John O'Connor
John O'Connor is a political writer for The Associated Press, covering state government, politics and features, with a focus on enterprise reporting. O'Connor is a veteran statehouse reporter in the Land of Lincoln, where he's covered the state legislature and other governmental matters for more than 25 years.
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The Illinois General Assembly has adopted a $53.1 billion state budget for the year that begins July 1, but it took the House until the break of dawn on Wednesday to get it done. -
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An annual study says Illinois schools are taking steps to weather an acute teacher shortage and lists improvements. The study Tuesday by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools shows 90% of schools have at least a serious shortage, struggle to find substitutes and face fewer than five candidates for open positions. The study said it's helped to have additional state funding and greater flexibility in hiring substitutes. Schools responding to the survey said long term, teachers should be offered more attractive pensions, student loan forgiveness and more college scholarships. They suggest a salary parity study with occupations requiring similar education and licensure. -
CASEY, Ill. (AP) — Former state Sen. Darren Bailey is challenging five-term Rep. Mike Bost in the March 19 Republican primary for Illinois' 12th District. Bailey had former President Donald Trump's endorsement when he was the 2022 GOP nominee for governor. But in this race, Trump chose Bost. It's a race to win the hearts and minds of true Trump conservatives. -
Access to abortion is essentially locked down in Illinois. But Democrats are looking for ways to further protect the practice and its availability, including to outsiders who potentially face home-state penalties for seeking treatment here.
