* Sun-Times…

Right-wing internet personality Ben Bergquam on Thursday filmed outside of Gov. JB Pritzker’s home and invited his followers to “take action” after the murder of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, sparking concerns for the Democratic governor’s safety.

“Made a stop by Governor Pritzker’s house in Chicago today,” Bergquam says in a video with Pritzker’s Gold Coast home in the background. “If you love America and the assassination of Charlie Kirk doesn’t inspire you to take action, I don’t know what will!”

Sources close to the governor told the Sun-Times that the video has prompted additional concerns over Pritzker’s safety. The Illinois State Police Executive Protection Unit currently provides 24-hour security for the governor, his family and the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. […]

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said the video near Pritzker’s home “escalates tension, spreads fear and foments violence to our community.”

“Whether you consider this behavior intimidation, doxing, or an outright call for further violence, it is unacceptable,” Welch said in a statement. “We showed this week that people from across the spectrum want to bring down the temperature and step back from the edge before it’s too late; that starts when we all call out and turn away from extremism, dehumanizing rhetoric, and the politics of deliberate cruelty.”

Senate President Don Harmon’s response to Bergquam’s asking his followers to “take action”…

pic.twitter.com/bLs7aH3z0z

— Senate President Don Harmon (@DonHarmonIL) September 12, 2025

* WMBD…

More than $600,000 awarded for improvement projects in McLean County last year are no longer coming to central Illinois.

The $675,000 BUILD Raise Grant was originally awarded to McLean County in 2024, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn the funds, according to Cline who represents District 8 on the McLean County Board. […]

She said the Transportation Department told the county that the grant no longer aligned with its priorities.

Cathy Dreyer, one of the county’s county administrators, said the funds were supposed to be used for the preliminary engineering for the final nine miles of the Route 66 bike trail. […]

“Between 2018 and 2023, six crashes involving bicyclists or pedestrians occurred within a half mile of this proposed trail corridor, including the tragic death of a bicyclist near Towanda last year,” Cline said. “These are not isolated events, and separated paths like this one are proven to save lives.

*** Statewide ***

* Center Square | DOJ arguing against Illinois’ gun ban ‘monumental,’ advocate says: Oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 22 in the case Barnett v. Raoul, challenging the state’s gun and magazine ban. A federal district court found the law unconstitutional last year after a four-day bench trial. In the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. Department of Justice motioned to be allowed time to argue.

*** Statehouse News ***

* The Hill Op-Ed | Trump is wrong: No-cash bail reform actually means less crime, not more : We have worked in the survivor community for years, and we fought to replace cash bail in Illinois with a system based on risk that took into account victims’ voices. We want to be clear: What actually harms victims of gender-based violence is this administration’s efforts to reduce funding to organizations providing critical services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Ending the reforms we’ve instituted related to money bail will just make things worse.

* Center Square | Reporting firearm threats to principals ‘common sense,’ IL legislator says: An Illinois lawmaker and law enforcement officer reacts to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s enacting a law requiring schools to report firearms or threats to principals, a move supporters say improves safety. State Rep. Dennis Tipsword, R-Metamore, described the bill as “just common sense kind of legislation” that ensures threats are at least reported to the proper school authorities.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Retired Ald. Walter Burnett, wife received over $260,000 in rent payments as housing voucher landlords: The Burnetts have had at least 10 contracts for properties rented to CHA voucher holders, including two ongoing contracts and five contracts that were active during Williams-Burnett’s tenure as an employee at the housing authority. […] Burnett responded to a Sun-Times phone call seeking comment with a text Thursday declining to comment, saying he is “just a private citizen.” […] Williams-Burnett disclosed her and her husband’s role in the housing voucher program to CHA at least between 2014 to 2018 when employed at the agency, according to public records. She previously worked for the housing authority as deputy chief of fleet and facilities in the general services department and violated CHA’s ethics policy in 2022, the same year she resigned, public records show.

* Block Club | Thrive Englewood, Area’s 1st Family Housing Development In Over 50 Years, Welcomes Residents: The six-story building has 62 apartments, including 27 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units. Over 80 percent of the apartments will be affordable for families earning up to 60 percent of the area’s median income. The housing development has two live/work lofts and a 2,400-square-foot commercial retail space on the ground floor not yet occupied. Residents have access to amenities including a fitness room, resident lounge, outdoor patio and bike storage, and laundry services are available on every floor.

* SunTImes | Raymond Lee, an advocate for Chicago’s Chinatown who helped create Ping Tom Park, has died at 90: Mr. Lee was hesitant because he had a business to run but agreed and joined the park board, where he secured funding to help get the park off the ground. It fully opened in 2005 and was named Ping Tom Memorial Park after his friend, who died in 1995. After several months on the park board, Mayor Richard M. Daley tapped Mr. Lee for the Chicago Board of Education, where he helped secure money for a renovation of his alma mater, Haines Elementary School.

* Sun-Times | Revolution Brewing’s latest venture shows demand for THC-infused drinks still strong amid slowing beer sales: The company recently launched Reverb Splash, a line of hemp-derived THC and CBD-infused sparkling waters with fruit. The drinks have 5 milligrams of THC and CBD, and they’re attracting a diverse fandom, from longtime brewery patrons and the curious to cannabis enthusiasts and alcohol abstainers. That diverse customer mix also reflects who’s driving the strong demand for THC beverages across Chicago-area bars, restaurants, liquor and convenience stores and music venues, like the Salt Shed, which became one of the first concert locations in the country to green-light THC drink sales in January.

* Block Club | The Sky’s Mascot, Skye The Lioness, Has Had A Glow-Up — And Fans Love Her: It’s a welcome change for the team, whose previous mascot — Sky Guy — was so unpopular that Sky fans petitioned for him to be removed. “It was good to see [Sky] participate more and do more interesting things,” said Sky fan Daniel Rodriguez, of Lakeview. “It’s good to see her putting the work in and being more a part of the team and more a part of the city.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Pritzker calls for ‘full, factual accounting’ after ICE agents fatally shoot man in suburban traffic stop: Gov. JB Pritzker called for transparency after a federal immigration agent fatally shot a man in northwest suburban Franklin Park after the agency reported the man tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle. […] “This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability,” Pritzker said.

* Daily Herald | Melissa Bean enters 8th Congressional race, 15 years after loss to Joe Walsh : Former Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Bean of Barrington has announced her campaign to reclaim the 8th District seat she lost to Joe Walsh in 2010, just as a second Republican candidate is poised to announce her run in next spring’s primaries. While entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker Jennifer Davis of the Huntley area is scheduled to announce her candidacy next Thursday for the Republican nomination already sought by Mark Rice of Chicago, Bean joins a crowded field of eight Democrats aiming to succeed five-term incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi.

* Daily Southtown | Tinley Park District 146 teachers’ union authorizes strike over contract negotiation impasse: “This board of education has pushed us far enough,” District 146 Educators Council President Eileen Von Borstel said in a news release Friday. “The district has the funds to ensure we can recruit and retain high quality educators, but the board of education is refusing to use that money to invest in our students and the people who teach them. We have no choice but to move toward a strike if they refuse to bargain a fair contract.” The news release said 230 of 232 union members voted in favor of a strike “if there is no other path to an agreement at the bargaining table.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County Board OKs recommendation that departments, offices reduce expenses to help close budget shortfall: In the latest attempt to solve a looming budget shortfall, the Kane County Board has OK’d a recommendation that county offices and departments reduce their expenses by roughly 8% from last year’s budget. A recommendation to reduce expenses in the budgets that have been proposed by the county’s offices and departments was presented to the board for a vote last month, but a final decision was ultimately delayed, and the proposal went back to the Kane County Board Finance Committee to be revised.

*** Downstate ***

* River Bender | Adams Co. Juvenile Detention Center requesting more officers: Cooley told board members the facility must be PREA compliant by 2027. PREA stands for the Prison Rape Elimination Act, aimed at the prevention and elimination of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The Adams County Juvenile Detention Center proposal involved adding six positions: One PREA coordinator, one training officer, and four new officers. The cost would be $344,070.40, which would be offset with grant money from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Adams County would be responsible for $103,000 in fringe benefits, according to the briefing provided by Cooley.

* WGLT | McLean County Board hears details of proposed $144.5 million budget: A 5.2% decrease in the property tax rate, due to continued increases to equalized assessed values in McLean County, is reflected in the budget. The owner of a $210,000 home would see their tax bill decrease by $32.29. Some homeowners may end up seeing a higher tax bill due to higher property values, partly due to the housing shortage.

*** National ***

* Crain’s | Employers face yet another surge in health costs in 2026 as companies scramble for solutions: Two new reports out this month show the burden of health care insurance is only worsening for employers, with high demand and inflation putting more and more pressure on companies to keep costs of benefits under control. Aon says employer health costs nationwide will rise 9.5% in 2026. It’s the third year in a row the increase is up near double digits, and it’s the fastest rate of increase in at least 15 years. The professional services firm’s annual estimate puts the average cost per employee at more than $17,000.

* NCSL | Mid-Decade Redistricting: At least 11 states explicitly prohibit legislative mid-decade redistricting, congressional mid-decade redistricting or both in their constitutional language: Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Utah.

* Politico | Why Hakeem Jeffries hasn’t been able to bend Democrats to his will on redistricting: But behind the scenes, the House minority leader is encountering the limits of his power — and the credibility of Democrats’ counterattack. Just this week, some Illinois lawmakers sent Jeffries a clear message they were not interested in pursuing a redraw that could dilute their districts with additional GOP votes.