* Capitol News Illinois…

COGFA’s new estimate for the current fiscal year is $545 million beyond the amount assumed by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget in Pritzker’s budget proposal.

COGFA is also projecting stronger revenues in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 than the most recent estimate from GOMB. The $50.4 billion COGFA estimate marks an increase of $465 million beyond the revenues the governor proposed.

Noggle noted that COGFA’s estimate was higher than GOMB’s because the commission had an extra half of January and all of February to factor into its projections. Because base revenue growth remained strong over that span, the commission was able to increase the estimate. That drove up the current year base revenues, which in turn drove up estimates for next fiscal year.

And that last sentence means COGFA believes much of this new revenue is recurring.

* CTBA…

Six years after Illinois enacted a major new K-12 funding formula that was supposed to direct more resources to historically under-supported school districts in low-income communities, new research released today finds that the program is working as intended, and, in fact, benefiting all students in every geographic region of Illinois—irrespective of race or ethnicity. The report, Educating Illinois: A Look at the Evidence-Based Funding Formula, from the nonprofit and nonpartisan Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA), finds that the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act (EBF) is helping redress historic funding inequities by race and ethnicity, “effectively countering the structural racism inherent in the state’s former approach to school funding,” while increasing the state-level investment made in school districts spanning Illinois. On behalf of CTBA, I hope the report on the success of EBF, which ties the dollar amount taxpayers invest in schools to covering the cost of educational practices which the evidence shows actually enhance student achievement, is of interest.

Three key findings of the Report “confirm that the EBF is working as intended”:

• First—the data confirm the EBF is helping redress the state’s historic underfunding of schools attended by Black and Latinx students, thereby countering the structural racism inherent in the state’s former approach to school funding.
• Second—the EBF is helping reduce the per pupil funding gap faced by both low-income and English Language students.
• Third—the EBF is benefiting students of all races and in all regions.

The full report is here.

* Tribune…

The allure of Chicago green on St. Patrick’s Day is apparently enough for downstate Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Miller to overcome her fears of a city she has described as a “war zone.”

Miller — a second-term congresswoman from Oakland, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus and a disciple of former President Donald Trump who is backing him for another White House bid — has scheduled a March 17 fundraiser at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago.

* From the Abortion, Every Day blog…

In Illinois, Democrats are pushing legislation that would allow the state Attorney General to bring legal action against anti-abortion centers for lying to women or concealing information in an effort to keep them from obtaining an abortion. Definitely something to ask your local representatives to support if you live in Illinois.

The bill is here. It’s been assigned to the House Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee.

* Just Food website…

US-based Hearthside Food Solutions is one of the companies under investigation by the country’s Department of Labor (DOL) as part of a probe into allegations of child labour.

Hearthside Food Solutions, an Illinois-based contract manufacturer and private bakery which makes energy bars, snack bars, cookies and crackers, said in a statement it is “appalled” by the allegations, which first came to light in a New York Times investigation.

According to the Wall St. Journal, the company makes Cheerios cereal and Nature Valley granola bars, among other things. It’s based in Bolingbrook.

Fox 32…

State Representative Edgar Gonzalez, of Little Village said he talked to a worker at Hearthside who told him minors are used to work with machines because their hands are faster than the older workers. She reported it and she felt targeted for punishment because she is undocumented.

* Illinois Department of Agriculture…

The Department of Agriculture’s administrative rules allow for craft growers to receive an operational extension for good cause shown, at the Department’s discretion. The Department has granted an operational extension to all craft grower license holders due to a number of factors, including ongoing Covid-19 impacts and supply chain issues.

The Department previously authorized an operational deadline extension for 2021 Craft Growers which required them to become operational by March 1, 2023. The Department is now authorizing an additional extension applicable to all 2021 Craft Growers, extending their operational deadline to February 1, 2024.

For the same reasons, the operational deadline for 2022 Craft Growers is extended to December 1, 2024.

Licensees should be aware that additional extensions may not be granted, and the Department retains the authority to adhere to this operational deadline, regardless of factors related to finances, ownership changes, location-related issues, or other reasons.

Sigh.

Maybe the department could also get to work on providing a legal option to buy seeds for those with medical cards who want to grow their own. People are currently forced to buy seeds in the underground market. I mean, it’s only been almost four years since the law passed. No rush or anything.

* WICS…

Old Dominion will headline the Illinois State Fair grandstand.

The 5X CMA and 5X ACM Award-winning band is coming off a record-breaking fifth consecutive win for “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 2022 CMA Awards, where they were also nominated for “Album of the Year.”

* Happy International Women’s Day!…

Happy International Women's Day! Today and every day, let's strive to uplift all of the incredible female leaders in our lives working to make our world a better place. #IWD2023 (feat. some of my amazing women colleagues in the General Assembly!) pic.twitter.com/ImEmB30AGN

— Senator Laura Fine (@SenatorFine) March 8, 2023

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Variety | Illinois-Shot Shows ‘The Bear,’ ‘Lovecraft Country’ and ‘South Side’ Benefit From Rapidly Expanding Production Facilities, Incentives: “Illinois has long been a thriving arts hub, with iconic movies filmed right here including ‘The Blues Brothers,’ ‘Home Alone’ and of course, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ’,” says Gov. J.B. Pritzker. “This is why in 2022, the $700 million production revenue in our state shattered records and eclipsed our pre-pandemic revenue numbers. I attribute this success to our expanded film production tax credit as well as our diversity, inclusivity and commitment to equity; we’re ensuring our state is a welcoming place where every production wants to film.”

* Sun-Times | Former Cook County Land Bank Authority worker pleads guilty to property scam: Federal prosecutors charged Mustafaa Saleh in November with one count of wire fraud for the scheme involving the Cook County Land Bank Authority. The agency’s board is led by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer.

* Tribune | Another strike possible at United Center ahead of Big Ten Tournament: Talks between the workers’ employer, Chicago-based food service provider Levy, and their union, Unite Here Local 1, failed to produce an agreement Tuesday, Unite Here said in a statement. Both sides said bargaining would resume on Saturday, though a strike could be called at any time.

* WBEZ | Gallows humor? Accused cop killers say some email between police bosses raises red flags.: “This email exchange shows that the Chicago Police Department’s Gang Investigations Division is no different than a Chicago street gang,” Blagg said. “One of their own [Lewis] was harmed and they sought retaliation. They either wanted my client [Villa] to be killed by a fellow gang member or to induce a fellow gang member to testify against Villa in the Lewis homicide.”

* Illinois Answers | Lightfoot Made Headway on Pensions, but the Next Mayor Still Faces a Gaping Crisis: The funded ratios for the Municipal Employees’ Annuity & Benefit Fund of Chicago (MEABF), Laborers’ & Retirement Board Employees’ Annuity & Benefit Fund (LABF), Policeman’s Annuity & Benefit Fund, and Fireman’s Annuity & Benefit Fund, have barely budged since 2019, in most cases sputtering with just over 20% of the money promised to the city’s retirees.

* Poynter | Political definitions for ‘woke’ are all over the place: “Woke” seems to have lost its place as a Black community signal. In February, University of California, Berkeley law professor Khiara M. Bridges, who is Black, wrote, “Slang amongst Black people is a love language. … There’s something really sinister about this term not only being taken from us but also deployed against us. It’s a double violation.”

* Sports Handle | Illinois Bill To Add Responsible Gambling Pop-Up Message Passes Senate Committee: An Illinois responsible gambling bill, which would require online sports wagering operators to show a pop-up message directing customers to a website with resources for gambling addiction assistance after every 10 wagers placed, passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. The bill is on track for a full vote in the Senate.

* The Guardian | The 10 worst places to live in US for air pollution: Along with areas on the west side of metropolitan Chicago, the neighborhoods that make up the South Side – such as Back of the Yards and Riverdale – are where majority Black and Hispanic residents have had to live alongside some of the region’s dirtiest industries. Now these neighborhoods have the third highest levels of fine particulate pollution in the nation.

* Sun-Times | Why Sirhan Sirhan did not deserve parole for killing my dad: Read Christopher Kennedy’s statement on RFK’s assassin’s latest attempt for freedom: “On behalf of my mother, Ethel, and my siblings Joe, Courtney, Kerry, Max and Rory, I am here to urge you to deny parole today,” he told the parole board as it considered Sirhan’s new request. “I ask myself countless times, ‘Why should he stop suffering before my mother does?’”

* NBC Chicago | How to Watch NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago’s Runoff Election Forum With Vallas, Johnson Wednesday: The forum will stream live on our 24/7 news streaming channel, NBC Chicago News, on Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play and in the player above from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday

* Sun-Times | Lollapalooza, Sueños organizers say they want to minimize impact on Grant Park, area residents during busy summer season: Grant Park will be taken over from mid-May through mid-August by the Lollapalooza and Sueños music festivals and the NASCAR Chicago street race, raising neighborhood concerns about crowds, security, noise.

* Crain’s | O’Hare upgrades to come: Crain’s reporter John Pletz talks with host Amy Guth about the $50 million O’Hare is getting from the FAA for Terminal 3 enhancements.

* WICS | Eastern Illinois Foodbank launches innovative find food map: The Vivery platform, developed by the Thierer Family Foundation, helps food banks and food pantries remove obstacles preventing neighbors from finding food. Digital features include an interactive Find Food map with a searchable directory of food distribution sites with up-to-date schedules, times, directions, and programs.

* Bloomberg | Southwest using Amazon to modernize its tech after holiday meltdown: Amazon Web Services will become Southwest’s “preferred cloud provider,” the e-commerce giant said on Wednesday, calling the move a “large-scale migration” of the airline’s digital infrastructure to the cloud. Southwest will use AWS to power elements of its website and mobile app, store data and run internal analytics. The companies declined to discuss financial terms of the multiyear deal.

* Sun-Times | White Sox new double-play combo of Tim Anderson, Elvis Andrus in ‘easy’ acclimation period: Andrus said he needs to become acclimated to the different angles at second base and starting double plays on ground balls to his left, but working with Anderson around the bag has been smooth. The getting to know you process went on hold Tuesday when Anderson left the team to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

* AP | All-female ensemble set for broadcast of an NBA game on ESPN on International Women’s Day: It’s the second straight year ESPN has orchestrated an NBA game led by an all-female broadcast crew, with this version being held on International Women’s Day. Beth Mowins and Doris Burke will call the action, with more than 70 women taking part in Wednesday’s pregame and game coverage.

* CBS Chicago | Honoring Ida B. Wells: “She grew up in the south and her work against lynching and to bring attention to this issue led to her having such sinnier death threats that she relocated to Chicago but she continued activism here. Not just on anti-lynching, but also to promote education and economic opportunity,” said Julie Wroblewski, Director of Collections at the Chicago History Museum.