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Chicago Tribune
6 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Amid challenge from banks, Illinois legislators move to delay ban on certain credit card fees
Illinois legislators voted to delay for one year a ban on certain credit card fees that was set to take effect July 1 amid a legal challenge by banks. A measure passed by legislators and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker last year would prevent banks and credit card companies from charging retailers a small fee on sales taxes and tips. Pritzker still has to sign off on the legislature's move to extend the deadline to July 1, 2026. Pritzker on Sunday said that while the delay wasn't his initiative, he anticipated the interchange fee issue 'will probably get resolved over the next year' as it is currently with the courts. Retailers who support the measure say the fees come at a cost to consumers. Banks say the law would create large costs within the payment processing system and inconvenience both businesses and customers. They've also said don't have the infrastructure in place to implement the ban. 'On the banking side, certainly, the technology doesn't exist, nor do we think it will any time soon,' Ben Jackson, executive vice president of government relations at the Illinois Bankers Association, said Monday. The technology needed will still not be ready by July 2026, he said. Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said in a statement Sunday that the delay would take money out of the pockets of Illinoisans and businesses by continuing to allow the fees. 'We remain committed to ensuring this law is not delayed further and urge lawmakers to renew the promise they made to stop the swipe fee greed that's driving up prices and making it harder for families and businesses to make ends meet,' Karr said. The provision on so-called interchange fees was tucked into last year's revenue bill in an effort to provide relief to retailers as the state enacted some $101 million in tax hikes on retailers. Banks ever since then have said the effective date was too soon. Illinois would be the first state to require a distinction on consumer retail transactions between goods, taxes and tips, creating the need for what opponents say would be a complicated and expensive software change. While the fight over over the ban reflects the national political battle between interest groups representing retailers and financial services like Visa and MasterCard, the Illinois law is separate from federal legislation on interchange fees that has been pushed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The federal lawsuit filed by the banking interests that challenges the ban has inched forward throughout the spring but it wasn't clear whether a final ruling would be reached by July 1. Financial companies scored a partial victory in court when a federal judge in December agreed to put a temporary hold on the law for some types of institutions including national banks, meaning that they don't need to comply with the law as court proceedings continue. That relief was later expanded to out-of-state banks doing business in Illinois, but other entities including in-state banks remain subject to the law. The IBA as well as the American Bankers Association, America's Credit Unions and the Illinois Credit Union League are plaintiffs in the suit, which names Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul as a defendant. An effort to repeal the law completely did not advance the spring legislative session, while the vote for the delay came on the session's last day. The Electronic Transactions Association, an association representing large companies including Visa, American Express and Bank of America, issued a statement Sunday applauding the decision to put the ban off for the year.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois criminal justice advocates tout ‘Clean Slate' legislation as ‘economic boon'
SPRINGFIELD — Criminal justice reform advocates say legislation to seal criminal records for certain nonviolent crimes, which passed Friday in the House, would unlock economic opportunity for thousands of Illinoisans. The so-called Clean Slate Act has failed twice before, but activists see renewed fiscal messaging as the key to reinvigorating the campaign. This time, the bill's sponsor points to a 'diverse coalition of stakeholders' and backing from business groups as signs Illinois could become the 13th state to enact similar legislation. 'This is something I've worked on for six long years, and now we have law enforcement and the business community — folks like the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the Illinois Manufacturers Association — all on board,' Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, said in an interview. 'Not as a neutral party, but they are proponents. They want to see this bill passed.' Like earlier proposals, Senate Bill 1784 would require law enforcement agencies to automatically seal records for nonviolent criminal convictions twice a year — Jan. 1 and July 1. The records would no longer be public, although law enforcement and state's attorneys would retain access. Gordon-Booth has sponsored Clean Slate legislation twice before — once in 2021 and again in 2023 — but neither bill progressed past committee. Just a few days before the 2025 legislative session concluded, she filed it again. Within two days, it passed the House mostly along partisan lines, and is headed for debate on the Senate floor. The session ends at midnight Saturday, although the bill could still pass after that deadline. People convicted of certain violent offenses — including sex crimes against minors, DUI, reckless driving and violent offenses that require sex offender registration — would be ineligible to have their records sealed. 'I want to make this very, very clear: Serious criminal records are not eligible for automated sealing,' Gordon-Booth said during floor debate. Gordon-Booth argued that conviction records trap formerly incarcerated individuals in a state of perpetual punishment, eclipsing access to employment, housing and educational opportunities. She said Clean Slate would remove these barriers, helping system-impacted people reintegrate into society instead of recidivating. Paul Rothschild, managing director of operations for the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishment — a group that advocates for the rights of people with criminal records — said he agrees. He said the justice system fails to follow through on its own promise: Once someone has served their time, they are entitled to a second chance. 'We believe that people should be accountable for the crimes that they commit. But we also believe there is an implied covenant that when they finish, they're supposed to be returned to the world made whole, and that covenant is not being kept by society. They're being forever subjugated in that lower caste, that lower class,' Rothschild said. More than 3 million Illinoisans have arrest or conviction records, and an estimated 921,000 people are eligible for 'sealing relief' — but only about 10% actually petition to have their records cleared, according to statistics from Live Free Illinois, a grassroots organization aimed at reforming the state criminal justice system and part of the Clean Slate Illinois steering committee, which coordinates the campaign's messaging and advocacy efforts. The bill would automate the process for individuals with nonviolent convictions to have their records sealed once they have served their sentences, completed probation, and remained crime-free. Many eligible individuals are deterred by steep fines, complex paperwork and long waiting periods, Gordon-Booth said. The 'burdensome' process has contributed to massive court backlogs, according to Clean Slate Illinois. 'It's going to automate the process, so this way we don't have to go through that whole trying to get the paperwork, trying to go through all the rigmarole,' said Chauncy Stockdale, who was formerly incarcerated and is now a member of the Live Free Illinois Fellowship, a reentry program that supports returning citizens. The measure passed the House 81-28, with five Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure. No Democrats voted against the bill. During debate on the House floor, Minority Floor Leader Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, voiced concerns about the tentative $18 million price tag, and whether the state is capable of fully funding the policy in the years ahead, leaving counties to cover the cost. 'If this isn't funded, we're either going to be sending a large unfunded mandate to our counties, or we're making a promise to 2.1 million people that will not be fulfilled without any funding,' he said. Gordon-Booth detailed a three year 'implementation ramp,' which would give the state time to identify funding sources for the local circuit clerks. She also said the Illinois State Police would absorb the initial costs and emphasized the state's commitment to supporting circuit clerks in the rollout phase. 'It is our full intention to provide clerks with all that they need to implement this,' she said. 'We are not going to send an unfunded mandate to our local governments.' On April 10, nearly 300 members, supporters and advocates from Live Free Illinois chapters gathered in front of the Abraham Lincoln monument in Springfield for Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to introduce the Clean Slate Act. Live Free Illinois — a faith-based nonprofit focused on ending gun violence and mass incarceration — organizes Black congregations to push for systemic change. The organization is involved in the broad-based Clean Slate steering committee, which also includes the Fully Free Campaign, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, and Impact for Equity. The day before, Muslim leaders also advocated for Clean Slate legislation at Illinois Muslim Action Day. Beyond criminal justice reform, advocates pushed a new messaging angle this year to usher the legislation across the finish line: Clean Slate could boost Illinois' economy. As of April, Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, at 4.8% — above the national average of 4.2%, according to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jerika Richardson, senior vice president for equitable justice and strategic initiatives at the National Urban League, said the act would open doors for thousands of people who have been barred from work because of background checks. 'There are so many employers and businesses across this country who are struggling to find the workers that they need, and part of the reason is because these records are barriers,' Richardson said. 'If Illinois passes the Clean Slate Act, you won't have to worry about businesses going to another state or leaving the country.' An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021, expanded legal protections for state workers by prohibiting discrimination based on criminal convictions, in addition to arrest records. Yet many say they continue to face employment hurdles despite the law. People with conviction histories earn an average of 25% less than those with clean records — a gap the National Urban League says costs the state billions of dollars in lost wages. According to a news release from the National Urban League, the Clean Slate Act could generate more than $4.7 billion in lost wages for Illinois, easing economic disparities and addressing labor shortages. Gordon-Booth echoed Richardson's point, adding that her office frequently hears from constituents who are missing out on life-changing chances. 'I get calls from people saying, 'I had an opportunity to get my dream job, and it fell through because of something that I did when I was 18 or 19.' And we're talking about folks that are in their 30s,' Gordon-Booth said. 'They have not gone through the process of hiring a lawyer, going through the court-mandated process, and folks are losing out.' Reilly Cook is a graduate student in journalism with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and a fellow in its Medill Illinois News Bureau working in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After years of negotiations, Illinois lawmakers consider measures to phase out plastic bags, foam food containers
CHICAGO — After more than a decade of negotiations and failed efforts to reduce the use of plastics, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would prohibit large retailers from offering single-use plastic bags and ban the use of most polystyrene containers in the state over the next four to five years. Advocates, citing the threat of rising plastic waste to human and environmental health, say the timing for the bills is ripe given rising health concerns about microplastics and the passage of similar legislation in states like New Jersey and California. Retailers also support the measures, calling the requirements balanced and flexible, according to a statement from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. But at the same time, President Donald Trump's administration is moving in an opposite direction, with Trump declaring America is going 'back to plastic' by reversing federal restrictions on plastic drinking straws and dismantling departments that regulate plastic pollution. In addition, some labor unions, including the Illinois Pipe Trades Association and AFL-CIO, oppose the move to do away with foam food containers. Manufacturers have expressed concerns the measures could lead to thousands of layoffs if the facilities that make the banned products are forced to shut down as their in-state customer base disappears. Two bills are awaiting a vote in the state Senate. One measure would use financial penalties under the jurisdiction of the attorney general and local state's attorney offices to restrict the sale or distribution of disposable containers made of polystyrene — known by the brand name Styrofoam — with the exception of egg cartons, starting in January 2030. The other bill would prohibit retailers with more than a dozen stores from offering or making available single-use checkout bags by January 2029. State Sen. Laura Fine, a Democrat from Glenview who's sponsoring the foam container bill, said there are alternatives to polystyrene and plastic bags and that the measures are necessary 'to get the bad products off the market so we could have a cleaner environment and help our kids.' Environmental advocates widely agree there's an unhealthy proliferation of plastic waste and that plastic bags and polystyrene are the 'worst of the worst,' partly because of how long these products take to decompose, said Emily Kowalski, outreach engagement manager with Environment Illinois. She noted about 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes every year, according to 2022 estimates from the Rochester Institute of Technology. 'Nothing we use for just a few minutes should be allowed to pollute our water and environment for hundreds of years,' Kowalski said. Volunteers with the Alliance for the Great Lakes have collected more than 10 million pieces of litter in the past 20 years at beaches of the five Great Lakes, 86% of it partially or fully plastic, according to Andrea Densham, senior policy adviser with the environmental organization. Polystyrene foam pieces were the third most common litter item that volunteers found over the years. Densham said this is a threat to drinking water and the lakes, citing that the Great Lakes hold 20% of the world's fresh water and provide drinking water for over 40 million people. According to a 2024 study in the research publication Frontiers, continued exposure to microplastics through ingestion and inhalation can lead to inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders and chronic diseases. There have been previous efforts to reduce plastic in the state, such as Chicago's tax on plastic bags that increased from 7 cents to 10 cents per bag in January 2025 and a 2023 state law banning foam foodware at state facilities that went into effect this January. Advocates say these initiatives haven't been entirely effective. 'I've seen there's still foam in the Stratton cafeteria, so I would like to see the state leading by example,' said Jack Darin, director of the Illinois Sierra Club chapter, referring to a state government office building in Springfield that was required to stop procuring foam, or polystyrene, for use by January 2025 under the 2023 law. Sen. Cristina Castro's bill to ban plastic bags contains a provision that would eliminate municipal taxes on plastic bags by 2029, including Chicago's, which at 7 cents a bag in 2023 generated more than $17 million. Castro, of Elgin, said municipalities have not been using the extra cash to support sustainable initiatives, as was intended by advocates. An outright ban, instead of a tax, would be more successful in limiting plastic waste, Castro said. 'Instead of using the money for sustainability programs, a lot of them (municipalities) have used it for filling the coffers or plugging some other hole, which has frustrated a lot of the environmentalists, activists, who have said, 'Hey, that was supposed to help with recycling and things like that,'' said Castro. The Illinois Municipal League opposes the bill because of the provision dropping the bag tax, which it argues preempts local regulatory authority, the group's CEO, Brad Cole, said. Manufacturers and the unions take issue with Fine's foam foodware bill, arguing the measure would only shift consumers to use another type of plastic and cause significant job losses at polystyrene manufacturing plants. While the bills do not ban the production of polystyrene, Donovan Griffith, vice president for government affairs for the Illinois Manufacturers Association, said a loss of in-state customers holds a 'real potential for job losses.' Keith Clark, CEO of Dart Container, a polystyrene manufacturing company that employs more than 1,400 people in Illinois at facilities in Chicago, North Aurora and Country Club Hills, told the Tribune that the legislation, if passed, would 'certainly require us to reassess our Illinois operations in the coming years.' Brad Laporte, CEO of WinCup, a polystyrene manufacturer with two facilities outside of Chicago, said he worked with Illinois lawmakers to get the ban deadline extended to 2030 but still opposes it, saying the measure could even ban the company's new biodegradable foam foodware. Those products can decompose by 92% over four years in certain landfills, according to the company's website. Griffith also said polystyrene containers are cheaper and in some ways more environmentally friendly than alternatives that require more energy to produce, a point some environmental advocates take issue with. The four- to five-year runway before the measures would take effect is intended to give municipalities time to fill gaps in tax revenue, consumers to adjust behavior, large retailers to eliminate bag use and foam foodware and manufacturers to prepare for losing revenue from large retailers. 'This is a change in the way organizations do business,' said Fine, acknowledging her conversations with opponents of the bills. 'This is a huge step, but we have to protect our Great Lakes and our waterways and this is part of that process.' ____
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
After years of negotiations, state lawmakers consider measures to phase out plastic bags, foam food containers
After more than a decade of negotiations and failed efforts to reduce the use of plastics, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would prohibit large retailers from offering single-use plastic bags and ban the use of most polystyrene containers in the state over the next four to five years. Advocates, citing the threat of rising plastic waste to human and environmental health, say the timing for the bills is ripe given rising health concerns about microplastics and the passage of similar legislation in states like New Jersey and California. Retailers also support the measures, calling the requirements balanced and flexible, according to a statement from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. But at the same time, President Donald Trump's administration is moving in an opposite direction, with Trump declaring America is going 'back to plastic' by reversing federal restrictions on plastic drinking straws and dismantling departments that regulate plastic pollution. In addition, some labor unions, including the Illinois Pipe Trades Association and AFL-CIO, oppose the move to do away with foam food containers. Manufacturers have expressed concerns the measures could lead to thousands of layoffs if the facilities that make the banned products are forced to shut down as their in-state customer base disappears. Two bills are awaiting a vote in the state Senate. One measure would use financial penalties under the jurisdiction of the attorney general and local state's attorney offices to restrict the sale or distribution of disposable containers made of polystyrene — known by the brand name Styrofoam — with the exception of egg cartons, starting in January 2030. The other bill would prohibit retailers with more than a dozen stores from offering or making available single-use checkout bags by January 2029. State Sen. Laura Fine, a Democrat from Glenview who's sponsoring the foam container bill, said there are alternatives to polystyrene and plastic bags and that the measures are necessary 'to get the bad products off the market so we could have a cleaner environment and help our kids.' Environmental advocates widely agree there's an unhealthy proliferation of plastic waste and that plastic bags and polystyrene are the 'worst of the worst,' partly because of how long these products take to decompose, said Emily Kowalski, outreach engagement manager with Environment Illinois. She noted about 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes every year, according to 2022 estimates from the Rochester Institute of Technology. 'Nothing we use for just a few minutes should be allowed to pollute our water and environment for hundreds of years,' Kowalski said. Volunteers with the Alliance for the Great Lakes have collected more than 10 million pieces of litter in the past 20 years at beaches of the five Great Lakes, 86% of it partially or fully plastic, according to Andrea Densham, senior policy adviser with the environmental organization. Polystyrene foam pieces were the third most common litter item that volunteers found over the years. Densham said this is a threat to drinking water and the lakes, citing that the Great Lakes hold 20% of the world's fresh water and provide drinking water for over 40 million people. According to a 2024 study in the research publication Frontiers, continued exposure to microplastics through ingestion and inhalation can lead to inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders and chronic diseases. There have been previous efforts to reduce plastic in the state, such as Chicago's tax on plastic bags that increased from 7 cents to 10 cents per bag in January 2025 and a 2023 state law banning foam foodware at state facilities that went into effect this January. Advocates say these initiatives haven't been entirely effective. 'I've seen there's still foam in the Stratton cafeteria, so I would like to see the state leading by example,' said Jack Darin, director of the Illinois Sierra Club chapter, referring to a state government office building in Springfield that was required to stop procuring foam, or polystyrene, for use by January 2025 under the 2023 law. Sen. Cristina Castro's bill to ban plastic bags contains a provision that would eliminate municipal taxes on plastic bags by 2029, including Chicago's, which at 7 cents a bag in 2023 generated more than $17 million. Castro, of Elgin, said municipalities have not been using the extra cash to support sustainable initiatives, as was intended by advocates. An outright ban, instead of a tax, would be more successful in limiting plastic waste, Castro said. 'Instead of using the money for sustainability programs, a lot of them (municipalities) have used it for filling the coffers or plugging some other hole, which has frustrated a lot of the environmentalists, activists, who have said, 'Hey, that was supposed to help with recycling and things like that,'' said Castro. The Illinois Municipal League opposes the bill because of the provision dropping the bag tax, which it argues preempts local regulatory authority, the group's CEO, Brad Cole, said. Manufacturers and the unions take issue with Fine's foam foodware bill, arguing the measure would only shift consumers to use another type of plastic and cause significant job losses at polystyrene manufacturing plants. While the bills do not ban the production of polystyrene, Donovan Griffith, vice president for government affairs for the Illinois Manufacturers Association, said a loss of in-state customers holds a 'real potential for job losses.' Keith Clark, CEO of Dart Container, a polystyrene manufacturing company that employs more than 1,400 people in Illinois at facilities in Chicago, North Aurora and Country Club Hills, told the Tribune that the legislation, if passed, would 'certainly require us to reassess our Illinois operations in the coming years.' Brad Laporte, CEO of WinCup, a polystyrene manufacturer with two facilities outside of Chicago, said he worked with Illinois lawmakers to get the ban deadline extended to 2030 but still opposes it, saying the measure could even ban the company's new biodegradable foam foodware. Those products can decompose by 92% over four years in certain landfills, according to the company's website. Griffith also said polystyrene containers are cheaper and in some ways more environmentally friendly than alternatives that require more energy to produce, a point some environmental advocates take issue with. The four- to five-year runway before the measures would take effect is intended to give municipalities time to fill gaps in tax revenue, consumers to adjust behavior, large retailers to eliminate bag use and foam foodware and manufacturers to prepare for losing revenue from large retailers. 'This is a change in the way organizations do business,' said Fine, acknowledging her conversations with opponents of the bills. 'This is a huge step, but we have to protect our Great Lakes and our waterways and this is part of that process.'
Politico
07-02-2025
- Business
- Politico
Pritzker to DOJ: See you in court
Presented by Illinois Retail Merchants Association TGIF, Illinois. It's been a week, and we're here to make sense of it. BUT FIRST: A Note to Our Readers from POLITICO's CEO and Editor-in-Chief POLITICO has been the subject of debate on X this week. Some of it has been misinformed, and some of it has been flat-out false. Let's set the record straight. POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years. Millions of people around the world read our journalism on and in newsletters like this one. It is supported by advertising and sponsorships. POLITICO Pro is different. It is a professional subscription service used by companies, organizations and, yes, some government agencies. They subscribe because it makes them better at their jobs — helping them track policy, legislation and regulations in real-time with news, intelligence and a suite of data products. At its core, POLITICO Pro is about transparency and accountability: Shining a light on the work of the agencies, regulators and policymakers throughout our vast federal government. Businesses and entities within the government find it useful as they navigate the chaotic regulatory and legislative landscape. It's that simple. Most POLITICO Pro subscribers are in the private sector. They come from across the ideological spectrum and subscribe for one reason: value. And 90 percent renew every year because they rely on our reporting, data and insights. Government agencies that subscribe do so through standard public procurement processes — just like any other tool they buy to work smarter and be more efficient. This is not funding. It is a transaction — just as the government buys research, equipment, software and industry reports. Some online voices are deliberately spreading falsehoods. Let's be clear: POLITICO has no financial dependence on the government and no hidden agenda. We cover politics and policy — that's our job. We are so proud of our journalists and so proud of the connection we have with you, our readers. We stand by our work, our values and our commitment to transparency, accountability and efficiency — the same principles that drive great journalism and great business. Now, back to work. Goli Sheikholeslami and John Harris TOP TALKER SHOCK AND AWE: President Donald Trump's Justice Department filed suit Thursday against Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for allegedly interfering with mass deportation efforts, prompting the governor to say he'd see them in court. The state's sanctuary status is 'making it more difficult for, and deliberately impeding, federal immigration officers' ability to carry out their responsibilities,' the federal lawsuit states. POLITICO's story is here. In a comment, Pritzker pointed to the state's TRUST Act, which prohibits local officers from helping with immigration enforcement. Illinois, he wrote in a statement, 'has always been compliant with federal law and still is today.' 'Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law,' Pritzker said. 'Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals. Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court.' Johnson also defended his city's 'welcoming city' status, while others, like the more conservative Ald. Raymond Lopez, suggested the mayor's unwillingness to waver on the issue means long-term undocumented residents could be at risk of being deported. Elected officials on both sides of the issue respond, via the Sun-Times. The full lawsuit is here. RELATED AT THE HIDEOUT: Chicago Chief Operating Officer John Roberson said he wasn't surprised by the DOJ lawsuit given Trump's track record. 'We saw what the first four years looked like. A lot of things he's attempting to do we've seen before … court cases and lawsuits that the administration actually lost,' he said during a Playbook Live interview. Roberson has been tapped by the mayor to oversee a working group preparing for Trump actions that could affect the city. 'You have to be prepared. But it's hard to do that when you have someone who doesn't abide by the rule of law, who doesn't abide by the Constitution,' he said. Roberson compared the moment to the scene in 'The Untouchables' when Al Capone is described as someone who doesn't play by the rules. More from NBC 5 Trump, Musk move to oust EPA staff in the Great Lakes region, including dozens responsible for protecting drinking water, by the Tribune's Michael Hawthorne THE BUZZ SUPER BILL: Illinois state Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield, has introduced 'The BEARS Act,' which would tie public funding for stadiums to team performance. 'Da Bears Stadium Oversight Act,' HB2969, 'is designed to establish a merit-based framework for determining when tax dollars can be used for public funding of sports stadiums, based on the performance of the teams,' according to Morgan. RELATED Virginia Halas McCaskey, longtime Bears owner and matriarch, has died. She was 102. WGN 9's Michael Johnson and Eli Ong report. COLUMN: Virginia McCaskey earned the respect and admiration of Chicago Bears fans — because she was one of them, by the Tribune's Paul Sullivan WHERE'S JB On the West Side to announce new investments and jobs — At the Pace South Campus in Markham at noon to announce new grants for electric public transit buses WHERE's BRANDON No official public events Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@ THE STATEWIDES — How DOGE: Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin is urging the General Assembly to establish the Illinois Government Efficiency Caucus — a bipartisan initiative 'aimed at eliminating wasteful spending and demanding greater accountability in state government,' he announced. — Judge declines to extend 'swipe fee' injunction to credit card companies: 'Ruling grants injunctions to national and out-of-state banks, denies it for Illinois banks,' by Capitol News' Ben Szalinski. — Illinois SEIU passes resolution declaring itself 'under attack' by CTU, via the Tribune — Illinois lawmakers try again to ban certain food additives, by Lily Carey and Medill Illinois News Bureau CHICAGO — Cultural commissioner criticized for leaving 'void,' faces bullying allegations: 'There's not a sense of vision, there's not a sense of leadership that helps us understand how to navigate what is a very difficult terrain,' says a member of the Cultural Advisory Council, which advises the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on cultural programs and policies, by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan. — The promises and pitfalls of quantum computing in Chicago: 'Developers promise a quantum hub will bring good paying jobs to South Chicago and revitalize the community. The state is investing hundreds of millions. But some wonder if a commercial quantum computer can even be built and if the jobs will really be for South Siders,' by Illinois Answers Project's Binghui Huang. — Chicago Teachers Union rejects neutral arbitrator recommendations for a new contract, by Chalkbeat's Mila Koumpilova and Reema Amin — CPS needs an educator as its leader, says School Board member Che 'Rhymefest' Smith, by WBEZ's Sarah Karp — Save A Lot grocery stores' struggles threaten hopes for Chicago food deserts, by the Sun-Times' Mariah Rush and Lauren FitzPatrick — Citadel to leave namesake Chicago tower as employees relocate, by Bloomberg's Miranda Davis COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — In Evanston, 6th District aldermanic candidate Candance Chow is urging the Evanston City Council to follow the City of Chicago's lead by banning elected officials from lobbying on behalf of any private client. Why it's interesting: Chow faces incumbent Ald. Tom Suffredin — who lobbies in Springfield. Suffredin says he follows all the applicable laws and regulations as a lobbyist and elected official. — Judge asked to allow Highland Park parade shooting victims who testify to watch trial of alleged shooter, by the Lake County News-Sun's Clifford Ward DAY IN COURT — Lawsuit alleges UI Health stopped gender-affirming care for teen after Trump executive order: 'Part of the nationwide suit against the order alleges that a 17–year-old Illinois boy had been given a date for chest surgery at UI Health, only for it to be canceled one day after Trump's order,' by the Sun-Times' Violet Miller. SPOTTED — A fundraiser for City Clerk Anna Valencia drew a crowd at Salon 61. Attendees included former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Vice Mayor Walter Burnett, Alds. Michelle Harris, Jason Ervin, Bennett Lawson and Will Hall, MWRD President Kari Steele, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and business leaders Trish Rooney and Jerrod Melman. Reader Digest We asked what about your Super Bowl traditions. Rosemary Clark: 'Super Bowl Sunday is a good day to shop at big box stores since so many people are at home watching the game.' Daniel Goldwin: 'Every year I say to myself, 'Next year will be the Buffalo Bills' year!'' Paul Kendrick: 'Serve foods from each of the two cities represented. But while it's delicious, I'm awfully tired of Kansas City BBQ!' Jim Lyons: 'I check my numbers in any pool I am in. I ran them in my parents' tavern, so it's force of habit.' Ed Mazur: 'At halftime, we watch a replay of the Super Bowl Shuffle with the 1985 Chicago Bears.' Bob Heuer: 'I host a 'Bud Bowl' party for a small group of cultural contrarians to watch the commercials. Started in the 1980s. Provided five tips for throwing a Bud Bowl party in this Chicago Reader story.' Next question: If you had a late-night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest? Email skapos@ KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Sen. Tammy Duckworth has joined in reintroducing the Right to Contraception Act that would create a statutory right to obtain and use contraceptives and ensure health care providers have a right to provide contraceptives and share information about contraception. Last June, Senate Republicans blocked the bill in the Senate. — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) has written a letter to the White House urging the president to address rising grocery costs in Illinois. In the letter, Krishnamoorthi urged Trump to act in response to the spread of avian flu and food recalls related to E. coli, listeria and salmonella — all key factors driving up egg prices nationwide. — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) has re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for veterans to access the benefits they've earned. The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to eliminate overcomplicated language from written communications with veterans. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Judge temporarily blocks Trump's exit plan for federal employees, by POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek — After Trump's remarks on Gaza, some in Dearborn, Michigan 'think we screwed up,' by POLITICO's Liz Crampton — Vought wants to dismantle the 'deep state.' As he takes office, it's already happening, by POLITICO's Megan Messerly TRANSITIONS — Sydney Corryn Holman is now senior principal with Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies. She was deputy mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Chicago. EVENTS — Wednesday: A City Club luncheon panel discussion on 'Navigating Change: The Local Impact of President Trump's Early Days in Office' featuring Equality Illinois' Brian Johnson, Illinois Environmental Council's Jen Walling, The Chicago Community Trust's Sylvia Garcia and the National Immigrant Justice Center's Mary Meg McCarthy. Details here — Thursday: A City Club dinner discussion with former border and customs Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske about recent immigration changes. Details here TRIVIA THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Janet Mathis for correctly answering that the first NCAA Men's Division Basketball Championship game in 1939 was held in the old Patten Gymnasium on Northwestern University's campus in Evanston. TODAY's QUESTION: Who is credited with creating the world's first brownies? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Today: Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, Durbin Director of Communications Emily Hampsten, Skokie mayoral candidate Ann Tennes, philanthropist Maureen Dwyer Smith, Hellenic American Leadership Council Executive Director Endy Zemenides, political consultant Wallace Gator Bradley and Informa Markets Senior Editor Bruce Blythe. Saturday: Druker, Yadgir & Haupt founding partner Henry Haupt, Illinois Automobile Dealers Association Executive Director Joe McMahon, former Chicago Fire owner Andrew Hauptman, CPA Peter Gariepy, Salesforce Studios VP Matt Jaffe and Community Media Workshop co-founder Thom Clark. Sunday: Illinois Secretary of State Chief Deputy of Administrative Operations Aimee Pine, lobbyist Scott Marquardt, attorney Karen Anderson and public affairs consultant Alejandra 'Ale' Moran. -30-
