Illinois House of Representatives

Calumet City Mayor and Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones is hospitalized after suffering a minor stroke, the city said. Jones walked into an emergency room after experiencing physical complications while working from home. Tests confirmed the minor stroke, and he is expected to remain hospitalized for a few days. Officials say he is walking, talking and handling light duties, with doctors predicting a full recovery. Jones has spoken with Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch.

The health scare comes amid scrutiny over Jones' use of his municipal credit card, with council members alleging tens of thousands of dollars in questionable charges for travel, meals and rides, which Jones denies.

Calumet City 2nd Ward Ald. Monet Wilson is mounting a write-in campaign for the Illinois 29th District House seat after her ballot petitions were successfully challenged by an objection filed on behalf of incumbent Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who also serves as Calumet City's mayor. Wilson, a frequent critic of Jones on the City Council, said she lacked the funds to fight the objection in court. Jones has represented the district since 2011 and dismissed Wilson's candidacy as driven by "malicious intent," while Wilson accused him of using his 15 years in office to avoid accountability, including over an unresolved City Council inquiry into roughly $76,000 in his city spending.

Both candidates cite property tax relief as a top priority, though they differ on approach, with Wilson backing Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi's "circuit breaker" proposal. They also diverge on the SAFE-T Act, with Wilson seeking changes to better protect domestic violence survivors while Jones maintains his support for the law. Jones touted recent insurance-industry legislation and raised concerns about looming Medicaid changes and obstetric care access in the south suburbs.