Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a press conference at City Hall on March 18, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago after the president’s announcement that he’d take over the police department in the nation’s capital.

With the stated goal of developing a strategic plan to promote communication and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and other scientific professionals and State agencies, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law the One Health Framework Task Force Act last week.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation last week to expand the income threshold that veterans must fall within to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation last week to limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy and psychotherapy, ensuring that patients will be seen by licensed therapists and that health decisions will be made by them, not computer algorithms. 

The Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act was passed unanimously in both chambers of the Illinois legislature before being signed into law Friday by Pritzker and went into effect immediately.

Along with his announcement Thursday that he would not seek a 16th term in Congress, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis endorsed state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, giving him the inside track as the favorite in the solidly blue 7th Congressional District.

Illinois is co-leading a lawsuit challenging actions by the Trump administration to restrict access to gender affirming care for people under the age of 19, even in states where such care is protected by state law. 

Illinois Republicans are calling for reforms to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) after an audit found 34 violations and after an 18-year-old girl died while in foster care. 

With Chicago Public Schools (CPS) facing a $734 million budget shortfall, Illinois lawmakers are looking at solutions to help the state’s largest school district, including reinstating an independent authority to oversee the state’s finances. 

Illinois schools will soon offer mental health screenings to all students beginning in the third grade. 

Democratic attorneys general from around the country gathered in Chicago Tuesday to hear from the public on impacts from the Trump administration’s policies.