* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Democratic governors blast GOP’s “impossible” Medicaid proposal. Axios…

- Democratic governors warned that proposed House Republican cuts to Medicaid—estimated at over $880 billion—would be “impossible” for states to absorb or replace with state funds.
- The 23 governors, issued a statement calling the cuts “disastrous.”
- The Congressional Budget Office has not calculated the exact amount Republicans would reduce spending by, but they estimated on Monday that the overall cuts from the Energy and Commerce committee — which covers the Medicaid budget — would be more than $880 billion.
- Democrats also criticized proposed GOP changes to SNAP that would require states to help fund benefits, calling it a harmful cost shift to already strained state budgets.

* Related stories…

∙ WSJ: Proposal Cutting Medicaid Aims for GOP Middle Ground
∙ Politico: States bear the brunt of House GOP Medicaid plan
∙ CBS: Medicaid recipients could face work requirements under GOP bill
∙

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Tight fiscal picture, federal funding uncertainty complicate state budget talks: At a luncheon event last week, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch discussed how the uncertainty could force lawmakers back to Springfield this summer to make adjustments to the budget that goes into effect July 1. “We’re going to pass the budget here in the next couple of weeks with the information we know. There’s a lot of things we don’t know,” the Hillside Democrat said. “The only thing we can do is be committed to a process that’s going to have everyone at the table and continue to say we’re not going to spend more than we’re bringing in.”

* Crain’s | U of I’s scrapped Discovery Partners Institute project in South Loop to undergo state audit: Illinois officials will be taking a closer look at the scuttled Discovery Partners Institute project in the South Loop, a now-scrapped plan to build a $285 million research and teaching facility on the south end of the 62-acre neighborhood development known as The 78. The Illinois Audit Commission approved a resolution late last month calling on the Illinois Auditor General to investigate the reported $30 million in taxpayer funds spent on the project led by the University of Illinois.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Congresswoman Robin Kelly embraces underdog status in bid to succeed US Sen. Dick Durbin: Despite having more years in public office than other candidates in the Democratic primary race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly on Monday embraced her underdog status in the nascent campaign against a pair of opponents expected to be flush with campaign cash. To take on Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom will still be in office when Durbin’s successor is seated after next year’s election, “you need a fighter, someone that’s not afraid,” the seven-term congresswoman from south suburban Matteson said during an hourlong appearance before the City Club of Chicago. It was Kelly’s first major public event in Illinois since joining the race last week.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | IL state rep asks tollway to explain error costing taxpayers $44.6 million: State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox lake, said a report from The Daily Herald highlights how a contract for tollway construction west of Chicago went to the wrong company. Weber said the work agreement on the I-88, I-290 and I-294 interchange was given to a company from out of state, even though state law gives preference to Illinois companies bidding up to 4% higher. “The new contractor came in who, because of our 4% Illinois preference law, that was the mistake that was made,” Weber said

* Fortune | Democratic state treasurers rip GOP over budget bill — ‘taxing Barbies and G.I. Joes if you can even find them on store shelves’: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said House Republicans are executing the play President Trump called for by reducing health care spending to fund tax cuts for wealthy Americans. The impact, said Frerichs, will be that millions of Americans lose access to health care, including hundreds of thousands in Illinois.

*** Chicago ***

* Bloomberg | Pritzker Scores Quantum Win as Australian Firm Picks Chicago Hub: The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, which will be under construction over the next two years, has signed a letter of intent with Diraq, an Australian firm working on expanding technology using silicon quantum dot spin qubits, which quantum computers use to exchange information. Diraq will use the park’s “On-Ramp,” a program that provides more than 2,000 square feet of space and specialized equipment while the campus is under development at the site of a former US Steel plant.

* Chicago Reader | How to navigate the Cook County court system after a shooting: The Trace spoke with six experts—victim advocates and survivors—to learn about the ways people can better prepare. While each expert acknowledged that there isn’t a single best approach because what might benefit one person could hinder another, they shared advice based on what the people they’ve worked with have found useful. They suggested having a plan before every court appearance, leaning on people who can provide support, and bracing for the blunt, unfiltered nature of a trial. We’ve compiled some of their wisdom here with the hopes that it might help other Chicagoans navigate this complicated journey.

* Sun-Times | City Council’s Latino Caucus picks Johnson critic as new chair: One of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s most outspoken critics, Ald. Andre Vasquez, is the newly elected chair of the City Council’s 14-member Latino Caucus — and promises to turn up the heat on the embattled mayor to bolster Latino hiring and contracting. Vasquez (40th) replaces Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), who has had only praise for the embattled mayor, in part, because she is one of Johnson’s allies.

* Tribune | Swath of Lincoln Yards site, still mostly empty 6 years after winning City Council approval, could be sold: The company is assessing the feasibility of buying the 53-acre site’s northern half, which developer Sterling Bay surrendered to lender Bank OZK earlier this year, according to a source familiar with the potential deal. JDL has stayed mum about the possible sale and what it might do with the empty plot of land along the North Branch of the Chicago River north of Cortland Street. What sort of changes JDL may need from Sterling Bay’s original redevelopment agreement with the city, and any new zoning approvals it may need, are not clear.

* Crain’s | Mixed-income housing plan for old Cabrini grounds lines up $46M for final phase: Holsten started redeveloping the site in 2004, as the Chicago Housing Authority demolished most of Cabrini-Green Homes, the massive public housing project that at its peak housed 15,000 people but became widely known for its problems with poverty and crime. The broader development, Parkside at Old Town, will total nearly 800 units. The demolition drew criticism from housing advocates who argued the plan would displace residents from their homes. A lawsuit from a residents group resulted in a consent decree mandating the development of 700 units of public housing on the Near North Side. Holsten and other developers started partnering with CHA to build new housing as the towers came down.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police recruit arrested with ’suspected crack cocaine’ at training academy has case tossed: The court record offers no indication why the felony drug charge was tossed out during his first hearing. But the recruit’s lawyer, Tim Grace, said the case was dropped after testing proved the alleged contraband wasn’t actually narcotics. On April 21, the 24-year-old recruit was acting as a crime suspect being searched for drugs when he was found with four baggies with green dollar signs that contained “suspect crack cocaine,” according to police reports. The recruit had been given phony heroin in a bag with blue stars.

* Tribune | Cop on mayor’s detail suspended after allegedly drinking at Trump inauguration celebration, showing up for work: Records obtained by the Tribune show Najera allegedly was drunk when arrived for the shift at the mayor’s home after leaving the inauguration celebration at Trump Tower. A breathalyzer test administered that night revealed a .134 BAC, according to Chicago Police Department internal affairs records. A department supervisor confiscated Najera’s gun and he was immediately stripped of his police powers. He was given a 25-day suspension which the department reported he has yet to serve.

* WGN | Construction underway at Gompers Park amid ongoing safety concerns: While no tents were set up in Gompers Park as of Monday evening, there were tents seen across Pulaski Road in Eugene Field Park. In a statement released to WGN News, the Chicago Park District said it will continue to collaborate with the City on finding amicable means to resettle tent inhabitants.

* WGN | Chicago climate report: Lack of rain puts Chicagoland in drought territory: So far this month, we’ve only seen two days with measurable rainfall. May is typically our soggiest month of the year. We’re about an inch and a half behind where we should be almost halfway into the month. The lack of rainfall has pushed many of us around Chicagoland back into some form of drought condition. The latest USDA Drought Outlook that’s released weekly on Thursdays has most of us in “abnormally dry” which is the lowest drought level and some spots with “moderate drought” towards the NW corner of Illinois.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Cook County property tax bills likely to be delayed: The delay is the latest setback for county officials. Aside from tax bill delays during the pandemic, tax officials have been at odds or openly feuding for several years over the accuracy of assessments, the expense of tech upgrades and plain politics. Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office is blaming Tyler Technologies, the contractor in charge of updating the data systems across the county’s property tax offices, for the delay. Other property tax officials, however, say Kaegi is at fault for failing to prioritize this issue and missing a foundational step in the tax process.

* Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan’s temporary casino hits revenue milestone; permanent facility plans moving ‘full steam ahead’: Reaching a revenue milestone in March of nearly $10.9 million, American Place continues to draw customers from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and elsewhere in Chicagoland, leading Full House President and CEO Daniel R. Lee to tout its role for the company. Lee said in a May 8 press release that American Place took “meaningful strides” in the first quarter of this year at its temporary facility, and anticipates a much stronger performance once the permanent resort and casino opens.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Transition team for Aurora Mayor-elect John Laesch busy ahead of Tuesday inauguration: Laesch, who has been an alderman at-large for the past two years, is set to give a speech at Tuesday’s inauguration about his plans and vision for Aurora, according to a city news release. He told The Beacon-News on Monday that his transition team has been making good progress in its advisory role. The primary purpose of the team, Laesch said, has been to bring in subject matter experts to help discuss topics he may not specialize in. Chuck Nelson said Laesch’s transition team also represents a good cross section of the city, from elected officials and civic leaders to engaged citizenry.

* ABC Chicago | Harvey residents seek investigation into mayor’s office after alderwoman arrested during meeting: Residents claim they have continuously been silenced by the mayor’s office, a claim also being made by 2nd Ward Alderwoman Colby Chapman. “I witness a troubling pattern in our governance, a pattern of silencing voices and shielding decision from public view,” Chapman said. Chapman was arrested during a council meeting two weeks ago, she said, while trying to speak on behalf of a resident. The city council voted to censure her and remove her from the meeting, as seen on video.

* Daily Herald | Warm weather bringing more ticks to the suburbs: As of Wednesday, the DuPage County Health Department reported 32 tick sightings from residents using its Citizen Reporter app. In all of 2024, the department received a total of 42 reports on the app. “We’re on pace to be higher than last year,” said Matt Fullam, environmental health program manager for the DuPage County Health Department.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Bloomington City Council lends its support to shelter village proposal: The council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the sale of the property, where the shelter village known as “The Bridge” will be developed, from Connect Transit to Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM]. “This project really represents collaboration. It represents a step forward, and one that’s really rooted in dignity and care,” said council member Cody Hendricks. “Is it going to be perfect? No, nothing ever is. But it’s a start and it’s the right start.

* WGEM | Quincy City Council introduces ordinance that could shorten meetings: A new ordinance was introduced that would wrap all petitions and resolutions into a consent agenda. “Weeks where we have a large number of public comments and a long agenda, it’s hard to really still be in it,” 3rd Ward Alderwoman Kelly Mays said. Mays started the discussion during the first presentation of the ordinance. Aldermen Greg Fletcher and Jeff Bergman both voiced their displeasure with the ordinance citing a lack of transparency.

* WAND | Building the future: Mattoon HS students construct house from the ground up: Led by Construction Trades Teacher Troy Haacke, the Building Trades program at Mattoon High School gives students real-world experience in the construction industry. Haacke told WAND News the students do it all, from laying the foundation to installing drywall and painting walls. The class, offered to juniors and seniors, combines classroom learning with on-site work. Students first learn tools and equipment safety, construction terms, blueprint reading, and material estimating before moving onto the job site. There, they assist with everything from framing and roofing to electrical wiring and siding installation.

*** National ***

* NYT | Why Patients Are Being Forced to Switch to a 2nd-Choice Obesity Drug: CVS Caremark decided to stop offering Zepbound in favor of Wegovy for weight loss. It’s the latest example of limits imposed by insurance that disrupt treatments for patients.

* Bolts | A New Crackdown on Ballot Initiatives Unnerves Florida Organizers: The legislation makes it a felony for a volunteer to collect more than 25 signatures for a campaign from people outside their family without getting approval from the state, which requires background checks and training.

* NYT | Pope’s Family History Offers a Glimpse Into the American Creole Journey: The pope’s maternal grandparents, both of whom are described as Black or “mulatto” in various historical records, lived in the city’s Seventh Ward, an area that is traditionally Catholic and a melting pot of people with African, Caribbean and European roots.

* The Verge | Ticketmaster will finally show the full price of your ticket up front: Now, when you’re shopping for tickets, Ticketmaster will display a ticket’s full price, alongside a dropdown menu that you can select to see how much you’re paying for the “Face Value” of a ticket and the service fee. You still won’t see local taxes or delivery fees until checkout.