U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined Gov. JB Pritzker and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) to highlight infrastructure investments at the opening of a new Pace bus terminal in Joliet. And a new poll shows Richard Irvin has a 12-point lead in the Republican primary even as many voters remain undecided.

A property tax bill is pictured. 

Illinois is home to more than 8,000 units of local government. A bill passed during the spring session will for the first time force local leaders to weigh whether all the districts really need to stick around.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with at a news conference with a group of Democratic lawmakers Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

Gov. JB Pritzker and General Assembly Democrats denounced a draft U.S. Supreme Court decision Politico released Monday that hints the high court will overturn the 1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade that affirmed abortion as a legal practice.

Democratic candidates to succeed Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) in the 13th House district met at a forum Monday and focused their answers on energy policy. And Chicago officially became a candidate to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention after posting a video online.

Members of SEIU Local 73 march during a 2021 strike. [Facebook/SEIU Local 73] 

In the final hours of the spring session, lawmakers set the language voters will see at the polls in November asking them to vote on whether to ratify the “Workers’ Rights Amendment” and make collective bargaining a constitutional right in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker files his nominating petitions at the State Board of Elections in Springfield on March 7. [Blue Room Stream] 

Illinois lawmakers moved the 2022 primary to June 28 after late Census data forced a delay in drawing new Congressional maps. The later primary data meant passing petitions during the winter months, which led to some troubles for candidates and confusion for others about where their district boundaries were.

A handful of bills became law on Friday to expand benefits for the families of workers killed on the job and loosen regulations for substitute teachers, among other measures. And an incumbent South Side state legislator will remain on the ballot after a petition challenge that threatened to sink her reelection. 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), left, and Gov. JB Pritzker, right, announce endorsements from groups that support or oppose abortion, respectively.

Groups in favor or in opposition to abortion have lined up behind their candidates in the Illinois governor’s race as a looming U.S. Supreme Court ruling is set to make abortion a major issue in the 2022 election.

A new poll found Gov. JB Pritzker has a positive approval rating among Illinois voters. And the Illinois Gaming Board will accept applications for two more online sports betting applications after approving one on Thursday.

AJ Wilhelmi, CEO of the Illinois Hospital Association, speaks during a panel hosted by Health News Illinois Wednesday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Illinois lawmakers made strides to boost funding for health care services and reform reimbursement structures for hospitals and nursing homes during the spring legislative session, but officials say the next challenge will be making sure funding can be sustained in future budget years.