Springfield News

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    Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills), left, and Barrington Democrat Maria Peterson, right. 

    The Chicago suburbs have continued to trend toward Democrats in recent elections and now the pressure is falling on Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) to hold on to his seat and win a third term representing the northwest suburbs.  

    McLaughlin faces a challenging test, however, from Barrington resident Maria Peterson who is hoping to capitalize on a strong performance in a state senate race in 2022 and force out another suburban House Republican.  

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    1. Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago in January 2024. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

    Gov. JB Pritzker will travel to Tokyo this weekend to meet with businesses in hopes of attracting more to set up operations in Illinois, Pritzker announced on Thursday at an unrelated news conference in Peoria.

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    Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference on Springfield on May 1, 2024. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

    Missouri voters will decide next month whether the state should legalize sports betting, which would surround Illinois with states that allow the activity. Despite increasing tax rates on sportsbooks in Illinois this year, Gov. JB Pritzker said he’s not worried Missouri will attract business away from Illinois.

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    A map shows where the Mahomet Aquifer traverses Central Illinois. [City of Champaign] 

    Gov. JB Pritzker said he wants the federal regulatory process to play out on carbon capture and sequestration technology after a second leak at a Central Illinois sequestration site has stoked ongoing fears about the technology’s threat to drinking water in the region.  

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    The Illinois State Police is partnering with Waze and Google to send alerts to drivers about work crews or police parked on highway shoulders in an effort to encourage drivers to comply with Scott’s Law. And 17th Congressional District Republican candidate Joe McGraw is out with a new campaign ad that continues his focus on crime.  

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    Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs speaks at the City Club of Chicago on Monday. [City Club of Chicago/YouTube] 

    The state treasurer’s job gets little attention and is often not well understood, despite it being a statewide elected office. In Illinois, the treasurer focuses on investing state money, but Treasurer Michael Frerichs told a civic meeting Monday he has also been focused on innovation.  

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    Gov. JB Pritzker said he hopes members of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board won’t resign amid controversies over CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. Pritzker also took a national campaign role Tuesday night touting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after the vice presidential debate.  

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    Break walls and sand have been added to fight erosion and rebuild beaches at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

    Gov. JB Pritzker announced the completion of a project on Monday designed to preserve Illinois only undeveloped lakeshore land from erosion.  

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    Early voting opened in parts of Illinois last week.  

    Illinois voters will be asked to weigh in on three issues this fall when they cast their ballots after the General Assembly approved advisory referendums to guide future policy decisions.  

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    Former Gov. Pat Quinn speaks to the House Revenue and Finance Committee in Chicago on Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

    A former governor and a pair of Cook County officials called on Illinois lawmakers to advance mechanisms next spring to reduce property taxes for Illinois residents.