Pritzker executive order bars state employees from using insider info in prediction markets Pritzker bans Illinois officials from using insider info in prediction markets amid federal regulatory dispute.

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed an executive order banning state employees from betting with insider information on prediction markets. Maggie Dougherty has more: buff.ly/fLLXgzg

3D printed homes, an abandoned $590,000 deposit, the FBI: What really happened in this small town? Article Summary Two men promised a $1.1 million 3D printer could fix Cairo, Illinois’ housing crisis. More than a year

Two men promised a $1.1 million 3D printer could fix this town’s housing crisis. To this day, the one duplex it printed still isn’t finished. buff.ly/J0bc1Yy

Molly Parker reports with @propublica.org

Body Cam Video Shows Chicago Cop Took Cover for 90 Seconds After Fatally Shooting His Partner, Krystal Rivera Body camera videos released Friday show that officer Carlos Baker ran up a stairwell after encountering an armed man and firing the gunshot that killed Rivera.

'I did nothing wrong. And the whole world is making me seem like a monster': Our story about the bodycam footage from the Carlos Baker Krystal Rivera police shooting and the ensuing investigation illinoisanswers.org/2026/04/17/o...

Lawmakers grill Department of Corrections after audit shows dozens of failures Lawmakers blasted the Illinois Department of Corrections after an audit found overtime abuses and purchasing rule violations.

Illinois lawmakers scrutinized the Department of Corrections on Tuesday after an audit found numerous issues following state law and managing finances. @benszalinski.bsky.social and @maggiedough.bsky.social report. buff.ly/NRs9ABE

Often I am the bearer of bad news about your energy bills, but today I got to write about some good news for ComEd customers. Give it a read, if you’re into that sort of thing…

Trump Administration Sues Illinois Over State’s Attempts to Regulate Prediction Markets The feds argue they have primary authority to regulate the popular markets, not the states. Illinois says the move puts profits over people.

illinoisanswers.org/2026/04/03/p... My story about the Trump administration suing Illinois over the state's attempts to reign in prediction markets as "illegal gambling"

Some of my past reporting on the IAC for @capitolnewsil.bsky.social, for those needing more background: t.co/HTmz37OoWj

These are the same eight officials that Pritzker specifically asked the IAC to include in their review of federal misconduct back in January. See: t.co/r4vZt8Mf3k

The IAC has said repeatedly it may recommend legal action and prosecutions against the 'architects' of Midway Blitz, including those named in the letters: Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, Kristi Noem, Gregory Bovino, Tricia McLaughlin, Corey Lewandowski, Todd Lyons, and Rodney Scott.

The Illinois Accountability Commission, tasked by Gov. Pritzker with documenting abuses by federal officials amid Operation Midway Blitz, today sent letters to eight current and former members of the Trump admin, asking them to attend the Commission's April hearings.

‘A hardship’: Peoples Gas customers rally against requested rate hike Chicago residents rallied against a proposed Peoples Gas rate hike that could raise monthly heating bills starting in 2027.

A crowd of over 100 Chicagoans gathered in the cold on Wednesday night to protest a requested Peoples Gas rate hike. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. buff.ly/Nea0j8I

Illinois lawmakers call for governor-appointed Epstein investigatory commission Article Summary Illinois lawmakers have introduced legislation to create a governor-appointed commission to investigate Illinois-linked crimes connected to the network

Illinois Democratic lawmakers call for the creation of a governor-appointed commission to investigate in-state crimes of Jeffrey Epstein’s network. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more ➡️ https://loom.ly/BxM_vIc

The commission shared this video linking shootings by federal immigration agents in Chicago and Minneapolis.

Castillo has previously questioned if the fatal shootings in Minneapolis could have been prevented had agents involved in the Chicago shootings been publicly disciplined

Near the end of a four-hour public meeting of the Illinois Accountability Commission, Chair Rubén Castillo previews that Marimar Martinez — the Chicago teacher’s aide shot 5 times by a Border Patrol agent in October — is expected to testify at the commission’s meeting next month.

What does Gov. JB Pritzker’s nuclear energy executive order do? Article Summary A recent executive order by Gov. JB Pritzker set a new goal to begin development on new nuclear

What does Gov. JB Pritzker’s nuclear energy executive order do? @maggiedough.bsky.social explains ➡️ https://loom.ly/lrRwROk

Judge rules four people arrested by ICE without warrants should be released Article Summary Federal Judge Jeffrey Cummings ordered the Department of Homeland Security on Friday to release four people arrested without

A federal judge ordered the release of four individuals arrested without warrants during Operation Midway Blitz. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. ➡️ https://loom.ly/Y9W-TRU

The DOJ declined to comment on whether Agent Exum is still on leave, or when that leave began.

The investigation will be presented to the National Use of Force Review Board, a body comprised of senior CBP officials and representatives from DHS and DOJ, according to a CBP statement emailed by a spokesperson.

Updated to reflect that Agent Charles Exum has been placed on administrative leave per standard CBP policy, per a spokesperson for the agency.

In a victory for consumers, pioneering swipe fee law survives first legal challenge Article Summary A federal judge has upheld a first-of-its-kind Illinois law that protects consumers and retailers from paying so-called credit

A first-in-the-nation law that will prohibit banks and credit card companies from charging swipe fees on tips and taxes survived a major hurdle in court Tuesday. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more ➡️ https://loom.ly/2uzQH6o

Judge rules to release evidence in Border Patrol shooting of Marimar Martinez Article Summary Marimar Martinez, the Chicago teacher shot five times by Border Patrol agents last fall, was granted permission Friday

Judge rules largely in favor of Marimar Martinez’s request to release much of the evidence in the government’s dismissed case against her. @maggiedough.bsky.social has the details ➡️ https://loom.ly/nbMHHT0

‘A crisis for the nation’: ICE accountability commission continues to seek solutions Article Summary The Illinois Accountability Commission held its second public meeting, hearing testimony from legal experts, law enforcement professionals and

Illinois Accountability Commission releases initial report and moves to examine key Trump officials. Story by @maggiedough.bsky.social ➡️ https://loom.ly/5G2s7Rs

No worries at all, happy reading to you!

Hi! The bill is linked in the second paragraph on the phrase "House Bill 1836." You can also find a PDF of that text here: www.ilga.gov/documents/le...

Illinois ‘Clean Slate’ law allows automatic sealing of nonviolent criminal records Article Summary Illinois will begin a process to automatically seal criminal records for millions of adults in the state, after

Around 2 million Illinois adults will see conviction and arrest records sealed in coming years, after Gov. JB Pritzker today signed the Clean Slate Act into law. More at: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinoi...

(This is not normal)

The implications of this - chilling effect on whistleblowers speaking to the press, reporters' ability to protect sources, etc — make me shudder.

I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal. One reporter’s effort to show how Trump was transforming government brought her 1,168 new sources — and nearly broke her.

I encourage anyone who hasn't to read Natanson's very vulnerable behind the scenes look into her reporting over the last year: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

In the search, the FBI seized laptops, a phone and a smartwatch, per NYT reporting.

Natanson was deemed the Post's "federal government whisperer" for her role in getting hundreds of federal employees to share tips over the past year regarding Trump admin changes and policies