The Illinois Finance Authority board is expected to clear $1.26 billion of deals at its meeting Thursday as borrowers rush to market ahead of federal tax legislation that is likely to end advance refundings and might strip not-for-profits of their tax-exempt borrowing powers.

The IFA is the state’s primary avenue for nonprofits, such as hospitals, private universities, cultural institutions, housing groups, and charter schools, to access the municipal market.

See our Quicktake on this article linked here.

Late last month, a group of five national progressive organizations announced their support for Marie Newman, a Democrat running for Congress in Illinois. Nothing unusual there: Newman is a down-the-line progressive on everything from economic populism, immigration, LGBT rights, gun violence and a woman’s right to choose.

What made the move so unusual is that there is already a Democrat safely in the seat – Dan Lipinski.

“In terms of sweeping (and confusing) income tax reforms, Illinois just might take the cake among the states set to increase income taxes in 2018.”

By Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski

Rather than help evaluate risk to children, the system overwhelmed caseworkers, flagging 4,100 children as facing a 90 percent or greater probability of death or injury. And it did not predict deaths of children who had been subject of several abuse investigations, according to the Tribune.

From Daniel Biss’s first (shortlived) pick for a running mate to Virginia’s election of Lee Carter, Democrats are contending with a new political reality.

Jim Dodge currently serves as an Orland Park village trustee.