* Tribune…

The Trump administration’s refocusing of federal resources on immigration has landed at the Chicago office of the IRS’s criminal investigation bureau, where agents accustomed to working complex financial cases are now being prepared for unprecedented special assignments to help track down undocumented immigrants, a memo obtained by the Tribune shows.

The communication sent to staff this week by Ramsey Covington, special agent in charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Chicago field office, said he was still “working to get legal advice/clarification” on the situation, but that as many as a dozen Chicago-based agents were expected to be detailed to the Department of Homeland Security’s local immigration efforts for up to six months.

The plan to “deputize” IRS agents, which was first revealed in February in a leaked letter from Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, is uncharted territory and comes with several snags, including that IRS agents are not trained on federal immigration and border security laws, collectively known as “Title 8,” and could potentially face civil lawsuits if they overstep their authority.

The memo from Covington sought to allay any fears in the ranks, though he acknowledged the situation was “fluid” and he was still seeking clarification from the Department of Justice on his office’s exact role. No agents would be put in the field without proper clearance, Covington assured.

* Brenden Moore…

Anyone who knew Emma Shafer knows exactly where she would have been last Wednesday. […]

Emma was a friend and ally to immigrants, whether they were living here with permanent legal status or not. Among the many organizations she gave her time to was the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network, which assists immigrant and refugee families in Illinois’ capital city. […]

I am not an objective person here. Emma was my friend, and I’ve gotten to know her remarkable family well since her passing. But even if it were a total stranger, my view would be the same: The immediate family’s opinion is the only one that matters. If they do not want their deceased loved one to become a poster child for a political cause, then those wishes should be respected.

Noem was joined at the presser by other people whose relatives were allegedly killed by people without legal status. If that’s how they want to honor their loved ones’ memories, that’s fine.

But the political theater in Springfield last Wednesday was built around the narrative of Emma’s case. And without her family’s blessing, that was wrong.

Sadly, it is just one example of a political culture that has become increasingly callous and cruel. It is one where many political operators seemingly throw basic decency out the window and don’t offer a shred of genuine empathy.

Go read the rest.

* WGN…

The Illinois High School Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics, will collaborate with state lawmakers over a bill that aims to allow student-athletes to compete in more sporting events not sanctioned by the IHSA while their high school seasons are going on.

The IHSA announced in a news release this week that it’s working with state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) to expand opportunities for student-athletes to compete in local and national sporting events, based on the two lawmakers’ work on House Bill 3037, known as the Right to Play Act.

The bill has passed the Illinois House and is currently awaiting further action in the Senate.

* Sen. Robert Peters picked up an endorsement from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders…

Robert Peters is a principled leader & organizer with a record of winning progressive policy fights.

He will champion Medicare for All, fight to block cuts to Medicare & Medicaid, and take on the Big Money interests that are corrupting our politics.

I am proud to endorse him. https://t.co/N8MyhDCAj6

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 14, 2025

*** Statewide ***

* CBS Chicago | Illinois DMV services affected by nationwide outage impacting U.S. passport verification, Giannoulias says: The Secretary of State’s office confirmed DMVs are running as normal and released the following statement: “We activated a process that we put in place to enable us to process U.S. passports and immigration documents from other countries at our DMV facilities. We are not experiencing any delays at our DMVs as a result.”

* WLDS | Illinois Filling Potholes: Illinois spent $19-million last year to fill the holes on the interstate system, and other highways. […] Paul Wappel of the state transportation department says you can expect more of the same this year. He says crews on on the road now, working through the summer heat. Wappel says the crews will be working through the summer.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WBEZ | Young candidates are trying to unseat incumbents in Illinois and beyond: The 2020 presidential election was a contest between two of the oldest candidates in U.S. history, and the average age of a U.S. senator is 65. However, there’s also been a recent uptick in Gen Z and millennial candidates running for public office. Reset talks with journalists and a state representative about the rise in political candidacies by young people.

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Former deputy seeks release as Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments: Grayson has been in custody since his arrest last year following the shooting of Sonya Massey in her home during a 911 call about a prowler. On Wednesday, Grayson’s defense argued that he would not jeopardize his trial by violating any release conditions. They emphasized that Grayson would comply with all regulations if released. The prosecution countered by highlighting Grayson’s history of disregarding regulations, suggesting he may pose a danger to the community if released.

* PJ Star | Why Peoria won’t reconsider its recent decision to pass a grocery tax: There was no official debate about Peoria’s freshly passed grocery tax on Tuesday night, but there were more accusations of political gamesmanship lobbed around the horseshoe as a motion to reconsider the tax failed to gain traction. Peoria’s 1% grocery tax, which was passed last month to replace the 1% state grocery tax that will end on Jan. 1, 2026, will remain in place after a motion to reconsider the tax put forward by councilmember Zach Oyler failed.

* WCIA | Champaign County honors lives lost in the line of duty for National Police Week: Signing up to be in law enforcement is no easy task. That’s why Champaign County took time to honor their officers during National Police Week. The community came out to support the men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty Tuesday morning. The ceremony focused on officers in Champaign County and throughout the state, calling each person’s name one by one.

* BND | Infection control among safety issues in metro-east hospitals, watchdog report says: Illinois moved up in the state rankings this spring, with three additional “A” hospitals bringing the Land of Lincoln from 23rd to 20th in the nation for the greatest percentage of “A” hospitals. Out of eight local hospitals, one saw an improved grade this spring compared to the fall, and none got lower letter grades.

* WCIA | ‘Humbling and exciting’: Sullivan interim band director up for Grammy award: Mattoon’s Christopher Keniley is officially a quarter finalist for the 2026 Grammy Music Educator Award. He took over leadership of the Sullivan band program after tragedy struck last year and kept the music steady through sorrow.

* WSIL | Football at John A. Logan College? Local impact under review: John A. Logan College is exploring the potential of launching a football program. Board Chairman Aaron R. Smith has formed a special advisory committee to evaluate its feasibility. “This isn’t something we’re rushing into,” said Chairman Smith. “We’ve seen another college in southern Illinois begin exploring the same idea, and we believe it makes sense for us to take a serious look as well. But to be clear — if the committee’s findings suggest it isn’t financially viable, I would not be in favor of moving forward. Ultimately, any decision would rest with the full board.”

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago principals union blasts CPS CEO budget planning, calling it ‘magical’ and ‘false’: In a letter to members, obtained by WBEZ, the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association says their understanding is that school-level budgets are based on the premise that CPS will get increased state funding, receive all promised federal funding and, the most unlikely, the city will liquidate all of its special taxing districts called TIFs. CEO Pedro Martinez has advocated for TIFs to be liquidated, but it is considered extremely unrealistic.

* Crain’s | City panel OKs subsidy for 400-unit office-to-apartment conversion: The Chicago Community Development Commission today approved the tax-increment financing money for a $184 million conversion of the 41-story tower at 105 W. Adams St. The proposal from a venture of Chicago-based Primera Group is the sixth project born out of a program launched in 2022 by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and continued by Mayor Brandon Johnson to help developers transform empty office space on and near LaSalle Street into apartments.

* Block Club | Mayor Brandon Johnson Says He Hasn’t Done Enough To Convince Chicago Of Job He’s Doing: Reports indicate Johnson is now preparing to appoint his chief operating officer, John Roberson, a City Hall veteran and one-time aviation commissioner, as CTA president. Transit advocacy groups are calling on Johnson to conduct a nationwide search for the role, which they say should be filled by someone with “deep experience running a public transit system in a major metropolitan region” to rebuild trust with riders. But Johnson told Block Club on Monday that a nationwide search had already been completed.

* Sun-Times | First-of-its-kind community law office opens in Roseland, offering families legal defense and support: The prospect of Johnson tapping Roberson for the role drew opposition at last week’s meeting of the CTA board, which has final approval of the agency’s next president. Johnson would not confirm that Roberson was his selection — though he still defended Roberson’s credentials. “Here’s someone who has managed aviation buildings, he managed the Democratic National Convention. Here’s someone who has strong roots in the city of Chicago, who understands why transportation is important,” Johnson said. “This is a person who was highly respected and regarded and has my complete confidence.”

* Fox Chicago | Chicago crash: Driver slams into parked ISP squad car on I-290, police say: The driver of the Dodge, Cordell Franklin, 40, of Chicago, did not report any injuries from the crash, ISP said. Police did not say if any troopers were injured. Franklin was cited for driving under the influence, illegal transportation of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, following too closely, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and a Move Over Law violation.

* WBEZ | Section 8 renters say landlords routinely reject their housing choice vouchers: Tens of thousands of Chicago-area residents rely on federal rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher program, often referred to as Section 8, to help pay for rent in the private market. While local and state laws bar landlords from discriminating against voucher holders, recent discrimination complaints and lawsuits have shown the legislation hasn’t moved the needle. Some voucher holders say it is routine to encounter landlords who say they don’t participate in the program.

* Block Club | Pokémon Fossil Exhibit Coming To Field Museum Next Year: The exhibition is set to open May 22, 2026, and it will be the first time it has appeared outside of Japan, according to a Field Museum news release. It merges the worlds of video games and archeology, with visitors able to compare fossil Pokémon with real-world fossils. The Pokémon exhibit was developed by Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science, The Pokémon Company group and the Field Museum. It’ll feature “professors” from the Pokémon world, an “Excavator Pikachu” and Field Museum scientists who can help visitors examine fossils from both worlds, including real ones of dinosaurs.

* Sun-Times | Tracking the Bears on NFL schedule release day: New head coach Ben Johnson will make his Week 1 debut in a “Monday Night Football” home game against the rival Vikings, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. The Bears already know two prominent games on their schedule. On Monday, the Bears learned they will play at the Eagles on Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. in Amazon Prime Video’s Black Friday game.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Northwestern faces another federal investigation alleging discrimination against Jewish students: In a statement, the agency and the Trump administration accused Northwestern and other elite universities of failing to protect Jewish students during the widespread campus protests following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza. “The investigation will examine whether the University complied with its obligations under Title VI not to discriminate against Jewish students, such that it denied them an educational opportunity or benefit,” a HHS statement released Tuesday morning said.

* Daily Herald | Carpentersville purchases former Kohl’s building at Spring Hill Mall for $2 million: Kohl’s, which closed in April, was the last available property at the mall. West Dundee purchased the remainder of the property, including portions within the Carpentersville village limits, for $10.25 million. “While the village has generally abided by the policy of not becoming an investor in commercial property, the Kohl’s location is integral to the village’s ongoing interest in the area,” Village Attorney Brad Stewart wrote in a memo to trustees.

* Daily Herald | ‘Moving in a new direction’: Carpentersville names new village manager:The action comes two weeks after an April 29 closed-door meeting resulted in John O’Sullivan’s firing. The former village administrator confirmed last week his termination and said he cleared out his office on April 30. Without discussion, trustees formally approved O’Sullivan’s removal. They then named Brad Stewart, who has served as the village attorney for seven years, as village manager, effective June 1. “We’re moving in a new direction,” Village President John Skillman said after Tuesday’s meeting.

*** National ***

* Business Insider | VW and Rivian’s new $22,500 car proves cheap EVs don’t have to be low-tech, the Tesla rival’s software boss says: The Tesla rival is partnering with Volkswagen to provide technology for a new $22,500 electric car, and Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s chief software officer, said the coming EV wouldn’t compromise on tech despite its low price point. VW and Rivian announced a deal last year for the German car giant to invest over $5 billion in the startup and form a joint company to develop next-generation software and EV technology, with Bensaid and VW exec Carsten Helbing as co-CEOs.

* AP | More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code: The mass layoffs come just weeks after Microsoft reported strong sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations for the January-March quarter, which investors took as a dose of relief during a turbulent time for the tech sector and U.S. economy. “I think many people have this conception of layoffs as something that struggling companies have to do to save themselves, which is one reason for layoffs but it’s not the only reason,” said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at workplace reviews site Glassdoor. “Big tech companies have trimmed their workforces as they rearrange their strategies and pull back from the more aggressive hiring that they did during the early post-pandemic years.”