Gov. J.B. Pritzker took the first step Thursday in fulfilling his touchstone campaign pledge of making the wealthy pay more in income taxes as the billionaire proposed a graduated income-tax structure that he said would generate $3.4 billion in new revenue for the financially-strapped state.

The Illinois General Assembly began a new legislative session Wednesday—with both new and familiar faces. Though the legislative leaders remain the same, making what was old “new” again,  Democrats have expanded their veto-proof majority, known as a “supermajority."

There was more movement in budget negotiations Tuesday in Springfield, where Illinois House Democrats introduced their own budget plan. But it will need Republican support, and the GOP House leader says Democrats are needlessly complicating the process with a new demand.

Twenty-seven protesters blocked access to Governor Bruce Rauner’s office at the state Capitol in Springfield Tuesday. They wanted the Republican governor and General Assembly Democrats to agree to a state budget

On the 21st: We heard highlights from a recent interview with Speaker Michael Madigan, and learned about how the state budget impasse is impacting a non-governmental organization that supports social service agencies across the state. We also talked about the science of sunscreen and met a chemistry graduate student who wants to raise awareness about scientists with disabilities.