* Capitol News Illinois…

Most state agencies were required to submit spending cut plans to Gov. JB Pritzker by Oct. 23, but the governor’s office has declined to release details about those plans.

A spokesperson for Pritzker said the governor’s budget office is still reviewing the proposed cuts.

“Gov. Pritzker is taking proactive steps to protect Illinois’ fiscal stability,” spokesperson Andres Correa said in a statement. “These reviews are part of ensuring the state remains on solid financial footing and can continue delivering the core services Illinoisans depend on.” […]

But this lack of transparency is not sitting well with Republicans, who said Pritzker needs to be open about the cuts agencies have proposed.

“I was very much looking forward to seeing where Gov. Pritzker’s agencies identified inefficiencies and excessive spending and hoped that maybe this executive order would create a slightly more efficient government,” Rep. Amy Elik, R-Godfrey, the House Republicans’ budget leader, said at a news conference Thursday.

* Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino’s responds to federal judge’s plan to grant bond to about 615 people arrested in violation of a consent decree…

Bovino: "Whether they were criminals or individuals that were taking jobs from Americans — you name it, that's what they were doing. And I'll tell you what's gonna happen. We're gonna go even harder on the streets. If he releases those 650, we're gonna apprehend 1,650 on the… pic.twitter.com/6qFE16hU6L

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 13, 2025

*** Statehouse News ***

* Evanston Now | Ruttenberg scores nurses union backing: The Illinois Nurses Association announced this week it’s endorsing Rachel Ruttenberg of Evanston in her state senate race. The endorsement was part of a slate announced Tuesday, which included Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in her race for the U.S. Senate, State Sen. Rob Peters in his race for the 2nd District U.S. House seat and Karina Villa, who’s running for state comptroller. Ruttenberg was the only candidate INA backed in a state senate race, according to Tuesday’s announcement. She’s running for a seat currently held by Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). Fine is leaving her seat to run for Congress in the 9th District.

* Press Release | Manley Appointed to Legislative Audit Commission, Tapping CPA Experience: As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) working in the accounting field for nearly three decades, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, will serve on the state’s Legislative Audit Commission (LAC), a select group of legislators to lead public hearings on major audits of state agencies to review performance, correct outstanding issues and ensure public dollars are being spent appropriately for Illinois residents.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson offers concessions to salvage his $16.6B budget, but City Council support still in doubt: The $18 million revenue loss from that change would be made up by raising the personal property lease tax on cloud computing and software higher than Johnson initially proposed. Instead of 14%, the tax on cloud computing would be raised to 15%, which would generate an estimated $416 million. That would make the tax 66% higher than what it was a year ago when Johnson raised the tax from 9% to 14%. With that increase, the tax yielded $333 million. Towing fees would also be raised by 66% — from $150 to $250 for vehicles under 8,000 lbs., a category that includes passenger vehicles and SUVs. The towing fee for heavy-duty vehicles would rise from $250 to $350, under the revised fee schedule expected to raise $7 million a year.

* Tribune | Judge rules mandatory detention of Chicago day care teacher by ICE is illegal: A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the U.S. government’s mandatory detention of Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, the day care teacher arrested at a Chicago preschool, is illegal and she must be given a bond hearing. According to the ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Daniel, Santillana will be given a bond hearing in front of an immigration judge, who could order her released while her civil deportation case proceeds. Her hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

* NPR | Some labor unions remain committed to recruiting women despite policy rollbacks: Women make up less than 5% of the construction trades - professions such as carpenter, electrician and plumber. President Trump wants to grow the industry, but there are fears women could be further sidelined. Some labor unions say they will not let that happen.

* WTTW | Toxic Dump Set for Transformation Into Chicago’s Next Lakefront Destination, Introducing Park #608: On Wednesday, with the sun shining on a brisk fall day, the Chicago Park District unveiled signage for the future home of Park #608. The name is a placeholder for 43 acres adjacent to Calumet Park that have, since 1984, been home to a disposal facility used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to hold polluted sediment dredged from the Calumet River and Cal-Sag Channel. “What was once a dumping ground will be a destination,” said Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, CEO and general superintendent of the Chicago Park District.

* Block Club | 3 Friends Visit Every CTA ‘L’ Stop In 9 Hours In Effort To Set Guinness World Record: “We think Chicago is one of the best places in the whole world, and we want more people to come here and understand how easy it is to get around,” he said. “It’s about showing people that you can go to Little India on the North Side, Little Village on the Southwest Side and anywhere in between on the CTA.”

* ABC Chicago | Chicago’s Manny’s Deli shares noodle kugel recipe on Cooking up a Storm: BC7 Chicago meteorologist Tracy Butler was Cooking up a Storm Thursday with an iconic Jewish deli that has called Chicago home for decades. Manny’s, located at 1141 S. Jefferson St. in the South Loop, is a frequent stop for politicians and celebrities. And it’s also been giving back, dishing up 1,800 free meals during the government shutdown.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Protest hours at Broadview ICE facility too restrictive, lawyer suing village says: A Chicago attorney who filed for a preliminary injunction as part of a federal lawsuit against the village of Broadview over its recent restrictions on protests near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility appeared Thursday to discuss the ongoing matter. “My hope and expectation is that a federal judge will sustain the rights to ordinary working people to exercise their first amendment rights other than the restricted hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” Robert Held, a Chicago Council of Lawyers board member and activist, said during a short media briefing Thursday outside the facility at 1930 Beach St.

* Daily Herald | Why Elgin could increase its general property tax levy for the first time in more than a decade: The 13.2% levy increase will help close a $4.2 million gap in the city’s roughly $407.6 million budget, City Manager Rick Kozal said Wednesday during a special committee of the whole meeting to discuss the 2026 budget and a three-year plan. “It is with great debate and deliberation that this recommendation for this modest increase was coming,” Kozal said. “But we thought that the property tax increase, rather than going to other revenue sources, was the most efficient and economical way to recover what is needed, that $4 million, to maintain the level of city operations.”

* Evanston Now | Body camera contract gets mixed reaction: Ald. Matt Rodgers (8th) argued in favor of the proposal, pushing back on some panel members’ suggestion the city try and purchase services ‘À la carte’ from various providers to try and bring the price tag down. “I think it’s very important that it be a whole ecosystem,” Rodgers said, something Ald. Tom Suffredin (6th) agreed with. “This isn’t a place to cheap out,” Suffredin said, raising concerns about potential liability for the city by trying to find a cheaper deal.

* Aurora Beacon-News | First home unveiled in Aurora’s new ‘smart neighborhood’: The show home highlights various features that houses in the neighborhood will have, from solar panels on the roof to electric car chargers in the garage. The innovation going into these homes is expected to make them more resilient against inclement weather plus lead to lower utility costs, making them more affordable. One example of the houses’ innovative features is the method used to create the walls of the structure: foam blocks connected by plastic webs that fit together sort of like LEGO bricks.

*** Downstate ***

* Fox News | Duckworth staffer accused of posing as lawyer in attempt to free illegal immigrant from ICE custody: According to a letter sent Wednesday to Duckworth, D-Ill., U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons said the staffer told federal agents he was the attorney of Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval — a 40-year-old illegal immigrant previously deported four times to Mexico and who had a DUI conviction. […] While at the facility, York successfully met with Ayuzo and got him to sign a G-28 form, the letter said. It allows an attorney to represent a client on immigration matters, empowering them to receive official correspondence, communicate with government agencies on their behalf and more.

* WCIA | City of Decatur implements water rationing measures as lake level drops: On Oct. 8 it was reported that Lake Decatur was 2.4 feet below its normal water level. A month later, Ryan Huffer, the City of Decatur’s Communications Coordinator, said the lake is now more than three feet below normal, and the water level continues to decline due to evaporation and a lack of consistent rainfall. While rain did fall on Oct. 18 and 19, it wasn’t enough to reverse the lake’s decline.

* WJBD | Marion County Board chair wants to begin work on multi-million-dollar digital radio system for emergency responders: The Marion County Board will be asked to add $1 million to next year’s budget from the Public Safety Tax to begin work on converting the county to a new digital radio system. Board Chair and Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says the old analog system has outlived its time. “Marion County unfortunately is still on an old analog system,” Whritenour said. “Improving communications throughout the entire county would benefit every fire department, every law enforcement agency and ambulance service, to have that lifeline between the dispatch and all those agencies. It’s a vital link.”

* WICS | Springfield voters may decide on landlord registry in March 2026 ballot: Springfield voters could soon have a say on a proposed landlord registry ordinance, potentially appearing on the March 2026 ballot. After years of discussion, city leaders are considering allowing constituents to weigh in on the matter. Roy Williams Jr., co-sponsor of the ordinance, emphasized the need for public input. “All we’re asking for tonight is for the permission to put it on the ballot,” Williams said. “It’s been well over time to do something different in Springfield, Illinois.”

*** National ***

* Bond Buyer | SEC muni enforcement down sharply in 2025: Municipal securities enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission have totaled just three so far this year, putting 2025 on track to record a noteworthy decline from the enforcement level pace it has maintained going back to at least 2019.

* Bloomberg | VW, Rivian eye selling EV technology to other carmakers: Volkswagen AG and Rivian Automotive Inc. have ambitions of selling the electric vehicle technology they’re developing together to other carmakers in the future. Their joint venture, known as RV Tech, said it has made solid progress on delivering the EV electrical and software platform that Volkswagen needs to compete with Tesla Inc. and Chinese rivals. The JV is focused on delivering models for Rivian and VW but is keeping communication open with third parties about the scalability of its platforms.

* AP | Lifelong drugs for autoimmune diseases don’t work well. Now scientists are trying something new: Researchers are altering dysfunctional immune systems, not just suppressing them, in a variety of ways that aim to be more potent and more precise than current therapies. They’re highly experimental and, because of potential side effects, so far largely restricted to patients who’ve exhausted today’s treatments. But people entering early-stage studies are grasping for hope.