Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Isabel’s afternoon roundup
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Sep 5, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Shaw Local

Last month’s pro-Donald Trump rally in Woodstock showed a familiar side of McHenry County, one that has long been loyal to the Republican Party.

But while hundreds of supporters of the former president celebrated their GOP affiliation and listened to speeches from prominent party figures like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, McHenry County Board Chair Mike Buehler acknowledged the shift that has taken place in every other collar county around Chicago in recent years: They’ve turned blue. […]

The GOP still holds a large majority on the McHenry County Board and – whatever happens in the Nov. 5 election – will continue to hold most of the countywide elected offices, since the Democrats are not running anyone against the state’s attorney or auditor, and other countywide offices not up this cycle are also held by Republicans. Buehler himself is facing a challenge from Democratic county board member Kelli Wegener, while GOP Coroner Michael Rein faces a challenge from Democrat Chris Kalapodis.

Buehler won his position in 2020 by besting Jack Franks, who four years earlier became the first Democrat to win a countywide elected office in McHenry County since 1978.

And Democrats have made inroads in presidential politics in McHenry County too. In 2016, Trump carried the county with 50.3% of the vote against Hillary Clinton, beating her by almost 11,000 votes. In 2020, Trump still won the county, but this time it was by slightly more than 4,000 votes, and he received less than 50% of the vote.

* A lot going on in Downstate today


* NBC Chicago

Western Illinois University Macomb will be closed Thursday after an “ongoing emergency” near the campus, an alert on the school’s website said.

The closure comes a day after two Macomb police officers were shot Wednesday while trying to serve a warrant. […]

According to the Macomb Police Department, two officers Wednesday evening were shot while in the process of serving a warrant in the 300 block of North Normal Street.

“After knocking and announcing their presence several times, they forced entry into the residence but were immediately fired upon by someone in the residence,” Macomb’s chief of police said in an update late Thursday.

* Freedom From Religion Foundation

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking for the removal of an unconstitutional Ten Commandments display at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

FFRF was informed that a Ten Commandments display was recently installed at the courthouse in Mount Vernon, Ill. The display is nearly 6-and-a-half feet tall and sits in the center of the first floor lobby. The display includes a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments, given its particular language and numbering. At the bottom of the display is the biblical quote for Proverbs 21:15, which reads: “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to the evildoers.”

“Government promotion of one particular religion deters the nonreligious and minority religions from accessing important government services,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi writes to Jefferson County Board Chair Cliff Lindemann.

By displaying this religious text in its courthouses, the county demonstrates a plain and undeniable preference for religion over nonreligion, and Protestant Christianity above all other faiths. Illinois’s Establishment Clause reads: “No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.” FFRF is confident that state courts will find that a large Protestant Ten Commandments display by the county demonstrates preference for a religious denomination and mode of worship.

* Illinois State Rifle Association…

The Illinois State Rifle Association has released the following statement regarding the tragic events in Georgia yesterday.

“The Illinois State Rifle Association in the strongest of terms, does not condone any act of violence – especially the criminal misuse of firearms to commit violent acts.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed during today’s tragic shooting at a high school in Georgia. We’re also thinking of the other victims and their families and wishing them a full recovery.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | City sees modest improvement in violence figures over the summer: Chicago recorded 186 homicides between June 1 and Aug. 31, data show. Another 764 people suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds in that span. Summer 2023 saw 190 homicides while 747 others were shot and wounded. A year earlier, in 2022, the city recorded 207 homicides with another 957 shot over the summer.

* Sun-Times | Logan Square art gallery founder calls arrest, citations harassment — and neighbors agree: Trejon D’Angelo Williams said he created the gallery at 2334 N. Milwaukee Ave. to highlight marginalized artists, but he says he has been hindered due to harassment by Chicago police. He said police have been a constant presence at the venue, which showcases provocative art — most recently an exhibit about the war in Gaza and police violence. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) said Chicago police told him they were not proactively checking on Williams, but responding to 911 calls when they visited Aug. 21. They claimed they arrested Williams after he shoved officers, which resulted in injuries, La Spata said.

* Sun-Times | Humboldt Park ‘basement’ comedy club shut down after Instagram video goes viral: For five years, the Humboldt Jungle was the cool kids club, an underground comedy and music venue inside a residential basement that provided a space for local performers and audience members in the know. Humboldt Park resident Nathan Weil operated the secret space out of his home. Potted plants adorned the basement venue to give it a jungle feel, and patrons could bring their own alcohol. The shows had become popular enough to attract the attention of the popular Best Date Food Instagram page, which posted a video of the space in late August.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Northwestern | University administration rolls out new demonstration, discrimination policies: The updated Demonstration policy will enforce new requirements, barring overnight demonstration and adding limitations on what the University considers “activity that disrupts classes and other functions of the University, including prohibiting demonstrations at the Rock before 3 p.m. on weekdays and the use of amplified sound in that area before 5 p.m.”

* Tribune | Former assistant state’s attorney who headed wrongful conviction unit amid scrutiny sues Kim Foxx alleging discrimination: Nancy Adduci, who began her career at the Cook County state’s attorney’s office in 1996, filed a federal lawsuit last month that accuses Foxx and the office of demoting and firing her due to her age and race. Adduci, who is white, said in the complaint that Foxx’s deputies in October 2023 demoted her from her position supervising the Conviction Integrity Unit, now called the Conviction Review Unit, telling her they sought someone “more representative of the community” for the role.

* Daily Herald | How many officers does a suburban police department need? Answers vary: “You really need to know what your officers’ workload is and when the peaks and valleys are,” said Leonard Matarese, the managing partner at the Center for Public Safety Management at the International City/County Management Association. “You’ve got to really dig into the details, but that’s not something many police departments are equipped to do.” After keeping its police staffing level steady at about 108 sworn officers for the better part of a decade, Palatine is one of those suburbs ready to increase its ranks. The shift comes after officials identified a greater need for neighborhood-based policing and community services.

* Daily Southtown | Summit Hill District 161 calls for quick changes to ‘inexcusable’ school bus service: The CEO and founder of Safeway Transportation Services Corp. took full responsibility Wednesday for the bus problems that disrupted the start of school at Summit Hill Elementary District 161 in Frankfort. Meanwhile, the District 161 School Board and administration demanded the bus company improve its services as quickly as possible. […] [Board member John Winters] said he was disturbed hearing about kindergarten students riding the bus for two hours in the afternoon and having bathroom accidents during the long ride.

*** Downstate ***

* News-Gazette | Siblings to be honored as grand marshals of Arcola Broomcorn Festival: For many years, Terry and Angie Thornton have let people attending the Arcola Broomcorn Festival know what is going on during the festivities. This year, they will be part of what’s going on. The brother-sister Arcola natives will serve as grand marshals of the 53rd broomcorn festival parade.

* Pantagraph | Illinois State, Wesleyan universities safe after false reports of threats connected to WIU shooting: No active shooter and no credible threats were found, according to statements from ISUPD and BPD. The departments noted the rumors about a threat in Bloomington-Normal came at the same time as a shooting near Western Illinois University, almost two hours west of the Twin Cities.

* WAND | Man who escaped Sangamon Co. jail arrested by marshals in Springfield: The sheriff’s office said that Chane L. Jones, 42, had been booked on Tuesday for burglary and theft and was able to “mingle with three other inmates, who were administratively released from custody” Jones was arrested by sheriff’s deputies and US Marshals in the 1100 block of North 5th Street in Springfield. He is back in custody and faces additional charges.

* WCIA | ‘It left a lasting impact on our family’: Central IL woman urges more Nurse Honor Guard volunteers: When a nurse passes away after a career of serving his or her patients, the care doesn’t stop. The Nurse Honor Guard program aims to remember them even at the end of their lives. Phyllis Rogers called Carle Hospital in Urbana her office for many years. She started in family medicine and eventually switched to a management role. But Ali Boatright, her daughter, said her stethoscope was always close by.

*** National ***

* NYT | Republicans Seize on False Theories About Immigrant Voting: There is no indication that noncitizens are voting in large numbers. And yet the notion that they will flood the polls — and vote overwhelmingly for Democrats — is animating a sprawling network of Republicans who mobilized around former President Donald J. Trump’s false claims of a rigged election in 2020 and are now preparing for the next one.

       

13 Comments
  1. - Nick Name - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 2:24 pm:

    The Illinois State Rifle Association can shove its thoughts and prayers where the sun don’t shine.


  2. - Anyone Remember - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 2:43 pm:

    Kudos to Freedom From Religion Foundation for pointing out which version of the 10 Commandments. Not every one uses Charlton Heston’s movie version. And, in some places, that difference was the cause of sectarian violence within our lifetimes.


  3. - Terry Salad - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 2:53 pm:

    Meaningless thoughts and prayers from the Illinois State Rifle Association. We must do better.


  4. - Norseman - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 3:08 pm:

    === Our thoughts and prayers are with the families ===

    as they are sacrificed for our profits and entertainment.


  5. - Norseman - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 3:13 pm:

    === NYT | Republicans Seize on False Theories About Immigrant Voting ===

    Twitter has done a nice job ripping NYT for its weak framing of this headline.

    The bottom line is that the MAGA GOP comes up with another absurd bogeyman lie to justify voter suppression efforts.


  6. - @misterjayem - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 3:34 pm:

    “The Illinois State Rifle Association in the strongest of terms, does not condone any act of violence”

    vi·o·lence — n. behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

    Remind me again what firearms do…

    – MrJM


  7. - NIU Grad - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 3:46 pm:

    “prominent party figures like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell”

    Very prominent…


  8. - Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 3:53 pm:

    Mike Lindell peddles pillows and politics for profit. Pushing politics along with pillows is his gig.


  9. - H-W - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 4:11 pm:

    Macomb incident resolved at 3:16 pm. No lose of life, but two police seriously injured. Both released from hospital today.


  10. - H-W - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 4:25 pm:

    Der IL State Rifle Association,

    I know your thoughts and words are sincere. But what are you doing to prevent such acts from occurring in the future? Do you just accept them going forward, or do you have a plan to reduce them? This is a legitimate question. Work to reduce such violence. Do better. Killing s not political. It is unjust.


  11. - H-W - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 4:26 pm:

    Der = Dear


  12. - H-W - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 4:37 pm:

    Re: Macomb Incident - Police Report

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/live?ref=watch_permalink&v=1038361531155324


  13. - Amalia - Thursday, Sep 5, 24 @ 4:53 pm:

    more kim foxx nonsense. sounds very specific. so much baggage


TrackBack URI

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
* Question of the day
* Today's must-read
* We have the receipts, Mr. Mayor
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller