Today’s top stories

ProPublica writer Vernal Coleman tells the story of an infamous Indiana gun shop that is linked to hundreds of recovered guns in Chicago.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski have asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate how decades of flooding and exposure to sewage have affected Cahokia Heights residents’ health.

State-wide news

* WGLT | A report on nutrient pollution in Illinois’ waterways shows more work is needed: “Nutrient levels in Illinois waterways continued to increase in 2021 and 2022 compared to baseline measurements, and the NLRS partnership anticipates the strategy will likely fall short of its 2025 interim goals, particularly for phosphorus,” the report notes. “This is despite multi-sector investments in resources and practices that support nutrient loss reduction across the state.”

* Daily Herald | Are electric vehicle owners paying enough for Illinois roads?: An additional $100 fee charged to electric vehicle owners in Illinois generated more than $8.8 million for the state in the last year. That’s up more than $3.3 million from a year ago, and is earmarked for road construction projects in the state, according to Illinois Secretary of State figures.

* Cannabis Business Times | Illinois Governor Signs Bill Waiving Cannabis Transporter Fees: The legislation, Senate Bill 1559, also restricts the Illinois Department of Agriculture from making available or accepting new license applications for cannabis transporters until January 2027. […] “The [multi]-year moratorium on new transporter licenses will allow the current, smaller independent transporters to secure contracts and grow their businesses,” Pritzker said in a press release. “License holders will also have a [multi]-year holiday from paying annual fees to further aid these small businesses as the industry develops.”

* Sun-Times | Illinois hunters harvested 76,232 deer during firearm season, down from 2022: For the first modern season where certain rifles were allowed during Illinois’ firearm deer season, the impact appears negligible or minor on harvest totals. Illinois hunters harvested 76,232 deer (preliminary numbers) during the two parts of firearm season, down slightly from 76,854 deer in the 2022 firearm season. The weather being almost too nice first season may have had a bigger impact than use of rifles.

* Sun-Times | $40M project highlights pastor’s 25-year effort to bring affordable housing to North Lawndale: Developers of a mixed-income complex in North Lawndale hope to inspire residents to return to a community where a lack of affordable housing has driven people away. The six-story, 65-unit Grace Manor has been spearheaded by the Rev. Marvin Hunter, pastor of the nearby Grace Memorial Baptist Church.

SJ-R | Springfield Parks District seeks state OK to install video gaming terminals at golf course: Among them, the Springfield Parks District wants to add video gaming at a local golf club which is pending approval from the Illinois Gaming Board. Executive Director Derek Harms told The State Journal-Register that the district recently applied to install video gaming terminals at the Bunn Golf Course clubhouse. IGB confirmed it had received the application in October and was in the process of reviewing it.

* Patch | Long Grove Student Wins Voting Sticker Contest: Lake County: Annika, a seventh-grader at Woodlawn, was the winner of the 6th through 8th grade category and the overall grand prize winner for all ages. “Annika’s exceptional artistry secured the grand prize, earning the honor of having their design transformed into the official Lake County ‘I Voted’ sticker in 2024,” Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said in a press release.

* Press Release | Illinois Beverage Association announces selection of Madeline Norris as Executive Director: Skilled in policy analysis, negotiation, relationship management, and legislative process strategy, Norris previously served as Legislative Director for Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel. “My team and I are excited to take on this new role as Executive Director of the IBA” stated Norris. “The opportunity to serve the IBA’s bottling, manufacturing, and franchisee members throughout the State of Illinois is a great honor and privilege, every day these members serve Illinois residents by providing the most popular, innovative, non-alcoholic beverage choices of every type in the world.”

What’s going on in the Windy City?

* Block Club | City Says It Has ‘No Immediate Plans’ To Build Far South Side Tent Camp For Migrants: An assessment of the lot at 115th and Halsted streets “is ongoing but will be complete soon,” Ronnie Reese, Johnson’s spokesperson, said in a statement to Block Club. […] “There are no immediate plans to erect a base camp at the site,” Reese said. “We are still in talks with Ald. Mosley and the State of Illinois around the possibility of using the site for temporary resident housing.” State officials are “currently not involved with that site,” Jordan Abudayyeh, deputy chief of staff for communications at the governor’s office, said in a statement to Block Club. “…If we are asked by the city to fund and operate a shelter there, we will ensure IEPA signs off on environmental reporting,” Abudayyeh said.

* Sun-Times | Near West Side ventures seed growth in Chicago manufacturing: In mHUB’s case, it will cut the ribbon Tuesday on its new home. It has taken over a nearly century-old building with a clock tower at 240 N. Ashland Ave. and given it a new address to suit its purposes, 1623 W. Fulton St. The 80,000 square feet will afford mHUB more space for prototyping and testing compared with its former base on Chicago Avenue.

* WTTW | Private Trash Haulers Rarely Face Punishment for Illegal Pickups, City Data Shows: Despite scores of noise complaints from frustrated residents jolted awake by garbage trucks, private trash haulers have been slapped with just five tickets for illegal pickups during quiet hours over the last two years. That’s according to a WTTW News analysis of data obtained from the Chicago Police Department and the city’s 311 nonemergency line.

* Tribune | Chicago homicides in 2023: 588 people slain. Here’s how that compares with previous years: After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022. In 2021, 797 people were slain — 25 more than in 2020.

* People’s Fabric | Crooked Chicago Cop Crew Seen in Videos Stealing Guns, Drugs, and Cash: Four Calumet District tactical unit officers were stripped of their police powers after filing false reports—in one instance, they even let a man wanted for murder walk away smoking his blunt.

News from outside the Land of Lincoln

* Chalkbeat | How researchers see AI helping university admissions officers comb through college essays: The possible use of AI in admissions, however, raises questions about how universities would responsibly use it, especially because college admissions officers have said essays might carry more weight in the wake of the Supreme Court decision eliminating the use of race-based admissions. […] To develop the AI tool, D’Mello and researchers from the University of Pennsylvania used more than 300,000 anonymous, 150-word essays submitted to colleges in 2008 and 2009. Those essays focused on extracurricular activities and work experiences.

* Reuters | Texas woman who asked court to allow emergency abortion will leave state for care: A woman who had asked a court for an order allowing her to get an abortion under the medical emergency exception to Texas’ near-total ban will leave the state to receive care while the state’s highest court considers her case, her lawyers said in a court filing on Monday.

* Metro News | Gubernatorial candidate Mac Warner: ‘The election was stolen, and it was stolen by the CIA’: For Warner, who has served as West Virginia’s Secretary of State since 2017, the claim was a variation on a consistent public position of casting doubt on the presidential election. Warner is now vying to become West Virginia’s chief executive, touting his long record in the U.S. Army and his two terms as the state’s chief elections officer. Polls have shown him running behind some of the other candidates, but he has picked up a key endorsement from the former president’s orbit and hopes for more.