Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs speaks at the City Club of Chicago on Monday. [City Club of Chicago/YouTube]   

The state treasurer’s job gets little attention and is often not well understood, despite it being a statewide elected office. In Illinois, the treasurer focuses on investing state money, but Treasurer Michael Frerichs told a civic meeting Monday he has also been focused on innovation.  

Gov. JB Pritzker said he hopes members of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board won’t resign amid controversies over CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. Pritzker also took a national campaign role Tuesday night touting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after the vice presidential debate.  

Break walls and sand have been added to fight erosion and rebuild beaches at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the completion of a project on Monday designed to preserve Illinois’ only undeveloped lakeshore land from erosion.  

Early voting opened in parts of Illinois last week.  

Illinois voters will be asked to weigh in on three issues this fall when they cast their ballots after the General Assembly approved advisory referendums to guide future policy decisions.  

Former Gov. Pat Quinn speaks to the House Revenue and Finance Committee in Chicago on Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

A former governor and a pair of Cook County officials called on Illinois lawmakers to advance mechanisms next spring to reduce property taxes for Illinois residents. 

Illinois’ sign is picture at the Democratic National Convention. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Illinois voters can begin casting ballots Thursday in an election year where much of voters’ focus is on the presidential contest at the top of ticket. At the Democratic Party of Illinois, the goal is also to ensure Democratic candidates further down the ballot find success amid noise generated by the presidential contest. 

Gov. JB Pritzker was asked to weigh in on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez to resign. And the state’s largest retail association said lawmakers’ decision to eliminate credit card fees on sales taxes and tips is popular with voters.  

The Illinois Capitol  

Illinois’ public universities have a major problem with deferred maintenance and executing capital projects, university presidents and officials told a House committee on Monday. 

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a Politico event in Chicago during the DNC. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Between the economy, future of the presidency and abortion, voters in Illinois and around the country have heard from political candidates about what should be this election’s most important issue.  

Setting the agenda for Illinois Democrats at a fundraiser Monday, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said abortion is a political issue that affects the rest. 

A pair of Democratic lawmakers are asking for Gov. JB Pritzker’s help to ensure Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson follows a new state law helping to start a new Chicago police district. And the Illinois Department of Transportation received new money from the federal government for Chicago-area projects.