* ICYMI: Illinois House unveils new version of Bears’ megaprojects bill. Capitol News Illinois…

- “There were a lot of folks satisfied with some of the changes that we made, some things that we got tightened up,” said state Rep Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, the lead House negotiator on the megaprojects bill. “But I think all in all, it was a very positive caucus.”
- Pritzker’s office said in a statement that they’re “currently reviewing the draft amendment” and don’t have further comment at this time.
- The latest changes are aimed at winning over skeptical rank-and-file lawmakers, whose concerns include the potential shift of property tax burden to surrounding residents and the long-term impact on revenues to local communities.

* Related stories…

• NBC Chicago: Democrats in Springfield mull Chicago Bears stadium bills amid tense week
• WGN: Lawmakers working out final details of Bears megaprojects bill, possible millionaire’s tax
• Tribune: Illinois House Democrats push Bears stadium tax deal as Republicans seek property tax relief

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

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois awards $32M to cannabis companies, but some are still struggling to open: Deputy Director Peter Contos notes that a recent state report showed most arrests for marijuana remain on the mostly Black South and West sides, while very few dispensaries have opened in those areas. “The majority of our members are just looking for access to affordable cannabis,” Contos said. “So we’re excited about this funding and we welcome it, but this program is working by design to keep some people in and some people out.”

* Tribune | Planned Parenthood endorses independent Mayra Macías in race to replace retiring US Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García: In a statement announcing the endorsement, Alexis McGill Johnson, the group’s president and CEO, called Macías “a proven leader who understands that accessible and equitable health care is a fundamental right.” “Mayra has fought to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care in the wake of the Dobbs decision,” McGill Johnson said, referring to the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the federal right to abortion. “As we face a federal administration intent on making health care unaffordable and inaccessible, we need champions in Congress who refuse to back down. We know that Mayra will be unrelenting in the fight to protect access to sexual and reproductive health care.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | IL Freedom Caucus airs grievances about Democrats blocking their bills: The MAGA Republicans would like to see lawmakers pass a plan to repeal the estate tax to help farmers. While the ideas have gained bipartisan support in recent years, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch won’t call any bill unless 60 Democrats agree with it. “We need to stop letting Speaker Welch get a pass with this 60-vote rule. It’s made up,” said Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Louisville). “It’s not democracy at all. They go out there and scream about democracy, but then almost 45% of the state is left without a vote because of that.”

* Howard A. Learner | Earth Day is a reminder that Illinois must come up with environmental solutions: Earth Day is a reminder for people and policymakers to focus on the opportunities and the challenges to improve environmental health in our communities and better protect the planet. While we need to meet the moment to defend against the Trump administration’s unprecedented assault on core environmental values that most Americans share, we should seize the opportunity for Illinois to lead with better environmental protections and sustainable infrastructure.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Ex-Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s chief operating officer is at the center of City Hall intern, contracting scandal: A recent inspector general report detailed the allegations, without naming names. The Chicago Sun-Times confirmed that City Hall’s former COO, Paul Goodrich, is at the center of it all. He’s accused of clouting his kid into an internship with a city contracting business run by a pal of Barack Obama’s, then trying to beef up payments to the company by almost $10 million.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson, CTA president defend security firings slammed by City Council’s Black Caucus: Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th) denounced the “sudden termination” of contracts with Monterrey Security and its two Black subcontractors as a “betrayal of the city’s commitment to equity” because it put more than 70 African American security workers out of work with less than a week’s notice. City records show the CTA embarked on a $44 million, three-year contract with Monterrey Security in 2022, with two one-year options to renew.

* WTTW | New Bird-Friendly Building Ordinance Stuck in City Council Purgatory, But Lead Sponsor Says Measure Still Has Wings: Bird-friendly building legislation — intended to help stem the epidemic of birds killed and injured in collisions with Chicago buildings — was previously stymied in 2020. Back then, City Council kicked the issue to the Department of Planning and Development, instructing the department to give greater weight to bird-friendly mitigations within Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy. It was a blow to bird advocates: Only 50 to 75 projects per year are subject to targets set by the Sustainable Development Policy, leaving scores of other buildings exempt from implementing any bird-friendly mitigations.

* Sun-Times | Former Mayor Richard M. Daley recovering after suffering third stroke ahead of his 84th birthday: “He had a stroke. He’s fine now. He’s home. He’s doing some rehab stuff, and that’s about it. … That’s life,” said Bill Daley, who served as U.S. Commerce secretary under President Bill Clinton and White House chief of staff under former President Barack Obama. “They said, he’s out of trouble. He has to do a little rehab. But he’s physically walking around doing everything and whatever. But you’ve got to watch yourself. [He’s] not in any danger or anything, other than what everybody who’s 84 is in danger of.”

* Tribune | Chicago’s Tomato Man on the impacts of erratic spring temperatures on his beloved heirlooms: “I understand why (the food industry) has done what it’s done to tomatoes,” Zeni said recently while tending to his plants at Ted’s Greenhouse in Tinley Park. “But those are mass produced in farms the size of football fields and I’m a bit skeptical about how they grow all those tomatoes to make them all look so perfect so fast.” For 26 years, Zeni has been obsessively gardening heirloom tomatoes. What first began as a backyard project has turned him into one of Chicagoland’s leading experts on how to grow the fruit in its unique array of reds, purples, yellows and stripes.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Evanston Now | HCDC advances rental price-fixing ban: The measure, proposed by Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th), would prohibit landlords from entering non-compete agreements with each other. Additionally, it would prohibit price coordination through the use of the use the price-setting software that shares non-public information about competitor prices, and recommends price adjustments based on that information. It would allow rental tenants to file formal complaint, and sue landlords who use the software. Penalties for violating the ordinance would include fines of $500 per violation.

* Daily Southtown | Will County Republicans choose Frankfort Township Trustee Hillary Kurzawa to lead party: Kurzawa said the party is looking to pick up a few more Republican seats on the County Board, which for years has been evenly split among Republicans and Democrats. In the event of a tie, the vote now swings to the Democrats with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, casting the deciding vote. The party is also looking to reelect its two Republican countywide office holders — Regional Superintendent of Schools Lisa Caparelli-Ruff and County Clerk Annette Parker.

* Daily Southtown | Madison School students keep micropantries stocked in South Holland, Harvey: The Kindness Club had its birth in “15 Days of Kindness,” which Michelle Orth, a fifth grade teacher who is a finalist for a Golden Apple Award, started late last year. Students made ornaments for the Police Department, goodie bags for firefighters and bookmarks for the South Holland Public Library. They also helped pack food for Feed My Starving Children in Aurora and placed upbeat sayings on teachers’ classroom doors.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Central Illinois pastor enters Danville mayoral race: We’re one year away from the mayoral election, and on Monday, another candidate — Frank McCullough — entered the race, looking to unseat Mayor Ricky Williams. McCullough, a life-long Danville resident, said he has seen the city change a lot through the years, and after some deliberation with family, he wants to help the community in an official capacity. […] “I’ve run for a state representative once. I ran for alderman twice here in the city of Danville. So, you know, been around, been around a long time,” he said.

* BND | Belleville police partner with faith-based group to curb violence: Juard Barnes, a strategist for Metro East Organizing Coalition, said the organization sends trained staff and volunteers to talk to residents in at-risk neighborhoods, offers counseling and other social services and presents options for conflict resolution. “Community violence intervention is deeply researched,” Barnes said. “Our work is steeped in data. It’s been going on for decades, and it’s actually been very successful in many cities.”

* WGLT | Bloomington targets mid-May completion for all storm damage removal: Cleanup in Bloomington is expected to take weeks following the tornadoes that uprooted trees and caused substantial damage in several neighborhoods. Deputy City Manager Sue McLaughlin said public works crews hope to reach all of the affected homes and businesses by the end of this week. “We understand and acknowledge that there’s going to be a second and probably a third round that we’re going to have to go back as people chop down their limbs, get more stuff out to the curb,” McLaughlin said. “Our intent is to be done with storm cleanup by May 15.”

* Press release | Countdown to the 2026 Illinois State Fair: 100 Days Out Celebration!: We invite you to join us for lunch on Tuesday, May 5th, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Reisch Pavilion on the Illinois State Fairgrounds for our “100 Days Out” Celebration! “There’s nothing quite like State Fair food, and we’re thrilled to bring a few of those favorites together for this event,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “It’s the perfect way to get a taste of the Fair ahead of opening day.”

*** National ***

* AP | Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on federal fraud charges related to past use of paid informants: The indictment came shortly after SPLC revealed the existence of a criminal investigation into its program to pay informants to infiltrate extremist groups and gather information on their activities. The group said the program was used to monitor threats of violence and the information was often shared with local and federal law enforcement. SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said the organization “will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work.”

* WIRED | New Gas-Powered Data Centers Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Entire Nations: Michael Thomas, the founder of clean energy research firm Cleanview, has been tracking gas permits for data centers across the country. He calls behind-the-meter power “a crazy acceleration of emissions.” “It’s almost like we thought we were on the downside of the Industrial Revolution, retiring coal and gas, and now we have a new hump where we’re going to rise,” he says. “That terrifies me in a lot of ways.”