* Here’s your morning roundup…

* WCIA | Illinois legislator celebrates signing of Respect for Marriage Act: Illinois state representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) attended the bill signing ceremony. She said the new law has relieved a lot of her fears. “As someone whose marriage was performed in Wyoming, I’ve been worried.” Cassidy said. “My questions were things like, Do I need to remarry so I have an Illinois marriage license? Do we need to create law to protect folks whose marriages might become invalidated in other states? This gives that level of comfort and safety that that families deserve.”

* Tribune | With approval of Chicago casino and Red Line extension TIF, Lightfoot scores two wins amid reelection bid: While both projects have plenty of remaining hurdles, for Lightfoot, the votes on the casino and Red Line extension mark political victories she will likely tout on the campaign trail as she seeks reelection. The state legislature’s approval of a casino license for Chicago was Lightfoot’s biggest victory in Springfield and, if it goes as planned, will bring significant revenue to the city’s coffers. The Red Line extension, while years away, is also another milestone Lightfoot will claim as a boon to the city’s South Side.

* CBS Chicago | Retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White honored with gala: Illinois leaders sent off longtime Secretary of State Jesse White in style Wednesday night. State leaders staged a gala to honor White’s decades of tremendous public service. The dinner was attended by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Gov. JB Pritzker, and other people who have served in the upper echelons of Illinois government.

* WCIA | State lawmakers discuss amendment to protect abortion rights into Illinois Constitution: State lawmakers want to go one step further to protect abortion access in Illinois with a constitutional amendment. They want it to stay safe no matter who’s in office. “We are supportive of state lawmakers taking any action that works to protect Planned Parenthood of Illinois patients, and makes sure that there’s reproductive rights and access to abortion care throughout the state of Illinois” Rianne Hawkins, the director of advocacy and campaigns for Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, said.

* Tribune | Aldermen want to use COVID-19 relief money to give property tax loans to struggling Chicagoans: As Chicagoans face down a holiday deadline to pay their property tax bills, Ald. Michael Rodriguez has unveiled a proposal to spend $10 million in unallocated federal COVID-19 recovery funding to help low-income Chicagoans meet the deadline. At a virtual news conference, Rodriguez and fellow Ald. Maria Hadden said the hard-hit Southwest Side and North lakefront neighborhoods they represent were particularly in need.

* Chalkbeat | New high school gets more money from Chicago City Council as cost estimate climbs: A controversial new high school is another step closer to reality after Chicago’s City Council approved $8 million in city funds for the $150 million project. Five progressive aldermen voted against the measure on Wednesday.

* WTTW | In Cook County, Black Youth Make Up 70% of the Foster Care System. Advocates Say More Support is Needed After They Age Out.: In Cook County, Black youth account for more than 70% of the child welfare system. Meanwhile, Black residents make up only 23% of the county’s total population. As of February 2022, there are more than 4,000 Black children in foster care in Cook County.

* Tribune | Man who straw-purchased gun used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison: The sentence was half the five-year maximum Jamel Danzy could have received. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman noted Danzy is college educated and said he had no evidence Danzy knew where the gun he bought would wind up.

* Block Club | Ald. Anabel Abarca Sworn In To Lead Southwest Side’s 12th Ward: Anabel Abarca became the newest member of City Council after being sworn in as 12th Ward alderperson Wednesday morning. Abarca was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot earlier this week to fill the 12th Ward seat left vacant by former Ald. George Cardenas. Her appointment passed the Rules Committee Tuesday and the City Council Wednesday with a vote of 44-0.

* Vandalia Radio | Illinois again leads nation in gun background checks: Illinois is on pace to lead the nation again this year for the number of firearm background checks and one legal expert expects the numbers will only increase. FBI stats show Illinois leading the nation with nearly 4 million firearm background checks. U.S. LawShield President Kirk Evans said while that doesn’t necessarily equate to the number of guns being purchased, people buy more guns when there’s uncertainty.

* Sun-Times | After nearly 10 years, Jane Byrne Interchange ‘substantially complete,’ expected to cut congestion in half: “It’s been an awful long time in coming,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday morning to mark the accomplishment.

* Sun-Times | Bally’s $1.7 billion River West casino gets final zoning approval from City Council: Chicago’s 30-year quest for a casino and entertainment complex that city officials are counting on to bail out police and fire pension funds is now exclusively in the hands of the Illinois Gaming Board.

* Bloomberg | Chicago Taps Brakes on Gentrification With a Tax on Teardowns: “Living in a gentrifying neighborhood is like living with a live and open wound,” said Christian Diaz, who was born in Mexico but has called Logan Square home for most of his life. “It turns our streets into an emotional minefield because it just seems like our neighborhood is valuable now because White people want to live here. And it wasn’t before, because it was predominantly Latinx.”

* The Athletic | The biggest takeaways from the NWSL—NWSL PA joint investigation report: On Wednesday, the NWSL and NWSL Players Association released the full report following their joint investigation into misconduct across the league. The document, prepared by law firms Covington & Burling (hired by NWSL as an independent investigator) and Weil (counsel for the NWSLPA), details “widespread misconduct directed at NWSL players” at “the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times from the earliest years of the league to the present.”

* NBC Chicago | Illinois Is Getting an Official State Snake. Here’s What to Know About the Serpent: The eastern milksnake is set to become the state’s official snake, notching the distinct title under an amendment to Illinois’ Designation Act. According to officials, the snake can be found all across the Land of Lincoln, living in river bottoms, rocky hills and woodlands. It can reach 2-to-3 feet in length, and it has large blotches and a y- or v-shaped marking on its head.