* ICYMI: House panel opens hearings on Pritzker’s health insurance reforms. Capitol News Illinois…

- The reforms would limit the ability of companies to deny claims or steer patients toward cheaper, and possibly less effective, treatments.
- They include banning prior authorization requirements for people to receive in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility as well as all forms of “step therapy” for prescription drug coverage.
- Other changes in the plan include requiring insurance companies to publicly post the types of treatments and therapies that do require prior authorization.

* Related stories…

∙ KVFS: Gov. Pritzker touts proposed health insurance reforms in Illinois
∙ Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration says insurance bill is an effort to balance needs of companies, consumers
∙ Fox Chicago: New Illinois health insurance proposal would ban ‘junk insurance’ and ’step therapy’

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Center for Illinois Politics | Should We Change the Primary Process in Illinois?: Anyone familiar with the legendary ferocity of Illinois’ no holds barred politics should feel somewhat slighted that California claimed the title “Law of the Jungle” primary in its 2010 election reforms. Under that revamp, which voters approved by referendum, all candidates regardless of party labels competed on the same ballot in the March 5 nonpartisan primary. The top two vote getters, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey, will face off in November to fill the state’s open U. S. Senate seat.

* SJ-R | Supplemental spending: How Illinois could spend some of its $1.6B budget surplus: Broken down, the proposed spending calls for just shy of $1.2 billion from the General Fund, $350 million in transfers to meet one-time funding commitments and a $60 million change to lapsed appropriations. It also calls for an additional $205 million to the state’s rainy-day fund, a major initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

* WGN | Investigation into 30 explicit AI generated photos of suburban high school students underway: “I don’t know where it falls in the law. In my discussion with Richmond police last night they were still working with the McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office to figure out exactly how to lay out the charges for this,” Essex said. “In my opinion I think this is basically should be considered child pornography it’s unacceptable.”

* Here’s the rest…

* WGN | 4 candidates face off for the Illinois Senate seat for Chicago’s 20th District: The fundraising is extraordinary. Toro has received more than one million dollars from Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign operation while Guzman has gotten a quarter of a million dollars and counting from CTU. Guzman is also supported by Democratic socialist politicians Carlos Ramiez Rosa and Rossana Rodriquez Sanchez.

* WGN | Illinois Supreme Court candidate Jesse Reyes: ‘I bring a voice to the court that is needed’: Justice Reyes talks about his history on the bench in Illinois, what made him decide to run for a seat on the Supreme Court, why he considers himself a progressive judge, what he would say to people that say the justice system is failing law-abiding citizens, how he feels the No Cash Bail provision of the SAFE-T Act is working, why all courts need to be more transparent, his take on ‘right to life’ legislation, and his thoughts on the assault weapons ban.

* Center Square | Madison County judge finds Illinois’ lawsuit venue limit law unconstitutional: The law “does violate due process, as applied to persons who reside or were injured outside of Cook or Sangamon County,” Madison County Judge Ronald Forest, Jr. wrote. “The motion to transfer is Denied, as [the law] is unconstitutional, as Defendant seeks to apply it.”

* ABC Chicago | Rhysida ransomware gang claims it sold data from Lurie Children’s Hospital hack: The hospital confirmed it knows about the claims, saying, “We are aware that individuals claiming to be Rhysida, a known threat actor, claim to have sold data they allege was taken from Lurie Children’s. We continue to work closely with internal and external experts as well as law enforcement, and are actively investigating the claims. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate.”

* Crain’s | State evaluation of One Central development still hasn’t begun: Last year, the state’s Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, or DCEO, issued a request for proposals to conduct a feasibility study on the $20 billion project that would be built over Metra tracks just west of Soldier Field. The study was meant to provide hard data for state legislators as they consider whether there is demand for the giant office and residential center, if there is a need for the project to include a new transit hub and, most importantly, if it’s worth it for the state to agree to eventually purchase that transit hub for $6.5 billion from developer Bob Dunn’s Landmark Development.

* WTTW | Johnson Says He’s ‘Frustrated’ With City’s ‘Out of Control’ Overtime Spending: “Yes, I’m frustrated, yes,” Johnson said in response to a WTTW News story that was the first to report that the Chicago Police Department spent $293 million on overtime last year, 40% more than in 2022 and nearly three times the $100 million earmarked for police overtime set by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2023 budget.

* Tribune | Student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy reported to have measles, CPS confirms: Chicago Public Schools said the Chicago Public Health Department confirmed Monday that a student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy had developed measles. The confirmation follows several cases that emerged over the last week. In a statement, CPS said it is working closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health to respond to any unvaccinated students and two recently reported positive measles cases involving CPS students.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1.25 billion borrowing plan back on track for City Council approval: Johnson’s decision to borrow so much money for affordable housing and economic development signals a fundamental shift in how such projects will be financed — weaning the city from its long-standing dependence on tax increment financing.

* CBS Chicago | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils plan to invest in neighborhood groups: The focus will be on the 10 specific block groups in four separate neighborhoods: Englewood, West Garfield Park, Austin, and Little Village. The goal is to get philanthropists, faith leaders, community organizations, and businesses to help revitalize neglected areas by building stores and services.

* Sun-Times | CTA Red Line extension to get $350 million in Biden’s proposed budget: But the funding is a long way from being approved — at least for now — as it still needs Congress’ approval before getting the president’s signature. The potential funding is a critical part of the Red Line extension project, which the CTA expects to cost $3.6 billion. Last September, the agency said it was in line to receive a total of $1.9 billion in federal funding. The proposed $350 million is part of that funding, the CTA said Wednesday.

* Crain’s | Chicago-area population loss slows: The population in the metro area fell to 9.26 million people in 2023 from 9.28 million in 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. However, the decline of 16,602 people was smaller than drops of nearly 80,000 in each of the previous two years.

* Tribune | Christine Geovanis, CTU communications director and social activist, dies at 64: “She loved people and justice, and she was inspired by how accessible that fight was to everyone, and she took full advantage of that opportunity,” said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. Geovanis died of complications from brain cancer on Feb. 12 in her Little Village home, said her sister, Janet.

* SJ-R | Have a few million dollars lying around? You could own Springfield’s tallest building: The beleaguered Wyndham Hotel, Springfield’s tallest structure which turns 50 years old in 2024, will go up for auction beginning April 15. The opening bid at TenX is listed at $3 million.

* SJ-R | Springfield fine dining restaurant reopens weeks after closing: Loukinens’ on 4th reopened its doors on March 2 after a brief stint of closing down to the public in February. The reopening comes after a series of missteps for the casual fine-dining restaurant, which closed suddenly on Feb. 13 until further notice.

* KTVI | Olivia Rodrigo offers morning-after pills at show in Missouri, where abortion is banned: Volunteers with the Missouri Abortion Fund handed out the pills, condoms and stickers at Tuesday’s concert. The nonprofit aims to provide assistance to Missouri residents who cannot afford the cost of abortion care. Rodrigo, a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights, also promoted an initiative called “Fund 4 Good” around her St. Louis show. A portion of proceeds from the St. Louis ticket sales will go toward the Missouri Abortion Fund and Text Right By You, an organization that educates young people about reproductive health.

* RFT | Where to Live in the Metro East if You’re a St. Louisan Fleeing Missouri: If you like Kirkwood…. You should look at Edwardsville. OK, so it’s a little “bougie hoosie,” and your kids better brace themselves for Drive Your Tractor to School Day (yes, it’s a thing). But Edwardsville is the closest thing the Metro East has to St. Louis’ affluent Missouri suburbs.

* Sun-Times | Simone Biles shows love for Chicago (and hot dogs) after Bears sign her husband, Jonathan Owens: Beyond her excitement over Chicago’s stellar junk food, the four-time Olympic gold medalist seemed thrilled to move to a big city that will let her avoid connecting flights when seeing her husband play. Biles also declared her love for her husband’s new home, adding a new chapter to the age-old rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay.

* Tribune | Chicago White Sox trade Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres, ending the ace’s 5-year run on the South Side: “It’s exciting to people,” Cease said Wednesday morning at Camelback Ranch. “It’s good for the game in the sense of, it’s exciting to fan bases. People like seeing it, so I get it. It’s fun and exciting but it’s just not a main focus.” Cease learned his fate Wednesday evening as the Chicago White Sox traded the right-handed pitcher to the San Diego Padres, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The trade became official late Wednesday, with the Sox receiving right-handed pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson and outfielder Samuel Zavala.

* Block Club | Monarch Butterflies Are In Trouble. You Can Help By Planting Milkweed: But Chicago is an important summer breeding area for migrating monarchs — which means neighbors can help get their numbers back up. “It’s kind of our job here in the Midwest to build that population back as large as possible over the summer,” Derby Lewis said.