Clare Spaulding

Gov. J.B. Pritzker after he signed the fiscal year 2023 budget at Chicago State University on April 19, 2022.

Measures aimed at easing ongoing teacher shortage signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker

April 27, 2022 at 7:02 p.m.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois is on a "trajectory to overcome" a shortage of qualified teachers that will be further spurred with measures to increase the pool of substitutes and...

State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, attends the March for Life Chicago rally at Federal Plaza on Jan. 8, 2022, in Chicago.

Another billionaire throws major cash into the race for Illinois governor

April 28, 2022 at 3:25 p.m.

Illinois' political battle of the billionaires has long been thought to be Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the governor's nemesis, businessman Ken Griffin. But now a new battle may be...

Visitors look over a soldier's story as they tour the Abraham Lincoln museum in Springfield on April 8, 2022.

After long being mired in politics, Lincoln museum has ‘potential to be incredibly great’ under restructuring plan

April 19, 2022 at 8:58 p.m.

Ever since it opened late and over budget in 2005, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield has been regularly beset by problems tied to the historically transactional...

State Sen. Mattie Hunter outside Mercy Hospital in Chicago on Oct. 23, 2020. Hunter is the sponsor of The Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act.

Measure aimed at ending workplace bias over hairstyles on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk

April 12, 2022 at 11:32 p.m.

Growing up on Chicago's West Side, it was always made clear to Avalon Betts-Gaston how she should wear her hair. Straight hair was good hair; her natural coils and curls...

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks as Senate President Don Harmon listens outside the governor's office at the Illinois State Capitol on April 7, 2022.

Election-year politics make crime, inflation top issues in shortened legislative session

April 10, 2022 at 2:50 p.m.

Republican state lawmakers, outnumbered and looking to boost their relevance, had one goal for the election-year legislative session — to paint majority Democrats as soft-on-crime and anti-police. Democrats, sensing political...

The senate during a hearing at the State Capitol building in Springfield, April 7, 2022.

Illinois lawmakers approve crime package, $46.5 billion budget in marathon final day of session

April 9, 2022 at 4:39 p.m.

Illinois lawmakers early Saturday approved a $46.5 billion budget that includes $1.8 billion in largely temporary election-year tax relief and a $1 billion deposit into the state's rainy day fund....

Illinois state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, flanked by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Senate President Don Harmon, at the State Capital building in Springfield on April 7, 2022.

Democrats agree on election-year state budget with $1.8 billion in largely temporary tax relief

April 8, 2022 at 6:52 p.m.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders announced an agreement Thursday on an election-year state budget that would include more than $1.8 billion in largely temporary tax relief while paying...

View of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on March 7, 2022.

Illinois House Democrats unveil $1.3 billion tax relief plan, $45.7 billion budget, but talks with Senate, Pritzker ongoing

April 7, 2022 at 3:10 a.m.

Hewing closely to proposals from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois House Democrats on Wednesday made their opening public bid for a state budget and election-year tax relief but didn't call the...

The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on March 7, 2022.

GOP-sponsored bill guaranteeing patient visitation during a pandemic passes with bipartisan support

April 7, 2022 at 11:12 p.m.

A Republican-sponsored measure to protect patient visitation rights during a pandemic is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk after receiving unanimous approval in the state Senate Wednesday. During the COVID-19...

Democrats offer another anti-crime proposal, this one on carjackings. Pritzker says ‘We are making progress’

April 5, 2022 at 11:53 p.m.

Democrats who control the Illinois legislature on Tuesday continued searching for common ground on issues ranging from temporary tax relief to crime as the clock winds down on a truncated...

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