* ICYMI: Illinois lands federal partnership to further develop quantum projects. Sun-Times…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday plans to announce a major partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s research and development agency to further expand quantum research in Illinois.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, will take residency on the state’s quantum campus to establish a program where quantum computing prototypes will be tested. The location of the campus is expected to be announced soon.

According to DARPA, the goal of the “Quantum Benchmarking Initaitive,” or QBI, will be to evaluate and test quantum computing claims and “separate hype from reality.”

“It’s going to ensure our quantum campus and the development of our quantum industry is secured as a global leader,” Pritzker said in an interview with the Sun-Times. “We’re the only state that put forward a quantum campus and quantum plan. And the federal government stepping up and becoming an important partner, particularly DARPA, is a lot of validation.”

Governor Pritzker will announce federal investments in Illinois at 11 am. Then at 1 pm the governor will give remarks celebrating opening of new PACE South Campus. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Block Club | As Tornadoes Hit Chicago Area Again, City Battered By Strong Storms: Tornadoes touched down at both O’Hare and Midway airports, ABC7 meteorologists said during Monday’s broadcast. Meteorologists saw power flashes on webcams at both airports, “due to likely tornadoes and/or destructive wind gusts near those areas,” the weather service tweeted.

* Tribune | Lawyers for ex-Speaker Madigan ask judge to gut indictment in light of SCOTUS ruling: The 73-page filing largely mirrors the defense’s motion to dismiss in February 2023, which had yet to be ruled on by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey. Instead, the judge ordered the parties to renew their submissions in light of the Supreme Court’s decision last month in the case of former Portage, Indiana, Mayor James Snyder. The filing Monday includes dozens of citations to the Snyder ruling, which says the federal bribery statute commonly known as 666 after its number in the federal criminal code does not criminalize “gratuities,” gifts given to elected officials to express thanks for taking a favorable action.

*** RNC ***

* Capitol News Illinois | At national convention, Illinois’ beleaguered GOP portrays calm amid internal storm: U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, of Murphysboro, said Monday that Trump himself has started to change his own rhetoric, but not his campaign issues. “It doesn’t change the issues,” Bost told reporters after the breakfast. “Maybe it changes the way, one, the president, Donald Trump, looks at each issue and how he deals with people. But, two, it also showed not only this nation but the world when he came up from that shot, that he’s a fighter.”

* Capitol News Illinois | Cabello praises running mate pick: After news broke of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance being tapped as Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, Rep. John Cabello told Capitol News Illinois he supports the choice. “He’s got a great story, he came from nothing. You know, he’s self-made. The man worked his tail off,” Cabello said. “Yeah, I think that’s a good fit for the story. It’s the same thing that Trump did you know, work your tail off, build yourself and you know he’s very knowledgeable. I think it’s a great pick.”

* CBS | Illinois Republicans believe party will unite at RNC after Trump assassination attempt: Illinois State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) agreed. “Even when we don’t agree on things totally, I think you’re going to see a Ronald Reagan-style Republican Party, where if we agree 80% of the time, we are friends,”

*** Statewide ***

* Press Release | Illinois Federation of Teachers Hires New Director of Political Activities: Today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) announced the hiring of veteran staffer Bryen Johnson as the union’s statewide Director of Political Activities. Bryen replaces Michelle Paul, who left last month after 20 years at the IFT.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Johnson whipping votes to install progressive ally as head of Zoning Committee: Johnson is whipping votes for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, to chair the committee with the city’s current vice mayor, Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, taking over the Housing Committee that Sigcho-Lopez would vacate. The shuffle would put to rest the question of who would chair the Zoning Committee that has lingered since Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, stepped aside after apologizing to colleagues for attempting to block Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th, from entering the chamber in an effort to kill a vote.

* Sun-Times | How did the White Sox get this bad? All this losing starts at the top: The Sox are the owners of the worst won-lost record in the game. At their current pace, they’re on track to finish 45-117. If they pick up their pace of losing just a bit, they might break the 1962 Mets’ record for the most defeats in the history of modern baseball.

* Chicago Reader | Chicago’s illustrious American Academy of Art is closing.: The announcement blamed the pandemic and sought to frame the school’s demise in a broader context of falling student numbers: “The decision to close comes in response to a significant decline in enrollments following the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenge faced by many educational institutions,” it said. Arrangements are being made that will allow Academy students to continue their degree programs at Columbia College Chicago. Columbia spokesperson Lambrini Lukidis confirms that “we do have a formal transfer agreement for current students.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Shaw Local | Kane County sheriff, state’s attorney to ramp up security at political events: In a joint statement on July 15, State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and Sheriff Ron Hain condemned the attempted assassination and vowed to enhance security at future political events in the county. “We are horrified by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump,” The statement read. “Political violence has no place in the United States, and we must all condemn this abhorrent act. In a democratic society, violence is never the answer. No one should have to risk their life to run for office, attend a political event, or advocate for a cause.”

* ABC Chicago | 1st suburban Cook County Restorative Justice Court opens in Sauk Village, following Chicago’s lead: A second chance is being offered for young people in south suburban Sauk Village. A court focused on restorative justice has opened. […] “We let the participants see the decision they made, there can be better decision-making and that they can restore not only within their community, but everybody else’s community,” said Andrea Boler, a case manager with the Cook County Restorative Justice Program.

*** Downstate ***

* Dispatch-Argus | Illinois Quad-Cities state senator highlights new state department, veteran grant funding: [Sen. Mike Halpin] said early childhood education will continue to be a top priority moving forward, calling it the “most cost-effective” dollars the state can spend. “When you spend it at the early childhood level, you don’t have to spend money later on to ‘catch people up,’” he said. “So, I think the $350 million we put in (for K-12 education) every year is going to go that much further.”

* WLCN | Logan Correctional Center staff, workers from other correctional centers unite on softball field to give back to community, maintain awareness of proposed Logan facility closure: While many may think that competition is the only thing taking place between teams on an athletic field, a softball tournament featuring workers from Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and other Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities from around the state hopes to accomplish more. The six-team softball tournament is scheduled for July 26 from 5 PM until approximately 9 PM on the softball fields at Lincoln Park District, 1400 Primm Road in Lincoln.

* WTVO | Rockford moves to place historic Illinois National Guard Armory up for sale: In 2000, the building was placed under landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, which has sat vacant for decades, was donated to the City in 2006. Rockford’s Code and Regulations Committee approved the authorization to put the property up for sale on Monday night. It now advances to the full City Council.

* SJ-R | More than $15,000 given out in first round of relief checks following Adams Street fire: According to a news release, 12 residents, seven businesses, and one nonprofit impacted by the fire received the checks from the INB Benefit for the Businesses Affected by the Adams Family Fire fund, which was opened by the Office of Planning and Economic Development on June 20, the day after the fire. Since the fire, the direct donations to the fund have amassed just over $18,000 to support the Adams family businesses and people affected by the blaze; and a first-round of checks totaled $15,750.

* Horse Racing Nation | Accel Entertainment agrees to buy FanDuel track for $35 million: Accel noted in the news release that it is acquiring the only track in the St. Louis-southern Illinois market along with an opportunity to develop a legislatively authorized casino project. It also is acquiring the master sports-betting license used in a revenue-share agreement with FanDuel. “Accel is committed to maintaining Fairmount’s rich horse-racing history, including continuing support of the Illinois Racing Board’s mission to enhance the Illinois horse racing industry,” the company said in the release.

*** National ***

* The Atlantic | Congress Accidentally Legalized Weed Six Years Ago: This is probably not what Congress had in mind when it passed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, commonly called the 2018 Farm Bill, which made the production of hemp—cannabis’s traditionally nonpsychoactive cousin—legal for the first time in nearly a century. Lawmakers who backed hemp legalization expected the plant to be used for textiles and nonintoxicating supplements, such as CBD oil and shelled hemp seeds (great on an acai bowl). They didn’t realize that, with some chemistry and creativity, hemp can get you just as high as the dankest marijuana plant.