From left to right: Geary Yonker, Dr. Dave Nayak, Graciela Guzman, and Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago).  

A crowded Democratic primary in the 20th Senate District is emerging with Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) and opponent Graciela Guzman distancing themselves from their opponents in the fundraising race with the help of big financial backers.   

But new self-funding efforts by Dr. Dave Nayak lifted contribution limits in the race on Monday, setting the stage for an even more expensive race.  

The Illinois Capitol 

State lawmakers are urging the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to develop a broadband plan that provides quality internet to all residents and is also affordable. 

ComEd and Ameren both submitted four-year grid plans and rate hikes over $1 billion to the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year.  

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) dealt a major blow to Illinois’ two largest electricity providers and denied their grid upgrade plans for failing to be transparent and follow the state’s statutorily defined clean energy goals.  

Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) will resign from the House on Monday. [House Republicans] 

Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) will still be involved in advocating for improvements and growth in his district, but in a new role after Monday, when he resigns from the House to take a job leading a local economic development organization in Vermilion County.

Former Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) is pictured during a previous year in the Illinois House. [House Democrats] 

A closely watched House race in the Metro East region got off to a hot start that could prematurely end it after former Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) had her signatures challenged as she attempts to win back her seat.  

Thomas More Society attorney Peter Breen, right, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, left, speak at separate news conferences in Chicago last month. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]    

Attorney General Kwame Raoul agreed to not enforce a controversial law designed to prevent deceptive business practices at anti-abortion pregnancy centers after fierce pushback from advocates that resulted in a Rockford federal judge blocking the law a week after it was signed.  

Illinois State Police attorney Suzanne Bond and State Police Capt. Jeffrey Yenchko participated in the Joint Committee on Administrative Review on Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

The Illinois State Police (ISP) have made several changes to the agency’s rules for the assault weapons registration process in response to feedback at public hearings while a legislative oversight committee plans to make a final decision about the rules next month. 

Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), left, and Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) hold a news conference in Springfield in November. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]    

Gov. JB Pritzker signed 17 bills on Friday, concluding his bill signings for the first half of the 103rd General Assembly. Among the bills signed Friday was a long-awaited plan to lift the state’s 1980s-era ban on building new nuclear reactors.  

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and Darren Bailey picked up key endorsements from top Republican figures as they battle in the March primary. And Monday was the last day to file objections to candidates’ petitions for the March 19 primary.  

Gov. JB Pritzker signs the assault weapons ban into law in January. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The Illinois Attorney General filed a petition to reject a request to the U.S. Supreme Court from opponents of Illinois’ assault weapons ban that asks the justices to issue an emergency injunction to block the law to allow for more appeals in lower courts.