Gov. JB Pritzker shakes hands with House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) prior to the State of the State address last week. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker’s top legislative priority this spring will be taking aim at health insurance companies by proposing strict new regulations on how insurance companies decide what care patients can be covered for.  

Gov. JB Pritzker won’t back off his proposal to eliminate the grocery tax despite opposition from local governments. And advocates are reacting to a study showing public school students out-performed private school students receiving Invest in Kids scholarships.  

White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf walks through the State Capitol last week. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Note: This story has been changed from an earlier version to reflect additional contributions made through businesses owned by team owners rather than just individual contributions. 

The Bears, White Sox, and now reportedly the Red Stars are all interested in possible state money to build new stadiums. As their owners attempt to sway skeptical legislators, which politicians are Chicago’s wealthy sports team owners donating to? 

Gov. JB Pritzker said he is opposed to a bill that would tie Illinois’ vehicle emissions standards to California. House Democratic leadership is openly opposing Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago). And Latino policy and advocacy organizations are speaking out against comments Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham made in a recent interview with The Daily Line. 

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, left, speaks during a House Insurance Committee hearing in Chicago on Monday. [Blue Room Stream] 

What’s the best way to provide drivers with fair insurance rates? According to some lawmakers, removing non-driving factors from rate calculations is necessary to reduce disparities on how much people across races and genders pay in car insurance.  

Regan Deering of Decatur, left, and Chuck Erickson of Bloomington, right, are competing in the 88th House District Republican primary. [Deering campaign/McLean County Board]   

The 88th House District will have a new Republican state representative in 2025 with the retirement of Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur). Two candidates, Regan Deering of Decatur and Chuck Erickson of Bloomington, are now fighting for an opportunity to elevate their political careers.  

Gov. JB Pritzker shakes hands with House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) before the State of the State address on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing the most drastic pension reform in over a decade, including a change to a 30-year-old law that is the basis for how Illinois funds pensions today.  

Pritzker’s proposal comes months into work by the House Personnel and Pensions Committee to propose reforms to the Tier 2 pension bracket before that group of mostly future retirees starts collecting their benefits.  

Gov. JB Pritzker delivers the 2024 State of the State address to House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) on Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

Gov. JB Pritzker plans to continue spending priorities he has championed over the last five years, but this time, they will be supported by $800 million in tax increases plus more rearranging of funds to provide more revenue. 

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) leads a news conference in Springfield on Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Gov. JB Pritzker’s focus on migrants and his proposed variety of spending increases with scattered tax cuts being supported by tax hikes in other areas is not sitting well with Republican lawmakers.  

Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf walks through the Illinois Capitol on Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf took a trip to Springfield on Tuesday to pitch lawmakers on a reported plan to devote $1 billion to help the team build a new ballpark in The 78 just south of the Loop in Chicago.