Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has unveiled a plan to turn under-utilized downtown office space into mixed-income housing.

Under the plan, four office buildings in the Loop would be repurposed, with the intention of revitalizing the city’s central business district.

City officials pressed their case Wednesday for ending natural gas hookups in new Chicago homes and buildings to fight global warming, while labor representatives warned that such an ordinance would put people out of work.

Leaders from four unions connected to utility Peoples Gas also questioned the move to all-electric homes and other new construction, saying that gas is a reliable source of heat for the time being, even as concerns mount over the continued use of fossil fuels.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is leading a multi-city push calling on President Joe Biden to let long-term residents in the U.S. without legal permission work legally.

Johnson announced the effort to “challenge President Biden” to create a streamlined work authorization process for long-term immigrants living in the country illegally and recent migrant arrivals alike Thursday while speaking with over two dozen top business, faith, labor, nonprofit and immigrant rights leaders.

The Chicago Department of Public Health is warning locals about possible measles exposure at several city locations.

CDPH says the following exposure locations in public settings for which a list of exposed people could not be obtained have been identified:

An Illinois House committee advanced a measure that would end the state’s subminimum wage for tipped workers amid bipartisan opposition this week, but the bill’s sponsor said she’d seek further compromise before presenting it for a vote.

Current Illinois law allows employers to pay their tipped workers 60 percent of the state’s minimum wage. That amounts to $8.40 hourly, compared to the minimum wage of $14 per hour. If their wages plus tips do not equal minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. However, advocates say, employers don’t always do that.

A Democratic lawmaker on Thursday sought to advance a bill that would put an end to the practice where three-time convicted felons are denied parole. Other bills advanced that work to protect victims.

State. Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, acknowledged at a hearing of the Illinois House Judiciary – Criminal Committee that the State’s Attorneys Association is opposed to House Bill 1053, probably because they’re worried about resources being dedicated to habitual criminals, she said. However, she added, she’s actually looking out for taxpayers.

Quaker Oats Factory in Danville is closing, resulting in more than 500 employees being laid off.

After WAND News reached out to Quaker Oats for a statement, they said, “The Quaker Oats Company announces that we are permanently closing our facility in Danville, IL. Following the Quaker recall in December 2023, we paused production at the facility. After a detailed review, we determined that meeting our future manufacturing needs would require an extended closure for enhancements and modernization. In order to continue the timely delivery of Quaker products trusted by consumers since 1877, we determined production would need to permanently shift to other facilities.

Organizers of a referendum from one county asking downstate voters if they want to form a new Illinois — separate from Chicago — are hoping it could appear on the November 5th ballot this year.

The Madison County Board’s Government Relations Committee approved the referendum with a 6-1 vote. It will now go to the full county board for consideration.