Gov. JB Pritzker signs bills to reduce the teacher shortage at Springfield High School Thursday. [Gov. JB Pritzker Facebook]

Gov. JB Pritzker signed four bills into law Wednesday intended to alleviate the state’s teacher shortage by making it easier for people to become substitute teachers and spend more time in the classroom.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) points to an empty chair for Richard Irvin during a forum for Republican candidates for governor in Washington on Monday. Seated behind Bailey from left to right is Jesse Sullivan, Gary Rabine, Max Solomon and Paul Schimpf. [Blue Room Stream]

Five of the six Republican candidates for governor spent Monday night explaining to Republican voters what sets them apart from Gov. JB Pritzker and one of their opponents, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who did not attend the Tazewell County forum.

Gov. JB Pritzker and General Assembly Democrats pose for a picture after Pritzker signed the budget on April 19. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

As concern grows about hate crimes against religious and minority groups, Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2023 budget stands to give first-time funding to a program established five years ago to help organizations with security costs.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) is calling on Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith to resign after Smith was held in contempt of court for a ninth time this year. And Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin won the Lake County straw poll over the weekend.

A red-light camera and sign warning drivers the intersection is monitored by a camera.

After former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci pleaded guilty Thursday to charges in a federal bribery investigation involving Illinois red light cameras, the devices are once again in the spotlight with some lawmakers calling for their abolition.

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) speaks at a news conference in Springfield on April 5. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

President Joe Biden announced Friday he was nominating Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) to be the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

The Illinois State Board of Elections.  

Two Republicans and one Democrat were removed from primary ballots amid confusion over how many signatures candidates running for the Supreme Court 2nd District need to get on the ballot following the state’s first redistricting of the Supreme Court in more than 50 years.

Gov. JB Pritzker announces Moody’s credit upgrading Thursday.

Gov. JB Pritzker claimed credit for the third credit rating the state has achieved since he took office on Thursday, when Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the state’s credit rating.

Secretary of State candidate John Milhiser, top left, comptroller candidate Shannon Teresi, top right, gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin, bottom right, and attorney general candidate Steve Kim, bottom left. [Campaign Twitter accounts]

A group of statewide Republican candidates running on a slate together were still waiting for a long-expected round of support of billionaire Ken Griffin as of the latest quarter of fundraising, according to State Board of Elections records. Only Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin has received support from Griffin so far.

The State Board of Elections is pictured in Springfield.

The State Board of Elections and Chicago Board of Elections will make decisions Thursday on 50 challenges to nomination petitions filed by people running for statewide offices and the General Assembly in 2022. Several candidates for governor, Congress, Supreme Court and two current members of the General Assembly are among those facing challenges to their nominations.