* ICYMI: Start of CPS school year unlikely to be affected by budget changes, experts say. WBEZ…

- CPS Supt. Macquline King warns CPS could miss payroll without a short-term loan, potentially shutting down the district. But even critics of the budget changes say the district is still likely to secure the financing. a consequence that won’t play out.
- “I suspect CPS will come up with a way to limp along so that the front end of the school year starts and continues as planned,” said Joe Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation, a fiscal watchdog that keeps tabs on the district’s finances. But Ferguson said given how “uncertain and unstable” the situation is, there’s a “legitimate and real concern about where this all goes.”
- Still, experts say it’s possible the changes, which board members hope will rescind about 1,000 staff layoffs, could lead to midyear disruptions, especially if the state doesn’t come through with the extra $150 million the school board is now counting on.

* At 10 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will sign HB 4273 and SB 714 into law “to protect Illinois consumers from unfair home and auto insurance rates.” Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* The Marshall Project | Illinois Lawmakers Decry Prison’s ‘Gut-Wrenching,’ ‘Heartbreaking’ Conditions: Despite the prevalence of fires, the facility in Joliet failed to have working fire alarms, to provide evacuation plans to fire officials or to allow ambulances to quickly enter and leave prison grounds, according to government records.“The highest levels of administration are so incompetent, and it’s just a shame,” said state Sen. Terri Bryant, a Republican based in Murphysboro. “People’s lives are in jeopardy.”

* NBC Chicago | Nearly 20% of Illinois federal student loan holders now in default: In the state of Illinois, more than 18% of borrowers are currently in default on their federal student loans, according to data published by the Associated Press. […] Those defaults are surging after three-year pause implemented during the COVID pandemic expired in 2023. After that, a one-year “on-ramp” that protected borrowers from consequences of missed payment expired, with scheduled payments becoming mandatory again in late 2024.

* Sun-Times | After Senate primary loss, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi shifts focus to new PAC — and his political future: A source familiar with the event said the PAC will announce contributions to a slew of state and Chicago candidates, with plans to contribute $100,000 to candidates this month alone. […] Those close to the Schaumburg Democrat say the PAC is a way for Krishnamoorthi, a prolific fundraiser, to use his talent and network to help down-ballot candidates. And despite a contentious primary, the congressman contributed $2,500 from his leadership PAC to primary rival Juliana Stratton in June after attended a Washington fundraiser benefiting her.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois offers temporary sales tax reduction on back-to-school shopping: From Friday, Aug. 7, through Aug. 16 the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases. […] Clothing items, including shoes, that cost less than $125 will qualify for a lower sales tax rate, while there will be no price limit on school supplies. All purchases will still be subject to local sales taxes, however.

* WBEZ | A look back at the Illinois Department of Early Childhood’s first month: Illinois has become one of a growing number of states to consolidate all of its early childhood support resources under one roof. That new department officially opened its doors the first of last month. In the Loop sits with two expert researchers in the field to learn about the state of early childhood in Illinois and what work is being done now.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget director Annette Guzman resigns amid finance team shakeup ahead of tough budget: Annette Guzman, Johnson’s director of the Office of Budget and Management, is departing the role she has held since the start of his administration. Her exit follows the resignations last week of acting Chief Financial Officer Steve Mahr and Deputy CFO Noor Shaikh in June — coming after CFO Jill Jaworski departed at the beginning of this year. […] In the same statement, Johnson said Guzman was “taking time away from her role to focus on caring for her family.”

* Block Club | The Chicago Mayor’s Race Is Heating Up: Several established political names have announced their candidacies for mayor, including outgoing Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, current Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, North Side U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and George Cardenas, former Chicago alderman and current Cook County Board of Review commissioner.

* Center Square | Rivals question Giannoulias’ dual runs for office: Mendoza said it is not “super ethical” for Giannoulias to ask almost 13 million people to support him for secretary of state when he is seeking another office. “I’m all-in for Chicago. Alexi is clearly all-in for Alexi, and that’s why he’s hedging his bets and he’s running for both offices. Chicago deserves a mayor who’s all-in,” Mendoza told The Center Square.

* Tribune | How children selling flowers have become synonymous with Chicago’s popular corridors: ‘It’s dangerous’: Experts say that the population of “street-working children” is on the rise in Chicago and other major cities across the country. While it’s not been uncommon to see young kids who sell merchandise on sidewalks or streets around the world in countries suffering socioeconomic hardship, it’s become an increasingly common sight across the city, including River North and near Fulton Market in the West Loop. Kids, sometimes no older than 5, holding a small bouquet, passing between outdoor restaurant tables and lingering on the sidewalk outside bars and nightlife clubs.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Tinley Park moves to renew Cook County property tax break for industrial park: “I think it is the only industrial area within Tinley Park and located in Cook County,” Mitera said. “Considering the proximity of Duvan Industrial Park to Will County and even Indiana locations with lower property taxes, this is just an incentive to remain competitive within Tinley Park in Cook County.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Petitions with just under 9,000 signatures submitted for Aurora recall referendum effort: A group of Aurora residents submitted petitions with just under 9,000 signatures Friday to add two recall referendum questions to the November ballot in the city, leaders of the group said. If placed on the ballot, the questions would ask Aurora voters if the city should adopt mechanisms that would allow a sitting mayor or an alderman at-large to be recalled. The proposed referendum questions are part of a larger effort to find a way to boot a sitting mayor or alderman at-large from office before their term is up. The group Aurora for Change was formed around this issue.

* Daily Southtown | Illinois State trooper charged with sexual assault of a woman in Tinley Park: llinois State Police Trooper Douglas Lee, 54, of Tinley Park was ordered held in custody Saturday pending trial by Cook County Judge Shauna Boliker after being charged with sexual assault, according to court records. The charges stem from an encounter in the early morning Aug. 2, 2025, and involved a victim who was unable to give knowing consent, according to a Tinley Park news release. The Illinois State Police said Monday that Lee is on administrative leave without pay, and that state police are conducting an internal investigation.

*** Downstate ***

* Journal Courier | Data center concerns put Morgan County Commission on back foot: Wood said no data center company has reached out to Morgan County or shown interest in building a data center. Newingham then asked why Morgan County Republican Club was advertising the topic of its Aug. 25 meeting to be data center construction, with both Wood and commission Chairman Michael Wankel as speakers. Republican Greg Hacker, who’s looking to unseat Democratic Commissioner Michael Woods and also is advertised as a speaker for the Republican club meeting, interjected to say the commission has nothing to do with how the event is advertised.

* KFVS | KFVS & WSIL joining forces under Heartland News brand: The WSIL-TV News app is going away and the KFVS News app will will merge KFVS and WSIL into a single app - Heartland News. Through the Heartland News app, you’ll still have access to local news and sports, anywhere. You’ll also be able to watch live breaking news and weather when it happens. KFVS and WSIL will continue to have separate First Alert Weather apps.

* WTVO | Rockford City Council delays vote on acting mayor pending legal review: The delay allows the city to review state statutes regarding the timing of McNamara’s resignation. During the meeting, City Attorney Angela Hammer says she wants more time researching whether the appointment of an alderman to the role is legally appropriate under state law.

* WGLT | ‘American Pickers’ wants to see Bloomington-Normal’s stuff: A reality television show is in search of historically significant, rare and unique items as the American Pickers hit the road to film restoration master Mike Wolfe, who owns an Iowa shop called Antique Archaeology, as he and a team of “pickers” sift through private collections and disorganized junk piles in search of untapped potential. The History Channel show, which has aired since 2010 and tallied more than 400 episodes, is looking for leads across Illinois. The crew purchases relics in various states of disrepair from private collectors and homes, restores and resells them.

* WCIA | Urbana’s Krannert Center announces range of performances for 26-27 season: Performances for the 2026-2027 season range from music featuerd in the manga series One Piece — performed by the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, to a celebration of South African dance, to a theatre production that examines a family’s entanglement with the transatlantic slave trade.