A surprise bump in tax receipts has given Springfield short‑term budget breathing room, but state forecasts warn FY27 could be tighter.

Mayor Brandon Johnson will join suburban leaders in Springfield this week to press lawmakers to reverse a proposed change to the LGDF that the city says would cost about $12.7M. Officials warn the tweak would freeze growth in a key state-to-local revenue stream.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker called President Trump "has dementia" in a short Politico clip that circulated online, sharpening their public feud as Pritzker runs for re-election.

A statewide probe found more than 6,000 people have entered Illinois mental‑health courts, but only about half finish and roughly 2 million residents live where no program exists. The reporting puts pressure on judges and policymakers to improve data and capacity.

The Justice Department has launched civil‑rights investigations into 36 Illinois school districts over possible sexual‑orientation and gender‑ideology instruction, probing parental notice and single‑sex policies.

DeKalb City Council approved a 3.5% water‑fee increase that will raise the average monthly bill to about $45.52 and help fund repairs and capital work.

A city proposal would bar workplace retaliation against domestic‑violence survivors, aiming to make it safer to report abuse and seek help without losing a job.

CPS is now projected to finish the fiscal year with a roughly $45 million shortfall as the district contends with dwindling federal relief, short‑term borrowing and rising costs. The numbers emerged in board financial reports and the district’s audited statements.

Mayor Eddie Melton told residents Tuesday that nearly $3 billion and 2,000 jobs are part of a plan centered on a FedEx facility, a convention center and new hotels.

Chicago representatives unveiled the Living Wage For All Act, a proposal to lift the federal minimum to $25 with a decade‑plus phase‑in and an end to subminimum wages. Sponsors say it’s about affordability; critics warn of costs to small businesses.

USDA rejected four women nominated to the United Soybean Board and appointed men instead, prompting appeals from state boards and criticism from farmer leaders. The choices reshape who controls checkoff priorities.

Chicago has signed a new contract with Ernst & Young to hunt for budget savings; procurement records show a multi‑million dollar ceiling as aldermen demand details. EY’s 2025 review flagged $530M–$1.4B in possible efficiencies.

A randomized Vera Institute evaluation of Chicago’s MIDA found detained immigrants with counsel were far more likely to win relief and to be released on bond.