What residents need to do to keep Medicaid coverage

Good morning, Chicago.

More than 100,000 Illinois residents will receive the first round of letters this week about how to hold on to their Medicaid health coverage amid federal changes that could lead to many getting kicked out of the program.

The state is sending out an initial 113,600 letters that will tell people what actions they need to take, if any, to stay on Medicaid. Medicaid is a state and federally funded health insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities, covering about 3.9 million people in Illinois.

People who receive the letters will have until June 1 to submit proof that they still qualify for the program. If they don’t, they could lose coverage by July 1.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.

The Tribune is seeking some help from our readers to see if they know of any ancestors or descendants who traveled on the Underground Railroad. If you are an Illinois resident or native with a story and/or family memorabilia, answer our survey.

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At least 6 dead, more than 30 injured after dust storm causes crashes and shutdown of I-55 near Springfield, police say

At least six people were killed and more than 30 injured after a dust storm described as similar to “whiteout” conditions caused dozens of vehicles to crash and shut down Interstate 55, according to Illinois State Police.

About 30 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved in the crashes, according to preliminary information, including two tractor-trailers that caught fire.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says US could hit debt ceiling as soon as June 1

“We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States,” Yellen said in a letter to House and Senate leaders.

Mayor Lightfoot gives Chicago a trio of new libraries on South and West Side as parting gifts

Lightfoot loves libraries, once telling Rick Kogan that she has “fond memories” of the library across the street from her junior high school in Massillon, Ohio, where she could “explore the world, have the librarians help you explore the world and help you with homework.”

Her library affection is surely further fueled by her wife, Amy Eshleman, who was the assistant commissioner for the CPL during the lengthy tenure of estimable commissioner Mary Dempsey. They used multimillion-dollar investments to open new modern branches and renovated old ones.

3 things to watch in May for the White Sox, including José Abreu’s return to Guaranteed Rate Field

The Sox were off Monday and will seek consecutive wins for the first time this season when they begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on today at Guaranteed Rate Field.

After the miserable April, here are three things to look for in May.

Chicago restaurants rethink tipping amid pandemic-born industry shifts

Change is afoot in U.S. dining rooms, said Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, an organization that campaigns against the subminimum wage, which is the lower wage paid to tipped workers. When staff returned to work after restaurants gradually began to reopen in 2020, workers saw their tips decrease at the same time harassment from customers increased, Jayaraman said.

“We’re seeing massive, historic, transformational change in the restaurant industry,” she said.

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