Department of Children and Family Services director Marc Smith (left) and Senate Health Committee chair Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) during a meeting on Tuesday 

Members of the Illinois Senate Committee on Health on Tuesday weighed whether new  laws could help protect workers in the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) from on-the-job violence or other hazards.

Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) speaks about Senate bill 570 during a press conference Monday. The bill would remove a surcharge gas companies put on bills.

Democratic lawmakers are angling to tighten a law they say allows gas companies to take advantage of customers by imposing surcharges on services. 

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith testifies Friday in front of the House Appropriations- Human Services committee on recent issues at the department.

After being found in contempt of court three times in the last month, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith argued he is trying to clean up problems at the department caused by previous administrations.

Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), pictured left, speaks with retired U.S. Marshal Robert Moore, right, about the potential addition of a statue honoring Illinois’ first Black state trooper during the Statue and Monument Review Task Force meeting on Thursday.

A statue or artwork honoring two important African American figures and one the state’s most popular politicians in recent years were the latest ideas floated during the Illinois House’s Statues and Monuments Review Task Force meeting Thursday. 

Senate Republicans are making another attempt to pass ethics reforms they say would improve last year’s ethics package. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) filed legislation to make changes at the Prisoner Review Board he says will help crack down on crime. And lawmakers debated a bill centered around solving gun crimes.

Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole (left) and Crete Mayor Mike Einhorn speak in a House Cities and Villages Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 about the impact of Amazon fulfillment centers on local sales tax revenue.

Crete Mayor Mike Einhorn asked state lawmakers Wednesday to reevaluate how sales tax revenue from Amazon orders is distributed around Illinois, saying a new state law could be siphoning money from towns like his.

Einhorn appeared before the House Cities and Villages Committee to argue Amazon sales tax revenues are being unfairly distributed away from towns like his that lack distribution warehouses run by companies like Amazon. Several other leaders joined him to provide their own thoughts on whether the state’s sales tax system creates winners and losers from online orders.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority presented lawmakers with the results of the latest round of aid for tenants and landlords. Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), who is running for treasurer, filed a bill to combine the treasurer’s office with the comptroller’s office. And Gov. JB Pritzker announced state leaders have released new funding from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan for projects in the Metro East area.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin released his first campaign commercial of the 2022 Republican primary for governor Tuesday. He touted his efforts to stop rights in Aurora during civil unrest in 2020 as an example of how he would fight crime as governor. [Facebook/Irvin/Bourne For Illinois] 

Republican candidates for governor Richard Irvin and Jesse Sullivan released new TV advertisements Tuesday, pushing a message they will be governors who tackle the state’s crime problems.

From left: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Treasurer Michael Frerichs maintain considerable cash advantages over their Republican challengers. [Facebook]

Democrats running for statewide office in Illinois are so far enjoying steep financial advantages over their Republican challengers. However, most candidates expected to be backed by Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin have not yet received funds for their races.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, pictured in September 2021, announced he came to an agreement with union leaders Monday to give paid leave to fully vaccinated employees at public education institutions in Illinois.  

Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed a bill Monday that sought to give unlimited time off to educators who miss work for reasons related to COVID-19, but he simultaneously announced a deal to give time off to vaccinated employees.