Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2024

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Paris Schutz of Fox Chicago…

Mayor, Governor, top public officials, business and philanthropic leaders announce $100 million in private investment raised for Community Violence Intervention Programs, after devastating 4th of July Weekend that saw 19 killed and more than 100 gunshot victims pic.twitter.com/1d8TWRopSF

— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) July 10, 2024

* Daily Herald…

Illinois lawmakers including Rep. Nabeela Syed of Palatine and Rep. Dagmara Avelar of Romeoville joined consumer advocacy group Citizens Utility Board on Wednesday to call for legislative reforms designed to curb rates for customers of the state’s two private water utilities.

The proposals come as the utilities, Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois, seek rate increases totaling $152.4 million and $19.2 million, respectively. The requests account for necessary investments such as replacing aging infrastructure, enhancing water quality and complying with local and federal environmental regulations, according to the utilities.

But with the companies estimating that the hikes would increase residential water service and wastewater bills by up to $29 a month, advocates say “frustration is mounting” among customers. […]

To address the concerns, proposed reforms include requiring shareholders — not customers — to cover the majority of costs when a private company buys a local water and wastewater system, and requiring local approval through a referendum before Illinois American or Aqua Illinois purchases a municipal system.

Under current state law, the utilities are allowed to charge their customers 100% of the cost for such acquisitions. Since 2013, the two companies have bought 59 systems totaling $402 million in acquisition costs that have been passed on to customers, according to a Citizens Utility Board analysis.

*** Statewide ***

* WTVO | 27 Illinois residents infected with dengue fever, CDC says: The CDC said 17 of the reported Illinois cases are in Cook County. More than 9.7 million cases of the disease have been reported this year, more than twice as many reported in 2023. […] There is currently no antiviral medication to treat dengue, but most cases subside within a week or two.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Man who damaged Chicago abortion clinics gets a year of home confinement: Michael Barron, 42, told law enforcement that he hoped the damage he caused to the clinics in 2021 would prompt them to close even for a day — and perhaps interrupt a planned abortion. “I was like, you know, if I go over there and do something, you know I’m probably gonna get caught, but they might be closed for a day, you know,” Barron said in an interview, according to prosecutors. “And that might be some woman that has to cancel her appointment and, you know, second-guess her decision or something.” […] Prosecutors say he used a slingshot and metal ball bearings to damage the two clinics — in Logan Square and Rogers Park — on six occasions in May and June 2021. He damaged the glass in the windows and doors of the facilities, sometimes shattering the glass entirely.

* Sun-Times | Downtown motorists get reprieve from automated enforcement, but it won’t last: Downtown motorists have gotten an extended reprieve from the dramatic expansion of video surveillance and automated ticketing authorized by the City Council more than a year ago to make downtown streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. But it won’t last. Nor will the two-year test be shortened, simply because the program has been slow to get off the ground. In fact, it’s being strengthened. The Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety agreed Wednesday to accommodate the bureaucratic delay by changing the end date of the downtown enforcement crackdown. It now will last until two years after the first ticket is issued — once the program starts.

* Press Release | Ameya Pawar Named Next CEO of Michael Reese Health Trust: “We are delighted to welcome Ameya to Michael Reese,” said Mally Rutkoff, Michael Reese board chair. “Through a national search with Koya Partners, Ameya stood out immediately, impressing us with his resourcefulness and time-tested ability to build coalitions and deliver impact. He brings to us a powerful and proven capability to further advance our work in grassroots and systems change. I can think of no one better to lead us through our next chapter as a public foundation and to further our impact as a leading voice in health equity in Chicago.” With fifteen years of experience in senior leadership positions across government, non-profit advocacy, think tanks, and the private sector, Pawar brings a steadfast commitment to social, economic, and racial justice, which provides a strong foundation for leading the strategic vision for Michael Reese’s long-term growth, impact in the community, and delivery of its mission. He was the first Asian and Indian American ever elected to the Chicago City Council and while in office, he focused legislative efforts around social justice, worker rights, and economic justice, including raising the city’s minimum wage, guaranteeing paid sick leave, and combatting wage theft. He also led over half a billion in economic development, including new affordable housing developments and improvements to neighborhood high schools.

* Tribune | Student barbers add reversing opioid overdoses to their list of skills: A social worker and nurse practitioner demonstrated how to administer Narcan nasal spray — a potentially life-saving treatment during an opioid overdose — to a classroom of more than a dozen barber college students on the city’s South Side on Tuesday. It was part of an initiative by Rush University Medical Center to help combat the opioid crisis in typically underserved communities.

* Tribune | Former Chicago marathon winner banned for doping and fake documents: Kenyan runner Lawrence Cherono, a former winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons, has been banned for seven years for doping and trying to use fake documents to explain his failed drug test. Cherono tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in 2022 and was suspended just before he was due to compete at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Audit reveals shortcomings that led to DuPage County cannabis tax snafu: DuPage County officials on Tuesday said they won’t risk losing millions in revenue again and will ensure proper paperwork is filed with the state — even if it means doing it themselves. The pledge came as county board members reviewed an internal audit outlining how a 2019 county ordinance establishing a 3% sales tax on all sales of recreational cannabis sales in municipal parts of the county was not initially filed with the Illinois Department of Revenue.

* Elgin Courier-News | Kane prosecutor says no details on fatal shooting by cop to be released till probe complete, which could ‘take a few months’: A person was killed Monday by an off-duty Kane County sheriff’s deputy in Elgin, but no details on the case other than when and where it occurred will be released pending an investigation, a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said. […] As of Wednesday, the name, sex, age and address of the shooting victim have not been made public nor have the circumstances of what led to shooting, the name of the deputy involved, how many shots were fired, if anyone else was involved or if the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | How many police calls were made to 3 a.m. Springfield bars since 2022? We break down the data: In a crowded city council chamber last month, Clique bar co-owner Josh Delcour spoke against an amendment for 3 a.m. bars to close two hours earlier. Delcour said 40 to 55 percent of the bar’s revenue is made from 1 to 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The amendment to chapter 90, article III of the 1988 city code passed on June 18 in an 8-2 vote, ending liquor sales for all bars at 2 a.m. at the price of $100 more annually to operate. […] Over 300 calls were made across the five bars in two and a half years, close to a call every 3 days.

* WSIL | Imagination Library sees over 4,000 registrations on day one: Over 4,000 local children will soon receive books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The library officially kicked off in our region on Tuesday. On that day alone, the Southern Illinois Community Foundation reports over 4,000 families signed up their children for the program.

*** National ***

* Federal Trade Commission | FTC Releases Interim Staff Report on Prescription Drug Middlemen: “The FTC’s interim report lays out how dominant pharmacy benefit managers can hike the cost of drugs—including overcharging patients for cancer drugs,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “The report also details how PBMs can squeeze independent pharmacies that many Americans—especially those in rural communities—depend on for essential care. The FTC will continue to use all our tools and authorities to scrutinize dominant players across healthcare markets and ensure that Americans can access affordable healthcare.”

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ILGOP releases national convention delegate list

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* ILGOP…

Today, the Illinois Republican Party is releasing the final list of delegates for the Republican National Convention taking place next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Each Congressional District in Illinois will be represented by 3 elected delegates in addition to 13 statewide delegates for a total of 64 delegates.

Click here for the list. Darren Bailey and US Rep. Mike Bost are both delegates in the same district. Bost beat Bailey in the Republican primary this year.

* Speaking of the Illinois Republican Party, a member of the Freedom Caucus is calling on Don Tracy to delay his resignation as state party chair…

State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) says the future of the Republican Party in Illinois requires thoughtful consideration and should not be done on the fly which is why he is calling on current Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy to delay his resignation.

“There is no question we have some issues to resolve in our party. Some require immediate attention and others can be addressed after November. My concern is that the selection process is rushed and ill timed. We are setting up whoever takes over the chairmanship for failure.

The duties of the Republican Party are to support our county organizations, provide legal assistance for ballot challenges as well as support other legal matters and to promote Republican ideas and candidates.

Don Tracy has performed these duties well, and he can continue to provide the stability we need to get through the next several months. The announced candidates to replace Tracy have not been properly vetted and have not provided a vision for the party for the future. The reality is the truncated timetable prohibits them from making a strong case for their candidacy. We gain nothing by rushing this important decision and we risk losing traction in a state that we can ill afford to cede anymore ground to the Democrats. The solution is for Don Tracy to remain as State Party Chairman. For the good of the Party, I call on Don Tracy to delay his resignation and continue to serve at least through the end of the year.”

Kinda surprising, considering the source.

I’ve asked a party spokesperson for comment.

* Meanwhile, Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) told me today he is interested in serving as interim party chair through the November election. Sen. Jason Plummer and Aaron Del Mar also have their hats in the ring.

7 Comments

Coverage roundup: Mass transit leaders unwilling to give up fiefdoms

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ABC Chicago…

There was major opposition to a plan to merge Metra, Pace and the CTA into one agency the first public hearing on the matter Tuesday.

Chicago area public transportation has had a bumpy ride over the last several years; while ridership is up on CTA, Metra and Pace, it still has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, and when it comes to service there is no shortage of complaints.

Illinois lawmakers invited the heads of CTA, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transit Authority to a public hearing on the state of public transit. On the heels of a $730 million funding cliff and an effort to reform, there is now proposed legislation to combine all agencies into one big agency. […]

While the business community calls for reform, each transit agency and the RTA, which is the governing body that overseas CTA, Metra and Pace, are against the consolidation. They argue it will not make each organization better.

* WTTW…

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), chair of the state Senate’s transportation committee and one of the sponsors of the merger bill, said lawmakers likely have little appetite to provide additional money without making changes.

“There will be no votes for funding unless we address service, governance and the corresponding reforms that are needed” to create a top-tier transit system that is also “accountable and transparent,” Villivalam said. […]

Villivalam told the transit leaders that proposed governance reforms weren’t meant as a comment on their leadership.

“We need to explore every avenue of how the system is going to be one for the future,” Villivalam said. He told the agency heads that merger legislation may move forward “if there’s consensus,” or that things may remain status quo.

* Block Club…

The executives said a chronic lack of funding — and not the way they function — is the real problem. Instead of a merger, the transit leaders hope the state can bankroll them out of an impending $730 million fiscal cliff in 2026.

“We’re victims of our own success. We operate the leanest system in the country,” said Derwinski, Metra’s chief executive. “I don’t know where the cuts would be … . I think it’s important that local representation has some voice with what happens in operations, and that could get minimized or lost in a grand board.”

The fiscal cliff nears as federal grant relief that floated the agencies through the pandemic runs out, while operating revenue has yet to recoup the difference as remote work cuts into ridership and reshapes travel patterns, the agency leaders said.

Kirk Dillard, chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority, estimated the fiscal cliff could “wipe out” 30-40 percent of current service levels across the three transit systems.

* Sun-Times…

“The governance model is not the problem here. … The issue is getting the funding levels to where they’re supposed to be,” CTA President Dorval Carter said in the first of six public hearings to be held by the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee. […]

“I do not believe that combining us into one organization will make us better,” Pace CEO Melinda Metzger told the Senate committee. “First of all, we all have board members who are local, who understand the local needs, and they give us a lot of info. Secondly, we’re all in different service areas.” […]

Kirk Dillard, chair of the RTA board, said the oversight role of his agency has kept costs down.

“It’s very similar to an external auditor reviewing an internal auditor’s work,” Dillard said. “That’s another reason we have the lowest operating cost per mile. … [T]he RTA does help hold these folks accountable.”

* WGN…

Embattled CTA president Dorval Carter pointed to a lack of funding, rather than cooperation among the agencies, for the region’s transportation issues.

“I’ve heard all of this before. I’ve been through governance reforms. I’ve been through funding reforms. I’ve been through all of this, and what I know hasn’t been adequately addressed is the fact that the funding that’s been provided for public transit has never, ever aligned with the governance that was put in place,” he testified. “What I mean by that is that we’ve never had the level of funding to truly allow for a discretionary funding program that would be controlled by RTA, that would allow RTA to basically direct priorities.” […]

CTA bus driver Jason Nawls, a member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local #241, said he feared that jobs would be lost in a consolidation plan.

“All of you want the service, but none of you wants to pay for it,” he said. “Only by funding the system and recognizing the service that the CTA and its employees truly provide will the situation be resolved.”

* More…

* Streetsblog | CTA, Metra, and Pace ridership have been recovering this year, but still have a long way to go to reach pre-COVID-19 levels: “It’s great to see that transit ridership is increasing, although it remains below pre-pandemic levels,” said Kendra Freeman, vice president of programs and strategic impact at the Metropolitan Planning Council. “Accessible and reliable public transit is a necessity for so many people across the region. MPC supports the transit funding and transit governance reforms found in [the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s] Plan of Action for Regional Transit as the best way to bolster our region’s transit system, ensure sustainability and continue to build back ridership to levels comparable to those found in our global peer metropolitan areas.”

* Fox Chicago | First look at plan to combine CTA, Metra and Pace unveiled at public hearings: Five additional public hearings on this matter have been scheduled, although some don’t have locations just yet. The next hearing will be July 24 in the south suburbs.

21 Comments

Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation

Wednesday, Jul 10, 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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NFL teams rolling in dough

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sportico…

Each of the 32 NFL teams received just over $400 million from the league office for the 2023 season, according to multiple people familiar with the league’s finances who were not authorized to speak publicly. The tally is up 6% to 8% from the 2022 season, depending on the accounting used by the team.

The total represents national media rights, league sponsorships and shared revenue and royalties from the league’s various affiliates and subsidiaries, such as NFL Properties, NFL International and NFL Enterprises and adds up to roughly $13 billion. […]

The other huge plus is the guaranteed check from the league each year that dwarfs the cap before a team sells a single ticket, beer, sponsorship or parking space. The result is that every NFL team is wildly profitable and worth at least $4 billion, with an average franchise value of $5.14 billion last year. […]

The national payout is up 115% over the past decade and should rise at a similar rate over the next decade to more than $800 million per team with the media deals secured.

* Center Square…

As economist J.C. Bradbury of Georgia’s Kennesaw State University has pointed out, renovations to existing NFL stadiums at the same spot do not improve economic conditions.

“There is no legitimate policy justification for devoting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to upgrade an NFL football stadium,” Bradbury told The Center Square. “The research on this is clear and unambiguous: sports stadiums are not salutary public investments.”

9 Comments

Healthcare Protection Act signed into law

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WTVO…

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of healthcare reforms into law on Wednesday, with the signing of the Healthcare Protection Act.

With the law’s signage, Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to ban prior authorization for in-patient adult and children’s mental health care.

The law bans “step therapy” for private insurance and Medicaid, which is the practice of requiring patients to try cheaper forms of treatments prior to trying more expensive options.

Additionally, the law adds Illinois to a list of 12 states banning “junk” insurance plans, which offer temporary and often incomplete coverage. Junk insurance plans are otherwise known as short-term limited duration plans, like health insurance plans people can buy when covered through an employer.

It also requires insurers to offer enough in-network doctors to meet patients’ needs, requiring insurance companies to keep up-to-date directories of which doctors are available. Health insurance companies would be required to conduct audits on themselves every 90 days and report their findings to the Department of Insurance.

* Press release…

Today Governor JB Pritzker signed the package of bills comprising the Healthcare Protection Act (HPA) into law, a series of reforms initially proposed by the Governor in his 2024 State of the State address. The HPA works to improve healthcare consumer experiences by banning step therapy and prior authorization for crisis mental healthcare, banning junk insurance plans, and ending unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies.

“With the signing of these bills, we’re putting power back into the hands of patients and their doctors and out of the grasps of predatory insurance companies who prioritize profits over patient outcomes,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Accessing care shouldn’t require endless bureaucracy and navigation, especially when someone is at their most vulnerable, and this legislation will make care more affordable and accessible for millions of Illinoisans.” […]

A main target of the HPA is step therapy, the practice of insurance providers requiring patients to try and fail on often less effective treatment options and medications first before getting the care recommended by their doctor. The legislation also eliminates prior authorization requirements for in-patient mental health care, recognizing that patients in need of urgent mental health care are often not able to navigate and wait out a prior authorization process.

The HPA also requires insurance companies be transparent about prior authorization requirements when advertising coverage. Since in-network availability is often the only way patients can access care, the HPA also sets standards for appointment time availability and number of in-network doctors, ensuring that patients can actually locate care in their area and have a transparent view of their in-network providers.

In addition to utilization management regulation, the HPA also pans the sale of junk insurance plans that fail to meet Affordable Care Act standards. In 2023, the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker ended unfair rate increases for individual policy holders and the small group insurance market. The HPA extends that regulation to large group insurance carriers as well.

* This is a big package…

“The Healthcare Protection Act reflects some of the strongest behavioral and physical health protections ever enacted in the United States. Banning junk insurance, ending step therapy and prior authorization for mental health, taking on ghost networks, and lowering health insurance rates to make healthcare more affordable will immeasurably improve healthcare in Illinois,” said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield). “Today marks a major step towards healthcare equity, and we will use this legislation as a benchmark for future efforts toward a healthier Illinois.”

* More…

State Rep. Bill Hauter, who doubles as an emergency room physician, co-sponsored House Bill 4055. The bill bans prior authorization and Hauter sponsored the legislation with Democrats. Hauter explained a provision of the bill that specifically benefits those with bleeding disorders.

“This amendment addresses pre authorization abuse … specifically this amendment focuses on hemophiliacs or those with bleeding disorders and the pre authorization required if they have an emergency condition and require medications. They will now be allowed to skip the emergency department and go directly to their specialist and avoid an emergency department visit,” said Hauter.

* WCIA…

Finally, the bill also addresses network adequacy and ghost networks. In 2022, WCIA published a series investigating Blue Cross Blue Shield’s ghost networks in Central Illinois. The Illinois Department of Insurance has fined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois twice in 2023 for not following the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act.

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Coverage roundup: Pritzker, Johnson make strong statements supporting Biden

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Governor Pritzker reiterated his support for President Biden yesterday during an unrelated news conference. Capitol News Illinois…

[Governor JB Pritzker] headed to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president and members of the Democratic Governors Association last Wednesday on the heels of Biden’s performance during the first of two scheduled debates with former President Donald Trump, which raised concerns about the president’s mental acuity. […]

On Tuesday, Pritzker said the exchange between Biden and the Democratic governors was “a robust discussion” – and he’s “all in” for Biden.

“Listen: Joe Biden is our nominee. I am for Joe Biden. I’ve been campaigning for Joe Biden. I think you’ve seen I’ve got dates scheduled to go to Indiana, to Ohio for Joe Biden,” he said at an unrelated event Tuesday. […]

And [Pritzker] said he wouldn’t engage in “hypotheticals” when asked if he’d be interested in replacing Biden should he drop out of the race.

* ABC Chicago…

This is the first time the governor has commented on the race since he and other Democratic governors met at the White House with the president last week to discuss his path forward after the debate debacle. Pritzker called it a robust meeting and had some advice for the president.

“I said, ‘You’ve got to get out there and talk to the American public more,’” Pritzker said. “It’s important for him to answer questions and talk about the issues. Hyper important, you know? People are thinking about their own families, how they’re going to deal with the kitchen table issues they’ve got in front of them and their personal freedoms.”

* Tribune…

Speaking to the Tribune earlier Tuesday, [Mayor Brandon Johnson] said he fully supports Biden.

“There is only one choice. That is President Joe Biden,” Johnson said, noting Biden is the only person to defeat Trump in a general election. Asked if he worries about Biden’s age, Johnson instead talked about his fears of what would happen if Trump returned to the White House.

“You know what my biggest concern is? It’s that you have someone who is trying to relitigate the Civil War,” Johnson said. “If there’s anything to be afraid of right now, it’s afraid of the fact that you have individuals that are organizing the return of the Confederacy. We have a president who is committed to democracy.”

* Mayor Johnson and other Democratic Governors spoke with Biden last night. After the call, Johnson emailed this letter to supporters, affirming his confidence in Biden…

Friends,

I hope you’re having a blessed Tuesday evening. I just got off the phone with President Biden and wanted to share an update with you.

I was joined by nearly 200 mayors across the country for a call that went for nearly an hour, and to be honest with you, President Biden was pretty fired up. He spoke extemporaneously about his campaign to defeat Donald Trump and, as always in our conversations, I’m glad he spoke proactively about the need to directly invest in cities across the country. He listed off priorities that are right in line with what we’ve been fighting for in Chicago, from investing in education and housing to banning assault weapons.

He is running on a bold, strong agenda that invests in people, which is exactly why I was so happy to head up to Milwaukee to stump for the Biden-Harris campaign on June 29th. Whether it was last month, this month, or any day between now and Election Day, we all need to do everything we can to re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris — and defeat Donald Trump.

I know there has been a lot of chatter about the President’s performance in the debate, and the President himself has said he had a bad debate. Having spoken to the President just now, I can tell you he is ready, willing, and able to take on and defeat Donald Trump. He made it clear that he will be crisscrossing the country and campaigning relentlessly to defeat Donald Trump.

I want to be very clear with you and everyone I speak to in Chicago or anywhere else in the country: Donald Trump is an existential threat to the City of Chicago, our movement, our rights, and our freedoms. To be blunt, Trump is a threat to everything we hold dear here in Chicago. I am proud to stand up to Donald Trump and I’m proud to fully support President Biden and Vice President Harris in this election. They are our ticket, and he is our president and we need him to be reelected this fall. Our entire city is counting on it.

And that’s why I’m so excited that President Biden and Vice President Harris are coming to the greatest city on Earth to receive their nomination. President Biden and Vice President Harris are exactly the leaders we need at this moment.

It is critically important that we all spend the next several months doing everything we can to defeat Trump. That starts by ensuring we are fully united going into the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. From now until November, I am going to be doing all that I can to ensure that President Biden and Vice President Harris are reelected and Donald Trump is defeated. I look forward to seeing you out there with me.

Onward, Mayor Brandon Johnson

* More…

SJ-R | Pritzker 2024? Not so fast. Governor holds steady with support for Biden:

* Sun-Times | Johnson to join Democratic mayors on phone call with Biden as president fights to stay in presidential race: “What’s clear to me and to people across Chicago, is that Donald Trump is a dire threat to everything we hold dear, including our democracy, our freedoms and our economy,” Johnson said in a statement posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Joe Biden is the president and our Democratic nominee, and we all need to do everything we can to defeat Donald Trump this November.”

* WCIA | Pritzker stands by Biden as others show concern: “I think obviously the President had a bad performance in the debate,” Pritzker said. “That doesn’t help anybody. He knows that, and what you have to do is stand up say, I didn’t do it well, which I think he said, and prove people wrong about what they want to say about it. And he’s doing that.” […] “I said you got to get out there and talk to the American public more,” Pritzker said. “It was important. I think they took too long. I think he admitted this to after the debate, for him to really go out and do press that would get national attention.”

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Only 16% of Illinois nursing homes are in compliance with federal staffing standards (Updated)

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois in May…

Employment in skilled nursing facilities nationwide as of February was down 8.3 percent compared with February of 2020, the month before the pandemic hit. Although the current staffing levels have somewhat recovered from their lowest point in early spring 2022 – when staffing was down 15.5 percent from pre-pandemic levels – other areas within health care have recovered much faster, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis […]

But with a tight budget year, leaders in the General Assembly can’t promise a huge windfall for the struggling industry. House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, who leads a working group on Medicaid issues, told Capitol News Illinois the industry asked for $75 million to make up for increased property taxes, which the state had at one time subsidized.

But in the waning days of legislative session, Gabel said the working group is still exploring ways to help the industry but was explicit that General Assembly can’t give the industry anywhere near the $75 million it requested. […]

The industry is also fearful a new federal rule designed to implement minimum staffing ratios will have the unintended effect of further closures. […]

But, Gabel said, the state can only do so much when the entire nursing home industry is up against trends that have been festering for years.

* Today from WTTW…

A new federal staffing minimum rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was designed to help those stranded without care like Payne. In May, CMS officially published the final rule of the first-ever federal minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. […]

But just 108 of the 670 Illinois nursing homes that provided the agency data meet all three of these requirements as of June, according to a WTTW News analysis of homes that submitted their staffing data to CMS. Eleven additional homes did not provide data.

-60% of the reporting nursing homes do not meet the total nurse staffing standard.

-41% do not meet the RN standard.

-81% do not meet the nursing aide standard. […]

If a home does not meet these requirements, there is a set of escalating penalties, like corrective plans of action or fines. Termination from the CMS program is the “enforcement item of last resort,” according to Health and Human Services (HHS) officials.

When presented with the low number of homes meeting the new CMS rules, the Illinois Department of Public Health, which regulates long-term care facilities, said the state already has staffing requirements. Illinois requires a minimum staffing ratio of 3.8 hours per resident per day needing skilled care and 2.5 hours per day for residents needing immediate care. However, repercussions for Illinois homes not meeting these requirements have been delayed until 2025.

*** Adding *** Lindsey Hess, the Communications Director at the Health Care Council of Illinois…

Most Illinois nursing homes are in compliance with Illinois’ staffing mandates, which actually require nursing staffing of 3.8 hours per resident per day (versus the proposed federal mandate of 3.48 hours). HCCI is vehemently opposed to CMS’ proposed plan of staffing mandates; one significant reason is the requirement of registered nurses on all shifts. Currently, CMS requires one registered nurse on duty per day, and licensed practical nurses may fill the remaining open shifts. In Illinois, where Medicaid is the largest payor of nursing home services, it would be unsustainable for safety net nursing homes to replace licensed practical nurses with registered nurses and ensure access to care for elderly citizens. In addition, nursing homes are still recovering from a historic labor crisis, and there’s a growing caregiver shortage. We support increasing the nursing home workforce, but a one-size-fits-all approach will not improve quality care.

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Open thread

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois…

5 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Central Illinois receiving $4.7M grant for clean energy pre-apprenticeship program. WAND…

* Related stories…

∙ CBS Chicago: Gov. Pritzker announces investment to create over 1,000 solar energy jobs on Chicago’s South, West sides

Governor Pritzker will sign the Healthcare Protection Act at 10 am. Then at 2 pm, the governor will give remarks at Reimagining Public Safety Act reception. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WGN | Chicagoland transit heads push back on proposal to combine agencies: The Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, unveiled earlier this year by state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago), aims to streamline services and reduce the competition for funding between the RTA, the CTA, Metra and Pace. “We all want to do the best job we can and do not believe that combining us into one organization will make us better,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.

* Crain’s | Illinois to expedite Medicaid services for those leaving prison: The Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services will launch a new program to bring Medicaid services and other resources to people transitioning out of incarceration or other institutional settings, following federal approval of an HFS demonstration waiver request.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Former GOP state lawmaker, candidate for governor sentenced to 42 months in prison: In February, [Former Republican State Sen. Sam McCann] pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud and one count each of money laundering and tax evasion – but only after prosecutors had spent nearly three days presenting evidence against him at trial. U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless hearkened back to that moment as she was handing down her sentence Tuesday afternoon, saying McCann’s refusal to “accept responsibility” until the last possible moment factored into her calculation for prison time. She also told McCann she was bothered that he “continued to steal” all while “holding yourself out (to be) a God-fearing public servant.”

* Rep. Kam Buckner | While we debate changes to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, let’s focus on the lakefront: The roadway portion of the project requires coordinated efforts between the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, and while some, including me, eventually envision a true boulevard, we should not delay in advancing improvements to our lakefront. Enhancements such as better beaches, improved bike paths and increased greenspace are essential, regardless of the ultimate design of the drive itself. Why not undertake the critical work of improving the lakefront first, with trail upgrades and more greenspace that has near universal support now? By doing so, we can get to work sooner and lay the groundwork for a more modest, environmentally conscious and transit-focused lakefront boulevard. This approach allows us to demonstrate the benefits of such improvements, making it easier to build consensus over time.

* SJ-R | New Illinois budget invests heavily in education. Why do some say it’s not enough?: Both the home visiting and early intervention programs saw their funding increase by 21% and 3% respectively under this budget. Still, Illinois Action For Children believes the $6 million tallied for early intervention to be paltry and unable to increase provider reimbursement rates leading to delays in service. “Illinois must increase investment in the early childhood workforce across all programs and settings,” said Angela Farwig, IAFC’s vice president of public policy, advocacy and research in a news release. “Our early childhood system thrives from the commitment of our educators, and we need robust workforce investment to build a brighter future for our children.”

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Kroger identifies 35 Illinois Mariano’s, Jewel locations to be sold off pending megamerger approval: Eight of the stores slated for sale are in Chicago. If Kroger and Albertsons — which first announced plans to merge in 2022 — secure approval for the deal, the store locations listed would be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers for $2.9 billion. Most Kroger-owned Mariano’s would be divested under the plan, which calls for selling 31 of the company’s 44 stores. Kroger has also said it would sell the Mariano’s brand name to C&S. Just four of the planned divestitures are Albertsons-owned Jewel-Osco locations.

* Chalkbeat | Illinois revenue from a tax on corporate profits is projected to decline. Here’s what that means for school districts: The shift comes as federal COVID recovery money dries up, and local education advocates fear that the recent addition of $350 million to the state’s education budget isn’t enough to match the needs of schools. The state’s evidence-based funding uses data from previous years, which means districts that saw unexpected gains from this unique tax on local businesses could receive fewer state dollars in the future. As districts finalize their budget for this upcoming school year, those receiving fewer state dollars will have to figure out how to fill in the gaps.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Mayor Johnson slowly builds on a campaign promise to hire more young people for city’s summer jobs program: Roughly 27,140 young people are working in the One Summer Chicago program this year, according to figures provided by the Department of Family and Support Services. That falls short of Johnson’s goal to hire 28,000 young people (though the number may still grow this summer) and far below his campaign promise to double the program in size.

* WTTW | Board Yanked Convicted Ex-Ald. Ed Burke’s $96K Annual City Pension Just Minutes After Sentencing, Records Show: U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall sentenced Burke to two years in prison and imposed a $2 million fine shortly before 3:30 p.m. June 24. Less than 30 minutes later, pension fund executive director Tiffany Junkins directed her staff to stop the $8,027 per month pension payments to Burke and to cut him a check for $543,516.92 — the amount he contributed to his pension during the 62 years he spent working for the city of Chicago and its sister agencies, plus interest, according to records obtained by WTTW News through the Freedom of Information Act.

* Sun-Times | Chicago’s Democratic convention could cause traffic nightmares for hospitals near United Center: Just how bad traffic could get snarled isn’t clear. The Secret Service is still finalizing plans for a security perimeter around the Near West Side arena, and those plans won’t be released until late July. Hospital officials expect the perimeter to butt up against the medical district, which lies south of the Eisenhower Expressway down to Roosevelt Road, between Ogden Avenue and Ashland Avenue. The district includes Rush, Cook County Health, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, several nonprofits and city, county and state health agencies.

* Tribune | School board candidate roster narrows as more than half face objections before the Chicago Board of Elections: The crowded field of candidates vying to win one of 10 seats on Chicago’s first elected school board in the fall narrowed slightly Tuesday, with three candidates filing withdrawal papers, trimming the race down to 44 candidates, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. Among 27 candidates subject to challenges to the validity of their nomination petitions, nonprofit administrator Danielle Wallace, educator Darius Dee Nix and former Chicago Public Schools Principal James Walton have dropped out of their respective races in the 6th, 8th, 10th districts.

* WBEZ | The path to a CPS test-in high school often begins at age 4, with a test most don’t know exists.: Chicago Public Schools refuses to produce data that would reveal how many students can access these gifted programs and their racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The district said providing the demographics for gifted programs within schools would entail creating a new database, which it is not required to do. Nine of the regional gifted centers are in elementary schools that also have neighborhood or magnet programs.

* Tribune | More than 12,000 have applied to volunteer for the DNC in Chicago: Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George said the volume of volunteer applications showed excitement about the convention throughout the city and state, calling the achievement a “massive planning milestone.” Nearly 75% of the applications came from Illinois residents and people from every Chicago ZIP code applied to volunteer, George said in the release.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Former Dolton lawyers sue competing attorney for defamation: The Berwyn-based law firm claims Burt Odelson, of the Odelson, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath law group, made knowingly false statements about the Del Galdo group that led to the trustees turning against them as village attorneys. […] According to the lawsuit, Odelson told attendees at a Feb. 22 Dolton Village Board meeting that Del Galdo had a conflict of interest in representing the village and had billed the village tens of thousands of dollars “in violation of Dolton’s corporate authorities.”

*** Downstate ***

* Tribune | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign taps new business school dean: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has named W. Brooke Elliott as its new dean of the Gies College of Business. Elliott’s appointment begins Aug. 16 and is subject to approval by the university’s board of trustees, according to the school’s news release. She will also serve as a professor in business.

* Capitol News Illinois | Menard prison staff picket, citing unsafe working conditions: The problems at the southern Illinois facility stem from low staffing levels, said Rick Hepp, a correctional sergeant at the prison. Hepp said that in recent months the prison has been operating with about 50 fewer correctional officers than it should have daily. “There’s lots of issues here that add up to a big powder keg and the fuse is lit,” said Hepp, who is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1175, a union representing Menard employees.

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