Census delays could make redistricting a difficult process this year, but political leaders in Illinois say they are committed to fair legislative maps.

There’s also not much clarity on when they’ll be able to start drawing lines for legislative boundaries, but leaders discussing what they think is a “fair map.”

Every ten years, the country redraws political boundaries based on the ten-year Census.

Those numbers are expected to be late. Maps will be needed for the March 2022 primary election.

Daylight saving time is happening Sunday, but some Illinois state lawmakers are working to end this practice.

Seven bills have been filed in the Illinois House to keep The Land of Lincoln on either standard time or daylight saving time year-round.

“It’s something that I figured might be coming down the pipe and I figured I’d throw my marker out there,” said state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. “There is some research that goes both ways that shows time changes do have some health impacts. I think we need to do the research (before choosing an answer).”

There appears to be no end in sight to the avalanche of fraudulent unemployment filings in Illinois.

In the latest twist, the owner of a Northwest Side bridal shop called WGN Investigates after a stack of letters from the Illinois Department of Employment Security arrived at her business. The letters asked her to verify unemployment claims for 10 people.

On Monday, Feb. 22, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a criminal justice reform bill that makes Illinois the first state to eliminate cash bail. House Bill 3653 is a highly controversial piece of legislation that has sparked concern with local law enforcement throughout the state.

The bill is the result of several years of work by government officials, community advocates and lawmakers, and aims to move Illinois into a state that prioritizes public safety. According to lawmakers, eliminating cash bail will also rid the state of benefiting only the wealthy.

“This legislation marks a substantial step toward dismantling the systemic racism that plagues our communities, our state and our nation, and brings us closer to true safety, true fairness and true justice,” said Gov. Pritzker, in a briefing at Chicago State University.

With the cash bail policy set to go into effect in 2023, Illinois judges will then have the ability to allow defendants to go free before trial at the judges’ own discretion.

Pension reform is a favorite campaign refrain of candidates across party lines. But when it comes up signing up for their own state retirement benefits, few Illinois lawmakers say no.

Of the 177 legislators in the current Illinois General Assembly, 112 signed up for a pension through the optional state retirement system, including six who represent part of the Peoria area — four Republicans and two Democrats. The pension provides an average monthly benefit of $5,512 to retirees for life. Lawmakers are eligible to retire and take benefits at age 55 with eight years of service or at age 62 with four years.

Serving in the General Assembly came with a base salary of $69,464 in 2020 and is considered a nearly full-time job, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan legislative association. Others consider it part-time.