The House Freedom Caucus holds a news conference on Wednesday to discuss their trips to the Texas border and migrant shelters in Chicago. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

General Assembly Republicans are offering up their solutions for the migrant crisis, chiefly calling for repealing the state’s TRUST Act that makes Illinois a sanctuary state, as discussions begin in Springfield about new steps to grasp the migrant crisis after a year-and-a-half of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott busing asylum seekers to Chicago.  

U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, who represents Illinois’ 1st Congressional District, changed his voter registration this summer but still passed petitions for an address outside his district. Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new business investment stemming from a 2023 trip to Germany. And the Illinois AFL-CIO made endorsements for the 2024 election.   

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) speaks at a news conference last March. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

As talk about how to address the migrant situation emerges as a potentially major topic of the 2024 spring session, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said her caucus will be focusing on advocating for Illinois’ existing residents to ensure their needs aren’t put aside in favor of the new arrivals.  

The Illinois Capitol   

Lawmakers will return to Springfield on Tuesday for the first week of the 2024 spring session. Though many are focused on their March primary campaigns, budget challenges and other legislative issues will be on lawmakers’ plate throughout the spring. 

Gov. JB Pritzker holds a news conference in Chicago last week. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

As Chicago suffers through one of the annual deep cold spells of winter, Gov. JB Pritzker sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pleading with the Republican governor to “pause” sending migrants to Chicago and the suburbs during the dangerous winter weather.

The State Board of Elections 

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) won’t appear on the March primary ballot after the State Board of Elections ruled his statement of candidacy contained a notary error.  

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Lawmakers will return to Springfield on Tuesday, but any action to assist in the migrant crisis is no sure thing. 

The Illinois Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court is weighing an appeal in a criminal case from Macon County that could decide how Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigators consider using Miranda rights in investigations.  

Heidi Mueller will become the next Department of Children and Family Services director on Feb. 1. [Department of Juvenile Justice]   

Illinois’ troubled Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will have a new leader when Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Director Heidi Mueller takes over on Feb. 1, and people working in Illinois social services hope Mueller provides change the agency desperately needs.  

Then-Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) holds a news conference in Springfield on July 7, 2022 to talk about gun policy following the Highland Park shooting. [Blue Room Stream] 

Twelfth Congressional District candidate Darren Bailey has never been shy about his love for guns. He’s posted videos as a state lawmaker blowing up state budgets he voted against and does puzzles at his dining room table with assault weapons scattered around in protest of Illinois’ new ban.  

Where has Bailey stood on gun rights and how did he balance support for the Second Amendment during his campaign for governor as he now fights U.S. Rep. Mike Bost for votes in a heavily conservative district?