Prairie State Wire

Governor JB Pritzker announced Atiera Coleman, Ph.D. will join his administration as Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Coleman is a distinguished social equity leader and scholar committed to creating more equitable environments within organizations. She will officially assume the role on July 17, 2023.

Duckworth, Durbin Join Sente Dem Caucus to Introduce Resolition Recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined their Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues to introduce a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month.

Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Purchased Care Review Board met May 2

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella | Jul 7, 2023

Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Purchased Care Review Board met Tuesday, May 2

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Striking Down Biden Administration’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan In Overreaching Decision

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling in Biden v. Nebraska.

Durbin, Graham Lead Bipartisan Judiciary Committee Letter To Mark Zuckerberg On Child Sexual Abuse Material On Instagram

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a bipartisan group of ten Judiciary Committee members in a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Meta, regarding recent reporting that Instagram’s algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority Northwest Region met June 6

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella | Jul 7, 2023

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority Northwest Region met Tuesday, June 6

51 people die from diabetes mellitus in Illinois during week ending July 1

There were 51 deaths from diabetes mellitus reported in Illinois in the week ending July 1, making up 2.6% of total deaths by all causes in Illinois.

Attorney General Raoul Reaches Settlement With Medical Staffing Agency Charging Employees Fees For Missing Work

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a settlement agreement that resolves an investigation by the Attorney General’s office and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) into a medical staffing company’s practice of deducting “booking fees” when workers missed shifts. Under the settlement, GrapeTree Medical Staffing, LLC (GrapeTree), agrees to pay approximately $950,000 in back wages and interest to around 3,000 current and former employees in Illinois.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Partnership with Metra to Restore Chicago-Rockford Passenger Rail Service

Governor JB Pritzker was joined today by state and local officials to announce a partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Metra to once again provide safe and reliable passenger rail between Chicago and Rockford, restoring service that was discontinued in 1981. The first trains are anticipated to start running by late 2027, offering efficient, economical travel with stops in between the two cities. The project is funded through $275 million from Gov. Pritzker's historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

73 people die from Alzheimer's disease in Illinois during week ending July 1

There were 73 deaths from Alzheimer's disease reported in Illinois in the week ending July 1, making up 3.8% of total deaths by all causes in Illinois.

Illinois: 27 people age 25 and younger are estimated to have died during week ending June 17

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 27 individuals under the age of 25 died during the week ending June 17.

Partnership aims to restore Chicago-Rockford passenger rail by 2027

Governor JB Pritzker announced a partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Metra to restore passenger rail service between Chicago and Rockford. This service, which was discontinued in 1981, is expected to resume by late 2027. The project is funded through $275 million from the Rebuild Illinois capital program.

Illinois's miscellaneous tax revenues up 5.6% in Q2 2023

Illinois collected $151 million in miscellaneous tax revenue during the second quarter of 2023, a 5.6% increase over the previous quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Providing Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants

Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3882 into law, which grants undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a standardized Illinois Driver's License. This will replace the current Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL) with a standard 4-year license that serves as a valid form of identification and remains compliant with the federal REAL ID Act.

Duckworth, Durbin Legislation Receive Positive Testimony at Senate Hearing

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for holding a hearing on two of their bills, the 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, and Roberts Temple National Historic Site Act.

Senate Passes Duckworth, Durbin Resolition Marking One Year Anniversary of July 4th Mass Shooting in Highland Park