Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2024

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Illinois Federation of Public Employees…

Mechanics employed by the State of Illinois will hold a press conference Wednesday morning to draw attention to an issue that’s been affecting their jobs and costing Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

Instead of filling mechanic positions that service state vehicles and equipment, state agencies like the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have been outsourcing this work to an outside company. This practice has eroded our state workforce and adds up to millions of extra dollars being spent on work that should be done by state-employed mechanics.

“Illinois agencies are spending three to five times as much as they should on mechanic work on state vehicles. It just doesn’t make sense,” said mechanic and Illinois Federation of Public Employees President Matt Emigholz. “I’m watching millions of dollars get wasted every year, outsourcing our work to an outside company. This is bureaucratic inefficiency at its worst, and we demand better for Illinoisans. We need state agencies to do what’s right, save money, and invest in our workforce. It’s what’s best for Illinois.”

WHAT: Press conference outside of the Democratic County Chairs Brunch. Union members will be passing out leaflets to attendees as well.

WHO: IFPE President Matt Emigholz, state mechanics who are members of the Illinois Federation of Public Employees, IFT Local 4408, and allies

WHEN: Wednesday, August 14 at 8:00 AM

WHERE: Outside of the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701

* Click here to view the Executive Order. From Gov. Pritzker…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2024-02 to begin a cross-sector planning process to outline a clear framework for addressing the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers over the next decade.

The Executive Order creates a new strategic position, the Chief Planning Officer, within the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA). This position will lead the development and implementation of a multi-year Multi-Sector Plan for Aging (MPA). The MPA will serve as a 10-year blueprint to support healthy aging in Illinois communities and set clear, measurable objectives for evaluating public and private sector progress toward this goal. The Chief Planning Officer will deliver the MPA to the Governor and General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2025, and an additional status report by Dec. 31, 2026. […]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately one-quarter of Illinois’ population will be 60 or older by 2030, raising significant challenges and opportunities in both the public and private sectors. An MPA will proactively prepare government, non-profit, and private sector organizations to meet a growing number of older adults’ evolving needs, including unmet needs related to health, safety, social and financial well-being, housing, transportation, and more.

The state-led MPA planning process will bring together diverse stakeholders as members of the MPA Community Advisory Council co-chaired by IDoA’s Chief Planning Officer. The Chief will also convene an MPA Task Force, consisting of more than a dozen government agencies, to collaborate on the shared goals of enhancing and integrating services available to older adults in Illinois.

These groups will meet regularly to inform the development of a comprehensive strategic action plan, designed to coordinate existing aging services programs, and propose policy and programmatic changes to optimize their effectiveness. The plan will pay special attention to disparities affecting older adults from historically marginalized communities, aiming to address barriers to health and aging equity. […]

The roughly year-and-a-half-long development process for Illinois’ MPA will include several opportunities for public engagement and feedback.

* Tribune…

Peter Dwars was responsible for creating and providing below-market financing for about 30,000 housing units across the state for low-income and moderate-income families during his time as head of the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

Dwars was skilled both in politics and communications, colleagues said, and adept at using his knowledge to advise three governors on housing finance matters and to explain complex concepts to lawmakers.

“Peter was long recognized as the guru of bond financing and other innovations in housing finance not only in Illinois, but nationwide by governors, mayors and other elected officials, bond attorneys, bankers and others over many years,” said Peter Lennon, who twice served alongside Dwars as the Illinois Housing Authority’s deputy director.

Dwars, 74, died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 1, said his wife of 42 years, Gail Beesen-Dwars. He was a resident of Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood.

*** DNC ***

* AP | Want to speed up a road or transit project? Just host a political convention: Victor Matheson, economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, co-authored a study that concluded the economic expectations for hosting national political conventions are often “unrealistically large.” Still, he said, there’s “a lot of political will” to accelerate already planned upgrades to impress out-of-town guests — even for an event that lasts just four days. “The real question with these sort of things is, if this is such a good project, why wasn’t the political will there before?” Matheson said.

* Eater Chicago | Where Politicians Eat in Chicago: No mayoral run is complete without an Election Day stop at Manny’s Deli. For over 80 years, the traditional Jewish deli has sliced brisket and served reubens to everyone from construction workers to candidates, as well as the occasional mobster. Retired owner Ken Raskin credits Manny’s political ties to David Axelrod, who first began frequenting the restaurant as a college student and later brought in clients when he worked in politics. You’ll still find traces of Axelrod across the deli, from a plaque over his old table to the over-the-counter photos of President Barack Obama.

* Fox Chicago | DNC 2024: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx vows to prosecute violent behavior: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has had a longstanding policy not to charge anyone arrested for protesting peacefully, but she said Monday that her office will prosecute for the two V’s - violence and vandalism. “Our intent with the limited resources we have and the number of people we have in town is to focus on those engaging in behavior that is violent and endangers those around them, including law enforcement officers as well,” Foxx said.

* Axios | DNC to stream vertically on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: The party hopes making the stream available via vertical video apps will draw in younger viewers who get most of their news on their phones. Roughly one-third of Americans ages 18 to 29 say they get news regularly on TikTok, which only streams vertical video, per Pew Research Center.

* WBEZ | Meet the young Chicagoans getting ready for the DNC: For many college students, this year’s election will be their first chance to cast a ballot for president. Young people have been portrayed as feeling disaffected about politics — or too busy on TikTok to get involved in the democratic process. But when the Democratic National Convention comes to Chicago next week, a lot of local members of Gen Z will be actively involved in supporting the convention, covering it or protesting against it. WBEZ talked with three Chicago college students about their very different roles at the DNC and what they’re hoping to get out of the experience.

*** Chicago ***

* Bloomberg | Mariano’s, Jewel parents spend more than $800 million on merger fees: Kroger and Albertsons have said the tie-up would help them more effectively compete against bigger rivals like Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc. If the deal goes through, banners from Safeway and Vons to Ralphs and Dillons would unite under one umbrella across 48 states and Washington, DC. Kroger has spent about $535 million on merger-related fees since agreeing to acquire Albertsons in late 2022, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Albertsons has spent $329.4 million so far, bringing the total fees to about $864 million.

* Block Club | Former Cabrini-Green Residents Are Working To Preserve Landmark Church As Community Hub: Elliston and Reynolds are raising money to buy the building and have partnered with a handful of organizations, including the All Mankind Coalition and the National Public Housing Museum, to help with preservation and fundraising efforts. Elliston said he has had a few conversations over the past year with real estate investor Marc Bortz, who owns the building. Though the negotiation phase has been moving slowly, he and Reynolds are willing to play the long game, Elliston said.

* Tribune | Chennedy Carter has a coach who trusts her in Teresa Weatherspoon — and it’s taking the Chicago Sky guard to new heights: “First, I have a coach (Teresa Weatherspoon) that trusts in me,” Carter said. “I feel like she understands my value and she understands my talent. She’s a player’s coach, she’s been in my shoes before and she’s (been) helping me grow since I’ve been here. She’s completely taken me under her wing. “I’ve been in places where — I’m a talented player, I’m a great teammate, I’m a great person — and I just wasn’t playing. It’s the fact that Coach is letting me play, letting me showcase my talent and just letting me be me and bring out that unique side of Chennedy Carter that people have never seen. Because I’ve been shielded away for different reasons, multiple times.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Wife of GOP congressional candidate helped by white supremacists during mayoral campaign: Gabrielle Hanson, who’s married to 5th Congressional District hopeful Tommy Hanson of Chicago but lives in Tennessee, refused to denounce the far-right extremists who escorted her and her husband into an October candidate forum and supported her at the event. “If they want to support me, that is their right,” Hanson — then a Franklin alderman who ultimately lost the mayoral race — said during a subsequent city board meeting. “We don’t discriminate in this community against anyone.”

* Daily Herald | Rosemont bans public camping, but vows not to disturb K-pop fans sleeping outside arena: Rosemont — the tiny suburb that’s home to some 4,000 residents and about 20 hotels next to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport — hasn’t experienced issues of homelessness that larger towns have, village officials admit. But the local ban on public camping was prompted by the recent court decision and after the Illinois Municipal League drafted a model ordinance for towns to adopt.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville police make 22nd gun-related arrest since August 2023 at Topgolf parking lot: For the third time in less than two weeks, police have made a firearm-related arrest in the Naperville Topgolf parking lot. Edward Lamont Coffey Jr., 29 of Chicago, was arrested outside the 3211 Odyssey Court facility Friday night on several felony charges, including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possessing a firearm with a suspended Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card and failing to store 10 to 15 grams of cannabis in his vehicle in a childproof, sealed or odorless container, according to police and DuPage County Circuit Court records.

* Crain’s | Northwestern Medicine plans another expansion — this time way out in the suburbs: In its latest expansion project in the Chicago-area, Northwestern Medicine plans to build a new outpatient center on its hospital campus in the far northwest suburb of Huntley. The $96.3 million project will span nearly 80,000 square feet, housing cancer care, infusion services, radiation oncology treatment and cardiac diagnostics, according to an application filed with the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board, which must approve the project before construction.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois’ second-largest school district heads back to school with some changes: The district has over 35,000 students and covers parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, with schools in communities like Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park and South Elgin. […] “In an effort to be responsive to feedback from students, teachers, parents, and our post-secondary partners, we have an updated grading and assessment system starting with the 2024-2025 school year,” U-46 announced on its website.

* WBBM | Preparations at Northwestern’s temporary football stadium enter 4th quarter: Wildcat football held its first outdoor practice at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium while several dozen construction workers kept hammering away. “The plans really aren’t changing, but it’s minor things,” said Deputy Athletic Director Jesse Marks. “Are the seats in the right spots? Let’s make sure that our ticket teams and our marketing teams are doing a manifest of all the seats now to make sure what was on paper matches what’s actually in design, making sure that we are adding the TVs in the right spots, our furniture is in the right spots.”

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Monticello police officer arrested for child pornography: On Tuesday morning, the Monticello Police Department was advised of an investigation involving a member of their department. Illinois State Police arrested William Griswold, 39, for offenses involving child pornography. Once the department was advised of the investigation and arrest, Griswold was immediately placed on unpaid leave.

* UIS | Springfield house explosion under investigation: Two men, a 64-year old and a 71-year old, were taken to the hospital with are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. The department said statements made at the scene indicated the men were working on a hot water heater when the explosion occurred. Ameren was also notified due to suspicion of natural gas contributing to the incident.

*** National ***

* Missouri Independent | Missouri voters will decide whether to legalize abortion in November : If the amendment receives more than 50% of votes in approval, the measure would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability, an undefined period of time generally seen as the point in which the fetus could survive outside the womb on its own, generally around 24 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

* National Law Review | Illinois Judge Dismisses Bottled Water False Ad Complaint: An Illinois federal judge dismissed a proposed class action alleging that water labeled as “100% Natural Spring Water” is misleading due to the presence of microplastics. According to the judge, “the complaint doesn’t hold water” and is preempted by FDA’s standard of identity for spring water.

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Terryl and Becky, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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‘We’re all trying to find the guy who did this’

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune editorial on Western Illinois University layoffs…

In recent days. Western has announced two big layoffs. On Friday, the school announced it was eliminating 89 positions, including 57 nontenured faculty members and 32 staffers. That came after some 35 faculty roles had been nixed, or “not renewed,” last month. Adding to that is a hiring freeze, the disappearance of several vacant positions, a Quad Cities pullback and all the other types of things organizations typically do when they are in crisis.

At the end of all this, we reckon, Western’s faculty will look a lot grayer. Not ideal. Students need a mix.

Why is this happening? It’s not complicated. Student enrollment at Western has fallen off the proverbial cliff.

Between 2010 and 2014, the number of students at the school hovered around 12,000. But then it took a dive over several years. […]

Why did enrollment fall off?

* A little history…

See that red box? That’s Gov. Bruce Rauner’s term in office. You know, the same Gov. Rauner the Tribune editorial board incessantly cheered throughout the budget impasse. Parents and students believed that the directionals were near extinction during that crisis. And those schools just haven’t recovered since.

So, as the kids say…

* Yes, it wasn’t a good situation to begin with, and other things are currently playing a role in the continued decline (including high tuition). But like everything else, Rauner turned a big problem into an existential crisis. And building back from that disaster is gonna take a very long time.

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Does the IPI have a good case against the Worker Freedom of Speech Act? (Updated)

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* SJ-R…

On July 31, the Democratic governor [JB Pritzker] signed into law legislation limiting employers’ use of “captive audience” meetings where employees are effectively forced to listen to the political or religious views of their boss.

The “Worker Freedom of Speech Act” goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and does not prohibit businesses from holding these meetings, but rather prevents employers from punishing workers if they choose not to attend them. Illinois became the eighth state, joining states like New York and Minnesota, to pass such a law.

The Illinois Policy Institute argue in their federal suit filed last week that the new law infringes the freedom of speech rights of employers and claim the law is too broad — leaving more companies liable to penalties. Under the new law, the Illinois Department of Labor can issue $1,000 fines per violation and employees can sue.

Some employers, such as political organizations and not-for-organizations with 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) IRS designations, are exempt. The Illinois Policy Institute is a 501(c)(3) and is therefore subject to the law alongside churches and traditional charities.

* From the IPI’s lawsuit…

Plaintiff Illinois Policy Institute (“the Institute”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages in research related to public policy from a perspective that favors, among other things, civil and personal liberties; effective, efficient, honest, and transparent government; limited government; free markets; and workers’ freedom to choose whether to join a labor union.

The Institute regularly conducts mandatory staff meetings at which the organization’s views on questions of public policy are expressed.

The Act now makes those meetings unlawful.

This restriction on the Institute’s ability to speak to its employees about the very subject matter of the organization’s mission violates the Institute’s right to free speech under the First Amendment. […]

In effect, the Act bans the Institute from communicating with its employees during mandatory meetings about “proposals to change legislation, proposals to change regulations, [and] proposals to change public policy”—even though creating such proposals is one of the principal purposes of the Institute.

The Institute is a research organization that publishes policy research on a variety of political topics, including the state budget, jobs, labor, pensions, education, and criminal justice. […]

At the mandatory meetings and mandatory retreats, the Institute has discussed topics such as the Workers’ Rights Amendment, the proposed real estate transfer tax in Chicago, and the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships.

They’re essentially arguing that the law is a content-based restriction of employer’s speech, and therefore violates the 1st Amendment.

* From the law’s definition section…

“Political matters” means matters relating to elections for political office, political parties, proposals to change legislation, proposals to change regulations, proposals to change public policy, and the decision to join or support any political party or political, civic, community, fraternal, or labor organization.

* From Littler, a pro-employer labor law firm…

Recent state laws similar to SB 3649 have faced legal challenges, and it is anticipated that such laws will likely be struck down in the end, even if the U.S. Supreme Court has to swing the final axe. For example, in New York, a New York District Court enjoined enforcement of legislation limiting employer speech during organizing campaigns. There, the District Court granted a temporary restraining order on the grounds that the legislation as written was facially invalid because it violated the First Amendment in constituting “a viewpoint-based law that discriminates against speech based on the ideas or opinions conveyed.”

Further, Section 8(c) of the National Labor Relations Act provides specific protection for employer speech, stating that “[t]he expressing of any views, argument, or opinion . . . shall not constitute or be evidence of an unfair labor practice . . . if such expression contains no threat of reprisal or force or promise of benefit.” Consequently, SB 3649 may also face challenges on the grounds that it is preempted, insofar as it is contrary to Section 8(c) and interferes with national labor policy (an argument Littler successfully made in Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce almost 15 years ago). In light of the unresolved questions about the legality of SB 3649, employers are forced to choose whether to comply or challenge the new law on constitutional grounds, including federal preemption and First Amendment concerns.

The broader point aside, it’s odd that they didn’t exempt 501(c)(3) organizations.

…Adding… Some union officials I talked with this afternoon claim that IPI is actually exempt and point to this section of the law…

Nothing in this Act… limits the rights of an employer or its agent, representative, or designee from communicating to its employees any information that is necessary for the employees to perform their required job duties

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More new laws

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Several measures signed on Friday outline changes to higher education.

Senate Bill 462 bans public colleges and universities in the state from considering an applicant’s relation to any past, current or prospective donors during the application process. It also bars those schools from considering an applicant’s “legacy status,” or whether they are related to former students.

Senate Bill 3081 requires public universities to provide information about transfer fee waivers to students transferring in from a public community college. It also encourages those universities to automatically waive transfer fees for low-income students.

A third measure is aimed at lowering tuition costs for noncitizen Illinois residents. Senate Bill 461 requires public universities to charge in-state tuition for Illinois residents who attended an Illinois high school for at least 2 years or who graduated from an Illinois high school. It also would require universities to offer in-state tuition rates to some students who attended a high school, any college or university or a combination thereof for a combined three years.

* Sen. Cristina Castro…

Easier and more efficient ways for Illinois businesses and diverse contractors to do business with the state are coming soon, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro.

“Navigating the procurement process can be a daunting task for small firms. These are the businesses we should be lifting up – not making their jobs more difficult,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Improving efficiency in government contracting not only helps minority-owned businesses get their foot in the door, but also promotes competition and allows state dollars to go further in supporting these projects.”

To eliminate long-standing obstacles and increase diversity in state contracting, the law – previously House Bill 5511 – takes steps to modernize the procurement process, improve transparency, encourage responsible competition and safeguard taxpayer dollars in infrastructure projects.

Supplier diversity improves access to government contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and people with disabilities. The new law drives Illinois’ supplier diversity goals forward by requiring benchmarks to be set for minority business development programs and tasking the Commission on Equity and Inclusion with oversight to ensure the programs are implemented effectively.

To address the slow pace of the procurement process, the measure enables contractors to fix procurement violations while the procurement process moves forward, and allows bids to be posted or accepted online.

Further, the law prioritizes local competition and control by ensuring counties follow competitive bidding requirements that apply to other units of local government. It also eases the joint purchasing process to make it easier for towns, villages and counties to utilize existing state contracts – reducing the need for duplicative contracts for similar needs. Under the law, more businesses can qualify as small businesses so they can more easily access contracting opportunities with the Illinois Tollway.

A priority of Castro’s, one provision aims to move the state toward contracting with more Illinois companies on construction projects by expanding the definition of an Illinois business. Under the law, a business operating and headquartered in Illinois for at least one year is eligible to receive a 4% bid preference on state projects.

House Bill 5511 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect immediately.

* WCIA…

The Shelby County Rescue Squad is officially authorized to work under state law.

Their dive team all resigned at a Shelby County Board meeting due to problems with their insurance coverage last year. […]

A new law cracks down on the single, small-sized plastic bottles inside hotels. All hotels with 50 or more rooms will not be allowed to offer those small hygiene products in individual rooms and public bathrooms starting on July 1, 2025, with smaller hotels expected to follow suit by 2026. Advocates hope the bill lessens the amount of plastic waste. […]

Gyms and fitness businesses in the state will be required to offer contracts that can be cancelled online or by email, instead of by letter or in person. Advocates believe the law protects consumers from financial strain of forgotten and unused subscription fees.

* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that legislation amending the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) to clarify and strengthen its protections was signed into law.

“The Illinois Human Rights Act is an important tool for combating discrimination,” Raoul said. “I want to thank Gov. JB Pritzker for signing this legislation, which will help my office enhance our efforts protecting the people of Illinois by strengthening enforcement against bad actors and improving processes for taking action. I remain committed to defending the civil rights of all Illinois residents.”

House Bill (HB) 5371 is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Attorney General’s office and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), which enforce the state’s Human Rights Act. […]

The new law will enhance civil rights protections for people in Illinois and provide important clarifications to the law. Specifically, it will:

- Continue to bring the IHRA into substantial compliance with federal fair housing law.
- Strengthen relief in discriminatory pattern-and-practice determinations by clarifying the term “per violation.” For example, a business that repeatedly discriminates against multiple employees could be held accountable for each instance of a violation. Repeated harassment and discrimination should not constitute a single violation of the act, and relief should be proportionate to the amount of harassment and discrimination victims had to endure. The law also increases the maximum penalty amounts that a court may award in the Attorney General’s pattern-and-practice determinations and fair housing lawsuits.
- Clarify that aggrieved parties have the right to take action to collect judgments, even if they do not intervene in the state’s enforcement action.
- Codifies criteria language from the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003 to expressly prohibit unjustified disparate impacts in real estate transactions.
- Ensure confidential reporting of discrimination and hate incidents to helplines administered by IDHR and the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
- Reduce redundancies and improve enforcement processes.

* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…

Recording artists will now have more protections from artificial intelligence (AI) replicating their voice or work thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Mary Edly-Allen. […]

As an emerging technological platform, there are no current restrictions on AI models replicating a music artist’s voice. Without regulations, some organizations and even music studios have sought to establish a monopoly of control over their artists’ voices and melodies for AI projects.

To give artists more agency of how their voice or melody may be replicated by AI, House Bill 4762 requires artists to have legal representation or support from a collective bargaining agreement when negotiating an AI project involving their art, and how they will be compensated for the AI replica. This would prevent music studios from profiting off an artist’s likeness or voice by using AI to replicate them without the consent of the artist or without fair compensation. […]

House Bill 4762 was signed into law Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 and goes into effect immediately.

* Ride Apart…

Have you ever had the horrifying experience of opening up an old electronic device and finding a leaky battery inside?

Although those aren’t the same type of batteries found in modern e-bikes, that experience gives you some idea that old batteries can develop harmful problems. Not only can they cause issues for the electronic device that they’ve been sitting inside for far too long; but they can also leak out into the environment if they’re, say, disposed of in a landfill. […]

That’s why it passed the new Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act and sent it to Illinois Governor Pritzker’s desk, where he signed it into law on August 9, 2024. This new law will require battery sellers and distributors in the state to develop appropriate recycling stewardship programs by the year 2026. […]

Batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters are covered, and are considered as “medium-format batteries.” It’s worth noting here that this law contains language explicitly excluding batteries for larger electric vehicles, such as cars, trucks, or motorcycles. However, since e-bikes and e-scooters only continue to increase in popularity, it’s important to have solid programs in place to properly dispose of their batteries when they’re no longer usable.

As of August 12, 2024, there are nine states (plus Washington DC) where battery producers are now required to fund battery recycling programs (Illinois is the latest).

* WIFR…

A bill allowing alcohol to be served at an event space in Boone County and another bill designed to improve water infrastructure in Marengo become laws. […]

The North Boone Fire Protection District #3 at 305 W. Grove Road in Poplar Grove will soon be able to rent their hall for occasions with alcohol. There is no other banquet facility in Poplar Grove that allows the sale or delivery of alcohol. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2025. […]

Another law allows the city of Marengo to acquire land needed to extend water and sanitary sewer services for the I-90 Route 23 Corridor. This is made possible through a $26.9 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The law takes effect immediately.

* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…

In order to make medication more accessible to Illinoisans, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton’s new law prohibits pharmacists from refusing to fill a written prescription.

“Pharmacies must accept doctors’ prescriptions for approved medication regardless of how the prescription is sent to them,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Every Illinoisan deserves the right to their medication when they need it.”

In response to the opioid epidemic, Illinois passed a law in 2021 requiring prescriptions of controlled substance to be sent electronically. However, some pharmacists have been refusing to fill non-electronic prescriptions despite exceptions under the law. Glowiak Hilton’s new measure will clarify this process by prohibiting pharmacists from refusing to fill paper or non-electronic prescriptions.

“Denying someone of their medication could have serious medical consequences,” said Glowiak Hilton. “These are unnecessary barriers that must be addressed in our pharmacies to prevent potential harm.”

House Bill 4874 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

* WSIU…

House Bill 4925, sponsored by State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), has been signed into law, providing significant protections for local motorcycle dealerships across Illinois. The new legislation amends the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act, specifically targeting burdensome mandates that could impose substantial costs on dealerships.

Under the new law, vehicle manufacturers, distributors, or wholesalers are prohibited from requiring motorcycle dealers to make expensive upgrades or improvements to their facilities. These mandates, which could previously be enforced without consideration for the financial impact on smaller dealerships, often placed undue stress on local businesses trying to remain competitive in a challenging market.

Senator Fowler, speaking on the importance of the bill, highlighted the need to support small businesses by reducing unnecessary financial burdens. “My hope when bringing this proposal before the Senate was to protect our smaller dealers from substantial costs that they could incur due to mandates from manufacturers,” Fowler stated. “We should be looking at ways to alleviate the burdens placed on small businesses, not upholding unnecessary and costly mandates that make it harder to operate here in Illinois.”

Additionally, the law prevents manufacturers from making aspects of the manufacturer-dealer relationship contingent on the dealer complying with potentially unreasonable demands. This ensures a more balanced and fair relationship, allowing dealerships to focus on serving their communities without being pressured into costly changes. The bill was signed into law on August 9 and took effect immediately.

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DNC Chicago coverage roundup

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

A federal judge will not force City Hall to further alter the path it offered protesters during next week’s Democratic National Convention, finding the route satisfies the First Amendment while addressing significant security and safety concerns.

U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood handed down her 24-page ruling late Monday, writing that challenges to the route “boil down” to a complaint that city lawyers “have not offered the exact route” protesters desire, even though it “allows them to speak near their intended audience.” […]

In her order Monday, Wood said the protest groups had cited “no evidence to support the proposition” that turns in the route “will introduce problems that staying on Washington Boulevard would avoid.”

“Even assuming the protest parades draw as many people as [the protest groups] expect, they cite no prior event precedent or other evidence suggesting that such a crowd could not navigate the two turns onto Hermitage Avenue and Maypole Avenue,” Wood wrote.

Click here to read the full ruling. A court hearing on the case is scheduled Tuesday afternoon.

* Crain’s…

Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling sought to reassure the city’s business community today that the city is prepared for the weeklong spotlight that comes with hosting the Democratic National Convention next week.

Snelling said Chicagoans can expect to see more local police patrols in the downtown area and that his department would be aggressive in shutting down protests that become violent. He delivered his message at the City Club of Chicago, where his warnings to those planning to disrupt the convention were mostly met with applause. […]

“The moment that starts, we’re going to intervene. I’m not going to wait until it gets out of control and then try to bring it back in,” he said. “The moment it starts, you put an end to it quickly, because a greater response now may mean that we need less of an even higher response later. So we will not allow people to come here and destroy the city.” […]

Speaking to reporters after his City Club event, Snelling said the line between protesting and rioting begins with “violent actors, those who are committing acts of vandalism, violent attacks against police officers, against each other — that’s the type of thing we’re not going to tolerate.”

“The minute that starts, we have to put an end to it,” he said. “When people become comfortable committing acts of violence and vandalism, that’s when it turns into a riot.”

* ABC Chicago…

Tuesday morning, CPD will hold their final DNC tabletop exercise with city agencies and the Secret Service.

This comes as the security perimeter is already taking shape around McCormick Place and the United Center.

Fencing is going up this week around the UC, but street closures don’t begin until the end of the week.

* Tribune…

The CTA plans to add some additional “L” runs to handle the influx of convention visitors, though the agency provided few specifics about the service. CTA riders will contend with bus reroutes around security perimeters surrounding the convention sites. The agency is also preparing for some equipment to go to DNC use, though CTA President Dorval Carter has promised aldermen the transit agency would be able to run buses and trains during the convention with minimal effects on everyday passengers.

The stakes will be high for the CTA and the embattled Carter as an expected tens of thousands of politicians, dignitaries, protesters and media descend on Chicago for the convention and the city looks to put its best foot forward. After years of complaints about lagging transit service, ridership and concerns about personal safety, both real and perceived, whether the transit agency can run buses and trains frequently and reliably during the convention could serve as a test of its ability to adequately serve both visitors and everyday residents looking to get to work and about their daily lives in the city. […]

But riders remain worried about how the CTA will handle service during the event. That included downtown commuters such as Claire Widseth and her boyfriend, who plans to work in Rosemont instead of his typical downtown office during the convention in part to avoid the hassle of crowds on transit and elsewhere around the area, he said.

“The CTA Red Line can barely handle when there’s a Cubs game and a Sox game on the same day,” Widseth said. “So like, I can’t imagine when there’s a national convention going on.”

West Wing Playbook put a list of DNC parties together, click here to check it out.

* More…

* Crain’s | Democrats plan DNC side rally for Jewish voters alienated by Gaza protests: Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker are among at least a dozen lawmakers who will headline an Aug. 19 launch event for an advocacy group seeking to engage progressive, pro-Israel voters, according to a spokesperson. Called the Zioness Action Fund, the group was formed by a coalition of Jewish activists and bills itself as “pro-choice, pro-diversity, pro-LGBTQ, pro-democracy, pro-freedom.” The event will take place in Chicago on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention.

* Sun-Times | Gaza should be on DNC agenda, Chicago Muslim leaders say: The leaders called for less talk and more action about drawing the war in Gaza to a close — a war that’s killed tens of thousands in Gaza. And while some of them are more hopeful that Vice President Kamala Harris may be more forceful in pressing for a ceasefire, they are waiting to see actual action.

* Sun-Times | DNC protests planned over Gaza, other causes as one organizer says, ‘People feel betrayed by the Democratic Party’: Protest organizers are concerned about how the Chicago Police Department will handle the protests and have held safety training sessions in preparation. They point to the department’s forceful response to demonstrations after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020 and images of cops beating demonstrators with batons during the Democratic convention in 1968. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling has promised to protect the right to protest but also said peaceful protests aren’t always legal, indicating the police might go after demonstrations that block streets or occupy buildings without permission.

* Daily Herald | ‘Face of the convention’: DNC volunteers getting front-row seat to history: After years of teaching her students to appreciate history, retired social studies teacher Cindy Vogt will witness it firsthand during the Democratic National Convention. […] About 30,000 people showed interest in helping out. Of those selected, 77% are from Illinois, 39% are Chicagoans and many come from the suburbs. Vogt and neighborhood ambassador organizer Daniel Schack of Northbrook said offers of help poured in from towns like Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Glenview, Northbrook, Palatine and Wheeling.

* NYT | New Public Art Rides the Rails in Chicago, Timed to the Convention: Starting Aug. 12, a handful of the city’s famous elevated trains covered in the work of emerging artists and designers will take to the tracks of the Chicago Transit Authority, accompanied by a series of cultural events in neighborhoods throughout the city. The project, called “Track(ed) Changes,” along with the related community events, jibes with the city’s promise to Chicagoans to broaden the limelight and to spread the economic impact of the convention through many of the city’s 77 neighborhoods. More than 50,000 people are expected to descend on the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls of the N.B.A. and the Blackhawks of the N.H.L.

* Crain’s | Downtown hotels have rooms to fill ahead of DNC: As of Aug. 5, visitors have booked between 63% and 70% of downtown hotel rooms during the four days of the convention, which kicks off Aug. 19, according to data tracked by real estate information company CoStar Group. Those occupancy rates are slightly below the numbers downtown hotels saw during the comparable week of August last year, CoStar data shows, and well below the near-90% occupancy during the same weekday period in 2019.

* Fox Chicago | Chicago Airbnb bookings surge ahead of DNC, driven by these U.S. cities: Searches for Airbnb listings in Chicago and surrounding areas for the week of the DNC have jumped over 30% compared to the same period last year.

* Block Club | Some West Loop Businesses To Close During DNC: ‘Too Many Opportunities For Chaos’: “There’s too many opportunities for chaos that to be closed seems easier for our patients as well as my staff,” said Stephanie Wolf, owner of Vitahl Medical Aesthetics, a medical spa at 1135 W. Madison St. that will be closed all four days of the convention. Large-scale events Downtown have prevented customers from attending appointments in the past, Wolf said. Anticipating a similar scenario for the DNC, Wolf decided to close the spa and reschedule the appointments for about 15 patients. Appointments are typically booked three to six months in advance, she said.

* Tribune | Where to go for a taste of democracy during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: The new Kamala cake at Brown Sugar Bakery in Chicago did not just fall out of a coconut tree. Baker Stephanie Hart created the cake inspired in part by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021. The VP’s staff had pre-ordered a slice of German chocolate cake, made with coconut frosting. Harris had said it’s her favorite cake flavor, and she gets it for her birthday every year.

* Semafor | ‘Central Park Five’ member Yusef Salaam invited to DNC for convention speech: According to multiple sources, Democratic officials have been in communication with Salaam, but it’s not yet clear if plans have been locked in. One source familiar with convention planning said Salaam had been invited and that other members of the “Central Park Five” could also potentially join him onstage. Reached by phone, Salaam declined to comment, referring calls to his office. A convention spokesman declined to comment on programming.

* Sun-Times | How Chicago’s 1968, 1996 conventions stirred songs, movies and a dance craze: April of 1969 marked the release of the debut studio album by a local rock band that initially called itself the Big Thing before changing its name to Chicago Transit Authority and then simply “Chicago.” Side four of the double album kicked off with “Prologue, August 29, 1968,” which incorporated audio of anti-war demonstrators chanting “The whole world is watching, the whole world is watching,” as they clashed with police outside the Conrad Hilton Hotel during the 1968 DNC.

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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation

Tuesday, Aug 13, 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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Open thread

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…

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Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois!

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

In less than one year, a new law will create credit card chaos for millions of Illinois consumers, small business owners and workers who rely on tips. The law changes how your credit card is processed and has never been done anywhere in the world. The end result is windfall for corporate mega-stores paid for through costly operational hurdles for small businesses and a loss of convenience and privacy for consumers who could have to pay tax and gratuity with cash. There’s still time to protect Illinois small business owners, consumers and workers by repealing the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act now! For more information, visit guardyourcard.com/Illinois.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Who will replace Sheriff Campbell after he retires? SJ-R…

per the state election code

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Dolton deputy police Chief Lewis Lacey, an ally of Mayor Tiffany Henyard, indicted on federal bankruptcy fraud charges: Dolton police Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey, a strong ally of embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard, was indicted Monday on federal bankruptcy fraud charges alleging he lied under oath in a scheme to hide assets and income from creditors to avoid paying more than $40,000 in a lawsuit settlement. The nine-count indictment returned against Lacey in U.S. District Court charged Lacey, 61, of Matteson, with bankruptcy fraud, making false statements and declarations in a bankruptcy case and perjury. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Click here to view the indictment.

* Tribune | The home buying and selling process is changing. Here’s what you need to know in Illinois.: This is a condensed version of how the home buying and selling process has functioned for years. And this process is about to change. The way real estate agents get paid will shift on Aug. 17, following massive settlement agreements that resulted from numerous class-action, antitrust lawsuits brought by home sellers over the commissions they paid to real estate brokers. The suits were filed against the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors and real estate brokerages nationwide.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | New IL law requires state employee health insurance coverage for Alzheimer’s treatment: alzheimers
The bill requires the State Employees Group Insurance Program to cover medically necessary FDA-approved treatments or medications to slow progression of the disease.
This law also requires coverage for diagnostic testing for doctors to determine the best treatment or medication. “As approximately 90% of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older, these individuals already have access to Alzheimer’s treatments through Medicare,” said Rep. Mary Gill (D-Chicago). “This bill ensures equity for state employees under 65 so that they are also able to access these life-changing treatments.”

* WAND | Illinois law calls for new student discipline procedures, school bus safety guidelines: The Illinois State Board of Education will be required to draft and publish guidance for development of reciprocal reporting systems between schools and law enforcement. This plan also calls on ISBE to publish guidance for re-engagement of students suspended, expelled or returning from an alternative school setting.

* WGN | Governor Pritzker signs law to shield children from AI-generated child pornography: HB 4623 was introduced by Attorney General Kwame Raoul in early April and sponsored by State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. It passed unanimously in the House on April 19. According to Raoul, the law prohibits the use of AI to create images depicting child sexual abuse that either involve real children or obscene imagery. It also separately prohibits the nonconsensual dissemination of certain sexual images generated by AI.

*** Statewide ***

* NBC Chicago | New effort credited for returning a record $301M in missing money to Illinois residents: Through I-CASH, the state’s missing money program - 321,558 residents owners or heirs received unclaimed property, such as contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards, Frerichs said in a news release.

* Sportsbook Review | Illinois Remains Second-Best American Legal Sports Betting State in June: In June, sports bettors in the Land of Lincoln spent $848 million with Illinois sports betting apps and retail providers. As mentioned, it is the first time under $1 billion since last August and the end of a nine-month streak. While it represents a 16.6% month-over-month dip from nearly $1.02 billion in wagering activity from May, it is an impressive 27.4% year-over-year spike from almost $668.2 million in last June.

*** Chicago ***

* Chalkbeat | Amid budget challenges, CPS and the teachers union make little movement on contract negotiations: When Chicago Public Schools students head back to class later this month, their teachers likely won’t yet have a new contract. In the past, that was a bad omen, signaling that a strike loomed. This year, a strike does not appear to be on the horizon, and both sides have said the tone at the bargaining table has been more amicable.

* South Side Weekly | More Cops Got Overtime for NASCAR in 2024: Last year, a preliminary analysis by the Weekly estimated that NASCAR cost the City at least $1.1 million in police overtime. That estimate only included overtime data that was available when the request was filed, which was immediately after the race weekend. The Tribune later reported that CPD paid out $1.4 million in NASCAR overtime in 2023.

* Sun-Times | Small businesses are frustrated with Chicago’s bureaucracy as they wait for reforms: To help them, the Small Business Advocacy Council is pressing for reforms to “cut red tape, streamline processes and reduce the costs of launching and expanding Chicago businesses,” according to a proposal released by the nonprofit this spring. It was endorsed by more than 30 chambers of commerce and business advocacy groups and 15 aldermen.

* Sun-Times | Feds want more prison time for former Ald. Ricardo Munoz after DUI arrest: Munoz was arrested in May after he “slow-rolled” into another car in Berwyn and was found slumped over the wheel of own his car with a half-empty bottle of rum on the front passenger seat, according to a motion filed in federal court on Monday. […] Munoz was sentenced to 13 months in prison, with another 18 months of supervised release with the condition he “not commit another federal, state or local crime,” prosecutors said in their motion.

* WBBM | Uptown artist repaints plover mural after city whitewashed original: ‘This makes people happy’: Irene Tostado, with the Chicago Park District, first told WBBM that the park district “did not paint over the mural located at the Buena Avenue Underpass.” Later, though, Tostado sent a follow-up and said the park district did indeed paint over the mural after they learned that Kennedy “did not go through any process with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for installation on public property.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Disaster declared in Cook County over July storms that spawned more than 40 tornadoes in 36 hours: The storm was the “most prolific tornado event” to hit the Chicago area in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service, breaking the record for the most number of tornadoes reported in a single event. Storms on July 14 produced nine tornadoes in the area, resulting in a total of 41 tornadoes within 36 hours. The storms caused damage to hundreds of homes and businesses across the county, according to the news release. Local municipalities have submitted damage reports for public infrastructure and response costs totaling more than $5 million.

*** Downstate ***

* Axios | Five foods to try at the Illinois State Fair: Springfield may be known for its horseshoe, a toasted sandwich topped with meat, fries, and cheese sauce —and even a deep-fried version that Monica tried a couple of years ago — but the fair offers a lot more. “Count the memories, not the calories,” can be heard across the intercom throughout the fair.

* PJ Star | Four deaths since 2021: Timeline of accidents at Caterpillar facilities near Peoria: Justin Perry, a 36-year-old subcontractor from Michigan, was killed Aug. 7 after he got stuck underneath an electrical box at the company’s proving ground facility in rural Washington. It marks the latest in a series of deadly incidents at Caterpillar facilities in central Illinois. With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration working on a second investigation into Caterpillar this summer, here’s a look at the prior accidents and the aftermath of the investigations.

* WTVO | Hard Rock closes temporary Rockford Casino. Find out what’s next: Hard Rock Opening Act, Rockford’s temporary casino at 610 N. Bell School Road, officially closed for good at 5 a.m., Monday. But not all is lost. In 17 days, the permanent Hard Rock Casino at 7801 E. State St., where the Clock Tower Resort once stood, will open its doors.

* WNIJ | David Gill makes another ‘quixotic’ run for office: Funks Grove resident David Gill is a physician who directs a hospice program. He is running as an independent against another doctor, Bill Hauter of Morton. Hauter is the Republican incumbent in the 87th District which stretches from East Peoria to Heyworth and south to Illiopolis. There is no Democratic candidate. Gill ran for Congress three times as a Democrat and once as an independent (2016), losing each race.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Hospitals inch toward recovery as labor woes ease, Fitch says: US hospitals are crawling their way toward a recovery as the public sector slowly shakes off that last of its pandemic woes, according to analysts at Fitch Ratings. Labor challenges in the sector have eased this past year, with most non-profit health-care systems reporting using less external contractors while new hires have outpaced workers who quit

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.