* At an unrelated event today, Gov. JB Pritzker was asked a few questions about yesterday’s Bears press conference…

Reporter: You’ve said repeatedly the Bears haven’t told you what they want. But they tell me yes they have. It’s the original PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] without some of the modifications that got put in the house bill. So, what about that? That’s what they’re telling me.

Pritzker: Well, that’s great, but remember, the legislature did not pass everything that they wanted, and so it’s up to those who want to get something from the state government to put the votes together on a bill that will pass. And so the question really is, what is it that they’re willing to compromise on to make sure that the state government, the legislature, the governor can support it? I’ve been very clear about what principle number one for me is, which is I’m not going to saddle the taxpayers with building a stadium for a $9 billion valued team and business. That’s great that they’re successful as a team. I hope they’ll be more successful this year on the field, anyway. We want them to continue to succeed, and we will support them with infrastructure and other things that we support other businesses with, as we do residents and others. But they’ve got to come forward and figure out what it is that will work with the legislature. They have had an occasional conversation with various legislators they think are useful to talk to that they’ve chosen. That’s great. They have talked to my office on occasion to check in with us to ask questions so that they can do the work that they need to do. But it is up to the Bears to make sure that they’re clear about how they’re going to get something working with the legislature. They’ve hired new lobbyists, and they’re working with those lobbyists, and I hope with members of the legislature to push something through.

* Have the Bears given up on Illinois?…

Reporter: A lot of people seem to have read their press conference yesterday as basically saying they’re all in for Indiana. What you’re saying is, because they’re not coming to you, do you think the Bears have given up on staying in Illinois?

Pritzker: If I were standing where they stood yesterday, I might say exactly what they said. Even though they have continued to have conversations with people in Illinois about what that future will look like. I do believe they would like to stay in the state of Illinois. I also believe that they have not come forward with the bill that they would like to ask the legislature to pass yet, and so we’re counting on them to make sure that that’s something they’re working on, that they’ll talk to the legislature about. I mean, it doesn’t make any sense for them to just keep saying the same thing that they said last spring if, in fact, that can’t pass the legislature.

Reporter: [Asked if he spoke with Bears CEO Kevin Warren or Chair George McCaskey after their press conference yesterday.]

Pritzker: No, I did not speak with either one of them after their press conference.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* WVIK will have Rep. Kam Buckner on tonight…