Illinois is poised to become the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana after lawmakers approved a massive 610-page proposal that is touted as one of the most equitable in the country. 

With teachers devoting much of their time to preparing students for standardized tests, penmanship has disappeared from the curriculum in many schools. A new state law approved Wednesday will bring it back, to ensure elementary students get instruction in cursive writing — sometime between 2nd and 5th grade.

The Illinois House has approved a plan to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour. But it faces an uphill climb to become law.

Illinois legislators are hoping to boost immigrant protections in response to President Donald Trump's executive orders, a move advocates say would essentially give the state "sanctuary" status. One proposal says schools, medical facilities and places of worship could bar access to federal immigration authorities or law enforcement working on their behalf.  A second proposal would limit cooperation between police and immigration authorities.

Half-a-dozen Democratic state representatives have sued the Illinois comptroller for holding up their paychecks during the state budget mess. On her last day in office, Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger called the legislators "cowards." Democrat Susanna Mendoza takes over Monday and has pledged to continue withholding paychecks.