University Professionals of Illinois President John Miller speaks at a rally outside Governors State University on Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Faculty from three state universities are demanding Gov. JB Pritzker get involved to help unions prevail at the bargaining table as a second week of strikes at multiple state-run universities continues.   

A building is damaged following a tornado in Sherman just north of Springfield on March 31. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The Senate approved new minimum building code standards in Illinois just a day before severe weather plowed across the state spawning more than two dozen tornadoes from Boone to Crawford counties.   

As residents begin picking up the pieces, some in the hardest hit areas will eventually seek out assistance from the federal government. But some say Illinois’ current building code laws are preventing communities from receiving an adequate amount of funds for preparing and recovering from disasters.  

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, right, meet outside the governor’s office in Chicago Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker met with his newest governing partner Friday as Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson gets ready to take office next month with a bold progressive agenda.  

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, left, speaks to the House Revenue and Finance Committee in Chicago Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]   

Stakeholders for delinquent properties are asking lawmakers to make reforms to state law governing properties with sale in error.  

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Springfield Wednesday. [Gov. JB Pritzker/Facebook] 

After declining to make an endorsement in Chicago’s mayoral contest, Gov. JB Pritzker congratulated Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Wednesday on Johnson’s Tuesday victory and expressed his support for Johnson’s transition.  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) speaks at a news conference in Springfield last week. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Increasing access to childcare and boosting funding for childcare programs remains a focal point for lawmakers going into the final stretch of the spring legislative calendar.  

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) speaks at a news conference last year. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The Senate approved a bill last week that aims to establish a better measurement for understanding how Illinois children are impacted by trauma.  

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) speaks on the Senate floor Friday. [ILGA]   

Senate Democrats advanced a controversial bill targeting anti-abortion pregnancy centers called the most “extreme” by Republicans but a bill to “clarify” existing law by the bill’s sponsor.  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) speaks at a news conference in Springfield Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The Senate voted Thursday to end Illinois’ 1987 ban on new nuclear energy construction in a move approved by a bipartisan group of Senators.  

Cannabis

The smell of cannabis in a vehicle would not be probable cause by itself for police to search a vehicle under a bill passed by the Senate Thursday.