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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Billy Strings covers Old & In The Way… Until he sank so low there was
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WTTW…
* Capitol News Illinois | What Trump’s cuts to federal climate research could mean for Illinois: Illinois researchers have always played a role in the National Climate Assessment. University of Illinois emeritus professor Donald Wuebbles has contributed to all five previous reports, including serving as a lead author of the fourth assessment in 2017. He said his greatest concern is that the report could now move forward under a different team of scientists hand-picked by President Donald Trump, who has a history of denying climate change as a “hoax.” * 25 News Now | New safe digging regulation in Illinois law takes effect: One of the biggest changes revolves around the required waiting period. The time and day of the call no longer counts toward that waiting period, meaning Illinoisans must call at least three business days in advance before starting any project that requires digging. * Press Release | DCEO Invites Filmmakers to Enter Shortcuts Short Film Contest: “DCEO’s Illinois Film Office continues to serve as an integral partner for the 815HORTS festival,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “I encourage eligible filmmakers throughout the state to submit their short films to the Shortcuts contest for their chance to be featured on the big screen as part of Illinois’ world-class film industry.” The Shortcuts winner will receive $250 and be screened at the 815HORTS festival, a short film festival based in Rockford scheduled November 14-15, 2025. All Shortcuts submissions received by August 31, 2025, will be automatically submitted for screening consideration at 815HORTS. * Semafor | JB Pritzker: ‘I put my money where my mouth is’: “ I’ve also supported candidates financially wherever I could, and the Wisconsin race is a great example of that. Compared to Elon Musk, you might say that I got an awfully great return on investment. I think it’s $30-$40 million that he spent, not to mention offering, what, a million dollars a piece to a few people to get them to vote Republican? That seems illegal to me. But yes, I put my money where my mouth is. I happen to have the ability to support people financially.” * Daily Southtown | Dolton picks new village administrator, chief of staff in flurry of appointments: He said he and trustees want to be thorough in filling jobs, including police chief, and said he is heartened by the number of potential applicants. “We have had the blighted image as a community,” House said Thursday morning. “It’s encouraging to see so many people willing to work with the community.” Keith Freeman will “transition” out of his job as Dolton’s village administrator, being replaced immediately by Charles Walls, House said. Walls will be paid $100,000 annually, the mayor said. * Daily Herald | ‘Education and enforcement’: Why you can expect to see more police on Route 59 today: If you can’t drive 55, you probably want to stay off 59 today. Police departments across the suburbs — from Wauconda up north to Naperville down south and nearly everywhere in between — are teaming up for a regional traffic safety initiative all day Friday along the Route 59 corridor. That means more officers out on patrol looking for speeders, texters, seat belt skippers and other traffic scofflaws. * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan, New Trier students learn about segregation fight; ‘This shows what activism can do’: After Waukegan students journeyed to Winnetka in November, learning about redlining by banks to make it harder for Black people to get mortgages, New Trier students came to Waukegan in March for a class about the desegregation of Whittier Elementary School in the 1960s. “That was something I thought was only about the South,” New Trier senior Anna Hill said. “We learned how the people made a change in their community,” Alex Palmer, another New Trier senior, said. * Aurora Beacon-News | Juan Sifuentes ousts longtime East Aurora school board president Annette Johnson from top role: In the latest leadership shake-up at East Aurora School District, board president Annette Johnson was ousted from her role as president by fellow board member Juan Sifuentes at a board meeting Monday. At the same meeting, the board swore in Johnson, who won reelection on April 1, along with two challengers – Mayra Reyes and Vannia Valencia – who defeated incumbent board members Bruce Schubert and Theodia Gillespie during the election. * Tribune | Meet Jim Downey, the Joliet guy who had the secret sauce to transform 50 years of ‘SNL’: Downey, you see, contains words the way a flood contains water. He’s 72, and despite more than 50 years as a revered godhead of comedy writing, the riverbed has never run dry. The first time we talked, the interview went four hours. The second time, five. Mulaney said that when they both wrote at “Saturday Night Live,” Downey would often call him to craft the week’s cold opening: “Once Jim got on the phone, I knew it was my afternoon.” * Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson’s bid to reshape Chicago Fire Department explains four-year wait for new contract: During a mid-term interview with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Johnson offered his most pointed explanation to date for why the acrimonious negotiations with Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 are headed for arbitration that poses risks for both sides. With a $1.12 billion shortfall and $3 billion more in federal funds on the chopping block, the mayor is determined to confront a cost-cutting challenge his predecessors avoided. * Sun-Times | CPS Board president rips into outgoing CEO and budget-cutting proposals: The president of the Chicago Board of Education is tearing into the school district’s embattled CEO, saying that the budget proposals he produced for next school year are “unsatisfactory and incomplete,” and that Pedro Martinez’s planned June exit from the school district should be accelerated. “The current CPS CEO’s recent focus has been on his professional future and not on the long-term stability and success of our school district,” Sean Harden said in a statement. “His actions have undermined our Board’s ability to make the best decisions on behalf of CPS students.” * Nadig Newspapers | $503,000 owed in property taxes for Portage Theater; owner not at building court hearing: According to city attorney Glenn Angel, Manuel Glicksberg had been the lead person on the LLC which owns the theater but that he lost the theater in a divorce settlement. The new owner of the LLC was identified as Jamie Glicksberg, who reportedly is a partner in the law firm of Croke Fairchild Duarte and Beres. Angel said that she is believed to be residing outside the country. * WGLT | Bloomington plans to formally endorse shelter village: The city council will vote on the resolution during its 6 p.m. Monday meeting at the Government Center. The move would jumpstart negotiations on a sale of the property to Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM] which would operate The Bridge, a shelter of 48 tiny sleeping cabins that would be located at Main Street and Oakland Avenue. * WCIA | Going back in time at Bresee Tower: Danville is waiting to see when a more than 100-year history will come to an end. Bresee Tower has long been a pillar downtown, but crews are ready to get started with demolition. City officials said demolition could have started as early as 2 p.m. on Thursday, but that time has come and gone. * CNBC | China’s exports surge as shipments to Southeast Asian countries offset plunge in U.S. trade: Imports slumped by just 0.2% in April from a year earlier, compared with economists’ expectations of a 5.9% drop. China’s shipments to the U.S. plunged over 21% in April year on year, while imports dropped nearly 14%, according to CNBC’s calculation of official customs data. Chinese U.S.-bound shipments had risen 9.1% in March, as exporters rushed to frontload orders ahead of tariff hikes. * Business Insider | Trump’s deal with Paul Weiss is being turned against him in court: For the law firms choosing to fight Trump’s executive orders targeting them, rather than striking deals with the president, the Paul Weiss deal has turned into a potent weapon. They’ve cited Trump’s quick revocation of the order — just six days after it was initially issued — to argue that the orders never had any legitimacy in the first place. The order, had it been carried out, would have revoked the security clearances of Paul Weiss lawyers out of “the national interest” and barred them from entering government-owned buildings, potentially including even courthouses and post offices.
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Illinois Medicaid: Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Helping Logan manage his neurological disability and gain independence Turning 18 is a significant milestone. But for people with complex health conditions, becoming a young adult can be overwhelming. “Logan,” a Medicaid member, was feeling the weight of his newfound responsibilities. He was hopeless, anxious, and depressed. Born with spina bifida, Logan requires a shunt, a thin tube passed from the head to the abdomen. It allows the necessary drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. As a young adult navigating the healthcare system, Logan struggled. He needed new supplies for his shunt. He had also outgrown his leg braces and his wheelchair was broken. While he did not know where to start, help was on the way. Given Logan’s need for specialized support, his Medicaid health plan assigned him a care coordinator, Caitlin. With a care coordinator in Logan’s corner, his overwhelming feelings started drifting away. Caitlin helped him secure new medical supplies, including a custom-fit wheelchair. Logan restarted physical therapy and began seeing a mental health counselor. “Through the help of my managed care plan and Caitlin, now it’s easier taking care of myself properly,” Logan says. Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans
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Bost announces reelection with Trump’s ‘complete and total endorsement’
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
Bost was also endorsed by Trump when he defeated Darren Bailey by three points in the 2024 Republican primary. Thoughts?
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Report: Belvidere plant will still reopen, but without a $3.2 billion battery factory and parts hub
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s…
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Repeal IFPA Now
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.]  IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities. “My members would be so frustrated.” Stop the Chaos for Our Hard-Working Educators! Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Second candidate announces for Sen. Fine’s seat
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers were told earlier this morning. The North Shore Record…
* Evanston Now…
* More…
* Evanston Round Table | Local Dem leaders running for state senator open midterm downballot contests: Both Ruttenberg and Hanley’s announcements in the state Senate race are downstream of the bigger contest developing further up the ballot for the U.S. congressional seat currently held by longtime Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th District). Schakowsky announced Monday that her current 14th term will be her last, joining U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in voluntarily ending their long tenures representing Illinois at the national level. Since these announcements, both now-open races have seen rapid campaign rollouts by aspiring Democrats and open speculation about who else might join the fray. * Tribune | Glenview state Sen. Laura Fine joins race to replace US Rep. Jan Schakowsky: Fine, a longtime resident of Glenview, may end up part of a crowded primary field of Far North Side, and north and northwest suburban Democrats running to replace the 14-term Schakowsky in the strong Democratic district. A progressive critic of the far right and social media content creator, Kat Abughazaleh, had already announced she was joining the race even before Schakowsky said she planned to retire. Abughazaleh also has a head start in fundraising for next year’s race. The primary will be held on March 17.
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Illinois Medicaid: Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, and State
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Home visit shows Gus the upside of care coordination Over 400,000 Illinoisians are dual eligible, receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Most are older adults with fixed incomes below the poverty level. “Gus,” age 74, falls into this category. He lives alone, is a lifelong smoker, and has a medical history including hypertension and shingles. When his health plan called to engage Gus in care coordination, he shut down the idea, saying he “didn’t need the extra help.” Measured by its ability to ensure members receive an annual wellness visit, the plan kept trying. Gus begrudgingly agreed to a home The home visit was a game-changer. Gus’s hypertension was severely uncontrolled, and he was prescribed new medication and a blood pressure monitor. A social worker and care coordinator assisted with food and utilities resources. With a team by his side, Gus has a new outlook. Dietary changes have him feeling better, and he’s working with his landlord on needed home repairs. “Gus was a prickly pear at first,” says Brandon, his care coordinator. “Through progress and setbacks, we’ve built a trusting relationship—and helped keep him out of long-term care.” Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans
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It’s just a bill
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sen. Cristopher Belt…
* Crain’s…
Today marks SB2385’s deadline to get out of the Senate, while HB3350 remains in the House Rules Committee. * WAND…
* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…
* WAND…
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Support SB 2385/HB 3350 To Protect The 340B Drug Discount Program And Invest In Healthcare Services
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Without the federal 340B drug pricing program, Graham Medical Group health and urgent care clinics in Williamsfield, Glasford and Galesburg wouldn’t exist. Thanks to 340B, Graham Health System now provides convenient options for primary and urgent care. In addition, the system uses 340B savings for financial assistance to patients who can’t afford care. In Canton, where Graham Hospital is located, 14% of the population live in poverty. The poverty rate is almost 21% in Galesburg and over 14% in Glasford. 340B savings have helped the system maintain an operating margin that allows it to remain independent and keep services in the rural communities they serve. Like other hospitals and health systems, though, Graham Health System has been subjected to restrictions drugmakers began imposing in 2020. “We are a safety net provider in a rural area. Without us, our patients would need to travel 45 minutes or more for healthcare. Many don’t have the means or the resources to do so,” the system said. Over 100 Illinois hospitals participate in 340B to provide increased access to care and comprehensive health services. Support Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350 to ensure they can continue to do so. Learn more.
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Open thread
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Advocates urge CTA board to conduct nationwide search for new president.Sun-Times…
- Following the public comments, board members met in a closed session for about an hour, then adjourned the meeting without discussing any business. - “The Board takes very seriously its responsibility in appointing the next leader of the CTA and will fairly and consistently assess any candidate that is formally presented before the Board for consideration,” the transit board said in a statement. * Related stories…
∙ Crain’s: Johnson faces pushback over CTA pick as advocates push for broader search
Illinois business leaders overwhelmingly agree: Early childhood services are a fundamental economic priority, to be preserved and strengthened. Our FY26 state budget should reflect that, investing further in affordable, high-quality child care for working parents. We desperately need to improve early childhood teachers’ compensation and shore-up Early Intervention therapies for young children with developmental challenges, whose families face lengthy service delays. At the federal level, it’s crucial that we protect Head Start’s vital, comprehensive services for kids from birth to age 5, and for their families — an important piece of our early learning system. In a recent poll of 400 Illinois employers and managers, two-thirds of respondents reported that child care insufficiencies have hurt their employees and business productivity. Four out of five noted their struggles to recruit skilled workers. And to tackle these challenges, 91.5% of business leaders said they support “greater public investments in high-quality child care and early childhood education” for their proven power to stabilize today’s workforce as well as help prepare a better-skilled workforce for tomorrow. There’s a reason 93% of surveyed business leaders believe our state’s multiyear approach to improve birth-to-5 services — based on the recommendations of a bipartisan commission — will “positively impact the workforce in Illinois.” Let’s stick with that plan; it’s good for business. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Capitol City Now | Legislative leaders eye budget: “This is going to be an incredibly difficult year, just as a baseline, before our budget negotiations are completely upended by a tweet,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “We’ve conditioned our members to understand how tight this budget year is going to be. This is a different year than last year or the year before.” * WTTW | Former Death Row Inmates on the Complicated Legacy of Late Illinois Gov. George Ryan: One of those men was Illinois Prison Project Director of Education Renaldo Hudson, who attended Ryan’s memorial Thursday in Kankakee. “I had these mixed kind of feelings about Gov. Ryan, and, I’ll be honest with you, today, it’s like it landed with me the weight of the decision that he made, if that makes sense?” Hudson said. “When I was in the midst of my own stuff, like you can have what’s called tunnel vision. And so I have to admit that I was wallowing in that, and when I sat there and listened to his heart being shared through the people that was the closest to him, I really melted. You know the yesterday began to melt away.” * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois state parks draw highest number of visitors in more than a decade: Illinois state parks saw more visitors in 2024 than any point in the past 15 years, according to new data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Illinois’ 290 state parks and 56 historic sites recorded more than 41 million visitors last year, which was the most in 15 years, following several significant capital projects to upgrade and improve many of the parks. * Sun-Times | The rush in Illinois to become a U.S. citizen amid immigration crackdown: Advocates say these changes are pushing more green card holders to move quickly. “People want to protect themselves in case anything happens,” said Idalia Flores Guzmán, director of programs administration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights. Flores Guzmán says their citizenship applications are higher in 2025 after ticking up slightly in the three prior years. Other organizations are also seeing more applicants: Once a month on Saturdays, the lunchroom at Instituto del Progreso Latino on the Southwest Side is packed with green-card holders hoping to start the naturalization process. Since January, that number has grown. * Sun-Times | Chicago and Illinois politicians praise ‘Da Pope’: Chicago politics isn’t dominated by Irish Catholic officials like it used to be, but local leaders of all faiths hailed the selection of the South Side’s own Robert Prevost as the next pope. “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a post on the social media platform X. “Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.” * CDC Gaming | Illinois casino revenue up 18.7% year-over-year in April: Illinois’ 17 casinos reported $162.6 million in adjusted gross receipts last month, a year-over-year increase of 18.7% compared to the previous year’s $136.9 million. The Illinois Gaming Board reported in its casino summary report that of the AGR, electronic gaming devices made up $122 million, rising from $104 million, a 17.3% year-over-year increase. Table games produced $40.5 million in AGR, an increase of 22.8%, rising from $32.9 million recorded last year. * Subscribers were told about this yesterday. Evanston Now | Ruttenberg running for state senate: She says he has endorsements from Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, State Rep. Bob Morgan, State Rep. Daniel Didech as well as Northfield Township Trustee Daniel Schack, Skokie Trustee Lissa Levy, Committeeperson Emeritus Mike Kreloff, and former Evanston Democratic Committeeperson Eamon Kelly. “Rachel has the experience and determination to stand up for residents of the 9th district and make sure Illinois remains strong in the face of our upcoming challenges,” Gabel said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work together in the General Assembly.” * Sun-Times | Former Gov. Ryan remembered at Kankakee service: ‘Nobody is the worst thing they ever did in their life.’: Among family members and loved ones in the front row of Asbury United Methodist Church was Andrea Lyon, nicknamed the “Angel of Death Row” for having represented many facing the death penalty. Lyon, who represented Ryan in his legal case, still contends he was targeted for political reasons. She said the loss of the Willis children broke his heart even if there were others who Lyon felt deserved more of the blame. She described Ryan, on his tougher days, as “imperfect and loyal to a fault,” unfortunately trusting those he shouldn’t have and leading to a period of disgrace for him. * Sun-Times | Two years in, Mayor Brandon Johnson admits he’s made some missteps, gaffes: In spite of those successes, Johnson’s public approval rating is languishing in the single digits in some polls and in the best surveys, in the low 20% range. “I don’t give much attention to polling,” Johnson said. The mayor appears to be betting that his road to recovery lies in revving up the Black base that carried him to a general election victory over Paul Vallas in 2023. He won 29 of 50 wards, including a clean sweep of all majority Black wards. * WBEZ | CPS Board president rips into outgoing CEO and budget-cutting proposals: The president of the Chicago Board of Education is tearing into the school district’s embattled CEO, saying that the budget proposals he produced for next school year are “unsatisfactory and incomplete,” and that Pedro Martinez’s planned June exit from the school district should be accelerated. “The current CPS CEO’s recent focus has been on his professional future and not on the long-term stability and success of our school district,” Sean Harden said in a statement. “His actions have undermined our Board’s ability to make the best decisions on behalf of CPS students.” * Sun-Times | Contractor who made $14M in Bridgeport bank scheme, testified against brother-in-law, gets 5½ years: A Chicago contractor who made $14.3 million in an embezzlement scheme that tanked a politically connected Bridgeport bank was sentenced Thursday 5½ years in prison. Boguslaw Kasprowicz could have faced twice as much time for his role in the Washington Federal Bank for Savings fraud, but he “provided substantial assistance” to federal prosecutors by testifying against major players in the case — including his brother-in-law. * Block Club | DePaul Student’s ‘Grant Slam’ Music Fest To Draw 500 Attendees — And It All Began In His Dad’s Basement: “I was in a band, a couple of friends were in bands,” Lendvay said. “In the heat of it, running around and moving stuff, planning what people were going to do and when, it was the most gratifying feeling I’ve ever had.” That party has grown into an annual music festival with city permits, four porta-potties and small paychecks for the talent. The crowd has gone from 30 people in his father’s basement to more than 300 on the Little League baseball outfield grass of Jonquil Park, 1001 W. Wrightwood Ave., in Lincoln Park. * Daily Herald | West Chicago mayor faces pushback after appointing new city administrator, attorney: Bovey’s actions prompted most of the 14-member city council to question the legality of the changes. Both sides spent much of the three-and-a-half-hour meeting debating whether Bovey had exceeded his authority as mayor. Council members eventually decided to pause the meeting and reconvene on May 19. * Sun-Times | Illinois paper straw business craters after Trump’s push for plastic: Boss Straw touts its product as the “best, earth-friendly paper straw in the world.” But since February, sales have plummeted 85% at the paper straw maker in Woodstock. Nearly 14 million paper straws are sitting in limbo at Boss’ warehouse, about 1½ hours from Chicago. President Donald Trump issued an executive order “to end the use of paper straws” on Feb. 10 and barred federal agencies from procuring them. Following Trump’s mandate, many U.S. distributors have stopped ordering paper straws even for the private sector and reverted to plastic, said Guy Spinelli, founder of Boss Straw. “If it keeps up the way it is, [Trump] will drive me out of business by the end of this year,” said Spinelli. “It would be the end of the story.” * Daily Herald | ‘I didn’t resign’: Carpentersville board replacing village manager: John O’Sullivan, who was hired as village manager in 2023, was let go more than a week ago. Tuesday’s agenda includes a formal vote by trustees removing O’Sullivan as village manager. O’Sullivan, who served as a village trustee before becoming village manager, confirmed he was fired after the board met behind closed doors on April 29. He said he cleared out his office the following day. […] In a written statement, Village President John Skillman said it was time for the village to move in a different direction. * Fast Company | You can buy the new pope’s childhood home for $199,000: Listed on Redfin for $199,000 at the time of publishing, the home matches an address and tax records first reported by South Cook News. It also aligns with Prevost’s personal history. Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, he spent most of his life in the region. The home, constructed in 1949, is typical of this neighborhood, which is filled with single-family homes built in the mid-century as families were attracted to lawn life and nearby train lines that could bring them into the city. Dolton is an area that HBO’s show Southside once perfectly dubbed, the “south side of the Southside.” * Daily Herald | Mount Prospect trustees approve Lions Club events, address conflict complaints: Four of six village trustees are Lions Club members, including club President William Grossi and past president Vince Dante. Both Grossi and Dante abstained from Tuesday’s vote, noting they’ve done so for all Lions-related matters. “Some of us wear three hats in the village,” Dante said. “None of us had any financial gain by any organization we’re part of. We’re all just volunteers.” * Illinois Times | Urban farming in Jacksonville: The 21-year-old Caballero is a student at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville. In April he began working for the Jacksonville Mainstreet Farms Initiative as part of a year-long partnership funded by AmeriCorps VISTA. A typical day may find Caballero planting seeds, moving plants, weeding one of the city’s community gardens or operating a lawn mower. The work is challenging but rewarding for Caballero, who has retinitis pigmentosa. This condition affects primarily his central and distance vision, and the way that light hits his eyes can make things better or worse, depending on the situation.[…] However, the Trump administration notified AmeriCorps April 25 that approximately 85% of the agency’s staff were being placed on leave and ended nearly $400 million in grants. According to America’s Service Commission: “This sudden termination will shutter more than 1,000 programs and prematurely end the service of over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.” AmeriCorps has now filed a lawsuit alleging the administration does not have the power to unilaterally cut or end AmeriCorps grant or service programs. * WCIA | U of I study finds alcohol use by Illinois teens double the national average: The study is conducted every other year and collects data on health and social issues like substance use, bullying and other issues in Illinois students in 8th, 10th and 12th grades. In 2024, data showed that alcohol use by teens in Illinois was nearly double the national average. 13.7% of Illinois students said they had consumed alcohol during the last 30 days, compared to 6.9% of students nationwide. * BND | Judge temporarily blocks Trump from slashing relief funds from metro-east school: A federal judge issued a preliminary order this week blocking the Trump administration from cutting off states’ access to hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds for public schools — including $19 million for the East St. Louis school district. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, of the Southern District of New York, on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of an order issued in late March by U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, May 9, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* 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. * 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.” * 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. * 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. * 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.
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Cole Henke’s Emma Shafer story is a must-watch
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Heckuva story by WCIA’s Cole Henke… * Transcript…
Please pardon any transcription errors. * More from Henke…
* Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus were also at the Noem event yesterday…
* Rep. Ann Williams asked those members why they were at the event during a floor speech today. Here’s an excerpt…
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. Discuss.
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More like this, please: MPs granted training reciprocity to become Illinois police officers
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * I briefly embedded with the Illinois National Guard’s 233rd Military Police Company in Iraq back in 2003. Those soldiers were professional and highly trained. This is a good move…
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Mark Maxwell at KSDK…
* John Cullerton and Jason Barickman…
* Economic Security Illinois Action Director of Policy and Advocacy Erion Malasi…
* WAND…
* Electrification Coalition Senior Communications Associate Liam Condon…
* Sen. Karina Villa…
Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…
* WAND…
* Sen. Robert Peters…
* WAND…
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The legal front: AG wins court order ’stopping Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide’
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for the court order. Press release…
* Click here for the lawsuit. Press release…
* Click here for the motion. Press release…
* More…
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Don’t Greenwash Discrimination: Demand Inclusive Labor Standards In Energy Storage Legislation
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.
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Former Gov. Jim Edgar: Last hundred days ’scariest of my life’
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * 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… * Transcript…
Please pardon all transcription errors. Thoughts?
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Healing Communities: Pinckneyville Community Hospital
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.
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Open thread
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * A bit of Bob in the morning… In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm What’s up?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Clock counting down to secure state funding before drastic service cuts to CTA, Metra, Pace. CBS Chicago…
* Related stories… Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * 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. * 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. * 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.” * Sun-Times | Chicago animal control unveils free 24-hour microchip scanning station to find lost pets: The station is open to the public all day, every day outside at the city’s Animal Care and Control shelter at 2741 S. Western Ave. The free scanner is intended to be a faster way for lost pets to reunite with their family faster, the agency said in a statement. * 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.” * 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. * 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. * 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.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign news
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Daily Herald | U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi running for Durbin’s Senate seat: In a telephone interview Tuesday night, Krishnamoorthi said the time is right to run for Senate because of Durbin’s pending departure. But he said he’s also hoping to shift chambers now because Trump administration policies targeting legal immigration, public housing and aid, and public schools are creating “economic chaos” and causing people to lose their grip on the American Dream. * The Electrification Coalition’s Liam Condon | Proposed bill would limit where customers could buy EVs: 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. * Daily Herald | Bill to nix senior road tests for 86 and younger, allow reporting of unsafe drivers clears Senate committee: The redo comes after myriad seniors protested against Illinois being the only state with road tests for older drivers, which they characterized as onerous age discrimination. “We need to ensure that processes, such as renewing a license, continue to be accessible to all, especially for those who pose the least amount of risk to other drivers,” said Senate Transportation Committee Chair Ram Villivalam, a Chicago Democrat. * WAND | IL bill to require school coaches to receive CPR, first aid and AED training passes Senate committee unanimously: A bill to require training for coaches on how to give CPR, first aid and use AED’s passed the Illinois Senate education committee unanimously Tuesday. It’s an expansion on a bipartisan law last year that required schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan. State Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Waukegan) said in committee this expansion will protect students and teachers. * President & CEO of Safer Foundation Victor Dickson | Expanding housing access to recently incarcerated Illinoisans is a worthwhile investment: Home for Good, sponsored by state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and state Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, would be a vital public investment in making that belief real. It expands existing housing programs that have already shown that with housing support and access, people are less likely to return to prison. It would allocate $103 million for rental assistance for people with criminal records who will contribute up to 30% of their income; grant money to acquire, build and rehabilitate affordable transitional and permanent housing; wraparound support services for those seeking housing; and create the Home for Good Institute, a training center for organizations that want to provide this kind of housing. * WAND | IL Senate committee unanimously approves bill banning firefighting protective gear containing PFAS: The plan requires companies selling protective equipment containing PFAS to provide written notice of why the chemicals are added to the gear by the end of this year. Illinois could then ban people from selling any PPE containing forever chemicals to fire departments starting January 1, 2027. * WCIA | Illinois bill to include horse riding therapy in coverage passes House Insurance Committee: The state insurance program may soon start covering horseback riding as part of therapy. A bill that passed in the House Insurance Committee would expand insurance coverage for hippotherapy when prescribed by a licensed occupational or speech therapist. Hippotherapy, also known as therapeutic horseback riding, is done by a licensed therapist with assistance from a professional horse handler to support a person to have better physical movement and cognitive processing. It is often used for people with physical disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis and in some cases Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). * Tribune | Ex-CPS principal found dead on day of sentencing in fraud case, lawyer says: At those proceedings, Abedelal’s attorney, Jonathan Bedi, told the judge he was informed last night that his client had passed away. No further details of the circumstances of her death were discussed in court. Ellis told Bedi to extend the court’s condolences to Abedelal’s family. Assistant U.S. Attorney Prashant Kolluri said that once the death certificate is verified the case will be dropped. * Block Club | Uber Refunding Riders Hit With City Congestion Fee — But Won’t Say How Much It Owes: The refunds appeared on Uber receipts and directly hit bank accounts for cards used to pay for rides outside the surcharge time window. In some cases, Uber sent messages to riders with the header “Just a quick update.” “You took a ride for which you were incorrectly charged a Chicago Congestion Surcharge due to technical issues on our end,” the Uber message reads. “We have corrected the error and refunded the incorrectly charged amount to the original payment method of this trip.” * Crain’s | DePaul chief to Congress: ‘We’ve made mistakes’ on antisemitism, campus protests: DePaul University President Robert Manuel told the U.S. House education committee today he was “deeply sorry” for mistakes in handling an anti-Israel encampment on the school’s Lincoln Park campus last spring and for an antisemitic attack on two DePaul students last fall. “We’ve made mistakes along the way” in responding to campus actions after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, Manuel said. “As DePaul’s leader, I want to acknowledge that openly. To our students, our parents, our faculty, our staff, our alumni, and our friends, I am deeply sorry. I know there are areas where we must and will do better.” * WBEZ | ‘Pure chaos’: Why most Chicagoans used to move at the same time on Moving Day: People from every walk of life participated in Moving Day, including immigrants, longtime residents and those of all economic backgrounds. Picture this: The Chicago Tribune described Moving Day 1865 as “[t]he same grand old crash and confusion.” “Every wagon in the city was pressed into the service,” the writer said, describing packed wagons careening through the streets, torn-up carpets and furniture thrown into heaps, “[c]rying children, storming fathers, bewildered mothers.” * Block Club | Devil Dawgs Coming To Andersonville, Taking Over Former Reza’s Restaurant: Andersonville neighbors can expect the same Devil Dawgs menu as other locations, including its classic Chicago hot dog, jumbo spicy sausage and Italian beef sandwich. The location hopes to offer an outdoor patio as well, the spokesperson said. […] The business now has four locations in Chicago, including at 937 W. Belmont Ave. in Lakeview, 1431 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park, 804 N. Rush St. in the Gold Cost and 767 S. State St. in the South Loop. There’s also a location in Evanston at 921 Church St. * Sun-Times | Michael Miner, longtime media columnist for Chicago Reader, dies at 81: Mr. Miner pondered such topics as hypocritical columnists, biases, bad grammar and questionable editorial takes. Former Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich remembered in a Facebook post how reporters used to rush to pick up a copy of the Reader on publication day. “What did Miner have to say about that hot Sun-Times or Tribune story? Was he going to lacerate some terrible reporter? Or editor? Or praise some great reporter? Or editor?” Schmich wrote. * Crain’s | Cleveland-Cliffs to idle Riverdale plant, lay off 281 workers: The idles “are a necessary response to insufficient demand and pricing for the products the affected facilities produce, including rail, specialty plate, and high-carbon sheet; all of which fall outside of Cliffs’ core business focus,” a Cliffs spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The company said the closures are not related to the imposition of tariffs by President Donald Trump, a policy strongly supported by Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves. Cliffs said the idles will start around June 30 and about 950 employees will be out of work during the shutdowns. A WARN report filed recently with the state of Illinois shows 281 workers at the Riverdale facility will be laid off at the start of the closure. * ABC Chicago | Plainfield man asks Will County judge to reconsider sentence in 6-year-old stabbing, hate crime case: A Will County judge heard his case Wednesday morning. There’s no word on the judge’s decision yet. A jury convicted him in February on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and hate crimes. * Daily Southtown | Homewood Arts Council bringing rock veterans together for birthday tribute to The Who’s Pete Townshend: One way the 501(c)(3) volunteer-run community organization does this is by presenting events such as Who’s Birthday – A Tribute to Pete Townshend for ages 21 and older on May 10 at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve’s Senior Hall. “I’m friends with Chris Casteneda, who put this together. He knows me through a couple mutual friends and has seen me play,” said Phil Angotti, one of the event’s performers. “Besides writing original music I play a lot of ’60s things. I’m a huge fan. He knew that so he asked me to part of this show.” * Daily Herald | Lawyers outline plan for class action suit against Prestige Feed Products: Lawyers representing neighbors complaining about odors from a Mount Prospect animal feed producer in a class-action lawsuit met Tuesday at a Des Plaines church with clients and interested parties. During the meeting at Unity Des Plaines church, Reed Solt and Laura Sheets of the Detroit-based firm Liddle Sheets P.C., explained next steps as the suit against Prestige Feed Products LLC and Cereal Byproducts Co. heads to a May 14 court date before Cook County Judge Clare Sheets said the primary objective of the lawsuit is to secure monetary damages for affected residents and require operators to address the odor issues. * BND | Over 80K in metro-east have elevated ‘forever chemicals’ in their city’s water: More than 80,000 people in Madison County recently learned their city’s water exceeded new state and federal limits on contamination from PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” the last time it was tested. Collinsville had some of the highest levels in the state: four and a half times the limit for one type of chemical. * WGLT | Former members of Foundation Church in Normal say they faced spiritual abuse: Many said the church, which catered largely to college students, young professionals and youth, has increasingly focused on a patriarchal hierarchy that can be degrading to women, and some said their mental health concerns were directly ignored when raised with church leadership. […] “Most examples of spiritual abuse refer to a church elder or faith leader inflicting abuse on congregation members, often by creating a toxic culture within the church or group by shaming or controlling members using the power of their position,” the writes the National Domestic Violence Hotline. * BND | Former bishop of Belleville Diocese part of papal conclave to elect a new pope: Gregory, a native of Chicago, served as the seventh bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville from 1993 to 2004. During his tenure locally, he was elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as the crisis of sex abuse by Catholic clergy was escalating. In 2002, he pushed the conference to pass the Dallas Charter, which instituted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of minors. * WSIL | See Moments Captured on the Veterans Honor Flight 14: As veterans made their way to Washington D.C. as part of the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois Flight 14, members of the organization wanted to make sure they documented their trip. As veterans first walked into the Veteran’s Airport in Marion, they were treated with lots of volunteers and crews welcoming them with open arms.
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It’s Illinois bacon day!
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
* WICS…
* Rep. Cassidy celebrated on the House floor by wearing a bacon hat…  Hilarious.
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From the legal front: AG Raoul helps win preliminary injunction to restore federal education grants
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for the preliminary injunction. From yesterday…
* Meanwhile…
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Repeal IFPA Now
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities. “This new law passed in Illinois would be really difficult to explain to our members”. Stop Chaos for Our Hard-Working Postal Workers! Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Emma Shafer’s memory used by Secretary Noem to buttress argument on Illinois laws (Updated)
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * WICS TV last July…
Remember that US Marshals thing because it’s gonna come up later in the post. * Emma Shafer was a beloved local activist…
* After a large crowd showed up near the governor’s mansion to protest Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference, her handlers moved the event to near the home of Emma Shafer’s parents. Noem abruptly ended the press conference when protesters drew near, as you can see if you click here and skip to near the end of the video. Emma Shafer’s mom was actually at the anti-Noem protest and was visibly in tears, Isabel told me. * From Secretary Noem’s remarks…
Remember, the US Marshal’s office and other agencies have been working with the Springfield police on this case since the very beginning. And let’s be clear, Calixto was a very bad guy. But it’s highly doubtful that the Emma Shafer who so many people knew during her life would’ve approved of Noem’s using her for rhetorical gain. The appearance of Shafer’s mom at the protest solidifies that belief. Also, despite what Noem said, police think Calixto may have fled the country. * Let’s go back to the planned event outside the governor’s mansion, a month after the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion was ransacked by an intruder. It turns out, the City of Springfield denied a permit to the Illinois Environmental Council to hold an event in that same space earlier this year. From a March 20 City of Springfield email to the IEC…
I’ve asked a city spokesperson why a permit (if any) was issued to Noem, and if a permit was issued for the event near the Shafer home. I have not yet heard back. I’ll let you know when I know. …Adding… The response from the city spokesperson…
* Related…
* Click here to donate to the Emma Shafer Peace and Justice Fund
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Protect Access To 340B: Drug Discount Savings Means More Services For Low-Income Communities
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Pharmaceutical manufacturers, many of them based in foreign countries, are making it hard for hospitals like Franciscan Health Olympia Fields to turn savings on drug costs into services for patients. The hospital joined the federal 340B drug discount program “to help serve the uninsured and under-insured community residents in Olympia Fields and Chicago Heights.” The poverty rates in both Chicago suburbs are higher than the 11.6% state average—12.7% in Olympia Fields and 24.7% in Chicago Heights. The hospital has put those savings toward services, including its:
• Medication to Bedside program that ensures medication access prior to discharge; and • Pharmacist-managed Anticoagulation Clinics and Pharmacotherapy Clinics that improve medication outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions. “The 340B program serves as a vital lifeline for safety-net providers to support critical health services in low-income or isolated rural communities, which are typically operated at a loss,” Franciscan Health said. Since 2020, drugmakers have arbitrarily limited access to lifesaving medications acquired through the 340B program, making it harder for more than 100 participating hospitals in Illinois to invest in healthcare—and patients. For one safety net hospital alone, these restrictions have resulted in a $16 million hit. Support Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350 to prohibit drugmakers from interfering with hospital pharmacy contracts. Learn more.
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Coverage roundup: Krishnamoorthi launches bid for Durbin seat
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers were briefed earlier. Capitol News Illinois…
* Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s launch video…
* Tribune…
* Sun-Times…
* Politico…
* ABC…
* More…
* Axios | Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launches bid for U.S. Senate: Krishnamoorthi’s announcement video starts off by focusing on his opposition to the Trump administration, saying he spent his “life standing up to bullies.” The 51-year-old, 5-term congressman cited abortion, gun control and opposition to DOGE and tariffs as key issues of his campaign. He also leaned heavily into his ties to former President Obama — who he worked for as a campaign operative — who he said “showed that Illinois will give you a shot even when you have a funny name.” * ABC Chicago | Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi running for US Senate: The congressman now joins Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Representative Robin Kelly in the race for Durbin’s Senate seat. Other possible contenders to enter the race include Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and on the Republican side, Representative Darin LaHood.
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12 Million: The Number Of Care Hours Illinois Seniors Need And Aren’t Receiving
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller Seniors need access to home care services so they can age with dignity at home. But Illinois seniors aren’t getting the care they need. There are over 20,000 seniors in Illinois who need home care services but are not receiving care. What’s more, in 2024, 12 million hours meant for senior home care went unserviced. That means the home care crisis shortchanged Illinois seniors 12 million hours of care that they need. And it’s getting worse. This number has been growing every year – destabilizing the Community Care Program. And it’s because poverty wages are destabilizing the care workforce. Care workers are leaving the industry because they can’t afford to stay – leaving seniors without care. “People like me are struggling to access home care services that allow us to continue living independently in our homes because of a workforce shortage that is being driven by low wages,” said Diana Inman, a Decatur senior who receives home care services through the Community Care Program. “My regular [worker] was taken away from me, and it took them a whole week to finally find somebody to come in. That was rough.” Seniors can’t wait any longer to get the essential home care they need. Support HB 1330/SB 120 to increase the wage floor for home care workers serving seniors in the Community Care Program from $18/hr to $20/hr in 2026. Care can’t wait!
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Roundup: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to visit Springfield (Updated x9)
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. Media advisory from the Department of Homeland Security about Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to Springfield today…
It’s scheduled to begin at 10 this morning. Watch it live here… * Organizers are preparing to protest…
* Governor Pritzker’s office had a snark-filed response to Noem’s visit…
The governor’s last jab references Noem’s book, which includes a story about killing a Cricket, a 14 month old dog, she “hated.” * US Rep. Lauren Underwood also got some swings in yesterday when Noem testified before a House panel. From Rep. Lauren Underwood…
Click here to watch the hearing. * Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wasn’t too happy yesterday when Secretary Noem announced that people without REAL ID can still board airplanes. He’s holding his own press conference right after hers…
* Meanwhile… From Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough…
…Adding… Veronica Castro, deputy director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights…
…Adding… The scene in front of the mansion…
…Adding… Press release…
…Adding… Emma Shafer’s mom was actually at the protest against Noem’s visit…
…Adding… The executive mansion was decorated ahead of Noem’s visit…
* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias gave a short speech and took no questions…
…Adding… Press release…
* Press release…
* Press release…
* Press release…
…Adding… Press release…
…Adding… Governor’s office fact check…
We are posting related state legislator press releases on our live press release coverage post. …Adding… Latino Policy Forum…
* More…
* CBS | Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office slams, mocks Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ahead of visit: Earlier Tuesday, Pritzker confirmed he would testify before Congress next month about Illinois’ sanctuary laws. The hearing by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on June 12 comes after Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), the panel’s chairman, last month called on Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and New York Mayor Kathy Hochul to come before the committee. * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker to testify before Congress on Illinois’ ‘sanctuary’ immigration policies: Last month, Comer sent a letter inviting the governors to appear before the committee May 15 to discuss their states’ “sanctuary policies.” The request came about a month after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with the mayors of New York, Boston and Denver, testified before the same committee about similar policies in their cities. Johnson touted Chicago’s downward trend in crime in his opening statement. He went on to argue throughout the six-hour session that the city’s long-standing policy blocking local police from assisting in federal immigration enforcement in fact makes communities safer. * NBC Chicago | Noem visit to Springfield draws sarcastic response from Pritzker’s office: Rep. Mary Miller went a step further on Tuesday, calling on Illinois sheriffs to “defy…state sanctuary laws,” and to cooperate with ICE to deport individuals in the country without legal status. “I call on every local sheriff in Illinois to defy these dangerous directives, cooperate with ICE, and support President Trump’s deportation efforts,” she said in an interview with Fox News. “We must act now before one more innocent American life is lost or harmed.” Thoughts?
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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Open thread
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * A little wake-up music… She got Elgin movement from her head down to her toes What’s going on in your world?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi joins increasingly crowded race to succeed Dick Durbin in Senate. Tribune…
- Krishnamoorthi’s expected announcement follows ones made by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson that they would enter the March 17 Democratic primary. - Far from a household name to statewide voters, ”Just call me Raja” has long been Krishnamoorthi’s political campaign theme and he is maintaining it for the Senate run. I’ll have a full coverage roundup for Krishnamoorthi’s announcement later this morning. * Related stories…
∙ Daily Herald: ‘I’m ready to stand up and fight back’: State Sen. Laura Fine launches bid for Schakowsky’s U.S. House seat ∙ NOTUS: The Already Crowded Illinois Senate Race Gets Another Contender 
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker to testify before Congress on Illinois’ ‘sanctuary’ immigration policies: Pritzker’s office confirmed Tuesday that the governor would “voluntarily appear” before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on June 12 after its chairman, Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, announced in a news release that Pritzker would testify alongside New York’s Kathy Hochul and Minnesota’s Tim Walz. * Sun-Times | Nicor’s ‘exorbitant’ $309 million rate hike request should be cut in half, watchdogs say: That’s why state regulators should cut the increase roughly in half, experts from the Citizens Utility Board, Illinois Public Interest Research Group and Environmental Defense Fund argued Wednesday. “This company is rolling in profits and they just keep coming to the table asking for more,” CUB spokesman Jim Chilsen said. “This rate hike request is filled with fat and excess, and customers are fed up.” * Sun-Times | New study suggests insuring immigrants in Illinois gives hospitals a financial lift: That effort has had a domino effect. In a new study, researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of California in Los Angeles found what’s known as bad debt, or debt hospitals fail to recoup, declined on average 15% across Illinois from 2021-23 — and potentially as much as 25% at hospitals in counties with the highest enrollment in the state’s immigrant health plans. For the average hospital, a 15% drop in bad debt is around $1.5 million. * Sun-Times | In response to RFK Jr., Pritzker to sign first in nation executive order protecting autism data: Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday plans to sign an executive order to restrict the mass collection and sharing of autism-related data for Illinois residents, in response to the country’s top health secretary’s rhetoric around the cause of autism. The executive order comes after Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, recently said he would undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism, including an investigation into whether any environmental factors are causing the development disorder. * Capitol News Illinois | New study suggests changes to Illinois’ community college-university pipeline: The report by the Partnership for College Completion says that while 79% of community college students start with the intention of transferring to a university, only 35% of them do. The success rate is even lower for low-income students and students of color, the report states. Only 28% of low-income students transfer, compared to 44% of higher-income students. And while Black and Latino students make up 44% of community college enrollment in Illinois, they make up just 31% of those who transfer to public universities. * Capitol City Now | Illinois House and Senate meet for 7th annual softball game: State Senator, Steve McClure, said honor was on the line this year as, according to him, the officiating last year was questionable, so he was hoping for a fair shot this year. Unfortunately, his Field of Dreams was not to be. Final in the game – House 9, Senate NOTHING. * Center Square | Illinois’ meat industry discusses successes, challenges in face of tariffs: During an Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, Jennifer Tyree with the Illinois Pork Producers Association laid out the strengths in her industry. To the question of prospective tariffs, Tyree said they are a big concern they’re monitoring closely, but Illinois’ pork industry is focused on maintaining their market share. “Closer to 30% of our product is exported,” Tyree said. “At this point we are holding our own. We are just trying very hard to continue to keep that market share because I think what is our biggest concern is if we lose market share, it’s very hard to get it back.” * Sun-Times | Brandon Johnson faces pushback from top ally on eve of pivotal affordable housing vote: Finance Committee Chair Pat Dowell said the plan would simply benefit affluent communities and do little to uplift marginalized communities where “affordable rent is the same as market rent.” * Background is here if you need it…
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson defends deal on Columbus statues: Asked about the long celebrated, but now more closely scrutinized Italian explorer’s legacy, Johnson Tuesday talked about the trans-Atlantic slave trade and decimation of Indigenous American people that followed Columbus’ arrival. Still, Columbus left a legacy many are proud of, he added. “Art and culture in particular is something that I don’t believe we should erase,” Johnson said. “And we do have to make sure that our presentation is depicting not just truth, but the best part of our existence, which is our collective humanity.” * Crain’s | Trump goes off on ‘woke’ Obama Center construction: President Donald Trump went on a tangent to lambast the state of construction for the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park today during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “I mean look, President Obama — and if he wanted help, I’d give him help because I build on time and on budget — he’s building his presidential library in Chicago. It’s a disaster,” Mr. Trump said. “And he said something to the effect, ‘I only want DEI, I only want woke.’ He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people and they have massive cost overruns, the job is stopped. I don’t know, it’s a disaster.” * President of the Chicago Federation of Labor Bob Reiter’s response…
* Crain’s | Inside the long-simmering United vs. American grudge match that’s reignited at O’Hare: The dispute between United and American airlines that spilled into federal court last week has roots in a contentious lease agreement signed in 2018 but reflects a deeper rivalry between the two carriers over one of the nation’s biggest and busiest markets for air travel. It’s a history marked by both cooperation and gamesmanship, at times reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys—the result of an unusual scenario in which two major airlines have hubs at the same airport. * Sun-Times | Trump Tower plaza barricades pulled back after months of complaints: Trump Tower building security notified the city Tuesday afternoon that all levels of the plaza and riverwalk were reopened Tuesday morning. A Sun-Times photographer found fences that were moved, now sitting alongside a pathway. The planning department’s investigation found “that the property was not in compliance” with the planned development, which states: “All of the open-to-air components of the River Park/Plaza Improvements … shall be open to the public twenty-four (24) hours a day.” * Daily Southtown | Tinley Park-Park District budget plan seeks to identify how much more state funding needed for land cleanup: The state earmarked $15 million the Park District could use for cleanup of environmental issues including asbestos and mold, as well as demolishing dozens of buildings, both large and small, on the property. District officials said experts working on the remediation are calculating what additional funds will be sought from the state. The $15 million set aside in state money was based on estimates of the cost of the cleanup made more than a decade ago. * Sun-Times | ‘U-pick’ flower farm fighting Chicago suburb to reopen, as 20,000 tulips wait to be picked: But in May 2024, the village sent a cease-and-desist letter to owner Chris Yamamoto, forcing him to close shop. The village contends the farm violates its zoning codes for businesses on residential property. Yamamoto believes the farm aligns with the village’s values, so for almost a year now, he’s been fighting to reverse the decision. It’s not about the money. He bought all those tulip bulbs direct from Holland out of a passion for flower farming. * Daily Herald | After 36 years and more than 1,200 meetings, Palatine village clerk retires: “I enjoyed writing minutes that were succinct, that were clear, concise and accurate,” the former Northwestern University English major said. “Don’t waste anybody’s time reading through mumbo jumbo.” The job, however, goes way beyond taking the minutes. As village clerk, Duer was responsible for overseeing elections, including establishing early voting sites, recommending election judges and ensuring proper signage and nonpartisan administration of polling places. * Illinois Times | Major solar development opens in Sangamon County: The farm generates 800 megawatts, which is enough power to supply more than 100,000 homes. Previously, the land was used to grow corn and soybeans. [..] Creating alternative uses for farmland gives more options for landowners but places pressure on tenant farmers, said Bill Bodine, director of business and regulatory affairs for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “For some farmers, it’s a challenge, because they need access to land in order to continue their business, to make a profit, to support their families. Sometimes there can be concerns with conversion of farmland simply because it’s a competing use.” * PJ Star | Tension, transparency and hope: Why a new mayor could mean ‘a new day’ for Washington: In addition to her swearing in as the city’s first female mayor, four new city council members were sworn in, and three other officials were reelected. […] Stevens moved quickly to carry out city business, starting with designating McIntyre and Moss as signatories. City policy requires two authorized signatures on checks and withdrawals, and while those are typically handled by the mayor and city treasurer, additional signatories are needed in case the treasurer would be absent, Finance Director Joanie Baxter explained. * WCIA | Champaign Co. workers rallying for better contracts: “We want to be able to buy groceries, keep a roof over our head. We don’t want to have to work two and three jobs at a time to make ends meet,” Cecelia Phillips, the AFSCME local 900 president, said. Phillips works in the Champaign County Circuit Clerk’s Office and organized a rally Tuesday afternoon in hopes it’ll change the minds of local government officials. * BND | About 300 East St. Louis students may lose after-school programs: East St. Louis School District 189 typically uses federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants, which supports programming in high-poverty areas, to fund its after-school programming. Those grants have been running out, and District 189 has been struggling to find alternative funding sources, said Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, the district’s executive director of communications. * WGLT | Big sewer construction project will disrupt homeless encampment in Normal: Mayor Chris Koos said the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District [BNWRD] will begin a large construction project in the area next month. Koos said it’s a good question where the unhoused people at the encampment will go. “We are looking very hard in cooperation with Home Sweet Home Ministries to see if there is any property in Normal and we frankly can’t find anything,” Koos said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. He said the municipality might consider buying something for a shelter village like one proposed in downtown Bloomington. * Reuters | EV makers Rivian, Lucid flag increasing costs as tariffs bite: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters the cost per vehicle was expected to rise by “a couple of thousand dollars” due to tariffs. “Customers are hesitant to make large-dollar purchases, and they’re more price sensitive than they historically have been,” he said, adding Rivian was working on adjusting its supply chain to mitigate tariff costs.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some Statehouse news
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* ABC Chicago…
…Adding… Gov. Pritzker will travel to DC, next month to testify before a Republican-led panel on sanctuary cities…
* Jewish Insider | Schakowsky retirement sets up Illinois Democratic primary battle over Mideast policy: In an interview with Jewish Insider on Monday, Fine touted her pro-Israel platform and described herself as a staunch defender of the Jewish state who has long been outspoken against rising antisemitism fueled by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza. * Tribune | Stressed athletes and coaches wait as deadline nears to solve NCAA’s ‘changing’ roster limits issue: The $2.8 billion settlement, if approved, would benefit thousands of former and current college athletes. It would provide back pay to former athletes for missed name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. And it would allow current and future athletes — especially elite ones and those who participate in the money-making sports of football and men’s basketball — to benefit from revenue sharing from their universities. But U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s approval of the House settlement has been held up by one issue: roster limits. * Sun-Times | ‘State of Black Chicago’ report lays out path to building wealth amid stark racial gaps: “The State of Black Chicago 2025: A Laddered Path to Wealth Building” focuses heavily on a key data point from a report by The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy. The 2024 findings show that the typical Black family in the Chicago metropolitan area reports a median net worth of $0, compared with $210,000 for a white family. * WTTW | Chicago-Area Organizations Working on Everything From Youth Mentorship to Homelessness Lose Positions Following AmeriCorps Cuts: “The damage is done, the damage is critical and what they’re gonna find out is that the damages are gonna have more of a cost than their perceived savings,” said A Safe Haven Foundation President Mark Mulroe, whose organization was impacted by AmeriCorps cuts. Five AmeriCorps VISTA members at A Safe Haven Foundation, which provides services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Chicago area, were told Monday that there was no longer funding for their positions after the nonprofit was informed of grant terminations, according to Mulroe. * Sun-Times | New book illuminates Wrigley Building. Iconic structure? Yes. Superb? Not so much.: What we get far less of are the critics who lined up over the years to give the Wrigley Building the backhand. Lewis Mumford referred to its “safe mediocrity.” The Wrigley Building is “just what the name implies,” sniffed Frank Lloyd Wright — admittedly not famous for kindness toward other architects — noting it “illustrates the principle that an ugly building by day, if illuminated, will be ugly by night as well.” […] Sharoff brushes away such criticism (and Samuelson dismisses the enduring skybridge mystery in a few chicken-crossing-the-road sentences: It was built in 1931 to get to the other side). * Chicago Mag | The Sketchy Future of Court Artists: Currently, there are two main sketch artists who freelance for the television news stations and newspapers in town: Lou Chukman and Cheryl “Cookie” Cook. That’s down from the days when every station and newspaper in town had their own courtroom sketch artist on staff. Now a new face, Cliff Questel, has gotten on board what may be a sinking ship. , 62, is a graphic artist by day, but recently has been seen at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse — referred to by its location, “26th and Cal,” by most in the news business — as well as other courthouses in the Chicago area. * Tribune | Nancy Faust on her Chicago White Sox return after a 15-year absence: ‘I never expected a resurgence like this’: Faust spent 41 seasons — more than 3,000 games — on the South Side, missing only a handful of games due to the birth of her son. She is widely recognized for incorporating popular music into ballpark repertoire and for choosing songs that relate to each player based on their name, number or even their home state. Ever chant “Na-Na Hey-Hey Goodbye” when the opposing team pulls their pitcher? That’s because Faust played it first. […] The White Sox announced Monday that Faust, 78, will return to The Rate — which was known as U.S. Cellular Field the last time she played there almost 15 years ago — with her organ for six home games on select Sundays. Her appearances start on Sunday with Mother’s Day and end on Aug. 10, which happens to be her and husband Joe’s 45th wedding anniversary. * Block Club | Andersonville’s Midsommarfest Returns In June With Headliners The O’My’s, Sixteen Candles: The free, family-friendly festival is 5-10 p.m. June 13, noon-10 p.m. June 14 and noon-9 p.m. June 15 on Clark Street between Foster Avenue and Gregory Street. It’s expected to host as many as 80,000 people throughout the weekend. This year will be the 59th edition of Midsommarfest, one of Chicago’s oldest and most beloved street festivals, according to the event organizer, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. * Aurora Beacon-News | Attrition program, cost-cutting measures debated as Kane County Board grapples with impending budget shortfall: The county is on pace to dip below the required 90-day reserves in 2027 if revenue and spending remains level, county officials have said. One solution was an additional revenue stream, most notably a proposed 0.75% sales tax touted by some as a viable solution to the budget gap. But, in April, voters overwhelmingly shot down the measure. * Patch | Newly Sworn-In City Council Member Announces Bid For DuPage Board: In an announcement celebrating being sworn in for his second term on the Naperville City Council, council member Ian Holzhauer announced plans to run for a seat on the DuPage County Board. […] “ The number one duty of candidates and elected officials is to be candid with voters. Many have asked about my future intentions. Rather than be cagey, I will be straightforward: I will be running for DuPage County Board in District 5 in the midterm election.” * Daily Southtown | Jim Dodge sworn in as Orland Park mayor, says it’s ‘a new day’ for the village: Sworn in Monday as Orland Park’s mayor, Jim Dodge said it’s “a new day” in the village and pledged he and other new elected officials are “going to do everything to make sure we listen” to residents. Dodge won election in April 1, defeating Keith Pekau, who was seeking a third term. Sworn in with Dodge were Village Clerk Mary Ryan Norwell and trustees John Lawler, Dina M. Lawrence and Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad. * Daily Herald | The ‘perfect fit’: Former Buffalo Grove deputy hired as Lisle’s police chief: It didn’t take long for new Lisle Mayor Mary Jo Mullen to name a new police chief — one of her first official moves since being sworn into office. Village trustees have confirmed Mullen’s appointment of Michael Rodriguez to the long-vacant post. His hiring comes months after Kevin Licko stepped down as Lisle’s police chief. “We interviewed Mike back in December. I would say all of us really felt that he was the empathetic, mentoring, coaching style of leader that our force really needs right now,” Mullen said Tuesday. * WGLT | Normal extends deadline for short-term rentals, gets pushback on Illinois Art Station hirings: The moratorium, applying to properties such as Airbnb or VRBO offerings, was to give Normal time to consider and evaluate regulatory alternatives. The council approved a change for it to last until July 1, rather than June 1. That gives extra time for Normal to better assess the situation should any land-use bills become law by the end of the Illinois spring legislative session on May 31. * WGLT | NPR stations like WGLT wade through uncertainty following executive order: WGLT Assistant Executive Director and Development Director Melissa Libert says it’s unrealistic for added community support to entirely make up for a loss of federal funding. That would be about $175,000 annually if all federal funding was removed. “It would be significant,” Libert said. “What we are worried about is that the attacks just keep coming.” * KHQA | New funding allows Girl Scouts to expand mental health outreach in rural western Illinois: The funding will support programming aimed at 350 girls across Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike counties. The initiative brings mental health education directly to youth in underserved communities by offering age-appropriate programming focused on self-care, confidence, communication and resiliency. * WCIA | Douglass Branch Library shows off new makerspace: Manager Thea Green said they received a $50,000 grant from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to give the community a new space to be in. “Just to bring the community together, to let their creative mind go and make something and take something home that they would enjoy to have in,” Green said. * WCIA | Shozo Sato, founder of U of I’s Japan House, dies at 91: The organization announced on Tuesday that Shozo Sato passed away at the age of 91. Sato founded Japan House in 1975, about a decade after first coming to Central Illinois from Japan. He arrived in 1964 as a visiting artist-in-residence for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the College of Fine and Applied Arts. “He recognized the need for cultural arts education to build cultural bridges and committed the rest of his life to teaching in the United States,” Japan House wrote. “His tenacity and vision for teaching Japanese arts and culture started the original Japan House at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.” * NBC | Supreme Court allows Trump to implement transgender military ban: The justices granted an emergency request from the Trump administration to lift a nationwide injunction blocking the policy while litigation continues. The court’s brief order noted that the three liberal justices dissented. The decision is a loss for the seven individual transgender service members, led by lead plaintiff Emily Shilling, a Navy commander, who had sued to block it.
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Noem says people without REAL ID can still board airplanes (Updated)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Alexi ain’t too happy…
* AP…
* Guardian…
…Adding… Secretary Noem will be in Springfield tomorrow…
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Misguided Insurance Regulation Proposals Could Increase Premiums For The Majority Of Illinoisans
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Several bills proposed this legislative session seek to ban certain factors that insurance companies use to set fair and accurate insurance pricing for customers. The bills would ban the use of credit-based insurance scores, zip codes, age, and gender in insurance pricing. An op-ed published recently in the Chicago Tribune explains why such bans could cause insurance rates to rise for the majority of consumers. Case in point: When the use of credit was banned in Washington in 2021, more than 60 percent of Washington drivers saw an increase in their insurance premiums. Should similar legislation pass in Illinois, the majority of Illinoisans with better-than-average credit could see premium increases. With stubbornly high inflation and high property taxes, now is not the time to pass bills that could end up hiking insurance premiums for most Illinoisans. Click here to learn more.
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Coverage roundup: Rep. Robin Kelly launches US Senate bid
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers were told about Rep. Kelly’s announcement this morning. The Hill…
* Rep. Kelly’s launch video…
* Tribune…
* NBC Chicago…
* Sun-Times…
* Politico…
* More… * Roll Call | Rep. Robin Kelly is running for Senate in Illinois: In 2002, Kelly won election to the state House and served two terms before becoming the chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Both she and her boss had a rough year in 2010. Giannoulias lost a U.S. Senate race to Republican Mark S. Kirk, and Kelly lost her bid to replace her former boss. * ABC Chicago | Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly running for US Senate: “Well I think the Obama card is always a good one to play in Illinois and she does have a deep relationship with the former president,” ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said. […] “Well it hasn’t swayed her, she’s got just a million or two in her campaign fund,” Washington said. “It think it’s very far out to just figure out who has the best fundraising ability. Each candidate is going to have their own strengths and weaknesses.” * Fox 32 | U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly launches Senate bid to succeed Dick Durbin: Kelly led a House sit-in over gun violence legislation and co-sponsored bills protecting domestic violence survivors. As a state lawmaker, she partnered with then-state Sen. Barack Obama and current Senate President Don Harmon to pass legislation targeting illegal gun sales.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Rep. Kam Buckner…
* WAND…
* G-PAC…
Something to keep in mind: HB3285 and SB1901 are both appropriation bills. * Sen. Mike Simmons…
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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From the legal front: AG Raoul requests preliminary injunction to block Trump EO on voting restrictions
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for the motion for a preliminary injunction and click here for the original lawsuit. Press release…
* This ought to be a no-brainer. No single executive should be able to unilaterally impose voting restrictions on states. But check this out from the ILGOP…
Pass a bill, sign it into law. * Sun-Times…
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RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path. Retailers like the Erich enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Open thread
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers were given a rundown on this race this morning. ICYMI: Sen. Laura Fine launches campaign for Schakowsky’s seat. Press release…
* Related stories…
∙ Crain’s: How Raja Krishnamoorthi became the money leader in the Senate sweepstakes ∙ NBC Chicago: Rep. Robin Kelly announces run for Senate, making her 2nd candidate to enter race Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Daily Herald | Giannoulias urges Illinoisans not to panic about REAL ID deadline: Meanwhile, thousands are thronging to DMVs mistakenly thinking the state will stop processing them Wednesday. “That is not the case,” Giannoulias said at a virtual briefing Monday. “Even after May 7, you will still be able to get a REAL ID.” “So, to those of you who are waiting in lines for a very long time, please, please, please know that we will be issuing REAL IDs for the foreseeable future, probably forever.” * WQAD | Illinois initiative saving students thousands on grad school prep costs: The “Prepare for Illinois’ Future” program covers costs for major graduate entrance exams like the LSAT, MCAT and GRE, along with interview preparation and certification fees. It’s already saving students thousands, but its future is uncertain as state lawmakers continue budget talks. WIU said the program has saved its students more than $75,000. “This program helps truly tear down some barriers for students,” Justin Schuch, vice president of student success at WIU, said. * Sun-Times | Dubbing herself an ‘underdog,’ Rep. Robin Kelly launches Senate bid to replace Durbin: Kelly said she’s spoken to Preckwinkle about her bid, and she will be seeking the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party at the party’s slating in July. Kelly has focused on health care, immigration and gun control in the House. She’s a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. She’s also a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction for the Democratic Caucus. She’s also a co-chair for the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. * Sun-Times | Illinois, other states sue Trump administration for blocking wind energy development: In Illinois, wind power is the state’s largest source of renewable energy. The 17 states and Washington, D.C., say Trump is jeopardizing a power source critical to economic vitality, energy mix, public health and climate goals. * SJ-R | Illinois’ head of tourism was quietly fired 3 months ago. Here’s why: The report listed multiple concerns, saying the greatest is that DCEO has been paying “significant amounts” of state funds to TimeZoneOne for years without supporting documentation or reconciliation of TimeZoneOne’s expenses. This is both before and after Thomas began working for DCEO. Reconciliation reporting is the process of verifying and matching financial transactions to ensure accuracy. * NBC Chicago | How Gov. Pritzker is building a national image ahead of potential run in 2028: His national press coverage has been steady increasing this year, but his spot on Kimmel’s show came just days after he was the headliner at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100-Club Dinner. In his second visit to the Granite State — traditionally, the first state in the presidential primary race — Pritzker had the coveted spot typically reserved for those seeking to run for president. * WSPD | IDPH: Six measles cases confirmed in state, includes four in Southern Illinois: According to IDPH, there have been four confirmed measles cases in Southern Illinois and two unrelated adult cases in Cook County, for a total of six in the state this year. The people infected did not require hospitalization. No children have contracted measles in the state so far this year. Social links between the three Southern Illinois cases are known, IDPH said. One person may have visited locations in Missouri, including the St. Louis Aquarium, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. * WGLT | At first public forum, most express support for proposed shelter village south of downtown Bloomington: In his opening remarks Friday, Home Sweet Home Ministries CEO Matt Burgess said dozens of cities and towns across the country have successfully implemented shelter villages like this one. “Not only do people move indoors and stay indoors, but rates of engagement in services increase, calls for emergency services decrease and neighborhood crime rates typically decline,” Burgess said. There is reason to believe that The Bridge will have the same kind of impact on the Bloomington-Normal community, according to Burgess. * WAND | Tourism pumps millions into regional economy: In Decatur, Teri Hammel Executive Director of the Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said in 2023, tourism revenue total $226.8 million in Macon County. Revenue comes through local food & beverage taxes, hotel taxes and gas taxes. Hammel goes on to say tourism supports 1,533 jobs in Macon County. * NPR Illinois | Springfield’s Mayor nominates next fire : Mayor Misty Buscher is recommending the promotion of Assistant Fire Chief Nicholas Zummo to Springfield Fire Chief and Assistant Police Chief Joseph Behl to Police Chief. These promotions are pending City Council approval. Alongside these recommendations, Mayor Buscher will also promote Captain Julie Plunk to Assistant Fire Chief and Commander Ryan Leach to Assistant Police Chief. * Crain’s | United Airlines fires back at American and vows a big hiring increase in Chicago: After American Airlines filed a lawsuit Friday against the city of Chicago over the proposed re-allocation of gates at the airport, United Airlines President Brett Hart told employees today “we plan to take steps to protect our interests and utilize these new gates to benefit our customers.” United filed a motion to intervene in American’s lawsuit against the city in U.S. District Court in Chicago. * WBEZ | The Second City performers threaten strike over pay: The Actors Equity Association announced the possibility of a strike. Negotiations between Actors Equity and leadership at The Second City have been ongoing since February. The performers and stage managers are seeking higher pay. The current contract expired April 13. […] Elrod said the negotiations have been cordial, but the two sides are still “very far apart” when it comes to wages. “Second City workers are very much dedicated to strike for a living wage, and that is something that the lead negotiator can pull if the next meeting doesn’t go well,” he said. * WTTW | Illinois’ Rare Plants Have a Fighting Chance of Survival Thanks to This Volunteer Monitoring Program: When it comes to endangered species, animals receive the lion’s share of attention versus plants. They get more protections, too. “Plants have gotten the short end of the stick,” said Gretel Kiefer, a plant ecologist at Chicago Botanic Garden, with nearly 30% of U.S. species at risk of extinction. It’s her job to help change that, at least in Illinois. * Tribune | As aquifer dries up, some Will County towns say they aren’t worried about running out of water: As Joliet races to meet state requirements to be eligible to tap into Lake Michigan water before the region’s groundwater is depleted, a handful of neighboring towns are holding off on making plans to identify alternative sources. About 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Joliet is at the epicenter of a regional water crisis where many suburbs will run out of water supplied by the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer by 2030, according to estimations in a 2018 report by the Illinois State Water Survey. * Daily Herald | New Arlington Heights mayor sworn in, meets with Bears president on first day: Just out of architecture school at Iowa State and working at his first job at the Arlington Heights architecture firm Hundrieser/Gutowsky, Tinaglia recalled when he was a weekend bartender the night the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986. “That was a fun place to be,” he told the audience Monday night. “I told (Warren), ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to do that again together sometime soon?’ Maybe there’s a road path to make that happen. I’m crossing my fingers that that’s true.” * Daily Southtown | Jason House sworn in to replace Tiffany Henyard as Dolton’s mayor: “Unity,” the new mayor said, was top of mind at the Royal Estates Assisted Living Ballroom, where as many as 500 people gathered to celebrate new beginnings for the village of just over 20,000 residents. “That’s what’s really going to grow this moment to its culmination. And that’s what it’s going to take for us to work together,” House said. * Crain’s | Golf Mill shopping center put up for sale amid plans for $440 million overhaul: Golf Mill Shopping Center, on the cusp of a major overhaul aimed at transforming the aging suburban mall into a mixed-used development, has been put up for sale by the developer. The Sterling Organization has hired JLL brokers to market the property, comprising nearly 80 acres in north suburban Niles, CoStar News reports. The move comes less than a year after village officials approved the 1.1 million-square-foot site for a $440 million redevelopment.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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