Tuesday’s filing alleges District 65 instructed Pre-K through second grade teachers to ask students: “What is your understanding of whiteness?” Meanwhile, fourth grade teachers were instructed to ask how Whiteness showed up in a political cartoon.

The state will permanently cap family child care payments at 7% of their income and increase reimbursement rates for providers in the state’s child care assistance program by 3.5% to help providers as they recover from the pandemic.

Records show the flood of fraud happened after IDES failed to follow federal recommendations to adopt free fraud-fighting tools that were made available in 2019. Only recently did the agency begin using those tools. A separate process to help identify problematic claims also didn’t become fully functional until February, nearly a year into the pandemic.

Moody’s Investors Services raised the state’s rating one notch, citing “material improvement in the state’s finances.” Although the upgrade still leaves Illinois bonds rated just two notches above so-called “junk” status, Gov. JB Pritzker said it marked a turning point for the state, and he credited the General Assembly and members of his own administration for bringing greater fiscal discipline to the state’s budget.

“Achieving a ratings upgrade in this case from Moody’s for the first time in 23 years, that is something that we should all pay attention to,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “It’s a huge note of progress for our state and I am very proud.”

Jim Dey: “Illinois Democrats targeted Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi for termination with extreme prejudice — in other words, political oblivion…By the time Democrats finished slicing and dicing Mazzochi’s current 47th district, it was no longer her district. Instead, Democrats squeezed her into what is now the 46th district.”

University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman called Gov. JB Pritzker’s signing of Senate Bill 2338 into law “the most dramatic, meaningful change to come to the collegiate model since the adoption of athletic scholarships.”

Data released last week from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed the state’s economy grew at an annual rate of 6.4 percent during the quarter as its gross domestic product approached its pre-pandemic level.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says those wanting clearer guidance for in-person education won’t get complete certainty. The governor also said the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over.

The equal rights case was brought by parents of student-athletes who say the governor prohibiting high school sports while allowing college and pro sports harmed their children. Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow denied Pritzker’s motion to dismiss, saying the plaintiffs have adequately alleged their cause of action.

“Most folks, when they think about the SAFE-T Act, all they think about is the end of cash bail and that is just one segment of the overall plan,” said state Sen. Elgie Sims. Come July 1, police will have the state-mandated duty to render aid and life-saving assistance like CPR if someone is injured, and to intervene if another officer is using unauthorized force or a force exceeding what’s permissible, among other changes.

Beginning in 2022, businesses with 100 or more employees will need to provide information like employees’ race, ethnicity, gender, and salary/hourly wage. This law is an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and was originally passed as part of the Equity Pillar legislation in January.

As soon as next month, student athletes will be able to hire agents and sign endorsement deals, profiting from their name, image and likeness.

“(Edward) Gibala, the executive director of the State Universities Retirement System, had been a sort of Paul Revere for the pension systems since the 1960s, warning state leaders that their chronic underfunding of pensions would create problems for future leaders. By 1967, SURS was already underfunded by $143 million.”