Nuclear energy advocates saw a key step towards the lifting of the moratorium on new nuclear reactor construction pass out of the House Public Utilities Committee on Tuesday.

Lawmakers are worried the state’s long and sometimes complex hiring process hinders solving issues at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). And the House Judiciary- Criminal Committee passed a bill expanding the definition of “coercive control.”  

Regional Transportation Authority Chair Kirk Dillard speaks at the City Club of Chicago on Feb. 22. [City Club of Chicago]   

Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Chair Kirk Dillard is beginning to make his pitch for more public funding for the RTA in the coming years as the agency faces a massive funding cliff when federal COVID-19 income runs out.  

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Maywood Friday. [Blue Room Stream]   

After nearly a year of research and analysis, Gov. JB Pritzker announced recommendations Friday from the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to “redesign” and improve access to behavioral health treatment for Illinois children.  

Rep. Paul Jacob (R-Pomona) and other House and Senate Republicans call for a hearing into improving the Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

House and Senate Republicans are calling for bicameral hearings in the General Assembly to explore solutions to decades of documented problems with abuse and deteriorating living conditions at the Choate Mental Health and Development Center in downstate Anna after a series of investigations by news organizations brought public attention to the issue.  

Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole speaks at a news conference in Springfield Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Local governments need help from lawmakers on pension payments and paying for storing police body camera data, according to the Illinois Municipal League’s 2023 legislative agenda unveiled Thursday.  

S&P Global Ratings gave Illinois the seventh credit upgrade since summer 2021. And Environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers to support legislation to ban using foam products to serve food.   

The University of Illinois system logo.    

The focus on education in the governor’s proposed budget is a positive sign for the University of Illinois system and higher education in Illinois, university President Tim Killeen said Wednesday. 

Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) speaks to the House Energy and Environment Committee Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]    

After the bill failed to get support last year, Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) is reintroducing a bill in attempt to remove coal ash from the now-closed NRG Energy coal plant in Waukegan on the shore of Lake Michigan.  

Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) speaks in the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream]   

A Senate committee gave a skeptical green light to a bill to create a warning system designed to prevent trucks from hitting short bridges, overpasses and viaducts under a program Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) is pushing for.