* House Speaker Pro-Tempore and Co-Budgeteer Kam Buckner spoke with reporters after caucus today…
Reporter: Can you can you talk about the budget as much as you can without getting yelled at?
Buckner: We’re close, we’re having good conversations. We are parsing out some of the finer details. […]
Reporter: The governor’s comments on revenue, yesterday. He said he would veto any proposal that had broad based revenue, service taxes and things of that nature.
Buckner: Broad based is a bit of a subjective term. We’ve always said the governor has said Speaker said this, the president has said that. Whatever we do to the balance the budget can’t be on the backs of working people. […]
Reporter: Is there a plan if this doesn’t get done by May 31?
Buckner: I don’t think that we’re at risk, obviously, we have a constitutional mandate that we have to adhere to. But more than that. Once again, the instability in Washington, the people in Chicago and Cairo and Carbondale need to know what’s going on, what they’re gonna look like if we’re gonna try to get them that.
Reporter: Are you confident that you can get at least 60 votes to pass the budget? This is a time of year, there’s often infighting between progressive and moderate Democrats, but what does it look like this year? Like do you are you confident that with whatever you’re gonna put out there, could you get at least 60 votes?
Buckner: One of the pressures you have with a big tent like ours, is that you have a lot of bureaucratic ideologies and political stances. We got a strong progressive caucus. We got a strong New Democrat Caucus, formerly known as moderates, folks who care about fiscal discipline. Also folks who care about making sure that our vision our values are applied as well. So I’m not worried about it, I know that we have to have more conversations about how we get to the requisite number of votes that we need to pass a budget. But when we get to the finish line, we have the final project, there will be, I think, that nothing is covered from a discipline standpoint of resources,
Reporter: Is there aything you can say, as far as teasers, like, will there be revenue enhancements? If so, what do they look like? We faced a billion, about a $1 billion deficit just a few weeks ago, it was projected by many. I mean, can you give any idea how that’s being closed to pass a balanced budget?
Buckner: To maintain the integrity of caucus conversations and budget negotiations, I won’t go into any specificity to that. I’ll just say we are running every single scenario to make sure that we land in a place that palatable to all of us.
Reporter: Has there been any agreement on any new revenue?
Buckner: Going back, I’m not gonna make news on that right now. We’re having conversations.
Reporter: Has online gambling become more attractive?
Buckner: Okay, there are a number of things people are floating out there I am not somebody who really understood the online gambling space. […] We’ve been talking to folks about it. We’ve heard from the advocates in the industry. And we’ve looked at states across the country, seeing what they’re doing right and what they’re going on. These conversations are bringing all those things into the table, and we’ll land on the right side.
Reporter: Asked about HBIA:
Buckner: So good question. I think what was passed last Thursday or Wednesday, whenever it was in Congress, does make things difficult for that program, for sure. Lawyers much smarter than me, I’m a lawyer, but not a good one, so lawyers much smarter than me are parsing through it to see what it means. As we finish up the many conversations, it’s really just about fine tuning everything to make sure that we have done all we can to serve as many people as we can. […]
Reporter: Have you talked about hemp regulation as a means of generating revenue?
Buckner: That has been a part of the conversation. Folks have talked about what that will look like in this budget. I don’t know that it’s something that’s gonna be able to happen in the next 48 hours.
Criminal justice advocates, however, are hoping that the Illinois legislature also will pass five proposed bills they’ve long advocated for on the behalf of imprisoned and formerly incarcerated people. They are encouraging Illinois residents to call their state representative or senator to vote ‘yes’ on these measures that would do things such as restore voting rights to the currently incarcerated and create a fund to help people with housing and employment after release from prison. […]
The Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act, also known as SB1733, would give all people who are incarcerated in Illinois prisons the right to vote in local and federal elections. It would also require Illinois prisons to provide civic education courses to people serving time in prison. […]
The Clean Slate Illinois Coalition (CSIC), which is leading the effort, aims to streamline expungement and record sealing statewide.
For many impacted by the criminal justice system, the stigma of a conviction doesn’t end once their sentence is complete. A criminal record creates barriers to housing, jobs, and more.
* Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Chamber, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and others…
Illinois’ business community is united in opposition to proposed legislation that would drastically expand Illinois’ jurisdictional reach. House Amendment #2 to SB 26 would expose out-of-state companies to lawsuits in Illinois courts—even when the underlying claims and parties have no connection to the state.
“This last-minute request of trial lawyers represents a significant and concerning expansion of liability for out-of-state businesses operating in Illinois. The amendment would change Illinois from a ‘specific jurisdiction’ to a ‘general jurisdiction’ state, making any company simply registered to do business here subject to lawsuits that have no connection to Illinois—filed by plaintiffs who may have no ties to our state, on matters that occurred elsewhere. This proposal is rooted in the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., which opened the door for states to adopt so-called ‘consent-by-registration’ laws. While the Court found such laws do not violate due process, the decision left it to individual states to determine their own approach. Illinois should be cautious about taking a path that could make our courts a national magnet for toxic tort litigation. When similar legislation passed in New York last year, it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul, who recognized the risks of such a sweeping policy. We urge lawmakers to reject this amendment and instead support policies that promote fairness, protect due process, and encourage businesses to invest and grow in Illinois.”
*** Statehouse News ***
* Illinois Answers | ‘Granny flats’ are illegal to build in most of Chicago —and political gridlock is keeping it that way.: As Chicago leaders sit on their hands, proposals to permit ADU construction across Illinois are gaining support in Springfield, where lawmakers are pushing their own measures. Adding to the momentum is Gov. JB Pritzker, who recently endorsed ADUs as a tool to increase the state’s stock of affordable housing. “Think about carriage houses,” Pritzker said in an April 30 episode of the Volts podcast after an interviewer asked the governor about his housing agenda. “We’ve got neighborhoods where people are not allowed to have those as separate dwellings — or just the idea that we can, if we make a few tweaks here and there, we can significantly increase the amount of housing with the existing housing stock.”
* Tribune | Chicago Bears and Gov. JB Pritzker have quietly hired outside consultants for stadium talks: The state’s yearlong contract, set to expire in mid-June, was signed with Argeris’ previous employer, international law firm Hogan Lovells. […] Argeris’ role has involved meeting with Bears representatives, analyzing the team’s proposals and breaking down how they would affect Illinois taxpayers, according to the Pritzker administration. He also has advised the governor’s office on how the state could potentially generate revenue from a stadium project.
* NPR Illinois | Senator tries last-ditch push to boost horse-racing industry in Illinois: In the backstretch of the legislative session, horse racing advocates are pushing to revitalize the industry in Illinois and its accompanying horse betting, both long in decline. City officials from Decatur and Illinois horse racing advocates joined an effort this week by Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, to push lawmakers to approve legislation intended to revive a long-stalled south suburban “racino” and open a path for a new racetrack and gaming facility in Decatur.
*** Chicago ***
* Block Club Chicago | Chicago Museums And Libraries Feel Sting Of Trump Funding Cuts: As Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown wrote in a statement shared with Block Club, efforts to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services are not just cutting a budget, but “dismantling the future of public libraries.” Patrick Molloy, director of government and public affairs for the Chicago Public Library system, said IMLS funding has been crucial in launching programs like the YOUmedia teen digital learning spaces, the public Maker Labs at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., and other branches and the Summer Learning Challenge.
* ABC Chicago | Canadian wildfire smoke headed toward Chicago: Warmer temperatures are forecasted to settle in on Friday and through the weekend. Martinez said smoke and hazy skies are expected to roll in to the Chicago area late morning into the early afternoon. So far, no air quality alerts have been issued. ABC7 meteorologists will track the smoke and keep viewers updated.
* NBC Chicago | Ticket information released for Pope Leo XIV celebration at Rate Field: According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, those tickets will go on sale Friday morning through Ticketmaster, though ticket prices were not released. The seating map appears to have tickets available in all sections of the ballpark, in addition to floor-level seating on the field. According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV will address the crowd via a video message during the event. The message will be aimed at “the young people of the world,” and will make its broadcast debut during the event, officials said.
* NYT | Chicago Museum Director to Return to Work After Airplane Incident: The board leadership “is confident in James Rondeau’s leadership and ability to continue as the president and director,” the museum said in a statement. […] “I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and on my colleagues,” Rondeau said in a statement. “I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission.”
* Sun-Times | New opera honors the Black women of the Civil Rights Movement: In Montgomery, Alabama, a statue of Rosa Parks stands just blocks from the State Capitol. At her feet, granite markers memorialize four other women, but the monument offers little else about them. These women have largely been forgotten, until now. The lesser-known figures who powered the Civil Rights Movement are the subject of a brand-new opera, set to make its world premiere next week in Chicago.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Herald | Fermilab closing Batavia entrance for construction: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is closing its Batavia-side public entrance on Monday because of a construction project. The Pine Street entrance is being closed as the lab builds a Welcome and Access Center, which is expected to open later this year. Visitors can enter on the east side of the lab via Batavia Road in Warrenville. The entrance is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, public visitors are only allowed on the grounds from sunrise to sunset.
* NBC Chicago | Lutheran school in west suburbs to close after 159 years: The school announced in January it was closing after 159 years, citing lack of enrollment and financial support. It first opened its doors on the east side of Aurora before moving to its current location 16 years ago at 85 S. Constitution Dr. “We’ve been struggling the last couple of years, and I think it was just a different time for our school to happen,” teacher and interim principal Mikala Perino said.
* USA Today | Second federal court blocks Trump tariffs, this time for Illinois toy importers: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from collecting tariffs from a pair of Illinois toy importers, the second court in two days to nullify President Donald Trump’s top strategy for trade deals. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered the administration May 29 not to collect tariffs from Learning Resources and hand2mind based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, while the case is litigated. He paused the impact of his ruling to give the government two weeks to appeal his decision.
* Daily Southtown | Big Catch group’s first female Angler of the Year ‘blessed with talent I didn’t know I had’: Paula Stovall, 62, of Country Club Hills, became the first female to win Angler of the Year in the Big Catch Angler Association, a south-suburban organization which was established in 2004. Her “Pops” would be proud. Stovall was presented with the award in front of friends and family on her birthday, April 13, at a BCAA meeting in Chicago Heights.
*** Downstate ***
* WCIA | As Champaign Co. prepares to discuss a solar proposal, residents voice concerns: Thursday night, the Champaign County Zoning Board of Appeals will discuss a solar project and could give a recommendation of support or denial for the proposal to eventually continue onto the Champaign County Environment and Land Use Committee. For the neighbors by Bryarfield Court, they vote a big “no” on the project, and they’ve been very vocal about that stance.
* WSIL | Marion honors tornado victims with Tower Square bell ceremony: The tornado began just outside of Cambria and carved a destructive path through Route 13 directly into Marion. It left a lasting impact on the community by ravaging shopping centers, businesses, homes, and apartments. On that tragic day, 10 individuals lost their lives and 136 were injured. Many residents faced the challenge of rebuilding after losing their homes and businesses.
* WSIL | Carbondale’s SIH Memorial Hospital earns top maternity care honor again: “We’re proud to be named a Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report,” said SIH Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Harre. “It’s a powerful reflection of the skill and dedication of our entire Birthing Center team-especially our nurses, laborists, neonatologists and support staff who provide expert, compassionate care every day.” SIH Memorial Hospital excelled in key quality measures related to uncomplicated pregnancy care, such as C-section rates and unexpected newborn complications.
* Journal Courier | State fair box office opening up next week: Those who arrive on the first day of in-person sales will receive one free adult admission ticket to the fair for every concert or event ticket purchased. The first 50 in-person customers will receive free State Fair Foodie Passes, which contain gift certificates for food items throughout the fair. Discounted Mega Passes will be available at the Emmerson Building or online and give fairgoers unlimited access to rides in the Carnival Midway and Adventure Village.
*** National ***
* Gallup | Record Party Divide 10 Years After Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: Democrats’ support has risen to 88%, the record high for this group by one percentage point. Independents’ backing for same-sex marriage has been relatively stable in recent years and currently stands at 76%, one point shy of the record high. At the same time, Republicans’ support, which peaked at 55% in 2021 and 2022, has gradually edged down to 41%, the lowest point since 2016 after the Obergefell decision. The current 47-point gap between Republicans and Democrats is the largest since Gallup first began tracking this measure 29 years ago.
* Thrifty Traveler | Exclusive: US Airlines Are Quietly Hitting Solo & Biz Travelers with Higher Fares: Since we published that story, we’ve searched through hundreds of fares and found plenty of examples that prove it: All three of the country’s largest carriers (American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta) are penalizing solo travelers with higher ticket prices than you can book when traveling with a group – sometimes, significantly higher. It’s not exactly widespread – you won’t see it on each and every route – but it’s undeniable. And while it’s unclear how long this pricing tactic has been utilized, it doesn’t really matter: Whether it’s been just days, months, or even years, it’s something that few everyday travelers may realize is happening … or how much it might be costing them.
* NOTUS | The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says his “Make America Healthy Again” Commission report harnesses “gold-standard” science, citing more than 500 studies and other sources to back up its claims. Those citations, though, are rife with errors, from broken links to misstated conclusions. Seven of the cited sources don’t appear to exist at all.
The Senate voted on Thursday to block California’s first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, moving to kill the country’s most aggressive effort to transition toward electric vehicles as President Donald Trump’s administration has doubled down on fossil fuels.
The measure overturning the rule now goes to the White House, where Trump is expected to sign it, along with two other resolutions that would block California rules curbing tailpipe emissions in certain vehicles and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from trucks. All three measures were approved by the Senate on Thursday and by the House earlier this month.
At the heart of the controversy is whether the air pollution waiver that the EPA granted to California last year qualifies as a “rule” under the [1996 Congressional Review Act]. Both the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan oversight agency, and the Senate parliamentarian, a nonpartisan appointee tasked with interpreting congressional rules and procedures, issued advisory opinions earlier this year saying that it doesn’t. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah appeared to agree with this interpretation: A one-pager on a bill he proposed to repeal California’s waiver said that the exemptions “cannot be reviewed under the Congressional Review Act because the waiver granted by EPA is not a rule as that term is defined in the CRA.”
The Senate essentially overruled its parliamentarian.
California has already announced that it will sue to maintain its waiver, charging that the Senate had no authority to overturn it. But the Senate operates largely on precedent, and now that the parliamentarian has been disregarded on this point, virtually any action the executive branch takes could be construed as a rule, and therefore subject to fast-track congressional review.
For this reason, Democrats could subject the Senate to time-consuming resolution votes repeatedly, to such a degree that the Senate would not have time to do anything else for the rest of this session of Congress. In other words, Democrats could respond to the waiver vote by paralyzing the Senate, and stopping the giant Trump tax bill from ever reaching the floor.
* I sent that story to Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s office and asked for a comment…
Senator Duckworth has made clear she is ready and eager to use all possible levers in the Senate to prevent Trump and Republicans from enacting their agenda that will devastate middle-class Americans.
That said, what Republicans showed with bypassing the Parliamentarian is that they are willing to change the rules whenever, and however, it best suits them.
So while this option could be effective, the Senator is under no illusions that so long as Senate Republicans remain unified in their willingness to be little more than a spineless conference of rubberstamps for Donald Trump, Republicans will not hesitate to simply change the rules again.
Villivalam’s bill includes a 10% tax on rideshare trips originating from or ending in Chicago, Cook County and the five collar counties that make up the transit corridor. The city’s rideshare tax already hits all single-rider trips with a $1.13 fee and shared rides at a 53-cent clip, with additional surcharges based on the time and location of the trip.
A surcharge of up to 50 cents would be added to the rate motorists pay on the Illinois Tollway system within the metropolitan region in Villivalam’s version.
The bill would also extend an existing $1.50 per $500 surcharge on property sales in Chicago dedicated to the CTA in Cook County and the collar counties.
Despite early opposition from trade unions, the proposal would dedicate the interest earned on monies in the state’s so-called Road Fund to transit capital spending. The fund captures transportation-related taxes in a lock box and currently allocates 80% of its spending to highway and road projects and 20% to transit.
The measure, filed late Wednesday night, features a new menu of revenue sources to help keep buses and trains running that include an electric vehicle charging station fee, a tollway surcharge and extending money rideshare fees and real estate transfer tax to the Cook County suburbs and collar counties.
It also calls for some of the interest earned on the state’s road fund to go toward transit capital projects, and bars Metra from its past practice of redirecting operating revenue toward capital efforts. The revenue plan also anticipates cost savings from overhauling transit governance, as outlined in the measure released Wednesday morning.
The measure also changes the current formulas used to distribute money among CTA, Metra and Pace. For the first three years, transit agencies will get a baseline amount of money equal to the public funding and COVID-19 relief funding in the 2025 budget, with additional cash based on passenger- and mileage-related metrics. After that, the baseline will continue and additional money will be based on new service standards.
* Subscribers were also told this morning about this harsh press release from DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, a Democrat and former state legislator…
This plan plays Robin Hood…taxes DuPage and gives to unelected bureaucrats at the transit agencies.
The Senate “solution” is no solution at all. The Senate plan steals $72 million dollars in DuPage tax revenue, imposes a local real estate transfer tax with no oversight from the county, and taxes suburban commuters. If passed as written, DuPage County will be forced into massive layoffs, crippling our ability to provide safe streets and neighborhoods for our nearly 1 million residents. The Senate plan decimates our Sheriff’s patrols, State’s Attorneys, Public Defenders and Probation Officers. DuPage will have less ability to feed the hungry, provide services to families facing domestic violence and homelessness. Programs for our seniors and disabled residents would end.
Slashing RTA Sales Tax
• FY 2025 General Fund is $257.1
• RTA sales tax is $72 million
• If we raised the DuPage County property tax to the legal cap in 2024/collected in 2025, we would raise only an additional $3.5 million.
• We cannot raise taxes enough to replace this lost DuPage revenue. This is a cash grab from the suburbs, plain and simple.
RETT
• Increases the tax on selling a home 6 fold in DuPage
• Would take an estimated $25.8 Million in revenue in DuPage County and give it to unelected bureaucrats at the transit agencies. (based on FY24 home sales)
Tollway
• Would add $0.50 cents on all tolls.
• Shortchanges Infrastructure spending and puts people at risk.
• Takes money from suburban commuters to pay for a system they are not using.
*** UPDATE *** Frances Orenic of the Illinois AFL-CIO told the Senate Transportation Committee today that unions have “major concerns with the revenue proposals that are in there.” Mary Tyler, the Transportation Director for the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, also voiced concerns.
Marc Poulos with Operating Engineers Local 150 then put the proposal on blast. Excerpt…
We strongly oppose any transit governance reform legislation that lacks a dedicated and sustainable revenue source. Restructuring oversight without addressing funding issues is both irresponsible and counterproductive.
There is significant concern regarding proposals to impose a surcharge on Illinois toll roads to subsidize public transit. Tollway revenues are legally designed for Tollway related projects. Reallocating these funds would violate bond covenance, jeopardizing investor confidence and inviting legal challenges. This proposal is inequitable, as suburban drivers would effectively subsidize urban transit systems such as the CTA, in addition to tolls they already pay. It is unreasonable to expect public support for future toll increases, diverting current revenue for unrelated purposes. We advocate for comprehensive statewide transportation strategies focused on genuine investment, rather than mere governance rearrangement. This critique of utilizing Tollway funds for transit can be summarized as robbing Peter to pay Paul. These are concerns that a Tollway surcharge could deter drivers, ultimately diminishing funding for both roads and transit infrastructure. The surcharge would jeopardize public support for long term infrastructure initiatives, such as a 10 year Move Illinois capital program. We endorse increased investment of public transit to mitigate the impending fiscal cliff. Additionally, we oppose proposals that threaten the integrity of the toll system without offering a permanent solution.
I’ll just take a moment to just touch on a couple of the other potential revenue sources in here, and we are in opposition to those as well.
I’ll start with the first one, which is the sales tax diversion. So you have to understand at least a little bit of the history behind this. So roughly 17 years ago, we had a proposal here in Springfield to raise the sales tax that extended to the collar counties. That was, in fact, done. However, as part of that negotiation, there was not full hamstringing of that to be used just for transit. It was also able to be used for roads as well as public safety. There are a number of the collar counties that use it for just that and legally use it for that. Unfortunately, this, on day one, pulls the rug out from underneath them and undercuts their particular budget, which is a major concern of the five collar counties.
I’ll end with two other ones, the real estate transfer tax. We saw this as being a problematic proposition in the City of Chicago just last summer. We’re now offering that as a solution as well, but I will tell you that is not being offered as a solution for operations, which is our concern, that is being offered as a solution to transit oriented development.
I’ll go back to the Tollway. If you read the language in the bill, that is also dedicated for transit related development, not for operations, which is the impending fiscal cliff.
And I will close with the fact that we are also looking at a rideshare to pay for this as well. Albeit we don’t really have a particular position on whether or not that is good or not. But I think bringing the folks from rideshare into a room to figure out how that would work, whether there would be a preemption of current things at the local level or not, I think is probably a good idea.
We also appreciate the time spent by many over the last 18 months trying to solve this problem. But I just don’t think we’re there yet.
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
A last-minute provision called the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) was snuck into the budget process last May and will create chaos for small businesses and consumers across Illinois if it takes effect on July 1, 2025.
The IFPA gives corporate mega-stores like Walmart and Home Depot — who pushed for this backroom deal — millions more in profits, while small business owners get new expenses and accounting headaches. What’s more, consumers could be forced to pay for parts of their transactions in cash if this law moves forward.
A recent court ruling in the litigation challenging the law suggests IFPA is likely pre-empted by federal law for national banks and will only apply to credit unions and local Illinois banks, putting local banks at a disadvantage against their national competitors.
Illinois lawmakers should repeal the IFPA and focus on protecting small businesses and consumers across the state — not lining the pockets of corporate mega-stores.
Despite facing legislative hurdles, Democrats on an Illinois House committee voted to push forward a bill that would let terminally ill patients request life-ending medication.
The legislation, which needs approval from the state House, Senate and governor’s office, would legalize the prescription of life-ending drugs.[…]
In Illinois, however, legislation approving medical aid in dying has struggled to gain support within the General Assembly’s Democratic supermajority.
“This is an incredibly difficult issue for me and my district,” state Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, said before the committee’s vote. “ I will be a yes [on the bill] now, I cannot commit to being a yes on the floor [of the House of Representatives].”
* G-PAC…
The Gun Violence Prevention PAC of Illinois (G-PAC), the state’s leading gun safety organization, joined with lawmakers today to applaud the General Assembly’s passage of Safe At Home to protect more children and at-risk and prohibited people from accessing guns in Illinois.
House members voted 69-40 late Wednesday to pass Safe At Home (Senate Bill8) led by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and sponsoring Representatives Maura Hirschauer and Kevin Olickal. Safe At Home now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk for consideration. […]
SB 8 would better promote responsible gun ownership in Illinois by enhancing what it means to safely store weapons and strengthening reporting requirements for lost and stolen guns. Working together, these safety measures will protect more children, at-risk and prohibited people from accessing deadly weapons, targeting an increasing number of instances of accidental shootings, suicide, mass shootings, and crime and violence in Illinois communities. […]
Provisions of Safe At Home include:
- Outlines improved safe storage requirements in homes where a minor, at-risk person, or someone prohibited from using firearms could gain access to them.
- Changes definition of “minor” to a person under 18 years of age (military and national guard excluded).
- Adds civil penalties associated with the failure to safely secure firearms; at first violation, courts may impose community service or restitution.
- Strengthens requirement for reporting a lost or stolen firearm from 72 to 48 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft.
- Requires education for gun owners of the obligation to report a lost or stolen firearm at the time of firearm purchase and FOID/CCL application and renewal process.
- Requires ISP to create a portal for law enforcement to report individuals who have failed to report the loss or theft of a firearm.
- Imposes penalty of revocation of FOID card on second violation for failure to report lost and stolen firearms.
Legislation that would authorize a race track and casino in Decatur has cleared the starting gate, but continued opposition from a key player in the gaming industry could keep it from reaching the finish line before lawmakers wrap up their spring legislative session later this week.
Senate Bill 1473, sponsored by state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, passed unanimously out of the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday. However, some members would not commit to supporting the legislation on the floor amid a dispute between the bill’s proponents and Hawthorne Race Course in suburban Chicago.
The friction could effectively punt the issue to later this year, a delay that could push back a privately funded $150 million project in Decatur that proponents say is “shovel-ready.”
And it could further imperil the state’s horse racing industry, which has taken a beating in recent years due to factors that included competition from neighboring states and closure of marquee racetracks like Arlington Park.
Legislation that would require Illinois public libraries to have life-saving medications on hand for people experiencing opioid overdoses and provide staff training has unanimously passed the Illinois Senate and is now on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.
The legislation, House Bill 1910, was proposed by a high school student in Elgin. It would require all Illinois public libraries to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists like naloxone — a nasal spray that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose with virtually no side effects — and have at least one staff member working at all operating hours who is trained in administering the medication.
Illinois Math and Science Academy senior Jordan Henry brought the idea for the bill to Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, after volunteering with harm reduction organizations and researching effective responses to opioid substance abuse.
“It’s a good example of how anyone can change public policy if they work at it and are dedicated and have a passion,” Moeller said. Moeller first met Henry while door-knocking one summer, and after discussing Henry’s idea for the bill, worked together with her to draft and introduce it in the spring legislative session.
In 2024, carbon sequestration was legalized in Illinois with multiple concerns raised by farmers and GOP members. On Wednesday, state Democrats passed a plan in hopes to quell some of those concerns.
The proposal would give compensation to land owners if their property has been disturbed by the construction of a carbon capture pipe. Property owners could receive compensation if their crops, trees, fences, shrubs, livestock or other objects were damaged during construction.
“This bill further clarifies just compensation for land owners and gives further protection for surface owners in case their land is hurt or destroyed n the process of laying down a pipeline,” state Sen Laura Fine (D-Glenview) said on the Senate floor.
When called for a vote, the plan passed unanimously out of the Illinois Senate. The legislation will now head to the House floor for further debate.
Illinois legislators on Wednesday passed a law to explicitly prevent police from ticketing and fining students for minor misbehavior at school, ending a practice that harmed students across the state.
The new law would apply to all public schools, including charters. It will require school districts, beginning in the 2027-28 school year, to report to the state how often they involve police in student matters each year and to separate the data by race, gender and disability. The state will be required to make the data public.
The legislation comes three years after a ProPublica and Chicago Tribune investigation, “The Price Kids Pay,” revealed that even though Illinois law bans school officials from fining students directly, districts skirted the law by calling on police to issue citations for violating local ordinances. […]
The legislation passed the House 69-44. It passed in the Senate last month 37-17 and now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, who previously has spoken out against ticketing students at school. A spokesperson said Wednesday night that he “was supportive of this initiative” and plans to review the bill.
A proposal to ban some rental junk fees passed the Illinois Senate Executive committee on Wednesday.
Junk fees that would be banned include fees that are put alongside an application fee, a lease renewal fee, eviction notice or eviction fee, routine or after hours maintenance fee, contacting a landlord fee, a maintenance hotline fee, a fee to inspect a unit and a fee to setup an online utility account.
Advocates say they’ve listed these specific junk fees because they’ve heard some Illinoisans have experienced at least one of these fees.
Originally the bill would ban move-in fees, but changed after behind the scenes negotiations. Now the proposal would not allow a landlord to charge a security deposit and move-in fee. However, when a landlord chooses the latter, the move in fee must not be more than 20% of the first full month of rent. […]
The bill passed out of the Illinois Senate Executive committee on a partisan 9-4 vote. Now this plan will head to the Senate floor where lawmakers could talk about it before the end of session.
* Subscribers were briefed on the Senate transit revenue plan this morning. The House’s transit bill fact sheet…
NORTHERN ILLINOIS TRANSIT AUTHORITY (NITA) TO REPLACE THE RTA
• The strengthened regional agency is tasked with coordinating service, planning, and funding across the region.
• The Service Boards remain independent agencies, primarily tasked with operating and managing the public transportation service for the region. This will include:
o Overseeing all existing employees under a collective bargaining agreement and hiring any new employees.
o Participating in planning and coordination of certain functions overseen by the Authority.
o Capital maintenance projects.
NITA WILL BE A STRENGTHENED REGIONAL AGENCY COMPARED TO THE RTA
• Fares and Coordinated Fare Collection: NITA shall have the sole authority to set and coordinate fares; however, all fare revenue will go back to the Service Board that provided the service.
• Budget and Financial Plan: NITA is charged with developing an annual budget, in which the Service Boards shall review and provide input for the Authority’s consideration prior to final adoption.
• Capital planning & programming: NITA shall have the authority to develop the 5-year capital program, using a defined prioritization process; the Service Boards will submit projects for consideration in the program. NITA will manage large-scale, infrastructure expansion, and multiple-service board infrastructure projects, while Service Boards will be assigned infrastructure renewal, routine maintenance, vehicle overhaul projects, and others as deemed necessary by the Authority.
• Service Planning and Service Standards: using defined Service Standards to be developed in the coming years, NITA will develop a regionally coordinated service plan that describes all service to be provided in the coming year or years, with Service Boards submitting proposed service plans; NITA will ultimately evaluate service based on performance standards.
BOARD CHANGES
• New board structure: more than half of the boards of the Service Boards are made up of NITA board members, to guarantee improved coordination and a regional vision across all boards.
• Changes related to RTA board and all Service Board member requirements:
o All boards will have 5-year terms.
o New boards will be appointed and take affect February 1, 2026 – with existing board members eligible to be reappointed.
• Board member qualifications: new language added that requires board members for NITA and all service boards to have relevant experience, including having backgrounds in urban and regional planning, management of large capital projects, labor and workforce development, business management, public administration, transportation, and community organizations.
• NITA Board training: Required to complete annual training on financial management and procurement laws, policies, and procedures.
ACCOUNTABILITY
• Require Performance Audits: the Auditor General shall conduct an independent performance audit of the Authority and Service Boards every 5 years.
• Create Chief internal Auditor: created within NITA to lead internal audits to proactively assess compliance with statutory mandates across the regional authority and service boards.
• Oversight of Service Board Executive Directors: Service board ED must be approved by the NITA board, must report to the NITA Board for annual performance reviews, and the NITA board has the authority to vote to remove a service board ED for just cause or failure to comply with plans implemented by the Authority.
• Farebox Recovery Ratio: reduced to 25% for first 3 years and if the Authority fails to reach this, funds will be withheld. Beginning January 1, 2029, the farebox recovery ratio reduces to 20% and becomes a performance measure; if the ratio falls below 20% for 2 consecutive years, the Authority must report to the General Assembly and consider strategies to achieve this ratio.
SAFETY
• NITA Law Enforcement Task Force: The Cook County Sheriff’s Office shall establish a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of officers from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago PD, Metra Police, IL State Police, and other local law enforcement departments. The Task Force shall be dedicated to crime mitigation and NITA public transportation systems.
• Sworn Officer Crime Prevention Program: taking into account recommendations from the Task Force, NITA shall vote to implement a sworn law enforcement crime prevention program and crime prevention plan within 1 year of the effective date of the bill.
• Office of Transit Safety and Experience: NITA shall establish a new safety office, which will coordinate with the Authority, law enforcement agencies, workers, and riders to implement safety strategies. The Director of the Office shall be a full-time Chief Transit Safety Officer, who must formerly have been a sworn law-enforcement officer.
• Coordinated Safety Response Council: crated under the Office of Transit Safety and Experience, this Council shall be made up of representatives from Service Boards, labor, law enforcement officers, social service providers, and others. The council shall be ongoing and charged with overseeing safety policies and programs.
• Bus Shields: shall be installed by January 1, 2028 and future procurements of new fixed-route buses shall consider security barriers and safety.
• Transit Ambassadors: transit ambassador program will be implemented to increase safety for passengers and personnel, provide passenger education and assistance, and aid in navigation
of the system.
FUNDING DISTRIBUTION CHANGES
• Formula Changes: existing formulas will no longer be used and funding will be distributed under a new process, described below.
• New funding process for first 3 years: for the first 3 years, all service boards will receive a baseline level of funding equal to all public funding plus federal relief funding as used in the RTA’s 2025 budget; any funding above will be distributed based on vehicle revenue miles, passenger miles traveled, and unlinked passenger trips.
• Service standards begin 2029: all service boards will continue to receive a baseline level of funding equal to all public funding plus federal relief funding as used in the RTA’s 2025 budget, and beyond that any funding above will be distributed based on service standards.
OTHER CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS
• Fast track capital projects: NITA will be given the Authority to use a fast-track process for certain capital projects that are over $250 million, pending certain approvals. This process will increase the speed of coordination with local governments and utilities.
• IDOT Transit Coordination: a Transit Integration Policy Development Committee and Transit Coordination Oversight Officer will be created within IDOT to better integrate transit policy, planning, and design into IDOT decisions, planning, and design.
• Pedestrian access to transit: new language that would require local governments to include the addition of sidewalks/concrete boarding pads when a project is constructed or reconstructed within 500 feet of bus service or a transit stop; local government would be eligible to submit the cost of these improvements to NITA for reimbursement, with certain exceptions.
• Enforcement of bus lanes/stops: NITA to work with local governments and law enforcement agencies to improve enforcement of transit facilities and accept evidence from cameras and other sensors on buses and facilities ad evidence of violation of law; NITA can implement its own enforcement policy and process if needed.
• Regional Dial-a-Ride Program: NITA is instructed to hire a third party to evaluate existing dial-a-ride services across the region and offer recommendations for coordinated service across the region.
• Responsible Bidder Requirements: NITA shall implement responsible bidder measures to ensure the safest, most qualified contractor is hired to perform the work on behalf of the taxpayers.
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED CHANGES
• Transit Oriented Development: NITA will have the authority to acquire, construct, own, and/or operate residential and commercial properties within ½ a mile of public transportation station or 1/8 mile of bus stops. They can also enter into contracts and agreements related to these properties. This opens the potential to generate new revenue from nearby developments and ensure transit-friendly development.
• Property Inventory: NITA shall create an inventory of all property owned by the Authority or Service Boards to identify lands that could allow for development under the above TOD provision.
• Transit-Supportive Development Incentive Program: NITA may create a new program and authorize funding to support investment in transit-supportive residential and commercial development, grants to local government for laws intended to encourage transit supportive development, and increased transit services.
• Parking restrictions near transit lines: new language prohibits local governments from imposing a parking minimum within ½ mile of a public transportation hub (multiple transit stops); a developer of a project can voluntarily provide as many parking spots as they would like, but a local government can’t require a minimum.
* An outline of the new transit governance in the House’s bill…
…Adding… The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
Representative Eva-Dina Delgado has introduced SB2111 (House Amendment 001) and Senator Ram Villivalam has introduced HB3438 (Senate Amendment 002)–monumental legislation that would implement significant reforms to Northeast Illinois’ broken transit system to make it safer, cleaner, and more reliable. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition released the following statement, urging the Illinois General Assembly to fix and fund mass transit by the end of the spring legislative session:
“The reforms in SB2111 and HB3438 take long-overdue steps to ensure transit agencies deliver a coordinated, cost-efficient regional transit service so that Illinoisans have access to safe, reliable, and affordable transit for generations to come. Along with these critical reforms, it is imperative the General Assembly takes action simultaneously to generate $1.5 billion in new funding for expanded transit service.
“We support the funding proposals in HB3438 that responsibly and equitably generate resources for transit. Those resources, along with the reforms in SB2111 and HB3438, will improve safety and rider experience, better integrate service across Metra, Pace, and the CTA, including moving to one fare to ride the entire system, and increase the frequency and speed of service across the region. These reforms will connect Illinoisans to job opportunities, doctor’s appointments, and educational resources, and take significant steps toward building the world-class transit system Illinoisans deserve.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the House, Senate, Governor Pritzker, and other stakeholders to finalize the reforms in SB2111 and HB3438 and pair them with a $1.5 billion investment right now. Offering safe, reliable, high-functioning transit options to all Illinoisans is essential if we are to reduce emissions from our transportation system, now Illinois’ largest source of carbon emissions.”
…Adding… Presidents of Civic Committee of Commercial Club of Chicago and Civic Federation…
“We are strongly encouraged by the public transit reform legislation introduced today and advancing through the Illinois General Assembly. Transit is essential to the Chicago region’s economy, businesses, livability, and future growth.
This legislation creates a governance framework that prioritizes safety, service, consolidation, modernization, accountability, and effective governance. If applied with rigor, it could lead to the desired future of an integrated, accountable regional system that fosters economic growth and opportunity in a manner expected of our world-class urban region. This is not to say that the work is done—improvements to oversight and efficiencies among others, are still needed—but the legislation maintains a fair regional balance and avoids the gridlock caused by overly burdensome voting thresholds that have historically impeded fiscally responsible decisions.
The proposed funding avoids service cuts and supports system improvements by relying on existing revenues and other transportation-related funding that have a close nexus to transit. As the package moves toward final passage, it’s critical that the strong policy reforms and transportation-focused revenue provisions remain intact.
We commend Senator Villivalam, Representatives Delgado and Buckner, Speaker Welch, President Harmon, Governor Pritzker, and their staffs for their leadership. Given transit’s essential role in our regional economy and daily life, we’re hopeful this balanced reform and revenue package crosses the finish line this week.”
…Adding… Sen. Don DeWitte…
Good morning Rich, I appreciated your including my quote regarding the Cook County City of Chicago takeover of the RTA in today’s ewsletter. However, after reading through Senator Villavalum’s amendment in the Senate, I must modify my previous statement. This is not just a Cook County City of Chicago takeover, this is now a Cook County City of Chicago, governor’s office take over. Please see Paige 194 line 9 in Senator Villivalam’s amendment. It’s specifies one of the governors appointments to the new board will be the chairman.
* More…
* Crain’s | New bill would overhaul RTA and curb mayor’s control of CTA: Legislation filed in the Illinois House of Representatives would overhaul the Regional Transportation Authority, giving the organization a new name and more control over the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, which provide rail and bus service across the city and suburbs. The bill, introduced by state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, is a modified version of legislation backed by labor groups that would leverage and reshape the existing RTA, rather than creating a new transit agency from scratch.
* Tribune | Lawmakers file transit reform bill, but don’t yet address fiscal cliff: But the bill, filed just days before the scheduled adjournment of the spring legislative session, does not include a proposal for how those reforms will be funded as Chicago-area transit agencies face an impending $771 million fiscal cliff at the end of this year. Transit agencies have warned that they would have to dramatically slash service if legislators don’t find funding to plug the budget gap, which comes as COVID-19 relief funding runs out. The agencies have said they will need to start planning for those cuts soon, though lawmakers could punt the issue to later in the year.
* Sun-Times | Illinois lawmakers offer bill to address security, governance of mass transit around Chicago: “While we are making significant progress, conversations among colleagues, advocates, our workers and everyday riders are ongoing as we work to ensure that we provide viable, long-term solutions that will serve our region for decades — not just meet next year’s needs or temporarily fill a budget gap,” said state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, who has been a key negotiator on the issue.
*Daily Herald | Goodbye, RTA. Hello, NITA? Suburban lawmakers divided over new transit bill: “I think we really got a winner with this bill,” Democratic state Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines said. “We’re going to have a governing board that’s actually going to be in charge and make important changes.” Some suburban Republicans, however, raised alarms about the latest plan to fix transit. The legislation “appears to confirm our initial fears that this is a Chicago-Cook County takeover of regional transit funding and operations because the voting thresholds appear to be heavily skewed toward Cook County and the city of Chicago,” Republican state Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles said.
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Retailers like Jon enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
Larry Hoover took a big step toward freedom Wednesday.
But he’s not a free man.
That’s even after President Donald Trump commuted the life prison sentence of the 74-year-old co-founder of the Gangster Disciples, who’s been held for decades in the so-called supermax prison in Colorado.
Hoover still has a state-court murder sentence to serve. It’s not even clear if Hoover will leave federal prison. But Trump ordered him to be released “immediately.”
Only eight months ago, a judge seemingly dashed a mercy bid by asking Hoover’s attorneys “how many murders is he responsible for?” Now Hoover’s supporters are celebrating, and his attorneys are pressing for Gov. JB Pritzker to follow Trump’s lead and commute Hoover’s life sentence for murder in Illinois.
“The federal government has done its part,” Hoover attorney Justin Moore told the Chicago Sun-Times in a text message. “Now it’s time for the State of Illinois to finish the job.”
Hoover still faces the remainder of a 200-year state sentence for a 1973 Chicago murder. While in prison for that murder, federal prosecutors said Hoover, one of the founders of the Chicago Gangster Disciples, continued to oversee that gang.
Prosecutors said he was an organizational genius and ordered murders, beatings and drug deals while behind bars.
He was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to six life sentences in connection with those federal charges.
* I checked in with the governor’s office. They sent me some background…
—Hoover has a sentence from Illinois he needs to continue serving.
—If he wants to pursue parole or clemency, he would have to petition the Prisoner Review Board (PRB).
—PRB makes parole decisions. PRB makes clemency recommendations to the Governor.
—Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law. That includes our state justice system.
The story of Larry Hoover reflects the duality that defines so many of our communities; pain and possibility, harm and hope, esp. in the crucible of poverty, systemic neglect, and desperation.
The commutation of Mr. Hoover’s federal sentence is not a dismissal of past harm. It is a recognition that even in a deeply flawed system, we must make room for redemption, resurrection, and renewal.
Over the years, I’ve spoken w/his son, Larry Jr., and his wife, Winndye. Their unwavering commitment to healing their family and helping to restore our communities is a powerful reminder: we are not only the sum of our worst decisions …we are also our ability to grow, to evolve, and to lead others; not to erase the past, but to build a better future on top of it.
We must also name this truth plainly: the mercy shown to Larry Hoover by President Trump does not erase the policies Trump continues to champion…policies that reinforce the very conditions Hoover came out of. The same administration that offered one man a second chance also is doubling down on criminalization, disinvestment, & division that makes redemption harder for millions more. Mercy without justice is not a sustainable model.
And we have to talk honestly about our city. Chicago has a long and uncomfortable relationship with violence. In the affluent parts of my district, people pay hundreds of dollars to cosplay as gangsters and tour the places Al Capone shot up. H.H. Holmes is treated like a twisted folk hero. We commercialize bloodshed when it feels distant…when it’s old enough, clean enough, or romanticized enough. But when the pain is current and difficult, we categorize it differently. None of it should be normalized. Not the glorification. Not the erasure. Not the selective outrage.
This is bigger than one man. It’s about second chances; for Larry Hoover, yes, but also for the thousands like him still seeking a path forward and the communities that deserve healing.
Let’s approach this moment with the honesty, compassion, and courage it demands.
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The push to prioritize home care for seniors has overwhelming and growing support in the IL GA, with 30 Senators and 61 Representatives signed on, and counting!
* ICYMI: Pritzker threatens to veto any budget containing ‘broad-based’ tax increase. Capitol News Illinois…
- Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday he will not sign a budget that includes broad tax hikes to fund new spending as lawmakers are in the final hours of budget negotiations.
- Pritzker said he would specifically veto any budget that includes tax increases on individuals, corporations or the sales tax – the three largest sources of revenue in the state budget. Pritzker also ruled out a sales tax on services to provide new funding to the state.
- While Pritzker ruled out “broad-based” tax increases, it’s not clear whether he’d approve more targeted tax increases, particularly those that may not directly be paid by “working families.”
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.
* Governor Pritzker will honor Illinois law enforcement officers at the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony in Springfield at 1:00 am. Later, at 6:00 pm in Chicago, he will moderate a fireside chat with Senator Ron Wyden about the Senator’s new book. Click here to watch.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* WAND | Former Gov. Jim Edgar honored at Illinois State Library: “It’s a privilege to honor the legacy of Governor Jim Edgar – an incredible statesman, advocate and friend – for his career of service to our state and its citizens,” Giannoulias said. “The Jim Edgar Reading Room enshrines the former Governor and Secretary of State’s legacy and indelible contributions to our state’s library, which continue to have a profound impact throughout our state.”
* Crain’s | AMA urged to move medical board exams out of states that target abortion, gender care: In testimony submitted to the Chicago-based AMA, the attorneys general, including Illinois’ Kwame Raoul, argued that mandating in-person board certification testing in states that have aggressively criminalized or penalized reproductive and gender-affirming health care “endangers providers and threatens access to essential care nationwide.”
*** Statewide ***
* Sun-Times | Illinois doctors sound alarm on dropping COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for kids, pregnant women: Dr. Corinne Kohler, a family practice physician and president-elect of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, noted that the vaccine is not only intended to prevent severe illness but also to stop spread of the virus. “One of the other impacts in not immunizing, especially children, is that they are such a vector for viral diseases,” Kohler said. “When they’re not immunized, and even if they have mild or asymptomatic illness, they are still spreading it, especially to our vulnerable populations.
*** Statehouse News ***
* WGN | Lawmakers, groups rally against Medicaid cuts as state budget deadline looms: Elsewhere at the Capitol, Black interest groups and business owners, still reeling from the lack of diversity in the state’s legal cannabis industry, want Pritzker and the Democratic majority to make good on their economic access promises. “Political leaders who are vying for national offices need to demonstrate effective and equitable leadership here in Illinois,” said Creola Hampton with the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity.
* Business groups concerned about a possible Digital Ads Tax sent a letter to State Senators. Click here to read it.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Long-stalled Navy Pier marina opens: After more than a decade of political waves that nearly sunk a $16 million marina project, boaters will finally be able to dock at Navy Pier for as short as one hour or as long as two weeks. The privately funded marina with space for 150 vessels opened Wednesday thanks to the persistence of its founder and developer, Randy Podolsky. “For those of you who may not recognize me, it’s because I’ve aged quite a bit since this project started. … I had hair, and it was black in 2015 when this started,” Podolsky joked during Wednesday’s ceremony.
* Crain’s | Southwest Side health centers CEO resigns after 17 years: Esperanza, a Federally Qualified Health Center group, made the announcement today, saying Fulwiler served during “a transformative era for one of Chicago’s leading community health organizations.” Ryan Gadia, Esperanza’s chief financial officer since 2018, has been appointed interim CEO during the search process. The Esperanza board of directors has launched a national search for a permanent president and CEO, the organization said in a press release.
* WGN | Kinzinger talks Trump and his own future in Chicago speech: Kinzinger spoke with WGN ahead of a speech Wednesday evening in Chicago. Since leaving office, he has traveled the nation for his “Country First” political action committee, telling the story of being one of only two republicans to serve on the Jan. 6 Committee. Despite having a conservative voting record, Trump supporters branded him a “RINO,” which stands for “Republican In Name Only.”
* Sun-Times | Andy Austin, whose sketches brought Chicago’s biggest trials to the world outside the courtroom, has died at 89: Before Andy Austin became a top courtroom sketch artist in Chicago, she had to overcome an artistic crisis. She’d grown weary of fruit. Apples and oranges, to be exact. Ms. Austin was a stay-at-home mom who’d studied art before moving from Boston to Chicago for her husband’s job, and she was looking for more exciting subjects to sketch than the produce that sat on her dining-room table.
* WBEZ | ‘Matrix’ filmmaker Lilly Wachowski on making movies about trans identity and liberation: Bound will screen this weekend at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre’s Sapphopalooza film festival. Lilly Wachowski will attend the screening and participate in a postshow talkback. WBEZ spoke with Wachowski about why Bound still resonates with audiences 30 years later, what really inspired The Matrix and what it’s like for LGBTQ+ artists making films today amid an era of contraction in Hollywood.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Shaw Local | Mayor D’Arcy: Joliet having ‘renaissance’ as city rebrands itself as ‘a destination’: Before D’Arcy’s speech, Penn Entertaintment on Wednesday announced an Aug. 11 opening date for its new Hollywood Casino Joliet at Rock Run Collection, providing material that D’Arcy was able to use in describing the city’s advancement as a destination center. Downtown redevelopment includes the new city square that is expected to be completed by the end of this year. D’Arcy said the city also was focusing attention on the Louis Joliet Mall area, the city’s primary retail and restaurant district that could be supplanted by the Rock Run Collection project.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Will White appointed to vacant Aurora City Council alderman at-large seat: One of the two alderman at-large seats on the Aurora City Council was left vacant when John Laesch, who used to hold the position, was elected to be the city’s next mayor earlier this year. White, who is a 6th Ward resident, was appointed to the vacant seat by Laesch and approved by the City Council at its meeting Tuesday. “I’m very humble and blessed,” White told The Beacon-News on Wednesday. “I look to learn from those who are already alderpeople, and I’d like to see how I can best lend my services to the cause of moving Aurora forward.”
* Daily Herald | Schaumburg prohibits drones within 100 feet of village-owned property: The village’s decision follows a similar rule imposed by the Schaumburg Park District, Schaumburg Police Chief Bill Wolf said. The new regulations won’t prevent overhead photography, officials said. “It’s a safety thing, more than anything else,” Wolf explained.
* Naperville Sun | Police make firearm-related arrest No. 11 at Naperville Topgolf lot since early February: Officers were conducting a proactive patrol outside the 3211 Odyssey Court business when the odor of cannabis drew their attention to a specific area of the facility’s lot, Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow said. Looking inside a parked, unoccupied vehicle, they observed several open alcohol containers and a handgun in plain view beneath the driver’s seat, Krakow said.
*** Downstate ***
* WCIA | ‘They have to go somewhere’; Danville officials trying to regulate public camping, mitigate homelessness: Yates said the ordinance is meant to tackle a complex issue of balancing property owner’s rights and the struggles homeless people face. On the other hand, Dwelling Place Day Center — that provides weekly services to the homeless — said the ordinance isn’t a comprehensive plan since it doesn’t offer an alternative of where people can go if they’re not allowed to camp out in parks or public spaces.
* WGLT | ‘Realizing rights can be taken away’: Women organize first NOW chapter in Bloomington-Normal: Lindsey Delahunt is the president of Normal NOW, which officially launched this month with the group’s first member meeting. “NOW is a grassroots feminist group dedicated to advocacy, education and building a strong local network,” Delahunt said. “We hold monthly meetings, we’re going to participate in community events, and we organize around issues that matter — from reproductive justice to equal pay and LGBTQ rights.”
* WGLT | ‘An assault upon the promise of America’: NEA cancels literary grants affecting Normal-based Obsidian: A form letter obtained by WGLT said the NEA is “updating its grant making policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President.” Obsidian received support from the NEA for the past six consecutive years. Harris said they were counting on $25,000 awarded by the NEA earlier this year to pay contributors and editors for their upcoming edition, and cover production costs for the digital and print journal. A second $40,000 grant applied to Obsidian’s 50th anniversary journal, was nearly complete when it, too, was canceled.
*** National ***
* CBS | Court strikes down most of Trump’s tariffs, ruling them illegal: The ruling — issued by a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade — halted the sweeping 10% tariffs Mr. Trump assessed on virtually every U.S. trading partner on “Liberation Day” last month, with higher tariffs threatened for dozens of countries. The court also blocked a separate set of tariffs imposed on China, Mexico and Canada by the Trump administration, which has cited drug trafficking and illegal immigration as its reasoning for the hikes.
* WaPo | HHS cancels funding for Moderna to develop vaccines to combat bird flu: Under President Joe Biden, HHS had announced its intent last summer to award $176 million and then a subsequent $590 million in January to Moderna amid an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle. The virus has infected 70 people since last year, and federal health officials had previously described the effort as critical to strengthening the country’s pandemic preparedness. […] On Wednesday, Moderna announced that it had received positive interim data about immune response and safety from an early-stage clinical trial of roughly 300 healthy adults ages 18 and older. The move by HHS throws the future of the effort into uncertainty, and the company said it will explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of the vaccine.
* Mother Jones | Utah Study on Trans Youth Care Extremely Inconvenient for Politicians Who Ordered It: The consensus of the evidence supports that the treatments are effective in terms of mental health, psychosocial outcomes, and the induction of body changes consistent with the affirmed gender in pediatric [gender dysphoria] patients. The evidence also supports that the treatments are safe in terms of changes to bone density, cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic changes, and cancer…
* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
