The Latest Breaking News from JB Pritzker

First, they blew past a self-imposed deadline. Then there was scrambling behind the scenes, and grumbling over the exploding costs of health care for undocumented immigrants.

A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson told the Sun-Times that the new mayor, sworn into office May 15, is on board with the line of credit contract former Mayor Lightfoot signed on May 12, in the final days of her term.

The state Senate passed the budget late Thursday, sending it to the House. But completion of a final map of the districts of Chicago’s new elected school board was pushed even further into the future, as both chambers voted to give themselves more time to draw it up.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced agreement on a budget they said was balanced “without gimmicks.” Six hours later, Democrats filed the legislation, which must still pass both chambers before the governor can sign it.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration will be sending a newly created team of street outreach workers to Chicago neighborhoods during the Memorial Day weekend to help with the city’s violence prevention efforts.

A bill requiring public school districts in Illinois to establish full-day kindergarten within the next four years passed the state legislature Friday and awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s approval.

While failing to get a budget done by its self-imposed deadline, the Illinois General Assembly passed measures addressing issues ranging from abortion rights to full-day kindergarten during its spring session, which this week goes into overtime.

The General Assembly had planned to adjourn Friday, but Democratic leaders blew that self-imposed deadline. So lawmakers will return to Springfield on Wednesday to wrap up unfinished business, which includes the state budget and the elected school board map.

A Chicago tax on financial transactions, a proposal that’s been repeatedly floated from some progressives, is off the table in Springfield.

State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, told lawmakers that he would “beat the living p---” out of any man who walked into a restroom with his daughter. State Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford said GOP critics “don’t understand that life is evolving.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois public schools would be required to teach lessons on Midwestern Native American history beginning in the 2024-25 school year under a measure passed by state legislators that is expected to be signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.