* Press release…

Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a Seventh Circuit response brief in its lawsuit that secured a preliminary injunction against the Illinois “Protect Illinois Communities Act” (“PICA”). The brief in FPC’s Harrel v. Raoul case, along with other case documents, can be viewed at FPCLaw.org.

“Simply put, the firearms and feeding devices Illinois has banned are not just in common use; they are ubiquitous,” argues the brief. “Under a straightforward application of Bruen, that puts HB5471 profoundly out of step with our Nation’s history of regulating firearms. The district court was thus eminently correct to recognize Illinois’ grave overstep and enjoin HB5471.”

“Two months ago, the District Court correctly found that the arms banned by PICA are in common use and protected by the Second Amendment,” said FPC Vice President of Communications Richard Thomson, “We look forward to the Seventh Circuit affirming the District Court’s decision and letting our preliminary injunction go into effect.”

FPC is joined in this lawsuit by the Second Amendment Foundation and the Illinois State Rifle Association.

* Crain’s…

The world’s largest dairy maker, France’s Groupe Lactalis, is expanding in Chicago after a $3.2 billion deal to acquire cheese brands from Kraft Heinz Co.

The family-owned company plans to hire almost 100 people at its offices in the Windy City over the next year, according to Peter Cotter, chief executive officer of Lactalis Heritage Dairy — the business that runs the natural cheese brands bought from Kraft. […]

Lactalis, founded in 1933 and known for its President cheese, is now hiring to build out those areas and expects to have more than 850 employees at its Chicago offices by the end of the year. Lactalis Heritage Dairy represents 39% of the group’s total US business.

* Click here for the letter…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 14 state attorneys general, is today calling on Target to support inclusivity and to reject anti-LGBTQ+ hate, intimidation and discrimination.

Raoul and fellow attorneys general sent a letter to Target during Pride Month in response to Target’s recent decision to remove certain Pride-related merchandise from its stores. This decision came amid an increasing trend of harassment, hate and politically-motivated attacks on LGBTQ+ people. In the letter, Raoul and the attorneys general expressed their commitment to protecting the civil rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and their concern regarding Target’s recent decision.

“Discrimination and harassment against LGBTQ+ people have no place in our society. Members of the LGBTQ+ community deserve to feel safe and welcome in Illinois and beyond our state’s borders,” Raoul said. “During Pride Month and throughout the year, I urge businesses to work with local law enforcement to ensure staff members and customers are safe from LGBTQ+ harassment and vandalism – without sending a message that anti-LGBTQ+ bullying will be successful.”

The letter explains the attorneys general are concerned that Target’s decision to remove certain Pride merchandise sends the wrong message to LGBTQ+ people and anti-LGBTQ+ bullies alike. While Target’s desire to protect its staff and customers safe from anti-LGBTQ+ harassment, vandalism and other criminal acts is commendable, removing Pride merchandise signals that anti-LGBTQ+ bullying works – even on the biggest corporations in America.

This is the latest in Raoul’s efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ people in Illinois can count on state-level protections against discrimination and harassment, including the Illinois Human Rights Act. In 2022, Raoul and Gov. JB Pritzker addressed public officials’ safety concerns over anti-LGBTQ+ violence and harassment in a letter to Illinois public officials. Since becoming Attorney General, Raoul has also partnered with other attorneys general to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and to defend against and call out anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Raoul filed the letter along with attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

* More good Metro East news…

Governor JB Pritzker, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced that Gulfstream will expand its operations at the St. Louis Downtown Airport - creating 200 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 500 existing jobs. New investments will enable the company to increase completions and outfitting operations while investing in modernization at its Cahokia Heights facility.

“Illinois sits at the heart of the Midwest—serving as a major transportation hub for cargo and passengers alike,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Gulfstream’s latest $28.5 million investment into Cahokia Heights’ St. Louis Downtown Airport speaks to the steps my administration has taken to attract new businesses to our state—all while modernizing our infrastructure and supporting our workforce to meet the demands of our 21st century economy.”

Through a $28.5 million investment, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. – which designs, develops and services the world’s leading business aircraft – will be expanding its Cahokia Heights facility which will enable the company to increase capacity for exterior aircraft painting, furniture installations, avionics integrations and other operations. The company’s investment will also modernize facilities adding state-of-the-art equipment and tooling while improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. Once complete, the expansion will bring Gulfstream’s total footprint at Cahokia Height’s St. Louis Downtown Airport to 642,657 square feet. […]

As part of the expansion, the company received an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit, which stipulates a goal of making a $28.5 million investment and creating 200 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 500 jobs. A link to the full agreement can be found here. In calendar year 2022, companies in the EDGE program committed more than $1 billion in investments in Illinois communities across the state.

* Sounds like someone could be in trouble. From the News-Gazette…

The website for the secretary of state’s drivers services facility at 2012 Round Barn Road, C [in Rantoul], indicates that it’s open for walk-ins, but appointments are encouraged for faster service.

The recorded voice message for that office, however, says all transactions for drivers licenses and state ID cards are available by appointment only.

Callers are directed to the secretary of state’s website to make appointments.

Henry Haupt, spokesman for the state agency, said appointments “are absolutely not required,” and if the Champaign facility is requiring appointments for drivers licenses and state IDs, that will be corrected.

* Speaking of constitutional officers…

The Illinois Funds, a mutual fund investment used by local governments through the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, has earned the top AAA rating from Fitch Ratings, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today.

The Illinois Funds rating reaffirms the confidence Fitch showed in the program during the last year. The Illinois Funds provides more than 1,500 units of local government a safe investment vehicle with competitive rates that are designed to complement, not compete with, local banking relationships.

“This is an example of an outside firm pointing out that we’re doing things right,” Frerichs said. “The Illinois Funds is one of the many ways we invest in the people of Illinois.”

Established in 1975, more than 1,500 units of government such as cities, counties, libraries and school districts have invested in The Illinois Funds because it is a safe, liquid and competitive investment.

The $15 billion local government investment pool (LGIP) invests in assets focused on safety, preservation of principal, liquidity and income. The investment can be as short as overnight. The weighted average maturity is less than 60 days. No minimum investment is required.

“The fund maintains a high-credit-quality portfolio by investing exclusively in short-term securities rated at least ‘F1′ by Fitch or the equivalent,” Fitch wrote. “The key rating drivers for the affirmations are the fund’s overall credit quality and diversification, holdings of daily and weekly liquid assets consistent with shareholder profiles, asset maturity profiles meeting Fitch’s rating criteria, and the capabilities and resources of the investment advisor.”

U.S Bank is the pool’s primary service provider and custodian. The fund officially is named the Illinois Public Treasurers’ Investment Pool (IPTIP).

For more information about the Fitch rating, click here.

* Justin Ian Sia writes in Crain’s that curb-cuts were intended to assist wheelchair users, but also wound up benefiting “travelers with luggage, caregivers pushing strollers and runners”…

However, gender-inclusive restrooms do not exclusively serve the TGNC community; all Illinoisans will benefit.

For instance, same-gender restrooms force parents and guardians with children of a different gender to either leave their child alone in the restroom or enter a restroom that does not match their gender. Gender-inclusive restrooms will keep children and families together, creating a safer experience.

Gender-inclusive restrooms similarly will benefit caregivers who assist people with disabilities or older adults of a different gender in restrooms, especially in medical care settings.

* ILGOP…

Today, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to news that Hunter Biden has agreed to plead guilty to federal tax charges in exchange for a plea agreement:

“It’s a sad day for Americans who are reminded yet again that there are two-tiers of justice. The political motivations that sweep serious cases, like that of Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton, and many Illinois Democrats, under the rug, yet throw the book at former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have irreparably eroded the confidence Americans have in our justice system. The DOJ must do away with its ‘rules for thee, not for me’ mentality; and they can start by addressing the corruption problem that has taken root in the Illinois Democrat Party.”

Mike Madigan would like a word. /s

* Imagine the sense of entitlement…

My text exchange with DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick on answering questions about the Willowbrook shooting.

Keep in mind, Mendrick has been on @MorningAnswer before. We've never had a cross word until now.

Pressure is a funny thing. Some crumble underneath it. pic.twitter.com/yFqpcWPzoZ

— Dan Proft (@DanProft) June 20, 2023

* Getting the band back together…

The original Team Rauner is coming back together. Mike Z, Lance Trover, Mike Schrimpf, Chip Englander https://t.co/nU0G5eU8ML

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) June 20, 2023

* And finally…

.@GregHinz thank you for the note

Crain’s photo editor: I apologize for whatever harm I inflicted upon you. https://t.co/kZUHTLBBx2

— Michael J. Zalewski (@mjzalewski) June 20, 2023

The pic…

Oof.

…Adding… Related…

Effective immediately, Doug Scott will serve as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Scott was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker earlier this year to serve out the remainder of outgoing Chairman Carrie Zalewski’s term.

“It’s an honor to have been chosen by Governor Pritzker to return to the ICC. Illinois is in the midst of a major energy transition, and thanks to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the Commission has a major role to play in helping the state responsibly and affordably turn its clean energy goals into a reality. After a valuable stint away from state government, I am eager to serve the people of Illinois in this new capacity,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott.

Chairman Scott is an accomplished, well-respected attorney with an extensive public service background at both the state and local levels. Scott most recently served as the Vice-President for Energy Systems at the Great Plains Institute, where he addressed climate strategy, regulatory response, and issues involving the changing utility business model.

Prior to joining the Great Plains Institute, Scott previously served as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 2011 to 2015, during which he helped Illinois expand its renewable energy usage and saved consumers hundreds of millions of dollars on their utility bills. Prior to being appointed to the ICC, Scott worked to protect consumers and significantly reduce emissions from the state’s power plants as Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Scott’s public service also includes a term as Mayor of Rockford, Illinois, three terms as an Illinois State Representative, and ten years as an attorney for the City of Rockford.

Chairman Scott holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from Marquette University and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Tulsa.

“I am proud to pass the gavel onto our new Chairman, Doug Scott. He brings a tremendous amount of experience in energy and environmental regulation, along with many years of dedicated public service. I have no doubt that he will ensure the Commission is on the right trajectory. I wish him the best and will be rooting for Commission’s success,” said outgoing ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski.

* Isabel’s roundup…

* WAND | State leaders call for city leaders to take charge after attacks on abortion clinic continue: Congresswoman, Robin Kelly, sent a letter to Danville Mayor, Rickey Williams Jr. and Danville Police Chief, Christopher Yates. The letter addressed the “terrorizing attacks” made to the future site of Affirmative Care Solutions.

* KFF Health News | Families flee for states like Illinois amid crackdown on transgender care: More than a quarter of trans adults surveyed by KFF and The Washington Post late last year said they had moved to a different neighborhood, city, or state to find more acceptance. Now, new restrictions on health care and the possibility of more in the future provide additional motivation.

* Center Square | Former Illinois GOP governor candidate weighs congressional run: “I’m getting closer and closer to making a decision,” added Bailey, who also challenged Gov. J.B. Pritzker as the GOP nominee in 2022. “Definitely, if I make the decision to run I would look to have President Trump on my side again.”

* Bond Buyer | Illinois variable-rate debt conspiracy case moves toward summer trial: On Tuesday, an Illinois court denied the banks’ motion that the claims should be tossed based on the public disclosure bar, a legal standard that exists to prevent whistleblowers from filing lawsuits supported by information that was already known to the public, in this case through EMMA, which the banks argued functions as either as a report of the state or as news media.

* WAND | Decatur council to take look at video gambling: The council may consider raising fees to have gambling terminals and may force new businesses to wait at least one-year before obtaining a video gaming license.

* WTTW | Johnson Set to Start Tackling Chicago’s Pension Woes, Hemmed in by Vow Not to Raise Property Taxes: If Johnson wasn’t fully aware of the formidable challenge facing the group, the mayor got another reminder from the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog, which called the city’s “enormous pension shortfall” one of five major fiscal challenges facing Johnson in a report released Wednesday.

* Sun-Times | Will state study be end of the line for $6.5 billion One Central transit hub?: No transportation agency, from the CTA to Amtrak, has voiced any real support for the center since it was proposed three years ago, which is telling. But they haven’t slapped it down, either, which is troubling.

* WBEZ | In a sanctuary city for migrants, the long, grueling wait for an apartment: Affordable housing and willing landlords are in short supply. Social service agencies are also overstretched, trying to keep up with the fast clip of new arrivals that only continues to grow. And nonprofits are racing to keep up, adding staff and expanding their volunteer networks to fill in city services’ gaps — from helping new arrivals apply for rental aid and securing apartments to finding furniture that makes these homes livable.

* Injustice Watch | Promised City Hall hearings on U visa failures never happened: Injustice Watch revealed in December how Chicago police denied hundreds of U visa certifications from undocumented crime victims. More than half of the city council called for accountability and new transparency rules, but the measures never passed.

* Crain’s | Lightfoot, Preckwinkle hit the fundraising circuit: Lightfoot is the star attraction for a Planned Parenthood fundraiser tomorrow evening, with tickets priced from $250 to $5,000. The location of the event is not being disclosed, but the beneficiary will be Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis and southwest Missouri region, where the politics are considerably different than in Illinois and abortion rights are under much stronger legal and political fire.

* TND | Companies reluctant to lay off workers, knowing they might not get them back: This “somewhat unusual” combination in the labor force shows just how reluctant companies are to shed staff after the widespread hiring difficulties they experienced coming out of the pandemic shutdowns, said Colorado State University economist Stephan Weiler.

* AFP | ‘I Nearly Died’: Texas Abortion Case Reveals New US Reality: “I nearly died on their watch,” she says of Republican politicians who have increasingly pushed a hardline anti-abortion stance in the United States. Zurawski, 36, has now dedicated her life to fighting what she sees as a regressive movement to strip women of healthcare rights — while she and her husband try for another baby.

* Automotive News | Rivian adopts Tesla’s EV charging standard, joining Ford and GM: Rivian said it will provide a charging adapter as early as spring 2024 for its current vehicles next year so they can access 12,000 Superchargers contemplated in the deal. Rivian currently uses the Combined Charging System port while Tesla uses its own North American Charging Standard.

* Crain’s | Longtime Citizens Utility Board staffer succeeds Kolata as chief: Kolata, 54, is taking a job as vice president of policy for New York-based energy efficiency firm Sealed, which serves residential customers, offering company-financed efficiency upgrades in homes. He will continue to be based in Chicago.

* Sun-Times | Chicago fishing: Father’s Day stories and waiting on perch: A number of Father’s Day stories and a slow start to the reopening of perch fishing on Illinois’ Lake Michigan lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

* WSIL | Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom event held in Carbondale: “It is very important to recognize this holiday, but it’s more important to teach our children about this holiday and help them to understand why we want to celebrate Juneteenth and it’s more celebrating freedom,” African American Museum of Southern Illinois Co-founder and President Corene McDaniel said. “This is about freedom and I trust that we will not let our children forget why we have this day.”

* Fox Illinois | Local officials say education, participation can strengthen Juneteenth: Springfield Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase visited the Kidzeum of Health and Science today to help celebrate and educate people about the holiday. Purchase read aloud to audience members. One page made her think of how inclusive the holiday can be. “One page that stuck out to me when he said, ‘I don’t want to build a taller fence I want to build a bridge’,” Purchase said in an interview. “It’s more so about bringing everyone together, and it doesn’t matter what walk of life you are coming from or your background. We are all the same, but we need to celebrate our past too.”

* Block Club | Scenes From Juneteenth Celebrations In Chicago: Chicagoans gathered at dozens of events throughout the weekend to commemorate when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to free enslaved people.

* Telegraph | Long-standing Juneteenth celebration in Alton note: “This is about rejoicing, reflecting and remembering,” LeFlore-Porter said. “We have to rejoice about being together, reflect on our past about those who came before us, and make sure we remember what all of our ancestors went through.”

* Block Club | Morgan Park, Beverly Neighbors Celebrate Juneteenth With Double Dutch, Painting And More: “People love it,” said Shanya Gray, the lead organizer and co-founder for the Juneteenth Family Festival. “We’ve gotten more and more support [every year]. Everybody’s been coming out, people who lived here for 30 years that never thought they’d see something like this in their neighborhood.”