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Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chill out with some Hot Tuna…

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Many Illinois colleges and schools are scrambling after the online learning platform Canvas went offline Thursday following a cyberattack on its parent company.

The shutdown forced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to postpone all final exams and assignments scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, leaders told students in a message sent Thursday night.

Thousands of K-12 school districts and colleges use Canvas nationwide, including U. of I. and Northwestern University, to manage classes, post assignments and communicate with students. Chicago Public Schools said Friday that it does not use Canvas and the district was not affected. City Colleges of Chicago does not use the learning platform, either. […]

It is unclear exactly what information hackers were able to access from local schools. Illinois State University officials said on Friday that they were still “working to determine if data such as enrollment or activity contained in our Canvas courses were compromised.”

The University of Chicago’s student newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, reported that Canvas users at the university briefly saw a message from the hacking group on Thursday that said affected schools could reach out and negotiate a settlement before May 12, when they threatened to release private data.

NPR has reported that Canvas is back online. What a mess.

* Crain’s…

A federal appeals court sent the banking industry’s lawsuit over Illinois’ credit card swipe fee law back to a lower court today, saying a new rule from federal banking regulators preempting the law needs further adjudication.

“The district court should address these matters, and any related issues, before this court attempts to do so,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit said in a ruling. “We therefore vacate the judgment of the district court and remand for appropriate further proceedings.” […]

“The court sent a clear message that states cannot impose conflicting requirements on the national payments system,” said Richard Hunt, executive chairman of the Electronic Payments Coalition, one of the co-plaintiffs in the case. “IFPA remains unworkable, disruptive, and a recipe for confusion for consumers, small businesses, community banks, and credit unions.”

But retailers said the district court had already taken into account the OCC’s opinion, which it had filed in a friend of the court briefing to the original case.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | One year after making cuts, NWS looking to bring employees back; including in Illinois: Employees, like first year electricians, IT Staff, and scientists were just fired. In the fall, the National Weather Service got a public safety exemption, that provided funding allowing them to rehire more than one hundred people.

* Tribune | Prime Healthcare hospitals will stay in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, after months of uncertainty: Prime Healthcare, which owns nine Illinois hospitals, will remain in-network with the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for now, following months of uncertainty over whether the two companies would reach a contract agreement, the health system announced Thursday evening. Had they been unable to reach an agreement, Prime would have been out-of-network for people with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois health insurance, which would have meant those patients would have had to find new doctors who took their insurance or, in some cases, pay more for care. The current agreement will now continue into next year.

*** Statehouse News ***

* North Dakota Monitor | North Dakota medication access law unconstitutional, judge says: A federal judge in North Dakota ruled against a state law intended to protect healthcare access for low-income patients, finding it unconstitutional. North Dakota U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor in a Monday order criticized the 2025 law as “an infringement on federal programs masquerading as state governance.” He said it enriches hospitals and pharmacies at patients’ expense. House Bill 1473 is intended to make sure North Dakota has unhindered access to medication subsidies under a federal program called 340B.

* Center Square | Illinois weighing a ban on sale of some smoke detectors over safety concerns: Legislators and Public Safety Officials called Thursday for the state Senate to make progress on House Bill 4328, which would ban the sale of some smoke detectors in Illinois. A previous law, passed in 2017, changed the requirements for what smoke detectors could be installed in homes and buildings. A smoke detector must be hard-wired to a home and have a tamper-proof battery with a 10-year lifespan.

* The Nation | Illinois Is Helping People Awaiting Trial Get Back to Court and Stay Out of Jail: Radical Hospitality Ministries, which runs the pilot site in DuPage County, in the northeast of the state, served its first client the first week of August last year. He was a man in his late 70s who uses a walker to get around and had been arrested for failing to appear in court. The man suffered from memory loss caused by a fall years earlier; he forgot about his case. He lived more than an hour away from the courthouse, but when he was released after his arrest, he wasn’t given a walker, didn’t have a phone, and had no way to get home. The organization offered him free transportation back to where he lives. “What would have happened to that person without a program like ours?” asked James Baugh, cofounder of Radical Hospitality Ministries. “Would he have died on the streets? Would he have been reincarcerated because he did something out of desperation?”

*** Chicago ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | A Chicago school board investigation failed to uncover source of media leaks: Released by the board office Thursday evening, the law firm’s report says there was insufficient evidence to find the source of the leaks, noting the refusal by multiple board members to turn over their personal cell phones for examination. Two of the 21 board members, Che “Rhymefest” Smith and Ellen Rosenfeld, declined to cooperate with the investigation entirely and did not speak with the attorneys. Two reporters the firm asked to interview — WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and Paris Schutz, at FOX at the time — also refused.

* NBC Chicago’s Paris Schutz…

* Sun-Times | 2nd man charged with hate crime in 2024 attack of Jewish DePaul students: At the hearing, prosecutors laid out their version of events. Noubani and Erkan met up before the attack in face masks. Erkan talked with Long and Kaminsky while Noubani attacked them from behind, DePaul surveillance video showed, according to prosecutors. Erkan fled in a silver SUV and Noubani ran away and threw his sweatshirt and face mask in the trash. DNA taken from the sweatshirt and mask during the investigation matched Noubani, prosecutors said. […] Months before the attack, Noubani had pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge during the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He was part of a group that breached a fence that was part of the security perimeter during the convention, held during pro-Palestinian protests that summer.

* Block Club | Chicago’s Efforts To Keep Housing Affordable in Woodlawn Fall Short As Obama Center Nears Opening: The city of Chicago was supposed to have created a safety net for residents like Bolden and Butler, as they faced the threat of being priced out of their neighborhood with the opening of the nearby Obama Presidential Center in June, and all the real estate speculation that followed it. Adopted in 2020, the city’s anti-displacement ordinance for Woodlawn was designed to protect long-term tenants from surprise sales and increased affordable housing options in the neighborhood. But a review of hundreds of pages of city records and dozens of interviews with residents, organizers and experts by the Illinois Answer Project shows that the city’s promises often fell short of reality as it failed to spend enough money to run some programs, provided little supervision and abandoned others.

* WTTW | ‘It Was His Calling’: Mourners Gather to Say Goodbye at Funeral for Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew: Chicago police Commander Alison Christian, who spent years working with Officer John Bartholomew in the city’s 24th District, reflected Friday on the “passion he felt for life” and the way he was able to make people feel appreciated on the job. “He would go into jobs and he would worry about everybody’s feelings,” she said. “He would worry about the victim, the offender, the police officer. At the end of a job that he was on, he made sure that everybody felt good. He just had this overwhelming ability and it was his calling.”

* ESPN | How White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami became an instant sensation: “All we know is the way he’s hitting here is different from the way he was hitting in Japan,” Thompson told ESPN not long after giving up that 451-foot blast to Murakami. “His holes are not his holes anymore. Maybe why other teams weren’t pursuing him is because he had different holes when he was with Japan. He’s changed his approach.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Chicago Reader | Cook County state’s attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act: “We seek pretrial detention in the most serious violent offenses where the offender poses a clear and present danger to the community,” Burke’s office told the Reader in a statement. “When defendants who exhibit dangerous and reckless behavior are held in pretrial custody, they are not released into the community where they pose the risk of committing additional crimes and threatening others.” Her critics say Burke’s heightened pursuit of pretrial detention violates the spirit of the landmark Pretrial Fairness Act, which abolished cash bail in Illinois in September 2023 and sought to reduce the number of people incarcerated before trial.

* WGN | ‘They’re like bugs’: Trucker charged $46K for tow, until WGN got involved: Tim Smith said the towing firm quoted his company, DPW Trucking, a few thousand dollars over the phone and he agreed. But when he went to pick up the trailer, the price had surged to $46,000. “It was like: ‘You have to be kidding me! How do you come up with $46,000!” Smith recalled thinking.

* Daily Herald | Judge denies release for teen charged with taking police officer’s gun from school: The firearm was loaded with live rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney John Scanlon. After receiving an urgent phone call, the officer exited the stall, leaving the firearm behind, he said. About 25 minutes later, the juvenile entered the restroom, saw the gun and told the defendant about it, Scanlon said. Sanchez Jaramillo then got the weapon, placed it in his backpack and left campus, he said.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Rep. Sorensen says DOJ investigation against D87, Ridgeview is a distraction from gas prices, community schools cuts: The Department of Justice [DOJ] named District 87 and Ridgeview schools along with 34 others in an investigation accusing them of teaching content about sexual orientation and gender ideology. “They’re going to try to give us anything to look at other than the gas approaching $5 a gallon,” Eric Sorensen said during a visit to Normal this week announcing plans to pursue funding for flood mitigation in Uptown.

* Capitol News Illinois | Carterville assistant football coach arrested on criminal sexual abuse charges: The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is holding a press conference later today, Friday, May 9, to provide more details on the arrest. The Carterville Board of Education is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, May 12 at 5 p.m. to take action on the “discipline and/or dismissal of a licensed employee of the District,” according to the meeting agenda. The arrest comes less than three months after the Willamson County Sheriff’s Office announced it had opened a criminal sexual abuse investigation into an unnamed Carterville school district employee, and nearly 18 months since the FBI first received the original tip.

* WGLT | ISU trustees approve $84 million for new science complex facilities: The project will include a five-story STEM building, a new research and teaching greenhouse, and a three-story Science Laboratory Building addition with teaching and research labs and faculty offices. These will all happen around the current Science Laboratory Building. Project funding comes from a combination of academic enhancement fees [AEF], fees all students pay which are dedicated to infrastructure projects, and state funding. ISU will issue debt for the projects and repay it with the AEF revenue.

* WCIA | City of Marshall institutes a ban on the sale of Kratom: “We felt at the time Marshall needed to lead rather than follow and do the best we can to make things better for our people here,” Hasten said. Marshall Police Chief Brian Jaeger has seen his department deal with a couple of issues that were the result of someone taking Kratom. “We’d never seen it up until about the last year or two,” Jeager said. We’ve actually noticed a couple incidents in town. One of those was an employee that was on break had a medical episode in the business and we had to call an ambulance, but was showing some high impairment signs while in the business. Then, we later on, had a person that was driving a vehicle and became unresponsive during the operation of the vehicle and required medical assistance. They were found to be under the influence of Kratom.”

*** National ***

* NYT | ABC Accuses Government of Violating First Amendment: The company said in a filing with the agency that regulators had a “chilling effect” on free speech by trying to punish political content they disagreed with. The filing, made public on Friday, is the most aggressive defense from any television network since President Trump kicked off an extended campaign last year to bring media organizations to heel. It represented a striking departure for ABC. The network, under the corporate stewardship of the Walt Disney Company, set an early tone of compliance toward Mr. Trump when it settled a defamation lawsuit with him for $15 million in December 2024. Many legal experts considered Mr. Trump’s case unlikely to succeed in court.

* AP | Canvas system is online after a cyberattack disrupted thousands of schools: A hacking group called ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Canvas, said Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, said in an update late Thursday that the system was available for most users. Canvas is used to manage grades, course notes, assignments, lecture videos and more. The hacking group posted online that nearly 9,000 schools worldwide were affected, with billions of private messages and other records accessed, Connolly said.

* WJS | Trump Is Planning to Fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary: Makary, a former Johns Hopkins surgeon who became a frequent Make America Healthy Again surrogate on television news programs, is seen by other top administration leaders as struggling to manage his agency, sparring frequently with health department officials and at times the White House. His tenure has also been dogged by the aftereffects of layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency and rapid turnover in the FDA’s leadership ranks.

  3 Comments      


Your moment of zen

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Oscar smelling flowers during a walk this week…

* His new haircut made him a bit chilly, so Isabel gave him a blanket…

  7 Comments      


Republican DuPage County board president candidate ‘goes to bat for accused Outfit operative’

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* NBC 5…

The current Republican candidate for DuPage County board president Gary Grasso and long-time mayor of west suburban Burr Ridge is standing up for his town’s quasi-celebrity chef Gigi Rovito.

Grasso is describing Rovito as a stand-up guy; a solid community leader and prominent businessman. His praise comes even though federal law enforcement describes Rovito as an enforcer for an illegal gambling/extortion ring, and an Outfit operative currently free on $1 million bond.

Rovito is on home confinement in Burr Ridge and on Thursday returned to social media. On his video you can’t see the electronic bracelet adorning his ankle, but the feds are monitoring it to make sure Rovito doesn’t vamoose.

“Everybody knows him. I think he’s got a YouTube following of a quarter of a million people or something like that,” said Burr Ridge mayor Gary Grasso. “He’s been a stellar corporate and residential citizen. He also lives in Burr Ridge. So, we’re standing with Capri and Gigi now.”

* The SAFE-T Act strikes again! Um, no, wait. This is federal, not state. And it’s in Indiana, not Illinois…

Federal prosecutors had previously argued that Rovito should remain detained, citing allegations that the criminal enterprise used threats and intimidation to collect debts. A judge initially agreed, ordering him held without bond.

That decision was reversed after defense attorneys emphasized his community ties and business obligations. Prosecutors ultimately agreed to the negotiated release terms.

* More…

[Rovito’s attorney Thomas Breen] also said Rovito has personally delivered checks to the families of officers shot in the line of duty. And Rovito caters the Chicago Police Department’s Christmas party every year and donates Thanksgiving turkeys to the Burr Ridge Police Department, the lawyer said. […]

Rovito was charged with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiring to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means.

At a Florida casino in 2024, Rovito looked for a man who owed a $30,000 gambling debt on behalf of the ring’s alleged leader, James “Jimmy the Greek” Gerodemos, prosecutors said.

During a simultaneous meeting at Capri Ristorante, Gerodemos told the others that Rovito stated he would “knock” the victim’s “lights out and shove his head into a machine,” prosecutors said.

* NBC 5…

Text messages between Rovito and the bosses supplied in court documents allege that Rovito was searching for a wayward gambler in a Florida casino and willing to knock the debtor’s “lights out” and then “shove his head into a machine.”

The full indictment is here. And click here for the defense’s response.

That mail is gonna write itself.

  18 Comments      


Pending final verification, Illinois leads country in tornadoes this year

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Newsweek…

Illinois leads the United States in preliminary tornado reports so far this year, outpacing states that typically dominate tornado statistics such as Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, according to AccuWeather and data from the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Storm Prediction Center.

Through the end of April, Illinois recorded 119 tornado reports—more than double the totals reported in Mississippi and Oklahoma during the same period. That figure also puts Illinois far above its own long-term average for the first four months of the year, marking an unusually active start to the 2026 severe weather season.

Meteorologists say the surge is not the result of a single outbreak, but rather a persistent pattern of storm systems that repeatedly tracked across the Midwest this spring. Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms produced repeated tornado touchdowns across central and northern Illinois, including a multiday outbreak in early April that spawned numerous confirmed twisters. […]

For decades, “Tornado Alley” referred to a relatively well-defined stretch of the central Plains, including much of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. But a growing body of research suggests that picture is changing. Studies analyzing stronger tornadoes over multiple decades have found a geographic shift in where tornadoes most frequently form, with activity declining in parts of the traditional Plains corridor and increasing farther east, particularly across the Midwest and Southeast.

Scientists say the change has been unfolding since at least the mid-20th century, challenging the long-standing idea that tornado risk is concentrated mainly in the Great Plains. […]

Meteorologists caution that tornado counts early in the season remain preliminary and subject to verification as NWS survey teams continue to assess storm damage across the region.

* AccuWeather…

For hail reports, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa lead the top 5 so far this year. When switching to wind reports, Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi and Indiana are the top states.

“The jet stream plays a large role in organizing severe weather in the spring,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alexander Duffus explains. “This year, its average position through March and April has been centered more over the Midwest, bringing more tornadoes, instead of being positioned over the southern Plains.”

In 2025, the situation was different by the end of April, with Missouri in the number one position, with 91 tornado reports. Alabama had 85, with Illinois coming in third with 82 reports.

  8 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Senate Progressive Caucus…

Following a subject matter hearing on progressive revenue initiatives in the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday, members of the Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus called for continued action to modernize Illinois’ tax code.

“While wages remain stagnant and federal funding cuts threaten essential services, we cannot continue to uphold a system where working families carry the weight of generating revenue,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “As life gets more expensive for everyday people, corporations and the ultra-wealthy are reaping the benefits of a system that asks too little of them. Working and middle-class Illinoisans are tired of footing the bill. It is time for the rich to pay their fair share.”

During the hearing, caucus members highlighted a series of proposals aimed at creating a more equitable tax structure, including measures to ensure the ultra-wealthy contribute more fairly, close corporate tax loopholes, modernize taxation of digital advertising and strengthen oversight of tax credits and deductions.

The hearing focused on four bills currently before the Senate:

    · Senate Bill 3376 would apply Illinois’ personal income tax rate to the appreciation of assets for residents with a net worth of $1 billion or more.
    · Senate Bill 3486 would strengthen corporate tax accountability by addressing how large, multinational corporations report income.
    · Senate Bill 3353 would apply a 10% tax on a digital advertisers’ annual revenue if the revenue earned exceeds $150 million.
    · Senate Bill 3796 would decouple Illinois from federal tax changes, end high-impact business credits and require a cost-benefit analysis of corporate tax incentives.

Caucus members emphasized that Illinois’ long-term economy stability depends on investing in working and middle-class families, maintaining access to essential public services and improving the overall quality of life. They argued that Illinois can no longer rely on tax loopholes and corporate carve-outs that have failed to deliver meaningful, long-term economic benefits for Illinois residents. […]

Members of Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus stressed the urgency of reforming Illinois’ regressive tax system, especially as families navigate a broader national affordability crisis. Through the remainder of the budget process, caucus members will continue advancing equitable revenue solutions aimed at delivering meaningful economic relief for Illinois families.

* WAND…

The Illinois Senate passed a bill Thursday to create new protections for students sexually assaulted by their peers.

The plan would require any student who commits sexual assault or attempted sexual assault at school, a school-sponsored event, or related activities to be expelled for at least one year.

Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) filed the bill last year after a 10-year-old Taylorville Jr. High student was sexually assaulted multiple times by a 14-year-old boy and had to see him return to school after the incident. […]

McClure gained strong bipartisan support for the plan over the past year, but some progressive Democrats opposed the idea. Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) argued current law protects students and provides due process for students accused of assaulting others.

“What we know about people who abuse is that they have been abused,” Villa said. “What happens to that child we’re sending home? We may send them to an alternative placement, but it’s not a requirement.”

* Sen. Rachel Ventura…

A new measure introduced by State Senator Rachel Ventura to establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board to investigate and advise on best practices for psilocybin treatments to help tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as PTSD passed the Senate Thursday.

“I remain committed to passing the CURE Act in its entirety and providing real change for individuals who have exhausted other treatment methods,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This bill is an important first step in that effort and will provide legislators with essential research on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic use in therapeutic treatments.”

For the past several years, Ventura has championed Senate Bill 2184, also known as the CURE Act, which would establish a framework for the legal manufacture, delivery, use and possession of psilocybin, and make conforming changes to the state’s criminal laws. The measure would require a referral from a health care professional in order to begin the therapy. Prior to first exposure of psilocybin, an individual would undergo a prep session to gauge their conditions and previous treatments and methods they have tried. Post session integration meeting would ensure the individual has the resources and tools they need to work through the psilocybin experience.

The measure led by Ventura this year – Senate Bill 2772 – would implement a part of the CURE Act, establishing the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The board would advise on a training program, ethical standards and licensing requirements as it related to psilocybin. During a two-year program development period, the board would issue recommendations for health and safety regulations to agencies tasked with regulating psilocybin production and use. Ventura remains committed to passing the CURE Act in its entirety at a later date. […]

Senate Bill 2772 passed the Senate Thursday and now heads to the House for further consideration.

* Rep. La Shawn Ford…

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, is partnering with local public health organizations, elected officials, and researchers from Brown University to highlight new research on the efficacy of overdose prevention sites (centers) in reducing preventable overdose deaths and improving public health outcomes.

“Although some of the most notorious open-air drug markets are on the West Side of Chicago, the problem does not stay local. That’s why a majority of West Side residents support overdose prevention sites, which are grounded in scientific evidence and help reduce harm,” said Ford. “Opioid abuse has devastated families in every region, and it’s up to us to take a smart, public-health-driven, and compassionate approach to tackling this issue.”

Ford, who is sponsoring House Bill 2929—legislation to authorize a state-sanctioned overdose prevention site pilot program in Illinois—is partnering with researchers from Brown University, a public health expert from Rush University, community leaders from the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, and other local elected officials to highlight the need for overdose prevention sites at a press conference on May 11 at Rush University Medical Center.

The pilot program will be kick-started with an $18 million allocation from the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board, which manages a portion of the state’s opioid settlement funds from litigation against opioid manufacturers, with additional support and oversight provided by relevant state agencies.

“Simply put: these centers save lives—whether it’s through on-site medical staff reversing overdoses before they become fatal or a social worker connecting an individual to a service provider,” said Ford. “While they alone cannot cure someone of addiction, they save lives by meeting people where they are and treating them like patients instead of criminals.”

Rep. Ford’s press conference will be on Monday, from 2-3 pm at the Rush University Medical Center.

* Brownfield Ag…

Several Illinois ag groups are relieved that legislation calling for more than 24 hours notification before applying some agricultural chemicals has stalled in the General Assembly.

Corey Lacey, environmental policy manager with the Illinois Soybean Association, tells Brownfield, “It said that any time a pesticide application happened within 1,500 feet of a school, or park or trail, a notice would basically have to go out.”

Sarah Hastings, Champaign County farmer and board member with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says applications are extremely weather dependent. […]

“We asked the Illinois Department of Agriculture, how many complaints have we had for somebody spraying? And there have been two inquiries or complaints filed in the last eight years.” She says, “They’re trying to invent a problem that doesn’t exist.”

* Sen. Mattie Hunter…

Disability insurance helps protect people from financial losses if an accident or illness renders them incapable of working and receiving regular income. However, disability insurance plans do not always treat mental health conditions the same as physical health conditions. To help those struggling with mental health conditions, State Senator Mattie Hunter passed a bill in the Senate that would ensure insurance providers properly disclose mental illness limitations for disability insurance purposes.

“Mental illness limitations for disability insurance purposes is discriminatory and unfairly limits the economic protection that disability insurance is intended to promise,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Insurance providers need to be upfront with their customers about how their policy treats mental health disorders.”

Hunter’s bill would require private health insurers to disclose to consumers seeking a policy that includes whether the policy limits the duration of coverage for mental health or substance use disorders. The bill would also give consumers the right to request more information about the limitation and other coverage options that include unlimited duration, if available.

The Department of Insurance found that 68% of disability insurance plans offered in Illinois limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

Senate Bill 1327 passed the full Senate Thursday.

* More…

    * WAND | IL Senate passes proposal banning loud ads on streaming apps: Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said her plan could ban commercial volumes from being louder than the program you’re watching. This comes as the FCC preempts most state and local regulation of cable or broadcast TV, but streaming apps operate over the internet and fall outside that scope. “The problem is all too familiar and frustrating, especially for parents with young kids who need to nap during the day and individuals with hearing sensitivity,” Turner said.

    * WAND | IL House committee passes bill requiring 988 info in public buildings, suicide prevention curriculum in health courses: The Illinois House Mental Health & Addiction Committee unanimously passed a bill Thursday to improve access to suicide prevention services. Sponsors said 988 information should be visible in county shelter care homes, daycares, public libraries, colleges, hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

    * Journal Courier | Illinois lawmakers debate fixes to rising eviction rates, housing turmoil: By some accounts, more than 50,000 eviction filings are made each year in Illinois. Nearly half result in renters being forced out. Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, said tenants are often unfamiliar with what defenses and resources are available to them and those in rural and suburban areas face unique challenges. […] Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed Building Up Illinois Developments plan would increase the amount of multiunit housing by easing zoning laws and legalizing “granny flats” to address the crisis.

    * WHBF | Illinois jurors could get a pay increase: House Bill 4844 [which is stuck in the House] would require employers to pay workers regular wages while they serve on jury duty. Currently, jurors get $50 dollars a day for federal court, and it varies widely according to the county. Business groups argue this would be unfair to small business and the government should pay for workers’ public service.

  27 Comments      


Johnson and the far right have something in common: Blaming wealthy Jews for their own failures

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mariah Woelfel at WBEZ has a very well-written story about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s trip to Springfield. The whole thing is worth a read, but let’s zoom in on this bit…

[Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s] push for a head tax last fall is what ignited Council opposition led by a group of business-backed, mostly conservative and moderate Council members who united to oppose Johnson’s budget. That coalition tweaked the mayor’s spending plan to exclude the head tax.

Johnson said he still sees the payroll tax as a viable option.

“There’s no secret that Michael Sacks has actively worked against challenging the ultra rich,” Johnson said, referring to the CEO of a private equity firm and Democratic billionaire who helped fund commercials criticizing tenets of Johnson’s spending plan. “Our effort to make sure that we’re working to protect working people, that will be the effort, regardless of those interests that try to stand in the way of it.”

In response, Sacks teed off on Johnson, accusing the mayor in a written statement of making false claims about him and saying he “never opposed the mayor’s head tax” and supports “smart progressive revenue.”

“He needs to look at himself and his senior staff to explain why 57% of Chicagoans say they are definitely voting to replace him. Lying about me isn’t going to help him,” said Sacks, who declined to say through a spokesperson whether he supports a payroll tax.

Way too many Chicago progressives are blaming Sacks for their own failures, much like the far-right has pinned blame on George Soros for their numerous national and international grievances. Anyone see anything in common between those two besides their money? I do. And all of this needs to stop.

  44 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Conspiracy charge dismissed for ‘Broadview 6’ as other ICE protesters sue over post-arrest DNA collection. Capitol News Illinois…

    - A federal judge on Thursday officially dismissed the main conspiracy charge against the remaining “Broadview Six” immigration protesters indicted last fall.
    - “Congratulations, you all are no longer charged with felonies,” U.S. District Judge April Perry told the four remaining defendants.
    - Meanwhile, other protesters arrested outside the same ICE facility last year in the Chicago suburb of Broadview filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging the DNA sample cheek swabs they submitted to while in custody violate their Fourth Amendment rights.

* Related stories…

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* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois cities unveil rival housing plan to Gov. JB Pritzker’s sweeping zoning plan: But housing advocates were unimpressed with the IML proposal. The housing groups say towns are too restrictive about building housing and need a push to allow more density, which they think Pritzker’s BUILD program provides. The bills making up Pritzker’s plan have yet to clear either the state House or Senate. “A big part of the IML counterproposal to BUILD is to basically say that municipalities continue to have the right to allow two-flats if they so choose,” Steven Vance, a co-lead at Abundant Housing Illinois, said last week. “That’s not good enough.”

* CBS Chicago | Canvas outage hits Northwestern, University of Chicago, University of Illinois and more: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials announced Thursday night that they were postponing all final exams and assignments scheduled for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, including those for classes that don’t use Canvas. The university will provide more details regarding Canvas, assignments, and final exams scheduled for next week before noon on Sunday.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | Unemployment rises; job totals fall in Illinois over last year: New data released on Thursday found both rising unemployment and job contraction in Illinois over the last year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES) released data concerning year-over-year unemployment rates and nonfarm jobs. Examining both the state as a whole and 13 metropolitan areas, the data shows the state unemployment rose by half a percentage point between March 2025 and March 2026, and the state lost 8,400 jobs during that time.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WBEZ | Johnson leaves Springfield ‘determined’ after pushing for new city revenue and against Bears suburban move: Johnson’s main priority this trip was to block a proposed cut to the amount of state income tax revenue that flows to local governments — from 6.47% to 6.28%, according to Pritzker’s office. That would mean a $12.7 million loss for Chicago, Johnson’s team said. After meeting with Johnson Tuesday, Democratic state Sen. Lakesia Collins, of Chicago, said she’s sympathetic to funding needs for local governments. But “it’s just all about like, can we get it done right now? We’re reeling in toward the end of session,” she said.

* Capitol News Illinois | Family, friends, supporters honor fallen Illinois police officers: The ceremony honored Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, the event is a tradition to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous calendar year. “Today, as we remember your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, coworkers and friends who lost their lives in the line of duty, let us not remember them as indestructible superheroes that we may envision as children,” state Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Let’s remember them as human beings, in all their vulnerabilities and susceptibilities, who chose to take on the risk of the ultimate sacrifice to make others’ lives safer.”

* Patch | Rep. Keicher Legislation Honoring Memory of DeKalb Co. Deputy Christina Musil Advances: “The death of DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputy Christina ‘Beana’ Musil was a profound tragedy that devastated our community,” said Keicher. “I remember attending the memorial service that was held after her passing and being awestruck by the outpouring of love and respect for the dedication this incredible person brought to serving others. Her life was a true embodiment of what it means to serve.” Musil was 35 at the time of her death, having served with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for five years. A U.S. Army National Guard veteran, she also served in Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009.

*** Chicago ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools campus budget could bring cuts amid massive deficit: The school, which has largely bucked the enrollment declines plaguing the district, serves about 920 mostly low-income Latino students in the Little Village neighborhood. After years of relative budget and staffing stability, Ramirez, the head of Saucedo’s Local School Council, worries the campus could take a painful hit. He dwells on what the school might lose: One of the two bilingual coordinators who have guided his English learner children? Or one of the two counselors who helped his older daughter earn a seat at the competitive Jones College Prep High School?

* Crain’s | South Side Walgreens closures fuel fears of more drugstore deserts: The company said the stores slated to be shut down, along with others in Milwaukee, Seattle and New York, are racked with issues of theft and violence. […] Among the most vocal critics was Ald. William Hall, 6th, who has called for a lawsuit against Walgreens. While not calling for litigation, Ald. Desmon Yancy, 5th, is dealing with a May 19 closure of the Walgreens store at 2351 E. 71st St. Yancy said the company has “essentially decimated its locations on the east side of the city. There is just a lack of corporate responsibility.”

* Sun-Times | A $10 million investment to reduce chronic absenteeism in schools: That is why A Better Chicago recently launched Every Day Counts, an initiative committing at least $10 million over the next five years to help strengthen student attendance. This effort will focus on communities where absenteeism remains highest — including Austin, Englewood, Garfield Park, South Lawndale, South Shore and Woodlawn.

* Sun-Times | Edgewater’s historic Bryn Mawr Avenue heads toward possible landmark status: While Bryn Mawr Avenue has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995, a city designation would help protect the corridor’s buildings from demolition and unsympathetic alterations. Well, except for 5614 N. Winthrop Ave. and 1106 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. More on that later.

* Sun-Times | Obama Presidential Center sells out first month hours after tickets become available: The museum debuts June 18 with an invitation-only grand opening ceremony, then opens to the public the next day — Juneteenth. Donors were offered early access to tickets last month, however, so those looking to get in on opening day faced an uphill battle from the start. Chamorro had intended to get opening weekend tickets for him and his boyfriend, but it had sold out by the time he got through the queue.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Block Club | Immigration Agents Return To Courthouses, Make Arrest, Local Officials Say: Federal immigration agents were spotted at four Cook County courthouses Thursday, where they arrested at least one person, an act that violates state law and undermines due process rights, the public defender’s office and watchdog groups said. Federal agents on Thursday were seen at the following courthouses: Cook County Domestic Violence Court, 555 W. Harrison St.; Branch 35 & 38 courthouses, 727 E. 111th St.; Branch 23 & 29, 5555 W. Grand Ave.; and the Maywood Courthouse, 1500 Maybrook Drive, said Katie Pelech, supervisor for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender.

* Daily Herald | Naperville mayor highlights ‘record year’ for new downtown businesses, looks to future of I-88 corridor: “It’s no secret that I believe that the future of the I-88 corridor is the future of our city. Our transition from a quiet farm town to where the best and the brightest minds are figuring out solutions to today’s problems started in that very place,” Wehrli said in his State of the City address Thursday. It’s a timely topic: The city has budgeted $150,000 to conduct a special study on either the I-88 corridor or the properties around Naperville’s 5th Avenue Metra station. Other potential initiatives have also been floated in recent months. City council members are expected to discuss at their next meeting which one to pursue.

* Aurora Beacon-News | More than $1 million secured from federal government to help replace lead pipes in Aurora: Aurora has been working to replace these lead “service lines” for years. Since 2018, the city has replaced 3,290 of them throughout the community, according to a recent city news release. The recent federal funding secured by Underwood and Foster, which totals nearly $1.1 million, will be used to replace around 120 lead service lines, the news release said. Officials estimated that around 400 residents will be impacted through the replacements.

* Daily Herald | Homeowners association wants Arlington Heights to end pool attendant requirement: “We would like to be able to go to ‘swim at your own risk,’” said Jim Regan, vice president of the Regent Park Property Owners Association, citing cost concerns and the difficulty of finding lifeguards. “You see the city of Chicago can hardly get lifeguards, and that’s going to happen more and more.” The local ordinance — which regulates so-called semipublic outdoor pools, not private ones in residential backyards or indoor pools — dates to Sept. 8, 1986. As far as village officials can surmise, the rule may have had something to do with the lack of easy access to telephones outside.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton shows off changes inside Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home 1 year after his election: While the home remains closed to the public, the village recently began offering private tours of the humble two-story building for some reporters and religious groups, along with Prevost’s brother, John, last month. Dolton Village Clerk Alison Key, who leads the Historic Preservation Commission working on a plan for the village to benefit from pope-related tourism, has begun adding elements to the East 141st Place house that celebrate Pope Leo XIV as well as the community he’s from.

* Daily Herald | ‘It always led here’: She started teaching at 47 and is now a Golden Apple Award winner: The fourth grade teacher at Big Hollow Elementary School was honored with a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Ingleside school on Thursday. “It took me until I was 47 to start teaching,” she said. “I went a circuitous route, but this is where I’m supposed to be. I love it. I love coming to work every single day, and this just tells me I made a good decision.”

*** Downstate ***

* WIFR | Hard Rock Casino announces hotel expansion in Rockford: During a news conference Thursday, leaders shared the Hard Rock Hotel and Convention Center will have 200 to 225 total rooms, including luxury VIP suites, 15,000 square feet of conference space, a spa and a fitness center. […] When built, the hotel and convention center will be Illinois’ only Hard Rock Hotel. Leaders said that, like the casino, the hotel will display items from local and global musical talents, including guitars from the collection of Rockford native and Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen.

* WCIA | City of Danville unveils draft of 2050 Comprehensive Plan: In a Facebook post, the city said that the draft of this plan is now able to be viewed here. Residents are able to look at the plan and share their thoughts by commenting on the Facebook post. The city said every comment will be collected and shared directly with the Comprehensive Plan team.

*** National ***

* Crain’s | Consumers are ‘running out of money’ and cutting back, CEOs warn: “They’re literally running out of money at the end of the month,” Kraft Heinz Co. Chief Executive Officer Steve Cahillane said in an interview this week. “We’re seeing negative cash flows in the lower-income brackets where they’re dipping into savings.” […] The maker of washers and dryers said it’s counting on purchases picking up after a harsh US winter slowed shopping, but the war caused a collapse in consumer sentiment. The company described the resulting 15% hit to industry demand as similar to the global financial crisis in the aughts.

* USA Today | Lord of the Rinks. Meet the hockey CEO cashing in on your kid’s team: A nine-month USA TODAY investigation found that Gunty, founder of Blackstreet Capital Holdings, used his private investment firm’s youth sports arm, Black Bear Sports Group, to rapidly buy up ice rinks and teams across the Northeast and Midwest and then leveraged that control to steer families into its own costly ecosystem of leagues, tournaments and fees.

* Kelly Blue Book | Tesla Recalls Cybertruck Because Wheels May Fall Off: Cracks in the brake rotor stud holes could cause the wheel studs to separate from the hub, making it harder to control the vehicle and potentially causing the wheel to fall off, increasing the likelihood of a crash. Affected vehicles may exhibit vibration or noise prior to wheel stud separation. Tesla says it will completely replace the affected wheel hubs and rotors. The repairs will be conducted at no cost to owners, as mandated by law.

  4 Comments      


Good morning!

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Marc Bolan and T. Rex…

The way you flip your hip it always makes me weak
Because you’re my baby
Yes, you’re my love

* TGIF check-in! How are you?

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…

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Protect 340B: A Vital Lifeline For Patients And Healthcare Providers – Pass HB 2371 SA 2

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Nearly half of U.S. states—both red and blue—have passed laws protecting the 340B program in response to drugmakers restricting access to discounted drugs to hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serving low-income communities. The courts have overwhelmingly ruled that state laws can prevent pharmaceutical manufacturers from limiting the use of 340B contract pharmacies.

The Illinois Senate unanimously passed 340B legislation last spring. Now it’s up to the Illinois House to vote for House Bill 2371 SA 2, modeled after legislation passed in more than 20 other states. These laws reverse 340B restrictions that are harming patients and the nonprofit, safety net provider organizations caring for them. These providers utilize drug-cost savings to pass on drug discounts to patients and invest in new services, clinics, and hiring of healthcare providers.

HB 2371 SA 2 does NOT require a state appropriation or taxpayer funding. It asks House members to restore this critical lifeline as Illinois hospitals stand to lose up to $57 billion in federal Medicaid funding over 10 years—and patients lose Medicaid coverage.

Get the 304B bill across the finish line this legislative session: Vote YES on HB 2371 SA 2. Learn more.

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

As Illinois lawmakers negotiate incentives that could help the Chicago Bears move to Arlington Heights, Chicago Stars FC is intensifying its own push for state support for a new stadium — potentially on Goose Island.

The women’s soccer team, owned by a group led by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts, has been swapping ideas with members of the General Assembly for years over how the state could support the NWSL team’s new home, but those talks have heated up in recent weeks, according to key lawmakers.

Though no formal proposal has surfaced, the team is seeking to leverage the broader megaproject negotiations in Springfield to argue that women’s professional teams deserve the same treatment as men’s franchises. […]

The team could potentially benefit from provisions included in the megaprojects legislation now under negotiation in Springfield after it was heavily amended in the House, but further tweaks could be necessary or a separate bill could be introduced as soon as this month.

* Belleville News-Democrat…

A regional port district and its relationship with the mayor have become a new focus in the battle over whether Granite City should allow a data center to be built in the community.

Opponents recently discovered that some property being eyed by land scouts for data centers is owned by America’s Central Port District, a special governmental unit in the Metro East; that the district has negotiated with them on possible land sales; and that city officials were briefed on development plans well before the public knew. […]

“The contrast between what was presented publicly and what had already occurred behind the scenes suggest a lack of transparency,” said Charles McCoy, 56. “At a minimum, it indicates that key information was not shared with the City Council, the Planning Commission or the residents of Granite City.”

The McCoys question why a transportation-oriented port district would be selling property for data centers, and why its role has never been mentioned in public meetings.

Dennis Wilmsmeyer, executive director of the port district, said economic development is one of its state-designated functions, and it’s common for public bodies to keep discussions or negotiations with developers about possible land purchases private.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois legislators gear up for final budget talks: Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, is proposing a plan that would eliminate several economic development tax credit programs, such as programs that incentivize construction jobs, to free up $700 million in revenue annually, according to proponents. Many of the targeted programs, however, have support from the governor and members of both parties. “Isn’t it time that we take a stand showing exactly what our values are here in Illinois, instead of allowing the state’s wealthiest corporations to double dip, racking in both federal and state tax breaks?” Collins said at a news conference on Wednesday.

* Press release | Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Across All Metro Areas in March: Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs decreased in 8 metropolitan areas, increased in 3 and was unchanged in 1, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Champaign (14 consecutive months) and Lake (4 consecutive months). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 12 metro areas for the year ending March 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES).

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Another lawsuit involving Chicago detective Reynaldo Guevara settling on brink of trial: The trial over all of this had been set to begin Monday before U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger. Instead, after more than eight years of intense litigation, attorneys for both sides appeared in Seeger’s otherwise empty courtroom to announce they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the case. The amount of the settlement — which was negotiated in a series of sessions before a magistrate judge — was not disclosed in court because it is pending the approval of the City Council.

* Tribune | In grim financial turn, Chicago Sinfonietta will pause concerts and lay off staff: The move is one of the most drastic yet undertaken by an area organization to counteract the flurry of challenges facing the performing arts after the COVID-19 pandemic, including depressed audience attendance, rising costs and a shifting philanthropic landscape. Simon Woods, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, told the Tribune the Sinfonietta’s move is rare in the orchestra world, but not unprecedented. The San Antonio Philharmonic canceled the majority of its remaining season in February, citing fiscal and legal challenges.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Republican Will County Board members discuss solar plans ahead of Earthrise vote: Will County committees will meet twice this month to continue discussing Earthrise Energy’s proposed Pride of the Prairie solar farm before the County Board votes May 21 on the project that would span about 6,100 acres in Manhattan, Green Garden and Wilton townships. The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, as part of a court order after residents filed a lawsuit saying they weren’t allowed to cross examine Earthrise Energy last month. A judge agreed, which postponed an official decision on the sprawling solar plant.

* Tribune | Judge tells ‘Broadview Six’ defendants ‘Congratulations’ and dismisses conspiracy count: A federal judge on Thursday dismissed the felony conspiracy count against the remaining defendants in the “Broadview Six” case, further winnowing a politically charged prosecution that is now down to misdemeanor counts of impeding an immigration agent. “Congratulations, you all are no longer charged with felonies,” U.S. District Judge April Perry told the four defendants in granting a motion from prosecutors to dismiss the lone conspiracy charge in the indictment.

* Shaw Local | Here’s what to know about Plainfield’s e-bikes ordinance: E-scooters: users must be 18 and older, Class 1 & 2 e-Bikes: users must be 14 and older, Class 3 E-Bikes: users must be 16 and older

* Daily Southtown | Orland District 230 appoints Arabic language supporter Moe Hammad to board: The Orland Park High School District 230 board voted Wednesday to appoint Moe Hammad, a supporter of the Arabic language curriculum, to the board seat vacated by Mohammad Jaber in March. Hammad will serve the remainder of Jaber’s term, which runs through April 2027. Hammad, an Orland Park resident since 2019, is a member of the District 230 Building and Finance Advisory Committee, according to a district news release. He has a graduate degree in education and a decade of entrepreneurial experience as owner of one dozen companies, according to the district.

* Daily Herald | A ‘terrific’ amenity: Last piece of West Branch DuPage River Trail includes bridge over Roosevelt Road: Building the final, 0.7-mile segment will put a bow on the West Branch DuPage River Trail. That last piece will provide the missing link between the Blackwell and West DuPage Woods forest preserves. “It’s just taken diligence and persistence and hard work from the staff and previous boards to finally get this project completed,” Forest Preserve Commissioner Rick Gieser said Tuesday.

*** Downstate ***

* IPM | Striking ISU staff return to work after ratifying new 5-year contract: AFSCME Local 1110, the union representing more than 300 building services, grounds, dining services and other ISU employees, said more than 95% of them approved the five-year contract. The new contract gives workers an immediate lump sum payment of $1,500 and an immediate 3.5% wage increase, plus annual raises of 3% every July 1 through 2029 until the contract expires on June 30, 2030. The union had sought retroactive pay increases to July 1 last year and annual raises equal to university administrators.

* WCIA | Parkland College expands automotive apprenticeship programs with new program: The new program strengthens the college’s longstanding automotive training partnerships. Building on a decades-long relationship supporting Sam Leman Ford in Bloomington, the company is partnering with Parkland College to develop talent pipelines for its newest locations in Champaign-Urbana. “This partnership highlights how employers and educators can work together to solve workforce challenges,” said Parkland Director of Apprenticeships Aimee Densmore. “Sam Leman Automotive Group is making a strategic investment in developing its future technicians, and Parkland is proud to support that effort through high-quality training and real-world experience.”

* WCIA | Combe Laboratories expanding operations in Rantoul: The company is investing $30 million dollars, along with a $5 million state grant, to shift its California operations to Champaign County. The move is expected to bring 20 new jobs to the area and help them hang onto the existing 100 they already have. “All around us, we’ve seen examples of companies pick up and move either out of the area or out of the state,” said village administrator Scott Eisenhauer. “For us to be able to not only keep what we already have, but to expand that and grow that, I think is a huge win for Rantoul, a big win for Champaign County, and certainly a giant ‘W’ for the State of Illinois.”

* WCIA | EIU president outlines search for new AD: EIU AD Tom Michael is returning to his alma mater, the University of Illinois, after leading Panthers’ sports for 12 years. EIU President Jay Gatrell spoke with WCIA on Tuesday, and was complimentary of Michael’s impact in Charleston. Now, Eastern Illinois begins searching for Michael’s replacement. “It begins by networking,” Gatrell said of the early process of the school’s AD hiring. “It’s a national search.” He says a search committee has been formed and will begin meeting the week of May 11.

*** National ***

* WCIA | Circle K offering 40 cents off per gallon in Illinois for Fuel Day: Thursday, May 7 is Circle K’s Fuel Day, and they are offering nearly half a dollar off per gallon for their rewards members. From 4-7 p.m., Circle K customers. are able to redeem 40 cents off each gallon of fuel directly at the pump. Inner Circle members have easy access to this deal, as it opened at 12:01 a.m. for them on Thursday.

* NPR | Campaign staffers tell NPR they make ‘thousands’ betting on their own candidates: “Myself and others started placing bets before that poll came out,” the staffer, who was working on a statewide campaign in the South, told NPR on the condition of anonymity over fear for their future employment. “And then, sure enough as soon as that poll came out, the stock went up and everybody made money.” This is one of the first publicly reported instances of a campaign staffer betting and winning thousands on their own candidate on prediction markets — emerging financial exchanges where billions are bet each week on future events like sports, culture and even elections.

* Crain’s | Rivian eyes more EV variants as affordable R2 rollout begins: Rivian is signaling its push into more affordable electric vehicles may extend well beyond the upcoming R2 SUV — a key development for the EV maker as it tries to broaden its appeal beyond luxury buyers. Reuters reports Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is developing additional variants based on the new R2 platform, though he stopped short of revealing specifics. Asked whether Rivian was planning a pickup version of the R2, Scaringe told Reuters: “There are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown.”

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Stop Rx Drug Deserts. Say No To HB 1443!

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

HB 1443 would create a state-appointed Prescription Drug Affordability Board with the authority to review and set upper payment limits on selected prescription drugs. While well-intentioned, this misguided legislation risks harming patients’ community pharmacies without addressing the real drivers of health care costs.

Allowing government appointees to intervene in decisions between patients and their physicians raises serious concerns. Moreover, despite being enacted in multiple states, these boards have failed to deliver meaningful savings. Two states have set upper payment limits, yet in the seven years since the first board was established, there is no evidence of a single dollar saved for patients.

In Illinois, community pharmacies are essential to the communities they serve, providing access to critical medicines and treatments. If upper payment limits are set below pharmacies’ acquisition costs, pharmacists could be forced to dispense drugs at a loss or stop carrying certain drugs altogether. This puts patient access at risk, especially those who depend on nearby, trusted community-based pharmacies.

Illinois’ health care system is already incredibly fragile. HB 1443 advances policy with no record of lowering costs for patients or supporting the sustainability of community pharmacies. Don’t force community pharmacies to choose between financial loss and patient access. We urge you to oppose HB 1443.

Paid for by PharmaScript and the Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce

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Question of the day

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Deputy Governor Andy Manar and CMS Director Raven A. DeVaughn writing in the Illinois Times…

The recent article “Tourism is up, but downtown is hurting” (April 23) captures a reality many Springfield residents and business owners feel every day: change is underway, and not all of it has been easy. Empty storefronts, the closure of a major downtown hotel and the lingering effects of a devastating fire have created real challenges for the heart of our capital city.

But that is not the whole story. And it’s important we don’t mistake a period of transition for a narrative of decline.

Springfield is evolving, as cities across the country are, and substantial investments are being made to ensure its downtown remains not only relevant, but resilient.

Start with the role of state government. For generations, downtown Springfield depended heavily on a daily influx of state workers. That model has shifted, accelerated by the pandemic and the rise of remote and hybrid work. But contrary to the notion that the state is pulling back from Springfield, the opposite is true.

In Sangamon County alone, the state workforce has grown 31% over the past decade. And over the last four years, 33-35% of all state of Illinois job postings are headquartered in Sangamon County, compared to 17-20% for Cook County. The number of state employees headquartered in Sangamon County has increased every year under Gov. JB Pritzker – the state’s commitment to a stronger Springfield is unchanged.

I have lived on and off in Springfield since 1985. I cannot remember a worse period for downtown.

* Meanwhile, from the SJ-R…

Visit Springfield Director Scott Dahl confirmed to The State Journal-Register May 6 that the Illinois FFA State Convention is leaving the Bank of Springfield Center for Peoria in 2028.

Over 5,000 members, advisors and guests attended the convention in 2025. The convention this year is June 9-11.

“They’ve basically outgrown the BoS Center,” Dahl said. “This is another reason why we need an expansion of the BoS Center. We get an expansion, obviously, we can look to bring them back. I think they want to be here. It’s the capital. It’s centrally located, but I think they’ve just outgrown the space.” […]

An expanded BoS Center could host larger and multiple conventions. Its expansion, which would include a hotel, was tied to a recent “megaprojects” bill passed by the Illinois House trying to induce the Chicago Bears to stay in the state.

* The Question: Your Springfield downtown improvement ideas? I’m not interested in reading a bunch of criticism. Tell us what you think can be done to improve the area. Thanks and make sure to flesh out your answers a bit.

  28 Comments      


Credit & Debit Cards May Not Work For Tips, Starting July 1

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

The IFPA—the Credit Card Chaos law—could hurt Illinois’ tipped workers. Servers, stylists, rideshare drivers and other gig workers who rely on tips could see their income drop if customers can’t tip on cards and are limited to the cash they carry.
Why should tipped workers pay the price for Springfield’s bad policy?

Before chaos hits on July 1, lawmakers should reverse course and repeal the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act.

Learn more at: guardyourcard.com/Illinois

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It’s just a bill

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

The Electronic Payments Coalition is releasing a new television ad as part of its last-ditch effort urging Springfield lawmakers to repeal a controversial credit card fee law before it takes effect July 1.

The ad takes aim at the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, a law backed by the retail industry that exempts state and local taxes and tips from so-called swipe fees charged by credit card processors. Since its passage two years ago in a late-night legislative session, the landmark law has been under near constant attack from lawsuits and financial industry lobbyists who claim it would upend the payment ecosystem across the state.

The issue is coming to a head, with oral arguments in an appellate case scheduled for next week and the General Assembly set to adjourn at the end of the month even as two bills calling for repeal languish in committee.

Credit unions are not prepared for the change due to the complex nature of the payment system, which unites consumers, merchants, banks and credit card companies, said Libby Calderone, president and CEO of the Illinois Credit Union League, part of the coalition of banking trade groups trying to repeal the law. Calderone noted it took 14 years for payments using microchip technology to be synchronized across the financial system.

* WAND…

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee approved a bill Wednesday restricting where the federal government can put ICE detention centers.

This plan states detention and processing facilities cannot be located within 1,500 feet of any home, apartment complex, school, daycare center, public park, or church. […]

House Bill 5024 passed out of the Senate Executive Committee along partisan lines. The measure now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

This proposal previously passed out of the House on a 72-35 vote with two representatives voting present.

* Sen. Elgie Sims…

Taking a step toward rectifying a serious flaw in the justice system, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is leading a landmark measure to help exonerees rebuild financially and make a smoother transition back into their community. […]

Since 1989, there have been over 600 exonerations in the state. The current law has resulted in inconsistent and inadequate compensation for these individuals, with an average award of $11,190 per year of wrongful imprisonment. According to the Illinois Innocence Project, one exoneree who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 27 years received an annual award of $5,985, while another who was wrongfully imprisoned for less than three years was awarded $35,562 per year.

Beyond financial compensation, many wrongfully convicted individuals struggle to reintegrate into society after having lost irreplaceable years – including years of work experience and paychecks. The impact is felt beyond the individual, causing financial and emotional hardship for families and entire communities who lose not just a loved one’s income but their presence in the home.

Sims’ measure seeks to address the harms of wrongful imprisonment by bolstering state compensation for people who have been exonerated. The legislation would provide compensation of up to $50,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment, including time spent in pre-trial detention or a juvenile detention facility before a wrongful conviction, and $25,000 per year wrongfully spent on probation, parole or the sex offender registry. […]

House Bill 3663 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

* WAND…

The Illinois Revenue Alliance told reporters in Springfield Wednesday that families are suffering while billionaires and giant corporations avoid paying their fair share.

Democrats have plans to create a billionaire wealth tax and close corporate tax loopholes. They argue a billionaire tax could generate $916 million for the state, and closing corporate tax loopholes would generate $700 million.

“It’s straightforward,” said Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “Billionaires would report the value of their holdings at the beginning and end of each year, and the increase would be subject to the same rate that everyday Illinoisans already pay on their income.”

Progressives have also filed a plan to create a digital advertisement tax to help low-income families. The Illinois Revenue Alliance believes this tax could rake in $1.1 billion for Illinois.

* Press release…

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) was joined by Assistant Senate Republican Leader Sally Turner (R-Beason) and Budgeteer Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) to express serious concerns about several new tax increases being pushed by the Illinois Democratic lawmakers and the Illinois Revenue Alliance.

During a Capitol press conference ahead of a Senate Revenue Committee hearing, Republican lawmakers warned that repealing key provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act and imposing new taxes, such as a digital advertising tax, would drive up costs, discourage investment, and put working families at risk.

“Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem,” Curran said. “Endless tax increases are pushing businesses out. If we want to be a welcoming state, we need to welcome businesses.”

Curran pointed to lagging economic indicators as evidence that current policies are not working.

“We rank near the bottom nationally in job growth, and tens of thousands of residents are leaving our state each year,” he said. “That is not a coincidence. It is the direct result of policies that prioritize more spending over economic growth.”

Among the proposals discussed was Senate Bill 3353, which would create a new tax on digital advertising. Lawmakers warned that the cost of the tax would ultimately be passed on to small businesses and consumers.

“This is a tax on the small business owner trying to grow,” Curran said. “It will be paid by the mom starting a home bakery, the local shop printing team t-shirts, and families already stretched thin trying to afford everyday essentials.”

* Sen. Dave Koehler…

State Senator Dave Koehler is sponsoring legislation to strengthen press protections for public media produced at state-supported colleges and universities in Illinois. […]

House Bill 4420 would modify the College Campus Press Act to define public media produced at a state-supported institution of higher learning. The measure states that public media at these institutions would not be subject to prior review by the institution’s public officials, and expression by employees or agents producing the media would not be considered speech attributable to the institution itself.

The bill would also allow an employee or agent of an entity that creates or distributes public media at a state-supported institution of higher learning to bring a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief if the act is violated. […]

HB4420 passed the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday.

* The Daily Northwestern…

First introduced in January 2025 by State Rep. Kevin John Olickal (D-Skokie), House Bill 1429, or the Local Regulation of Unsheltered Homelessness Act, seeks to prohibit a local government unit from creating or enforcing policies or ordinances that impose fines or criminal penalties against people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The bill would bar local governments from penalizing “life-sustaining activities” on public property so long as they do not physically block pedestrian or vehicle traffic in a manner that prevents a hazard to others. Activities listed in the bill include resting, sleeping, eating and storing personal belongings necessary for shelter. The bill also sets procedural guardrails around encampment removals. […]

In April, the Illinois House Housing Committee approved the bill 11-4. It remains pending in the Illinois House after being rereferred to the House Rules Committee following several proposed amendments. […]

Foluke Akanni, the housing policy organizer at Housing Action Illinois, said that following the decision, municipalities across Illinois began passing ordinances targeting homeless individuals. According to Akanni, the state’s recent bill was introduced in response to that trend, aiming to curb what she described as “quick fix” policies that penalize homelessness without addressing its root causes.

“You’re actually just penalizing somebody and creating additional barriers for someone to actually have access to affordable housing,” Akanni said.

* More…

    * Journal Courier | Aging-services advocates ask for more money to deliver meals to seniors: State agencies that provide free meals for seniors were in Springfield on Wednesday to ask for an increase in funding beyond what’s proposed for fiscal year 2027. Agency directors warned that without at least $10 million in additional funding, the number of meals being delivered to seniors statewide could drop.

    * WAND | IL House committee approves bill prohibiting private schools from banning religious hairstyles: Rabbis asked state lawmakers to file a bill to protect Orthodox Jewish students with beards. “Some Orthodox men are prohibited by Jewish law from shaving entirely, while others maintain a beard as religious custom,” said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka from Agudath Israel of Illinois. “Additionally, a Jewish student or educator may appear at school during certain periods unshaven, not because of a lack of hygiene, but rather because the Jewish calendar demands it at that time.”

    * Press release | Sen. Murphy advances bill to keep airport sounds insulation program updated: Murphy’s Senate Bill 4041 would require O’Hare and Midway airports to conduct studies every five years on eligibility for residential sound insulation programs. The studies would use modern modeling techniques to collect data, aiming to ensure every household exposed to excessive noise from the airports is eligible for sound insulation assistance.

    * Press release | Sen. Joyce advances bill to protect crematory operating standards: House Bill 4695 would expand the Comptroller’s powers to investigate a licensed crematory, their records or any other aspects of crematory operation as the Comptroller deems appropriate. It would permit the Comptroller to perform an unannounced inspection of the premises. As part of its investigations, if the Comptroller finds any violation or wrongdoing under the grounds for dismissal that constitute an imminent danger to the public, the Comptroller could suspend the crematory’s license. The bill also implements additional penalties for violations.

  8 Comments      


Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the perfect time to visit Anandi Fashions in Buffalo Grove. The vibrant Indian boutique offers authentic, hand-selected clothing and jewelry. Owner Kalpana Boyina manages the boutique alongside her husband, Santosh. Known as a local favorite and a destination shop, it draws customers seeking colorful, comfortable designs rooted in India’s rich textile traditions.

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Kalpana and Santosh in Buffalo Grove who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, other leaders press lawmakers for more funding. Capitol News Illinois…

    - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and an army of suburban mayors descended on Springfield on Wednesday to call on the General Assembly to boost funding for local governments.
    - Governor Pritzker proposed reducing the share that municipalities get from income tax collections from 6.47% to 6.28%. While a decrease in percentage, the governor’s office says it would keep total funding for LGDF flat at $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2027 due to rising income tax collections.
    - Johnson said Pritzker’s proposal means Chicago would receive $12.7 million less from LGDF in FY27 than if the rate remained the same.

* Related stories…

* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Illinois attorney general pushes for rate cut as Peoples Gas seeks $202 million hike: It will be up to the Illinois Commerce Commission to rule later this year on the gas company’s request for a $202 million rate hike, which would bump gas bills by an average of $130 per year. But the Illinois attorney general’s office suggested a $4.1 million decrease instead, listing at least $97.2 million in “unsupported and unexplained” cost increases for the company’s pipe retirement program, among other “unsubstantiated” charges.

* Sun-Times | Broadview protesters sue feds over DNA collection after arrests, saying it violates rights: All four plaintiffs were arrested while protesting; two were charged but their cases were dismissed. They allege the cheek swabs used to collect their DNA violated their Fourth Amendment rights and created a chilling effect on free speech, according to the suit.

* Tribune | Poll finds Illinois residents think funding for a new Bears stadium should be limited: Another 13% said Illinois should offer more than Indiana to keep the team, while 22% said the Bears should be forced to stay in Soldier Field for the rest of their contract, which runs through 2033. The survey of 1,000 Illinois residents released Tuesday was conducted in March by the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership, and first published by NPR Illinois. Respondents were representative of Illinois’ population based on characteristics such as gender, race, political affiliation and urban and rural residency.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois lawmakers question progress under Evidence-Based Funding for public education: The budget lawmakers pass this year will be the 10th written under that formula. But as the anniversary approaches, state records show that despite an additional $3 billion in state funding for public schools during that time, most of the state’s 851 districts remain underfunded, including dozens that receive less than 70% of what the formula says they need to operate effectively. “That underfunding is not theoretical. It has real consequences across the state,” Crystal Mallory, a lobbyist for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, told a Senate committee Tuesday. “We are beginning to see staffing shortages and increased attrition. program cuts and loss of student supports, districts developing deficit-reduction plans due to uncertainty.”

* Press release | Nearly 500 Asian American Community Leaders Rally to Protect Our Futures at the State Capitol: On May 6, nearly 500 Asian American community leaders from 19 organizations commemorated the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition’s 13th annual Asian American Action Day and rally at the Illinois State Capitol. The rally featured community testimonies calling on lawmakers to protect our futures by making the wealthy pay their fair share to invest in our communities, ensuring that immigrants don’t live in fear, and making Illinois welcoming for all. Zainab Zahid, the Wadee AlFayoumi Fellow with the Muslim Civic Coalition, celebrated the passing of the Faith by Plate Act last year and urged Illinois lawmakers to follow through on the promise of the law by passing funding for implementation. “Funding is not only practical; it demonstrates Illinois’ commitment to equity,” said Zahid. “When students cannot eat school meals, they often go hungry, rely on less nutritious alternatives, or feel excluded from their peers. A school cafeteria should be a place of community, not separation.”

* WICS | Latino Unity Day sees calls for help, support amid ICE operations: Magdalena Rivera, CEO and president of the Illinois Migrant Council, says, “In our community, in the Latino community, we firmly believe that it takes a village. So, the village comes out in the time we need, and this is the time we need.” There are also legislative pushes being made at the Illinois statehouse to protect members of their community.

* WICS | Black farmers advocate for better food systems in Illinois: Wednesday is the fourth annual Black Farmers and Growers Lobby Day…where cultivators and advocates alike from across the state will make their voices heard on the importance of farming in the state. […] NewsChannel 20’s Emily Jordan spoke to Yves Doumen, the founder of Motherland Community Project, a program that works with neighborhoods and communities in Springfield’s east side to transform vacant land into urban farms…making healthy, fresh food accessible.

* WLPO | Mautino Officially Retires As Illinois Auditor General: Staying true to his word that one, ten-year term was enough, Frank Mautino of Spring Valley is officially no longer Illinois’ auditor general. The longtime Democratic politician handed the keys to his office over to new Auditor General Christopher Meister last week. Mautino thanked his Springfield staff by saying online “I have to say that I learned more from them than they learned from me and that’s what made this last decade a tremendous success”.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Rapid-responders in Chicago shift tactics as ICE enforcement continues at a lower profile: Organizers and other rapid-responders who try to warn people about immigration enforcement activity say they remain on high alert and are shifting tactics. “This is going to be the new normal at least for the next couple years, and we just have to be always ready and always prepared,” said Mimi Guiracocha, a lead organizer with Pilsen Unidos por Ñuestro Orgullo, known by the acronym PUÑO, a rapid-response coalition based in the Lower West Side community.

* WBEZ | Botched raid victim Anjanette Young slated for Chicago police oversight role: In her remarks, Young appeared to appeal to more conservative committee members who might feel her reform work makes her an enemy of the police. “Over the past seven years, part of my healing journey has included collaborating with and learning from top officers within CPD,” Young said. “That work has reinforced my belief that accountability and collaboration are not opposite forces… My lived experience does not compromise my ability to be fair.”

* Crain’s | Now we know what Uber paid to buy Chicago’s SpotHero: Uber Technologies says it paid $600 million for parking-app company SpotHero. The deal was announced in February and closed last month. It’s among the largest recent acquisitions of a Chicago-based tech startup, alongside Logik.io, which was acquired by ServiceNow last summer for nearly $500 million, and data provider Tegus, which was acquired for $930 million in 2024.

* Sun-Times | New Zoning chair Villegas begins chipping away at backlog of stalled projects: The message was delivered even before Wednesday’s marathon session, the first of two Zoning Committee meetings this month to clear the decks of stalled projects that included the office-to-residential conversion project at 30 N. LaSalle. After a nearly four-hour session, Villegas thanked colleagues for approving an overall total of 2,000 units.

* Sun-Times | Longtime aide to Rep. Danny Davis charged with Covid-19 unemployment fraud: A longtime deputy district director for Congressman Danny Davis has been hit with federal charges for allegedly obtaining more than $31,000 in unemployment insurance benefits during the pandemic — while still working for the congressman. Gerard C. Moorer, 42, of Chicago, is charged with three counts of wire fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced on Wednesday.

* ABC Chicago | Visitation to be held Thursday for fallen Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew: Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew was shot at Swedish Hospital. Officer Bartholomew is being remembered as being kind hearted and dedicated to his job and family. Visitation is at St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church, located at 5649 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago, and will begin at 2 p.m.

* Sun-Times | CTU threatens to sue CPS over unpaid stipends for dozens of athletic directors: On Monday an attorney representing the union sent the district a letter saying “to avoid a lawsuit” CPS should distribute the $7,525 stipends to athletic directors at 41 high schools who haven’t been paid for their work during the fall athletic season. The union’s lawyer gave the district a deadline of Thursday.

* WBEZ | What did America sound like in 1776? A local ensemble goes sleuthing for the answer: For the first time in its history, the Newberry Consort is premiering a new work. Composer and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody’s “When Shall America” leans on an arsenal of 17th- and 18th-century musical styles to accompany the words of three prominent, if undersung, Americans: Phillis Wheatley, a Black female poet; Lemuel Haynes, the first Black American to be ordained as a minister; and Samson Occom, the first Native American to write an English-language memoir.

* Nadig Newspapers | 5th Annual Windy City Hot Dog Fest starts May 29 at Six Corners on Chicago’s NW Side: The title “Best Frankfurter” will once again be awarded at the annual “Windy City Hot Dog Fest” the weekend of May 29-31 in the 4000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago’s Six Corners business district. Fest-goers will be able to vote via text for the best hot dog while at the event. Nine hot dog vendors are scheduled for the festival.

* Block Club | Baby Eaglets Are First Born In Chicago In More Than A Century, Officials Say: The chicks are believed to be the only eaglets born in the city in more than a century, if not longer, local birder groups and Chicago Park District Officials said. While there have been documented nests in the city in the past two decades, local birders say there is no documentation that any eggs successfully hatched. “This has never happened before, or at least not in a very long time,” said Edward Warden, the president of the Chicago Ornithological Society, who visited the nest over the weekend. “It’s a crazy coincidence that both are happening at the same time.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Lake County News-Sun | Grayslake data center project continues despite resistance: ‘They’re being lied to … or they’re all lying to us’: In a statement, Jess Ortiz, a member of the newly created Lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition, expressed a view hinted at by some comments shared Tuesday. “I think the Grayslake Village Board doesn’t know what they approved,” she said. “Either they’re being lied to by T5, or they’re all lying to us. I hope they listen to the community and remember who they’re supposed to serve.”

* Cook County Record | Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’: Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to help a woman kidnap their children are asking a court to keep jurors from seeing sworn testimony from former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx which could be used to show the men’s claims of “innocence” may not hold up. In that deposition, Foxx appeared to admit she and her office allowed the men and potentially others convicted of “heinous” crimes to secure court orders declaring their “innocence” and tee up lawsuits against the city of Chicago for potential jackpot paydays, even though she and her team of prosecutors may have still believed they were guilty.

* Daily Herald | Teens arrested, but Arlington Heights school resource officer’s gun still missing: However, the whereabouts of the officer’s gun remain unknown and recovering it remains “our highest priority,” police said. The charges follow an investigation launched Monday when a school resource officer at Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights reported his service weapon missing, officials said. The officer reported that he had removed the firearm from his holster before using the bathroom, authorities said.

* Evanston Now | Alders lean toward leaving West Evanston TIF alone: The decision, which now moves to consideration by the full City Council along with recommendations on four other TIF districts, came after months of back-and-forth discussions about how to handle Evanston’s TIF districts, stemming from a referral from Ald. Parielle Davis (7th) to explore closing the districts early. The conversations have led to recommendations to close at least two TIF districts early, (Dempster/Dodge TIF and Chicago/Main TIF), while alders are looking to leave Howard/Ridge TIF in place until its natural expiration in 2028. The newer Five-Fifths TIF will also stay in place for now, but could be revisited in the coming years.

* Daily Herald | Schaumburg officials visit new village hall as construction enters final six months: Though many who toured the still skeletal interior had personal input on the design, seeing it at full scale and in three dimensions enhanced their vision of its future use. Mayor Tom Dailly stood in the lobby and appreciated the natural light that will continue to pour in from above and the view of the Friendship Stone delivered 20 years ago by the Sister City of Schaumburg, Germany, that now sits atop a central staircase.

* Daily Herald | ‘A game changer’: Mount Prospect receives $850,000 federal grant for fire station rehab: The money, approved as Community Project Funding through Krishnamoorthi’s office, covers approximately half the $1.7 million the village spent renovating the station at 1415 E. Algonquin Road. The station was formerly the headquarters of the Elk Grove Rural Fire Protection District. Mayor Paul Hoefert credited the station with transforming public safety on the village’s south side. The newly renovated station serves the area formerly covered by the rural fire district.

*** Downstate ***

* Illinois Times | Landowner leans on school districts: Darrel Thoma, chief financial officer of Dowson Family Farms, sent a follow-up email April 3 to Becca Lamon, superintendent of Ball-Chatham School District, to bolster support of the CyrusOne project. The emails, which were obtained by Illinois Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, show how the Divernon-based company pitched CyrusOne’s project to education officials. Thoma made it clear that CyrusOne would, if necessary, turn its attention and cash infusions to other school districts. Thoma told the Ball-Chatham superintendent that CyrusOne had committed to assisting local trade schools and committed to giving $2 million each to the Chatham and Auburn school districts over the next five years.

* WGLT | Bloomington residents speak out against data centers at public forum: Mayor Dan Brady and City Manager Jeff Jurgens led the sessions. Current members of the council, Micheal Mosley of Ward 2 and Michael Straza of Ward 5, and Deputy City Managers Billy Tyus and Sue McLaughlin, were in the audience. “The forum is about listening to you, ladies and gentlemen, and that is what I’ve tried to do in my entire political and government career is to be transparent, and that’s what we’re trying to do here today,” Brady said.

* WGLT | Bloomington’s data center hot topic is ho-hum in Normal: Mayor Chris Koos said during a Sound Ideas interview, as in the City of Bloomington, the amount of land needed for a large-scale data center makes it unlikely any site inside town limits would be suitable. “It lends itself more to a rural setting,” said Koos. He said the issues the town would be concerned about are the ones everyone looks at: the amount of electricity needed, the effect on the cost of power for existing ratepayers, the amount of water use, and quality of life issues.

* WAND | City of Danville unveils 20-year comprehensive development plan: Over 300 residents shared their thoughts through surveys to help create the draft, ensuring that community members feel they have a say in what happens in Danville. “It just fits within the city’s vision in terms of you decide what’s possible, and so here the city is laying out a comprehensive plan to really drive the growth and development. And so it’s really important for people to not only see that but give additional feedback to city leadership,” said Place Foundry Managing Principal David Sidney.

* WCIA | Former PBL teacher pleads guilty to grooming, indecent solicitation of a child: The former Paxton-Buckley-Loda teacher accused of crimes against children pleaded guilty during his latest appearance in court. Paul Meuser, 72 of Buckey, was in court on Wednesday for a planned preliminary hearing in the case against him. Facing two counts of attempted criminal sexual assault and one count each of grooming and indecent solicitation of a child, Meuser was expected to make a plea in the case against him.

* WAND | Central Illinois CEO 2026 Trade Show highlights student entrepreneurs: The CEO program features 15 high school juniors from Farmer City, Blue Ridge, Clinton, Maora-Forsyth and Warrensburg-Latham showcasing the businesses they have created. In the program, students develop their businesses from the ground up over the school year and receive hands-on experience with leadership, finance management, marketing and customer service.

* WAND | Students help shape school menus in Mahomet-Seymour: The district has partnered with Quest Food Management Services to launch the “Little Bulldog Taste Testers” program, where first- and second-grade students sample potential menu items and provide feedback before foods are added to school cafeterias. […] “My favorite part is that it’s like all options that, like, this is our opinion,” Eli said. “If I say it smiley face and everyone else does, the whole school has it.”

*** National ***

* Talking Points | States Rush to Gerrymander Away Black Electoral Power Following Supreme Court Decision: In states across the old Confederacy and beyond, Republican lawmakers are scrambling to carve up districts once drawn to give Black voters a chance to choose their representatives in government. While districts at the local, state and federal level are all at risk, the most urgent objective, for these lawmakers, is helping Republicans hold Congress in the 2026 midterms.

* CNN | Newly released documents reveal more than $300,000 in taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements involving lawmakers: From January 1, 1996, through December 12, 2018, the office approved 349 awards or settlements “to resolve complaints against legislative branch offices,” its general counsel said in a letter sent to House Oversight Chair James Comer obtained by CNN. Eighty of those cases were settled by a House or Senate office for a host of different reasons. From that subset, seven cases led to payments to address allegations of sexual harassment. The payments referenced in the letter used taxpayer money from a Treasury account that no longer exists as an option for lawmakers.

* ProPublica | Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth: In almost every case, the babies’ deaths could have been prevented with a long-standard vitamin K shot. But across the country, families — first in smatterings, now in droves — are declining the single, inexpensive injection given at birth to newborns to help their blood clot. Many of them are doing so out of a well-meaning but ill-informed abundance of caution. In the hopes of safeguarding their newborns from what they see as unnecessary medical intervention, they have shunned fundamental and scientifically sound pharmaceutical intervention. The trend is also fueled by a contradictory pairing: families’ fierce desire to protect their babies and a cascade of false information infused into their social media algorithms.

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Good morning!

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Robert Zimmerman…

But nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that counts

* This is an Illinois open thread.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…

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