* ICYMI: Nearly 3,000 migrants dropped off in DuPage County as Chicago cracks down on ‘rogue buses.’ Pioneer Press…

-Since Dec. 14 the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management tracked 72 buses dropping off 2,988 migrant passengers across the county
- According to DuPage County officials, all of the migrant bus arrivals have been unannounced
-[DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy] requested Gov.Pritzker supply the county with buses in the event someone is dropped off away from a metra station, but expressed concern over statewide coordination efforts

* Related stories…

∙ Patch: No Migrant Restrictions In Western Springs
∙ Tribune: Dropped off in suburb wearing T-shirts and sandals, migrants finally reach Chicago by Metra train
∙ Daily Herald: Migrant influx: What suburban communities are doing as buses carrying asylum-seekers stop in their towns

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Jim Dey | Census admission a bright spot for Pritzker?: The U.S. Census Bureau acknowledged that it under-counted the state’s population in the 2020 decennial census by 46,400. That means, if accurate, that Illinois didn’t lose, but gained, population, an issue about which Pritzker said he and “many members of Illinois’ congressional delegation have worked to remedy.”

* WBEZ | Trump did not sign Illinois’ loyalty oath that says he won’t advocate for overthrowing the government: A WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times analysis of those petitions found Biden and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both signed the oath — as did several lower-tier Trump acolytes in Illinois, but not Trump.

* WGN | United keeps options open on potential HQ move to Denver: The Denver Post reports the airline has filed plans with the City of Denver indicating potential uses for 113-acres the airline recently purchased near Denver’s airport. United has acknowledged it’s expanding its flight simulator and pilot training base on the site; but the new filing also says, “United is actively investigating programmatic needs to support corporate campus activity accommodating 5,000 employees in future phases of the project.”

* Sun-Times | Most owners of assault-style weapons in Illinois appear not to have registered them as required by law: Only 1% of people with firearm owners identification cards in the state had registered by the deadline, according to the Illinois State Police. Just over 29,000 people reported nearly 69,000 weapons as of Dec. 31, according to the state police. There are 2.5 million FOID holders in Illinois.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* Daily Herald | State Rep. Carroll announces resignation: “This is a very difficult decision, but (it is) in the best interest of my family for our physical and mental health,” Carroll, who has represented the 57th District since 2017, said in a news release. “Being a father is my most important job and my children’s well-being is my most important responsibility.”

* WCIA | Brandun Schweizer appointed to fill 104th district vacancy: Brandun Schweizer was appointed and sworn into the Illinois House of Representatives Thursday. Marron retired from the Illinois General Assembly Sunday to work as the President and CEO of Vermilion Advantage.

* WJBC | McLean County Clerk battles for election security: [McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael] also brought forth concerns about security at the Eastland Mall due to a break-in that occurred last year. Michael presented a request for $25,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to ensure better election security. The request received one motion, but not a second, failing the request. […] The County Clerk stated that there will be extra police presence at the voting booths in the Eastland Mall during voting hours. They will also be carefully setting up security cameras to ensure the safety of the booths after voting hours.

* SJ-R | When does early voting start? Here are answers to your Illinois election questions: Voters’ first opportunity will come on March 19 for the state primary, although those wishing to vote early can do so starting as early as Feb. 8. […] All 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives and 23 state Senate seats also will be in contention. Democrats hold 78-40 and 40-19 respective super-majorities. The party maintains 14 of Illinois’ 17 congressional seats along with a 5-2 majority in the state’s high court.

* WQAD | 2 QCA lawmakers outline priorities for 2024 legislative session: “I think this year, really, you know, with it being a campaign year, you might not see a lot of legislation until after the primary March 19,” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie R-Savanna. “You’ll see some things.” McCombie said Republicans will want to address some of those new laws that took effect, including repealing and amending “anti-business legislation.”

* Sun-Times | Ed Burke is still in line for millions in payouts from pension, campaign funds after corruption conviction: The disgraced former council dean is in line for a more substantial payout from his campaign fund, which he can use to pay himself or his family members almost $2.5 million, no questions asked, thanks to a loophole in state campaign-finance law.

* Tribune | City Council ethics package could face uphill fight without Johnson in the lead: The fresh debate is spurred by a slew of new recommendations from the Chicago Board of Ethics tightening rules for city contractors, campaign fundraising and advertising that a key committee chairman pledged to take up in the new year. It could be Johnson’s first significant opportunity to start to establish his “good government” bona fides.

* Tribune | Johnson administration fired staffers who complained about mistreatment by officials: “As far as the alleged incident between me and the former employees two days into our administration, I recall the details differently, both in terms of the reason for the discussion and the characterization of my actions,” Lee said. “Nevertheless the one-time engagement was only minutes long, and by the former employees’ own account, was not the substance of their complaints with regards to their management over two months later.”

* Sun-Times | People say they were taken for a ride by alternative energy suppliers. How you can protect yourself: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has taken action against several alternative suppliers for deceptive marketing, most recently New York-based Residents Energy LLC, which the agency says had customers paying double or more for their electricity.

* Center Square | Health care tax break awaits more retired first responders: To soften the potential blow of tax season, first responder retirees in Illinois now have an increased opportunity to reduce their taxable earnings with a health care deduction. While this is a nationwide opportunity for retired law enforcement, firefighter and emergency services workers, the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association is making a special effort to spread the news to those who could benefit in Illinois.

* Tribune | Retired CPD detective draws complaints alleging misconduct including witness coercion: One of the detectives in question — Brian Forberg, who retired last year — has become a flashpoint at the Leighton Criminal Court Building of late, with multiple protests springing up and drawing attention to his cases. Defense attorneys have identified at least a dozen defendants who have accused Forberg and other detectives of misconduct, including coercing witnesses into falsely implicating people in murders and other serious felonies.

* Center for Illinois Politics | New Year’s pardons: A bipartisan and somewhat surprising record by governors in Illinois: It’s not simply the nation’s presidents and a few turkeys each Thanksgiving. Illinois governors on both sides of the aisle are known for giving holiday gifts of their own at year’s end. December and January are historically popular months to grant clemencies – sentence commutations as well as pardons, as evidenced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s granting of more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions in 2019. But a look through the office’s usage of the controversial and utterly unchecked power brings with it some surprises – moves that even in Illinois, have not been made simply for political gain.

* WTMJ | Amtrak cancels several trains in and out of Chicago due to incoming winter storm: Amtrak has canceled several trains into and out of Chicago due to next week’s winter storm. According to the rail agency, a total of 18 trains between Sunday and Tuesday have been canceled.

* Sun-Times | As QB Justin Fields struggles in 17-9 loss to Packers, Bears now on clock with No. 1 pick: It wasn’t that Fields sunk them, but more so that he didn’t do enough to steer the Bears out of their slide in this rivalry as he fell to 0-6 against the Packers. The Packers have beaten the Bears 10 consecutive times, matching the longest streak in a series that began over a century ago.