Illinois property owners could score tax relief checks of $1,500 on average if a new "millionaire's tax" succeeds this year, according to former Gov. Pat Quinn.

Why it matters: In 2025, Illinois had the highest residential property tax in the nation, per a recent Cook County Treasurer report.

Driving the news: Quinn and state Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) launched a campaign for the "Millionaire Amendment" on Tuesday, a day before first property tax installments are due and about 30 days before the measure needs to pass the state General Assembly.

How it works: Ford wants to put a binding referendum on the November ballot, asking voters whether Illinois should amend its constitution to "create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1 million for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief."

• The measure needs a nod from at least three-fifths of both the Illinois House and Senate by May 3 to reach this year's ballot.

Flashback: Illinois voters have twice, in 2014 and 2024, overwhelmingly passed nonbinding versions of the referendum, but this time the measure would have teeth.

What they're saying: "This is a way for everyday people to have an affordability amendment on the ballot that they can vote for and send instructions to all the politicians in Illinois that we need property tax relief right now," Quinn said Tuesday at the County Building.

The other side: House Republicans didn't immediately comment on the Ford proposal but said they'd be urging action on tax relief legislation this week.

Gov. JB Pritzker's office told Axios on Tuesday that it "will monitor and review legislation as it moves through the General Assembly."

Zoom out: "Millionaire taxes" have passed elsewhere. Massachusetts approved one in 2022, and it has already raised at least $1 billion.

• The Washington state Legislature recently passed a similar tax, but it's expected to face legal challenges.

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Artemis II is scheduled to launch this afternoon from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Why it matters: This is the first time humans will travel around the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Reality check: Weather is a factor. If Artemis II cannot launch today, the next window is April 2–6.

Zoom in: Coverage from NASA starts at 6:45am and continues at 11:50am, when the NASA+ coverage of the launch will start.

State of play: The Orion spacecraft, which successfully orbited the Moon in 2022 without astronauts aboard, is being prepped to carry humans on this mission.

• "When it's time to come home, Orion will plunge through Earth's atmosphere at roughly 25,000 miles per hour ... the heat shield will reach temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit - almost as hot as the surface of the Sun - while inside the capsule, conditions stay close to room temperature," Griffin Museum of Science and Industry's Voula Saridakis tells Axios.

The intrigue: During the flight, the crew may witness an "Earthrise," when Earth slowly appears above the Moon's horizon, which Apollo 8 captured in an iconic photo.

• Griffin MSI is home to the Apollo 8 capsule, currently on loan from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

More info

🧑‍🍳 Three Chicago chefs snagged James Beard Award nominations yesterday. The awards will be handed out at the Civic Opera House on June 15. (Block Club)

🇺🇸 Former mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn't officially announced a 2028 presidential run, but that hasn't stopped him from proposing a plan to divert ICE funding to community colleges if elected. (Axios)

🎙️ A federal judge yesterday moved to permanently block the Trump administration from ending federal funding for NPR and PBS. (Tribune)

🧹 Sweet sweeping season begins today. (City of Chicago)

Last month, Chicagoans absorbed the news that owners of The Hideout nightclub were selling it after 30 years to musician and former staffer Teri O'Brien.

Why it matters: At the time of the sale, O'Brien was still processing her new stewardship and ownership duties and was short on future plans.

• We caught up with her after she'd done fun things like transfer the "waste management accounts into my name," to see if we could glean a few more details about the club's future.

🍹 Cocktails and mocktails: "We've got some mixologists behind the bar who have so many fun ideas and can't wait to flex their craft," O'Brien said.

🎻 Songwriter in the round nights: "I went to school for violin and I love fiddle jams. I want to bring songwriting rounds and jams for bluegrass, old-time Irish music and more."

Two more updates

Bulls fans may be divided about the direction of the team's rebuild, but they unite around one thing: Benny the Bull.

Why it matters: The beloved mascot is celebrating his birthday today! The Bulls will mark the occasion at the United Center before their game against the Pacers.

• Expect a pregame, beach bash–themed party starting at 5:30pm in the atrium.

Context: Benny debuted in 1969 and, according to the Bulls, was the NBA's first mascot.

To celebrate, we asked the legend to map out his perfect (birth)day in Chicago.

🍩 Breakfast: "Momma Betty prepares a breakfast feast fit for legends: 33 Dunkin' Donuts, 23 red velvet pancakes, 10 bales of hay with giardiniera, 4 bags of breakfast popcorn and 1 protein shake."

🏀 Morning Activity: "The sun is shining, so I take a walk outside to a basketball court to practice my signature behind-the-back, half-court shot and take on unsuspecting Chicagoans in 'friendly' games of one-on-one."

🌮 Lunch: "I head back to the United Center for some of the best arena food. I sample small plates of everything from Honey Butter Fried Chicken to Little Goat Tacos."

More of Benny's perfect day

Starting today, you can get the new print edition of the Axios Chicago newsletter delivered directly to your doorstep.

Why it's happening: We're expanding how Chicagoans experience our daily email newsletter, meeting readers where they are: at home, waiting by the door.

How much: For $999 a year, subscribers will receive the morning newsletter delivered every afternoon, printed on premium paper for maximum recyclability.

The scuttlebutt: Axios Chicago will deploy a fleet of drones for delivery. In select neighborhoods, we're also working with robotic carts to ensure a more personal, sidewalk-level experience.

Between us: Each edition is optimized for ease of use — no logins, no passwords.

But wait: There will be staples.

What's on tap: Our developers are actively working on a cutting-edge "mailbox" distribution system, expected to launch in Q4 of 2031.

👉 Click here to see if you are in the delivery zone