* ICYMI: Trump is gutting the Endangered Species Act, putting dozens of Illinois species at risk. Sun-Times…

- Trump administration changes to the legal interpretation of the Endangered Species Act could put 24 federally endangered species and 12 threatened species at more risk in Illinois.
- Last month, the administration determined that razing the habitat where endangered or threatened species breed, feed, and shelter would no longer face federal penalties.
- “These rule changes, when you zoom out, are an assault on threatened and endangered species unlike we’ve ever seen before,” said Elizabeth Forsyth, a senior attorney in the biodiversity defense program with Earthjustice. “It’s an effort to eliminate habitat protections, eliminate automatic protections for threatened species, and give industry power.”

* At 9:30 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will announce the 2026 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Award winners and celebrate academic excellence in Illinois schools. Click here to watch.

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Race for Chicago mayor revs up with candidates lugging stacks of nominating petitions to elections board: Businessman Willie Wilson said he’s going to challenge “everyone.” “We’re gonna look at everybody. We won’t discriminate,” Wilson said with a smile as he turned in an estimated 35,000 signatures for his fourth self-funded run at the mayor’s office.

* Tribune | Chicago schools watchdog said allegations against school board candidate could not be corroborated: The Chicago Public Schools watchdog did not substantiate misconduct allegations against a school board president candidate because they could not be corroborated and, even if proved true, did “not necessarily prove he acted for a sexual purpose,” according to a copy of the office’s report obtained by the Tribune.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Taxes, state spending issues in key Chicagoland statehouse races: In the Chicagoland area are two races connected by one candidate, Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine. Syed, the incumbent in the 51st House District, is challenging Sen. Darby Hills, R-Lake Zurich, in the 26th Senate District. Syed told The Center Square she wants to see sweeping tax reforms for the state. “We have to seriously re-evaluate the way that we fund education in our state and do what we can to lessen the cost on school districts, whether it’s cutting expensive mandates, whether it is funding education a lot more through the state budget and I think that requires a re-evaluation of our entire tax system,” Syed said.

* WTTW | WTTW News U.S. Senate Forum: Chicago Tonight anchor Brandis Friedman moderates this live candidate forum from WTTW studios ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Contenders discussing the issues vital to Illinois voters will be Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy. This forum will take place before a studio audience.

* Tribune | Judge rejects subpoena in sweeping immigration enforcement lawsuit — for now: A federal judge on Monday quashed a subpoena filed by the state Attorney General and city of Chicago in an ongoing lawsuit over the Trump administration’s immigration-enforcement tactics, saying it would be better to wait and see what’s left of the case after her upcoming ruling on a motion to dismiss. The lawsuit filed earlier this year by both Illinois and Chicago alleges immigration agents acted more like an occupying military force than law enforcement during Operation Midway Blitz, terrorizing neighborhoods with “roving patrols,” illegally switching out license plates, randomly stopping people to question them about their citizenship, and making warrantless arrests.

* CNI | Study finds Illinois’ Displaced Energy Workers Bill of Rights falls short: The report, released by the university’s Climate Jobs Institute, found that non-union workers at the mine about 20 miles southeast of Springfield did not receive the same level of assistance as unionized employees preparing for the closures of two coal-fired power plants in central and southwestern Illinois planned for 2027-28.

*** Chicago ***

* WGN | Mayor Johnson’s pick for city’s top lawyer stalled by Chicago alders: At last week’s City Council meeting, a vote on Hatcher’s appointment was removed from the agenda. Some alders told WGN they were concerned about Hatcher’s lack of management and government experience. Hatcher joined WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley on The Point to talk about her vision for the role, and respond to critics who think she’s not qualified.

* University of Illinois Chicago | Drugs, Crimes, & Consequences: Employment Barriers/Solutions: This report, Drugs, Crimes, & Consequences, examines how criminal justice involvement continues to function as a major barrier to employment, particularly in historically disinvested communities like North Lawndale in Chicago, and highlights the transformative role of social enterprises in advancing fair chance hiring. Drawing on over two decades of data and community-based research, the study analyzes trends in employment, recidivism, and economic conditions, while evaluating the impact of the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and its integrated reentry model. The findings reveal that cycles of incarceration impose staggering economic and social costs. Between 2005 and 2024, recidivism among North Lawndale residents cost Illinois taxpayers over $1 billion, with annual incarceration costs averaging $45,000 per person. At the same time, individuals returning from prison face compounding structural barriers, including limited access to employment, housing instability, and unmet behavioral health needs, that increase the likelihood of reoffending.

* Block Club | Deadly Weekend For Migrating Birds Prompts Calls For New Chicago Building Ordinance: Chicago has seen similar mass bird collisions with glass buildings before. In October 2023, nearly 1,000 birds died after striking the glass windows of McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center in a single night. Bird-friendly window treatments were installed and collisions at McCormick Place have since dropped by 95 percent, according to the release. Advocates say measures like those installed at McCormick Place could help prevent future collisions, and recent incidents have renewed their push for the City Council to pass a bird-friendly building ordinance.

* Sun-Times | Safety repairs cause temporary closure of Midway Airport runway: Runway 22L is closed to arrivals and departures effective immediately while repairs are made for recent damages caused by aircraft activity, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced. “Safety is the top priority at Chicago’s airports, and we are working to complete these repairs safely and promptly,” said CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray. “We’re coordinating closely with our partners at the FAA and the airlines to reduce disruptions for travelers and return the airfield to normal operating conditions as quickly and safely as possible.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Prison admissions for shoplifters rising in Cook County amid Burke policy change, ‘outdated’ state law: Though retail theft makes up a small percentage of people being admitted to prisons, the rise in such cases has raised alarm in some quarters, with some questioning whether it’s a good use of resources when the root causes of such offenses are often driven by social factors like poverty, mental illness and addiction. In a statement, a spokesperson for Burke said the office “follows the law and charges felony retail theft when the cost of the stolen goods exceeds $300, as determined by Illinois statute.”

* Daily Herald | Democrats looking to widen majority on Lake County Board: Thirteen of 19 Lake County Board seats are on the ballot Nov. 3, and a change in membership is assured as one Democrat and three Republican incumbents aren’t seeking reelection. Whether that translates to a bump in the 14-5 Democrat majority is to be determined. Dems already picked up a seat as no Republican was slated in District 3. After 24 years on the board, incumbent Republican seatholder Ann Maine is not seeking reelection.

* Daily Herald | Retired deputy, ex-county board member face off for DuPage sheriff’s job: A self-described reformer and a retired deputy who wants to rebuild trust with the community are vying to replace James Mendrick as DuPage County sheriff. Mendrick, chose not to seek a third term as sheriff, instead opting for an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination for governor. Aiming to be his successor are Republican Sean Noonan of Elmhurst and Democrat Peter Coolidge of West Chicago.

* Cook County Record | Feds OK to join discrimination lawsuit vs Evanston racial reparations program: The Justice Department will be allowed to press ahead with its effort to add the weight of the federal government to a court fight challenging the city of Evanston’s race-based “reparations” program paying millions of dollars in taxpayer money to black current and former residents and their descendants. On Oct. 16, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness granted the Justice Department’s motion to intervene in the case. The Justice Department followed that approval with their complaint in intervention, formally asking the court to order an end to Evanston’s “racially discriminatory program.”

* Daily Herald | If referendum fails, District 214 would still ‘chip away’ at repairs, superintendent says: Northwest Suburban High School District 214 officials on Monday revealed their plan B if voters don’t authorize a tax increase for $295 million worth of school building renovations in two weeks. “If it doesn’t pass, teachers are not going to lose their jobs. We’re not going to cut athletics. We won’t be cutting activities,” Superintendent Scott Rowe said. “We’ll be living in a state where emergency repairs just happen more often. And we can live there. But what we’ll miss is the opportunity to really position the district strategically, and follow our strategic plan, and flip to being in a proactive state.”

*** Downstate ***

* BND | Belleville to spend $4.1 million to reduce lanes, add bike paths on West Main: “It’s an effort to curtail an endless supply of speeding concerns and to bring back a community feel,” said Jason Poole, director of public works and parks and recreation. Studies have shown West Main Street to be one of the region’s most injury-prone roadways, according to a project manager at Oates Associates, the contractor who drew up the plans.

* WGLT | New water treatment pilot program aims to lower ammonia levels in Normal water: The council accepted a proposal from Veolia Water Technologies for up to $90,000 in ammonia removal pilot testing equipment. Excess ammonia in drinking water requires additional flushing of the system. If the excess ammonia levels are reduced, it also would keep chlorine levels at a desired level and improve overall water quality, according to town staff. Five of the dozen wells in the town show excess ammonia levels. The five happen to be the ones that produce the most water, but levels can be reduced by blending water with output from wells that have lower levels. Even after blending, the raw water contains excess ammonia that cannot be removed by current processes alone.

* Muddy River News | Former QPD chief steps in after sudden absences at City of Quincy Transit: City officials knew that the head of the city’s transit department, Marty Stegeman, would be retiring in February, but now comes word that he needs knee surgery, which is scheduled for November 10. Further complicating matters is that the number two person in charge, Megan Meyer, gave the city her two-week notice. Her last day is Friday. While they had someone to temporarily fill in for Meyer, the absence of Stegeman had to be filled.

*** National ***

* WIRED | Election Offices in at Least 32 States Have Received Suspicious Letters: The vast majority of letters were intercepted by the United States Postal Service before they reached their intended targets, state officials tell WIRED, but in Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Louisiana the letters were not intercepted, leading to election offices being evacuated when white powder was discovered.