Andrew Adams
@drewjayadams.bsky.social
i tell stories about policy || interested in tech, environment and civic engagement || sometimes i take pictures || opinions mine
I 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.
“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...
City Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities Persist
City departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage.
illinoisanswers.org
My 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...
City Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities Persist
City departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage.
illinoisanswers.org
@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...
What Compulsive Gamblers Know
The hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can't stop betting
illinoisanswers.org
So 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?
Something 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 🧵👇
Chicago 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.
Are 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.
Illinois 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. https://loom.ly/syTO2Os
Inside Illinois’ efforts to court the emerging quantum technology industry
Illinois ramps up investment in quantum tech with global partnerships, a $700M commitment, and a new research park.
capitolnewsillinois.com
Great reporting from @drewjayadams.bsky.social on the IL energy legislative horizons. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/state-o...
State official: renewable investments ‘best thing’ to lower energy costs
Illinois lawmakers discuss renewable energy, grid reliability, and policies addressing rising demand from data centers.
capitolnewsillinois.com
Mike 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...
Michael Madigan: The Rise and Fall
Learn more about the man at the center of one of the most high-profile corruption cases in Illinois history.
capitolnewsillinois.com
"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...
State lawmakers weigh TikTok’s value
Illinois lawmakers debate TikTok’s value, security risks, and potential sale amid a national ban on the China-owned platform.
capitolnewsillinois.com
Good 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...
Supreme Court considers legality of law banning ‘venue shopping’ in constitutional challenges
The Illinois Supreme Court reviews the legality of a 2023 law restricting constitutional challenges to two counties.
capitolnewsillinois.com
Happy 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.📷🧵
Illinois 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...
Worried about grid reliability, state officials seek to boost renewables, energy storage
Illinois grapples with energy grid reliability as demand surges and renewable energy goals lag, raising fears of future blackouts.
capitolnewsillinois.com
I 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
Police 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...
Smell of raw cannabis allows police to search a vehicle, Illinois Supreme Court rules
Illinois Supreme Court rules that the smell of raw cannabis provides police probable cause to search vehicles.
capitolnewsillinois.com
Turnout 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...
The 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/4igx6YM
Illinois Rolls Out First Phase of Plan to Modernize Professional Licensing
The first professions to be licensed under the new system are clinical psychologists, music therapists and nail technicians.
to.wttw.com
The 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.”
At COP29, ‘Sewage Beer’ Is Just Fine
The hoppy pilsner from Singapore, where freshwater is scarce, is part of an effort to promote recycling solutions.
nytimes.com
A 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...
New federal lawsuit from conservative legal group challenges Illinois abortion protections | Capitol News Illinois
Federal lawsuit challenges Illinois' abortion law over insurance mandates, invoking First Amendment rights.
capitolnewsillinois.com
"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...
Judge dismisses biometric data privacy lawsuit citing revised state law | Capitol News Illinois
Federal judge dismisses BIPA lawsuit due to amended Illinois law limiting claimable damages for biometric violations.
capitolnewsillinois.com
This 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...
48 hours aboard Amtrak’s new direct train from Chicago to Miami
The 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.
chicago.suntimes.com
