* ICYMI: Madigan attorneys still aiming for October trial despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Sun-Times…

[Prosecutors and defense attorney] also told U.S. District Judge John Blakey that the feds have no plan to file a revised indictment against Madigan in the wake of the high court decision.

The news came in the form of a status report filed jointly by prosecutors and defense attorneys for Madigan and his co-defendant, longtime confidant Michael McClain. The seven-page document contained the first public comment from prosecutors in Madigan’s case since the Supreme Court ruled in the separate appeal of former Portage, Indiana, Mayor James Snyder. […]

Under the plan outlined in the report, Madigan’s attorneys would have until July 18 to file motions related to the Snyder ruling. Defense attorneys also asked the judge to consider keeping names of jurors in the case confidential — known only to parties. Prosecutors will apparently agree if the judge makes certain findings, according to the report.

Click here for the full report.

* Meanwhile…

Meanwhile, attorneys in the separate ComEd bribery case are due in front of a judge this morning. Defense attorneys insist it will need to be re-tried in light of SCOTUS' Snyder ruling. Background: https://t.co/dyiSV0D3be https://t.co/g6vCygkP2x

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) July 9, 2024

Governor Pritzker will announce the CEJA Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program grantees at 1 pm. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Amid ‘continued threats’ River Forest Public Library to open late Tuesday, hire security: According to the notification about the threat, hiring of security and later opening, officials explained that recently, the actions of the individual believed to be at the center of the threats have “escalated” and include sending letters to The River Forest Tennis Club, several residents and a staff member. “The content of the letters has also shifted. They now name several staff members and make indirect threats to the Library at large,” the notice reads.

* WAND | IL could soon expand mental health coverage for patients following miscarriage, stillbirth: The state currently requires insurance coverage for mental, emotional, nervous or substance use treatments for pregnant people through delivery, postpartum and neonatal care. “But there is no requirement to provide those services in the case of miscarriage or stillbirth,” said Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora). “House Bill 5282 adds coverage for individuals needing those services as a result of a miscarriage or stillbirth.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Pantagraph | Illinois lawmaker recap: In second year, Chung takes on ‘bigger lifts’ in Springfield: Chung, a second-year lawmaker, said she did “more navigating and steering” this session after “going along for the ride a little bit more last year.” This included sponsoring bills that were “bigger lifts,” such as the battery stewardship program, which awaits Pritzker’s signature to become law. “It was a really great lesson in how to negotiate a bill and bring in all these people together,” she said. “That was a really great experience, to be honest. I really am proud about that bill.”

* WBBM | Advocates say Pritzker’s cannabis equity promises went up in smoke: Richard St. Paul, with the National Black Empowerment Action Fund (NBEAF), said Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised 63,000 jobs would be generated by the legalization of recreational marijuana — mostly for people in communities that were hurt by the war on drugs. St Paul, though, said that promise wasn’t kept. […] But Erin Johnson, Illinois’ cannabis regulation oversight officer, said there are 103 social equity licenses now, and she claimed that Illinois’ legalized pot industry is the nation’s most diverse:

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Wilmette resident Nancy Maldonado confirmed to 7th U.S Circuit of Appeals: A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University’s law school, Maldonado, 48, was born in Skokie and lived in the village until 2015. She will replace 7th Circuit Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner, who upon Maldonado’s confirmation will take senior status, a form of semi-retirement with a reduced caseload. Like her current position as a federal trial court judge, Maldonado’s new role as a federal appeals court judge carries with it life tenure.

* Tribune | Climate change threatens overall firefly populations, study shows, but Midwest could see increase: Twenty-six species call Illinois home, one of which — the Cypress firefly — is classified as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. […] The study concluded the insect’s abundance was “generally, negatively affected” by an increase in summertime heat. However, just as most areas might see a decline in the populations of certain firefly species under climate change or even lose populations altogether, the models indicated conditions, including warmer temperatures, might make some areas able to support larger local and regional populations, primarily around the Midwest and Great Lakes.

* NBC Chicago | Here are all the Illinois athletes representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics: From the Chicago area and beyond, Illinois Olympians will look to secure their place in history as they go for gold. And there will be no shortage of opportunities as the state has representation across a number of sports, including gymnastics, swimming, track and field, BMX racing, soccer and more.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Johnson allies shoot down attempt to level legislative playing field between City Council and mayor: The Rules Committee voted down a resolution that would have converted the Legislative Reference Bureau into the Office of Legislative Counsel. That new office would have been charged with giving “competent, unbiased advice” on parliamentary procedure and other legal matters.

* Tribune | ‘I’ve been consistently working’: Chicago White Sox top prospect Colson Montgomery is excited for Futures Game opportunity: Janish said, ‘Really happy with what you’ve been doing, just keep staying consistent and keep doing what you’re doing, and we know everything’s going to work out,” Montgomery recalled during a video conference call on Friday. Montgomery said Janish continued, “‘Just want to let you know you’ve been selected for the Futures Game.’ And I said, ‘Let’s go,’ and I was really excited. I’m still excited, and I can’t wait to play there.”

* Tribune | NASCAR Chicago Street Race averages nearly 3.9 million TV viewers, but falls short of last year after two-hour rain delay: Last year, the inaugural July Fourth weekend event navigated record rainfall that curtailed races, canceled concerts and left remaining fans soaked. But the TV broadcast averaged nearly 4.8 million viewers, the most watched Cup Series race on NBC since 2017. Viewership was down for this year’s race from the start Sunday afternoon, peaking just after the green flag dropped at 4:11 p.m. When the red flag came out about an hour later amid increasing rain and crashes, it precipitated a lengthy delay that drove away viewers.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | ‘A better life’: Dogs rescued from Oklahoma ‘puppy mills’ arrive in suburbs: According to Daubert, the Humane Society of the United States rescued more than 100 dogs from two breeding operations that were shut down in Milburn, Oklahoma. The HSUS was tipped off about the operations and alerted Anderson Humane of the need for care of the animals. “They were unsanitary and ill, and several needed immediate medical treatment,” Daubert said after transferring 20 crated puppies from the first flight to Anderson Humane vans.

* AP | For-profit college in Oak Lawn shuts down abruptly:Northwestern College President Lawrence Schumacher said in the email that the U.S. Department of Education has been reviewing the school. As a result of the review, the agency had stopped the regular flow of federal student aid funds to the school, moving instead to a reimbursement system. Schumacher said payments were delayed for 45 days or longer and after two years of the arrangement the school could no longer cover the lapses in funding.

*** Downstate ***

* Illinois Times | DCFS finds foster parent negligent in death of 7-year-old boy: An investigation completed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on June 28 concluded that neglect by David Yankee led to the death of Barrett Koches, DCFS spokesperson Heather Tarczan said July 1. […] DCFS also determined that Yankee and his husband, Michael, inadequately supervised the two other foster children in their care at the time of Barrett Koches’ drowning in the Yankees’ outdoor, in-ground swimming pool behind their home in the 2300 block of Winnebago Drive on Springfield’s north end.

* KFVS | Union employees picket at Menard Correctional Center: Correctional officers from the facility say short staffing is causing an increase in violent attacks from inmates. Safety Matters, that’s the message they want management at this facility, other facilities, and the Department of Corrections to hear. “Menard, we house the worst of the worst, so when they assault at other facilities, we get them sent to us, when they assault us, they stay here,” Rick Hepp said.

* WCIA | Illinois to screen for juvenile justice specialists in Lincoln: Specialists aim to improve the lives of youth in their care through mentoring relationships and direct supervision. The specialists will work at the new Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln, which is scheduled to open in early 2025 according to the department’s website. The starting salary for this full-time shift-work job is $58,248.

*** National ***

* KSDK | Armed man ‘appeared to be in a depressive state’ when St. Louis police seized his guns on a downtown rooftop overlooking July 4 parade route: The Alton police department issued a warrant for Sappington’s arrest back in March after investigating a January shooting at a crowded intersection of Belle and W. 3rd streets. Court records show Sappington did not have a Firearm Owner’s ID (FOID) card. No injuries were reported in that shooting incident. […] Under Illinois’ new law that abolishes cash bail, prosecutors can file a motion to seek pretrial detention for forcible felonies. On both counts, the alleged crimes would’ve qualified for pretrial detention. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine did not initially file a motion seeking detention before Sappington’s trial.

* Crain’s | Pritzker steps up anti-Trump drive with Milwaukee abortion ads: The billboards near Wisconsin’s largest city were placed early this month and will be up through the convention, according to Christina Amestoy, a spokeswoman for Think Big America. One of them reads: “MAGA extremists are in town this week to nominate a president who wants a national abortion ban. Stop them. Vote.” “Thanks to Donald Trump and his allies, access to contraception, IVF, and all reproductive health care is now at risk,” Amestoy said in a statement. “Whenever a woman is denied the care she needs, remember: MAGA extremists did this to women and we’re not going to let voters forget it.”