* ICYMI: Child care funding freeze could worsen shortage in Illinois, providers say. Capitol News Illinois…

- If the courts allow the Trump administration’s freeze on federal child care funding to happen, a Springfield provider said she’ll likely have to close her 30-year business.
- The Trump administration froze $10 billion in child care funding for Illinois and four other Democratic-led states in early January. The freeze has been blocked twice, and the most recent block expires on Feb. 6.
- The administration said it was because of suspicions about fraud but provided no details or proof. But the five blue states targeted in the freeze say it’s a political move, that they already protect against fraud, and the administration intentionally gave them “an impossible task on an impossible timeline.”

* Related stories…

• Sun-Times: Chicago-area parents grapple with anxiety over potential child care funding freeze
• CNI: Illinois joins 4 states suing Trump administration over $10B child care funding freeze

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*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group: The Illinois Department of Public Health this week officially joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), which provides resources and information intended to help control outbreaks and public health emergencies around the world. California announced that it was the first state to join the network late last month. Illinois’ decision to join GOARN follows the U.S. resigning from the World Health Organization late last month, citing the organization’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” a “failure to adopt urgently needed reforms” and “unfairly onerous payments” from the U.S., among other things, in an order signed by Trump a year ago initiating the withdrawal.

* Subscribers know more. Crain’s | Pritzker draws a line on pensions ahead of tight budget: Two weeks before he’s scheduled to present his next budget, Gov. JB Pritzker is laying down a marker that keeping the state’s sprawling pension burden in check is a top priority. In a policy paper released late Monday, Pritzker repeated his proposal from two years ago that lawmakers commit to 100% funding the pensions owed to state workers by 2048. Under a 1994 pension fix, the state committed to getting 90% funded by 2045. He also laid out several other ways to put a dent in future pension costs.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Politico: Bumped: Cook County Circuit Court has dismissed an appeal by incumbent Omar Aquino, upholding the Illinois State Board of Elections’ decision to remove him from the ballot for Democratic State Central Committeeman in the 3rd District. The ballot challenge by Kirk Ortiz found Aquino failed to properly serve the board as required under election law. Ortiz is now unopposed and will assume the role of committeeman.

From Isabel: We told subscribers Friday that Rep. Aquino planned to appeal to the state appellate court, which he did yesterday. So it’s not accurate to say Ortiz is guaranteed to win the seat.

* Lake County News-Sun | First-generation Americans face off in state House D52 primary: Erin Chan Ding of South Barrington and Maria Peterson of North Barrington are competing in the March 17 Democratic primary for their party’s nomination to represent the 52nd District in the Illinois House of Representatives. Both Peterson and Ding share similar views on issues like affordability, education and property taxes, but they have one major disagreement — who is the best candidate to unseat state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, in the Nov. 3 general election.

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Historic Roseland Church, Once On Verge Of Demolition, To Become Black-Women-Led Medical Center: “It’s phenomenal,” said Arlene Echols, a Pullman resident who regularly attended hearings regarding Reformation Lutheran Church and advocated for more than a year for the church to be saved from demolition. Onyx has locations in South Shore and South Chicago where patients can receive primary care, sexual health services, addiction medication, post-sexual assault and gynecological care, pap smears and infusions for those with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other conditions.

* Tribune | Illinois appeals court to review order sealing video in Krystal Rivera shooting:
Such a ruling from the court would not necessarily mean video footage is released, as agencies that keep the records could deny public records requests on other grounds. In its response, filed last week, the state’s attorney’s office made it clear that: “Vacating the order does not compel disclosure.” But a decision in favor of undoing the order would remove at least one obstacle to public disclosure of information around the June 5 slaying of Rivera at the hands of her partner, Carlos Baker.

* Daily Herald | Car-tastic: The Chicago Auto Show is back with 2,000 tires to kick: For truck afficionados, Ford’s revealing a revamped Maverick Lobo. The street truck is sporty and “something young buyers might be able to afford, and it would be fun to own,” Appel said. Morand can’t wait to see the latest Kia Telluride SUV. “We’re really excited because it’s going to be the first time that many folks will be able to see it,” she said. As a mom with busy kids, “it’s a great vehicle, it’s large, it’s safe, it’s sharp … and it can fit a lot of equipment in there from dance to sporting.”

* Block Club | Buddy Guy Says He’s ‘Just Trying To Keep The Blues Alive’ After 9th Grammy Win: The 18-track album dropped in July and took home the win for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 68th Grammy Awards ceremony, marking Guy’s fourth time winning the category. The win comes more than a decade after Guy was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2015. Guy last won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2019.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Harvey City Council deadlocks, fails to select acting mayor following death of Christopher Clark: Both 1st Ward Ald. Shirley Drewenski and 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El were nominated for acting mayor, but the City Council split down the middle. Drewenski was supported by 6th Ward Ald. Tyrone Rogers and 3rd Ward Ald. Telanee Smith, while Randle-El was supported by 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman and 4th Ward Ald. Tracy Key. Neither had the four votes necessary for majority approval of the six-member council.

* Tribune | Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s security team fleet to get upgrade: Preckwinkle’s executive protection detail is budgeted to cost up to $1.5 million in 2026 for the “salaries, benefits, duty-related personnel expenses and other necessary non-personnel expenses of seven members,” according to Forest Preserves of Cook County documents. The district has handled her detail since 2019. That’s up from $1.3 million in 2025. The 2026 budget included up to $130,000 to buy a new Ford Expedition to replace a 2019 model SUV in her seven-vehicle security fleet.

* Tribune | Cook County state’s attorney’s office reviewing legality of mayor’s immigration executive order: But the announcement quickly led to a back-and-forth between Johnson and Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, who posted on the social media platform X that her office “did not receive the Executive Order until it was released to the public. We do not provide legal approval of any matter until we’ve reviewed it.” In response, Johnson’s office said the mayor’s team received feedback on some of the order’s language from Burke’s policy chief, Yvette Loizon. But Burke’s office fired back again, saying it “never received draft or final language from the Mayor’s office.”

* Unraveled | Cook County State’s Attorney has “taken no action whatsoever” against feds, new lawsuit alleges: The lawsuit points to several examples of potentially unlawful acts committed by federal agents where Burke’s office has taken no action, such as a warrantless raid on a South Shore apartments building, the killing of Silverio Villegas González in Franklin Park, and the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Chicago. Burke’s failure to investigate individual agents’ deeds is either because she is “absent” or lacks the resources to do so, according to the petition. […] Attorney Sheryl Weikal filed the lawsuit against Burke in the Circuit Court of Cook County on Friday.

* Daily Herald | ‘Land saved’: The Conservation Foundation steps in to help preserve property once eyed for warehouses: The Conservation Foundation, with the help of two benefactors, purchased the 122 acres last year for $6 million, effectively taking the land between Carpentersville and West Dundee off the market for development. When the banner first went up, drivers expressed their support. “They were rolling down their windows saying good job, thank you and honking their horns,” recalled Brook McDonald, president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation. “It really felt good to hear them say that.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Presentation in Batavia focuses on links between quilts and the Underground Railroad: Martin’s presentation included 12 replica hand-sewn quilts that she said were made by her mother who was regarded as a master quilter. She said that an 1865 Martin family Bible recorded the secret messaging system in quilts. “I’ve been doing presentations for 10 years. My mother, a historian, Dr. Clarice Boswell, created this presentation and performed this presentation for 16 years and then she gave it to me when I retired from teaching,” Martin said before the event began. “I recreated it and changed a few things and made a PowerPoint presentation. It’s the story diving into our family history, dating back six generations.”

*** Downstate ***

* WMBD | 5-5 vote continues Peoria City legal challenge with Boyd Gaming: The Peoria City Council chamber was so quiet you could hear electronic static as a 5-5 vote meant the defeat of a settlement with Boyd Gaming and the likely continuation of Peoria’s legal challenge to a proposed land-based casino in East Peoria. “I’m disappointed with this decision,” said Mayor Rita Ali. “Boyd is not coming to Peoria.” The mayor added that continuing the legal fight against Boyd’s development of the Par-A-Dice Casino Hotel could leave the city with “literally nothing.”

* Tribune | U. of I. Republicans club faces backlash for post supporting ICE: ‘Only traitors help invaders’: The illustration was later deleted from the post, as first reported by the Daily Illini. But it prompted a complaint to the university’s Title VI Office, and drew a slew of criticism from U. of I. students online, who argue that it glorified the deaths of Pretti and Good as well as the unrest engulfing Minnesota. “My first initial reaction was just disgust, horror and nausea,” said sophomore Rylee Graves, 19, a member of Illini Democrats. “For them to say that that post was not violent or they weren’t condoning violence is a lie, and they know exactly what they’re doing.” […] Illini Republicans wrote in an email to the Tribune that the image was removed “to prevent misinterpretation while we review concerns,” but it was “not an admission of wrongdoing.” They declined a request for an interview.

* SJ-R | ‘It’s unfair.’ Crash victim speaks out against retired officer’s sentencing: A Springfield woman involved in a serious collision near Lake Springfield on Sept. 5, 2024, with a drunk driver who was a retired Springfield Police sergeant said those officers needed to be held more accountable for their actions. Chelsey Farley was angry “but not surprised” at a 90-day jail sentence for Michael Egan, who caused the crash and by state statute faced up to 12 years in prison.

* WCIA | Vermilion Co. tiny home project eyes fall of 2026 for construction: “In May this was all still Hope’s crazy idea,” Garrett said. “What was once an idea is actually now a real legal entity.” Garrett said her foundation is now recognized by the state, and she’s applying to get her non-profit 501(c)3 status approved. She hopes to rent out the houses between $300-400 per month, after building them with grant money.

* WCIA | U of I College of Education providing mental health service to the community: They are launching a healing, training and research clinic offering free mental health services. The program matches people in the community with graduate students who are training to  become clinicians. […] “The students learn how to do counseling. They learn all the theory. They learn all the research. And then they got to learn how to do it because you’re sitting with real people” Lydia Khuri, clinical professor, said.

*** National ***

* NYT | Trump Had Unusual Call With F.B.I. Agents After Election Center Search: Behind closed doors, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, met with some of the same F.B.I. agents, members of the bureau’s field office in Atlanta, which is conducting the election inquiry, three people with knowledge of the meeting said. They could not say why Ms. Gabbard, who also appeared on site at the search, was there, but her continued presence has raised eyebrows given that her role overseeing the nation’s intelligence agencies does not include on-site involvement in criminal investigative work. What occurred during the meeting was even further outside the bounds of normal law enforcement procedure. Ms. Gabbard used her cellphone to call Mr. Trump, who did not initially pick up but called back shortly after, the people said.

* WIRED | The Tech Elites in the Epstein Files: But Musk himself now shows up in the DOJ’s Epstein files well over 1,000 times, including direct correspondence between the two. In 2012 Epstein emailed Musk to ask, “Is there any one at Solar City that my guys can talk to about electriying the caribean island? or the new mexico ranch.” (SolarCity was a solar installation company founded by two of Musk’s cousins, with Musk as chairman and largest shareholder; Tesla acquired it in 2016.) Musk appeared willing to help, forwarding the email to his cousin Peter.

* WaPo | Inside Musk’s bet to hook users that turned Grok into a porn generator: The biggest AI companies have typically placed strict limits around creating or editing AI images and videos, to prevent users from making child sexual abuse material or fake content about celebrities. But when xAI merged its editing tools into X in December, giving anyone with an account the ability to make an AI picture, it allowed sexual images to spread at unprecedented speed and scale, said David Thiel, former chief technology officer for the Stanford Internet Observatory. Grok “is just completely unlike how any other image altering [AI] service works,” he said.

* Reason | The NRA and NORML Unite To Oppose the Federal Gun Ban for Marijuana Users: The NRA likewise notes that “the combination of intoxicants and firearms is a problem that has persisted since the eighteenth century.” But historically, legislators addressed that problem with laws aimed at inherently dangerous conduct rather than broad bans on gun possession by people who consume intoxicants. Those laws, the NRA notes, “did not disarm individuals when they were sober simply because they chose to become intoxicated when not carrying or shooting firearms.” When gun laws address a longstanding problem, the Supreme Court said in Bruen, the lack of a “distinctly similar” historical analog is especially telling. But although “the nation has long faced the social problem of armed drunks,” the NRA says, “there is no ‘distinctly similar’ historical law that justifies [Section 922(g)(3)] as it applies to marijuana.”

* CBS | Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users: While Google stated that its voice assistant would only register people’s speech when consumers uttered an activation phrase, such as “Hey Google,” the consumers claimed that their devices recorded them even without using such language. Some claimants alleged the Google devices recorded private conversations about financial issues, personal decisions and employment. If the settlement is approved, Google will place $68 million in a fund that will pay all consumer claims, as well as court-approved attorneys’ fees and other costs.