Faith Colson, who was abused by a Schaumburg teacher when she was in high school 20 years ago, encouraged a Senate committee on Wednesday to pass a bill that closes loopholes that protect sexual predators of school-aged children. 

Illinois needs to adopt a law that closes loopholes that protect sexual predators of school-aged children, advocates told a Senate committee on Wednesday. 

 

Michael Strautmanis, the executive vice president for civic engagement at the Obama Foundation, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin expressed support Wednesday for adding a statue of President Barack Obama to the grounds of the state Capitol.

House lawmakers on Wednesday continued their discussion about the statues and monuments on state property by floating the idea of creating a statue for former state legislator and President Barack Obama on the Capitol grounds.  

A Daily Line analysis of county population counts from the 2020 Census data compared with estimates that Democrats used to draw the legislative maps found notable deviations that advocates say back up their previous concerns.

Next week, lawmakers will return to Springfield for a one-day session to consider how to adjust the previously approved legislative redistricting maps based on the Aug. 12 release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s decennial data. 

Gov. JB Pritzker signed 11 more bills into law this week while vetoing two others. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday and Tuesday signed 11 more bills into law, including measures to tighten the state’s regulations on e-cigarettes, while issuing two more vetoes.  

Kina McAfee, assistant coordinator for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters apprenticeship and training program, and other witnesses offered ideas to lawmakers on Monday about how to diversify Illinois’ trade schools and vocational programs.  

Addressing long-standing barriers, adding enforcement mechanisms to ensure diversity goals are being met, changing mentalities, following federal law and bolstering efforts to reach out to kids even before they enter high school will drastically improve Illinois’ trade schools and vocational programs while diversifying an industry long dominated by white men, a panel of witnesses told lawmakers on Monday.  

Gov. JB Pritzker held a bill signing ceremony on Friday as he signed off on seven measures aimed at helping victims of domestic violence. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed 155 bills into law while vetoing two measures related to private school teaching credits and a southern Illinois port project.

Lawmakers will head back to Springfield to “incorporate” new Census data into legislative maps. And Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie contracted COVID-19 in a breakthrough case.  

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin addressed Illinois Republicans at the State Fair on Thursday.

Illinois Republicans gathered at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday in hopes of energizing their supporters by focusing their attention on Gov. JB Pritzker, President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

Gov. JB Pritzker spoke Thursday at a rededication ceremony for Wrigley Field.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed more than a half-dozen measures into law, including two bills aimed at protecting the state’s immigrant and refugee communities.   

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Secretary of State Jesse White, Gov. JB Pritzker, Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Comptroller Susana Mendoza gathered for a rally at the State Fair on Wednesday. [JB Pritzker’s Twitter]

Democrats on Wednesday flocked to the Illinois State Fair as the state’s top elected officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker, worked to energize the party’s base ahead of the 2022 election.