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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Jon Seidel…
* Tribune…
* Mercy…
* Eye On Illinois | Conservation districts feel budget cuts while fairgrounds get big investment: In the context of a $53.1 billion state budget, $4 million isn’t especially significant, about 0.075%. But compared with only $58.1 million for a specific project, that $4 million is a larger chunk – about 6.9%. The $4 million is what Michael Woods, executive director for the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, said was cut from conservation efforts in the fiscal 2025 budget, according to a June 10 FarmProgress.com report. * Axios | Illinois top abortion destination for Tennesseans: Tennessee residents obtained 10,570 out-of-state abortions, according to estimates from the Guttmacher Institute. Illinois led the way with 7,120 followed by North Carolina with 1,280. * Sun-Times | Johnson announces $10 million expansion of fund for victims of gun violence and their grieving families: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot established the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund to compensate grief-sticken families at a time when Chicago homicides were topping 700 for the second straight year. […] Lightfoot lost her reelection bid before she could deliver on her promise to expand the program. Now Johnson is picking up the ball and running with it. * Tribune | Chicago to expand pilot that pays $1,500 for funerals of homicide victims, $1,000 stipends for survivors: Under the expansion, the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund will see another $6.4 million — some of that from federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars — over the next two years and expand from five to 15 community areas. There are three categories of funds: $1,000 for basic needs such as medical expenses, child care and groceries; $1,000 for relocation services to move to a safer place; and $1,500 for funeral and burial expenses. * Chalkbeat | Chicago’s school board election is coming up. Here’s what happens if a district has no candidates.: The most likely answer is that a write-in candidate would win the seat — potentially with just one vote, said Max Bever, a spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections. Until 2027, the new board will have 10 elected seats and another 11 seats appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Each district is split into two subdistricts; Johnson must fill his seats with people who live in each subdistrict that does not have a winner from the election. * Sun-Times | CPS to rename 3 schools, including one named after Christopher Columbus: Three Chicago public schools are being renamed in the latest changes aimed at getting rid of racist or otherwise problematic namesakes. They make nine schools that have been renamed since a Chicago Sun-Times investigation in 2020 found 30 schools were named for slaveholders, and schools named after white people — mostly men — outnumbered those named for African Americans by 4-1, Latinos 9-1 and indigenous people 120-1. * Sun-Times | Owners of West Town pallet firm assess damage after massive fire: ‘Looked like a war scene’: A business that rents space on the lot called Quinn Hagan when workers noticed the fire. He wasn’t in the city, but by the time he got to the West Town location the fire had “erupted,” Donna Hagan told the Sun-Times. “There’s 20,000 dry wood pallets in a lot,” she said. “It was 95 degrees and it was windy. It just took off and then it hit all the tractors, trucks and trailers and hit the building.” * Block Club | Diehard Cubs, Sox Fans Conquer A Red Line Doubleheader In 90+-Degree Heat: “I want to start the ‘Chicago Bothsiders Club,’” said Kevin McGuire, a season-ticket-holder for the Sox and the Cubs who goes to more than 40 games a year and found a job where he can pick his own hours. “If there’s going to be double the baseball, I’m going to be there.” […] Across town, the struggling Sox, who are 20-55, lugged through a 4-1 evening loss against the Houston Astros. It was the final of three Red Line doubleheaders this season. * Crain’s | A suburban software company got hacked, again, and auto dealerships are in chaos, again: The CDK cyberattack shutdown has potentially far-reaching implications for auto retail franchises, according to a new report from Seaport Research Partners. “While it’s unclear what the ultimate impact is, the impact is potentially far-reaching as CDK is reportedly contracted by [15,000] dealers nationwide … with some dealers nearly wholly reliant upon it for critical functionality such as CRM, sales processing, inventory management, etc.,” the report said. * Daily Herald | Hundreds turn out to protest controversial development near Sugar Grove: Several hundred people Tuesday made it very clear they oppose using property taxes to help pay some of the costs of transforming 861 acres of farmland near Sugar Grove into warehouses, offices, stores and housing. […] The hearing was only about whether the land qualifies to become a TIF district. That disappointed many speakers who wanted to talk about The Grove concept, the effect of keeping property taxes from other taxing bodies, whether Route 47 could safely handle an increase in truck traffic, and other concerns. * IDNR | IDNR, City of East St. Louis announce plan to buy out flood-damaged properties: For the first time, this project includes additional funds to assist homeowners who resided in the flooded structures up to $22,500 in additional funds to purchase a home. These funds are not for non-resident owners or renters. The additional assistance was deemed necessary because of the low value of the structures and the need for the property owners to find a new home that is decent, safe, and sanitary. * SJ-R | Springfield bars already bracing for end of 3 a.m. liquor licenses: Justin Rebbe said the 2 a.m. licensing for Springfield bars was “a good compromise for now.” That doesn’t mean the co-owner of Clique, which caters to the LGBTQ community, and which has held a 3 a.m. license in downtown Springfield for a little over two years, won’t be considering some changes to the operation. * Rolling Stone | Donald Sutherland, ‘Klute’ and ‘Ordinary People’ Actor, Dead at 88: Sutherland’s son Kiefer also revealed his father’s death on social media, writing, “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
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More horrible news for the Capital City’s downtown
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * I have lived in Springfield on and off since 1985. The downtown has never been great, but we’ve lost a lot of venues since the pandemic, and others, like the downtown hotels, have deteriorated. And now this…
* This place is legendary…  WAND TV has posted several photos of the destruction. * WICS…
* The good folks at Buzz Bomb stepped up…
* More…
* Donation buckets will be out for first Adams Street Bar Crawl to help downtown fire victims: Ad Astra Wine & Tapas Bar posted to Facebook, “We are waiting to learn more about anyone who is rebuilding, relocating, or simply needing help paying the bills while closed, and will be using this money for one, or more, of these causes. The APL will need help fostering the 9 kitties from the cafe and help feeding them as well. If you can foster or feed, please call them to help.”
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From an Illinois Times interview of US Sen. Dick Durbin…
* The Question: What do you think Durbin will do about reelection? Make sure to explain your answer and take note that I’m not asking you what you think he should do. Thanks.
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Fun with numbers (Updated)
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
Um, no. * First, if you click the link in the IPI’s own story, AFSCME Council 31 includes retirees in that number…
* Second, the IPI didn’t link to the LM-2’s, so I looked them up myself. In 2017, the year before the Supreme Court’s Janus decision, which allowed people to pay no dues but still receive full representation, AFSCME Council 31 reported having 57,995 full and part-time members, plus another 7,047 “Agency Fee Payers” - employees who paid for union services without being actual union members. In 2018, Council 31 reported having 57,000 full and part-time members and no fee payers. And in 2023, Council 31 reported 55,771 full and part-time members. So, yeah, there’s been a decline. They lost 2,224 members since before Janus, which is a 3.8 percent drop, not “nearly 40%.” …Adding… It turns out that Council 31’s 2023 membership actually increased by 2,757 over 2022’s membership. From spokesperson Anders Lindall…
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.
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It’s almost a law
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
* SB275 was sent to the governor today, from the synopsis…
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Caption contest!
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From left are Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago FOP President John Catanzara at a Juneteenth event yesterday… 
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Stop Illinois From Making Credit Cards Hard To Use
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Lawmakers in Springfield recently negotiated a back-room deal that could radically change the way small businesses and consumers use their credit and debit cards to give corporate megastores a multi-million dollar giveaway. This new law could:
- Reduce consumer privacy by exposing more information on your purchases - Create costly operational nightmares and paperwork burdens for small businesses This first-of-its-kind, untested mandate would create chaos, removing credit and debit cards as the safe, secure and hassle-free way to pay in Illinois — all so giant, out-of-state corporations can look a little better to their shareholders. Prevent credit card chaos. Learn more at guardyourcard.com/illinois. 
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Embattled Tracy will resign as ILGOP chair “preferably no later” than the day after Republican National Convention (Updated)
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * More background is here if you need it. Tuesday night Tribune article…
* Wednesday resignation press release from Don Tracy…
As I told subscribers, Tracy sent out word of his resignation before the Tribune story was published. The Republican National Convention ends July 18. * Democratic Party of Illinois react…
* Tribune follow-up story…
* Illinois Review posts its grievance list…
…Adding… The Tribune reported the other day that Aaron Del Mar was a frontrunner to replace Tracy. And now there’s a “Draft Del Mar” website…  The site ownership has been “Redacted for privacy.”
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Open thread
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What have y’all been getting up to?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: How Illinois plans to leap into the future of semiconductors. Crain’s…
* Madison Record | When is a suspect too dangerous to release? Answers may come from two appeals: Supreme Court Justices picked two cases to guide local and appellate judges in deciding when to declare a suspect too dangerous to release. On June 11 they allowed an appeal from a Fourth District appellate court opinion affirming detention of Kendall Morgan on home invasion and battery charges in McLean County. On June 12 they allowed an appeal from a Third District opinion affirming detention of Christian Mikolaitis on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery in Will County. * WTTW | New Study Examining Chicago’s Economic and Racial Disparities Finds 72% of White Families Own Homes Compared to 34% of Black Families: “Wealth is probably the paramount indicator of economic security,” said Darrick Hamilton, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy and founding director at The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy. “We think about it as an outcome, but its essence is functional. What it can do for you if you want to send your kids to college, if you’re faced with the legal challenge of medical condition. A lot of those big ticket items aren’t financed out of your income … you rely on your savings and your wealth.” * WGEM | “She’s been called Rosa Parks of the 19th century”: Juneteenth dedication ceremony honors Quincy woman: Over at the Woodland Cemetery, people gathered to unveil a memorial stone of the late Emma Coger. Local historians said she’s been called the Rosa Parks of the 19th century. […] “She was visiting friends in Keokuk,” Crickard said. “And the easiest way to [return] to Quincy at the time was by steamboat on the Mississippi River. She tried to purchase a first-class ticket and they denied her.” […] Following the incident, Coger hired a lawyer and fought her case both in Keokuk at the Iowa Supreme Court. She won the trial. * WAND | Crews called to fire on top of downtown Springfield building: According to a Facebook post made by Robert Mazrim, the curator of the PILLSBURIED art installation, the entire exhibit was destroyed in the fire. Three tons of art and artifacts were brought together to show the rich history of the former Pillsbury Mills plant. […] On Facebook, Cafe Moxo announced that the restaurant would be closed until a damage assessment could be undertaken and repairs made. * WJPF | Vandalized MLK statue to return to Capitol grounds next month: The statue of the slain civil rights leader is expected to return to Springfield’s “Freedom Corner” at the intersection of 2nd Street and Capitol Avenue next month. Crews recently poured the concrete that will secure the base of the sculpture. After the concrete cures and settles, the sculpture will be replaced. State officials are continuing discussions regarding a new MLK statue on the Capitol grounds. Last January, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation calling for a new MLK sculpture at a new location that has yet to be determined. * Center Square | Illinois joining other states in establishing long-term energy plan: In a letter to PJM Interconnection, Pritzker and the governors from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland said collaboration is essential to accomplish a “collective vision.” The states are asking the company to comply with a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directive and coordinate with states and stakeholders. * WBEZ | IDPH urges vigilance as COVID cases rise in emergency rooms: Illinois is one of nearly a dozen states that reported at least a moderate uptick that week. The trend has generally been on the rise since the beginning of May, when COVID patients accounted for roughly 0.3% of all people who visited an emergency room nationwide. As of June 8 that rose to 0.6%. But despite the nearly 30% increase, data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) shows just 0.5% of people who visited an ER did so because of COVID. Those numbers are still well below the levels seen during spikes last fall and winter. * WCBU | Aaron Rossi accused of defrauding state of Illinois, private insurers in new federal indictment: A federal grand jury has indicted former Reditus Labs CEO Aaron Rossi on new charges linked to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of alleged COVID-19 testing fraud. […] The indictment alleges the 40-year-old Morton man was double billing both private insurers and the state of Illinois for the same tests. The state paid out more than $150,000 for tests that were actually already paid for by private insurers. * Covers | Illinois April Handle Pushes Past New Jersey for Second-Biggest in US: The Illinois Gaming Board’s latest monthly data shows that the Land of Lincoln generated $92 million of adjusted revenue on a handle of $1.1 billion, edging New Jersey ($1.04 billion) for second place behind New York for the month. April’s handle was the sixth-highest amount wagered all-time in Illinois and marked the eighth consecutive $1 billion month. * Tribune | How Illinois — ‘a racing family’ — stands apart from other states for Black trainers, drivers and owners: The governing body of North American harness racing, the United States Trotting Association, doesn’t ask for race on license applications so it’s impossible to know the exact number of Black drivers and trainers, but a review of the standings at the tracks lends credence to Hoffman’s opinion that they are a small minority. In contrast, in Illinois, they are a significant presence and are making an impact. * Tribune | City orders audit after pay mix-up for hundreds of laborers: Union leaders went public with the “fiasco” on June 10. In a fiery update to members posted online, Bob Chianelli, the business manager for LiUNA Local 1001, said city officials failed to fix the situation after the union had spent weeks requesting the city turn over pay registers and correct errors worth tens of thousands for some members. Approximately 125 members were underpaid, Chianelli told the Tribune, while around 800 were overpaid. The overpayments, he estimated, cost somewhere between $2.7 million and $2.9 million. * Sun-Times | Blaring buzzer across from Pilsen shelter believed installed to annoy migrants — ‘It’s pretty awful’: Ryan Hurley, a former volunteer who helped migrants when they were housed at the Near West District Police Station, said he believes the device is new because he didn’t hear the noise when he was outside the shelter about two months ago. […] The device resembles and sounds like a Mosquito alarm, which is sold as a tool “to reduce anti-social behavior such as loitering, vandalism, graffiti and violence,” according to its website. The devices can get as loud as 108 decibels, or similar to the noise at a rock concert. * NBC Chicago | ‘So many people in tents’: New documentary follows migrant families’ struggles, triumphs in Chicago: For nearly six months, NBC Chicago reporter Sandra Torres, Telemundo Chicago reporter Ivon Espitia and Senior Digital Producer DS Shin followed the lives of two families and several individuals who left Venezuela to seek asylum in the United States to provide a better life for their families. […] Lightfoot opened up for the first time in the documentary about how she handled the crisis, a year later. * South Side Weekly | Mayor Johnson on His Organizing Roots and Vision for Chicago: When the interview turned to education, the mayor did not directly answer a yes-or-no question about the possibility of closing public schools during his tenure. Instead, Johnson noted that he participated in the 2015 hunger strike that forced then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to reopen Dyett High School on the South Side, and offered a quote from W.E.B. DuBois. “The moratorium already exists,” he said. “I fought to make sure that it happened.” * WTTW | From Utility Shutoff Moratoriums to Air Conditioning Rules, Chicago and Illinois Lawmakers Preparing for Increasingly Hot Temperatures: Whenever the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures hitting 90 degrees, gas and utility residential shutoffs due to nonpayment are prohibited in Illinois. It’s an example of a legal protection that environmental and consumer advocates predict more of in the near future, as climate change continues to wreak havoc. Illinois and Chicago are already taking steps in that direction, but advocates say more needs to be done to protext residents from future exteme weather events. * Streetsblog | At Transport Chicago, experts discussed creative ideas to save the region’s transit system from looming fiscal cliff: During the panel, transit experts discussed the funding issues Chicago area transit agencies faced before the pandemic, the challenges of regaining ridership, the impact of the funding cuts and potential solutions. Panelist Thomas Bamonte, senior Advisor at the Metropolitan Planning Council, pitched a particularly bold proposal: congestion pricing. […] Bamonte suggested new taxes, mentioning creating a region-wide version of the Chicago tax on ride-hail trips, and a last-mile retail delivery tax on things like Amazon packages. But perhaps most radically, he proposed using the I-294/Tri-State Tollway as a “cordon,” by collecting tolls from drivers using expressways within this boundary, which could be used to fund Chicago transit. * WBEZ | Chicago’s all-ages rock scene is catching fire, led by bands like Twin Coast: The notion that “rock is dead” isn’t true in Chicago, where an underground surge of bands barely out of high school is suddenly active throughout the city and suburbs. The sibling duo Twin Coast is adding to the growing do-it-yourself, teen-driven scene and creating a mini festival around it. New Static! Revival Now, a five-band bill at Schubas on Thursday, capitalizes on the excitement of the underground scene that is “full of really young, innovative people,” drummer Kira Isbell, 22, said. (Schubas is also the site of a daylong fair on independent musicmaking on June 23, hosted by CHIRP Radio.) * ABC Chicago | Chicago NASCAR race course route map, street closures, parking restrictions: The starting and finish line of the 2024 NASCAR street course is facing south on South Columbus Drive in front of Buckingham Fountain. From there, drivers turn left on East Balbo Drive, right onto DuSable Lake Shore Drive, hook back around to go north on Columbus, turn left to go west on East Balbo drive, then South Michigan Avenue and around Congress Circle before turning right on to East Jackson Drive and another right back onto Columbus. * Crain’s | First look at the next Cook County budget shows a $218 million gap: Cook County must close an anticipated $218 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2025, up from the $162 million gap it bridged last year, but lower than the $409 million hole the county faced in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And although Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle declined to detail how she plans to close the gap in the 2025 spending plan, she said there will be no new taxes, fines or fees. * Tribune | Arguments made after rare midtrial appeal halted case against two ex-Cook County assistant state’s attorneys: Months after a rare midtrial appeal halted a case against two former Cook County assistant state’s attorneys charged with misconduct, lawyers Tuesday sparred before a panel of appellate court judges over the legal issues that brought the case to a halt in October. […] The trial was underway before Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes, who was assigned the case after the entire Cook County judiciary was recused, when the special prosecutors handling the case asked for an appeal after Shanes barred large portions of testimony from a key witness. * Daily Southtown | Will County executive vetoes hiring Robert Schillerstrom as landfill consultant: The County Board voted June 4 to issue a three-month contract for $15,000 to Robert J. Schillerstrom by a 12-6 vote. The six no votes came from board Democrats, who said that staff was already handling information related to landfill expansion. Four members were absent. * WCBU | Former Spring Valley hospital is headed to the auction block: OSF HealthCare acquired the former St. Margaret’s campus in Peru, reopening it as part of Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. The Peoria-based health care provider ultimately plans to move the main campus to the Peru facility and build a new hospital in Ottawa. But the Spring Valley hospital wasn’t picked up by OSF. The real estate broker said the building could be used for health care again, or alternatively for education, senior housing, or transitional or community living, among other possibilities. * WREX | Ogle County Sheriff’s Office releases bodycam footage following officer-involved shooting in Lost Nation: Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock has filed Attempted First Degree Murder charges against Jonathon Gounaris (DOB 5/13/1992) following an incident that left three Ogle County law enforcement officers injured. The charges stem from a 12-count information filed in connection with the shooting on June 12, 2024, when officers responded to a residence in Lost Nation after reports of a suicidal threat. * WCBU | Planned Parenthood clinic marks reopening with leaders vowing to protect reproductive health care: U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen says the reopening of Peoria’s Planned Parenthood facility has strengthened his resolve to protect access to reproductive health care. “You have my word that I will fight to protect the rights to IVF (in-vitro fertilization), the rights to contraception, the rights to gender-affirming care, and when it’s needed, the right to an abortion,” Sorensen said Tuesday during a ceremony at the clinic that was firebombed in January 2023. * WSIL | Centerstone will open a 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call Center in Illinois: “I think this is gonna be a great benefit for the local community because it’s an extra resource and there’s already a strong safety net that we have here in Southern Illinois,” [Centerstone’s Vice President of External Affairs, Robert Lambert] said. Lambert says the new center will start taking calls from people across the state on July 1st. * WREX | Vendors come out to the largest Juneteenth event in Illinois to celebrate the holiday: With the holiday being celebrated across the country, the Boone County Museum of History said an addition this like comes with a great amount of significance. “It’s very, very significant and as it should be federally recognized. It’s a very important day for African Americans and it’s a very important day for the country as a whole just celebrating real freedom,” Natali Monaghan, the Executive Director of the museum said. * Daily Journal | Rally spills over into Manteno village board meeting: A rally outside the Leo Hassett Community Center that began at 5 p.m., an hour before the 6 p.m. meeting, in support of Mike “Dirty” Barry spilled over into the board proceedings. Barry, who has been outspoken against the Gotion lithium battery factory in Manteno, was recently dismissed as athletic director of the Manteno Wildcats football program. Through social media, Barry asked people who supported him to show up at the rally, which was also attended by Phil Nagel, who is running against State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, for Illinois State Senate in District 40 as a Republican. * NPR | Why isn’t extreme heat considered a disaster in the U.S.?: The massive heat dome that struck the Pacific Northwest in 2021 paralyzed the region. Emergency departments were overwhelmed. Roads buckled in the heat. Hundreds of people died. That same year, Hurricane Ida barreled into the Southeast. Buildings were flattened in Louisiana. Hundreds of thousands lost power. At least 87 people in the U.S. died. Both were deadly and traumatizing. But FEMA distributed billions of dollars and months of post-disaster support to states and families battered by Ida. Victims of the heat dome, on the other hand, received no federal support. * Missouri Independent | Kansas lawmakers approve tax incentive bill to lure Chiefs, Royals away from Missouri: The House voted 84-38 and the Senate voted 27-8 to approve legislation that would expand a state incentive program in an attempt to lure one or both teams from Kansas City. The bill now heads to Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, who said in a statement following the Senate vote that the effort to bring the teams to Kansas “shows we’re all-in on keeping our beloved teams in the Kansas City metro.” * Bloomberg | Mortgage rates drop below 7% for first time since March: The contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage decreased 8 basis points to 6.94% in the week ended June 14, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. The five-year adjustable-rate mortgage slid 18 basis points to 6.27%, matching the lowest level since February.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jun 20, 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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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Reader comments closed for Juneteenth
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the National Museum of African American History & Culture…
But…
* Fast-forward to 1927…
Lots of those folks moved to Chicago. * Blind Lemon Jefferson had already left Texas for Chicago by that time…
* One of Jefferson’s bigger hits was about that 1927 flood… Thousands people stands on the hill * And if that music isn’t your cup of tea, check out this fabulous mini-concert from the great Chicagoan Chaka Khan…
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Cash bail did not necessarily make us any safer (Updated)
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tom Collins at Shaw Local…
Home invasion is now a detainable offense. …Adding… Very good point in comments…
Guess what? La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro was part of that lawsuit.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller *** Adding *** Personal PAC…
* Tribune…
* Austin Berg at the Illinois Policy Institute…
* WCIA | Illinois awarding $5 million to local chambers of commerce: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced $5 million in grants to more than 150 organizations. It’s through the Back to Business local chambers program. The goal is to help chambers of commerce bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. * WAND | Illinois celebrates record-breaking export sales in 2023: Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced another record-breaking year with export sales over $78.7 billion in 2023. According to rankings by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Illinois leads Midwest as the top exporting state and fifth in the nation. * Spectrum | West Nile virus found in mosquitos and birds across 13 Illinois counties; IDPH warns public to ‘Fight the Bite’: While no human cases of the virus have been reported, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding people of the importance to “Fight the Bite” during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 16-22. […] There were 119 human cases reported last year, which is an increase from 34 human cases in 2022, according to IDPH. Six human deaths attributed to the West Nile virus were reported in 2023, compared to seven in 2022. * WAND | Ribbon cutting held to reopen Peoria Planned Parenthood after firebombing: The rebuilding and renovations amounted to more than $1 million. On Tuesday, PPIL held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and press conference with Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Michael Cabonargi, Congressman Eric Sorensen, and Illinois State Senator Dave Kohler to unveil the new facility. “We are back and stronger than ever,” said President and CEO of PPIL, Jennifer Welch. “We know the vital role the Peoria Health Center plays in the central Illinois community. The arsonist may have destroyed our health center and robbed the community from accessing care, but we were also brought closer together. Thanks to the ongoing support from Peoria leaders, residents, and donors we have the pleasure to be part of this amazing community once again.” * SJ-R | Grants available for Black-owned businesses along Route 66 in Illinois: The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, a coalition of state Route 66 associations, is offering $50,000 to provide direct grants to help Black-owned or operated businesses and attractions, research and programs on the historic road. “We’re always hoping to get the word out, so more people have the opportunity to apply,” Bill Thomas, chairman of Route 66 Ahead said. “It’s not just preserving the history of Route 66, but this is also an opportunity to help sustain the businesses that already exist.” * SJ-R | A Springfield high school has finalized a deal to build a new multimillion dollar school: Lutheran High School has finalized a deal to purchase 25 acres on the city’s far south side where it intends to build a new school. The property was purchased from Cherry Hills Church, 2125 Woodside Road. It is just north of the church structure and located off Chatham Road. The school had reached an intent to purchase agreement with the church on the property in December. * South Side Weekly | Mayor Johnson on His Organizing Roots and Vision for Chicago : When the interview turned to education, the mayor did not directly answer a yes-or-no question about the possibility of closing public schools during his tenure. Instead, Johnson noted that he participated in the 2015 hunger strike that forced then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to reopen Dyett High School on the South Side, and offered a quote from W.E.B. DuBois. “The moratorium already exists,” he said. “I fought to make sure that it happened.” * Crain’s | Digital billboards on the Riverwalk? It’s just one idea this City Hall panel is set to debate: Expanding advertising on the Riverwalk as well as on vacant downtown storefronts, Chicago Transit Authority stations and within Chicago parks, for a fee, and allowing video gambling in Chicago are two of the revenue ideas favored by freshman Ald. William Hall, 6th. Hall told Crain’s other ideas like a city income tax or an increase in property taxes — both of which Johnson has repeatedly said he opposes — will also be on the table when the City Council’s Subcommittee on Revenue, which Hall chairs, meets for the first time on June 26 for a “Revenue 101” crash course. * Crain’s | WBEZ and Sun-Times unions vote no confidence in Chicago Public Media CEO: With the votes that took place today, the unions signaled they have no confidence in Moog’s leadership. The unions said 86% of members participated in the vote, with 96%, or 114 members, voting no confidence. * NYT | More Than 1,000 Birds Died One Night in Chicago. Will It Happen Again?: Migration experts said that the unusual mass deaths were the product of a number of common occurrences happening all at once. One factor, they said, was easily preventable: the number of buildings that had their lights on, which disoriented birds that were migrating overnight on Oct. 4. Since October, there have been significant changes at the building where the highest concentration of birds died, McCormick Place Lakeside Center, but advocates for bird safety are seeking measures that protect birds across the city. These measures could include treating windows with film that is more visible to birds, using shutters or drapes to block windows and turning off decorative lighting at night during migration seasons. * Daily Herald | Woman missed out on cicadas 17 years ago, so she brought 6,000 of them to her yard: Seventeen years ago, Bettina Sailer felt cheated when her yard did not buzz with the sound of 17-year cicadas. So, the North Aurora resident went to other parts of the state where cicadas were plentiful and brought the insects back to her yard. This year, Sailer did it again. She now has more than 6,000 cicadas in her front yard. * Pew Research | Most Black Americans Believe U.S. Institutions Were Designed To Hold Black People Back: A new analysis suggests that many Black Americans believe the racial bias in U.S. institutions is not merely a matter of passive negligence; it is the result of intentional design. Specifically, large majorities describe the prison (74%), political (67%) and economic (65%) systems in the U.S., among others, as having been designed to hold Black people back, either a great deal or a fair amount. Black Americans’ mistrust of U.S. institutions is informed by history, from slavery to the implementation of Jim Crow laws in the South, to the rise of mass incarceration and more. Several studies show that racial disparities in income, wealth, education, imprisonment and health outcomes persist to this day.
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GOP poll has Sorensen up by 9 points, but below 50 percent
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Politico…
* From the poll…
More…  Crime, the border and inflation/interest rates are McGraw’s core issues so far. The campaign claims their talking points are moving numbers, but they didn’t release even the broad topics they polled. Americans for Prosperity Action made its first Illinois general election congressional endorsement since 2018 when it backed McGraw this month. * From US House Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent Peoria visit…
* Sorensen attended a reopening event today for the Peoria abortion clinic that was firebombed in 2023. Press release…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Tuesday, Jun 18, 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 Mark, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Rep. Harry Benton…
Thoughts?
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Revenue omnibus includes some little-noticed charitable provisions
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * AP budget story…
Lots more in there, so read the rest if you have time. * I received a press release yesterday about a couple of lesser-known budget-related items that were in the revenue omnibus bill…
* From the one-pager on the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act…
There’s a $100,000 contribution cap and a $5 million program cap. * Workforce Development Through Charitable Loan Repayment dot points…
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Pritzker teams up with IBM, Discover Financial to push for federal quantum funds
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Earlier this month. The Real Deal…
* Today, from Bloomberg…
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They’ll come back to it
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WAND…
* Zo Li…
* WAND…
* AG Update…
* WAND…
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Open thread
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Galesburg youth detention home accused of abusive practices new in class action lawsuit. PJ Star…
-Court documents say that the home continues to put young residents in solitary confinement. -The complaint, filed by two current teenage residents of the home, says that the home uses extended solitary confinement as a form of punishment, putting those who break rules in confinement for 23 1/2 hours a day, for multiple days, at the whim of staff. * Chalkbeat | Illinois’ Teacher of the Year felt like an outsider growing up. Decades on, she wants her students to know they belong.: Fourth and fifth grade teacher Rachael Mahmood wants to ensure all her students feel like they belong. That’s why she works hard to incorporate their identities, cultures, interests, and histories into her lesson plans and assignments. Mahmood, who has taught at Indian Prairie CUSD 204 for the past 19 years, was recently named the Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2024. The Illinois State Board of Education, which gave out the award, said in a press release that Mahmood has “a passion for designing curriculum that affirms students’ identities” and fosters their love of school. That has been a mission for her ever since she was a young student. (Indian Prairie CUSD 204 serves students in some of Chicago’s southwest suburbs.) * Block Club | Famous Wrigley Field Rooftops Including Torco And Eamus Catuli Buildings Could Be Torn Down: The owners of three iconic, century-old buildings across from Wrigley Field’s right field bleachers on Sheffield Avenue are proposing to tear them down and replace them with one 29-unit apartment building. Meanwhile, some neighbors in the area are pushing back against the project due to the historical significance of the apartment buildings and worry about the preservation of the neighborhood’s character. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision: “Illinois law is not affected by the decision,” a spokesperson for Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in an email statement Friday. Meanwhile, however, advocates on both sides of the gun control debate in the United States are anxiously waiting to learn whether the high court will hear a broader constitutional challenge to the state’s 2023 assault weapons ban, which includes the state-level ban on bump stocks. An announcement on that appeal could come at any time in the next several days. * Sun-Times | Schools still rely on cops to ticket kids for minor violations. It’s a practice that should stop.: Across Illinois, tickets of up to hundreds of dollars are issued for things like littering, swearing or hallway scuffles — behaviors that schools should address internally with evidence-based solutions like restorative practices. The ticketing practice is a debilitating symptom of a larger problem: the transformation of our classrooms into carceral spaces. Over the past decades, schools and prisons have become more alike in law, policy, and staffing. Courts have granted prisons tremendous control over prisoners purportedly in the name of rehabilitation and safety — and they’ve extended that same power to schools. * Capitol City Now | Mendoza: Budget “responsible”: “Government has an obligation to provide essential services to the state of Illinois,” Mendoza told WTAX News. “While $53 billion sounds like a lot of money – and it is – the increase between this year and last year was well below the rate of inflation. So we do have a responsible budget. There are investments that have to be made in the state of Illinois, and particularly when you see those investments, which cost money, being put into areas that have a good return on investment for taxpayers, that’s something that should be applauded.” Mendoza is trying to back away from statements she made after the budget passed … that she wanted to see “across the board cuts” – a phrase which drew an immediate negative response from the governor’s top aides. She says what she really means is to scrutinize everything to see if it’s really the lowest number possible. * 21st Show | An in-depth look at the new Illinois state budget: Today on the 21st, we’ll take a look at the new state budget. We are joined by Ralph Martire from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and David Merriman, a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago. * Center Square | Illinois begins multi-year, record-breaking transportation upgrade plan: The state will spend more than $41 billion to build and repair transportation infrastructure. It is the largest investment in state history and will involve all 102 Illinois counties. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it is an area of the state that has been neglected for years. “Not only was that holding back Illinois’ economic growth, but it was making our residents less safe and our communities less connected to one another,” said Pritzker. * Block Club | 2 Shot While Alderman Talks On Facebook Live About Camping Out To Stop Violence: A South Side alderman returned to his campout to stop violence on a South Side street Monday, a day after two people were shot in their faces early Sunday as he talked about his indefinite stay on Facebook Live. Ald. David Moore (17th) said he won’t be deterred by the shooting, and plans to stay on 73rd Street until he sees a positive turn in an area he’s called “an open air drug market.” * Sun-Times | Violence programs to expand in 4 West Side neighborhoods as business group nears $100 million goal: The neighborhoods are Austin, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Little Village. About one of five shootings citywide occur in one of those neighborhoods, according to city crime statistics. […] Anti-violence programs have reached into neighborhoods across the city over the past five years, driven by a massive expansion in funding from philanthropic organizations and government grants for non-policing approaches to combating a surge in violence that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. * Sun-Times | Efforts to root out Chicago police extremism have ‘fallen short’ of Mayor Johnson’s promises, watchdog says: The harsh criticism was included in an 18-page letter that Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s office sent to Johnson calling for a coordinated response to “an issue of profound importance and pressing public concern.” “Any ongoing mishandling of the matter puts CPD’s public public legitimacy at critical risk, and profoundly undermines its effectiveness by damaging the very public trust that the city and the department are endeavoring to foster,” Tobara Richardson, deputy inspector general for public safety, wrote on April 25. * Chalkbeat | Chicago’s Opportunity Index takes center stage in school budget drama: Giving more to schools that need more is a worthy goal, some experts said. But it comes at a complicated time, as the district faces enrollment instability and a deficit brought on by the end of federal COVID recovery money, meaning officials are taking from some campuses to give others a boost. The budget shift is especially challenging to pull off in a district with both large campuses and a growing number of very small schools, experts said. * Crain’s | Chicago downplays the threat of losing its biggest water customer — DuPage: Chicago will soon begin another round of high-stakes negotiations with the DuPage Water Commission in a bid to retain the city’s largest water customer, but the commission’s recent $80 million suburban land purchase adds bite to its threat to tap into Lake Michigan to bypass the city and become its own water supplier. * Block Club | Why Is The Wieners Circle Fighting With Portillo’s? A Confusing PETA Stunt Sparks Beef: “The PETA lady rolled up and had no idea that we don’t actually sell pork hot dogs,” Eggert said. “She told us that Portillo’s sent her over here and we had to tell her, “Ma’am, Portillo’s sells pork.’ I think she thought Portillo’s was a vegan restaurant.” […] A spokesperson for Portillo’s told Block Club that the famous Chicago hot dog chain did not partner with PETA for the event. The hot dog chain has avoided responding to social media dunks by Wieners Circle. Block Club reached out to PETA to ask how they got connected with Portillo’s for the stunt, but did not immediately hear back. * Daily Herald | ‘I feel like my brother has been neglected’: Questions linger one year after deadly mass shooting: Investigators with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office recovered multiple handguns and more than 100 shell casings from the parking lot, along with video footage of what happened. One man has been charged in connection with the shooting, but no one has been arrested for Meadows’ death. * NBC Chicago | Chicago suburb named ‘safest and most affordable’ city in US in new ranking: Elgin was noted for having a median household income of $85,998, with average mortgage costs of $1,840 and monthly cost of living totals around $4,000. Compared to other cities on the list, Elgin had a low number of property crimes and violent crimes. * Daily Southtown | US Rep. Robin Kelly, area mayors stress sustainability in renewed push for south suburban airport: Environmental groups and farmers alike have raised concerns about the potential impact of operating a cargo airport and warehouses near Peotone to allow the Will County area to cash in on the increased demand of fast shipping from companies such as Amazon. During a news conference at the East Hazel Crest clerk’s office, Kelly and members of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association stressed their support for building “the greenest airport in North America” as the Illinois Department of Transportation prepares to seek interest from potential developers. * STLPR | Metro East residents also push for federal radioactive waste exposure compensation: An informal survey they conducted over several years starting in 2009 found 368 cancer cases among residents in a six-block radius of the site. No government agency appears to have formally documented the cancer rates or health outcomes of residents in the community surrounding the plant. While a related federal program has paid more than $64.5 million to 383 former employees of this facility and another just north in Granite City, area residents have never been eligible for government compensation.
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Jun 18, 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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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Chip Mitchell at WBEZ…
* Sun-Times…
* Sun-Times…
* Politico…
* Investigate Midwest | As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails: An Illinois bill, SB 771, or the Wetlands Protection Act, that would have reinstated those protections in the state passed in committee, but failed to make it to the chamber floors of the General Assembly. The bill will be considered again during the veto session this fall. “We’re definitely disappointed the legislature didn’t act right away,” said Jennifer Walling, executive director for the Illinois Environmental Council. “They need to. This is an election issue, and we could be in even worse shape with a different president.” * Crain’s | Illinois is poised to become the country’s quantum computing hub: After strategic early investments in the emerging technology, Illinois is poised to become the country’s quantum computing hub — with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and partners like Intersect Illinois, P33 and others leading the charge. John Atkinson, chairman of Intersect Illinois, and Meera Raja, VP of deep tech at P33, help break down how the state remains at the forefront. * Business Insider | During summer my family moves from New York City to Illinois. Summer camp is more affordable there: My niece was sampling a wide variety of Parks Department camps — from filmmaking to STEAM to gymnastics to nature exploration, trying something new each week. In New York, such special-interest camps carry the price tag of a semester of college and require an hour of subway commuting for those of us who don’t live in midtown Manhattan. But in Illinois, a five to minute drive could take you to a butterfly farm program, a graphic novel workshop, a cabaret camp — you name it. For half-day programs in my sister’s town, the rates are $100 a week, and non-residents pay $130. Anyone living outside town, whether 10 minutes away or halfway across the country, pays the slightly elevated fee. For a full-day program, the price increases to about $200 (residents) or $230 (nonresidents) a week. * Bond Buyer | Lawmakers urge new path forward for transit agencies: Transit agencies across the country are being forced to deal with new trends in ridership, new travel patterns, and dwindling federal funds from pandemic- related relief that make the next few years crucial for bringing our nation’s transit system into the new world. * Block Club | Construction 12 Hours, 7 Days A Week: Here’s What To Expect From Freedom Center Demolition: In May, after 43 years in operation, the Freedom Center printed its last issue of the Tribune. The newspaper company will finish vacating the building next month. Bally’s Casino has five demolition permits for the Freedom Center under review, one for each structure on the property. The demolition of the Freedom Center has been categorized as an “environmentally complex” demolition, which means the Chicago Department of Public Health will need to review and inspect the site for potential health and environmental impacts. If the site passes inspection, the health department will give approval for the Department of Buildings to issue the demolition permits, officials said Friday. * Sun-Times | Season’s first heatwave arrives in Chicago this week: “Temperatures getting below the 90s is not in the cards until maybe next Sunday,” said David King, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville. Monday and Tuesday will be especially hot as temperatures hit the mid-90s. Making things hotter is the extra humidity headed our way, King said. * NBC Chicago | Developers break ground at site of failed Chicago Spire project: The hole at 400 Lake Shore Drive at the site of the failed Chicago Spire project is in the process of being filled. A 72-story residential building will go up in its place. “It has been a very, very long time,” Don Biernacki, the executive vice president of Related Midwest, quipped. “But when you have a vision for great development, great architecture and great projects that are going to be meaningful to our great city, it takes a while for that to come to fruition.” * Block Club | The Bean Scheduled To Reopen At The End Of June: “We are happy to share that final Plaza construction work is nearly completed on a comprehensive rebuild of the Plaza podium including new stairs, accessible ramps, paver replacement, a waterproofing system and accessibility upgrades to Grainger Plaza. Weather-permitting, we expect to reopen the Plaza to the public before the end of the month,” Madeline Long, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events spokesperson, said in an email. If completed on schedule, the Bean will open just in time for the 20th anniversary celebration of Millennium Park, which will run July 18-21. * Daily Herald | ‘Empty does not mean unloved’: Is piece of DuPage’s farming past in jeopardy?: The white clapboard house seems like a pleasant hideaway in the shade of its namesake trees. Oak Cottage has stood empty for decades within the Greene Valley Forest Preserve “But empty does not mean unloved,” lifelong Naperville resident Jane Ory Burke said. Guardians of DuPage County history have long called on the forest preserve district to make the cottage — the center of the home was built circa 1850 — accessible to the public. Earlier this month, the district hired an architectural firm to assess the condition of the structure. * Daily Herald | After public dust-up between officials, second District 59 school to get cop: After a public dust-up between a Northwest suburban school district superintendent and Elk Grove Village’s mayor over the latter’s push to add a school resource officer to a junior high, now the school board — controlled by the mayor’s son — has approved hiring a cop to walk the hallways of another school. A Mount Prospect police officer will be assigned to Holmes Junior High School for the start of the new school year in August, under an intergovernmental agreement approved last week by the Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 board and pending a vote by the Mount Prospect village board. * WSIL | More than a Dozen Communities Issued Boil Water Orders in Southern Illinois: A boil water order has been issued to more than a dozen communities after a water main break in Benton, Illinois. The Rend Lake Conservancy District (RLCD) stated the water main break occurred on Sunday. The leak was reportedly found in Benton on the water transmission line which serves multiple communities in Franklin and Perry counties. * SJ-R | Lincoln residents urge state officials to keep state prison in town, halt move near Chicago: Illinois Department of Corrections acting director LaToya Hughes confirmed that the location and facility design have yet to be finalized during a public meeting in Lincoln the prior evening. She and the department are adamant that Logan employees will be able to keep their jobs, stating there will be 850 open positions within a 90-mile radius including the neighboring men’s facility, Lincoln Correctional Center, and the Decatur Correctional Center. * ABC | Suspect in shooting of 3 deputies in Illinois had multiple firearms, sheriff says: A man accused of shooting and wounding three sheriff’s deputies during a standoff at a home in northern Illinois had multiple firearms in his possession, authorities said. A fixed-blade knife, pepper spray and ballistic armor also were found following Wednesday’s shooting in the Lost Lake community near Dixon, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. * WSIL | Marion woman talks about being homeless for 13 months and the woman who helped her find a home: Rhonda Sturgeon spent 13 months living in her truck, moving around to different parking lots trying to sleep. And doing so in the heat and the cold, not knowing if, or when it would end. […] “I had it made before I ended up with cancer and then after I went through everything with it and trying to trust people to pay my bills,” she said. […] If you ask assistant director Tammy Dodd, she’d tell you she’s nobody special. But to Sturgeon, Dodd has been one of the few people she can count on. * WGN | George Strait concert breaks US attendance record held by rock band since 1977: Country music star George Strait broke the record for the most-attended ticketed concert in the United States on Saturday night, playing for a crowd of 110,905 fans at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. […] Strait, whose upcoming album “Cowboys and Dreamers” is due out later this year, is no stranger to the record books. He’s among the top-selling country artists of all time, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and he’s accumulated more gold- and platinum-certified albums than only a handful of artists in any genre. * Popular Information | Sinclair floods local news websites with hundreds of deceptive articles about Biden’s mental fitness: Articles produced by Sinclair’s National Desk are published at the exact same time on every local website. The June 10 article, for example, was published on each website at exactly 9:24 AM Eastern. This suggests these articles are automatically syndicated, and local journalists at affiliates are not able to exercise editorial discretion. When these articles are syndicated, they appear alongside identically formatted articles on local government, weather, and sports.
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, Jun 17, 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 Mark, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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New state fair “master plan” focuses on year-round use, possible hotel, racino
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
The hotel, if deemed feasible, would be inside Gate 10, which is on Sangamon Ave. near the western edge of the fairgrounds. The plan also suggests a future Racino, “if desired.”
Thoughts?
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Study: Median Black Chicago metro area household has zero net worth
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
From Crain’s…  * From the report…
* The Grio in January…
* Mayor Brandon Johnson today announced a $500,000 task force to study the issue…
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Today’s quotable
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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It’s almost a law
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* WTTW…
* AG Update…
* Sun-Times…
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Today’s assignment
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * These are all long, involved and vitriolic posts that, I fully admit, I cannot make myself read in their entirety. So, I’m outsourcing the task to you. What the heck is this about?…
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.
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Unclear on the concept
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Last week…
* Axios and WTTW fell for it…
Trouble is, The Wiener’s Circle says it does not serve pork hot dogs. Portillo’s, on the other hand, serves pork ribs.
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#BustTheTransitFiefdoms
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here. My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
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Open thread
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Speaker Welch asks IL high court to toss ruling barring Dems from blocking many GOP candidates from fall ballot. Cook County Record…
-The case was appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court after Noll declared the law to be unconstitutional. - No documents yet filed offer insight into the arguments Welch and his legal team will use to challenge Judge Noll’s reasoning on appeal. -Welch’s lawyers followed up with a petition filed June 13, asking the court to accelerate the appeal proceedings so briefing in the case is completed in about a month. * Al Llorens | Illinois just took a vital step forward for safer schools : The General Assembly recently passed legislation, Senate Bill 1400, meant to address the unintended consequences caused by another bill that was passed, SB 100. This is a monumental step toward addressing challenges surrounding student discipline and educator safety. This legislation not only provides much-needed oversight and guidance in handling disciplinary issues but also acknowledges the alarming statistic that 20% of teachers and support staff have been assaulted on the job in the last five years. The fact that 1 in 5 teachers and support staff members have experienced physical and verbal assault is unacceptable and indicative of a systemic problem that demands urgent attention. * Tribune | CTA could play a key role in reducing Chicago emissions. But first, it will have to get riders back.: The Regional Transportation Authority doesn’t project the region’s ridership will come back this decade. In 2022, the agency estimated ridership could hit 74% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2031 if current circumstances persist, though RTA staff said the figures are likely conservative. In May, the CTA carried 69% of the passengers it transported in 2019. * Center Square | Pritzker says bump stock ruling won’t affect Illinois: Pritzker said Illinois lawmakers need not take action but elsewhere is a different story. “I do think it’s going to spur action at the state level as well as the federal level to try to once again ban bump stocks,” said Pritzker. “Here in Illinois we’ve already done that, we do not need to take action to fill in what the Supreme Court has taken away from other states.” * ABC Chicago | Illinois State Treasurer’s Office holding online auction for unclaimed property this week: A 14-karat gold charm bracelet, a 1783 Spanish milled dollar and a 1997 U.S. quarter-ounce platinum-proof coin are among the hundreds of unclaimed property items to be auctioned online by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office from Monday through Friday. You can click here for more information about the items being auctioned off. * WBEZ | Has performing arts employment in Illinois recovered from COVID-19?: About 1,000 fewer people report being employed by performing arts groups – that is, theater companies, dance companies and the symphony – compared to 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread shutdowns. For the arts, those shutdowns lasted well into 2021. According to inflation-adjusted data, the performing arts industry generated about $555 million for the Illinois economy in 2022, an 11% decrease from 2019. * Crain’s | Intersect Illinois appoints members to new ‘CEO-centered’ board: The organization announced three new appointments to its board of directors. Michael Sacks, chairman and CEO of GCM Grosvenor; Smita Shah, president and CEO of SPAAN Tech; and Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Chicago Bears, were all named to the board to “help advance Intersect Illinois’ mission to attract new jobs and investment to Illinois,” the organization said in a press release. * Farm Progress | State of Illinois cuts conservation funding: The operation budget for soil and water conservation districts across Illinois was cut nearly in half, according to Michael Woods, executive director for the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Those funds pay salaries for SWCD technical staff, the folks who leverage millions of dollars in federal conservation funding for farmers and landowners, serving as a conduit for funneling those dollars to conservation-minded landowners. * Sun-Times | Stevenson Expressway upgrades included in latest round of Gov. Pritzker’s $41B transportation plan: A total of $364 million is earmarked for Interstate 55 upgrades on 49 bridges from Wolf Road to the Chinatown feeder ramp, highlighted by full rebuilds of the Harlem and Cicero Avenue interchanges that are among the busiest in the state. * Tribune | Will Bally’s planned $1.7 billion Chicago casino get built by 2026? The odds may be shrinking.: Responding to doubts raised this week by Mayor Brandon Johnson about the viability of the ambitious project selected by the previous administration to be the first Chicago casino, Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim said that the River West entertainment complex will be built as planned. […] Analysts and investors, however, are increasingly concerned that the permanent Bally’s Chicago Casino may be delayed or downsized, given an $800 million funding gap and a more challenging financing environment than when the project was awarded two years ago. * Tribune | Chicago Teachers Union holds first-ever public bargaining session with CPS on ‘Green Schools’: The meeting, held Friday evening at Marquette Elementary School in Chicago Lawn, was the first of roughly six sessions in which the public was invited to participate between the district and the more than 30,000-member union of teachers and school employees. CTU’s proposal includes retrofitting buildings to fix aging infrastructure, adding central air conditioning for days of extreme heat, removing lead pipes, and installing solar or heat pumps to mitigate pollution in South and West side schools located near industrial corridors. * Tribune | Verbal abuse, a ‘sex-driven’ culture: Ex-employees describe toxic environment at Guaranteed Rate: Multiple women who used to work at Guaranteed Rate, meanwhile, described working in a sexualized atmosphere where some male loan officers and managers made sexually explicit remarks to female employees, hit on them in the office or at work events, and commented inappropriately on their appearance — even, in one case, encouraging a woman to use her looks to help close a loan. * Daily Herald | Officials decry census’ population loss estimates in Northwest suburbs: “I don’t know how they’re looking at it,” said Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen. “It defies logic and defies the data we have.” While the census bureau estimates Palatine has lost more than 3,000 residents since 2020 — a 4.5% drop — Ottesen said the town has seen an increase of 47 residential water customers in the past 12 months alone. * Daily Southtown | Landmarks: Oldest standing bank in Illinois among ‘endangered’ state sites: The imposing structure, erected in 1838, that housed the state’s first bank now stands nearly alone in a place most residents abandoned more than 80 years ago. But it’s one of the properties at the heart of legislation awaiting the signature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The bill would establish an appointed State Historic Preservation Board within the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, tasked with taking a hard look at the state’s historic properties. * John Howard Association | Monitoring Visit to * WREX | Nuclear Regulatory Commission to discuss Byron Generating Station 2023 safety performance: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold an open house and discuss the 2023 safety performance of Byron Generating Station. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its staff responsible for plant inspection and oversight, will be at the event to answer any questions and provide information to the community. * The Hill | 171,300 patients traveled out of state for abortions in 2023: Out-of-state care accounted for more than 15 percent of the estimated 1 million clinician-provided abortion procedures between 2023 and March of this year, according to the data. That figure has more than doubled since 2020. […] States that border those with recent near-total bans, such as Kansas and New Mexico, saw a majority of abortions in their state be from out-of-state patients. Texas’s abortion ban is one of the most restrictive in the country. * STLPR | Missouri is in the center of a national drug pricing battle — with billions on the line: In a battle that pits some of the biggest players in health care against each other, the Missouri General Assembly has come down on the side of hospitals who want unlimited access to discounted drugs for their pharmacies. On the last day of this year’s legislative session, the Missouri House passed a bill making it illegal for pharmaceutical manufacturers to refuse to supply the discounted medications to qualifying hospitals and health clinics and their contracted pharmacies.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Jun 17, 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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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Jun 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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