* Speaker Chris Welch is starting to make the interview rounds following the release of the Harry Benton Legislative Inspector General report…

On the record. Speaker Chris Welch responds to IG report and calls for him to resign. @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/SPPNpBdocg

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) August 5, 2026

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch: The Springfield Sexual Harassment Interview.

WGN Evening News @ 4pm & 5pm

The Point @ 6:45 pm pic.twitter.com/WgSNqjACPF

— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) August 5, 2026

I spoke in detail with @SpeakerWelchIL today about his handling of sexual harassment allegations against Harry Benton, changes he's planning to make and why he supported Benton's reelection.
We also discussed his own social media use that made Benton's staffer uncomfortable https://t.co/8qVTO1uGu0

— Ben Szalinski (@BenSzalinski) August 5, 2026

We requested an interview with the speaker and a spokesperson told me yesterday he was checking the speaker’s availability this week. We’re still waiting to hear back.

…Adding… CNI…

Welch told Capitol News Illinois it wasn’t until he read a Chicago Tribune article last month that he realized his actions — including reacting to the former staffer’s Instagram photos with heart eyes and inviting her to a bar through an encrypted messaging app — made her feel uncomfortable.

“When I read that, I felt terrible,” Welch, a Hillside Democrat, said. “That certainly was not my intent, but I made her feel uncomfortable, and I have to own that. I regret that and I’m embarrassed by it, and I apologize for it. And I think that’s taking responsibility.” […]

“Workplace culture goes beyond sexual harassment, and a lot of the conversations we’ve been having with members these last two weeks, they believe that too — that it goes beyond sexual harassment,” Welch said. “It goes to bullying. It goes to hostile work environment. There’s a lot of things that need to be addressed to change the culture.” […]

Welch said he plans to “continue to serve at the pleasure of the caucus.” New elections for speaker at typically held in January when a new General Assembly is sworn in.

*** Statewide ***

* Chicago Reader | Illinois prisons expand free phone calls: The IDOC launched the Voices of Connection program in November. During the pilot, incarcerated people could make 20-minute phone calls from their tablets or the wall phones in their facilities. The department will continue the program and offer the same number of free minutes per month, Puzzello wrote.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WICS | Illinois law expands student access to unused school meals: The law expands school districts’ participation in federal nutrition programs, allowing unopened food items to be redistributed for students to take at no cost instead of being thrown away. The new law takes effect Jan. 1.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Mayor Johnson Outlines Qualities for Chicago’s Next Top Cop, Says He Expects to Make That Choice: In a phone interview with WTTW News on Tuesday, Johnson laid out the qualities he’s looking for in Chicago’s next top cop and stressed that there’s no need to delay that selection process until after the upcoming mayoral election in February. “I think it’s important we adhere to the law,” Johnson said. “People fought hard for this type of process. To disrupt that process, I don’t see why that would be necessary.” Johnson’s previous superintendent pick, Larry Snelling, retired last month after three years as the city’s top cop and more than three decades with the Chicago Police Department.

* Block Club | Pilsen Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez Doubles Down On Feud With Gov. JB Pritzker: Reached by phone Monday, Sigcho-Lopez said his remarks as an elected official “were clear” and he was representing the interest of his constituents. Furthermore, he said the governor’s office response comparing him to MAGA is “insulting and racist.” “I went to find him in Springfield. He wasn’t there. When I said I wanna find him to ask him a question. … Is that violence, or is violence allowing schools to be defunded?” Sigcho-Lopez said. Pritzker’s office stood by its position, calling Sigcho-Lopez’s remarks “threatening language.” “The Governor’s Office still believes that no one should be using threatening language targeting elected officials as they too often remain targets of political violence,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

* Block Club | Thousands Of Books Are Piling Up In Chicago Libraries Due To Staffing Shortage: As of late July, more than 110,000 items were heaped in branches around the city, according to the system’s internal data. As a result, library workers have spent weeks finding “creative ways” to store thousands of books returned by patrons as staff wait for delivery drivers to pick them up and take them to their next location, said Ramirez, who’s part of the executive team of the union representing much of the system’s staff. Since the library system increased the number of drivers available in June, wait times for new holds have shrunk to two to three weeks, still higher than before the shortage introduced delays, Ramirez said.

* CBS Chicago | Willie Wilson announces he’s running for Chicago mayor in 2027: In a CBS News Chicago exclusive, Wilson declared his candidacy for Chicago mayor again in a one-on-one interview with Political Reporter Chris Tye on Wednesday. “A crime if I did not do it. You know, win, lose or draw, I win, because I’m out there to bring the truth out. I always tell people like, I’m not bought. I spend my own money, you know,” Wilson said, “and I never think I lose. People say, ‘Well, this is your fourth time.’ I don’t look at it that way.”

* Crain’s | NBC Tower owner plans hundreds of apartments amid downtown conversion wave: The preliminary plan would add another high-profile address to a wave of downtown office conversions since the COVID-19 pandemic upended workspace demand. Developers over the past few years have proposed dozens of projects totaling thousands of apartments in vacant former office space — some in the Loop getting a big financial assist from taxpayers as the city looks to restore regular foot traffic downtown.

* Tribune | Bud Billiken Parade 2026: Route, start time and a look back at 97 years of Chicago’s back-to-school tradition: Hundreds of thousands of spectators and generations of families will gather along the almost 3-mile route in Bronzeville Saturday to cheer on a variety of performers — bands, dance and drill teams, tumblers and cheerleaders — and watch celebrities ride in style aboard floats and classic cars. And thousands of school supplies and other amenities will be handed out in Washington Park following the parade.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Senior apartment building’s 4-story height next to homes not ‘going to fly,’ Arlington Heights mayor says: Mayor Jim Tinaglia said the project looks good on face value, but “there’s no way four stories is going to fly on this site.” Same goes for the four-story portion of the building’s 23-foot setback from the nearest single-family homes, located to the west on Highland Avenue, Tinaglia declared. “I am 100% confident that you as a group of hopeful developers are going to have your hands full convincing that this is appropriate,” he said. “My best advice to you is to do all that you can to soften that blow every step of the way. And the first step is going to be height. … That’s where you’re going to get your biggest pushback, guaranteed. And this room will be full of people who are not happy about that.”

* Forest Park Review | Forest Park police help ICE agent from ‘stalking’ : On July 30, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer entered Forest Park’s Village Hall just before 10:30 a.m. He asked for help from someone allegedly stalking him — shown in a video that Sam Luhmann took of the man. The video shows village staff letting the man into the Forest Park Police Department reportedly to use the bathroom, then someone coming out of the police department to reportedly move the ICE agent’s car from the parking lot at 517 Des Plaines Ave. “We record these agents to hold them accountable, as they constantly operate illegally and hurt our community members. There must be consequences for their actions,” Ben Luhmann, Sam’s brother, told the Review.

* Daily Herald | District 207 board tentatively approves $223.5M budget for new school year: An artificial turf athletic field and security upgrades are among the big-ticket projects in Maine Township High School District 207’s proposed $223.5 million budget for the new fiscal year. […] Spending is expected to be about $17.3 million greater than the $206.2 million budgeted for the previous fiscal year, a roughly 8% increase. District 207 spokesperson Brett Clark attributed the increase to capital projects and inflationary increases to employee salaries and benefits.

*** Downstate ***

* NPR Illinois | Federal court blocks in-state tuition rates and financial aid for undocumented college students in Illinois: ISU President Aondover Tarhule said Tuesday in an email to the campus community he understands the ruling may create uncertainty and concern and that ISU’s top priority is to support students as the university works through the details of the decision. “We are currently consulting with our state officials and legal counsel to determine what this decision means for affected students and the University. Students and families need timely information to make decisions as the fall semester approaches. We are committed to communicating promptly with impacted students as additional guidance becomes available,” said Tarhule. Judge Dugan paused his ruling for two weeks to give Illinois officials time to appeal. An ISU spokesperson said the university does not plan to appeal. WGLT has asked the Illinois attorney general’s office whether it plans to pursue an appeal.

* The Telegraph | Illinois Republican Erica Harriss condemns Chris Slusser’s Dr. Fauci hanging comment: Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss, a Republican, issued a statement criticizing Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser, also a Republican, for his comment calling for a “public hanging” of Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Comments like this have no place in our political discourse,” Harriss said in a statement to Hearst Newspapers of Illinois. “I have said in the past, and I will always be consistent regardless of party or disagreement, that leaders have a responsibility to communicate in a way that reflects the seriousness and responsibility of their office and encourages respectful public dialogue.”

* Rick Kogan | What is ‘Forgottonia’ and how did it get to Steppenwolf?: That was the name of an “independent nation” created in the late 1960s by a group of creative and politically savvy private citizens, business folks and others who lived in 16 western Illinois counties. It was born out of their frustration at the lack of state and federal government support for regional transportation and infrastructure projects. As Vallillo told me a few years back, “It was great political theater. The plan was to secede from the country, declare war on the United States, immediately surrender and apply for foreign aid.”

* WCIA | ‘It’s been really rough’: Mahomet teacher, superintendent react to board pushing referendum to November’s ballot: “That proposal is to, construct a new junior high, south of south Mahomet road, for $84 million,” said Superintendent Kenny Lee. Lee said this option won’t raise property taxes for the people in Mahomet. “The message was pretty strong about what the community might support at the voting booth,” Lee said.

* 25News Now | Normal Police join Blue Envelope Program, helping officers interact with community members: The Normal Police Department said the Blue Envelope Program is a bright blue envelope that can hold a driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, emergency contact information, and communications preferences. The free program is designed to help those with autism, sensory sensitivities, dementia, and other communication-related challenges. During a traffic stop or other interaction with first responders, presenting the envelope lets police and other first responders know that the person may benefit from additional communication support, creating a calmer and more understanding interaction.

*** National ***

* WIRED | Meta Ran Ads That Contained AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Imagery: More than 50 image and video ads containing abusive content were recently discovered in Meta’s ad library by researchers at the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), with the listings showing that some ads linked out to so-called nudify or undressing apps. Meta’s ad library—a transparency tool that catalogues ads displayed on the company’s platforms—shows the ads running across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and/or Threads. The findings are the second time in recent weeks that paid ads linked to child sexual abuse material have been found on Meta’s platforms.

* The Hill | Single measles outbreak in 2025 cost almost $5.4M to contain: A single measles outbreak last year cost almost $5.4 million to contain, according to new research published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Authors of the study said $53,522 was spent per measles case, which breaks down to $1,817 per person that came into contact with the viral disease in the outbreak, which occurred in New Mexico.