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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Here you go…
* Politico | DeSantis pokes at Pritzker in Illinois: Spotted in Elmhurst: Congressman Darin LaHood, who helped introduce DeSantis to the crowd, GOP National Committeeman Richard Porter, former GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey, state Senate Republican Leader John Curran, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, state House Deputy Republican Leader Norine Hammond, state Sens. Andrew Chesney, Don DeWitte, Dave Syverson and Sue Rezin, state Reps. Dan Caulkins, Bradley Fritts, Jackie Haas, Jeff Keicher, Adam Niemerg, Travis Weaver, Dan Ugaste and Blaine Wilhour, former lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar, former Reps. Dave McSweeney and Jeanne Ives, former Sen. Dan Duffy, Appellate Judge Liam Brennan and State GOP deputy executive director Tommy Choi. * Sun-Times | Federal judge denies bid to block Illinois assault weapons ban, Naperville gun restriction: The decision appears to be the first from a federal judge considering whether the ban meets the standards set out last summer in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling authored by Justice Clarence Thomas. * Sun-Times | Susana Mendoza: Mayor Lori Lightfoot betrayed Chicago cops disabled by COVID, including Mendoza’s brother: State comptroller says Lightfoot instructed her pension board appointees to deny “duty disability” salary and health benefits to police officers, including Mendoza’s brother, after they got career-ending coronavirus complications. * Daily Herald | Where suburban GOP megadonors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein’s $36 million went last fall: Lake Forest billionaire Richard Uihlein was especially generous to the People Who Play By the Rules political action committee, which backed unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey. He gave the organization more than $13.9 million on Oct. 5 — the single-biggest donation he made that month. * WCIA | Governor J.B. Pritzker proposes Illinois Grocery Initiative: The Illinois Grocery Initiative is a plan to invest $20 million in local to fight food deserts to expand food access by opening more grocery stores in underserved communities. The governor also wants at least $2 million to go to buying produce from local farmers. * SJ-R | Portions of two townships could be annexed into Springfield: Springfield and Woodside townships are located within the corporate limits of Springfield with populations of 5,813 and 11,688 respectively as of 2020 U.S. Census Data. Their respective portions within the city limits in the 2010 Census were considerably smaller with only 481 Springfield Township residents living in Springfield and 13 residents of Woodside Township living in the city. * Tribune | More than decade ago, CPD vowed to catch a cop’s killers. Now those cases, plagued by accusations of misconduct, are falling apart.: By 2020, the 10-year anniversary of Lewis’ death was looming. The officer’s daughter, 11 at the time, was a young adult. And the cases against the men charged in Lewis’ murder were unraveling, with serious questions raised about how police handled the investigation. * Sun-Times | FBI’s secret political support for ex-Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg could be an issue in brother’s upcoming corruption trial: An undercover agent posing as a strip club manager lent $143,300 to a committee that backed Kellogg in his 2007 reelection for mayor — part of an investigation that never resulted in charges against the politician. * Tribune | Chicago Teachers Union’s big spending on Brandon Johnson for mayor draws criticism over union influence and pushback among some members: So far, CTU has given the Cook County commissioner nearly $1 million in his bid to unseat Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The powerful teachers union is even borrowing dues money against future contributions to its political fund to make sure Johnson has the resources he needs for TV commercials and get-out-the-vote efforts. * WGEM | Sen. Halpin talks higher education spending at annual McDonough County dinner: Halpin gave support of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently proposed education budget that calls for a $219 million increase. “The 36th District includes not just Western Illinois University, but Knox College, Augustana College, Monmouth College and then three community college districts,” Halpin said. “It’s really a central focus of the district is higher education.” Halpin said the 7% all-around increase is a win. * Daily Herald | What change in state law on non-competes means for Illinois businesses: Recently, however, the Illinois legislature enacted a new law affecting the enforceability of non-competes. In its most basic form, a non-compete is an agreement between an employer and an employee that prohibits an employee from working for a competitor for a period of time after the employee no longer works for that employer. * Sun-Times | Mayor vows to remove unhoused people from O’Hare as more seek shelter at airport: Lightfoot said Thursday that it’s a security risk to allow homeless people to stay at O’Hare. But a law enforcement source said that starting this week, additional police has been dedicated to offering services to homeless people — and removing those who don’t accept the help. * Daily Herald | What’s up with state-funded capital projects in the suburbs? Inflation, supply issues create delays: More than 500 state-funded capital improvement projects valued at nearly $3.3 billion are in various stages of construction as most deal with inflation and supply chain issues that have sometimes caused delays, increased costs or plan modifications. * Lake County News-Sun | Thousands crowd into Waukegan’s new casino on opening weekend: The Temporary by American Place officially opened Friday in Waukegan welcoming nearly 10,000 visitors through 4 a.m. Sunday, including 400 invited guests at a pre-opening gala, to its gaming tables, slot machines and restaurant, starting the era of casino gaming in Lake County. … With many Spanish-speakers applying for jobs, Lee said American Place needed to a modification to assist the application process. The Illinois Gaming Board has comprehensive forms for prospective workers to complete. They are in English, and must be completed in English. “We translated the forms into Spanish so we could help people understand them,” Lee said. “Then they filled out the original (English) form in English.” * Sun-Times | Hope is a tricky thing when it comes to racism: After digesting statistics, anecdotes, history and journalism about anti-Blackness, many are left despondent by the arc of injustice. * Dodger Blue | Everything To Know About New MLB Rules For 2023 Season: The 2023 MLB season will introduce three new rule changes after they were approved by the joint competition committee this past October: a pitch timer, restrictions on defensive shifts and larger bases. The aforementioned rules are designed to improve the game’s pace of play and increase action on the field. They will immediately go into effect during Spring Training games to provide an adjustment period before Opening Day. * Daily Herald | A new Robert Reich video suggests slow brakes on any tax money for the Bears: No less than Robert Reich — a Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration — recently lobbed in a brief to be considered with the release of a five-minute YouTube video “The Sports Stadium Scam.” * Yes Magazine | Why Conservative Parts of the U.S. Are So Angry: Anger is roiling in Republican America, along with conspiratorial fabrications about who to blame for their condition. A harbinger of this trend is Antlers, Oklahoma, where I grew up: a once-thriving town in the southeastern part of the state, bordering the lush Ouachita foothills of dense forests, abundant agriculture, and lucrative tourism resources. The town rebuilt after a devastating 1945 tornado, but it has not weathered 21st century politics. * ABC Chicago | More than 1K people sign petition opposing $800M Northwestern’s renovation project of Ryan Field: “In the ward meetings, who shows up? Northwestern, to tell us how great their project is,” Evanston resident Trisha Connolly said. “That’s not enough. That’s not leaders getting a holistic approach to what the concerns are and hearing from the community.”
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- Red Ketcher - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:08 am:
” Bigger Bases”-need to work on my Hook Slide into 2d
- Future - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:10 am:
A couple weeks/month ago the Tribune ran a front page story about a homeless man spending the night at O’Hare. Maybe the Tribune should think before running stories like that one. Poor guy just lost his safe place and attracted a whole lot more homeless people to airport. Who are now going to be run out. Senseless
- The Magificent Purple Walnut - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:22 am:
“Hook Slide?” At my age, the flow of my competitive juices have become a trickle. Never thought I would wonder whether being “safe” might include hip surgery.
- Springfieldish - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:23 am:
What’s up with the Illinois Gaming Board’s English language only casino employment forms? It’s Illinois and it’s 2023. Do better.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:41 am:
Interesting article in Sun-Times. Doesn’t sound like Mendoza is a Lightfoot fan and from what happened I don’t blame her
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:47 am:
A sitting Appellate Court justice at the DeSantis/FOP rally? How tacky.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 8:59 am:
If the legislative Republicans want to work with the legislative Democrats, appearing at a Ron DeSantis event isn’t a good omen.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:02 am:
DeSantis is to Trump as any “Republican” is to David Duke.
“He/She is like Trump (Duke), but without all the baggage”
I’d say it’s disappointing, but that *IS* the GOP and the ILGOP… can’t deny it, they embrace it. Cult-like followings
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:04 am:
===If the legislative Republicans want to work with the legislative Democrats, appearing at a Ron DeSantis event===
Meh. It was a political event. They’re Republicans. What do you want them to do, pledge undying fealty to Dark Brandon before inviting them to the table?
- walker - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:10 am:
Agree with Miller
Going to the circus doesn’t make you a clown.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:22 am:
When you contemplate the Republicans that attended, what is being said is where these Republicans see the GOP (and the ILGOP) and where they want both to go, politically.
Attendance is a partisan welcoming, not a governing position.
The party moving from Trump to DeSantis “the acceptable Trump” is a statement to the politics moving forward, nothing more, but it says more to the GOP not going back to reasonable, politically, anytime soon it appears.
- Mr. Big Trouble - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:30 am:
any “Republican” is to David Duke. Please. This is disgusting rhetoric. I realize I am just a few of the republicans who read this blog, let alone occasionally comment. Take my word I dont fit the mold you throw all conservatives in. We simply see a society eroding due to anti family, anti law and order policies.
- James the Intolerant - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:48 am:
I don’t understand DeSantis being the acceptable Trump. While his manner may not be as bombastic, his policies in Florida put Trump to shame.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:48 am:
-Interesting article in Sun-Times. Doesn’t sound like Mendoza is a Lightfoot fan and from what happened I don’t blame her.-
There’s more to it than just that. Mendoza wanted the job Lightfoot holds and lost badly.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:57 am:
==A sitting Appellate Court justice at the DeSantis/FOP rally? How tacky.==
Guy clerked for Heiple for four years, so maybe poor judgment rubbed off.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 10:08 am:
===any “Republican” is to David Duke. Please===
Your beef is with Steve Scalise, not me… unless you’d like to denounce Steve Scalise…
Use the Google key, it’s a marketing “thing”
I can’t help you may support these folks that openly say things like that as selling points.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 10:24 am:
That article about the integrity of the investigation into the murder of a police officer is interesting. There was just an article in the SZ (Süddeutsche Zeitung) a German paper to which I subscribe about Police tactics in investigations into assaults/murder of Police. They tend to get emotionally involved and therefore to take shortcuts.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 10:25 am:
Huh. Bailey at the DeSantis event. How’s that going to play with the Former Guy he begged to endorse him?
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 11:15 am:
Mr. Big Problem,
See that’s what is at the root of the dispute. You see the family’s rights as more important than the rights of the individual, but the US was founded on the Enlightenment Value of Individual rights, not family or community rights. Family and community only have rights insofar as they are made up of individuals (sigh or corporations of course) with rights.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 11:22 am:
===eroding due to anti family===
Aw, lemme guess, “missing fathers”
Like I said… “David Duke, less the baggage”… this rhetoric
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 11:29 am:
“We simply see a society eroding due to anti family, anti law and order policies”
Republicans support an admitted sexual predator who had a paid extramarital relationship. They support someone who tried and is still trying to overthrow the government and democracy. They still call themselves the party of family values and law and order? About as phony as calling themselves the party of fiscal responsibility. Those talking points are kaput. Many see this party for who it really is.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 11:32 am:
==due to anti family==
Anti-family how? Because the only “anti-family” folks I see here are the likes of Ron Desantis who thinks he should be able to shove his beliefs down the throats of families. What right does he have to tell a family how they should treat their trans child? He doesn’t have any right to do that. Your side talks about indoctrination and all I see from your side is a desire to indoctrinate.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
=== due to anti family===
Whose family?
- DougChicago - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
Bailey is risking that Trump endorsement in his upcoming primary against Bost if he doesn’t watch himself.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 1:00 pm:
The Sun-Times article on Mendoza’s brother doesn’t bear out her claims. The deciding “no” vote came from a board member not appointed by Lightfoot.
From the article: Michael Stiscak, a police lieutenant who isn’t a Lightfoot appointee, also voted “no.”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
===doesn’t bear out her claims. The deciding “no” vote===
lol
If her three appointees had voted yes, Stiscak’s vote wouldn’t have mattered.
- West Sub Ladi - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 1:32 pm:
A sitting Appellate Court justice at a DeSantis rally…Big Dipper got it right. May I add the words yuk, gross, and inappropriate (banned punctuation).
- West Sub Ladi - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 1:40 pm:
I meant to cite Keyrock, although Big Dipper brought up an excellent point. My bad.
- Suburban Mom - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 1:42 pm:
===We simply see a society eroding due to anti family===
I am a married white suburban mother of three. Please name me one policy in the last 10 years that the IL GOP has supported that would in any way have helped my family. Because all I can think of are ways the IL GOP has cut or sought to cut funding and access to disability services for children and made it harder and more expensive for me to have and care for children.
Even leaving aside national political issues that become local ones, what in the world can you point to from the GOP that has helped or would help Illinois families? Because they are aggressively against anything that would help me.
- Odysseus - Tuesday, Feb 21, 23 @ 9:11 pm:
“We simply see a society eroding due to anti family, anti law and order policies.”
Name one.