* Rep. Carol Ammons and Sen. Kimberly Lightford…

Right now, 68% of jobs — a percentage that is rising — require a post-secondary credential, and workforce data shows that Illinoisans with college degrees contribute more to our local and state economy. So it is critical that we ensure every interested student can pursue and earn a degree.

In 2021, with COVID disruptions wreaking havoc on schools and universities, Illinois created the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding to address significant disparities in the college-going experience across lines of geography, race, ethnicity and income. Despite Illinois’ efforts in recent years to increase higher education funding, this work was necessary and urgent after nearly two decades of disinvestment in our four-year institutions.

The 33-member commission of agency heads, legislators, university leaders and community partners was charged with developing a funding model for public universities that would be adequate, equitable and stable. Such an approach is fundamental to cultivating a healthier university system, where strong outcomes follow sufficient, equitable and predictable state investment. […]

Specifically, the commission recommends Illinois adopt a student-focused university funding formula. The proposed formula first calculates what each university needs to meet its unique mission and serve its unique student population. This involves acknowledging universities will need to invest in evidence-based strategies to better recruit and support some students — those who attended poorly-funded high schools, are returning to school as adults, are first-generation or low-income students, and other students from underrepresented groups.

The formula then identifies what each university can afford to spend, based on current state appropriations, a reasonable estimate of tuition and fees that a university can and should collect from its students, and other resources that may be available to them. The difference between what each university should be spending and its available resources represents how far each institution is from full funding – its “adequacy gap.”

* We warned you…

You're not the only thing sweating…look at the high blob of humidity in the Midwest. That's from corn sweat! Corn releases a lot of moisture in the summer and that means high humidity. pic.twitter.com/WJMrWlwINJ

— Payton Malone WWL-TV (@paytonmalonewx) August 26, 2024

For real though, stay cool out there.

*** Statewide ***

* WICS | Gas prices in Illinois drop more than 40 cents in a month: Prices in Illinois are 40.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 43.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois was priced at $2.93/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.99/g, a difference of $2.06/g.

* WTVO | Hard Rock launches online sports betting app in Illinois: Hard Rock Casino Rockford announced the launch of Hard Rock Bet on Monday, an online sports betting app that is now live throughout the state of Illinois. According to a press release, Hard Rock Bet offers an integrated New Jersey online casino-sportsbook platform and also operates a sports-only experience in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. The mobile app is available for download via iOS and Android.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | First day of school for CPS students: Mayor, CPS CEO greet students in person: The beginning of a new semester puts CPS an additional year removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a sign of students finding some stability, Martinez is touting preliminary data showing more kids are proficient in reading than before the pandemic. These new test scores come on the heels of a national study that found reading scores increased more than any other large urban district.

* Chalkbeat | It’s the first day of school at Chicago Public Schools: Officials touted the district’s momentum in undoing some of the academic fallout from the pandemic and welcoming a larger, more diverse teacher workforce. But the kickoff to the school year was dampened by news that almost 2,000 students with disabilities are still waiting for a transportation route. Meanwhile, Chicago Teachers Union leaders sharply criticized district CEO Pedro Martinez over what they see as too little progress in negotiations over a new contract for educators, ratcheting up tensions over the bargaining process as the district faces looming budget deficits.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police officer charged with attacking cop girlfriend during drunken rampage at police station: An off-duty Chicago police officer was charged with attacking his cop girlfriend during a drunken rampage last week at a South Side police station, pulling her out of a marked squad car by her hair while carrying a loaded gun. Officer Francisco Galvan, 30, from Hegewisch, faces misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and driving under the influence, as well as a citation for illegally transporting alcohol. A police report notes that his girlfriend declined to pursue felony charges.

* Block Club | Ald. Walter Burnett’s Rise To Power Between The ’96 And ’24 DNC: — In August 1996, two young Democrats joined forces to host a party for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: one a freshman alderman who grew up in public housing, the other a billionaire political hopeful. Nearly 30 years later, the pair joined forces again — this time as vice mayor of Chicago and as governor of Illinois, preparing the city and showing it off to an international crowd for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

* WTTW | From Politics to Performance and Everything in Between, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the DNC With WTTW News: WTTW News Director Jay Smith sat down with [WTTW’s] political team to reflect on the Democratic National Convention for a behind-the-scenes look at what covering the convention was like, and to help provide insights into the stories that emerged from the week.

* WBEZ | JD Vance called Chicago the US murder capital. Is he right?: Chicagoans are accustomed to hearing overblown descriptions of crime in their city, which has been plagued by the nickname “Chiraq” since Chicago rapper King Louie’s 2011 mixtape “Chiraq, Drillinois.” […] For years, Chicago has consistently led the nation in total homicides. In some years, like in 2018, Chicago witnessed more murders than both New York City and Los Angeles combined. But when it comes to the murder rate, Chicago ranks 15th, based on 2023 statistics from the FBI and the Chicago Police Department. Murder rates, or the number of homicides per capita, are more useful than absolute numbers for understanding residents’ chances of being murdered.

* WGN | ‘Skye the Lioness’ named new mascot of Chicago Sky: Skye replaces the longtime mascot Sky Guy. “Sky Guy, the team’s mascot since 2006, will share his experience and support Skye through the remainder of the 2024 season,” part of the release states.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Philanthropy has entered the race to save local news. Will it be enough?: These are tumultuous times at City Hall in south suburban Harvey. Last month, Mayor Christopher Clark ordered police to remove the audience from chambers after speakers critiqued the administration. In June, a preservationist and former planning commission member was arrested at a City Council meeting. At an earlier session, two local aldermen staged a walkout. You can read all about it in the Harvey World Herald, a young online publication started by town native and recent New York University graduate Amethyst Davis. An impoverished community 20 miles south of the Loop, Harvey has been without local news coverage for decades. “We’ve never really had any place for dialogue about policy issues, to be able to discuss the challenges faced in the community in a way and in a space where it doesn’t devolve into fighting,” Davis says. “So I decided to go out on a limb, quit my job in New York and come back to Illinois.”

* Shaw Local | Longmeadow Parkway completion to be marked with ribbon-cutting Thursday: The ribbon-cutting on the bridge will mark the completion of the 5.6-mile-long toll-free corridor that crosses through the northern section of Kane County from Huntley Road to Route 62 to the east. The corridor also includes a bike and pedestrian path that will connect to the Fox River Trail.

*** Downstate ***

* Capitol City Now | Grayson court hearing: Grayson and lawyer Dan Fultz appeared via video from the Menard County jail in Petersburg, where [Sean Grayson] is being held. One defense lawyer, Mark Wyckoff, cautioned reporters not to hold their breath waiting for the motions and appeals to be sorted out: “It’s a serious matter,” said Wyckoff. “No serious matter is going to be resolved in ninety days.” […] The next hearing is Oct. 21.

* BND | ‘She actually passed away,’ but a metro-east mayor brought her back, parents say: Thanks to quick thinking and a calm head, Cahokia Heights Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. was able to revive a 7-year old girl and give her a new chance at life. […] “I have been retired from law enforcement for 20 years and I received CPR training over 25 years ago. I never had to use it until now,” McCall said. “I am thankful, no. 1, that I received this training and that it kicked back in after all these years.

* Illinois Business Journal | Illinois Stewardship Alliance honors outstanding farmers: Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented two awards recognizing outstanding farmer leaders for their contribution to sustainable and local agriculture in Illinois. Breese, Illinois farmer Cliff Schuette received the second annual Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. The award is named in memory of Robert “Woody” Woodruff, a beloved conservation leader, Macoupin County farmer, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff member who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020 and recognizes a farmer who exemplifies Woody’s passion for soil, water, and community.

* STL Today | Illinois congresswoman fulfills goal of commemorating 1908 Springfield race riot: While the dust was still settling from several divisive political primary races in early August, one Illinois legislator worked on healing measures. On Aug. 16, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, saw the culmination of her ongoing efforts when President Joe Biden signed a proclamation designating the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. […] Budzinski, whose district takes in parts of St. Clair and Madison counties, has been pushing for the site designation since she was elected in November 2022.

* The Telegraph | Madison County raises public defender’s salary: A raise for Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland was approved by the County Board at its Wednesday meeting. […] The salary increase was required because by state law the public defender’s salary is set as at least 90 percent of the state’s attorney’s salary. State’s Attorney Tom Haine recently received a cost-of-living increase from the state, to $206,715.95. Approximately two-thirds of that is paid by the state. With the increase, the public defender’s salary is set at $86,044.36.

*** National ***

* Sun-Times | Rick Steves, travel writer and PBS host, reveals prostate cancer diagnosis: In a lengthy statement posted to social media last week, Steves, 69, announced his diagnosis and shared with his fans what lies ahead for him in the coming months. Steves said his doctor told him that “if you’re going to get cancer, this is a good kind to get,” and scans have shown so far there is no sign of it having spread.

* WaPo | Meet the megadonors pumping millions into the 2024 election: The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. The vast majority of money from top donors has gone to super PACs, which can accept unlimited sums from individuals and often work closely with campaigns despite rules against coordinating their advertising.