*Press release from Attorney General Kwame Raoul…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, alongside 20 attorneys general, sent a letter to Fortune 100 companies in support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the workplace. The letter is in response to a letter 13 Republican attorneys general sent to the companies in an attempt to undermine efforts to reduce racial inequities in corporate America by falsely claiming that programs to address racial disparity are unlawful.

“These 13 Republican attorneys general, while cloaking their letter in a theme of colorblindness, have audaciously targeted programs aimed at helping African Americans gain access to economic opportunity,” Raoul said. “Diversity initiatives are not just laudable goals, they are also good for business. I have a deep commitment to working with private employers to help further diversity, equity and inclusion in Illinois, and I will continue to be an advocate and champion of civil rights and racial progress.”

In today’s letter, Raoul and the coalition applaud corporate efforts to recruit diverse workforces and create inclusive work environments while encouraging the companies to double-down on diversity-focused programs. The letter also reiterates that such efforts are legal and reduce corporate risk for claims of discrimination, and that:

- Corporate diversity programs are lawful and serve important public and business purposes.

-Hollow claims of unlawful discrimination against white people at Fortune 100 companies do not change the fact that women and people of color continue to face barriers in the workplace.

-The businesses and workers of America should not be intimidated into abandoning diversity goals at a time when they are more important than ever.

AG Raoul also had an opinion piece in Crain’s this morning.

* State avoids Clean Air Act sanctions. Capitol News Illinois…

A proposed change in state air pollution regulations will move forward despite an objection from a legislative oversight committee, allowing the state to avoid federal sanctions that otherwise would go into effect next month.

The change, which came from the Illinois Pollution Control Board and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, repeals existing language that allowed factories, refineries, power plants and other facilities to exceed their emission limits during shutdowns, startups, and malfunctions.

The previous rules also gave the owners of those facilities a certain level of immunity from civil lawsuits for exceeding their emission limits during those events.

The change was necessary because of recent court decisions that prompted the U.S. EPA to change its interpretation of the federal Clean Air Act, a program that is largely administered and enforced by state and local governments.

* Good news for Englewood…

A community organization leading the charge to transform an abandoned railway line and nearby vacant land into a vibrant agro-eco district received another boost in funding Monday, pushing the nearly two-decade-long dream forward.

Grow Greater Englewood received a $3.8 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to continue work on the Englewood Nature Trail, a 12-foot-wide, ADA-accessible, multi-use trail. The elevated path will run behind 58th and 59th streets between Wallace and Hoyne Avenues.

Chicago-based nonprofit Blacks In Green also received $1.5 million in funding to scale its Sustainable Square Mile pilot in Woodlawn. The Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living received $1.75 million to support local farms and farmers. A complete list of Bezos Earth Fund awardees is available here.

* If you’re looking to get caught up on today’s City Council meeting here’s Erin Hegarty thread…

After a marathon of press conferences on a steamy third floor, today’s City Council meeting has begun! This is the last meeting before an August break. https://t.co/phAn1D3oI8

— Erin Hegarty (@erin_hegarty) July 19, 2023

* Press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois delegation concluded their mission to the United Kingdom. Over the past several days, the Governor participated in discussions on bilateral collaborations in technology and higher education, meetings with business organizations to strengthen ties to Illinois, and announced the intent to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UK to advance trade and economic development goals in Illinois.

The Governor hosted a “Clean Energy & Clean Technology” roundtable with Illinois and United Kingdom-based energy companies. At this meeting, the present parties signed an MOU intending to strengthen collaboration to create a net-zero energy future. Illinois has been a leader in the clean energy space and is the first state in the Midwest to require carbon free energy by 2050. The list of companies included in the MoU are Commonwealth Edison Company, Ameren Illinois Company, The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, North Shore Gas Company, Northern Illinois Gas Company, National Grid plc, UK Power Networks, and Energy Networks Association.

Both the Illinois and UK-based companies promise to expand the use of sustainable technologies and renewable energy to support economic growth and the creation of jobs across both the United Kingdom and the State of Illinois. During this meeting, the Governor highlighted Illinois’ clean energy benefits to businesses looking to expand in the United States. Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is devoting $180 million per year to workforce programming to build the clean energy workforce.

“Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, Speaker Welch, and the General Assembly, Illinois is recognized as a national leader in the efforts to decarbonize the energy sector,” said Ameren Illinois Chairman and President Lenny Singh. “Ameren Illinois is proud to collaborate with the Governor, our utility colleagues, and our friends in the United Kingdom to accelerate this transition and bring the economic benefits to central and southern Illinois.”

“We are building a bright, sustainable future with a focus on providing customers affordable and reliable energy. Our research and investments in emerging clean energy technologies — including renewable natural gas and hydrogen — and our success significantly reducing leaks in old pipelines will help the state meet its climate goals while creating jobs and strengthening the economy,” said Torrence Hinton, president — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. “On behalf of our customers and the dedicated men and women of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, I am pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding.” […]

The Governor also met with major partners in the quantum computing space. Many of these members also met the day prior at an “Innovation and Technology” Roundtable at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in London. Illinois is home to more National Quantum Science Information centers than any other state and is one of the largest contributors to the National Quantum Initiative Act. Governor Pritzker’s administration is ensuring the future of quantum computing is centered in Illinois through a $200 million investment in the Chicago Quantum Exchange

Lastly, the Governor hosted the Delegation’s Farewell Dinner to mark the end of the 2023 UK Trade Mission with the Illinois Delegation. This trade mission’s goal was the strengthening of bilateral collaboration between the UK and Illinois. Highlights of the trip include the Goodwood Festival of Speed where the Governor discussed Illinois’ commitment to electric vehicles, discussions with business and education leaders on enhancing the economic cooperation between the UK and Illinois and initiating an MoU between the United Kingdom and Illinois.

* Props to the student journalists that keep breaking major stories…

Student journalists are watchdogging America's universities. First, reporting by @TheDailyNU led to the firing of Northwestern's football coach. Now, work by the @StanfordDaily has led to the resignation of Stanford's president. https://t.co/936Jh2411V

— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) July 19, 2023

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup:

* Tribune | 2nd football hazing lawsuit filed against Northwestern; lawyers say legal action also forthcoming related to baseball and softball: Like the suit filed Tuesday on behalf of John Doe 1, another former football player, the complaint by John Doe 2 does not specify actions against the plaintiffs, but alleges long-standing issues of hazing and bullying that took on a sexual or racist tone.

* Crain’s | NU hazing accusers now include former softball, baseball players, attorneys say: At a Wednesday press conference, which included comments by four former Northwestern football players, Crump and Chicago attorney Steven Levin said they have not filed a lawsuit yet on behalf of any athletes but currently represent 15 people, including some former players from the baseball and softball programs. All of their clients are former players.

* WCIA | Champaign organization excited over Safe-T Act ruling, feels it will support those in jail: One Champaign organization is excited about the Safe-T Act decision. James Kilgore, an advocacy director with First Followers, said he’s been fighting about it for many years. First Followers is a re-entry program to support people who were once in jail. Kilgore wants to transform the criminal legal system.

* Crain’s | Pritzker hails ‘fantastic’ trade mission to the United Kingdom: “It’s not like you snap your fingers and things happen,” Pritzker said of the weeklong trip. Still, he added, “Illinois needs to do more on the international front.” In that vein, other trips are coming soon, the governor said, indicating that similar trips to Asia, Israel and other portions of Europe may well be among them.

* Sun-Times | Thaddeus ‘T.J.’ Jimenez, ‘Motive’ podcast subject, sentenced nearly 8 years after a shooting caught on video: Jimenez gets 12 years in prison. He gained fame when City Hall gave him a $25 million wrongful-conviction settlement. He then lavished cash on his gang in the years before the 2015 shooting, authorities say.

* CBS Chicago | 2 men charged in catalytic converter operation across 8 counties in northern Illinois: The men worked together from August 2021 through March 2022 to steal the converters from vehicles in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, DeKalb, Lake, McHenry, and Winnebago counties, according to Raoul.

* WBEZ | Drought, deluge and the climate curious farmers of central Illinois: “You can’t sit in Washington and tell people how to farm,” said Larry Dallas, who farms about 2,000 acres near Tuscola, and has used conservation practices during his 39 years in business. “There is practicality involved. The technology is out in the field.”

* Bloomberg | White House asks Walgreens, CVS, Walmart for help promoting drug-cost law: US health officials met Tuesday at the White House with leaders of CVS Health Corp., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Walmart Inc., seeking help to tout the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, a Health and Human Services Department spokesperson said. Along with capping insulin prices and expanding access to adult vaccines, the law will allow Medicare, the US health program for the elderly, to negotiate prices of costly drugs made by some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies.

* KFVS | The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois announces closure: According to a press release from the BGCSI, they will cease all operations on Friday, July 21. The release also said this decision comes from the Board of Directors after much discussion and exploration of options that would allow continued operation.

* Bloomberg | Ken Griffin purchases Palm Beach property for $83 million: — Billionaire Ken Griffin snapped up a property on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue for $83 million, located next to a former Neiman Marcus store that his firm has planned to use as an office. With the latest purchase, Griffin now owns both properties at 125 Worth Ave. and 151 Worth Ave., according to spokesman Zia Ahmed. The seller of 125 Worth Ave. was the Frisbie Group and Dreyfuss Management, said Rob Frisbie, a principal of the Frisbie Group.

* SJ-R | Gibson, Sangamon County Courthouse facility dog, passes away: With his blue vest and photo ID card on his collar, Gibson, an eight-year-old black lab, was a familiar presence around the courthouse since 2017. Gibson accompanied people into the courtroom who had given testimony and was used at the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center when police and prosecutors were conducting forensic interviews with children.

* Center Square | Swift fills more Chicago hotel rooms than NASCAR: According to Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm, Chicago hotels averaged more than 36,000 room bookings per night from June 30 to July 2, an occupancy rate of 79%.

* WCIA | Villa Grove pushes dead tree removal to limit future storm damage: Villa Grove wants to avoid future storm damage by asking people to get rid of their dead and diseased trees. The city took to social media for some help from the community after the derecho on June 29. Villa Grove Police Chief Robert Rea said he found a village ordinance that says homeowners are responsible for dead and diseased trees.

* Daily Herald | Sugar Grove Corn Boil Festival kicks off Thursday; organizers say it could be the last: The free festival started in 1967 as a fundraiser for the Sugar Grove Young Adults Club. This year marks the 53rd Corn Boil. But organizers say without more volunteers, there may not be a 54th. Sugar Grove Corn Boil NFP, a nonprofit group, organizes the event.

* NPR Illinois | Services planned for Emma Shafer: The visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church with a service to follow. The service can be viewed on Emma’s page at StaabObituary.com. Shafer has been described as a young woman intent on making a difference. She was the membership chair of the Sierra Club Sangamon Valley Group, an incoming board member for the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network, a former organizer with Faith Coalition for the Common Good, and an active volunteer with countless other community groups.