* ICYMI: Grayson’s behavior in Logan County led superior to ask, ‘How are you still employed with us?’ Capitol News Illinois…

Before former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was accused of shooting Sonya Massey after she called police to investigate a prowler, he had a rocky, one-year tenure with the Logan County Sheriff’s Department.

Personnel records show that Grayson’s time there was fraught, though he was not fired by the department. Grayson’s file from Logan County shows he continued a high-speed pursuit of a traffic offender even after his supervisor ordered him to terminate it, a woman filed a complaint claiming Grayson tried to watch as she was strip searched, and her fiancé, who was in Logan County jail, claimed Grayson questioned him in front of other inmates as retaliation for his girlfriend’s complaint.

Logan County Chief Deputy Nathan Miller wrote in a November 2022 report that Grayson needed “extensive” training after failing to listen to his superiors. He wrote Grayson needed field training, along with “additional traffic stop training, report writing training, high-stress decision making process classes, and needs to read, discuss and understand issued Logan County Sheriff’s Department policies.”

“Seven months on. How are you still employed by us?” Miller asked Grayson during a recorded meeting to discuss Grayson’s actions.

“I don’t know,” Grayson responded.

* Related stories…

∙ SJ-R: Supporters at Sonya Massey rally in Springfield: ‘Keep our eye on the prize’
∙ WCIA: Black Lives Matter advocates march in Sonya Massey’s hometown

Governor Pritzker will sign birth equity legislation at 11 am. At 1 pm, the governor will celebrate Illinois’ Medicaid waiver expansion at the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Volunteer Orientation Hall. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | First lawsuit under new Illinois Fertility Fraud Act illustrates challenges in proving claims, crafting legislation: It wasn’t until almost a half-century after conception that the mother and daughter learned new information that shocked them both: A commercially available genetic test in 2022 revealed that Culver’s DNA matched with the DNA of a granddaughter of [Dr. Bradley D. Adams of Christie Clinic], according to a lawsuit filed by Paula Duvall and Culver in Champaign County in February. […] The case was believed to be the first filed under the Illinois Fertility Fraud Act, which went into effect in January. The law states that “the assisted reproductive treatment of a patient using the health care provider’s own human reproductive material without the patient’s informed written consent has caused significant harm and had a severe negative impact” on Illinois residents, including fertility patients and their children. But a Champaign County judge in late June dismissed Christie Clinic from the lawsuit, in part because the law “does not allow health care facilities like Christie” to be named as defendants, according to court documents.

* WGLT | Going to bat: Logan County correctional staff advocate for keeping facility local: On Friday, staff from Logan and other regional correctional centers held a charity softball tournament that served both to raise money for the Lincoln food bank, and to spotlight efforts to keep the prison in Logan County. A state report has determined the facility in poor condition and that it needs to be replaced. The state government looks poised to build a new prison in Will County, which it contends will better serve the 43% of inmates who hail from the Chicago area.

*** Statewide ***

* Daily Herald | Lead feet in Illinois? 50% of crash deaths tied to speeding, so why does it persist?: In Illinois last year, 1,241 people were killed in vehicle crashes, and 55% of those deaths were speeding-related, ISP said. Who are these scofflaws? Significant segments are younger and male. In 2022, nearly one-quarter of drivers involved in fatal crashes between ages 18 and 44 were speeding. Also, 35% of male drivers ages 15 to 20, and 32% of male drivers ages 21 to 24 involved in fatal crashes were speeding, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political campaign paid a firm for fundraising help while it lobbied City Hall, spurring calls for reform: Mercury Public Affairs, a New York City-based political strategy firm, has been lobbying Johnson since July 2023 on economic and labor causes, according to a Tribune examination of city lobbyist registration records. But starting this year, the company’s consulting division also worked for Johnson’s political fund, state campaign finance records show. Wearing both hats, though uncommon, is not a violation of state or city ethics codes. But it is a dynamic that good government watchdogs said raises concerns about the appearance of a conflict of interest for a firm seeking to influence the mayor’s office while also working to raise money for him.

* Sun-Times | Who’s paying for Chicago’s DNC? Voters won’t have the full picture till it’s long over: Once subsidized by taxpayers, major-party national conventions are now almost fully funded by uber-wealthy donors, massive corporations, labor unions and other influential big-money groups. […] A handful of major party backers confirmed to the Sun-Times that they’ve ponied up for the Democrats’ presidential election-year extravaganza, the four-day affair kicking off Aug. 19 that’s mostly funded through unlimited contributions to a non-profit host committee.

* Streetsblog Chicago | New RTA Report recommends income-based fare programs: The RTA report recommends addressing that challenge by creating an income-based reduced fare program called Regional Access. It also calls full state funding of ADA Paratransit and Regional Access, which would help reduce the $730 million budget gap. Lastly, it proposes unlocking collaborative pricing policies across the region by investing in technology and funding reform.

* Crain’s | Jewel, Mariano’s parents put merger on ice to fight Colorado challenge: Kroger and Albertsons, two supermarket operator giants and parent companies of Chicago grocers Mariano’s Fresh Markets and Jewel-Osco, have agreed to delay closing their $24.6 billion merger as a challenge from the Colorado attorney general goes to court. At a hearing yesterday in Denver, Judge Andrew Luxen granted a preliminary injunction halting the deal and canceled a hearing that was scheduled for Aug. 12. Instead, Luxen will oversee a two-week trial on the merits of the proposed tie-up beginning on Sept. 30.

* Sun-Times | Against all odds, piping plovers keep making history in Illinois: The viral saga began when Monty and Rose tried to nest in a Waukegan parking lot in 2018, which Semel said was “a terrible spot with drag racing, and the city wasn’t responsive to closing off the area.” Much changed quickly. This year Waukegan made piping plover the city bird the day before piping plovers returned to a restricted beach there. In 2019, Monty and Rose nested at Montrose, the first in Cook County since 1948.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Cook County property tax late fees could be used for tax relief for low-income homeowners: The median tax bill south suburban taxpayers received this year went up about 20%, according to the county treasurer, the biggest increase in the last 29 years. The year before, the median residential tax bill for the north and northwest suburbs jumped 15.7%, the biggest percent increase in the last 30 years. Now, 13 of the board’s 17 members are calling for a hearing to create a new property tax relief rebate program. They want to pay for it with fees the Cook County treasurer collects from people who pay their bills late.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton former and current elected officials announce campaigns against Tiffany Henyard: Trustee Jason House, who became an outspoken advocate for launching an investigation into Henyard’s spending of village tax dollars, formally announced his run for mayor. Former Trustee Edward Steave, who lost a bid for reelection last year, is running for trustee and incumbent Trustees Kiana Belcher and Brittney Norwood and Village Clerk Alison Key will seek reelection.

* ABC Chicago | Dolton Trustee Jason House announces campaign for mayor in bid to unseat Tiffany Henyard: Dolton Senior Village Trustee Jason House’s candidacy is part of a team effort of former and current trustees all running in opposition to incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Former and current elected leaders are hoping to change the tide of Dolton politics by launching a joint effort against current Henyard under the slogan, “Clean House 2025.”

* Daily Herald | Virtual reality: Local college football players thrilled to be in video game: EA stopped producing NCAA games in 2014 after a federal court ruled the NCAA broke federal antitrust laws by not paying players for allowing their images and likenesses to be used. Now, in the age of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), players receive $600 and a copy of the new game for the console of their choice as compensation. “It’s a very surreal, full circle feeling,” said Jaden Dolphin, a former Maine West linebacker who tallied 62 total tackles last season for Northern Illinois University.

*** Downstate ***

* Shaw Local | La Salle County GOP to host former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at annual dinner: The La Salle County Republican Central Committee announced it will host its annual Reagan Day Dinner, featuring the former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. The event will take place on Friday, Aug. 2, at the Pitstick Pavilion, on Route 23, north of Ottawa. Walker is celebrated for his transformative conservative leadership and impactful policies during his tenure, the La Salle County Republicans said in a news release. Some of his notable achievements include:

* Pantagraph | Central Illinois political parties energized by Harris, united under Trump: “I think she’s going to bring out some new voters, some new people, and honestly, I’m looking forward to seeing a career prosecutor … run against a felon,” said Patrick Cortesi, chairman of the McLean County Democrats, referring to Harris’ legal background and Trump’s felony convictions. Livingston County GOP Chairman Dave Rice said his party focuses more on policy positions than individual candidates, and in that respect, Harris would represent a continuation of the 81-year-old incumbent’s work.

* SJ-R | Big Lincoln: How Illinois is using lifelike Abraham Lincoln to help tourists, businesses: The Illinois Office of Tourism partnered with Matador in early June to release the first U.S. state AI travel guide to help people learn and explore Illinois from their phone. Meet “Big Lincoln,” the handheld 16th President of the United States, who’s now telling you the best place to eat in town. The AI president shares the same bobblehead look and name as Illinois’ official mascot, which has been featured in international mascot competitions in the past.

* WSIU | SIU-Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane talks about enrollment, bonuses and administrative stability: WSIU’s Brad Palmer caught up with SIU-Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane last week. Chancellor Lane updated the SIU Board of Trustees earlier this month on the enrollment picture for the campus, which he said includes a 14% increase currently in new students. He starts out talking about the 3.4% increase in summer enrollment.

* WCIA | Elevator explodes at Decatur ADM complex: A spokesperson from ADM said a “potential smoldering event” was found at an elevator in the building around 6:30 a.m. Upon investigation, surrounding operations were shut down and the complex was evacuated. The Decatur Fire Department was called to the scene. The elevator exploded an hour later at 7:30 a.m. The spokesperson said no one was hurt in the incident. However, the elevator did withstand some structural damage.