Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed two bills into law giving special needs students more time in school.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed two bills into law giving special needs students more time in school.  

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $200 million investment in early childhood education workforce. Secretary of State Jesse White reimposed a mask requirement at his facilities. And the first cannabis dispensary lottery is set for Thursday.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed four bills aimed at helping members of the LGBTQ+ community into law, including a measure to repeal Illinois’ HIV criminalization law. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed four bills into law aimed at helping members of the LGBTQ community, including a measure to repeal Illinois’ HIV criminalization law.  

Illinois health officials announced their adoption of new Centers for Disease Control guidance, including on wearing masks indoors. Gov. JB Pritzker urged the need for vaccinations while downplaying potential new mitigations. Attorney Thomas DeVore launched a bid for downstate appellate court. And the Department of Human Services announced new naloxone funding.  

Gov. JB Pritzker, seen here on July 22 at a bill signing ceremony, signed off on 56 measures approved by the legislature on Friday and another seven proposals on Monday. 

Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law dozens of bills the General Assembly approved during the spring session. On Monday, he signed seven more bills into law.  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) kicked off his summer bus tour while criticizing Gov. JB Pritzker as he continues his bid for the Republican nomination for governor.  

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the return of the Chicago Auto Show in early May. [Twitter]

In the weeks since the General Assembly sent more than 600 bills to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk, he has faced a swell of calls for him to veto an omnibus ethics proposal (SB 539). But that’s not the only measure some are looking for him to reject.  

Gov. JB Pritzker is more popular in Cook County than Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot or county board President Toni Preckwinkle, according to a new Chicago Index survey.

Gov. JB Pritzker remains more popular than the Illinois General Assembly, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle among residents of Cook County, according to a new survey from The Chicago Index, a joint effort by Crain’s and The Daily Line.  

Rep. Thaddeus Jones (left) and Sen. Napoleon Harris (center) joined Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday for his signature of a bill they sponsored to make permanent telehealth services that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed a measure (HB 3308) into law that aims to increase Illinoisans’ access to telehealth services.   

Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a measure from Sen. Melinda Bush (left) and Rep. Michelle Mussman (right) that will allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives to patients. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed into law a measure that will allow pharmacists to prescribe oral contraceptives to patients.  

Gov. JB Pritzker defended the omnibus ethics bill lawmakers approved this year during a July 15 news conference. 

Despite facing calls to use his amendatory veto power on the omnibus ethics bill lawmakers approved earlier this year, Gov. JB Pritzker appears poised to sign the legislation into law while calling for additional work in the future. 

Metra officials said ridership is on the rise in recent months. Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they plan to hand over voluminous records and documents of former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longtime chief of staff Tim Mapes. Attorney General Kwame Raoul said a nationwide opioid settlement could send $790 million to Illinois. And the Illinois EPA referred a recent gas leak case in Iroquois County to Raoul’s office.  

Gov. JB Pritzker spoke with The Daily Line about his reelection campaign on Tuesday [Joel Ebert/The Daily Line]

One day after he announced his reelection bid, Gov. JB Pritzker touted his accomplishments in an interview with The Daily Line while offering his vision of which issues must be addressed if he wins a second term, including tackling property taxes and pension reform.  

Gov. JB Pritzker called on Congress to reimburse the National Guard for their DC expenses. And a new federal lawsuit is hoping to halt the state’s upcoming cannabis license lottery.  

Gov. JB Pritzker announced his reelection bid for 2022, highlighting his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the state’s higher education agencies urged institutions to make vaccines mandatory. 

Attorneys representing House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and the Illinois State Board of Elections pushed back last week on two lawsuits challenging the state’s new legislative redistricting maps, encouraging a three-judge panel to dismiss both cases. 

Attorneys representing House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and the Illinois State Board of Elections pushed back last week on two lawsuits challenging the state’s new legislative redistricting maps, encouraging a three-judge panel to dismiss both cases.  

Gov. JB Pritzker and House Speaker Chris Welch (left)

With less than a year until Illinois’ primary election, contributions are continuing to flow into the campaign committees of candidates and leadership PACs. Last week marked the filing deadline for second-quarter campaign finance reports, giving a chance to look at how some of the state’s top political players fared at raising and spending money in recent months.   

Alexi Giannoulias, seen here campaigning with striking county workers in June, padded his considerable fundraising advantage in the Secretary of State race last quarter.

The campaign to become Illinois’ next Secretary of State is well underway, with the four Democratic candidates reporting significantly different donation totals during the latest reporting period.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed four criminal justice-related bills that he said will put the state at the “forefront” of “true reform.” (Credit: Gov. JB Pritzker’s Twitter)

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed four criminal justice-related bills that he said will put the state at the “forefront” of “true reform.” 

Attorney Samuel Brown (left) told members of the Federal Election Commission on Thursday he and the Democratic Party of Illinois supported a new advisory opinion that would allow the state party to restart fundraising for in-state campaigns while U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly serves as chair. 

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved an advisory opinion on Thursday that will allow the Democratic Party of Illinois to once again raise money for in-state candidates by limiting chair Robin Kelly’s role.