Illinois looking to collect millions in delinquent taxes with amnesty program

“This is what it’s come to: A mayor of a major city now has to protect his constituents from a lawless federal government.”

Will Uptown Theatre ever reopen? The historic movie palace turns 100 amid its latest revival effort. blockclubchi.co/4mAIv6Y

I spent a year working on this bill with some incredible legislators and a regulatory board that understood the urgency. So glad to see the WOPR (yes named after War Games) become law.

The Illinois ban isn't about stopping AI in mental health—it's about shaping how we integrate technology with human care responsibly. The future belongs to those who can bridge innovation with trust, efficiency with empathy, and technology with humanity.

My bill banning unregulated AI therapy in Illinois is now officially LAW. Thanks to @govpritzker.illinois.gov for standing with patients to safeguard mental health care, pausing the unchecked expansion of AI, and putting necessary regulations in place before more harm is done.

#Illinois Governor Signs HB 1806 Creating Nation's Strongest Safeguard Against AI Chatbots in Mental Health - thank you @govpritzker.illinois.gov @bobmorganil.bsky.social Sen. Villivalam for your assistance in making this critical law happen. www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il...

In case anyone forgot - Rahm Emanuel is an awful human. #Twill

And THEY want Bears Fans?

The West Ridge YMCA doesn’t have enough money to reopen despite $3.75 million in federal funding. blockclubchi.co/44Hm9cS

Under the law, work requirements to qualify for SNAP benefits have been expanded to include people up to age 64, along with homeless people, veterans and young adults leaving foster care. Previously, only people age 18-54 had to meet work requirements

Happy 4th?

Were they going around saying that they represent the city or coalition building and sharing information? The former is problematic the other is literally the job.

Bookmark this.

The bill would ban students from using a digital replica to bully one of their peers, or asking an AI algorithm to create explicit images of other students.

Justice Sotomayor's dissent in Skrmetti (which she's now reading from the bench) is deeply pained, accusing her colleagues of abandoning "transgender children and their families to political whims" and badly damaging "bedrock" principles of equal protection. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

Love the new @naswsocialworkers.bsky.social logo. Great photo op at #NASW2025

Last week we celebrated a BIG WIN in Illinois. Our featured bill this session, House Bill 1806, passed the IL senate unanimously, 56–0. This bill brings us one step closer to protecting mental health clients from unregulated AI posting as therapy.

We are. There is a bill in Illinois and Nevada waiting for signatures.

If you have a 3% rate who is going to sell?

The lingering effects of high inflation coupled with high interest rates have made it harder in recent years for many Americans to get ahead financially.

The nerd in me snuck this reference of one of my favorite movies as a kid into the bill, I thought for sure someone would get the reference or at least ask what’s with that ridiculous name of this bill (Wellness & Oversight for Psychological Resources Act) www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/...

🚨 BREAKING: Illinois just became the first state in the nation to pass a bill to BAN AI from posing as a therapist. Huge thanks to @repbobmorgan.bsky.social and Sen. Villivalam for leading the charge. #WOPRAct #MentalHealth

IL State Rep. Bob Morgan’s Ban on AI Therapists Secures Bipartisan Support, Heads to Governor’s Desk for Final Signature - An initiative of #Naswil, HB1806 requires all therapy services to be conducted by a licensed professional and prohibits AI from providing direct patient care. bit.ly/3Fs9C4u

A live shot of Springfield right now…

It is a horrible idea.

Will we get the foreign version too?

So with a straight face we are going to rail against President Trump violating the constitution while violating the constitution here.

When the editor needs an editor.

Checking out @hadestownmusical.bsky.social , when living in a hellscape timeline might as well got see a play about it too.

A reminder that AI is not bound by HIPPA nor state privacy laws yet. AI chatbots can literally sell your personal information and trauma details you share with it. There is a major role for state regulation.

We are living in an odd timeline.

Not good.

Gov. Pritzker has signed an executive order to protect the personal health data of individuals with autism from the federal government, in response to the Trump administration's plan to use data to study the causes of autism.

May?

Chicago joins lawsuit arguing Trump and DOGE's government overhaul is unconstitutional

The General Assembly:

If this ends up true, genuinely appreciate her leadership and representing our district. Always a #JanFan Acios reporting: Rep. Jan Schakowsky tells colleagues she's retiring www.axios.com/2025/04/23/j...

It isn’t that people needed more walk way to get to stores…it is people aren’t going to stores.

Bill in the Illinois Senate would create a statewide public defender’s office

“The president of the United States proposes, on camera, to deport Americans to foreign concentration camps.”

The proposal, amended twice in recent weeks, would require parents to file a declaration of intent with their regional office of education. If a truancy investigation arises, officials could ask for schoolwork or lesson plans

Lawmakers approved $9 million for the program in 2023 and $13 million last year. Yet, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability said Illinois needs $23.5 million to fully fund these services. www.wandtv.com/news/stateho...

Justice Department says #Illinois shut down their scholarship program after threat of lawsuit

The Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday to provide naloxone to people leaving jails and prisons if they were incarcerated for drug-related charges or have a substance use disorder.