* Crain’s…

Rivian’s launch of a new EV in a few months will lead to even bigger things down the road for the Illinois factory where the vehicle will be made.

CEO RJ Scaringe told analysts that the company will add two more shifts at the plant in Normal.

“We’re starting with a single shift,” Scaringe said Feb. 12 after Rivian reported year-end earnings. “We’re bringing on a second shift that will be happening near the end of the year. And then in 2027, we’ll be adding our third shift.”

Rivian declined to disclose how many jobs it intends to add or how many workers it employs at its factory in Normal. But with headcount at one point topping 8,000, the plant arguably has grown into the state’s largest single manufacturing site.

* Another Super PAC has waded into an Illinois congressional race…

New Super PAC in town, big-time! New Democrat Majority, a group backing moderate, business-friendly Democrats, is dropping $1M+ on Chicago network TV to boost Melissa Bean in IL08, per FCC filings. pic.twitter.com/4WwAaNsmcj

— Frank Calabrese (@FrankCalabrese) February 25, 2026

*** Statehouse News ***

* Press release | Kickoff of BearDownforIllinois.com – an online petition drive to give Illinois Bears fans a voice to tell the owners to keep the team in Illinois: This Wednesday, February 25, at 1:30 pm at the George Halas statue in front of Soldier Field, former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will kick off an online petition drive to give Illinois Bears fans an opportunity to band together to tell the Bears’ owners to keep the team in Illinois. “For more than a century, the Bears have been the pride and joy of Illinois,” Quinn said. “Generations of Bears fans have stood by this team through triumph and heartbreak. Our online petition (BearDownforIllinois.com) reminds the owners to be loyal to their loyal fans.”

* NRDC | Cutting Food Waste in Illinois Could Add 14,000 Jobs and Grow the Economy: A new study, commissioned by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), shows that Illinois can turn its trash into a major win for the state. By stopping food from rotting in landfills, Illinois can create thousands of jobs, grow the economy, and save good food for people who need it. […] “Every ton of food sent to a landfill is a missed opportunity for Illinois,” said Kyle Preuss of Block Bins. “By diverting food scraps away from the trash and into composting and rescue programs, we aren’t just reducing methane—we are building a circular economy that creates local jobs and returns vital nutrients to our soil. This study proves that sustainable waste management is a powerful engine for both environmental health and economic growth.” Solutions are already moving forward. Illinois lawmakers are looking at SB 2852, which would require large businesses – like grocery stores and food manufacturers– to donate or recycle their extra food instead of tossing it. This bill, if passed, would help build the tools the state needs to rescue food and protect the environment.

* The Southern | Severin, Evans face off again in 116th District: Angela Evans said she decided to run again after reviewing Severin’s voting record and campaign funding sources. She said those concerns pushed her to step forward.[…] Rep. Dave Severin said voters should focus on experience and accessibility when making their decision. He said his approach has remained steady even as district boundaries changed. “I believe I’m the best candidate and the most experienced person to represent the people of the 116th,” Severin said. “I continue to have the values that I’ve had before I ran the whole time that I’m serving.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Waymo eyes Chicago for robotaxi rollout: The Mountain View, Calif.-based company is deploying a small fleet of human-driven vehicles to map streets and gather other data in preparation for one day deploying robotaxis in the city, starting with a corridor between the South Loop and Wrigleyville.“Chicago is a very dense, large city with a lot of existing ride-hail demand that we feel we can complement with our service,” says Waymo spokesman Chris Bonelli.

* Block Club | Waymo Starts Testing Self-Driving Cars In Chicago — But With Drivers, For Now: A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said in a statement the city was notified Waymo is operating to “map streets formations, record geographical data, and better understand driving conditions” — but the company would not be allowed to test self-driving cars. “There is no law or regulatory framework which prohibits any licensed individual from driving in Chicago,” the spokesperson said. “The city looks forward to engaging with commuters, workers, transit advocates and industry leaders as we pursue constructive dialogue with our partners in Springfield and pursue an equitable path forward.”

* WTTW | A PR Push on the Public Dime: Chicago Police Podcast Records Peel Back Layers of Expanded Communication Costs: The department’s office of communication has vastly expanded over the past decade, and costs rose along with it. In 2017, the communication office had four employees who were paid about $340,000, budget documents show. The 2026 budget identified 24 employees with a payroll of more than $2.75 million, an increase of more than 700% over a decade.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago’s school board close to identifying finalists — again — for superintendent search: Multiple board members said the next step in the search process is to identify finalists from the group of candidates they’ve been considering. Norma Rios-Sierra, an appointed board member who is on a working group for the almost yearlong CEO search, told Chalkbeat the board will have a group of finalists “very soon” and “definitely before the end of the school year.” But even as the search continues, six of the 21 board members and groups such as the district’s principals union are escalating calls to keep interim CEO Macquline King in her role into 2027, when a fully elected school board takes over. They argue that with a tough budget season already underway and the looming campaigns for all 21 school board seats, the district needs stability instead of a push to conclude the rocky search.

* Sun-Times | Chicago foundation awards $15 million for construction of two West Side community centers: The $10 million will support Lawndale Christian Development’s project, One Lawndale, that was approved by the City Council in late 2025. The prize “makes [One Lawndale] possible,” Richard Townsell, Lawndale Christian Development’s executive director, said.

* Tribune | Chicago Fire open up marketing center to sell suites and seats at new $750M soccer stadium: As the Bears waffle between destinations for their new planned stadium, including potentially moving across state lines to Indiana, another Chicago team is ready to break ground next week inside the city it represents. The Chicago Fire, who are building a privately funded $750 million soccer stadium in the South Loop, have opened an experiential marketing center in the Wrigley Building featuring everything from a simulated suite and a video room to a large-scale detailed model of the facility, offering fans an immersive preview of what’s to come.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Orland fire Chief Kevin Doyle resigns after 4 months, fire board confirms: The Orland Fire Protection District is without a chief after Kevin Doyle resigned Feb. 13, after just four months on the job, a fire district board member confirmed Tuesday. Doyle started in October as fire chief/administrator for the district that serves all or parts of Orland Park, Orland Hills and unincorporated Orland Township, after working as chief for the Homer Township Fire Protection District.

* Daily Herald | GOP candidate deletes video of fake Trump endorsement: A short video purporting to show President Donald Trump praising Republican congressional candidate Charlie Kim of Aurora has been removed from the Kim campaign’s Facebook page. The move followed a Daily Herald inquiry into the authenticity of the video. A White House official confirmed the video wasn’t genuine. The nearly 30-second clip was posted Feb. 9. In it, a figure that looked and sounded like Trump stands in a room resembling the Oval Office and speaks about Kim while gesturing to a framed, wall-mounted photograph of the 11th Congressional District candidate.

* Crain’s | California firm bets on suburban office space with deal for distressed Lake Forest complex: A West Coast real estate firm has picked up a half-empty Lake Forest office complex out of receivership at a big discount, betting on the future of workspace in the northern suburb despite record vacancy infecting the local office market. A venture of Petaluma, Calif.-based STG Group paid just more than $9.3 million last week for the two-building Conway Park office property at 100 and 150 N. Field Drive in Lake Forest, according to a source familiar with the transaction.

*** Downstate ***

* BND | SIHF wants to build a new hospital to replace Touchette in Cahokia Heights: SIHF Healthcare wants to build a new $231 million hospital to replace Touchette Regional Hospital about four miles away in Cahokia Heights. Touchette President Brad Goacher said the move would improve hospital access and fill a gap in the region’s mental health system. The next step for SIHF is seeking approval from the Illinois Health Facilities Review Board, which exists to keep health care costs in check and avoid unnecessary duplication of health facilities. Goacher said he expects hospital leaders to submit an application with more details about the proposed hospital in 30 to 60 days.

* WCIA | Danville children’s home expanding to new county: Cunningham Children’s Home has been helping kids in Central Illinois for more than 130 years. And with the purchase of a new building in Danville, they’re ready to take their mission into new territory. “These are really designed for children that have not been successful in the public school system,” said C.E.O. Marlin Livingston. Livingston has been the C.E.O. of Cunningham Children’s Home for nearly 20 years. He’s been overseeing two campuses while serving students who need extra help in the classroom. Now, they’re adding a third site at the old Oakwood Junior High School.

* WCIA | New Christian Co. vending machine provides 24/7 access to overdose prevention supplies: The health department has installed a “harm reduction vending machine” outside its building, which will provide free, 24/7 access to Narcan and fentanyl test strips. The vending machine will also be stocked with other public health and safety items; most of those items will be available at no charge, the health department said. “By making these supplies available around the clock, we are removing barriers and ensuring that lifesaving tools are accessible when and where they are needed most,” Dr. Chad Anderson, Public Health Administrator, said in a news release. “Naloxone and fentanyl test strips save lives, and this vending machine is another step toward protecting the health and safety of our community.”

* WSIL | SIU, Kaskaskia team up for new ag degree paths: Starting in the fall 2026 semester, students can pursue select agricultural bachelor’s degree pathways through a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online courses. This initiative allows students to earn a four-year degree while staying in the region. “This partnership represents a major step forward for place-bound students who want to advance their education without leaving their communities,” said George Evans, President of Kaskaskia College.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Private Credit Fears Deepen With UBS Warning of 15% Defaults: A few weeks ago, analysts at UBS Group AG laid out a worst-case scenario for defaults in the private credit sector. Their outlook just became more grim. Strategists including Matthew Mish say private credit could see default rates surge as high as 15%, two percentage points more than the firm forecast less than a month ago, if artificial intelligence triggers an “aggressive” disruption among corporate borrowers.

* AP | Supreme Court rules against private prison firm facing forced-work suit from immigration detainees: The unanimous ruling is a procedural defeat for the GEO Group, but it’s not a final decision. The company is fighting a lawsuit from 2014 alleging detainees in Aurora had to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay to supplement meager meals. GEO defended its practices and argued that the case should be tossed out because it’s immune from lawsuits as a government contractor.