* ICYMI: Illinois Municipal League pitches alternative housing plan, drawing Realtor backlash. The Real Deal…

- The Illinois Municipal League, the statewide group representing Illinois’ 1,294 cities, villages and towns, unveiled its Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local Housing Act — branded the Real Housing Act — on Wednesday. The group pitched the proposal as an alternative to Pritzker’s six-bill package of housing legislation that would override local zoning rules to allow more residential density.
- In suggestions that raised major red flags for the real estate industry, the proposal also calls for capping combined residential real estate commissions at 3 percent of a property’s final sale price and removing the state ban on local governments adopting rent stabilization measures. It also contains limits on rental deposits and rental application fees.
- Illinois Realtors, the 50,000-member trade group representing the state’s real estate agents, criticized the proposal in a statement Friday afternoon. The group urged lawmakers to reject what it called late-stage disruption of the governor’s plan.

* Related stories…

• Sun-Times: Gov. Pritzker’s affordable housing plan tests his relationship with local leaders
• A City That Works: Local governments come out swinging against more housing
• Capitol Fax: IML tries outflanking Realtors on housing bill

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | New Illinois auditor general takes office as report faults his former agency for audit failures: A report issued on April 21 by the outgoing auditor general found that the state agency the new state auditor had previously led, the Illinois Finance Authority, lacked a required full-time internal audit program. The report from retiring Auditor General Frank Mautino about the IFA led by Chris Meister was based on a two-year review period ending June 30, 2025. But the report also said the absence of such an “appropriate full-time” internal audit program within the finance authority was known for several years prior to the review period and that the IFA “has been unsuccessful in implementing a corrective action plan.”

* IPM News | Today 11am-6pm: Blowing Dust Advisory in Central Illinois: Meteorologists say blowing dust is expected this afternoon across central and eastern Illinois, east of the Illinois River and north of I-70. Loose topsoil paired with gusty winds up to 40 mph could lead to blowing dust and low visibility in rural areas. Forecasters advise you to avoid the dust plume. If you encounter dense dust, slow down and pull off the roadway as far as possible.

* Crain’s | Purdue Pharma’s $7.4B opioid settlement begins, with Illinois in line to get nearly $150M: As states’ $7.4 billion opioid settlement with the Sackler family and its Purdue Pharma goes into effect today, Illinois and its local governments are set to receive about $148.8 million from the payout. Most of that take, meant to go toward addiction services, will be doled out over the next three years, with the rest to be paid over 12 years, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a press release.

* CBS Chicago | Chicago gas prices soar past $6 a gallon in some areas, Illinois gas nearly 50 cents above national average: In Bucktown, one Shell station on Armitage, right off the Kennedy Expressway, regular gas is now $6.29 for a gallon of regular; $5.99 a gallon if you pay for a car wash. Gas prices climbed above $5 a gallon starting at the end of last week across much of the Chicago area. At some stations the prices have hit more than $6 a gallon.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois State Board of Education wants to revamp how it counts low-income students: The Illinois State Board of Education is asking lawmakers this year for $200,000 to develop a new way of counting low-income students. Although that’s only a small fraction of the overall $10.9 billion general revenue fund budget the agency is seeking to fund preK-12 public schools next year, the request points to a larger issue that public schools could be facing over the next several years as the number of students officially counted as “low-income” is expected to drop.

* Daily Herald | Why some lawmakers defected from the party line in megaproject bill affecting Bears stadium: Instead, the measure stalled, and “that delay is costing real money. Billions. Lobbyists are making hyperbolic claims of 40 years of never-ending tax increases, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria. Proponents are saying the structure is so perfect — it’s a big, bold, beautiful bill that will be the envy of all future developments. “The reality is somewhere in the middle,” McLaughlin said. “If done correctly, “it will look like Rosemont on steroids. It is good for property tax owners in the long run and great for regional businesses.”

* Subscribers know more. Cook County Record | After SCOTUS ruling, IL sidelines Welch’s race-based districting plan: However, Harmon and his counterpart in the General Assembly, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, along with Gov. JB Pritzker asserted the effort to somehow still require race be used in Illinois’ redistricting process is not ended, but merely paused while they try to find a path around the Supreme Court’s new ruling. “We will dissect this decision, find a path forward and continue to protect the rights of all Illinoisans. I would ask for patience and time for our state’s top legal experts to work through this,” Harmon said.

*** Chicago ***

* Politico | 2 names join the mayoral mix: Nine months out from Chicago’s next municipal elections, the mayor’s race is largely unfolding behind the scenes — with longtime political power broker Jeremiah Joyce meeting with potential candidates and (scoop!) Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas starting an exploratory committee. About Joyce: He’s a former lawmaker and Southwest Side businessman with deep City Hall ties, who has begun meeting privately with potential candidates as they test support and assess their paths against incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson. Joyce wants to help, but he first wants to know their game plan for running.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools marks May Day after tense debate over canceling school: Districtwide, CPS officials said about 13% of its teachers were absent amid a national “day of no school, no work, no shopping” — about 3,320 absences in all, compared with 2,615 per day on average for this week, including Friday. Most requested the day in advance as the district had asked. CPS, which employs about 43,000 people, enlisted more than 2,600 substitute teachers and about 940 support staff subs to fill in for absent employees. Central office staff deployed to help out at 76 schools.

* Block Club | Republicans Win Top Spot On Ballots After Libertarians Claim Lottery ‘Staged’ By Dems: Republican candidates will appear first on Chicago ballots for the 2026 midterms, a decision decided by a Thursday lottery — which attracted Libertarians with fishy feelings about the Democrats’ prior winning streak. Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, a Democrat, drew cards representing the three parties — Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians — from a plastic bowl in an unceremonious ceremony that lasted less than fives minutes at the county administrative building, 69 W. Washington St. The randomly selected order — Republicans first, Democrats second and Libertarians third — will be how party candidates appear on ballots in the Nov. 3 election.

* Sun-Times | Swedish Hospital police shooting highlights critical security fail points: Chicago Police Department policy lays out at least two searches in this scenario: after Talley’s initial arrest and before Talley was transported to the hospital. Officers — not the ones who were shot — searched Talley after his arrest and found stolen cash in his pockets but no gun, according to prosecutors, who claimed Talley “had been concealing [the gun] from the moment he was arrested.” It remains unclear if anyone, either Chicago officers or hospital security, patted down Talley again once he was at the hospital.

* WTTW | Lawsuit Involving Disgraced Ex-Detective Set for Trial, As Lawyers Reach Settlement With Wrongfully Convicted Man Sent to Death Row: In response to an inquiry by WTTW News, Chicago Department of Law spokesperson Kristen Cabanban declined to reveal how much it would cost taxpayers to resolve Solache’s lawsuit until the agreement is presented to the Chicago City Council. That indicates the agreement is for more than $100,000. Settlements of less than that amount can be authorized by Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry, according to city rules.

* Crain’s | Arlington Heights stadium consultant tapped to help Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago announced it has hired Chicago-based Hunden Partners to conduct a strategic review of the nonprofit tourism group. Hunden is tasked with creating a “data-driven, community-informed strategic plan to guide Choose Chicago’s priorities, investments and leadership over the next three to five years,” Choose said in a statement.

* Tribune | Northwest side Chicago school board member Jennifer Custer seeks top seat: Jennifer Custer, who represents parts of the Northwest Side, was elected with the support of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2024. But she has frequently broken with the union in key votes, a divide that has become more pronounced in recent months as elections approach. Custer announced in March that she is running for school board president. “Throughout this year-and-a-half process, there’s been so many times that I reflected on, ‘What if we did that differently?’” said Custer, who represents District 1B. “I think that I can set this board up for success in the future.”

* ABC Chicago | More than 100 Brookfield Zoo Chicago workers go on strike: Workers walked off the job after contract talks broke down, accusing zoo management of unfair labor practices and disputes over healthcare coverage. Brookfield Zoo shared a statement saying, “The Zoo was notified this morning that a portion of the union-represented employees have begun to strike. At this time, our animal care specialists are continuing to provide uninterrupted care for the animals at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which will remain our highest priority. The Zoo remains open with normal daily operations, and leadership is committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal wellness, guest experience, and employee support that define the institution.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | An airborne assist: Drones becoming new first responders in suburban policing: Thomas is researching Hoffman Estates’ potential purchase of a first-responder drone next year and chairing a committee of the 13-member Arlington Heights-based Northwest Central Dispatch that’s considering multijurisdictional use of the technology. They will gather in June to watch the three top vendors demonstrate their services. “I think a lot of our departments see it as something that can increase safety,” Northwest Central Dispatch Executive Director John Ferraro said. “Sure, everybody’s talking about it in the region.”

* Tribune | Southwest suburban school district faces controversy over multiyear attempt to add Arabic language curriculum: But the argument has not gone smoothly. Despite a sizable population of Arab American students and groundswell of support from many parents, Orland Park-based High School District 230 is facing controversy over a proposal to create an Arabic language program. Many proponents expressed frustration with the school board and administration as multiyear efforts to bring Arabic language instruction to District 230 appeared to stall, culminating with the recent resignation of the only Arab American member of the school board.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County’s Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve, home to new bison herd, opens to the public: As of Friday, the public can officially visit the small herd of bison that recently made their home in Kane County. The Kane County Forest Preserve District reopened the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve’s gates May 1 following some renovations meant to better accommodate additional visitors to the site. Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve lies on the border of Kane and DeKalb counties, 60 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. A portion of the preserve has never been broken by a plow, according to the Forest Preserve District.

*** Downstate ***

* WCBU | Tazewell County takes first step to prevent data centers: Tazewell County has taken a first, temporary step toward preventing data centers from being built on county land. The county board on Wednesday approved a zoning code amendment that prohibits “any use of land which is not explicitly allowed under the code or as adopted by supplemental ordinance.” The word “prohibits” replaces the phrase, “shall be … allowed under [the] category … to which it is most analogous.”

* WGLT | McLean County Clerk says it’s ‘game on’ after police question staff about overtime pay: “Just as you do in trying to guesstimate each year your yearly family budget, or your small or large office budget, you’re never gonna be spot on, are you?” Michael said. “But you give your best estimate, and sometimes we’re wrong.” The clerk’s office has overspent the last four consecutive years, most recently, in fiscal year 2025, tallying a net loss of over $400,000.

* WGLT | After governor’s remarks, ISU tells mediator it’s willing to return to bargaining table with striking AFSCME: ”The university is making this effort in good faith after the governor’s request that both parties return to the bargaining table,” ISU spokesperson Chris Coplan said in a statement. At an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker called on the two sides to work on coming to an agreement.

* WGEM | ‘If I could save one life, this whole day is worth it’: 4-H hosts second annual Ride Right Rally: Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler Counties were represented at the event, where students learned how to safely operate off-road vehicles and equipment, including ATVs, mowers, bicycles, power take off (PTO) equipment, small tractors and more. Instructors discussed the importance of wearing proper protection, using seatbelts and safety harnesses, and using sound judgment — whether students are helping on the farm or taking an ATV for a joyride.

* WMBD | Maifest returns to Peoria, celebrating German culture and the arrival of spring: A long-standing spring tradition returned to Peoria on Sunday as the German American Central Society hosted its annual Maifest at the Lindenhof. The event celebrates the arrival of warmer weather, rooted in German tradition as a time for communities to come together after the winter months. Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed live music, authentic food, and cultural activities.

*** National ***

* The New Republic | Trump Makes It Harder to See if Drugs Are Laced With Fentanyl: CBS News, citing a letter from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reports that government funds can’t be used to purchase the strips anymore, increasing the risk of drug overdoses. The strips also test for other dangerous substances such as xylazine and medetomidine, which are normally used to sedate animals and have been linked to overdose deaths in people. Public health organizations are shocked at the move, because test strips only cost about $1 each and can be used to check illicit drugs in powder or pill form. The director of federal policy at the Drug Policy Alliance, Maritza Perez Medina, called them a “critical, life-saving tool.”

* KFF News | Medigap premiums leap, leaving consumers with few alternatives: Jaggi, who with his daughter co-owns Jaggi Petry Insurance & Investments in Forsyth, a city in central Illinois, says he eventually found other options for many of those 80-plus clients with the large increase, which came from an insurer that had previously been the lowest-cost option. But it wasn’t easy — and continuing increases are expected. “These are unbelievable increases,” says Jaggi, who is seeing premium hikes exceeding 15% this year across a range of insurers.

* NRP | How well can EVs handle the heat — and the cold? AAA put them to the test: AAA has been testing exactly how big an effect temperatures have on modern EV batteries. In its latest research, shared exclusively with NPR, it found that hot temperatures reduced range by an average of 8.5%. Cold weather cut vehicles’ range by a whopping 39%.