During a Capitol press conference ahead of a Senate Revenue Committee hearing, Republican lawmakers warned that repealing key provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act and imposing new taxes, such as a digital advertising tax, would drive up costs, discourage investment, and put working families at risk.

“Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem,” Curran said. “Endless tax increases are pushing businesses out. If we want to be a welcoming state, we need to welcome businesses.”

Curran pointed to lagging economic indicators as evidence that current policies are not working.

“We rank near the bottom nationally in job growth, and tens of thousands of residents are leaving our state each year,” he said. “That is not a coincidence. It is the direct result of policies that prioritize more spending over economic growth.”

Among the proposals discussed was Senate Bill 3353, which would create a new tax on digital advertising. Lawmakers warned that the cost of the tax would ultimately be passed on to small businesses and consumers.

“This is a tax on the small business owner trying to grow,” Curran said. “It will be paid by the mom starting a home bakery, the local shop printing team t-shirts, and families already stretched thin trying to afford everyday essentials.”

State Senator Seth Lewis focused on the potential repeal of the Blue Collar Jobs Act, emphasizing the impact on workers and job creation.

“First and foremost, the Blue Collar Jobs Act is about people,” Lewis said. “It supports good-paying construction jobs. Jobs that help families pay the mortgage, put food on the table, and build a stable future.”

Lewis warned that eliminating the program would directly reduce job opportunities across the state.

“When you eliminate these incentives, the first people to feel it are workers: fewer projects, fewer opportunities, and fewer chances at steady, family-supporting employment,” he said. “At a time when families are already facing higher costs, the last thing they need is government making it harder to find good-paying work.”

He also stressed the broader economic impact of the policy.

“When you make it more expensive to produce in Illinois, you make it easier to produce somewhere else,” Lewis said. “Higher costs mean fewer jobs, less investment, and ultimately higher prices for families.”

Assistant Senate Republican Leader Sally Turner highlighted how the proposals would disproportionately impact rural communities, particularly through the elimination of tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel.

“In districts like mine, agriculture is not just part of the economy. It is the backbone of it,” Turner said. “Biodiesel creates a strong, reliable market for crops our farmers grow, especially soybeans.”

Turner said removing those incentives would come at a time when farmers are already under significant financial pressure.

“This is the worst possible time to pull support away from our farmers,” she said. “When you eliminate these incentives, you reduce demand for their crops and put even more strain on farm families and rural economies.”

She also warned that the impact doesn’t just stop at the farm; it would lead to higher prices at the pump and on everyday essentials.

“Biodiesel is a key part of our fuel supply, especially for trucking and transportation of goods,” continued Turner. “When you raise the cost of fuel, you raise the cost of moving goods, and those costs get passed on to families.”

Lawmakers concluded by urging their colleagues to reject the proposed tax increases and policy rollbacks, and instead focus on long-term solutions that promote economic growth and stability.

“We should be building on policies that support workers and encourage investment, not dismantling them,” Lewis said. “For the sake of our economy and the families who call Illinois home, we need to move in a different direction.”

The largest pickle festival in Illinois is back this weekend, bringing an all-out pickle-themed bar crawl and celebration to the Windy City.

Here’s what to expect.

Wrigleyville Pickle Fest

Pickle Fest will take over Wrigleyville on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The bar crawl event will cover some of the best spots along the Clark Street strip:

• Old Crow Smokehouse
• Moe’s Cantina
• Stolen Saddle
• Tin Roof
• HVAC
• Cubby Bear
• Roadhouse 66
• Stretch
• Merkle’s
• More TBA

Tickets get you access to live bands, DJs, a complimentary pickle-back whiskey shot, specialty pickle-centric cocktails and food options, fun photo ops, giveaways, and more!

Here’s the best part: Tickets start at just $10.

Click here to grab yours and learn more info!

The city released its movie lineup Wednesday, which features beloved classics, iconic blockbusters and family-friendly hits.

The movie series kicks off June 30 with a screening of Roland Emmerich’s “Independence Day” in honor of the sci-fi blockbuster’s 30th anniversary.

It will run through Aug. 18 with screenings of “Ratatouille,” “Hamilton,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and more. There will also be a special double feature tribute to the late Rob Reiner on July 14, featuring two iconic films he directed: “When Harry Met Sally…” and “This is Spinal Tap.”

The movies will be shown on a 40-foot LED screen at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., where the city also hosts its free summer music program.

Film screenings begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Millennium Park will also host free music and workout series. Learn more about the city’s summer programs here.

Find the full schedule with dates and titles here:

• June 30: “Independence Day” — 30th anniversary
• July 7: “Ratatouille” — Kickoff to Taste of Chicago
• July 14: “When Harry Met Sally…” and “This is Spinal Tap” — Tribute to
  Rob Reiner Double Feature
• July 21: NO FILM SHOWING
• July 28: “Hamilton” — America 250 celebration
• Aug. 4: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” — 25th
  anniversary
• Aug. 11: “The Devil Wears Prada” — 20th anniversary
• Aug. 18: “Sinners”

Delta on Tuesday said it is ending food and beverage service on shorter routes beginning May 19.

The move is aimed at creating “a more consistent experience across our network,” the airline said in a statement to CBS News.

Passengers on the airline’s shorter flights — or those under 350 miles — will no longer receive any food and beverage service unless they are seated in first class, “which always receives full service,” Delta said.

A flight from New York to Boston is under 300 miles, while passengers on flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco would still receive food and drinks. With the change, about 9% of Delta’s flights won’t offer food or beverage services.

The airline is adding food and drink options for some customers, including Delta Comfort and Delta Main passengers traveling 350 miles or more. This means 14% of the airline’s daily flights will gain full service, according to the airline.

“Even on the small number of flights without beverage service, our crew will continue to be visible, available, and focused on caring for our customers, like they do on every flight,” Delta said.

The change aligns loosely with other airlines’ food and beverage service policies. American feeds passengers on flights over 250 miles, as does Southwest.

United offers food and beverage service on flights that are 300 miles or longer.

Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, on the presidential library’s website. The Obama Foundation warned that they expect weekend and summer tickets to sell out quickly.

You will be able to purchase up to nine tickets at a time, and the Obama Foundation said they anticipate a wait to purchase tickets, but your spot in the electronic line will be saved when you log on to purchase. With the expected demand, the foundation recommended that any prospective visitors have alternative dates and times in mind in case their first choice is already sold out.

As construction crews work on the final landscaping details around the 20-acre presidential center, the anticipation is seeping from the Obama Foundation’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Mike Strautmanis.

“I don’t know if you can be ready for something like this,” he said. “There are people, guests, walking around … in the restaurant, in the museum.”

He says former white house and campaign workers are on invite-only tours. They see a sneak peek, and the foundation hears their feedback, but the general public will be able to buy tickets on Wednesday morning.

All entries will be timed tickets, and visitors are strongly encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance of a visit.

Tickets will be available to purchase for June 19 through Nov. 30, 2026. You can sign up for the Obama Foundation’s mailing list for notifications about when tickets for future dates will go on sale.

General admission tickets cost $30 for adults (ages 12 and above) and $23 for children aged 3 to 11. Illinois residents – who must provide proof of residence through a valid photo ID – can purchase adult tickets for $26 and child tickets for $15. Entry for children 2 and under is free.

Strautmanis responded to those who say the ticket prices are high compared to other presidential libraries.

“Ticket prices are on par with all the other museums in the park, all the other museums in and around Chicago,” he said.

No matter the price, Michele Groden says she’s coming from Rochester, New York, and has already secured her ticket to visit the center in September.

“We decided to join the foundation because then we could get early access to tickets,” she said.

Tickets are for personal use, not returnable, and cannot be sold or transferred. All entries are timed, and visitors should arrive within 10 minutes of their scheduled time.

The center will have a replica of the Oval Office, a Chicago Public Library branch, and a recording studio, just to name a few attractions. The foundation also hired 150 full-time employees this year, through a highly competitive process.

And former President Obama was part of many small but important decisions, from how the food tastes, the height of barriers at the overlooks, and the art pieces that all tell a story.

“It’s a really hopeful, happy place,” Strautmanis said.

The museum will be open on Mondays from 1 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last entry to the museum will be an hour before closing.

General admission tickets include access to all four levels of the museum, access to the Oval Office and to the Sky Room.

Click here to buy your ticket to visit the Museum at the Obama Presidential Center.

Graham spent 15 years in New Orleans (2010-15), rising from an intern in 2010-11 to general manager in 2024-25 with the Pelicans. Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh recruited Graham as his top executive last summer out of New Orleans, and Graham now becomes the Bulls’ top decision-maker.

Graham, 39, is known across the NBA for having a tremendous scouting eye. His drafting track record includes finds such as Trey Murphy III (drafted 17th), Herbert Jones (35th), Dyson Daniels (eighth) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17th), with the latter two going on to win Most Improved Player awards in back-to-back years.

Graham also helped facilitate negotiations between the Pelicans and the Hawks during the draft last year that saw Atlanta gain New Orleans’ 2026 first-round pick, one of the more coveted draft assets in the league this year.

Team sources told ESPN the Bulls valued Graham’s player evaluation record, especially ahead of a deep 2026 draft class where the Bulls will have multiple first-round selections.

“He has worked his way up through basketball operations from the ground level, and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization,” Bulls CEO Michael Resindorf said in the team’s statement Monday. “He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today’s league, today’s players, and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture.”

Reinsdorf had cast a wider net during his search to lead the team, hiring a search firm and interviewing candidates from across the league, including Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep and Boston Celtics assistant GM Dave Lewin.

The Bulls conducted in-person interviews with candidates last week and mulled over three finalists — Graham, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey and Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd — over the weekend before deciding on Graham on Monday.

Lloyd had been seen as the frontrunner for the job across the league because of his connections to the Bulls organization. Lloyd spent 17 seasons with the franchise across multiple roles from 1995-2012.

However, team sources said Graham stood out throughout the process because, even at 39 years old, he’s had so many different roles throughout his career, which could help connect a front office many in the organization felt had become disjointed under the previous regime. Chicago is also expected to give Graham autonomy in how he wants to build the rest of the front office, sources told ESPN.

Graham becomes just the third head of basketball operations hired by Chicago since the turn of the century. John Paxson served as president of basketball operations from 2009 to 2020 before Arturas Karnisovas took over. Karnisovas lasted six years before he was fired before the final week of the 2025-26 regular season.

Graham will get started on a job that has been highly coveted around the league, both for its market (Chicago is the third-largest city in the NBA) and for the flexibility of its roster. The Bulls have their own 2026 lottery pick, the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2026 first-round pick (which was conveyed as a part of a 2021 trade involving Lauri Markkanen) and nearly $60 million in cap space available.

Still, Graham has a lot of work to do building a roster that includes Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones and Noa Essengue, who was drafted in the lottery last season but played only two games before needing season-ending left shoulder surgery. The Bulls also will be searching for a new coach to replace Billy Donovan, who stepped down from the role last month after six seasons at the helm.

Chicago finished the this season 31-51 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

Vela

Secure your reservations through Vela’s website for a night of food, drinks and celebrations including, $25 El Tesoro Flights – Blanco, Reosado, Anejo 80; $18 Tacos Campechanos – Kofta Verde, Al Pastor, Longaniza, Cilantro / Cebolla, Salsa Blanca; $40 Margarita Pitcher; and $12 Margaritas. There will also be a Live DJ 5pm-9pm.

Solana

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Solana’s official kickoff party! Wicker Park’s only public rooftop pool bar atop The Robey will be serving skyline views, frozen tropical cocktails, and street-style tacos as the party heats up poolside. Enjoy live mariachi, an Aperol tasting at 4PM, and an Espolòn tasting at 6PM—then keep it going with $5 everything after 5PM.

Valedor

Valedor will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration with live music and activations throughout the night. The evening will feature a Taco Tuesday special with $10 margaritas and $6 duck mole tacos. The Valedor big screen will display themed visuals throughout the evening, including the signature dancing cat wearing a sombrero. To complete the experience, a live mariachi trio will perform during the event.

Manchamanteles

This Cinco de Mayo, Manchamanteles invites guests to celebrate with a special one-day dining experience on Tuesday, May 5. The restaurant will open its doors for both lunch and dinner (despite being typically closed on Tuesdays) for the occasion. In addition to the regular menu, guests can enjoy a festive Cinco de Mayo Taco Tasting Menu, created especially for the holiday. The full menu will also remain available for those who prefer to order à la carte. Reservations can be made in advance on Tock, and booking ahead is highly recommended to secure your spot.

Cruz Blanca

The spotlight is on their wood-fired Tacos al Carbón – offering Grilled Ribeye (red chile-garlic marinade), Grilled Chicken (garlic marinade), Mushroom + Charred Chile (garlic-roasted portobella and blistered chile), or the Cruz Asado Feast (carne asada, grilled chicken, and mushrooms with charred chile). All are served with warm tortillas, house salsas, caramelized onions, poblano rajas, and one side(makes 3-4 tacos). Round it out with a lineup of margaritas, from the signature Cruz to a Pink Cadillac or smoky Mezcal, available by the glass and with pitchers for the table.

Check out more great options here.

The collective bargaining agreement expired Friday. According to the union, the zoo ended bargaining early on April 27 and presented its last, best, and final offer. Final bargaining was to happen Friday, May 1, ahead of a midnight deadline when the contract would end.

John Coli Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727, says the issues include a proposal to eliminate the 100 percent employer paid union health care.

Members of the union include animal care specialists, groundskeepers, patrol officers, seasonals, aides, and custodians. They are looking for a contract that includes wage increases and staffing guarantees.

Brookfield Zoo shared a statement saying, “The Zoo was notified this morning that a portion of the union-represented employees have begun to strike. At this time, our animal care specialists are continuing to provide uninterrupted care for the animals at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which will remain our highest priority. The Zoo remains open with normal daily operations, and leadership is committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal wellness, guest experience, and employee support that define the institution.”

Many people across the country move to the suburbs for more space and quieter streets, then drive to and from their jobs in nearby major cities every day.

These commutes can take a real toll on workers, sometimes burning them out more than the job itself. From bumper‑to‑bumper traffic and unexpected delays to the realization that the drive is eating up a huge share of their free time, the daily grind can wear people down.

A new survey of more than 3,000 commuters nationwide by AMFM Healthcare examined which drives are causing the most commuter “burnout.”

As you’d probably expect, many of the most frustrating commutes were ones into the largest cities in the country, like Los Angeles and New York City.

Naperville to the city of Chicago rounded out the Top 10.

At the top of the list was the commute from Palmdale, California, to Los Angeles. Followed by the commute from White Plains, New York, to New York City, and then the commute from Tracy, California, to San Francisco.

Check out the list below of which commutes are burning people out the most in the U.S.

If you’re looking for ways to fight commute burnout, there are a few strategies to help you stay calm and relaxed on your ride to and from work.

According to UCLA Transportation, an easy one is to try distracting yourself. Put on an audiobook you’ve been meaning to read or catch up on some podcasts. Maybe even try a guided meditation to keep relaxed.

Another tip was making sure you eat. Nothing will bring out stress more than an empty stomach, so try to eat before you hit the road or pack some healthy snacks for the drive.

Take a look at the full survey to see where your commute ranks among the nation’s biggest “burnout belts.”