Learn more about how the federal shutdown and “Big Beautiful Bill” are affecting state policymakers. Story by Peter Hancock. https://loom.ly/D9d3Grg

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A federal judge on Thursday extended restrictions on federal immigration officers’ use of force against protesters, including riot control weapons like tear gas, without adequate justification or warning. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social reports: https://loom.ly/nQq8i5E

Chicago area transit agencies aren’t planning for fare increases or layoffs next year after lawmakers passed a bill reforming public transportation. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/_FSts0Q

Legislators pass ‘Clean Slate’ bill, which could automate record sealing for over two million eligible Illinoisians. Story by @maggiedough.bsky.social https://loom.ly/WCvuCHU

A federal judge has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to clean up the deplorable conditions at the Broadview processing facility. Hannah Meisel has more. https://loom.ly/99Ig4PM

Illinois Department of Corrections gets public feedback on its program of scanning inmates’ mail to reduce the flow of drugs and contraband into state prisons. Story by Peter Hancock. https://loom.ly/_lH6g-E

State lawmakers narrowly pass bill legalizing physician-prescribed medical aid in dying. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. https://loom.ly/Adv8qKU

Illinois lawmakers passed 24 bills during their fall veto session, including a measure allowing the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to set state-specific vaccine guidelines. Brenden Moore reports. https://loom.ly/uypz7KE

A federal judge said he’ll issue a temporary restraining order Wednesday over alleged conditions at the ICE detention center in Broadview. Hannah Meisel reports. https://loom.ly/hofUP-U

State lawmakers approved legislation to untie the state from parts of the federal tax code after Congress passed new tax breaks for businesses. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/rTp2nmI

More than 630 candidates filed to run for state, federal and judicial offices in Illinois — from crowded races for governor and Congress to one statewide contest where no Republican filed. Brenden Moore reports. https://loom.ly/JH7g6KI

The Trump administration will fund partial SNAP benefits, but recalculating benefits is expected to create delays. maggiedough.bsky.social has more. https://loom.ly/kk0Xrl8

In a rare move, a bill that would have given the Illinois Department of Insurance ability to regulate homeowners’ insurance rates failed on the House floor. @pqhancock.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/YOHIje0

A new lawsuit alleges the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview is a “black box” where detainees are denied access to counsel while held in squalid, overcrowded cells. https://loom.ly/YhIBYjg

An undocumented farm worker in Clinton County was picked up by ICE agents at a Spanish-language traffic court. Beth Hundsdorfer has more. https://loom.ly/5Nvjdes

A plan to fund Chicago area transit agencies passed the General Assembly after 4 a.m. Friday morning without any major statewide taxes previously proposed. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/XhH2gCg

“We are standing here because our communities have been living in fear — fear of being separated from their children, fear of being taken from their homes, fear of simply existing,” said Sen. Celina Villaneuva. @brendenmoore.bsky.social https://loom.ly/RRMp7D0

Consumers will pay for new large-scale battery developments under an energy bill that will head to the governor. But proponents say it will save Illinois money in the long run. More on the bill from @drewjayadams.bsky.social. https://loom.ly/NWYifrk

After late Wednesday night negotiations, lawmakers announced a new funding plan for public transit that drew on the state’s road fund and dropped a slew of controversial tax proposal from earlier versions. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/ZsTh85E

The federal government’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago region is “wider and more intense” than it was in previous weeks, Gov. JB Pritzker warned Thursday. @brendenmoore.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/wLTBMzM

Illinois may try to make up for some of the shortfall created by the federal government cutting off SNAP benefits beginning Saturday. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. https://loom.ly/MCA4wMI

Overhaul of Illinois’ Tier 2 pension system will have to wait until 2026. Story by Peter Hancock: https://loom.ly/Opunnps

Illinois’ latest report card continues to show racial disparities in reading, math proficiency rates. Story by @pqhancock.bsky.social https://loom.ly/ftzT3wA

Lawmakers are debating how to lower electric bills as they consider a broad energy policy change. The House passed it Wednesday, and now it goes to the Senate. @drewjayadams.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/Aed8k3g

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino doesn’t have to appear in federal court for daily check-ins on CBP agents’ use of force — at least for now. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social has more. https://loom.ly/AZixkU4

Gov. JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) met with farmers and agriculture officials in Taylorville, IL to discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs on beef and soybeans farmers. Photos by @nowickipress.bsky.social

IL 9th Congressional District Democratic candidate Kat Abughazaleh is among six people indicted for allegedly “impeding” a federal immigration agent during a protest last month outside an ICE facility. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social reports: https://loom.ly/Z8pVBPc

A Peoria County jury found former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, concluding he acted under a mistaken belief of self-defense. Illinois Times reports: https://loom.ly/zcXSbsU

Gov. JB Pritzker came out against speed cameras and a “billionaire tax” in a House transit proposal, making its passage unlikely. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/mKUxH-A

Lawmakers advanced a bill to allow public officials to shield certain personal information from public view and use campaign funds for security. The plan comes amid rising threats and harassment targeting elected officials. Brenden Moore reports: https://loom.ly/DlzyFgQ

Illinois House Democrats are filing a bill to fund public transportation in the Chicago area with new taxes including on entertainment, but its future in the Senate is uncertain. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/nONKz10

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino has been ordered to show up to federal court every day for the next week for check-ins on immigration agents’ use of force on civilians following three days of tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods. https://loom.ly/OtqVR1M

Illinois is one of dozens of states that sued the Trump administration in an effort to stop planned cuts to food stamp funding. https://loom.ly/8x6A-q8

While candidates filed petitions to run under Illinois’ existing congressional map, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pitched top Illinois Democrats on a new map in meetings in Chicago and Springfield. Brenden Moore reports: https://loom.ly/aY1UFnY

Democratic lawmaker faces right-wing anger online for email blast apparently sharing ICE vehicle information. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. https://loom.ly/1g0vlT8

Candidates are filing to run for office in Illinois in 2026 despite a push to redraw congressional maps. CNI has team coverage of filing day and how candidates are reacting to the proposal. https://loom.ly/jgauarQ

A federal judge on has ordered U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to testify in federal court after Bovino threw a canister of tear gas into a crowd of protesters Thursday. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social reports: https://loom.ly/sCr4IIU

Natural gas rates could rise in the new year if state regulators approve proposals from Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois. @drewjayadams.bsky.social has the latest. https://loom.ly/L1vD4wg

A federal judge this week heard oral arguments in a case challenging Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law prohibiting financial institutions from charging fees on the tip and tax portions of debit and credit card transactions. Hannah Meisel reports: https://loom.ly/G-IzWBY

Gov. JB Pritzker creates accountability commission to document apparent abuses by federal agents amid aggressive immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. Maggie Dougherty reports. https://loom.ly/-YcvfmU

New teachers union leaders to bring new message to Springfield: Increase K-12 education funding. Story by Peter Hancock. https://loom.ly/rkvEJ7o

Two of Bailey’s grandchildren, his son and daughter-in-law were killed when their helicopter went down in southeast Montana. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/79dQV8U

A temporary block to deploying National Guard troops to Chicago will remain in place indefinitely while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the matter. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/Pkw7spQ

Despite pressure from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, there is “next to zero appetite” to redistrict the state’s congressional lines among Democrats in the Illinois legislature. @brendenmoore.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/N9JDM_w

The long-awaited trial of a former deputy accused of killing a woman in Sangamon County began Wednesday. @bhundsdorfer.bsky.social has more. bsky.social https://loom.ly/GrEUicg

Gov. JB Pritzker talks Chicago budget, pensions and Bears stadium funding at an Economic Club of Chicago event Tuesday. @maggiedough.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/tIA6cHI

A suburban video gambling mogul is putting his chips into a Republican primary bid for Illinois governor. @brendenmoore.bsky.social reports https://loom.ly/PnzI20o

The Trump administration has agreed to an extension of a judge’s temporary restraining order blocking deployment of the National Guard to Chicago while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the matter. @hannahmeisel.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/zDCfZPE

The Illinois State Board of Elections deadlocked on whether Senate President Don Harmon should pay a nearly $10M fine for violating fundraising laws. @benszalinski.bsky.social reports. https://loom.ly/3hDONOA