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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WBEZ…
* Subscribers know much more. Capitol News Illinois | Illinois ‘not going back’ on SAFE-T Act, Black Caucus leaders say: In a lengthy statement released Monday, the 22-member caucus said in part that they’re “not going back to a system where penalty enhancements, jailing more people, ignoring root causes and underinvesting in our communities were treated as public safety policy.” “That system was not just. It was not smart. And it did not make us safer,” they wrote. “We will not support legislation that carries the remnants of the system we left behind, because those approaches are adversarial to this work, adversarial to fairness, and adversarial to real public safety.” * WGN | Celebrating 10 years cancer free, Illinois attorney general makes case for prostate cancer screening: “I lost my father to prostate cancer,” he said. “I lost both of my grandfathers as well, so I knew from the warnings of my grandfather and my father that it was incumbent upon me to start screening earlier than they even advised.” According to a 2025 report from the American Cancer Society, Black men are almost 70% more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer, and they are twice as likely to die from the disease. * WCIA | ‘It’s important we recognize people’s right to have a safe place to sleep at night’: Illinois bill could change homelessness enforcement: House Bill 1429 was amended last week, narrowing its focus to what Illinois communities can and can’t do when a person experiencing homelessness is staying on public property. The bill — or the Local Regulation of Unsheltered Homelessness Act — said local governments wouldn’t be able to establish or enforce a rule fining or criminally punishing homeless people for participating in “life sustaining activities.” Those activities are defined in the new amendment as things like sleep, rest, protection from the elements and storage of personal property. * Wall Street Journal | Humans Are Stepping Up Their Fight Against Flying Fish: The state’s Department of Natural Resources has undertaken a marketing push to rebrand the fish as Copi, short for copious, to distinguish them from the bottom-feeding common carp and make them sound more appetizing. Fishermen and chefs report that Asian carp are actually delicious, though they are so bony they don’t make good filets. Chefs often grind them up and turn them into fish cakes. Illinois officials have handed out samples of Copi cakes at the state fair, and set up a website, Choose Copi, to encourage restaurants, fishmongers and consumers to embrace the fish. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson tapping transportation veteran to take over department: Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to put city government veteran William Cheaks on the frontline of the struggle to move drivers, public transit riders and cyclists through Chicago’s streets as the new head of the city’s Department of Transportation. Cheaks plans to focus on spending equity across neighborhoods and ramping up communication with the public as projects such as bridge renovations move forward, he told the Tribune. * Sun-Times | Johnson picks new deputy mayor of community safety, transportation commissioner, and seven more new hires: Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a big round of new hires Wednesday morning, including a replacement for Garien Gatewood, who was fired last month from his post as deputy mayor for community safety. […] Emmanuel Andre is the new deputy mayor for community safety. A news release from the mayor’s office calls him a “leader in Chicago’s restorative justice movement.” * Crain’s | Johnson’s standoff with the Chicago Housing Authority, explained: The fight has been building for almost a year, with Johnson having repeatedly urged the board to approve former Ald. Walter Burnett for the post. Burnett, who served on the Chicago City Council for three decades, resigned last summer in anticipation of taking on the job of leading the CHA, and is a political ally of Johnson. But in March, Burnett was unceremoniously shoved aside when the board surprisingly voted to hire former Washington, D.C., housing chief Keith Pettigrew, after CHA board members grew frustrated over not having a full-time CEO since the departure of the last permanent chief executive in October 2024. * Crain’s | Barings loan for Loop office tower breaks big lender drought: While loan terms like interest rate and upfront commitments are unclear, the financing stands out as a major financial player backing a large office purchase in Chicago at a time when most deep-pocketed investment firms aren’t touching the market. Remote work’s assault on demand, hard-to-predict property taxes and banks still reeling from loans backed by office buildings with decimated values have scared away many institutional lenders from big Chicago office bets. * Sun-Times | White Sox option Opening Day starter Shane Smith to Triple-A Charlotte: That “sense of urgency” described by manager Will Venable on Tuesday in addressing Shane Smith’s early ineffectiveness was set into action Wednesday morning, when the White Sox announced they had optioned the 2025 All-Star pitcher to Triple-A Charlotte. * Block Club | Cesar Chavez Post Office To Get New Name After Sex Abuse Allegations: Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s office has started the process to rename Pilsen’s Post Office. The post office at 1859 S. Ashland Ave. is currently named for Cesar Chavez, a famed farmworkers’ rights activist. But The New York Times published an expose last month revealing Chavez has been credibly accused of raping and sexually abusing women and girls, leading to local calls to rename the post office. * Daily Herald | ‘Older people are moving out’: Buffalo Grove planning discussion raises concerns about senior housing: Trustee Lester Ottenheimer said there should be more attention to senior housing, which he called woefully deficient in the community. “It explains why a lot of older people are moving out of the community,” he said. Trustee David Weidenfeld said seniors or empty nesters who want to downsize are often forced to buy aging ranch houses, gut them and pour large sums into renovations. * Crain’s | Over 200 for-sale homes coming to Highland Park’s long-empty Solo Cup factory site: The firms also announced that the 227 townhomes will be for-sale housing. As recently as February, Habitat had not yet publicly committed on going with for-sale or for-rent housing on the site. No prices for the townhouses were announced. “After the city approved our plan,” Matt Fiascone, president of Habitat, said in the press release, “we took into account current market conditions and the multiple conversations we had with Highland Park residents and council members, all of which guided us to determining a vibrant for-sale development . . . would provide the best long-term benefit.” * WGN | Chris Gonzalez, south suburban trustee who blew the whistle on spending, dies: Chris Gonzalez was often the sole voice of dissent, questioning the spending and management of former Thornton Township supervisor Tiffany Henyard. Trustee Gonzalez died of a heart attack, friends and the township confirm to WGN. “He approached his role with integrity, compassion and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others,” current township supervisor Napoleon Harris said in a statement. “His passion for the community, his steady leadership and his willingness to always put people first earned him the respect of everyone who had the honor of working with him.” * PJ Star | Why Peoria hired a new, more expensive law firm in fight for casino: Despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees paid to the firm, Peoria was left with neither a settlement agreement or successful lawsuit after the Peoria City Council moved to reject a settlement, leading Boyd Gaming to switch plans for a casino on a barge, making a lawsuit null and void as wel. According to invoices billed to the city by Taft, Stettinus and Hollister, which were obtained by the Journal Star via the Freedom of Information Act, Peoria paid $395,475.97 to the law firm for services rendered between December 2025 and February 2026. * WTVO | Freeport School Board votes to eliminate dozens of staffing positions: The Freeport School District 145 school board voted to cut dozens of positions, including 32 certified staffing positions and more than 20 classified staff positions. “We’re incredibly sad. We’re incredibly angry. We’re incredibly anxious. This will impact our day-to-day function as we move into the 2027 school year,” shared Freeport Education Association president Kelly Everding, who spoke before the vote. * WCIA | Decatur City Council passes 3-year revitalization plan: On Monday, the council unanimously approved a new community revitalization plan spanning the next three years. It gives a framework for how the city will attack home rehabilitation, property demolition and more. […] “Every year, we say that neighborhood revitalization is a top priority for the City Council,” Horn said. “What this plan does is it provides specific objectives of how we’re going to improve the city economically and our neighborhoods.” Horn added that Decatur is planning to spend more than $3 million on fixing roads across the city. * WCIA | Champaign Mayor meets the Pope in Rome on diplomacy mission: In a press release Wednesday, the City of Champaign said Mayor Deborah Feinen joined other Illinois leaders in the Illinois Mayors Public Diplomacy Mission, Papal Visit and Cultural Exchange which was held in Rome. This mission was coordinated by the Illinois Municipal League (IML) and brought together a small group of mayors and community leaders for a program focused on international engagement, cultural exchange and diplomacy. * AP | Route 66 at 100: America’s Main Street then and now: Route 66 is littered with abandoned buildings and faded signs, but one example of the highway’s resilient spirit stands tall in Sapulpa, near Tulsa. The restored Tee Pee Drive-In Theater offers a step back into the 1950s, when the booming car culture helped spawn thousands of drive-in theaters nationwide. Built in 1949, the drive-in officially opened in the spring of 1950 with a screening of John Wayne’s “Tycoon.” It was one of the few drive-ins at the time to have paved pathways. Over the years, it survived a tornado, a fire that destroyed the concession stand and break-ins before being shuttered for more than 20 years. It reopened in 2023.
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Sprinkle & Spoon in Galesburg serves up delicious, allergy-friendly frozen treats that never compromise on flavor. Co-owner Lora Barajas, one of the estimated 16.5 million Americans with a milk allergy, opened the shop with her siblings in 2021. Made from scratch and free of dairy, nuts, gluten, and eggs, every scoop delivers rich flavor. Whether you have allergies or simply love a great dessert, Sprinkle & Spoon is the perfect place to indulge. Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Lora in Galesburg are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Protected: FOR SUBSCRIBERS - This just in…
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Built For Illinois. Built With Transparency.
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Public safety technology only works when communities trust it. That’s why Flock Safety built privacy and transparency into every layer of our system from the beginning of the design cycle — not as an afterthought. In Illinois, that means:
• Only local law enforcement decides who can access data. Flock never shares without explicit permission. • Compliant with Illinois law. Sharing data with out of state agencies is regulated. • Automatic deletion. All LPR data is permanently deleted in accordance with an agency’s retention schedule. • No backdoors. Private customers cannot access law enforcement data. • No facial recognition. • Flock Safety is trusted by hundreds of Illinois law enforcement agencies — from Crystal Lake to Champaign — because we believe safety and privacy have to coexist. Not someday. Now. See how we’re building trust in Illinois.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From that Illinois Economic Policy Institute report… The bill is here. It hasn’t moved since last December, when it was assigned to the House Rules Committee. * The Question: Do you think all these fixes are needed? Explain.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - News update
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Daily Herald…
* Tribune…
* Press release…
* House Republicans…
The bills mentioned above have not made it out of committee. * WAND…
* WAND…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Mentally ill man restrained in chair for 3 days settles case in Williamson County. Illinois Answers…
- Braden also has an ongoing case in Franklin County, where jail staff restrained him in a chair for 68 hours in 2022. A state disability rights watchdog group concluded that the jail violated state standards and county policies in improperly restraining Braden, as well as another mentally ill man who was restrained for 27 hours. That case entered a settlement conference in March, after the judge denied defendants’ motion for summary judgement. - Illinois county jails restrain people in chairs more than a thousand times a year, even though groups such as the United Nations Committee Against Torture and Amnesty International have urged U.S. officials to ban their use as a method of restraining people in custody. 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. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * NPR Illinois | Sangamon County Board approves a controversial data center project: A $500 million data center in Sangamon County won approval from the Sangamon County Board Tuesday night before a large crowd at the Bank of Springfield Center. Opponents shouted their disapproval with the final vote. Board members narrowly passed a zoning change 17 to 10 with one abstaining. The variance is needed to build the center, which was proposed last year. In March, the board chose to table the issue. But Tuesday night, members moved forward, despite another packed meeting room at the Bank of Springfield Center. There were outbursts from several upset with the proposal and some were escorted out by law enforcement that was on the scene. * WWTTW | Sanjay Tailor Is First Asian American Judge on Illinois Supreme Court, Solidifies First Majority-Minority Court: “This is a court that is unlike any other court,” Tailor said. “There are four women, so it’s a majority-female court, and for the first time in its history, since 1818, it is the first majority-minority court. We have four minorities of the seven justices. It is a milestone. It is a representation of the people of Illinois.” Tailor became a judge in 2003, serving as an associate judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County until 2021. In 2022, Tailor was assigned to the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court. Tailor said he is as prepared as he can be for the job. * WAND | IDOC rolls out tablet-based learning portal for people in prison: The department has announced the launch of “Journey to Success,” a new educational content portal on tablets statewide. IDOC said the portal has thousands of free resources and courses that can be used during free time. That will include content like workforce development, mental health services and more. * WSIL | Illinois taxpayers urged to file early amid mailing changes: The Illinois Department of Revenue is urging taxpayers to file their 2025 state individual income tax returns soon to avoid last-minute delays ahead of the April 15 deadline. Officials are particularly warning against waiting to file by mail due to recent changes in postal service procedures. “Filing electronically is still the fastest and most reliable way to get your return processed,” IDOR Director David Harris said. “If you are expecting a refund, choosing direct deposit will help you receive it as quickly as possible. My Tax Illinois makes the process simple, guiding you step by step while helping to reduce errors.” * Center Square | Illinois gun owners plan rally in wake of Supreme Court order: The Illinois State Rifle Association says gun owners have run out of options in a case challenging the state’s prohibition of carrying concealed firearms on mass transit. The case Schoenthal v. Raoul dealt with whether the state’s ban of carrying firearms on mass transit, even for those with concealed carry permits, is constitutional. A district judge said the measure is unconstitutional. An appeals court differed. The U.S. Supreme Court Monday turned down a petition to hear the case. * Heh…  * Fox Chicago | Ex-Chicago official’s emails accuse mayor’s staff of ‘lies’ and ‘hostile work environment’: “Pacione Zayas went so far to threaten to have Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) take a deep dive into my background and come up with unfavorable material, just like it had done so for one of the two aforementioned commissioners,” Andrade said. In a short emailed response, Chief Equity Officer Kupe responded to the allegations, saying Andrade’s letter contained “misstatements and inaccuracies” and that any assertions of threats or quid pro quos are false. * Crain’s | Proposed $55M tax break for United Center’s 1901 Project hits a speed bump: Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the Class 7(b) incentive in March, but the tax break is not on the agenda for this month’s meeting of the Committee on Economic and Capital Development chaired by Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, who says it should be taken up in May. With the mayor and local alderman in support, the incentive is likely to be approved, but the delay could entangle it in the ongoing tension between Johnson and a City Council still at odds with him after passing the budget over his objection. * Politico | The mayoral cash race: They’re all chasing incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson, who hasn’t made his reelection bid official but ended 2025 with more than $900,000 in the bank. His team is projecting confidence. Political director Christian Perry points to internal polling showing improving approval numbers, particularly among Black Chicagoans, and argues the campaign will have what it needs financially. * ABC Chicago | Mayor supports activists’ plans to sue Chicago Housing Authority over process used to select new CEO: Johnson says he never personally met Pettigrew. But the CHA says members of Johnson’s administration did interview Pettigrew and another unnamed finalist for the job. The mayor contends that there needs to be more transparency in the hiring process. “It’s my responsibility to find a pathway forward to course correct. The best way in which we can maintain the trust of the people of this city is to make sure that all of our government entities have an open and transparent process that did not occur in this instance,” Johnson said. * Block Club | Federal Probe Snared Jail Official Over Claims Of Illegal Gambling, Bribery Attempt And More: Records show that upon reexamining the incident as part of the possible ghost-payrolling investigation, investigators with the CCSO’s Office of Professional Review (OPR) found that Chiko had violated ten of the Sheriff’s rules for employees, including prohibitions against knowingly visiting “a house of prostitution, illegal gambling house, or establishment where illegal activities occur, except in performance of duty” and participating “in any form of illegal gambling.” * Sun-Times | Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has wife, ex-NY mob prosecutor push parole board to free him: Hoover’s supporters told the Illinois Prisoner Review Board that the former kingpin is a changed man. But a Cook County prosecutor said he should stay in state prison. Gov. Pritzker will now get a recommendation from the board about what to do with Hoover, who previously had his federal prison sentence commuted by President Trump. * ABC Chicago | Board member allegedly embezzled more than $1M from Chicago MICHELIN-starred restaurant company: The owners of Ever and its sister cocktail bar After sued Aaron Gersonde. They accuse him of spending more than $1.4 million on lavish shopping sprees, trips and entertainment. The lawsuit says Gersonde has access to the company’s bank accounts and a credit card since he helped monitor finances. Among the alleged charges are $18,000 at Louis Vuitton, $48,000 at American Airlines and nearly $200,000 at Amazon. * Tribune | Community gathers in Oak Park to process closure of West Suburban Medical Center: People expressed their frustrations and concerns, and wondered if they can trust Manoj Prasad, the owner of West Suburban Medical Center, who said the hospital closed in part because of a billing system failure which caused the hospital to not collect all of its payments for about a year. While most wanted the hospital to reopen, some expressed hope they would also have input on changes they feel are needed at the facility. Then they got to work, planning breakout group sessions to address staff concerns and the hospital’s financial situation, community needs, political/legislative issues, and the legalities and the leadership model of the hospital. * Tribune | Clergy members decry use of shackles at Broadview ICE facility seen during Holy Week ministry : On Holy Thursday, local clergy members offered Communion and got down on their knees to wash the feet of detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, even as the migrants were handcuffed and shackled during the religious observance inside the west suburban facility. The faith leaders described the scene in a report to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, who on Tuesday ordered that the government cannot make a blanket policy that bans clergy from ministering to people inside the building while a lawsuit on the matter is proceeding. Gettleman ruled that the parties must meet to decide on a protocol that would allow ongoing ministry in the facility that has been a flashpoint during the administration’s controversial immigration enforcement operations. * Daily Herald | ‘This was political theater’: Will County Board member’s traffic case dropped: The bicyclist whom Traynere was accused of striking on March 11, 2025, in Bolingbrook did not show up to court to testify at trial, according to Colin “CJ” Haney, Traynere’s attorney with the Tomczak Law Group in Joliet. Special Prosecutor Bill Elward motioned to continue the case to another date. Howevever, Haney said he pointed out the traffic case had been filed a second time because the bicyclist did not show up in court for the first case. Will County Judge Derek Ewanic denied Elward’s motion to continue, and Elward dropped the case against Traynere, Haney said. * Daily Herald | Arlington Heights couple pleads not guilty to vandalizing Republican headquarters: An Arlington Heights couple charged with vandalizing the Wheeling Township Republican headquarters earlier this year pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Cook County courtroom filled with GOP supporters. […] The couple pleaded not guilty before Judge Steven Kozicki at the county courthouse in Rolling Meadows and are due back in court May 15. “My clients are seniors who have never been arrested in their lives,” said defense attorney Jason Stevens. Wheeling Township Republican Committeeman John Saletta said he and his supporters — which numbered several dozen in court Tuesday afternoon — will continue to follow the case against the McNerneys * Daily Herald | Metra tests preboarding fare checks in pilot program: Metra riders boarding trains downtown outside of rush hour can expect a departure from tradition this week. […] It’s the first phase of a pilot program to test new hand-held scanning devices and collect information for a future fare system integrating Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority. Officials stressed the revised protocol will be tried out on selected, off-peak trips to avoid logjams as workers converge to travel home. It will be extended to rush-hour trains if “initial tests go smoothly.” Before riders access platforms, they will be asked to activate their Ventra ticket or show their paper version before stepping aboard. * Daily Herald | One-time Arlington Heights trustee candidate’s appointment to panel draws dissent: Trustee Carina Santa Maria, who with Bill Manganaro voted against the appointment, asked Bauer at the confirmation hearing Monday night what should be the government’s role in providing affordable housing. Bauer said government should provide a “framework,” but there are other times where its role should be “to just stay out” and let market forces take over. Santa Maria and Manganaro — as well as some other trustees who voted “yes” on the appointment — questioned if the housing commission was the best fit for Bauer. * WICS | CyrusOne speaks out as county data center vote looms: CyrusOne officials will need to bus in water for the data center, collected from the Apple Creek Water Cooperative, which draws water from Waverly Lake. Once the water arrives, it’ll be funneled into a closed loop system to keep things cool at the data center. Hout said beyond that, the data center would use about as much water as an office building. “On the power side, it’s investing in renewables to offset the power we’re taking from the grid. On the water side, it’s investing in water restoration projects, which we have an opportunity to do here at Waverly Lake. And then ensuring that our businesses are sustainable, that we’re achieving lead certification on the facilities,” Hout said. * WAND | Springfield council meeting ends abruptly after clash between alderman, former police chief: WAND News partner WTAX said the meeting ended in chaos after Alderman Shawn Gregory began shouting at former police chief Michael Walton. Walton had come to council to address the board during public comment, but tempers flared during the discussion between Walton and Gregory. The meeting got so chaotic that Buscher was forced to quickly adjourn. The city’s live stream video ended abruptly and was pulled from the website, and was made unavailable to the public. * AP | Deere & Co. agrees to pay $99 million to settle ‘right to repair’ lawsuit: Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million as part of a settlement that would resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the farm equipment giant of monopolizing repair services. The Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer, which does business under the John Deere brand, has faced a handful of “right to repair” complaints over the years. The deal announced Monday — which still needs final approval from the court — would settle a 2022 lawsuit that accused the company of withholding repair software and conspiring with authorized dealers to force farmers to use their services for repairs, when they could otherwise fix tractors and other equipment themselves or use independent alternatives. * WSIL | Final Four Wager Puts Southern Illinois BBQ in National Spotlight: Ahead of the matchup, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont made a friendly wager, each putting signature foods from their states on the line. For Illinois, that meant Eli’s Cheesecake from Chicago — and barbecue from Murphysboro’s 17th Street Barbecue. For owner Amy Mills, the moment brought unexpected national attention. “Waking up to the news that we were on ESPN all over the country was so much fun,” Mills said. “I was getting phone calls and texts from friends and family coast to coast, so it’s really fun and exciting to have the governor recognize our company.” * KWQC | Scammers selling land they don’t own, sheriff’s office says: Scammers are impersonating property owners and asking real estate agents to list land they do not own, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said. The scammers claim to be out of state or overseas and may provide fake documents to appear more legitimate, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office warned residents to be cautious if a seller will not meet in person, only communicates by email or text, tries to rush a sale or push for a low price or cannot be verified as the owner. * Fox Chicago | Trump administration proposes cutting 9,400 TSA workers, $1.5 billion from budget: * CNN | These common drug tests lead to tens of thousands of wrongful arrests a year, experts say. One state is fighting back: Colorado just enacted the nation’s first law banning arrests based solely on the results of colorimetric drug tests – a field test widely used by law enforcement across the country. The tests are popular because they’re cheap, portable and can screen for drugs in mere minutes. It’s just not feasible to send all suspected drug samples to state laboratories, which would be far more expensive and could take days or weeks to return results. […] While the actual error rate nationwide is unknown, previous studies by manufacturers have put it around 4%. But the UPenn researchers believe the actual rate is much higher, from 15% to 38%. And a study by the New York City Department of Investigation showed test error rates from 79% to 91% in some correctional settings. * ARS Technica | Testing suggests Google’s AI Overviews tell millions of lies per hour: Oumi began running its test last year when Gemini 2.5 was still the company’s best model. At the time, the benchmark showed an 85 percent accuracy rate. When the test was rerun following the Gemini 3 update, AI Overviews answered 91 percent of the questions correctly. If you extrapolate this miss rate out to all Google searches, AI Overviews is generating tens of millions of incorrect answers per day.
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Good morning!
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I really think it’s time these guys did a tour together. Yeah, it’s nostalgia. Those days are gone. I get it. But the band and their fan base ain’t getting any younger and it would be nice to finally see a reconciliation after decades of needless bitterness. Tweedy did a tribute to the late Jay Bennett during his Yankee Hotel Foxtrot concert in Chicago a few years ago after being needlessly estranged from Bennett for years. An Uncle Tupelo reunion should be the next step. Guys, do it for us… Anyway, what’s on your mind this morning?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Apr 8, 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
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * House Speaker Chris Welch tamps down the hyperbole about bills that passed committee which are unfavorable to Chicago’s mayor…
From Rich: These bills are most likely a combination of member management and a warning shot. * Crain’s…
* Capitol News Illinois | Waymo begins testing in Chicago as bill seeks to legalize autonomous vehicles: Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said AV legislation has a long road ahead to address constituent concerns over safety, insurance and job losses for rideshare and cab drivers. In January, he introduced the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act, which would open counties in Illinois with over 1 million residents, as well as the counties of Sangamon, Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe, to automated commercial vehicles. But the bill has since been held up in the Rules Committee, an early step in the process that means it’s far from passage, especially in the current legislative session. Other bills supporting the industry also have yet to get the necessary support. * Crain’s | Pritzker calls for Trump’s removal as Iran tensions escalate: Gov. JB Pritzker, widely considered to be sizing up a run for the presidency, this morning called on President Donald Trump’s cabinet to remove him via the 25th Amendment. In a social media post pointing to Trump’s recent threats to Iran, the governor wrote, “This is not foreign policy, it’s a deranged mad man threatening to wipe out an entire country.” * Tribune | Activists threaten lawsuit over Chicago Housing Authority CEO vote: “There was not adequate or proper notification to the public about what they were doing. We believe this was done intentionally and deceptively,” Roderick Wilson, executive director of the Lugenia Burns Hope Center, said at a news conference outside CHA’s downtown headquarters. “Our goal is to rescind this vote. CHA has an opportunity now to do this before we do.” Brewer, who has publicly opposed Burnett’s candidacy, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Johnson’s allegations. Last week, Brewer said the agency would move on from its CEO drama, with or without the mayor — whom he previously accused of favoring political “cronies” over the interests of public housing residents. * Tribune | Downtown office buildings emptied out by the pandemic are being scooped up and refurbished with new amenities: The new building owners watched downtown property values collapse over the past six years, and they’re buying office complexes at a fraction of the prices they sold for in the past. That’s allowing them to offer lower rents and frills that previous owners couldn’t afford. “That’s the formula that seems to be working,” said California-based developer Andrew Brog, who bought his first Chicago office building in 2024. “Provide deals that are lower than the marketplace, improve the building and improve the tenant experience. Many of these distressed buildings have been zombies for a long time.” * Block Club | The Chicago Sky Trade Angel Reese — And Fans Are Furious: The timing of the move is also curious because Chicago is set to host the WNBA All-Star game on July 25 at the United Center, only the second time the city has done so. “We can’t wait to build on the success of the previous All-Star game and celebrate the explosive growth of the league by showcasing the WNBA’s biggest stars on a world-class stage,” Sky CEO and President Adam Fox said in a statement when the game was announced. But now, if Reese is there, she will be representing another team. * WTTW | No Evidence of White House Influence in ‘Broadview Six’ Charges, Court Finds: U.S. District Judge April Perry on Tuesday found much of the defense motion to be moot after federal prosecutors said they found no evidence of outside communications coming from the White House or Trump officials pushing for them to file charges specifically against the defendants in this case. Perry also rejected accusations by the remaining four defendants — Kat Abughazaleh, Michael Rabbitt, Andre Martin and Brian Straw — of a selective prosecution based on their status as political candidates or public officials. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere given court supervision in email case: Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere, of Bolingbrook, was sentenced Tuesday to three months of court supervision and ordered to pay $514 in court fees after she was found guilty last month of two misdemeanor counts of computer tampering. Traynere, the former Democratic Leader, was accused of logging into the email account of then-County Board Chair Judy Ogalla, a Republican, in 2024. * Evanston Now | Alders split on sweepstakes machines : City Council members on Evanston’s Human Services Committee were on different pages Monday night about how to regulate already-existing sweepstakes machines — whether they should even be allowed in the city. In a referral from Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) submitted last June, alders were being asked Monday to provide city staff feedback about what they feel regulation, taxation or a ban could look like, with at least two alders, Shawn Iles (3rd) and Krissie Harris (2nd), signaling they’d support an outright ban. * Daily Herald | ‘It starts with volunteers’: Making lakes healthier comes from teamwork and knowledge: “A healthy lake is enjoyable to view, free of odor, supports recreation and healthy, diverse aquatic life,” says Becky Sawle, co-chair of the group that has experienced a jump in interest after a successful pilot program last year. Often the culprit is high phosphorous that leads to summer algae blooms that can make a lake look like pea soup and use oxygen fish need to breathe. * Daily Herald | ‘Can’t have this happening again’: Arlington Heights mayor fines seven businesses for underage alcohol sales: Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia on Monday levied fines ranging from $500 up to $5,000 — and the possibility of a license suspension — on seven businesses cited for selling alcohol to minors. Tinaglia, elected a little more than a year ago, presided over his first liquor license violation hearing as the local liquor commissioner Monday afternoon at village hall. * Illinois Answers | Mentally ill man restrained in chair for 3 days settles case in Williamson County: A man with mental illness who says he was strapped down to a chair for three days at Williamson County Jail reached a settlement in his civil rights case against the county. Jail staff restrained Travis Braden, 39, to a chair in 2022 after he expressed suicidal ideation and swallowed a piece of metal. He filed a complaint against the county months later, represented himself from prison and settled in January for $27,500. “To me, it wasn’t enough,” Braden said. “… And the sad part of it is, there’s no accountability behind it.” * WGLT | Normal Police plans drones as first responders in pilot project: “The type of drone that we’re looking at, it would only require one drone at this given time, and I kind of look at it as a pilot,” Police Chief Steve Petrilli said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. “We’ve seen it play out in other jurisdictions, other municipalities, even here within Illinois. It seems to be a value add.” Petrilli said the department will start using the drone this summer and will wait to see the return on investment before seeking out another drone. * WTVO | Belvidere School Board to vote on fate of Perry Elementary on Thursday: On the agenda is a formal action titled “Potential Closure of Perry Elementary School,” which contains a transition plan outlining how families would be reassigned if the school is closed. […] In September 2024, the board voted to keep the school open, but officials now say the timing of major building renovations has forced renewed discussion about whether that investment makes financial sense. * Reuters | IEA chief: current oil and gas crisis worse than 1973, 1979, 2022 together: The current oil and gas crisis triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is “more serious than the ones in 1973, 1979 and 2022 together”, Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told Le Figaro newspaper. “The world has never experienced a disruption to energy supply of such magnitude,” he said in an interview with the French newspaper released in its Tuesday edition. * The Wrap | McClatchy Journalists Revolt Against AI: ‘It’s a Betrayal’ : More than 30 staffers in the paper’s union sent a letter to Bee management on March 27 stating they would withhold their bylines from stories created by their parent company McClatchy’s “content scaling agent,” a generative AI product that produces new pieces using the reporters’ existing work. * STAT News | A star scientist showed that better genetics lessons could reduce racism. It was the death knell for his career: “What I really wanted was to take a sledgehammer to prejudice,” Donovan said. “I was naive enough to think that we could teach genetics and actually make a real dent in this problem.” He spoke to STAT from his home in rural Colorado, where for the last year he has been trying to process the abrupt end — not just of his career as a scientist, but of a personal crusade he embarked on two decades ago to help kids become fluent in the facts of human DNA. And in the process, to maybe, finally, find a way to inoculate future generations of Americans against the kinds of genetic misinformation that has been fueling white supremacist belief systems for centuries.
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Union leaders ask Pritzker to abandon his proposed data center tax credit pause, but he stands pat for now
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State address…
* The leaders of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades and several trade unions, plus the Illinois Education Association and Climate Jobs Illinois recently sent the governor a letter about the proposed pause…
Emphasis added. * From the governor’s office…
Notice his office’s statement did leave an opening to discuss a way forward. That labor coalition is mighty powerful in the General Assembly. But legislators are undoubtedly getting an earful from constituents about this whole data center issue. A compromise would seem to be in order. [The governor’s statement was slightly edited a couple of minutes after publication.]
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - News update
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Pritzkers ‘papped’ in Miami
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Some paparazzo who goes by the online name Pichichipixx posted videos and photos of Gov. JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker during their recent visit to Miami Beach…
This is admittedly not newsworthy, but we simply found it odd that it happened. The only other times photographers regularly chased down Illinois governors were under, um, rather unfortunate circumstances. Also, who’s gonna buy these images? Anyway, have fun. On a day like today, we may need the distraction.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…
* WTTW…
* WTVO…
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Don’t impose your regional favorites on the rest of us
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Block Club Chicago…
1) I have said before that a sandwich identified mainly with our largest city should not be the state sandwich. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Chicago Italian beef sammiches. (Try Roma’s. It’s the best hole in the wall joint on the Northwest Side, IMHO.) I really do strongly believe that a regional favorite shouldn’t be imposed on everyone else and that the city folks oughta back the heck off and stop constantly imposing their culture on the rest of us. /half-snark 2) I was born in Kankakee and grew up in rural Iroquois County. Before I wound up in Springfield, I lived in northwest Illinois, northern Illinois and east central Illinois. I have family in Pontiac and southern Illinois and have long traveled most of the state. I never even so much as heard of a horseshoe until I moved to Springfield. It’s a sandwich specifically identified with the state’s capital city. So, again, a micro-regional favorite should not be imposed on the entire state. That’s just silly. Plus, it’s an open-face sandwich. That’s a totally different category, albeit delicious. * So I have come up with my own proposal. Admittedly, this idea probably won’t go over well with some people, and the first half of it does require a bit of a definitional stretch. But I think this proposal best represents all of Illinois. 1) Just about everywhere I go in Illinois, I see taco stands and restaurants. Chicago and some suburbs, in my opinion, have the best tacos outside Mexico. And I know of great taco spots all over this state. But is a taco a sandwich? Heck yes! 2) Walk into any “real” diner throughout Illinois and an open-face hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and brown gravy is on the menu. It’s ubiquitous and fabulous. This is an absolute no-brainer. * Therefore, be it resolved that Illinois’ official state sandwich shall be the taco, and Illinois’ official state open-face sandwich shall be hot roast beef. Discuss. And if you disagree, I’ll just start off by saying: “Bite me.” Pun intended.
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Credit Unions: Celebrating April As National Financial Literacy Month
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Every April, we celebrate National Financial Literacy Month. Whether someone is just beginning their financial journey or looking to sharpen existing skills, this month serves as a reminder that informed financial decisions can have a lifelong impact. At credit unions, helping members build financial stability is a responsibility we take seriously. As Suzie Bell, President/CEO of Elite Community Credit Union explains, “When helping our members, we are looking at financial literacy and helping them with getting a savings account, getting their financial needs met.” Life is unpredictable. A job loss, a medical bill, or a sudden car repair can create financial stress that many households aren’t prepared for. That’s why the credit union approach focuses on building a strong foundation before those challenges arise. “We want them to have a safety net if something happens,” Suzie shares. Whether it’s guiding someone through opening their first savings account or helping them understand how to budget for emergencies, our goal is to ensure members have the tools they need. Financial literacy is at the heart of this work. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about confidence, preparedness, and long‑term stability. Learn more at https://betterforillinois.org/ Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Pritzker rhetorically threw school districts under the bus, but a funding solution is out there which may not require a constitutional change
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. Pritzker was asked last week if he supported a constitutional amendment to impose an income tax surcharge on annual income above a million dollars a year to alleviate the state’s high property taxes…
Please pardon any transcription errors. * Pritzker is right about the sheer magnitude of the problem, and he showed a high level of sophistication about how to solve the overall problem. But he’s dead wrong about school funding. Yes, he’s presided over a large, compounded annual increase in school funding under the Evidence-Based Funding formula signed into law by Bruce Rauner. But it’s so far not providing enough revenue to allow school districts to hold the line on local taxation.
School districts can’t really start addressing property taxes until they are adequately funded according to the state’s own statutory formula. Under the current tax regime, that’s not gonna happen until 2039. There’s no way the state can provide significantly more funding with existing revenues. It’s simply impossible. * The proposed constitutional amendment could bring schools to that sweet spot much faster. Capitol News Illinois…
* But the state may not even need to go through the hassle of holding an expensive and iffy referendum to significantly boost education funding by changing the Illinois Constitution. A proposal has been circulating for a while now to close what are called “luxury loopholes”…
It’s not a horrible idea. We have a flat tax and a whole lot of upper-income people are avoiding that bare minimum. This would tax just a third of their adjusted gross income. Also, Pritzker has supported some of these same loophole closures in the past.
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It’s Time To Bring Safer Rides To Illinois
Tuesday, Apr 7, 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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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: After rocky first year, Chicago’s top federal prosecutor says he isn’t taking orders from Washington. Sun-Times…
- In his most extensive commentary to date about Midway Blitz, Boutros acknowledged all did not go according to plan. Especially when it came to working with an “out of town” group of agents. - Christopher Amon, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Chicago, said violent crime prosecutions “were not a priority” for the U.S. attorney’s office before Boutros’ arrival — and now that’s changed. * 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. * Illinois Times | Sangamon County Board could approve data center 15 days after tabling propsal : The County Board will again have an opportunity to vote on the proposal April 7. It would first need to pass a vote to remove the item from the tabled agenda, which any board member can make a motion for during its next three meetings. During the March County Board meeting, a second motion to table CyrusOne’s data center proposal succeeded 15-13 following an emotional plea from District 7 board member Craig Hall, a Republican who represents Talkington Township, where the data center would be located. “I know these neighbors. I know this land. I know the smell of this land. Our township is doing well,” Hall said following extensive public comments at the March meeting. “I would like to ask this board to listen tonight, and I would like to ask if we could take another vote to table this, please.” * Shaw Local | Fertilizer prices jump ahead of planting season, squeezing Illinois farmers: Senesac bought anhydrous ammonia earlier this year at $900 a ton, a price already up from $800 a ton in 2025. The price is rising faster now, he said. “If you have not bought early or have not prepaid, I hear anhydrous ammonia right off the truck is about $1,100 a ton,” Senesac said. * Lake & McHenry County Scanner | Former Illinois state rep, District 155 school board member and Crystal Lake resident dies at age 95: A former Illinois state representative and former District 155 school board member, who was a Crystal Lake resident, has died at age 95, with her family remembering her for “standing up to the status quo” and supporting taxpayers. Rosemary Kurtz, 95, of Crystal Lake, died suddenly on Wednesday morning, according to her daughter Donna Kurtz. […] She actively marched in the 1960s and protested the Vietnam War while working with other parents to set up a multi-racial summer camp and helping elect the first female mayor. * WTTW | Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Her US Senate Campaign, Health Care Funding and Raising Minimum Wage: “What I heard every single day on the campaign trail is that people were frustrated with what was happening in Washington. They felt that there was too much of a sort of ‘go along to get along’ mentality, and what I heard from people when I asked what they were looking for in their next United States senator is, ‘I’m looking for someone who will go to the mat fighting for me, who will stand up and hold this president accountable,’ as we are watching him systematically attempt to dismantle our democracy. So this is the message that has resonated. It broke through with voters, and I’m proud that they heard what I had to say, and they know that I’ll be the fighter for them in Washington.” * Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago school board to vote on resolution urging Pritzker to reject public funds for private school: The resolution doesn’t explicitly name the new federal tax-credit program, but it denounces Trump administration efforts “to expand and incentivize voucher or publicly funded scholarships for private schools.” It also criticizes private schools as bodies without enough guardrails or public transparency. […] The board’s resolution argues that “the diversion of public funds for private education weakens not only public schools but other vital public goods and services such as transportation, healthcare and efforts to preserve the environment.” * WTTW | Heartland to Close All Chicago Shelters for Unaccompanied Children, Lay Off About 337 Employees: The move is due to cuts from the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which contracts with Heartland for its “unaccompanied alien children” program. At Heartland, immigrant children who have crossed the U.S. border receive residential and medical care, education and legal services before being connected with permanent homes. “Without this federal funding, it’s kaput,” said Michael Brieschke, chairperson for United Human Service Workers, the union representing the impacted employees. * Sun-Times | New trial ordered in lawsuit over deadly Chicago police shooting of barber Harith Augustus: A state appellate court panel has ordered a new trial to determine whether a Chicago police officer acted with “utter indifference” when he fatally shot barber Harith Augustus on the South Side nearly eight years ago. The three-judge panel concluded last week that Cook County Judge Bridget Hughes erroneously allowed city lawyers to dismiss two Black potential jurors during the initial trial, which stemmed from a lawsuit brought by Augustus’ family. * Tribune | NBC 5 hires former Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper as entertainment reporter: Beginning Friday, Roeper will join NBC 5 as its entertainment and culture reporter, delivering stories and reviews throughout the week on afternoon and evening newscasts. In addition, he will also make regular appearances on the weekday “Chicago Today” program, as well as the station’s digital platforms. “Growing up in south suburban Dolton and having lived in the Chicago area my entire life, I’ve long been a fan and viewer of NBC 5 Chicago,” Roeper said in a news release Monday. “I’m ready to get to work and bring my insights, reviews, and more to NBC 5 Chicago viewers wherever and whenever they watch.” * Tribune | Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke lists Southwest Side home for $1.5M: Custom-built by the couple in 2005 on a triangular parcel that backs up to railroad tracks, the gated residence has three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, an elevator, three bedroom suites, floors with radiant heating on the first floor, a second-floor living room with a gas fireplace and a library wall with a rolling ladder, a kitchen with Sub-Zero appliances, double ovens and two dishwashers, and a second-floor private garden with an outdoor fireplace. * Tribune | After mitigation measures, residents say Aurora data center still creating noise issues: The noise coming from those backup generators was so loud that nearby neighbors called it “unlivable” and “horrible.” CyrusOne spent the next several months meeting with residents and Aurora city officials, working with the city to reach a legal agreement aimed at addressing the issues, and putting in place both temporary and permanent fixes. While work is still being done to mitigate other sources of sound, permanent solutions for the generator noise were completed last September. But after another run of the backup generators late last month, some nearby residents say they don’t believe the sound mitigation measures put in place for those generators are having much of an impact. * ABC Chicago | Secret meeting held to oust West Suburban CEO before hospital’s closure, warnings of dire situation: Documents obtained by the I-Team show a co-owner of the hospital’s operations, former hospital executives, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) chief of staff met on Feb. 11 to discuss the “Operational Recovery & Stabilization Plan” for West Suburban Medical Center. […] The Illinois HFS confirmed the hospital’s landowner approached them, but “West Suburban’s leadership never presented the state with any viable plan to turn around their fiscal and operational issues.” * Shaw Local | Hyundai provides more details on Joliet manufacturing plans, seeks property tax break: The council will vote Tuesday on a 50% property tax abatement at the former Lion Electric property. The abatement is estimated to be worth $66,000 a year and is tied to a three-year hiring plan at the plant. The former Lion Electric plant is inside the city limits, giving the council jurisdiction over a property tax abatement. The former Caterpillar plant on Channahon Road is located just outside the city. * Daily Southtown | La Grange proposal for affordable housing task force meets resistance from mayor: Augustine said the proposal would not be taking a position on the issue of affordable housing, “it asks only that we create a task force,” which would be resident-led, with people representing various parts of La Grange. Village President Mark Kuchler was skeptical. He defended the village’s efforts on affordable housing, pointing out that about 13% of La Grange’s housing stock meets the affordable housing threshold and that previous boards “had worked hard to make sure we exceeded that 10%. He said La Grange should be recognized as a leader in the western suburbs in affordable housing, pointing to Uptown Apartments and Mason Point as examples. * WGLT | Normal council adopts formal code of ethics: Among seven listed pledges in the code, council members agree to handle civic affairs responsibly, to uphold the spirit of the law and U.S. Constitution, and avoid conflicts of interest. The ethics code will be read aloud annually, signed by all members, and publicly displayed. * WGEM | Amendment to end Quincy Public Library subsidy funding fails at Quincy City Council: There were over a dozen public comments at Monday’s city council meeting with the vast majority regarding the library issue, including former Quincy Mayor Chuck Scholz. “A horrible headline would be, ‘City Cuts Subsidy to Library’, that’s not what these folks are looking for,” the former mayor said to the council. The library had dropped their asking price from the city from over $300,000 last year to $189,000 this year. However, 3rd Ward Alderman Mike Adkins still motioned to amend the budget to give the library no subsidy on top of the 15% portion of the city property tax levy it receives. * AP | AP says it will offer buyouts as part of pivot away from newspaper-focused history: The news organization is becoming more focused on visual journalism and developing new revenue sources, particularly through companies investing in artificial intelligence, to cope with the economic collapse of many legacy news outlets. Once the lion’s share of AP’s revenue, big newspaper companies now account for 10% of its income. “We’re not a newspaper company and we haven’t been for quite some time,” Julie Pace, executive editor and senior vice president of the AP, said in an interview. * Forbes | This Billionaire Wants To Save America’s Newspapers. He Thinks He’s Found A Way: As he rolls up more papers, he’s consolidating payroll, sharing services like legal and marketing among titles and sometimes reducing the frequency of the printed product; online he’s pivoting toward paywalls. All local publishers have full P&L responsibility and share in the profits if they hit their numbers. It seems to be working. […] In recent days, the company learned that Lee Enterprises — publishers of newspapers like The Buffalo News, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Richmond Times-Dispatch — is seeking an early exit from a contract due to expire at the end of 2026. * Financial Times | Jamie Dimon warns private credit losses will be larger than feared: “I do believe that when we have a credit cycle, which will happen one day, losses on all leveraged lending in general will be higher than expected, relative to the environment,” Dimon wrote in his annual letter to shareholders, referring to lending to companies with a high level of debt relative to their earnings. “This is because credit standards have been modestly weakening pretty much across the board,” Dimon, who has led JPMorgan since 2006, wrote in his letter, which is widely read on Wall Street.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Apr 7, 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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