Parents and guardians would have the ability to opt out of the screenings for their children if they don’t want them to participate.

Currently, non U.S. citizens can apply for a special drivers license called a Temporary Visitor Drivers License or TVDL. Under the plan, anyone that’s had a TVDL for at least two years can help teach the next generation the rules of the road. The policy would help expand who could become a driving instructor without reducing any of the needed qualifications for the job.

“In 148 words, the perverse Cassidy accused Republicans three times of being obsessed with children’s genitals. And what is a person who is obsessed with children’s genitals? A pedophile. On the State House floor, Cassidy slandered all her Republican colleagues as pedophiles.”

Lawmakers warn the cuts could eliminate 430 direct support jobs, reduce care for nearly 10,000 residents, and strain rural communities already short on staff and facilities.

State Rep. Daniel Didech said the majority party is doing what it’s done the past seven years. “It’s the same process that’s produced six consecutive balanced budgets,” Didech said. “It’s the same process that’s earned our state nine credit rating upgrades.”

The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to intervene in a case that could reshape how federal candidates challenge state election laws, specifically whether Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost has the legal standing to sue Illinois over its 14-day mail ballot receipt deadline. Russell Nobile, counsel for Bost, explained that the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds, stating that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.

“In states like Illinois, where two Democratic members of Congress are running for an open Senate seat, they’re going to have to run defending a vote that would have increased taxes significantly.”

At a Finance and Budget Committee meeting this month, Hitesh Desai, the city’s chief financial officer and treasurer, said Evanston must either approve a 1 percent replacement tax or increase property or sales taxes. The other option is to significantly reduce expenses, he said. Desai estimated that a $2.5 million increase to the property tax would result in an increase of approximately $78.53 per year in property taxes for a $400,000 home.

Since Floyd’s murder, the intersection of 38th and Chicago has become a sacred space. Two iconic murals were painted at the site, including a blue-and-yellow tribute on the side of the Cup Foods where Floyd was accused of spending a counterfeit $20 bill, prompting the fatal police response. The community installed a raised-fist sculpture at the center of the intersection and headstones engraved with the names of Black people killed by police.

“So, either the state would have to give up funding health care for undocumented residents or continue to fund them with state dollars and then pay perhaps a billion dollars a year to make up for the 10-point reduction in the federal match.”

“When it comes to education, Illinois’ public school system is nothing to boast about. More than two-thirds of Illinois eighth graders are not proficient in reading or math, according to results from the recent National Assessment of Education Progress. … Yet at the same time, Illinois spends more per pupil on public education than every other state in the Midwest and 40 other states in the U.S. Fiscal watchdog Wirepoints reported that, according to 2022 Census data, Illinois lays out $21,700 annually in average local, state and federal dollars per public school student. How’s that for a sorry return on

Eric Rodriguez, father of suspected terrorist Elias, “represents the very best of our community — someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,” Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García said at the time. “His presence at the Joint Address is a powerful statement: we will not sit back while veterans and workers are treated as political pawns.”

Proposals to expand gambling further to allow internet casinos may be stalling in Illinois with the end of spring legislative session approaching. But one legislator says anything is possible.

Two years ago, a law went into effect banning state agencies and universities from purchasing or using Styrofoam. SB 1531 looks to take that idea a step further with a statewide ban beginning in 2030. As of this year, only 11 states have passed bans on Styrofoam food containers.

All of the current requirements for legal gun ownership in Illinois would remain the same.

While Democrats have solid control of the General Assembly, haggling about the $55.2 billion budget the governor proposed in February could divide party progressives and moderates, especially over issues such as health insurance for noncitizen immigrants under 65, which the governor did not fund in his proposal.

The plan requires companies selling protective equipment containing PFAS to provide written notice of why the chemicals are added to the gear by the end of the year. Illinois could then ban people from selling any PPE containing forever chemicals to fire departments starting January 1, 2027.

This legislation could require baby food manufacturers to test their products for toxic heavy metals and clearly label how much of each toxic metal is found in their baby food. Manufacturers must also include a QR code for people to scan and find more information about the test results and FDA guidance about the health effects of toxic elements for children.

State law required permission from a family member to repair or replace a damaged headstone, but tracking down relatives for the aging headstones was difficult. With the help of state lawmakers, Staci Boyer, commander of the Judd Kendall VFW Post in Naperville, helped change Illinois law to give veterans’ organizations the authority to repair headstones that are at least 100 years old.