Already, eight states and roughly 200 cities and municipalities have enacted bans on polystyrene foam containers. The EPA estimates that 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, and just over half of that ends up in Lake Michigan alone.

The People’s Utility Rate Relief Act aims at making energy rates more affordable, creating stronger protections against disconnection of services, and oversight from the Illinois Commerce Commission for affordability. The bill also incorporates a heat index assessment, meaning in the summertime, services can not be disconnected if it is 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher rather than 95.

“We believe it is going to increase public safety,” state Rep. Justin Slaughter said. “The efforts will indeed help citizens become more productive, positive citizens.”

During the trial Tuesday, state Rep. Bob Rita testified he was the sponsor of the Future Energy Jobs Act, a wide-ranging and controversial energy bill that state lawmakers passed in December 2016. Rita told jurors that when he was presented with an amendment to that legislation that he previously didn’t know about, defendant Michael McClain pulled him out of a committee hearing to direct him to proceed with the amendment. And that’s what he did.

A new WalletHub study found the typical household in Illinois pays 15% of its income to state and local taxes, the highest in the nation. That’s an average of $10,463 – a 22% hike since 2017.

Illinois plans to sell up to $2.5 billion of general obligation debt before the fiscal year closes June 30 in its first primary market outing to benefit from upgrades that put two of its ratings in single-A territory. The state plans to sell up to $1.5 billion of new money and is eyeing another up to $1 billion of current refunding bonds.

“There are companies now who were looking at Illinois or were beginning to set up shop in Illinois who after they saw that White Castle decision just pulled up shop and said, ‘We can’t do this anymore,'” said Brad Tietz, of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “So it is impacting economic development.” Public safety is a concern for his members, he said, and certain kinds of new cameras could help combat organized retail theft. But such technology isn’t coming to the state because of the court’s consistent interpretation of the law to favor demands from trial lawyers, Tietz said.

Last year alone, more than 7,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Chicago, accounting for about 10% of all registered Kias and 7% of all registered Hyundais in the city, according to Kwame Raoul’s office.

State Rep. Dave Vella said the workforce of police officers and firefighters is aging and vacancies need to be filled. “I’m a firm believer in giving kids who walk across the high school graduation stage a place to walk into,” said Vella, a former criminal defense attorney. “Either college or a job or an apprenticeship program.”

The Work Without Fear Act, pending in the statehouse, would also expand protections for workers who report sexual harassment or file complaints outside of official channels. If the bill becomes law, it would be “among the strongest” labor protections in the nation, said Kevin Herrera, legal director at Raise the Floor Alliance.

“We actually need to be more keen on public policy when we write it to avoid this type of opportunity allowing vultures into our state,” said state Rep. La Shawn Ford, who has sponsored cannabis legislation. “It is unfair, but it’s capitalism, and that’s just the fact.” Still, he added that state officials can’t be too restrictive in trying to grow a multibillion dollar industry. “We’ve gotta bring the money in,” he said.

Across the state, the number of candidates running for school board are reaching double-digits and the campaigns seem more contentious than ever. Most voters are used to seeing complete candidate profiles in local newspapers or media outlets, but now political parties and advocacy groups are increasingly getting vocal about these candidates and the issues at stake.

In Jan. 2022, the state saw a 5.4% rate; That went down to 4.7% in Jan. 2023. Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased from 4% in Jan. 2022 to 3.4% in 2023.

When asked what Michael Madigan valued most in other legislators, state Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita answered, “loyalty.” Rita’s testimony capped a broader day of testimony Monday, in which jurors also heard recordings of a ComEd executive discussing how FEJA and other legislation turned the utility’s finances around.