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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * We’ll be back Monday… They’re tryin’ to wash us away
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Center Square | Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal: The chief judge of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal says it will be bad for taxpayers if his agency is eliminated on July 1, as proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The General Assembly created the independent tribunal in 2013, with the stated purposes of increasing fairness in the tax system and resolving disputes between taxpayers and the Illinois Department of Revenue. The tribunal’s jurisdiction is limited to certain Illinois statutes and it generally hears cases involving more than $15,000 of interest and penalties. * Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker pausing public duties after health procedure: Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday underwent a “routine outpatient urology procedure” and will be stepping back from public duties next week. Pritzker, 61, underwent the procedure on Friday morning and will fulfill his duties next week but pause public events while resting, the governor’s office said. “The Governor is grateful for well-wishes and looks forward to resuming public events soon,” spokesperson Matt Hill said. * Center Square | Civic federation funds ‘persistent structural imbalance’ in Illinois: The Chicago-based government research organization examined how Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 advances the state’s goals for financial stability. The report said Illinois’ fiscal position is likely to weaken unless the state adopts policy changes to better align revenues and expenditures, support stronger economic growth and expand the tax base. * Tribune | Two officers face internal affairs probe over search of suspect before shooting of cops at Chicago hospital: Sources with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the subjects are two patrol officers assigned to the Albany Park (17th) District who took Talley into custody on April 25 after he allegedly robbed a dollar store. The officers are not the two who were shot. Paperwork on the matter was not immediately made public. Chicago police officials did not comment Friday. * Tribune | United Airlines cuts summer O’Hare flights at behest of FAA: The FAA originally ordered flight cuts to start mid-May. But the feds subsequently pushed back the start date until June 2 “to give airlines additional time to adjust their schedules,” the agency said. The order will be in effect until late October. In a letter to employees Thursday, the airline’s vice president of O’Hare, Omar Idris, said the airline’s June schedule would include about 650 daily departures at the airport. The airline had planned to fly about 780 flights out of the airport per day this summer. * WBEZ | When immigration agents arrested a Chicago mother, a stranger stepped in to care for her 3 kids: It was dark. The kids were pulling a wagon, loaded with clothes and a blanket. They were planning to sleep outside. The 17-year-old was pacing. “They were scared,” Conde says. Conde’s home, a Little Village apartment, had just two bedrooms. She decided it was big enough for all of them. * WBEZ | Anne Frank exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry opens the door to her secret annex: The full-scale recreation of the Frank family’s hideout during World War II in Amsterdam is the extraordinary centerpiece to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” opening Friday and running through early 2027. “It is meticulously recreated. It is what it was when they were in hiding,” explained Ronald Leopold, executive director of the actual hideout in Amsterdam, which has been preserved as a museum. * Daily Herald | St. Charles asks lawmakers to cut them slack on lead pipe replacement mandate: With the city’s utility rates poised to spike dramatically in the coming years, St. Charles is turning to state and federal lawmakers to try to ease the burden on residents. The increased bills are to cover $417 million in sewer and water infrastructure upgrades, including $84 million to replace lead pipes over the next decade. However, city officials are frustrated with the unfunded state mandate. Taking aim at the unfunded lead pipe mandate, Mayor Clint Hull sought and received approval from the city council to send a formal letter to state and federal legislators. * Daily Southtown | Tinley Park residents fear speeding cars on Ridgeland, protest Cook County speed limit plan: Several of those neighbors took their concerns to Tinley Park officials and Cook County government, which maintains the road. The county proposed lowering the speed limit by 5 mph, to 35 mph, and is set to approve the change on June 11, if it passes through a May 14 county committee. Neighbors argue the speed change is not enough and should be lowered more or paired with traffic calming measures. The county argues the road is a major collector roadway. A major collector means the road carries more traffic than a local street and is intended to funnel traffic from multiple streets to higher capacity roads such as state highways, according to Meaghan Johnson, Cook County public relations specialist. * Daily Southtown | Technology allows Orland Park residents to receive mental health, housing resources: Care Solace looks to connect people with providers of housing and food as well as substance use and mental health resources, based on their specific needs, according to the organization. People can either find an array of mental health providers at caresolace.com/site/il-orlandpark or work with a staff member over the phone for more individualized support. The Orland Park Village Board first discussed the initiative in October and agreed to the village paying about $1 per resident per year for three years, or about $58,000 per year, for full access to Care Solace’s resources. * Aurora Beacon News | Outreach events planned to explain new look of Kane County’s property tax bill: The new format is designed to increase transparency and accountability, according to a press release from the Treasurer’s Office, and there is an option to go paperless. A staff member from the office will be on site at each of the outreach events to make sure citizens are receiving their qualified property tax exemptions, the release said. * WMBD | ISU and union to return to bargaining table on Monday after nearly a month long strike: Union officials say the meeting is not yet confirmed and that they are willing to go back as long as the college is willing to negiotate. ISU spokesman Chris Coplan said the university contacted the mediator who had been working with the school and AFSCME Local 1110, reiterating its desire to come back to the table. * WGLT | Central Illinois groups have a goal to make Bloomington-Normal a dementia-friendly community: The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging [ECIAAA] and the University of Illinois Extension are seeking feedback through a survey open to the entire community through June 15. Responses will be used to build a dementia-friendly community, one of ECIAAA’s top priorities. Dementia is a syndrome characterized by symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. “Once someone is diagnosed with dementia, people with dementia can live active, normal lives, especially in the early stages of dementia,” said Kathryn Johnson, community liaison at ECIAAA. “We also want to bring attention to family caregivers and bring support to them.” * WCIA | United Airlines services from Willard to Chicago postponed to October: In a Facebook post, Fly Champaign-Urbana said there would be a date change for United Airlines flights heading from University of Illinois — Williard to Chicago O’Hare due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s order capping flights at the airport. As a result, the previously scheduled start date — June 1 — is now anticipated for Oct. 25 for this service. * IPM News | ‘Engaging the community in learning has always been our mission’: Parkland College celebrates 60 years: The community college was established in 1966 and, in its first year, enrolled more than 1,300 students who attended classes in leased buildings across downtown Champaign. Today, the college serves about 9,600 students and offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs. Amy Penne, an English professor at Parkland College, said one of the defining features of community colleges, and Parkland in particular, is their ability to adapt. * The Atlantic | Thanks to the rise of Claude Code and other AI agents, revenues are finally catching up to the hype: Today, however, we’re in a very different world. Software developers are adopting AI tools en masse and reporting astronomical productivity benefits. The worry that the country is building too many data centers now coexists with the fear that we won’t have enough of them to satisfy the public’s growing appetite for these products. And the company previously known as OpenAI’s junior competitor has become possibly the fastest-growing business in the history of capitalism. Anthropic’s revenue is increasing faster—much faster—than Zoom’s during the pandemic, Google’s during the early 2000s, and even Standard Oil’s during the Gilded Age. If the company’s current growth rate were to continue, then by early next year it would be taking in more money than any other company in the world. * NYT | ‘The Most Bipartisan Issue Since Beer’: Opposition to Data Centers: That matches what is happening in Michigan, where citizens of all political stripes are filling once empty town meetings to voice their opposition. Republicans are strategizing with Democrats on Signal chats and Facebook pages. People are becoming experts at extracting government documents, gathering signatures and fund-raising to pay for lawyers. They are even writing songs for the cause. * AP | Trump says he’ll place 25% tariff on autos from the EU, accusing it of not complying with trade deal: Trump said in a social media post that the EU “is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal,” though he did not flesh out his objections in the post. Asked by reporters on Friday about the increase in import taxes as he departed the White House for Florida, Trump said the EU was not “as usual” adhering to last year’s trade framework, without detailing the source of the tension. He added that he believed the shift to higher tariffs “forces them to move their factory production much faster” to the U.S.
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IML tries outflanking Realtors on housing bill
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Illinois Realtors are apparently trying to get ahead of a story about a new housing proposal from the Illinois Municipal League. Press release…
The Realtors have been working closely with Gov. JB Pritzker on his housing plan. But the IML appears to be flanking them on their left. Clever. * From Brad Cole, CEO of the Illinois Municipal League…
* Some excerpts from the proposal…
Like I said, it’s clever. It even has some stuff for the unions. Much more at the link.
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A few thoughts on CD4
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From a Tribune story on the plethora of independent candidates running against Democratic nominee Patty García in the 4th US House District, which is currently represented by Chuy García. As you’ll recall, Chuy dropped out after his chief of staff Patty quietly circulated nominating petitions during the final circulation weekend. The switcharoo set off a firestorm. There’s plenty more in the article, but I’m gonna focus on this…
OK, first of all, candidates don’t “receive” money from super PACs. The committees spend money independently (supposedly) on candidate campaigns. Also, End Citizens United endorsed Juliana Stratton in the US Senate primary. Stratton, of course, benefited from millions of dollars spent by a super PAC backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, so that endorsement doesn’t mean no super PAC money. It seems more than obvious from his comments that Mayor Getty is vying for that massive pot of AIPAC spending. It may work. But, wherever that group and everyone else goes, I think we might see a frenzy of spending in that race which will rival what we saw earlier this year in several Democratic primaries here. If I had to bet, I’d say Macías will benefit the most from super PAC spending, mainly because of her DC ties. Let’s see how it plays out. We don’t yet know which of the candidates will be able to collect 10,816 valid signatures to obtain a spot on the ballot. In the end, though, Patty García will be the only official Democrat on the ballot. And in a district that overwhelmingly votes Democratic and during a year when Democratic voters are fired up about President Trump, that’s a huge advantage. Her ground game will likely also outclass the independents in the race. She’ll also have the support of most of organized labor. Anyway, strap in. We’re possibly about to be inundated again.
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SB 1486 Raises Premiums And Reduces Consumer Choice
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois is home to one of the most competitive insurance markets in the nation. Hundreds of insurers fight for consumers, leaving families better protected than those in other states. SB 1486, described by the Daily Herald as “controversial legislation,” could eliminate that system and, in its place, leave Illinois with the most extreme regulatory framework in the nation. This legislation could:
• 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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Question of the day
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’m pretty sure we posted this story from a few weeks ago…
* I’m bringing it up now because some Republican candidates are using the idea in their campaigns…
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the idea earlier this week…
Notice he didn’t actually answer the question. According to AAA, the average gas price in Illinois today is $4.39 a gallon. * The Question: Should the state sales tax on gasoline be suspended for six months? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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It’s just a bill
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Former editor of Modern Healthcare Merrill Goozner…
* WAND…
* WAND…
* Sen. Robert Peters…
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It’s Time To Bring Safer Rides To Illinois
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Waymo is ready to bring safe, reliable, autonomous rides to Illinois – but we need your help! Waymo is already mapping Chicago’s unique streets and traffic patterns to lay the groundwork for operations. Never tired or distracted, Waymo provides hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous rides every week across ten major U.S. cities, from Los Angeles to Atlanta — from multi-lane expressways to dense city streets, including the demands of winter weather. The data shows Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are involved in thirteen times fewer injury-causing collisions compared to humans (as of 3/20/26, see waymo.com/safety). Let’s bring safer rides to Illinois. 
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DOJ investigating sexuality and gender teaching in 36 Illinois school districts
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WBEZ…
* The Tribune…
* ABC Chicago…
* 25News Now…
* WIFR…
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Credit & Debit Cards May Not Work For Tips, Starting July 1
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The IFPA—the Credit Card Chaos law—could hurt Illinois’ tipped workers. Servers, stylists, rideshare drivers and other gig workers who rely on tips could see their income drop if customers can’t tip on cards and are limited to the cash they carry. 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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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Department of Justice investigating sexuality and gender teaching in 36 Illinois school districts. Tribune…
- In the Chicagoland area, over 15 districts are listed as under investigation in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. - If the school districts are found to have included this type of content in classroom instruction, then the Department of Justice said it would look into whether schools have informed parents of their “right to opt their children out of such instruction.” The department said it would also examine whether girls’ sports teams and access to locker rooms, bathrooms and other “single-sex intimate spaces” are restricted by biological sex. * Related stories… Sponsored by The Illinois Drivers Alliance. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * A “Celebration of Barbara’s Life” memorial for Barbara Flynn Currie will be held Sunday, June 21, at 10:30 am at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. * Sun-Times | SNAP food assistance cutoffs begin Friday in Illinois: As of Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the state agency that administers the program, estimated that 120,000 individuals were at risk of losing their benefits starting Friday and rolling out over the next several months. That’s down about 280,000 from what the state originally anticipated would be pushed out of the program as people received exemptions from the work rules. * Crain’s | The state’s health costs are spiking — with weight-loss drugs in the spotlight: Illinois spent nearly 21% more on healthcare for state employees last year, and University of Illinois researchers suspect GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro could be playing a role in driving up that tab. Spending on employee healthcare was $3.81 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30, compared with $3.16 billion the year before, according to U of I’s Institute of Government & Public Affairs. * Sun-Times | Costco shoppers deserve cut of retailer’s tariff refund, Illinois lawsuit says: A similar lawsuit against Costco over tariff refunds has been filed in Washington. Other companies, including Lululemon, FedEx, Nintendo and Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, also face lawsuits from customers. Lululemon, like Costco, is accused of “double recovery” regarding the unlawful tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional, including “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The U.S. Court of International Trade later found that companies subjected to tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were entitled to refunds. * Sun-Times | Will Pritzker opt in to federal program that covers private and public school costs? These advocates hope so: “At a time when Chicago Public Schools and many other school systems across the state are confronting shrinking student populations and increasing costs, the state of Illinois cannot afford to turn down free money,” said Bobby Sylvester, vice president of The Urban Center, a Chicago-based organization which advocates for what it calls a “common sense agenda.” The press conference was organized by Invest in Education, a national organization formed to support the tax-credit scholarship program, and the Urban Center, which is run by Juan Rangel, the former leader of an organization that distributed private school scholarships through the Illinois tax credit program, which sunsetted in 2023. * Press release | Illinois Senate GOP and Angel Father Call for Action on Legislation to Allow Illinois Law Enforcement to Keep Illinoisans Safe: Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Angel Father Joe Abraham, joined together to call on the General Assembly to pass SB4196 to allow law enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration officials on non-citizens who have committed crimes in the United States. “Right now, Illinois law limits how local law enforcement can work with federal authorities, creating confusion and dangerous gaps that put public safety at risk,” Rose said. “My bill is straightforward. If there is a valid, enforceable federal warrant, law enforcement should be able to act, communicate, and coordinate. We should trust our officers to do their jobs and give them the tools they need to protect our communities.” * Hyde Park Herald | Five years in, key parts of Illinois police reform law still not fully implemented: Between one-third and half of police departments surveyed said their use-of-force policies are missing at least one requirement under the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, the report found. In a separate review of 10 agencies, only one had fully incorporated the law’s standards. The findings come from the “Workgroup to Implement the SAFE-T Act Policing Provisions,” which was convened to assess how well the 2021 law has been carried out across Illinois. The group outlined dozens of recommendations to push the law closer to full implementation across five areas, including use-of-force standards, officer decertification, body-worn cameras, training practices and data reporting requirements. * WGN | Hammond, Indiana Mayor: Wolf Lake is close to Chicago and ready for the Bears: Hammond, Indiana Mayor Thomas McDermott admits the Bears might be using his city as leverage, but if there’s even a chance the franchise might build a new stadium there, he’s all-in. “I mean, we could be being used if we’re being honest. But what are we supposed to do when you’re being approached by a world-class organization like the Chicago Bears and they’re spending millions of dollars analyzing your city to make it possibly their next home,” McDermott told WGN News. * Cook County Record | After SCOTUS ruling, IL sidelines Welch’s race-based districting plan: While the decision from the court’s conservative majority did not explicitly strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as unconstitutional, the court declared that explicitly using race as a criteria to draw legislative districts is unconstitutional. Further, the court’s majority declared racial minorities do not have a right under the VRA to elect representatives who are of the same race or a preferred race. Rather, the court declared, black, Latino and other racial minority voters have the same voting rights as anyone else. * Capitol News Illinois | Peoples Gas customers to see minor credits after settlement with AG’s office: The benefit, if approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, will average around $50 annually this year and around $40 each in 2027 and 2028, or about $3-4 monthly. Roughly a million natural gas customers in northeastern Illinois are expected to receive the credits. “These bill credits are good news for Peoples Gas customers who have suffered so much financial pain because of the utility’s wasteful spending,” said Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, a utility watchdog. “We look forward to continuing the important work ahead to hold Peoples Gas accountable and seek justice for its long-suffering customers.” * Sun-Times | Chicago Abortion Fund sees its busiest first quarter in 40+ year history: In the first three months of this year, the fund answered 5,000 calls, which is around 750 more calls during the same period last year. Due to rising costs, the organization also spent more than twice as much on travel, childcare and groceries for women seeking abortions — $3 million so far this year, compared to $1.37 million in the first three months of 2025. * ABC Chicago | CPS teachers, students expected to join May Day rally at Union Park, march through downtown Chicago: Kids who attend will be part of the half-day program at PUSH and return to school afterwards. Others, will likely attend the major May Day rally and march, beginning at Union Park and ending at Daley Plaza downtown. That rally begins at 1 p.m. The march starts at 2 p.m. and is expected to go along Washington, Racine, Jackson, Halsted and Washington to Daley Plaza. * Sun-Times | Bally’s hits Chicago casino construction milestone with fanfare — and big questions: It’s like the end of the beginning,” Kim said after watching the final beam hoisted by crane at 777 W. Chicago Ave., with the tune of Starship’s “We Built This City” blaring to a crowd of hundreds of workers, elected officials and other well-wishers. “To get here, we just had a lot of random delays. Now it just feels real good. A thousand people working on-site — I can’t believe how fast we’re building now. So we feel good that we’ll be open early next year,” Kim said, specifying only the first quarter of 2027. * WGN | Surprising finds at O’Hare: Monkeys, snails, bird’s nest and more: Chief Agriculture Specialist Cory Everton told WGN-TV on Thursday that most people are unaware of just how catastrophic some prohibited items can be to the country’s crops and livestock. Officers have confiscated about 5,000 pounds of meat per month on average. “We get a lot of folks bringing giant African snails, live. If these get loose in your backyard, you don’t have a backyard anymore. [Thursday] we had someone bring in a bird’s nest covered in bird feces,” Everton said. * WBEZ | ‘Pure chaos’: Why most Chicagoans used to move at the same time on Moving Day: “Why everyone would want to move on one day in the calendar year is baffling,” said Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum. “And almost every [contemporary account] acknowledges that. It’s like, ‘Why have we adopted this system? It’s not at all efficient. It’s overwhelming. It’s chaotic.’ ” * Daily Herald | Federal agents won’t be prosecuted over pepper-spraying protesters in Elgin: Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced that decision Thursday, saying that while at least one agent may have committed felony aggravated battery under Illinois law, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prevents his prosecution. That agent was captured on video shooting a man in the face with a pepper ball from a short distance away, even as the man complied with orders, Mosser said. The pepper ball then ricocheted off the man’s face and hit a nearby woman in the face. * WGN | Another South Suburban leader under fire for credit card spending: Like Henyard, Thaddeus Jones holds two taxpayer-funded jobs. He is mayor of Calumet City and a Democratic state lawmaker. In all, the positions paid him more than $225,000 last year, records show. “The credit card is absolutely, positively just extra money,” said Nyota Figgs, Calumet City clerk, who has publicly clashed with Jones. “I mean, he used it as his personal wallet. The city was his personal purse. Period.” […] His spokesman said the trips were business-related. He said the mayor paid back some of the charges. * ABC Chicago | West suburban woman says armed off-duty cop pulled her from vehicle, didn’t identify self: “I’m at a red light; this Jeep cuts me off. And he gets out of the car with a gun, screaming, ‘get out of the car. Get out of the car and turn it off,’” Pantoja said. “At first I thought I was getting robbed or something cause I didn’t know it was a police officer or anything. All I saw was a gun pointed at me.” She says he told her he was stopping her because she had been involved in a hit-and-run. She says, in fact, her vehicle had spun out on the wet pavement Monday afternoon. But she never hit anything and there was no damage to her vehicle or any property. She says she felt like she was being profiled. * Daily Herald | Des Plaines set to buy most of former Methodist Camp Ground for $4M, ending legal battle: Des Plaines would purchase most of a historic — but flood-prone — campground for $4 million under a deal before the city council. If approved, the proposed agreement will end a five-year legal battle over the property at 1250 Campground Road. The Chicago District Camp Ground Association, the group that owns the eponymous site, already has approved the settlement. * WGLT | Bloomington city manager says public exploration of data center issue is only the beginning: “Yes, we have active interest, but there is a lot to figure out and there is a lot of discussion that would need to be had before I think it could even be genuinely considered by the city council,” said Jurgens. During a Sound Ideas interview, Jurgens said he doesn’t think there is any location inside city limits that would be suitable for a large-scale data center, though there may be places outside municipal limits that fall under county government. * WSIL | Superintendent resigns from CCSD #204 in Pinckneyville following allegations: * WGLT | Rivian reaffirms 2026 targets as R2 production weathers Normal tornado: “I’m proud of the way our teams have rallied together to get production back up and running while we repair the damages,” said Claire McDonough, Rivian’s chief financial officer. “Despite the weather impact, our 2026 guidance remains unchanged. We continue to expect full-year deliveries of between 62,000 and 67,000 total vehicles across R1, R2, and our commercial vans.” The new R2 — Rivian’s first mass-market vehicle — was the focal point of Thursday’s first-quarter earnings call. R2 production began last week in Normal. They’ll reach customers later this spring. * Rockford Register Star | Stellantis plans corporate walk through at Belvidere Assembly Plant: United Auto Worker leaders and Stellantis executives will tour the Belvidere Assembly Plant April 30 as they prepare to discuss a “launch agreement,” UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen said. Frantzen, in an update to UAW 1268 members posted on Facebook, said Stellantis officials reached out to the union to talk about a launch agreement. A meeting was scheduled for May 6. Frantzen said a launch agreement would govern plans for retooling the assembly plant and for launching production. * WMBD | Trades council organizes food drive for striking ISU workers: AFSCME workers at Illinois State University have been on strike for four weeks now, without receiving a single paycheck. The trades council saw the struggle of the workers to pay for food and decided to organize the food drive to help support them in their time of need. “We recognize that our brothers and sisters at AFSCME are on strike,” said Mike Raikes, president of the Building Trades Council. “We can stand by them physically at the rallies and on the picket lines.” * 404 Media | City Learns Flock Accessed Cameras in Children’s Gymnastics Room as a Sales Pitch Demo, Renews Contract Anyway: After Hunyar wrote about what he found, Flock has agreed to stop using Dunwoody’s cameras to demonstrate its product. Flock’s FAQ page states that “Flock customers own their data” and “Flock will not share, sell, or access your data.” It also states “nobody from Flock Safety is accessing or monitoring your footage.” Flock also published a blog post that notes “one of the benefits communities value most about Flock technology is the ability for law enforcement to directly access privately owned cameras, if and only if the organization allows them to, for crime-solving and security purposes.” * AP | Meta raises specter of shutting down service to New Mexico in legal clash over child safety: In a court filing unsealed Thursday, Meta said it was unfeasible for the company to meet a proposed requirement for 99% accuracy in verifying that child users are at least 13 years old, among other demands. “As a practical matter, this requirement effectively requires Meta to shut down its services — for all users in the state — or else comply with impossible obligations,” Meta said in the filing.
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Good morning!
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My front porch…  She rarely moves off her nest. Fascinating to watch. * Via regular commenter Dotnonymous x, somebody else’s porch… What’s up by you?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, May 1, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, May 1, 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The governor’s office is not happy with Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet)…
A short clip…
You can click here to watch the full interaction on BlueRoomStream. Rich has reached out to Sen. Rose for comment. …Adding… From Sen. Rose…
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. * Former GOP consultant Collin Corbett has announced an independent bid for Governor…
…Adding… CNN…
* WBEZ | Illinois schools have been required to teach Asian American history for 5 years. How is it going?: It’s been nearly five years since Illinois lawmakers passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, or TEAACH Act. It ensures that students in every public elementary and high school in Illinois learn about the contributions of Asian Americans in the economic, social, cultural and political development of the U.S. * NBC Chicago | A popular tree planted all around the Chicago area will soon be illegal: The invasive trees (Bradford Pear) are currently blooming all around the region “and are now spreading into natural areas.” According to the University of Illinois, the trees were widely planted in the 1950s as “a fast-growing popular ornamental tree despite weak branches that break off easily from storms.” (From Isabel: They also stink, good riddance) * Evanston Now | Biss backs push to repeal anti-BDS law he voted for: In 2015, then-State Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston was among the 49 state senators and 102 state representatives who unanimously supported a bill signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner that required Illinois to divest its public pension funds from companies that participated in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, in protest against Israel. On Thursday, Biss, now the Democratic nominee to represent Evanston in Congress to replace Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), wrote in a statement that he “would not cast the same vote today,” throwing his support behind a push from State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid to repeal the 2015 law. * Capitol News Illinois | New Illinois Chamber president seeks to bolster Statehouse relationships: Jimmy Clayton has been named new CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce following a decade of managing government relationships for the Illinois REALTORS. He told Capitol News Illinois he is focused on building relationships between the chamber and legislators while pushing lawmakers to take a balanced approach toward new regulations that will allow Illinois to attack new businesses. Clayton took over the role in April, replacing Lou Sandoval, who abruptly resigned in November. It gives one of the state’s largest business organization an opportunity to reset its Statehouse priorities and political relationships. * Press release | Ellman proposes plan to ban toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease: Senate Bill 3161 would prohibit the use of paraquat beginning next year, with limited exceptions for research conducted under strict protocols established by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. […] Senate Bill 3161 was heard in a subject matter hearing in the Senate Agriculture committee on Thursday and awaits further consideration. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Macquline King, interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools, hired as permanent leader: The board voted 18-1 to hire King, who has been the district’s interim leader since last June, when former CEO Pedro Martinez left after being fired without cause. Elected board member Jennifer Custer voted no. The board officially picked King last week over Sito Narcisse, the former superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish schools in Louisiana who was named another finalist earlier this month. * Tribune | In 4th District, independents unite behind beating Democrat Patty García: President Donald Trump must be beaten, each independent in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District said Wednesday during the campaign’s first town hall. And the five hopefuls, many Democrats themselves, agreed: Patty García, the Democratic nominee, needs to go down too. Nobody in the group that appeared at a forum put on by the College Democrats at the University of Illinois Chicago has major party backing. And they all face the daunting task of collecting thousands of signatures in order to make the general election ballot, at which point they would be underdogs against Patty Garcia. * Sun-Times | Ald. Knudsen proposes banning city employees from using inside info to bet on prediction market apps: Knudsen is following the trail blazed by Gov. JB Pritzker and his counterparts in six other states by introducing an ordinance that would prohibit present and former city employees — and elected officials — from using insider information to bet on prediction markets. Apps that include Kalshi and Polymarket are being used to place bets on everything from election winners and the number of candidates entering a specific race for office, to budgetary and foreign policy decisions by elected officials. * Crain’s | Molson Coors beer shipments hampered by glass supply shortage: The Chicago-based maker of Coors Light and Miller Lite expects volume to decline 6% to 9% this quarter due in part to challenges with glass suppliers, Chief Financial Officer Tracey Joubert said during a call with analysts on Thursday. Despite the company’s efforts to work with partners on a solution, “a few pinch points” remain that are impacting shipments, Joubert said. In the first quarter, the company also faced disruptions at some facilities from weather, energy supply and upgrades, Joubert added. * Crain’s | Bank of America CEO eyes Chicago growth as commercial loans rise 15%: Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan refuses to prioritize which operations — ranging from wealth management to commercial banking — are the most important in the Chicago market. “We have eight lines of business to operate around the world,” Moynihan told Crain’s in an interview. “In Chicago, they all happen to be here. All of them have to grow to make the business work.” * Crain’s | Chicago museums would rather lose federal grants than ‘whitewash’ history: The Public Housing Museum last year lost four grants totaling more than $500,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), although the two IMLS awards totaling more than $300,000 were reinstated. She’ll continue to seek federal funding on an ongoing basis, or new funding. “Our museum board really said, ‘As long as you don’t have to sign a loyalty oath and as long as you feel like your values aren’t compromised, then you should apply,’” Lee says. “We’ll see how it plays out.” * Press release | Clerk Gordon Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Impacting the Voting Rights Act: As the chief election authority for suburban Cook County, I see every day how essential trust is to our democracy. Our responsibility is to make voting accessible, secure, and fair for every resident – no matter who they are or where they live. That work does not change because of today’s ruling. If anything, it becomes more important. We will continue to expand access, protect the integrity of our elections, and meet voters where they are. But safeguarding the right to vote has always required partnership across every level of government. Today is no different. This decision is a reminder that the work of protecting equal representation – and the full promise of our democracy – is far from over. * Daily Herald | Kane County revamping property tax bill look: For one thing, if you want to complain to somebody about how high your taxes are, the bills will now include the names and phone numbers of elected and appointed officials for the various taxing districts. “The people I serve are frustrated,” Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen said in a news release. “They want to know who to talk to. This puts that information in one place, right on the bill.” * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan joins school districts backing sales tax referendum: ‘A source of income that will benefit our students’: If public school districts representing more than 50% of the students in Lake County approve resolutions asking Karner to certify the referendum to County Clerk Anthony Vega by Aug. 26, voters will decide the fate of a proposed 1% sales tax funding education. The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday at the Education Service Center in Waukegan directing Karner to put the referendum on the ballot, and voted 6-1 to allow the use of funds to abate property taxes. With 13,640 students, according to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), District 60 is the county’s largest. It joins six other Lake County districts that sent Karner resolutions, bringing the percentage to 27.6% — more than halfway to the needed threshold. * Daily Herald | $15 million center for ‘complex’ GI care opens at Central DuPage Hospital: Nationwide, there are only a handful of standalone centers “that have this type of equipment, have individuals who do the techniques,” said Sethi, its new medical director. The center and its physicians are able to diagnose early cancers, remove tumors endoscopically and treat GERD, obesity and complex pancreatic and bile duct disease. * ABC Chicago | Old Joliet Prison hosting Slammers baseball game to celebrate Route 66 centennial: Bill Murray is bringing the laughs and the baseball to the Old Joliet prison Thursday. The Joliet Slammers will play in the “Big House Ballgame” Thursday afternoon as part of the Route 66 celebration. Inmates used to play on the field up until the facility closed in 2002 and now the Joliet Slammers will take on the Gateway Grizzlies. * Elgin Courier-News | Chicago mayor’s portrait added to Elgin High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame: “I know I am the mayor of Chicago, but I am still loyal to you, Elgin High,” Johnson told the gathering of invited guests, which included family members, old friends, former teachers, school administrators and local leaders. After being introduced by Elgin High School Principal Avelira Rodríguez González, Johnson quipped that her comments were the longest any principal had ever spoken about him. * Illinois Times | Some council members, community activists question SPD’s plans to purchase new armored vehicle: SPD’s current BearCat was obtained with Department of Homeland Security grant funds that were dispersed to the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, which then granted the vehicle to SPD more than 20 years ago. ILEAS was formed in 2002 as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate mutual aid among Illinois law enforcement agencies. Behl told the City Council on March 16 that SPD asked for a new BearCat from ILEAS but the request was denied. * Fox 2 Now | School bus crash in Greene County sends 12 to the hospital: A school bus crash in Greene County, Illinois, left a dozen people injured Wednesday afternoon after another vehicle crossed the center line. According to Illinois State Police, the crash happened just after 3:45 p.m. on Highway 67 just south of Northeast 400 Street near Carrollton. Police said a North Greene school bus was headed north when a vehicle going southbound crossed into their lane on a curve. * WSJ | U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP: As of March 31, the country’s publicly held debt was $31.265 trillion, while GDP over the preceding year was $31.216 trillion, according to data released Thursday. That puts the ratio at 100.2%, compared with 99.5% when the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That figure will likely climb for the foreseeable future because the federal government is running historically large annual deficits of nearly 6% of GDP, which add to the debt. * AP | Inside ‘Scientology speedruns,’ the viral trend prompting the church to bolster security: The trend took off in early April, with users on social media posting videos of themselves — sometimes inexplicably in costume — entering multiple properties owned or inhabited in some way by the Church of Scientology. Participants film themselves “speedrunning” through the building, or aiming to complete a task as fast as possible per the common video game slang. That task? Map out the church’s buildings and get as much information as they can about the inner workings of the organization.
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Roundup: Accountability Commission refers federal agents for investigation, releases final report
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Click here for the final report and here for the letter sent to law enforcement agencies. * During the press conference, Commission Chair and former US Judge Rubén Castillo went after Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke for not appointing a special prosecutor…
* The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office’s response…
* Evanston Now…
* More… * WTTW | Illinois Commission Details Federal Agents’ ‘Illegal and Violent Conduct’ in Final Report on ‘Operation Midway Blitz’: The commission report also outlined a series of policy recommendations in its report, including prohibiting “roving” patrols; ending warrantless arrests; halting the use of paramilitary tactics; and requiring federal agents to wear body-worn cameras. The report also recommends discipline for ICE and Border Patrol agents who committed misconduct. Throughout a series of public hearings, witnesses detailed the terror and fear they experienced as federal agents sought to “spread fear” in residential neighborhoods, the report found. * WAND | Illinois Accountability Commission final report alleges federal misconduct in Operation Midway Blitz: “The Illinois Accountability Commission’s final hearing marks a defining moment. Not an ending, but a reckoning,” Illinois Department of Human Rights Director Jim Bennett said. “This report is a testament to our citizens who came forward and refused to let federal agents’ abusive and extreme actions go unanswered. The state of Illinois had made it clear that no one is above the law, including the federal government, and that documentation of these crimes creates a foundation as we pursue justice. These weren’t abstract violations. They happened to real people, and this record exists because of their courage. We will continue this work until there is full accountability.”
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A big get for Kwame Raoul
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background on Witzburg is here if you need it. The AG’s former chief of staff moved into private practice a few months ago. Press release…
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All of a sudden, some folks have stopped talking about giving judges ‘more discretion’ (Updated)
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Last September…
That “more discretion” phrase became quite a buzzword. * Last December…
* 16 days ago from the House GOP…
Partial transcript…
* Yesterday, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie introduced HB5757, with Reps. Windhorst and Weber as co-sponsors...
Press release…
They can’t talk about “more discretion” now because the judge in that case made such an egregious error in judgement. So, they want to just tell judges what they must do regardless of the circumstances. …Adding… Leader McCombie…
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Built For Illinois. Built With Transparency.
Thursday, Apr 30, 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.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * House Republican Leader Tony McCombie and Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
The Illinois Network For Pretrial Justice…
* Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid…
* Sen. Laura Ellman…
* WAND…
* Sen. Chris Belt…
* CEO of the Community Access National Network Jen Laws…
* More… * Press release | Jones Passes Bill to Keep Drivers in Control of Auto Insurance Claims for Glass Repairs: Jones’ House Bill 4373 empowers auto insurance policyholders and holds auto repair shops accountable by prohibiting drivers from signing over control of their insurance claims to a repair shop. Currently, some shops enter into benefit transfer agreements with policyholders that allow them to handle claims on the customer’s behalf. While repair shops may claim this provides peace of mind, it can create problems if an insurer does not fully cover the bill. * Press release | Villanueva measure to advance Illinois’ environmental justice protections one step closer to law: Senate Bill 3772 would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate environmental justice factors when reviewing certain air pollution construction permit applications. The proposal would require the IEPA to evaluate whether a proposed facility is located in an area of environmental justice concern and determine whether additional safeguards may be needed. * Fox 32 | What’s in the six-month gas tax proposal?: Illinois House Republicans want to pause the state’s gas tax to give drivers some short term relief. Oil prices are still soaring amid the war in Iran. Rep. Ryan Spain’s bill would halt the sales tax for six months. But, there’s a payoff. Ralph Matire, the executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability joins us.
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Illinois Credit Unions: Member‑Owned, Member‑Focused
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] April is National Financial Literacy Month, a time to highlight the importance of education, understanding, and trust in financial decision‑making. For Illinois credit unions, these values are part of everyday operations, not just a once‑a‑year focus. Because credit unions are member‑owned, not‑for‑profit, and community‑focused, their structure naturally puts people first. Financial literacy comes to life through relationships, not transactions. Illinois credit unions know their members as people, not account numbers. Credit union professionals take time to:
• Offer tailored advice • Understand individual needs • Make decisions with empathy This relationship‑driven approach helps members build confidence, ask questions, and make informed financial choices. These are all key elements of financial literacy. As Scott Credit Union’s Ashleigh Deatherage explains, credit unions’ “purpose is truly to make a positive impact on those we serve.” Credit unions don’t “just look at them as another number”, they focus on the whole person behind the finances. This Financial Literacy Month, Illinois credit unions continue to empower members through education, trust, and people‑first service. Learn more at https://betterforillinois.org/ Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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With Bears stadium moving forward and failure of millionaire’s surchage, progressives say it’s time for corporate guardrails and new revenues
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus…
* Affordability and Tax Justice Coalition…
* Illinois Revenue Alliance…
Discuss.
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Illinois Hospitals Fuel $135.5 Billion In Economic Activity Statewide, Strengthening Local Communities – Support Hospitals By Passing HB 2371 SA 2
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Hospital spending on payroll, supplies, services and capital projects spur $135.5 billion in economic activity annually that helps build vibrant communities across the state. A new report from the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, “Communities Win When Local Hospitals Are Strong,” shows how valuable Illinois’ over 200 hospitals and 40 health systems are to the state and local economies. Key economic contributions of Illinois hospitals include:
• Spurring job creation in other sectors: Every Illinois hospital job leads to 1.6 jobs in other sectors; and • Creating a ripple effect in spending: Every dollar hospitals spend results in another $1.40 in economic activity. Illinois hospitals are major employers and purchasers of supplies and services. They continue to drive economic spending despite financial pressures, including the loss of up to $57 billion in federal Medicaid matching funds over the next 10 years due to H.R. 1. As hospitals support communities, they ask Illinois legislators to support them: Pass House Bill 2371 SA 2 in the House to restore the federal 340B drug discount program in Illinois. Learn more.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Illinois Senate halts redistricting constitutional amendment question after Supreme Court’s voting rights ruling. Tribune…
- Harmon said in a statement that he wanted legal experts to review the Supreme Court’s ruling they moved forward with the proposal. He added that he expects the amendment to be revisited in a future legislative session. - The Supreme Court’s conservative majority voted 6-3 that Louisiana’s second Black-majority district was too heavily reliant on race. The ruling gives an opening to other Republican states to eliminate Black- and Latino-majority districts that typically vote more Democratic. * 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 10:30, Gov. JB Pritzker will host a Press Conference following his meeting with the Illinois Accountability Commission where they will deliver their report and recommendations to the Governor. Click here to watch. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Politico | Dems split on Israel boycott law: n effort to repeal an Illinois law targeting companies that pull investments from Israel is seeing some movement — though it’s also highlighting divisions among Democrats who dominate state government. The proposal would roll back a 2015 law requiring the state to divest from companies that boycott Israel. State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, who’s carrying the bill, called the current policy punitive and economically short-sighted, arguing it forces Illinois to blacklist companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Airbnb for what he views as human rights positions. […] Now, more than 20 House members have signed onto legislation in the House to repeal the anti-boycott law, and leadership has scheduled a subject matter hearing on the issue for Thursday. * Sun-Times | Illinois advocacy groups say DOJ ‘quietly gutting’ legal aid services for low-income immigrants: For more than 60 years, the Department of Justice has operated the Recognition and Accreditation Program — a program that lets non-attorneys provide legal services and has made affordable representation available to families who cannot afford a private attorney. […] The group said there were no advance warnings to the more than 900 nonprofit organizations and 2,600 accredited representatives nationwide who participate in the program. Siegel said there is already a massive need for representation while there is also a lack of due process for immigrants who are applying for benefits while also fighting deportation. * Sun-Times | SNAP food assistance cutoffs begin Friday in Illinois: As of Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the state agency that administers the program, estimated that 120,000 individuals were at risk of losing their benefits starting Friday and rolling out over the next several months. That’s down about 280,000 from what the state originally anticipated would be pushed out of the program as people received exemptions from the work rules. * Cook County Record | Ex-Dem Rep. Stoneback can’t sue gun control group, current Rep. Olickal over NRA smears: However, in their ruling, the justices still likely dealt a mortal blow to Stoneback’s lawsuit, finding her claims to be “meritless.” Stoneback sued Olickal and Gun Violence Prevention PAC in 2023 in Cook County Circuit Court. The lawsuit accused the current state lawmaker and the activist group of partnering on a smear campaign against Stoneback, which was centered on allegedly lying to voters and the public about her positions on gun control amid the 2022 Democratic primary election in Illinois’ 16th State Representative District. * Daily Herald | NFL focuses on fate of Bears stadium as the legislative clock ticks: She added sources told her the “committee also acknowledged the Illinois legislature needs to continue to work to move the process forward.” Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have signaled they need to thoroughly vet the controversial megaproject bill, which includes property tax breaks for the Bears. * Tribune | Graduate student workers at UIC go on strike: ‘We want to be paid a living wage’: Most work 20 hours per week, for nine months of the year, on a $24,000 salary. But Ph.D. student Macy Miller said their workload often stretches well past those hours. Many graduate students teach their own classes. “Especially if you have to create your own course from the ground up, you’re responsible for all the materials, the syllabus, the grading,” said Miller, who also serves as the union’s treasurer and outreach chair. “That’s way more than 20 hours.” The union’s latest wage proposal is $38,000. That figure is still below the wage floor for graduate workers at other local universities — doctorate students at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago earn a base pay of about $45,000. * WGN | Former Chicago Board of Education VP running for board president: Sendhil Revuluri, the former Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education, is running for the top spot this year. Revuluri was appointed to the Board by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2019 and served for three years. He tells WGN-TV Political Editor Tahman Bradley the Board has become too political and should focus more on the needs of students. * Crain’s | Blue Cross Illinois parent posts nearly $2 billion loss for 2025: Health Care Service Corp., the Chicago-based parent of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, posted a $1.9 billion loss in 2025 despite record membership and revenue growth. Much of that red ink stems from underwriting losses of $3.5 billion, up nearly $3 billion from 2024 and from higher benefit expenses, up from nearly $57 billion in 2024 to $63.1 billion, according to its 2025 Annual Report. * Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker strengthens quantum computing partnership with IBM to benefit City Colleges students: Pritzker announced the new partnership at Olive Harvey College, one of the seven City Colleges whose current and future students stand to benefit from the apprenticeship program and the pipeline to permanent jobs it will create. Pritzker called it a quantum leap in his drive to ensure the economic opportunities created by the new campus will benefit everyone in the state. * Sun-Times | These CPS students care for horses and pigs at school. They’re adding shelter puppies to their resume: The students volunteered to care for the puppies to get them out of the shelter for a few days and raise awareness about the event, but also to get more experience working with animals. Both students are learning how to raise livestock and other animals as part of the school’s animal science program, and hope to go into animal care after they graduate. * Tribune | ‘I loved being a lawyer’: Longtime Chicago attorney Joseph Duffy retires after five decades: It’s an art that Duffy mastered over his decades as a trial lawyer, both as a federal prosecutor and later in white-collar defense. He once used bar receipts to show that an undercover agent had been lying about how many drinks he bought an allegedly corrupt yen trader during an investigation at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the 1980s. “He said maybe one or two. I pulled out this receipt that said it was 12 beers,” Duffy said. * Daily Southtown | La Grange establishes task force to explore issues with affordable housing: Village President Mark Kuchler said the new task force “would be created to review, specifically, to maintain and potentially increase affordable housing to stay in compliance with Illinois state mandates, and which will also, of course, help with a healthy community.” The state Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act of 2003 requires non-exempt local governments that have less than 10% affordable housing have an Affordable Housing Plan to address the issue, and submit it to the state for review. * Shaw Local | DeKalb OKs $3.5M water main project for south-side development, including incoming 560-acre data center: Economic development on DeKalb’s south side has grown significantly over the years with the addition of major industrial users, including Meta, Amazon and Ferrara Candy Company. Once it comes online, the transmission water main will also serve the new Edged data center. The city received six bids on the water main project, city documents show. The lowest bidder was Elliott and Wood, which submitted a $5 million project bid. The total project cost of $5.3 million includes a city contingency of $253,750, documents show. * Pioneer Press | Israel boycott question won’t appear on Oak Park Township ballots after packed meeting, passionate comments: The meeting had originally been slated for April 14 but was rescheduled after the expected crowds became too large for the Oak Park Public Library’s Dole Branch, which holds around 60 people. On Tuesday, the cafeteria’s seats all were filled and standing people lined the walls, though the cafeteria was said to hold more than 200 people, according to Evan Michel, Oak Park Township manager. Part of a larger initiative to place the question in several townships around the state, the measure had already passed in several Illinois townships including Champaign, Cunningham, Peoria, Kickapoo, Medina, DuPage and Normal. It failed in Capital and Wheatland townships, according to advocates. * Daily Herald | DuPage County OKs raises for board members, other elected officials: A dozen DuPage County Board members and several countywide officials will get salary increases after the fall election, including a 35% pay hike for the board chairman. The raises were approved Tuesday when the county board set the pay for the next four years for the sheriff, treasurer, county clerk, county board chairman and 12 county board members. All the positions are up for election in November. The new salaries will take effect on Dec. 1, when the county’s 2027 fiscal year begins. * WGLT | Judge denies attempt to kick temporary workers at ISU off the job as AFSCME strike continues: McLean County Judge Rebecca Foley on Wednesday denied AFSCME Local 1110’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have kicked temporary service employees off the job. Representing the union, attorney Stephen Yokich argued Wednesday in McLean County court that Illinois State is violating the Illinois Employment of Strikebreakers Act that prevents employers from contracting day laborers to ease the impact of a strike. * Illinois Times | Chief addresses use-of-force policy: The Springfield Police Department’s chief sees calls for changes in the department’s use-of-force policy as opportunities to educate the public on how officers make split-second decisions that may result in viral posts on social media and accusations of police brutality. […] When speaking with Illinois Times about the 15-page use-of-force policy and training program, Behl said police must weigh the “totality of the circumstances” when deciding whether to use everything from their mere presence and simple verbal direction all the way to a punch, a Taser strike or deadly force. * WICS | No new moratorium, but no data center either for Logan County: No data center is heading to Logan County… yet. While their moratorium was not extended, the county board says there’s still more to be done. The board kicked the moratorium back to their zoning board, while they wait for an ordinance to be passed regarding regulations for data centers. * WCIA | HOLY COW: Cow spotted roaming UI campus Wednesday afternoon: The cow that was roaming the University of Illinois’ campus on Wednesday has been safely recovered and is now being checked over by a veterinarian. Patrick Wade, the director of executive communications and issues management for the university, said the cow got loose around 3:30 p.m., while being unloaded from a trailer at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Large Animal Clinic. * Illinois Times | ABC loses State Fair contract: Since the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, one organization – the American Business Club of Springfield – has volunteered to serve beer and other concessions at the Illinois State Fair, with their share of money earned funding grants to dozens of local charities. For the first time since 1954, ABC will no longer occupy that role. Another group of local veterans, the Combined Veterans Association, lost their contract to operate a beer and beverage tent as well, after more than 50 years of service. Like ABC, the group is a volunteer organization, and the sales from the State Fair provide the sole operating income for many veterans’ organizations. * PJ Star | Smokey Bones shutters last Illinois location amid nationwide closures: Illinois is set to lose its last Smokey Bones, a once popular barbecue restaurant, as the chain shutters locations across the country. Known for its authentic fire-grilled and house-smoked meats, the chain closed various locations April 28, including a restaurant in Springfield. * AP | Union Pacific argues for its $85B acquisition of Norfolk Southern in new railroad merger application: The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected Union Pacific’s initial application because regulators wanted more details about how the deal would affect the competitive balance between the five remaining major freight railroads and the impact on customers. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said the new application makes an even stronger case for the benefits of the merger that he believes would shave a day or two off the delivery time for many shipments because they would no longer have to be handed off between two railroads in the middle of the country. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad projects that the merger could lead to shifting 2.1 million truckloads off the highway onto trains. * NYT | Oil Hits Wartime High Above $120 a Barrel as Standoff Shows No End in Sight: The average price of regular gasoline in the United States has followed oil higher, hitting $4.30 a gallon on Thursday, up 27 cents in a week, according to data from the AAA motor club. After the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, Jerome H. Powell, the central bank’s chair, said that policymakers needed to be “very cautious” about their next steps, given the significant uncertainty about the economic outlook. * IPM News | U.S. House still hasn’t voted on a farm bill: According to Jonathan Coppess, Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, there have been three major sticking points that have been especially contentious: year round sale of E15 fuel; a provision blocking some lawsuits from pesticide companies; and an effort to overturn a California law that sets minimum space requirements for farm animals. “Those three together have added very specific complications on top of what they did last summer and the SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] provisions,” he said.
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Good morning!
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* He was a flawed and even at times a bad, mean man. I will never make excuses for his personal behavior or some of the stuff he wrote. But the dude also composed some real bangers. And this song in particular has always meant a lot to me. His ironic menacing boasts predate some of the best hip-hop… Country deejays knows that I’m an outlaw The loud mouth in the corner’s gettin’ to me ‘Cause my long hair just can’t cover up my red neck This is an Illinois open thread. Have at it.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Apr 30, 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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