* From December of 2018…

* The 2018 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best In-House Lobbyist goes to Adrienne Alexander with AFSCME Council 31…

Adrienne is smart and strategic and has great relationships. She understands politics and policy, from numerous angles. She’s been extremely effective as a lobbyist for years at both the state and city level. I wish I could steal her from AFSCME.

Alexander was listed as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 under 40″ today…

Union membership runs in Adrienne Alexander’s blood.

Her grandfather moved to Michigan during the Great Migration to work in a General Motors plant. Her grandmother served as a union steward in a hospital, and her other grandfather joined the ranks of the U.S. Postal Service. Those jobs, and their associated pensions, paved a path toward the middle class for a Black family, Alexander said.

“It was very clear to me the difference that it made for their lives,” she said. “They were able to send many of their kids to college and, in one generation, because of that union, it completely changed the family trajectory.”

It’s no surprise, then, that Alexander’s own career at the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees has focused on pension fight after pension fight in Illinois since she joined the public employee union in 2010. As a lobbyist for AFSCME, Alexander herds elected officials at the city, state and county levels in Illinois. While she describes their work on pensions as a team effort, she emerged as the point person for a Chicago City Council ordinance passed this spring— referred to by supporters as a “labor peace agreement” — requiring labor deals for human services workers.

Congratulations!

* IDFPR…

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced today that Camile Lindsay will serve as the next Acting Director of Professional Regulation, pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Appointed by Governor JB Pritzker, Lindsay previously served in the Pritzker Administration as First Assistant Deputy Governor for infrastructure, public safety, environment, and energy. […]

As First Assistant Deputy Governor for infrastructure, public safety, environment, and energy, Lindsay was responsible for overseeing several Illinois state agencies, including the Department of Transportation, State Police, Department of Corrections, Emergency Management Agency, and the Capital Development Board. Prior to joining the Governor’s office, Lindsay served as Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Department of Corrections. Earlier in her career, she worked as Supervisory Regional Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Assistant Attorney General for the Illinois Attorney General’s office, and Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

Lindsay has a big job ahead of her.

* I’m hearing at least two state legislators have tested positive for COVID ahead of veto session…

The Illinois Department of Public Health says that although COVID-19 hospitalizations are at a low level across the state, Illinoisans should not wait to get vaccinated against wintertime respiratory illnesses.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said Illinois is beginning to see an increase in RSV activity, which will likely be followed by flu and COVID-19 over the coming weeks and months. Dr. Vohra says the best protection against these diseases is having vaccinations up to date.

“We are fortunate to have tools this season to protect Illinois residents from COVID-19, flu, and RSV,” he said.

Last month, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended newly reformulated COVID-19 shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. The federal agencies have given the green light for updated mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer that target the currently circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus. They also have recently approved an updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. These newly approved shots are considered safe when given at the same time as other vaccines for the flu and RSV.

* She reported giving her campaign $15,000 back in June…

#IL88 House candidate Regan Deering announces that she's raised $73K in the 3Q. Report hasn't been posted yet to @illinoissbe, so unclear how much of it was self-funded. She did receive $6,900 from conservative megadonor Dick Uihlein, however. #twill

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) October 16, 2023

* Interesting…

NEW: Ald. Jim Gardiner reported another $8,073 to criminal defense attorneys at Loeb & Loeb related to the FBI corruption probe into the alderman. This brings his total expenditures on criminal defense attorneys (completely separate from his various civil lawsuits) to $100,771. pic.twitter.com/VRmG1FRpx8

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) October 16, 2023

* No mention of the hilarious spat with the Senate in this Fra Noi hagiography…

In a political landscape that’s bitterly divided, Illinois Rep. Anthony DeLuca is an increasingly rare breed of elected official.

“Anthony is a bridge builder. He’s a consensus builder,” Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti says. “His fellow legislators know that if their constituents have a need, Anthony will listen to them and do everything in his power to meet that need, regardless of their party, because it’s the right thing to do. As a result, he’s one of the most respected legislators in Springfield.”

Though rooted in principle, DeLuca’s approach has a significant fringe benefit. “When the time comes for him to need help, [his colleagues] are very interested in hearing what it’s all about and how they can be a part of it, even if their positions don’t directly align with his,” Onesti notes.

DeLuca drew deeply from that reservoir of good will to assure the passage of House Bill 1199, Section 1. The legislation finally achieved the long sought-after goal of permanently recognizing October as Italian American Heritage Month in Illinois.

* I never heard of a Serval until one got loose in Decatur…

Animal Control is aware of a Serval that is loose on the North East side of the City of Decatur. We are working with an…

Posted by Macon County Animal Control and Care Center on Monday, October 16, 2023

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…

* Sun-Times | Plainfield man fatally stabbed 6-year-old Muslim boy after listening to conservative talk radio, worrying about his safety, prosecutors say: In the 45-minute hearing, prosecutors explained how Czuba became increasingly concerned about his safety while listening to media about the Israel-Hamas war before violently attacking his Muslim tenants. Czuba’s wife told detectives that he “believed he was in danger and she [his tenant, Shaheen] was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them,” Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney, said during a detention hearing Monday.

* Tribune | Man accused of fatally stabbing of Palestinian boy ordered detained on murder, hate crime charges: Meanwhile, federal authorities including the FBI and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have launched an investigation into the attack. A statement released Monday said the FBI “takes the investigation of hate crimes extremely seriously” but did not provide further information, citing the ongoing probe. Federal prosecutors can seek the death penalty for defendants convicted of causing a death related hate crime.

* Daily Herald | Authorities: Landlord who killed 6-year-old boy ‘heavily interested’ in Middle East events: Fitzgerald said Czuba and his wife rented two rooms to the boy’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, for the last two years. Czuba’s wife told authorities that her husband had been listening to conservative news programs and was “heavily interested” in events in the Middle East and reports about the Day of Jihad in the United States on Oct. 13.

* Crain’s | Illinois politicians condemn anti-Muslim hate crime in Plainfield: “To take a six-year-old child’s life in the name of bigotry is nothing short of evil,” Pritzker said. “Wadea should be heading to school in the morning. Instead, his parents will wake up without their son. This wasn’t just a murder — it was a hate crime.” Around 85,000 Palestinians live in the Chicago area, making up 60% of the region’s Arab population, the website Arab America reports. Chicago has drawn Palestinian immigrants since the turn of the century, according to Marquette University sociologist Louise Cainkar.

* WCIA | IDHS agency holding listening session on homelessness in Decatur: The goal of the gathering is to hear feedback on what needs improvements, what is working well, and recommendations people have for homeless services and the Home Illinois Plan. All voices are welcome, especially those who have experienced homelessness themselves. The feedback is intended to help the state better serve the homeless and those who are experiencing housing insecurity.

* Tribune | Trial opens for 2 former Cook County state’s attorneys charged in fallout over infamous Jackie Wilson case: The former assistant state’s attorneys, Nicholas Trutenko and Andrew Horvatare so eager to prove their innocence, their attorneys have said, that they demanded a speedy trial at arraignment despite nearly 290,000 pages of evidence in discovery. The pair were charged in connection with the prosecution of a man who the courts have said was wrongfully convicted — Jackie Wilson — continuing the 40-year chronicle of the case against Wilson, who was charged along with his brother Andrew with killing Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien in 1982.

* Crain’s | Johnson’s ‘Treatment Not Trauma’ plans start to take shape: Budget documents show Johnson is allocating $4.8 million to specifically expand mental health services provided under the Chicago Department of Public Health, which includes opening two pilot clinics in existing CDPH buildings and adding mental health workers to support them.

* WCVB | ‘We do not have enough space’ in Massachusetts shelters, Gov. Healey says: Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system is “on the verge of reaching capacity,” and Gov. Maura Healey’s administration is implementing capacity limits while demanding more support from the federal government. Forty families have entered the Massachusetts emergency shelter system in the past 24 hours, according to state data that shows the total number of families in the system is now nearing 7,000.

* Rockford Register Star | Rockford-area official faces more than 100 years in prison on several charges: The indictment alleges that, while serving as county clerk and recorder, Bliss stole money from the county and used a Boone County credit card to pay for personal expenses, including purchasing groceries and tires for her personal vehicle and paying off personal debt.

* WMBD | Students ordered out of unlicensed facilities by Illinois Education Board: An ISBE news release shows that the three facilities are owned by Menta and function as therapeutic day schools for students with social-emotional disabilities. The Menta facilities had applied for ISBE approval in the spring of 2023. However, none had received approval before serving and enrolling students. […] Investigators discovered “troubling” restraint and time-out practices at the Springfield and Centralia locations.

* SJ-R | Dan Wright appointed as Seventh Judicial Circuit associate judge: It will be up to the Sangamon County Board to appoint an interim state’s attorney. There was no immediate word on when Wright was going to be sworn-in as judge. A Republican, Wright was appointed state’s attorney in 2018 succeeding John C. Milhiser, who had been appointed U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois by then-President Donald Trump.

* Daily Herald | Donald Trump Jr. to appear at McHenry County GOP committee fundraiser: Karen Tirio, chair of MCGOPAC, a Republican political action committee, said the party is “blessed with a very robust” group of presidential candidates. But the MCGOPAC is endorsing Donald Trump as the Republican for president in next year’s election, she added.

* Patch | McHenry Co. State’s Attorney Responds To ‘Marijuana Moms’ Claims: McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally announced in September that cannabis dispensaries in McHenry County would be required to warn customers of potential side effects of the use of cannabis.

* Crain’s | A French meat alternative startup chooses Chicago for its U.S. headquarters: The announcement comes as the company said it raised $34.7 million, bringing its total The U.S. headquarters here is expected to open in early 2024 with expansions over the year, according to John Hatto, managing director of Umiami and former vice president of strategy for PepsiCo. Hatto will oversee the company’s North American operations. to $107 million in three years.

* Daily Herald | Nonprofit SCARCE gives trash a useful future: The nonprofit is called SCARCE, which stands for School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education. There, things many people would toss in the garbage without a second thought are given another chance at a useful future. Plastic bread chips are sent to Indianapolis to be melted down and remade into hangers. Pill bottles go to an emergency relief organization near Cincinnati. Plastic bags go to the local Jewel-Osco for recycling.