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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know lots more. Crain’s…
Click here for the polling memo. Illinois is paying the price for 340B medicine markups. Through the federal 340B program, nonprofit hospitals can buy medicines for pennies, then charge huge markups – even on life-saving medicines. Those markups have become big business for large hospital systems, driving higher costs for Illinois patients, employers and taxpayers. And the problem is getting worse. The program’s lack of oversight has allowed 340B to become a revenue stream for hospitals, PBMs, private equity firms and big chain pharmacies — with no requirement that the money be used to help patients afford medicines. It’s time for Washington to hold hospitals accountable and fix 340B. Read more. * 100 years ago today…
* Sun-Times | Welch backs millionaires tax, but House Democrats split over how much to devote to property tax relief: In an interview with WBEZ, the speaker did not endorse either plan, saying there are “lots of conversations still being had.” But he made his backing of a millionaires tax crystal clear. “I’m a big supporter of the fact that those who can pay more should pay more,” Welch said. “If we can come to some type of consensus on how to get it done and where the money should go, I want to be a part of that.” * Center Square | Federal data shows Illinois economy grew in fourth quarter: Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says Illinois’ gross domestic product grew 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The only state bordering Illinois to show more growth was Iowa at 1.8%. North Dakota led the nation with 3.8% growth in the fourth quarter. * NPR | The FAA takes a rare step to head off a traffic jam at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport: “Where we were headed in Chicago, due to the reckless scheduling of our competitor, OK, was going to be gridlock,” Isom said at an investors conference in Washington, D.C., last month. United CEO Scott Kirby laughed off that criticism when he got the same question a few hours later. Kirby pointed the finger at American, where he used to work, and said he’s glad the Department of Transportation is stepping in. “The DOT is going to come in and play dad and force us to share,” Kirby said. “And it’s going to all be fine.” * Sun-Times | Taxpayers face $9.5M settlement tied to alleged coerced confession by onetime CPD detective: The settlement would go to Carl Reed, a mentally disabled man who spent nearly 19 years in prison for the 2001 fatal stabbing of a North Side neighbor Reed was allegedly coerced by CPD detective Richard Zuley and now-deceased Det. Timothy Thompson into confessing to a murder he claimed he did not commit. * WTTW | Key City Panel Advances Push to Rid CPD of Officers With Ties to Extremist Groups: There are no public allegations that city workers in any other department other than CPD have documented ties to anti-government or extremist groups. When Martin originally introduced the measure more than a year ago, it applied to all city employees. However, in response to concerns from the Chicago Department of Law that a broad ordinance would be unlikely to withstand a legal challenge, Martin agreed to narrow the scope. * WTTW | Chicago Spent $58.8M on Police Overtime in 3 Months, 3% Less Than Last Year: Watchdog: That includes $1.3 million earned by officers in January, February and March to patrol what CPD lists as “planned gathering/march/civil unrest,” according to data published by the inspector general. Chicagoans have frequently taken to the streets to protest President Donald Trump and his policies since the start of the year, including the third “No Kings” rally on March 28 that drew thousands downtown. Officers earned an additional $1 million in overtime to police the funeral of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., according to the data published by Witzburg. Former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended the March 6 memorial along with a host of prominent Democrats and thousands of mourners. * Sun-Times | CPS grads are earning biliteracy seals in record numbers, bringing pride and job benefits for many: Last year, more than 3,500 CPS students earned the seal, a new record. That was much higher than in 2015, the first year awards were presented to graduates, when 91 students received the recognition. The total number of Illinois students who earned the seal last year also hit an all-time high. Educators and experts say that growth is due to a combination of factors, including increased awareness of the program among families, expanded language testing and a rising interest in multilingualism, which can make students more marketable when applying for colleges or jobs. * Tribune | Chicago-based Slim Jim maker Conagra replacing CEO after 60% stock slide: After years of stock declines, Conagra Brands Inc. named a new chief executive officer as the food company seeks to regain momentum and win back investors. The Chicago-based company, which makes Slim Jim jerky and Birds Eye frozen foods, said Monday that CEO Sean Connolly will step down at the end of next month and be replaced by consumer goods veteran John Brase, on June 1. * Daily Southtown | Tinley Park proposes budget with no deficit, concerns about oil prices: The village projects spending to increase by $7.3 million and revenue to increase by $11.8 million compared to the previous year. This represents about $82.1 million in expenditures and about $84.3 million in revenue for fiscal year 2027. The 2026 fiscal year ends April 30, and is projected to end with a $2.62 million surplus, said Scott Bordui, interim finance director. * DePaulia | AI development raises concerns over usage in DePaul courses: A now-deleted post on DePaul’s’s official Instagram account has highlighted a growing discussion over how professors should use AI to create curriculum and in instruction. The post included a caption that said, “At DePaul, AI isn’t something to fear, it’s something to understand, shape and lead with.” The post alsoIt mentioned the DePaul AI Institute and consisted of eight slides describing how it takes about three to six hours for a college professor to make one hour of course lecture material. On one slide, it stated that Joseph Veverka, an adjunct faculty member who teaches marketing in DePaul’s business school, has introduced a way to reduce the prep time. * Naperville Sun | Naperville police investigating wave of non-credible threats to schools: The most recent threat came around 7:38 p.m. on Thursday, when Naperville police received a phone call from an unknown number threatening violence at Naperville Central High School at 8:00 a.m. the following morning. The telecommunicator tried to gather more information from the caller but was met with hostility and resistance before hanging up, Krakow said. Police immediately notified Naperville Central High School of the threat. * Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County Board looking to hire new county ethics advisor: The position is open due to the retirement of former judge Grant Wegner, who has served in the role since being appointed in 2012, the news release said. The role will be appointed by Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog, with the approval of the full board, according to the news release. The individual selected would serve out a three-year term. * Alton Telegraph | Madison County weighs $35 million sale of sewer system to Illinois American: A sale would have to be approved by the full County Board, and it will take several months to reach that point. The tentative offer is $35 million, but it is subject to multiple appraisals and must be approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, a process that could take more than a year. Rumors of the potential sale have been circulating on social media, with many residents opposed to it because it would almost certainly lead to rate increases. * Herald-Whig | Moore pleased with new budget process, but knows there’s still work to be done.: Dr. Linda Moore has been a part of a lot of budget discussion, but the City of Quincy’s 2026-27 budget will be the first to have her name on the bottom line as mayor. Before taking on the mantle of mayor in May of 2025, Moore served under two previous administrations as city treasurer. “When I was treasurer and Kyle (Moore) was the mayor, Kyle had me sit in on the budget meetings,” Moore said. “I don’t believe a treasurer has ever done that before then.” * WCIA | Art festival brings artists around Champaign County together: The Boneyard Arts Festival brings together artists, businesses and organizations from around Champaign County, highlighting local artists’ works from paintings, illustrations, digital art, graphic clothing and more. “I don’t think a lot of people know that we have so many great creative people here,” said artist Jose Vazquez. * Crain’s | Airlines’ fuel pain won’t fade quickly as Iran conflict drives up costs: Delta Air Lines said when it reported earnings last week that it will spend $2 billion more on jet fuel in the current quarter than a year ago. For now, JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker estimates Delta’s jet-fuel cost of $4.30 a gallon will last throughout the year — a hefty premium over the $2.30 a gallon it paid in 2025. As a result, his profit target for Delta is $3.65 per share, down from $7.05 before war broke out. * WIRED | The Internet’s Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril: A number of other major journalism organizations have also recently moved to restrict the Wayback Machine from archiving their stories, including The New York Times. According to analysis by the artificial-intelligence-detection startup Originality AI, 23 major news sites are currently blocking ia_archiverbot, the web crawler commonly used by the Internet Archive for the Wayback project. The social platform Reddit is too. Other outlets are limiting the project in different ways: The Guardian does not block the crawler, but it excludes its content from the Internet Archive API and filters out articles from the Wayback Machine interface, which makes it harder for regular people to access archived versions of its articles. * AP | Iran war has some US water utilities facing a fluoride shortage: The number of water utilities affected so far is small, but the shortage is affecting hundreds of thousands of people. As the conflict continues, “there will likely be additional stressors placed on the supply chain, leading to shortages in additional communities,” Hartnett said. The country’s eighth largest water and wastewater utility, WSSC Water in Maryland, is among those facing a shortage. On April 7, utility officials said they were lowering the level of fluoride in the water to 0.4 milligrams per liter, down from the recommended 0.7 milligrams per liter.
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Credit & Debit Cards May Not Work For Tips, Starting July 1
Monday, Apr 13, 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. Before chaos hits on July 1, lawmakers should reverse course and repeal the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. Learn more at: guardyourcard.com/Illinois
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Caption contest! (Updated x2)
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Please try to keep your comments humorous. Thanks in advance…
…Adding… I’ve asked state party chair Kathy Salvi for a response, as well as US Senate nominee Don Tracy and Jeanne Ives…
Now that the party’s previously Trump-endorsed standard-bearer has weighed in, I suppose we can take the lid off of the humorous-only request. Your thoughts on Bailey’s statement? …Adding… Former Rep. Jeanne Ives responded with “No comment.”
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SB 1486 Raises Premiums And Reduces Consumer Choice
Monday, Apr 13, 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:
• 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. Click here to learn more.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Tribune…
* Tribune…
* Reuters…
* Save Our Snap Coalition…
* WAND…
* More…
* CBS Chicago | Proposed Illinois law would expand access to solar power to people who can’t install rooftop panels: Vote Solar is currently working directly with state legislators on the new law. The bill would allow renters and currently unqualified home owners to use panels designed to be connected to an electrical system through an existing outlet, placed on a balcony, patio, yard or porch, primarily intended to offset energy consumption and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. “These panels, at the lower end, can save people about $10 to $15 a month, which can shave off two to two-and-a-half months a year of your entire utility bill,” Chintam said. * Press release | DeLaRosa Bill Regulating Low-Speed Electric Bicycles Passes House: State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, filed, carried and passed a bill allowing state entities to prohibit the use of low-speed electronic bicycles on any path within state jurisdiction, prioritizing the pedestrian safety, as well as the safety of manual cyclists. […] House Bill 4768 allows the state to regulate the use of low-speed e-bikes on paths within the state’s jurisdiction. Under the current law, e-bike regulations are decided by local authorities and municipalities. This bill expands that control to include the state, so that they may be able to respond accordingly to low-speed e-bike related pedestrian safety concerns—or in serious cases, e-bike related accidents or injuries. Specifically, state entities are given the right to prohibit the use of e-bikes on walking and biking paths for the protection of those on a walk or riding a manual bicycle.
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Built For Illinois. Built With Transparency.
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Public safety technology only works when communities trust it. That’s why Flock Safety built privacy and transparency into every layer of our system from the beginning of the design cycle — not as an afterthought. In Illinois, that means:
• Only local law enforcement decides who can access data. Flock never shares without explicit permission. • Compliant with Illinois law. Sharing data with out of state agencies is regulated. • Automatic deletion. All LPR data is permanently deleted in accordance with an agency’s retention schedule. • No backdoors. Private customers cannot access law enforcement data. • No facial recognition. • Flock Safety is trusted by hundreds of Illinois law enforcement agencies — from Crystal Lake to Champaign — because we believe safety and privacy have to coexist. Not someday. Now. See how we’re building trust in Illinois.
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State revenues continue rising, but President Trump’s threats loom large
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] If you’re looking for the best classic deli favorites in Chicagoland, head to family owned Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park. The flagship of the Once Upon Family of Restaurants has been a staple of the North Shore for decades. Whether it’s your first visit or a weekly ritual, co-owners Adam Dlatt and Ira Fenton make customers feel right at home. Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Adam and Ira from Highland Park who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois’ new ACA marketplace moved 78,000 to cheaper plans, slashing average premium hike. Crain’s…
- The state predicted a 78% average premium increase for residents getting plans through its new state-run marketplace last October, in the face of ever-rising plan costs and congressional inaction on expiring enhanced premium tax credits, but by using tax credits of eligible customers, Get Covered Illinois said it was able to move enrollees into less-expensive plans and an average premium hike of 26%. - The 2026 average monthly premium for Illinois households, after active plan selections, came out to $328, The 2025 average was $260. Sponsored by The Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals No Cuts. No Closures. Fund Safety-Net Hospitals. For decades, Illinois has underfunded safety-net hospitals, the lifelines for Black and Brown communities. Now, the “Safety-Net Moonshot” and the Medicaid-defunding legislation it has spawned, threatens deeper cuts to these critical health providers. Any reduction inspired by the “Moonshot” would be a killshot to the care our most vulnerable residents rely on. Weakening safety-net hospitals won’t improve care. It will slash essential services, eliminate jobs, and push entire communities into healthcare deserts and economic instability. The state cannot balance its budget on the backs of Black and Brown community hospitals. These institutions are not line items to cut, they are the foundation of care for families who have nowhere else to turn. Disinvestment will deepen inequities and worsen outcomes. When safety-net hospitals are funded, communities are healthier, workforces are stronger, and economies are more resilient. Illinois must fully fund safety-net hospitals. For the communities they serve, it is life or death. * At 11:30 am, Gov. Pritzker will deliver remarks at the ribbon cutting for the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Service Center. Click here to watch. * AP | Already under financial pressure, Midwest soybean farmers are squeezed further by tariffs, Iran war: “Facilities have been hit, like liquid natural gas plants,” Goldstein added. “You are also looking at a big supply crunch in commodity chemicals, which are the inputs for crop chemicals.” “We burn a lot of diesel fuel,” said Chris Gould, a corn and soybean farmer in Maple Park, Illinois. “It’s hard to say if I’m gonna come out ahead or behind on this whole deal. But I suspect I’m going to come out behind.” * Tribune | More than 16,000 immigrants in Illinois may lose food assistance in the coming months: “I mean, fundamentally, this means that people are gonna go hungry,” said Nolan Downey, senior director of policy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, calling the recent budget bill’s changes to SNAP eligibility for immigrants a “dramatic departure from long-standing policy in this country.” Immigrants who will remain eligible for SNAP are certain green-card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and those residing under the Compact of Free Association, among other categories of lawfully permanent residents. Immigrants without legal status have never received SNAP benefits. * Politico | Pritzker threads the needle on wages: It’s an argument he began rolling out last week and one he’s likely to keep emphasizing as he runs for reelection — while also continuing to build a national profile that could fuel a presidential bid. “The Democratic Party has failed on the subject of raising people’s wages. It should have been in 2024 and 2025 and now in 2026 that there should be a human cry from the Democratic Party, from every Democrat, about raising the minimum wage nationally,” Pritzker told your Playbook host when asked where Democrats have been out of step. * Fox Chicago | Illinois millionaire tax could help curb property taxes, boost education funding, study says: The millionaire surtax could generate billions of dollars in new revenue each year, according to the study conducted by researchers at the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which was released this month. Such an idea appears to have popular support in the state. In a 2024 advisory referendum, 61% of voters said they would approve of a 3% tax on millionaires specifically to provide property tax relief. * Center Square | Pritzker, GOP candidate say they support a free press, differ on tax credits: Pritzker spoke at the Illinois Local News Summit in Chicago on Friday and said Illinois was the first state in the nation to launch a tax-incentive program for local news. “And in 2025, over $4 million in state tax credits supported 58 Illinois local news entities, benefiting more than 600 journalists that work there,” Pritzker said. GOP candidate for lieutenant governor Aaron Del Mar said it’s important to support the Constitution and a free press, but taxpayer dollars should not support outlets like some in Chicago that only show one side of issues. * Center Square | Committee’s ‘tone’ criticized for trying to price the poor out of gun ownership: Advocates for the bill, like Dr. Anthony Douglas, said there’d be minimal added cost. “I think poor people don’t benefit from owning firearms,” Douglas said during a House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force subject matter hearing of the bill Wednesday. “I think more people benefit from access to education, access to resources.” State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Harrisburg, said that’s an elitist opinion and people of lesser means want to be able to protect themselves. * Jim Dey | Sued for rights violation, Illinois justices say they answer to nobody: In the meantime, one of the most peculiar lawsuits filed in a while remains pending. It features a claim by former Cook County Circuit Judge James Brown that the state’s high court violated his right to freedom of speech as well as its own disciplinary rules by revoking his re-assignment to traffic court because of a commentary he wrote as a private citizen. How’s that for confusing, both in terms of facts and law in our sometimes-politicized state courts? * Crain’s | Housing advocates sue to undo CHA leadership pick: The lawsuit was filed 11 days before Pettigrew’s start date and further clouds the agency’s future. Brewer has maintained Johnson doesn’t have the power to remove him as operating chair and that he’ll continue in the role until April 20, when Pettigrew takes over. “The mayor and his allies are using the court to attempt to override a democratic vote so that he can install his chosen candidate as CEO,” Brewer said in a written statement to Crain’s. “This lawsuit is without merit, and we expect our process, which was fully compliant with all applicable laws, will be upheld.” * Tribune | No passport. No flights. No easy way home for Venezuelans who want to leave Chicago.: Beth Brown, who launched the Faith Community Initiative in 2023 to help support Venezuelan immigrants, said she is seeing more families wanting to self-deport in the last year partly because their family members were getting detained and deported. But not everyone has been successful in using the app, she said. “The federal government is making it sound like it’s so easy to self-deport and anyone who wants to can, and it’s absolutely not the truth,” said Brown. “If they want them to leave, why can’t they figure out a way to allow people to leave?” * Tribune | Archdiocese accuses CPS of ending disability support funding in Catholic schools: But a CPS spokesperson disputed the archdiocese’s account, calling its claims “patently false.” District officials said they had repeatedly warned Catholic school administrators that their spending was outpacing their allotted funds. […] According to CPS, it was the archdiocese’s decision to wind down academic intervention services due to funding constraints. Catholic school administrators “exercised (their) independent authority” and chose to stop using contracted instructional support services, the district said. * AP | From Early Nirvana To Phish, A Chicago Fan’s Secret Recordings Of 10,000 Shows Are Now Online: The growing Aadam Jacobs Collection is an internet treasure trove for music lovers, especially for fans of indie and punk rock during the 1980s through the early 2000s, when the scene blossomed and became mainstream. The collection features early-in-their-career performances from alternative and experimental artists like R.E.M., The Cure, The Pixies, The Replacements, Depeche Mode, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Björk. * Tribune | New Cook County forest preserve boss expands conservation efforts amid federal retreat: As budget cuts have hit local, state and federal agencies “all over the place” in recent years, Cook County residents have demonstrated support for the district’s work, he said. Volunteers logged more than 78,000 hours of donated time — worth $2.9 million in work — over 2025 while outside groups helped run the paid Conservation Corps programs that train youth and adults in restoration work. While he wasn’t a victim of so-called Department of Government Efficiency cuts, some employees and programs Bianchi oversaw were. “I’ll be the first to admit that there’s always opportunities and ways to get more efficient in anything that we do,” he told the Tribune during a tour of the preserves’ Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland. “Sometimes I just think that there was more of a hatchet approach versus a scalpel.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora alderman accuses mayor of not coordinating on major project: In mid-February, Laesch and Franco sent a joint letter to residents about the sound wall that did not mention using a special service area. Franco told The Beacon-News that, because of the letter, he believed the city was planning to move forward without one. “To now have elected officials and city staff going door-to-door suggesting otherwise is deeply misleading, unnecessarily confusing and completely inappropriate,” Franco said in his Facebook post. “Frankly, this raises serious concerns about the misuse of public resources and whether taxpayer-funded time and personnel are being used for political posturing rather than public service.” * Daily Southtown | Licenses revoked for long-operating recovery home in East Hazel Crest: The Department of Human Services did not provide details as to why the licenses were revoked. The South Suburban Council did not respond to requests for comment, and a phone number listed on its website appeared to have been disconnected. […] The building’s water bill has gone unpaid for months, [East Hazel Crest Mayor Thomas Brown] said, and there are liens against the property. “They were doing some remodeling and rehab in there, and apparently didn’t pay the contractor its money, so that may be one of the reasons why they closed down,” Brown said. “No one’s ever explained it to us.” * Daily Herald | Principal’s resignation is latest administrative shake-up at Hersey High School: McFaul’s resignation follows the demotion of three other administrators. Athletic Director Julia Barthel and two deans of students, Jennifer Korakakis and Matthew Norris, were reassigned from administrative to teaching positions, under personnel actions taken by the school board in February. In January, five wrestling coaches were dismissed after an internal investigation uncovered concerns over student residency, recruiting practices, and in-season training activities outside of school, district officials said. * Sun-Times | Evanston pastor resigns amid accusations he used ‘substantial’ parish funds for personal finances: In a letter Friday to the St. John Henry Newman Parish parish community — which includes St. Athanasius Church and St. Joan of Arc Church — Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said an Archdiocese’s review found pastor Kenneth Anderson had “violated a number of core Archdiocesan policies” regarding his stewardship of the parish’s finances. * Block Club | Skokie Woman’s Claim Of ICE Detention Was A Hoax, Wisconsin Sheriff Says In Defamation Lawsuit: Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt announced Friday he has filed a defamation lawsuit against Naqvi, with the sheriff sharing additional evidence of text messages, surveillance video, hotel documents and jail logs that he said proves a hoax on the part of Naqvi. “There is no record of booking, there is no record of detention, no record of release, no contact with the individual, no transfer from federal agency,” he said. “At no point was Sundas Naqvi in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.” * Daily Herald | ‘This group made it happen’: Firefighting training center 25 years in the making opens at Harper College: “This has been a dream in this area for 25-plus years. I’ve been on the department 26 years, and this was talked about way back then. But this group made it happen,” said Mackeben, now Palatine’s chief, speaking to a cadre of fire department brass from across the Northwest suburbs last week at Harper’s new $9.3 million, 9,040-square-foot Emergency Services Training Center. * Naperville Sun | Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra set to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a concert on April 18: Ollayos feels that the keys to the EYSO’s growth and continued success come from the support it gets from the community, having ECC’s arts facilities to call home, and the excellence of its teaching and organization. “With the EYSO, for its students, it’s not just about playing an instrument, but exploring what the music means,” Ollayos said. EYSO’s approach has led to about a third of its students going on to pursue music-related college degrees, Sheppard said. He’s also thrilled to hear from former students who have careers in other professions who tell him what they learned with the EYSO has helped them in their careers as lawyers, architects and in other fields. * WCIA | UIS strike: Faculty members say offers are ‘insulting’ as talks continue: “The offers that the administration is bringing to the table, when they do bring something, are frankly insulting,” Hedge said. University officials said their offers are facing a $19 million budget deficit this fiscal year, and said the offers have been created around the finical constraints. “The university’s position is guided by its responsibility as a public institution to maintain fiscal stability while supporting its academic mission,” UIS officials said in a statement. As of Friday, the university has proposed a 1% salary increase, along with a $4,308 boost to the minimum salary for entry-level professors. * WCIA | Former PBL teacher charged with indecent solicitation of a child denied pretrial release: 72-year-old Paul Meuser of Buckley had a detention hearing on Thursday, April 9. Court records show that Judge Mary Koll of Livingston County granted the state’s request for Meuser to be detained. Koll was recently assigned to the case after the defense requested that Judge Matthew Fitton be removed. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 22 at 9:45 a.m. * WGLT | McLean County jail population shows signs of leveling off: Sheriff Matt Lane previously told WGLT those awaiting transfers to prison or a mental health facility were adding to elevated numbers in the jail. But in his most recent report to the County Board’s Justice Committee Wednesday, Lane said numbers in both populations have leveled off. The jail currently has seven people awaiting transfer to the Illinois Department of Corrections [DOC]. Lane said four of the seven are people who are returning to prison for parole violations. “We’ve really been able to keep up with unloading inmates to DOC lately,” he said. “So, that’s a good sign.” * Smile Politely | Drones over C-U: Urbana should pass police surveillance ordinance: At a recent Friday Forum at the University YMCA, Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams responded to a question from the audience about police surveillance by stating that an ordinance could be passed by the end of March. It is now April and there is still no clear timeline for passage of the surveillance ordinance. Urbana’s surveillance ordinance is one small step in requiring greater transparency from police who now have access to increasingly complex technology like license plate readers, phone hacking software, and drones, which are now being flown over Champaign-Urbana. It’s adding to the tool belt police have to enforce the widening racial and other disparities in our humble midwestern college town. * WIRED | Your Push Notifications Aren’t Safe From the FBI: The FBI recently got its hands on copies of encrypted Signal messages being sent to a defendant’s iPhone because the contents of those messages were included in push notifications, 404 Media reports. Even though Signal had been removed from the phone prior to it being seized by the FBI, the notifications still lived on in the phone’s internal memory. The issue affects all apps that send push notifications, not just Signal, but users of that app can adjust their settings to not show the content of a message or the name of the sender in push notifications. * Study Finds | Summer Is 30 Days Longer Than The 1960s, And Still Growing: Across the midlatitudes, a belt that includes most of North America, Europe, and large parts of Asia, summers have gained five to seven extra days per decade since 1990. That adds up to roughly 30 more days of summer-like conditions now than in the 1960s. More alarming is how fast the heat is accumulating: the total warmth building above summer temperature thresholds is growing more than three times faster than it was during the 1961–1990 baseline period.
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Good morning!
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the video’s comments: “This song could be released tomorrow and still be ahead of its time”… I read the news today, oh boy This is an Illinois open thread.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From a live performance earlier this week. The original song is here. More background is here. Tweedy will play us out… I will be gone, but not forever
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Hmm…
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois House approves ban on junk fees, Pritzker’s abortion fund proposal: Rep. Morgan said the bill was like the one that passed a couple years ago, but ambiguous language was tightened up to make it easier for businesses to comply and the Illinois Attorney General’s office to enforce. Nine Republicans joined supermajority Democrats in supporting the amended bill. However, the changes weren’t enough to remove opposition from the state’s top business, banking and hospitality organizations. * WAND | Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Arts Council announce public art projects: The Illinois Arts Council and Office of Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Humanities awarded more than $325,000 to 22 public art projects across the state in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The grants are part of a statewide effort led by the Illinois America 250 Commission. Governor Pritzker said, “Illinois is proud to support new public art projects in communities across the state as we celebrate our unique place in the story of America. Thanks to these IAC grants, we’re helping Illinois’ talented creatives bring vibrance to our public spaces, celebrate our local history, and energize our cultural communities.” * Capitol News Illinois | What does Trump’s EPA reversal of landmark climate change ruling mean for Illinois?: Cate Caldwell, senior policy manager at the Illinois Environmental Council, said that while the state’s Clean and Equitable Jobs Act puts the state on a strong path to limiting pollution — the act calls for closing the plants by 2030 — it can’t provide enough incentives for clean energy without support from federal action. She said the ruling could create temporary economic incentives for the continued operation of coal-powered plants. * Sun-Times | Advocates file lawsuit against Chicago Housing Authority over appointment of new CEO: They say the CHA board’s decision March 17 to appoint Keith Pettigrew, who was executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act, which requires public bodies to give advance notice of meetings and prohibits them from taking action on items not listed on the publicized agenda. The final item on the agenda was “Approval of Personnel Matters,” which did not sufficiently inform anyone about Pettigrew’s appointment, according to Loevy & Loevy, the law firm representing the plantiffs in the suit. * Innocence Project | Exonerees and Advocates Come Together in the Nation’s Wrongful Conviction Capital: For the first time, the annual Innocence Network Conference is being hosted in Chicago — a city whose history is deeply intertwined with both the causes of wrongful conviction and the fight to end it. Each year, the conference brings together attorneys, advocates, researchers, and exonerees working to address one of the most urgent and glaring failures of the criminal legal system: wrongful conviction. The gathering serves as a space to examine and strengthen the global innocence movement. * WTTW | CPD Brass Inconsistently Stripped Officers of Police Powers, Failed to Document Actions: Watchdog: CPD brass always relieved officers arrested on suspicion of criminal misconduct of their police powers, but did not always act when officers were being investigated for other kinds of serious misconduct, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said. CPD should adopt a formal policy detailing when officers can be stripped of their police powers that also requires officials to document those decisions and communicate regularly with the officers involved, Witzburg recommended. * Block Club | Black Chicagoans Weigh In At City’s 1st Reparations Town Hall: ‘This Didn’t Happen That Long Ago’: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office launched the Repair Chicago community engagement series last month, which saw its first town hall Thursday evening at Kennedy-King College, 6301 S. Halsted St., in Englewood. About 25 neighbors attended the two-hour event in the college’s auditorium to engage in a dialogue with city leaders. * Legal Newsline | Salvation Army rehab ‘enrollees’ who work at thrift stores aren’t ‘employees’: A few days after agreeing to let them proceed with their class action against one of America’s most prominent charities under labor and wage laws, a Chicago federal judge has ruled people who work in the Salvation Army’s thrift stores while enrolled the organization’s rehabilitation programs aren’t actually employees and can’t sue for allegedly unpaid wages. On March 31, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah granted judgment to the Salvation Army on that question, shutting down the legal action that has continued against them for nearly four years. * Sun-Times | Chicago man accused of threatening Trump, Secret Service agents: That prompted the visit from a Secret Service agent and two other officers. Then, on March 19, according to the U.S. attorney’s office, Kovco sent another message to the official White House website, and it included a threat against the Secret Service agent who had come to his door. “I’m going to buy a small concealable firearm and go shoot up his place of work,” the message said, according to the release. * Tribune | Magnificent Mile lands nation’s first Candy Hall of Fame as retail district continues recovery: The Magnificent Mile got some good news Thursday when the National Confectionery Sales Association said it will open the first Candy Hall of Fame Experience next year at 830 N. Michigan Ave. The attraction will occupy 60,000 square feet on three floors just across the street from Water Tower Place. It’s one of the biggest leases signed in years at a North Michigan Avenue retail property, a sign that business is picking up in a district hit hard by the pandemic and the rise of online shopping. * Tribune | Starbucks unveils new ‘uplifted’ store designs in Chicago with more couches, cozier coffeehouse vibes: On Thursday, Starbucks unveiled one of the first Chicago stores to be “uplifted” under its “Back to Starbucks” restructuring plan, a campaign to improve performance and the in-store experience across the chain. The stand-alone store at 4155 N. Cicero Ave. in the Old Irving Park neighborhood features leather couches, cushy chairs, throw rugs, drapes, coffee-themed art on the walls and a decidedly cozier feel than many of the 17,000 Starbucks locations across the U.S. * Daily Southtown | Dolton interim fire Chief Quentin ‘Q’ Curtis takes leave amid union concerns: “I have heard the voices and concerns of our residents, clearly and sincerely,” Mayor Jason House said in a news release Thursday announcing Curtis’ leave. “This step is intended to allow our community space to refocus, heal and move forward together.” House said Curtis will “conclude ministerial duties to ensure no administrative tasks are left outstanding” during his leave. The Dolton Professional Firefighters Association picketed Village Hall ahead of a board meeting Monday, after filing a lawsuit last month asking that Curtis be discharged for failing to meet requirements for his position. * Daily Southtown | Homer Glen OKs agreement to put some limits on license plate reader use: Homer Glen will store data obtained from its license plate reader cameras for seven days in an effort to balance public safety with some residents’ concerns over an intrusion of privacy. The village will also only limit information collected from the cameras to be shared within Illinois, according to a memo of understanding between the Village Board and the Will County sheriff’s office. * Tribune | Abbott Laboratories must pay at least $53 million in cases over infant formula, jury decides: Abbott Laboratories must pay $53 million in compensatory damages in four cases in which Chicago-area babies developed a dangerous intestinal disease after consuming the company’s formula for premature infants, a Cook County jury decided Thursday evening. After a monthlong trial and a little more than a day of deliberation, the jury found Abbott liable on three counts for each child. The jury found that the formula was defectively designed, that Abbott failed to adequately warn about the dangers and risks of the formula and that Abbott was negligent. * Daily Herald | ‘Risk a lot to save a lot’: Addison firefighter to receive state’s highest honor for daring rescue: When his crew pulled up to a business engulfed in flames May 21, Addison Fire Protection District firefighter/paramedic Gino Casciola was given what he calls the “mundane” task of standing outside the burning building and feeding a hose to colleagues fighting the blaze from the inside. What happened next was anything but mundane, and Casciola’s courage in the moments that followed might have saved several of his peers from the ultimate sacrifice. “After it was over, we started hearing from the guys that were in there, ‘We almost died in there,’ ” Deputy Chief Chris Mansfield said. “ ’And if it wasn’t for Gino, we probably would have.’ ” * Lake County News-Sun | Visit Lake County names new president from within: ‘I’m stepping into a well-oiled machine’: “The timing is right for me with the organization in a really solid place,” Riedy said. “We have more community partners than we’ve ever had and very engaged stakeholders. We have a veteran and professional staff and a very committed Board of Directors.” Maguire said he is comfortable moving into the presidency because of the work done by Riedy over the past 22 years. He plans to build on the foundation that is already in place. * WCIA | Sullivan still asking residents to conserve water as emergency continues: The City of Sullivan’s well levels have not seen any improvement, despite a water emergency being enacted since February, according to Public Health Commissioner Chuck Woodworth. Woodworth also said people in town are using the same amount of water every day, and the city hasn’t seen the decrease in water being pumped it was hoping for with the restrictions. * WCIA | Village of Kincaid warns of increased lead levels in water: Village officials, led by Mayor Tony Pezze, sent a letter to all residents this week saying that elevated lead levels were found in the water of some homes and buildings, but not all of them. They said that if a tap water test from a building indicates a lead level of 15 parts per billion or higher, people should take the following precautions: * WICS | Hundreds run in presidential half marathon with weekend underway: Springfield is preparing for what’s promised to be a record-breaking year for tourism…as the nation celebrates Route 66’s centennial. That includes this weekend, as one decades-old tradition is underway. Runners will be winding through more than 13 miles of Springfield history this Saturday for the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon—a decades old tradition. * WSIL | Officials Break Ground on Julia Harrison-Bruce Prairie Museum at JALC: According to the foundation, the new museum will serve as a lasting extension of Julia Harrison Bruce’s vision, bringing together historic exhibits and local art to tell the story of the region. Organizers say the space will focus not only on preserving artifacts, but also on amplifying community voices through oral storytelling. The museum is expected to provide a place where memories can be shared, recorded, and honored, while also serving as a hub for gatherings, education, and cultural events. * WSJ | Insurers Take Bigger Risks Than Before 2008-09 Crisis, Report Warns: “We’re significantly worse off,” said Erik Miller, A.M. Best senior director. “The chance of not being able to pay your claims is just higher.” The study looked specifically at the reserves insurers set aside to make payments on annuities, the savings vehicles that promise guaranteed income in retirement. In its examination, A.M. Best compared the 2024 investment portfolios that backed those annuities with a snapshot of a similar universe of portfolios in 2007. * Fortune | The US government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined: The net interest payments on public debt are also increasing at a pace. For the same period last year, the Treasury paid $497 billion to service its debt. The difference from last year to this is a $33 billion leap—or 7% more than before. The CBO report notes service payments increased “because the debt was larger than it was in the first half of fiscal year 2025 and because of higher long-term interest rates. Declines in short-term interest rates partially mitigated the overall rise in interest payments.” * Reuters | Bessent, Powell warned bank CEOs about Anthropic model risks, sources say: A third source close to the matter reiterated Anthropic’s outreach, saying the company proactively briefed senior U.S. government officials and key industry stakeholders on Mythos’s capabilities ahead of its release. The Treasury-hosted meeting in Washington on Tuesday was aimed at ensuring banks are aware of the risks posed by Mythos and similar models and are taking steps to defend their systems, one of the sources said. * AP | Soaring gas prices leads to biggest monthly inflation spike in four years in March: Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday, up sharply from just 2.4% in February and the biggest yearly increase since May 2024. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years. It’s the first read on inflation to capture the effects of the Iran war.
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They’re never gonna learn
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From one of my recent newspaper columns…
* DuPage Republicans…
* To Ald. Matt Martin’s proposed ordinance…
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Repubs slam Pritzker on gerrymandering, affordability
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday…
He then went on to say that Republicans started it by gerrymandering so many congressional districts. * Illinois House Republicans…
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Roundup: Madigan’s appeal team asks court to vacate corruption convictions
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Click here for the full audio of yesterday’s proceedings. The Tribune…
* The Tribune’s Jason Meisner…
* Sun-Times…
* Saharia’s response…
* More…
* ABC Chicago | Ex-Speaker Mike Madigan appeal goes in front of 3-judge panel in Chicago court Thursday: The three-judge panel did not seem to give any reals hints of which way they might be leaning. And after the hearing Judge Easterbrook said they would take the case under advisement with a ruling coming at a later time. Madigan asked President Donald Trump for a pardon late last year.
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Credit & Debit Cards May Not Work For Tips, Starting July 1
Friday, Apr 10, 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. Before chaos hits on July 1, lawmakers should reverse course and repeal the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. Learn more at: guardyourcard.com/Illinois
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It’s just a bill
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Wired…
* WMBD…
* Rep. Bob Morgan…
* WAND…
* The Illinois Environmental Council…
* More… * WAND | IL House unanimously passes bill banning unnecessary fees for IDOC mail: State representatives passed a bill Thursday to ensure people in the Department of Corrections are not charged unreasonable fees for sending mail. The legislation also requires more transparency surrounding the IDOC mail scanning process. Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) said it is important that families can stay connected with their loved ones, and the state should not make that process harder. * WAND | House Democrats pass bill providing naloxone to people leaving jail, prison: Sponsors said overdose cases are dropping overall, but there are still high numbers for college students, Native Americans and people reentering society. Experts say there’s a higher chance of overdosing in the first 72 hours after someone leaves prison or jail. “As the Narcan provider is a primary vendor with the state, they have a direct partnership to handle all shipping and storage, removing the burden from local organizations,” said Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago). * Press release | Grasse Passes Public Health Measure to Prepare for Potential Infectious Diseases: House Bill 4977 makes a simple change to Illinois’ Hospital Licensing Act by including “pathogens of epidemiological concern” as a form of multidrug-resistant organisms. These pathogens are defined by a range of traits which indicate a propensity for rapid transmission, especially within healthcare facilities. It also repeals the MRSA Screening and Reporting Act, which will now be covered by the expanded definition.
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Pay For Electricity Or Pay For A Prescription? 340B Is A Lifesaver – Support HB 2371 SA 2
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] 340B was a lifesaver for Correy Bell. With chronic asthma and bronchitis, Bell relies on an inhaler. One time, she found herself in a frightening scenario: out of town for work with no inhaler. Bell, a comedian, owns her own business and is uninsured. “I went to the pharmacy. I was confident that I had figured it out and then they told me the price,” she said. “The cost was so high that I actually had to stop and make a decision that no one should have to make: Do I pay a bill, or do I keep the lights on, or do it get my medicine?… That’s when I was able to find out about 340B.” A long-time patient at Family Christian Health Center, Bell said the 340B drug discount program helped her access needed medication at a price she could afford—“no confusing hoops, no shame, no judgment, just real savings when I needed it the most,” she said at a rally last month for House Bill 2371 SA 2, the Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act. State Rep. Anna Moeller, lead House sponsor of HB 2371 SA 2, said at the rally that the bill is “a vital step in protecting access to affordable medications for patients who rely on this program. And it doesn’t cost Illinois one dime.” Stand with patients like Correy Bell. VOTE YES on HB 2371 SA 2 this session. Learn more.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Gov. JB Pritzker warns Trump will send ICE agents to polling places as he calls on voters to push them aside. Tribune…
- Asked directly by Rev. Al Sharpton whether he was a 2028 presidential candidate, Pritzker said, “since I was an adult and able to vote, I’ve been involved in some fashion or another” in presidential politics, “and I’m going to be more involved than ever before in 2028 because we can’t lose.” - Pritzker said Democrats campaigning for the midterm elections and for the presidency in 2028 should focus on “livability,” repackaging the oft-used term “affordability” to speak to people about the need to raise the federal minimum wage and bring down the costs of housing and health care. * Related stories… Sponsored by The Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals No Cuts. No Closures. Fund Safety-Net Hospitals. For decades, Illinois has underfunded safety-net hospitals, the lifelines for Black and Brown communities. Now, the “Safety-Net Moonshot” and the Medicaid-defunding legislation it has spawned, threatens deeper cuts to these critical health providers. Any reduction inspired by the “Moonshot” would be a killshot to the care our most vulnerable residents rely on. Weakening safety-net hospitals won’t improve care. It will slash essential services, eliminate jobs, and push entire communities into healthcare deserts and economic instability. The state cannot balance its budget on the backs of Black and Brown community hospitals. These institutions are not line items to cut, they are the foundation of care for families who have nowhere else to turn. Disinvestment will deepen inequities and worsen outcomes. When safety-net hospitals are funded, communities are healthier, workforces are stronger, and economies are more resilient. Illinois must fully fund safety-net hospitals. For the communities they serve, it is life or death. * At noon, Gov. JB Pritzker “will highlight his commitment to supporting a strong, free press at the Illinois Local News Summit.” Click here to watch. * Capitol News Illinois | House Republicans outline what it will take for them to vote on Bears bill: Property tax increase referendums should only be permissible during November general elections, when turnout is highest compared to primaries or local elections, they argued. They also want to prohibit local governments from rolling over bond payments to other projects once the project voters approved them for is complete. Those are “minimum” requirements to earn Republican support, Ugaste wrote. * WJOL | Constituents Wonder: Where’s Our Rep?: Naperville resident and Benton constituent Tami Weir told WJOL: As one of Harry Benton’s constituents I have become increasingly frustrated that I have not been able to reach him about a concern I have. I’ve called and left a message, sent a letter, emailed more than once and also filled out the contact form on his website. I have received no response. It is acceptable to choose to represent a district and then disappear with no explanation. There are important decisions being made in Springfield right now and we have zero representation. If he can’t do his job he needs to resign and allow someone who can to come in. We deserve better and should demand it. (Note from Isabel: Rep. Benton was back in Springfield this week. He did not accept a request for an interview.) * Sun-Times | Madigan’s landmark conviction now in hands of appeals court focused on ’specific’ corruption: But Thursday, when a new legal team took their appeal of Madigan’s corruption conviction to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, it was longtime Judge Frank Easterbrook who sat quietly and mysteriously, asking no questions and giving no hint as to how he might lean. Judges Michael Scudder and Nancy Maldonado did the talking instead, questioning Madigan attorney Amy Saharia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz. When the argument ended, it was hard to say how the three-judge panel might rule, though Scudder and Maldonado seemed skeptical of Madigan’s position. * Crain’s | Pritzker urges power grid operator to force data centers to pay up:JB Pritzker and seven other governors are pushing PJM Interconnection, which operates the power grid that serves Illinois and a dozen other states, to shield consumers from costs driven by new data centers. […] They’re also seeking protections for consumers against so-called stranded costs if PJM secures more power-generation capacity than data centers end up using. The governors also want data centers to bring their own sources of power to the grid or pay the costs required for the additional capacity needed to serve them, or agree to receive less power during shortages. * Click here for some background. Gov. JB Pritzker…
* Capitol News Illinois | State education officials present $10.9B budget request to fund public schools: State education officials presented their case this week for a $10.9 billion budget to fund preK-12 public schools for the next fiscal year, saying the Evidence-Based Funding formula that has been in place for nearly a decade is now paying dividends. “Graduation rates are at a 15-year high,” Steven Isoye, chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, told a House budget committee Tuesday. “Achievement gaps are narrowing. Student growth exceeds pre-pandemic levels and Illinois eighth graders now outperform national averages in reading and math.” * Tribune | Will CPS cancel school for CTU ‘Day of Action’ May 1? CEO said no, but decision in limbo: Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King rejected a request from the teachers union to cancel classes on May 1, but, facing pressure from City Hall and its allies in the district, said the board could ultimately overrule her decision. In a statement late Thursday, she reiterated her opposition to the Chicago Teachers Union’s “Civic Day of Action,” but noted the board can take formal vote on the issue. She previously argued that canceling classes would significantly disrupt the district. * Tribune | Chicago cultural affairs nominee advances amid praise, concerns about department: Black Caucus aldermen overwhelmingly supported Merritt as the City Council’s Special Events Committee sent her appointment to the full council in a 12-4 vote. But others argued the employee mistreatment complaints from Hedspeth’s tenure linger under Merritt’s leadership. The aldermen opposing her cited a whistleblower lawsuit filed last month by former DCASE first deputy Rosalyn Kimberly Grigsby, who alleged she was iced out of work and fired after making formal complaints against Merritt. * Sun-Times | Flooding in Chicago is getting worse: Potential ways to help prevent flooding are expensive. They include fixes that would contain flood water through traditional pipes and structures as well as natural sources, like green spaces with plants and trees that can help absorb the overflow when sewers are full. “One of the problems with flood management in the U.S. today is: A flood happens. It’s an emergency. The government drops a whole lot of money. They build the exact same thing that they had before,” says Howard Neukrug, a University of Pennsylvania professor and former city of Philadelphia official who led stormwater management strategy. * Illinois Answers Project | Chicago cops did little to probe gun stolen from police station and used in three shootings, new records show: Instead, investigators closed the case without figuring out who stole the gun, which had been turned in to the police and was supposed to have been destroyed. After reporters asked how a gun could have been stolen from a police station full of cops, the department said it was reopening its investigation. But, even then, investigators didn’t interview a single additional officer who was there when the weapon was swiped from the Gresham District station in December 2023. * WTTW | Pay $9.5M to Man Who Spent 19 Years in Prison After Being Wrongfully Convicted, City Lawyers Recommend: No physical evidence linked Reed to Van Vo’s murder, including hair and blood found at the scene. In addition, Reed had no injuries to his hands, even though Van Vo was stabbed repeatedly with a knife that did not have a handle, records show. Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Reed. After four years in jail, Reed pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in return for a promise he would not be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison, records show. * Unraveled | Chicago cop who killed Anthony Alvarez in 2021 engaged in fatal unreported police chase last year, new lawsuit alleges: “It was the duty of Defendant Solano to refrain from acting with an utter indifference or conscious disregard for the safety of others,” alleges the complaint. Attorneys claim Solano disregarded traffic signals and violated several department policies during the chase. According to the lawsuit, Solano chased Millian-Morales’ vehicle for “over one mile” on westbound Irving Park Road. After turning north on Oak Park Avenue, Millian-Morales lost control and crashed into a light pole near Taft Freshman Academy. * WBEZ | Nearly 70 Chicago groups receive micro-grants after SNAP cuts, deportation campaign: “I have to admit, I do know that sometimes government — we can move a little slow,” Johnson said at Malcolm X College Thursday. “So the $4,500 grants that are issued, we are not just investing in services that you provide, but the leadership that you provide and the trust that you have built with residents. You embody the spirit of our collective responsibility.” * Sun-Times | Michelada Fest announces full lineup with an added free day after last year’s cancellations: Now taking place in Union Park, the festival is back after a year-long hiatus sparked by concerns over the “rapidly changing political climate” and artist visa issues. Latin Mafia, Jhayco, Jessie Reyez and Sean Paul are headlining the three-day event. * Block Club | Look Inside Former Signature Room Atop John Hancock Building As It Gets Makeover: More than 200 windowpanes — each weighing about 350 pounds — are being installed as the former restaurant and bar space, now gutted, becomes part of an expanded observation deck and 14,000-square-foot private event space. The attraction will be the city’s only multistory observation deck and will include a three-story atrium when it opens in mid-2027. There will also be a new bar, joining the Cloud Bar which is already open on the 94th floor, and an immersive experience, officials with 360 Chicago, which runs the current observation deck, said Wednesday. * Crain’s | Cook County launches effort to keep residents on Medicaid as thousands face losing coverage: Get Medicaid Facts is a website and communications toolkit targeted at keeping enrollees, community groups, employers and health care providers up to date on how the new rules affect Medicaid eligibility. […] It’s still not clear how the Medicaid regulations will work, as federal guidance on exemptions and verification processes for work requirements aren’t expected until June. Questions about what documentation enrollees will need, what constitutes proof of work, what counts as volunteering and more still need to be answered, officials say. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board to revisit rejected solar farm proposals following court order: Will County Board members will re-vote next Thursday on six solar farm projects they denied over the last two years following a judge’s ruling this week ordering them to issue the special use permits for the projects. Will County Judge Bennett Braun, a Frankfort Republican, ruled Wednesday on the six cases and set a status date for April 16. Members of the county board’s Executive Committee Thursday discussed the judge’s ruling during a lengthy closed session but did not take any action. However, board Speaker Joe VanDuyne confirmed the six cases will be on the county board agenda next week. * Crain’s | Suburban office inventory is shrinking. But vacancy is hitting new highs: The share of available workspace in the suburbs rose during the first quarter to an all-time high of 33.4% from 32.9% at the end of 2025, according to data from real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle. The vacancy rate is up from 32.2% a year ago and 22.1% when the COVID-19 pandemic began, having now hit new record highs for 21 consecutive quarters. * Fox Chicago | Family sues Evanston over police encounter that left woman in coma: Williams’ family says she has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and was likely experiencing a manic episode. […] Officials say she continued to resist, and they used force to subdue her. While paramedics were placing her on a gurney, Williams became unresponsive, police say. First responders attempted to resuscitate her before she was rushed to the hospital. “Her oxygen was blocked off, the doctor told me, for 22.1 minutes. So her brain is damaged 75 percent. She’s on a feeding tube, she was on a ventilator, now I have to put her on a trach,” said Jacqueline Hoffman, Williams’ mother. “She was around 90 pounds, she’s about 75 pounds now.” * WICS | Former Springfield police chief at center of heated council meeting: Springfield activist, Teresa Haley, was at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. She said she was horrified when she heard former Springfield police chief Michael Walton using racial slurs. “He called Shawn Gregory the N-word and I was like no he didn’t just go there,” Haley said. “That set Shawn off.” […] NewsChannel 20 and Fox Illinois reached out to Walton about last night’s exchange. He said, “No racial slurs were uttered by me, as I do not use those horrible words. If someone said I did, they are a liar.” * WAND | Oakwood considers new tax to save ambulance service: Multiple residents filled the Oakwood Village Hall Thursday night, wanting answers about the future of the local ambulance service. Emergency response leaders want to reform the coverage area into a special service district, so a tax levy can be implemented. “If I [were] to call 911 right now, would I get a paramedic?” one resident asked. “There is no guarantee that you’re going to get a paramedic at any point in time with our current staffing,” said Zach Weddle, director of Oakwood Emergency Services. * WCIA | Buckley looking to fill gap in funding for sewer system project: WCIA 3’s partners at the Ford County Chronicle reported that while the village is continuing to move forward with the project, it will cost $2 million more than what the village has available. The lowest bids for the project, which were unsealed at the Village Hall on Tuesday, were for $18.6 million. The village only has $16.7 million available, leaving leaders to examine their options. * WGLT | 2026 Illinois Shakespeare Festival drops ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Our Town’: * Business Insider | Anthropic says its latest AI model is too powerful for public release and that it broke containment during testing: “Claude Mythos Preview’s large increase in capabilities has led us to decide not to make it generally available,” Anthropic wrote in the preview’s system card. “Instead, we are using it as part of a defensive cybersecurity program with a limited set of partners.” The announcement is a major step for Anthropic, which in February weakened a safety pledge about how it would develop AI models. Claude Opus 4.6, which the company called its most powerful model to date, was publicly released on February 5. * Post-Tribune | Local 150 claims Blue Chip Casino took anti-data center signs: An Indiana Department of Transportation employee allegedly arrived later with the casino worker and confiscated the sign, saying that the union couldn’t be on a public right of way. The INDOT employee returned the sign, and Local 150 put it back up. “INDOT is aware of the situation at the casino,” a department statement said. “As there are no concerns related to traffic safety, there is not a reason to ask that any signs or banners be removed at this time.” The same casino employee returned with an Indiana State Police officer, Fagan said, who confiscated the banner again. Fagan said the union got the banner back and planned to return to the same location at noon Thursday. * AP | Postal Service to suspend employer payments to workers’ pensions over cash crunch: The step taken by the Postal Board of Governors is meant to preserve cash and liquidity due to the Postal Service’s ”ongoing, severe financial crisis,” Postal Service Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann said in an internal message to USPS employees. Officials have warned the USPS is on course to run out of cash by around February 2027. Despite the suspension of employer contributions, effective Friday, current and future retirees will not be immediately impacted, Grossman said. * AP | Justice Department is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices, AP source says: The NFL has not received a notification that the league is being investigated, according to two other people with knowledge of the situation. Those people spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on possible legal matters. The investigation comes amid increasing federal scrutiny of the amount of money fans are paying to watch sports on television. The Federal Communications Commission, for example, is seeking public comments on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services.
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Good morning!
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I was at this Thalia Hall show, and I gotta tell you, these folks are in the top tier of Dead cover bands…
Test me, test me, test me, test me, test me What’s happening in your neck of the woods?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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