Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2024

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Rep. Adam Niemerg was kicked off the ballot…

Niemerg is a two-term incumbent and member of the far-right @ILFreedomCaucus. He was the only candidate who filed in the 102nd HD. If the ruling isn't reversed in court, he could run as a write-in or be nominated after the primary by the district's county GOP party chairs.

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) January 11, 2024

* Press release…

CHICAGO—Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois secured 14.9M in competitive federal grant funding from the US Department of Transportation’s FY22-FY23 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), in its role as the Illinois Climate Bank, was chosen to receive the $14.9M to support the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Illinois.

“As Illinois moves toward a clean energy future, it is imperative that no communities are left behind,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This investment from our partners at the federal level will ensure Illinois has the resources to make electric vehicles accessible to all our residents. With the incredible work from the Illinois Finance Authority, regional partners, and local leadership, I have no doubt the Community Charging Program will make a positive impact statewide.”

The proposed project, “The State of Illinois Community Charging Program,” aims to advance community-based transportation efforts across Illinois and prioritize equity in the clean energy movement. The statewide initiative is a joint effort between the Illinois Climate Bank as well as local and regional partners, serving 273 project sites (144 of which are located in or in close proximity to disadvantaged communities). The funds will support construction of 845 Level 2 EV Charging stations, and 36 DC Fast Charge stations.

Of the total $18.7M project investment:

- 43% will be allocated for disadvantaged community projects.
- 63% will be designated to dense urban communities with a high percentage of multi-family housing, as well as rural communities and small towns.

* Tribune…

Illinois set another record for recreational cannabis sales in 2023, with more than $1.6 billion in sales — but sales to out-of-state residents showed a significant drop.

Sales to Illinois residents increased by 14%, but sales to out-of-state visitors fell by 14%, reflecting increased competition from Michigan and newly legalized marijuana in Missouri and Minnesota.

Out-of-state customers accounted for one quarter of revenue, but with Wisconsin lawmakers considering legalizing medical marijuana, those sales are likely to decrease further in the future.

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker visited the Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) Cancer Institute today to announce a $10M grant to Southern Illinois Healthcare for their recent expansion of the SIH Cancer Institute in Carterville. The grant is made possible through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois plan to improve infrastructure statewide.

“As Governor, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of Illinoisans — no matter their zip code or income status,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be prouder to announce that we have awarded the SIH Cancer Institute $10 million in Rebuild Illinois grant funding to help cover the cost of this recent project. After years of planning, design, and construction, each and every one of those patients, and many more, will have access to the modernized healing spaces and the quality, holistic care they deserve.”

The 10M general investment, will be utilized for upgrades to facility furniture, medical equipment, and the buildout of the Cancer Institute in Carterville. The Carterville plan, completed in December of 2022, included an approximate 20,000 square foot expansion and the modernization of both clinical and non-clinical areas.

The State is also awarding two additional capital grants to SIH. The first, totaling $150,000, will support the expansion of the SIH Cancer Institute Café, which serves 300 cancer patients with nutrient-appropriate meals daily as well as caregivers and employees.

The second, also totaling $150,000, will be dedicated to costs for the design, oversight, and implementation of kitchen renovations. The expanded kitchen space will provide space for high nutrient-value meal preparation workshops and demonstrations, led by the SIH oncology dietitian.

* Sun-Times…

The Bears own the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse property but continue to flirt with the city of Chicago and other suburbs about building a new stadium. When president/CEO Kevin Warren was asked Wednesday whether the Arlington Heights property remained his priority, he said instead that “the priority is to make sure we build a world class stadium for our fans.”

The Bears are still talking to Arlington Heights officials to try to drive down their property tax assessment there. They’ve discussed staying on the lakefront, including building on a parking lot south of Soldier Field, with city officials.

“What intrigues me about downtown is I strongly believe Chicago is the finest city in all of the world,” Warren said. “Very rarely do you get the opportunity to have such a beautiful downtown with a vibrant business community, with an absolutely beautiful lake and the energy that goes along [with it].”

The Bears could decide on their next stadium site in the next few months. Warren said it would likely take three years to build the stadium from the moment construction begins.

* On this day…

#OTD in 2003: 2 days prior to leaving office, Illinois Gov. George Ryan commutes the sentences of every inmate on Illinois' Death Row to life in prison without parole, citing a system that is “haunted by the demon of error.”https://t.co/VlhVa8VtKc pic.twitter.com/ItMsfz0qBJ

— Kori Rumore Finley (@rumormill) January 11, 2024

* Here’s the rest…

Crain’s | Choose Chicago CEO stepping down:

* Block Club | The CHA Owns More Than 130 Acres Of Vacant Land And Buildings — Enough To Fill 25 City Blocks: All that vacant property could fill 25 city blocks — and the total amount at all CHA sites is likely far higher. The land was supposed to be used for new homes. Instead, it highlights decades of development delays under four mayors and eight CHA CEOs, with crippling consequences for some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

* Tribune | Commuter advocates: The CTA vows to double rail operator trainees this year. Its data shows that’s impossible: However, the CTA’s own data reveals that the agency cannot meet this goal due to its current training requirements, recruitment and retention levels. We used the Freedom of Information Act to request the number of flaggers the CTA has employed since November 2021 — plus how many flaggers were terminated, promoted, transitioned or transferred to other roles each month since then.

* WCIA | Republican Representative Adam Niemerg kicked off March primary ballot: “The objective intent of the law is to make sure that, you know, you’ve got a process, that people are qualified for the ballot. There’s no fraud involved. And, more generally, if they’re serious candidates,” UIS Professor Emeritus Kent Redfield said. “I mean, if all you had to do was say, I want to run in your names on the primary ballot, you obviously would have way too many people.”

* SJ-R | Still on the ballot: ISBOE denies objection to Illinois 95th House District candidate: The decision allows Village of Chatham Trustee Kristen Chiaro to continue her campaign for Illinois House District 95, a district spanning portions of Sangamon, Macon, and Christian counties. She is the sole Democrat in the race and will face incumbent state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, in November.

* Tribune | Businesses that opened during COVID eligible for state grants: ‘Small businesses across the state are the heart of our economy’: Businesses and nonprofits that launched in 2020 or 2021, and are still open today, are eligible for up to $30,000 from the state’s Back to Business NewBiz grant program. The program is aimed at assisting businesses that were not operational prior to the pandemic, and were ineligible for other federal or state pandemic relief programs.

* WRSP | New law protects workers from abusive anti-labor tactics: Scherer sponsored House Bill 3396, which set forth penalties for those who interfere with labor demonstrations. The new law went into effect on Jan.1 and introduced a $500 penalty for those who obstruct the public way or disrupt any picket or demonstration.

* Madison-St. Clair Record | Madison, St. Clair Counties adjusting well to SAFE-T Act mandates, but see increased demand on public defenders: In particular, the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T Act - which eliminated cash bonds - carried a heavy burden on “all of the stakeholders in our criminal justice system,” said St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson. “We have made continuous adjustments in response to the new Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA),” Gleeson told the Record. “As a result of extensive planning, commitment from all the stakeholders, and a willingness to adjust to needs and ever-changing interpretation of the law, we have managed to carry out the law’s requirements.”

* Center Square | State Rep. Halbrook visits southern U.S. border amid migrant crisis: State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, visited the border last week to see firsthand and explained what he saw. “It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least,” Halbrook said. “I would advise everybody who is involved with policymaking to take a trip down there to see what the real story is because you get the truth when you are down there on the ground.”

* Press release | Rep. Mary Gill Seeks to Preserve LSCs Right to Decide on Police Protection: State Rep. Mary Gill, D-Chicago, is introducing legislation to ensure that Chicago Local School Councils (LSC) maintain the authority to decide if Chicago Police officers are assigned to their schools. Gill’s proposed change to state law would preempt the Chicago Board of Education’s reported plan to strip LSC members of that decision-making power, which would effectively end the practice of having resource officers in any Chicago Public School.

* Illinois Answers | Repeat Violators Leave Families Out in the Cold: Buildings department inspectors flagged over 700 cases where one or more tenants were living without heat or hot water at 456 buildings across the city from November of last year through this May, according to city records, when the city heat-requirement ordinances are in effect. All of those inspections were prompted by complaints made through 311 or directly to the buildings department.

* Daily Herald | Should Fox River dams be removed? Groups to hold meetings: Based on the findings of a recent study, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is recommending the removal of all nine Fox River dams in Kane County, from Carpentersville to Montgomery, to restore the river’s natural wildlife habitat and improve water quality.

* Daily Southtown | Parents spar over bulletin board with Pride symbols in Manhattan District 114 in Will County: Gabriella Barraco, who has children in the district, quoted parts of a speech by Theodore Roosevelt to soldiers ahead of battle before asking why the transgender flag is still on the bulletin board if sex education isn’t taught in the schools. “I bet that most of our children or us didn’t know what the transgender heart looked like before tonight,” Barraco said. “Yet its symbolism is being stamped visually into the subconscious from the very hallway.”

* Sun-Times | UIC campus cop with extremist ties is banned from testifying in Cook County court cases: The officer continued to work for the state university despite acknowledging he signed up years ago with the anti-government Oath Keepers, which played a key role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

* Block Club | City Installed 50+ Miles Of Bike-Friendly Stretches In 2023 — And Has More Planned For 2024: The Chicago Department of Transportation released its Chicago Cycling Strategy in March, laying out plans to hit the 150-mile goal “in the next couple of years.” City-designated bikeways include protected bike lanes, neighborhood greenways and other routes with painted bike markings.

* Sun-Times | Breaking down Illinois’ top high school basketball teams from outside the Chicago area: There is a lot of tunnel vision for Chicago area high school basketball fans when it comes to top teams outside the city and suburbs. Without a big-named star –– i.e. EJ Liddell and Belleville West, Shaun Livingston and Peoria, Darius Miles and East St. Louis –– top teams around the state don’t typically garner the attention they deserve from the Chicago area.

* Sun-Times | Chicago winter storm set to dump 6 or more inches of heavy snow: Weather forecasts as of Thursday morning say the storm will arrive early Friday with a mix of rain and snow. The precipitation will turn to all snow by 3 p.m. and could be heavy at times, complicating afternoon commutes for those trying to get home for the weekend.

* Sun-Times | Going down the ‘Rat Hole?’ Viral phenom is actually decades-old squirrel imprint beloved by the block, neighbors say: “This is just like such a little lovely piece of joy,” said Winslow Dumaine, an artist whose social media post about the imprint has gained over 4 million views. “You can show this to someone who doesn’t speak a word of English, you can show this to someone 500 years ago, and they would know exactly what happened,” he added. “It’s just a universally lovely, funny thing.”

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Illinois Policy Institute ran $2.5 million deficit in 2022 as revenues fell by almost half, but group anticipates rebound

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I get lots of emails every day and some pique my interest more than others. This one, slightly edited for style, was about the Illinois Policy Institute as well as its companion 501(c)(4), the Government Accountability Alliance…

IPI’s 2022 tax filing (attached) shows their revenue is down by nearly half, from $9.9M in 2021 to $5.2M in 2022. They ran a $2.5M deficit in 2022 (!). Their c4 arm’s revenue was flat, so the money isn’t being shifted there.

Also, notably, the 2022 IRS filing for the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation (attached) shows no contribution to IPI in 2022. Uihlein gave IPI $1.5M in 2021 (attached p.37) and more than $19M since 2010 … So Uihlein pulling out certainly explains part of the big drop.

Grant funding from the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation was down across the board, from $18.4M in 2021 to $5.5M in 2022. Of course, Uihlein gave a ton to political efforts like Bailey in 2022, so it seems like it might signal a shift for the Uihleins from funding conservative non-profits to just spending directly on races.

The Daily Beast had a good article recently about Uihlein giving to electoral efforts. One of Uihlein’s main spending vehicles is “Restoration for America” which is based in Illinois and led by Doug Truax, who lost to Oberweis in the 2014 senate GOP primary.

* I asked the IPI about the 2022 revenue drop and deficit…

Rich,

Those numbers only reflect the 501(c)(3) [Illinois Policy Institute].

Variations in organizational revenue and expenditures can primarily be attributed to: 1) large, one-time gifts for specific initiatives in 2021 and; 2) increase in expenses on Amendment 1.

Our 2022 revenue between our C3 and C4 totals were similar to those in 2018 and 2019.

We are encouraged by the growth in new supporters we saw in 2023 and we see continuing in 2024, even as many wealthy individuals leave the state. We anticipate a strong year in 2024.

* OK, you can click here to see the IPI’s 990s, and click here to see the IPI’s Government Accountability Alliance’s (GAA) 990s.

The IPI ran some smallish deficits last decade, but nothing close to the $2.51 million deficit it experienced in 2022.

And while the combined revenues for both the IPI and its c4 GAA were similar to those in 2018, there’s been quite a bit of inflation since then. So, the $10.63 million the two organizations raised during 2018 would have been $12.56 million by the end of 2022. That’s $1.59 million more than the groups actually raised in 2022.

* Historical revenues for both the c3 IPI and c4 GAA using those two links above…

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Protected: *** UPDATED x1 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign stuff

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Short-term budget gimmick creates $200 million hole next fiscal year

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Dave McKinney…

Prior to the 2023 tax year, the standard [Illinois income tax] exemption increased 10 times under an automatic escalator tied to inflation put into effect in 2012 by former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who served as the state’s chief executive between 2009 and 2015. The change roughly a decade ago had overwhelming bipartisan support in the legislature.

But the standard exemption will remain flat this tax-filing season at $2,425 for those who declare adjusted gross income of $250,000 or less individually or $500,000 or less for married couples.

State revenue officials say more than 11 million Illinoisans claim the standard exemption on their taxes each year. Because of the inflation-indexing mechanism, the exemption has risen from $2,000 to $2,425 since 2011.

Had lawmakers and the governor not put a pause on that inflationary adjustment, the standard exemption would have stood at $2,625 for tax year 2023. That $200 increase would have marked the largest jump in the exemption since the inflationary index was enacted. That’s because the nation’s consumer price index increased 8% in 2022 – the largest inflationary move since 1981.

By WBEZ’s calculations, the state income tax obligation for a married couple with two minor children and adjusted gross income of $150,000 would be $39 higher than it would have been this tax year had the standard exemption tracked the rate of inflation in 2023.

$39 for a household earning roughly double the median household income ain’t exactly a whole lot of money. Our standard exemption is basically a joke. It’s so small mainly because of the state constitution’s mandate that the income tax must be imposed at a “non-graduated rate.”

* But here’s the problem: The change saved the state budget $114 million this fiscal year, but as the article notes, the costs will rise next year…

The current law states that the inflationary index will be reimposed for tax year 2024. But it promises to come with a significant price tag – approximately $200 million, according to an estimate by the legislature’s non-partisan budget arm, the Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability.

$200 million is real money.

* Back to Dave’s story…

Emails obtained through an open-records request to Pritzker’s budget office show that a Senate Democratic staffer appeared to initially raise freezing the standard exemption as the revenue omnibus was being negotiated last May between the offices of the governor, Senate president and House speaker.

*** UPDATE *** This change was part of SB1963, which was an omnibus tax bill. From a subscriber…

An additional observation: the CPI-adjustment was actually scheduled to sunset on 12/31/2023. PA 103-0009 extended it until 2028, at the fixed amount of $2,425 for two years and then back to inflation adjusted for 2025-2028 when it will sunset.

And if it had actually sunset in 2023 as scheduled, the exemption would revert way back to just $1,000.

Interesting.

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Out-of-state abortions in Illinois rose by 49% in 2022

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune…

More than 56,000 abortions were performed in Illinois the year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, marking the most pregnancy terminations statewide since the mid-1990s, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s annual abortion statistics report.

The rise in abortions that year was driven by a roughly 49% spike in out-of-state patients: Nearly 17,000 people came from other states to Illinois to terminate a pregnancy in 2022 compared with roughly 11,000 abortion seekers who traveled from other states in 2021, the data showed.

In contrast, the number of Illinois residents having abortions in-state decreased slightly, from a little over 40,000 in 2021 to nearly 39,000 in 2022.

Abortions overall increased by about 9% from 2021 to 2022, according to the report, which was released Tuesday and includes the most recent state health department data on abortion available.

Click here for the IDPH statistics.

* Daily Herald…

It’s a familiar trend for Planned Parenthood of Illinois, President Jennifer Welch said Wednesday.

“Out-of-state patients now make up nearly a quarter of our abortion patients. This is direct evidence of abortion bans and restrictions negatively impacting the ability for people to equitably access care,” Welch said. […]
The largest demographic receiving abortions in 2022 comprised 36,444 women ages 18 through 29.

The smallest demographic comprised 1,615 patients under age 18. However, that younger group experienced the highest percentage increase in abortions, 25%, since 2021 when 1,297 occurred.

“Abortion rates for all ages fluctuate year to year, so it’s difficult to draw conclusions from one year’s data,” Welch said. “However consistently the largest age group PPIL sees is 20 to 34-years-old, making up nearly 75% of our patients.

* Related…

The Tennessean | Planned Parenthood opens Illinois clinic aimed at patients in Tennessee and other abortion-ban states:

* NYT | Tracking Abortion Bans Across the Country: Twenty-one states ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the standard set by Roe v. Wade, which governed reproductive rights for nearly half a century until the Supreme Court overturned the decision last year.

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It’s just a bill

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sen. Dan McConchie filed SB2707…

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for an individual taxpayer who is a medical professional in a community-based practice who serves without compensation as a preceptor for at least one student from a qualifying institution in Illinois and provides clinical instruction for students from a non-Illinois based program for compensation in the same tax year. Provides that the credit shall be $200 per qualifying student per week, but not to exceed $9,600 per taxpayer in any tax year. Effective immediately.

* HB4423 from Rep. Jason Bunting…

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division. Provides that the Division shall establish a Back the Badge program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. Provides that the Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.

* SB2669 from Sen. Jil Tracy…

Creates the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act. Provides that, for the purpose of providing services for agricultural equipment in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to an independent repair provider or owner of the manufacturer’s equipment any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that are intended for use with the equipment or any part, including updates to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools. Provides that, with respect to agricultural equipment that contains an electronic security lock or other security-related function, a manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to independent repair providers and owners any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools needed to reset the lock or function when disabled in the course of providing services. Provides that the manufacturer may make the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools available to independent repair providers and owners through appropriate secure release systems. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a part that is no longer available to the original equipment manufacturer or conduct that would require the manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. Provides that a manufacturer shall not refuse to make available to an independent repair provider or owner any documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool necessary to provide services on grounds that the documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool itself is a trade secret, except that information necessary to repair agricultural equipment may not be redacted. Provides exceptions. Defines terms.

* Sen. Laura Ellman introduced SB2682 yesterday…

Creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force Act, and creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force. Includes provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, and duties. Provides that the State of Illinois Office of Equity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2030. Effective immediately.

* SB2705 from Sen. Laura Fine…

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Requires, on or before January 1, 2026, a manufacturer of a product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in the State that contains intentionally added PFAS to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency specified information. Allows the Agency to waive the submission of information required by a manufacturer or extend the amount of time a manufacturer has to submit the required information. Provides that, if the Pollution Control Board has reason to believe that a product contains intentionally added PFAS and the product is being offered for sale in the State, the Board may direct the manufacturer of the product to provide the Board with testing results that demonstrate the amount of each of the PFAS in the product. Provides that, if testing demonstrates that the product does not contain intentionally added PFAS, the manufacturer must provide the Board with a certificate attesting that the product does not contain intentionally added PFAS. Restricts the sale of specified products beginning January 1, 2025 if the product contains intentionally added PFAS. Allows the Agency to establish a fee payable by a manufacturer to the Agency upon submission of the required information to cover the Agency’s reasonable costs to implement the provisions. Allows the Agency to coordinate with the Board, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health to enforce the provisions. Sets forth products that are exempt from the provisions.

* SB2706 from Sen. Laura Murphy…

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to promote the use of electric trucks by fleet owners by offering a voucher of $200,000 per electric Class 6 truck, electric Class 7 truck, or electric Class 8 truck purchased or leased for a fleet by the fleet’s owner or operator. Provides that an applicant shall submit a proof of purchase, lease, or other binding contract regarding the electric Class 6 truck, electric Class 7 truck, or electric Class 8 truck in order to be awarded the voucher. Requires an applicant who is awarded a voucher to agree to participate in annual surveys on specified metrics. Contains other program requirements. Defines “Class 6 truck”, “Class 7 truck”, and “Class 8 truck”.

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Open thread

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: State opens migrant shelter, Pritzker talks supplemental spending plan. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

∙ WTTW: Little Village Shelter to House 220 Migrants as Asylum Seekers Continue to Arrive in Chicago Area

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Tribune | Illinois abortions surged the year Roe fell, with nearly 17,000 patients traveling from other states — a 49% spike: In contrast, the number of Illinois residents having abortions in-state decreased slightly, from a little over 40,000 in 2021 to nearly 39,000 in 2022. Abortions overall increased by about 9% from 2021 to 2022, according to the report, which was released Tuesday and includes the most recent state health department data on abortion available.

* Hyde Park Herald | U. of C. students barred from county jail for criticizing restrictions : After two years of devoting their spare time to the program, they would no longer be allowed into the detention facility at 27th Street and California Avenue, because, as their supervisors told them, due to their May Sun-Times op-ed criticizing restrictions on paper materials brought to the jail.

* Tribune | Migrants go without showers, dig for food in trash at city’s ‘landing zone’ as they wait for shelter: With 27 designated shelter buildings at capacity and more migrants arriving every day, numbers have overflowed to buses in the city’s “landing zone,” a parking lot run by OEMC officials. Migrants began being placed at the loading zone at the end of December after the city emptied police stations that had been housing migrants waiting for space indoors.

Governor Pritzker will be at the Southern Illinois Health Care Center in Carterville at 10 am, click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* WJOL | Rezin named co-chair of National Conference of State Legislators’ energy committee: In recognition of State Senator Sue Rezin’s (R-Morris) dedication to advancing policies that address critical issues impacting energy needs, she has been appointed as one of the co-chairs of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment Standing Committee.

* WJBC | McLean County Board to vote on migrant resolution Thursday: A resolution which would prohibit the use of taxpayer funded services for migrants sent into McLean County from another state will be introduced and voted on at Thursday’s county board m

* Illinois Times | Disparity in access to college credit for high schoolers: According to the study, a small number of dual credit courses are offered through public four-year universities, but the overwhelming majority – about 97% – are offered through local community colleges. As a result, the courses offered in any given high school are strongly influenced by the policies and programs of the community college district that overlaps with the high school district.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois Supreme Court to Determine If Cannabis Odor is Cause for Vehicle Search: In People v. Redmond, defendant Ryan Redmond was pulled over by Illinois State Police for an unsecure license plate and driving three miles per hour over the speed limit, court records show. Upon smelling cannabis, the officer searched the vehicle and found about one gram of cannabis in the center console. He later charged Redmond with a misdemeanor for failure to transport cannabis in an odor-proof container, according to court documents.

* Check CU | School Board Refuses AG Order to Release Secret Meeting Recording – Yorkville, Illinois: On January 9th, the district denied that request, arguing that “the Open Meetings Act prohibits the release of closed session recordings and minutes to the public.” The denial was issued by District FOIA Officer Cathy Anderson. Check CU has also searched online, including on the Yorkville District 115 website and their Youtube Channel, for any place that the District might have made the August 7th meeting recording “publicly available”, in accordance with the AG order, but the recording could not be located.

* WAND | Illinois lawmakers discuss potential move to universal vote-by-mail system: A proposal in Springfield could allow the state to send vote-by-mail ballots to all eligible voters instead of having people apply to have their ballots sent in the mail. Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) said counties could save money by not having to send notifications and applications for vote-by-mail ballots to voters.

* WBEZ | Journalists from Chicago and Paris reflect on common experiences with racial profiling: In Chicago and the United States, “the problem of profiling is something that is pervasive, and to see that that is the case in France was eye opening,” said Alden Loury, WBEZ’s data projects editor. Last September, WBEZ and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity published a three-part investigation that revealed stark disparities in the share of Black drivers stopped by Illinois police compared to white drivers.

* Rock River Current | 8 Ways Rockford Will Spend Federal American Rescue Plan Dollars In The Next Phase: The next use for federal post-pandemic stimulus money in the city will go toward bolstering adult education, supporting survivors of domestic violence and improving the historic field where the Rockford Peaches once played.

* Sun-Times | Markham woman named 2023 Bears fan of the year, wins free trip to Super Bowl LVIII: In addition to her relentless support of the Bears, Leach was picked as the team’s nominee because of her “significant community involvement in her hometown … as well as her dedication to the club’s community initiatives,” the Bears said in a story posted on their website.

* Sun-Times | TSA intercepted 122 firearms at Chicago airports in 2023, including record number at Midway: Officers stopped 72 handguns from making it through security checkpoints at O’Hare International Airport, a decrease from the previous year, according to the TSA. However, a new annual record was set at Midway, where 50 firearms were seized — breaking the previous record of 42 handguns set in 2021.

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Live coverage

Thursday, Jan 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped ScribbleLive from working…

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

The Highland Park massacre suspect agreed Wednesday to postpone his trial, which had been set for late February, but a judge won’t set a trial date until later next month.

Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven people at a Fourth of July parade in 2022, had invoked his right to a speedy trial last month after dismissing his lawyers, and a jury trial was set for Feb. 26.

But that date was scrapped in court Wednesday, with Crimo consenting. A new date was not set because lawyers couldn’t agree on one.

Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti said she’ll set a new trial date on Feb. 21.

* Politico…

The Illinois Senate Democratic Fund, headed by Senate President Don Harmon, just plopped $500,000 into Natalie Toro’s primary race. That’s on top of nearly $200,000 from ISDF in December.

Toro is the recently appointed state senator — and Chicago Public Schools teacher — who’s trying to hold on to the 20th District seat on Chicago’s Northwest Side.

She faces Graciela Guzman, who lost out to Toro last year in getting appointed to the seat that opened up when Cristina Pacione-Zayas left to join Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. Guzman worked on Pacione-Zayas’ Senate staff, but she was edged out by Toro’s supporters in the appointment process.

Must-watch race: Now the two women are facing each other again in one of the of the most consequential races in this year’s primary. It pits the moderate Democrat Toro against progressive Democrat Guzman, who has the support of the Chicago Teachers Union — which fueled Johnson’s progressive campaign. […]

Fundraising is playing a huge role: the ISDF’s latest gift puts Toro at about $1 million. Guzman is trailing with some $200,000 on hand. (We’re going by third-quarter filings and some math.)

Four candidates are in this primary race, but click here to watch Toro’s new ad.

* Chalkbeat…

About 1 in 5 of roughly 2,300 out-of-school, out-of-work youth contacted to participate in a new reengagement program in Chicago took part during the first year, according to a new policy brief from the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

In Chicago, roughly 45,000 teens and young adults are disconnected from school and work. With $18 million from the state, the city launched Back to Our Future in May 2022 to reach 1,000 young people ages 14 to 21 in 15 neighborhoods on the South and West sides. Data indicates fewer than 500 have participated so far.

The findings released today illustrate how difficult it is to reconnect with these young people — often referred to as “opportunity youth” — once they’ve disengaged.

“If it was easy, somebody would have already done it,” said Jadine Chou, chief safety and security officer at Chicago Public Schools. “We knew going into this that it was going to be really hard.”

* Here’s the rest…

* Sun-Times | Bears fire offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, QBs coach Andrew Janocko: The Bears rarely looked good offensively during Getsy’s two seasons. They ranked 23rd in the NFL at 19.4 points per game in 2022 and 18th at 21.4 this season. He never clicked philosophically with quarterback Justin Fields, either, though both described it as a good relationship. Over 2022 and ‘23, the Bears had the fewest passing yards in the NFL and fifth-lowest collective passer rating. They did, however, rank second in rushing over those seasons, though a big part of that was Fields running for 1,143 yards in ‘22 and 657 in ‘23.

* Crain’s | Homebuyer sues @properties over industry-wide ‘conspiracy’ on agents’ commissions: The conspiracy, the attorneys write, originates with the National Association of Realtors’ long-held standards that require the agent for a home’s seller to split the sales commission, usually 5% to 6%, with the agent for the buyer. The rule discourages competition by prohibiting a buyer’s agent for negotiating a lower commission, they argue.

* Daily Herald | DuPage County says it has no authority to enact bus restrictions: County board Chairwoman Deborah Conroy clarified Tuesday the county’s stance, noting it does not have home rule authority and could not adopt such resolutions. “We are not home rule, so that’s not up for discussion,” Conroy said, adding that the county has confirmed with the state’s attorney’s office that it does not have the authority to adopt such measures.

* Sun-Times | Kim Foxx touts accomplishing her ‘mission’ as Cook County state’s attorney: ‘No one drove me out of this job’: Foxx wouldn’t share her plans for after her term ends in 11 months. “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do next,” she told a meeting of the Leaders Network at the Columbus Park Refectory. Foxx, 51, assured the crowd that “no one drove me out of this job.”

* WCIA | Tuscola Outlet Shops face uncertain future as two more stores announce closure: The outlet mall in Tuscola used to be a popular place to shop, even drawing people in from out of town. But more store closures have community members worried about its future. Two more store closures at the Tuscola Outlet Shops have left some people in the community shocked. The mall used to be home to 155 stores, but with the Old Navy and American Eagle now set to close, it will leave only eight operating businesses.

* Chicago Mag | The Ultimate Bioresearch Lab: This month, a team of top medical researchers, chemists, biologists, and bioengineers in Chicago will open the best bioresearch center money can buy. It’s part of a national network of such sites that, together, have a lofty goal: to cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of this century. That’s the kind of ambition you can have when you are backed by billionaires.

* Chicago Reader | OURS enters the Illinois cannabis market as one of few Black-owned companies to make it that far: During the immediate green rush that followed the passing of the new state law, OURS applied for four state cannabis business licenses: dispensary, craft grower, infuser, and transporter. “Initially, we were going after the dispensary space,” says Ward. “That was the cherry of the industry.” But they were only awarded the latter two.

* CBS Chicago | Bollards to be set up to protect Chicago businesses from crash-and-grab burglaries: Brothers Robert and David Kim are the owners of SVRN – a streetwear located in in the Aberdeen East luxury apartment building at 171 N. Aberdeen St. in the West Loop. They had concrete barriers in front of their storefront – but it was no matched for an organized crew of crash-and-gran burglars next month. “We keep bolstering our defenses with every break-in, and at this point, I don’t know what more we can do,” said Robert Kim.

* NYT | U.S. Carbon Emissions Fell in 2023 as Coal Use Tumbled to New Lows: Still, the decline in emissions to date hasn’t been nearly steep enough to meet the nation’s goals for trying to slow global warming. President Biden wants to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. To hit that goal, annual emissions would have to fall more than three times as fast for the rest of the decade as they did last year, the report found.

* AP | USDA estimates 21 million kids will get summer food benefits through new program in 2024: Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, which the government says is meant to supplement existing programs during the summer that have had a more limited reach.

* Sun-Times | Phil Rosenthal of ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ comes to Rosemont: Show season around Chicago outdoors begins with the Chicago Boat Show, which runs Wednesday through Sunday at McCormick Place. The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show is this weekend at the Stephens Center in Rosemont. Rosenthal will be there with his Q&A at 12:15 p.m. Saturday. ‘‘Chicago is a world city, but even you can travel to other countries in your town, wonderful countries,’’ Rosenthal said. ‘‘If you stick to deep-dish pizza, you will not see the world.

* Tribune | Chicago could see another inch of snow overnight Wednesday: The track for Friday’s storm is still developing, and temperatures will likely be near or above freezing, limiting accumulation, the weather service said. Starting Sunday, the coldest air of the season is expected, the weather service said. Wind chills may fall below -20 degrees Fahrenheit early next week.

* Block Club | The ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ Is The City’s Hottest New Tourist Attraction: Local artist and comedian Winslow Dumaine was walking to Transistor, a shop in Roscoe Village that sells some of his work, when he stumbled upon what appeared to be an imprint of a rodent on the sidewalk. He snapped a photo of the creature’s cemented outline and uploaded it to the social media platform X, along with the caption: “Had to make a pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole.

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Question of the day

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Politico today…

OFF THE TABLE: While legislators in Florida and a few other states try to change their state constitutions to make abortion the law of the land, Illinois is sitting tight.

The article goes on to quote Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), but Cassidy told me that the constitutional amendment idea was not “off the table.” She stressed that no decision had yet been made. So I asked her for a statement…

No decisions have been made about pursuing a constitutional amendment at this point. We’ve had some discussions in the working group, examining the various versions different states have adopted as well as analyzing costs, messaging, and results. I’m also aware of discussions among advocates at the state and national network weighing pros and cons, but I don’t believe they’ve come to any conclusions either.

* The Question: Should Illinois include abortion rights in its constitution? Make sure to explain your response and take a deep breath before commenting. Thanks.

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Protected: *** UPDATED x2 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign stuff

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Rate Mike Bost’s first TV ad

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’re coming late to this because the ad was released during the break. Press release…

Congressman Mike Bost’s campaign released its first television advertisement of the 2024 election cycle this week. The ad, titled “People,” will air district-wide on broadcast and satellite television, as well as on streaming services.

* The spot…

* Script…

Mike Bost fights for Southern Illinois.

Mike fought to open international markets…and to protect us from China’s unfair trade policies.

Mike fought and won to get more invested in rural broadband.

Mike fought to get better mental health services for Veterans. And more job opportunities when we came home.

When it comes to our guns, no one’s a stronger supporter than Mike Bost.

Mike will finish the wall and keep the cartels out of America.

Mike Bost.

Conservative fighter.

Mike Bost gets results.

BOST: I’m Mike Bost and I approve this message.”

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Pritzker says state has no laws on the books now to regulate ‘rogue’ migrant buses, but says GA will consider options

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker was asked today if the state had any plans to try to regulate or stop the “rogue buses” that are dumping asylum-seekers in various suburbs…

So as you know, the laws don’t exist in the state of Illinois for us to do that today. We can’t just impose some rules from the state level on every city, every county, every township.

There are certain towns and cities that have the ability to do that and certain that don’t. And so, we’ve been listening to the various mayors and other leaders of those local governments to find out what it is they’d like the state to do.

And certainly as the legislature comes back into session over the next week, they’re going to be considering whatever the options are.

I do wonder, however, how any of these new local ordinances or possible future state laws would be constitutional under the Commerce Clause. But, hey, they’re legal until somebody successfully sues, and the bus companies haven’t yet sued.

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State steps up again to feed asylum-seekers; Pritzker talks landing zone backlog, doubts supplemental will be passed soon

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We talked about this looming two-week January funding gap more than a month ago. From the Sun-Times back then…

Citing further “delays” in the city’s procurement process, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration on Friday said it would chip in an additional $2 million to feed asylum-seekers in Chicago through the end of the year.

Another $2 million will be matched by the Chicago Food Depository, which has already been providing meals to migrants since June, in partnership with 15 minority-owned restaurants in Chicago. […]

The request for further funding came this week, and the state agreed to help until the end of the year with an understanding the city will assume the cost in January. […]

Mary May, a spokeswoman from Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said in a statement the deadline for an RFP for the food contract closed on Friday and was delayed because the city received more than 200 questions from applicants. May said the new contract is slated to begin Jan. 15.

It’s unclear who will be funding the food between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, when the city said its contract would begin. The city did not comment on that gap.

* Well, as we should’ve suspected, the city didn’t finish in time. So the governor’s office issued a press release last week which included this passage…

In December, the State and the Greater Chicago Food Depository announced a $4 million investment to provide meals to asylum seekers at City of Chicago shelter sites through the end of the calendar year. The funds were announced as the City worked through delays in its procurement process. Due to continued delays in this process, the State is further extending its shelter-food contract through January 15 at an additional cost of $2 million. On January 15, the City will assume responsibility for feeding asylum seekers in City shelters.

Notice the use of passive voice in the “continued delays in this process” phrase. The state is being awfully kind here.

* Meanwhile, the city appears to be having trouble moving the asylum-seekers from the “landing zone” into shelters. Sun-Times…

Hundreds of migrants are now spending their first nights in Chicago aboard buses at the city’s designated “landing zone” for new arrivals, where many say they’re getting little food or medical assistance. […]

The city’s “landing zone” became an effective temporary shelter for migrants in late December after the city largely stopped housing them at police stations. It’s quickly grown to house more than 500 people in buses, including over 100 children, according to the city, as the number of people arriving has outpaced the city’s ability to place them in shelters.

Gov. Pritzker was asked about this backlog today…

Well, again, we work every day with the City of Chicago as they identify locations that we can set up shelters. As I said one shelter is opening just today and we’re moving more than 200 people, families and others into it [in Little Village] … And I actually visited yesterday. It’s phenomenal what we’ve been able to do in a relatively short period of time and and to accommodate very young children. You know, early childhood education is very important to me, making sure these young children have a place that they can play even in a very difficult situation that’s been put into this site. It’s well managed and I think that you know, I feel good about the the opportunity there. And again, we’re continuing to try to identify, working with Cardinal in the Catholic Church, to make sure that if there are locations that we could take over and and put funding forward at the state level to do exactly that. Progress is being made.

* Pritzker was also asked about the prospects for a supplemental appropriations bill to formalize his budget maneuvering to pay for his November decision to spend another $160 million on the problem. The General Assembly returns next week for a few days, so does a supplemental need to be passed right away?…

It does not need to happen right away. But suffice to say I’ve brought this up to leaders, they haven’t wanted to bring it up yet. I do think it’s going to be important for you to deal with the costs here that are rising all the time, or at least the toll is rising, and we’re all working together to try to meet the demand.

…Adding… Press release…

A new State-supported shelter is beginning to serve asylum seekers in Chicago today. The location is the site of a former CVS in the Little Village neighborhood. The shelter will be part of the City of Chicago’s existing asylum seeker shelter system and will house approximately 220 people as they transition to independent living.

The shelter development is part of Governor JB Pritzker’s investment of an additional $160 million, via the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis presented by the arrival of over 34,000 asylum seekers from the U.S. southern border.

The State saw an uptick of new arrivals over the holidays and created a temporary shelter at a Chicago hotel. Those new arrivals are now transitioning to the shelter in Little Village.

With the cold weather and continued arrival of asylum seekers, the State is committed to partnering with the City of Chicago to take the necessary actions to keep people safe and help them on their path to self-sufficiency.

“This new location will offer dignity and respite to asylum seekers who have travelled thousands of miles to find safety,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m grateful to IDHS and New Life Centers for getting this site operational and for the wrap-around services they will be providing to help migrants achieve independence.”

Available beds at the Little Village shelter will be prioritized for families and individuals with disabilities. The site will offer sleeping spaces as well as meals, hygiene facilities, and wrap-around services.

Along with IDHS and its partners, New Life Centers is supporting community-care services including conflict resolution, onsite communications, community engagement, and connection with local resources.

“A large part of meeting our new arrivals with dignity involves meeting them where they are at – and that involves a variety of supports. Traveling great distances and overcoming adversity to make it to the U.S. often involves trauma, which can be detrimental to mental and physical well-being,” said Matt DeMateo, Executive Director, New Life Centers of Chicagoland. “We are grateful to continue to partner with the State to address these emergent needs.”

* More stories from Isabel…

The Record | Highland Park organizations unite for care-package program to support migrants. Here’s how to help:

* CBS Chicago | Advocacy group’s mission to help Chicago migrants starts in storage unit across from Greyhound stop: One group isn’t waiting for a plan from the government. They’re helping on their own, and it starts in a storage unit across the street from the Greyhound bus stop in downtown Chicago. Among aisles and aisles of locked doors, something waits behind each of the steel gates inside; stacks of bottled water, bins of snacks, racks of clothing and shoes, and other donations for newly arrived migrants.

* Patch | Deerfield To Consider Migrant Bus Ordinance At Next Meeting: Mayor: In a Monday message to the community, Shapiro said the Deerfield Village Board will consider an ordinance at its Jan. 16 meeting that would potentially place regulations on any buses that leave people in Deerfield unannounced. The meeting, which has been moved to Tuesday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day the previous day, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 850 Waukegan Road.

* NCR | Church must remain steadfast in its advocacy for migrants, El Paso bishop says: Seitz, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, told OSV News that he is “certainly concerned right now about the negotiations that are going on and what is likely to result from them.” He said one of his concerns is that no legislators from the border region appear to be directly involved in the negotiations. “The church’s concern is always with the human person,” he said. “It’s always with the person who is vulnerable and in need.”

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It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* HB4412 from Rep. Dave Vella…

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. In provisions concerning criminal background investigations, provides that a child care facility may authorize the Department of Children and Family Services or a third-party vendor to complete the investigation. Provides that an applicant is determined to have completed the criminal background investigation when he or she has completed and submitted authorization for the performance of a criminal background investigation by either the Department or a third party contracted to perform the criminal background investigation. Makes conforming changes.

* Rep. Gregg Johnson filed HB4417…

Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all public high schools, including charter schools, shall designate and annually observe a week known as “Workplace Readiness Week”. Provides that students shall be provided information on their rights as workers during that week, and sets forth what information must be included. Provides that for students in grades 11 and 12, the information shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Effective immediately.

* Rep. Jed Davis’ HB4347…

Amends the Blockchain Technology Act. Prohibits a public or private entity from requiring an individual to submit a blockchain based identification system as a condition of receiving goods or services from the public or private entity. Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Prohibits a public or private entity from requiring an individual to provide a biometric identifier or biometric information as a condition of receiving goods or services from the public or private entity.

* HB4349 from Rep. Steven Reick…

Creates the 22nd Judicial Circuit Children and Family Services Agency Act (which may be referred to as AJ’s Law). Establishes a 22nd Judicial Circuit Children and Family Services Agency for a 5-year period to replace the operations of the Department Children and Family Services within the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Provides that the Agency shall have all powers and duties of the Department. Provides for the appointment of an Executive Director and employment of employees. Provides for requirements for operation of the Agency, including unit-based multidisciplinary teams. Provides for State funding of the Agency after submission of a budget to the Department each year. Provides for the transfer of power and duties back to the Department should the Agency cease operations after the initial 5-year period. Repeals the Act 6 years after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

* 25 News Now…

If State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) has his way, no portrait will be displayed at the Illinois Capitol of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan unless he’s found not guilty of corruption charges.

There is renewed interest in Spain’s non-binding resolution (HR0129), which he introduced last March. but its stuck in the rules committee.

An aide to Spain told 25News the GOP lawmaker is looking for support from Democrats, who hold a 78-40 majority. […]

Welch spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll released the following statement:

“The only person talking about or considering a portrait for former Speaker Madigan is Leader Ryan Spain. And that’s a special form of hypocrisy to talk about banning portraits while staring at one of former Governor George Ryan hanging in the House chamber.

* Resource Recycling…

llinois may or may not be the next state to pass a bill setting up a beverage container deposit return system under Senate Bill 85, and industry players recently debated the benefits and concerns around the bill.

During an Illinois Recycling Foundation webinar on Dec. 12, several stakeholders discussed the work being done to create a deposit return system (DRS) in Illinois, namely SB 85.

Scott Breen, vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), said the bill was “trying to find the sweet spot” between higher recycling rates, cost savings to municipalities, reduced litter, fewer landfill tipping fees and the needs of MRFs.

“We’re trying to get this bill in place so it works for everybody,” he said. “This is fundamentally changing how people buy and return beverage containers and also impacts the recycling industry, so this is serious stuff. There’s a lot of money and jobs wrapped up in this.”

15 Comments

Open thread

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Chicago suburbs plan for unscheduled asylum-seeker drop offs. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ Patch: Oak Lawn Passes Measure Restricting Unscheduled Migrant Bus Drop-Offs
∙ Landmark: Brookfield limits migrant drop-offs
∙ ABC Chicago: Oak Lawn bans unscheduled migrant bus drop-offs as Burr Ridge takes different approach

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Capitol News Illinois | SIU’s president sheds light on Illinois’ NCAA anti-trust suit: Raoul and others say that’s an “illegal restraint” on athletes’ ability to market their labor, and control their education. Dan Mahony – who in addition to being President of the Southern Illinois University System also holds multiple degrees in Sports Management and has years of experience in intercollegiate athletics. Capitol News Illinois Broadcast Director Jennifer Fuller talked with him about his perspective, and what he hopes this lawsuit might address.

* Tribune | Fireworks erupt at Harvey City Council meeting after residents being boarded up inside their apartments sparks outrage: Harvey’s first City Council meeting following residents being boarded up inside their apartments included impassioned public comments, two aldermen escorted out by police and a request for forgiveness by Mayor Christopher Clark.

Governor Pritzker will speak at 10:30 am at the Salesforce Tower to mark state economic development milestones. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* Scott Holland | Dust unsettled as deadline for new gun registration passes: There doesn’t appear to be a penalty for late disclosures. The government doesn’t know everyone who owns now-banned items. Social media posts disclosing possession haven’t (and probably won’t) result in further attention. Similarly, people who see me drive to the grocery store don’t know whether I renew my license or my AllState policy. The dust isn’t fully settled here, which underscores the importance of discretion. For now, most Illinoisans seem content waiting for further development.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois Supreme Court weighs admissibility of ‘reenactment’ in murder case: Now, Logan is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to step in and grant her a new trial. She claims the use of that reenactment video violated her constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Without that evidence, Logan’s attorney argued to the high court on Tuesday, the case might have been decided differently

* Effingham Daily News | Niemerg, Wilhour nominating petitions challenged: Germaine Light of Danville is challenging Niemerg’s Statement of Candidacy. Light resides in the 102nd District that Niemerg represents and is a retired teacher and former Vermilion County Democratic chairwoman. Light charges Niemerg’s statement of candidacy was never notarized as required by Section 8-8 of the Election Code. The objection states Niemerg failed to fill the mandatory requirement because the Statement of Candidacy “is not subscribed and sworn before a Notary Public or some other officer authorized to take acknowledgment of deeds in Illinois.”

* IPM | Illinois to report for first time how many prisoners are taking college courses – and how many are waiting for access: Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, said she sponsored the Higher Education in Prison Act as a step towards ensuring access to higher education programs in all Illinois prisons. She pointed to data on how effective these programs can be. According to one of the most frequently cited analyses, participation in prison education programs reduced recidivism by 43 percent.

* WTTW | As Illinois Officials Push Back Against Book Bans, Some Advocates Wonder About Actual Impact on Prison Libraries: When the Illinois Department of Corrections was asked if this new law changed its criteria on why a book would be disapproved, officials said the department already “does not ban books or resources due to partisan or personal disapproval” and pointed to its publication policy — guidelines that some advocates say can be too sweeping.

* Tribune | Bally’s Chicago boosts casino revenue in December, draws nearly 100,000 visitors to Medinah Temple: “We’ve added free parking, new promotions, and expanded hours to meet customers’ expectations,” Mark Wong, vice president and general manager of Bally’s Chicago, said in a news release Monday. “Our guests have responded positively. In December we saw our highest attendance and revenues to date.”

* Block Club | Golden Dagger Owner, Regulars Mourn A Lost Music Venue As Dog-Friendly Bar Takes Over: Biggins, who worked at Golden Dagger for 14 years, sold the business because he had become exhausted with its upkeep and the long commutes from his home in Oak Park, he said in an interview with Block Club. The owners of Hunter’s On Halsted didn’t respond to requests for comment. In an automatic response to an email, the bar owners said most of the Golden Dagger staff quit shortly after they took over.

* Chalkbeat | NYC sends families from tent shelter to sleep on school floor during storm: The sudden move by the Adams administration drew ire from all sides, with homeless rights advocates and the migrants themselves decrying the disruption for families, and local parents slamming the city’s use of the public school.

* Sun-Times | Mike Perricone, Sun-Times Blackhawks reporter who gave it up to be a stay-at-home dad, dies at 72: “It was a brave move,” said his wife, Joan Vanderbeck. “To be a successful reporter and to give it up to be home with this new baby, that’s just who he was, a wonderful human.”

* Bloomberg | SEC Account Hack Amplifies Concerns Over Security at Musk’s X: The incident, one of the most consequential breaches in years on the platform formerly known as Twitter, began with a post on the SEC’s official verified account, which inaccurately shared that the regulator had approved spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds — a decision that had been anticipated for later this week. The price of Bitcoin quickly shot up more than 2.5% as news of the post spread online and via media outlets, including Bloomberg News, that were watching the SEC’s feed for such an announcement.

* Tribune | Second wave of snowstorm hits Chicago Tuesday evening, with snow predicted to be worst in the northwest suburbs: The weather service predicted the commute in and out of Rockford Tuesday evening to be one of the worst and warned in a social media update Tuesday that motorists throughout northern Illinois should be prepared for snowy roads and low visibility overnight. Depending on temperatures, wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph were expected Tuesday night in Chicago.

* SJ-R | Rev. King spoke at the Illinois State Armory in 1965, his visit will be commemorated: King delivered his only Springfield speech to some 4,000 delegates − and apparently a few curious State of Illinois employees − at an AFL-CIO convention at the Illinois State Armory on Oct. 7, 1965.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - A personal note for the old-timers

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped ScribbleLive from working…

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