The Latest Breaking News from JB Pritzker

At a time when America is witnessing book bans, the news is that Illinois is going to become the first state to end book bans and censorship.

The Supreme Court last week restricted the EPA’s ability to protect America’s waterways and wetlands. Illinois can’t afford to sit back and do nothing to protect both in our state, the head of the Illinois Environmental Council writes.

Governor JB Pritzker expected to sign bill that would block state funding for public libraries and schools that ban books

Just after 2:30 a.m., the House voted 73-38 to pass the budget, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted as his “fifth balanced budget,” vowing to sign it.

First, they blew past a self-imposed deadline. Then there was scrambling behind the scenes, and grumbling over the exploding costs of health care for undocumented immigrants.

A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson told the Sun-Times that the new mayor, sworn into office May 15, is on board with the line of credit contract former Mayor Lightfoot signed on May 12, in the final days of her term.

The state Senate passed the budget late Thursday, sending it to the House. But completion of a final map of the districts of Chicago’s new elected school board was pushed even further into the future, as both chambers voted to give themselves more time to draw it up.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced agreement on a budget they said was balanced “without gimmicks.” Six hours later, Democrats filed the legislation, which must still pass both chambers before the governor can sign it.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration will be sending a newly created team of street outreach workers to Chicago neighborhoods during the Memorial Day weekend to help with the city’s violence prevention efforts.

A bill requiring public school districts in Illinois to establish full-day kindergarten within the next four years passed the state legislature Friday and awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s approval.

While failing to get a budget done by its self-imposed deadline, the Illinois General Assembly passed measures addressing issues ranging from abortion rights to full-day kindergarten during its spring session, which this week goes into overtime.