Good afternoon, Chicago ✶
Earlier this afternoon, Gov. JB Pritzker laid out his State of the State address in Springfield.
It’s the governor’s seventh budget blueprint, which Republicans are deriding as the largest in state history.
In today’s newsletter, we’ll look into what the governor is proposing — and excluding.
Plus, we’ve got reporting on the “multimillion-dollar” grant keeping Heartland Alliance Health’s doors open, a hike in Bears ticket prices and more community news you need to know below. 👇
⏱️: A 7-minute read
— Matt Moore, newsletter reporter
TODAY’S TOP STORY
Pritzker’s $55.2 billion budget has no new taxes, cuts health care for adults lacking legal status
Reporting by Tina Sfondeles, Mitchell Armentrout and George Wiebe
Pritzker’s plan: Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday unveiled a $55.2 billion spending plan with an unexpected “budget surplus” — but noted the uncertainty of state funding under President Donald Trump, while also nixing a health care program for adults who lack legal status to save the state millions.
Key proposals: The Democratic governor also peppered his budget blueprint with key policy proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. One ensures medication abortion pills would remain legal in Illinois even if a federal ban is enacted, and another bans cellphones in Illinois schools during classroom instruction.
Sticking point: Pritzker’s budget plan excludes funding for health care for immigrant adults who lack legal status and are between the ages of 42 and 64. Last year, the Democratic governor included $629 million to provide health care benefits to immigrants without legal status 42 and older, and seniors who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
- Columbus controversy continues: Statues of Christopher Columbus removed from Grant and Arrigo parks in 2020 would be returned to their pedestals, under a City Council order proposed Wednesday to counter what its sponsor calls “selective censorship of public art.”
- Heartland Alliance Health to remain open: The social services nonprofit will keep its doors open thanks to a “multimillion-dollar” grant from a Michigan-based primary care provider.
- Senator’s bribery trial nears: New details have emerged in the upcoming trial of Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III, who is accused of agreeing to limit the study of traffic enforcement systems in exchange for $5,000 and money for an intern.
- Bears tickets hike: Four weeks after hiring Ben Johnson as their new coach for a reported $13 million a year, the Bears announced a 10% average increase in season-ticket packages for the 2025 season.
- Endangered monkeys rescued: Five endangered spider monkeys, rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, have found a new home at Brookfield Zoo and will soon be viewable to the public.
- Mansion for rent: The new owner of Michael Jordan’s former Highland Park mansion is renting out the property for $230,000 per month, according to a recent listing.
- Anime boost in Chicago: Anime and manga took off with young adults and teens during the COVID-19 lockdown — and it stuck. Bookstores reaping the benefits say this trend is here to stay.
SUN-TIMES STAFF SUGGESTS 🌵
Caffeinate at Casa Cactus
Today’s staff suggestion comes from reporter Elvia Malagón, who recommends stopping by Casa Cactus for a green escape during the dreary winter days.
What you’ll find: Casa Cactus in Albany Park is a coffee shop curated with a variety of cacti, rubber fig and monstera plants that will make you forget about Chicago’s cold weather, Elvia tells me. Plus: “The cafe has ample seating, perfect for working for a few hours or catching up with a friend.”
Order a latte: “The iced brown coffee has become my go-to drink, but I also enjoy trying the cafe’s seasonal drinks — ranging from a ponche latte to latte maguey that remind me of the flavors of Mexico,” Elvia says.
Don’t forget pastries: Empanadas and conchas are also usually available here.
Pro tip: Casa Cactus owners Ozzy Gámez and Juan Quezada also own Plant Shop Chicago, just across the street from their cafe. Stop by to start building your own green escape.
📍Casa Cactus, 4595 N. Elston Ave.
BRIGHT ONE ✨
Bubbly Creek beaver gains online fame — but what should it be named?
Reporting by Rafaela Jinich
It’s big, it’s mysterious and it’s captured Chicago’s heart — now, it just needs a name.
A beaver, spotted along Bubbly Creek on the southwest branch of the Chicago River, has become an internet sensation after a Reddit post sparked a citywide effort to name it.
“She’s the largest, and obviously, therefore, the most deserving of a name,” Urban Rivers, a nonprofit focused on restoring wildlife habitats, said in a Reddit post that has gained traction.
Described as “remarkably rotund,” the beaver has sparked curiosity, with some speculating she might be pregnant. However, researchers don’t know for sure if the animal is female, said Sammie Clark, a resident beaver researcher with Urban Rivers.
“Because she looks plump, there’s speculation that she might be pregnant, which is why we’re assuming she’s a female. But until we have visual confirmation, we can’t say with certainty,” Clark told the Sun-Times.
Urban Rivers has been monitoring the beaver population with motion-activated cameras for years, and in September, the organization launched a formal study into their behaviors and interactions with the wetlands.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
What do you think the Bubbly Creek beaver should be named?
Email us (please include your first and last name). To see the answers to this question, check our Morning Edition newsletter. Not subscribed to Morning Edition? Sign up here so you won’t miss a thing!
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Written by: Matt Moore
Editor: Dorothy Hernandez
Copy editor: Angie Myers