
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.
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Former state govt & legislative reporter for @thedailylineIL, @Tennessean, @wvgazettemail, @charleywest & @capitaljournalGov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed a measure approved by lawmakers in May aimed at making the state’s marijuana industry more equitable while announcing the latest lottery dates for issuing dispensaries licenses.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed a measure approved by lawmakers in May aimed at making the state’s marijuana industry more equitable. He also announced the next round of lotteries for issuing dispensaries licenses will get underway later this month.

Pritzker signs omnibus cannabis law, announces new dispensary lotteries this month
Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to the White House Wednesday to discuss infrastructure, unemployment fund, gun violence. The governor also announced a forthcoming sunset of the state’s eviction moratorium. And state officials announced the first round of recipients for broadband grants.

News in brief: Pritzker travels to White House to meet with Biden; Pritzker signals sunset of the state’s eviction moratorium; DCEO announces broadband grant recipients
Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope said Wednesday she will resign from her post later this year.
Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope said Wednesday she will resign from her post later this year, in part because her position is “essentially a paper tiger.”

Legislative Inspector General announces resignation, calling her office a ‘paper tiger’
A duo of lawsuits challenging Illinois’ new legislative redistricting maps are scheduled to go to trial in late September, according to a new order filed in federal court on Wednesday.

Lawsuits challenging Democrats’ legislative maps scheduled for September trial
Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law dozens of bills that were approved by lawmakers during this year’s spring legislative session.
Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law dozens of bills that were approved by lawmakers during this year’s spring legislative session.
Pritzker signs 53 bills, including measures on medical cannabis, school admissions, housing
The Federal Election Commission on Friday issued a new draft advisory opinion regarding U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly’s (D-Ill.) role as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
The Federal Election Commission on Friday issued a new draft advisory opinion regarding U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly’s (D-Ill.) role as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, signaling support for the creation of a special committee as a workaround to rules that bar federal elected officials from handling certain fundraising.

FEC recommends state Democratic Party create special committee to handle in-state fundraising
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a measure requiring Asian American history curricula be taught in Illinois schools. The Illinois Department of Public Health issued new school-based COVID-19 guidance. And a House committee will discuss cybersecurity.

News in brief: Pritzker signs measure requiring Asian American history curriculum; IDPH issues new school-based COVID-19 guidance; House committee set to discuss cybersecurity
A redistricting hearing in March 2021. The two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ new legislative redistricting maps have been consolidated into one case, which has been assigned to a three-judge panel.
The two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ new legislative redistricting maps have been consolidated into one case, which has been assigned to a three-judge panel.

Lawsuits challenging legislative redistricting maps consolidated, assigned to three-judge panel
Gov. JB Pritzker spoke during an advocate rally for immigrant and refugee rights on Thursday.
For the second time in nine days, Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday touted the state’s latest financial accolade, this time after S&P Global Ratings upgraded Illinois’ bond rating for the first time in more than two decades.

Illinois gets first ratings upgrade from S&P in decades, edging state away from ‘threat of junk bond’ status
Gov. JB Pritzker requested a federal disaster declaration from the Small Business Administration. And applications are available for deer hunting on private land.

News in brief: Pritzker seeking SBA disaster declaration; applications available for deer hunting on private land
Earlier this year, Rep. Robert Rita (D-Blue Island) introduced a bill (HB 3142) that would have let casinos and racetracks in Illinois offer internet gaming. Rita’s bill ultimately failed, and the Senate instead asked a commission to study the issue.
Illinois could have generated upwards of $1.2 billion in revenue in 16 months if the state legalized online gaming before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

Illinois could have netted $1B-plus by legalizing online gaming before pandemic: report
Gov. JB Pritzker announced vaccine incentives for state employees. And the Illinois Department of Transportation has posted Alternative Fuel Corridor signs along Illinois interstates.

News in brief: Pritzker announces vaccine incentives for state employees; IDOT posts Alternative Fuel Corridor signs
Gov. JB Pritzker said he is “excited” about President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth announced she is backing Anna Valencia’s bid for Secretary of State. And U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly will embark on the first leg of a listening tour as party chair.

News in brief: Pritzker talks up Biden visit; Duckworth backs Valencia’s bid for Secretary of State; Kelly to embark on first leg of listening tour
Speaking at a news conference in Downers Grove, Gov. JB Pritzker praised SB 2294 on Tuesday, which he said would make Illinois’ health care system “more equitable.”
Gov. JB Pritzker signed an omnibus Medicaid bill into law on Tuesday that seeks to make health care affordable and accessible to more residents in Illinois.

Pritzker signs omnibus Medicaid bill aimed at expanding coverage, lowering health care costs
On-site consumption and delivery laws could be among the next wave of cannabis proposals considered by lawmakers.
Illinois’ cannabis legalization is less than two years old and has already given birth to a successful industry in terms of revenue generation. But the botched rollout of the state’s dispensary licenses for social equity applicants has largely overshadowed the burgeoning industry.

On-site pot consumption, delivery at ‘forefront’ of next wave of cannabis proposals, lawmaker says
A coalition of businesses and organized labor criticized the energy bill on Thursday for lacking transparency and likely resulting in increased costs for consumers.
A coalition of businesses groups and organized labor Thursday criticized the omnibus energy bill, which they said will increase business operations by millions of dollars each year, while blasting the ongoing discussions as lacking transparency.

Business, labor groups hit energy bill over cost, transparency concerns
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the first round of funding for a new effort to close health disparities. State regulators supporting an equity focus at the federal level for student loan reforms. And the state Environmental Protection Agency referred the Superior Battery fire to Attorney General Kwame Raoul for legal action.

News in brief: Gov. JB Pritzker announces first round of funding for new health effort; IDFPR supports equity-focus for student loan reforms; state EPA refers Superior Battery case to Illinois Attorney General
Speaking during a June 17 news conference, House Majority Leader Greg Harris and Gov. JB Pritzker highlighted how the FY 2022 budget used the first round of the American Rescue Plan funds.
Illinois’ new fiscal year begins Thursday, and under the state budget (SB 2800) signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this month, the initial wave of billions of dollars sent to the state from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will soon be allocated.

Illinois set to shower American Rescue Plan funds on dozens of nonprofit groups
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) withdrew her motion to reconsider the vote on the Chicago elected school board bill, allowing the bill to head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk. And the Illinois Supreme Court issued new orders designed to speed up trials and relax social distancing rules.

News in brief: Ramirez lifts brick off elected school board bill; Illinois Supreme Court issues new orders for speedy trials, relaxing social distancing
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority chief executive officer Larita Clark [left] and McCormick Place general manager David Causten showed optimism during Tuesday’s meeting as conventions are scheduled to return to Illinois for the first time in more than a year.
Representatives from the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority expressed renewed optimism Tuesday after lawmakers approved a budget providing the agency financial assistance and as conventions are scheduled to begin officially returning to Illinois after the state’s recent reopening.

McPier officials signal optimism, count losses as conventions begin to return
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Former state govt & legislative reporter for @thedailylineIL, @Tennessean, @wvgazettemail, @charleywest & @capitaljournal