* ICYMI: SNAP benefits remain on hold for 2M Illinoisans despite court rulings, agency says. Fox Chicago…

- Even though two judges ordered the Trump administration to distribute SNAP food aid benefits for November, the money remains on hold for nearly 2 million Illinoisans, the Illinois Department of Human Services said.
- Even if the Trump administration is forced to distribute the money, it is uncertain how long it will take for residents to receive the money, IDHS said.
- SNAP benefits from prior months can still be used this month, according to state officials.

* Related stories…

• Aurora Beacon-News: Aurora food pantries ramp up delivery, take-home services amid federal immigration fears, SNAP funding uncertainty
• AP: Trump administration faces Monday deadline on use of contingency funds for SNAP
• Tribune: Government shutdown threatens to delay home heating aid for millions of low-income families

* Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Chicago Quantum Summit at 9 am. At 11 am, the governor will attend the opening of a new facility at the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* TPM | One Amicus Brief May Have Given Supreme Court an Out in Chicago National Guard Case: So far, Trump has attempted to argue that “regular forces” refers to local law enforcement and federal officers, who he claims are overwhelmed and endangered by the anti-ICE protests a few miles outside the city’s downtown. Not so, says Georgetown Law’s Marty Lederman. In an amicus brief that seems to have caught the Justices’ attention, Lederman gives a thorough accounting of the legislative history of the term “regular forces,” offering pages of evidence that it referred to the military. Under his theory, the National Guard was meant to be called in as a last resort if the active duty military couldn’t quell whatever domestic crisis they were deployed to handle.

* NOTUS | Super Rich? In Prison? Lobbyists Want to Help Score You a Trump Pardon.: Crossroads Strategies directed questions about Pramaggiore’s case to adviser Mark Herr, who told NOTUS: “Anne Pramaggiore was wrongly convicted and is appealing her case to the Seventh Circuit. At the same time, she is exploring all options in her pursuit of justice, including the possibility of a pardon.”

* Sun-Times | IDs are mismatched, illegible or still missing 3 weeks after judge’s order to immigration officers: Three weeks ago, a federal judge in Chicago ordered federal immigration officers who have been sweeping area streets to add individual IDs to their uniforms, an order she repeated Tuesday in court directly to the Trump administration’s top immigration enforcer here. But dozens of photographs of uniformed immigration agents shot by Chicago Sun-Times photojournalists in four separate locations since the court order show how the feds have fallen short. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on Oct. 9 ordered “visible identification” that is “prominently displayed.”

*** Statewide ***

* Daily Herald | Chronic absenteeism numbers dip for third year; state launches special task force to address problem: Chronic absenteeism — defined as students missing 10% or more of the school year due to excused or unexcused absences — marked a third consecutive year of improvement since its pandemic-driven peak at 29.8% in 2022, officials said. It fell to 25.4% in 2025, down 14.8% since 2022, according to the 2025 Illinois School Report Card data released Thursday. Though it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, chronic absenteeism has continued to decline for the third consecutive year, State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said.

* Northwestern Now | Northwestern study finds a 65% increase in Illinois hospitals from 2016 to 2023: Men, Black patients and those living in areas with low socioeconomic status were disproportionally affected, the study found. The dramatic spike is largely attributed to a growing prevalence of diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD), two chronic conditions that often lead to lower extremity amputation, the study authors said.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Fox 2 Now | Services to be held for family of Ill. candidate Darren Bailey after helicopter crash: The services will take place at 9 a.m. at the Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, Illinois, located at 555 Park Road. Visitation for the family was held Sunday at the same location, and a private burial will follow the celebration of life service.

* More details…

Schedule for November 3, 2025

LIVE coverage 9:00 AM @BlueRoomStream:

Zach Bailey Family Celebration of Life. Flora, #Illinois. #twill

SPECIAL NOTE:
The family has respectfully requested BlueRoomStream to be the pool camera for all television stations.

— BlueRoomStream (@BlueRoomStream) November 3, 2025

* Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker tells President Donald Trump to ‘f— all the way off’ in viral video: Gov. JB Pritzker told President Donald Trump and his Republican allies to “f— all the way off” during a speech last month before Illinois’ largest teachers union. Video of Pritzker’s F-bomb started gaining traction on social media Sunday, two weeks after the Democratic governor and potential 2028 presidential contender got a standing ovation for his profane takedown of Trump administration education policies.

* Daily Southtown | Judge to consider sanctions against state Sen. Michael Hastings in lawsuit alleging smear campaign: Glotz’s attorney, Patrick Walsh, said the lawsuit was politically motivated and represents an effort by Hastings to harass Republican opponents. “As attorneys, and Hastings is an attorney, we have a duty to ensure that lawsuits are filed in good faith and that they have a good faith basis in law and fact,” Walsh said. “Not all political disputes should be litigated.” Walsh said he will present evidence that Hastings should face sanctions, including paying Glotz’s legal fees, at the next scheduled hearing in the case at the Markham courthouse at 11 a.m. Dec. 10.

* Tribune | Legislature sets stage for Illinois to become a ‘right-to-die’ state as bill narrowly passes: The bill will go to Gov. JB Pritzker, who will have to decide whether to sign it into law. If he does, the legislation would allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults the right to access life-ending prescription medication. The governor’s office did not return a request for comment about whether Pritzker backs the legislation. If signed by Pritzker, Illinois would join at least 10 other states, among them Oregon, California, Colorado and Hawaii, as well as Washington, D.C., in allowing medical aid in dying. The legislation received support from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Compassion and Choices Action Network.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Bovino carries out Halloween arrests. ‘They showed up here to terrorize people,’ alder says: The agents swept through the Albany Park and Edison Park neighborhoods, and suburban Evanston, Skokie and Niles Friday morning and afternoon after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said enforcement operations would continue on Halloween despite Gov. JB Pritzker asking they pause for the holiday.

* Tribune | Border Patrol’s strong-arm tactics are the new norm in Chicago as Trump moves to sideline ICE leadership: But more than a month after Bovino and the crew of camouflaged agents he calls the “green machine” arrived in Chicago to assist Trump’s immigration crackdown dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, the scene signaled a profound shift in how the federal government arrests undocumented immigrants far from the border. Instead of carefully targeted arrests long practiced by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, President Donald Trump’s administration has deployed roving groups of masked Border Patrol agents, who work within U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These agents have roamed throughout Chicago and its suburbs with the mission of arresting as many undocumented immigrants as possible, often while camera operators film for future government promotional videos.

* Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker makes a Halloween stop in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood: Gov. JB Pritzker made an appearance in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood on Halloween Friday to hand out candy to costumed kids. In a bid to allay fears trick-or-treating children might have about ICE agents in their neighborhoods, Pritzker this week asked U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to stop immigration enforcement operations for a three-day stretch during the Halloween weekend.

* Sun-Times | Plainclothes agents make arrest in Southwest Side barbershop: Despite displaying “No ICE or face coverings” signs on their front door, five plainclothes officers walked into the business Thursday afternoon and asked people for identification. When witnesses saw a barber come out of the bathroom, agents threw him to the ground and carried him out of the shop and into a pickup truck.

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget pitch blames ‘Trump Deficit,’ but Chicago’s money woes found elsewhere: Instead, the $1.19 billion projected shortfall for 2026 has been telegraphed for years because of rising personnel and pension costs as well as pandemic-era federal grants from President Joe Biden’s administration expiring. While these pressures long predated Johnson, he has known about them since assuming office and has not meaningfully addressed the structural causes.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson’s job approval up slightly, but his tax choices are unpopular, poll shows: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 31% job approval rating — up from 26% last summer — follows months of mayoral attacks on budget cuts imposed or threatened by President Donald Trump and after Johnson’s opposition to weeks of immigration raids that have besieged Chicago neighborhoods.

* WBEZ | As SNAP benefits are cut off, Chicagoans line up at food pantries: Starting Saturday, nearly 2 million Illinois residents — 42 million across the country — are going without Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as the government shutdown continues, though two federal judges separately ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must pay for November’s SNAP benefits using contingency funding. The administration has until Monday to decide whether it will partially or fully fund the food assistance program. Trump said he would provide the money but wanted more legal direction from the court, which will not happen until Monday.

* Sun-Times | Chicago firm that resolves ransomware attacks had rogue workers carrying out their own hacks, FBI says: ogue employees of a Chicago company that specializes in negotiating ransoms to mitigate cyber attacks were carrying out their own piracy in a plot to extort millions of dollars from a series of companies, prosecutors say. Kevin Tyler Martin, a ransomware threat negotiator for River North-based DigitalMint at the time of the alleged conspiracy, was among two men indicted in the scheme. A suspected accomplice who wasn’t indicted was also employed at DigitalMint, court records show. DigitalMint has denied any wrongdoing, fired both employees and cooperated with the investigation.

* Sun-Times | Dale Bowman, longtime Sun-Times outdoors columnist, escapes for new adventure: Years later, I learned why the Palmisano brothers (Henry, Tom and Steve) gave me the scoop on Deva Vranek catching the Illinois-record brown trout of 36 pounds, 11.5 ounces, straight off Chicago on June 22, 1997. They thought I wrote for ordinary anglers, the ultimate compliment, and they were in a pissing match with Husar over another story. Vranek’s record still stands.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | In highly unusual move, Lyons mayor takes $245k loan from campaign committee to pay personal tax liability: Chris Getty’s lawyer insists the arrangement is legal, and says it’s tied to his divorce that led to sizable federal and state tax debt. But an official with the state elections board says: “You can’t spend your campaign fund for personal expenses. I would see this as a personal expenditure.”

* Sun-Times | Cook County housing authority in turmoil amid firings, investigation, spending concerns: Last month, HUD removed the housing authority from its list of underperforming agencies. But troubles persist — even without the official moniker. The housing authority is undergoing a significant staff reorganization — one the board didn’t know about and the agency has denied. Documents obtained by the Sun-Times show payments amounting to thousands of dollars for restructuring work.

* Tribune | Cook County leaders get some but not all property tax relief legislation sought in Springfield: Despite doubts that any such legislation would pass by the time the legislature adjourned on Friday morning, several other property tax changes — including moving the due date for spring bills one month later — also crawled over the legislative finish line. It’s a key victory for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Assessor Fritz Kaegi, coming a few weeks before property tax bills are set to land and as campaign season heats up. Both Preckwinkle and Kaegi are facing challengers in the March Democratic primary.

* Sun-Times | Religious leaders’ request to give communion to detainees at Broadview facility is denied again: In a statement to the Sun-Times, a DHS spokesperson said any request to tour its facilities must be approved by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and that requests “should be made with sufficient time to prevent interference” with the president’s authority to oversee executive department functions. “A week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the president’s constitutional authority,” the DHS spokesperson said, not elaborating on why Saturday’s request was denied despite more than a week’s notice given. The spokesperson also noted increases in obstruction to immigration enforcement.

* NBC Chicago | New policy will dispatch police supervisors to federal agent activity in Evanston: The city introduced the policy, believed to be the first of its kind in the Chicago area, this week. The mayor said police supervisors will now respond to federal activity if they receive 911 calls from residents and attempt to gather any information for investigative purposes, including interviewing witnesses and collecting cellphone videos. The information would be documented in an incident report, according to the mayor.

* CNN | ‘Bunch of liars’: Mayor of Evanston, IL slams DHS’ account of violent arrest: A Chicago suburb is outraged by federal agents repeatedly striking a man in the head during an arrest. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss tells CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield that DHS’s account of the incident is false, insisting “the only violence was coming from ICE and their fellow agents.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Batavia mulls ordinance banning federal immigration actions on city property: Joining a flurry of other municipalities, Batavia’s City Council is considering drafting an ordinance that would ban federal immigration enforcement on city-owned property, as a federal immigration crackdown continues in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. The issue was discussed at the Batavia City Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting last Tuesday, at which dozens of residents addressed the council, the vast majority speaking in support of such an ordinance.

* Daily Herald | Wheeling board could ban ICE operations on village property: The potential ban comes after Wheeling officials said federal immigration agents approached a village fire station Saturday asking to use its parking lot. A citizen group arrived at the scene and began blowing whistles, Village President Patrick Horcher said. “That was enough to chase away the (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) guys,” Horcher said Sunday.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora’s proposed 2026 budget includes none of previously-discussed Paramount funding: At the time, those officials said that the city’s previously-communicated financial support of $7 million could be reduced by up to 65%. They warned that, if city funding for the organization did come in far under the $7 million mark, it would mean additional cuts. But Aurora’s recently-proposed 2026 budget, which includes significant funding and staffing cuts for city departments, doesn’t just have a reduction in that previously-discussed funding for the Paramount. City and theater officials say it includes none of those funds at all.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville to collect $1.8M in new revenue in 2026 after utility tax billing error caught: Naperville Finance Director Ray Munch said the problem was discovered this summer as city staff was preparing the tentative 2026 budget. In looking more closely into city finances for ways to close a potential $4 million shortfall, it was noticed that revenue from the city’s electric use tax wasn’t adding up. A software issue caused about 3,000 commercial customers to be billed at the wrong rate from out of the city’s total of 60,000 electric customers.

* Daily Southtown | Tinley Park police close training facility, partner with Orland Park on new location: The Tinley Park Police Department’s training facility in the 17300 block of 69th Avenue is closing due to maintenance issues, officials said, and the village is looking to build a new gun range near the village police station. But in the meantime, officers will train at a $10 million dollar facility in Orland Park.

* Daily Herald | Despite objections, Lake County zoning board OKs solar farm near Antioch: Opponents argue the solar farm represents an industrial use in a rural area zoned for housing. They say it would create potential risks to well and lake water, dominate site lines and pose other concerns. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner said he isn’t opposed to solar facilities but the site is “completely wrong” for a solar farm. The village is investigating whether a land swap is possible, he said.

* Daily Herald | As more suburban schools switch to artificial turf, injury debate carries on: One study, from Current Orthopaedic Practice in 2021, states that data collected from 26 high schools indicated athletes were 58% more likely to sustain injuries on artificial turf. But other studies have shown no significant difference, or even a higher frequency of injuries on grass.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Macon Co. one step closer to having one mile horse race track, casino: A new horse racing track could be coming to Macon County. After a bill passed the state senate on Thursday, people are weighing the pros and cons of bringing a casino and a harness racing-track to Decatur. They’re calling it a “racino.” It would go near Rt. 36 and Wyckles Road, diagonal to the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel.

* BND | ‘Bring their daddy home.’ Rally demands local father’s release from ICE custody: Many residents in the small town of Staunton were shocked to learn that a local father and Mexican restaurant owner was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late October shortly after dropping his two daughters off at elementary school. Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, 41, of Staunton, is being held at the Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center. “We couldn’t imagine the fact that his daughters were going to go home that day and not be with him,” said Chelsa Pruden, a Staunton activist whose daughter goes to the same elementary school.

* WQAD | Moline-Chicago passenger rail funding approved; QC leaders react: Funding to bring passenger rail service from Moline to Chicago has officially been secured, local and state leaders celebrated Friday during a press conference in downtown Moline. “Today is a day for celebrating because we have secured funding for our train,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said The funding approval in Illinois’ state transit bill marks one of the final legislative hurdles in a project years in the making. Officials said the next steps include entering into agreements with Iowa Interstate Railroad, construction planning and securing federal approvals.

* WGEM | Quincy Regional Airport celebrates first flight to O’Hare with new airline: The first Contour Airlines flight from Quincy Regional Airport to the Windy City departed early that morning. The cabin was filled with a cast of city officials, but the star of the show ended up being the plane itself. Contour jets can reach Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in as little as 38 minutes.

* Crain’s | Appeals court reinstates Galena’s approval of Sonoma-style resort: A three-judge panel in the Fourth District Appellate Court of Illinois ruled yesterday that a lower court judge erred when he ruled in August 2024 that Galena had to throw out any ordinances it passed to make the Parker possible. The 2024 decision found that Galena officials violated the rights of Wendy Clark, who lives next to the Parker site, by not allowing her to cross-examine presenters at city meetings about the project. Clark “had an unlimited opportunity to pose questions,” Justice Raylene Grischow wrote in the state appellate court’s decision, and at times passed when her chance to speak came.

*** National ***

* TPM | Trump Admin Slowrolls Census Effort To Accurately Count Non-White Americans: Under the directive, federal departments and agencies were initially supposed to have their action plans for policy’s implementation done by last month; they will now have until March 2026, according to the OMB website. All federal race and ethnicity data collections were initially supposed to be “consistent with the updated standards” by March 2029, but that deadline has been pushed to September 2029, well after the 2030 Census process is set to begin.

* The Intercept | ICE Plans Cash Rewards for Private Bounty Hunters to Locate and Track Immigrants: According to the document, which solicits information from interested contractors for a potentially forthcoming contract opportunity, companies hired by ICE will be given bundles of information on 10,000 immigrants at a time to locate, with further assignments provided in “increments of 10,000 up to 1,000,000.”

* The Atlantic | The Slow Death of Special Education: The Trump administration has taken the government shutdown as an opportunity to end federal oversight of the education services offered to more than 8 million children with disabilities in America. Last month, the Department of Education attempted to fire nearly every staff member left at the Office of Special Education Programs—an action now stuck in litigation. The department had already canceled millions of dollars in grants to provide teacher training and parental support for students with disabilities, and it is now “exploring additional partnerships” to move special-education services elsewhere in the government. Ostensibly, these cuts and administrative changes are part of a broader effort to empower states. But whatever the motive, the result is clear: The government has abandoned its commitment to an equitable education for all children.