The Illinois Supreme Court   

A report released Thursday says the Cook County court system has made a mostly smooth transition to no cash bail even as Illinois broadly struggles with the high volume of appeals related to the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA).  

Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) left, and House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) attend the 2023 inauguration ceremony for the Illinois House. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) is planning to return to Springfield and continue serving in the House following her primary election defeat on March 19. The loss will end Flowers’ political career next January following 40 years in the General Assembly.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Murphysboro Republican, gives a victory speech at his election night party in Murphysboro on March 19. [Blue Room Stream] 

Republican incumbents for Congress and the Illinois House faced stiff primary challenges this year, but voters rewarded the incumbents, giving convincing approval to members of the Illinois House Freedom Caucus and a narrow victory to U.S. Rep. Mike Bost. 

The Illinois Capitol   

The annual survey of Illinois’ teacher shortage by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) looks similar to last year. The state is still dealing with a persistent shortage of teachers and other education professionals.  

Graciela Guzman speaks at a primary election party in Chicago on March 19. [Guzman campaign]   

It wasn’t the best primary night for progressives in Chicago, but Graciela Guzman’s victory in the 20th Senate District was decisive after she tallied most of the votes in one of the most expensive races in Illinois.  

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) is pictured on the House floor last March. [Blue Room Stream] 

Some non-citizens could be allowed to become firefighters in Illinois under a bill making its way through the House, which compliments legislation lawmakers approved last year that created a pathway for non-citizens to become police officers.  

However, House Republicans are now backtracking their support for allowing non-citizens to join the police force.  

Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria speaks at a bill signing ceremony with Gov. JB Pritzker in Peoria in 2022 establishing the co-responder pilot program. [Blue Room Stream]   

Illinois lawmakers are expressing interest in expanding the state’s co-responder pilot program as they consider legislation to add McHenry County to the list of early participants.  

Supports of the Let Parents Choose Protection Act, including Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, speak in the House Consumer Protection Committee on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

“It is not an exaggeration to say that social media companies know more about our children than we do,” Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) told the House Consumer Protection Committee Wednesday. “They have all this data, they’re collecting it, they’re targeting our children. The algorithms are designed to keep them laser-focused and on these apps. All we’re asking is that we not have open season on our children.”  

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Terry Prince speaks during the Legislative Audit Commission on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

A legislative panel finally reviewed an audit released in 2022 that revealed an alternative story about the outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in Fall 2020 that took the lives of 36 veterans.  

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) speaks at a news conference last month. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) has her eyes set on November’s contests after incumbent House Republicans came away from Tuesday night’s primaries with victories.