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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here for some background. Tribune federal courts reporter Jason Meisner…
* ABC Chicago | Chicago police det. to get new kidney after COVID complications, IL State Compt. Susana Mendoza says: After six long years, former Chicago police sergeant Joaquin Mendoza is getting a new kidney. He is the brother of Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Compt. Mendoza shared the news on social media Monday. “Tonight we got the call,” she said. Det. Mendoza was hospitalized for 72 days after being diagnosed with COVID. He lost both his kidneys and had five strokes, the comptroller said. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Springfield wish list: Digital ad tax and other levies — but not the Bears’ bill: In a Tuesday news conference, the mayor said he will head to the state capitol later that day to advocate for three main approaches to shore up more revenue for Chicago: reversing cuts to the Local Government Distributive Fund, creating a new digital advertising tax and granting the city home rule authority to pass levies. It will be his third visit to Springfield as mayor and comes in the final stretch of the General Assembly’s spring session. […] On the digital ad tax, which would create a levy on advertising revenue earned from Illinois viewers, the mayor said the proposal should apply statewide. Last fall, Johnson’s Springfield lobbyist John Arena led a group of the mayor’s City Council allies to Springfield to lobby for such a tax, laying out a model that would have a “progressive rate structure (2.5% to 10%) application to firms with over $100 million in global revenue.” * Crain’s | Johnson heads to Springfield seeking revenue boost — and Bears leverage:The state previously put 10% into the so-called Local Government Distributive Fund until 2011, when it was lowered as part of a temporary income tax increase. The percentage has been lowered since even as the governor’s office counters the actual dollar figure has increased. Pritzker’s 2027 budget plan would hold the dollar amount steady with the current year, which would lower the percentage from 6.47% to 6.23%. If the percentage was kept the same, the city estimates another $60 million would flow to local governments statewide, with $12 million going to Chicago. If it was increased by 1%, an additional $80 million would be distributed across the state. * Tribune | Dismissed Chicago immigration judge sues Trump administration: In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, attorneys for former Judge Carla Espinoza argued that the Trump administration’s Justice Department violated Espinoza’s First Amendment rights and federal equal rights protections when they terminated her as an immigration judge last July. She was one of nine judges to leave the Chicago immigration court in a wave of departures, firings and buyouts in the first year of the second Trump administration. All told, the court lost nearly half the judges who were on the bench in January 2025. The turbulence at the city’s immigration court mirrored a nationwide exodus of judges amid a rapidly changing landscape for immigrants, attorneys and advocates. * Block Club | Cook County Landlords Have Filed For More Than 40,000 Evictions Since 2022: Residents of Chicago’s South and West sides, and particularly the South Shore neighborhood, have been hit hardest by evictions in recent years, according to Block Club’s analysis of available data. But the court’s records are missing addresses for nearly 10,000 of the cases filed between April 2022 and September 2025 — nearly a quarter of those filed in that time period — which makes a thorough look at eviction trends all but impossible. * Crain’s | Office tower near Google’s Thompson Center poised to sell at steep discount: Menashe Properties is in advanced talks to buy the 38-story office building at 180 N. LaSalle St., according to sources familiar with the matter. The Portland, Ore.-based firm is poised to pay less than $60 million for the 785,000-square-foot building, sources said, or close to 70% less than the $198 million paid a decade ago by the current owner, a venture of Montreal-based La Caisse. * Crain’s | Trib owner in advanced talks to buy the Daily Herald: Hedge fund Alden Global Capital, owner of the Chicago Tribune, is in advanced talks to buy the publisher of the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights. Alden, which already owns a number of suburban publications via the Tribune acquisition five years ago, made a very public bid for employee-owned Paddock Publications in early February after the Daily Herald publisher first disclosed it was considering a sale. In a full-page ad in the Tribune, the hedge fund said it could pay “30% more than anyone else.” * ABC Chicago | Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele found not guilty in 2024 N. Side DUI arrest: One of the officers at the scene testified that Steele refused to take a sobriety test. Steel was found not guilty Tuesday on the grounds that the alcoholic beverage container was capped and bagged, and suspicion of impairment by the officers is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. * Pioneer Press | Evanston-Skokie District 65 walks back decision to cut middle school librarians: The district announced on April 18 that middle school librarians would be “reassigned” to classrooms in D65 schools next year and would fill in for teaching roles recently vacated due to ongoing budget concerns, according to Tamara Mitchell, District 65’s chief financial officer. But the decision to eliminate the positions resulted in widespread dissent from community members, dozens of whom signed up to voice their opposition at the district’s April 20 Board meeting. The district declined a Pioneer Press request for comment on why the positions were being reinstated, referring back to Superintendent Turner’s original message. * Daily Herald | ‘I want her gone’: Lawsuit claims retaliation against Schaumburg fire lieutenant over Charlie Kirk post: The suit states she received a nine-shift suspension, later reduced to eight, for exercising her right to free speech on social media, and that the union ultimately declined to represent her grievance. The complaint states that after Kirk’s killing on Sept. 10, she posted on her personal Facebook page, “I can choose to ‘not celebrate’ but also not be sad,” with a link to a New York Times article about the fatal shooting. She also posted an image of a quote attributed to Oscar Wilde that reads, “Some men improve the world only by leaving it.” * Tribune | Arlington Heights school cancels class after resource officer loses gun: The officer, assigned to Forest View Educational Center, used the restroom and removed the weapon from his holster just before school was let out for the day. After dismissal, he realized the weapon was missing and searched the restroom, but couldn’t find it, according to an Arlington Heights police news release. Hallway surveillance images were reviewed to determine who entered the restroom, and school officials and police were notified about the missing firearm. School officials decided to cancel school Tuesday in order to conduct a complete search of the school building and grounds. Police dogs were brought to the school to help in the search, but the weapon was not found, the release said. * Lake County News-Sun | Former Waukegan cop found guilty of reckless conduct: ‘These criminal actions … are offensive to good police officers’: A Lake County judge found a former Waukegan police officer guilty of misdemeanor reckless conduct, but acquitted him of felonies for injuring someone during an arrest, according to Lake County prosecutors. Richard Tabisz, 43, was charged after, authorities said, he threw a handcuffed suspect to the ground, causing a head injury. Other officers witnessed the incident and reported it. * WGLT | State Farm, Country Financial stay busy handling McLean County tornado claims: Statewide, both companies’ combined total is nearly 8,300 claims — 1,669 for Country and more than 6,600 home, property, and auto filings with State Farm. In comparison, Country Financial said it fielded 13% fewer claims in Illinois during March and April this year than it did in all of last year. Country said it already has closed nearly half of the claims that have come in, and inspectors have reviewed three quarters of them. State Farm has closed nearly three quarters of its claims related to the storms. * WAND | Springfield to consider increasing parking fines: Many of the initial fines would double. A violation for parking in a no parking zone would increase from $25 to $50. Parking in an emergency lane would increase to $100. Tuesday’s council agenda states the ordinance is necessary to, “…encourage greater compliance with parking regulations, improve traffic flow, and enhance public safety.” * Press release | Illinois State Museum Route 66 exhibit to open May 23: The exhibit incorporates the museum’s Route 66 Oral History Project, a collection of 100 interviews with people who experienced the road when it served as the primary route between Chicago and Los Angeles. Visitors can listen to excerpts from these firsthand accounts throughout the exhibit. On display will be a range of Route 66 memorabilia, including vintage souvenirs, neon signs, fiberglass advertising figures and Burma-Shave signs. * WCIA | ‘Never seen anything like it’: Longtime bus driver fights through Central IL dust storm: “I had a full bus. Dirt was coming in all through the windows,” Gharrett said. “It was in my eyeballs. It was everywhere.” She said she turned on the flashing lights and took her foot off the gas, letting the bus idle on the road. “You couldn’t see somebody in front of you if they were stopped, which was why I just I idled because there’s nowhere to pull over,” Gharrett said. “And you can’t just stop in the road with 70 kids on a bus.” Almost as quickly as it started, it was over after a few minutes. * WCIA | ‘Only at Illinois’: U of I students react to campus cow capture: “As soon as it turned the corner, it kind of locked eyes with us and lowered its head a bit and just kind of started speeding up directly at us,” said PhD student David Buller, one of the people nearly hit by the cow. “A lot of people are in disbelief it’s actually me.” * 404 Media | The AI Hard Drive Shortage Is Making It More Expensive and Harder to Archive the Internet: Over the last several months, prices for both consumer level and enterprise solid state drives, hard drives, and other types of storage have skyrocketed. As an example, a 2TB external Samsung SSD I purchased last fall for $159 now costs $575. PC Part Picker, a website that tracks the average price of different types of drives, shows a universal increase in storage prices starting in about October of last year. Prices of many of the drives it tracks have doubled or increased by more than 150 percent, and at some stores SSDs and hard drives are simply sold out. There is now even a secondary market for some SSDs, with people scalping them on eBay and elsewhere. * Bloomberg | DOJ Offers Lawyers $25,000 Signing Bonuses as Hiring Lags: Further, the head of the Civil Division—which plays a crucial role advancing and protecting the president’s policies in court—informed all his attorneys Monday that they’ll begin receiving a “retention incentive allowance” ranging from around $60 to $220 every pay period through Thanksgiving, according to an internal email reviewed by Bloomberg Law.
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Johnson prepares for statehouse trip by… bashing statehouse
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
The mayor spent a whole lot of political capital on his Soldier Field plan, telling leftie Springfield legislators that his plan to give away billions in state money without talking to the state first was a huge part of his progressive agenda. And yet here we are.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * WQAD TV…
* The Question: Should Illinois consider a plan similar to the Iowa idea of capping city and county levies at 2 percent annual growth? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Politico…
* American Innovators Network Executive Director Jeremy Kudon…
* The Electronic Privacy Information Center…
* HB4557 hasn’t moved in the House yet, but it was heard yesterday in the Judiciary–Civil and Consumer Protection Committee during a subject matter hearing. The synopsis…
ACLU of Illinois is opposed to the bill…
* Press release…
* ACT Now Illinois…
* WRAM…
* More…
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Today’s number: $1.29
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I told subscribers about this yesterday. Sun-Times…
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Illinois Credit Unions: Mission‑Driven Service
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] At credit unions, the mission‑based philosophy isn’t just a statement; it’s the heart of everything they do. As Steve Bugg, President/CEO of Great Lakes Credit Union puts it, “[our] Credit Union is really committed and proud of our mission‑based philosophy and people helping people.” That commitment shows up in the programs they offer, the partnerships they build, and the impact they have on the communities they serve. What truly sets credit unions apart from other financial institutions is the measurable value returned to the community. “When you look at how we set ourselves apart… it’s really what we provide back to the community,” Steve explains. And the numbers tell a powerful story. Over the past two years, through their foundation, “We’ve kept $40 million in community assets back in that community by helping people with foreclosure intervention and also staying in their home,” he shares. This is the credit union difference in action: protecting homes, preserving community wealth, and ensuring that people have access to the support they need to stay stable and secure. Learn more about credit unions’ mission-driven service at https://betterforillinois.org/ Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Johnson returns to Springfield, and the governor’s office is ready for him
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * He’s coming back to town…
* Fox 32…
* From the governor’s office…
Discuss.
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Rising Prices Force Difficult Choices: Vote YES On HB 2371 SA 2 To Protect 340B in Illinois
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] For low-income and uninsured patients—and the nonprofit, safety net hospitals caring for them—rising costs pose significant challenges. Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are being squeezed by higher costs, which skyrocketed during the pandemic and have not come down since. Among Midwestern hospitals, drug costs climbed 22% between 2022 and 2025, while total expenses grew 10%. Many of the patients hospitals serve are struggling to make ends meet. They face difficult choices like whether to pay for medication or a utility bill or whether to see a doctor or ignore worrisome symptoms. Hospitals and FQHCs serving low-income communities rely on the federal 340B program to reduce prescription costs for their patients, and to invest in lifesaving services. Mount Sinai Hospital President Sameer Shah, PharmD, said rising costs lead patients to skip medications, delay refills, stretch pills and delay care. “For safety net hospitals like ours, 340B is really about access,” he said. “It helps keep clinics open, maintain pharmacy access and ensure patients stay on their medications.” Stand with patients, hospitals and FQHCs: Pass House Bill 2371 SA 2 to protect 340B in Illinois. Learn more.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: DOJ seeking Illinois voter data to purge suspected noncitizens, documents suggest. Capitol News Illinois…
- Illinois has refused to hand over an unredacted voter registration list to the DOJ. Instead, it has provided DOJ with electronic copies of partially redacted files that do not include sensitive information. - Similar suits have already been dismissed in six other states. No court has yet ruled in favor of DOJ’s request for access to the unredacted voter files. * 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. * Fox Chicago | Marijuana reclassification’s impact on Illinois cannabis businesses: While the biggest changes impact medical marijuana rather than recreational marijuana, experts say increased research could also influence recreational use over time. Companies operating in Illinois say the shift is already making a difference. Verano, with Chicago-area dispensaries like Zen Leaf, say the change allows them to avoid a federal tax rule known as 280E, at least on the medical side of their business. That rule previously prevented cannabis companies from writing off normal business expenses. * Tribune | Central and southern Illinois residents could face high electricity rates again this summer: In the wake of the MISO capacity auction, Ameren Illinois customers will pay 11 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity supply and distribution costs for the summer months beginning June 1. This rate is lower than last year’s 12.2 cents, which was driven by record supply and distribution costs and a June heat wave. But it remains well above the 4.8 cents seen in 2021. * Shaw Local | Lawsuit filed in Illinois takes aim at cannabis companies for not warning of mental health risks: A 320-page lawsuit filed Monday takes aim at companies that sell legal marijuana in Illinois and many other states, claiming they have not told customers the possible mental health implications of cannabis use while claiming it has curative effects for other ailments. The suit was filed in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois by – among other law firms – those of Pat Kenneally, the Republican former McHenry County state’s attorney, and Jack Franks, a Democratic former Illinois lawmaker and one-term McHenry County Board chairman. Both are now in private practice. * Capitol News Illinois | No ‘April surprise’ in latest revenue report: State revenue growth is on track to meet expectations and there was no “April surprise” from income tax receipts. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability says it is not planning any significant changes to its March revenue projection for the year. * Crain’s | Springfield gets some breathing room on state budget: Through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, overall general-fund revenue is up 3.8%. That should give lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker some breathing room. Last fall, Pritzker told state agencies to come up with plans to spend 4% less. He proposed a budget of $56 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1, up about 1.6% from the previous year. * Center Square | Illinois diversity commission says businesses aren’t cooperating: The problem has dogged the commission for nearly two years. The commission has tried, most often in vain, to acclimate more than 2,000 formerly certified businesses to the new system. But Tracy Sullivan, a consultant who assists businesses with the certification process, said the problem is a combination of difficulty and disillusionment. Getting certified has long been cumbersome, and the software issues have complicated that. “I don’t believe that businesses don’t care about being certified,” Sullivan told The Center Square. “You can only bang your head against the wall so many times before the headache becomes too much.” * WGN | Political consultant running for governor as independent: Corbett already has a running-mate in Carolyn Schofield, who also ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2022. The duo is already out collecting signatures, “When we’re passing petitions, we get two words in- independent candidate- and they’re grabbing it, trying to sign it. People are desperate for some alternative,” said Corbett. “Republicans have problems, Democrats have problems, and I’ve come to realize there’s really good people in both parties. It’s the system that is broken.” * Sun-Times | Former Ald. George Cardenas forms exploratory committee to run for mayor, potentially dividing Latino vote: Although he barely gathered enough signatures to survive a petition challenge for the office he now holds, Cardenas said he believes he has the unique mix of experience necessary to tackle Chicago’s vexing problems. “I have business experience. I’m a management consultant. I’m an expert in procurement. I was in the Council for 20 years. I know the bodies. I know what worked… with Mayor [Rahm] Emanuel, what didn’t. I was floor leader for [then-Mayor Lori] Lightfoot. I’ve been there. I have the experience,” Cardenas, 61, told the Chicago Sun-Times. * Cook County Record | Glock can’t appeal judge’s greenlighting of Chicago’s ‘switches’ suit: Judge: * CBS Chicago | Renters seeking relief as rent spikes across Chicago adds to rising costs: With gas nearing $7 a gallon in some spots and grocery bills steadily increasing, people are closely watching how they spend every dollar. “The rent keeps increasing year to year. It just keeps going up and up and up, and it’s not like you’re getting anything more from it,” said Dustin C. Renters are feeling the pinch and looking for relief. “There’s annual increases of $200 to $300, different spots, you just have to move and find something affordable,” he said. * Sun-Times | University of Chicago Press workers form union: Out of more than 270 employees at the press, 139 workers are eligible to join the union, which is part of the Chicago News Guild. If all join, it would be the News Guild’s largest unit, according to the Guild. “The university’s financial crisis has tightened spending in several of the press’s departments, slowed hiring and created a sense of uncertainty about the future for many UCP workers,” Adrienne Meyers, senior promotions manager at the press and UCP Workers Guild member, said in an emailed statement. “As of right now, the press has not experienced any layoffs due to the budget, and we hope our union will help protect and secure the stability of our workers.” * Congrats to the staff at the Tribune…
* Tribune | Chicago White Sox 1B Munetaka Murakami hits his 14th home run, tied for the MLB lead, in 6-0 win: It was the third time this year the Sox have hit back-to-back home runs, and Murakami has been involved in all three. Murakami, Vargas and Colson Montgomery hit three home runs in a row on April 21 at Arizona. Murakami and Montgomery went back-to-back on April 27 against the Angels at Rate Field. Monday was more of the same from Murakami, who added his first career double in the sixth and a single in the eighth. * Sun-Times | Remaining ‘Broadview Six’ defendants move to disclose grand jury transcripts, drop conspiracy charges: Defense attorneys laid out three possibilities for what the unredacted transcripts could include: The assistant U.S. attorney either “mis-instructed” the grand jury on the law; failed to instruct the grand jury on the law at all; or there were other interactions between the assistant U.S. attorney and the grand jury that are “otherwise improper or prejudicial.” * Daily Herald | Siren fatigue? Elgin changes weather alert protocol after fielding complaints during storms: Instead of activating sirens multiple times for each NWS warning box, the city is limiting it to single alert as storms move across its 38 square miles. “We’re looking at this manual activation as a temporary situation,” said Fire Chief Robb Cagann. “I don’t think we need to set the alarms off three times when a storm moves across the city.” The most severe thunderstorms, he added, can have greater impact than an EF 0 tornado, which is why sirens are activated in those conditions. * Tribune | Evanston’s prolific horror novelist Daniel Kraus wins Pulitzer for fiction: The Pulitzer committee described Kraus’s novel as “a breathless novel of World War I, a stylistic tour-de-force that blends such genres as allegory, magical realism and science fiction into a cohesive whole, told in a single sentence,” but it is much more likely to be categorized as horror. Kraus has written and co-written a remarkable 31 books since 2009, including graphic novels and young-adult stories, two “Night of the Living Dead” books, and a pair of novels with del Toro (including “The Shape of Water,” the film version of which won the 2018 Academy Award for best picture). In general, though, Kraus’s books have been mainstays on horror shelves for years. * WMBD | Tentative agreement reached between ISU and striking workers: Anders Lindall, a spokesperson for AFSCME Council 31, the statewide group that covers all the locals within Illinois, said that after meeting with a federal mediator for several hours on Monday, the agreement was hammered late Monday. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Local 1110 which represents more than 300 buildings, dining and food service workers will meet later to review and possibly vote on the tentative agreement at ratification meetings. * STLPR | Southern Illinois clinics ‘back to status quo’ for now as court halts abortion pill ban: “Luckily, we did not have to immediately change or cease operations since we did not have telehealth medication abortion visits scheduled on Saturday,” said Caitlin Lloyd, CHOICES communications and outreach lead, in an email. She said officials at the organization, which also operates a clinic in Memphis, are keeping their eyes peeled for new developments from the Supreme Court. * Illinois Times | Developer pledges $65 million annually to Logan County: About 100 people, almost all of them opposed to Hut 8’s proposed 500-megawatt, $5 billion Logan Prairie Data Center to be built on about 250 acres of farm ground near Latham, attended the meeting in the rotunda of the county courthouse in Lincoln. The board called the meeting to discuss requests from the public to extend a 60-day moratorium on accepting data center applications after the moratorium expired in late April. Many attendees indicated they were upset when the board voted unanimously to postpone consideration of a moratorium extension until the board’s Zoning and Economic Development Committee discusses the matter. The committee will meet on the issue at 6 p.m. May 13 at the Oasis Senior Center, 2810 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln. * WCIA | Danville Alderwoman expected to announce mayoral campaign: Tricia Teague, an Alderwoman for Ward 4, is expected to make the announcement at Soar Space Business Center, located inside Towne Centre/Riverfront Plaza, at 6 p.m. […] Previously, WCIA reported that Frank McCullough announced plans to run for mayor. McCullough runs Three Kings of Peace with Alderman Ed Butler. * WGLT | Bloomington-Normal sees gas prices surge 60 cents in one week: The fuel cost tracker Gas Buddy said the average cost of regular unleaded in McLean County is $4.82 per gallon, up from $4.20 last week. Gas Buddy lead analyst Patrick De Haan said the spike in the Great Lakes region is driven by refinery outages in combination with the ongoing war in Iran. * 25News Now | Sen. Dick Durbin highlights Amtrak successes during visit to Normal: Normal’s Uptown Station is the second busiest Amtrak station in Illinois. with Chicago’s Union Station the busiest. Durbin, who is retiring at the end of his term, also said expanded rail service is critical for the community, especially for students traveling to colleges and universities across central and downstate Illinois.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Feliz Cinco de Mayo!… If I die far from you This is an Illinois open thread.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, May 5, 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois municipal leaders unveil ‘REAL’ counter to Pritzker’s ‘BUILD’ housing plan: “We could easily have just sat here and said ‘no’ on everything,” IML executive director Brad Cole told me on Friday. “But what we did is we said ‘no, we don’t agree with those things, but here are a couple of dozen more proposals and ideas and suggestions, and we’re happy to come up with more.’” […] The Illinois REALTORS – the top outside group pushing Pritzker’s plan – blasted the IML’s plan as a “wish-list of anti-real estate measures,” specifically targeting provisions capping real estate commissions, controls on rental charges and overriding Homeowners Association agreements. * Governor’s Office | Response to IML: “A coordinated, statewide approach is necessary to solve the housing affordability crisis. The current status quo has only deepened the housing shortage, so the time for action is now. BUILD doesn’t eliminate local control — it establishes minimum expectations and sets the floor in a coordinated way to meet every locality’s housing needs, all while ensuring the enhancement and preservation of each town’s character. Governor Pritzker’s BUILD plan comprehensively addresses Illinois’ housing affordability crisis by removing unnecessary barriers to development and creating clear, pathways for the construction of accessible, affordable homes.” * ABC Chicago | Chicago Mayor Johnson answers wide range of questions as part of ABC7 town hall: As for large teen gatherings that have turned destructive, the mayor said police are managing to prevent most of them before they happen. “In fact, we took one step further. There was a young person who was calling for these gatherings and these trends. We hired that young person, and now that young person is working with us to create safer spaces so that young people don’t feel that their only form of entertainment is reckless and dangerous behavior,” Johnson said. * Crain’s | Supreme Court won’t block Chicago’s suit over guns tied to crime scenes: The justices denied without comment or dissent the appeal by Westforth Sports, whose retail location is about 10 miles from the Illinois border. The action allows the city to proceed with its suit alleging that Westforth deliberately sold guns to “straw purchasers” — people who bought guns for others who were likely criminals or otherwise barred from firearms purchases. The suit also alleges Westforth was aware its guns were being trafficked into Chicago. * NPR Illinois | Illinois Innocence Project client released from prison: He walked out of Dixon Correctional Center Friday after 39 years after serving a long prison sentence despite decades of proclaiming his innocence. He immediately returned to his childhood home to see his mom, who never gave up on her dream he would one day return. […] Michael was a high school student preparing for his senior year at Evanston Township High School when his nightmare began. He was arrested at his home for the murder of a Chicago woman. In August 1987, a grand jury indicted Daniels on three counts of first degree murder and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. The IIP said getting home now is especially timely and poignant for Daniels because his mother, now 80, has been his most steadfast supporter. * Sun-Times | Chicago launches e-scooter safety campaign in wake of recent scooter deaths: Critics have voiced safety concerns over the e-scooters as riders faced injuries varying from bumps and bruises to life-altering — and sometimes fatal — injuries. With no official citywide tally of e-scooter related deaths and injuries, advocates noted a combination of responsibility from riders and e-scooter organizations and enforcement from police would help prevent crashes. * Tribune | Pro-Trump group tests officials’ patience with public testimony and triggers legal tangles: In a statement, [Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps] said she should not have to “face harassment or intimidation simply for doing the work my community entrusted me to do,” and that groups like Chicago Flips Red cross “the line from civic engagement into conduct that is disruptive, disrespectful, and, at times, threatening. Especially in a moment where threats against elected officials have escalated — and in some cases have turned deadly — we must be clear: no one should have to serve under fear for their safety or their life.” The situation involving Stamps is noteworthy in part because her mother, Marion Nzinga Stamps, was a passionate community activist at the Cabrini-Green public housing complex who was known to confront officials to press her case. Mayor Richard M. Daley once skipped his own news conference on job creation rather than face her. * Evanston Now | D65 needs more money to finish Foster: Her memo says that there are about $10.3 million in remaining obligations and $5.5 million in available lease certificate. That leaves about $4.8 million in “estimated additional funding need[ed].” D65 had hoped to use proceeds from the sale of the soon-to-be-closed Bessie Rhodes school building and property, but as with so much in this project, that’s not working out quite the way it was first hoped. * Aurora Beacon-News | Two West Aurora schools to have new principals next school year: Brian Lawson will assume the role of principal at Fearn Elementary School when students return to the classroom for the next school year. Lawson currently serves as principal of Strassburg Elementary in Sauk Village School District 168, where he has led schoolwide instructional improvement efforts, implemented student intervention structures and expanded family and community engagement opportunities, district officials said. * Daily Herald | Geneva’s historic blacksmith shop gets covered in plastic; city wants it removed: The historic limestone remnant of an 1840s blacksmith shop on the former Mill Race Inn site in Geneva is now entirely covered in a giant sheet of white plastic. The covering is the latest source of friction between the city and Shodeen Development over the latter’s ownership of the former Mill Race Inn property at 4 E. State St. In a response to Shodeen’s action to cover the building on April 23, Geneva Community Development Director David DeGroot directed the developer to put a tarp over the property instead. * WTVO | SNAP data shows Rockford area remains one of highest‑need regions in northern Illinois: According to IDHS’ February 2026 “SNAP Data by Servicing Office” report, 32,855 households in Winnebago County received SNAP benefits, representing 63,928 people. That is one of the largest SNAP caseloads of any county outside Cook County. * STLPR | Metro-east nature preserve adds 1,000 acres thanks to conservation groups: With the purchase, the expanded White Rock Nature Preserve near Valmeyer in Monroe County will now be connected to another conservation area, Salt Lick Point Land and Water Reserve, for a total of 2,300 acres between the properties. […] “There aren’t that many places left in Illinois, Missouri or the Midwest in general that are this big where you can achieve such a large conservation and environmental outcome in one single transaction,” said Jim Johannsen, Illinois state director for the Conservation Fund. “But size aside, it’s also just kind of a nexus where so many interesting outdoor values come together.” * WCIA | Pain at the pump: Gas prices in Central Illinois continue rising: Just three weeks after surpassing $4 per gallon, gas prices in Central Illinois are now approaching $5 per gallon. Another large price increase in the last week has all of the region’s gas stations selling in the upper $4 range. In Champaign-Urbana, GasBuddy’s weekly survey of 79 gas stations in and around Champaign-Urbana found the average price of gas is $4.81 per gallon, 62 cents higher than the average price last week. Most gas stations are priced at $4.79 per gallon, but the most expensive gas is at $4.99 per gallon. * WSIL | Solar farm coming to Jackson County to power 200+ homes: The Jackson County Board has unanimously approved a new community solar project that will generate electricity for more than 200 homes. The 1.25 MW solar project from Pivot Energy marks the first approval under the county’s solar ordinance enacted in 2025. Pivot Energy, a national renewable energy independent power producer, has been working in Illinois since 2018. The company now has 64 Illinois solar projects in operations or construction, totaling 213 MW. * NYT | More Than 150 Wind Projects Stall as Pentagon Delays Reviews: The Trump administration is blocking more than 150 onshore wind farms across the United States by delaying military reviews that were once considered routine, according to a leading industry trade group. The delays, which companies said worsened significantly in recent weeks, are the latest escalation in President Trump’s efforts to stop wind power, a technology he detests. Several of the administration’s moves to thwart the construction of wind farms on land and in the ocean have been struck down by courts over the past few months. * AP | Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail and pharmacies: The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortion is provided across the nation. The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week. * Bloomberg | Trump ends visa freeze that exacerbated foreign doctor shortage: That freeze had blocked visa renewals and work authorization updates for physicians from those countries, many of whom practice in rural and underserved communities where foreign-trained doctors account for a disproportionate share of the workforce. More than 10,000 H-1B physician visa holders and 17,000 J-1 doctors were subject to the hold. The reversal follows sustained pressure from the medical community. The American Medical Association and 53 medical societies wrote to the Department of Homeland Security urging an exemption, arguing physician entry into the US is a matter of national interest. A bipartisan group of 100 lawmakers, led by New York congresspeople Yvette Clarke and Michael Lawler, sent a separate letter to DHS in February. * AP | California says State Farm broke the law handling insurance claims after 2025 LA wildfires: California’s top insurance regulator says the state is seeking millions of dollars in penalties from State Farm after an investigation found the insurance company violated state law while handling claims from the 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Monday that State Farm violated the law hundreds of times. Lara launched the investigation last June after survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires said that the state’s largest home insurer was delaying and mishandling claims regarding damage to their homes and possible contamination from smoke.
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COGFA: No ‘April surprise’ this year; No need to significantly revise revenue forecast at this time
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s April revenue report…
Emphasis was in the original.
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IDPH: Childhood vaccination rates steady, nearly all above 95% goal
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Governing Magazine…
* Keep in mind the following data does not cite a specific kindergarten-aged rate. Illinois Department of Public Health…
* The Tribune…
* Here’s the Chicago map. Blue means at least 95 percent; yellow is 90-94.9 percent; orange is less than 90 percent… 
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MLB open thread
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
I can feel my own longstanding grudge against ownership finally starting to lift. Right now, I’m looking forward to attending games after spring session ends. * How’s your team doing?
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It’s just a bill
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* Tech-Safe Learning Coalition co-founder Rose Bronstein…
* Illinois Health and Hospital Association President AJ Wilhelmi…
* WTVO…
HB5151 has not moved out of the House. * More… * Jeremy Wolff | We can’t clear our way out of homelessness. But we can’t ignore the encampments either: The General Assembly is considering House Bill 1429, which would prohibit cities from fining or arresting people for “life-sustaining activities” such as “lying down, sleeping, protecting oneself from the elements, eating, drinking and storing such personal property as needed to shelter oneself.” It also states that cities can “maintain public access to a property or address serious and imminent risks to public health and safety.” While the bill doesn’t specifically allow tents, a broad interpretation might prevent the city from sweeping an encampment. At first glance, this seems like a good thing. […] Parks have many moving pieces, and HB1429 complicates the city’s job without offering additional support. * WMBD | Proposal advances in Illinois legislation that would require business to accept more cash: A bipartisan proposal that would require businesses in Illinois to accept cash as a method of payment is making its way through the Illinois legislative process. On Thursday, state lawmakers advanced a plan that would require businesses to accept cash for purchases up to $500. * WAND | Sen. Rose files bill to allow IL police to coordinate with immigration authorities: Rose has filed a plan to amend the Illinois TRUST Act and remove restrictions that currently limit communication, information sharing and coordination between local and federal authorities. “This would apply when federal law enforcement comes with a valid, enforceable federal warrant,” Rose said Thursday. “That’s critical. This is not a question of, ‘hey, we just picked up some guy off the street.’ This is a valid, enforceable federal warrant. It’s a big deal.” * Press release | Katz Muhl Passes Legislation to Empower Local Libraries in E-Book Negotiations with Publishers: “As an avid e-book reader and library patron, I was stunned to learn that publishers were routinely overcharging libraries for e-books and audiobooks,” Katz Muhl said. “This legislation ends checkout limits and prices exponentially exceeding the market rate–both of which take advantage of taxpayer dollars. Thank you to the libraries for lifting up this issue and fighting for a level playing field in negotiations.” Katz Muhl’s House Bill 5236 advanced to the state Senate after being passed by the House in a bipartisan vote and has been sponsored in that chamber by state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel.
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Credit & Debit Cards May Not Work For Tips, Starting July 1
Monday, May 4, 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. 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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Despite pledge, Pritzker hasn’t pushed state constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From Gov. JB Pritzker’s second inaugural address…
* When asked about his promise last week, the governor said…
* From the Tribune reporter who asked the question…
Discuss.
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It’s Time To Bring Safer Rides To Illinois
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Waymo is ready to bring safe, reliable, autonomous rides to Illinois – but we need your help! Waymo is already mapping Chicago’s unique streets and traffic patterns to lay the groundwork for operations. Never tired or distracted, Waymo provides hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous rides every week across ten major U.S. cities, from Los Angeles to Atlanta — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. The data shows Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are involved in thirteen times fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans (as of 3/20/26, see waymo.com/safety). Let’s bring safer rides to Illinois. 
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Bears bill frames major progressive taxation push
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
* Related…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, May 4, 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
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois Municipal League pitches alternative housing plan, drawing Realtor backlash. The Real Deal…
- In suggestions that raised major red flags for the real estate industry, the proposal also calls for capping combined residential real estate commissions at 3 percent of a property’s final sale price and removing the state ban on local governments adopting rent stabilization measures. It also contains limits on rental deposits and rental application fees. - Illinois Realtors, the 50,000-member trade group representing the state’s real estate agents, criticized the proposal in a statement Friday afternoon. The group urged lawmakers to reject what it called late-stage disruption of the governor’s plan. * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Tribune | New Illinois auditor general takes office as report faults his former agency for audit failures: A report issued on April 21 by the outgoing auditor general found that the state agency the new state auditor had previously led, the Illinois Finance Authority, lacked a required full-time internal audit program. The report from retiring Auditor General Frank Mautino about the IFA led by Chris Meister was based on a two-year review period ending June 30, 2025. But the report also said the absence of such an “appropriate full-time” internal audit program within the finance authority was known for several years prior to the review period and that the IFA “has been unsuccessful in implementing a corrective action plan.” * IPM News | Today 11am-6pm: Blowing Dust Advisory in Central Illinois: Meteorologists say blowing dust is expected this afternoon across central and eastern Illinois, east of the Illinois River and north of I-70. Loose topsoil paired with gusty winds up to 40 mph could lead to blowing dust and low visibility in rural areas. Forecasters advise you to avoid the dust plume. If you encounter dense dust, slow down and pull off the roadway as far as possible. * Crain’s | Purdue Pharma’s $7.4B opioid settlement begins, with Illinois in line to get nearly $150M: As states’ $7.4 billion opioid settlement with the Sackler family and its Purdue Pharma goes into effect today, Illinois and its local governments are set to receive about $148.8 million from the payout. Most of that take, meant to go toward addiction services, will be doled out over the next three years, with the rest to be paid over 12 years, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a press release. * CBS Chicago | Chicago gas prices soar past $6 a gallon in some areas, Illinois gas nearly 50 cents above national average: In Bucktown, one Shell station on Armitage, right off the Kennedy Expressway, regular gas is now $6.29 for a gallon of regular; $5.99 a gallon if you pay for a car wash. Gas prices climbed above $5 a gallon starting at the end of last week across much of the Chicago area. At some stations the prices have hit more than $6 a gallon. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois State Board of Education wants to revamp how it counts low-income students: The Illinois State Board of Education is asking lawmakers this year for $200,000 to develop a new way of counting low-income students. Although that’s only a small fraction of the overall $10.9 billion general revenue fund budget the agency is seeking to fund preK-12 public schools next year, the request points to a larger issue that public schools could be facing over the next several years as the number of students officially counted as “low-income” is expected to drop. * Daily Herald | Why some lawmakers defected from the party line in megaproject bill affecting Bears stadium: Instead, the measure stalled, and “that delay is costing real money. Billions. Lobbyists are making hyperbolic claims of 40 years of never-ending tax increases, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria. Proponents are saying the structure is so perfect — it’s a big, bold, beautiful bill that will be the envy of all future developments. “The reality is somewhere in the middle,” McLaughlin said. “If done correctly, “it will look like Rosemont on steroids. It is good for property tax owners in the long run and great for regional businesses.” * Subscribers know more. Cook County Record | After SCOTUS ruling, IL sidelines Welch’s race-based districting plan: However, Harmon and his counterpart in the General Assembly, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, along with Gov. JB Pritzker asserted the effort to somehow still require race be used in Illinois’ redistricting process is not ended, but merely paused while they try to find a path around the Supreme Court’s new ruling. “We will dissect this decision, find a path forward and continue to protect the rights of all Illinoisans. I would ask for patience and time for our state’s top legal experts to work through this,” Harmon said. * Politico | 2 names join the mayoral mix: Nine months out from Chicago’s next municipal elections, the mayor’s race is largely unfolding behind the scenes — with longtime political power broker Jeremiah Joyce meeting with potential candidates and (scoop!) Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas starting an exploratory committee. About Joyce: He’s a former lawmaker and Southwest Side businessman with deep City Hall ties, who has begun meeting privately with potential candidates as they test support and assess their paths against incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson. Joyce wants to help, but he first wants to know their game plan for running. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools marks May Day after tense debate over canceling school: Districtwide, CPS officials said about 13% of its teachers were absent amid a national “day of no school, no work, no shopping” — about 3,320 absences in all, compared with 2,615 per day on average for this week, including Friday. Most requested the day in advance as the district had asked. CPS, which employs about 43,000 people, enlisted more than 2,600 substitute teachers and about 940 support staff subs to fill in for absent employees. Central office staff deployed to help out at 76 schools. * Block Club | Republicans Win Top Spot On Ballots After Libertarians Claim Lottery ‘Staged’ By Dems: Republican candidates will appear first on Chicago ballots for the 2026 midterms, a decision decided by a Thursday lottery — which attracted Libertarians with fishy feelings about the Democrats’ prior winning streak. Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, a Democrat, drew cards representing the three parties — Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians — from a plastic bowl in an unceremonious ceremony that lasted less than fives minutes at the county administrative building, 69 W. Washington St. The randomly selected order — Republicans first, Democrats second and Libertarians third — will be how party candidates appear on ballots in the Nov. 3 election. * Sun-Times | Swedish Hospital police shooting highlights critical security fail points: Chicago Police Department policy lays out at least two searches in this scenario: after Talley’s initial arrest and before Talley was transported to the hospital. Officers — not the ones who were shot — searched Talley after his arrest and found stolen cash in his pockets but no gun, according to prosecutors, who claimed Talley “had been concealing [the gun] from the moment he was arrested.” It remains unclear if anyone, either Chicago officers or hospital security, patted down Talley again once he was at the hospital. * WTTW | Lawsuit Involving Disgraced Ex-Detective Set for Trial, As Lawyers Reach Settlement With Wrongfully Convicted Man Sent to Death Row: In response to an inquiry by WTTW News, Chicago Department of Law spokesperson Kristen Cabanban declined to reveal how much it would cost taxpayers to resolve Solache’s lawsuit until the agreement is presented to the Chicago City Council. That indicates the agreement is for more than $100,000. Settlements of less than that amount can be authorized by Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry, according to city rules. * Crain’s | Arlington Heights stadium consultant tapped to help Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago announced it has hired Chicago-based Hunden Partners to conduct a strategic review of the nonprofit tourism group. Hunden is tasked with creating a “data-driven, community-informed strategic plan to guide Choose Chicago’s priorities, investments and leadership over the next three to five years,” Choose said in a statement. * Tribune | Northwest side Chicago school board member Jennifer Custer seeks top seat: Jennifer Custer, who represents parts of the Northwest Side, was elected with the support of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2024. But she has frequently broken with the union in key votes, a divide that has become more pronounced in recent months as elections approach. Custer announced in March that she is running for school board president. “Throughout this year-and-a-half process, there’s been so many times that I reflected on, ‘What if we did that differently?’” said Custer, who represents District 1B. “I think that I can set this board up for success in the future.” * ABC Chicago | More than 100 Brookfield Zoo Chicago workers go on strike: Workers walked off the job after contract talks broke down, accusing zoo management of unfair labor practices and disputes over healthcare coverage. Brookfield Zoo shared a statement saying, “The Zoo was notified this morning that a portion of the union-represented employees have begun to strike. At this time, our animal care specialists are continuing to provide uninterrupted care for the animals at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which will remain our highest priority. The Zoo remains open with normal daily operations, and leadership is committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal wellness, guest experience, and employee support that define the institution. * Daily Herald | An airborne assist: Drones becoming new first responders in suburban policing: Thomas is researching Hoffman Estates’ potential purchase of a first-responder drone next year and chairing a committee of the 13-member Arlington Heights-based Northwest Central Dispatch that’s considering multijurisdictional use of the technology. They will gather in June to watch the three top vendors demonstrate their services. “I think a lot of our departments see it as something that can increase safety,” Northwest Central Dispatch Executive Director John Ferraro said. “Sure, everybody’s talking about it in the region.” * Tribune | Southwest suburban school district faces controversy over multiyear attempt to add Arabic language curriculum: But the argument has not gone smoothly. Despite a sizable population of Arab American students and groundswell of support from many parents, Orland Park-based High School District 230 is facing controversy over a proposal to create an Arabic language program. Many proponents expressed frustration with the school board and administration as multiyear efforts to bring Arabic language instruction to District 230 appeared to stall, culminating with the recent resignation of the only Arab American member of the school board. * Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County’s Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve, home to new bison herd, opens to the public: As of Friday, the public can officially visit the small herd of bison that recently made their home in Kane County. The Kane County Forest Preserve District reopened the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve’s gates May 1 following some renovations meant to better accommodate additional visitors to the site. Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve lies on the border of Kane and DeKalb counties, 60 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. A portion of the preserve has never been broken by a plow, according to the Forest Preserve District. * WCBU | Tazewell County takes first step to prevent data centers: Tazewell County has taken a first, temporary step toward preventing data centers from being built on county land. The county board on Wednesday approved a zoning code amendment that prohibits “any use of land which is not explicitly allowed under the code or as adopted by supplemental ordinance.” The word “prohibits” replaces the phrase, “shall be … allowed under [the] category … to which it is most analogous.” * WGLT | McLean County Clerk says it’s ‘game on’ after police question staff about overtime pay: “Just as you do in trying to guesstimate each year your yearly family budget, or your small or large office budget, you’re never gonna be spot on, are you?” Michael said. “But you give your best estimate, and sometimes we’re wrong.” The clerk’s office has overspent the last four consecutive years, most recently, in fiscal year 2025, tallying a net loss of over $400,000. * WGLT | After governor’s remarks, ISU tells mediator it’s willing to return to bargaining table with striking AFSCME: ”The university is making this effort in good faith after the governor’s request that both parties return to the bargaining table,” ISU spokesperson Chris Coplan said in a statement. At an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker called on the two sides to work on coming to an agreement. * WGEM | ‘If I could save one life, this whole day is worth it’: 4-H hosts second annual Ride Right Rally: Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler Counties were represented at the event, where students learned how to safely operate off-road vehicles and equipment, including ATVs, mowers, bicycles, power take off (PTO) equipment, small tractors and more. Instructors discussed the importance of wearing proper protection, using seatbelts and safety harnesses, and using sound judgment — whether students are helping on the farm or taking an ATV for a joyride. * WMBD | Maifest returns to Peoria, celebrating German culture and the arrival of spring: A long-standing spring tradition returned to Peoria on Sunday as the German American Central Society hosted its annual Maifest at the Lindenhof. The event celebrates the arrival of warmer weather, rooted in German tradition as a time for communities to come together after the winter months. Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed live music, authentic food, and cultural activities. * The New Republic | Trump Makes It Harder to See if Drugs Are Laced With Fentanyl: CBS News, citing a letter from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reports that government funds can’t be used to purchase the strips anymore, increasing the risk of drug overdoses. The strips also test for other dangerous substances such as xylazine and medetomidine, which are normally used to sedate animals and have been linked to overdose deaths in people. Public health organizations are shocked at the move, because test strips only cost about $1 each and can be used to check illicit drugs in powder or pill form. The director of federal policy at the Drug Policy Alliance, Maritza Perez Medina, called them a “critical, life-saving tool.” * KFF News | Medigap premiums leap, leaving consumers with few alternatives: Jaggi, who with his daughter co-owns Jaggi Petry Insurance & Investments in Forsyth, a city in central Illinois, says he eventually found other options for many of those 80-plus clients with the large increase, which came from an insurer that had previously been the lowest-cost option. But it wasn’t easy — and continuing increases are expected. “These are unbelievable increases,” says Jaggi, who is seeing premium hikes exceeding 15% this year across a range of insurers. * NRP | How well can EVs handle the heat — and the cold? AAA put them to the test: AAA has been testing exactly how big an effect temperatures have on modern EV batteries. In its latest research, shared exclusively with NPR, it found that hot temperatures reduced range by an average of 8.5%. Cold weather cut vehicles’ range by a whopping 39%.
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Good morning!
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, May 4, 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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