
Joel Ebert is The Daily Line's reporter covering the Illinois state government. He covered politics in Illinois, South Dakota and West Virginia before joining The Tennessean in 2016 to report on the Tennessee General Assembly and state government. In West Virginia, he worked as a daily statehouse reporter before transitioning to provide daily coverage of the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who became the first chief executive of a major corporation convicted of a workplace safety crime. A native of Illinois and graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Ebert is a student of Chicago politics whose work has been cited by national media. He’s received awards from the press associations in South Dakota, West Virginia and Tennessee, including the Malcolm Law Award for investigative reporting. In 2019, he was a National Press Foundation fellow.
Bio
Former state govt & legislative reporter for @thedailylineIL, @Tennessean, @wvgazettemail, @charleywest & @capitaljournal
News in brief: August McCormick Place closure results in $15 million loss for Chicago; utilities voluntarily extend disconnection moratorium; Blagojevich joins McCullagh to “oppose corruption”
TDL Springfield Morning Briefs: Wednesday, September 23rd

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday elaborated on his administration’s decision to give unsuccessful applicants seeking a marijuana dispensary license another opportunity, saying the move was necessary in order to ensure equity.
Pritzker says additional review of marijuana licensing applicants will make process more equitable

TDL Springfield Morning Briefs: Tuesday, September 22nd

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) faced scrutiny Monday for remarks she made about the racial and sexual orientation of her opponent, Democrat Ken Mejia-Beal, in a recorded phone call.
GOP state rep apologizes for comments about opponent

Board of Elections to give local officials additional money to bolster drop boxes, election judge recruitment effort

Task force releases recommendations aimed at combating physical, sexual abuse among students

TDL Springfield Morning Briefs: Monday, September 21st

News in brief: IL unemployment rate continues to fall; @EqualityILL announces House candidate endorsements
TDL Springfield Morning Briefs: Friday, September 18th
Lausch gives OK to legislative committee’s plans to call witnesses, seek documents in Madigan probe

Creating a state agency tasked with focusing on early childhood education, bolstering funding, reducing so-called childcare deserts and improving readiness should be key components to changing Illinois’ education system, a panel of experts told Illinois lawmakers Wednesday.
Advocates push for changes to early education as Legislative Black Caucus eyes larger reforms to address inequities
But that storm had nothing to do with the political firestorm that has brought the utility company negative attention as it continues to face scrutiny for its role in a federal investigation.
ComEd president reflects on derecho, glosses over federal investigation during panel discussion

Illinois lawmakers should repeal mandatory minimum sentences as part of its efforts to reform the state’s criminal justice system, a correction policy analyst told a legislative committee Tuesday.
Illinois should eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, analyst says

Gov. JB Pritzker informed members of his cabinet Tuesday of the need to prepare for 5% budget cuts for the current fiscal year and a 10% reduction in appropriations for the fiscal year that begins in 2021.
Pritzker orders agency directors to prepare for budget cuts, calls for Congressional action

Call volume to DCFS abuse hotline plummets during COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for pension reform in Illinois, advocates say

Early signs of partisan underpinnings were on display Thursday when a special Illinois House of Representatives committee tasked with exploring House Speaker Mike Madigan’s involvement with utility giant Commonwealth Edison unanimously approved a plan to ask federal investigators for guidance on next steps.
Partisanship on display during and after first meeting of special House committee investigating Madigan

TDL Springfield Morning Briefs: Friday, September 11th

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders-aligned progressive political group Our Revolution held a virtual meeting Tuesday featuring speakers who touted the proposed graduated income tax.
Bernie Sanders-aligned group hosts discussion with proponents of fair tax proposal

The start of a special Illinois House of Representatives committee tasked with examining whether House Speaker Mike Madigan improperly helped Commonwealth Edison will begin Thursday, but the panel is expected to do little more than formally initiate the process.
Special House committee to formally begin inquiry into Madigan, ComEd on Thursday
Bio
Former state govt & legislative reporter for @thedailylineIL, @Tennessean, @wvgazettemail, @charleywest & @capitaljournal