Illinois elementary schools and day care centers must test drinking water sources for lead and notify parents of the results under legislation signed into law Monday by Gov. Bruce Rauner. The plan for required one-time testing takes effect immediately and applies to schools with students up to grade 5 and facilities built before 2000.

Illinois lawmakers will meet in Springfield this week for the first time since the election, but things are already off to a rough start. Democratic leaders have rebuffed an invitation to meet with Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday, with House Speaker Michael Madigan claiming a "schedule conflict". 

In just a few years, one has transformed the Illinois Republican Party from a perennial also-ran into a serious contender. Bruce Rauner been an agenda-setter, a shot-caller, and a rainmaker. And his party’s true believers couldn’t be happier.

Democratic State Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana says Republican Governor Bruce Rauner continues to stick to reforms detailed in his 'Turnaround Agenda', as legislators debated budget measures in the last hours of their spring session May 31.  Ammons also refutes the comments of Republican counterparts that members of the majority party were fighting when debating a K-12 education funding plan that night.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has canceled Wednesday's scheduled Illinois House session so budget talks can continue.