* The Illinois Realtors are apparently trying to get ahead of a story about a new housing proposal from the Illinois Municipal League. Press release…
At a time when Illinois families are already struggling to find affordable housing, the taxpayer-funded Illinois Municipal League (IML) is advancing a sweeping proposal that Illinois REALTORS® warns could further choke supply, inflate costs, and cross serious legal lines.
The proposal appears designed to gut and replace Governor Pritzker’s Build Up Illinois Development (BUILD) plan - the state’s most viable path to increasing housing supply - with a wish-list of anti-real estate measures.
“This proposal isn’t just misguided, it’s dangerous,” said Jeff Baker, CEO of Illinois REALTORS®. “It raises serious legal questions, proposes outright price fixing, and undermines the very goal of making housing more accessible. At the worst possible moment, IML is throwing a wrench into efforts that are actually moving Illinois forward.”
Among the most controversial elements is a push to regulate real estate transaction costs - an approach that violates U.S. antitrust laws. The proposal also layers on aggressive rent control policies and grants municipalities unprecedented power to override private HOA agreements, opening the door to forced, higher-density development with little regard for existing communities.
Illinois REALTORS® is calling on state leaders to reject what it views as a deeply flawed and disruptive proposal and to stay the course on policies that expand housing supply, protect property rights, and deliver real affordability.
“With more than 80% of voters demanding action on housing costs, this proposal does the exact opposite,” Baker added. “Illinois doesn’t need political distractions—we need solutions. This isn’t one of them.”
The Realtors have been working closely with Gov. JB Pritzker on his housing plan. But the IML appears to be flanking them on their left. Clever.
* From Brad Cole, CEO of the Illinois Municipal League…
Our proposal is aimed at improving housing affordability – that’s what we thought this was all about –not protecting the profits of REALTORS. We are simply putting forth policy alternatives for the General Assembly to consider, recognizing there are often multiple paths to achieve a shared goal. We look forward to further conversations about our proposal, and any other proposals, with the Governor’s Office, members of the General Assembly and other stakeholders.
Lowers the cost of purchasing a home by capping excessive real estate commission structures;
Reduces construction costs by exempting residential building materials from the state portion of sales tax;
Protects residents of condominium and homeowners’ associations from unreasonable cost burdens;
Requires prevailing wage for workers on projects benefiting from this Act while supporting workforce development for skilled construction jobs;
Allows workforce training initiatives for construction trades;
Prioritizes state infrastructure funding for communities actively increasing housing supply;
Prioritizes residential housing development as a higher land use than solar energy farms;
Delivers property tax relief by tying increased Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) revenues directly to dollar-for-dollar reductions in property taxes;
Like I said, it’s clever. It even has some stuff for the unions. Much more at the link.
* From a Tribune story on the plethora of independent candidates running against Democratic nominee Patty García in the 4th US House District, which is currently represented by Chuy García. As you’ll recall, Chuy dropped out after his chief of staff Patty quietly circulated nominating petitions during the final circulation weekend. The switcharoo set off a firestorm. There’s plenty more in the article, but I’m gonna focus on this…
During the debate, the candidates showed far more political similarities than differences as they bashed Trump and called for greater affordability.
[Lyons Mayor Chris Getty], however, separated himself as the most centrist candidate at the forum. He diverged from his opponents when he said Israel’s war actions in Gaza do not constitute a genocide, and again when he expressed a willingness to receive money from super PACs.
“Any one of us, if we want to be realistic about getting elected, we are going to have to align with outside groups, we are going to have to align with other entities to make sure our message is heard, make sure our message is communicated,” he said. […]
Asked if she would accept money from super PACs, [former DC insider Mayra Macías] also touted an endorsement from End Citizens United, a group advocating for campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of undisclosed money in politics.
OK, first of all, candidates don’t “receive” money from super PACs. The committees spend money independently (supposedly) on candidate campaigns.
Also, End Citizens United endorsed Juliana Stratton in the US Senate primary. Stratton, of course, benefited from millions of dollars spent by a super PAC backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, so that endorsement doesn’t mean no super PAC money.
It seems more than obvious from his comments that Mayor Getty is vying for that massive pot of AIPAC spending. It may work. But, wherever that group and everyone else goes, I think we might see a frenzy of spending in that race which will rival what we saw earlier this year in several Democratic primaries here.
If I had to bet, I’d say Macías will benefit the most from super PAC spending, mainly because of her DC ties. Let’s see how it plays out. We don’t yet know which of the candidates will be able to collect 10,816 valid signatures to obtain a spot on the ballot.
In the end, though, Patty García will be the only official Democrat on the ballot. And in a district that overwhelmingly votes Democratic and during a year when Democratic voters are fired up about President Trump, that’s a huge advantage. Her ground game will likely also outclass the independents in the race. She’ll also have the support of most of organized labor.
Anyway, strap in. We’re possibly about to be inundated again.
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Illinois is home to one of the most competitive insurance markets in the nation. Hundreds of insurers fight for consumers, leaving families better protected than those in other states.
SB 1486, described by the Daily Herald as “controversial legislation,” could eliminate that system and, in its place, leave Illinois with the most extreme regulatory framework in the nation.
This legislation could:
• Increase premiums by 20% on average
• Cause insurers to scale back coverage
• Result in companies leaving the marketplace entirely
These policies have been tried in other states, leading to skyrocketing costs for consumers and limited options for coverage. Don’t bring California style overregulation to Illinois.
Protect consumer choice and affordability.Vote NO on SB 1486.
* I’m pretty sure we posted this story from a few weeks ago…
Illinois Republican representatives spoke out in Springfield Wednesday during a press conference on Illinois’ gas tax as prices climb to around $4 per gallon.
Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) and Rep. Regan Deering (R-Decatur) proposed House Bill 5738, a measure they called relief for working families, citing ongoing affordability concerns. Their proposal would create a six-month “holiday” on the sales tax applied to gasoline, from July 1 through Dec. 31. […]
Spain said if approved, the measure could lower gas prices by about 20 cents per gallon by pausing the sales tax, but not the motor fuel tax. The state’s gas tax is five cents per dollar, per gallon.
He added that State Republicans had suggested the 5% sales tax funds be moved from the general revenue fund to the road fund to provide investments in Illinois roads.
However, the proposal was dropped in the Transit Reform Package conducted during veto session in Springfield, meaning funds from customers at the pump will now be directed to mass transit, primarily in Chicago.
“After JB Pritzker and Democrats raided downstate road funds for transit, downstate taxpayers deserve relief,” Spain said.
* I’m bringing it up now because some Republican candidates are using the idea in their campaigns…
State Representative candidate Robert Vrankovich today backed suspending the state’s sales tax on gasoline, saying families in the 47th District deserve immediate relief as rising costs continue to strain household budgets.
“Families are getting squeezed every time they fill up their tank, pay utility bills, or buy groceries,” said Vrankovich. “State government should be focused on lowering costs, not making life harder for working families.”
The proposal would suspend the state’s sales tax on gasoline for six months, lowering costs at the pump for drivers across Illinois.
“Whether it’s commuting to work, getting kids to school and activities, or running a small business, higher gas prices drive up the cost of everything,” Vrankovich said. “Families in DuPage County need practical relief now, not more delays from Springfield.”
Vrankovich said he will focus on affordability, accountability, and common-sense solutions.
“People in this district are paying more and getting less,” said Vrankovich. “They deserve leadership that continues to show up, listen, and fight to make Illinois more affordable.”
Vrankovich pledged that if elected, he will prioritize lowering costs and putting taxpayers first.
“Families should not have to wait for relief,” explained Vrankovich. “I’ll fight from day one for policies that make Illinois more affordable and deliver real results.”
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the idea earlier this week…
Well, let’s begin by stepping back and saying that I think gas prices are now in Illinois up almost $1.40 per gallon as a result of this war of choice by Donald Trump. So I think it’s ironic that the party, the members of the party that supports him and won’t criticize him, are now calling for some action to ameliorate the effect that he’s having on every Illinoisan who drives or uses gasoline. Don’t forget, by the way, the inputs into the products that you buy, many of them, anything made with plastic, for example, has oil in it, or at least at its base. So guess what? The cost of those things has gone up. So this is a broader problem than just a gas price problem. This is a problem of Donald Trump willingness to go to war, apparently, against what he said when he was running. He’s now at war. He’s taken us to war. We have people dying on behalf of his adventurism, and we now have an economy that is hurt by virtue of what he’s doing.
Notice he didn’t actually answer the question.
According to AAA, the average gas price in Illinois today is $4.39 a gallon.
* The Question: Should the state sales tax on gasoline be suspended for six months? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
A bill to strengthen privacy protections for transgender and abortion patients passed a Senate committee Wednesday in a 9-4 partisan vote.
Senate Bill 4834, would remove testosterone from the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program, which otherwise exists to protect against misuse of addictive controlled substances. It would also prohibit the Department of Human Services from adding estrogen, abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol, and drugs commonly referred to as hormone suppressants to the program. […]
SB 4834 would also purge IDHS records of the prescribing or dispensing of testosterone. That information would still be part of a patient’s medical records.
State Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, the sponsor of the bill, said medical privacy is an essential right to protect. […]
The bill also protects abortion patients’ access to abortion medication — both mifepristone and misoprostol. Those drugs are not considered controlled substances, but Louisiana in 2024 reclassified them as such so the state could restrict patients from obtaining the pills for abortions. The bill preempts potential similar action in Illinois.
Progressive legislators in a few states (like my home state of Illinois) are pushing bills that almost exactly replicate the Maryland model. Yesterday, the Illinois Senate Appropriations - Health Committee held a first hearing on a bill sponsored by Sen. Lakesia Collins with co-sponsors Graciela Guzman, Javier L. Cervantes, Mary Edly-Allen, and Rachel Ventura, all Democrats from Chicago and its northern suburbs.
I presented testimony in favor of the bill. I was limited to three minutes. Here are my remarks:
Good evening, Chairman Aquino and members of the committee:
I am Merrill Goozner, the former editor of Modern Healthcare, a former Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business reporter, who now write a newsletter on health care issues with over 13,000 subscribers.
The first section of Senate Bill 3900 offers a comprehensive payment reform program that puts hospitals on budgets and equalizes pricing for commercial payers. It is that section of the bill I wish to address today.
This payment program is about affordability. It has demonstrated that it can bring health care costs under control without jeopardizing patients. In fact, it sets the stage for creating a better health care system by detaching funding from how much sick care is provided.
One state has led the way. Maryland is the only state in the country with a system like the one outlined in SB3900. Since fully implementing the system in 2014, Maryland’s hospital use of unnecessary services – both in-patient and out-patient – grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, even as key quality measures improved. It has saved payers, both public and private, billions of dollars. The state’s 30-day readmission and preventable admission rates were significantly reduced compared to other states.
Why has the Maryland system been so effective?
- Equalizing commercial pricing, where every insurer pays the same price for the same service at any individual hospital, substantially reduces wasteful administrative costs for both hospitals and insurers, which reduces spending and frees up dollars for clinical care.
- Putting providers on budgets empowers hospitals and providers to deploy their resources more effectively. When they are not dependent on the volume of services delivered, they have the freedom to invest more on prevention, primary care, care coordination, behavioral health, and community outreach. These are key to better health. All are woefully underfunded. This investment will not only improve overall population health, it is key to achieving the long-term cost control that patients, consumers, employers and taxpayers want and need.
- Global budgets, if appropriately adjusted for special needs, will stabilize financing for the state’s struggling safety net, community and rural hospitals; and
- For employers, who finance about three-fourths of private health insurance, it will lay the groundwork for making the system fairer, one where employers with older and sicker workers are not forced to pay an oversized share of the state’s total health care bill.
SB3900 is a long-term cost control program. The equal pricing system, when coupled with global budgets that grow more slowly than the rest of the economy, will allow state regulators over time to bring commercial prices more in line with Medicare pricing. This will reduce the growth rate in employers’ and employees’ premiums. It will leave more money in peoples’ paychecks. It will lower employers’ costs, and therefore, make Illinois more competitive.
We live in a time when people are looking for bold solutions to pressing problems. Passing this legislation will put Illinois in the forefront of how to deal with the nation’s health care affordability crisis. I hope you will give it serious consideration.
A plan moving in the Illinois Senate could increase the fine for people driving around school buses using the extended stop arm.
Drivers stopped by police for ignoring school bus safety arms are currently fined a minimum of $300 and have their driver’s license suspended for six months. Illinois school districts can also currently choose to install stop arm safety technology, but the fine for drivers is capped at $150.
House Bill 3175 would create a uniform $300 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation. […]
The proposal passed out of the Senate Executive Committee on an 11-2 vote and now heads to the Senate floor. This bill gained unanimous support in the House last year.
Illinoisans may soon be required to register their e-bikes, motorized scooters and other various modes of transport with the DMV if a popular piece of legislation in Springfield passes.
Having bipartisan support, the Illinois Secretary of State said there would also be new regulations, age requirements, and fees associated with using the devices.
Senate Bill 3336, an initiative backed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, would require a person to be at least 16 years old, licensed to drive, and to register certain electric micromobility devices with the state before they can legally be operated. […]
The measure passed the state Senate unanimously earlier this month, and is scheduled to be taken up by the House early next week. The bill has a total of 25 co-sponsors in the House, including 11 Republicans.
Sponsors and advocates told WAND News Thursday it is past time to ban the [paraquat], as there are currently 41,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Illinois.
“Research shows that people who handle paraquat are two-and-a-half times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease,” said Grant Niver, a senior state government relations manager with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. “Even those just living or working near treated fields also experience significantly increased risk for Parkinson’s disease. This impacts not only farmers and farm workers but rural communities across Illinois.”
Senate Bill 3161 would ban paraquat beginning Jan. 1, 2027. However, the Illinois Department of Agriculture would be allowed to give exceptions for using the pesticide for research under strict safety and reporting protocols. […]
“You’ve had both Democrat and Republican presidents for the last 30-40 years that this product has been used and, in your viewpoint, has been causing harm,” said Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport). “If it’s not being banned or significantly reduced, that’s because it’s disputed science.” […]
Senate Bill 3161 is currently locked in the Senate Assignments Committee, but [Sen. Laura Ellman] hopes to move the proposal next year.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
To address safety gaps and prioritize continuous protection for victims in Illinois’ justice system, State Senator Robert Peters is spearheading a measure to secure petitioning eligibility for restraining orders during criminal proceedings. […]
Peters’ measure would build on the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, which currently prohibits orders of protection from being denied solely based on the incarceration status of either the petitioner or the respondent, ensuring the logistical timing of incarceration does not outweigh victims’ access to legal protections.
The proposal would codify IDVA procedure in Illinois criminal law to account for orders of protection issued during criminal proceedings – reducing victim trauma and streamlining justice by directly tying civil protection policies to criminal cases.
“This bill would make enforcement of order violations more direct than in civil court, sending a clear message that Illinois will stand up for victims and act swiftly to bring perpetrators to justice,” Peters said.
House Bill 4741 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Waymo is ready to bring safe, reliable, autonomous rides to Illinois – but we need your help! Waymo is already mapping Chicago’s unique streets and traffic patterns to lay the groundwork for operations.
Never tired or distracted, Waymo provides hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous rides every week across ten major U.S. cities, from Los Angeles to Atlanta — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. The data shows Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are involved in thirteen times fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans (as of 3/20/26, see waymo.com/safety). Let’s bring safer rides to Illinois.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday said it is investigating 35 Illinois school districts, including several in the suburbs, and a Chicago charter operator to see if they are teaching about sexual orientation and “gender ideology” in classrooms and if so, whether parents are allowed to opt out.
The investigations also will examine whether the districts limit access to single-sex locker rooms and bathrooms and girls sports teams. That essentially means they’ll be looking at whether or not districts allow transgender students to use facilities and play on athletic teams that correspond with their gender identity. […]
In a news release, Justice Department officials cited Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, as the basis for the investigations, as well as a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled parents have the religious right to opt their children out of lessons at school if they do not align with their faith. It appears the Trump administration is trying to take that further by proactively looking into whether school districts have opt-out procedures in place.
The Illinois School Districts under investigation include:
- Atwood Heights School District 125
- Bloomington Public Schools District 87
- Bluford Unit School District 318
- Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
- Center Cass School District 66
- Central School District 104
- Community High School District 155
- Country Club Hills School District 160
- Crete-Monee School District 201-U
- DeKalb Community Unit School District 428
- East Dubuque Unit School District 119
- Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401
- Freeport School District 145
- Galena Unit School District 120
- Gillespie Community Unit School District 7
- Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9
- Leyden Community High School District 212
- Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16
- Lyons School District 103
- Martinsville Community Unit School District C3
- Meridian Community Unit School District 223
- Noble Network of Charter Schools
- North Chicago Community Unit School District 187
- North Palos School District 117
- Norwood Elementary School District 63
- O’Fallon Community Consolidated School District No. 90
- Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123
- Odin Public School District 722
- Oregon Community Unit School District 220
- Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259
- Reavis Township High School District 220
- Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19
- Stockton Community Unit School District 206
- Tamaroa School District 5
- Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215
- Will County School District 92
If the school districts are found to have included this type of content in classroom instruction, then the Department of Justice said it would look into whether schools have informed parents of their “right to opt their children out of such instruction.” The department said it would also examine whether girls’ sports teams and access to locker rooms, bathrooms and other “single-sex intimate spaces” are restricted by biological sex.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon accused Illinois public schools of “keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms” in a statement accompanying the announcement.
“Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children,” Dhillon said in the statement. “This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests.”
The news release referenced two recent cases centering on parents’ rights to gender and sexuality-related information and decision-making in public schools: Mahmoud v. Taylor and Mirabelli v. Bonta, which dealt with questions on whether parents in these cases could opt their children out of LGBTQ+-related curricula or receive information on their child’s gender identity at school.
“The Trump Administration continues to punish states the President does not like and this is yet another sham investigation carried out by an office with no regard for the rule of law or the well-being of the American people,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Office said in a statement. “The Civil Rights Division used to investigate actual discrimination concerns to ensure all individuals are treated equally under the law, but they’re now focused on belittling the rights and humanity of LGBTQ+ communities.”
Bloomington’s school district is among three dozen Illinois schools being investigated for sexual orientation and gender identity education. […]
“Our priority remains what it has always been: providing safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments for all students while supporting our teachers and staff in the important work they do every day,” Superintendent Dr. Mouser said in a statement to 25News.
“We will respond appropriately to the DOJ’s requests and will continue to work in good faith to ensure clarity and compliance with applicable education requirements,” he continued.
The DOJ said the Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the districts under investigation, including District 87, and the review process is now underway. District 87 said it will cooperate with the review.
The Freeport School District released the following statement acknowledging the investigation:
“At this time, we do not know why our district was selected for this review; however, we have learned that more than 30 other school districts across the state received the same notice. It is possible that a sample of Illinois school districts was selected. We are confident that our instructional and student practices are in full compliance with state and federal law, as well as applicable court precedents. We intend to cooperate fully with this inquiry and will provide updates to the community as appropriate.” […]
Oregon School District also acknowledged the investigation in a post of Facebook.
There is no reason for families or community members to panic, nor should anyone assume this signals wrongdoing on the part of our district. We are taking this seriously, as we would any federal inquiry, but we are doing so from a position of professionalism, preparation, and confidence in our practices. Since receiving notice, we have already been in contact with all appropriate partners, including insurance, legal counsel, and professional associations, to ensure we are approaching this process strategically and responsibly.
The superintendent says they’re unsure why Oregon has been selected for review but is prepared to cooperate fully. The full statement can be found here.
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The IFPA—the Credit Card Chaos law—could hurt Illinois’ tipped workers. Servers, stylists, rideshare drivers and other gig workers who rely on tips could see their income drop if customers can’t tip on cards and are limited to the cash they carry.
Why should tipped workers pay the price for Springfield’s bad policy?
Before chaos hits on July 1, lawmakers should reverse course and repeal the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act.
* ICYMI: Department of Justice investigating sexuality and gender teaching in 36 Illinois school districts. Tribune…
- The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is investigating 36 Illinois school districts to determine whether “sexual orientation and gender ideology” content is present in any Pre-K-12 classrooms, the agency said in a news release Thursday.
- In the Chicagoland area, over 15 districts are listed as under investigation in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
- If the school districts are found to have included this type of content in classroom instruction, then the Department of Justice said it would look into whether schools have informed parents of their “right to opt their children out of such instruction.” The department said it would also examine whether girls’ sports teams and access to locker rooms, bathrooms and other “single-sex intimate spaces” are restricted by biological sex.
* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.
* A “Celebration of Barbara’s Life” memorial for Barbara Flynn Currie will be held Sunday, June 21, at 10:30 am at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* Sun-Times | SNAP food assistance cutoffs begin Friday in Illinois: As of Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the state agency that administers the program, estimated that 120,000 individuals were at risk of losing their benefits starting Friday and rolling out over the next several months. That’s down about 280,000 from what the state originally anticipated would be pushed out of the program as people received exemptions from the work rules.
* Crain’s | The state’s health costs are spiking — with weight-loss drugs in the spotlight: Illinois spent nearly 21% more on healthcare for state employees last year, and University of Illinois researchers suspect GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro could be playing a role in driving up that tab. Spending on employee healthcare was $3.81 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30, compared with $3.16 billion the year before, according to U of I’s Institute of Government & Public Affairs.
*** Statewide ***
* Sun-Times | Costco shoppers deserve cut of retailer’s tariff refund, Illinois lawsuit says: A similar lawsuit against Costco over tariff refunds has been filed in Washington. Other companies, including Lululemon, FedEx, Nintendo and Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, also face lawsuits from customers. Lululemon, like Costco, is accused of “double recovery” regarding the unlawful tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional, including “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The U.S. Court of International Trade later found that companies subjected to tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were entitled to refunds.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Sun-Times | Will Pritzker opt in to federal program that covers private and public school costs? These advocates hope so: “At a time when Chicago Public Schools and many other school systems across the state are confronting shrinking student populations and increasing costs, the state of Illinois cannot afford to turn down free money,” said Bobby Sylvester, vice president of The Urban Center, a Chicago-based organization which advocates for what it calls a “common sense agenda.” The press conference was organized by Invest in Education, a national organization formed to support the tax-credit scholarship program, and the Urban Center, which is run by Juan Rangel, the former leader of an organization that distributed private school scholarships through the Illinois tax credit program, which sunsetted in 2023.
*Press release | Illinois Senate GOP and Angel Father Call for Action on Legislation to Allow Illinois Law Enforcement to Keep Illinoisans Safe: Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Angel Father Joe Abraham, joined together to call on the General Assembly to pass SB4196 to allow law enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration officials on non-citizens who have committed crimes in the United States. “Right now, Illinois law limits how local law enforcement can work with federal authorities, creating confusion and dangerous gaps that put public safety at risk,” Rose said. “My bill is straightforward. If there is a valid, enforceable federal warrant, law enforcement should be able to act, communicate, and coordinate. We should trust our officers to do their jobs and give them the tools they need to protect our communities.”
* Hyde Park Herald | Five years in, key parts of Illinois police reform law still not fully implemented: Between one-third and half of police departments surveyed said their use-of-force policies are missing at least one requirement under the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, the report found. In a separate review of 10 agencies, only one had fully incorporated the law’s standards. The findings come from the “Workgroup to Implement the SAFE-T Act Policing Provisions,” which was convened to assess how well the 2021 law has been carried out across Illinois. The group outlined dozens of recommendations to push the law closer to full implementation across five areas, including use-of-force standards, officer decertification, body-worn cameras, training practices and data reporting requirements.
* WGN | Hammond, Indiana Mayor: Wolf Lake is close to Chicago and ready for the Bears: Hammond, Indiana Mayor Thomas McDermott admits the Bears might be using his city as leverage, but if there’s even a chance the franchise might build a new stadium there, he’s all-in. “I mean, we could be being used if we’re being honest. But what are we supposed to do when you’re being approached by a world-class organization like the Chicago Bears and they’re spending millions of dollars analyzing your city to make it possibly their next home,” McDermott told WGN News.
* Cook County Record | After SCOTUS ruling, IL sidelines Welch’s race-based districting plan: While the decision from the court’s conservative majority did not explicitly strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as unconstitutional, the court declared that explicitly using race as a criteria to draw legislative districts is unconstitutional. Further, the court’s majority declared racial minorities do not have a right under the VRA to elect representatives who are of the same race or a preferred race. Rather, the court declared, black, Latino and other racial minority voters have the same voting rights as anyone else.
* Capitol News Illinois | Peoples Gas customers to see minor credits after settlement with AG’s office: The benefit, if approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, will average around $50 annually this year and around $40 each in 2027 and 2028, or about $3-4 monthly. Roughly a million natural gas customers in northeastern Illinois are expected to receive the credits. “These bill credits are good news for Peoples Gas customers who have suffered so much financial pain because of the utility’s wasteful spending,” said Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, a utility watchdog. “We look forward to continuing the important work ahead to hold Peoples Gas accountable and seek justice for its long-suffering customers.”
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Chicago Abortion Fund sees its busiest first quarter in 40+ year history: In the first three months of this year, the fund answered 5,000 calls, which is around 750 more calls during the same period last year. Due to rising costs, the organization also spent more than twice as much on travel, childcare and groceries for women seeking abortions — $3 million so far this year, compared to $1.37 million in the first three months of 2025.
* ABC Chicago | CPS teachers, students expected to join May Day rally at Union Park, march through downtown Chicago: Kids who attend will be part of the half-day program at PUSH and return to school afterwards. Others, will likely attend the major May Day rally and march, beginning at Union Park and ending at Daley Plaza downtown. That rally begins at 1 p.m. The march starts at 2 p.m. and is expected to go along Washington, Racine, Jackson, Halsted and Washington to Daley Plaza.
* Sun-Times | Bally’s hits Chicago casino construction milestone with fanfare — and big questions: It’s like the end of the beginning,” Kim said after watching the final beam hoisted by crane at 777 W. Chicago Ave., with the tune of Starship’s “We Built This City” blaring to a crowd of hundreds of workers, elected officials and other well-wishers. “To get here, we just had a lot of random delays. Now it just feels real good. A thousand people working on-site — I can’t believe how fast we’re building now. So we feel good that we’ll be open early next year,” Kim said, specifying only the first quarter of 2027.
* WGN | Surprising finds at O’Hare: Monkeys, snails, bird’s nest and more: Chief Agriculture Specialist Cory Everton told WGN-TV on Thursday that most people are unaware of just how catastrophic some prohibited items can be to the country’s crops and livestock. Officers have confiscated about 5,000 pounds of meat per month on average. “We get a lot of folks bringing giant African snails, live. If these get loose in your backyard, you don’t have a backyard anymore. [Thursday] we had someone bring in a bird’s nest covered in bird feces,” Everton said.
* WBEZ | ‘Pure chaos’: Why most Chicagoans used to move at the same time on Moving Day: “Why everyone would want to move on one day in the calendar year is baffling,” said Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum. “And almost every [contemporary account] acknowledges that. It’s like, ‘Why have we adopted this system? It’s not at all efficient. It’s overwhelming. It’s chaotic.’ ”
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Herald | Federal agents won’t be prosecuted over pepper-spraying protesters in Elgin: Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced that decision Thursday, saying that while at least one agent may have committed felony aggravated battery under Illinois law, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prevents his prosecution. That agent was captured on video shooting a man in the face with a pepper ball from a short distance away, even as the man complied with orders, Mosser said. The pepper ball then ricocheted off the man’s face and hit a nearby woman in the face.
* WGN | Another South Suburban leader under fire for credit card spending: Like Henyard, Thaddeus Jones holds two taxpayer-funded jobs. He is mayor of Calumet City and a Democratic state lawmaker. In all, the positions paid him more than $225,000 last year, records show. “The credit card is absolutely, positively just extra money,” said Nyota Figgs, Calumet City clerk, who has publicly clashed with Jones. “I mean, he used it as his personal wallet. The city was his personal purse. Period.” […] His spokesman said the trips were business-related. He said the mayor paid back some of the charges.
* ABC Chicago | West suburban woman says armed off-duty cop pulled her from vehicle, didn’t identify self: “I’m at a red light; this Jeep cuts me off. And he gets out of the car with a gun, screaming, ‘get out of the car. Get out of the car and turn it off,’” Pantoja said. “At first I thought I was getting robbed or something cause I didn’t know it was a police officer or anything. All I saw was a gun pointed at me.” She says he told her he was stopping her because she had been involved in a hit-and-run. She says, in fact, her vehicle had spun out on the wet pavement Monday afternoon. But she never hit anything and there was no damage to her vehicle or any property. She says she felt like she was being profiled.
* Daily Herald | Des Plaines set to buy most of former Methodist Camp Ground for $4M, ending legal battle: Des Plaines would purchase most of a historic — but flood-prone — campground for $4 million under a deal before the city council. If approved, the proposed agreement will end a five-year legal battle over the property at 1250 Campground Road. The Chicago District Camp Ground Association, the group that owns the eponymous site, already has approved the settlement.
*** Downstate ***
* WGLT | Bloomington city manager says public exploration of data center issue is only the beginning: “Yes, we have active interest, but there is a lot to figure out and there is a lot of discussion that would need to be had before I think it could even be genuinely considered by the city council,” said Jurgens. During a Sound Ideas interview, Jurgens said he doesn’t think there is any location inside city limits that would be suitable for a large-scale data center, though there may be places outside municipal limits that fall under county government.
* WSIL | Superintendent resigns from CCSD #204 in Pinckneyville following allegations:
Matthew Hickam, Regional Superintendent for ROE 30, stated on Thursday night, the board of education for the Community Consolidated School District #204 has accepted a resignation from Superintendent Jerry Travelstead. This comes after the school board is investigating community allegations and rumors of texts with a student. The board emphasized that Travelstead must be presumed innocent of any misconduct until proven otherwise.
* WGLT | Rivian reaffirms 2026 targets as R2 production weathers Normal tornado: “I’m proud of the way our teams have rallied together to get production back up and running while we repair the damages,” said Claire McDonough, Rivian’s chief financial officer. “Despite the weather impact, our 2026 guidance remains unchanged. We continue to expect full-year deliveries of between 62,000 and 67,000 total vehicles across R1, R2, and our commercial vans.” The new R2 — Rivian’s first mass-market vehicle — was the focal point of Thursday’s first-quarter earnings call. R2 production began last week in Normal. They’ll reach customers later this spring.
* Rockford Register Star | Stellantis plans corporate walk through at Belvidere Assembly Plant: United Auto Worker leaders and Stellantis executives will tour the Belvidere Assembly Plant April 30 as they prepare to discuss a “launch agreement,” UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen said. Frantzen, in an update to UAW 1268 members posted on Facebook, said Stellantis officials reached out to the union to talk about a launch agreement. A meeting was scheduled for May 6. Frantzen said a launch agreement would govern plans for retooling the assembly plant and for launching production.
* WMBD | Trades council organizes food drive for striking ISU workers: AFSCME workers at Illinois State University have been on strike for four weeks now, without receiving a single paycheck. The trades council saw the struggle of the workers to pay for food and decided to organize the food drive to help support them in their time of need. “We recognize that our brothers and sisters at AFSCME are on strike,” said Mike Raikes, president of the Building Trades Council. “We can stand by them physically at the rallies and on the picket lines.”
*** National ***
* 404 Media | City Learns Flock Accessed Cameras in Children’s Gymnastics Room as a Sales Pitch Demo, Renews Contract Anyway: After Hunyar wrote about what he found, Flock has agreed to stop using Dunwoody’s cameras to demonstrate its product. Flock’s FAQ page states that “Flock customers own their data” and “Flock will not share, sell, or access your data.” It also states “nobody from Flock Safety is accessing or monitoring your footage.” Flock also published a blog post that notes “one of the benefits communities value most about Flock technology is the ability for law enforcement to directly access privately owned cameras, if and only if the organization allows them to, for crime-solving and security purposes.”
* AP | Meta raises specter of shutting down service to New Mexico in legal clash over child safety: In a court filing unsealed Thursday, Meta said it was unfeasible for the company to meet a proposed requirement for 99% accuracy in verifying that child users are at least 13 years old, among other demands. “As a practical matter, this requirement effectively requires Meta to shut down its services — for all users in the state — or else comply with impossible obligations,” Meta said in the filing.
