* Sen. Bill Cunningham on the Score…

.@SenCunningham: "Working with the Bears has been frustrating from the beginning. They've pivoted between various plans."

Cunningham adds the Bears' more recent "backchannel discussions" with the city of Chicago "completely undermined their efforts in Springfield." pic.twitter.com/tAtsjtuX39

— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) June 2, 2026

Click here for Sen. Cunningham’s segment.

*** It’s Almost a Law ***

* Sun-Times | State lawmakers laud passage of bills protecting reproductive, gender-affirming care: The legislation removes hormone and abortion medications from the state’s prescription monitoring program, require insurers licensed in Illinois to cover at least six months of hormone prescriptions by 2028, and creates a framework for youth in foster care to have a say when they are being moved out of state.

* Crain’s | Drug discount bills pass after clash between hospitals, Big Pharma: Hospitals and drugmakers each claimed a piece of victory yesterday as Illinois lawmakers approved legislation preserving access to a lucrative federal drug discount program while launching a state audit of how providers use the savings. One bill blocks pharmaceutical manufacturers from taking any steps to limit eligibility or access to the discount program. The other bill requires an investigation of just how much benefit patients are getting from the program, as hospitals ratchet up use of the discounts. The main bill up for debate during the session, House Bill 2371, was championed by hospitals, health centers and pharmacies and opposed by pharmaceutical manufacturers and employers.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois lawmakers pass cellphone ban in classrooms: The bill now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, who has been a vocal advocate for limiting cellphone use in the classroom. It’s quite the turnaround in the Illinois state legislature, which failed to pass the bill in the state House of Representatives despite unanimous Senate approval during last year’s session. Cellphones aren’t the only devices the bill bars from the classroom — tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart watches are also banned. School-issued devices are exempt from the ban.

* WSJ | Illinois Lawmakers Pass Bill to Bar Private Equity Control of Law Firms: Illinois lawmakers approved a bill to prevent private-equity firms from influencing law firms, as more states consider limits on buyout deals in the legal field. The Illinois state Senate on Saturday passed House Bill 5487, which aims to strengthen state prohibitions on nonlawyers’ helping to manage law firms. The measure was passed by the state’s General Assembly in April and now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat. He has 60 days to sign or veto the legislation.

* Tribune | Illinois rideshare drivers could soon collectively bargain while Waymo self-driving car plan stalls: The Illinois model is similar to one approved by voters in Massachusetts, the first state where rideshare drivers won the right to bargain as independent contractors in 2024. Just days ago, Massachusetts also became the first state to formally recognize a union for ride-hailing app drivers, a certification covering roughly 70,000 workers that labor leaders described as the largest private-sector organizing win since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941, according to The Associated Press.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois will pause its gas tax increase this summer: Illinois drivers will pay less at the pump starting in July, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said, as the state plans to temporarily pause its Illinois gas tax. The pause comes as part of the $55.9 billion, FY2027 Illinois budget, passed in the early morning hours Monday by the Illinois General Assembly. Also included in the budget was a return of Illinois’ popular “back-to-school sales tax holiday,” which will eliminate sales tax on back-to-school supplies and clothing for 10 days in August.

* Sun-Times | Illinois Legislature bans new immigration detention centers near homes and schools: Should he sign the bill, which the Legislature passed in the early hours Monday, new detention centers would become illegal within 1,500 feet of schools, churches, daycare centers, cemeteries, public parks, forest preserves, private residences and public housing. Existing facilities like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview would not be affected by the legislation.

*** Statehouse News ***

* IFT and CTU President Stacy Davis Gates’ end of session statement…

IFT and CTU President Stacy Davis Gates on End of Legislative Session Where Progressive Legislators Demonstrated Taxing the Ultra-Rich is Possible but Governor’s Budget as a Whole Leaves Schools Underfunded and the People of Illinois Figuring Out How to Make Ends Meet pic.twitter.com/MPrR9Ib7TG

— Chicago Teachers Union (@CTULocal1) June 2, 2026

* Farm Week Now | State budget includes wins for Illinois agriculture: The changes, if approved by Gov. JB Pritzker, would extend the current property tax treatment for vegetative filter strips through Dec. 31, 2031, adjust the formula used to calculate farmland values and make minor technical updates. Overall, the updates are meant to make the formula more consistent and predictable for both landowners and taxing bodies. “Unfortunately, yet again, the Family Farm Preservation Act failed to make it into any final budget package this year, despite extensive efforts of Farm Bureau members, county Farm Bureaus, IFB leadership and governmental affairs staff,” said Chris Davis, Illinois Farm Bureau director of state legislation. “We’ll take some time to reassess our efforts this year and we’ll move forward to continue the effort to try to get an estate tax reform in the state of Illinois.”

* The Real Deal | Pritzker’s affordable housing package stalls as lawmakers shelve zoning overhaul: “I’ve proposed bills that may not have passed this session, but remember a whole lot of things … that are important take years to get done,” Pritzker said. Ultimately, Pritzker couldn’t come to terms with local municipalities, who were opposed to the series of bills that wrested control away from them. Whether the bill package got a vote was down to the perception among local governments, and ultimately, Pritzker couldn’t convince enough people. Representative John Cabello from Rockford called the package a “flawed top-down mandate” according to the outlet.

* WSIU | Former State Senator Dale Fowler Begins New Chapter as President of University Correctional Healthcare Solutions: Fowler’s transition comes after a career dedicated to serving others through government, corrections, philanthropy, and community advocacy, as well as business development banking. Fowler has more than 20 years of experience working with the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, retiring in 2012 as Chief Engineer. In his new role as president of UCHCS, Fowler will focus on organizational leadership, engagement, accountability, and strengthening healthcare services provided within correctional settings.

* Illinois Review | Illinois Lawmakers Set to Earn Up to $128,000 for a Part-Time Job Under New Budget: Base salaries for Illinois legislators have steadily increased through annual cost-of-living adjustments and now exceed $93,000 per year. However, that figure represents only a portion of lawmakers’ total compensation. When leadership stipends, committee assignments, and per diem payments are added, compensation for many legislators exceeds $120,000 annually, with some lawmakers earning as much as $128,000.

* Tribune | Man accused of killing wife, daughter in alleged attack that led to ‘Karina’s Law’ dies while facing pending murder charges: In July of 2023, Alvarez grabbed a handgun from under his pillow and shot and killed his wife, Karina Gonzalez, 48, and his 15-year-old daughter, Daniela Alvarez, while they sat together on a couch in their Little Village home, prosecutors had alleged. He also shot and injured his son while the teen hid under a dining room table. The shocking domestic attack elicited anger and mourning in the tight-knit community and eventually led to the passing of “Karina’s Law,” which spells out when law enforcement is required to take guns from alleged abusers with orders of protection against them. […] At the time of Alvarez’s death, prosecutors and his attorneys were preparing for trial, arguing motions before a judge. Prosecutors sought to tell a jury information about alleged past abuse that Gonzalez told others about and included in her petition for an order of protection.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Federal agents crash into car while detaining man in Albany Park: At 8:07 a.m., a black Nissan SUV carrying one agent turned east onto Lawrence Avenue from Kedzie Avenue, chasing a shirtless man. A second black Nissan SUV carrying more agents then pulled out of a nearby parking lot and hit a woman’s car in an apparent effort to block the man from running. […] The agent also aimed the weapon at bystanders and a journalist. Another agent pulled out a can of pepper spray and pointed it at the crowd as he waved away passing vehicles. During the scuffle, an agent dropped a fully loaded bullet magazine onto the street. A supervisor picked it up minutes later, after other agents had left.

* Sun-Times | WGN staffer files $10 million claim related to arrest during ‘Operation Midway Blitz’: Debbie Brockman, a United States citizen working for the TV station’s creative services department, filed administrative complaints against US. Customs and Border Protection under the Federal Tort Claims Act. That’s a necessary legal step on the way to possibly filing a lawsuit against the federal government. The claim alleges Brockman suffered headaches, pain, tenderness, contusions, anxiety and nausea among other physical and emotional injuries during the arrest, and Brockman is filing claims for assault and battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

* Tribune | New wave of enforcement leaves Chicago street vendors fearful and struggling: Like Cuetia, street vendors across Chicago say they are facing a new and aggressive wave of enforcement from Chicago police. In recent weeks, dozens of vendors have been arrested, ticketed, cited or had their merchandise confiscated, particularly along Michigan Avenue and outside major events across the city, according to the Street Vendors Association of Chicago.

* Sun-Times | Johnson’s choice to lead Human Relations Commission vows to improve frayed relationship with Jewish leaders: Kenneth Gunn, a civil rights attorney who has spent more than three decades with the Commission on Human Relations, replaces Nancy Andrade, who resigned in March to protest what critics contend was an attempt by Johnson’s administration to whitewash a long-awaited report that was supposed to focus solely on antisemitism. Gunn said he has “good friends” in the Jewish community who “know me and know what I stand for” because he’s worked with many of them for years.

* Tribune | ‘House of horrors’: Chicago woman alleges rampant abuse overlooked at South Side foster facility in lawsuit: Escamilla alleges in the suit against Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness, the nonprofit that operated the now-closed residential facility, and its security contractor, A-Alert Security Services, that they failed to protect her from repeated sexual abuse and grooming in early 2024 despite “obvious indicators of misconduct.” “What happened at Aunt Martha’s, it was wrong,” Escamilla, now 20, said. “I want to see change. I hope this brings some type of change that puts an end to the continuation of the constant abuse.”

* Crain’s | NASCAR eyes return to downtown Chicago in 2027: The reports indicate the event would shift away from its usual Fourth of July weekend slot and instead could be held after the Sueños music festival around Memorial Day weekend. Organizers are exploring ways to coordinate event setup and infrastructure with the festival, potentially reducing the amount of time Grant Park is closed to the public and addressing a longstanding complaint from residents, businesses and elected officials.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Pioneer Press | Lake Forest Caucus revising mayoral endorsement process ahead of next municipal election: In a May 27 email to the community, the Caucus announced that if the general membership does not approve a candidate endorsed by the 43-member Caucus Committee at its annual meeting later this year, a second vote will be held with at least two candidates. “The Caucus will, to the extent possible, seek to present two or more previously vetted candidates in this second vote for the community to consider. The candidate who receives a majority in the second vote will receive the Caucus endorsement,” the letter stated. “This process, which comports with the existing Bylaws, ensures that Lake Forest always has a Caucus-endorsed candidate on the ballot — and that the endorsement reflects genuine community support.”

* Daily Herald | $30M water park plans get green light at Wheeling village hall: With a series of four votes, the village board approved the site plans and assorted design elements of the proposed water park, which is set to be built on Community Boulevard where the district’s Family Aquatic Center stood until being razed this spring. While calling the unanimous votes “reaffirming,” newly promoted park district Executive Director Matt Wehby wasn’t quite ready to celebrate Monday. “The celebration comes when there’s water in the pool,” he said. ”(Now) we move onto the next step.”

* Daily Herald | Leases take Schaumburg office campus above 90% full, showing appeal of single-story spaces: Demonstrating again the resurgence in popularity of single-story office buildings, Oakbrook Terrace-based NAI Hiffman has signed several new leases bringing a six-building campus in Schaumburg above 90% occupancy. The new leases total nearly 15,000 square feet, or more than 11% of the 130,288-square foot One Story Schaumburg campus on Remington Road between Interstate 90 and Golf Road.

* Daily Herald | How DuPage County plans to fight rat invasion near Bensenville: County officials say the remediation is part of a multi-year effort to remove the rats. They say the rodents moved into the area after land grading work at O’Hare International Airport and the demolition of the former Mohawk Estates subdivision in Bensenville. Paul Hoss, the county’s planning and zoning administration coordinator, said the mass disruption from the construction sent rats scurrying into incorporated Wood Dale and Bensenville. When those towns undertook rat abatement programs, the rats moved to White Pines, according to Hoss.

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Deadline to merge Sangamon County clerk and recorder offices nears: The merger remains on course according to both County Clerk Don Gray and County Recorder Frank Lesko, who say they will continue to work in tandem as their December deadline approaches. Gray and Lesko are focused on getting things finalized for the merger of their offices. Both say they still have work to be done, but they’re working in tandem to address any issues.

* Illinois Times | New Mental Health Board convenes: The board also adopted initial bylaws and acknowledged that the coming months will be dedicated to organization since funds from the 0.5% sales tax levy that begins July 1 won’t be available for distribution by the board until October, at the earliest. County administrator Brian McFadden told the board that there will be a consistent stream of funding for the board to disburse money to social service programs of their choosing. His office estimated the sales tax levy would bring in $14.7 million annually.

* WCIA | Controversial apartment project takes center stage at Urbana City Council: A majority of people who talked at Monday night’s city council meeting wanted the project to be approved. But, WCIA also spoke with someone who’s lived in the area since 1992 who was against it. The council has seen development plans, heard community feedback and Monday night, members had a chance to give the final verdict with a 32-unit apartment complex off of Main and McCullough hanging in the balance.

* WAND | Dr. David Horn running for Mayor of Decatur: Dr. Horn has served on the Decatur City Council since May 2017. Dr. Horn said his priorities as Mayor would include public safety, job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and reversing population decline. Councilman Horn voted against increasing property taxes and said he voted no to “unnecessary spending.” He voted against more gambling establishments in the city and is opposed to carbon sequestration under Lake Decatur.

* WCIA | Rantoul school bus driver denied pretrial release in sexual assault case: Champaign County court records show Johnnie McClendon Jr. made two appearances before Judge Randy Rosenbaum on Monday and Tuesday for arraignment and a detention hearing, respectively. McClendon was arraigned on a single Class X count of predatory criminal sexual assault against a minor, which carries a mandatory prison sentence if convicted. The following day, Rosenbaum denied McClendon pretrial release after hearing arguments for and against release.