Gov. JB Pritzker delivers the annual state of the state and budget address at the State Capitol in Springfield Wednesday. [BlueRoomStream]

Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing a $55.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026 which includes no new taxes and eliminates a healthcare program for undocumented immigrants. 

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks after a roundtable conversation at the Governor's Ceremonial Office in the State Capitol. [BlueRoomStream] 

Gov. JB Pritzker is pushing for legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, ban the use of cellphones in public schools and add four-year degree options in community colleges. 

The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday approved a measure to allow agriculture classes to fulfill the high school career and technical education (CTE) requirement. 

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee meets at the Illinois State Capitol Building Tuesday. 

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday postponed passing a bill that would allow for survivors of sexual assault to use transportation vouchers for rideshares. 

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers the 2023 state of the state and budget address. [Blue Room Stream] 

Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver his annual budget address Wednesday under the shadow of a looming deficit, spending mandates and the Trump administration. 

Amidst numerous legal challenges to Trump administration policies, the State of Illinois, City of Chicago and Cook County Government are facing a challenge of their own.  

A suit filed in federal court by the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week challenges sanctuary laws in the state, specifically naming the Illinois Way Forward Act, the Illinois TRUST Act, Chicago’s Welcoming City ordinance and Cook County’s “Policy for Responding to ICE Detainers.”  

Some of these policies have been on the book for more than a decade and have even received Republican support in the past. The Illinois TRUST Act notably was signed in 2017 by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. 

Former House Speaker Mike Madigan leaves federal court in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2024 after opening arguments in his corruption trial. Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts Wednesday [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

After former Speaker of the Illinois House Michael J. Madigan was found guilty of bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud Wednesday, some Illinois lawmakers are again calling for ethics reform at the statehouse. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington, DC. [G. Edward Johnson/CC by 4.0]

A push by the Trump administration to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has left advocacy groups scrambling and could have long term impacts in states across the country, including Illinois. 

Manny Alvarez, who was wounded in the fatal shooting of his mom, Karina Gonzalez, and sister, Daniella Alvarez, speaks at the signing of Karina's Bill Monday in Chicago. 

In July 2023, Karina Gonzalez and her teen daughter Daniella Alvarez were shot and killed. Her husband, Jose Alvarez, was later arrested for allegedly fatally shooting the mother and daughter, as well as injuring their son, Manny Alvarez.  

Gonzalez had been granted an order of protection against Jose, which led to his firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card being revoked. But his guns were never taken by law enforcement.  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-West Chicago) was already working on legislation to require law enforcement to seize guns when an order of protection had been granted when Gonzalez was killed. That measure was later named Karina’s Bill, and on Monday Gonzalez’s son Manny watched it become law. 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 21 other state attorneys general in suing to stop a National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy he says could cost Illinois universities millions, and on Monday a judge granted the group a temporary restraining order.