Illinois just took a big step towards protecting the 0.2% of people allergic to sesame. On July 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB 2123, which mandates that any packaged foods indicate the presence of sesame on their labels. 

Around 150,000 children have an allergy to sesame, a study from Northwestern University shows. A proposal at the Illinois Statehouse could help parents and children avoid foods with the ingredient.

The ongoing series of mass shootings across the country prompted Illinois lawmakers to pass a number of measures in 2018 aimed at preventing such tragedies. One of those --- an expansion of a handgun-purchase waiting period to include all firearms --- is taking effect on January 1st.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner this week added sweeping changes to a piece of gun legislation, in a move some state legislators called “political gamesmanship” and “unconstitutional.” But the lawmaker behind the original bill isn’t backing down, announcing Wednesday he's asking the Illinois House to agree with those changes.

Illinois lawmakers Wednesday took a step closer to establishing state net neutrality rules before the federal regulations expire later this month.