* ICYMI: Illinois investigating if landlord tipped off immigration raid at South Shore apartment building. Sun-Times…

- The Illinois Department of Human Rights announced late Wednesday that it filed a formal housing discrimination charge and opened an investigation into the owners and managers of the building.
- In a statement, the agency said it is looking into claims the landlords let federal agents know of Venezuelan immigrants living in the building as part of an attempt to “intimidate and coerce the building’s Black and Hispanic tenants into leaving the building.”
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported 37 people were arrested during the Sept. 30 raid. Witnesses said they saw kids separated from their mothers. Some U.S. citizens were detained for hours. One resident reportedly hid his neighbor and her 7-year-old daughter in his room.

* Related stories…

• The Illinois Department of Human Rights: Illinois Files Housing Discrimination Charge to Investigate Chicago Landlord’s Role in ICE Raid
• NYT: Illinois Investigates Claim That Landlord Tipped Off High-Profile ICE Raid
• Tribune: Illinois officials launch investigation into landlord’s role in South Shore raid

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | As new SNAP rules loom, Cook County officials warn of health consequences for people cut off: So far, about 100,000 people have filed for exemptions, which include people certified as physically or mentally unable to work or are in drug or alcohol treatment programs. But officials and community groups are trying to reach the thousands of others at risk of being pushed out of the program, Dulce Quintero, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, said Wednesday at Provident Hospital of Cook County Health on Chicago’s South Side.

* WaPo | Illinois faces federal defunding for state law requiring abortion referrals: The Trump administration is threatening to strip Illinois of federal health dollars over a state law requiring medical providers to refer patients for abortion services, even if the providers oppose abortion. The 2017 measure violates federal conscience protections, according to a notice to state officials sent Wednesday by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

*** Statehouse News ***

* Shaw Local | Bailey talks faith, family, future at Sterling campaign stop: “If we can get 60% turnout, we can win. There are more of us than there are of them,” Bailey said, referring to the need for Republicans to turn out and vote in the primary and in the Nov. 3 general election. “Illinois can be restored. All we have to do, bare minimum, is show up and vote,” he said.

* WAND | IL House Speaker, GOP Leader divided on solutions to lower cost of living: Welch said he wants to address homeowner insurance rates as escrow payments continue to rise. Senate Democrats passed legislation in October to tackle skyrocketing home insurance rates, but the bill failed to gain enough support in the House. Gov. JB Pritzker has repeatedly said he’s committed to getting the insurance regulation across the finish line. […] However, House GOP leaders said lawmakers can help Illinoisans by allowing people to benefit from President Donald Trump’s economic policies. McCombie believes Illinois needs to pass bills banning taxes on tips and overtime. She would also like to see the House lower the state’s corporate income tax and create a more competitive business climate.

* Tribune | Chicago city worker sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to threatening Illinois state lawmaker: As part of the plea deal, Haggerty was also given a 60-day “stayed jail” sentence, which means he’d have to go to jail if he doesn’t comply with the terms of his probation, Larson said. The deal also requires Haggerty to complete both a drug and alcohol evaluation and a mental health evaluation, and to follow through with any recommended treatment. Larson said Haggerty has served 15 days in jail and was released to a treatment facility, where he completed a course of treatment. He also issued a written letter of apology as part of this resolution, Larson said. Haggerty is also ordered to have no contact with Chesney, his family or his staff.

* ABC Chicago | Video shows immigration agents using facial recognition on minors, possibly violating Illinois law: State Representative Barbara Hernandez represents the 50th District, including Aurora, and said when she saw the video on social media, she immediately notified school officials. “It was very disturbing just to overall see that they were taking a picture of this young adult, a minor… without his consent,” Hernandez told the I-Team. The Aurora incident is just one example specifically noted in the state and city’s lawsuit filed against DHS, with attorneys contending federal agents are rampantly violating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), and its own federal mandates by using their facial recognition technology to, “scan biometric information of Illinois residents without consent, without individualized suspicion and to retain that information for fifteen years.”

* Evanston RoundTable | Chicago Teachers Union backing Biss and Ruttenberg in Democratic primaries: CTU’s House of Delegates approved the two endorsements at its meeting on Jan. 14, alongside at least 21 other Democrats running for other seats in and around Chicago in the March 17 primary, according to internal materials reviewed by the RoundTable. The union hasn’t publicly announced its primary endorsement slate at time of writing, and did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Ald. Hopkins waters down curfew ordinance, again, to appease Mayor Brandon Johnson: The newly revised ordinance would empower Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling to do what he did on New Year’s Eve — make a “dispersal declaration for the applicable public places anticipated to be affected” by a “disruptive youth gathering” whenever police have probable cause to believe there is potential for mayhem or violence. “The officer shall not issue a citation or make an arrest or take a minor into custody … unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred,” the proposed measure states.

* NBC Chicago | Snapchats to informant key to trial for man accused in murder plot against Bovino: Federal prosecutors have alleged Espinoza Martinez was a gang member who used Snapchat to put a $10,000 bounty on the life of Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official who has led aggressive and controversial campaigns nationwide, most recently in Minnesota. But defense attorneys said Espinoza Martinez, a carpenter with roughly $20 in his bank account, sent messages amounting to “neighborhood gossip” to his brother and a friend who turned out to be a government informant.

* Sun-Times | Ex-Gangster Disciples boss Larry Hoover’s freedom bid should be rejected, Cook County top prosecutor says: The board is scheduled to hold a hearing on Hoover’s request in April. The board gives a recommendation to Pritzker, who makes the ultimate decision on clemency requests. The board typically takes about two months to forward a recommendation to the governor. A January hearing for Hoover was canceled. One of 75-year-old Hoover’s high-profile supporters is Arne Duncan, former President Barack Obama’s secretary of education. Duncan now runs Chicago CRED, an anti-violence organization. In 2023, Duncan sent the Prisoner Review Board a letter supporting Hoover’s separate request for parole, which was denied. The board can grant or deny parole without the governor’s formal input.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* ABC Chicago | Public hearing on proposed data center in Lisle postponed due to large crowds: Different than Tuesday night in Naperville, there was no vote expected on whether to approve plans for a data center Wednesday night in Lisle. However, it’s clear there’s heightened conversation surrounding the types of facilities and whether dense suburban municipalities are the right home for them. “My main concern is all the diesel backup generators,” Lisle resident Vanessa Berry said. The concerns sound similar to those who voiced opposition to the data center in Naperville, which went before a vote Tuesday night. The Naperville City Council decisively choosing to deny Karis Critical’s request to build a 36 MW data center.

* Daily Southtown | Judge denies former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s attempt to dismiss order regarding his political blog: Moreland in August granted the village a temporary restraining order barring Pekau from publishing “future statements disclosing the village’s attorney-client privileged communications and confidential non-public information contained in village personnel files,” and ordering he remove any publications of such information. Judge Kate Moreland Dec. 12 dismissed the village’s requests to limit Pekau’s speech in relation to confidential documents the village claims Pekau brought with him after he lost his bid for reelection to Mayor Jim Dodge and left office in May. She also struck the village’s request for injunctive relief.

* WGN | Suburban police officer convicted of corruption during traffic stops: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois said Antoine Larry, a former patrol officer for the Phoenix, Illinois Police Department, conspired with another police officer to solicit cash and drugs from occupants of vehicles during traffic stops in exchange for reducing, dropping or declining to press charges, or allowing the vehicles to avoid impoundment.

* ABC Chicago | Hoffman Estates Catholic school in danger of closing, parents say: A few years ago, enrollment was over 200 students, but the parents say the school stopped offering tuition discounts to needy families forcing about a third of them to leave. School parent Lea De Los Santos has two daughters here. “My family has been at this school 11 years, since my children started in pre-K,” De Los Santos said. “This is another home for us.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora looking to create hub for clean energy job training: Aurora’s CEJA Workforce Development Hub, set to be located in a currently unused city facility at 649 S. River St., will bring together the existing workforce development programs of the College of DuPage and the 548 Foundation. Both organizations are funded by the state to run clean energy-related job training programs, but those programs do not yet have a permanent location in Aurora. “We’re excited to say we found an important alliance in the city of Aurora,” said the College of DuPage’s director of the Aurora CEJA Aurora Workforce Hub, Callie Matheny, at a launch event on Tuesday. “This is city government at work. They have been an extreme, fast-moving partner.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Pritzker visits Rantoul, highlights Champaign Co. film success: Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and other local leaders met at Flyover Film Studios, discussing the growth of the film industry in Central Illinois. In 2025, film productions generated $12.3 million in statewide business sales. That money was driven by millions in spending at hotels, catering, transportation providers, rental housing, equipment vendors, and post-production services. And, it resulted in nearly $8 million added to Illinois’ gross domestic product and $1.61 million in paychecks for Illinois households.

* WGLT | Midwest Food Bank unveils refrigerated truck funded through an Impact Central Illinois grant: Impact Central Illinois awarded the food bank a $118,000 grant to fund the truck. “This truck is more than just a new set of wheels,” said Christa Staley, executive director of Midwest Food Bank. “It’s a strategic investment in feeding people and preventing good food from going to waste.” With a built-in refrigeration system, the truck will allow the food bank to transport fresh, perishable items that might otherwise be discarded.

* WAND | Springfield parks to get major upgrades with state grant funding: Springfield Park District received a $600,000 OSLAD grant to revitalize Dreamland Park. Usually, ODLAD grants split the cost of recreational development projects between the state and local government. […] Aside from the park district, the city of Springfield received $600,000 to upgrade Lake Springfield Center Park as well. Additionally, the Village of Grandview received $600,000 to build an outdoor sports complex and other developments. Dreamland Park has a rich history in the city, and this grant funding allows the community to make memories for future generations.

* WCIA | Champaign School District psychologist recognized as ‘most outstanding’ in the state: “Kevin consistently goes above and beyond for students and colleagues,” Nock said. “His dedication, leadership, and ability to bring people together around student success truly set him apart.” Farrell is also involved with the district’s Crisis Team, which supports students from early childhood through the Young Adult Program.

* Smile Politely | Be a pen pal with a University of Illinois student: The University of Illinois Library and International Education are partnering up to bring a new Pen Pal Program initiative to the community. The program will match university students with members of the Champaign-Urbana community for some good, old-fashioned handwritten communication. The hopes are to help combat loneliness, integrate students into the C-U community, and facilitate intergenerational and intercultural friendships. It is free to be a pen pal and materials–like recycled and donated stationery–will be provided to participants.

*** National ***
* AP | Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, memo says: For years, immigrant advocates, legal aid groups and local governments have urged people not to open their doors to immigration agents unless they are shown a warrant signed by a judge. That guidance is rooted in Supreme Court rulings that generally prohibit law enforcement from entering a home without judicial approval. The ICE directive directly undercuts that advice at a time when arrests are accelerating under the administration’s immigration crackdown.

* ProPublica | ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record: Today, family separations are back, only now they are happening all across the country. The lawsuit against the zero tolerance policy resulted in a 2023 settlement that limits separations at the border, but it does not address those that occur inside the country after encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Advocates fear the administration is conducting the new separations for the same reasons as before: to deter new immigrants from coming and to terrify those who are here into leaving. Since the start of this year, some 600 immigrant children have been placed in government shelters by ICE, according to government data. That figure, which has not been previously reported, is already higher than the tally for the previous four years combined. And it is the highest number since recordkeeping began a decade ago.

* WaPo | They ransacked the US Capitol and want the government to pay them back: The pro-Trump mob that ransacked the Capitol caused almost $3 million in damage, according to a 2022 estimate by the Justice Department. The losses included smashed doors and windows, defaced artwork, damaged furniture, and residue from gas agents and fire extinguishers. Defendants were sentenced to more than $1.2 million in restitution and fines, according to a tally by The Post. But the government recovered less than $665,000 of those court-ordered payments, according to a source with firsthand knowledge who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) are pushing legislation — backed by some law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 — to block government payouts to rioters. Without any Republican co-sponsors, the legislation is not expected to proceed.

* Politico | 9 Democrats vote to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress for evading Epstein testimony: Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Emily Randall of Washington, Lateefah Simon of California, Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, alongside Reps. Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, joined Republicans in voting in favor of holding Bill Clinton in contempt. Two Democrats — Yassamin Ansari of Arizona and Dave Min of California — voted “present.”