Gov. JB Pritzker’s office unveiled a 900-page energy overhaul bill Wednesday, accelerating a yearslong negotiating process which advocates hope will end in a comprehensive clean energy platform as the session nears its final month.

A neglected Department of Employment Security was suffering severe staffing shortages even before more than 2 million jobless claims swamped the agency during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

As much of the state braces for brutally cold weather over the next few days, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation today to make a wide variety of state resources available to help communities affected by approaching winter storms and record low temperatures.