House Republican leaders hold a news conference reacting to the ComEd verdict Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Ethics reform is back in the spotlight in Springfield after four allies of former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and key political figures at ComEd were found guilty Tuesday on all charges in a massive corruption scheme.  

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias speaks at a news conference in Springfield Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is celebrating his first legislative victory since taking office after the Senate voted to send a bill to Gov. JB Pritzker that works to restrict libraries from banning books. 

The Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago is pictured.  

Four ComEd officials and close allies of former House Speaker Mike Madigan were found guilty Tuesday on all charges in a sweeping corruption trial that dug into the depths of Illinois’ legislative process. 

Illinois Capitol 

The General Assembly is set to take a final vote on a bill establishing all-day kindergarten statewide after it passed a Senate committee Tuesday.  

The proposed airport in Peotone is now being billed as a cargo airport. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

A bill that could move the long-proposed South Suburban Airport forward for the first time in a decade is ready for final passage in the General Assembly.  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) speaks on the House floor Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]   

The House gave bipartisan approval to a bill Thursday that would establish state-level regulation for digital asset businesses in a move lawmakers hope will protect consumers from scams.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) speaks on the House floor on February 1. [Blue Room Stream]   

Local governments should not expect to see the full funding increase they’ve been asking for, House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) said at a forum last week with business leaders. 

University representatives from Chicago State, Governors State, Northeastern Illinois and Western Illinois University presented their budgetary concerns during the House Appropriations Higher Education Committee meeting on Thursday.

From left to right State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea), Title one reading interventionist Shalanda Gaines, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) and State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

Senate Democrats held a news conference Thursday morning to announce a variety of legislative ideas that would help bridge the gap as school districts throughout the state continue to struggle to fill teaching positions.

Lawmakers will pass a state budget within the next four weeks.    

Lawmakers should not be looking for a surprise revenue boost as they craft the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, Department of Revenue Director David Harris told a Senate committee Wednesday as he urged lawmakers to be cautious when making the budget.