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Rides For Moms Provides Transportation To Prenatal Care
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Surgo Ventures partnered with Uber Health and local health centers to provide transportation assistance to expectant mothers facing transportation challenges to their prenatal appointments. Across one city, the initiative covered over 30,000 miles, ensuring over 450 participants reached their prenatal appointments without hassle. One participant shared, ‘There were days when I didn’t want to get up from bed. Knowing that someone was going to pick me up… made me feel safer.’ With programs like Rides for Moms, transportation is no longer a barrier for new mothers to access essential medical care. Learn more
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* JB Pritzker on SB2412, that prevents political party committees from appointing challengers if the party didn’t field a candidate in the primary, at an unrelated news conference today…
 * MAA shows some speed…
* WBEZ | Illinois environmental advocates say coal ash cleanup isn’t happening fast enough: Illinois set itself apart from the majority of the country when it finalized its coal ash rules back in 2021. Most states, save for a handful like North Carolina and Michigan, relied on 2015 federal guidelines designed to monitor and clean up only some coal ash residuals. Environmental groups scrutinized the rule for years as it excluded from potential oversight legacy coal ash ponds and landfills at power plants that were retired when the rule took effect. Now advocates say the forthcoming permits are dragging. “The Illinois EPA has been reviewing these proposed permits for almost two years,” said Andrew Rehn, the director of climate policy at Prairie Rivers Network in Champaign. “And that’s like a long time for these permits to sit and just be under review.” * Sun-Times | Why does Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources claim the public has no right to 98% of waterways?: Not far from our office door in Champaign lies the source of the Embarras River, which flows southward for 195 miles, coursing through eight counties before emptying into the Wabash River. Early settlers used this river and others as corridors for travel, trade and fishing. In time, they enjoyed boating on it in places like Greenup in Cumberland County. But according to the DNR, not one mile of the Embarras River is navigable and hence open to the public. The agency says much the same about tens of thousands of other river miles, including popular canoeing rivers such as the Middle Fork of the Vermilion just east of Champaign, the state’s only nationally designated scenic river. Users of these rivers, the agency asserts, do so only with the implied permission of neighboring landowners — permission that any landowner at any time could withdraw. * SJ-R | Organizations rally for social justice in schools, communities in Springfield: Black Greek organizations were joined by registered participants outside of the state Capitol on Wednesday to advocate for social justice in schools, communities and other spaces. The two oldest and intercollegiate Black organizations, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority held, a joint advocacy day to focus on topics such as criminal justice reform, education and equitable health care. * IDOT | Rebuilding Metro East: Interstate projects highlight another historic construction season: Entering one of its busiest construction seasons ever, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that major projects in the Metro East are planned or underway, fueled by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. Twenty major projects combined represent a total investment of nearly $825 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region. * Crain’s | Howard Brown Health workers ratify contract: The INA said the three-year agreement includes a 7% average pay raise, a $19.23 minimum wage across the organization, lower health insurance premiums, insurance coverage for part-time workers and two weeks of paid leave for gender-affirming care, among other things. The ratification ends a year and a half of tense labor relations for the LGBTQ-focused health provider, punctuated by two strikes and an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board. * Block Club | Dom’s Kitchen & Market’s Sudden Closure Leaves North Side Food Pantry ‘Scrambling’ For Donations: Care for Real, the food pantry with locations in Edgewater and Rogers Park, used to get thousands of pounds of groceries from Dom’s before the upscale grocer abruptly closed late last month. The food pantry offered its clients pre-packaged meals like sandwiches and salads donated from Dom’s, Jen Kouba, Care For Real director of development and communications, said. * Tribune Column |Why I’m boycotting the Kentucky Derby — and why Chicago sports fans should too: My boycott comes in response to the vital role the management team at Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) played in the Bears’ 2023 destruction of the world-renowned and tradition-rich Arlington International Racecourse, one of the precious gems of Chicago sports. The rubble that remains is a monument to the greed of the people who run CDI and their disregard for the owners and trainers who raced their horses there and the fans and families who made trips to Arlington part of their summer sports and recreation menus. * Tribune | At Graue Mill, historical and environmental interests clash over removal of dam: It should have been a relatively simple project: Dozens of dams have been quietly removed across Illinois amid environmental and safety concerns. Instead, it took over a decade. A group of determined community members believed the dam was an integral piece of the Graue Mill. To remove it was to strip away a historic hallmark in the village, they argued. * Daily Herald | Patience paying off for Buffalo Grove on Rohrman redevelopment: After more than a decade of sitting dormant, the former Rohrman property on Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove is on its way to new life. Buffalo Grove officials and representatives of Shorewood Development Group gathered with hard hats and shovels Wednesday to make a break with the past and break ground on the future. […] When the dust settles and construction is complete, the 16-acre site on Dundee Road between Old Arlington Heights Road and Bison Park will be home to a new Tesla sales and service center, a 224-unit apartment building and 30,000 to 40,000 square feet of retail space. * Reuters | Bird flu outbreak in dairy cows fails to deter US raw milk sellers: Thirty of the 50 U.S. states permit the sale of raw milk, which accounts for less than 1% percent of U.S. milk sales. A nationwide survey of pasteurized milk - heated to kill pathogens - found avian flu virus particles in about 20% of samples tested. […] “Our consumers don’t like the FDA. If the FDA says to do something, they will do the opposite,” said Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm in Fresno, California, the largest U.S. raw milk dairy. * AP | Some WNBA teams look for bigger arenas when Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever come to town: The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their games against the Fever to bigger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in college indicates it’s a smart move. […] “She helps ticket sales, so I think it’s a really great time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite player,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She has been in college. She’s done stuff in college that nobody else has. She’s going to be a great player in the W. There’s no doubt about it. * Crain’s | Why Walgreens and Walmart struggle to make health care profitable: Walmart’s health care strategy took an abrupt turn Tuesday, as the company announced plans to shutter all clinics and stop virtual care services. Industry watchers say Walmart’s decision to close all 51 centers isn’t surprising, given the steep challenges retailers face to profitably deliver health care services. * 404 Media | Facebook’s AI Spam Isn’t the ‘Dead Internet’: It’s the Zombie Internet: I have spent more time than anyone I know endlessly scrolling through AI spam on Facebook. I have watched the evolution of Facebook’s AI spam go from slightly uncanny modifications of real images to the completely bizarre and obviously fake. I have done this from my own Facebook account, which I have had since 2005, as well as from two burner accounts I created specifically to track how AI-generated content is recommended on the platform and to see whether Facebook would put AI-generated images into my feed organically. I now use Facebook exclusively to see what kinds of bizarre AI content is going viral, and to attempt to figure out who is making it, why they are making it, and who is interacting with it.
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Rivian announces $1.5 billion investment in Normal facility, Pritzker talks about incentives
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
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Support House Bill 4781
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] 
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Another budget pressure point (Updated)
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed budget doesn’t include money to help schools deal with the migrant influx. He was asked about that this week and here’s his response…
* But that response ignored the pressures in the suburbs. Capitol News Illinois…
* Chalkbeat…
Rep. Crespo’s amendment would actually appropriate $188 million. * WGN…
Thoughts? …Adding… From the governor’s office…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like the Trebacz’s, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * What would it take for you to support a smallish state investment in a new Chicago Bears domed stadium on the lakefront?
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Credit Unions: A Smart Financial Choice for Illinois Consumers
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] 
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$117.7B Economic Impact: More Than Healthcare Providers, Hospitals Are Economic Engines
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois hospitals and health systems are essential to economic growth across the state. A new report illustrates the hospital community’s role as strong economic contributors who fuel $117.7 billion in economic activity every year, resulting in good-paying jobs and more vibrant communities. While hospitals are first and foremost providers of life-saving care, their role stretches farther. They are innovators; community partners in addressing challenges of food insecurity, homelessness, health disparities and more; and major employers serving as the hub of economic activity in their communities. Illinois hospitals and health systems create 445,000 direct and indirect jobs, and they support working families through over $50 billion in direct and indirect payroll annually. What’s more:
• Illinois hospitals directly employ 190,000 Illinoisans; and • Every $1 in hospital spending leads to another $1.40 in spending. As larger purchasers of supplies and services, Illinois hospitals and health systems spend nearly $62 billion to have on hand for every patient the medical equipment and supplies needed to care for patients in any circumstance. In addition, the hospital community spends over $5.5 billion in capital projects yearly that benefit patients, and provide good jobs to Illinois workers. Learn more about the hospital community’s economic impact.
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A fun night for all, House wins interchamber softball game
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The House won last night’s interchamber softball game 14-13…
* From the Statehouse press corps…
* Here’s some cell phone snaps of yesterday’s game!… 
Big thanks to Rep. Marty Moylan for putting it together!
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Daily Herald…
* WAND…
* WAND…
* NBC Chicago…
* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…
* WGEM…
* Sen. Rachel Ventura…
* Sen. Cristina Castro…
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Open thread
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: House Democrats advance November ballot questions aimed at driving party turnout. Tribune…
- The bill also would afford some incumbent protection for legislators in November by preventing political party committees from appointing challengers to fill out legislative ballots if the party didn’t field a candidate in the March primary. - The referenda package was approved without debate on a 67-4 House vote, with nearly 40 Republicans voting “present.” * Related stories…
∙ WBEZ: Illinois voters could be asked about IVF coverage, millionaire tax in November ∙ Center Square: Democrats replace child welfare bill with changes to election law Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony at 11 am. At 1:30 the governor will announce an expanded investment in Rivian. Click here to watch. * WTTW | Illinois Doctors Would Have Easier Access to Patients’ End-of-Life Wishes Under Bill Advancing in Springfield: Another, more controversial proposal (Senate Bill 3499), that would allow patients with terminal illnesses to pursue physician-assisted suicide has not advanced. Its sponsor, state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, said she doesn’t expect to move the bill this spring, as she is continuing to organically build support and plans conversations about it over the summer. * WCIA | IL Comptroller writes to USPS on potential Springfield center change: Mendoza said she’s worried the extra travel required will slow down payments to people if the Springfield Processing and Distribution Center changes and mail distribution is required in St. Louis or Chicago. “Given that Springfield is the seat of state government where a distribution hub is warranted, I ask for specific assurance from the US Postal Service that an impact analysis is thoroughly conducted prior to implementation so that it can verify there is no potential risk for performance delays,” the comptroller wrote in the letter. * Daily Herald | Pritzker: Bears lakefront stadium proposal still ‘a non-starter’: “The governor’s office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars remains the foremost priority,” Wednesday’s statement reads. The Bears also issued a statement Wednesday, describing the talks with Pritzker’s representatives as “productive.” “We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions,” the team said. * 25News Now | Gov. Pritzker, Rivian to announce ‘expanded Illinois investment’ on Thursday: Although no details about the investment are being released, two reliable sources told 25News on March 8 that state government leaders were working on financial incentives to help Rivian expand the local factory and perhaps hire thousands more new employees to build the more affordable R2 sport utility vehicle in Normal. * Chalkbeat | Illinois high school students must fill out FAFSA to graduate — maybe not this year, state says: State law has required students to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate from high school since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Students not planning to go to college could fill out a waiver. But now, a proposal in the Senate would waive the requirement entirely for the current school year. The proposal by state Sen. Dan McConchie, a Republican lawmaker representing northwest suburbs, comes months after the rocky rollout of the federal government’s “Better FAFSA”, which faced multiple challenges including a later opening date and technical issues that caused delays and uncertainty for college-bound students. * NBC Chicago | Illinois bill would combat catalytic converter thefts, lawmaker says: A new bill under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly would aim to discourage the theft and resale of catalytic converters, with the state having one of the worst rates of such thefts in the country. According to research cited by bill sponsor Sen. Michael Hastings, more than 2,000 insurance claims were filed between 2020-2022 after devices were stolen from vehicles, the fourth-highest rate in the U.S. during that time according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. * WTAX | Illinois House and Senate meet on the field of play: This year the game was played at Robin Roberts Stadium for the first time and a large and enthusiastic crowd was in attendance. The spirit of bipartisanship was strong and several of the players and spectators talked about the importance of events such as this to build personal relationships. * Sun-Times | Suspect in slaying of Officer Luis Huesca arrested in Glendale Heights — with Huesca’s own handcuffs: Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, was taken into custody without incident shortly after 7 p.m. following a “multi-state investigation” that involved the Chicago Police Department and “many other” law enforcement agencies, according to Belkis Sandoval, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Tate on Friday night, when documents filed by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office charged him with first-degree murder in the April 21 shooting in the Gage Park neighborhood. * Sun-Times | These flowers are fake, but Chicago businesses are embracing them in a very real way as means to attract customers: They slither, curl and twine around windows, under eaves, over doorways in a riot of color — the way things might be if the world were abandoned to flowers. And they’re everywhere. In New York or London, you can’t help but notice storefront after storefront smothered in elaborate displays of flowers that never wilt or need water or pruning because they’re all fake. * NBC Chicago | 8 Chicago-area hospitals receive ‘D’ safety grade; other area hospitals move up in rankings: report: The report, from healthcare watchdog group and nonprofit Leapfrog, ranks nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on safety through using more than 30 metrics that have a “direct impact on patient safety outcomes.” Some of those include nurse and doctor communication, hospital staff responsiveness, patient satisfaction and communication and discharge information, a press release said. * Block Club | A North Side Mental Health Crisis Team Has Assisted 94% Of Callers Without Police Help: Trilogy’s First-Response Alternative Crisis Team was founded in 2022 through a state pilot program aimed at providing alternatives to calling 911 for people experiencing mental health issues. The group, also known as FACT, was recently approved for state funding for the next fiscal year, and providers hope to continue expanding the program, leaders said. * Sun-Times | Amtrak adds new trains between Chicago and Twin Cities: The new service, one train in each direction, overlaps the Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee and the Empire Builder service, which runs between Chicago and Seattle, stopping in St. Paul, Minnesota, along the way. The new westbound train departs Chicago at 11:05 a.m. daily, about four hours before the daily westbound Empire Builder, and arrives in St. Paul at 6:29 p.m. The eastbound train leaves St. Paul at 11:50 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 7:14 p.m. * Block Club | Logan Square, Avondale Could Get Special Tax District As Talks Revived: The Logan Square Chamber of Commerce is again gauging interest in establishing a “special service area” on Milwaukee Avenue between Armitage and Belmont avenues to pay for neighborhood services and amenities. The chamber has begun talks about the special service area with commercial and condo property owners along that stretch of Milwaukee Avenue. It’s at least the group’s third attempt to establish a special service area, which levies an additional property tax within specific boundaries to pay for communal services such as snow removal, trash pickup, business visibility and special events. * Sun-Times | First-ever trial over Zantac cancer claims gets underway in Cook County: The lawsuit is one of many claims made nationwide that the over-the-counter heartburn drug Zantac and its generics have an active ingredient that causes cancer. This is the first to make it to a jury trial. * Daily Herald | Great Scot: The Highland Games are moving to Wheaton: The Highland Games — convening this June at a new arena in Wheaton — celebrates cherished strands of Scottish culture: clan tartans, song, dance, food and brawn. Athletes heave tree trunks as tall as telephone poles in the caber toss, a test of accuracy. But the Games also showcase the power of family and fellowship. * WGN | Cicadas ahead of schedule, expected soon in Chicago area: Morton Arboretum experts say they have found the first signs of periodical cicadas a week and a half ago. They are ahead of schedule, and they expect the mass emergence in another week — meaning, millions among billions of them will emerge from the ground.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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