The Chicago Bears publicly expressed interest in building a new stadium in Hammond, after Indiana lawmakers moved forward on a bill to lure them across the border.

Why it matters: The "Pride and Joy of Illinois" could play football in a different state.

What they're saying: While Indiana lawmakers rally, Illinois lawmakers say nothing is finalized. Instead, Gov. JB Pritzker says his office and the Bears have a framework for their own deal.

• "It's very disappointing to hear they would put that statement out but not say anything about the advancement that has been made in the state of Illinois," Pritzker said yesterday, suggesting the state and the team had "mostly agreed" on a bill after meeting Wednesday.

Zoom in: The Bears have identified a possible site in Hammond near Wolf Lake, which straddles the Indiana/Illinois border and is about 20 miles from downtown Chicago.

The bottom line: Things could get ugly if the team decides to leave the state it's called home for over 100 years.

• "The Bears have to realize they just can't take advantage of taxpayers," former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday on The Score, noting that Illinois residents are still on the hook for the Soldier Field renovations from 2003.
• "I don't think it's fair for the Bears to just sort of take money for themselves and run away."

What we're watching: If the Bears did move, the site would have to pass environmental inspection, and the NFL would need to sign off on relocating the team to a different state.

Go deeper

While the Bears negotiate (again) for a new stadium site, we think it's time to get your voice involved.

State of play: We have a few questions for what we are calling the "ultimate, hands down, definitive Bears stadium Axios Chicago poll," otherwise known as the UHDBSACP.

We have five questions for you consider:

• Are the Bears really Indiana-bound or is this just a ploy to secure a better offer from Illinois?
• Should Illinois counter with more taxpayer money to keep them in the state?
• Will you carry a grudge against the team if they move?
• Should the team be called the Chicago Bears if they move to Hammond?
• Can the Bears still use their fight song "Bear Down" because of its references to Illinois?

🧑🏼‍💻 Log your answers here and we'll publish the results next week!

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After lifting a moratorium on new nuclear facilities last year, Gov. JB Pritzker gave the technology another boost this week with an executive order directing Illinois agencies to start evaluating potential sites for them.

Why it matters: New nuclear plants could help the state handle surging energy demands driven by data centers and AI use that increased energy bills and fueled warnings of an Illinois power shortage by 2030.

• But these facilities often take decades to finish and safety concerns remain.

State of play: With six nuclear facilities and 11 reactors, Illinois already hosts the largest nuclear network in the nation, but the state hasn't produced a new facility in 40 years.

What they're saying: "It sets a new nuclear energy framework for Illinois — one that prioritizes affordability, safety and reliability," Pritzker said in his budget speech Wednesday.

The other side: "The last nuclear power plant built in the United States came online seven years late and $17 billion over budget," Abe Scarr, director of Illinois Public Interest Research Group, tells Axios.

• "In Illinois, utility customers are still subsidizing nuclear power plants built in the 1980s."

Zoom in: Pritzker's order directs the Illinois Power Agency and Illinois Commerce Commission to look into potential sites for the facilities and to develop a legal and regulatory system to govern them.

• The order sets a target of producing two gigawatts of new nuclear capacity — enough to power 2 million homes.

What's next

🥇 Team USA took home gold in Women's hockey yesterday after a thrilling overtime victory against Canada. The team features four players from Illinois: Kendall Coyne Schofield, Abbey Murphy, Tessa Janecke and Hilary Knight. (NPR)

🚨 Former police detective Richard Zuley testified this week that he didn't use force to get a confession from suspect Anthony Garrett for the 1992 murder of 7-year-old Dantrell Davis. (WBEZ)

🧊 The Cook County State's Attorney's office has released a protocol for prosecuting immigration agents, but the path remains narrow. (Tribune)

🏪 Walgreens is laying off over 400 Illinois employees after its sale to a private equity firm. (Bloomberg)

🍦 Beverly's Rainbow Cone is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The stand now boasts more than 20 outposts across multiple states. (Block Club)

Chicago concertgoers love a good show, but they also love a good music store.

The big picture: Fret12, located inside the Salt Shed, isn't your ordinary music gear purveyor. It's not just about selling stuff; it's about selling the music experience.

What they're saying: "I was a big skateboard kid," owner Dan Tremonti tells Axios. "I used to love to go to a skateboard shop, even if I had no money, because I wanted to be around skateboarders. So that's what we are for music, gear and guitars."

State of play: The store features instruments, select amplifiers, handmade clothing, posters and even music-inspired art projects, like statuettes made from used guitar strings.

Zoom out: Chicago has a rich history of music stores, ranging from places like the Chicago Music Exchange in Roscoe Village to The Alley in Avondale. But music retail is deteriorating thanks to the digital experience.

• "Younger people buy guitars online, and the retail experience is now just commoditized," Tremonti adds. "The world's betting on AI, and I'm betting on the total opposite. I think people are going to be jumping left and right to get back to humanity."

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