“Bottom line, the industry says the state’s Biometric and Information Privacy Act is stalling construction of new data centers, which generate millions of dollars in local taxes and employ union workers.”

According to data on state business cycles, Illinois is the largest state currently considered at “high risk” of a recession or already in one, according to Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi. Among the 10 most-populated states, only Illinois and Georgia fall into the high-risk category.

One part of the plan would ban insurance companies from cost shifting, or passing the cost of out-of-state emergencies like hurricanes, wildfires, or floods onto Illinois customers. “Are these insurance companies socializing the costs of other states’ problems on Illinois residents? I don’t think that’s fair,” state Sen. Michael Hastings said. “It’s not explicitly prohibited in legislation or in statute.”

State Rep. Bill Hauter was critical of IDPH. “They don’t have a lot of credibility, even with me and other medical professionals after they screwed up COVID so badly and they destroyed our credibility with a lot of our patients,” said Hauter.

State leaders say they still have many unanswered questions about the boarded-up Broadview facility, as well as where else ICE is detaining people arrested in the Chicago area. The delegation wrote constituents have reported people being detained in Lombard, hotels near O’Hare and prisons in Indiana.

John Atkinson, of the Illinois Economic Development Corp.: “Currently before the Illinois General Assembly, this legislation would give qualifying megaprojects — those investing at least $100 million and committing to stay for 20 years or more — the ability to negotiate long-term, predictable property tax agreements with local governments. These agreements would provide companies with stable costs as they grow in Illinois, while schools and municipalities would gain a reliable revenue stream they can plan around with confidence.”

Although Chicago aldermen did not consider the grocery tax or a proposed ordinance to allow video gaming terminals in the city, they did vote 43-4 to issue a formal apology on behalf of the city to Black citizens of Chicago for the historical injustices of slavery.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott: “As state treasurers from opposite political parties, we don’t see eye to eye on Charlie Kirk’s views. But we are united on this: No American should ever lose their life because of their political beliefs.”

“Even if lawmakers take action now, there is unlikely to be short-term relief for consumers. … But there are significant intermediate concerns — as soon as 2030 — about having enough power supply to meet demand; the first priority for policymakers is to ensure we don’t have rolling blackouts during peak periods.”

“But every now and then comes a proposal that is so outlandishly stupid and unenforceable that it deserves a reasonable amount of ridicule. That’s why today’s topic is H.B. 2718, legislation sponsored by Democratic state Reps. Maurice West and Anne Stava-Murray that would compel all eligible voters to cast a ballot in every general election.”

In his latest statement, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, who is also a Democrat, said the law’s effects, as measured by the number of inmates in custody at the Kane County Jail, have resulted in an outcome different than the law’s architects and supporters had likely desired.

Conservative downstate framer Darren Bailey on Thursday kicked off another bid for Illinois governor with the same theme: Fire Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “People just can’t afford to live and work here. Pritzker has caused all that, and I think we’re going to bring the cure,” Bailey said. WGN’s video report here.