* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Hemp bill dies in Springfield. Crain’s…

- A bill to regulate hemp products aimed at curbing synthetic marijuana appears dead for now in the state Legislature, failing to get enough support to be called for a vote.

- “Gov. Pritzker is disappointed that lawmakers failed to take bipartisan, common-sense action to protect children and the public from unregulated and untested hemp products,” the governor’s office said in a written statement.

- When House Democrats caucused this afternoon, it became clear the 60 votes were not there. Speaker Chris Welch delivered the news to Pritzker last night.

- The measure would have required intoxicating hemp products to be sold by state-licensed cannabis dispensaries in an effort to keep them out of the hands of children. The bill also would have required testing and labeling hemp products, as well as restrictions on marketing and packaging.

* Related stories…

∙ Tribune: Hemp regulation bill stalls after lobbying battle between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker
∙ WBEZ: With the mayor and governor at odds over a crackdown on hemp products, a bill regulating those products dies
∙ Capitol City Now: House could give guv “Karina’s Bill”

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Legislature approves bill to prioritize family members in foster care: The House voted unanimously on Monday to pass the Kindship in Demand Act, or KIND Act. House Bill 4781 puts an obligation on the Department of Children and Family Services to use a “kin-first approach” when placing children in foster care settings. Lawmakers and advocates said it’s better for children to be placed with a family member or another person close to the child when possible.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois state flag: When and how to vote for a new design: Those flags, along with previous Illinois flags and the state’s current banner, will go up for a public vote, with the commission set to make their recommendations to the state’s General Assembly later in 2025. “Having received nearly 5,000 entries, I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all the submissions,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office convened the Flag Commission meetings.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Illinois House sends measure to aid relatives of kids in DCFS care to governor: The Illinois House on Monday approved a bill aimed at making it easier for relatives of children in state care to get licensed as foster parents and receive assistance. The measure, which passed without opposition, now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker, who has said he will sign it. “We’re going to change some kid’s life,” said Rep. Marcus Evans, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the bill. “This legislation represents more than just change from our worker system but it represents an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of children and families and build stronger, more resilient communities across our state.”

* WAND | Illinois House committee approves plan improving drinking water quality: An Illinois House energy committee approved legislation Sunday afternoon to require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to conduct statewide sampling of certain community water supplies to assess the levels of dangerous chemicals. Sponsors and advocates said the state should test and create action steps to address contaminants that should be regulated by the state.

* WCIA | Illinois Senate approves bill to streamline name change process: A bill that passed the Illinois Senate Sunday would change the law so name changes are no longer required to be published in a local newspaper. State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), the bill’s sponsor, thinks that process was outdated. “When someone is seeking a name change, whether it is to protect themselves from domestic violence or to affirm one’s identity, everyone deserves the right to do so without the burden of the cumbersome and expensive publication process,” he said. “Additionally, by requiring residents to publish their name change, it relinquishes the privacy of such individuals and can be harmful to their safety or well-being.”

* WAND | Illinois lawmakers send nursing home resident whistleblower protection bill to Pritzker: The Illinois Senate passed a plan Sunday night to protect nursing home residents from retaliation if they report abuse or neglect. This legislation could allow residents to file civil lawsuits against nursing homes if they are threatened or face retaliation for reporting actions that occur within the facility. Residents would have up to two years to file lawsuits against the facility, licensee or employees if they faced retaliation.

*** Statewide ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Local journalism tax credit application window opens: Lawmakers approved the tax credit program last year as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget and included $5 million in funding. News outlets can apply on a first come, first served basis. “Qualified” journalists must average 30-hour work weeks and be responsible for producing original news content, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce. Outlets can apply for up to $15,000 per journalist that was employed last year and an additional $10,000 for new hires that expanded the organization’s staff.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTTW | Mayor Brandon Johnson Defends School Board’s Decision to Fire CEO Pedro Martinez: In his first interview since the CPS board on Dec. 20 voted unanimously to terminate Martinez, Johnson told WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” the current board members were carrying out his vision for the nation’s fourth-largest school district, which has been mired in controversy for months. “The urgency to transform our public schools is now,” Johnson said. “We have called for a real robust moment to ensure that every single child has a high-quality education. This is not about one individual.”

* Chicago Mag | Preeti Chalsani leads the effort to create a hub here for the next generation of technology.: Illinois is betting big on the future of quantum technology. The state is investing $500 million to build the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago. The 128-acre campus, scheduled to be partly operational by the end of 2026, aims to bring together quantum developers, researchers, suppliers, and others. The goal of its anchor tenant, startup PsiQuantum, is to build the first “useful” computer of its kind. Chalsani is charged with helping make that all happen. She is business development lead for the IQMP and chief quantum officer for Intersect Illinois, the economic development nonprofit partnering with the state to attract businesses. Chalsani, whose background is in applied physics, talked with Chicago about the future of the park, why this city is a good fit, and, yes, what the heck quantum technology is.

* Tribune | Crossroads of care: Special education assistants and teacher aides at odds amid CPS cuts: In early December, Service Employees International Union Local 73, the union that represents special education classroom assistants, threatened a lawsuit over the dispute, which it said would take work from SEIU members. According to recent data from CPS, there are currently fewer than 1,000 teacher assistants and about 7,000 special education classroom assistants. While the conflict has big financial implications for total dues payment amounts in both unions, parents, students and special education teacher assistants say they are stuck in the crosshairs.

* Block Club | Pilsen Church Moves Services Online Over Deportation Fears: Lincoln United Methodist Church, 2009 W. 22nd Pl., stopped its in-person Spanish mass services over fears of being “a target” for mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump, said Rev. Emma Lozano. “We don’t want to be a bullseye,” she said. “So, we’re telling people from now on, we’ll continue our worship service but in the virtual form.”

* NBC Chicago | Chicago Bears head coach search: 12 candidates the team has reportedly requested to interview: On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Bears have requested an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Petzing helped the Cardinals to craft one of the league’s best rushing offenses, and has overseen the development of players like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride during his time in the desert.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WGN | Group calls maternal care changes at West Suburban Medical Center a ‘betrayal’ : For 30 years, the hospital has partnered with PCC Community Wellness Center, which serves predominately low income patients, for labor and delivery of babies. But Resilience Healthcare, which owns the hospital, was recently informed that in order to maintain its liability insurance, births must be supervised by a residency-trained OB/GYN. The PCC said it was informed in November of the change that would take effect Dec. 6. The policy change meant PCC’s midwives, under the supervision of its family doctors, would no longer be able to provide care at the hospital.

* Fox Chicago | Tiffany Henyard skips Dolton meeting after claiming ‘credible threats’: Hours before Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting in Dolton, Tiffany Henyard announced on social media that the meeting would be canceled after police informed her of “credible threats made against multiple elected officials.”Despite Henyard’s announcement, the meeting proceeded without her in attendance.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | Springfield closing in on $1.4M settlement over 2022 car accident involving policeman: With council consent, the settlement will be paid out of the city’s self-insurance fund, said city attorney Gregory Moredock. According to the lawsuit, Wayda was southbound on Route 4 when he approached the intersection. Heffington was eastbound on Browning Road. The lawsuit said Wayda failed to activate his emergency lights and siren at the intersection and failed to reduce speed to avoid the collision.

* WCIA | Illinois State Police respond to over 200 accidents in Central IL: Between Jan. 5 at 6 a.m. to Jan. 6 at 6 a.m., State Police responded to over 200 accidents, which varied in severity. In Christian and Sangamon counties, Troop 6 responded to 65 accidents. 47 of the accidents they responded to were motorist assists, 17 were property damage crashes, and one was a personal injury crash.

*** National ***

* USA Today | McDonald’s flip in DEI beef serves up another win for conservative critics: Citing the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning affirmative action in college admissions and the “evolving landscape around DEI,” the fast-food giant said Monday it would no longer set goals to increase diversity in senior leadership. It also said it would end a program that encouraged suppliers to increase diversity in their ranks, rebranded its diversity team as the “Global Inclusion Team” and paused external surveys. Despite the changes, “McDonald’s position and our commitment to inclusion is steadfast,” read the open letter issued Monday by McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski and other executives.