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.

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 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.

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.