* ICYMI: Federal funding cuts, state budget woes have Chicago recovery services scrambling to survive. Tribune…

- A Humboldt Park recovery home run by the Gateway Foundation is at risk due to the loss of a $500,000 federal grant, cut by a Trump administration order slashing $11 billion in health services.

- The state has reduced its own funding for substance use treatment by $3 million, leaving the Gateway Foundation scrambling to cover room and board costs not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

- Although Gateway secured an emergency $430,000 from the Illinois Department of Human Services, that funding will expire this month, threatening services for residents and creating stress for staff.

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Sponsored by the Health Care Council of Illinois

Federal Medicaid cuts and rising inflation are threatening essential services that thousands of people across our state rely on every day. With reimbursement for support rate expenses currently being paid at 2017 levels in 2025, nursing facilities have already begun closing, leaving staff without jobs and needy Illinoisans without services. Lawmakers should support SB1606/HB2858 to protect the most vulnerable and reform Medicaid reimbursement rates before more people suffer.

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* Gov. Pritzker will sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Illinois and the United Kingdom at 2 pm. Later, at 6 pm, he’ll deliver remarks at the Illinois Utility Business Diversity Council’s Advocacy Day, held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Click here to watch live.

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Federal judge rules part of Illinois ‘right of conscience’ abortion law is unconstitutional: A federal judge in Rockford has ruled that a portion of a 2016 Illinois law violates the constitutional right to free speech for compelling anti-abortion medical professionals to provide information about abortion care to patients without being prompted. U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston on Friday issued a split ruling in the case brought by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and three anti-abortion pregnancy centers. The plaintiffs had argued that the law imposed unconstitutional conditions — forcing anti-abortion activists to talk about “benefits” of abortion that they do not believe in. They also argued that abortion counseling would “encourage the procedure.”

* Crain’s | Latest opioid settlement nets $355M from Mylan, about $9M for Illinois: Illinois, along with 13 other states, has reached a $335 million settlement with Mylan Inc. over allegations the company deceptively promoted its opioid products as being less prone to abuse “despite knowing for years that many of its opioid products — particularly its fentanyl patches — were actually more vulnerable to abuse,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office said in a release. If approved, Illinois will receive more than $9 million in abatement funds from the settlement, which will be paid over nine years.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Sen. Emil Jones III quotes Jay-Z in his own defense ahead of trial…

* Subscribers were told about this earlier. Comptroller Susana Mendoza appears to be gearing up for a run for mayor of Chicago as a conservative Democrat…

Sen. Robert Peters, a strong supporter of the SAFE-T Act, responded without directly naming Mendoza …

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Cook County state’s attorney orders blanket objections to electronic monitoring in cases seeking detention: Cook County States Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has ordered prosecutors to object to all judge’s orders for electronic monitoring if the prosecutors were trying to hold the person while awaiting trial, according to a memo from Burke’s office obtained by the Sun-Times. In the memo, Burke cited 57 escape charges that have been leveled against defendants since Dec. 2 and accused the Chief Judge’s Office of not being adequately prepared to handle the responsibilities of managing electronic monitoring, which previously was under the purview of the Sheriff’s Office.

* Tribune | Cook County state’s attorney’s office to expand pilot that allows police to directly file some gun charges: The office launched the effort in January in the department’s Englewood District on the South Side, where police officers through Wednesday initiated charges in 43 gun possession cases. The program will now begin in the Far South Side’s Calumet District while the office reviews data with an eye on expanding the program, officials said. The initiative will likely bring some relief to prosecutors in the office’s Felony Review Unit, which is staffed at all hours by assistant state’s attorneys who work with police to evaluate whether charges are appropriate.

* WBEZ | Cook County leaders are touting the success of their guaranteed income pilot program: Cook County’s pilot program to provide guaranteed income to more than 3,000 people did what it was intended to do, early findings suggest — it helped provide some economic stability. “We got to make the case that these are great investments in our residents and our citizens,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.

* Daily Herald | Why pay for Des Plaines’ elected officials could increase: Des Plaines’ future mayors, city council members and city clerks would be paid significantly better than current officials under a proposal that was tentatively approved Monday night. If the council confirms the proposed increases at its next meeting, the clerk’s salary would double to $12,000 annually, the mayor’s salary would nearly triple to $30,000 annually and aldermen would see their pay quintuple to $15,000 annually.

* Shaw Local | This DeKalb County township park board race is separated by 1 vote: The Franklin Township Park District’s Board of Commissioners asked voters to pick two seats out of three candidates, and the margin is too close to call for one seat, unofficial results show. Franklin Township is in northwest DeKalb County. Steven Boettger was the top vote-getter with 99 votes. But his challengers are separated by just one vote. Christopher Brantley collected 89 votes to Garry Willit’s 88 votes.

* Shaw Local | New age-restricted apartment plan in Crystal Lake aims for rents below area average: The area is slowly turning away from being a business district amid a trend of residential complex proposals. The Sunshine Apartments proposal is near another age-restricted apartment complex called The Residences of Crystal Lake that opened in 2020. Nearby at 551 Congress Parkway, city council approved a 93-unit apartment complex in December. Though the apartments are expected to go at market-rate, developer John Konsor said the units will rent out at prices lower than the average price in the area. Commissioners indicated there is a high demand for more affordable options.

* Daily Herald | Appellate court backs IDOT in revoking Oakbrook Terrace red-light cameras; city pondering appeal: The Illinois Department of Transportation had the authority to yank Oakbrook Terrace’s permit for red-light cameras near a popular mall, a state appellate court has decided. Third District Appellate Court justices issued a ruling Friday finding the city flouted a requirement to provide IDOT with camera data reports. “The city’s failure to provide all the mandated reports directly violates the terms of the permit that were intended to increase public safety,” the judgment states.

* WGN | New tuberculosis case reported in second suburban high school: Joliet West High School officials reported Monday that a student has been diagnosed with the infectious disease. The school said the student is receiving treatment and will remain home until they are no longer contagious. School officials add that they are working with the Sunny Hill Tuberculosis Clinic and have already notified students and staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected student.

*** Downstate ***

* The Telegraph | SIUE proposes cutting seven bachelor’s degree programs: In an email to SIUE students, staff and faculty Friday, Chancellor James Minor said he recommends eliminating the art history, music theory, musical theater, physics and French degree programs, as well as the chemistry department’s bioprocess and medical science programs. Despite a $10 million deficit for the current fiscal year, Minor said SIUE is not in a “budget crisis.”

* BND | No arrests after confrontation between O’Fallon demonstrators and man with Nazi flag: No arrests were made following a disturbance between a protester and counter-protester on Saturday in O’Fallon. Police Chief Kirk Brueggeman said officers responded to a call when a young man was seen carrying a red flag bearing a swastika near Schildknecht Funeral Home and City Hall on Lincoln Avenue around 11: 30 a.m. […] “I wasn’t there. I am looking at a video now. It was a small disturbance and did not result in any arrests,” he said. “It came up rather quickly, in front of the funeral home. Police separated both sides and both parties went on their way.”

* WGLT | Normal council OKs Connect Transit expansion beyond Bloomington-Normal: Connect Transit is currently operated through a joint ordinance from the town and the City of Bloomington. The change would extend the agency’s service area from the confines of Bloomington-Normal into all of McLean County. If approved by Bloomington, the move could fill the gap left when McLean County ended a contract with Show Bus last year. The funding amount paid by the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington would still not include expenses outside of their respective city boundaries.

* WSIL | Sandbagging Efforts as Ohio River Rises in Mound City: Students from Shawnee Community College’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program stepped up to help fill and load sandbags—many of them residents of Pulaski or Alexander County, who said they felt a responsibility to protect their communities. The river isn’t expected to crest for several more days, and officials say now is the critical window for prevention.

* WSIL | Officials say Big Muddy River in Murphysboro expected to Crest Wednesday: Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens says they are providing over 5,000 bags for Murphysboro residents to protect their homes. “Available at Boss Truck Service, and the sand is free, and the sandbags are free. Some people got sandbags just to put around their furnace that might be in their basement if they were worried about flash flooding or water coming up in their basement,” Stephens said.

* 25News Now | Central Illinois Girl Scout earns highest honor aiding the disabled: Erica Justkiv of Girl Scout Troop 4152 developed lesson plans on how to sew bags that can be hung on walkers and wheelchairs. Justkiv is now a Bradley University student, but she worked with her alma mater of Washington Community High School and the “Busy Bees” weekly sewing group to create walker bags, cell phone pouches and blankets. They were donated to nursing homes. Her lessons will now be used for the school’s fashion class in the upcoming semesters as a community service project.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Vendor responses cool to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request they volunteer to accept less: The city of Chicago’s request to vendors to accept 3% cuts to their contracts to help balance the city’s books has fallen far short of its goal while yielding a handful of incredulous and scathing responses, according to emails. […] The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects responded on behalf of its 3,300 members to Roberts’ request, describing it as “deeply troubling … counterproductive and damaging” to the “perceived reliability of working with the city of Chicago.”

* WBEZ | Ex-Gitmo detainee could air allegations of torture by former Chicago detective: A Cook County Circuit Court judge is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on whether to allow testimony by a former Guantánamo detainee before she rules on a request to throw out a decades-old murder confession allegedly coerced by a Chicago detective. Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a terrorism suspect held for 14 years in the U.S. detention camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, endured a shocking interrogation allegedly overseen by Richard Zuley, a Chicago detective stationed at the camp while on leave from CPD.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago principals union looks to lock in first collective bargaining agreement: In February, CPS and the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association, the union representing school leaders, restarted contract talks after putting them on hold in the fall amid time-consuming and often contentious negotiations between the district and the Chicago Teachers Union. The district reached a tentative agreement with the CTU last week. The principals union is advocating for more professional development, a process that allows unsuccessful candidates for principal jobs to grieve that result and get feedback, eligibility criteria, and more due process for principals facing discipline, among other things.

* Sun-Times | Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun to chair DuSable Black History Museum board of trustees: Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun has been elected board chair of The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, the museum announced Monday. “As the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, Carol Moseley Braun has a long history of championing civil rights, social justice and educational equity. Her appointment to the role of Board Chair aligns perfectly with the museum’s continued efforts to preserve and promote the rich history and cultural contributions of African Americans and Black people worldwide,” museum officials said in a news release.

*** National ***

* NYT | The Three States That Are Especially Stuck if Congress Cuts Medicaid: Even many blue states that passed expansion through their legislatures will probably stop Medicaid coverage for poor adults if cuts go through. Twelve states, including Illinois and Virginia, have passed legislation that would automatically rescind the expansion if federal funding dips. The states with constitutional amendments are already beginning to prepare for the possibility of a major budget hole. In Oklahoma, for example, federal Medicaid funding makes up almost 30 percent of the state’s entire budget.

* AP | RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. Kennedy said he’s assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations. […] Kennedy cannot order communities to stop fluoridation, but he can direct the CDC to stop recommending it and work with the EPA to change the allowed amount.

* NYT | Trump Administration Aims to Spend $45 Billion to Expand Immigrant Detention: The request, which comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calls for contractors to submit proposals to provide new detention facilities, transportation, security guards, medical support and other administrative services worth as much as $45 billion over the next two years. ICE does not yet have that much money itself. But if funded, the maximum value would represent more than a sixfold increase in spending to detain immigrants. It is the latest indication that President Trump and his administration are laying the groundwork to rapidly follow through on his promise for a mass campaign to rid the country of undocumented immigrants.

* CNN | How Actual ‘Fake News’ on X Caused Real Market Whiplash Monday Morning: The false posts may have originated from a real Fox News interview with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at around 8:30 a.m. ET. Hassett was asked whether President Donald Trump would “consider a 90-day pause in tariffs,” and he replied in part: “The president is (going to) decide what the president is (going to) decide.” According to CNN’s analysis, the first X post to claim Hassett said Trump would consider a 90-day pause in tariffs came at 10:11 a.m. ET from an account called “Hammer Capital” with the handle “yourfavorito,” which has barely 1,000 followers.

* AP | Clem Burke, multifaceted drummer of iconic rock group Blondie, has died: rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes, has died. He was 70. The band said in a statement on its website Monday that he died from cancer but no additional details were provided.