Alexi Giannoulias

The public will vote on the finalists or a former flag beginning in January. From there, the results will be given to the Illinois General Assembly.

After examining submissions from the public, flag commission members will select 10 entries based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois. The state legislature will have the final say.

Matt Mitchell, a former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two Metro East sisters in 2007, abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges — for now.

Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office.

The Illinois Secretary of State's office will now offer the gender-neutral marker “X” as an option on IDs alongside “M” and “F” for male and female.

The bill, sponsored by Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, and Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, would allow Illinoisans to put electronic versions of their driver's licenses and IDs on their phones.

“The amount of no-shows has been devastating,” said llinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Each of the state’s 28 prisons will receive $15,000 for books, magazines and other supplies — the first time they’ve received public funding of any kind in six years.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the U.S. Senate panel that public libraries have become “thunderdomes of controversy and strife” across the country.

Six interagency law enforcement task forces, including the St. Clair County-based Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, received grant funding this spring to combat car thefts through an initiative of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office.