Pritzker’s proposed social media taxes: The Rundown

Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and now that I’m mostly caught up on movie award nominees, I’m excited for this spring’s upcoming films. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Gov. JB Pritzker’s state budget proposal includes new taxes on social media companies and casinos

It’s similar to the tax Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed in his city budget proposal last fall, a controversial measure retained in the alternate spending plan ultimately approved by City Council members. Tech companies have vowed to challenge the move in court.

Otherwise, the governor’s eighth budget proposal of his tenure doesn’t rock the boat much, as Pritzker and Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly emphasized cost-of-living concerns in a midterm election year, Mitchell Armentrout and Matt Trunfio write for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Pritzker’s budget team pointed to persistent threats of funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration as the impetus for what largely amounts to a maintenance budget. The plan comes in at about $56 billion in spending, up about $878 million from the current budget year and landing at a projected surplus of $24 million.

The governor also plans to push to cut red tape on local zoning laws to allow for more duplexes, granny flats and other housing. He’ll also advocate for a ban on cellphones for students in schools, along with a crackdown on junk fees on many online purchases. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Rev. Jesse Jackson and Chicago mayors had a tense, fraught relationship

For 60 years, nine mayors couldn’t afford not to defer to Jackson, my colleague Fran Spielman reports for the Chicago Sun-Times. Jackson, who died yesterday at 84, was a forceful presence who knew how to organize economic and political boycotts, work the media to generate headlines and exert maximum political pressure to accomplish his civil rights goals.

Mayor Richard J. Daley was at the zenith of his power when Jackson moved to Chicago in 1966 to enroll at the Chicago Theological Seminary and joined the Chicago Freedom Movement.

“Jesse’s whole thing was he attacked power, and nobody was a bigger representative of power at that time than the mayor,” Bill Daley, former chief of staff in Barack Obama’s White House, said of his father, Mayor Richard J. Daley. “He probably thought [Jackson] was a, quote, ‘troublemaker,’ because he was pushing all the time for change — and most people in charge of things don’t like change.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

Meanwhile, Jackson’s electoral successes during his presidential runs helped pave the way for Barack Obama’s 2008 nomination and Kamala Harris’ in 2024. But Jackson also paved the way for generations of Democrats in Chicago and beyond. [Chicago Sun-Times]

His children shared emotional tributes this morning during a news conference outside the reverend’s South Shore home, reflecting on their father’s legacy and lasting impact. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Ash Wednesday observers look to strengthen their relationship with God during Lent

Throughout the Chicago area, Catholics attended Mass today and had their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross to mark the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of reflection, praying, fasting and donating to the needy.

Catholics between 18 and 59 years old are typically required to fast through Easter. When fasting, a person can eat one full meal and two smaller meals that don’t make up a full meal. It is also tradition to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday.

Bridget O’Brien, director of ministry at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in the West Loop, noted the practice is meant to “make us conscious of our hunger for God.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

4. Venezuela produces many of the world’s top classical musicians, but the pipeline is breaking

El Sistema was founded in 1975 by economist and conductor José Antonio Abreu, a former cultural minister who used his political clout to turn El Sistema into a state-run program. The country’s oil boom fueled El Sistema’s rapid growth, organized into so-called núcleos across all 23 states in Venezuela.

Its top orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, first became a global sensation after a high-octane performance at the 2007 BBC Proms, donning windbreakers emblazoned with the Venezuelan flag. Now, El Sistema alums perform everywhere from the Berlin Philharmonic to our own Chicago Symphony.

Last June, the U.S. Department of State stopped issuing visas, including student visas, to Venezuelan nationals, with limited exceptions. That move spells uncertainty for Venezuelan musicians who might have otherwise moved to Chicago to pursue their careers, WBEZ contributor Hannah Edgar reports. [WBEZ]

5. Here are a few Lunar New Year events at Chicago restaurants to celebrate the Year of the Horse

Third Bird in Logan Square doesn’t have a sign or street access. To get in the 24-seater, speakeasy-style restaurant, diners walk through Bird Bird, NoodleBird’s bakery.

“It’s a dark, moody space adorned with red velvet curtains,” said Adrienne Lo, the owner of all three concepts, where every item on the menu is made from scratch. “These old 1920s Chinese cigarette ads are plastered on the wall. There’s these Chinese red lanterns hanging in there with a bunch of my grandparents’ furniture that I revamped to fit the space. It has a Shanghai kind of vibe.”

In celebration of Lunar New Year, she is inviting diners into the space at 2957 W. Diversey Ave., which is rarely open to the public.

It’s one of several options from restaurants across the city; you can see more in the link. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced a jury today in a landmark social media addiction trial. [NPR]
• Stephen Colbert isn’t backing down in a public dispute with his CBS bosses over what he can air on his late-night talk show. [AP]
• Eight people died in an avalanche in Lake Tahoe, the deadliest in modern California history. [New York Times]
• Illinois reported its first measles case of 2026 in the southern part of the state. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

In recent decades, the FBI has become known for its competitive hiring process. But there is an extensive history of the agency recruiting high school girls to work office jobs in an earlier era, WBEZ contributor Robert Loerzel reports for Curious City.

Western Springs resident Jane McCarty, the Society of FBI Alumni’s president until November, said the FBI regularly sent recruiters to high schools all over the country, and not just Catholic schools. Even now, the organization has Teen Academy and Youth Academy programs, which “allow high school and middle school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI.”

Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, author of the 2007 book “The FBI: A History,” said a strategy of hiring Catholic girls would line up perfectly with longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s attitude in the post-World War II years, when the United States was in the grip of fears over communism, “because he thought that Catholics would be reliably anti-communist.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

Pączki Day was this week. Where is your favorite spot in the Chicago area to get this traditional sweet treat?

My colleague Tina writes:

“Coming from a half-Polish girl I’d say the best traditional Polish pączki (think rose-flavored/raspberry) are at Racine Bakery in Garfield Ridge and Olympia Bakery in Hickory Hills! Many Polish delis have them delivered from these bakeries, and they are amazing.”

And my colleague Mary writes:

“Bennison’s in Evanston is awesome, as is Central Continental Bakery in Mt Prospect.”

Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.