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.

Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Clint Hull, left, and Illinois Public Defender Association President Keith Grant, right, speak during Thursday’s task force meeting.

Illinois legal officials are working to prepare law enforcement agencies and other local leaders for the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act, which starting on Jan. 1, 2023 will add new restrictions to when and how people are detained by police in Illinois.

Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), second from left, questions witnesses during a hearing Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

House members pushed leaders of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Wednesday to answer why Illinois’ safety net hospitals are not getting payments from Medicaid managed care organizations, as Chicago’s St. Anthony’s Hospital is engaged in a lawsuit against the state over Medicaid reimbursements.

A now-removed statue of former U.S. Sen. Stephen Douglas sits outside the Illinois Capitol. The statue was removed in September 2020. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

This month marks two years since former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) suggested artwork depicting Illinois’ former controversial U.S. Sen. Stephen Douglas be removed from the Illinois Capitol as the nation wrestled with the civil unrest following the police killing of George Floyd.

A House task force created by House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) in April 2021 is continuing to mull its options for new statues at the capitol and a process for reviewing the complex’s artwork.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a virtual congressional hearing in March.  

Gov. JB Pritzker tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19 for the first time during the pandemic following a whirlwind week of trips and events, his office reported.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), left, and Gov. JB Pritzker, right, celebrate victories in their primaries on June 28. [Blue Room Stream and Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has his work cut out for him during the next three-and-a-half months to compete with the $60.5 million financial advantage billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker carries over his Republican challenger.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin finished behind Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) in the Republican primary for governor. [ABC Chicago]

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin raised and spent millions more than his Republican competitors, financial records filed with the State Board of Elections Friday show, only to finish the primary far behind Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

Scott Schluter is the Illinois Libertarian Party’s nominee for governor.

As the Republican and Democratic Parties push candidates and policies to appease their most conservative or progressive voters respectively, Illinois’ Libertarian Party is hoping to take advantage of political polarization and grab support from voters who feel left out by both parties as Libertarians look to establish themselves as a major party in Illinois.

Crime scene tape blocks off seats vacated by Highland Park parade goers on July 4. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Momentum is growing among House Democrats to pass a bill that would ban sales of assault weapons and put restrictions on gun owners as lawmakers search for ways to prevent another mass shooting and reduce gun violence in the wake of the July 4 Highland Park shooting.

From left to right, Democrat Gregg Johnson of East Moline, Republican Connie Cain of Gilberts and Republican Diane Harris of Joliet. [Campaign websites]

Tuesday was the final day for mail-in ballots to be counted by local election authorities, and the final counts cemented victories for three candidates who were locked in close contests and will now advance to November’s general election in their state legislative races.

Gov. JB Pritzker named Dr. Sameer Vohra the new acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) after Ngozi Ezike stepped down earlier this year. And House Republicans are asking lawmakers to take action to pay down the remaining deficit of the unemployment insurance trust fund before the fall veto session.

From left to right, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Planned Parenthood St. Louis Dr. Colleen McNicholas speak during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday. [U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee]  

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday that states like Illinois need more federal help to fulfill their roles as “islands” for people seeking abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade and shifts by other states to ban or limit abortions.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Jennifer Welch speaks during a news conference on June 24 responding to the end of Roe v. Wade. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Legislative leaders and Gov. JB Pritzker are planning a special session in the coming months to shore up Illinois’ abortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade at the end of June. With Illinois law already protecting access to abortion, the session is expected to focus on building up the state’s ability to handle an influx of abortion cases from nearby states where the practice has been limited.

The scene of Highland Park’s mass shooting remained under investigation on July 5. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

As state lawmakers explore how to respond to Highland Park’s Independence Day shooting, gun violence prevention advocates say future state legislation should remain focused on guns to reduce the number of shootings in Illinois.

Lisa Holder White was sworn in Thursday as the first Black woman ever to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. And the Illinois Commerce Commission unanimously approved a proposal by ComEd to electrify a portion of its vehicle fleet.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks about Monday’s Highland Park shooting during a Springfield news conference Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is blaming Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration for not more strongly enforcing Illinois “red flag” laws in response to Monday’s shooting at Highland Park’s Independence Day parade.