Faith Colson, who testified before a Senate committee in August, praised the chamber’s passage on Wednesday of a bill aimed at combatting sexual abuse and misconduct in Illinois schools. 

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a measure designed to bolster training and resources to combat sexual abuse and misconduct in Illinois schools, plus a separate bill to make midwifery in Illinois a licensed occupation.  

Witnesses on Wednesday urged Democrats to keep the state’s 3rd congressional district intact. And Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new school safety initiative and a fifth union vaccine agreement.  

A three-judge panel on Tuesday issued an opinion that found the legislative redistricting maps touted by Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) and Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) earlier this year were unconstitutional. 

A panel of judges handling two of the lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting maps on Tuesday issued an opinion that said the June-approved district boundaries violated the U.S. Constitution, leaving open the possibility for the federal court to create new maps.  

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) on Tuesday touted a bill that would give prisoners the right to vote. Four GOP senators proactively pushed back on a bill that would eliminate Illinois’ parental notification law for teen abortions. And Gov. JB Pritzker encouraged elderly residents to get their COVID-19 booster shots.   

Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Chris Welch and Gov. JB Pritzker posed for a photo on Sept. 15 after the governor signed the omnibus energy bill into law. 

The General Assembly on Tuesday will reconvene for its scheduled veto session that is expected to be more focused on approving new congressional redistricting boundaries and a handful of lingering bills more than it will be on overriding any bills rejected by the governor.  

The East St. Louis NAACP has filed a lawsuit over Illinois’ legislative redistricting map. U.S. Rep. Rush (D-Ill.) excoriated Democrats’ draft congressional map. Gov. JB Pritzker announced a third union vaccine agreement. And Pritzker announced new funding for a years-long renovation of I-80. 

Illinois Democrats on Friday released their first draft of new congressional boundaries that were criticized by Republicans, outside observers and U.S. Rep. Marie Newman. 

Democrats on Friday released a first draft of their proposed congressional district boundaries, which they said would ensure equal representation for communities across Illinois. But they were met with a wide array of criticism from Republicans, advocacy groups and U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.).  

Gov. JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker on Friday released portions of their 2020 tax returns. And Senate President Don Harmon’s (D-Oak Park) chief of staff contracted COVID-19. 

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) expressed concern Thursday about the lack of information about Democrats’ plans to create new judicial subcircuits in Illinois. 

When lawmakers announced their plans to hold a series of public hearings to gather input for the creation of new congressional and judicial subcircuit maps, Democrats indicated they were looking at creating new judicial boundaries for counties with populations of more than 150,000 people. 

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $15 million investment in ‘wet’ labs designed to advance research in biotechnology and medicine. And a racing board commissioner called for lawmakers to rewrite Illinois’ gaming laws to help horse racing by shifting regulations around how people can place bets.