* ICYMI: Gov. JB Pritzker asks state agencies to reserve 4% of funds while blasting Trump economic policies. Tribune…

- The order specifically asks agencies under the governor to identify up to 4% from their operating budgets for the current fiscal year “to reinforce state finances,” the governor’s office said.
- The governor said the 4% figure was just the “beginning” of what his administration thinks could be “a very severe challenge” for the state budget.
- The executive order Tuesday also resembled Pritzker’s request in 2020 — during Trump’s first term — that agencies prepare for budget cuts amid the pandemic and uncertainty surrounding federal aid.

* Related stories…

• Sun-Times: Pointing finger at Trump’s ‘disastrous policies,’ Pritzker directs state agencies to find 4% in budget cuts
• CNI: Pritzker directs agencies to limit spending in response to Trump’s economic policies
• Capitol City Now: Blaming Trump, Pritzker orders agency heads to salt away 4 percent of current year’s budgets

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*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Evanston Now | Flock reinstalls cameras, city orders removal: But residents around Evanston noticed Monday that several of the previously removed cameras had been reinstalled. The city said Flock had reinstalled them and that the city’s legal department “immediately issued a cease-and-desist order to Flock” on Tuesday, demanding they be taken down. Flock subsequently agreed to remove the cameras this afternoon, the city said, but it’s unclear when they’ll actually come down or if they were ever activated by Flock.

* ABC Chicago | Illinois Department of Public Health issues guidelines for COVID-19, flu vaccines: When it comes to the COVID vaccine, IDPH says adults ages 18 and older should be vaccinated, as well as children between the ages of six and 23 months. For children between 2 and 17 years old, the department says they should get vaccinated if their parents want them to have it, and if they have special circumstances like underlying conditions or weakened immune systems.

* WSIL | Illinois fairs attract more than 1 million in 2025 attendance; Du Quoin State Fair shatters record: Gov. JB Pritzker announced the 2025 Illinois State Fair and Du Quoin State Fair saw a combined attendance of more than 1 million people. “Illinois state fairs are a part of a time-honored tradition for generations of families,” Pritzker said. “This year’s attendance figures are proof of the enduring value of state fairs as over 1 million attendees from across Illinois and throughout the nation joined in celebration of our state’s proud agricultural heritage.” The Illinois State Fair in Springfield welcomed 723,079 attendees, marking its second-largest turnout ever. Meanwhile, the Du Quoin State Fair set a new record with 282,202 visitors, surpassing last year’s record of 204,004.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | IL State Board of Education developing new math plan, seeking public feedback: The Illinois State Board of Education is looking for feedback on the first draft of a plan to strengthen math learning, and they’re planning a series of listening sessions across the state to receive this feedback. The aforementioned plan is the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. Modeled on the state’s successful and nationally acclaimed Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, the Comprehensive Numeracy Plan will provide guidance that supports educators, schools and districts in advancing student success in math.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | State lawmaker Howard to become DuPage County judge: State Rep. Terra Costa Howard is giving up her seat in the state House to become a DuPage County Circuit Court judge. The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday it is appointing Howard as resident circuit judge, effective Oct. 17. Her term will end Dec. 7, 2026. […] A spokesman confirmed Costa Howard is resigning, but said a date has not been set.

* Bloomberg | Pritzker Plans Illinois Spending Cuts in Wake of Trump Policies: The second-term Democratic governor and frequent critic of Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that asks departments to identify ways to put 4% of their budgets into reserves, limit spending and prioritize only essential hires in the wake of Trump’s tax and spending package. That legislation, along with tariffs and other policies, will erode health care, food assistance and other services for working families, Pritzker said.

* STLPR | Rep. Hoffman says Illinois needs to fix its pension system for public workers: It’s a critical time to fix Illinois’ pension program for public-sector employees hired after 2011 — but it may not happen this fall, state Rep. Jay Hoffman told pension-eligible employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Tuesday. “I don’t think there’s enough time to do it and do it correctly,” Hoffman said. Hoffman, D-Swansea, chairs the Illinois General Assembly’s Pensions Working Group that has led negotiations on reforms. Lawmakers have been trying to change the state’s Tier 2 pensions for a couple of years and a legislative proposal could be one of the bigger subjects addressed during the fall veto session, which starts Oct. 14. Tier 2 pensions cover local public employees, such as teachers.

* 25News Now | State senators address challenges across Illinois at Peoria’s legislator luncheon: The two senators did agree that DEI is important in providing equal opportunity, especially when it comes to business development. “When you think about over the last 10 years, the top 1% of wage earners have seen their wealth increase by 145%, but the bottom 90% have only seen their wages increase about 16%,” [Sen. Elgie Sims] said. “The focus has not been on making sure that everyone has the opportunity to have a seat at the table, but instead making sure that the same folks are receiving the opportunities over and over again. We need more folks at the table making sure that we’re facing those issues head-on.” “Why is there success here? Why are we not achieving success at a statewide level,” [Senate Republican Leader John Curran] said. “I think it’s probably something we need to take a very close look at and adjust, but ultimately at the end of the day we’re trying to make sure we have a fair, competitive, competent playing field for all business to succeed in Illinois.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Chicago Fire stadium set for City Council approval: The City Council’s Zoning Committee today approved the 22,000-seat stadium as part of a larger zoning overhaul for Related Midwest’s 62-acre site along the Chicago River south of Roosevelt Road. The vote came on the heels of Chicago Plan Commission approval last week and sets up a final decision in the full City Council on Sept. 25. Related Midwest and the Fire must still strike a financial agreement with the city over which infrastructure improvements will be ultimately covered by taxpayers.

* Sun-Times | Former Cabrini-Green site gets a new developer, with plans calling for apartments, condos and townhomes: The CHA approved plans for Cabrini New Vision to redevelop the vacant property at Clybourn Avenue and Larrabee Street. The company is a joint venture between Evergreen Real Estate Group and KLEO Enterprises. […] The housing authority had previously selected a team led by Texas-based firm Hunt Development Group. But Hunt withdrew from the deal in August 2024 after the team failed to secure financing, causing the CHA to go back to the drawing board. Developer Pennrose, also part of the former development team with Imagine Development Group, said it left the Chicago market after years of being passed over for tax credits at the Cabrini site.

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson calls more Chicago protected bike lanes ‘ultimate goal,’ touts milestone: “Real, secure, protected bike lanes throughout the city is the ultimate goal,” Johnson said, half his attention set on navigating traffic. “I don’t want there to be any section of the city that doesn’t have secure, dedicated bike lanes.” It’s a cause that has become an essential item for progressive politicians amid sustained political pressure from pedestrian and cyclist advocacy groups, which are key parts of Johnson’s base. But better protection for cyclists on Chicago streets has been a cause championed and funded for decades by Johnson’s less progressive predecessors.

* Tribune | Chicago White Sox up to 99 losses after a 3-2 walk-off defeat to the New York Yankees: “As a true competitor, you go out there and you try to win every single game and sometimes these things are going to happen,” Montgomery said. “It’s just all learning experiences for us. Everybody on this team’s a true competitor, and they’re all trying to win, and sometimes it sucks and doesn’t go your way.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Click here for some background. The Democratic Party of Illinois…

Tonight, a local extremist group led by a member of the ILGOP State Central Committee, the Three Headed Eagle Alliance, is celebrating political violence by hosting proud Jan. 6er and Oath Keepers founder, Stewart Rhodes. In response, Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois Lisa Hernandez said the following:

“It is remarkable that the Illinois Republican Party can brand themselves as the party of law and order while platforming a man who participated in a riot where a former Vice President of the United States was threatened to be hanged. A police officer was assaulted, suffered two strokes and died the next day, and over 100 law enforcement officers left with injuries. Since January 6, fourofficers have died by suicide. Anything the Illinois Republican Party says about violence or public safety should never be taken seriously.”

* Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has announced a bid against Sean Morrison, the lone Republican on the Cook County Board. Press release…

Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has formally announced her candidacy for Cook County Commissioner of the 17th District, pledging to bring a record of community-driven leadership and accountability to the County Board. Hoffenberg’s candidacy has already earned strong support from local Democratic leadership.

She was unanimously slated by the Cook County Democratic Committeepeople in the 17th District, underscoring a shared commitment to restoring trust, strengthening services, and ensuring ethical leadership at the County level. […]

Hoffenberg’s campaign will officially launch with the Grunge & Ghouls Gala, a fundraiser and celebration:
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 7 – 9 PM spirited evening of music, costumes, and community
American Legion Post 1941, 900 S. La Grange Road, La Grange

* SRP News | Cook County commissioner’s security firm faces new lawsuit alleging sexual assault by employee: The lawsuit also targets Morrison Security for negligent retention and supervision, alleging the company ignored prior warnings about Holmes’s inappropriate behavior toward minors. Another MSC employee reportedly flagged Holmes to company president Morrison as unfit to work unsupervised with young women. The complaint contends MSC’s failure to act led directly to Gant’s injuries.

* Daily Herald | ‘We will take care of people’: Conroy’s county budget plan responds to threatened federal cuts: Bracing for federal funding cuts to safety net programs, DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy has announced a balanced-budget plan that calls for new affordable housing efforts, supporting food pantries and a “stronger social service infrastructure.” The proposed budget totals $644.7 million for the upcoming fiscal year. “For the first time, we must plan based on threats to the very existence of the federal departments and programs our residents depend on for food, shelter, education, energy assistance and critical medical services,” Conroy said in her budget address Tuesday. “The programs that survive the threat of cuts will likely see funding sliced away, leaving gaping holes that will hurt the most vulnerable among us.”

* Daily Herald | ‘Conservation takes action’: How volunteers restored 589 acres at Palatine forest preserve: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle visited Palatine on Tuesday to praise the work of dozens of volunteers who’ve restored hundreds of acres at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve to their natural state. Their efforts, Preckwinkle said, restored almost double the amount of land that’s been lost to expansion of O’Hare International Airport. “We know that it’s not enough to simply acquire land and keep it from being developed,” she said. “To make the preserves amazing places where nature thrives, conservation takes action.”

* Daily Herald | Former Illinois public health director among speakers scheduled for TEDx in Arlington Heights: The third annual event, an invite-only presentation Oct. 4, at Rolling Green Country Club, is a local, independently-organized version of the internationally popular TED Talks. It operates under a license with the New York- and Vancouver-based nonprofit organization behind the big ideas conferences. The onstage speeches of Ezike and seven other presenters will be recorded and available online after the event at tedxarlingtonheights.com.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Decatur City Manager cites issues with council member as reason for resignation: “Regrettably, ongoing actions by one council member have undermined the professional standards and mutual trust necessary to fulfill my role effectively. In my view, these actions represent a breach of both the letter and intent of my employment agreement and have made continued service untenable,” Gleason wrote.

* WTVO | Housing and energy top priorities for Rockford area economic development: “One of the things I was happy to see was, number one, the participation was robust. Everyone’s working together in this region, and everyone wants to work to move not just Rockford, Winnebago County, Boone County, they all want to move Illinois forward,” said House Speaker Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D). Vella noted that his district is experiencing positive trends with projects like the Hard Rock Casino Rockford and efforts to reopen the Belvidere Stellantis plant.

* WTVO | Funding approved for Winnebago County’s vital tornado warning system: The Winnebago County Administration and Operations Committee unanimously approved over $100,000 in funding for all tornado sirens. “I have family members that don’t carry a cell phone. So, I believe these sirens are vital for public safety,” said vice chairman of the Winnebago County Board Public Safety Committee, Aaron Booker. More than 70 of the sirens are over 20 years old and have technological and environmental issues. Booker said less than half weren’t operational, and crews have fixed some, but not all.

* Pantagraph | Bloomington votes to maintain 1% grocery tax, rebate some sales tax: Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the continuation of the tax would generate $3 million annually for the city and would make a significant reduction in the $7.25 million budget deficit that was projected earlier this year. Assuming the average Bloomington household has 2.3 people and spends $9,474 on groceries a year, the city estimated that this would have a financial impact of $7.90 a month to those residents.

* WMBD | Congressman tours Liberty Steel as the company eyes an HQ move: Congressman Eric Sorensen toured the Liberty Steel and Wire Monday as the company explores moving its headquarters to Peoria County. State Sen. Dave Koehler and Rep. Sharon Chung were also on the tour. Koehler said it was to make sure the 17th District Congressman saw the Liberty Steel plant, all of the jobs at the facility and the moves that are being considered.

* WGLT | At first, the Pretrial Fairness Act reduced McLean County’s jail population. It didn’t last:
In an interview, Sheriff Matt Lane said occupancy was in the 150s per day shortly after the PFA was instated. He said the jail now hovers around 230-240 detainees per day. “We’re able to handle it,” Lane said, noting recent hirings that have brought them to near fully staffed. “There is some overtime it’s causing because the population is up, and we had to open another housing unit.” The increase has led to opening an additional 40 to 50 beds—but they’re nowhere near capacity. After a 2018 expansion and renovation, total capacity is 455 beds, including a women’s unit holding up to 74 people.

* WIFR | Rockford City Council passes agreement to improve public safety: The City will acquire a nearly 300-foot tower located on North Main Street. This public safety infrastructure was originally owned by Winnebago County. City council members explain because of where the tower is located, it will allow better communication access to emergency personnel. “Before, we would have to go through the county, then through the city, obviously, and so this will alleviate that process; we will have direct control of that tower,” explained Tuneberg.

*** National ***

* NYT | Jimmy Kimmel, Somber but Defiant, Defends Free Speech in Return to ABC: Not everyone in the country was able to watch the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Two large station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, pre-empted the episode from the ABC affiliates they own — and said they would continue to do so going forward. Those two station groups represent a little more than 20 percent of ABC’s national reach combined.

* 404 Media | We’re Suing ICE for Its $2 Million Spyware Contract: On Monday 404 Media filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the agency publish its $2 million contract with Paragon, a company that makes powerful spyware that can remotely break into mobile phones without the target even clicking a link. The sale of the spyware to ICE has activists and lawmakers deeply concerned about what the agency, which continues to push the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort, may use the technology for. The contract and related documents 404 Media is suing for may provide more information on what ICE intends to do with the spyware.