* Gov. Pritzker’s senior political adviser confirms a story in the Atlantic about how Team Pritzker turned thumbs down on Minnesota US Rep. Dean Phillips’ presidential fantasies…

This is true. pic.twitter.com/IxVxUe2FcD

— Mike Ollen (@MikeOllen) October 27, 2023

* Center Square…

Township mental health boards in Illinois levy property taxes to fund local organizations and community mental health initiatives. The boards focus on mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities and issue contracts to local agencies to provide services for its residents.

Senate Bill 690 from state Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, would allow townships to ask local voters for increased taxes to fund these boards in certain townships. The measure passed Wednesday along party lines. […]

“This seems to be a way of arguably, almost taxation without honest representation,” [Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry] said. “This is not uncommon with the majority party in control. My fear is that we often do things through the legislature that arguably should have been put to the voters to make decisions in their local areas.”

Gillespie said the measure changes the language in a referendum, but Wilcox said that doesn’t account for the extra costs.

“The core of it was the failure to agree on how to properly do the referendum with the appropriate wording that would have highlighted to the constituents that this was not just an agreement on an established mental health board, but that it came with a price tag,” Wilcox said. “That’s what we were opposed to in that bill.”

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker today joined EVBox and other stakeholders for the launch of its new Illinois-built DC fast charger. Called the Troniq Modular, EVBox’s new product is a National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) ready electric vehicle (EV) charging station. EVBox’s new DC fast charger is compliant with the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Build America, Buy America guidelines, which requires that chargers be produced in the United States with at least 55 percent domestic content. The launch event highlights the importance of clean energy businesses like EVBox, whose innovations will help bring Illinois closer to its goal of putting one million EVs on the road by 2030.

“I’m proud to work closely with industry partners, like EVBox, to advance our shared clean energy goals and accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Major EV, EV parts, and renewable energy manufacturers have chosen to locate or expand operations in Illinois thanks to our competitive incentives, unmatched infrastructure, world-class workforce, and commitment to the clean energy economy. We’ve increased our EVs on the road by 44 percent in just the last 10 months — a testament to the explosive growth rates we can facilitate when EVs are more accessible and more affordable for consumers.”

“In Illinois, we know the future is electric, which is why we’re becoming a hub for electric vehicles and EV innovations. Today’s announcement of the new Illinois-built DC fast charger is another step in our goal of one million electric vehicles on Illinois roads by 2030,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “And we are on the path to achieving our goal of 100% clean energy by 2050, thanks in part to REV Illinois. That means job creation across our state and protecting our environment for generations to come.”

With its North American headquarters in Libertyville, EVBox is a global leader in the EV charging sector and a key player in Illinois’ rapidly growing EV manufacturing ecosystem. Founded in 2010, EVBox is a market leader in electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVSE) that has delivered over 500,000 charging ports to partners and customers globally.

“As we look to the future of EV travel in America, we envision a charging station network that seamlessly connects cities and regions,” said Remco Samules, CEO of EVBox. “The electrification of transportation will reduce our carbon footprint and lead to cleaner air, improved health, and a more sustainable future for generations to come. Through public-private partnerships like the one we have with Illinois, we are setting the stage for this transition.”

With competitive incentives for EV sector manufacturing, rapid growth in EV adoption (44% year-over-year in 2023) bolstered by consumer rebates, and $12.6 million awarded so far for 350 fast-charging ports across the state, Illinois is leading the charge when it comes to electrifying our transportation system.

* ABC 7…

Governor JB Pritzker has issued a state disaster proclamation that will allow areas impacted by September flooding to access state resources to help with recovery efforts.

Cook County already issued a disaster proclamation earlier this month. However, the state disaster proclamation will allow for even more funds to go to southern Cook County communities.

* Is anyone actually buying the claim that Fields is still too injured to play?…

Quarterback Justin Fields (thumb), right guard Nate Davis (ankle) and cornerback Terell Smith (illness) have all been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

Fields will miss his second consecutive game with a dislocated right thumb. Rookie backup Tyson Bagent is expected to start in his place.

* For commenters and everyone else…

I love "The hierarchy of disagreement" and occasionally reshare it. We must learn to argue and disagree in a kinder, more efficient way. The article is worth reading. If you are pressed for time just read the pyramid and laugh at the lowest stage. Source: https://t.co/EIJyfDbD7X pic.twitter.com/oZoDL5ZuYT

— Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) October 26, 2023

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…

* SJ-R | Bill that passed Illinois Senate could resolve SHS project tangled in property dispute: A project allowing new offices, an auxiliary gym, and classrooms for Springfield High School is caught up in a dispute over the fair market value of two properties needed for the construction. A bill advancing in the Illinois Senate would resolve the dispute in favor of Springfield Public Schools District 186.

* Crain’s | Talks over new PTO law for Chicago employers hit a bump: With a committee vote on expanding Chicago’s paid leave policy looming next week, business groups issued a statement saying the current proposal “ignores the business community and would have a devastating impact” on local industries. The statement came Friday after weeks of negotiations with the Chicago Federation of Labor, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, and other unions and worker advocacy groups.

* Chalkbeat | Schools have struggled to add learning time after COVID. Here’s how one district did it.: A year ago, school would have been over around this time, and the students at Columbus East Elementary would be walking out the door. But this year, a group of fifth graders were instead sitting on the school’s stage, reading aloud about the life of Rosa Parks as they worked on reading fluency and comprehension. Similar activities were taking place in nearly every corner of the school: In another classroom, students rolled dice to practice two-digit multiplication and huddled close to their teacher to review their work.

* WTTW | Jefferson Park Man Spent Night in Jail After Harassment Campaign Led by Police Brass, Misconduct Agency Finds: A Jefferson Park man spent a night in jail in November 2018 after being subjected to “an improper campaign of harassment” after criticizing a Far Northwest Side business group on Facebook for their response to the conviction of a White Chicago police officer for the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald, a Black teen, according to evidence gathered by the agency charged with investigating police misconduct. The probe by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability concluded that two Chicago police lieutenants, including one who twice ran unsuccessfully for the Chicago City Council, “may have directed an improper campaign of harassment against (Pete Czosnyka) in retaliation for the exercise of his First Amendment rights.”

* Shaw Local | Mystery of McHenry County Jail inmate death: Officials decline to give details of man’s demise in July: Following weeks of questions, and nearly three months after Sabo’s death, the sheriff’s department responded to an email inquiry on Oct. 18 by saying the case is still “open and under investigation.” The coroner’s office, in an Oct. 10 email, said “Colton’s cause and manner of death are still pending.”

* Press Release | Paxton Media Group Acquires The Southern Illinoisan Newspaper: Paxton Media Group is a growing media company, having purchased numerous newspapers over the past few years in the Midwest and Southeast. PMG operates more than 120 newspapers in 14 states. Paxton owns six other newspapers in Illinois.

* WaPo | Mysterious bylines appeared on a USA Today site. Did these writers exist?: Staffers at Reviewed, a USA Today-owned website devoted to shopping recommendations, were about to end their workday Friday when one of them noticed something strange: Articles were publishing on the site by writers none of them had ever heard of — and using suspiciously similar language. Jaime Carrillo, a senior staff writer, couldn’t figure out where the reviews — for products like insulated drink tumblers and scuba gear — were coming from. “I stayed at my desk for the next hour, just kind of panicking over this new website that none of us had a hand in,” he said.

* Sun-Times | After 47 years, longest-serving Latina in CPS has no plans to retire: Myers has worked as the clerk at Ebinger on the Northwest Side for more than two decades. This fall, she celebrates 45 years at the school in various roles. And with 47 years overall working for the Chicago Public Schools, she’s the longest-serving Latina in the system.

* Lake and McHenry County Scanner | Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Dax scores multiple 1st-place awards at multi-state competition: Forlenza and Dax placed first in obedience, article search, suspect search, tracking and cadaver detection. The two also placed third in criminal apprehension, Covelli said.

* Milwaukee Business Journal | Quad closing Illinois plant, idling hundreds and shifting work to Milwaukee area: Commercial printer and marketing firm Quad will close a plant in Illinois with 350 employees and transfer production to plants in West Allis, Pewaukee and Pennsylvania.

* Fox 2 | This Illinois town ranks among America’s ‘most haunted’: Alton has fully embraced its haunted heritage, and visitors have the opportunity to explore it through various haunted tours. Alton Odyssey Tours, established in 1992 by local psychics Antoinette and Marlene Lewis, offer an array of experiences for ghost enthusiasts. These tours include Trolley Ghost Tours, a Haunted Beer Walk in partnership with Old Bakery Beer, and Haunted Walking Tours.

* Crain’s | If you’re dying to live in a former tombstone factory, here’s your chance: Mike Quinlan is asking just under $4 million for the house, a five-bedroom, roughly 7,500-square-foot contemporary he built inside the limestone walls of Anderson Monument Company beginning in 2017. It’s represented by Morgan McDermott of Coldwell Banker.

* Tribune | Luxury retailer Hermès reopens, further boosting Oak Street as the Mag Mile works to come back: Most of the retail space in the surrounding Gold Coast neighborhood, especially along Oak Street between Rush and Michigan Avenue, is now occupied, with several retailers such as Bottega Veneta Chicago and Burdeen’s Jewelry recently signing new leases, said John Vance, principal at Stone Real Estate Corp.

* AP | U.S. economy accelerated to a strong 4.9% rate last quarter as consumers shrugged off Fed rate hikes: Thursday’s report on the nation’s gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — showed that consumers drove the acceleration, ramping up their spending on everything from cars to restaurant meals. Even though the painful inflation of the past two years has soured many people’s view of the economy, millions have remained willing to splurge on vacations, concert tickets and sports events.

* Crain’s | Cannabis operators sue feds over intrastate commerce: According to the statement, the coalition seeks to urge the federal government to not enforce the CSA in a manner that interferes with the intrastate cultivation, manufacture, possession, and distribution of cannabis, pursuant to state law.

* The Atlantic | The Huge Multistate Lawsuit Against Meta Isn’t Serious Enough: Teenagers are experiencing a mental-health crisis. And though the science is messy and the matter isn’t settled, many suspect that social media is, in some substantial way, tangled up in the problem. Following this instinct, legislators and regulators at both the state and federal levels have suggested a slew of interventions aimed at protecting young people from the potential harms of social platforms. Many of these efforts have so far fallen short on legal grounds, and broadly speaking, the status quo remains.

* The Verge | Hertz is scaling back its EV ambitions because its Teslas keep getting damaged : Part of the problem is linked to Hertz’s plans to rent EVs to ridehail drivers. Of the 100,000 Tesla acquired by Hertz, half were to be allocated to Uber drivers as part of a deal with the ridehail company. And drivers said they loved the Teslas! But Uber drivers also tend to drive their vehicles into the ground. This higher rate of utilization can lead to a lot of damage — certainly more than Hertz was anticipating.