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A state appeals panel has ruled staffing agencies can’t be held liable in potentially costly biometric privacy lawsuits targeting the businesses who provide employment opportunities, saying the temp agencies don’t control how the actual employers track their workers’ hours on the job.
The bill sponsored by state Sen. Graciela Guzman would specifically grant judges the ability to redraw racially imbalanced legislative maps and require non-English speaking voters receive translated ballots, access to bilingual poll workers, or over-the-phone non-English assistance, among other things.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said though Eileen O’Neil Burke is “deeply concerned” about the “abhorrent behavior” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nationwide, her office “does not conduct independent investigations into criminal conduct and lacks jurisdiction over federal agencies, except in extremely narrow and limited circumstances.”
Despite three straight years of population growth, Illinois lost nearly 445,000 people since 2020. That puts it on track to lose a congressional seat in 2030 when new maps are drawn.
Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the cab fare hike without fanfare in late September while public attention was focused on the battle over his 2026 budget. The mayor’s plan would maintain the cost of entering a cab, known as the “flag pull,” at $3.25 for the first one-ninth of a mile, but provide substantial relief for cab drivers in other ways.
SB2986 would create a five‑year pilot program in three Department of Corrections facilities to offer medical‑grade tattoo removal for inmates with tattoos the state designates as gang‑related. The measure also establishes a body‑artist training program inside those same institutions.
Don Tracy, a former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and former chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, is among six Republicans running for the seat.
Developer Jason Friedman of River North has raised nearly three times more than his closest rival among 13 Democratic candidates in the March 17 primary, federal campaign disclosure records show.
“Madam Chairman, I already have a stamp-sealed signature from the clerk’s office that will be filed today,”Ald. Anthony Beale said. “And I have multiple signatures from my colleagues. So if this administration doesn’t want to notify the state that we’re accepting video gaming terminals, then we will take matters into our own hands and we will do the job the mayor is supposed to do.”
In 2025, the program “awarded more than $4 million in tax credits to support more than 260 local journalist jobs at 55 news entities operating more than 120 local outlets across the state: newspapers, digital news sites, broadcasters, commercial and nonprofit newsrooms alike.” The early success in Illinois indicates this policy structure has real potential to meaningfully support local newsrooms of different shapes and sizes without compromising their independence.
LyLena Estabine, of the Illinois Policy Institute: “Technology companies understand their innovations require significant energy, and they have demonstrated a willingness to pay for it. Recently, seven major data center customers pledged $2 billion to ComEd to cover transmission charges in Illinois during the next decade and shield customers from extra costs that might result from their energy demands.”
Office space vacancies have soared to 28.2 percent in Chicago, which is higher than the vacancy rate from before the pandemic. Wirepoints Executive Editor Mark Glennon says that the “anti-business attitude” in Brandon Johnson’s City Hall is strangling the business sector and costing the city thousands of jobs.
CPS officials said that federal activity on school grounds is extremely rare and the district has mostly responded to reports of activity near school buildings. Over the last year, there have been no known instances of enforcement activity inside a CPS school. Still, schools called the command center for help nearly every day in October and early November
“Look, there are important functions that the federal government carries out, typically done by ICE right now. One is border security, wants to make sure that there isn’t human trafficking, drug trafficking — and those are important functions,” Quigley said. “But at this point in time, I have so little trust in ICE and the culture that this president has put in place, it’s time to dismantle that agency and start afresh …”
Transparency concerns are often heightened by late-night legislative sessions, particularly during budget negotiations. Illinois House Minority Leader Rep. Tony McCombie noted that in past years, key votes and amendments have taken place in the early morning hours, when most residents are unable to attend or watch proceedings live.
Since 2020, the state’s budget has been goosed by an influx of over $15 billion in temporary federal aid from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the funding was temporary, the state has used it to permanently increase what it spends. The only way to solve Illinois’ fiscal and economic problems is to ensure responsible budgeting, adopt pro-growth policies that boost the economy and reduce harmful taxation.
Gov. Pritzker also told The Atlantic he was disappointed it took so long to develop a strong anti-Trump resistance: “My complaint is not about regular folks. What I’ve been frustrated by is people who hold leadership positions. And I’m not talking about elected Democrats only. I’m talking about CEOs of companies. I’m talking about boards of universities. I’m talking about people who have influence, who have the ability to stand up but are afraid.”
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is one among thousands getting billions in total from Illinois taxpayers that needs a close look, says Glennon. Audio Link Here.
Proposed legislation would make Illinois compliant with a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision stating property owners are constitutionally owed the surplus equity in their homes after a tax foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. While the legislation makes its way to the floor, there is still the issue of this spring’s anticipated tax sale.
Trump: “I even invited the SLOB of a Governor, JB Pritzker, and horrendous California Governor, Gavin Newscum, to the Dinner, despite the terrible job that they are doing.”
To address concerns about prices, the bill would require new data centers to pay for their own energy costs, including infrastructure needed to generate that energy. It also requires energy to come from renewable sources and prohibits data centers from shifting costs to residents. Further, the bill requires data centers to report their water usage, including how much they take in and discharge.
Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit against the reparations program over its use of race as an eligibility requirement. The program provides $25,000 direct cash payments to Black residents and descendants of Black residents who lived in Evanston between the years 1919 and 1969. So far, 137 people have received reparations payments totaling $3.47 million, and more are expected by year’s end.
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