Under the Dome

Springfield had debated for months on what should become of a downtown block that once contained a YWCA. Now, under a proposed lease, the governor would have to sign off on certain types of future development on the land. Is this right? Also, Illinois' terrible roads are cost drivers thousands each year in repairs costs and wasted gasoline. We discuss a new report on that topic.

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The Under the Dome Podcast crew breaks down Tuesday's primary election, including the governor's race, which is now a battle between J.B. Pritzker and Gov. Bruce Rauner in what's expected to become the most expensive governor's race in U.S. history.

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SJ-R political writer Bernard Schoenburg explains his predictions (not endorsements!) for Tuesday's primary election.

On this week's episode of Under the Dome, talk about gun control was front and center once again at the Illinois Statehouse this week as Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a gun bill, senators passed other gun bills and lawmakers followed the lead of students throughout the country and conducted a walkout to call attention to the issue.

Plus, we're just days away from the March 20 primary election. We cover what the candidates for governor are doing and saying in these final days of campaigning.

This week on the Under the Dome Podcast, we cover state Comptroller Susana Mendoza's effort to highlight the "off-shoring" of the governor's staff and the latest on the campaign trail. And our podcast crew recites their favorite lines from the state's favorite movie, "The Blues Brothers."

On this week's action-packed episode of Under the Dome:

* Gun control: Lawmakers debated bill inside the Capitol and hundreds rallied in support outside this week.

* Should kids under 12 be allowed to play organized tackle football? A bill at the Statehouse says no.

* Some in Illinois want to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. We don't have a bill about that yet. But we do have a bill that would put a question on the November ballot to get voters' opinions.

* Mark Janus, the state worker who is fighting AFSCME over whether he should be forced to pay fair-share union dues, was in D.C. this week as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case.

In wake of the tragic school shooting in Florida, gun control talk is beginning to re-emerge in the Illinois Capitol. Plus, we review last night's debate in Springfield featuring the Democratic candidates for governor. And we also talk about the state's ongoing challenges of dealing with Legionnaires disease at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy. All this and more on this week's episode of Under the Dome, powered by The State Journal-Register.

The following recording is Gov. Bruce Rauner telling a story about visiting a state agency office that lacked computers. In the first part of this clip, he tells the story while appearing at a Citizens Club of Springfield meeting in April 2015.

Later in this clip, you’ll hear the governor telling the story again three years later, this time at an Illinois Bankers Assocation event in Springfield on Feb. 7, 2018.

In both cases, the governor’s office will not confirm what agency Rauner was talking about.

Read more in Bernard Schoenburg's column at http://bit.ly/2EPnS5Q.

This week on Under the Dome, we take a closer look at Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget address and the criticism that has followed. Plus, we talk about the allegations of sexual harassment in state government that surfaced again this week when a Democratic campaign staff member, Alaina Hampton (pictured), presented evidence that a supervisor, Kevin Quinn, harassed her.

Gov. Bruce Rauner made remarks at the Sangamon County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Bank of Springfield Center on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018.