Parents and students wearing blue t-shirts supporting the Invest in Kids scholarship program lobby lawmakers in the Capitol in May. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

The General Assembly could consider a plan during veto session to continue the tax credit that drives the Invest in Kids scholarship program as advocates propose a plan they hope will get more lawmakers on board.    

From left to right, Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Max Bever, State Board of Elections spokesperson Matt Dietrich, and State Board of Elections Deputy Director of Elections Operations Brian Pryor speak to the House Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream]   

The 2024 election is a little more than one year away while early voting for the March primary election begins in less than four months. Lawmakers on the House Ethics and Elections Committee held a hearing Wednesday to hear what Illinois’ election authorities do to keep the democratic process safe. 

Gov. JB Pritzker holds a news conference in September 2022.   

America’s richest politician, Gov. JB Pritzker and his wife, MK Pritzker, made about $2.25 million in 2022, according to tax returns released on Friday.

DCFS Director Marc Smith addresses a legislative committee last year. [Blue Room Steam]  

The sharply criticized director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Marc Smith, will resign at the end of 2023 along with the leaders of two other state agencies, Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Wednesday.   

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary Mario Treto speaks to the House Health Care Licenses Committee on Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

More than a million people need licenses from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and thousands of them wait months to hear back from the state. 

The House Health Care Licenses Committee held a hearing Wednesday with department leadership and representatives of professional associations with members that require state licenses to work, but the hearing provided few answers to resolving what the department’s head characterized as a “crisis” anytime soon.

The Cook County Jail   

Illinois’ most sweeping criminal justice system reform in decades has largely proceeded smoothly around the state with few reports of major problems implementing the system, though critics remain and attorneys are adjusting to the new process.