(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation yesterday creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development. The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool programs, child care centers, and the licensing of day care centers. While the Governor says the streamlined agency will make it easier for new parents to access critical services for their children, opponents against the move say it will simply cost taxpayers more money.
(SPRINGFIELD) Awaiting on the Governor’s desk, ready to be signed, is Senate Bill 1400, which seeks to improve discipline procedures by creating statewide guidelines for school districts throughout Illinois. Sponsors of the bill say it’s an initiative of the Illinois Education Association, tasking the Illinois State Board of Education to team up with experts to create standards surrounding disciplinary actions like expulsion & suspension. The bill removes a current provision within the law that allows districts to immediately transfer a student to an alternative school if that student has been suspended for 20 days or more. Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign the Democratic-sponsored bill into law.
(CHICAGO) Construction workers are transforming the United Center from a sports and concert venue into the Democratic National Convention Hall. Beginning August 19th, the Windy City will host more than 50,000 visitors, including 5,000 delegates, 12,000 volunteers, and 15,000 members of the media. Chicago will host the DNC for the first time since 1996.
(CHICAGO) Ironically, just over a year after its debut, the Titanic exhibit at the Volo Museum in Lake County was inundated with water over this past weekend. The flooding forced the closure of the entire museum as quick action by staff members save many historic items. Museum officials say the source of the water is still a “total mystery” as the investigation into the flooding continues through all of this week. So far, there’s no answer.