Education & Governance: A crowded field of candidates is vying to lead Chicago’s school board, including trial lawyer Victor Henderson, who argues the system has “too much politics” and not enough focus on student learning. Ethics & State Politics: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is drawing fresh scrutiny over how he handled a private sexual harassment complaint for years, with calls for ethics reform. Public Safety & Courts: Chicago police are investigating South Chicago Chapel after over 50 remains were found improperly stored; attorneys are offering free legal help to families as identifications continue. Consumer Protection: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a “Right to Appraisal” auto insurance law giving Illinois drivers a process to resolve claim-value disputes without insurer consent. Tech & Policy: Illinois’ AI safety law is part of a growing patchwork of state rules, while small banks warn AI vendor contracts leave them exposed to cybersecurity and data-ownership gaps. Energy & Environment: The EPA has stopped updating public cancer-risk estimates tied to air pollution, raising new questions for communities trying to track health impacts. Elections & Voting Tech: A lawsuit over ranked-choice voting is resetting again at the state election board, involving a voting machine vendor. Business & Jobs: Capital One is cutting more jobs in Illinois after acquiring Discover, with layoffs hitting the suburbs while the Chatham call center reportedly remains.