of political hires.

From left to right, state Supt. Carmen Ayala, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson, Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) and Advance Illinois President Robin Steans participate in a forum Thursday. [City Club of Chicago]

Educators are still working to assess the damage caused by disruptions to students’ learning during the pandemic as they juggled in-person and virtual classes. But a new report released Thursday shows the primary problem for Illinois schools is now just getting students enrolled.

Gov. JB Pritzker celebrates the start of a sales tax holiday on school supplies at a news conference at Roosevelt Elementary School in Broadview Thursday. [Gov. JB Pritzker/Facebook]

Illinois shoppers will start enjoying 10 days of sales tax relief on select goods Friday before the school year starts as part of a broad $1.8 billion tax relief plan signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in April.

Dr. Sameer Vohra speaks during a news conference on Chicago’s South Side Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Sameer Vohra stepped into the spotlight for the first time Thursday after taking the reins of Illinois’ health department. Vohra’s start as the new voice of public health guidance for Illinois comes as the state juggles a pair of public health emergencies.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed two laws in the last year limiting contributions in judicial races.  

A pair of new state laws that aim to crackdown on “dark money” contributions to judicial races and places new limits on contributions to candidates for a seat on an Illinois court are being challenged in federal court by a conservative group that alleges the laws restrict the First Amendment.  

Illinois Manufactures’ Association CEO Mark Denzler speaks during a news conference Wednesday at Richland Community College in Decatur. [Blue Room Stream]

Illinois’ manufacturing industry is responsible for the greatest portion of the state’s economic activity and is a major job creator for the state, according to a new report released Wednesday.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), left, and Secretary of State candidate Alexi Giannoulias, right.

With fewer than 100 days before Election Day, statewide Democratic candidates continue to put up big fundraising numbers over their Republican opponents in an increasingly expensive election season as Democrats work to maintain their hold on Illinois’ statewide offices.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) faced swift backlash after a report revealed he compared abortion to the Holocaust in 2017. And a new report shows Illinois’ revenue was higher than expected in July.

State and Chicago lawmakers are introducing legislation that would require police officers to have at least one day off each week.

State lawmakers are taking note of Chicago Police officers who have complained of mandatory overtime and canceled days off after three officers lost their lives to suicide in July. Now, some Chicago Democrats are proposing bills to require Illinois police departments to require officers get at least one day off each week in hopes of improving officers’ mental health.

The scene of the Highland Park Independence Day parade shooting is taped off on July 5. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

As state lawmakers search for a solution to gun violence and mass shootings, Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) wants lawmakers to take an extra step to hold parents accountable if they sign off on gun owner permits and their child uses a gun in a crime.

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), left, and gun dealer Scott Pulaski, right, speak during the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]

As gun violence continues to make headlines in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, lawmakers took a stab at getting answers about what is missing in state law that could prevent gun violence and what local officials are doing to tamp down on gun crimes.

Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), left, and Democratic Party of Illinois Chair and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) are battling for state party chair Saturday.

More than a year after U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) was narrowly elected by the Democratic Party of Illinois’ State Central Committee to become party chair, her detractors have not disappeared and are moving to oust Kelly in Saturday’s party chair election.

The state has occupied the James R. Thompson Center since 1985. [Provided by Google] 

After years of trying, the state of Illinois has finally sold the James R. Thompson Center after closing on the sale of the building to a prominent Chicago-based real estate developer and an agreement with Google to occupy the office space.

Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith speaks during a Legislative Audit Commission hearing in Chicago Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream]

Two months after an audit revealed an alarming lack of care for children in Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) care, the department’s director Marc Smith took heat from lawmakers Tuesday as they reviewed the department’s shortcomings and ongoing troubles.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison speaks during a news conference in Fulton Market Tuesday. [City of Chicago/Facebook] 

The Democratic Party is looking for a 2024 convention host that will positively “showcase” the party’s values and diversity, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said during his visit to Chicago Tuesday. He also emphasized the role of convention logistics and downplayed the importance of a swing-state locale, both signs pointing to Chicago’s status as a serious contender to host the event.

Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith testifies during a House hearing in January. [ILGA]

Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith will speak to lawmakers Tuesday for the first time since a performance audit of his department found it was not following up on the safety of children under its care.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) speaks during a news conference Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

After the U.S. Supreme Court dealt several blows to progressives this year, Illinois progressive leaders want voters to turn out in support of Democrats vying for seats on the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing the state court is the last line of defense protecting progressive laws in Illinois.