* The Triibe…

Criminal justice advocates, however, are hoping that the Illinois legislature also will pass five proposed bills they’ve long advocated for on the behalf of imprisoned and formerly incarcerated people. They are encouraging Illinois residents to call their state representative or senator to vote ‘yes’ on these measures that would do things such as restore voting rights to the currently incarcerated and create a fund to help people with housing and employment after release from prison. […]

The Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act, also known as SB1733, would give all people who are incarcerated in Illinois prisons the right to vote in local and federal elections. It would also require Illinois prisons to provide civic education courses to people serving time in prison. […]

The Clean Slate Illinois Coalition (CSIC), which is leading the effort, aims to streamline expungement and record sealing statewide.

For many impacted by the criminal justice system, the stigma of a conviction doesn’t end once their sentence is complete. A criminal record creates barriers to housing, jobs, and more.

* Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Chamber, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and others…

Illinois’ business community is united in opposition to proposed legislation that would drastically expand Illinois’ jurisdictional reach. House Amendment #2 to SB 26 would expose out-of-state companies to lawsuits in Illinois courts—even when the underlying claims and parties have no connection to the state.

“This last-minute request of trial lawyers represents a significant and concerning expansion of liability for out-of-state businesses operating in Illinois. The amendment would change Illinois from a ‘specific jurisdiction’ to a ‘general jurisdiction’ state, making any company simply registered to do business here subject to lawsuits that have no connection to Illinois—filed by plaintiffs who may have no ties to our state, on matters that occurred elsewhere. This proposal is rooted in the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., which opened the door for states to adopt so-called ‘consent-by-registration’ laws. While the Court found such laws do not violate due process, the decision left it to individual states to determine their own approach. Illinois should be cautious about taking a path that could make our courts a national magnet for toxic tort litigation. When similar legislation passed in New York last year, it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul, who recognized the risks of such a sweeping policy. We urge lawmakers to reject this amendment and instead support policies that promote fairness, protect due process, and encourage businesses to invest and grow in Illinois.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Illinois Answers | ‘Granny flats’ are illegal to build in most of Chicago —and political gridlock is keeping it that way.: As Chicago leaders sit on their hands, proposals to permit ADU construction across Illinois are gaining support in Springfield, where lawmakers are pushing their own measures. Adding to the momentum is Gov. JB Pritzker, who recently endorsed ADUs as a tool to increase the state’s stock of affordable housing. “Think about carriage houses,” Pritzker said in an April 30 episode of the Volts podcast after an interviewer asked the governor about his housing agenda. “We’ve got neighborhoods where people are not allowed to have those as separate dwellings — or just the idea that we can, if we make a few tweaks here and there, we can significantly increase the amount of housing with the existing housing stock.”

* Tribune | Chicago Bears and Gov. JB Pritzker have quietly hired outside consultants for stadium talks: The state’s yearlong contract, set to expire in mid-June, was signed with Argeris’ previous employer, international law firm Hogan Lovells. […] Argeris’ role has involved meeting with Bears representatives, analyzing the team’s proposals and breaking down how they would affect Illinois taxpayers, according to the Pritzker administration. He also has advised the governor’s office on how the state could potentially generate revenue from a stadium project.

* NPR Illinois | Senator tries last-ditch push to boost horse-racing industry in Illinois: In the backstretch of the legislative session, horse racing advocates are pushing to revitalize the industry in Illinois and its accompanying horse betting, both long in decline. City officials from Decatur and Illinois horse racing advocates joined an effort this week by Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, to push lawmakers to approve legislation intended to revive a long-stalled south suburban “racino” and open a path for a new racetrack and gaming facility in Decatur.

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club Chicago | Chicago Museums And Libraries Feel Sting Of Trump Funding Cuts: As Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown wrote in a statement shared with Block Club, efforts to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services are not just cutting a budget, but “dismantling the future of public libraries.” Patrick Molloy, director of government and public affairs for the Chicago Public Library system, said IMLS funding has been crucial in launching programs like the YOUmedia teen digital learning spaces, the public Maker Labs at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., and other branches and the Summer Learning Challenge.

* ABC Chicago | Canadian wildfire smoke headed toward Chicago: Warmer temperatures are forecasted to settle in on Friday and through the weekend. Martinez said smoke and hazy skies are expected to roll in to the Chicago area late morning into the early afternoon. So far, no air quality alerts have been issued. ABC7 meteorologists will track the smoke and keep viewers updated.

* NBC Chicago | Ticket information released for Pope Leo XIV celebration at Rate Field: According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, those tickets will go on sale Friday morning through Ticketmaster, though ticket prices were not released. The seating map appears to have tickets available in all sections of the ballpark, in addition to floor-level seating on the field. According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV will address the crowd via a video message during the event. The message will be aimed at “the young people of the world,” and will make its broadcast debut during the event, officials said.

* NYT | Chicago Museum Director to Return to Work After Airplane Incident: The board leadership “is confident in James Rondeau’s leadership and ability to continue as the president and director,” the museum said in a statement. […] “I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and on my colleagues,” Rondeau said in a statement. “I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission.”

* Sun-Times | New opera honors the Black women of the Civil Rights Movement: In Montgomery, Alabama, a statue of Rosa Parks stands just blocks from the State Capitol. At her feet, granite markers memorialize four other women, but the monument offers little else about them. These women have largely been forgotten, until now. The lesser-known figures who powered the Civil Rights Movement are the subject of a brand-new opera, set to make its world premiere next week in Chicago.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Fermilab closing Batavia entrance for construction: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is closing its Batavia-side public entrance on Monday because of a construction project. The Pine Street entrance is being closed as the lab builds a Welcome and Access Center, which is expected to open later this year. Visitors can enter on the east side of the lab via Batavia Road in Warrenville. The entrance is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, public visitors are only allowed on the grounds from sunrise to sunset.

* NBC Chicago | Lutheran school in west suburbs to close after 159 years: The school announced in January it was closing after 159 years, citing lack of enrollment and financial support. It first opened its doors on the east side of Aurora before moving to its current location 16 years ago at 85 S. Constitution Dr. “We’ve been struggling the last couple of years, and I think it was just a different time for our school to happen,” teacher and interim principal Mikala Perino said.

* USA Today | Second federal court blocks Trump tariffs, this time for Illinois toy importers: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from collecting tariffs from a pair of Illinois toy importers, the second court in two days to nullify President Donald Trump’s top strategy for trade deals. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered the administration May 29 not to collect tariffs from Learning Resources and hand2mind based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, while the case is litigated. He paused the impact of his ruling to give the government two weeks to appeal his decision.

* Daily Southtown | Big Catch group’s first female Angler of the Year ‘blessed with talent I didn’t know I had’: Paula Stovall, 62, of Country Club Hills, became the first female to win Angler of the Year in the Big Catch Angler Association, a south-suburban organization which was established in 2004. Her “Pops” would be proud. Stovall was presented with the award in front of friends and family on her birthday, April 13, at a BCAA meeting in Chicago Heights.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | As Champaign Co. prepares to discuss a solar proposal, residents voice concerns: Thursday night, the Champaign County Zoning Board of Appeals will discuss a solar project and could give a recommendation of support or denial for the proposal to eventually continue onto the Champaign County Environment and Land Use Committee. For the neighbors by Bryarfield Court, they vote a big “no” on the project, and they’ve been very vocal about that stance.

* WSIL | Marion honors tornado victims with Tower Square bell ceremony: The tornado began just outside of Cambria and carved a destructive path through Route 13 directly into Marion. It left a lasting impact on the community by ravaging shopping centers, businesses, homes, and apartments. On that tragic day, 10 individuals lost their lives and 136 were injured. Many residents faced the challenge of rebuilding after losing their homes and businesses.

* WSIL | Carbondale’s SIH Memorial Hospital earns top maternity care honor again: “We’re proud to be named a Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report,” said SIH Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Harre. “It’s a powerful reflection of the skill and dedication of our entire Birthing Center team-especially our nurses, laborists, neonatologists and support staff who provide expert, compassionate care every day.” SIH Memorial Hospital excelled in key quality measures related to uncomplicated pregnancy care, such as C-section rates and unexpected newborn complications.

* Journal Courier | State fair box office opening up next week: Those who arrive on the first day of in-person sales will receive one free adult admission ticket to the fair for every concert or event ticket purchased. The first 50 in-person customers will receive free State Fair Foodie Passes, which contain gift certificates for food items throughout the fair. Discounted Mega Passes will be available at the Emmerson Building or online and give fairgoers unlimited access to rides in the Carnival Midway and Adventure Village.

*** National ***

* Gallup | Record Party Divide 10 Years After Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: Democrats’ support has risen to 88%, the record high for this group by one percentage point. Independents’ backing for same-sex marriage has been relatively stable in recent years and currently stands at 76%, one point shy of the record high. At the same time, Republicans’ support, which peaked at 55% in 2021 and 2022, has gradually edged down to 41%, the lowest point since 2016 after the Obergefell decision. The current 47-point gap between Republicans and Democrats is the largest since Gallup first began tracking this measure 29 years ago.

* Thrifty Traveler | Exclusive: US Airlines Are Quietly Hitting Solo & Biz Travelers with Higher Fares: Since we published that story, we’ve searched through hundreds of fares and found plenty of examples that prove it: All three of the country’s largest carriers (American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta) are penalizing solo travelers with higher ticket prices than you can book when traveling with a group – sometimes, significantly higher. It’s not exactly widespread – you won’t see it on each and every route – but it’s undeniable. And while it’s unclear how long this pricing tactic has been utilized, it doesn’t really matter: Whether it’s been just days, months, or even years, it’s something that few everyday travelers may realize is happening … or how much it might be costing them.

* NOTUS | The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says his “Make America Healthy Again” Commission report harnesses “gold-standard” science, citing more than 500 studies and other sources to back up its claims. Those citations, though, are rife with errors, from broken links to misstated conclusions. Seven of the cited sources don’t appear to exist at all.