Higher Ed Funding Crunch: A new push to tackle higher-ed deferred maintenance calls the backlog a “ticking time bomb,” warning that unfunded mandates and shrinking budgets are forcing colleges to delay repairs until they get far more expensive. Public Safety & Courts: An Urbana officer won’t face charges for a May shooting after prosecutors found the force justified; meanwhile, a Sangamon County judge threatened daily fines for DCFS over repeated failures to appear and produce records in a foster-care death case. Illinois Housing Push: The Illinois Association of Realtors launched a statewide partnership to accelerate housing and reduce local barriers to new construction. State Oversight & Records: A judge ordered DCFS leadership to answer for document delays tied to a child death investigation, keeping pressure on state agencies. Severe Weather Fallout: Tornadoes and damaging storms hit the Chicago area and beyond, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands and disrupting travel. Business Regulation: A Roscoe Village cafe says inspectors forced it to remove decorative outdoor string lights, even as similar lights remain up elsewhere. Funeral Home Lawsuit: A class-action was filed against a South Side Chicago funeral home after authorities found more than 50 decomposing bodies during a licensing probe. Prediction Markets Fight: The CFTC used emergency authority to keep Kalshi operating nationwide as states—including Illinois—face a growing legal battle over whether these markets are derivatives or gambling.