No Republicans again voted for a budget they felt “left behind” Illinoisans by prioritizing noncitizens and chastised increased spending, up more than $815 million from FY24.

“This is a statewide law but every jurisdiction is implementing things a little bit differently and this is some of the stuff we are seeing early on with the research,” said David Olson from the Criminal Justice Department at Loyola University.

The Senate was in Sunday, when senators discussed more than $1.1 billion in new tax hikes to cover the costs of an increased spending plan. Among the spending is nearly a billion dollars of taxpayer funds for non-citizen migrants: $629 million for non-citizen health care, $182 million for direct services; and $160 million for welcoming centers.

The flag, measuring 7-foot-5 by 6-foot-5, is known as a “Grand Luminary” because its 21 stars are arranged in the shape of a star. The museum is confident it represents Illinois’ admission as the 21st state, spokesperson Christopher Wills said. But a respected vexillologist, or flag expert, said its construction and materials indicate the flag was produced decades later, during the Civil War, and is perhaps a Southern exclusionary flag.

The Alternative Schools Network commissioned the report by the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, which found that, across the state, more than 163,000 16-to-24-year-olds are not working or in school. Executive Director Jack Wuest said the state of Illinois should spend $300 million to address youth joblessness, instead of spending on other projects like transit or sports stadiums.

The Worker Freedom of Speech Act is designed to prohibit employers from threatening, disciplining, firing, or otherwise retaliating against workers who refuse to attend mandatory workplace meetings focused on communicating opinions on political or religious matters.

Representatives return next week for potential final approval.