Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole speaks at a news conference in Springfield Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Local governments need help from lawmakers on pension payments and paying for storing police body camera data, according to the Illinois Municipal League’s 2023 legislative agenda unveiled Thursday.  

S&P Global Ratings gave Illinois the seventh credit upgrade since summer 2021. And Environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers to support legislation to ban using foam products to serve food.   

The University of Illinois system logo.    

The focus on education in the governor’s proposed budget is a positive sign for the University of Illinois system and higher education in Illinois, university President Tim Killeen said Wednesday. 

Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) speaks to the House Energy and Environment Committee Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]    

After the bill failed to get support last year, Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) is reintroducing a bill in attempt to remove coal ash from the now-closed NRG Energy coal plant in Waukegan on the shore of Lake Michigan.  

Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) speaks in the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream]   

A Senate committee gave a skeptical green light to a bill to create a warning system designed to prevent trucks from hitting short bridges, overpasses and viaducts under a program Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) is pushing for.  

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at Springfield Early Learning Center Thursday on his Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal focuses on increasing funding for early childhood education and college but does not make a substantial funding increase to go directly to underfunded K-12 school districts despite some organizations hoping schools would see a greater funding increase.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza, in red, sits with other executive branch officials at the State of the State address Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

While expressing caution, Comptroller Susana Mendoza is pleased with Gov. JB Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal and is glad to see surplus funds are being injected into existing programs rather than a host of new ideas.  

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers the State of the State address Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

Gov. JB Pritzker spent most of his State of the State speech Wednesday focused on budget proposals and how he plans to make education more affordable in Illinois, but he didn’t miss the opportunity to weigh in on controversial political issues with some thinly veiled shots at Republicans.

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers the 2023 State of the State address in Springfield Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream]   

With a recession in the back of his mind, Gov. JB Pritzker presented a spending plan after two years of revenue topping $50 billion that focused on making education more accessible and affordable.  

House Democrats budget leader Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) speaks at a news conference Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal was met with a positive response from members of his party, but others were more cautious about new spending plans as revenue figures and economic conditions are expected to change in the coming year.