Parents who rely on the state’s Child Care Assistance Program can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The program, which helps low-income parents pay for daycare while they work or attend school, ran out of money weeks ago, forcing parents to choose between work and their children’s well-being.

A state law, the first signed by Governor Rauner, closes the $1.6 billion budget gap that endangered the child care program. Funding for prison guards and court reporters was also running low, which could have endangered public safety and slowed the progress of the justice system.

Read more: Budget fix restores daycare, prison guard funding (AUDIO)

Last year, 18-year-old Logan Stiner of Ohio died from a caffeine powder overdose.

According to local reports, Stiner was found by his brother, collapsed on the floor of his home. The same day his brother found him, his mother discovered several bags of caffeine powder in their house.

The County Coroner’s report said that Stiner suffered cardia arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat and a seizure as a result of ingesting toxic amounts of caffeine.

Read more: Bertino-Tarrant strives to ban caffeine powder during Caffeine Awareness Month

A plan sponsored by state Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and backed by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is moving in the Senate. Dubbed the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill, the package is expected to create an average of 32,000 good-paying jobs per yearinvesting in solar power, wind energy and increased energy efficiency.

“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to protect the Earth. That means we have to use energy more efficiently and to start using more renewable energy,” Harmon said. “More immediately, we can create good jobs across the state. Illinois has tremendous potential to grow its solar and wind energy industries, training people for jobs that will be needed far into the foreseeable future.”

Read more: Renewable Energy plan clears Illinois Senate Committee

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois would become the fourth state to require paid sick time for employees under a proposal heard today in the Senate Executive Committee.

“Far too many Illinoisans are living paycheck to paycheck, unable to miss even one day of work,” sponsor State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “One illness, one accident or one emergency situation could mean choosing between their well-being or putting food on the table.”

Read more: Hutchinson makes the case for paid sick time

Each year, the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives, along with the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, host Youth Day. Juniors in high school from across Illinois come together to meet their legislators and spend the day touring Springfield landmarks.

Students get the opportunity to learn more about state government and gain a better understanding of what legislators do at the Capitol. They also get to meet legislators and ask them questions about their roles in government.

Youth Day ends with students being given the chance to compete for an all-expense-paid weeklong trip to Washington, D.C.

Read more: Students visit Capitol for Illinois Cooperative Youth Day (VIDEO)