Hey there! It’s Friday, and I’ll be spending my weekend crying to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour. Here’s what you need to know today.

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1. Lawmakers scramble to fix Illinois’ ambitious plan for green energy

Illinois aspired to become one of the greenest states in the country by 2025, but those plans are now way behind in part because of a flawed clean energy bill, according to a new investigation from Inside Climate News and the Chicago Sun-Times.

In 2016, Illinois lawmakers passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, which aimed to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels by creating thousands of solar energy jobs and providing subsidies to keep Exelon nuclear power plants open.

Five years later, funding for clean energy is drying up and solar companies are laying off workers. Meanwhile, Exelon is threatening to close two of its nuclear plants if it doesn’t receive more assistance — a demand further complicated by the federal probe into the company’s involvement in a Springfield bribery scandal.

State officials now have until May 31 to come up with a plan to fix the legislation. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. Powerful state senator Kimberly Lightford took trips and campaign cash from embattled Loretto Hospital

Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, who has been a member of the Loretto Hospital board for more than two decades, has for years received perks and payments from the West Side hospital, according to Block Club Chicago and the Better Government Association.

Among the benefits: payments from a Loretto insurance firm, trips to the Caribbean for meetings and more than $38,000 in campaign contributions from the hospital’s key management contractor.

And Lightford, who this year defended Loretto executives after they admitted to giving the COVID-19 vaccine to people who weren’t yet eligible, isn’t the only member of the board to have received perks or payments, Block Club and the BGA found. While it’s not illegal for trustees to do business with the hospital, experts say it could raise questions about the board’s independence. [Block Club Chicago]

3. Tribune Publishing shareholders approve sale of newspapers to hedge fund

Tribune Publishing shareholders today approved the sale of the Chicago Tribune and other publications to Alden Global Capital — a hedge fund known for gutting newsroom staffs — in a deal worth roughly $630 million. [AP]

But some are questioning the outcome of the vote because the final total was not released and the company’s second-largest shareholder, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, abstained. [Sun-Times].

The move comes amid strong opposition from employees of the newspaper chain. Last weekend, members of the Chicago Tribune Guild organized a protest against the sale. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s a look at the many leadership changes of Tribune Publishing over the past 15 years. [Chicago Tribune]

4. Apple’s CEO takes the stand in monopoly case

Apple CEO Tim Cook today testified for the first time in a major trial over whether the tech behemoth has grown into an illegal monopoly.

The case centers on a 30% commission fee Apple charges on most purchases made using its payment system in the App Store. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnight, is accusing the company of abusing its market power, arguing that the fee makes it hard for outside developers to compete with apps made by Apple, which aren’t subjected to the cost.

During several hours on the stand, Cook admitted that he isn’t a gamer, discussed App Store profitability and Apple’s operations in China. [Washington Post]

NPR has this helpful breakdown of the case and why it’s a big deal. [NPR]

5. The American political debate over Israel is changing

The recent violence between Israel and Hamas marked a shift in the American political debate over Israel, which Democrats and Republicans have long considered an ally.

As the civilian death toll surged in Gaza, progressives urged President Joe Biden to speak up forcefully in support of Palestinians. And yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution to halt a $735 million arms deal with Israel.

“It’s just simply a fact that there was never this kind of pressure vocally from the left on issues related to Israel during the Obama years,” said Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration. “It’s going to be harder to just stick to the old line of essentially unquestioned support for the policies of the Israeli government.”

What’s driving the change? Racial justice movements in the U.S. see similarities between their struggles and the Palestinian cause, reports NPR’s Asma Khalid. Meanwhile, support for Israel became more polarized under former President Donald Trump, who had a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• Could Chicago get an elected school board? Here’s where things stand in Springfield. [WBEZ]

• Nearly 60% of Chicago’s first 1 million COVID-19 vaccine shots went to suburbanites and Chicagoans in low-risk areas. [Chicago Tribune]

• The White House is teaming up with dating apps to encourage people to get vaccinated. [Axios]

• Radio Z will air an 80th birthday tribute to Bob Dylan tonight at 9 p.m. on 91.5 FM. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

Now that I’m fully vaccinated, I’ve started taking the CTA again — and that means I need some podcasts to listen to during my commute. Luckily, WBEZ has me covered.

Art of Power is out with a new episode featuring Sal Khan, who founded the free online school Khan Academy, and the latest episode of The Pie dives into the controversy over money in college sports. Meanwhile, today’s Consider This will bring you up to speed on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, both nationally and here in Chicago.

Personally, I can’t wait to press play on this week’s Curious City, which tells the story of Alice Hamilton, a Chicago woman who changed workplace safety rules forever. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

Got any other podcast recommendations?

Susan F. writes:

“I’m not a podcast aficionado like my partner, but a friend recently recommended Smartless, with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett — in case you haven’t heard of it yet.

“One of the hosts picks who the guest is and it’s a surprise for the other two hosts. I’ve only listened to the episode with Stephen Colbert as the guest so far — but I’m already hooked!”

Laura Brown writes:

“I cannot recommend the podcast You’re Wrong About enough!”

And Laura Derks writes:

“If you are into epidemics/pandemics, try This Podcast will Kill You. So darkly funny — two young women host it from UICU. Recommend highly!”

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