The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) issued rulings on Thursday on proposed rate hikes in 2024 by Illinois gas companies. And new data from the Department of Employment Security shows unemployment is increasing in Illinois.  

The Illinois Commerce Commission will rule on gas rate hikes on Thursday.    

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) will decide on Thursday if most Illinois residents who receive natural gas to their homes and businesses will see higher rates next year.  

Parents and students supporting Invest in Kids rally in the capitol last week. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Illinois Democrats chose not to extend the Invest in Kids scholarship program tax credit before leaving Springfield for the year, setting up the end to a controversial program thousands of families relied on, but opponents criticized in many cases as state funding of religious schools. 

Though the credit will end on Jan. 1, scholarships awarded through the program this school year are expected to continue through the remainder of the school year. But going into fall 2024, thousands of families of nearly 10,000 students in the program are now considering what’s next for their children while the program’s opponents call for more support for public schools.  

The Illinois Capitol 

Few big-ticket items made their way through the legislature during a veto session dominated by conversations about ending the nuclear moratorium and implementing the Chicago elected school board.  

Here’s a look at what else lawmakers approved as the calendar closed on the first half of the 103rd General Assembly.

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) speaks in the Senate Executive Committee on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The hottest topic of the second week of veto session was the implementation plan of Chicago’s elected school board, but despite throwing out numerous proposals, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate ultimately failed to come to an agreement and will have to revisit the issue in the spring.

Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), left, and Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) hold a news conference Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Illinois is nearly ready to lift the 1980s-era ban on the construction of new nuclear energy reactors after the House passed legislation on Thursday to lift the ban that now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker, who is expected to sign it.  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) presents a bill Wednesday to lift the state’s ban on new nuclear reactor construction. [Blue Room Stream] 

After the initial plan was vetoed in August by Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois Senate voted Wednesday to advance a new plan with Pritzker’s support to end the state’s nearly 40-year ban on new nuclear construction.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) speaks on the House floor on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The House and Senate continue to be at odds over how to implement the Chicago elected school board in 2024, with the House opting to pass a proposal on to the Senate Wednesday afternoon.  

Gov. JB Pritzker celebrates his reelection on Nov. 8, 2022. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker and his dark money group Think Big America had a strong performance in the first run of Pritzker’s new attempt to influence elections around the country based on the issue of abortion.  

Lawmakers began approving the district boundaries for Chicago’s elected school board on Tuesday. [Senate Democrats] 

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) filed an unexpected change to the Chicago school board map on Tuesday, opting to resolve questions about deciding which districts will have an election next year by eliminating appointed board positions.