Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Hey election nerds, I have something for you. With election season in swing, I've spent the past few months building a free tool to help you more easily track money moving in Illinois state and local races in real time with email and push alerts within minutes of reports being posted. 156
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 26/06/2026I can tell you about every tree the city has planted in the past ~5 years. Why do I know a 3 foot tall American Hornbeam was planted on Leavitt in August of 2022? Because I want to make sure the city keeps its promises. 🧵 about trees, equity and how Chicago does (and doesn't) live up to its word. 194
Reposted by Andrew AdamsPeter Nickeas @peternickeas.bsky.social · 26/06/2026“Let’s talk about trees. Don’t plant no trees in 16, OK?” Coleman said. “I’m letting you know now, if you plant them, Englewood will cut them down.” This, and other insights - @alexnitkin.bsky.social, @binghuihuang.bsky.social, @drewjayadams.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/26/c...illinoisanswers.orgCity Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities PersistCity departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage. 022
Reposted by Andrew AdamsGrace Hauck @gracehauck.bsky.social · 26/06/2026My colleagues @alexnitkin.bsky.social @binghuihuang.bsky.social @drewjayadams.bsky.social investigated former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's promise to plant 75K trees by 2027. They even put together a really cool tool that shows you tree stats for your area! illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/26/c...illinoisanswers.orgCity Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities PersistCity departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage. 296
Reposted by Andrew AdamsCasey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · 25/06/2026@maggiedough.bsky.social and I sat down with more than a dozen compulsive gamblers in recovery about let them speak at length about their own lives. It is at turns sad, frightening, infuriating, occasionally funny and painfully human 🧵 illinoisanswers.org/2026/06/24/w...illinoisanswers.orgWhat Compulsive Gamblers KnowThe hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can't stop betting 22218
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 11/06/2026So Chicago maintains data on of every rideshare trip in the city, including pickup/dropoff locations. I tried mapping trips from a given location, but there's gotta be something more useful to do. Has anyone done a cool analysis or built anything with Chicago's TNP data? 001
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 11/06/2026Something I'm watching: Illinois politicians said they got $154k in campaign cash today. The big winner? 42nd Ward Ald. Brenden Reilly. He reported about 1/5 of that ($27.5k), all coming from business and real estate executives yesterday. More in the thread 🧵👇 121
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Chicago Teachers Union political director Hilario Dominguez is gearing up for his union-backed bid for CPS board president. He and CPS teacher Kathryn Zamarron just filed paperwork creating "Friends of Hilario Dominguez," allowing him to take in more campaign cash. 000
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Are you a journalist, campaign staffer, activist or involved voter working on Chicago School Board elections? I'm building something that could be useful to you and I need some off the record feedback. My DMs are open. 112
Reposted by Andrew AdamsCapitol News Illinois @capitolnewsil.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Illinois bet big on quantum technology in last year’s state budget. Now, what are the latest developments for the industry and the region? @drewjayadams.bsky.social has the story. loom.ly/syTO2Oscapitolnewsillinois.comInside Illinois’ efforts to court the emerging quantum technology industryIllinois ramps up investment in quantum tech with global partnerships, a $700M commitment, and a new research park. 011
Reposted by Andrew AdamsJohn Delurey @johndelurey.bsky.social · 20/02/2025Great reporting from @drewjayadams.bsky.social on the IL energy legislative horizons. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/state-o...capitolnewsillinois.comState official: renewable investments ‘best thing’ to lower energy costsIllinois lawmakers discuss renewable energy, grid reliability, and policies addressing rising demand from data centers. 001
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 11/02/2025Mike Madigan was the most powerful man in Illinois politics for decades. Now he's waiting for a jury to decide his fate. I took a deep dive with @hannahmeisel.bsky.social into his career to learn more about how he built his empire -- and how it fell. capitolnewsillinois.com/madigan-time...capitolnewsillinois.comMichael Madigan: The Rise and FallLearn more about the man at the center of one of the most high-profile corruption cases in Illinois history. 020
Reposted by Andrew AdamsJay Young @impactofficer.bsky.social · 29/01/2025"Of the 118 members of the Illinois House, 20 had verifiable, nonprivate TikTok accounts they used personally or as representatives as of Jan. 22. There were nine verifiable accounts found for state Senators." capitolnewsillinois.com/news/state-l...capitolnewsillinois.comState lawmakers weigh TikTok’s valueIllinois lawmakers debate TikTok’s value, security risks, and potential sale amid a national ban on the China-owned platform. 022
Reposted by Andrew AdamsBarton Lorimor @bartonlorimor.bsky.social · 24/01/2025Good story earlier this week by @drewjayadams.bsky.social on "venue shopping" and how it can impact Madison County #illinois status as the North American epicenter of Tort claims and civil litigation >> capitolnewsillinois.com/news/supreme...capitolnewsillinois.comSupreme Court considers legality of law banning ‘venue shopping’ in constitutional challengesThe Illinois Supreme Court reviews the legality of a 2023 law restricting constitutional challenges to two counties. 011
Reposted by Andrew AdamsBlock Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · 10/01/2025How Argyle’s second generation hopes to spark a revival on the block: buff.ly/4j9kweo 0254
Reposted by Andrew AdamsVirginia Gewin @virginiagewin.bsky.social · 07/01/2025www.cnn.com/2025/01/07/w...cnn.comWildfires are breaking out in Southern California as the ‘most destructive windstorm’ in over a decade hits | CNNWildfires began breaking out in Southern California Tuesday morning as a life-threatening, widespread windstorm that could be one of the most destructive to hit the region in over a decade roars to li... 012
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 04/01/2025Happy new year! I don't post much, but I'm trying to be more active here, so let me catch you up on what me and my camera have been up to the past 12 months, featuring news/work stuff and personal projects.📷🧵 130
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 20/12/2024Illinois is generally very ambitious about how it's been handling decarbonization. But while I was sniffing around about a potential bill that might come up in January, I noticed a distinct mood shift. My latest for Capitol News Illinois: capitolnewsillinois.com/news/worried...capitolnewsillinois.comWorried about grid reliability, state officials seek to boost renewables, energy storageIllinois grapples with energy grid reliability as demand surges and renewable energy goals lag, raising fears of future blackouts. 050
Reposted by Andrew AdamsLeigh Giangreco @leighgiangreco.bsky.social · 09/12/2024I have a Chicago labor story and a Chicago housing story out today and if you’re a newsroom, you can literally hire me right now to do more stuff like that 27317
Reposted by Andrew AdamsBen Szalinski @benszalinski.bsky.social · 09/12/2024Police can search a car if they smell raw cannabis, but not burnt cannabis, according to the Illinois Supreme Court. That's because Illinois law requires cannabis be in an odor-proof container when it's in a vehicle, according to the court capitolnewsillinois.com/news/smell-o...capitolnewsillinois.comSmell of raw cannabis allows police to search a vehicle, Illinois Supreme Court rulesIllinois Supreme Court rules that the smell of raw cannabis provides police probable cause to search vehicles. 002
Reposted by Andrew AdamsBen Szalinski @benszalinski.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Turnout was down in Illinois, but voters are changing their habits. 53.3% of voters cast a ballot before Election Day, either by mail or early in person. Voters are showing they like convenience. Chart by @drewjayadams.bsky.social capitolnewsillinois.com/news/state-b... 044
Reposted by Andrew AdamsWTTW - Chicago PBS @wttw.bsky.social · 02/12/2024The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation launched a new online licensing system this fall, the first phase in a plan to modernize the management and licensing process for service providers across the state. to.wttw.com/4igx6YMto.wttw.comIllinois Rolls Out First Phase of Plan to Modernize Professional LicensingThe first professions to be licensed under the new system are clinical psychologists, music therapists and nail technicians. 182
Reposted by Andrew AdamsThe New York Times @nytimes.com · 23/11/2024The Singaporeans are giving out free beer made from recycled toilet water at the COP29 climate summit. “At first their eyes widen,” one of the leaders of Singapore’s youth delegation said. “Then we reassure them. They’re usually coming back the next day for another.”nytimes.comAt COP29, ‘Sewage Beer’ Is Just FineThe hoppy pilsner from Singapore, where freshwater is scarce, is part of an effort to promote recycling solutions. 101794128
Andrew Adams @drewjayadams.bsky.social · 22/11/2024A prominent conservative legal group is citing the Comstock Act and 1A in its federal challenge to Illinois abortion protections. A similar state suit was tossed in Sep, but federal courts are a whole other animal, so I'm interested to see how this goes. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/new-fed...capitolnewsillinois.comNew federal lawsuit from conservative legal group challenges Illinois abortion protections | Capitol News IllinoisFederal lawsuit challenges Illinois' abortion law over insurance mandates, invoking First Amendment rights. 010
Reposted by Andrew AdamsJay Young @impactofficer.bsky.social · 20/11/2024"A clarification to Illinois’ biometric data privacy law made by state lawmakers earlier this year limits the size of damages that can be claimed in lawsuits over Biometric Information Privacy Act violations, a federal judge ruled last week" capitolnewsillinois.com/news/judge-d...capitolnewsillinois.comJudge dismisses biometric data privacy lawsuit citing revised state law | Capitol News IllinoisFederal judge dismisses BIPA lawsuit due to amended Illinois law limiting claimable damages for biometric violations. 001
Reposted by Andrew Adamsellery @ellery.bsky.social · 14/11/2024This is by far the best thing I've ever written. Hope you'll give it a read (to make up for the harassment and microwaved food): chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...chicago.suntimes.com48 hours aboard Amtrak’s new direct train from Chicago to MiamiThe Sun-Times sent a reporter and photographer on the first run of the Floridian from Chicago to Miami — on one condition. We have to ride the whole way in coach. 3131499