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Doctors would gain the ability to more easily learn patients’ end-of-life wishes under a measure advancing in Springfield.

Currently, doctors say it can sometimes be difficult for medical personnel to access those forms, especially if a patient is incapacitated or having an emergency away from their medical home.

“Regardless of what age you are, when you decide how you want your life to end, or when you have made your end-of-life decision, you want it to be upheld,” said state Sen.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to the Illinois House floor could help students and families better understand the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

The Illinois State Board of Education and Department of Public Health would be required to create informational resources about the disease and display the materials online.

Sponsors said many children and their families are unaware of the symptoms and treatment even though more than 30,000 children across the country have Type 1 diabetes.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House could soon vote on a plan to educate more drivers about vehicles transporting hazardous materials following the tragic accident in Teutopolis that killed five people and left 11 others injured last October.

Senate Bill 3406 would require the Secretary of State to include education on hazardous material placards in the Illinois Rules of the Road book students read during their driver education courses.

(The Center Square) – A child welfare bill was gutted just moments before going to the Illinois House floor and replaced with an omnibus election bill.

House sponsor of Senate Bill 2412, State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, said the bill does three things.

“It places three non-binding referendums on the General Election ballot, eliminates the slating process to place candidates on the ballot in certain circumstances and moves up petition deadlines by 28 days,” said Hoffman.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker said there’s enough Illinois taxpayer revenue for his proposed $52.7 billion budget. Republican budget negotiators question that with a month before the deadline.  

Pritzker said tax revenues are on track and that the big question is how the General Assembly prioritizes spending. He said he proposed a balanced budget. 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — High school students taking driver education courses may soon be required to learn about worker safety in highway construction zones.

State lawmakers believe future drivers should have the knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate construction zones with caution and respect to reduce the risk of accidents.

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The number of people who died in work zone crashes increased from 586 people in 2010 to 954 people in 2021, according to the National Safety Council.

* Click here for more background. The House just passed SB2412, that would put three questions on the statewide ballot. Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman added the referendum questions and several other provisions in an amendment earlier today. House Republicans held a press conference after it passed, Here’s Minority Leader Tony McCombie…

Thank you everybody for coming today, we really appreciate it.

(The Center Square) – Another bill has been introduced in Springfield dealing with end of life options for the terminally ill.

Illinois state Sen. Julie Morrison’s Senate Bill 2644 would establish a statewide electronic registry that would contain Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms, which detail what type of medical treatment a critically ill patient does and does not want.

* Crain’s…

A group of Jewish organizations that includes the the Anti-Defamation League Midwest are calling for Northwestern University President Michael Schill’s removal, saying he failed to prevent the spread of antisemitism on campus after agreeing to a deal with encampment protesters demanding the school end all ties with Israel.

In a joint press release, the ADL Midwest, StandWithUs and The Louis D.

Last September, Illinois embarked on a trailblazing journey toward justice by enacting the Pretrial Fairness Act, making it the first state in the nation to eliminate money bail. The law’s smooth and successful implementation has ensured that more people are now able to return to their communities while awaiting trial. That means more people are maintaining employment, housing and connections with loved ones, which makes us all safer.