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Top Illinois Stories
In the ruling, however, the court's majority shied away from a more sweeping declaration concerning the law's constitutionality.
Pritzker has asked the Illinois State Board of Investment, the State Universities Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System to review any investments in companies controlled by El Salvador, with the purpose of withholding investments in those companies. Additionally, Pritzker wants the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Trade and Investment to send in an analysis of the scale of trade El Salvador has with Illinois.
“In the nearly five decades since the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was enacted, no other President has imposed tariffs based on the existence of any national emergency, despite global anti-narcotics campaigns spearheaded by the United States and longstanding trade deficits,” the lawsuit argued. While Congress passed IEEPA, “Congress never intended it to be used for tariffs."
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Theodore “Ted” D. Berger most recently worked under Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle as the county’s executive director of emergency management and regional security.
Existing state rules ban credit card use for casino and video gaming wagers. Six other states have enacted prohibitions on credit card use in sports wagering or reversed regulations that previously allowed it.
In a statement, LaHood emphasized the importance of addressing the nation’s $36 trillion debt. He argued that to ensure the long-term sustainability of programs like Medicaid, spending must be prioritized and focused on delivering high-quality care to those who need it most.
If the situation worsens, some foster agencies warn they will have to shut down, sending children in their facilities back under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, an agency advocates say doesn’t have the capacity to handle an influx of foster children.
"This bill would send a message to Illinois families that the state is opposed to educational flexibility and parental autonomy."
New Jersey was the first state to pass what is being called Alyssa’s Law in 2020. Six other states followed suit and 13 more are considering similar legislation. Alyssa’s Law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, who was killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Cook County Republican chairman Aaron Del Mar said Gov. JB Pritzker is failing to deal with issues at home while he plays games with El Salvador and tries to get more headlines: "He’s trying to play national politics and start talking about issues versus Trump and in El Salvador that really have nothing to do with Illinois."
The bills would prohibit the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots and restrict educational institutions from adopting or continuing the use of discriminatory disability mascots. The bills are still working their way through the legislative process, but they could change the way area high schools look in the near future.
The senator, who’s served 16 years in Springfield since he replaced his father — former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. — was charged with three counts of bribery and lying to the FBI.
And they’re getting it from fewer drivers: the number of registered passenger vehicles in Illinois went down by more than 580,000 from 2018 to 2024. So, the state is getting an extra $2 billion from fewer people and is still plotting to get more.
Councilman Tim Riggenbach lambasted the state government, saying it was “disingenuous” and that it was “no skin off the back” of state politicians to put the onus on local governments to impose their own tax on groceries.
"The Illinois High School Association has crossed a dangerous line. By blatantly violating federal law and rejecting biological reality, they are not only undermining fairness in girls’ sports – they’re putting the safety of young women at risk," Miller said.
In July, the Energy Department announced Stellantis was awarded $335 million in federal funds to help fuel the reopening of the Belvidere plant; It’s expected about 1,500 UAW-represented employees will go back to work at the plant. It’s unclear if the funds are in jeopardy under the new Trump administration.
"And I have a long list of personal priorities that I want to see through: my Dreamers; medical research; holding social media responsible for the sexploitation of our children and the sale of deadly narcotics; critical Illinois projects such as the protection of Lake Michigan and the expansion of Amtrak; and many more."
The Illinois House is considering legislation that would have the state’s Department of Children and Family Services maintain a human trafficking unit. The measure also calls for state police to develop a plan to improve victim-centered, trauma-informed law enforcement response to victims.
“Whatever we do with regard to transit, there has to be a component of it that focuses on downstate transit,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “That is something I have been pushing very hard is that it can’t just be about Chicago and the surrounding areas.”
“We are spending a lot of money on undocumented immigrants in the state right now,” state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal said. “So do they think that’s more important than preserving our farm legacy, which is our No. 1 industry in the state?”
"'We couldn’t have planned it this way,' write Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner of wirepoints.org. 'But our seven most-read stories in 2024 each captured a different facet of what’s wrong with Illinois. Failing schools. Murders. Closing businesses. A bloated, overpaid government sector. Election interference. Population-loss denial. And Chicago’s twisted equity priorities.'"
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour said states like Louisiana and Mississippi have improved their literacy rates faster than Illinois and with less money. "There are several factors [for their success] but one factor they have in common is that they have in place school choice programs," Wilhour said. "When you have to compete, the public school program actually improves."
Kerri Toloczko of the Election Integrity Network said noncitizens are able to get Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses in Illinois. “So what do you need to register in Illinois to vote? A driver’s license and the last four of your Social. Surely we see the problem,” Toloczko said.
His retirement is expected to set off a flurry of moves by some of the state’s top Democrats who are widely believed to be interested in the seat, including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly.
“The ILBC shares in the belief that every American should have the opportunity to earn their success, to be promoted on their own merits, and enjoy the American dream of prosperity and fulfillment. But unfortunately, the reality of the dream is far from fruition. America still has deep racial divides,” says state Sen. Lakesia Collins.
Illinois not in top ten.
Kathy Salvi, chair of the Illinois Republican Party, said there’s an “audible groan” from Illinois residents whenever his name is mentioned. “He is hugely unpopular here in Illinois and that’s because we see him for who he is,” Salvi told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “He’s got a soft launch of his presidential bid in New Hampshire that just proves Illinois has just been a stepping stone for him to advance his personal ambition while we’re settled here with the heavy effect of his administration’s failed policies.”
The state of Illinois "has created a legal system via the PTC (Property Tax Code) in which (counties are) either required to violate the rights of property owners ... or be sued by taxing bodies for failing to collect property tax revenue as required by the PTC," DuPage and Lake counties wrote in their filing. "... (Counties) have a clear right to a PTC that is constitutional and does not force them to violate the rights of a property owner..."
Top Chicago Stories
As we look ahead to this year’s budget, our city faces two distinct challenges. We have a structural imbalance due to decades of neglecting our pension obligations while relying heavily on short-term fixes. At the same time, we face a presidential administration that has threatened to cut the services that Chicagoans rely upon, potentially putting an even greater strain on our municipal budget. In response to the chaos we are seeing at the federal level, we must come together as Chicagoans, roll up our sleeves, and get to work protecting our city services while taking steps to address the structural
"Unfortunately, achieving true justice for victims of crime will take a back seat to the criminal justice reform advocates who measure progress solely by falling jail population."
"Chicago residents didn’t hold back when asked what a Pritzker presidency might mean for the country."
The lawsuit specifically accuses Oak Park of attempting to exceed its authority by banning natural gas appliances when the Coalition says the use of such appliances is explicitly protected by the federal law known as the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
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A report last year by the commercial real estate data company CommercialCafe said that of the 30 biggest cities in the United States, Chicago has the second-highest amount of office space that could be converted to residential use. Nearly 27 percent of Chicago’s office stock has conversion potential, the report said, with the bulk of the space it identified deemed to be “largely viable” for conversion.
The CTA spent about $83 million on private security contracts last year, an amount bus drivers described as severely inadequate to deal with the mounting threat they, along with riders, face on their routes. In 2024, 184 CTA employees reported being assaulted while on the job.
Facing lawsuits, Bally’s has revised its ownership offering aimed at women and minorities to now prioritize Chicago and Illinois residents who want a stake in the $1.7 billion casino.
"These include an attack on student proficiency by increasing the number of 'sustainable community schools,' which have among the worst outcomes in the district. The contract also attacks the district’s charter schools, limiting their growth and enrollment and clearing the way for their ultimate closure. With fewer than 1 in 3 CPS students reading at grade level, parents need more options and support – not fewer."
"Presumably, (Mayor Brandon) Johnson wasn’t asked by the Massachusetts school department’s board for input as they considered Martinez’s application. But we have little doubt that Massachusetts officials dug deeply into what transpired in Chicago. At the recent meeting where the Massachusetts board members voted to recommend Martinez for the post, that state’s Secretary of Education, Patrick Tutwiler, praised Martinez for his 'proven track record of success in extraordinarily unideal contexts.'"
David Greising, of the Better Government Association: "Each measure is laudable, but they can lack coordination, are not always driven by reliable data and need to be undertaken more strategically than have been managed to date."
“While the keffiyeh is a traditional Middle Eastern garment with cultural significance, in recent decades it has often been used as a political symbol — particularly by extremist groups that promote violence against the Jewish people and seek the destruction of the State of Israel. ... We understand that Mayor Johnson may not have intended to cause harm, but at a time of historic antisemitic threat levels, including in Chicago, symbols matter.”
As part of the host city agreement (HCA), the regional casino operator wants to sell a 25% interest in its permanent gaming venue in Chicago to people of color and women, but white men aren’t eligible to participate in the offering. The suits being referenced were filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) against the City of Chicago, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), and Bally’s Chicago Casino and a complaint filed
The shift could be tied to the city’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, which imposes strict rules on how landlords must handle security deposits, said Jeff Weinberg, founder of Drexel Properties and co-president of the Northwest Side Building Coalition. To avoid the legal risks that come with handling security deposits, many landlords have turned to move-in fees as a simpler alternative.
"Rahm Emanuel is an easy enough target for a man like Johnson, and not merely because he organized a labor strike against Emanuel. It is because, even though absence tends to make the heart grow fonder, Emanuel is still an immensely controversial figure in Chicago."
For its part, CPD’s draft policy states, “The Department acknowledges that lawful Pretextual Traffic Stops can be perceived by some members of the community as negative, biased, or unlawful. Therefore, any such use of lawful Pretextual Traffic Stops as a law enforcement or crime prevention strategy must strike a balance between identifying those engaged in criminal conduct and the community’s sense of fairness.”
The committee was a requirement of a bill Illinois lawmakers passed in 2024 that set the stage for Chicago’s transition from a mayorally-appointed school board to an elected one. Under the state law, the new committee would focus on closing disparities for Black students and improving their experience on CPS campuses. These students make up roughly a third of the district’s student body.
CPS officials have estimated the cost of that contract at $1.5 billion over its lifetime and around $120-125 million during the first year alone.
"While it is a school day, it will be a historic opportunity to celebrate our diverse school communities and protect our democracy. ... A number of schools already are planning field trips and members have submitted personal business days in order to attend the March."
“While I appreciate the consideration, I’m concerned that this group may be more about appearances than a genuine desire for input,” said freshman alderman Ruth Cruz. “We have seen it for quite some time. Input has been provided and the administration decides to continue with their original plan.”
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from yanking funding from 16 cities and counties across the country because they have laws designed to protect undocumented immigrants by prohibiting state local law enforcement officials from helping federal agents. The injunction issued by U.S. District Judge William Orrick does not apply to Chicago or Cook County.
While acknowledging that antisemitism exists on college campuses, the faculty warned against using Jewish identity to limit free expression, arguing that such efforts could fuel more antisemitism, not less.
After the Supreme Court struck down explicitly racial zoning in 1917, cities turned to other tools: minimum lot sizes, parking mandates and unit limits. That legacy is intact today – Chicago remains the most segregated city in America.
Though charters grew rapidly over the past 20 years, operators are facing declining enrollment, tighter budgets, and a 21-member, partially-elected school board with few charter allies. Now, the relatively new school board is proposing changes to how it handles charter oversight.
Each shift, CPD assigned a squad car that would have been patrolling Lincoln Park or Lakeview or North Center or Uptown to sit outside Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ house instead. Curiously, the squad cars were often parked directly next to a portable surveillance camera trailer that would seemingly allow Frerichs’ property to be monitored remotely. In fact, the Illinois State Police has an entire unit dedicated to executive protection.
Retired police chief Tom Weitzel: "What we are seeing here is a collaboration between media organizations, activists, and state legislators who, armed with an anti-police philosophy, are distorting the truth behind the aim and legality of traffic stops. This movement to end traffic stops aims to see Chicago and the State of Illinois become some type of 'experimental incubator' that places limits on police officers' ability to carry out their duties."
"On Monday, he left it to Ralph Martire, a pension finance expert who leans left, to say the effort must 'have everyone at the table and … everything on the table' in order to succeed. We need to hear that loud and clear from Johnson himself. For example, cost-cutting options must include long-standing proposed efficiencies that unions have labeled nonstarters, such as ending the requirement that every city garbage truck be staffed by three workers."
The task force is funded with $500,000 from the city’s 2024 budget for the task force, marking the first time city officials set aside taxpayer dollars to do more than just promise to talk about what Chicago owes its Black residents as a result of the legacy of slavery and segregation. Task force members will be paid to serve for a year.
There are two major camps: One in favor of merging the CTA, Metra, Pace and Regional Transportation Authority, which currently oversees the other agencies, into a larger Metropolitan Mobility Authority, and another seeking to strengthen the RTA’s control.
City energy costs over the past seven years show from 2017 to 2024 the city used 14 percent less natural gas, but costs went up 19 percent. Electricity use increased by 11 percent in that time, but the cost went up a whopping 80 percent.
“Incompetent people are jealous of competent people,” said Democratic political strategist James Carville, who considers Emanuel to be one of his oldest and closest friends. Brandon Johnson is “a guy who has failed at his job and he’s very insecure about it. That’s what I really think is at the core of this.. …When people fail at one thing, they try to deflect attention to something else and, clearly, that’s what he’s trying to do.”
Wirepoints Research and Commentary
Illinois lawmakers continue to complain about the lack of housing, but it's their failed policies have made Illinois a national outlier. Just 44,600 new housing units have been built since 2020 – an increase in the housing stock of less than 1%. That makes Illinois 49th in the nation when it comes to building new homes. 
Ted joined NewsTalkSTL's Mike Ferguson to discuss Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to not run for reelection, the long list of people that could replace him, why it's unlikely anything will change in Illinois even with Durbin's departure, what it means for Illinois' influence in Washington, and more. 
Mark joined Dan and Amy to talk about the new data showing that Illinoisans are paying the nation's highest property taxes, why the math in Illinois will eventually fail, what the market turmoil means for Chicago's near-broke pension funds, the fact that Illinois is a jobs and economic failure, and more. 
Ted joined Scott to talk about why so many Illinois metro areas dominate the rest of the country when it comes to property taxes, why the celebration over the state's latest job numbers is so wrong, why Gov. Pritzker should focus on promoting literacy in schools instead of his pet issues, and more. 
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The new “record” number of 6,172,300 jobs means almost nothing. It was 6,137,700 in 2019 and 6,056,500 all the way back in 2000. So, Illinois has had essentially no growth in six years and not much in 25 years. Perhaps more distressing, recent job growth has been entirely government jobs. 
It should be an embarrassment for every one of our legislators and government leaders. The latest report from ATTOM Data Solutions shows that Illinois’ counties and metro areas dominate the list of the nation’s highest property tax rates. Illinois has 27 of the nation’s top 50 counties for highest property tax rates. And five of Illinois’ metro areas are in the nation’s top 10, including the four highest in the country. 
End work from home? Cut overtime? For government workers? We don’t hear those kinds of demands very often from Illinois politicians. Yet that’s what State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Marty Moylan are calling for. But don't get too excited. 
Ted joined Tom Miller to talk about how the 2026 state budget deficit is growing behind the scenes, why government estimates are oftentimes very wrong, the impact Trump's tariffs could have on Illinois farmers, the potential for Gov. Pritzker to testify about Illinois' sanctuary status, and more. 
Ted joined Shaun Thompson to talk about the two classes of workers that exist in Illinois: public workers and the private workers who pay for them, how Illinois became a net taker from the federal government, why Chicago pension funds are nearly broke, why gerrymandering has led to downstaters having no representation, and much more. 
Chicago’s pension plans avoided a reckoning in 2020 after federal covid aid helped the city avoid a fiscal collapse. But reality is back and the financial market’s volatility is a reminder of just how delicate the situation is. The market’s drop this year alone has cost the city an estimated $1 billion-plus in mark-to-market losses, a big deal for a city that already has a $53 billion funding hole. 
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