* ICYMI: Trump administration reverses cuts to mental health, substance abuse programs. Sun-Times…

- In less than 24 hours, the Trump administration reversed course and said it would not cut nearly $2 billion in funding to substance abuse and mental health programs across the country.
- “After national outrage, Secretary Kennedy has bowed to public pressure and reinstated $2 billion in SAMHSA grants that save lives,” House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, said in a statement.
- In Illinois, the grant termination letters started to arrive around 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Blanca Campos, CEO of the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, a non-profit that represents healthcare agencies. The group spent Wednesday hearing from providers who were scrambling to figure out what to do.

* Related stories…

• Tribune: Illinois groups scrambling after termination of federal grants for mental health, substance use disorders
• AP: Trump administration reverses cuts to mental health, substance abuse programs
• NYT: H.H.S. Reverses Decision to Cut $2 Billion for Mental Health and Addiction Services

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | After Supreme Court defeat, Trump administration looking to settle lawsuit over Illinois National Guard deployment: In court Wednesday, DOJ attorney Christopher Edelman told Perry they have “obtained authorization” from senior administration officials to resolve the case by settlement, and requested a 30-day stay in the case while terms are negotiated. Christopher Wells, a lawyer for the state, said they were “optimistic” that a settlement can be reached but asked for a quicker timeline. Perry gave both sides until Jan. 28 to negotiate and submit another status report, and asked the parties to come back for another status hearing on Jan. 30.

* Capitol News Illinois | State education board OKs $10.9B budget request: The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state’s tightening fiscal condition. Overall, the $10.9 billion request would be a slight decrease from the current budget of just over $11 billion. But that is only because funding for early childhood education, which totals nearly $750 million this year, is being shifted in the upcoming year to the newly created Department of Early Childhood, an initiative Gov. JB Pritzker pushed in 2024.

* NBC Chicago | Johnson, Pritzker vow to take Trump admin to court over threat of funding loss: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker vowed to fight the Trump administration in court after President Donald Trump said he’s going to cut off all funding to sanctuary cities starting Feb. 1. “We have put forth litigation to beat back against this president’s unhealthy behavior, and I’m confident that as the courts have done before, ruled in our favor that he’s working outside of the Constitution,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday.

*** Statewide ***

* Brownfield AG | Illinois Farm Bureau President raises concerns over board transition with Country Financial: The president of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) says a long-standing precedent in the transition of power within the organization and its insurance company, Country Financial, is being circumvented. Phillip Nelson, who was elected by IFB members in December, says the board of directors for the two groups traditionally overlaps. “We had an election in Chicago.” He says, “Five of those people that were replaced, including the past president, haven’t resigned. In the 100 year history of Country and Farm Bureau, we’ve never seen anything like this before.”

* Sun-Times | What to know if you’re one of 170,000 people in Illinois behind on student loans: “This is a really, really bad time for so many folks [who] are struggling,” Calazans said, noting that these collections are intersecting with skyrocketing health care premiums, high unemployment and the increasing cost of groceries and other necessities. “It just becomes this huge nightmare for so many families,” Calazans said. The two groups most likely to be impacted are Black borrowers and borrowers with associate degrees, according to a fall 2025 survey by The Institute for College Access and Success.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WMBD | Darren Bailey meets Peoria residents, feels confident in primary: Bailey said he felt confident about his chances of winning the Republican primary even before a WGN/Emmerson poll showed he had a 26.2% lead over his competition. “I’ll be honest with you, we think the lead is a little bit wider than that because it appears that that poll was really taken in the WGN headquarter area,” he said. “We fully anticipate victory in the primary.”

* Capitol City Now | Illinois Senate President Don Harmon: Ahead of the Illinois Senate returning to session this week, WTAX’s Dave Dahl talked about the upcoming session and more with Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), Illinois Senate President, for the WTAX Morning Newswatch.

* Capitol News Illinois | Top Democrats say they would consider small changes to Illinois’ SAFE-T Act: Both Gov. JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, say the changes — if ultimately deemed necessary — would be narrow despite Republicans’ desire to see the law drastically overhauled. Welch said he is awaiting a report on the law that is still being crafted by Cook County’s top judge. […] Welch and Pritzker noted that it is routine for state lawmakers to review and tweak any law on the books. The sweeping criminal justice reform law that passed in 2021 has already been subject to multiple amendments.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | As mayor touts lower crime, community groups say lack of funding jeopardizes the trend: LaVonte Stewart, executive director of the sports and mentorship program Lost Boyz Inc., said he had to lay off 60% of his staff after pandemic stimulus funds ran out last year. He’s now turning to the city to fill that gap. “We need funding, proper funding, sir, so we can do what we need to do and keep the work going,” Stewart said during the meeting with Johnson Tuesday. “We’re hurting over here, Mr. Mayor.”

* Sun-Times | Chicago aims to save landmark Congress Theater with $25.2M federal loan backed by city funds: Deputy Planning and Development Commissioner Jeff Cohen said the HUD loan is needed to salvage the “gut rehab” because developers of the project were unable to secure a conventional loan.

* Crain’s | Indiana governor name-checks Bears in state of the state address: After mentioning recent expansions by U.S. Steel in Gary and BP in Whiting during his annual state of the state address, Braun said: “It’s not surprising that another organization noticed Indiana is open for business: the Chicago Bears.” Braun didn’t offer any details on his pitch to the Bears to come to Indiana in search of a new stadium, which generated more buzz after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell visited at least one site across the border after checking out the Arlington Heights property acquired by the team. “We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier state,” Braun said during his address to Indiana lawmakers.

* Block Club | Edgewater Neighbors, Business Owners Sue The City Over Broadway Rezoning: Edgewater Residents for Responsible Development, a group of Edgewater property and business owners, filed a lawsuit against the city Monday, alleging the rezoning to allow for denser development violated their due process rights as well as the city’s and state’s rezoning requirements. The neighbors argue that the city failed to follow its own zoning code by not properly notifying owners whose buildings would be rezoned as well as a failure to notify property owners whose buildings fall within 250 feet of the rezoned area, as required by city codes.

* Sun-Times | Chicago’s tax on Downtown hotel rooms could rise to 19%, nation’s highest, to boost tourism: Three years after the Illinois General Assembly authorized the concept, the City Council’s Finance Committee finally took the first major step forward, scheduling a public hearing on the so-called, “Tourism Improvement District” for Feb. 27 in the Council chambers. The public hearing on the tax, which would generate about $40 million in annual revenue, must precede a Council vote. More than 200 U.S. cities have already created tourism improvement districts.

* Sun-Times | O’Hare, Midway exploring sale of naming rights and sponsorships: Naming rights and sponsorships would be up for grabs for everything from the O’Hare people mover system and airport parking garages at Chicago’s two major airports to concourses, shuttle buses and children’s play areas.

* Tribune | Rick Garcia, leading Chicago gay rights activist, dies at 69: ‘He was relentless’: Garcia successfully pushed to have anti-gay attacks in Chicago classified as hate crimes. He spearheaded campaigns that banned discrimination against LGBTQ people in the city, county and state. And he helped lead the push to legalize gay marriage in Illinois. “Every single law that passed in the city, state and county passed because of Rick,” close friend Tobi Williams said.

* Sun-Times | Harold’s Chicken CEO Kristen Pierce-Sherrod dies at 55: Mrs. Pierce-Sherrod and her husband also co-founded the Chicago Children Equestrian Center after years of running community events and their recognition of the “empowering impact of equine experiences on low-income youths,” according to the group’s site.

* Sun-Times | Chicago law firm investigating Minneapolis shooting for Renee Nicole Good’s family: The law firm, led by founding partner Antonio Romanucci, represented the family of George Floyd after he was killed in 2020 by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. That lawsuit resulted in a record $27 million settlement for Floyd’s family. “People in Minneapolis and across this country truly, truly care about what happened to Renee Good on January 7, 2026, and are committed to understanding how she could have been killed on the street after dropping her child off at school,” Romanucci said in a statement.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Greg Hinz: The Bears’ Indiana feint may be paying off — in Arlington Heights: But if it’s a fake handoff, it’s been a good one, with the team leaking news that it brought in National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell to tour Indiana sites, and surveying season ticket holders with such tough questions as whether they’d like lots more room for pre-game tailgating in Indiana. And now, suddenly, the Illinois folks are optimistic, almost bubbly about prospects of finalizing an Arlington Heights deal. Some of the optimism came from state Rep. Kam Buckner, a South Side Democrat who has emerged as public point person for Chicago lawmakers who have helped stall the Bears’ requests for infrastructure and other taxpayer help in Arlington Heights.

* Daily Herald | Elgin again issues alert after drinking water samples exceed allowable lead levels during test: In the second half of 2025, the tests found that 70 of the 101 samples had lead levels above the action level. According to the city, the levels are much higher than previous monitoring periods due to changes in the regulation and how a sample is required to be collected and tested. New requirements pull water that has been sitting further out in the home’s lead service line.

* Daily Southtown | Crete-Monee District 201 will ‘take time’ to decide on holding school on some holidays: After hearing concerns from parents and teachers Tuesday, Crete-Monee School District 201-U board members said they will take more time to consider a proposal to hold school on certain state holidays in the case of emergency closures other days. Illinois law requires that school districts approve a waiver to hold school or schedule teacher institute, staff development or parent-teacher conferences on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the third Monday of January; President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday Feb. 12; Casimir Pulaski’s birthday, the first Monday of March; Columbus Day second Monday in October; and Veterans Day Nov. 11.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Trump administration reverses $2B cuts that would have hit McLean County System of Care grant: The System of Care grant totaled $501,232. […] Landreth said the form letter stated the System of Care programs serving children with behavioral health diagnoses “no longer aligns with the agency’s current national funding priorities and that federal resources are being redirected accordingly.” Landreth said the original grant proposal emphasized “the importance of making sure that marginalized families have some access to mental health services.”

* WAND | Springfield’s new planner aims to revitalize downtown, reimagine vacant buildings: “My main goal is working towards multidisciplinary aspects of planning, from socioeconomic aspects to improving infrastructure features,” Bhandari said. “We are working for more of research driven planning, and outreach for providing resources and grants for business and retaining that along with more sustainable planning efforts.” Among some of Bhandari’s focuses is revitalizing the downtown area and making it more resilient. She always wants to see vacant buildings around the city be used in creative ways. She also mentioned affordable, mixed-use housing as a solution to make it easier to keep people in Springfield.

* WCIA | Film industry generates great impact for Central Illinois in 2025: Additionally, the Champaign County area alone captured a significant share of that activity, with $3.78 million in total local spending, including $1.625 million in labor costs paid directly to Champaign County residents. These productions employed local crew and extras while also supporting jobs across hospitality, retail, logistics and creative services.

* WCIA | Champaign Co. domestic violence treatment center offering free legal advice to survivors: Survivors of domestic violence will soon have access to free legal services. Courage Connection in Champaign County is introducing a new initiative called “Mobile Law For All.” For the first time, they will be offering not just treatment but legal advice to victims. “The ability to possibly have someone come in and represent you and support you, I think can be life changing,” said Courage Connection’s Domestic Violence Outreach Coordinator, Valena Hedin.

* Capitol City Now | Grandview to build ‘sports complex,’ in part, with state grant money: According to a state news release, Grandview will be getting a $600,000 grant from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program. “Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments which helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects,” said the release. “It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $675 million for park projects throughout Illinois.”

* WSIL | Two Parks in Southern Illinois Awarded Grants for Upgrades: The OSLAD program, established in 1986, has awarded $675 million for park projects in Illinois. This year, 20 economically distressed communities received $11.4 million in grants. In southern Illinois, the Village of Cambria received a $196,849.50 grant to upgrade its only public park. The James Mohan Memorial Park will see improvements to its walking path, basketball court, and repurposing of its tennis court into pickleball courts, said Village Trustee Marshall Brown.

*** National ***

* Express News | Trump crackdown on immigrant truckers forces thousands out of work in Texas: Texas has quietly canceled more than 6,400 commercial driver’s licenses for asylum recipients, refugees and DACA recipients in the state since November as it seeks to carry out the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrant workers. The cancellations, which have not been previously reported, amount to about two-thirds of the number of commercial drivers with discretionary immigration status in Texas. Those impacted aren’t permanent residents but have permits to work in the U.S. legally. Many say they had no warning about the change and are now stuck with outstanding truck loans and insurance payments that they can’t afford.

* NBC | ICE error meant some recruits were sent into field offices without proper training, sources say: Applicants without law enforcement backgrounds are required to take an eight-week in-person course at ICE’s academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, which includes courses in immigration law and handling a gun, as well as physical fitness tests. “They were using AI to scan résumés and found out a bunch of the people who were LEOs weren’t LEOs,” one of the officials said. The officials said the AI tool sent people with the word “officer” on their résumés to the shorter four-week online training — for example, a “compliance officer” or people who said they aspired to be ICE officers.

* The Intercept | DHS Used Neo-Nazi Anthem for Recruitment After Fatal Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Less than two days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis during a controversial enforcement operation, the Department of Homeland Security’s official Instagram account made a recruitment post proclaiming “We’ll Have Our Home Again,” attaching a song of the same name by Pine Tree Riots. Popularized in neo-Nazi spaces, the track features lines about reclaiming “our home” by “blood or sweat,” language often used in white nationalist calls for race war.

* WSJ | Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Himself to Fight AI Misuse: Over the past several months, the “Interstellar” and “Magic Mike” star has had eight trademark applications approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office featuring him staring, smiling and talking. His attorneys said the trademarks are meant to stop AI apps or users from simulating McConaughey’s voice or likeness without permission—an increasingly common concern of performers.