With a new governor in office, Democratic lawmakers are charging ahead on legislation Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner blocked as he pursued his pro-business, union-weakening agenda. The Illinois House and Senate voted by wide margins this week to approve a bill that would raise the legal smoking age to 21.

The Illinois Department of Transportation was one among a variety of related local and state groups to talk about its funding needs for Illinois’ next major capital bill, which some lawmakers say they want by the end of the legislative session. These discussions took place in a House subcommittee on capital needs Thursday morning, one of many gatherings held recently where all industries relying on sound infrastructure in the nation’s central transportation hub could explain their requests to lawmakers.

A graduated income tax plan would raise taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year while cutting taxes for the 97 percent of Illinoisans who earn less than that, the Pritzker administration said Thursday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker also said he plan will provide more property tax relief for taxpayers and create a new $100-per-child tax credit as part of his package to have people with the state's highest incomes pay more while providing cuts to a majority of residents.