* We talked about this bill earlier today. The Tribune…

Bally’s Chicago may not be opening its new permanent casino this year after all.

With its already extended temporary license to operate at Medinah Temple set to expire in September and construction of the new casino complex racing the clock, state Rep. Kam Buckner introduced a bill Thursday to add up to another 12 months to the temporary license.

That would give Bally’s Chicago until September 2027 to open its new $1.7 billion casino, hotel and entertainment complex rising up on the 30-acre former site of the Tribune’s Freedom Center printing plant in River West.

“Bally’s Chicago remains fully committed to the construction of its permanent casino and entertainment destination and will continue operating at Medinah Temple in accordance with all regulatory requirements during the extension period,” Christopher Jewett, senior vice president of corporate development for Bally’s, said in a statement. “The adjusted timeline allows for Bally’s Chicago to operate the temporary casino inside of Medinah Temple through September 2027, if needed.” […]

The construction of the permanent casino has been delayed by everything from a Freedom Center demolition stoppage by the city in December 2024 after a debris spill in the Chicago River to an Illinois Gaming Board-imposed work stoppage in May 2025 over the use of an unauthorized waste hauler with alleged ties to organized crime.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Wage inequities persist in Illinois’ workforce, although data suggests the state, on average, is doing better than others, according to a new report from the University of Illinois.

The gender wage gap appears to have moderately improved from 2021 to 2023, the period studied in the report, although racial wage gaps stagnated, researchers’ analysis of Department of Labor data suggests. The widest gaps for both categories are in lower-wage and craft occupations.

Private employers with 100 or more Illinois-based employees are mandated to submit biannual reports with wage and demographic data to the department under a 2021 amendment to Illinois’ 2003 Equal Pay Act.

This report is based on the first three years of data, 2021-2023, and includes information on 3.2 million employees at over 4,000 firms.

Findings show that women earn about 91-93 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts, while Black and Hispanic workers each earn 6-10% less than comparable white workers.

A regional analysis also showed smaller gender wage gaps in Cook County, but wider disparities in the downstate region.

* Former State Sen. Bill Peterson Jr. has passed away. His obituary…

From 1982-1992, Bill served in the Illinois House of Representatives. Elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1992, he served until his retirement in 2008, including service as Assistant Minority Leader. As a legislator, he was a proud champion of educational access, affordable housing, the earned income tax credit and the expansion of early voting. He was highly respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle for his integrity, character and institutional knowledge.

Bill’s greatest joy and highest priority was his family - his wife, his four children, five grandchildren, and later his beloved dogs. His favorite days were spent in a chaotic houseful of loved ones entertained by his signature humor.

He had a lifelong love of history, travel (especially cross-country in their various campers or RV), as well as an unwavering devotion to the Chicago Bears and Cubs. Fortunately he was able to spend one of his last days watching a memorable Bears playoff victory over the Packers.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | IL Senate Republicans bash new energy law, urge investments in baseload power plants: “It shifts billions of dollars in cost and risk directly onto hardworking taxpaying ratepayers,” said Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). “They call it an energy plan, but it’s really not.” The law calls for Illinois to build three gigawatts of utility-scale battery storage. It will also bring more wind and solar projects online, invest in geothermal technology, lift the state’s nuclear moratorium and help Illinois agencies better plan for energy demand spikes. Republicans have filed a bill to repeal the state’s shutdown dates for coal and gas plants, along with the construction of new natural gas peaker plants to improve energy capacity. They are also calling for a task force to study how recent energy laws have impacted electric prices and grid reliability.

* New York Post | Father says Pritzker shows ‘indifference’ to child killed by illegal immigrant: Fox News Digital emailed Pritzker’s office seeking confirmation that the governor received the letter and a comment on Joe Abraham’s criticism. Pritzker’s office responded, “Making sure you have the full picture on Katie’s story and legacy,” and provided three links to stories about Katie’s mother objecting to her daughter being the face of “Operation Midway Blitz.” Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment. “Just because Katie’s mom says she doesn’t agree, I’m still a citizen and I want answers,” Joe Abraham said. “She’s my daughter, too.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Federal flip-flop on $2B funding cut puts Chicago mental health care providers on edge : “The feedback this morning from staff is that a lot of people are traumatized today,” said Dan Lustig, president and CEO of Haymarket Center, a Chicago-based substance abuse disorder treatment provider. “And, yes, there are fears of future cuts,” he said. “What is scary is that there is not a lot of planning, no reviewing of decades of research on what really works.”

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson budget defeat, other challenges threaten reelection chances : Johnson’s public approval ratings remains stuck in the mid 20s. And Johnson’s campaign war chest has a scant $1 million, even as his own political director says $13 million will be needed to bankroll the mayor’s uphill battle for a second term. The Chicago Teachers Union and its affiliates contributed more than $5 million to Johnson’s 2023 mayoral campaign. But the mayor’s former union could be hard pressed to match that amount when its resources will be diverted to 20 elected school board races and one citywide race for board president.

* Sun-Times | Federal judge bars gang evidence from Bovino murder-for-hire trial: A federal judge on Thursday barred from trial any testimony that a man accused of offering a $10,000 bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino has ties to any Chicago street gang, or even that he had an affinity for a gang. The ruling comes in the case of Juan Espinoza Martinez, once accused by prosecutors of being a ranking member of the Latin Kings. That was back in October, at the height of the deportation campaign led by Bovino known as “Operation Midway Blitz.” […] “Without evidence showing that [Espinoza Martinez] is a member of the Latin Kings or that the Latin Kings instructed [Espinoza Martinez] to send the alleged murder-for-hire information, the prejudicial nature of such testimony outweighs any probative value,” Lefkow wrote in an order on the court’s docket.

* WTTW | Inspector General Launches New Dashboard to Identify ‘Hot Spots’ of Police Misconduct: The database, which includes only closed complaints, was designed to allow both police brass and Chicagoans to map the ties between officers accused of misconduct by creating a “social network analysis” to identify “hot spots” of misconduct, Witzburg said. The database shows “spider webs of misconduct complaints,” Witzburg said.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police brass rejected troubled cop’s move to elite unit before he fatally shot partner: The cop who fatally shot his tactical team partner during a chase on the South Side last year initially had his appointment to that unit blocked by a top Chicago Police Department official because of his disciplinary history, but that decision was reversed less than a year later even though he’d racked up more complaints, records obtained by Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times show.

* Press Release | Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces New Record Of Nearly 13 Million Shared Bike And Scooter Trips In 2025: CDOT added 140 new Divvy stations with more than 2,000 new docks. The Department expanded in-station charging for Divvy e-bikes and e-scooters in 2025, improving e-bike availability, reducing manual battery swapping and lowering operational vehicle trips. The City invested more than $3 million in Divvy this year, including a $550,000 subsidy to make Divvy more affordable for our residents in these difficult financial times. That investment froze the price for more than 9,200 Chicagoans at $143 instead of $159 and added more than 5,500 discounted $99 memberships for new or lapsed members.

* Sun-Times | Time Out Market Chicago to shut its doors this month in Fulton Market: Timeout Market CEO Michael Marlay said the venue was closing due to inconsistent foot traffic since the pandemic, which has led to an “ongoing hybrid working” and an increase in operating costs. It comes the same day the group announced its Boston location would also close, leaving its two New York food halls as the lone brick-and-mortar U.S. locations for the company.

* Tribune | Kamala Harris returning to Chicago for MLK breakfast: Harris, the Democratic nominee for president in 2024, will deliver the keynote address at the annual event honoring the civil rights icon. It will be her latest visit after stopping in Chicago in October as part of her book tour after losing the election to President Donald Trump. “The Vice President could be anywhere, and the fact that she chose to come to our city and lift up the work we are doing to defend our democracy means a lot to the people of Chicago,” Johnson said in a statement. “Vice President Harris is a trailblazer and a staunch defender of the freedoms and rights of everyday Americans. We are honored to host her and look forward to a historic MLK Interfaith Breakfast this year.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County Board OKs 3% raises for non-union department employees: The 3% pay hike applies to all non-union employees working in county departments, including but not limited to department heads and Animal Control employees, officials have said. Employees whose pay is set by a collective bargaining agreement, statute, ordinance or employment contract will not be included, nor will employees who have been working in the county for less than 90 days. On Tuesday, the board also approved a separate measure granting 3% raises for non-union employees working in the County Board office. That includes a total of seven employees — four directly within the County Board office and three who oversee the spending of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds.

* Patch | Joliet Police Sergeant Bill Otis Placed On Administrative Leave: Chief Evan: One source told Joliet Patch the allegations arose from an off-duty incident involving a woman. […] On Wednesday night, the department’s current chief of police issued the following statement: “On January 10, 2026, the Joliet Police Department was made aware of allegations involving Sgt. Otis. The matter is being investigated by an independent agency, the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force. This is an open and ongoing investigation. The Joliet Police Department is cooperating fully with the Task Force and, due to the active nature of the investigation, cannot release additional information.

* Daily Herald | Suburban parks among beneficiaries of state grants totaling $36 million: As part of the newly announced grants, the Nike Sports Complex in Naperville will get $600,000 for future improvements. The Naperville Park District’s concept plans include a new shade shelter near the existing cricket pitch, a new asphalt trail, a playground renovation and water play features. A $600,000 grant was approved for Algonquin’s Willoughby Farms Park, too. Proposed amenities will include four pickleball courts; a nature-themed play area and zip line; a plaza with interactive water features; fishing stations; and boardwalk access to a pond.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora officials discover leak in major water pipe under railway: The city’s 36-inch southeast transmission main carries about 55% of the drinking water that leaves Aurora’s treatment plant, according to Director of Public Works Jason Bauer. He told the Aurora City Council on Tuesday that leaks typically aren’t a huge problem, as the pipe can be taken out of service for a short time for repairs, but the location of the leak makes it “not an easy fix” and likely to cost over half a million dollars. “We can’t just dig up the railroad and, you know, put them out of service,” Bauer said. “So, it’s a little bit difficult.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Tuition, housing, student fees increasing at U of I institutions: Tuition, housing and student fee rates at the University of Illinois will see a “modest” increase following a meeting by the Board of Trustees on Thursday. The board said in-state tuition rates, which were frozen in place for seven of the last 11 years, will increase by 2%. The first students to see this new rate will be those admitted in the Fall of 2026.

* WGLT | Central Illinois has a nurse shortage. New caps on student loan borrowing could make it worse: The legislation caps most graduate student borrowing at $20,500 per year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000. The limit is higher for medicine and law, considered “professional programs” under the new guidelines. Beginning this summer, med students will be unable to borrow more than $50,000 per year, up to $200,000 total. Melinda Cooling, OSF HealthCare chief executive for Nursing and Advanced Practice Providers, said the change could influence career paths for medical professionals “because that could push them into having to take out private loans, which some of them may or may not be able to afford.” Notably, graduate study in nursing is left off the list of “professional” education, limiting borrowing to $100,000 maximum.

* Capitol City Now | Upgrades planned for Lake Springfield’s Center Park with grant money: According to a news release from CWLP, it was one of three $600,000 grant recipients in Sangamon County, and plans are in the works to improve Lake Springfield’s Center Park. […] “Lake Springfield is one of the City’s most important municipal assets, and projects like this help us protect and enhance that value for the long term,” said Doug Brown, Chief Utilities Engineer, in the news release. “By investing in public access, recreation, and safety improvements at Center Park, we’re reinforcing the lake’s role as both a reliable water supply and a shared community resource. These upgrades help ensure Lake Springfield continues to serve residents today while remaining sustainable and accessible for future generations.”

* IPM News | WBCP Radio Way honors central Illinois’ first Black-owned radio station: WBCP-AM 1580’s call letters came from the last names of its founders: Vernon Barkstall, Lonnie Clark and J.W. Pirtle. The group of friends bought the license to the AM frequency in 1989. They changed the call sign to WBCP and shifted the programming to gospel, jazz, R&B and talk, platforming Black voices. “It was really a former country western station that went off the air and it switched over to an urban contemporary station,” said Pamela Pirtle, J.W.’s oldest daughter. “It absolutely was… a hub of information for the African-American community in Champaign and in central Illinois.”

* WCIA | Tuscola and Newman looking to transform blighted properties: At Tuscola’s City Council meeting, they brought up one specific house — for Newman, it’s multiple. But both have the same goal. […] Joley said he’s lived in Tuscola his whole life. About 10 years ago, he moved next to this house across from the Douglas County Courthouse. The city said the owners haven’t responded to their notices, and they’re looking to do something with the property. “I’d like to see it tore down. Maybe, put something up there. If nothing else, just make it grass, if nothing else. I’ll mow it,” Joley said.

*** National ***

* The Hill | RFK Jr. taps new members, including self-described ‘anti-vaxxer,’ for advisory panel: Kennedy announced he had selected two OB/GYNs to join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). […] As The Washington Post first reported, Biss has described herself as an “anti-vaxxer” in recent years. “Prior to covid I was not an anti-vaxxer, but I am now because I’ve gone down the rabbit hole, and I would love to be able someday to meet Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” the doctor said in a 2022 podcast interview.

* AP | Grok blocked from undressing images in places where it’s illegal, X says: The pushback included an investigation announced Wednesday by the state of California, the U.S.’s most populous, into the proliferation of nonconsensual sexually explicit material produced using Grok that it said was harassing women and girls. Initially, media queries about the problem drew only the response, “legacy media lies.” Musk’s company, xAI, now says it will geoblock content if it violates laws in a particular place.

* WIRED | Elon Musk’s Grok ‘Undressing’ Problem Isn’t Fixed: However, while it appears that some safety measures have finally been introduced to Grok’s image generation on X, the standalone Grok app and website seem to still be able to generate “undress” style images and pornographic content, according to multiple tests by researchers, WIRED, and other journalists.