Editor’s Note: This edition of Newswire contains mentions of sexual assault.

Welcome to Newswire — your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what action we can take to make our city great, featuring public meeting coverage by City Bureau’s Documenters.

Quote of the Week

“A lot of us are still in this ‘wait and see mode’ until we understand some of the federal policy changes that are going to happen and also what happens with the HBIA program and the state legislative session.”

— Aaron Galeener, chief administrative officer, Health Plan Services speaking on the end of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program.

[Board of Directors of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, April 4, 2025]

‘A period of potential uncertainty’

Illinoisans ages 42 to 64 who are in the country without legal status could lose health care coverage this summer. 

Gov. JB Pritzker’s FY26 budget proposal in February aims to end the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program due to a budget shortfall. The projected savings are $330 million. If state legislators agree to the cut, affected immigrants would lose coverage as of July 1.

This program began in 2022 building upon the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program, which covers those 65 and older. Both programs cover older adults who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid but are ineligible due to their immigration status. The program for seniors 65 and  older remains. New enrollments for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program are currently paused.

Cook County Health anticipates a loss of 16,000 to 17,000 members if the program ends  July 1. The most significant financial impact could be losing $100 million in reimbursements. 

“The biggest immediate concern is the HBIA population and that transition in terms of the impact on that population. We’ve seen a lot of gains in the health status of those individuals, and I think we’re all very concerned about seeing that slide backward,” said Aaron Galeener, chief administrative officer, Health Plan Services. Cook County Health is looking at ways to support current HBIA members with that transition to ensure they continue receiving treatment and care, Galeener said. Officials are starting to reach out to affected Illinoisans to get health  care before they lose coverage under the program.

What you can do:

Catch up on the headlines: 

  • Pritzker cutting health care program for noncitizens as report reveals costs far exceeded estimates | WTTW

  • Thousands of immigrants in Illinois to lose health care coverage | NPR

Still pressing for answers

Cook County prosecutors have charged a man in connection with a string of sexual assaults in Logan Square and Lakeview from May 2022 to February 2025. The 36-year-old suspect is being charged with 18 felonies and will remain in jail pending trial. 

A pattern of violent sexual assaults became apparent earlier this year with victims coming forward to share their stories and express frustration with how police have handled their cases. Community members packed local beat and police district council meetings demanding answers. 

Before Monday’s arrest, neighbors attended a 14th District Police Council meeting on Saturday to again press for answers. Many expressed concern over what they felt was a lack of progress made in many of the victim’s cases. Chair Christopher Laurent responded to comments,saying that Area 5 detectives assured that extra detectives have been added to the case and that they were actively building up evidence.

What you can do:

Use the Smart Walk feature on the OEMC App: Share your location with a friend or family member in the event of an emergency. The app also provides residents with preparedness tips, safety information and alerts.

Attend free self defense workshop: The workshop, hosted by Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense is from 1-4 p.m. on May 10 at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk St.). The registration link will be available at the Council’s Facebook page.

The Chicago Police Department and Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability are drafting a proposed consent decree policy in response to concerns about pretextual traffic stops. Residents can provide feedback before the commission makes a potential policy recommendation at the next hearing on April 24.

What you can do:

Email your feedback to the CCPSA: Fill out a traffic stop policy survey and email feedback to CCPSA before the Apr. 24 hearing.

Clearing the air on pollution

Chicago is outpacing national averages in pollutant concentration, which the city’s top health chief says is a result of residential segregation and Chicago’s role as a transportation and industrial hub. 

“Chicago is not doing so well when it comes to air pollution,” said Olusimbo Ige, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public health. The public health department is responsible for regulating  industry sites through the Office of Environmental Permitting and Inspection to ensure the city meets state and federal air pollution standards. But because there are only three inspectors, the division prioritizes inspections based on complaints and historical violations. 

In 2024, OEPI conducted only 13% of routine inspections for all of the 1,972 permitted facilities across the city while completing 98% of investigations into complaints. Despite knowing about repeat offenders, the health department can only issue citations which are then reviewed by the city’s Department of Law through administrative hearings. Alders pressed Ige over the lack of enforcement for repeat offenders citing Sims Metal Management in Pilsen. 

“We want to make sure that your department and our city has more enforcement to shut down operations,” said Chair Ald. Maria Hadden (49th Ward). 

In 2023, a civil rights complaint over a planned Southeast Side scrap-metal plant sparked an investigation that found the city had intentionally been engaging in environmental racism, leading to a three-year federal agreement with the city. As part of that, CDPH plans to install 220 sensors by this summer and publish data by this fall. CDPH has been putting together an advisory board and gathering suggestions to determine where to install the monitors.

What you can do:

Tell the city where to install the air monitors: Chicago promised to install 220 air monitors, where do you think they should go? Go here to submit your recommendations.

Rich in history

Commissioners approved the final landmark recommendation for the Morning Star Baptist Church of Chicago in Bronzeville. 

“The heritage of Morning Star is really interwoven with the Great Migration which transformed Chicago’s political, cultural and artistic landscape,” said Matt Crawford of the Department of Planning and Development.

The approval of Morning Star Baptist’s landmark status further contributes to Bronzeville’s legacy. Last year, the historic South Side neighborhood was one of 10 districts designated by the state for its historical and cultural identity.

What you can do:

Learn more about the landmarks designation process: These landmarks just completed step six in the process: final commission recommendation. Next, they will be put to a vote by the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards followed by City Council. 

Attend a City Council meeting: Check for upcoming City Council meetings here at the Chicago City Clerk website. To learn more about how you can give public comment – in-person or virtually – at a City Council meeting, click here.

A version of this story was first published in the April 9, 2025 issue of the Newswire, an email newsletter that is your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.

Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Civic Editor Dawn Rhodes at dawn@citybureau.org.