Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

A bill that would restrict landlords’ ability to charge move-in fees, background check fees and late fees is working its way through the Illinois Legislature.

The legislation’s sponsors argue that the fees some building owners charge go well beyond the cost of turning over units and create additional hurdles for renters in an already challenging market, while those in the real estate industry say the bill would limit how housing providers can protect themselves from bad tenants and cause them to pass the costs on in the form of higher rents.

In its current form, HB 3564 would ban move-in and application fees, cap fees for background checks at $20 and limit late fees to a small percentage of the monthly rent (i.e., $10 for the first $1,000 and 5% of any amount exceeding that). The bill is scheduled to go before a Senate committee on May 14. […]

Michael Glasser, president of the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance, said many landlords in Chicago are charging these fees in lieu of taking a security deposit. Chicago’s Residential Landlord & Tenant Ordinance has stringent requirements for handling security deposits and severe legal penalties for violating them, so many building owners and managers in the city opt to charge a smaller, nonrefundable fee to go toward covering any damage rather than opening themselves up to that risk, Glasser said. He’s advocated for reforming the ordinance instead.

* Sen. Mark Walker…

The whole digital assets industry, commonly called “crypto,” is booming in Illinois and in our country. […]

In Illinois, we need a balance between fostering innovation and growth in high-tech industries, and protecting consumers from fraud and abuse.

The Illinois Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act (DACPA) is designed to do both. The act would require digital asset businesses to register, have measures to address cybersecurity risks and establish consumer protections, including disclosures. […]

An essential part of this bill is that it exempts companies who use block chain for managing goods and inventory, peer-to-peer transactions, digital contracts, artists selling NFTs, and developers of supportive and innovative software. It also exempts those already subject to regulation by other relevant government agencies such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In fact, the intent of the bill is to foster an environment where innovators and entrepreneurs can grow into broader markets and achieve their goals. […]

It’s time for some crypto-bros to put on their big boy pants.

* SEIU Healthcare Illinois…

As Illinois faces an urgent crisis where seniors can’t get the care they need and workers can’t afford to stay in the industry, a grassroots coalition will hold a lobby day and rally on Wednesday, May 14 to call on legislators to support SB 0120 and HB 1330, legislation that would raise wages for home care workers and help address the workforce shortage that is resulting in care gaps for seniors.

During the day of action, seniors and care workers with SEIU Healthcare Illinois will lobby and rally at the Illinois Capitol to send a clear message to Illinois lawmakers: Care Can’t Wait.

The Care Can’t Wait campaign, driven by workers, advocates, care recipients and their families, is fighting to ensure seniors can access quality, affordable and dignified care in the setting of their choice. The coalition is demanding the state legislature increase the wage floor for home care workers serving seniors in the Community Care Program from $18/hr to $20/hr in 2026 via a Department on Aging rate increase in the budget. Home care workers are leaving the industry in droves – at a rate 50% higher than the average occupation – because they can’t afford to stay. Over 20,000 seniors in Illinois who need home care services are not receiving care – which means they can’t age with dignity in their homes. Raising wages is critical to making sure experienced home care workers can stay in the industry and provide the quality care so many seniors and people with disabilities depend on across Illinois.

Given forecasts of declining state revenues, advocates and elected allies are demanding that major corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes to ensure that Illinois has the resources for the investments that seniors and working families need.

With the May 31 deadline for state budget approval quickly approaching, the clock is ticking for care workers and the seniors they serve. For home care workers, a modest $2 an hour increase would ensure they have the support they need to make ends meet and stay in the industry.

* Subscribers know more. Center Square…

In a state that has been striving to get more electric vehicles on the roads, an Illinois lawmaker wants to place restrictions on how consumers can buy an EV.

State Sen. Ram Villivallam’s Senate Bill 1939 would prevent future independent EV manufacturers from selling cars except through auto dealer networks.

“We want to continue to support our auto dealers to do the work that they’re doing and do it even more, especially at a time where Tesla is doing terrible,” said Villivallam, D-Chicago.

Tesla and Rivian currently sell their vehicles directly to the customer. They would not be affected by the legislation.

* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…

To further protect children in state care from being placed in dangerous home environments, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced legislation that would expand the list of individuals prohibited from taking on the care of a child in foster or adoptive capacities.

“Children under state care have already endured hardship, including the loss of their familiar living situation,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This legislation aims to close dangerous loopholes to ensure their placements are as safe and stable as possible.”

House Bill 871 would prohibit the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from placing a child in a foster or adoptive home with an individual who has a record of human or sex trafficking.

Current law already prevents placements with individuals convicted of certain violent felonies, but the law’s application varies depending on the type of placement and who in the household has the conviction. Glowiak Hilton’s bill would close any gaps in interpretation by making it clear that human and sex trafficking convictions disqualify someone from receiving final placement approval, regardless of the placement type. […]

House Bill 871 passed the Senate Child Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

* Sen. Dave Koehler…

State Senator Dave Koehler is leading legislation to ease the financial burden on student teachers and provide incentives for experienced educators to mentor Illinois’ next generation of teachers.

“Our state needs talented, dedicated teachers and that starts with removing some of the financial hurdles students face when pursuing an education degree,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This program will help aspiring teachers afford the costs of student teaching while rewarding experienced educators who guide them along the way.”

House Bill 1375 would establish a stipend program through the Illinois Board of Higher Education, offering student teachers stipends of up to $10,000 per semester for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. The program also would include stipends of $2,000 per semester for cooperating teachers who mentor student teachers, which are also limited to two consecutive semesters each year.

The program is set to reduce the financial strain on education majors during the critical student-teaching phase and incentivize experienced educators to continue mentoring. […]

House Bill 1375 was heard today in the Senate Appropriations – Education Committee and awaits further consideration.

* WAND…

A plan to help guide the use of artificial intelligence in schools is moving forward during the final weeks of session.

The Illinois State Board of Education would be tasked with creating the first framework for evaluating and implementing AI technology for teachers and students.

Statewide guidance for school districts and educators could include explanation of basic AI concepts and specific ways it can be used to inform teaching or learning while preserving human relationships. […]

Senate Bill 1920 also requires the guidance to touch upon impacts of artificial intelligence on student data privacy and best practices for developing student literacy with AI. The State Board of Education would develop and publish the guidance by July 1, 2026 and provide continuous updates as it deems necessary. […]

Senate Bill 1920 could also update the state’s internet safety education curriculum by recommending instruction on safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence, similar to social media websites, chat rooms, e-mail, and instant messaging.

* WIFR…

Illinois Representative Maurice West (D-67) steps into the Rock River Valley Blood Center on Monday to discuss his bill (HB 1179) and raise awareness on the importance of passing such bills to “save lives.”

“This will give another incentive to community members to donate blood because it’s needed. It’s very much needed across the board,” Rep. West said.

The bill states that, if passed, it would create an incentive that would provide a $250 tax credit for those who donate their blood four times or more per taxable year.

To be eligible for the tax credit, donors would have to donate their blood to one of the non-profit blood donation centers in Illinois, including the Rock River Valley Blood Center, the Red Cross, Versiti, Vitalant, and Impact Life Blood Services.

HB1179 did not advance before House deadlines.

* Sen. Julie Morrison…

Today, children have internet access at every turn — from tablets to phones and other smart devices — putting them at greater risk of exploitation. To help protect children from this growing threat, State Senator Julie Morrison is working with the Illinois State Police to expand their authority to investigate and put an end to these internet crimes.

“Online predators don’t limit themselves based on county lines, so neither should our police investigations,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This legislation removes barriers to allow state police to act quickly and effectively when children are targeted online.”

House Bill 2586 would give ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation broader jurisdiction to pursue online child exploitation cases and work alongside local task forces across the state. The legislation aims to improve response times, close jurisdictional gaps and strengthen coordination between agencies working to protect children from digital threats. These changes would bring Illinois in line with Alicia’s Law, a national initiative that empowers specialized law enforcement units to track and prosecute predators who target children online.

In addition to expanding protections for children, the bill includes several technical changes to update ISP’s procedures related to task force liability coverage, the security of criminal justice systems and the handling of commercial vehicle safety checks. […]

House Bill 2586 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday.

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340B Drug Discount Savings Help Patients In Need – Vote YES On SB 2385/HB 3350

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Every day, hospitals go above and beyond for their patients. Take the case of a critically ill patient who received 47 days of care at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for a serious brain infection. The patient had no insurance, so the hospital’s care team coordinated a Medicaid application.

At discharge, the patient needed antibiotics and antiviral drugs costing $16,000 for self-pay, but which the hospital could offer for $12,000 through the federal 340B drug discount program. It was still beyond the patient’s means, so the hospital secured a donor to cover the cost.

While hospitals are working to ensure the best possible patient outcomes, pharmaceutical companies are devising ways to limit access to lifesaving medications. The 340B program was created to increase access to care and enhance services for uninsured and low-income patients.

In 2023, OSF HealthCare experienced a 31% decrease in drug discount savings because of drugmaker restrictions, such as limiting hospitals to only one contract pharmacy within a defined mileage radius. “The reduction in revenue directly impacts our ability to consistently fund programs aimed at improving access to healthcare in our rural communities or fund patient assistance programs,” the system said.

Support Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350 to support optimal health for all. Learn more.

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Harmon on transit funding: ‘Perhaps the greatest accountability is cutting off the checks’

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch spoke at the annual Illinois Manufacturers’ Association/Illinois Retail Merchants Association lobby day last week. Among other things, they were asked these questions: “How do you see the transit playing out? Is it something that gets done this spring? Is it a Fall issue? Does reform come first and maybe revenue second? How do you see the transit solution coming together?”…

Harmon: Well, I have said from the onset, the cliff can be a crisis, or it can be an opportunity. And my starting point in this has always been we need to build the transit system for 2050, not try to rebuild the one from 1975. It’s just a very different world and we need to internalize that and make sure we’re thinking about the rider. And so for those reasons, I’ve been relatively agnostic on governance. Reforms are necessary. The rider-focused reforms. Any of our constituents should be able to walk out their front door and get anywhere in the RTA service area without worrying whether they were on a CTA bus or a Pace bus, CTA, L or a Metra train. They should have one app on their phone or one card in their pocket and one schedule. All of this needs to be focused on the rider, because you all need people to get to work. You need people to shop. You need people to be able to get around. So Senator Villivalam, our Transportation chair has been leading hearings on the Senate side, and has done a very good job. He certainly makes a case timing wise, that sooner is better than later. I would say that even if we tackle the reforms, I don’t know that there’s going to be a check cut on May 31st to the transit agencies. We are going to need to hold them accountable to reinvent the system so that it serves the people that we all represent who work for you all.

Welch: Let’s also make sure folks understand that when we talk about transit, we’re not just talking about the Chicago area, the Chicago metropolitan area, we’re also talking about downstate transit. We’re talking about transit systems throughout the state. And I think transit is extremely important to the business community. It’s important to labor and the workforce. It’s important to the environment, less cars on the road, if you get get the busses and trains running right. And so this is something in the House that, you know, we put a working group together last year that’s led by Eva-Dina Delgado and Kam Buckner, two of the leaders on my team that are really passionate about the transit issue. They’ve had a number of meetings with all of the stakeholders at the table. By all reports that are coming in to me, those conversations are going well. They’ve been some real tough conversations, and they listened to the charge that the President and I gave them, and they’ve been addressing reforms and governance first. I don’t even think you can talk about money at all until they agree on what those revenue, those reforms and governance issues are going to look like. […]

I think we’re on the same page in the sense that we’re not looking to give anyone a blank check. We don’t have blank checks to give out. We have to be able to leave here and explain it, you know, to a sixth grader. You know, here are the reforms. Here’s the governance structure that is in place that now makes sense compared to what was there. And here’s what we have to do to provide reliability for riders. Here’s what we have to do to make sure riders are safe. Here are the things that you know people have demanded, and we’re giving it to you. I think if we can demonstrate that people will will understand that you have to pay for it.

Harmon: Recognizing your point that this is a statewide issue. We are focusing to some degree on the RTA region because of the peculiarities of that system. I can walk out my back door a half a block to a CTA bus stop, or a half a mile to a Pace bus stop that will take me to either a CTA L line or to a metro station. It shouldn’t be that complicated. And the accountability issue is a huge one. There’s a deep lack of trust. I think it was more than a decade ago we mandated a unified fare card so that you didn’t have to get a different ticket for each of your transfers. That still hasn’t been done. So perhaps the greatest accountability is cutting off the checks, and I think that we’re trying to build into this, the funding comes only with rider focused reform.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

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Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A last-minute provision called the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) was snuck into the budget process last May and will create chaos for small businesses and consumers across Illinois if it takes effect on July 1, 2025.

The IFPA gives corporate mega-stores like Walmart and Home Depot — who pushed for this backroom deal — millions more in profits, while small business owners get new expenses and accounting headaches. What’s more, consumers could be forced to pay for parts of their transactions in cash if this law moves forward.

A recent court ruling in the litigation challenging the law suggests IFPA is likely pre-empted by federal law for national banks and will only apply to credit unions and local Illinois banks, putting local banks at a disadvantage against their national competitors.

Illinois lawmakers should repeal the IFPA and focus on protecting small businesses and consumers across the state — not lining the pockets of corporate mega-stores.

Stop the countdown to chaos by supporting a repeal of this misguided and flawed policy. Learn more at https://guardyourcard.com/illinois/

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Open thread

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Spring is in full swing…

* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Cook County Health braces for $110M budget hit as state eyes immigrant healthcare cuts.Fox Chicago…

* Related stories…

∙ Capitiol News Illinois: State on track to end health coverage program for immigrant adults
∙ NPR: IL Lawmakers, advocates, seeking avenues to fund immigrant health care program and more
∙ WQAD: Illinois on track to end health coverage program for immigrant adults

***************** Advertisement *****************

Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance

*************************************************

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WGN | Pritzker’s 2026 budget proposal is $500 million short: “We’ve conditioned our members to understand how tight this budget year is going to be,” said Senate President Don Harmon. “That won’t eliminate spending pressures, but I think people understand this is a different year than last year or the year before.”

* Subscribers know more. Crain’s | Pritzker budget team slashes state’s revenue forecast by $536 million: Among the culprits: $351 million less in corporate income taxes because of a lower forecast for corporate profits; and $289 million less in individual income taxes because of recently reduced forecasts of employment, lower wages and salaries growth, and lower estimated stock market performance. The new budget forecast also predicts $150 million less in sales taxes and $70 million less from the federal government.

* Farm Week | IL-EATS reinstated for remainder of fiscal year: Sufficient funding to finish out the state fiscal year 2025 was determined by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Agriculture in March after USDA reversed its decision to cease reimbursements for the program, which is funded through Local Food Processing Agreement (LFPA) grants. IL-EATS producers have been paid fully for their January 2025 and February 2025 invoices. Of the three rounds of funding, the third round is being terminated and will not be available, meaning funding will continue until the end of the fiscal year, July 1.

*** Statewide ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Consumer advocates tell regulators to slash rate hike requests from Ameren, Nicor: Nicor Gas, which serves 2.3 million customers in northern and western Illinois, requested the largest gas rate plan in state history — roughly equivalent to $7.50 per month for the average residential customer. Ameren Illinois, which has about 800,000 downstate customers, requested an increase that translates to between $8 to $10 higher monthly bills for a typical residential customer. Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission are expected to announce a decision as to whether to approve or alter the hikes in November. The new rates would go into effect at the start of 2026.

* Fox Chicago | These are Illinois’ wealthiest counties, according to a new study: Lake County leads Illinois in wealth, according to a new report from SmartAsset, which analyzed income, home values, and investment income across all U.S. counties. The annual study used a combination of three financial metrics—median income, investment income, and median home value—to produce a “Wealth Index” score for each county.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Illinois education officials address audit findings: Officials from the Illinois State Board of Education testified before the Legislative Audit Commission Tuesday, after a compliance review listed 15 findings. State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said the board has taken corrective action for eight of the issues. “Specific corrective action ISBE has taken include implementing financial controls to ensure the future appropriation amounts are properly stated and reported,” Sanders said.

* Fox Chicago | Chicago state lawmaker launches bid for Congressional seat: State Sen. Robert Peters, a Democrat from Chicago, announced his campaign for a U.S. House seat representing parts of the city’s South Side and southern suburbs in the 2026 midterm election. […] Peters, a Chicago South Side native, has served in the state legislature since 2019. His district includes a large portion of the Chicago lakeshore from the city’s downtown area to the far South Side.

Adding: Sen. Peters announced an endorsement from Bernie Sanders this morning.

* Jim Nowlan | Will the Illinois GOP show up for the 2026 state elections?: We are in the important pre-primary phase of the 2026 elections in Illinois (circulation of petitions opens in September), when prospective candidates strut their endorsements — and money raised — in efforts to scare off possible opponents. In our basically one-party state, Democratic wannabes are coming off a long bench to make their cases. In contrast, Republicans have no bench of experienced, well-known prospects to speak of. Because of extreme gerrymandering, the GOP has few state legislators and no statewide officials whatsoever. Attractive but no-name candidates are being counseled by Republican insiders that this is a no-win year for the GOP and it’s better to stay out.

* WAND | Illinois Freedom Caucus suggests state should only spend $44 billion for Fiscal Year 2026: Gov. JB Pritzker presented a $55 billion budget in February, but the Freedom Caucus told reporters in Springfield Tuesday that lawmakers only need to approve $44 billion. The Eastern Illinois Republicans said the state should cut funding for free migrant healthcare, “DEI education” in K-12 schools, and social equity projects in Democratic cities.

*** Chicago ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago mayor commits $7 million to raises for early childhood education workers: Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Tuesday that Chicago will spend $7 million on increasing salaries for 3,000 early childhood workers, as part of an effort to pay them closer to what their counterparts at K-12 schools earn. The money will boost wages by 5-10% for a range of staffers whose jobs are funded by state money, including teachers and teacher assistants at dozens of community-based early childhood providers. These providers are part of the city’s early learning system overseen by the Department of Family and Support Services, or DFSS, city officials said.

* Sun-Times | City Council committee removes ‘paper ceiling’ requiring college degree for city jobs: Citing the skyrocketing cost of a college education, a City Council committee agreed Tuesday to remove that “paper ceiling” by allowing candidates for city jobs to substitute work experience for a diploma. The Committee on Workforce Development moved to abolish what many consider an irrelevant and discriminatory barrier at the behest of Ald Gilbert Villegas (36th), a retired Marine who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

* Tribune | City commission approves $67 million in TIF funds for massive Central Loop renovation: The largest project envisioned so far for the LaSalle Street Reimagined program took a step closer to reality Tuesday when the Community Development Commission recommended that City Council approve it. Council approval would unlock $67 million in tax increment financing funds for redevelopment of the historic Clark Adams Building, a 41-story tower at 105 W. Adams St. just east of LaSalle Street in the Central Loop. The funds will help its development team transform dozens of vacant floors into hundreds of new apartments, including 121 reserved as affordable.

* Sun-Times | Chicago tries again to crack down on Airbnbs, vacation rental industry: A “transparency ordinance” championed by Ald. Bennett Lawson requires Airbnb and Vrbo to share much more information with neighbors who have to live with the sometimes rowdy consequences of vacation rentals.

* WTTW | Analyzing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Midpoint: Lurching from Crisis to Crisis While Working to ‘Disrupt Status Quo’: Johnson has repeatedly said he was elected to “disrupt the status quo.” On Wednesday, he told WTTW News that he had done just that, even as federal officials during the Biden administration “left cities in peril.” “We responded to that crisis. as we have in the past, with the full force of government,” Johnson said, ticking off a list of accomplishments, including a significant drop in homicides.

* NBC Chicago | Undercover investigation reveals Chicago cab drivers overcharging riders: It’s illegal for Chicago cab drivers to demand flat rates higher than the metered rate or “refuse any person transportation,” but a NBC 5 Responds investigation revealed they do both — a lot. “[Drivers] may be potentially kind of … singling out tourists or people who may not know better, as opposed to local residents,” said Lay.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago is slowly sinking, raising risk of structural damage and flooding: The study, published in Nature Cities on May 8, examined the 28 most-populated cities in the United States and found that 25 of them are experiencing the phenomenon known as “land subsidence.” […] According to researchers, Chicago is one of nine cities where areas are sinking by more than two millimeters per year. In all, around 98% of the city is sinking to some degree.

* AP | “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, 7 other “Black Sox” reinstated by MLB; how they got banned for fixing 1919 World Series: The other seven former White Sox players who have been removed from MLB’s permanent ineligibility list include first baseman Arnold “Chick” Gandil, pitcher Eddie Cicotte, center fielder Oscar “Happy” Felsch, infielder Fred McMullin, shortstop Charles “Swede” Risberg, third baseman George “Buck” Weaver, and pitcher Claude “Lefty” Williams. They were accused of taking bribes from gambling concerns to intentionally lose the World Series that year against the Cincinnati Reds. The scandal ultimately led to the appointment of the first baseball commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who banned the implicated White Sox players despite their acquittal on criminal charges.

* WBEZ | Why is there a $1,000 fine for building a nuclear bomb in Chicago?: The ordinance was proposed during a period when Chicago’s City Council was extremely divided. The so-called “Council Wars” pitted Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor, against a mostly white majority led by Ald. Ed Vrydolak, 10th Ward. Hell-bent on blocking all the mayor’s proposals, Vrydolak made it difficult for anything to get done.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Scientists join the fight against basement flooding in Chatham: ‘The cavalry is coming’: Volunteers are measuring rainfall in their yards, a local nonprofit is rallying support, and scientists at universities including the University of Illinois, Chicago State and Northwestern are gathering data with soil moisture sensors, radar, weather balloons, and groundwater probes. The scientists are participating as part of the Department of Energy’s five-year, $25 million Community Research on Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS) project, which aims to better understand and predict urban weather challenges in Chicago, including heat waves and flooding.

* Daily Herald | Change at the top: Moran takes the reins in Barrington from Darch: Mike Moran was sworn in Monday as Barrington’s new village president, succeeding Karen Darch who stepped down after 20 years in the position. Prior to that, she spent 10 years as trustee. Incumbent trustees Jennifer Wondrasek and Todd Sholeen also began their new terms, while newly elected Trustee Lauren Klauer and Village Clerk Jim Dillon took their oaths. In his first address, Moran paid tribute to what he called Darch’s lasting legacy: “Karen has led with vision, strength, and unwavering commitment to the people of Barrington.”

* Daily Southtown | Orland Park rehires former Village Manager George Koczwara, some trustees wanted more time: Orland Park officials voted Monday to rehire former Village Manager George Koczwara, although some trustees urged the board to take more time before making a decision. Koczwara was manager for five years before leaving last June, and is being rehired, effective immediately, at a salary of $207,000. The village attorney will also draft a one-year employment agreement.

* Daily Herald | New Arlington Heights mayor taps election opponent as his second-in-command: “Tom has been a wonderful trustee for a number of years now, and with everything as it went in the election, he was a fantastic candidate, and I think the community wholeheartedly would endorse Tom helping out to the next level on this board,” Tinaglia said. The president pro tem — appointed every two years in May following municipal elections — fills in for the mayor at meetings, ribbon cuttings and community events.

* Daily Herald | ‘How do they do it?’: Endangered piping plovers return to the same spot in Waukegan for a second year: The area the Waukegan plovers occupy is under surveillance and violators who try to enter are heavily fined. Public access is not allowed and monitors are issued permits and must pass security. There currently are 30 confirmed pairs in the Great Lakes with 29 active nests, most at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan, Semel said.

*** Downstate ***

* Crain’s | After Lion collapse, Pritzker finds new electric bus partner: He says Damera, a Canadian distributor of electric mini-buses, will open an assembly line in the Peoria area that will employ 90 people. The state is offering the company unspecified incentives to launch a facility that will include assembly lines, testing zones, quality control, storage and administrative offices, along with areas for battery assembly and charging infrastructure.

* PJ Star | Not just ’scared straight’: Why a Peoria non-profit brought at-risk youth to county jail: Carl Cannon wants to make things clear up front: He is not in the business of doing scared-straight programs. “This is different,” Cannon, the founder of Elite Community Outreach, said before a Friday event with at-risk youth at the Peoria County Jail. “You pay attention. This is not a playground. What you have in front of you is somebody’s life. I will bounce you out of here quick, fast and in a hurry if I see you distracting anyone around you. These men in front of you wish they had this opportunity when they were your age. They didn’t, so don’t you play with this.”

* WPSD | Two southern Illinois towns pass bans of herbal drug kratom: The Marion and Herrin city councils each voted on Monday to ban kratom, an herbal substance, from being sold in their cities during their respective council meetings. While kratom is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any medical use, it is legal in many places in the United States, marketed as herbal supplements. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, much is still unknown about chemical compounds related to kratom, the short- and long-term health and safety impacts of kratom use and kratom’s potential therapeutic uses.

* BND | Belleville school board appoints two members, including one familiar face: After serving 10 years, Sauerwein planned to retire from the board to spend more time with his new grandchild. His term ended this spring and he did not seek re-election. But Sauerwein said he had second thoughts. The 2025-2026 school year will usher in several administration shifts — including a new superintendent, Marshaun C. Warren, and Sauerwein said he wanted to be part of the new era.

* SJ-R | Mail delivery changes coming to Springfield area in July. What you need to know: David Steiner, a FedEx board member, will replace Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General, raising concerns about privatization in Illinois. Unions, including the National Association of Letter Carriers and Illinois representatives, oppose Steiner’s appointment due to his corporate ties and anti-union history. Changes coming in July include slower mail collection in rural Sangamon County and adjustments to Springfield’s mail processing.

* WCIA | NASA provides $1M for AI-Astronomy led by U of I grad student: Under the guidance of Principal Investigator Professor Xin Liu, DeepDISC-Euclid addresses one of the most critical challenges of the European Space Agency Euclid mission: The precise detection and classification of blended astronomical objects in deep, multi-band, high-resolution imaging.

*** National ***

* AP | Biden-era ‘junk fee’ rule takes effect; Ticketmaster to display fees more clearly: Ticketmaster, long a subject of complaints about hidden fees and other issues, was among those targeted by the new rule, announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Wednesday, May 14, 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 14, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Pritzker suggests Axelrod comments may be linked to Rahm Emanuel’s ambitions

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here for some background. WBEZ yesterday…

David Axelrod, former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama in his winning 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, said if Pritzker harbors White House ambitions, he ought to think hard about leaving Springfield after two terms because of the political volatility that being governor can bring.

“Third terms are notoriously perilous, and things that can go wrong tend to go wrong in third terms,” Axelrod said. “If your attention is divided between running for president, which is a hellacious job in itself, and…dealing with crises at home, that is a very difficult balance to strike.

“I honestly think time may be better spent for him if he wants to run for president, traveling the country and interacting with people and not just speaking, but listening. It would enrich him as a candidate and give him a head start. So you have to balance the risks and rewards of each decision. And in my view, the risks of running again [for governor] are greater than the possible rewards,” said Axelrod, a CNN commentator and host of the political podcast, “The Axe Files.” […]

Democratic political strategist Pete Giangreco had roles in nine presidential campaigns dating back to 1984, including Obama’s two victories and the 1992 and 1996 wins by Democrat Bill Clinton. Like Axelrod, Giangreco sees more time in Illinois’ Executive Mansion as a move fraught with risk for Pritzker if the governor has any desire to seek the White House. […]

“Every time Gov. Pritzker goes to New Hampshire and starts swinging a bat at the president, the president’s going to retaliate,” Giangreco said. “If you have a guy at 1600 Pennsylvania who wakes up every morning trying to figure out how to screw Illinois because the governor said something, that’s like a new dynamic that no one’s ever seen before. It’s like you can do one or the other: You can govern or you can run for president.

“The stakes are too high to try to do both,” Giangreco said.

Rich suggested yesterday that Axelrod and Pete Giangreco might be saying this to boost former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for governor.

* Gov. JB Pritzker hopped on CNN yesterday and talked about Rich’s speculation…

And on @CNN just now, @JBPritzker suggests the same… mentioning @RahmEmanuel by name. https://t.co/w1lDg0Qz5O pic.twitter.com/mXgZBAVuhU

— Jordan Muck (@J_muck) May 13, 2025

* The transcript…

Reporter: Is Axelrod right?

Pritzker: David’s a friend of mine. Here’s what I can say, I think he has in mind the idea that his friend Rahm Emanuel would like to run for governor of Illinois. [He] probably wouldn’t run for governor if I were running for reelection. So that’s one thing that I think he’s considering.

The other thing I think he’s suggesting, he’s not wrong. When you talk to people who’ve considered running for a third term, they would tell you that sometimes third terms don’t work out for people. It hasn’t happened very often, but if you look at Jay Inslee in Washington State, he had a fabulous third term and really accomplished quite a lot, and was able to finish a lot of things that he started in his first two terms. So it can happen either way. Frankly, you can have a flub that occurs in your first term or in second, it could happen in your third term. Things happen.

My focus is on lifting up the people of the state of Illinois, advancing the cause of the economy for our state, and making sure that I’m bringing what I have been, I think, for the last six and a half years, which is fiscal stability to a state that really wasn’t stable for many years before

Subscribers know more.

Discuss.

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, May 14, 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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Manar: Trump, Musk are to blame for revenue dip

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

[Bumped up from last night for visibility.]

* Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy Andy Manar…

Each year, the Governor and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) team use the most up-to-date and conservative data available. The Pritzker Administration has always prioritized fiscal responsibility and taken a cautious approach to revenue forecasting, often projecting below actual revenues, throughout the budget process and will continue to do so. This year has brought unprecedented set of challenges, as Donald Trump and Elon Musk push efforts that would strip Illinois of vital tax dollars and deny residents the services and protections they depend on.

The downward revision of the state’s revenue estimate in the April report from GOMB is largely driven by the economic uncertainty and anxiety fueled by the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress. Their reckless economic policies have already triggered the first quarterly decline in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in three years and are driving up costs for working families. This growing national instability poses a serious risk to Illinois continued economic progress and outlook.

This week, the White House and Republicans are working through a federal budget that slashes funding for essential programs like education, housing, and medical research. These cuts would drive up costs and put critical services for working families at risk across Illinois. There is no state in the union, including Illinois, that can ever match the scope and scale of the federal government’s budget and their obligations to taxpayers.

Despite these federal headwinds, the Governor remains firmly committed to fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the progress Illinois has achieved. He will continue to increase the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, improve the state’s pension funded ratio, and ensure timely payment of the state’s bills. Alongside this, the administration remains committed to maintaining investments in education, healthcare, and other core services. The Governor has made it clear: he will only sign a balanced budget. At the same time, he has warned of the devastating impact on working families if Trump and Congressional Republicans succeed in their cruel cuts Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical safety net programs.

Governor Pritzker and the GOMB team will continue working closely with legislators to deliver a balanced budget that keeps Illinois on a stable fiscal path while safeguarding the services families depend on.

Thoughts?

…Adding… From the GOMB report…

The revised forecast total, assuming the General Assembly enacting the FY26 adjustments included in the FY26 introduced budget, totals $54,917 million, or $536 million (or 1%) below the General Funds revenue forecast submitted with the FY26 introduced budget.

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