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This Thursday, get to the end of the week on solid footing with these stories from WTTW News.
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(sasirin pamai / iStock)
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A new study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute explores how a 3% surtax on Illinois residents earning $1 million or more per year could impact the state.
The study said that surtax (an additional tax above the current state income tax) would generate up to $5 billion in annual state revenue by 2033. That new money could fully fund all public schools in the state while alleviating property tax burdens, the study found.
In 2024 and 2014, non-binding advisory referendums passed with more than 60% of Illinois voters in favor of taxing wealthier residents at a higher rate.
But critics argue such a tax could open the door for increased taxation on thousands of small businesses and potentially fall short of relieving the property tax burden.
Frank Manzo, study contributor and economist with the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, and Austin Berg, vice president of marketing and executive director for the Chicago Policy Center with the Illinois Policy Institute, spoke with “Chicago Tonight” about what a so-called millionaire’s tax could look like in Illinois.
What the study said:
The study projects that a 3% surtax on earners making $1 million or more would generate around $3-4 billion in fiscal year 2028 and up to $5 billion by fiscal year 2033.
The Illinois Economic Policy Institute laid out three key policy suggestions as to how Illinoisans could use the funds.
The first option is dedicated property tax relief for homeowners, which Manzo said would take the form of rebates ranging between $1,200 to $1,800, depending on the household.
The second option is to fully fund all Illinois public schools using the evidence-based funding model, which is currently used in Illinois to fully fund schools to an adequate level by 2039.
The final option suggested in the study is a freeze on school property taxes while providing additional education funding.
What critics argue:
Berg believes the solution lies elsewhere when it comes to bridging the $5.2 billion budget deficit Illinois faces in 2027.
Earlier this year, the Illinois Policy Institute urged Illinois leaders to reign in spending, suggesting the state take on a spending cap that matches the nominal GDP for the state while also strengthening the Budgeting for Results commission to help “lawmakers target waste and prioritize core services.”
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Sponsor Message
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Make your plans to celebrate in April with the Poetry Foundation, offering a full roster of FREE public programs, including:
- a poetry reading with Chicago’s own National Book Award winner Patricia Smith;
- a live performance by chamber music collective D+Composed;
- a library packed with more than 40,000 books of poetry for readers of all ages.
Visiting Hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 11 AM–5 PM; Thursday 11 AM–6 PM
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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)
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Some elected officials in Illinois have called for President Donald Trump’s removal from office after he threatened “a whole civilization will die tonight” in a social media post about Iran on Tuesday.
Trump said in a social media post Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran failed to make a deal in time that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday night, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
Trump’s comments were met with condemnation from Democrats, former MAGA supporters, some sitting Republicans and Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV.
Several Democratic elected officials in Illinois released statements calling for Trump to be impeached, including calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. The 25th Amendment would require the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members to declare a president unfit for office in order for the president to be removed.
Gov. JB Pritzker
“This is not foreign policy, it’s a deranged mad man threatening to wipe out an entire country. It’s past time. The 25th Amendment must be invoked.”
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton
“For over a year we’ve suffered through Donald Trump’s raging chaos as he’s started a global trade war, terrorized our communities, and now thrown us into an unjustified war with Iran and threatened to wipe out an entire nation. We know that he is deranged, unfit for office, and endangering us all. The 25th Amendment exists for a reason. Use it.”
U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (3rd District)
“Trump’s unhinged threats of violence and genocide are inexcusable. He is a warmonger, escalating the conflict for his own profit and consolidation of power. My Republican colleagues can’t keep turning a blind eye. He must be stopped and impeached.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (5th District)
“These threats make America less safe and are driving us towards another Great Recession. Because of that, I’m officially calling for the Cabinet to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment. If they can’t, Congress must return from recess today and begin impeachment proceedings."
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Pink cherry blossoms in bloom at Jackson Park, April 3, 2026. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Jackson Park is looking pretty in pink.
A number of the park’s cherry trees are in bloom and more are preparing to burst with blossoms, a rite of spring that’s as bewitching as it is unpredictable.
“It is still up in the air what kind of bloom we’re going to get,” said Patricia Ward, head scientist at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
And that’s part of the charm.
With the museum’s south portico offering a panoramic view of the cherry plantings that ring Jackson Park’s Columbia Basin, Ward has had a front row seat to the peaks and valleys of the trees’ mercurial blooms over the years — 2025 was a banner year, while 2023-24 were “underwhelming,” she said.
“You don’t know for sure what it’s going to be. They (the blossoms) last for maybe a week, 10 days, maybe a little bit more, but again you don’t quite know,” she said. “You don’t know exactly when the peak is — it’s a little bit like fall colors. When you capture it, it’s magical.”
Some backstory:
Unlike the 110-year-old tradition of cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., Jackson Park’s trees are barely more than a decade old.
In 2013, 120 cherry trees were planted to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Jackson Park and known for its shimmering White City. Today, the Museum of Science and Industry is the sole remaining building from the White City still standing in the park.
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More From WTTW News:
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Following the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. in February, the question has lingered of how best to memorialize the Civil Rights icon in Chicago. Now, there's a suggestion to turn Andrew Jackson Park — best known simply as Jackson Park — into Jesse Jackson Sr. Park.
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Back in the Day: April 9, 1941 - Brookfield Zoo Fooled By Nancy the Elephant’s Weight Gain
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In 1941, the Brookfield Zoo had an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) named Nancy. Donated to the zoo in 1933 by a Holland, Michigan, farm owner, the animal was the first elephant in the zoo’s collection. Because it was the first, that might explain why, in 1941, workers at the Brookfield Zoo thought that Nancy the Elephant was pregnant. She had gained 600 pounds, so they gave her a special enclosure and treatment at the zoo. She was expected to give birth in July and then in August. Finally, in April, workers realized that this was just a well-fed elephant. As the Tribune then reported, “Edward H. Bean, zoo director, and Robert Bean, curator of mammals, have given up.” Per the Tribune, Nancy enjoyed the 25 months of special treatment at the zoo.
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This Week’s Arts & Culture Events
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Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.
If you go to the doctor, there’s a good chance they’ll tell you to eat healthier and have a well-rounded, balanced diet. They’d likely recommend fruits and veggies, that you aim for high-fiber foods, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to get all your essential nutrients to go about your day. There is no such thing as an “arts doctor,” but if there was, they’d tell you to diversify your portfolio of culturally enriching fare. Thankfully, Chicago has that in spades. Below is a small sampler of culture events ranging from art, comedy and theater.
Art: Expo Chicago — Navy Pier
Since 2012, Expo Chicago has showcased a wide variety of global artists and galleries across several immersive installations. Now in its 13th year, Expo returns to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall for several days of exhibits, talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives from April 9–12. This year, the festival is partnering with the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, whose director, Louise Bernard, is curating a section called “Focus.” It’s “inspired by the architecture and commissioned artists of the Obama Presidential Center.” For more information and tickets, click here.
Comedy: Mohanad Elshieky — The Den Theatre
Mohanad Elshieky is a New York City-based comic who was born in Libya and has appeared on “Conan,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Comedy Central and more. He’s also an in-demand scribe who used to work for the popular podcast “Lovett or Leave It” and now serves as a writer/consultant for NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!” Perceptive and biting, his humor touches on politics, identity, being an immigrant in America and more. He plays Wicker Park’s the Den Theatre Friday and tickets can be found here.
Theater: “Maybe Tomorrow” – Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
The Wild Door Theater presents the Midwestern premiere of Max Mondi’s “darkly funny and unsettling” new play “Maybe Tomorrow.” Directed by Andrew Gallant, it promises to be “a gripping, meta-theatrical puzzle that explores marriage, perception and the unnerving human need to be seen.” This production opens April 13 and runs through May 24. Tickets can be found here.
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What's your favorite book about Chicago?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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