From left to right, Democrat Gregg Johnson of East Moline, Republican Connie Cain of Gilberts and Republican Diane Harris of Joliet. [Campaign websites]

Tuesday was the final day for mail-in ballots to be counted by local election authorities, and the final counts cemented victories for three candidates who were locked in close contests and will now advance to November’s general election in their state legislative races.

From left to right, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Planned Parenthood St. Louis Dr. Colleen McNicholas speak during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday. [U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee]  

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday that states like Illinois need more federal help to fulfill their roles as “islands” for people seeking abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade and shifts by other states to ban or limit abortions.

Gov. JB Pritzker named Dr. Sameer Vohra the new acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) after Ngozi Ezike stepped down earlier this year. And House Republicans are asking lawmakers to take action to pay down the remaining deficit of the unemployment insurance trust fund before the fall veto session.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Jennifer Welch speaks during a news conference on June 24 responding to the end of Roe v. Wade. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Legislative leaders and Gov. JB Pritzker are planning a special session in the coming months to shore up Illinois’ abortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade at the end of June. With Illinois law already protecting access to abortion, the session is expected to focus on building up the state’s ability to handle an influx of abortion cases from nearby states where the practice has been limited.

The scene of Highland Park’s mass shooting remained under investigation on July 5. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

As state lawmakers explore how to respond to Highland Park’s Independence Day shooting, gun violence prevention advocates say future state legislation should remain focused on guns to reduce the number of shootings in Illinois.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks about Monday’s Highland Park shooting during a Springfield news conference Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is blaming Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration for not more strongly enforcing Illinois “red flag” laws in response to Monday’s shooting at Highland Park’s Independence Day parade.

Lisa Holder White was sworn in Thursday as the first Black woman ever to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. And the Illinois Commerce Commission unanimously approved a proposal by ComEd to electrify a portion of its vehicle fleet.

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) speaks with U.S. Rep. Brad Schnieder (D-Ill.) after visiting with Vice President Kamala Harris in Highland Park Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Illinois imposes more layers of review over gun purchases than most other states with its background checks, firearm owner identification (FOID) card requirements and “red flag” laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who may harm themselves or others.

However, Monday’s shooting that killed seven and injured more than 40 people at the Highland Park Independence Day parade is sparking reviews of the strength of the state’s gun laws after authorities revealed the shooter obtained a FOID card and legally purchased weapons despite prior contact with police.

Brian Urbaszewski, center, of the Respiratory Health Association joined ComEd leaders including Michelle Blaise, right, to unveil a new charging station in Bronzeville Wednesday. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]

The mega-utility firm ComEd will dedicate $100 million annually for the next three years to a host of efforts designed to speed Illinois through its transition to electric cars, leaders of the company announced Wednesday.

The spending commitment was the topline goal of the “Beneficial Electrification” plan that ComEd submitted to the Illinois Commerce Commission under a new state law and unveiled during a ribbon-cutting for new charging stations in Bronzeville on Wednesday. The rollout comes as state leaders push toward a goal of seeing one million electric vehicles on Illinois roads by 2030 and as ComEd faces pressure to get a handle on price hikes.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to reporters in Highland Park on July 4 alongside Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). [Gov. JB Pritzker/Facebook]

After north-suburban Highland Park became the latest American community to suffer a mass shooting, Illinois lawmakers are stepping up their calls to crack down on guns to prevent future violence.