Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would reform Chicago's transit governance and introduce a $1.50 delivery fee, leaving a significant funding gap for transit agencies amid looming financial crises, with potential for a special session to revisit the issue.
The Chicago Bears' request for $2 billion in public funding for a new stadium is delayed until at least the fall, as the Illinois legislature adjourns for the spring without taking action. With rising NFL franchise values, public sentiment is increasingly against taxpayer-funded stadiums, leaving the Bears' next steps uncertain.
Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf made a pitch for a new stadium in the South Loop to Illinois legislative leaders, seeking about $1 billion in public funding, but facing skepticism from some lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The proposed stadium at "The 78" would include ambitious economic projections and plans for housing units. Reinsdorf's visit came ahead of Pritzker's budget presentation, and while some lawmakers expressed openness to discussions, others were openly hostile to the idea of public funding for the stadium.