Good afternoon, and glad Friday! This video of a whale swallowing a kayaker — then letting him go — sums up my week. Right here’s what it is advisable to know at the moment.
1. The strain factors Gov. JB Pritzker faces as he crafts his state funds
Pritzker is heading into his seventh funds with some key points to think about, together with the potential want for extra bills to fend off President Donald Trump’s administration and mounting monetary burdens just like the state’s pension obligation, my colleagues Tina Sfondeles and Mitchell Armentrout report.
One other problem is well being care prices. Republicans in Congress are discussing a plan to slash the Reasonably priced Care Act’s Medicaid growth — which might decrease prices for the federal authorities, however enhance prices for states. Nevertheless, Illinois has a “set off” legislation that will routinely finish Medicaid expansions within the state if federal reimbursement falls under 90%, that means the greater than 900,000 Illinoisans would lose protection.
Pritzker will define his budgetary priorities on Wednesday. He has hinted that elevating taxes to stability the funds is a final resort and has been urging company heads to search out price cuts.
Authorities finance specialists and a few lawmakers, nonetheless, say legalizing web playing would herald about $450 million in extra income, and increasing the state gross sales tax to providers akin to dry cleansing and plumbing might herald about $2 billion. [Chicago Sun-Times]
In rapid-fire succession yesterday, the mayor’s workplace introduced that Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee and Civilian Workplace of Police Accountability Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten, each holdovers from earlier administrations, had been “retiring.” Additionally leaving is one other holdover, Jose Tirado, director of the Workplace of Emergency Administration & Communications, who has one other job lined up.
The Chicago Solar-Instances reported this week that Rhee was amongst these whose days might be numbered as Johnson seeks to behave on his declare that he ought to have “cleaned home quicker” when he took workplace. Rhee will finish her seven-year reign over O’Hare and Halfway Airports in the course of the huge O’Hare overhaul.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward, mentioned he understands that mayors “want loyalty” from their division heads and company chiefs, however mentioned a mayor additionally wants to position a “excessive premium on competence and expertise.”
In the meantime, Kersten’s departure was anticipated as a result of she has been underneath hearth for months amid allegations of presiding over investigations with an anti-police bias.
And sources informed the Solar-Instances that Tirado has “wished out” for a while and accepted a place within the workplace of newly elected Cook dinner County State’s Legal professional Eileen O’Neill Burke. [Chicago Sun-Times]
New tips for the Nationwide Endowment for the Arts encourage works about American historical past and AI — and embrace sturdy language round DEI and gender ideology, my colleagues Mike Davis and Stefano Esposito report.
Additionally among the many guidelines: taking away $10,000 Problem America grants for small arts organizations tailor-made to profit underserved communities. Any group that’s utilized for a Problem America grant for 2026 should now reapply for a extra basic grant that doesn’t emphasize the arts-deprived part, the NEA mentioned in a latest announcement.
A spokeswoman for the NEA mentioned in an e mail this week the grant utility modifications are merely about streamlining on the company.
Nonetheless, in a number of circumstances, the brand new compliance necessities demand that theaters not do the particular work they had been based to do. For instance, Chicago’s About Face Theatre, which phases LGBTQ tales, obtained a 2025 grant to help a free theater pageant. Nevertheless it’s unclear if the group will obtain the funds, and Government Director Megan Carney mentioned she is certain they won’t apply once more as a result of its mission goes towards new guidelines to keep away from utilizing the cash to “promote gender ideology.” [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]
4. The Chicago space has the best inflation charge within the nation: report
A brand new Wallethub report exhibits Chicago’s inflation charge, which measures the change in costs over time, was 4.3%, in comparison with 3% nationally, Block Membership Chicago experiences.
Services and products starting from groceries to housing are getting dearer, the research discovered.
“Meals particularly,” Staphany Sparks, a 33-year-old Douglas resident, informed Block Membership. “Versus me getting a number of gadgets for underneath $100, it’s now over $100 that I’m spending for 5 gadgets at a grocery retailer.”
Others informed Block Membership they had been planning meals round gross sales on the grocery retailer, shopping for fewer gadgets total and consuming out much less. [Block Club Chicago]
Curiosity in manga and anime surged throughout lockdown. In contrast to different pandemic traits which have come and gone, this one appears to be sticking round, my colleague Anna Savchenko experiences for WBEZ.
The attraction is escapism, a artistic outlet and, finally, connection. For teenagers and younger folks, each throughout and after pandemic lockdowns, manga and anime fandoms provide a strategy to meet folks, make pals and even discover love. Followers meet one another at comedian shops, on-line and at anime conventions, the place they’ll costume up as their favourite characters and bond over their love of Japanese popular culture.
“I didn’t suppose anime and manga would have that kind of impression on my life,” mentioned Esteban Alducin-Borges, who met his girlfriend at an anime conference on the College of Illinois Chicago, the place he’s now a senior. “Particularly as a result of I simply considered it as a passion. However as soon as I began connecting with different individuals who had related experiences, it grew to become, like, this huge bomb of connection, the place you simply share the issues you’ve got in widespread and study extra about others.” [WBEZ]
Right here’s what else is occurring
- Right here’s a roundup of what occurred with Elon Musk and DOGE this week. [NPR]
- And right here’s what immigrants ought to find out about legislation enforcement amid elevated immigration raids. [WBEZ]
- TikTok returned to the Apple and Google app shops. [NPR]
- A Russian drone hit the outer shell of the previous Chernobyl nuclear energy plant. [CNN]
Oh, and yet another factor …
Adore it or hate it, Valentine’s Day usually means huge romantic gestures. However, as a number of NPR listeners realized, larger isn’t at all times higher. Listed here are some tales of considerate items gone improper. [NPR]
And specialists shared some knowledge about love — together with debunking the parable that it requires a spark. [NPR]
Lastly, I’m an enormous fan of utilizing at the moment to have a good time every kind of affection. Listed here are 9 methods to point out your mates you care about them. [NPR]
Inform me one thing good …
Chicago Theatre Week continues by means of Sunday, so I’m questioning, what’s a play you both loved just lately or need to see?
Jane writes:
“I simply noticed See How They Run at Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan with a bunch of pals. This fast paced farce left everybody laughing and repeating strains later. I’m wanting ahead to seeing Fats Ham subsequent week.”
Michael writes:
“I can’t wait to see Waitress on the Paramount Theater in Aurora. Filled with nice music and the texture good balm I would like proper now.”
And Lisa writes:
“I just lately attended opening night time for A Raisin within the Solar at Courtroom Theater on the U of C campus. So many individuals have learn this play, heard of Lorraine Hansberry, or can relate to the Chicago South Facet setting. It’s transporting, from the nicely designed set that takes you into that small, cramped condominium to the emotionally invested, principally from Chicago solid. It was bought out final week however I hear the present shall be prolonged. I can not say sufficient about this glorious presentation. Get there! See this present!”
Thanks for all of the responses this week! I’m sorry I couldn’t embrace all of them, however it was nice listening to from everybody.
