At least 246 defendants released on electronic monitoring in Cook County are currently unaccounted for despite warrants being issued for their arrests.

Why it matters: The revelation comes weeks after prosecutors charged Alphanso Talley in the fatal April 25 shooting of Chicago police officer John Bartholomew.

• Court records show Talley also had violated the terms of his electronic monitoring and was the subject of an unserved warrant before the shooting.

Driving the news: Officials with the Office of the Chief Judge released the data this week, calling it part of their "commitment to transparency."

• The office did so only after repeated Axios requests dating back to April 29.

By the numbers: More than half of the defendants released on electronic monitoring (EM) in Cook County are charged with either a violent crime or weapons violation, according to an Axios analysis of county data.

• Yes, but: The Office of the Chief Judge did not respond to Axios's questions about how many of the 246 people currently unaccounted for on electronic monitoring were charged with violent crimes.

State of play: Yesterday, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said she was alarmed by the data, telling Axios:

• "We should all be deeply concerned that hundreds of defendants placed on EM are unaccounted for. This creates the potential for more violence, more victims, more fear and heartache in our community."

What's next

Zillow sued Chicago-area listing service MRED and brokerage giant Compass this week, accusing them of hiding home listings and colluding to push Zillow out of the market.

Why it matters: The case could shape how homes are marketed in Chicago and who gets access to listings.

State of play: According to the complaint filed Wednesday in federal court, the online real estate marketplace accuses MRED, the Chicago area's multiple listing service (MLS), and Compass, the country's largest real estate brokerage, of forming a monopoly that makes it nearly impossible for others to compete.

Context: A driving issue is Zillow's pushback against private listings, which they argue reduce transparency by not showing all buyers what's for sale.

• Zillow says the listings are often shared only within the same brokerage.

Yes, but: Zillow says MRED threatened to cut off its access to Chicago-area listings if private listings were banned.

Catch up quick: MRED recently expanded nationwide access to its platform, allowing Compass to place private listings there.

The other side: "Compass believes homeowners should have the right to decide how to market their homes," a company spokesperson told Axios.

• MRED did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Why some sellers like private listings

As many states have criminalized abortion and gender affirming care, a bill in the Illinois General Assembly seeks to protect patient privacy.

Why it matters: Nearly a quarter of all patients who traveled out of state for abortions in 2025 received the care in Illinois.

• The proposed legislation would allow patients in Illinois and other states to keep medical records about abortion care separate from other medical information unless the patient chooses to share it with a health care provider.

Zoom in: State Rep. Mary Beth Canty tells Axios that post-abortion health issues present like — and can be treated as — a miscarriage, so patients wouldn't feel forced to share that they received an abortion to get the treatment they needed.

Zoom out: The bill also protects the records of patients who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

• Canty says this could be necessary in child custody cases, for example, if one parent accuses a co-parent of being unfit if that parent allowed their child to receive gender-affirming care.

The other side

🚍 A CTA bus driver was kidnapped at knifepoint early yesterday after a man boarded the driver's bus in Belmont Gardens and ordered her to keep driving to the Gold Coast, police said. The driver escaped through a window, and the suspect was arrested. (ABC 7)

🏟️ A fan fell into the Kansas City bullpen in right field during the Sox-Royals game last night at Rate Field. The game was stopped for several minutes and the fan was taken to a nearby hospital. (ESPN)

💰 The University of Chicago will offer free tuition to all admitted students from families with a household income under $250,000 starting in autumn 2027. (UChicago)

🎭 The Joseph Jefferson Awards is suspending next season's ceremony after theater companies protested an award given to a director accused of inappropriate rehearsal behavior. (Block Club)

👋 Hey, it's Monica!

🪻I was overwhelmed by the fragrant bouquet of lilac spots you sent me, including several recommendations for a lilac wonderland in Lombard.

Top spot: Lilacia Park in Lombard: Find "seven acres of winding paths with tons of different cultivars and plenty of opportunities to stop and smell the lilacs...right off a Metra stop, so super convenient for those who don't drive," says reader Mark Kolasa.

💐 Broadway between Foster and Berwyn near the strip mall. — Simone A.

🌸 Ravenswood Manor Park's pergola is surrounded by lilacs. — Maureen M.

🥡 Lao Hu Tong in Schaumburg has a few lovely bushes. — Beth S.

🚆 Clark and Elm, trust me, coming off the Red Line, these are a refreshing scent. — Carrie

More great spots to stop and smell the lilacs

👋 Hey, it's Justin and it's time for another reader survey on all things Chicago.

State of play: I'm asking you questions that I'll turn into content for my upcoming game show, live on stage this summer.

• Think "Family Feud" meets "Double Dare," with a hint of "Card Sharks" thrown in for good measure.

I haven't asked you any sports questions yet, so let's do it!

Take the survey here