Illinois Courts: The Illinois Supreme Court and Judicial Conference launched a statewide circuit court user survey running July 13–31, asking in-person and remote users (not judges/staff) about their experiences since the last 2015 survey. CPS Budget Pressure: Chicago Public Schools notified 162 central and citywide employees of layoffs to help close a $730M-plus deficit, with a proposed budget expected later this week. Education & Civil Rights: Illinois lawmakers and AGs are pushing back on federal moves affecting school mental health grants, while DOJ civil rights officials previewed a tougher stance on FERPA enforcement tied to student privacy. Reentry Licensing Reform: State Sen. Christopher Belt’s new law eases licensing barriers for formerly incarcerated people by replacing vague “good moral character” standards and limiting how arrests are treated. Public Safety Tech Debate: Darren Bailey criticized Flock license-plate readers as “mass surveillance,” drawing a response from police chiefs defending the tool as investigative and non-surveillance. Statehouse New Laws: Gov. Pritzker signed 31 laws, including expanded access to birth control for minors, cosmetic ingredient restrictions, and property tax compliance changes. Gun Violence: Illinois State Police reported two teens arrested after a shooting spree in East St. Louis that killed five members of the same family. Federal Immigration Enforcement: A fatal ICE-related shooting in Biddeford, Maine, is under investigation, with calls for transparency and attention to body-camera availability. Business & Consumer: Deere agreed to a 10-year right-to-repair settlement, and Accela bought Civira AI to help public agencies automate permitting and licensing workflows. Chicago Parks Cooling: Chicago Park District plans $1M in air-conditioning upgrades at 42 parks to protect residents during extreme heat.