Texas House Democrats began returning to their state on Monday after spending two weeks in the Chicago area and other parts of the country to prevent the Republican majority in their legislature from passing a new gerrymandered congressional map aimed at eliminating five Democratic seats.

A bid to establish a ballot initiative in 2026 to reform the redistricting process for Illinois state legislative map-making has kicked off, led by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and ex-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Texas Democrats ended their walkout and returned as Republicans advance a redistricting plan that would likely create five new GOP congressional seats.

A truck driver from Texas is facing charges after a traffic stop netted 15 kilos of cocaine Saturday morning in Kankakee County.

Judge Scott Larson ruled that the Texas speaker and attorney general had “failed to present a legal basis for the court” to take up the issue.

Cindy Sanchez, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping two counts of child abduction and two counts of unlawful restraint, all felonies. She was taken to Kane County Jail where she is being held until her pre-trial hearing.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico received almost a familiar welcome as he delivered a rare politician-led sermon to the historic Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has openly welcomed the Texas lawmakers to stay here. He has also suggested that if Texas Republicans follow through with their redistricting plans, Democratic-led states like Illinois and California could retaliate by redrawing their own maps in favor of Democrats.