“I think one of the challenges or the concerns with this is it seems to be moving very quickly – or at least the mayor’s office seems to want it to move very quickly,” said Michael Mini, of the Chicagoland Apartment Association. “The ordinance was a little bit unusual in that it was done as a direct introduction in a committee meeting yesterday, as opposed to the normal route where you would introduce an ordinance at a city council meeting.”

The state of Illinois does not have parameters on how cannabis money has to be allocated, but traditionally the county has used the fund on public health and safety initiatives, said Mike Theodore, a spokesman for the county executive office.

“In Chicago, a carry-away 12-pack of beer gets slapped with more than $2 in tax. The $1.01 in federal, state and county alcohol taxes piles on top of the 1.5 percent city tax and the 10.25 percent general sales tax. The combined burden makes taxes the single most expensive ingredient in many Americans’ drink of choice.”

“After praising (Attorney General Kwame) Raoul yet again for attempting to keep the Trump administration in check, and thanking Raoul for recognizing the state’s current budget challenges under this federal administration, the governor said, ‘We’re not going to let it happen that he can’t go to court or that he can’t do the things that are necessary to protect the people of the state of Illinois, but we’re all tightening our belts.'”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey — Pritzker’s November opponent — has borrowed the tactic that drew vast online and media attention to Spencer Pratt’s recent campaign for Los Angeles mayor.

Federal regulators, states, and tribes are battling over who controls sports betting.

With Benton’s resignation, it remains unclear if Legislative Inspector General Mike McCuskey’s report detailing the lawmaker’s conduct will ever become public. Only the Legislative Ethics Commission, an eight-member board comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans from both legislative chambers, can make it so.

How Governor J.B. and Penny Pritzker worked with universities, tech companies, and powerful business groups to transform Chicago into a global hub for quantum, and the massive data center that comes with it.

“These are not harmless products that carry real risks for young children and young people,” said Dr. Mark Butterly, the chief medical officer at Advocate Aurora Children’s Hospital. “These products can impair judgments, affecting the developing brain, and send children to our emergency departments.”

The latest report shows seven data centers inked deals just in 2025, pledging to invest a combined $2.6 billion in Illinois to receive $159.9 million in tax benefits. This includes four sites in Elk Grove Village, including a new data center built by Oracle, and a controversial center built by T5 in Grayslake.