* ICYMI: Legislative staff unionization bill faces uncertain future in Senate. Hannah Meisel…

-HB4148 passed 74-35 out of the House.
-Senate leaders have not said if they will take it up during fall session.
- Republicans largely voted against the bill.

* Related stories…

∙ Capitol News: Proponents drop push to give downstate utilities dibs on new transmission lines
∙ Tribune: Downstate utility, electrical workers union put effort to control transmission line construction on hold
∙ WAND: Illinois senators approve Springfield High School expansion plan

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker, never shy about criticizing Republicans, calls for ‘common ground’ at national conference: On Wednesday, at a national political conference of progressives in Washington, the second-term governor with potential presidential aspirations presented a new political style — conciliator. “I’m just saying leadership in this time means putting in check sometimes your emotions about the attacks that are coming and instead trying to find common ground to work with one another because we have to bring the temperature down in this country and talk to one another, whatever party we belong to or whatever ideology we may have, because we have so much to accomplish,” Pritzker told an audience at the progressive Center for American Progress annual ideas conference.

* Sun-Times | Chicago-area retiree opens home to migrants — ‘new family members’ — stuck at police stations: A retiree with terminal cancer, Elaine Pierce made a cocoon in her home, surrounding herself with her daughter, books and movies. It was a solitude she needed, yet she gave it up recently for something more important — to help families in crisis, opening her Oak Park bungalow to migrant families without a home. “I only wish I could do more,” Pierce told the Sun-Times.

* Tribune | Suburban school district reconsiders postponing Hampshire’s spring musical about gay teens after student and parent outcry: The theater student was eager for the reveal of this year’s selection of “The Prom,” a comedic musical about a school that tries to cancel a dance to prevent a gay student from attending. The 18-year-old said this year’s production meant more than usual because it was a chance for theater kids, some part of the LGBTQ+ community, to feel represented in their craft. But then district administrators stepped in. They shut down the announcement, telling students in a meeting last Friday that they wouldn’t allow the music department to put on the show this year due to safety concerns, he said.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* WAND | Senate approves bill providing faith based food options in public schools, correctional facilities: Senate Bill 457 could require all Illinois public schools, state correctional facilities and the University of Illinois hospital in Chicago to offer the faith based food options if requested. If signed by the governor, ISBE would be tasked with entering into statewide master contracts from vendors across the state.

* WTTW | Lawmakers Push for Compensation for Chicago’s Elected School Board: Sponsoring state Sen. Robert Martwick, a Democrat who represents parts of the city’s Northwest Side, said if Chicago wants a diverse school board, it needs to remove barriers — like a lack of pay — that would prevent some residents from running for board seats.

* SJ-R | Chicago homicide suspect in custody after Illinois State Police trooper shot overnight: The shooting was a personal matter to Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, as the trooper is engaged to one of his legislative aides. The freshman lawmaker addressed the Illinois House Wednesday, arguing that law enforcement needs support.

* Block Club | Englewood Activist Jumps Into Illinois House Race To Represent South Side District: This will be Williams’ first time running for statewide public office. He was elected to the Englewood (7th) District Police Department council earlier this year.

* WMCL | Legislators share concerns bout bill impacting workers with disabilities: Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) believes that the state should empower people with disabilities to maximize their employment and self-sufficiency. Mah believes it is wrong that some disabled workers are being paid much less than the state’s minimum wage and it is past time to eliminate the sub-minimum wage. However, other lawmakers, such as State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) and State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) believe a lot of these workers will be without jobs if the bill passes.

* Center Square | Who covers EV charger costs for homes main focus of Illinois mandate: On Wednesday, legislators discussed a trailer bill in Senate Bill 384, which changes the language of the original measure by changing multi-unit residential buildings to multi-family residential buildings with parking spaces constructed after the act’s effective date. Feigenholtz defended the measure during Senate debates, saying this would not increase costs for property owners.

* Commercial-News | IGB to act on permanent casino license: Five months after Golden Nugget Danville Casino received a temporary operating permit to open, Danville Development LLC will be going before the Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday for the casino’s permanent license.

* Sun-Times | Chicago Public Schools officials project $391 million deficit next year when COVID-19 relief funds run out: District leaders and Board of Education officials have warned of a financial cliff approaching next school year. Federal COVID-19 relief funds had papered over a structural deficit that officials estimate will reach $691 million. Only $300 million in federal funding is left to offset that,

* Tribune | Euthanizations up 25% in Chicago animal shelter; city director points to post-pandemic return to work, inflation: “The shelter is really, really sad right now,” one CACC volunteer said during public comment at the hearing. “Those are living animals. They needed a chance. They deserve a chance. And we really need leadership that is really passionate about the animals.”

* Post-Tribune | Renovated $38.4M welcome center on I-65 gives visitors a view of the region, from monarch butterflies to steel industry: Officials including Gov. Eric Holcomb gathered Tuesday at the site on southbound Interstate 65 just before the Indiana 10 interchange in Demotte to dedicate the newly renovated $38.4 million welcome center. All except for about $4 million of the project was federally funded, Holcomb said.

* VCF | Resolution Passed by Illinois House Honoring Memory of State Rep Bill Black: The Illinois House of Representatives Wednesday adopted House Resolution 409 which mourns the passing of former Illinois State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader Bill Black of Danville. State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian) sponsored the resolution and spoke about his mentor on the House floor before its adoption.

* Sun-Times | Highland Park massacre suspect keeps phone privileges despite rant that FBI staged attack: The Highland Park massacre suspect sent a video message from Lake County Jail claiming the attack was staged by federal agents, raising questions about his access to communications as he awaits trial on charges of killing seven people and wounding dozens more. The woman who recorded the Sept. 21 call was found to have violated jail rules and was banned from making further video calls with inmates. But Robert E. Crimo III hasn’t been disciplined and is allowed to make calls from a tablet in his cell, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.

* AP | At least 16 dead in Maine mass killing and police hunt for the shooter as residents take shelter: A man shot and killed at least 16 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes.

* NYT | U.A.W. and Ford Reach Tentative Contract Agreement: The union said the deal included a roughly 25 percent pay increase over four years, cost-of-living wage adjustments, major gains on pensions and job security, and the right to strike over plant closures. It called on striking Ford workers to go back to work while the tentative agreement awaits ratification.