* ICYMI: Prisoner Review Board reform, changes to police hiring clear General Assembly. Capitol News Illinois…

- The House voted 74-37 to approve Senate Bill 19, which contains a series of reforms designed to include victims’ participation in Prisoner Review Board decisions.

- The bill would give victims the right to file victim impact statements ahead of hearings, provide them with additional notice when their offender is granted early release, and allow them to seek an order of protection against an offender who is incarcerated.

- It would also create the Office of the Director of Victim and Witness Services, which would ensure the board complies with victims’ rights, and mandates the board provide victims with contact information for the State Victim Assistance Hotline.

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Sponsored by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association

The Truth About 340B: Protecting Patient Access to Discounted Rx Drugs

Pharmaceutical manufacturers, many based overseas, are undermining the 340B drug discount program requiring drugmakers to discount certain drugs for hospitals caring for the state’s most vulnerable residents. Since 2020, Big Pharma has been restricting where patients can get lifesaving medications, reducing cost savings for providers that would otherwise be invested in healthcare services or passed down to patients in the form of discounted drugs.

The Patient Access to 340B Pharmacy Protection Act aims to protect 340B and its positive impact on individual lives. In response, Big Pharma has been promoting false narratives that prioritize shareholders instead of patients.

Here’s the truth about 340B:

• SB 2385/HB 3350 simply preserve the status quo by allowing hospitals to contract with pharmacies where patients live. It does not expand or attempt to reform the 340B program.
• Big Pharma supported Congressional expansion of 340B in 2010, making over half of Illinois hospitals 340B-eligible.
• Laws like SB 2385/HB 3350 have passed in 14 states—and been upheld in court.
• SB 2385/HB 3350 do NOT require a state appropriation.
• 340B providers must meet rigorous requirements and undergo regular audits.

In Illinois, 70% of 340B hospitals are Safety Net or Critical Access Hospitals caring for the most vulnerable communities. Because of drugmaker restrictions, hospitals operating on thin margins face cutting services unless action is taken by the General Assembly.

With Medicaid cuts looming, we must protect patient access to comprehensive healthcare services and discounted drugs. Learn more about 340B. VOTE YES on SB 2385/HB 3350!

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* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Investigate Midwest | Lawmakers tried to reform Illinois’ food system. Here’s why it failed: State Rep. Sonya Harper, a Chicago Democrat and chair of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, said state officials had ample time to address issues with her and should not have waited until the eleventh hour to raise objections. “This bill has been out there,” said Harper, who was a sponsor of the House bill. “If you had an issue with it, you guys know how it goes. Send me some language that would make it better. Let’s have that conversation before the day that I come to committee.”

* CBS Chicago | Windblown dirt from Illinois farm fields caused Illinois dust storm, expert explains: The dust that hit Chicago was windblown from farm fields in Central Illinois. Video shot by University of Illinois Extension farm management educator Kevin Brooks along Interstate 74 showed motorists cautiously pulling over before driving into near-blackout conditions. “Yes, it was dry. Yes, it was windy,” Brooks said. “But those winds weren’t that unusual.” Brooks has been cautioning the farming community about some of the factors that contribute to such powerful dust storms. “What’s changed in the last 10 years is the speed of farming,” he said.

* Sun-Times | Tornado warning causes Illinois state lawmakers to take shelter: Despite the underground tunnels being packed, representatives and senators remained unbothered by the constantly whining alarm. “It’s part of the business, just got to accept it and move on,” state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, said. “Makes it an exciting day.”

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Sens. Durbin and Duckworth question Prime Healthcare after changes to Illinois hospitals: The senators sent a letter to Prime Healthcare founder, chairman and CEO Dr. Prem Reddy on Tuesday expressing concern about the changes and asking him to answer questions about the health system’s plans. “Prime Healthcare has only operated these eight Illinois hospitals for two months, and there are already profound concerns about patients losing access to care,” the Senate Democrats wrote in their letter.

* Tribune | Illinois State Police website maintenance puts ammo sales on hold: The state police said the website will remain inactive until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Ammunition will not be able to be sold until the site is back up, state police spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said. The state police began alerting users May 7 that the system would be down for the 24-hour period, she said. Retailers depend on the website portal to determine whether a customer’s firearm owner’s Identification card is valid, making it legal to sell a gun to that person.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | ‘The worst emergency I’ve seen’: Crespo reflects on ouster by House speaker over budget plan: In 2024, Crespo said he was “very vocal about the budget,” because of concerns about unpaid bills and a projected $730 million public transit shortfall in 2026. He proposed budget reductions such as a salary freeze, but the plan “never got any traction.” “Fast forward and things are worse than last year,” Crespo said, citing Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projections for 2026 that revenues will be $536 million less than projected.

* WCIA | Senior service providers lobby in IL Capitol for federal funding: llinois senior service providers are calling on Congress to keep funding the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act was put in place in 1965 to provide social services to help seniors stay in their homes and out of nursing homes as long as possible. Some programs the law includes are meal delivery, social opportunities and legal services, but the current federal budget proposal puts $53 million of funding in jeopardy.

*** Chicago ***

* Bloomberg | Chicago’s O’Hare Airport Seeks Up to $4.3 Billion of Muni Debt: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will seek approval from aldermen to sell as much as $4.3 billion of debt for O’Hare International Airport, according to a filing posted on the city clerk’s website. If authorized, proceeds of the bonds will fund infrastructure projects at the facility, as well as refinance outstanding obligations, the ordinance that the mayor is scheduled to propose Wednesday said. O’Hare is in the midst of a massive modernization plan that seeks to transform the aging hub into a global showcase. It includes a new terminal and the expansion of existing spaces. Last year, United Airlines Holdings Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. have reached an agreement to press ahead with the development plans.

* NBC Chicago | Former CPS investigator says grooming allegations should have been prioritized: A former investigator who worked for more than 18 months looking into allegations of teacher misconduct inside Little Village Lawndale High School says she’s concerned about how long it’s taken Chicago Public Schools’ inspector general to investigate. Stephanie Brown, who worked in Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Inspector General’s Sexual Allegations Unit, told NBC 5 Investigates in a recent interview that her investigation into the matter was nearly completed when she was fired in August of 2023.

* Tribune | Ethics board cites 7 aldermen for being late filing their annual financial interest forms: Ald. Lamont Robinson, 4th, faces a $250 fine for not turning in the annual form, which is required of most city officials and employees, according to the ethics board. The other City Council members who were called out — but not fined — for blowing past the May 1 deadline were Aldermen Stephanie Coleman, Derrick Curtis, Jim Gardiner, William Hall, Julia Ramirez and Monique Scott. Robinson was fined because the board said he still hadn’t turned in the paperwork, while the others have turned it in but didn’t do so by the May 1 deadline.

* Tribune | AmeriCorps cuts leave Chicago programs serving kids facing diminished summer: AmeriCorps members are typically college students or recent graduates who are paired with service programs across the country and receive a stipend and an educational award for loans or tuition. It’s one of the many federal agencies to suffer massive funding cuts and program terminations as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to reduce government spending. The Trump administration in April eliminated state-administered grants for 28 AmeriCorps programs in Illinois, affecting more than 630 members statewide, according to a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, 23 other states and the District of Columbia.

* Sun-Times | Syndicated content in Sun-Times special section included AI-generated misinformation: Buscaglia said he and others were trying to determine the full extent of the errors that made it into the special section. But he acknowledged using AI for other stories in addition to the list of books and could not guarantee he fact-checked those articles completely either, saying, “At this point, I’d expect anything.”

* ABC Chicago | Chicago man charged after CPD officer dragged during traffic stop in West Garfield Park: Police said Harris was the driver who hit a Chicago police officer, dragging him down the street. Police said that when the officer fell, his weapon discharged. COPA confirmed it was investigating an officer-involved shooting at the location.

* Tribune | Chicago Housing Authority hires former EPA staffer to lead new environmental safety division: Elizabeth Poole will lead the new division as the director of healthy homes after a nearly 15-year career at the EPA. Poole said she left her role as the children’s health coordinator in the EPA’s environmental justice office due to the change in administration. Billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and President Donald Trump have unleashed severe federal workforce cuts and rollbacks of environmental protections, including at the EPA.

* ABC Chicago | Chicago restaurants feeling impact of struggling US economy: ‘Everything has gone up’: “It has changed dramatically, doubled in price. So, before, we were getting a certain coffee bean, like $3 a pound, and now, we are getting it close to $8 or $9 a pound,” said Back of the Yards Coffee Head of Culinary Operations Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez says they try to balance their growing costs and pay a living wage to employees.

* CBS Chicago | Chicago Sky focus on sticking together as WNBA probes alleged taunts at Angel Reese: “Obviously, there is no place in this league for that. I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me. I’ve had communication from everyone — from so many people across this league — and being able to support me, and going through this whole process,” Reese said. “Obviously, it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone — and I think they’ve done a great job supporting us in this.”

* CBS Chicago | Remembering George Wendt, who grew up in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood and trained at The Second City: The Second City notes that Wendt famously dropped out of the University of Notre Dame with a 0.00 GPA after moving to an off-campus apartment and not having a car to get to campus in the depths of winter. He did later earn a B.A. from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, according to published reports. […] After taking on a few film roles, he won that famous role on “Cheers” in 1982 — always occupying his spot at the end of the bar with a mug of beer in hand, talking about his life with Sam, Coach, and Woody, and of course, his best friend Cliff Clavin. He appeared in every episode of “Cheers” over 11 years.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | ‘It’s about fairness and justice’: New era in Wheeling Township starts with swearing in of Democratic slate: The ceremony attracted Democratic dignitaries, including state Sen. Mark Walker, state Rep. Nicolle Grasse, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is campaigning for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s seat. “I’m proud of the Democratic Party for flipping the township,” Biss said, calling it a sign of the area’s commitment to Democratic values.

* ABC | Woman speaks out after alleged homophobic attack at McDonald’s in Illinois: The female victim, 19-year-old Kady Grass, told ABC News she and her 13-year-old cousin were grabbing food at the McDonald’s when Grass decided to use the bathroom. Both the restroom stalls were full, so she walked out right away, when one boy out of a group of three began calling her a derogatory name, she told ABC News. She said she “mumbled” under hre breath but walked away and told her cousin to “not give them another reason to talk to us.” One of the boys, the juvenile who was later charged, approached Grass again, saying they “wanted to fight” her and they should “take it outside,” she said. Grass said she then proceeded to go outside of the McDonald’s, but “no one came out.”

* Daily Herald | Well water customers in Lake County near Buffalo Grove getting Lake Michigan water: Under a 20-year agreement, Buffalo Grove will sell the water, sourced through the Northwest Water Commission, to Lake County. Village Manager Dane Bragg said after receiving the money from Lake County, the village will pay the commission before netting an estimated annual $400,000 from the sale, to be applied to capital improvements.

* Daily Herald | Federal judge halts Glen Ellyn’s ban on short-term house rentals: Last month, Glen Ellyn trustees passed an ordinance prohibiting the operation and advertisement of short-term rental properties. In response, the owners of a five-bedroom home that has hosted guests through internet-based short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to declare the village’s ban void and unenforceable. “We’re not some huge real estate investment company,” said Melissa Footlick, who with her husband are the sole members of Blakelick Properties, a limited liability company that owns the home. “The revenue and income that we generate from this property goes to pay for our daughter’s preschool and take care of our family.”

* Daily Herald | ‘Like a jigsaw puzzle’: Researching history and working in local cemeteries a passion for retiree: Depending on the weather, retiree Vern Paddock often can be found weekday mornings at Volo Cemetery scrub brush in hand, patiently removing layers of dirt, lichen and the grime of time to reveal a clearer picture of history. Water, a nontoxic cleaning solution, elbow grease and patience are all he needs to refresh a headstone or monument that may have been in place well over a century. “You couldn’t read it initially,” he says of one of the many headstones he has cleaned in this out-of-the-way cemetery where there have been only three burials in the last 78 years, the most recent in 1974.

* Sun-Times | Village of Dolton plans to take ownership of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home: Despite the current owner’s plans to sell the home to the highest bidder in an auction next month, the village “intends to purchase the home either through direct purchase or through eminent domain powers,” village attorney Burton Odelson wrote in a letter Tuesday. The pope’s parents purchased the home, at 212 E. 141st Place, new in 1949, paying a $42 monthly mortgage. The current owners purchased the home intending to flip it and sell it. They renovated the home last year and on May 5, put it on the market, listing it for $219,000.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | ‘All hands on deck’: Petersburg arboretum faces loss of historic trees: A once towering Northern Catalpa tree that stood along a rural highway in Menard County snapped at its base and fell when a tornado tore through the area on May 16. The tree, part of the Starhill Forest Arboretum in Petersburg, was certified in 2006 as the Illinois State Champion of its species. Others have since surpassed it, but the 80-foot tall tree had remained a magnet for photo-hungry onlookers.

* WCIA | Decatur high school’s request to block health clinic’s move dismissed: Four months after St. Teresa High School filed an injunction to block Heritage Behavioral Health Center from relocating next to the school, a Macon County judge has ruled in favor of the health center. Monday’s ruling means that St. Teresa’s injunction was dismissed. St. Teresa, located at 2700 N Water Street in Decatur, aimed to block Heritage from moving in next door to their recently acquired former North Gate mall space, located at 2800 N Water Street.

* WICS | Fairview Heights officer shooting suspect charged with attempted murder: The incident unfolded at 9:44 p.m. when Fairview Heights Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious person near a residence. Upon arrival, officers encountered Thompson, who allegedly opened fire, injuring three officers. Thompson was apprehended without injury, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

* WSIL | Amtrak now fully operational at Southern Illinois Multimodal Station in Carbondale: Passengers can now enjoy various amenities, including a convenient drop-off and pick-up area, a spacious modern waiting room, and a pet-friendly outdoor area accessible from the platform. SIMMS Phase 1 will soon include space for Man-Tra-Con Corporation to offer no-cost employment services and a co-working space managed by Carbondale Main Street for local professionals, freelancers, and remote workers.

*** National ***

* The Hill | Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX brand reputations tumble in new rankings: In 2021, SpaceX was ranked no. 5 and Tesla was ranked no. 8, with scores of 81.1 and 80.2, respectively. By 2025, SpaceX is ranked at no. 86 and Tesla is ranked at no. 95, with scores of 66.4 and 61.3, respectively.

* WaPo | Earth may already be too hot for the survival of polar ice sheets, study says: But a group of scientists has demonstrated that if the world stays on course to warm up to 1.5 degrees — or even stays at its current level of 1.2 degrees above preindustrial levels — polar ice sheets will probably continue to quickly melt, causing seas to rise and displacing coastal communities, according to a study published Tuesday in Communications Earth and Environment.