The U.S. Department of Energy had a vision: Slash in half the amount of a potent greenhouse gas that enters the atmosphere when growing corn and sorghum for biofuel.
That gas — nitrous oxide — mostly comes from spraying chemical fertilizer onto fields. So in practice, achieving the agency’s goal meant figuring out how to grow those crops with dramatically less nitrogen fertilizer, but without cutting into harvests.
If that sounds ambitious, it’s because the idea came from a branch of the energy department that officials like to call the Moonshot Factory.
Scientists in Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and other states believed they knew how to make the change happen. They were ready to launch the work this year, with benefits not just for fighting climate change but also reducing pollution in rivers, lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.
But 10 days after taking office, the Trump administration decided to hold off on this $38 million investment that the energy department had previously boasted could save farmers $6 billion in fertilizer spending.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago school board members raise concerns about Illinois labeling schools: Illinois is poised to change how it measures student and school performance — including changing the scores needed to be deemed proficient on math and reading tests. In Illinois, schools are given one of five designations based on a variety of data about how well their students do on math and reading tests and how often students miss school. How many students graduate and how many freshmen are passing their classes are factors for high schools. “Exemplary” schools are the top 10% of all schools statewide and “intensive support” schools are those in the bottom 5%.
* Fox Chicago | Funeral held for former Illinois Gov. George Ryan today: His memorial service started at noon at the Ashbury United Methodist Church. Ryan, the 39th governor of Illinois, died last week at age 91 after a brief stay in hospice care. Ryan passed away peacefully at his home in Kankakee, surrounded by his family. He was remembered as a “loving and attentive husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,” his obituary said.
* Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker signs order protecting autism data in response to federal research plan under RFK Jr: Pritzker’s order prohibits state agencies from collecting or disclosing personally identifiable autism-related data unless it’s required for care, legal compliance or program eligibility. Even then, such efforts must still follow strict privacy and data minimization rules. Contractors, vendors and grantees who work with state agencies must follow the same restrictions, and are barred from storing the data. Any disclosures of autism-related information must also be limited to the minimum amount of information and anonymized when “allowed and practicable,” according to the order.
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois regains access to $77M in federal education funds following judge’s order: The effect of McMahon’s order was to immediately cut off access to funds that states said they had already committed to spend but not yet made the actual expenditures. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 17 states in suing the federal government to block McMahon’s order. “The Trump administration’s shortsighted and illegal decision to attempt to rescind already-appropriated education funding would hurt vulnerable students the most and could wreak havoc on the budgets of school districts throughout Illinois and the nation,” Raoul said in a statement Tuesday.
* WAND | Dedicated FAFSA assistant could be added to all high schools under IL plan: The bill would not create a new role at schools. Instead, a current staff member or teacher would be taught the application process, where they would be able to assist all students with their FAFSA forms. […] Another FAFSA proposal would give students time during school to fill out their forms. Both policies passed the Senate education committee unanimously. They will now head to the Senate floor, where lawmakers could talk about it before session ends.
* Illinois Times | Sangamon County Republicans host 2025 Lincoln Day Dinner: The Sangamon County Republican Committee hosted the annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday, May 7, at the BOS Center in Springfield. The keynote speaker was Johnny “Joey” Jones, a FOX news host and U.S. Marine corps veteran who lost both legs above the knee while serving as an explosive ordinance disposal tech in Afghanistan. Jones is also the author of the book Unbroken Bonds of Battle: A Modern Warriors Book of Heroism, Patriotism, and Friendship.
* Block Club Chicago | The Fight To Save State’s Immigrant Health Care Program: ‘We Are Not A Burden. We Contribute’: “I’m really concerned about not having health insurance. Without it, I’m going to stop getting [many] treatments,” said Gabriela Piceno, a Southwest Side neighbor and recipient of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program. The program provides health care for low-income adults ages 42-64 who are not eligible for Medicaid due to their immigration status. Amid a projected state budget deficit and previously underestimated program costs, state officials announced it won’t be renewed next year. A similar program for people older than 65 will continue, state officials said.
*** Chicago ***
* WBEZ | Chicago mayor criticized for pushing his chief of staff for interim CPS leader: The majority of board members are aligned with the mayor and at least one member made the argument that the board needs someone who they know and is in step with their values. Johnson’s education agenda has been thwarted by his conflict with Martinez, which is why Johnson’s appointees fired him. The Chicago Tribune first reported that the mayor’s chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, is being considered to temporarily replace Martinez.
* Tribune | Robert Prevost was ‘the pride and joy of every priest and nun’ at St. Mary’s on Chicago’s South Side: “When I heard the news of the new Holy Father at that moment, at least here in Chicago, the sun came out,” said the Rev. Greg Sakowicz, rector of Holy Name Cathedral. Some would say the sunny weather was just a coincidence, Sakowicz acknowledged. But “a coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous,” he added. Prevost’s Catholic roots were planted in Chicago’s south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the Far South Side, attending school there and serving as altar boy.
* Block Club Chicago | 28 Vacant Lots To Be Turned Into Affordable Homes In Back Of The Yards: In the coming weeks, the nonprofit The Resurrection Project plans to break ground on 28 city-owned vacant lots that will be turned into single-family homes by the end of the year, said Lizette Carretero, director of financial wellness for the Resurrection Project. The Pilsen-based nonprofit is part of Reclaiming Chicago, an initiative to build or rehab 1,000 homes on the South Side and 1,000 homes on the West Side. In partnership with other local organizations, the nonprofit has already completed 20 homes in Back of the Yards.
* WBEZ | Chicago favorites and jazz greats set to perform at Chicago Jazz Festival 2025: Esperanza Spalding: A masterly bassist, the singer-songwriter has won five Grammys, and was the first jazz performer to be named Best New Artist in 2010. spalding was most recently nominated for her 2025 album “Milton + esperanza,” a collaboration with Brazilian artist Milton Nascimento. She’ll close out the opening night.
* Block Club | Swan Paddle Boats At Humboldt Park Are No More: The company had operated out of the lagoon boathouse, 1301 N. Humboldt Park Drive, since 2018. But business had been slow since the pandemic, and sales never picked back up, said franchisee co-owner Rodney Knight. “It didn’t make financial sense after COVID,” Knight said. “Over the winter, we looked at numbers in the past year and the trends where things are going and just couldn’t come up with a solution to … make the numbers work.”
*** Downstate ***
* WGLT | ‘Moment of great significance’: Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka celebrates first American pope: “We welcome the news of the election of the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, with hearts full of joy and hope,” said Tylka in the statement. “As the People of God, we pledge support and fidelity to Pope Leo XIV as the Successor of Peter. United with the universal Church , we are ready to walk in faith alongside our new Holy Father, trusting in God’s providence and grace.”
* WGLT | Connect Transit ready to take over rural public transit in McLean County starting in July: Connect Transit plans to replicate these routes, and fares will not be required because Show Bus hasn’t charged since COVID-19. Normal’s Town Council voted to let Connect Transit provide services outside of Bloomington-Normal’s corporate limit a month ago. The City of Bloomington has not yet approved the change.
* WCIA | Village of Savoy approves redevelopment contract in downtown plaza project: Developers said it’s a step in the right direction and the CEO of the project, Kyle Kirchhoefer, said the contract will help them get a better time frame of when the work will start. After connecting with the community through surveys and focus groups, the goal is building them a downtown area they don’t want to leave. “Having a downtown that kind of looks like it’s always been there, but it’s new,” Kirchhoefer said. “Some smaller shops where we can have local businesses that can come in and they want to have their ice cream store, or kids haircut place, or arcade or whatever it might be that we want to build this so it’s feasible for them to do that. We want to have it local for the community.”
* WSIL | Southern Illinois marks May 8th storm with emergency prep advice: On May 8, 2025, the 16th anniversary of “the May 8th Storm” or otherwise known as the “Super Derecho” is being observed. This significant date serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for emergencies, such as power outages. The Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association encourages residents to assemble a basic emergency supply kit. Essential items include water—one gallon per person per day for at least three days—and a three-day supply of non-perishable food. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries is also recommended.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Southtown | Downtown Flossmoor business owners share concerns during Small Business Administration visit: For each small business Willette LeGrant stepped into in downtown Flossmoor Wednesday, the more she said she felt connected to the community as a whole. “I do not feel like I was talking to small businesses,” the Illinois district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration said after the tour, guided by Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson. “I felt like I was talking to members of my family.” […] LeGrant was welcomed to Flossmoor with open arms, given free food samples and even a confetti filled balloon with her name on it from Balloon Bar and Party Supplies, a storefront that Javanah Barnes opened only a month ago.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council set to consider new $35 million fire department headquarters: The new fire station and headquarters building would be located on the site of the current Aurora Police Department headquarters, which is located on Indian Trail, to create a combined Aurora Public Safety Campus. Aurora Fire Department officials have said this move would improve the department’s operations in multiple ways, including lower fire and emergency medical response times, much-needed expanded office space for department administration and a new storm-hardened, high-tech Emergency Operations Center.
*** National ***
* Inside EVs | Another Tesla Cybertruck Promise Goes Bust: The accessory—essentially a large, secondary battery pack for boosting range—had been delayed time and time again since it was first announced. This led to onlookers claiming that the accessory was just vaporware and would never be delivered. Well, it turns out that these conspiracy theories were right, as Tesla announced to reservation holders on Wednesday that it wouldn’t be delivering the Range Extender and would be refunding deposits in full.
* AFP | Alphabet’s share price plunges on traffic drop testimony: Shares in Google parent Alphabet plunged more than seven percent on Wednesday after an Apple executive told a federal court that the search engine’s traffic fell on Apple products last month. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, testified at an antitrust trial in Washington that Google search volume was losing traffic to AI alternatives such as ChatGPT or Perplexity, according to US media reports.
* Tribune | US retires database tracking billions of dollars of climate change-fueled weather damage: The agency said its National Centers for Environmental Information would no longer update the Billion-dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024, and that its data — going as far back as 1980 — would be archived. For decades, it has tracked hundreds of major events across the country, including destructive hurricanes, hail storms, droughts and freezes that have totaled trillions of dollars in damage. The database uniquely pulls information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s assistance data, insurance organizations, state agencies and more to estimate overall losses from individual disasters.
Announcer: Kristi Noem came to Springfield today to attack Illinois immigration protections, and she used the death of Emma Shafer to help advance that political agenda without her family’s consent. Our capital bureau chief Cole Henke is live outside of the governor’s mansion in Springfield. And Cole, Noem didn’t just stop at mentioning her name.
Henke: That’s right. Instead of going to the Capitol to attack Illinois laws or even the governor’s mansion, which is right behind me here, she instead went to the house where Emma Shafer was killed on the other side of town. Her mother not only didn’t approve of her using her name, she actively protested outside of the governor’s mansion today against Noem’s trip. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was joined by several families who either lost loved ones in crimes involving non citizens or to drug overdoses, but the majority of remarks in Springfield were focused on the story of a person whose family was not there.
Noem: Just a couple of houses away from here, Emma Shafer was brutally stabbed and murdered by an illegal alien.
Henke: Emma Shafer was killed in her home two years ago, right behind where Nome spoke. Her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Calixto is accused of the crime. Her death rocked the capital city. She was a pillar of the activist community organizing for several major causes in town, including immigrant rights. Protesters say she would have been on the front lines opposing Noem’s rhetoric.
Nick Dodson, Emma Shafer’s friend: Would have been the loudest person there. She would have been a person that organized many different people of different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, to all come and support this [protest].
Henke: Not only did her family not give consent to Noem’s office to use their daughter’s story, her mother carried on Emma’s mission the best way she knew how. She joined protesters across town rebuking the rhetoric around immigration from Noem and the Trump administration. In a statement, her mother begged Noem to stop, saying quote, to see her used by Secretary Nome and others to advance a cruel and heartless political agenda is not just deeply painful to us, it is an insult to her memory. This was Noem’s response to my question, if she even tried to get the family’s consent.
Noem: We have been reaching out to them, and weren’t able to get a response to yet, but we have been reaching out to them.
Henke: Were you aware that Emma Shafer’s family is across town at the protest of your appearance?
Noem: No, I wasn’t aware of that. Is that her immediate family?
Reporters: Yes.
Noem: Thank you. [Turns to another reporter] Did you have a question?
Henke: Noem then went on to speculate about Shafer’s case.
Noem: She lost her life to an illegal alien that’s still out at large, um, poss… probably in this state. We can’t confirm that.
Henke: What I did confirm? Springfield Police said Wednesday they have no reason to believe Calixto is even in the country, let alone in Illinois. As for her other claims…
Noem: The local law enforcement and the state law enforcement are barred by state law, with the support of Governor Pritzker, from sharing any information with our ICE officers or HSI officers.
Henke: This is not true. The US Marshals have actively been involved with this case from the get go, and the Trust Act does not prevent local law enforcement from working with the feds on any case involving a criminal warrant. Joining Noem was the Illinois Senate Republican leadership team, including Minority Leader John Curran and Senator Steve McClure, who represents a large part of Sangamon County. Curran said he was not aware of the significance of the location for Noem’s news conference until afterward.
Curran: I would say, highlighting a victim of crime, a murder victim of crime whose life work was centered around the immigrant community, regardless of whether someone was here legally or illegally, was a decision that should not have been made.
Henke: Governor Pritzker issued a scathing statement about Noem’s trip to Springfield as well, saying, quote Trump/ Noem publicity stunts do not make our community safer or our immigration system smarter. Illinois does not need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe. Like the millions of Americans asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the Secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the homeland.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
* More from Henke…
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used Emma Shafer's memory and even her old home to attack protections for the immigrant community in Illinois.
This statement from Shafer's mother makes it clear. They never gave consent for this, and they want it to end. pic.twitter.com/9PI6oC3O5N
* Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus were also at the Noem event yesterday…
Today, all members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus were honored to stand with Secretary Noem at a press conference in Springfield highlighting Illinois’ dangerous defiance of federal immigration law.
The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are issuing the following statement:
“Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats are hell bent on protecting and concealing criminal illegals and spending your tax dollars to take care of them. As Secretary Noem highlighted today, we are talking about criminal illegals who are committing violent acts in our communities and trafficking dangerous drugs into the hands of our youth.
The Freedom Caucus has been calling for an end to the Sanctuary State policies for years; and we are thankful to have President Trump’s support in this fight. President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to enforcing federal law, and where necessary, imposing federal sanctions against JB Pritzker and his state government for refusing to comply. It is time for the Democrats to make a choice; are they going to support our taxpayers and working families in Illinois, or are they going to support illegals? It is time for all Illinois government officials to put the interest of Illinois citizens first.”
The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Jed Davis (R-Newark); David Friess (R-Red Bud) and State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability, and integrity in government.
* Rep. Ann Williams asked those members why they were at the event during a floor speech today. Here’s an excerpt…
After she was killed, we did do a resolution to honor her, but her family specifically asked we not speak about it publicly. So of course, we agreed to. Their pain was immeasurable, obviously, and it still is.
Yet here we are, two years later, with the grief still raw, the pain still very real. And yesterday, Secretary Noem doubled down to exploit her memory to score cheap political points. And some of you joined her. If you haven’t already read Emma’s mother’s statement, I’m asking you to please do so. It’s extremely difficult to read. It’s painful, but it’s powerful. Can you imagine losing a child, a family member, a colleague in the way that Emma’s family and friends did, and then having the wound torn open in the way that it happened yesterday, especially when you knew it went against everything this young woman stood for and how she lived her far too short life? It’s hard to imagine. It’s cruel.
So why were you there? Where is the empathy? Where is the understanding? Did anyone hesitate yesterday? Was there even a moment where someone thought this might hurt people who have been through such an unthinkable experience and losing a child in such a hurtful and brutal way?
I’m not going to ask for an apology. The family already did that. They did that through their pain and through their grief on a day that must have been filled with anguish. Instead, I’m going to implore you to take a few minutes to look inward. Ask yourself, was it worth it, and is it worth it to cast aside your humanity, your empathy, to score political points, to treat human beings as political fodder, to ignore pain and anguish and gloat about political wins. That can’t feel good. I don’t know how that can feel good or right.
Not one Freedom Caucus member rose to defend their strong approval of yesterday’s events. And I’m told Reps. Chris Miller, Brad Halbrook and Jed Davis stayed seated the entire time Williams was speaking, while everyone else in the chamber stood.
Today, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) announced the approval of military reciprocity for service members transitioning into civilian law enforcement careers. Illinois joins 18 other states in supporting veterans and active-duty service members by recognizing military training and experience in the law enforcement certification process.
This announcement comes during Military Appreciation Month, supporting those who wish to continue to serve their communities after active duty by creating a streamlined process for individuals with military experience to pursue careers in civilian law enforcement.
“Today’s announcement honors the commitment of our service members by opening a clear path into law enforcement careers across Illinois,” said Keith Calloway, Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. “This is about honoring their experience while meeting our state’s workforce needs in a responsible and impactful way.”
The new policy marks a significant change as military police were previously ineligible for certification reciprocity, requiring them to complete the full 640-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy regardless of their extensive Department of Defense training and operational experience. Now, eligible veterans will be able to request a certification waiver just as applicants from other states and federal agencies currently can.
“This progressive approach by Illinois serves as a beacon for other states,” said Colonel Phillip Warren, Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Military Police School. “By recognizing the training of military police, Illinois not only honors the service of our soldiers, but also addresses the pressing need for qualified law enforcement officers within the state.”
This policy is the result of months of collaboration between ILETSB, military leadership, and state partners, with the goal of easing the transition to civilian service roles and strengthening recruitment pipelines for law enforcement agencies statewide. During a critical period of staffing challenges nationwide, this change expands the state’s recruitment pool to encourage individuals with relevant experience and a history of public service to continue their careers in a leading veteran-friendly state.
“Our Illinois Army National Guard Military Police and Air National Guard Security Forces personnel spend a lot of time training and learning law enforcement techniques in our ranks. This program expands the number of military occupational specialties that can translate into civilian careers,” said Major General Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. “Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are great employees who perform well under pressure, possess great integrity, and are professional in everything they do.”
The new pathway is now active and available for eligible veterans. To become certified, applicants must meet specific requirements after being granted the waiver request, including:
• Successful completion of the Illinois Law for Police Course which includes instruction on Illinois specific law, policies, and procedures
• A two-day in-person Sexual Assault Investigation course
• A 40-hour Mandatory Firearms Course with Use of Force instruction and training
• Passing the Illinois Certification Exam
• Any additional training deemed necessary by ILETSB
Additional information and application instructions can be found at ptb.illinois.gov
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
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Illinois lawmakers are debating legislation that could seal the criminal records of up to 3 million residents who have served their sentences for non-violent offenses, potentially removing a significant barrier to employment and housing.
The proposal, spearheaded by Assistant Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), aims to address what supporters call a double punishment: the formal sentence followed by lifelong economic exclusion.
“We believe that job opportunities, housing opportunities should not be held hostage to a prior offense,” Gordon-Booth said. “It’s about helping people to move their lives forward.”
The legislation, expected to be formally unveiled on Mother’s Day, has garnered support from an unusual coalition that includes prosecutors, police and employers. The measure comes as Illinois faces a workforce shortage of 277,000 unfilled jobs.
Having both served in the state legislature — albeit on opposite sides of the aisle and from different parts of Illinois — we share a belief in the power of education to lift individuals, communities and the state as a whole. We worked together to help pass the evidence-based funding, or EBF, formula that transformed the way in which we fund our school districts, and we have seen how that fundamental reform has reshaped the K-12 landscape.
Thanks to additional General Assembly funding, districts have added badly needed positions and programs to support student learning and well-being. Because of EBF, districts have funding predictability, allowing them to plan for the future in ways that are good for students. The new formula and steadfast investment allowed Illinois to withstand the impact of COVID-19 better than the nation as a whole and to rebound with more energy. Today, Illinois is one of the top-performing states in the nation for student academic growth.
It is time to bring that same transformational effort to our public universities. Over the past 20 years, the value of a college degree has grown. Yet, during that same period, Illinois has slashed its support for public universities from roughly 15% of its revenue (matching the national average) to a mere 2%. New research from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability finds that inflation-adjusted spending has fallen 42% since fiscal year 2000, while tuition has more than doubled. This has placed a considerable burden on low- and middle-income families, making it increasingly difficult for students to afford a higher education degree, the report says. […]
The good news is there is legislation on the table that would not only address this issue, but also do so in a way as powerful and transformational as EBF. Two bills — Senate Bill 13 filed by Sen. Kimberly Lightford and House Bill 1581 by Rep. Carol Ammons — take the best of EBF and adjust and apply core principles to the complex world of four-year colleges. Working with experts, stakeholders and university leaders, they have crafted a first-ever formula for Illinois’ public universities. Better still, the proposed formula considers the resources institutions need to fulfill their mission, run effective programs, and meet the needs of students from different regions, economic and academic backgrounds, while also taking into account the resources each university can bring to bear.
* Economic Security Illinois Action Director of Policy and Advocacy Erion Malasi…
As the Illinois State Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced critical legislation to curb junk fees and lower costs for working families, Erion Malasi, Economic Security Illinois Action Director of Policy and Advocacy, released the following statement:
“Economic Security Illinois Action is thrilled to see critical legislation move forward that will curb hidden junk fees and protect Illinoisans. This legislation captures months of hard work with dozens of stakeholders to ensure consumers get a fair shot while businesses can continue to operate in familiar ways. We’re grateful to the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing this bill and urge the full Senate to take action on legislation that will help lower costs for working families.”
When I want to purchase something, I go to the company’s website or brick-and-mortar store and buy it. That’s how commerce works. But Senate Bill 1939, which is expected to go before Illinois legislators Wednesday, would make it illegal to buy many electric vehicles in this manner.
Gov. JB Pritzker and many state lawmakers have been effective leaders in the push to modernize transportation. They have brought thousands of well-paying jobs to Illinois, from manufacturing electric trucks in Normal and batteries in Manteno to producing copper for EV batteries and installing and maintaining the state’s rapidly expanding network of 4,400 public charging ports. If they want to guarantee Illinoisans are in the driver’s seat building our electric future, they must vote down the proposed bill.
This legislation would block direct sales from EV manufacturers who have received substantial financial investments from legacy automakers —known as “common entities.” This would prevent independent EV manufacturers from selling cars except through dealer networks with which they have no relationship. If legislators capitulate to large dealership groups by enacting this bill into law, progress toward a secure and prosperous electric transportation future will be stifled. […]
The stated goal of anti-consumer legislation like SB 1939 is to protect the viability of franchise dealerships. While it is true that a healthy dealership sector is important to ensuring consumer choice, the idea that direct sales harm dealerships isn’t true. Data from the National Automobile Dealers Association indicates that franchise dealerships have actually benefited from additional market competition, doing better in states with freedom-to-buy laws than in states that restrict direct sales.
* Sen. Karina Villa…
To meet the needs of defendants who have been determined to be unfit for trial languishing in county jails, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure Tuesday.
“As is, our justice system is unable to care for every individual living with mental health conditions who is unfit for trial which leads to people being sent to jail rather than receiving the treatment they need to undergo fair court proceedings,” said Villa (D-West Chicago).“Modeling best practices within the criminal justice system and focusing on effective rehabilitation efforts will result in better mental health outcomes for impacted individuals.”
House Bill 3572 would clarify standards to determine whether someone unfit to stand trial should be diverted to outpatient state mental health treatment programs.
Additionally, the bill lays out a process for reducing the maximum time in custody of an individual placed in inpatient treatment by earning credit for good behavior. The goal is to ensure individuals who are unfit for trial do not spend more time in confinement than fit people who were convicted of similar offenses.
According to the Cook County Public Defender, on any given day, approximately 190 people in county jails are awaiting admission to the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Forensic Treatment Program, and another 100+ people are awaiting evaluation. […]
House Bill 3572 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday.
Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…
State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a measure out of committee that would allow individuals trafficked or exploited as minors more time to bring forth charges.
“The victims of crimes like these can take time to come forward because of trauma or other hardships,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Eliminating the time restriction would help ensure survivors can tell their story when they feel ready, not when the law says so.”
House Bill 2602 would extend the time limit for filing criminal charges in cases of forced labor, trafficking or related offenses by allowing charges to be brought at any time if the victim was under 18 years old when the crime occurred. […]
House Bill 2602 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday.
The Illinois House Education Policy Committee approved a bill Wednesday to allow agriculture courses to satisfy vocational education requirements for high school students.
Rep. Mary Gill (D-Chicago) and Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said students should be able to use their agricultural studies to fulfill graduation requirements.
Their bill clarifies that agriculture education, business or any other ag-related course would meet the vocational requirement starting next school year. […]
The measure passed unanimously out of the House Education Policy Committee and now moves to the House floor for further consideration. Senate Bill 1605 previously gained unanimous support in the Senate.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
In an effort to underline the mission of the Department of Children and Family Services as a support-based agency for vulnerable families, State Senator Robert Peters is spearheading legislation that would remove DCFS’ authority to establish its own peace officer unit.
“Families interacting with DCFS are often in crisis, and the last thing they need is to be treated like suspects,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This measure ensures DCFS is here to help, not to police, restoring clarity and compassion.”
Peters’ measure would remove the department’s statutory authority to appoint personnel to act as peace officers in counties with more than 500,000 people. Instead, it would reaffirm that any law enforcement needs involving DCFS would be handled by local or state police.
For families already navigating difficult situations, the bill would offer peace of mind and clarity, reinforce trust between communities and DCFS, and reduce chances of escalation. […]
House Bill 1715 passed the Senate Child Welfare Committee Tuesday.
Doula services can be used in Illinois, but a Democratic plan would hope to expand access to doulas to support pregnant people.
The proposal would require hospitals to have a written policy on doulas and allow any patient to bring a Medicaid certified doula of their choosing to the hospital. […]
“This bill ensures patient care receives doula services and lifts the barrier of care to codifying states authority to issue standard recommendation,” [Sponsor Rep. Yolanda Morris said.]
This legislation passed the House human services committee unanimously. It will now head to the House floor, where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 20 attorneys general, won a court order stopping the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide.
In April, Raoul joined the coalition in suing the Trump administration to stop the implementation of an executive order that would dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order Tuesday granting the states’ request for a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the order and protecting the three agencies.
“The administration’s actions jeopardize critical library and museum programs across the state. These programs help residents of rural communities and underserved youth access educational opportunities and technology,” Raoul said. “I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general to stop the unconstitutional attempt to dismantle agencies created by Congress.”
The executive order is the administration’s latest attempt to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congress. Attorney General Raoul and the coalition are seeking to stop the dismantling of three agencies targeted in the administration’s executive order:
• The IMLS, which supports museums and libraries nationwide through grantmaking, research and policy development.
• The MBDA, which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs.
• The FMCS, which promotes the resolution of labor disputes.
As Attorney General Raoul and the coalition assert in the lawsuit, dismantling these agencies will harm communities throughout Illinois and the nation that rely on them to provide important services to the public, including funding their libraries, promoting minority-owned businesses and protecting workers’ rights.
The preliminary injunction granted halts the executive order as it applies to IMLS, MBDA and FMCS. The court found that the states had established a strong likelihood of success on their claims that the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act and disregards the Constitution by attempting to dismantle agencies that Congress established and funded by law.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in this lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure.
In response to a presidential executive order, the Federal Highway Administration is withholding $117 million that it previously made available to Illinois for the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hindering Illinois from achieving its goal of having 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030.
“Once again, the Trump administration is attempting to usurp the power of the purse granted to Congress in our Constitution,” Raoul said. “Our transition to a clean energy future includes investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, which was rightfully acknowledged by Congress. I will continue to stand with my fellow attorneys general to fight back against the president’s illegal actions that harm our residents.”
In 2022, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) to facilitate electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the nation.
On Jan. 20, President Trump signed an executive order that mandated all federal agencies to pause the disbursement of funds related to the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act, including NEVI funding. Despite being tasked by Congress to fund NEVI, the Federal Highway Administration notified states in early February that the agency was revoking all previously approved plans to implement NEVI, a requirement for funding under IIJA.
Raoul and the coalition’s lawsuit seeks a court order against the Federal Highway Administration’s unlawful actions and a restoration of the electric vehicle infrastructure funding to the states.
Joining Raoul in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 12 attorneys general, today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in the coalition’s lawsuit to halt implementation of President Trump’s illegal tariffs. The motion seeks a court order pausing the tariffs imposed under four of the administration’s executive orders without congressional action.
“Our states’ economies rely on international trade, particularly in Illinois, where agriculture is a top industry. The administration’s arbitrary tariffs will impose higher prices on goods our producers and residents rely on and result in unnecessary economic chaos,” Raoul said. “I am committed to continuing to partner with my colleagues to prevent hardworking Americans from footing the bill for the administration’s unlawful tariffs.”
Raoul and the coalition’s motion asks the U.S. Court of International Trade to order federal agencies to stop collecting illegal tariffs the administration imposed on most worldwide products. These tariffs impose a 145% tariff on most products from China, a 25% tariff on most types of products from Canada and Mexico, and 10% tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. Raoul’s motion asks the court to halt the administration’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 56 other trading partners on July 9.
The motion provides an economic analysis that shows state and local governments in the coalition states stand to pay at least $3.4 billion per year in additional costs due to the tariffs. The states also submitted a Federal Reserve report noting that businesses “expected elevated input cost growth resulting from tariffs” and that “most businesses expected to pass through additional costs to customers.”
Raoul and the attorneys general explain in the motion that only Congress has the authority to lay and collect taxes and duties on imported goods. The executive orders cite the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but the attorneys general explain that the law does not give the president authority to impose these tariffs. It only applies when an emergency presents “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad – not an ongoing problem. Congress enacted the IEEPA in 1977 and no president had imposed tariffs based on the act until now.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in filing this lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont.
* More…
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL TO JOIN STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL AT HEARING ON FEDERAL OVERREACH
Event is Third in National Series of Community Impact Hearings Around the Country
Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul tonight will join four state attorneys general in a Community Impact Hearing in New York, where they will hear from the public about how the Trump administration’s executive orders and other actions are harming them and how they can fight back. This will be the third hearing in a national series of similar events hosted by attorneys general around the country. Raoul will be joined by several other attorneys general who have taken action together against the administration to defend critical services, maintain the benefits people rely on and fight back against federal overreach.
Who: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
California Attorney General Rob Bonta
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin
New York Attorney General Letitia James
When: Thursday, May 8, 2025
5 to 7 p.m. CST
Press should arrive no later than 3:45 p.m. CST
Where: SUNY Westchester Community College
75 Grasslands Road
Valhalla, NY 10595
Livestream: ag.ny.gov/livestream
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
As Illinois charts its path toward a clean energy future, lawmakers must remember the promises made under CEJA—the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. CEJA was never just about clean energy; it was about equitable clean energy. That means creating good-paying union jobs for all workers, especially those from historically excluded Black and Brown communities.
Yet today, a new energy storage bill threatens to undo that vision. Without strong, inclusive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) language, this legislation risks handing energy jobs to a narrow slice of the construction industry—jobs that will go disproportionately to white, politically connected workers, while locking out the very communities CEJA aimed to uplift.
We can’t let Illinois’ clean energy transition be built on the backs of exclusion. Labor unity means every union has a seat at the table—not just the favored few. Ironworkers, roofers, painters, bricklayers, glaziers, boilermakers, cement masons, carpenters, millwrights and many other crafts helped build this state and deserve a shot at building its future.
Lawmakers: don’t sell out working families. Reject any energy storage legislation that doesn’t include inclusive PLA language. Because when we say “green jobs,” we should mean jobs that are union, local, and equitable.
This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about justice, too.
* Former Gov. Jim Edgar was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February. But he had a strong and cogent voice last night as he spoke to attendees at his annual Edgar Fellows fundraiser in Springfield…
First of all, let me explain. My mother taught me it’s not polite for a man to wear a hat inside, and I understand that, but my vanity has not yet allowed me to accept my chemotherapy hairline. So eventually I’ll take this hat off, but I’m not there yet, so just bear with me as I wear a hat inside.
[Applause]
Let me thank all of you for your support and for your attendance here tonight. Your financial support has made the Edgar Fellows possible. We have done 12 years of Edgar Fellows. We’re on our 13th year—I didn’t want to use ‘13th time,’ but anyway—and we’ve had over 470 Edgar Fellows come through the program, and many of them are key players in setting public policy in Illinois and local government. And we have a couple out in Washington now, they’re having a little more difficulty trying to set public policy out there. But the program, in my estimation—what I thought would happen when I started—has surpassed far anything I’d ever hoped to achieve, and it’s because you have helped us financially so we can do the program. Many of the Edgar Fellows are here tonight, and we are hopeful that they’re helping financially too.
They have been superb. Again, you know, it’s easy to get depressed about government these days, and I’ll touch on that in a minute. But if you would sit through the Edgar Fellows, as I do every year, it restores my faith in the future of our democracy. And again, it wouldn’t be possible without your help.
Now, I’m going to say some things that some of you, I know, are not going to agree with me on, and that’s fine. This is America, still America. Friends can disagree over politics and still be friends.
[Applause]
I believe the last hundred days have been the most disruptive and, in many ways, the scariest of my life, which is now 78 years.
I think it’s very important as a nation that when we set public policy, we recognize this is a large and diverse nation—this is a large and diverse state—and you need to have the input of all factions. It doesn’t mean they’re going to get their way, but they ought to be able to be at the table and at least give their thoughts. We shouldn’t leave public policy up to one person’s whim. That’s dangerous. And that’s not productive.
I think that we as a country need to maybe listen to some of the things that we talk about at Edgar Fellows. And this is something I talk about all the time—and many of you have heard me say it. Any of you Edgar Fellows, you’ve heard it. Any of my former staff have heard it several times in speeches in the last few years.
It’s about the three C’s: Civility, Compromise, and perhaps most important, particularly today, is Compassion.
When we’re setting public policy, we’ve got to recognize that you’re not going to get things resolved if you’re not civil to other people. If you call people names and accuse them of dastardly deeds, you’re not going to be very productive in sitting down with them and trying to solve problems. So civility is extremely important. We need to bring that back in our society—particularly in our public policy arena.
Compromise. Now I notice to some people, compromise is kind of a dirty word. To me, it’s the essence of a democracy. Compromise means finding common ground and, again, recognizing we have a diverse society. We need to bring that society together. And listen, again, everybody’s not going to get their way. In fact, if anyone gets 100 percent of what they want, it’s not going to be good public policy. I can tell you, from my experience as governor particularly, I learned I thought I had some really great ideas. But for some reason, the Democrats—and some of the Republicans—didn’t want to go along with it. A lot of the Republicans, to be truthful, as well as the Democrats, didn’t want to go along with my great idea. And we had to sit down, and we had a lot of mean discussions, and at the end of the day, we would compromise.
And I have to say, looking back, the compromise policy worked far better than what I had originally thought up. And the reason was because you had input from all different groups, and that made it much more acceptable to the public to follow. But it also took into consideration all the needs. So again, compromise, extremely important.
But I want to talk probably more tonight about compassion. I often talk about that, because I think if there’s ever been a time when we need to recognize that government needs to be compassionate. You know, one of the major reasons we have government is to help people who can’t help themselves. Now we have it for defense and other things, but much of what we do in government today is helping people who can’t help themselves. And if we don’t do that, then we fail. And I think the last 100 days, we have failed in many areas. I think we should all be so thankful that we were born—some of you weren’t born, but you’re here now—in America. You’re an American.
We are the wealthiest, most fortunate nation in the history of this globe, and we need to remember that. And we need to help those people who need help. Be they our neighbors who have a serious illness, or there’s some poor child in Africa who needs to be fed. We have a responsibility to help those individuals, not to cut back so we can maybe buy another… they lost another jet plane on an aircraft carrier today—$70 million down the drain. Think what that $70 million could have done in a food program or in a health care program. Anyway, we need to keep that in mind when we’re doing public policy. Compassion. We need to be more compassionate, and we need to regain what America was known for—a nation that did have a big heart—and we need to make sure that continues.
[Applause]
That’s my lecture tonight. I don’t get to do this much anymore. I’m sitting out in Arizona, going through chemo and all that stuff. And my dog, Abe—I mean, I talked to him. He wasn’t impressed with my thoughts.
I looked forward to tonight. I told him, ‘We don’t usually speak at these things.’ I said, ‘I want to say some things tonight.’ And I’m just hopeful that a year from now, we’ll look back on this last 100 days as just a bump in the road—that we have restored our place in the world, and our allies know they can trust us. People who are in need know they can count on us. To me, that’s critical as an American—to keep what America has been known for. Enough is enough, though. That’s enough of a lecture.
Let me again just say thank you for your support. I look forward to seeing you next year, and I look forward to being seen next year.
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
When money is tight, healthcare can become an afterthought, especially when people feel well. Yet part of maintaining good health is preventing chronic conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes, as well as other health issues, before they take a toll.
Pinckneyville Community Hospital makes it easy and affordable for individuals to monitor their overall health through bloodwork. Four times a year, the hospital offers discounted lab screenings as part of its ongoing commitment to preventive health and wellness.
The screenings—held at the hospital in February, May, August and November—are for critical insights into liver and kidney function, cholesterol levels, average blood sugar, and more.
“These low-cost labs are an excellent opportunity for individuals to take charge of their health, detect potential issues early and make informed decisions with their healthcare providers,” said hospitals leaders, adding that the screenings “are a great resource for those who may not have regular access to healthcare or simply want to keep a closer eye on their wellness.”
Leaders, clinicians and staff at Pinckneyville Community Hospital know that individual and community health depend on hospitals addressing community needs and providing accessible care. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities.
* ICYMI: Clock counting down to secure state funding before drastic service cuts to CTA, Metra, Pace. CBS Chicago…
With weeks left to get legislators on board, the RTA is running a massive ad campaign called “Save Transit Now.” The campaign warns that the RTA will face “40% service cuts that will make rides overcrowded.”
The ads cost between $500,000 and $750,000. CBS News Chicago asked RTA chairman Kirk Dillard if the ad is really worth it.
“It is definitely worth it,” Dillard said. “Six thousand letters have been sent to state legislators, and it’s our duty to make sure the public, our riders, and those who don’t even use mass transit know that this crisis would impact their pocketbooks — as well as their lungs and lifestyle.”
The CTA did not participate in the RTA campaign, but Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen issued a statement emphasizing that the CTA is working with legislators for a solution.
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* Subscribers know more. WCIA | Emma Shafer’s family says Noem used her name to advance ‘heartless political agenda’: While Noem was in Springfield, she also claimed that state law blocks local and state law enforcement from sharing information with ICE officers. But, U.S. Marshals have actively been involved in the case from the beginning. And, the TRUST Act does not prevent local law enforcement from working with federal law enforcement on any case involving a criminal warrant.
* Illinois Answers | Amid Budget Tensions, City Council Members Push to Bring Some Sunshine to City Spending: Cities like New York, San Diego and Pittsburgh have robust, well-staffed budget analysis offices that comb through mayoral budget proposals and poke holes in flimsy projections. A similar Illinois agency plays a critical role in vetting financial data coming from the governor’s office. In Chicago, the City Council Office of Financial Analysis has rarely had more than two employees and routinely misses deadlines for the basic reports required of it. It has no guaranteed funding, limited access to data and depends on the mercies of the top city finance officials whose work it’s supposed to analyze and critique.
* Tribune | School board president paves way for interim CEO to lead CPS without required license: Board members say Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked school board president, Sean Harden, is leading an effort to vote down a resolution requiring the next interim leader of Chicago Public Schools to have a superintendent license, in order to install the mayor’s chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, to serve in the temporary role. If approved, the appointment would be a major shift in Johnson’s administration and elicit strong reaction from critics of the mayor and his strongest ally, the Chicago Teachers Union.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Farm Journal | Bacon Draws a Crowd at the Illinois State Capitol: “Illinois Bacon Day is an opportunity to educate our stakeholders about our industry and discuss the issues currently facing pig farmers,” says IPPA president Josh Maschhoff. “We understand many stakeholders don’t represent rural districts, and Bacon Day is a great way for pork producers to connect with legislators on a personal level.”
* 25News Now | Illinois becomes first state to restrict collection of personal autism records: Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order Wednesday that restricts state agencies and departments from sharing personal information about people with autism. It states that personally identifiable information may only be shared when legally required, necessary for care, or with written consent.
* Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun | Why I’m endorsing Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton for United States Senate: Not only does Lieutenant Governor Stratton have the track record of progress needed to succeed in Washington, she’s also proven that she’s prepared to represent every Illinoisan – no matter who they vote for or where they fall on the political spectrum. As Lieutenant Governor, she’s traveled to every corner of the state, speaking to Illinoisans of all stripes about the challenges they face and their hopes for the future.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Less than half of CPS schools have herd immunity for measles, state data shows: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 97% of Chicago Public Schools students overall were vaccinated against measles, one of eight vaccinations required by the state. But as of the 2024-25 school year, that percentage has fallen to 93%, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education. Each October, Illinois schools submit their students’ vaccination numbers for that school year to the state board. The CDC says a vaccination rate of 95% provides communitywide immunity and protects vulnerable students, like younger children who have yet to complete the required series of shots, or kids with weakened immune systems.
* Crain’s | Council OKs Johnson-backed plan to let Chicago become a residential developer: A skeptical City Council spent nearly a month probing the necessity of the $135 million so-called Green Social Housing program amid other housing priorities and raised questions over the structure of the nonprofit. But when put to a vote on the City Council floor today, the body approved the ordinance establishing the nonprofit in a 30-to-18 vote. Moments later, a victorious Mayor Brandon Johnson stood with allies on the measure, including lead City Council sponsor Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, 48th, and told reporters, “The people of Chicago called for more affordable units, and that’s exactly what we’re building.”
* Tribune | Miche Fest’s cancellation comes amid ‘political climate’ and issues with artist visas: While some have criticized the organizers for the sudden 2025 cancellation, co-founder Fernando Nieto said, many of their fans have been loyal to the festival for the last seven years. He said the cancellation felt like the right thing to do. “Outside of the effect that it (the cancellation) might have on our business, we felt like it was a responsible thing to do for our fanbase,” said Nieto on Wednesday. “We’ve built up an extremely loyal fan base since day one, and we felt, due to the uncertainty with what’s going on, it would be irresponsible to move forward without a clear path.”
* Sun-Times | Congressional Republicans accused of political witch hunt in antisemitism hearing involving DePaul president : At several points during Wednesday’s hearing, conservative members appeared to threaten Manuel and two other college presidents who were called to testify, Wendy Raymond of Haverford College in Pennsylvania and Jeffrey Armstrong of California Polytechnic State University . “For anyone who doubts my commitment to fighting on these issues, no matter what side of the aisle they’re on, they can go talk to the two chairmen of the board and the one university president in Florida who no longer have their jobs because of me,” Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, told the university presidents across the witness table. “So I encourage you to keep that in mind when you answer my questions.”
* Tribune | Chicago White Sox match 2nd-worst start in franchise history through 37 games with 2-1 loss: The Sox have lost a club-record nine straight to the Royals and a franchise-record 10 straight at Kauffman Stadium. “We’re right there and we’ve just got to keep going,” Venable said. “These guys are playing well. We have to continue to fight and battle and get that one more hit, that one more pitch, that one defensive play, whatever it might be. “But we’re right there. These guys never stop fighting. Proud of our effort, but we’ve got to find a way to win some of these games.”
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Tribune | Cook County housing authority facing potential multimillion-dollar budget shortfall as agencies brace for funding cuts: The Housing Authority of Cook County is facing a potential multimillion-dollar funding shortfall that could have broad repercussions throughout the real estate market as the struggling agency looks to cut costs, possibly leading to greater expenses for its housing voucher holders and a decline in the number of the people it serves. The agency attributes the shortfall to an increase in its voucher usage rate and rising rents, which eat into its limited dollars allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
* Daily Herald | After delays, controversial church proposal heads to South Barrington village board: After months of public inaction, a controversial plan to construct a church and school in South Barrington has cleared a key bureaucratic hurdle and is headed to the village board Thursday night for consideration. But the fate of the landowner’s legal push to disconnect the property from the village hasn’t yet been decided.
* Naperville Sun | Expert panel to help Naperville decide future development of Fifth Avenue land: Next month, a panel of experts will gather in Naperville for two days to help decide how city-owned land around the Fifth Avenue train station north of downtown should be developed. The Naperville City Council received an overview of the upcoming expert panel, which will be hosted by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), at its meeting Tuesday night. Council members also endorsed a list of stakeholders — from local school districts to property owners — they’d like to see involved in the process. The panel is scheduled meet June 10-11.
* CBS Chicago | New Aurora, Illinois data portal tracks economic impact of performing arts venues: The city’s Data and Analytics Division launched the Downtown Revitalization Open Data Portal along with the Aurora Civic Center Authority, The Venue, and The Riverfront Playhouse. The growth and evolution of downtown Aurora is in large part anchored by performing arts entertainment venues — including the Copley Theatre, the Paramount School of the Arts, the Paramount Theatre, the Stolp Island Theatre, the Riverfront Playhouse, The Venue, and RiverEdge Park.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora searching for new alderman at-large: The Aurora City Council has two alderman at-large seats, which unlike the other alderman seats represent the whole city rather than a single ward. One of the current aldermen at-large, John Laesch, was recently elected to be the city’s next mayor, so applications are now open to fill his seat. “This is a unique opportunity for a dedicated resident to help shape Aurora’s future as a member of its legislative body,” said a city news release sent out on Wednesday.
* Patch | Only IL Brewery To Earn Two Medals In 2025 World Beer Cup Might Surprise You: The World Beer Cup recently announced its 2025 list for the best beers in the country, with one Naperville brewery making the list, earning medals for two of its nonalcoholic beers. Go Brewing, which opened in 2022, received the silver medal for Disarm in the hoppy nonalcoholic beer category. The brewery also earned a bronze medal for New School in the specialty nonalcoholic beer category.
*** Downstate ***
* WSIL | Southern Illinois expands mental health care at SIH Mulberry Center in Harrisburg: The expansion aims to increase the center’s bed capacity from 30 to 42, addressing the urgent need for mental health care in Southern Illinois. The project is supported by a consortium of regional healthcare and educational institutions. “Too often, patients in crisis have had to travel hours away or wait days in an emergency room to find an open psychiatric bed,” Smith said. “This expansion will change that reality for our region.”
* SJ-R | ‘Flagship Center’ DMV opens in Springfield with expanded services. What to know: The facility, located at 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, temporarily closed in 2023 for major renovations and recently reopened. revamped building, now labeled a “Flagship Center,” expands services offered under one roof and adopts the “one stop-shop” model that cross trains employees. Springfield’s facility has served as DMV since 1975 is the second such center in the state to open, following one that opened in downtown Chicago.
* WGLT | After flying solo initially, retiring coach Bob Conkling sees ISU gymnastics soar: When Bob Conkling arrived as Illinois State’s women’s gymnastics coach, he wasn’t looking 20 years into the future, or even a week ahead. There was no time for that. Conkling was the program’s only coach in 2005 and constantly on the go. He had no assistant coach to help train ISU’s existing athletes or recruit new ones. “I knew that I had some work to do,” Conkling said. “You really do need at least a minimum of two coaches with four different events. I knew that had to happen soon.”
* WCIA | Springfield hosting 26th annual Old Capitol Farmers Market: The 26th season of the Old Capitol Farmers Market is beginning with a soft opening on May 14 and a ribbon cutting on May 17 at 9 a.m. Every market starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m., with the season continuing on every Wednesday and Saturday through Oct. 25.
*** National ***
* Inside Higher Ed | The First U.S. Campus in India Is Finally Opening: On Wednesday, the Illinois Institute of Technology announced it had reached an agreement with India’s University Grants Commission to establish a branch campus in Mumbai, opening to students in fall 2026. It will be the first degree-granting U.S. institution on Indian soil and IIT’s first international branch campus. For decades, a complicated legal and tax system prevented U.S. institutions from opening campuses in India. Then, in 2020, the Indian government issued a new National Education Policy paving the way, officials promised, for a much easier pathway to fruitful academic partnerships.
* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
