Last week's Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act has Illinois Democrats reconsidering whether to redraw maps.

Why it matters: Renewed interest in mid-cycle redistricting could expand the number of blue — and even purple — states considering new maps ahead of 2028.

What they're saying: "We can't just sit back and watch Republicans and the courts erode voter rights protection and do nothing," state Rep. La Shawn Ford, now the Democratic nominee for the 8th congressional seat, tells Axios.

• "This puts us in a situation where we have to figure out a new way to approach."

The intrigue: Immediately after the ruling, Democrats in the state Senate moved to table a ballot measure designed to protect redistricting by enshrining current protections in the state constitution.

• They said the pause was needed to "dissect the ruling."

Yes, but: Now, Republican states are following President Trump's threats to reduce Democratic-held districts in an effort to control the U.S. House in the midterms.

Case in point: Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn suggested that the state adopt a 9-0 Republican-majority map.

What we're hearing: A House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they "don't think that there's an appetite, but, you know, it's a different landscape."

• "There's a 17-0 map that's out there, and that's the nuclear option in Illinois. Yep, it could be done. But what will is there to do the nuclear option? ... I don't think that that's there."

Zoom out: Gov. JB Pritzker has signaled he would enter the redistricting fight if Republicans begin gerrymandering their states for the midterm election.

• His push last fall was cooled by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which worried that a 17-0 map could dilute its voting power.

Go deeper

Gas prices in the Chicago area have topped $5 a gallon for the first time in four years.

The latest: GasBuddy says Chicago's average price was up 47 cents over the past week.

Why it matters: Higher prices are squeezing household budgets — and can carry political consequences.

State of play: While the war in Iran is the main driver for rising prices, a recent outage at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is also to blame.

• Illinois — and Chicago in particular — layers on higher gas taxes.
• Gov. JB Pritzker has dismissed calls to suspend the upcoming state fuel tax increase.

What to watch for: AAA says avoiding rapid acceleration, hard braking and excessive idling can improve fuel efficiency. Keeping up with maintenance and removing extra weight — like roof racks — can also help.

What's next: Memorial Day travel demand. Refineries will also switch to summer blends soon, which typically pushes prices higher.

Poll: How are you saving on gas? Some drivers, like Monica, pay cash for discounts. Others — like Justin — wait to fill up in the suburbs. Carrie grabs it when she's visiting her family in Rockford, but got nailed this weekend with $6.19 a gallon. Ouch.

📫 Tell us your strategy here and we'll publish your tips and tricks later this week.

👋 Hey, it's Monica.

Seven years ago, I interviewed Aadam Jacobs about his astonishing collection of 10,000 local concert recordings that spanned four decades and filled large swaths of his Northwest Side home.

• At the time, this trove of music history had no clear purpose or destination, but that all changed this year.

The latest: Volunteers at the Internet Archive have already uploaded 2,500 shows from Jacobs' collection for free listening, bringing back moments many fans thought were lost.

Zoom in: Jacobs recorded thousands of acts — from Nirvana and Tracy Chapman to local favorites like The Flat Five and Jon Langford — between 1985 and 2025.

What he's saying: "Once I got over my separation [from the tapes], I've been able to enjoy seeing how much people are absolutely loving it and how many bands are thrilled that these moments in their career were captured somewhere," he tells Axios.

Payment in karma: You'll see a donation button on the Internet Archive page, but the money goes to site maintenance, not individual contributors like Jacobs. He's cool with that because he gets paid in good vibes.

💬 Justin's thought bubble: I remember seeing Jacobs recording sets at shows in the mid-'90s. I went down the rabbit hole with his archive and found the Blake Babies performing at Double Door in 2001. Sold.

💬 Carrie's thought bubble: Digging into the archive sparks envy for so many shows I missed, like Television at the Metro in 2001 and Billy Bragg in 1986 (I was only 4, to be fair), but it also stirs up so many lovely memories, like seeing Belle and Sebastian at Pitchfork in 2013.

💬 Monica's thought bubble: I was thrilled to find the most magical show I've ever attended — Jonathan Richman at Lounge Ax in 1996 — in the archive. I can even hear myself singing along, for better or worse. Other faves include:

• Flat Five at the Hideout in 2014
• Jeff Tweedy at the Abbey Pub in 2002
• Loudon Wainwright at Old Town School of Folk Music in 2012
• New Order at the Bismarck Theater in 1985

What's your favorite show recording?

✈️ United Airlines is helping stranded Spirit Airlines passengers after the carrier abruptly shut down Saturday, canceling all remaining flights. (USA Today)

🐶 PAWS Chicago took in 25 beagles from a Wisconsin breeder accused of mistreatment. It's part of a nationwide rescue effort that freed 1,500 dogs from Ridglan Farms. (WGN)

🏀 Loyola's all-time leading scorer Alfredrick Hughes died Friday at the age of 63. Hughes played one season in the NBA. (Tribune)

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• Help us keep our community informed.

👋 Hey, it's Justin! I was combing through the Getty photo archive (because, why not) and came across this amazing photo of Chicago history.

• It was a construction site in 1924, but for what current building?
• There are a few clues in this photo to help you sleuth it out.

📫 Reply to this email with your guesses and I'll reveal the answer tomorrow.