Illinois Hemp Oversight: State Rep. Barbara Hernandez’s bill (SB 3222) strengthening statewide hemp and cannabis regulation—licensing, safety standards, testing, labeling, and enforcement—was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker. Pharmacy Access Funding: Pritzker announced nearly $25M for 434 Illinois pharmacies under the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program, with $56,892 each to help providers most at risk of closure, especially in rural and low-income areas. Local News Crunch: Paddock Publications shut down at least 13 Illinois newspapers, creating five more “news desert” counties and leaving more than half of Illinois counties with no or only one local professional news source. Chicago Business & City Hall: Aldermen are pressing Stonepeak Partners for details before a vote on the sale of Chicago parking meters, raising concerns about the buyer’s ties to immigration enforcement and how parking data would be collected. Banking Deal: Esquire Financial received regulatory approvals and waivers to complete its $348M all-stock acquisition of Chicago’s Signature Bank, pending shareholder approval. Digital Access: Illinois launched a statewide digital library service through the Illinois State Library/EBSCO partnership, expanding free access to e-books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and research databases. Foodservice Costs: Chicago-area restaurants face pressure as distributors seek fuel surcharges tied to high diesel prices. NBA Draft/Trade Buzz: With the Finals ongoing, ESPN outlines multiple draft-and-trade scenarios that could reshuffle lottery picks, including speculation tied to Giannis.