As Gov. J.B. Pritzker heads into a reelection year that could prove trying, on Wednesday he is set to present a budget proposal with nearly $1 billion in one-time tax relief.

The initiative aims to provide up to $14.4 million dollars in support to businesses recovering from the pandemic. Business owners will be able to utilize funds for building renovations, energy efficient supplies and more.

Deerfield-based Walgreens Boots Alliance is taking bids for its international drugstore chain, Boots. Boeing makes a $450 million investment in Wisk, an autonomous air-taxi start up. And Chicago’s Loop Capital announces its acquiring BMO Asset Management. 

The session failed to resolve the central issue at the heart of the debate that will determine the balance of political power between Black, Latino and Asian Chicagoans. 

Street artist Leon Thoughtsky takes sardonic quips and reflections and mixes them with the painted signs often seen advertising grocery store produce.

One of those health experts calling out Spotify is Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

According to the National Association for Law Placement, Black women made up 3.17% of associates at America’s law firms in 2021 but less than 1% of partners. Women of color overall made up nearly 16% of associates at America’s law firms but only about 4% of the partners.

Kenwood stands along the shore of Lake Michigan with a mix of 19th century mansions and affordable housing. It’s an area that’s been fighting the closure of schools and gun violence. We talk with residents who have been here for decades about their investment into the community and more.

The county’s chief judge weighs in on the city’s violence. The Bears may have a new head coach. A teacher shortage statewide. Live in Kenwood for “In Your Neighborhood” And, we go ski jumping.

Illinois is facing a teacher shortage — and a new survey shows school leaders fear it is getting worse.  The survey was conducted last fall, before the highly contagious omicron COVID-19 variant, which poses added challenges to schools as some struggle to keep buildings staffed enough to host in-person classes.

A change made by state lawmakers in January 2021 to a sweeping criminal justice law removes the possibility of prosecutors charging defendants with murder in cases when a third party is responsible for the killing. But criminal justice groups are lobbying for further changes.

There are only four members of the 2022 U.S. Olympic men’s ski jumping team. And three of the Olympians on their way to Beijing trained at a historic club 40 miles northwest of Chicago. 

Matt Eberflus is the new coach of the Chicago Bears, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade.

During a speech to the Union League Club of Chicago, Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans said he would assign five additional judges to the criminal division of the Cook County Court in an effort to ensure that cases progress from charges to resolution faster. 

A potential mayoral candidate sounds off on city crime. Our Spotlight team on that and the governor’s race. A supreme court justice may soon retire. And sending mental health providers to 911 calls.