Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* We told you earlier today that House Speaker Chris Welch has been promoting a tax on millionaires. It’s just a bill, and in another state, but here’s Axios…

The Washington state Senate passed an income tax on millionaires Monday, sending the proposal to the state House for further debate. […]

The millionaire tax bill, which cleared the Senate on a 27-22 vote, would take effect in 2028, applying a 9.9% tax to gross annual income above $1 million.

It is expected to raise more than $3.5 billion per year. Supporters estimate it would affect about 20,000 taxpayers statewide — less than 1% of Washington households.

Most of the revenue would bolster the state’s general fund, which faces a long-term shortfall.

Some would go toward tax relief, including lowering taxes on small businesses and eliminating the sales tax on hygiene products such as deodorant and shampoo.

A portion would help expand the state’s Working Families Tax Credit, which provides tax rebates for low- to moderate-income families.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Juliana Stratton’s $25-per-hour minimum wage plan draws fire from rivals in US Senate race in Illinois: In the hourlong debate hosted by Fox WFLD-Ch. 32 Chicago on Monday night, U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly of Lynwood and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg said they supported a phased-in minimum wage increase but chided Stratton for claiming her plan was “bold” when they thought it would never pass Congress. Stratton, the two-term lieutenant governor to Gov. JB Pritzker, has voiced support for increasing the $7.25-per-hour federal minimum wage to $25 per hour while Krishnamoorthi and Kelly favor a plan backed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont that would increase the base federal wage to $17 an hour by 2030.

* Press release | State Senator Napoleon Harris & Thornton Township Democrats Endorse Raja Krishnamoorthi for U.S. Senate: “Congressman Raja works tirelessly for the benefit of his constituents, and I know that in the U.S. Senate, he will bring that same work ethic to the entire state of Illinois,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris, Thornton Township Supervisor and Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman. “Raja brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing Illinois families and the courage to tackle them head‑on. He listens, he does the work, and he delivers — whether it’s on jobs, public safety, or expanding opportunity for every community. I’m proud to endorse his bid to be the next U.S. Senator from Illinois, and I look forward to working closely with him to deliver results for the communities here in Thornton Township and the residents of the 15th legislative district.”

* Greg Hinz | Huge super-PAC money taking control of Chicago congressional races: According to Federal Election Commission disclosures — thanks to political consultant and analyst Frank Calabrese for compiling the data — ECW had spent $1.27 million as of Feb. 12 on behalf of 9th District candidate Laura Fine, and $1.27 million to promote former Rep. Melissa Bean, who is trying to regain the seat she once held that now is being vacated by Senate hopeful Raja Krishnmoorthi. Both districts are on the northwestern parts of the Chicago area. FEC disclosure also show ACN so far is in for $816,00 on behalf of candidate Donna Miller in the South Side and south suburban 2nd District. That comes up to $4.06 million. Those figures dwarf what almost all of the candidates have been able to raise on their own. Still, officials from AIPAC and the super-PACs, both here and in Washington, declined comment or failed to respond to requests for comment. Moreover, using a loophole in the law that Kaplan referenced, ECW and ACN so far haven’t disclosed who gave them the money they spent on the candidates. We may get some listing down the road, but meanwhile thousands of people already are voting every day via mail and early ballots.

* Vox…

I asked IL Gov. @JBPritzker if we should take his recent weight loss as a sign he’s running for president (or on GLP 1s). Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/NITeehli7y

— Astead (@AsteadWH) February 17, 2026

*** Statehouse News ***

* Sun-Times | Rev. Jesse Jackson paved the way for generations of Democrats in Chicago, top Illinois Democrats say: “His delegates wanted him to take the fight to the floor to be the vice president,” remembered Chicago political strategist Delmarie Cobb, a top adviser on Jackson’s ‘88 run. “And Jesse Jackson told them, ‘No, we’re not going to do that. We’re going to use our leverage to get some changes, and we’re going to change the rules.  We’re going to change the platform, and we’re going to expand the party.’ And so that’s what he did.” Jackson’s electoral success in New York preceded the election of New York City’s first Black mayor, David Dinkins. Jackson, who died Tuesday at the age of 84, also won Virginia, which soon elected its first Black governor, Douglas Wilder.

* Capitol News Illinois | Bears stadium package has ‘positive momentum’ in Springfield, but not in end zone : The bill was recently kicked out of the gatekeeping House Rules committee to the House Revenue Committee, which has a hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. But it remains unclear if the bill will be called while negotiations continue.

* IPM News | Illinois Democrats and Republicans introduce competing packages to regulate data centers amid concerns over power and water usage: Democrats and environmental advocates introduced a broad regulatory framework under a bill called the POWER Act. A Senate Republican filed a competing package that would limit data center activity around the Mahomet Aquifer and, in an attempt to lower electricity costs, rein in a recent energy bill Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in January.

* WCIA | Illinois bill would require service providers to give customers 2-hour notice before arrival: Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) filed SB 3066, requiring service providers to give customers a two-hour appointment window. If the company fails to arrive in the appointment window, they are then required to notify the consumer an hour before they make it to the residence.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Convenient ordering option or ‘sidewalk hog’? Food delivery robots get mixed reception in Chicago.: Josh Robertson, a Lincoln Park resident who organized NoSidewalkBots.org, has garnered more than 3,300 online petition signatures in an effort to keep the delivery robots from taking over the pedestrian pathways in Chicago. “Our sidewalks are a precious resource, but it’s so easy to take them for granted,” Robertson said. “We have reason to think that there’s a ripple effect, that the public way itself is less safe, more chaotic with the robots than without.”

* Block Club | Windy City Bird Lab Gets A Boost From Illinois Audubon Society That’ll Fund It For 3 Years: Here, all kinds of bird-related programs and projects can grow and operate under one roof. Those efforts received a big boost this month when the Illinois Audubon Society pledged $384,000 to help fund the lab for three years. That’ll help it expand its reach of bird-related programs for Chicagoans, from long-time birders to people who are merely bird-curious. “It is really about enabling people with all sorts of skills and interests to be able to contribute to conservation science, or bird science,” Garcia said.

* NBC Chicago | Bruce Springsteen announces new tour with Chicago date this spring: Springsteen, who has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s administration and of immigration enforcement actions, said that the tour is meant to inspire hope around the U.S. “We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair. The calvary is coming,” he said in a social media video. […] Springsteen and the E-Street Band will make a stop at Chicago’s United Center on April 29, according to his website.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Northbrook small business joins national campaign against tariffs: Sari Wiaz founded Baby Paper, a manufacturer and distributor of baby products, around 2009. Its goods are sold by about 700 specialty retailers in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as online at Walmart, Amazon and Buy Buy Baby. Wiaz felt the impact of tariffs immediately last spring. She had to pay 30% to 54% more for products, depending on when shipments arrived at U.S. ports. Wiaz has since raised prices 10% to 20% to cover higher costs. “It’s also trying to predict whether the tariffs will go up or go down and when to bring product in,” she said.

* Crain’s | Ikea to open Gurnee store, its third in Chicago area, in U.S. expansion push: The Chicago area will be getting its third Ikea retail outlet this year when the Swedish retail giant opens a new store in the Gurnee Mills mall in the region’s far northern suburb. The upcoming 66,000-square-foot store is part of the Swedish retailer’s U.S. expansion plan, which includes 10 new stores spreading from California to Washington, D.C., set to open in 2026, according to a press release today.

* Tribune | Oak Park’s Emery Lehman — in 4th and final Olympics — and Glen Ellyn’s Ethan Cepuran get silver in team pursuit: Second place was not what they anticipated after years of training together and rising to the top of their sport. It wasn’t what they expected after setting a world record in team pursuit in 2024 and then breaking it, by a little more than a second, in November in another memorable performance at the Speedskating World Cup in Salt Lake City. “I don’t think it’s really something that needs to be said,” Lehman said last month, at the U.S. Speedskating Olympic trials in Milwaukee, of the goal of winning gold in team pursuit. His coach reminded him and his teammates of the stakes often, Lehman said, “but between the three of us, it’s just something that’s understood.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Well before sunrise on Fat Tuesday, Paczki lovers pack Harner’s in North Aurora: ‘It’s like forbidden fruit’: “I came at 5 this morning to buy my usual boxes of Paczki. I come this early because there’s no traffic,” said Dave Nussle of Big Rock at Harner’s Bakery and Restaurant on Tuesday. “We ordered these about two weeks ago. They’re all for family. I’ve been coming down here from Big Rock as long as they’ve been doing it.” Harner’s at 10 W. State St. in North Aurora lured in its usual big crowd for Fat Tuesday looking to buy Paczki – the popular Polish pastry – with sales beginning more than half an hour before the bakery was expected to open at 5:30 a.m.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Normal renews contract with goal of reducing utility bills: The council also approved a measure to allow the execution of contracts with the alternative energy supplier that Stone River Group finds for the town. Most recently, the town contracted with Constellation NewEnergy for a 12-month fixed rate of 0.10899 per kilowatt hour. […] Before the new contract takes effect, all eligible customers will receive opt-out letters from the chosen electricity supplier. Customers, both residential and commercial, will be automatically enrolled in the new aggregation program if the letters are not returned.

* WCIA | Champaign Co. executive order makes new requirements for federal immigration enforcement: A new executive order in Champaign County will subject federal immigration officers to two requirements if they enter county property for enforcement. The executive order, signed by County Executive Scott Summers, requires that a judicial warrant be presented to the Executive’s security and/or reception office. It also requires officers to remove any face coverings and to ensure “continuous visibility” of their badges. Summers said in the order that concerns among county residents was one reason behind this order.

* 25News Now | Too many kids leave PPS without learning the basics, say 2 school board hopefuls: The two candidates running for Peoria Public Schools, representing the central portion of the district, believe PPS is at a turning point, facing academic struggles, leadership changes, and questions about transparency. District 2 candidates David Daye and Andres “Andy” Diaz say too many students are leaving District 150 without the critical reading, writing, or math skills.

* WSIL | Herrin Tiger Sharks Swim Team Raising $80K to Save Community Pool: Head coach Jonathan Kraus said the pool’s filter system requires $80,000 in repairs to operate this summer. If the funds are not raised by the end of February, the pool might not open in time for the swim season. The swim team serves about 100 young athletes each year, ranging from ages 5 to 18. Kraus emphasized the pool’s importance as a community hub during summer. “My earliest memories of playing outside that pool while my older siblings were swimming and then the next year I was on the team when we came back here,” Kraus said.

*** National ***

* AP | Trump is recruiting thousands of local officers to aid immigration effort. Some states are saying no: Laws banning cooperative agreements with ICE were signed earlier this month in New Mexico and took effect last month in Maine. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also is backing legislation that would ban local law officers from being deputized by ICE. And Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently terminated state ICE agreements signed under her Republican predecessor, though her order didn’t cancel existing arrangements with local sheriffs.

* 404 Media | ‘Students Are Being Treated Like Guinea Pigs:’ Inside an AI-Powered Private School: Alpha School has earned fawning coverage from Fox News and The New York Times and received praise from Linda McMahon, the Trump-appointed Secretary of Education, for using generative AI to chart the future of education. But samples of poorly constructed AI-generated lessons that I have viewed present students with unclear wording and illogical choices in multiple choice questions. “These questions not only fail to meet SAT standards but also fall short of the quality we promise to deliver,” one employee wrote in the company’s Workflowy, a company-wide note taking app where every employee can see what other employees are working on, including their progress and thoughts on various projects. “From a student’s perspective, when answer options don’t logically fit the question, it feels like a betrayal of their effort to learn and succeed. How can we expect students to trust our assessments when the very questions meant to test their knowledge are flawed?”

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Heidner spokesperson says candidate will divest gaming interests if elected

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner in January…

I’m in a regulated business. You know, I’ve got, we’ve got four major businesses as a family, and the biggest businesses is my Gold Rush business and and it’s regulated, by the way, you know, the governor is my regulator. So this, this is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

From Gold Rush Gaming’s website…

Gold Rush Gaming offers world class games from some of the best vendors in the industry. We offer the latest and greatest in video gaming technology to our locations. The Gold Rush team works with each partner to guide, recommend, and provide VGT machines that perform best in their specific market. Gold Rush Gaming works with Scientific Games, Bally, IGT, WMS, Spielo, Novomatic, Aristocrat, Light and Wonder, and the m3t Terminal.

* So, the obvious question here is, if, as Heidner says, the governor is his “regulator,” then what would Heidner do about that obvious conflict of interest if he is actually elected governor? Nobody else who has interviewed him asked that question, so Isabel did. From his spokesperson…

Rick is going to personally divest himself of the gaming since it would be a conflict of interest.

The devil will be in the details, of course. But at least that’s the start of an answer. And, of course, he has to make it through two campaigns first.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Rev. Jesse Jackson

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Sun-Times…

“I may be poor …” began the call-and-response Rev. Jesse Jackson led in various forms before rapt audiences for more than half a century. “But I am … somebody! I may be on welfare. But I am … somebody! I may be in jail. But I am … somebody! I may be uneducated, But I am … somebody. I am Black. Beautiful. Proud. I must be respected. I must be protected. I am … somebody!”

That, in essence, is the message Rev. Jackson devoted his life to championing — for Black people in general and himself in particular. From leading Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s open housing campaign in Chicago in 1964, through his close association with the great civil rights leader during the last three years of King’s life, to the tumultuous 1970s, when Jackson started what became the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, to the 1980s, when he ran the first viable presidential campaign by a Black candidate in the United States, to the 1990s, when he traveled the globe, to free hostages, advise leaders, join picket lines and lend his internationally famous name to often desperate causes. To his later years, when he settled into the role as a revered elder statesman of Black Chicago and an unceasing voice for social justice.

Rev. Jackson died at age 84 on Tuesday, his family said in a statement. He had been in declining health for a decade; in 2017 he announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years earlier, but last April revealed that it was actually misdiagnosed progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition also affecting bodily movements. He stepped down as president of PUSH in July 2023, citing health concerns. Rev. Jackson appeared onstage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 2024, when he was presented to the crowd after a video celebrating his life, but did not speak.

If the legend of his mentor, Martin Luther King was simplified, almost beatified, by early death — a martyr at 39, an icon who had a dream — then the legacy of his eager protege was complicated by long life. Rev. Jesse Jackson was in the public eye for six decades, a tireless wielder of social pressure. He was respected and dismissed, inspiring adoration and disdain, a Chicago institution who left footprints on the world stage, an ardent advocate for civil rights whose attempts to wield political power himself were thwarted, and channeled into the power of protest, persuasion and complaint.

* Governor JB Pritzker…

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a giant of the civil rights movement.

He broke down barriers, inspired generations, and kept hope alive. Our state, nation, and world are better due to his years of service.

I’m ordering flags to half-mast to honor him.

May his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/f5wt6QGkjW

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 17, 2026

* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…

“Rev. Jackson had an impact on my life since I was a young boy, growing up a block away from PUSH headquarters. The words ‘I am somebody!’ resonated with me, giving hope of what I may one day achieve by way of service to others. As I raised my kids a block away from the PUSH headquarters, I brought them to PUSH when they were young to hear the same words. He was always a strong advocate for Haiti and challenged me to be the same. He never hesitated to call to challenge me, unapologetically, to do better in my service to others. I am a better public servant because of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Rest, Reverend; you have earned your peace.”

* Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs…

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jackson rose from the shackles of Jim Crow in Greenville, South Carolina, to become an international icon. He walked alongside the greatest figures of the 20th Century, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., but Rev. Jackson stood in the shadow of no one. He always forged his own path.

“Rev. Jackson was a gifted athlete, orator, and leader, who channeled his strengths and gifts to fight on behalf of others. He marched in Montgomery, lent his talents to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and created Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow/Push Coalition.

“From his base on Chicago’s South Side, Rev. Jackson mentored local activists and counseled national leaders. He stood tall in the face of his critics, understood his own humanity, and offered grace and humility to all who sought his comfort.

“He was a man of deep faith who understood and practiced the delicate balance of tending his flock while fighting the wolves who sought to destroy it.

“In doing so, Rev. Jackson knew the fight between the haves and the have-nots would exceed his time on earth and he worked to ensure that others would be ready to carry forward the mantle of fairness, opportunity, and respect. Rev. Jackson will not be replaced, but his legacy, vision, and courage will inspire leaders for generations to come. I wish strength and comfort to all who mourn this loss.”

* Comptroller Susana Mendoza…

A giant has passed. Let us all be grateful for the time we had with Rev, Jesse Jackson and for his many contributions to the world. He was an iconic champion of civil rights who challenged all of us to do more; a wonderful father; a loving husband; a skilled orator; a shrewd… pic.twitter.com/hdlkbQRilU

— Susana A. Mendoza ☮️ (@susanamendoza10) February 17, 2026

* Senate President Don Harmon…

“The Rev. Jackson was a hero, a champion, a rabble-rouser and a front-row participant to history. He spent his life challenging the status quo, fighting for underdogs and pushing society forward toward justice and equality. We are all indeed better because of his work and commitment. We can honor his legacy by keeping the fight alive and always seeking that better tomorrow. May he forever rest in peace.”

* House Speaker Chris Welch…

I am heartbroken by the passing of my friend, mentor, and giant of the movement, the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr..**

Rev. Jackson was more than a civil rights icon — he was a builder of hope. Through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he turned pain into purpose and protest into… pic.twitter.com/2Y1yuNxm76

— Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (@SpeakerWelchIL) February 17, 2026

* Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson…

I am devastated to lose my mentor and friend, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. My heart and prayers are with his devoted family- his wife Jacqueline, their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef and Jackie, daughter Ashley Jackson, and their dear grandchildren.

We honor him, and his hard-earned legacy as a freedom fighter, philosopher, and faithful shepherd of his family and community here in Chicago. I am personally grateful for Rev. Jackson and his family embracing me and our city with his wisdom and guidance. His friendship, counsel and prayers had a deep impact on my family.

In honor of Rev. Jackson’s service, and as our city mourns, the Chicago flag will lower to half-staff. We thank all of the Chicagoans who served as volunteers in Rev. Jackson’s organization, providing decades of mutual aid throughout Chicago.

We know his message of justice and empowerment reverberated worldwide, as the leader of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Operation Bread Basket. Reverend Jackson’s unwavering courage extends beyond his notable civil rights leadership with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he lent his support to countless humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. Rev. Jackson served as the first executive director of Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) here in Chicago and as an international human rights advocate and spiritual advisor to world leaders.

Rev. Jackson’s mission always centered the strength and liberation of our Black community, but his mission always extended to all who needed empowerment by cultivating a rainbow of power that could shine through every storm. Rev. Jackson intimately understood what was at stake in affirming the humanity of working people. He never lost sight that those fighting for justice are entitled to the most basic needs of health and nutrition, housing, education, and jobs in order to achieve their greatest potential. Rev. Jackson held strong to this truth that we all are “somebody.” He preached that the flame of hope exists in all of us and it is our power and responsibility to unify that flame amongst our neighbors to improve our present conditions and secure a future where we can all thrive.

As we lift up his life and wrap our arms around his family and all those who loved him, I ask you to anchor your hope in action to honor Rev. Jackson’s enduring contributions. He believed in you, and found hope in humanity. Do something today to keep hope alive.

* Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford…

“Today, Illinois and the world mourn the loss of one of the greatest champions for justice and human dignity this nation has ever produced. The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. was a moral force, a prophetic voice and a living bridge between the movement that freed us and the work that still remains.

“I had the privilege of working alongside Reverend Jackson. I remember the way he looked you in the eye and made you feel as though the entire weight of the struggle was yours to carry — not as a burden, but as an honor. That encounter never left me. It shaped the kind of public servant I strive to be.

“To the entire Jackson family: the people of Illinois grieve with you. You shared him with the world, and the world is better for it.

“May we honor his memory not with monuments, but with motion — continuing the fight for voting rights, economic justice and the full dignity of every human being. Rest in power, Reverend. The work goes on.”

…Adding… Senate Republican Leader John Curran…

“I am saddened to hear of the passing of the civil rights, faith, and Illinois leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jesse Jackson dedicated his life and career to fighting for justice and civil rights here in Illinois, and throughout the nation. I am praying for his family and all who knew and were inspired by him during this time of loss.”

…Adding… Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton…

Today we lost a powerful voice for a better tomorrow—my friend, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. pic.twitter.com/aATJEGlIcj

— Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (@LtGovStratton) February 17, 2026

…Adding… CFL…

The following is a statement from Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter regarding the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr:

“With the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Chicago has lost an icon. But we know the impact of his life’s work and legacy will span generations.

“Rev. Jackson was a steadfast ally to working families. A fierce advocate for economic justice who was no stranger to a picket line, he personified the fighting spirit of our city.

“The opportunity to work so closely with an icon of the Civil Rights Movement is not lost on me. Rev. Jackson was an inspirational leader from the pulpit, but also in action. A literal and figurative giant, I am honored to have called him a friend.

“Chicago’s labor movement extends our condolences and sympathy to Rev. Jackson’s family, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and all those across the world mourning this immense loss.”

* Rep. Kifowit…

tate Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D–Oswego), a United States Marine Corps veteran, issued the following statement on the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson:

“The passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson is a sadness that will be felt not only across our nation, but throughout the world. His power of prayer and unwavering dedication to justice and fairness extended far beyond our borders and touched generations of Americans.

Rev. Jackson was a true champion for people and communities too often left unheard. He never backed down from the fight for justice, equality, and human dignity, and his courage and moral leadership helped shape the course of our country’s history.

My thoughts are with Rev. Jackson’s family, loved ones, and the many communities across our country who mourn this profound loss. May we honor his life not only with remembrance, but with action.”

* Former Senate President Emil Jones…

Statement from Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. on the Life and Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.

February 17, 2026 – Chicago, IL Today, we reflect on the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. — a son of Chicago who became a voice for the voiceless across America and around the world.

I have known Reverend Jackson not just as a public figure, but as a fighter — a man who never backed down from the struggle for justice. From the streets of Chicago, across America and on to the global stage, Reverend Jackson carried one consistent message: that justice must be for everybody, not just for some.

In Chicago, he gave hope to neighborhoods that too often felt forgotten. He organized. He marched. He demanded opportunity where there was exclusion. Through Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, he built bridges between races and religions showing that we are strongest when we stand together.

For our state and our nation, Reverend Jackson redefined what political participation could look like. His historic presidential campaigns were not simply about winning office — they were about expanding the table of democracy. He inspired millions to believe that their voice and vote mattered.
And around the world, he stood as a moral diplomat — advocating for peace, negotiating the release of hostages, and speaking out against injustice wherever it showed its face. Few leaders from Chicago have left fingerprints on global affairs the way Jesse has.

He taught black people that civil rights without economic rights is an incomplete promise. His life’s work changed laws, opened doors, and most importantly, changed minds.

Chicago will forever claim him as one of our own. The country will remember him as a conscience for America. And the world will recognize him as a champion of human dignity.

As someone who served alongside him in the ongoing struggle for fairness and opportunity, I can say without hesitation: Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. did not just participate in history — he helped shape it.

May we honor his legacy not just with words, but with continued action.

* DPI…

n reaction to the passing of political leader and civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez shared the following:

“For generations, Reverend Jackson shaped political and civic life in our state. He ran presidential campaigns that redefined the Democratic Party, stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and still, kept Chicago home to his life’s work. From the South Side, he built Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition into real organizing power because he believed in civic participation and in the responsibility to use your voice.

What many of us will remember him for is his love and fight for Black Americans, for children, and for anyone who was underserved and overlooked. He fought for jobs, pushed for fair access to opportunity and education, and demanded investment in Black communities. He reminded working people that they, and their quality of life, were important.

Illinois Democrats continue the work he pushed forward. Our commitment to working families, voting rights, and building our coalition across this state is part of the legacy he leaves behind.

We extend our condolences to Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson, their children and grandchildren, and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition community. Reverend Jackson’s impact is part of Illinois history and will continue in the leaders and communities he helped shape.”

* Chuy…

Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson:
“Today, our country has lost a beacon of civil rights and a champion for equality. As a longtime friend to Reverend Jesse Jackson and his family the news of his passing is profoundly sad to me.

“Throughout his life, Reverend Jackson fearlessly advocated for the rights and dignity of working class communities, serving as a beacon of hope for millions.

“His presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 were transformational, not only for our brothers and sisters in the Black community, but for all Americans who believe in a more inclusive society. I was proud to be a Jackson Delegate at both Democratic conventions, representing Illinois. His speech in 1988 deeply inspired me to never surrender in our pursuit of justice.

“Reverend Jackson taught us many lessons, among them, that political participation is vital to improving community conditions.

“He inspired countless individuals, particularly in communities of color, to exercise their right to vote and dedicated his life to ensure every voice is heard and every vote is counted.

“I have no doubt that his relentless pursuit of a multiracial alliance through the Rainbow Coalition played a crucial role in the election of our friend Harold Washington in 1983 as the first Black mayor of Chicago.

“Reverend Jackson’s unwavering commitment to equality and justice has left an indelible mark not only on Chicago’s history but also our nation’s history. My thoughts are with his wife Jackie, and his children Ashley, Jesse Jr., and my dear colleague Jonathan. Rest in power, my friend.”

…Adding… Illinois Federation of Labor…

The Illinois labor movement mourns the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in Illinois and Chicago politics whose lifelong commitment to the labor and civil rights movements leaves an enduring legacy.

Throughout his life, Rev. Jackson fought tirelessly for working people in Chicago, across Illinois, and throughout the country. He walked picket lines, stood with workers at the bargaining table, and championed the inclusion of women and people of color in the protections and promise of union membership. He reminded us that the fight for good jobs, living wages, and the right to organize is inseparable from the broader struggle for justice and equality.

In his speech, “From A Tradition of Marching for Jobs and Rights,” delivered during his 1988 Presidential bid, Jackson said: “the American worker is not asking for welfare, he’s asking for a fair share—not for charity but for parity.”

Rev. Jackson’s words continue to resonate today, and we owe him our gratitude for his years of advocacy and fighting for a better world. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jackson family, and all those who are mourning this profound loss.

Together, we can honor his life by carrying forward his work as we fight for equality, fairness, dignity, and respect in every workplace.

16 Comments

It’s just a bill (Updated)

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know much more. Center Square…

A controversial abortion proposal from State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, is drawing sharp reactions across Illinois, exposing divisions among Republicans and advocacy groups over how far the state’s pro-life movement should go.

Anderson’s bill, SB3572, would treat harm to or the death of an unborn child the same as that of a born person under Illinois homicide and assault laws, applying the same criminal standards and potentially allowing murder charges, at a prosecutor’s discretion.

The Illinois Family Institute supports the bill, with executive director David Smith saying it reflects the belief that life begins at conception and deserves full legal protection. […]

Some Republicans don’t agree. Former Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore publicly criticized the bill, calling it extreme and warning it could damage broader pro-life efforts.

…Adding… Darren Bailey wants Anderson to pull the bill…

Former State Senator and candidate for Governor, Darren Bailey, is issuing the following statement on Senate Bill 3572.

“When women and families are facing a crisis, they need understanding, support, and real help, not the threat of jail time. Criminalizing women in these situations doesn’t solve problems, it deepens hurt and pushes people away from the alternatives and support that could help them.

We should be leading with compassion and practical solutions that strengthen families and build trust. I am pro-life, but I believe we also have to face reality: approaches like this pull people away and make it harder to move Illinois forward. I urge Senator Neil Anderson to pull this legislation.”

Another bill from Sen. Anderson, SB 3892, would reinstate the death penalty for first-degree murder and other offenses. Combined with his abortion legislation, the proposals could subject women who receive abortions, as well as those who assist or perform them, to capital punishment. Sen. Anderson is the sole sponsor of both bills. [From Rich: The same punishments would also apply to IVF procedures.]

…Adding… Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett)…

“Every legislator has the right to file legislation they believe aligns with the priorities in their districts, but as a lawmaker, I have a responsibility to evaluate bills and support the positions of my constituents. I have read the full text of Senate Bill 3572, and believe the penalties offered in this bill are too extreme. They do not provide adequate protections, guardrails, and empathy for victims and women making one of the most difficult choices of their lives.”

* CBS Chicago…

Action in Springfield this week could jumpstart the seemingly stalled negotiations between the Chicago Bears and Illinois state lawmakers on a deal to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

Legislation that would allow the Bears — or developers of any other Illinois project costing at least $500 million — to negotiate their property taxes with local governments is set for its first public hearing on Thursday, just as competition from Indiana heats up.

The hearing on House Bill 2789, which the Bears have said is vital to their plans to build in Arlington Heights, comes three years after the team bought the 326-acre site of the former Arlington Park racetrack for $197 million.

Known as the Mega Project Assessment Freeze and Payment Law, the legislation would essentially allow the Bears to work with local governments to lock in how much the team would pay in property taxes for the site for years to come.

More from the Daily Herald…

[T]alks are happening now almost daily, according to Rep. Mary Beth Canty, the Arlington Heights Democrat who is sponsor of the Bears-backed legislation.

“You are definitely seeing positive signs of movement,” said Canty, whose 54th District includes the 326-acre shuttered racecourse property. “You’re seeing people that are moving with a purpose. They are moving quickly, but still in a way that is smart and methodical.” […]

Canty said Thursday seems “soon” for a vote at the committee level, considering the still-ongoing negotiations taking place behind the scenes. But public discussion by legislators and testimony from witnesses is likely, and more committee hearings can be scheduled, she added.

Canty said she would be surprised if the Bears stadium isn’t a topic during the governor’s address Wednesday.

Rep. Canty said this morning she has not yet spoken with committee chair Rep. Curtis Tarver about calling the bill, but said they are expected to connect in person today. Rep. Tarver did not respond to a request for comment.

* WTVO…

Illinois lawmakers are considering a major change to the state’s drunk driving laws, one that would make the threshold for impairment one of the strictest in the nation.

House Bill 4333 would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for a DUI from 0.08 to 0.05, and would govern driving, boating, snowmobiling, and even workplace injury claims.

Utah is currently the only other state with a 0.05 limit.

The proposal, filed by Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59th), updates the Illinois Vehicle Code by replacing every “0.08” reference with “0.05,” effectively creating a single standard for nearly all motor-vehicle offenses.

* Sun-Times…

Sweeping voting rights legislation emerged Thursday to strengthen the hands of Illinois judges to take control of disputes over redistricting and give expanded safeguards to non-English speaking voters.

The bill sponsored by state Sen. Graciela Guzman, D-Chicago, would codify much of the federal Voting Rights Act into state law as insurance in case that law is repealed by Republicans in Congress. If passed, the changes to state law would take effect July 1 ahead of November’s general election.

“The last year has made one thing remarkably clear: Democracy does not run on autopilot,” she said. “It only survives if people are willing to protect it, and at the center of that responsibility is a fundamental right to vote.”

The bill would specifically grant judges the ability to redraw racially imbalanced legislative maps and require that non-English-speaking voters receive translated ballots, access to bilingual poll workers, or over-the-phone non-English assistance, among other things.

* Sen. Kimberly Lightford…

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford and State Representative Carol Ammons will be joined by a number of higher education leaders at a press conference Tuesday to discuss their plan to transform how Illinois funds its higher education system.

WHO: Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, State Senator Mike Halpin, State Representatives Carol Ammons and Norma Hernandez, as well as Southern Illinois University President Daniel Mahony, and a representative from Advance Illinois, the Partnership for College Completion Student Board, and a student from Eastern Illinois University

WHAT: Press conference to call for the passage of the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Formula

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Illinois State Capitol, 2nd Floor Grand Staircase.

* Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants…

Current laws are preventing PAs (physician assistants/associates) from practicing to the full extent of their education, training, and experience – at a time when more than 3.5 million Illinois residents live in areas with significant provider shortages.

Modernized PA practice laws will help Illinois meet growing patient demands while maintaining high standards of safety and quality.

And Illinois’ patients agree: 90% believe that PAs should be allowed to provide care to the fullest extent of their education, training, and experience.

On Tuesday, February 17, Senator Cervantes, healthcare providers, students, patients, and the Illinois Academy of Physician Associates (IAPA) will host a press conference at the State Capitol to call on lawmakers to address Illinois’ healthcare shortage crisis through SB 3421, which would remove outdated PA practice barriers to improve healthcare access.

This is a unique opportunity for legislators and media to hear directly from the bill sponsor, practicing providers, future clinicians, and real patients about the importance of SB 3421, the role of PAs in improving healthcare delivery in the state, and the critical need to increase healthcare access for Illinois’ patients.

What: Press conference urging support for legislation to modernize PA practice laws

When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Where: State Capitol Blue Room, 401 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL 62701

* More…

* WCIA | Clean Jobs Coalition presents new legislation aimed at regulating Illinois data centers: The Clean Jobs Coalition presented new legislation this week aimed at regulating data centers in Illinois, according to Andrew Rehn, director of Climate Policy at Prairie Rivers Network in Champaign. Rehn said the goal of the POWER Act is minimizing the impact of data centers on utility costs for consumers. It will require data centers to pay for their own electrical infrastructure, according to Rehn.

* Center Square | IL lawmaker intros bill to regulate third-party lawsuit investing: Amid a growing push nationwide for new laws to regulate the booming business of third-party lawsuit investing, a state lawmaker has introduced legislation in Springfield in a bid to bring greater transparency to the practice in Illinois, as well. State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, filed HB5244 in the Illinois state House of Representatives.

* Center Square | Illinois senator offers 401(k)-style option to escape $145 billion pension crisis: An Illinois state senator is pushing a sweeping but voluntary change to the state’s pension system that would allow public employees, including teachers, to opt out of traditional pensions in favor of a market-based retirement plan similar to a 401(k). Bill sponsor state Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, described the proposal as an expansion of an option that already exists for university professors in Illinois, who currently have access to market-based retirement plans.

31 Comments

Showcasing the Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Laura in Kings, Illinois, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Dabrowski’s suburban argument fails with DH, as Champaign County Clerk misprints his name as ‘Tad’ (Updated)

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski has said that failed 2022 Republican nominee Darren Bailey can’t possibly play in the suburbs. We don’t usually highlight newspaper endorsements here, but the top suburban newspaper in this state just endorsed the downstater Bailey over the suburbanite Dabrowski…

Among the four men hoping to face Pritzker in November, we lean toward Bailey, a former state legislator who served both in the House and Senate, giving him crucial experience working with a Democratic General Assembly in Springfield. That means less of a learning curve, and more realistic expectations, should he win in November.

We also see a different, humbler side of Bailey, a Clay County farmer, in his second attempt at statewide office that suggests his decisive loss to Pritzker four years ago and personal tragedy may have given him a broader perspective. The man who once denounced Chicago as a “hellhole” says he now understands the “entirety of Illinois better.”

We hope that’s the case. We endorse Darren Bailey.

* Speaking of that “humbler” Bailey…

As someone who has personally struggled with my weight, I can tell you this kind of rhetoric isn’t helpful. It doesn’t solve problems, it just creates more division. We can and should have real debates about policy, priorities, and the future of our state. But attacking someone… https://t.co/ktGsp9VYEn

— Darren Bailey (@DarrenBaileyIL) February 15, 2026

Tribune…

Bailey, in two campaigns for governor and during his tenure as a downstate Republican state lawmaker, has not been shy about criticizing Pritzker. He has mocked the billionaire business owner and heir to the Hyatt hotels fortune as having “soft hands” and having “never worked a day in his life.” Just days before the RNC posting, Bailey posted an image of Pritzker dressed like a king, standing in a bathroom, with the tagline “Flush Pritzker.”

But Bailey has not attacked Pritzker over his weight. That has largely been a role carried out by President Donald Trump, who endorsed Bailey’s 2022 run for governor and encouraged him to run again after a family tragedy in an October helicopter accident.

* Back to Ted, or, as he’s now known in Champaign County, “Tad”…

Illinois’ ruling Democratic party under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s leadership claims to be dedicated to election integrity with their “reforms,” but two developments show how their new election rules are undermining faith in elections and pulling us toward chaos.

In the first matter, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons printed and sent out defective ballots that wrongly identify Ted Dabrowski, Republican candidate for governor, as “Tad Dabrowski.” Clerk Ammons has acknowledged the error but refused to reprint the ballots. The Ted for Illinois campaign has now sued the Clerk demanding a correction. The complaint, filed Sunday, is here.

The wrong name is highly material because the Ted for Illinois campaign has made “Ted” an integral part of its messaging, signage and literature, at great expense. In any event, Ammons is ignoring the mandatory statutory obligation he has to correct wrong names, as described in the filed complaint.

…Adding… Dabrowski sent out a fundraising email about the Champaign County mixup…

It’s Ted, not Tad. That’s what I had to tell the Champaign County Clerk when I read my misspelled name on the ballot he sent out this week. What a mess.

But check out how he signs his name…

Looks like “TAD” to me.

36 Comments

Illinois Credit Unions: Putting People First

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois credit unions serve their members by putting people first, strengthening financial well being, and investing in the communities they call home.
As member-owned cooperatives, Illinois credit unions make decisions based on what benefits their members.

That means:

Illinois credit unions make a meaningful difference in the lives of the members who rely on them.

Jeremy Doughty started using Area Educational Credit Union, because, he says, “they help. They serve. They’re in it for you, not someone else.”

Learn more at https://betterforillinois.org/

Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.

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Progressive revenue proponents taking a much more pragmatic approach this year

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

As I write this, Gov. JB Pritzker is preparing to give his annual budget address. It’s an unenviable task.

Earlier this month, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a report showing federal tax cuts caused a $587 million reduction in state revenues this fiscal year.

The governor announced last month that he was withholding $482 million in state spending to help mitigate federal attacks on the state budget.

It’s not all horrible news. The latest monthly revenue report from the Legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability showed January revenues from state sources were up, according to the commission.

Personal income tax receipts increased 2.1% in January compared to the previous January (which is still below inflation). Corporate income tax revenues rose by 3.5% after months of lagging. Gross sales tax revenues increased by 3%.

\Estate tax receipts are up 60%, or about $200 million, so far this fiscal year compared to last year at this time, the commission reported. The commission said asset valuation increases, including the stock market, likely contributed to the increase.

So far this fiscal year, revenues are up a bit more than $1 billion, or 3.5%, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2025.

But there is that big federal downside. According to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s report, federal revenues experienced a “notable decline,” falling $169 million, or almost 36% in January, compared to the same month last year.

During the fiscal year to date, federal sources have dropped by about 8%. But January marked the third straight month for federal revenue declines, so it may be accelerating.

“To meet initial fiscal year estimates, Federal Sources will need to show meaningful improvement over the remaining five months,” the monthly report declared. The fiscal year ends June 30.

And nobody knows what tomorrow may bring. Heck, by the time you read this, something new could’ve happened. At any given moment, White House operatives could try to pull funding for whatever program they can dream up.

Last week, the Trump administration announced that it was canceling $100 million for local public health grants in Illinois.

Illinois was one of just four Democratic-led states that were targeted for the cuts.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, some of the cuts were for “HIV Prevention and Surveillance, which includes programs to expand HIV testing to cover more people who may not be aware they have HIV; linking newly-diagnosed patients to appropriate care; expanding access to PrEP, medication which can reduce the spread of HIV; and conducting partner notification.”

Attorney General Kwame Raoul quickly won a temporary restraining order last week, giving the state a 14-day reprieve.

Raoul has so far fought off numerous federal attempts to withhold money from the state. But there’s just no way of knowing what could happen as the litigation moves up the federal judicial food chain.

In other words, there is just no way to craft a reliable fiscal plan in this environment.

My associate Isabel Miller wrote a subscribers-only story last week for my newsletter about how more than 40 Democratic members of the Illinois House and Senate have been meeting weekly to come up with a plan to find some government efficiencies and create new revenue streams to help the state meet its obligations.

“We must lean into transforming our tax system and creating sustainable revenue to protect people and the services we all depend on,” the Affordability and Tax Justice Coalition declared in a statement.

I was told that six ideas are under discussion, and four have been introduced into bill form: A digital advertising tax — Senate Bill 3353/House Bill 4894); A billionaire wealth tax (Senate Bill 3376/House Bill 5215); Expanded tax haven reporting (House Bill 5318/Senate Bill 3486) and closing corporate loopholes (Senate Bill 3796/House Bill 5125).

As Isabel noted, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has also been promoting a tax on millionaires, which has heartened the progressives.

Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, sits on the coalition’s executive committee.

“I think right now the growing sentiment is ‘Let’s get as much revenue as possible,’” Guzmán told Isabel.

Guzmán also said the coalition is pressing revenue advocates for specifics, including projected revenues for each proposal, constitutionality and implementation.

Too often, these groups just throw together proposals and hope for the best. But Guzmán said they’re focusing on whether these ideas can pass both chambers and be signed into law.

“The roll call is something that we keep talking about every week because we know the votes that we have to get up to in any one of these proposals,” Guzmán told Isabel.

A lot is riding on those efforts.

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340B Hospitals Support Transparency Requirements – Pass HB 2371 SA 2 To Support Patients

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know this, but House Bill 2371 SA 2 contains NEW transparency requirements that Illinois hospitals agree with. 340B is too important to let attacks from Big Pharma detract from the real issues at hand. Many patients in Illinois need 340B to survive. The hospitals need it too, as they expect to lose up to $57 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade.

Reporting and audits—from patient data to charity care—are normal activities in hospitals. Ensuring 340B program integrity is no exception. Illinois hospitals consider the federal 340B program a critical resource that helps provide lifesaving medications and critical healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients. Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) invest savings from 340B discounted drugs into health services benefiting underserved communities.

Illinois hospitals are following the rules of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Rigorous audits are performed regularly on 340B providers, with HRSA auditors verifying program eligibility, internal controls and compliance. HRSA audits apply to drug manufacturers as well. They include determining “that the manufacturer provided 340B drugs at or below the 340B ceiling price to participating covered entities.” Drugmakers have been skirting that requirement by arbitrarily limiting hospitals and FQHCs to just one contract pharmacy. Yet, they continue to pedal false claims about hospital transparency.

HB 2371 SA 2 strengthens transparency and accountability while protecting the care communities rely on, proving that Illinois hospitals support oversight and stand firmly on the side of patients, not pharmaceutical profits.

Stand with patients, hospitals and FQHCs—Pass HB 2371 at NO cost to taxpayers and with NO needed budget appropriation. Learn more.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Pritzker to present 8th budget as Illinois faces federal funding uncertainty. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

• Capitol News Illinois: A look back at Pritzker’s first seven budgets
• Tribune: Gov. JB Pritzker expected to target budget gap — and President Donald Trump — in Illinois statewide address
• Crain’s: Pritzker puts a price tag on federal cuts looming over Illinois budget

************** Advertisement **************
Sponsored by PhRMA:

340B hospitals charge big medicine markups. Illinois pays the price.

340B medicine markups are big business for hospitals. Under the federal 340B program, nonprofit hospitals can buy medicines for pennies, then charge huge markups – even on life-saving medicines. Big hospital systems pocket the program profits – passing the bill to Illinois patients, employers and taxpayers who are hit with higher medicine costs. The program’s lack of oversight has led to 340B becoming a profit engine for hospitals, PBMs, private equity firms and big chain pharmacies. It’s time for Congress to hold hospitals accountable and fix 340B. Read more.

************************************************

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WBEZ | Rev. Jesse Jackson, a symbol of Black politics and Black America, dies at 84: Perhaps the nation’s most recognizable civil rights icon the past half century, Jackson was a symbol of Black politics and Black America. The images of him — as a young lieutenant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a Memphis balcony in 1968 to his exhortations of “I Am Somebody” or “Keep Hope Alive” in front of racially diverse audiences on the campaign trail in the 1980s to him weeping in Grant Park at the election of this nation’s first Black president in 2008 — are seared in our collective memories. A global presence, Jackson spoke out against apartheid, championed Palestinian rights and negotiated the release of U.S. soldiers in Syria, Iraq and Yugoslavia.

* Bond Buyer | Capital spending may increase due to rising needs: Analyst: State and local governments’ capital spending is likely to increase in coming years, supported by expanded borrowing, a Moody’s Ratings analyst said Thursday. This sort of capital spending was flat during the COVID-19 period of 2020 to 2022 but has since increased, Moody’s Ratings Vice President of Public Finance Dan Seymour said. While some analysts call the increase a blip that will soon die, others see the start of a prolonged increase. Seymour is in the latter camp Big issuers are telling Moody’s they are planning to increase their capital spending, Seymour said Thursday during The Bond Buyer’s National Outlook Conference’s seminar, “Planning for Resilient Infrastructure in a Higher-Cost Environment.”

* Tribune | Proposed cuts to housing-first programs would be ‘going back like 30 years,’ advocates warn: The looming funding cuts could force people in permanent housing programs across the state back into homelessness. Five regions in Illinois — a state with over 14,000 total permanent supportive housing units — rely on HUD funding for all of their permanent supportive housing programs. Chicago has over 9,000 permanent supportive housing units, around 60% of which are financed by HUD, according to data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Of the combined $120 million in HUD funding that Chicago homelessness organizations are receiving, 80%, or $96 million, goes to permanent housing programs.

*** Statewide ***

* WGLT | Ranked choice voting stalled in Illinois, waiting for clarity from the courts: Voters in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago, passed a referendum in 2022 to implement ranked choice voting, but the Cook County Clerk — which oversees elections in Evanston — said current election laws only allow a person to vote for one candidate. The nonpartisan good government group Reform for Illinois and the City of Evanston sued, but are still waiting for the case to be heard. Two other Cook County communities that have approved ranked choice voting, Oak Park and Skokie, also may be left waiting for the court to rule or for state legislation to provide clarification. Peoria also passed a nonbinding referendum in 2024 to research ranked choice voting, but currently has no plans to implement it.

* Capitol News Illinois | Penny shortage causes headaches for retailers in the Land of Lincoln: Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, wrote a note on his website in November applauding the U.S. Treasury’s decision to halt production, saying it was “more of an inconvenience than a useful part of the economy.” He said no steps were currently being taken to address the shortage at the state level and that he would await guidance from the federal level. “It’ll be something that they’ll obviously start working on addressing more and more as the pennies become less in circulation,” he told Capitol News Illinois. “It doesn’t look like people have to worry about it at all for 2026. I’m guessing that the soonest there’d be any guidance would be ’27, when they would maybe set some rules about requiring businesses to accept whatever rounding decision that gets made.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Illinois Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey rebukes national GOP for post mocking Pritzker’s weight: Bailey, the GOP’s unsuccessful 2022 nominee against Pritzker who is seeking a rematch as he runs against three rivals in the GOP primary, responded to the RNC’s post by citing his own personal struggle with weight and said that “this kind of rhetoric isn’t helpful.” “It doesn’t solve problems, it just creates more division,” Bailey said in an X post of his own. “We can and should have real debates about policy, priorities, and the future of our state. But attacking someone over their weight is unnecessary, unproductive, and has no place in our politics.”

* Daily Herald | Candidates spar over which Democrat should represent the 52nd District: Peterson points to her narrow loss to McLaughlin in 2024 — she lost by 47 votes. She also pointed out she came within 661 votes when running for the Lake County board in 2018. She also lost by 385 votes to Republican Dan McConchie in the race for Senate district 26. “It is my three races that have proven that I do the work,” she said. “I have built the relationships, and I have turned this district from a double-digit red district to purple.” Chan Ding countered, “I believe that the district should have flipped then (in November 2024). There’s going to be even more chance for us to flip it now. We just need the right Democrat to do it.”

* WGN | ‘We are ready to fight’: Summit draws hundreds as immigrant rights groups push 2026 agenda: This year’s priorities include protecting Chicago and Illinois as a welcoming city and state, pushing for increased state funding for programs that support immigrant communities, and protecting residents’ personal data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The coalition has also pushed to rein in ICE and Border Patrol, calling attention to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown after lawmakers failed to agree to reforms.

* Tribune | Aja Kearney, Cleopatra Cowley seek Democratic nomination in 34th House District: Kearney said she would focus on building relationships and learning how to best address issues of importance to the district. Priorities include addressing environmental issues, public safety, health care access and economic development, Kearney said. In the 6th Ward in particular, Kearney said, the lack of a nearby trauma center creates challenges when emergencies arise.

* Sun-Times | Formerly incarcerated celebrate passage of Illinois’ Clean Slate Act: Artinese Myrick, deputy director of Live Free Illinois, a faith-based community group focused on addressing social issues, explained the law has been years in the making. When Myrick was 9, her mother, father and stepfather were all incarcerated at the same time. “They were being denied jobs because of their background and the stigma itself,” Myrick said. “Because of that, I’m interested in making sure that systems can be of support for families like mine.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Johnson vetoes intoxicating hemp ban: In a letter to the City Council, Johnson said the ordinance is “premature.” A federal law, set to kick in this November, would effectively ban intoxicating hemp unless the U.S. Congress changes course and instead chooses to regulate the industry. “The most responsible path forward for the city’s hemp regulation is to align with the forthcoming federal guidelines, rather than acting prematurely in a rapidly shifting regulatory landscape,” the letter said.

* Bloomberg | Chicago to sell $1B in debt from unpaid fees despite uncertain buyers: Johnson opposed the move, arguing that it would hurt taxpayers who could become victims to debt collection firms. The mayor neither signed nor vetoed the budget after aldermen passed it by a majority, expressing skepticism about their revenue projections. […] Steven Mahr, who was recently named interim chief financial officer, is working with financial advisers to develop a request for information for the debt collection, according to the Feb. 6 letter from Belsky. It will be issued this month, with investment banking firms and certain institutional investors expected to respond, the letter said.

* ABC Chicago | Mayor Johnson takes aim at corporate media, some Democrats in livestream with Hasan Piker: As he has done several times, Johnson took aim at Chicago Democratic donor Michael Sacks and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In addition, there was a slight dig at former President Barack Obama. “The Emanuel administration embodied the 1% of society,” Johnson said. “The Obama administration as well,” Piker said. “Oh, absolutely. This might be a good time to just insert a ‘Thank you, Obama’ if we are going to criticize him,” Johnson said.

* ABC Chicago | Environmental work at The 78 in South Loop, which will have Chicago Fire stadium, to begin this week: During this time remediation materials and impacted soil will be moved by trucks. This will kick off the groundwork for the $8 billion project in the South Loop. The project includes a $750 million privately funded stadium for the Chicago Fire. The 78 site will also have businesses, parks, more than 5,000 apartment units.

* Sun-Times | Artist Judy Chicago logs out of Google renovation project over artistic differences: Chicago said the first problems arose when Google failed to provide construction drawings needed to help the couple figure out sizing and dimensions of their proposed work. “Getting the renovation plans and accurate architectural drawings was a nightmare,” Chicago said. “Donald had to do most of that himself from his photographs that he took when we were there.” The artists said another point of difficulty was Google’s desire to lay the new terrazzo title over the existing one.

* Sun-Times | After Time Out Market’s abrupt closure, is Chicago’s food hall era over?: COVID-19 killed some food hall projects, including Politan Row and Wells Street Market. In a statement, Time Out Market CEO Michael Marlay attributed its closure last month to the pandemic and inconsistent foot traffic due to remote work, though vendors have since pointed to loss of revenue due to neglect and lack of investment, according to reporting by Eater.

* Block Club | Chase No Longer Issuing Chicago Skyline Debit Card: Chicago is the only market in the country where Chase offers a debit card featuring the local skyline, a spokesperson told Block Club. “The way we process and produce debit cards has evolved,” a spokesperson said. “That image became outdated and updating it would have required a significant investment. Rather than invest in a single card design, we’re focusing our resources on enhancing the overall customer experience for all our cardholders.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Chicago Mag | What’s Behind the Cook County Board President Attack Ads: The race for County Board President has become so bitter because it’s a proxy for the divisions in contemporary Chicago Democratic politics. Reilly, who represents the headquarters of most big local corporations on the City Council, stands for the business wing of the party. Preckwinkle, who is a product of the Kenwood/Hyde Park independent movement, stands for its progressive wing. We’ve already seen those divisions play out on the City Council. A group of alders, including Reilly, a leading member of the so-called Common Sense Caucus, voted to pass a budget that didn’t include Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pet corporate head tax, which would have been anathema in Reilly’s ward. Reilly endorsed pro-business Paul Vallas in the 2023 mayoral election.

* Press release | Illinois Speaker Chris Welch and Proviso Township Democrats Endorse Pat Hynes for Cook County Assessor: Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch and the Proviso Township Democrats today announced their endorsements of Pat Hynes for Cook County Assessor, citing his proven leadership, experience in government, and commitment to restoring fairness and accountability to Cook County’s property tax system. Their support adds to a growing list of elected officials, community leaders, and residents who believe Hynes is the best candidate to bring stability, transparency, and trust back to the Assessor’s Office. “Cook County families and small businesses deserve an Assessor’s Office that works for them, not one that makes a complicated system even harder to navigate,” said Speaker Chris Welch.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher challenges appointee Kisha McCaskill for 5th District Cook County Board seat: Belcher was elected a Dolton trustee in 2021. She was reelected in 2025 as part of now-Mayor Jason House’s Clean House slate in opposition to former Mayor Tiffany Henyard. “I think I may have a little bit more visibility because of the whole Dolton saga,” Belcher said. “People have seen that I don’t mind going against the grain, I don’t mind standing up for my residents, and I’ll do the same thing at the county level.”

* Aurora Beacon News | Kane County Board OKs Flock license plate reader contract renewal for Sheriff’s Office: The Flock license plate reader cameras have been controversial in some nearby communities, a few of which have recently ended their contracts with the company. In the past year, for example, both Oak Park and Evanston halted their contracts with Flock amid concern over information possibly being shared with federal immigration agencies. At a Kane County Board Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting in January, Undersheriff Amy Johnson said that the license plate reader cameras help the Sheriff’s Office “a tremendous amount.” Asked by board member Jon Gripe at that committee meeting how many of the license plate readers the Sheriff’s Office would ideally want to have, Johnson said that they would ideally have 45-50 throughout the county, up from their current 25.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County farmhouse verified as former Underground Railroad safe house in National Park Service initiative: It’s believed that the farm — when it was occupied by Joseph Bartlett and Julia “Ann” Bartlett — helped numerous freedom seekers, Krupa said. But one particularly well-documented story from history has been a central point in the home’s claim to fame as a safe house. […] Bartlett had been affiliated with the abolitionist movement during his time attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, Krupa explained. He became a teacher and farmer, and eventually settled in Kane County, where he was a local township supervisor and served in other local government roles. Bartlett also helped to establish the name Campton Township, according to Krupa.

* Daily Herald | ‘We see the injustice’: Suburban students pledge walkouts will continue, no matter the consequences: In what has become a weekly ritual, student walkouts have been held in Barrington, Elgin, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Naperville and other suburbs. Most have been peaceful, though last week three East Aurora High School students were arrested during a march, leading some residents and a state lawmaker to question police tactics.

*** Downstate ***

* Capitol News Illinois | ICE agents detain five men on their way to work at a Du Quoin sawmill: Alstat Wood Products is a family-owned sawmill and logging company located just off of Illinois 127 in rural Perry County, Illinois. The company has been in operation since 1988 and is one of the few remaining sawmills in southern Illinois. Alstat said he has struggled at times to fill certain labor-intensive positions with local workers, particularly during parts of the year when demand is highest. Depending on the season, the company employs about 25 to 30 people, many of them family members. The visa and immigration status of the five individuals detained in Du Quoin is unclear. Alstat said he was told that the five employees he subcontracted had six-month work visas.

* BND | As data centers eye metro-east, officials juggle jobs, taxes and utility fears: “I would love to have one down here for the jobs that are created, but we just need to make sure that what they’re consuming isn’t going to hurt the local population,” Duckworth told Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson. Representatives from Troy were not present at the meeting. Parkinson referred to data centers as “the future industry” with potential property tax revenue that could “change the fate of Granite City.” “It’s very intoxicating,” Parkinson said, “but there’s a lot of these issues that come with it.” He specifically noted the need to prevent utility rates from going “sky-high.”

* 25News Now | City of Peoria withdraws lawsuit in casino saga as long as land-based casino remains off the table: The City of Peoria is voluntarily dismissing their lawsuit against Boyd Gaming, the Illinois Gaming Board and the City of East Peoria after Boyd Gaming unveiled a plan to keep the Par-A-Dice on the water. Boyd Gaming unveiled the plan Feb. 5 at the Illinois Gaming Board’s last meeting. The plan as presented would move the casino to a “permanently moored barge design,” located directly on the water.

* WJBD | Salem City Council to Consider New Downtown TIF Agreement: The Salem City Council Tuesday night will consider an additional downtown TIF agreement with Jered Gambill who is preparing to renovate more downtown buildings. Under the proposal, Gambill would receive $47,000 in TIF money to purchase and renovate buildings at 122 West Main and 102, 104, and 106 North Walnut Street. Gambill would receive $10,000 for property acquisition. He would be paid the rest of the reimbursement after roof repair, tuckpointing and other measures to bolster and protect the structural integrity of the building are completed.

* WCIA | Village of Arthur to consider adding license plate readers at Monday night meeting: The village Board of Trustees will debate the installation of two ALPRs during its meeting Monday night. It’s one of several agenda items listed under new business on the meeting agenda. The ALPRs would be installed for $14,500 and would be under a two-year lease contract.

*** National ***

* NYT | Tom Pritzker, citing Epstein connection, steps down as Hyatt’s executive chair: Thomas J. Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, stepped down from his role Monday as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corp., becoming the latest person felled by an association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Pritzker, 75, cousin to Illinois Gov. JB Prtizker, said in a letter to the Hyatt board that he was retiring, effective immediately, adding: “Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret.” […] Recently released files revealed that Pritzker was in regular contact with Epstein in the years following Epstein’s 2008 plea deal on sex crimes charges, with the two frequently corresponding to confirm meals and appointments, including at Epstein’s New York City town house.

* AP | A judge says she’ll rule that the US still cannot force states to provide data on SNAP recipients: San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney last year blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture from requiring states to provide the data, including on the immigration status of people who receive benefits and applicants, after 22 states sued over the policy. […] Chesney said during a hearing Friday that she intends to issue an order that says the federal government cannot act on its letters to the states from last year.

* NYT | Kennedy Allies Target States to Overturn Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren: So far, bills have been introduced in at least nine states that would eliminate all or nearly all school requirements, including Democratic states like New York where there is no chance of passage, to states such as New Hampshire, Georgia, Iowa and Idaho where the proposals have gained some traction. Many vaccine proponents view the state-level push as a second stage in the dismantling of the nation’s vaccine infrastructure, building on Mr. Kennedy’s significant reduction of federally recommended vaccines.

* The Atlantic | This is how a child dies of measles: Your daughter looks so small in her hospital bed, her face fitted with an oxygen mask. Nurses collect blood and urine; you hold the cup as she shivers on the toilet, then stroke her hair as the needle spears her vein. When you’ve regained some composure a couple of hours later, a doctor comes to speak with you. This is the first time anyone has used the word measles. The doctor tells you that your daughter has pneumonia, a complication arising in roughly 6 percent of measles cases, though some researchers suspect that the actual rate may be higher. There is no cure for viral pneumonia from measles, but the hospital will provide supportive care to treat the symptoms, including her scalding fever and rash. The doctor doesn’t tell you then that pneumonia is the most common cause of death in measles patients. You will learn that later on.

* Study Finds | We’re Not Just Receiving AI’s Hallucinations, We’re Hallucinating With It: The research introduces the concept of “distributed delusions,” where false beliefs, memories, and narratives emerge through coupled human-AI interaction rather than simply being transmitted from system to user. When someone routinely relies on generative AI to help them remember events, think through problems, or form narratives about themselves, the AI becomes integrated into their cognitive processes. And when those processes go awry (whether through AI errors or human delusions that AI validates and elaborates) the hallucination isn’t happening inside the AI or inside the person. It’s happening in the space between them.

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Good morning!

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My brother Doug went to this show…