Happy Thursday, Illinois. We've made it this far. Let's keep going.

TOP TALKER

COUNTDOWN: The legislative session ends in eight days, and the Illinois General Assembly is still trying to land the plane on Gov. JB Pritzker’s $52.7 billion budget proposal.

There are disagreements on how to accomplish a balanced budget, but legislators and the governor’s office agree we won’t see anything resembling 2015 when lawmakers faced an impasse that lasted 793 days.

“There’s a lot of debate about pieces of what the governor proposed in February, but at the end of the day — as evidence by the past five years — we will have a balanced budget enacted that does things that people expect: invest in education, invest in health care, put more money into the rainy day fund and make pension payments,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar told Playbook.

Big-ticket items: Funding K-12 education to the tune of $350 million is a major piece of the puzzle. And a Medicaid omnibus bill that was passed last year has a nearly $300 million price tag for 2025. Neither are new funding items, but they’re pricey.

Health-care issues are also taking up a lot of discussion in Democratic caucus meetings. A bill we wrote about Wednesday continues to weigh on lawmakers. There’s been an effort to omit coverage for abortion services in the Birth Equity Initiative (HB5142). It’s not a case of opposing abortion but about trying to manage the rising costs of health care.

Also on the table: Lawmakers must consider the $182 million that the Pritzker administration says is needed to help fund welcoming centers and other services for migrants through the next fiscal year, and especially as the city of Chicago prepares for the Democratic National Convention.

How to pay for it all: Pritzker has proposed a revenue package that raises $1.1 billion for the next fiscal year. Most of the revenue-generating would come by extending current tax law that was set to sunset.

A point of contention: The governor wants to raise the sports gambling tax to 35 percent, up from 15 percent, which could bring in a crucial $200 million. It’s not something the gaming industry wants to see.

It’s just math, says Manar: “If we're going to continue to invest in evidence-based funding (for K-12), and pay for the Medicaid omnibus bill and provide everything for all the things that are priorities, it's going to require some new revenue. And that's what the governor proposed.” Pritzker is also open to new revenue ideas.

Off the table: The Chicago Bears shouldn’t expect the $1 billion in state funding it was hoping for its lakefront stadium proposal. And the city of Chicago shouldn’t hold its breath for the $1 billion it says it’s owed for public education either. The funding formula that Chicago’s mayor has pointed to doesn’t allow for getting those monies all at once.

That didn’t stop the CTU from rallying at the Capitol on Wednesday: Members were in Springfield to demand greater funding for city’s schools, by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Sarah Macaraeg

THE BUZZ

SCOOP: Tourism in Chicago is trending up, according to some new numbers from the Choose Chicago tourism folks.

In 2023, the city saw an estimated 54.3 million total visitors, which is up from 2022 (48.9 million) but still not at the 2019 level of approximately 60 million before the pandemic. Final numbers will be released in the coming weeks.

International visitors: 1.8 million, primarily from Canada (455,000) and Mexico (171,000).

Estimated spending impact in 2023: $14 billion by all tourist visitors.

Estimated state and local taxes generated from tourism spending in Chicago: $1.8 billion

The convention circuit: There were more than 1,900 meetings and conventions in Chicago in 2023, bringing in 2 million visitors and creating an economic impact of $2.6 billion, according to Choose Chicago.

Why it matters: Chicago faces a billion-dollar-plus deficit in 2025 — and tourism dollars help boost revenues.

If you are Choose Chicago’s Rich Gamble, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

WHERE'S JB

At Enos Elementary School in Springfield to announce new programs to combat child hunger.

WHERE's BRANDON

In Montreal for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative annual meeting.

Where's Toni

At the Cook County Building to preside over the Board of Commissioners meeting.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email  [email protected]

THE STATEWIDES

— NEW CENSUS ESTIMATES | Suburban Cook County biggest area population loser in recent years: “Statewide, Illinois lost an estimated 263,780 in the same three years, or 2 percent, to 12,549,689. The losses reflect larger demographic changes in recent times, including a shift in population from the Midwest to the South and West, Black migration from the Chicago area and a lack of in-migration,” demographics analyst Rob Paral tells the Tribune’s Robert McCoppin, Jake Sheridan and Kori Rumore.

— Illinois IS rural: Wednesday’s debate in the Illinois House centered on Democratic state Rep. Anna Moeller’s HB2900, which would prohibit prize-winning contests around killing “fur-bearing mammals.” A number of Republicans who live downstate criticized the bill and its proponents for not understanding the rural way of life. Some contests are about killing pesky animals that can damage property, such as raccoons. (This is not about killing dogs, ahem.) The bill passed the House and has already had a first reading in the Senate.

— Illinois high school juniors must take the ACT to fulfill graduation requirements starting next spring, by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie and Becky Vevea

— Planned Parenthood offers abortion pills via app to expand access in Illinois, by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch

— Plan requiring school vendors follow statewide literacy standards heads to Pritzker's desk, by WAND TV’s Mike Miletich

CHICAGO

— CANADIAN CALL-OUT: Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was in Montreal on Wednesday, got a shout-out from Canadian Minister François-Phillippe Champagne during a public program. “Where is my new best friend, Brandon Johnson? He is celebrating his one year anniversary today,” Champagne said from the microphone. We hear there was applause from the dignitaries on hand. “I come to Chicago more than any other city in the U.S. and now I have your cell phone number. So if you get a phone call from a ‘no caller ID’ from Canada you know who it is,” Champagne continued. Pic!

— Everybody wins | Clark Street outdoor dining program will return this summer — But traffic lanes will stay open: “A compromise was stuck to bring the popular dining program back to River North. But unlike past years, the strip will remain open to car traffic,” by the Block Club’s Quinn Myers.

— CPS details new safety plan as district prepares to remove resource officers from schools, by WTTW’s Matt Masterson

— Where did all the art in the Thompson Center go? By Hannah Edgar for WBEZ

BUSINESS OF POLITICS

— WITH A GRAIN OF SALT: Johnson dog-paddles into second year with approval numbers under water, according to a new survey conducted by M3 Strategies and published by Crain’s. M3 is the company that worked for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s opponent, Paul Vallas, in the mayor’s race last year. And M3’s founder, Matt Podgorski, used a separate political action committee to fund mailers that attacked Johnson.

TAKING NAMES

— Speaking of Paul Vallas: He's been named CEO of the Jo Ellen and John McKenzie Foundation, which is focused on education issues. Vallas is the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools. “Our foundation will focus on creating and supporting programs that address the cycle of poverty by creating hope and opportunity for young people. Our school model will emphasize the key elements needed for a successful and productive life. We couldn’t have found a better person than Paul Vallas to lead the way,” John McKenzie said in announcing Vallas to lead the foundation.

DAY IN COURT

— State seeks to salvage high-profile conviction in Hadiya Pendleton slaying in arguments before Illinois Supreme Court, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley

— Native American woman who had been cultural adviser to Blackhawks is suing team, by CBS 2’s Dave Savini

— PPP fraud investigation sees former Cook County correctional officer charged, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Downtown Elgin promoting influx of new businesses, by the Daily Herald’s Rick West

— Valparaiso City Council approves resolution with 6 to 1 vote to recognize Pride Month, by the Post-Tribune’s Philip Potempa

— In Waukegan, the Park District Board of Commissioners elected and appointed officers at their meeting on Tuesday. They are: President Anton  Mathews, Vice President George Bridges Jr. and Treasurer Jeremiah Johnson. Commissioners Jacqueline Herrera Giron and Janet Kilkelly also serve on the board.

HIGHER-ED

— Northwestern ended its encampment without cops or violence. Why is Congress upset? “Northwestern University President Michael Schill is expected to be grilled by lawmakers next week for his decision to negotiate with students,” by WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip.

Reader Digest

We asked where you take out-of-towners:

Janice Anderson: “Raymes in Lisle — home of king size cocktails.”

Rosemary Caruk: “Cook County Forest Preserves and/or the Magic Hedge in Montrose Harbor during bird migration season.”

Peter Creticos: “Bruna's Ristorante in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood on the Lower West Side. It is genuine, old-time Chicago.”

Hilary Denk: “Morton Arboretum.”

Leo Driscoll: “Havisham Bourbon Bar in Alto Pass, Ill.”

John Howell: “Lou Mitchell’s (breakfast), Manny’s (early lunch), Billy Goat (late lunch), Andy’s Jazz Club (early drinks), Miller’s Pub (later drinks), Gibson’s (dinner).”

Carlton Hull: “Gibson’s in Rosemont.”

Charles Keller: “Ravinia and The Botanic Gardens.”

Kevin Lamm: “The Blues Brothers Tour, The Ferris Bueller Tour and/or The Fugitive Tour.”

Ed Mazur: “The museum campus for beautiful views of Chicago.”

Omari Prince: “Pier 31.”

Peter Skosey: “Hands down, the architectural river cruise by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.”

Ashley  Urisman: “Cindy's at the Chicago Athletic Association or the Up Room at the Robey Hotel for cocktails and city views.”

NEXT QUESTION: What’s a new way to generate state revenue?

KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION

— Concert connection: IL-09 Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's TICKET Act, which she co-sponsored, passed the House on Wednesday. The measure was prompted by ticket debacles for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. It’s written to bring transparency to the concert, theater, and sporting event ticket industries. The bill calls for showing the full price of an event ticket, including extra fees, before a purchase is made. And it guarantees refunds for event cancellations and postponements.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— A Trump-Biden tie could upend politics like we haven’t seen in 200 years, by POLITICO Magazine's Joshua Zeitz

— Senior senator and criminal defendant: The strange twin identity of Bob Menendez, by POLITICO’s Ursula Perano, Burgess Everett and Mia McCarthy

— Biden’s Israel weapons policy has been hard to follow, by POLITICO’s Lara Seligman

TRANSITIONS

— Eliana Locke is now regional press program director for the Biden-Harris Wisconsin Campaign, overseeing local media engagement across the state. She was comms director for Congresswoman Robin Kelly and is a Priorities USA alum.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Adam Gypalo and MWRD Commissioner Eira Corral Sepulveda for correctly answering that Frederick Law Olmsted was not only the architect for New York's Central Park, but he also planned the country's first suburb — in Riverside.

TODAY’s QUESTION: How did President Richard M. Nixon make a splash in Hanover Park in 1970?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore, state Sen. Emil Jones III, state Rep. Fred Crespo, state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal and Mercury Public Affairs Managing Director James Hartmann.

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