* Crain’s…

As Illinois lawmakers negotiate incentives that could help the Chicago Bears move to Arlington Heights, Chicago Stars FC is intensifying its own push for state support for a new stadium — potentially on Goose Island.

The women’s soccer team, owned by a group led by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts, has been swapping ideas with members of the General Assembly for years over how the state could support the NWSL team’s new home, but those talks have heated up in recent weeks, according to key lawmakers.

Though no formal proposal has surfaced, the team is seeking to leverage the broader megaproject negotiations in Springfield to argue that women’s professional teams deserve the same treatment as men’s franchises. […]

The team could potentially benefit from provisions included in the megaprojects legislation now under negotiation in Springfield after it was heavily amended in the House, but further tweaks could be necessary or a separate bill could be introduced as soon as this month.

* Belleville News-Democrat…

A regional port district and its relationship with the mayor have become a new focus in the battle over whether Granite City should allow a data center to be built in the community.

Opponents recently discovered that some property being eyed by land scouts for data centers is owned by America’s Central Port District, a special governmental unit in the Metro East; that the district has negotiated with them on possible land sales; and that city officials were briefed on development plans well before the public knew. […]

“The contrast between what was presented publicly and what had already occurred behind the scenes suggest a lack of transparency,” said Charles McCoy, 56. “At a minimum, it indicates that key information was not shared with the City Council, the Planning Commission or the residents of Granite City.”

The McCoys question why a transportation-oriented port district would be selling property for data centers, and why its role has never been mentioned in public meetings.

Dennis Wilmsmeyer, executive director of the port district, said economic development is one of its state-designated functions, and it’s common for public bodies to keep discussions or negotiations with developers about possible land purchases private.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois legislators gear up for final budget talks: Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, is proposing a plan that would eliminate several economic development tax credit programs, such as programs that incentivize construction jobs, to free up $700 million in revenue annually, according to proponents. Many of the targeted programs, however, have support from the governor and members of both parties. “Isn’t it time that we take a stand showing exactly what our values are here in Illinois, instead of allowing the state’s wealthiest corporations to double dip, racking in both federal and state tax breaks?” Collins said at a news conference on Wednesday.

* Press release | Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Across All Metro Areas in March: Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs decreased in 8 metropolitan areas, increased in 3 and was unchanged in 1, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Champaign (14 consecutive months) and Lake (4 consecutive months). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 12 metro areas for the year ending March 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES).

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Another lawsuit involving Chicago detective Reynaldo Guevara settling on brink of trial: The trial over all of this had been set to begin Monday before U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger. Instead, after more than eight years of intense litigation, attorneys for both sides appeared in Seeger’s otherwise empty courtroom to announce they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the case. The amount of the settlement — which was negotiated in a series of sessions before a magistrate judge — was not disclosed in court because it is pending the approval of the City Council.

* Tribune | In grim financial turn, Chicago Sinfonietta will pause concerts and lay off staff: The move is one of the most drastic yet undertaken by an area organization to counteract the flurry of challenges facing the performing arts after the COVID-19 pandemic, including depressed audience attendance, rising costs and a shifting philanthropic landscape. Simon Woods, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, told the Tribune the Sinfonietta’s move is rare in the orchestra world, but not unprecedented. The San Antonio Philharmonic canceled the majority of its remaining season in February, citing fiscal and legal challenges.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Republican Will County Board members discuss solar plans ahead of Earthrise vote: Will County committees will meet twice this month to continue discussing Earthrise Energy’s proposed Pride of the Prairie solar farm before the County Board votes May 21 on the project that would span about 6,100 acres in Manhattan, Green Garden and Wilton townships. The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, as part of a court order after residents filed a lawsuit saying they weren’t allowed to cross examine Earthrise Energy last month. A judge agreed, which postponed an official decision on the sprawling solar plant.

* Tribune | Judge tells ‘Broadview Six’ defendants ‘Congratulations’ and dismisses conspiracy count: A federal judge on Thursday dismissed the felony conspiracy count against the remaining defendants in the “Broadview Six” case, further winnowing a politically charged prosecution that is now down to misdemeanor counts of impeding an immigration agent. “Congratulations, you all are no longer charged with felonies,” U.S. District Judge April Perry told the four defendants in granting a motion from prosecutors to dismiss the lone conspiracy charge in the indictment.

* Shaw Local | Here’s what to know about Plainfield’s e-bikes ordinance: E-scooters: users must be 18 and older, Class 1 & 2 e-Bikes: users must be 14 and older, Class 3 E-Bikes: users must be 16 and older

* Daily Southtown | Orland District 230 appoints Arabic language supporter Moe Hammad to board: The Orland Park High School District 230 board voted Wednesday to appoint Moe Hammad, a supporter of the Arabic language curriculum, to the board seat vacated by Mohammad Jaber in March. Hammad will serve the remainder of Jaber’s term, which runs through April 2027. Hammad, an Orland Park resident since 2019, is a member of the District 230 Building and Finance Advisory Committee, according to a district news release. He has a graduate degree in education and a decade of entrepreneurial experience as owner of one dozen companies, according to the district.

* Daily Herald | A ‘terrific’ amenity: Last piece of West Branch DuPage River Trail includes bridge over Roosevelt Road: Building the final, 0.7-mile segment will put a bow on the West Branch DuPage River Trail. That last piece will provide the missing link between the Blackwell and West DuPage Woods forest preserves. “It’s just taken diligence and persistence and hard work from the staff and previous boards to finally get this project completed,” Forest Preserve Commissioner Rick Gieser said Tuesday.

*** Downstate ***

* IPM | Striking ISU staff return to work after ratifying new 5-year contract: AFSCME Local 1110, the union representing more than 300 building services, grounds, dining services and other ISU employees, said more than 95% of them approved the five-year contract. The new contract gives workers an immediate lump sum payment of $1,500 and an immediate 3.5% wage increase, plus annual raises of 3% every July 1 through 2029 until the contract expires on June 30, 2030. The union had sought retroactive pay increases to July 1 last year and annual raises equal to university administrators.

* WCIA | Parkland College expands automotive apprenticeship programs with new program: The new program strengthens the college’s longstanding automotive training partnerships. Building on a decades-long relationship supporting Sam Leman Ford in Bloomington, the company is partnering with Parkland College to develop talent pipelines for its newest locations in Champaign-Urbana. “This partnership highlights how employers and educators can work together to solve workforce challenges,” said Parkland Director of Apprenticeships Aimee Densmore. “Sam Leman Automotive Group is making a strategic investment in developing its future technicians, and Parkland is proud to support that effort through high-quality training and real-world experience.”

* WCIA | Combe Laboratories expanding operations in Rantoul: The company is investing $30 million dollars, along with a $5 million state grant, to shift its California operations to Champaign County. The move is expected to bring 20 new jobs to the area and help them hang onto the existing 100 they already have. “All around us, we’ve seen examples of companies pick up and move either out of the area or out of the state,” said village administrator Scott Eisenhauer. “For us to be able to not only keep what we already have, but to expand that and grow that, I think is a huge win for Rantoul, a big win for Champaign County, and certainly a giant ‘W’ for the State of Illinois.”

* WCIA | EIU president outlines search for new AD: EIU AD Tom Michael is returning to his alma mater, the University of Illinois, after leading Panthers’ sports for 12 years. EIU President Jay Gatrell spoke with WCIA on Tuesday, and was complimentary of Michael’s impact in Charleston. Now, Eastern Illinois begins searching for Michael’s replacement. “It begins by networking,” Gatrell said of the early process of the school’s AD hiring. “It’s a national search.” He says a search committee has been formed and will begin meeting the week of May 11.

*** National ***

* WCIA | Circle K offering 40 cents off per gallon in Illinois for Fuel Day: Thursday, May 7 is Circle K’s Fuel Day, and they are offering nearly half a dollar off per gallon for their rewards members. From 4-7 p.m., Circle K customers. are able to redeem 40 cents off each gallon of fuel directly at the pump. Inner Circle members have easy access to this deal, as it opened at 12:01 a.m. for them on Thursday.

* NPR | Campaign staffers tell NPR they make ‘thousands’ betting on their own candidates: “Myself and others started placing bets before that poll came out,” the staffer, who was working on a statewide campaign in the South, told NPR on the condition of anonymity over fear for their future employment. “And then, sure enough as soon as that poll came out, the stock went up and everybody made money.” This is one of the first publicly reported instances of a campaign staffer betting and winning thousands on their own candidate on prediction markets — emerging financial exchanges where billions are bet each week on future events like sports, culture and even elections.

* Crain’s | Rivian eyes more EV variants as affordable R2 rollout begins: Rivian is signaling its push into more affordable electric vehicles may extend well beyond the upcoming R2 SUV — a key development for the EV maker as it tries to broaden its appeal beyond luxury buyers. Reuters reports Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is developing additional variants based on the new R2 platform, though he stopped short of revealing specifics. Asked whether Rivian was planning a pickup version of the R2, Scaringe told Reuters: “There are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown.”