Illinois state officials say reforms put in place earlier have significantly eased the crushing burden that had buried state appeals courts under an avalanche of appeals from accused criminals seeking to use a controversial Illinois law that eliminated cash bail to challenge judges’ orders keeping them in jail while they await trial. […]
But Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court Justice Eugene G. Doherty, who chaired Pretrial Release Task Force, said the numbers of appeals are down 88% from their all-time highs at the beginning of the year.
“The Task Force wasn’t just trying to reduce the volume of appeals, but to ensure that the option of an appeal from pretrial detention orders remained viable,” Doherty said in a statement emailed to The Record.
“We think we found the sweet spot, meaning that the door remains wide open to appeal when trial counsel makes the reasoned judgment that an appeal should be taken. What has been lost are the rote, pro forma appeals that were contributing substantially to the volume.”
Early childhood intervention advocates are calling on the state to increase funding by $60 million to better support children with developmental delays and disabilities who are on long waiting lists for the critical services and care.
“Babies can’t wait” is the rallying cry for Raising Illinois, the coalition championing the request for new funding in the upcoming fiscal year budget. They held rallies from Oct. 22 through Nov. 1 in nine cities, including Champaign, Peoria, Aurora and Chicago, calling attention to staffing shortages and long wait times for families to access early intervention services. The coalition called attention to 3,500 babies and toddlers being left on waiting lists every day to receive early intervention services.
Early intervention is a state-funded program that offers families with infants, toddlers and children up to age 3 access to speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more support if the child has a developmental delay or disability. The goal is to help children and families get the necessary resources to address development, speaking and mobility, as well as physical, cognitive and emotional abilities they may need support to develop in early childhood.
The extra funding would help attract more therapists and providers in early intervention. According to a report published by Raising Illinois, around 500 early intervention providers have left the profession every year since 2019 in the state.
*** Statewide ***
* WTVO | More Democrats considering moving to Illinois following Trump victory: “You are seeing more migration patterns following politics,” said Conor Brown, CEO of the NorthWest Illinois Alliance of Realtors in Rockford. “And some of it could be social issues, whether it’s guns and abortion. Or, it could be economic issues like business and taxes and things like that.” Brown says the reaction by the public following this year’s election is nothing new. “I think we saw some acceleration during the COVID period, as well,” he said. “As much as it was a health care issue, it was also a political issue. And I think people moved to states that favored what they felt was their point of view on the issue.” … Politics aside, Brown said moving to Illinois can pay off for those who are willing to wait out the housing shortage. “Throughout our region, we are adding more jobs,” he said. “We have such strong demand for employees here that it is making it attractive for people to relocate.”
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Top mayoral aide says ‘world view’ has changed since she openly pushed to defund police: On Thursday, Bartley talked about the controversy that might have cost her the City Hall job she now holds if not for “the grace we give each other when we’re in tense moments,” she said. She’s “learned a ton,” she said, since making the transition from a community organizer demanding change to a City Hall insider with power to make things happen.
* Illinois Answers | ‘Empire of Neglected And Hazardous Vacant Lots’ Declares Bankruptcy, But City of Chicago Cries Fraud: City attorneys accuse Northbrook resident Suzie B. Wilson and her sister, Swedlana Dass, of concealing their wealth by transferring their local properties “around like candy” to businesses based in South Dakota, leaving the Illinois’ companies that owe the city millions of dollars “completely insolvent.” The transfers started after Illinois Answers Project and Block Club Chicago first revealed that their businesses owed the city more than $15 million in unpaid tickets for such violations as overgrown weeds and garbage on vacant lots the businesses owned.
* Block Club | Avondale’s Our Lady Of Fatima Church To Be Demolished For 3 Single-Family Homes: Demolition of the church and parking lot began Monday, when crews were seen securing the property with a fence and tearing up portions of the parking lot. A construction worker onsite Tuesday said the demolition could take a few days depending on the building’s condition. The church is most notable for being a mission church under the umbrella of St. Hyacinth parish to help relieve overcrowding at the main church a mile away between the 1940s-1990, said local historian and Polish advocate Dan Pogorzelski. A mission church supports and operates under another church that acts as the parish seat.
* Sun-Times | 48 hours aboard Amtrak’s new direct train from Chicago to Miami: We get underway exactly on time. A conductor comes by and scan’s everyone’s tickets while we’re briefly stopped in the Union Station yard. His face contorts in confusion when he sees that we’re riding all the way to Miami in coach.
* Block Club | 23 Migrant Couples Say ‘I Do’ At Mass Wedding: ‘I’m So Happy We Had This Opportunity’: Wearing a black suit and a smile, Gilson Rojas said he was happy to see his parents officially tie the knot. The Venezuelan family of five arrived in the United States three months ago, staying in California for a few weeks before arriving in Chicago. “I feel happy. I never thought I’d see them get married,” Gilson Rojas said in Spanish. All the couples at the mass wedding have been with their significant other for years and already have children. A wedding, however, was out of reach as they faced instability in their home country or had to emigrate — in some cases, more than once, some said.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Naperville Sun | Naperville council candidate removed from ballot because of nominating petition errors: Farid Malik Shabazz cannot run for the Naperville City Council in April because his nominating petitions did not reflect his recent name change, a city electoral board ruled Wednesday. Shabazz, a first-time candidate, says he does not plan to appeal. “I’m a little down,” he said after the ruling. “But it’s a teachable moment. This is a teachable moment.”
* Daily Herald | Geneva alderperson facing ethics complaint over Facebook post about pro-Trump businesses: A post in a private Facebook group that listed pro-Trump businesses and claimed they have “terrible politics” has resulted in an ethics complaint against a Geneva City Council member. There also are calls for her to be fired from her job with the city of Aurora. Geneva Alderperson Martha Paschke said that although she was an administrator for the Fox Valley Activists’ Facebook page, she is no longer. In addition, she says she did not create the list and did not post it.
* Cook County Record | 77 of 78 Cook County judges poised to retain seats on bench; O’Malley falling short: According to unofficial tallies posted by the Cook County Clerk’s office and the Chicago Board of Elections as of Friday evening, Nov. 8, Cook County Judge Shannon O’Malley, formerly known as Phillip Spiwak, appeared to be falling short of the threshold needed to win a new term. […] O’Malley, however, has spent most of the past week hovering just below that 60% threshold. According to unofficial returns, O’Malley stood at 59% voting “Yes,” as of Tuesday, Nov. 12. That would place him about 8,870 votes short of winning retention, according to Cook County Record estimates. Other judicial retention candidates who have so far failed to collect more than 65% voting “Yes” include: Lisa Ann Marino, with 64.9%; and Ieshia Gray, with 61.6%.
* Tribune | Maywood Park District employees working without pay as district faces financial cliff: Since early October, four of the district’s 11-person staff, including interim Executive Director Rod Chaney, have been working without pay while the other seven have either quit or are waiting to return to work. The park district runs four parks and after-school programs, athletics and senior enrichment activities for the roughly 23,000 residents of Maywood. The district has about $3,500 on hand, Board President Dawn Williams said. In January, the district defaulted on a $175,000 loan, Williams said. The district was supposed to use an installment of property tax revenue from that month to pay back the loan, Williams and Chaney said, but the money was instead spent on operating expenses, which includes payroll and bills.
* WTTW | Fermilab Announces Layoffs of 53 Employees Amid Budgetary Pressure: It represents almost 2.5% of its workforce. Fermilab reported about 2,160 employees including scientists and engineers on its website. “This was a difficult decision to reduce these positions,” said Tracy Marc, media relations manager at Fermilab. “They were thoughtfully assessed and focused on positions, not individuals. It was done as an essential step to align the lab’s workforce with Fermilab’s priorities, mission and future budgets.”
* Oak Park Journal | Oak Park plans for phase 2 of alternative police response: Between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, Oak Park received more than 49,000 calls through 911. According to Kira Tchang, the village’s human resources director, more than 20% of those calls, or about 10,000, would have been a “good fit” for alternative response. The intent with phase two, she said, is to tackle most, if not all, of those types of calls. In a village-led second phase, there would be a community care team to respond to low risk behavioral or mental-health related calls and a co-response team to respond to high-risk ones.
* Daily Herald | United Way of Lake County president/CEO to retire after nearly 43 years with nonprofit: Kristi Long will be retiring from the post of president and CEO of United Way of Lake County, effective May 1, 2025. Long has spent 42 years with United Way, in various roles through five organizations in the United States. United Way is an international network of more than 1,800 local nonprofits dedicated to bettering lives. Its Lake County chapter provides resources for food, mental health, health care and jobs, and especially works to ensure children have access to education.
*** Downstate ***
* BND | Belleville considers demolishing 1887 building after rejecting proposal to renovate it: The city-owned buildings include an 1887 two-story brick storefront at 123-127 Mascoutah Ave. Last year, developer Kathy Mordini agreed to buy it from the city for $46,000 and spend another $200,000 to renovate it and turn it into an event center with office space. That deal collapsed after a long negotiation process and opposition by some Belleville Historic District residents, led by former congressman Bill Enyart. They argued that large gatherings in an outdoor courtyard would disrupt the neighborhood. Mordini blamed “politics,” stemming from her support of the late former Mayor Mark Eckert, who was defeated by current Mayor Patty Gregory in 2021. Gregory and other city officials denied that claim, saying the project had been subject to the same rules and procedures applied to any developer.
* WMBD | Lead for Spears in Peoria County judge race increases to 53 votes after Tuesday’s count: John Spears’ lead over Frank Ierulli is now by 53 votes after officials at the Peoria County Election Commission counted 425 ballots on Tuesday. There are two days left for counting, Thursday and then on Nov. 19 when the election results will become official. Only 45 of those were vote by mail. The majority were provisional ballots cast on Election day. There are still about 70 provisional ballots left to go through, said Elizabeth Gannon, the executive director of the election commission.
* Journal Courier | Illinois historical society symposium to honor 206 years of statehood: Sen. Doris Turner, D-Decatur, will give a talk on designs for the new state flag for Illinois during a lunch buffet. From 1 to 2:45 p.m., two speakers will give presentations on Native Americans in the state. Michael Wiant, former director of the Illinois State Museum and Dickson Mounds State Museum, will speak on “Native Americans in Illinois in 1818: Treaties and Treachery in the Path to Statehood.”
*** National ***
* Reuters | Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on: The best window for recovery is in the first six months after getting COVID-19, with better odds for people whose initial illness was less severe, as well as those who are vaccinated, researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States found. People whose symptoms last between six months and two years are less likely to fully recover. For patients who have been struggling for more than two years, the chance of a full recovery “is going to be very slim,” said Manoj Sivan, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Leeds and one of the authors of the findings published in The Lancet.
* Bloomberg | Rivian, Tesla slide on report Trump plans to nix EV tax credit: Shares of US automakers fell after Reuters reported President-elect Donald Trump plans to eliminate the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases. Trump’s transition team has been discussing ending the subsidy as part of a broader tax-reform effort, Reuters said, citing unidentified sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Representatives of Tesla Inc. also support ending the credit, according to the report.
CNI’S EVOLUTION & IMPACT
November 19, 2024 | 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Panel discussion begins at 6 p.m.
Capitol News Illinois (Lower-level)
(112 W. Cook Street Springfield, IL 62704) | Map
Join us as professionals in media and Statehouse journalism discuss Capitol News Illinois’ evolution since 2019 and the impact its reporting and programming has had on state government, Illinois news media, and residents throughout the state.
Opening remarks will be given by Jak Tichenor, host of Illinois Lawmakers. Managing Editor and Broadcast Director for CNI, Jennifer Fuller, will moderate the panel of professionals, including:
Carol Marin,
Journalist
Rich Miller,
Publisher, Capitol Fax
Bernie Schoenberg,
Retired political writer and columnist, State Journal- Register
Hors d’oeuvres & refreshments will be served. This event is free, however donations in support of Capitol News Illinois are encouraged.
* It was well-known that Speaker Madigan ran the House the way he ran the 13th Ward operation. He tended to treat his Democratic legislators as constituents (which they are in a way because they vote every two years on leadership). And it wasn’t just about their bills or projects in their districts. A nephew has legal trouble? Go to Madigan and he’ll help find you a good lawyer. Want to impress the in-laws with good Cubs tickets? Madigan has those. Need a job for somebody close to you? Ask Madigan…
Later, Andrade “reached out to thank McClain for landing his wife a job at the secretary of state’s office,” prosecutors wrote in the filing, arguing the episode provides “another example of Madigan and McClain rewarding Madigan’s political allies with benefits, which is alleged as one of the purposes of the criminal enterprise.”
In his comments to the Tribune on Monday, Andrade said he didn’t know if Madigan had anything to do with his wife’s hiring. And while Andrade remembers talking to McClain, he’s not sure why he would have thanked him specifically.
He said a bout with COVID has caused lapses in his memory. But Andrade said he did remember that, during the call, McClain misidentified the division of White’s office where his wife worked.
It wasn’t all shady. For instance, when Rep. Esther Golar left the hospital to vote to override a Bruce Rauner veto, the hospital refused to readmit her. Madigan helped get her back in. More here.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill this week that will purchase and forgive medical debt for hundreds of thousands of state residents.
According to the text of HB5290, known as the Medical Debt Relief Act, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) will establish a pilot program to discharge medical debt for low-income households, providing relief to more than 300,000 state residents. […]
Under the terms of the bill, individuals will qualify for the program if their household income is below 400% of the federal poverty level, or if they possess medical debt amounting to 5% or more of their annual household income.
The DHFS will be tasked with starting up the pilot program and to review applications by Jan. 1, 2025.
* Governor JB Pritzker today…
The State of Illinois’ Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program has relieved more than $72 million worth of medical debt for 52,745 Illinois residents from across the state. This debt abolishment is the first effort as part of the State’s commitment to erase roughly $1 billion in medical debt across Illinois. Beginning next week, individuals benefitting from medical debt relief will receive letters notifying them that their debts have been eliminated. The average amount of debt abolished per person is $1,349 and the maximum debt abolished for one individual is $242,136.
In order to implement the pilot program, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) engaged Undue Medical Debt as a partner. Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit, works with governmental entities across the country on similar debt forgiveness programs, including in Cook County, by helping to facilitate the sale and relief of qualifying medical debt portfolios.
“Earlier this year, I signed legislation to forgive $1 billion in medical debt, and today we’re seeing the positive impact of that commitment for Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With over $72 million in debt already erased for more than 52,000 Illinoisans, the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program represents a promise to help families focus on health and recovery without the weight of financial strain. We’re just getting started, and my administration remains dedicated to bringing this relief to vulnerable communities across the state.” […]
Illinois is one of the first states in the country to address medical debt, a national crisis that weighs heavily on individuals and families. The medical debt relief effort is part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to improve health equity in Illinois. Medical debt disproportionately affects people of color—Black Illinoisans are 50% more likely to accrue medical debt than their white peers.
The program targets debt held by Illinois residents with a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or whose medical debt is at or exceeds 5% of their household income. Eligible Illinois residents do not need to apply for assistance; impacted households receive notification letters after their debts have been eliminated in a branded Undue envelope. Medical debt relief is source-based, meaning only qualifying medical debts sold from participating partners like hospitals are eligible for relief and consumers cannot request debt relief. Additional waves of relief letters will be announced by the state ahead of their release. […]
Residents in nearly every county in the state had medical debt relieved as part of the inaugural debt buyback. The largest number of debts relieved are in Will County, where a total of 20,832 individuals will receive debt relief. The debt was purchased from debt collection agencies, a national direct provider, and hospitals.
Gov. Pritzker first proposed the medical debt relief program during his FY25 Budget Address. In July, the Governor signed the medical debt forgiveness bill into law, which created the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program and dedicated $10 million in State funding to acquire outstanding, un-payable medical debt for Illinois residents.
Illinois is also partnering with the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) on the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program. IHA provides education and support to its member hospitals, streamlining the collaboration process with Undue Medical Debt. Undue Medical Debt is also actively working to establish partnerships with other providers like physicians’ groups to sell or donate qualifying debt portfolios.
In a letter to [Mayor Brandon Johnson] dated Tuesday and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, [Attorney General Kwame Raoul] expressed “grave concern” about cuts targeting CPD units responsible for implementing sweeping changes mandated in a federal consent decree.
Raoul bluntly told Johnson, “I strongly urge you to reconsider these proposed cuts.
“Under the consent decree, the City must provide the ‘necessary and reasonable financial resources’ required to fulfill those obligations. Cutting much-needed resources from the unit within CPD responsible for developing and implementing the policies, training, and oversight required by the consent decree is directly contrary to that obligation,” that attorney general wrote. […]
Johnson’s proposed $17.3 billion budget includes a 45% cut — from $6.7 million to $3.7 million — to CPD’s Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform, which is charged with implementing the consent decree. The office’s staff would be cut from 65 budgeted employees to 28.
Equally troubling to police reform advocates is a proposed 28% cut in the budget of CPD’s Training and Support Group, which would lose 90 jobs.
Raoul said his letter was prompted by “grave concern” that the “unwise budget cuts” proposed by Johnson would “undermine the progress” CPD has made toward implementing the consent decree. […]
A spokesperson for Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry said she had spoken to Raoul about his concerns.
“They are engaged in ongoing discussions regarding his concerns with an intent towards finding a resolution,” spokesperson Kristen Cabanban said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget proposal recommends the same funding level for Police Department settlements and court losses that the city has allocated annually for five years — an amount increasingly illusory as actual spending climbs higher and higher.
Johnson’s recommendation duplicates the $82.6 million that Mayor Lori Lightfoot put on the books in late 2019 for her administration’s first budget. The line item covers settlements, judgments, outside counsel and various legal expenses to defend against police misconduct lawsuits and other CPD claims. Johnson has stuck with that figure in his first two annual budgets, even though the costs soared last year to a record $150.8 million.
“That is certainly a problem in terms of budget transparency and budget planning,” city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said. “If we are going to continue to budget the same amount, knowing that it has not been enough in prior years, we would want [to] have taken some measurable, demonstrable steps to reduce risk.” […]
The $82.6 million in Johnson’s budget seems especially unrealistic given the Law Department’s present caseload, which includes 175 lawsuits tied to corrupt former Sgt. Ronald Watts. So far, the city has settled just one Watts-related lawsuit, a $500,000 deal inked in July. Settling the remaining cases could cost as much as $80 million, according to a WBEZ estimate.
The corruption charges against former House Speaker Michael Madigan are in many ways tethered to his longtime confidant, Michael McClain, a self-described “agent” of the speaker who was captured on FBI wiretaps pushing contract and job requests that he said came directly from Madigan himself.
On Wednesday, however, Madigan’s attorneys made their most aggressive attempts yet to distance the former Democratic leader from his co-defendant, strongly implying in a lengthy cross-examination of a key government witness that McClain used his relationship with the speaker to push his own, sometimes strange agenda.
In questioning former ComEd executive and government cooperator Fidel Marquez, Madigan attorney Tom Breen sought to portray McClain’s repeated name-dropping of the powerful speaker in emails and recorded conversations — often using flimsy code names such as “Himself” or “our Friend” — as a scare tactic to get things done.
Breen also attempted to ridicule the notion that Madigan, then the state’s most powerful politician, would have been concerned with nitpicky requests for ComEd, like giving more billable hours to a clout-heavy law firm or fulfilling recommendations for low-level jobs and summer internships.
“Did you really believe that Michael Madigan, at dinner, was telling Michael McClain — kind of doing a psychological evaluation of you that there’s ‘two Fidels’ — do you really believe that conversation took place?” attorney Tom Breen demanded.
Marquez assured him that he did, but Breen had sent his own message. He and a colleague spent their day trying to plant doubt in jurors’ minds about the weeklong testimony from Marquez, who hopes to avoid prison by working with the FBI. His testimony against McClain and Madigan, Illinois’ once-powerful House speaker who resigned in 2021, has spanned five days.
The defense attorneys asked Marquez Wednesday about a false answer he gave while trying to buy a gun, about legal trouble in his divorce, and about his deal with prosecutors that led him to secretly record McClain and three other colleagues. Marquez testified he couldn’t “recollect” whether the FBI had offered him anything when they first approached him.
“You’re telling us that the FBI did not give you any consideration — any inducement — to set up your four friends?” Breen pressed at one point, raising his voice and gesturing toward Marquez.
“What I said was, ‘I don’t recall,’” Marquez insisted.
Cross-examination also dug into Marquez’s contentious divorce.
“Is it not a fact that you attempted to hide from your wife and the court $400,000 in assets you had?” Cotter asked about Marquez’s 2014 divorce court battle.
Marquez acknowledged that he had, and in later questioning from Breen, admitted that he considered transferring the money to his then-girlfriend but didn’t go through with it. Because he “returned the money,” Marquez said he didn’t think to mention the episode to prosecutors. It ultimately came out during a dramatic moment during his cross-examination in last year’s ComEd trial, though the judge quickly shut down that attorney’s line of questioning.
Breen also questioned Marquez about a 2022 incident in which he was found in civil contempt of court for refusing to give $23,000 worth of stock to his ex-wife.
“You were threatened, as a matter of fact, with jail time if you did not transfer certain stock or assets,” Breen said. “And when you’re threatened with jail you comply.”
* More…
* ABC Chicago | Defense cross-examines star witness in former IL speaker trial: Madigan’s attorneys are cross-examining Fidel Marquez Wednesday. “You agreed to wear wires on your ComEd family?” one attorney asked. Marquez said, “yes.” “So you agreed to wear a wire, against your four friends, and you’re telling us the FBI didn’t give you any inducement to set them up?” the attorney asked. “I got a sense that this was not good,” Marquez said.
An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday.
Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, asked that the Senate Executive Committee to wait to act on Senate Bill 3968, which would have banned the practice, until lawmakers can learn more about the carbon injection process and its environmental risks. The bill was proposed after it was revealed that ADM, the Decatur-based agriculture giant, violated federal regulations when liquid carbon dioxide leaked into areas outside the scope of their permit. […]
The Mahomet Aquifer stretches across central Illinois from the Illinois River to the Indiana state line. The aquifer is federally designated as a “sole source” for hundreds of thousands of residents in Central Illinois, meaning there are no easily available backup sources of drinking water if the aquifer were to become contaminated. […]
The bill was proposed by two senators served by the aquifer, Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, with Republican Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, lending bipartisan support. Faraci told committee members the drinking water’s protection has been the top concern in his district, while Rose vocally opposed a measure that passed in May to temporarily pause then allow for carbon capture technology in Illinois, in part because it did not contain protections for aquifers.
That law imposed a two-year moratorium on new pipeline construction for transporting captured carbon to storage sites in Illinois while the federal government works out new regulations. Once the two years pass, or the federal government establishes regulations, the Illinois Commerce Commission will then oversee a strict permitting process to approve projects that have already been granted federal permits.
Harmon indicated that two-year ramp gives lawmakers time to further discuss potential protections for aquifers.
An assessment from the Illinois Geological Survey noted the vulnerability of the [Mahomet Aquifer], warning that carbon capture activities would need to be closely monitored to prevent environmental damage.
Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, urged lawmakers not to jump to conclusions.
“I view this as the beginning of a very critical conversation and I’m glad the surveys are involved,” said Harmon. “I would like to digest this and get even more expert information.”
Archer Daniels Midland’s carbon capture facility in central Illinois was the first permitted commercial carbon sequestration operation in the country, but has experienced two leaks this year.
Faraci and Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said the legislation should be a top priority for lawmakers to pass during veto session. Rose stressed this shouldn’t be a partisan issue since there is a common sense solution.
“The point is we shouldn’t have any risk,” Rose said. “There’s no acceptable risk because this is the sole source. There is no other alternate source where you just turn on a switch and you get water from somewhere else. You can’t.”
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the new proposal yesterday…
Let me be clear, we all want to protect the Mahomet Aquifer, and we want to make sure that carbon sequestration is something that’s good for the state and for the country. So thinking about, you know, legislation about it is the right thing to do if it needs to be done. Remember that the legislation that we passed actually doesn’t directly have any threat to the Mahomet Aquifer. So question is, do you have to have a new piece of legislation to address something that doesn’t seem to be faced with the legislation that we already have on the books.
* Press release…
In response to Senate leadership’s decision to withhold a vote on the Mahomet Aquifer protections bill today, the Protect the Mahomet coalition released the following statements:
“I’m disappointed in the Senate leadership’s decision to withhold a vote on the Mahomet Aquifer protections bill today,” said Andrew Rehn, director of Climate Policy at Prairie Rivers Network. “Prairie Rivers Network will engage in the ‘continued conversations’ that Senate leadership is calling for, but the need is clear: Central Illinois needs a ban on carbon sequestration through and under the Mahomet Aquifer to protect our drinking water.”
“I’m not sure what there is left to ‘get right.’ The right thing to do is to protect the Mahomet Aquifer, where the risk tolerance is zero,” said Pam Richart, co-director of Eco-Justice Collaborative. “During the hearing, the risks to our drinking water were underplayed by industry and experts. What wasn’t discussed was the failures of ADM’s leaking project. At ADM, we experienced a design failure, a material failure, an operator failure, and a moral failure. The projects already proposed (and there could be more) would be 50 times the size of ADM’s existing project, which has already leaked twice.”
“We were very disappointed this important bill didn’t proceed today,” said Dawn Dannenbring, a Leader with Illinois People’s Action. “The Mahomet Aquifer still needs protection. The Illinois Senate needs to hear from everyone who is concerned about their safe drinking water after today’s hearing.”
Opponents of the legislation say they understand the concerns but argue the state has the strongest protections in the nation on this technology.
“It departs from the science based regulatory approach for CCS that was negotiated in the spring session and passed into law with strong support,” Brad Stotler with the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association said during the hearing.
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* ICYMI: Illinois AG Raoul warns Mayor Johnson to reconsider police reform budget cuts or risk being held in contempt. Sun-Times…
In a letter to Johnson dated Tuesday and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, Raoul expressed “grave concern” about cuts targeting CPD units responsible for implementing sweeping changes mandated in a federal consent decree.
Raoul bluntly told Johnson, “I strongly urge you to reconsider these proposed cuts.”
“Under the consent decree, the City must provide the `necessary and reasonable financial resources’ required to fulfill those obligations. Cutting much-needed resources from the unit within CPD responsible for developing and implementing the policies, training, and oversight required by the consent decree is directly contrary to that obligation,” that attorney general wrote. […]
Johnson’s proposed $17.3 billion budget includes a 45% cut — from $6.7 million to $3.7 million — to CPD’s Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform, which is charged with implementing the consent decree. The office’s staff would be cut from 65 budgeted employees to 28.
* Rock River Current | Hard Rock Casino Rockford Holds No. 2 Spot For State’s Biggest-Drawing Casinos: Hard Rock jumped from ninth to second among total revenue and admissions to the state’s 15 casinos in September. It held that ranking last month, according to figures released Tuesday by the Illinois Gaming Board. Hard Rock had 122,621 admissions to the casino at 7801 E. State St. in October. It had 157,154 during its debut month.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Tribune | Lawmakers confront costly choices as state workers rally for better pension benefits: At issue are concerns over reforms made to Illinois’ beleaguered pension system in 2011. Workers hired after that date were placed into a “Tier 2” system that offered reduced benefits. The overall goal of creating the “Tier 2” plan was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to $141 billion. But at some point, benefits paid out under the system won’t equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal “safe harbor” law. That would require the state to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility.
*** Statewide ***
* Crain’s | Intersect Illinois says new corporate projects rose 15% last year: he state tallied 440 projects in the fiscal year ended June 30, up from 382 a year before, says Intersect Illinois, the state’s public-private partnership for economic development. The biggest project announced last fiscal year was Gotion’s planned $2 billion battery-assembly plant in Manteno, one of the most significant economic development deals in state history.
* WGLT | Illinois Farm Bureau challenging expulsion from national federation: The Illinois Farm Bureau and Country Financial have the same individuals on both boards of directors, though they have different fiduciary duties. There are three other states where Country does business where farm clients are required to be members of their state farm bureau, but none except Illinois where non-farm clients had to buy a farm bureau membership as well. In January, Illinois will have the same alignment as the other three states.
* Holland & Knight | Illinois Dental Practices Face New Third-Party Financing Guardrails in 2025: In August, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB 4891 that amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act to include significant guardrails for dental practices looking to offer third-party financing in dental offices in 2025. Notably, these restrictions do not apply to financing and other discount programs offered by dental practices themselves, but likely require dental practices with current third-party financing programs to make significant adjustments. It remains to be seen whether the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will promulgate regulations to further implement this law.
*** Chicago ***
* CBS Chicago | Developer hopes to refresh and revitalize commercial corridor in Chicago’s West Pullman community: CBS News Chicago reported Tuesday night on an Aldi that abruptly closed in the West Pullman neighborhood this past weekend—leaving residents with one less option for their shopping. But new investment is coming to the community—$200 million, to be exact. For years, businesses big and small have come and gone in the West Pullman neighborhood. But the nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation is working to create everlasting change—and has a vision specifically for the commercial corridor at 115th and Halsted streets.
* NBC Chicago | Investigation finds uninsured school bus company was transporting Chicago students: In 2017, the company was barred from doing business with Chicago Public Schools due to numerous failed state safety inspections, a lack of “cross arms and emergency door handles” and “cracked windshields and shredded tires” on several of their buses, NBC 5 Responds found. We also found several other school districts were still using Culvers to transport children, including the De La Salle Institute and Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School.
* Sun-Times | Google paying to move CTA Clark/Lake entrance in Thompson Center to Clark Street: The station entrance within the Thompson Center on Lake Steet will move next year to the northeast corner of the building on Clark Street, according to the CTA. The Thompson Center is under construction to become Google’s new Chicago headquarters. The CTA shared sleek conceptual renderings of proposed station makeover after the transit agency’s board voted Wednesday to amend its 1984 easement agreement with the building’s owner. Google purchased the building from the state for $105 million in 2022.
* CBS Chicago | Crowds line up for hours in Chicago for tacos from Michelin-starred Mexico City stand: That taste of Mexico from El Califa de León has come to Chicago—and people were willing to sacrifice their whole day to enjoy what some say are among the best tacos in the world. The line wrapped around several city blocks and wound around corners. Some got comfortable in chairs as they waited in line, while others relaxed with shots of tequila.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* WGN | Outgoing Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx reflects upon successes, challenges during 8 years in office: During the interview, Foxx discussed the recent presidential election and said she believes, with the election of Donald Trump, that Illinois could see a huge decrease in federal funds. Foxx also said she is rooting for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and added that his decision to get rid of ShotSpotter may not have been such a bad idea as it could encourage folks to trust their police department and make a call when they hear shots being fired.
* Daily Herald | 40% drop in Metra trains could come in 2027, leaders warn: “The number we are throwing around mathematically is a 40% reduction of service to meet the budget hole in 2027,” Executive Director Jim Derwinski told board directors at a meeting. His remarks came after directors asked if the commuter railroad was readying for 2026, the year federal pandemic aid runs out for Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority.
* Daily Southtown | Clerk Nyota Figgs challenges Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ filing for reelection: City Clerk Nyota Figgs alleges the mayor is ineligible to run for reelection due to a 2021 referendum passed to prevent municipal office holders from also serving as a state legislator, and claiming Jones’ primary residence is not in Calumet City. Jones has been state representative since 2011. Figgs, who is running for reelection as clerk, said she believes Jones’ role in state government has created barriers to holding him accountable at the municipal level since his elected as mayor in 2021. The referendum brought similar challenges to Jones’ candidacy during that first bid, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Jones’ spot on the ballot was secure.
* Daily Herald | Board, council races starting to take shape in Northwest suburbs: A crowded race is forming in Arlington Heights, where officials face the prospect of the Chicago Bears either building a new stadium or proposing some other redevelopment plan for the former Arlington Park property. Six candidates so far have filed paperwork for four available four-year seats on the village board.
* NBC Chicago | Dolton mayor complains to police after signs bearing her image are removed: Bodycam footage from an officer called to the scene shows Henyard asking workers removing the banners who gave them orders to complete the work. Henyard said she was going to press charges against the workers and the village manager for taking down government property in the footage. The video shows workers give the banners to members of Henyard’s team a short time later.
* WGN | Inside the awe-inspiring ‘Aurora’ supercomputer at Argonne National Lab: The Aurora is not Argonne’s first supercomputer, but it’s the most powerful. In all, there are 160 racks, each eight feet tall, arranged in eight rows, all connected by 300 miles of cable. That’s enough to stretch from Chicago to St. Louis. “It’s really the number of operations that the system can do,” he said. The aurora is capable of a quintillion calculations per second,” Papka said. “That’s a 10 with 18zeros after it, or a million trillions.”
* NBC Chicago | Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes accused of spraying, pushing Berwyn woman down stairs: In a statement to the Sun-Times, Fuentes said, “Don’t show up at somebody’s front door looking to cause problems.” He did not give an account of the incident. Rose said her address has leaked. Rose believes supporters of Fuentes have swatted — an act where one tells an emergency service to go to a person’s address — her home a few times, and she believes they’re behind multiple Domino’s Pizza orders that have come to her vegan household.
*** Downstate ***
* Capitol News Illinois | Carbondale faces legal battle over protest restrictions outside abortion clinics: The Supreme Court is scheduled to decide on Friday whether it will take up the case, Coalition Life v. City of Carbondale. It had been scheduled for last week’s conference, but it was postponed. Brian Westbrook, founder and executive director of Coalition Life, which sends volunteers and paid staff to Carbondale’s clinics, said the restrictions made it nearly impossible to get the attention of people entering the clinics.
* WCIA | Family, neighbors say Mattoon murder-suicide ‘could’ve been avoided’: Ramirez said Seeley needed serious help with the abusive relationship, and that she did not receive it. “They did not offer her an OP (order of protection),” Ramirez said. “They did not offer any kind of domestic violence counseling, and they said, ‘It’s a civil suit, you’re on your own.’” Tuesday, Ramirez and Seeley’s family were setting up funeral arrangements and collecting items from her office, all while thinking, “what if Seeley had gotten the help she needed?”
* WCBU | Pekin establishes a 1% grocery sales tax to replace lost revenue from the repeal of state tax: The Pekin City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday for the city to establish its own 1% grocery sales tax so it can recoup the $1.5 to $1.7 million annually the city would have lost because of the state grocery sales tax’s elimination. […] “We all know the legislation was nothing more than a political move,” said council member Karen Hohimer. “Our grocery sales tax won’t be just paid by Pekin residents. Anyone who comes through town and buys groceries will pay it too.”
* WGLT | Erik Rankin named next executive director at Illinois Prairie Community Foundation: The Illinois Prairie Community Foundation [IPCF], a public charity that awards grants in McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan counties, has named its next executive director. Erik Rankin of Bloomington will replace current executive director Greg Meyer, who is retiring at the end of the year. “As a McLean County native, Rankin has a strong passion for his community and brings more than two decades of varied experiences in leadership roles and relationship-building within nonprofit, education and governmental organizations,” said IPCF board president Laura Kowalczyk.
* PJ Star | Comedian who slammed Peoria won’t make any Illinois stops on upcoming tour: Gillis performed two shows in Peoria on Jan. 12, coinciding with a wave of cold weather and nearly 10 inches of snow in Illinois. On an episode of “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” which Gillis co-hosts with comic Matt McCusker, Gillis slammed Peoria’s weather, saying he had to arrive a day early because of it and had nothing to do.”I was in Peoria, Illinois, new No. 1 on the power rankings of (expletive) town in the entire country,” he said. “Peoria, Illinois was… that was hell, dude. Just me and the bums were the only ones outside walking around. Minus 4 in Peoria sucks.”
* WaPo | Trump aides explore plans to boost Musk effort by wresting control from Congress: If the White House were to simply assert more power without Congress first changing the law, it could trigger a constitutional showdown over a bedrock aspect of the federal government, the power of the purse. Some legal experts say that the courts would probably strike down any attempt to unilaterally rewrite federal spending laws, but some Trump allies are optimistic the Supreme Court, which now has a significant conservative majority, might rule in their favor. Trump’s former budget director, Russell Vought, blasted the 1974 law the day before Trump’s first term ended, saying it promoted “the very opposite of what good government should be,” and he said last year on Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon’s podcast that he thought the law was unconstitutional. Vought is widely expected to return to the administration in a senior role.
* Sun-Times | Pritzker, Colorado governor launch coalition to fight ‘threats of autocracy’: The goal of Governors Safeguarding Democracy, or GSD, is to protect state-level institutions of democracy — and to use their collective legislative, budgetary, executive and administrative powers. Pritzker said it will “catalyze collaboration across state lines.” “It’s built off a model that all of us governors have already successfully pioneered through the Reproductive Freedom Alliance,” Pritzker said. “And together, what we’re doing is pushing back against increasing threats of autocracy and fortifying the institutions of democracy that our country and our states depend on.”
* Axios | Senate Democrats are stressed about Dick Durbin: Democrats tell Axios they’re nervous about whether Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), 79, has the fire to fight Trump nominees as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Schumer’s options include jamming up GOP attempts to adjourn the chamber for Trump to make recess appointments, sources tell us.
* You can click here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the “border czar” has issued a pointed response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s recent pledge to keep Illinois a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, suggesting the state’s policies will not deter ICE enforcement.
In an interview on conservative Charlie Kirk’s podcast, Tom Homan responded to Pritzker’s statement, in which the governor declared, “If you come for my people, you come through me.”
Homan replied, saying in part:
“Game on. We’ve got no problem going through him. I’ve got 20,000 men and women in ICE who are going to do their job with no apology,” Homan said. “And if any governor wants to stand in the way, go ahead and do it. We’ll see what happens. We’re not gonna be intimidated.”
Click here for the relevant portion of the interview.
An Illinois law designed to ensure victims of sexual assault receive proper care inside hospitals also includes a carve out that allows patients to be transferred if the hospital determines it can’t provide services like rape kit exams.
Advocates argue this can disrupt the chain of custody for things like evidence collection and creates a chilling effect where victims may decide to not travel further to get a rape exam.
“That now means a survivor has to go that much further, that’s where we see the real-life impact on a survivor,” said Carrie Ward with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
An NBC 5 Investigates’ review of 185 Illinois hospital inspection reports filed by the Illinois Department of Public Health between 2018 and 2024 found hospitals across the state have failed to properly treat victims through a series of missteps – from poor record-keeping to more serious violations like failing to contact police and turnover rape kits – some which we found sat on the shelves for years.
* The Illinois Freedom Caucus announced its first Senate member…
Illinois’ most conservative Senator, Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport), today announced his decision to join the Illinois Freedom Caucus, making him the first Senator to join and launching the Caucus into the Senate.
“I’m here to defend American values, stand up for hard-working families, and fight back against the radical left policies we see in Springfield,” said Senator Chesney. “My record speaks for itself—I’ve never voted for a tax or fee hike in my life. I’m proud of that. By bringing the Freedom Caucus into the Senate, I’ll have allies standing with me as I keep fighting for conservative values.”
In joining the Freedom Caucus, Chesney is doubling down on his conservative leadership and commitment to fiscal responsibility, limited government, and protecting the rights of Illinoisans. Senator Chesney has earned a reputation as a no-nonsense, rock-solid conservative who isn’t afraid to call out the leftist policy agenda—or Republicans who vote against their principles.
“I had the pleasure of serving with Andrew Chesney in the House, where he showed he was a true, courageous conservative leader,” said State Rep. Chris Miller, Chairman of the Illinois Freedom Caucus. “He’s exactly the conservative leader we need bringing the Freedom Caucus into the Senate. In fact, he is the only Senator in Illinois with a track record of true conservatism. Working families and taxpayers can count on Andrew Chesney, and they can keep counting on the Illinois Freedom Caucus to fight for them.”
With this announcement, Senator Chesney and the Illinois Freedom Caucus are strengthening a new era of conservative leadership—one that defends Republican core values, refuses to bow to pressure, and will put Illinois families first. This is what the people want.
* Views in the Capitol…
Large show of force by the state’s public sector unions in the Capitol today. They’re advocating for changes to the “Tier 2” pension system that would enhance benefits. Gov. Pritzker and lawmakers have acknowledged the need for changes, but have been wary of giving too much. https://t.co/Tt1JWqpUdcpic.twitter.com/LfVvccpfdi
Country star Megan Moroney is coming to perform at the Illinois State Fair next year.
Moroney will take to the grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 10.
Moroney has nearly 2 billion total global streams to date.
“The Illinois State Fair has a long tradition of showcasing artists early in their careers,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. “We’re looking forward to Megan Moroney’s Grandstand appearance in August. She has a bright future in Country music.”
*** Madigan Trial ***
* Sun-Times | ‘Did the word ‘felony’ resonate with you?’: Defense attorneys grill star witness in Madigan case: One of those defense attorneys accepted wholeheartedly Wednesday, grilling Fidel Marquez over whether he’d forgotten last winter that he’d “pled guilty to a felony” and was “facing five years?” “Did the word ‘felony’ resonate with you on March 8, 2024?” attorney Patrick Cotter demanded. “Did you remember that part of the court proceeding?”
*** Statehouse News ***
* WTTW | State Republicans Call for Inclusion in Budget Talks as Illinois Faces $3B Deficit: President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last week should have a resounding message for Illinois politicians, according to the Republican leader of the state Senate, John Curran: “They want elected officials to focus on making life more affordable.” Curran said Illinois Democrats, who control state government and therefore its purse strings, should bear that in mind as they contend with a deficit projected to top $3 billion.
* Center Square | Bipartisan push to protect Central Illinois drinking water from carbon capture: Julie Fosdick, an opponent of carbon sequestration projects, said legislators seem to be protecting the aquifer now that news broke about the Archer Daniels Midland leaks. “People became much more aware that having carbon sequestration near an aquifer is a serious risk after learning ADM had two leaks,” said Fosdick. “The one leak had already occurred at ADM when the bill [Senate Bill 1289], but that was kept secret.”
*** Statewide ***
* WGLT | Illinois Farm Bureau expelled from national federation: The American Farm Bureau Federation [AFBF] has kicked the Illinois Farm Bureau out of the federation in a dispute over member dues. A letter from AFBF President Zippy Duvall to state farm bureau presidents said the action comes after a failed mediation session on Monday. The move is in retaliation for a decision by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s affiliate, Country Financial, to drop a Farm Bureau membership eligibility requirement for non-farm insurance policy holders in Illinois.
* FarmWeek | IFB president responds to AFBF’s decision: We believe AFBF is choosing to abandon our more than 70,000 Illinois farmer members because our affiliate insurance company does not want to force non-farmers to join.
* KFVS | Illinois Department of Agriculture Launches First-Ever Illinois Product Holiday Box: The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced the release of the first of its kind Illinois Product Holiday Box. The box features nine different products from Illinois. We believe AFBF is choosing to put our farms, our families and our communities at risk at a time when we need support through federal policy. In short, we believe AFBF has chosen to break its promises to Illinois farmers.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Durbin, Duckworth, House Democrats demand feds fix Legionella problem at Loop buildings: The Sun-Times reported in August that three Loop buildings — Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building and Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse — have Legionella and, in some cases, traces of lead or copper that exceed safe levels set by the government. The Metcalfe building also includes a children’s daycare that detected Legionella and lead. In their letter, the lawmakers said the Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse Building in Rockford was also found to have Legionella above safe levels.
* Tribune | Chicago-based Grubhub sold for $650 million to Wonder Group Inc.: Wonder Group Inc. is buying Grubhub from Just Eat Takeaway.com NV for about $650 million, acquiring the restaurant delivery service at a steep discount to the $7.3 billion price tag it commanded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, Just Eat said in a statement on its website Wednesday. It expects net proceeds of as much as $50 million from the deal.
* Sun-Times | Family of Officer Enrique Martinez doesn’t want Mayor Johnson, Gov. Pritzker at funeral, FOP head says: The family has been “very clear they do not want the governor or the mayor to attend” the funeral on Nov. 18, Catanzara said in a video posted to the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police YouTube channel on Monday. He added that Pritzker has acknowledged the request and indicated he plans to honor it, but Johnson has yet to follow suit. “Shame on you, Mayor Johnson,” Catanzara said.
* Tribune | Nurses at University of Illinois Hospital walk off the job, in second strike since August: It’s the second time the nurses have gone on strike since August, which is when their last contract expired. The nurses are seeking better security to prevent patients from attacking them at the hospital, and they’re asking for higher pay. UI Health has proposed annual raises of less than 3%, according to the union, the Illinois Nurses Association. Meanwhile, the health system has said that the majority of its nurses are already better paid than 90% of nurses in the Chicago area.
* Tribune | How will Donald Trump’s plans for education affect Chicago Public Schools?: Trump repeatedly made promises on the campaign trail to dismantle the Department of Education and change funding priorities toward private schools and other educational expenses, which worries Reyes. Like other parents and educational advocates in Chicago, he said he would do whatever it takes to “ensure (his) kids get the proper education they need from all realms and all voices.” Education policy experts say the 47th incoming president’s plans to expand education savings accounts (where families get taxpayer money to help pay tuition for private schools), limit and reshape American history curriculums and shift budget priorities from programs that benefit low-income students have the potential to create a tumultuous transition for Chicago students.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Shaw Local | Will County state’s attorney calls for closure of SAFE-T Act ‘loophole’: The murder case filed against a man accused of killing a Chicago police officer has led Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow to call for lawmakers to close a “loophole” with the SAFE-T Act. But the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, which supports the law, said in a statement that Glasgow’s solution would “effectively try to lock up everyone accused of any felony,” do nothing to improve safety and “distract the courts from their current careful focus on cases with serious allegations.”
* Daily Herald | Lake County sees a mix of incumbent leaders seeking reelection and those voluntarily ending their runs: Several incumbent Lake County mayors are seeking reelection and some will face challengers who submitted paperwork Tuesday, the first day to file nominating petitions for local offices in the April 1 consolidated election. Many candidates file when their local village halls open the first day to get a higher ballot position and there was plenty of activity with some mayoral candidates filing as a slate with incumbent trustees.
* Daily Herald | CMAP, DuPage County to host traffic safety open house: DuPage County and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning will host an open house in Bensenville to discuss traffic safety issues and hear suggestions from the public. The event is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Bensenville Community Public Library, Diamond Meeting Room, 200 S. Church Road.
*** Downstate ***
*WIFR | Winnebago County residents share experience on public defense in Illinois: State Rep. Dave Vella says public defenders are understaffed and overloaded with cases. He says the main Winnebago County public defender was tied up in court all day Thursday because of this. “We don’t have swift justice for either the victims or for the defendants, and it costs a lot more money for the taxpayers,” says Vella. That’s why Vella introduced the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation, or FAIR Act, which in part will create an office of the state public defender to assess client needs, staffing and resources statewide.
* Crain’s | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor to step down: Robert Jones, the first African American chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, announced he will be stepping down at the end of this academic year, leaving a vacancy at the top of Illinois’ largest university as it plays an increasing role in the state’s economic future. Jones has led Illinois’ flagship land-grant university for nine years while also serving as vice president of the University of Illinois System, which oversees the Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield campuses. U of I System President Tim Killeen said in a written statement that Jones will remain with the system to “employ his considerable experience” in expanding its presence in Chicago.
*** National ***
* NYT | Mexico Signals It Could Hit Back With Tariffs at U.S.: “If you put 25 percents tariffs on me, I have to react with tariffs,” Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s economy minister, told a radio interviewer on Monday. “Structurally, we have the conditions to play in Mexico’s favor,” he added. The disclosure by Mr. Ebrard, who is poised to be one of Mexico’s top negotiators with the Trump administration, showcases the rising tensions between the countries in the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election.
* The Hill | Axelrod pushes for Rahm Emanuel as DNC chair: “If they said, ‘Well, what should we do? Who should lead the party?’ I would take Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, and I would bring him back from Japan and I would appoint him chairman of the Democratic National Committee,” Axelrod said Tuesday on his podcast “Hacks on Tap.” “He is the most skillful, political kind of infighter in the Democratic Party. … He’s been a member of Congress, he’s been White House chief of staff, he’s been the mayor of Chicago. Now, he’s been ambassador to Japan, and he ran, in 2005 and [2006], the campaign to take back the House,” Axelrod continued.
* Isabel and I were chuckling about reporters asking the governor if he plans to run for president in four years. I mean, it’s not like he’s gonna use some little press conference somewhere to make such a big announcement.
So, we thought about a better way to get at his thinking and maybe see if it knocked him off his stride a bit and made him somehow take the bait. From earlier today…
Isabel: At this moment in time, what qualities would you like to see in the next Democratic presidential nominee?
Pritzker: Well, gosh, let’s start with I’d like them to hold Democratic values. And you know, there are a lot of things about standing up for the middle class, a lot of things about making sure that we’re addressing their freedoms and protecting them that I think that the next Democratic nominee ought to hold. And so I think we’ve got quite a number of really highly qualified people on the Democratic side. I think you saw some of that the people you know during the last year or two who you know, been pushing back on the proposed agenda of the Trump potential Trump administration at that point, some of those leaders, I think, are terrific people who hold those values.
Q: With Think Big America, with the Polis group that you put together, with the gun issue, Why should anyone think that you are not running for president in 2028?
Pritzker: [Laughs] That’s kind of funny. I mean, it’s, first of all, it’s 2024. I still have two years left to serve in the term that I’m in as governor. As you all have heard me say time and time again, I love this job and there’s an awful lot about it that I believe I can do to protect people from the problems that seem to want to come from Washington, DC, over the next two years. So I’m looking forward to doing that. And you all should - and you’ve been asking me about re election. I think that’s the relevant conversation.
…Adding… Pritzker was also asked about who he’d like to see as the new Democratic National Committee chair…
I know there are probably four or five people that I’ve heard, whose names I’ve heard. I like all the names that I’ve heard. So I’m not going to make a decision about that now, about who I might support. But I can say we need to do a lot of building across the nation, especially in states where, not just the battlefront states, but I’m talking about states where we need to lift up the Democratic party that has been less competitive than it should be. An example of that would be the Indiana Democratic Party, where there’s an opportunity in Indiana, because it appears to be, anyway, the Democrats are doing better, and the opportunity to elect more to their general assembly and potentially to statewide office.
“People have often said that I’m a happy warrior, and I’ve always taken seriously my role as a happy warrior on behalf of this state,” Pritzker said in a news conference Thursday. “Even today, when I’m struggling with many of the difficult questions this election poses, my optimism for the future remains undiminished.”
“To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans: I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior,” he said. “You come for my people, you come through me.”
* Senate Republican Leader John Curran yesterday…
Unlike other Democratic governors in other states, like Pennsylvania, that have approached the election results with calls for collaboration and working in a more bipartisan manner, Governor Pritzker recently with his press conference, has doubled down on his anti-Republican rhetoric, bashing Donald Trump and telling Illinoisians he was going to be protecting them from the incoming administration. Despite the electoral outcome, he still does not seem to understand that he represents all Illinoisians, including the 2.4 million that voted for Donald Trump.
Governor, the people of Illinois are not happy with the incompetent governance your administration has displayed. They’re not happy that your administration continues to fail our most vulnerable populations, where your failure to meet the requirements of our consent decrees with abused and neglected children under the state’s care, as well as develop adults with developmental disabilities. Illinoisans are not happy paying the highest property tax rate in the nation, as well as the highest overall effective tax rate. Illinoisans are not happy about living in a state that continues to be known for crime and corruption, and they certainly are not happy with your repeat broken repeated promise that you broke with regards to not signing a map drawn by politicians and instead signing the most gerrymandered map in the nation. Illinoisans are now seeing the dramatic effect from that gerrymandered map with this last election, where they’re able to hold on to power for he and his allies and really thwart the will of the electorate that are looking for new leaders.
You know what would make Illinoisans happy? A state government that meets its obligations. So maybe instead of reaching into Illinois’ pocketbooks for more of their hard earned dollars and being happy leading an administration that continually fails our most vulnerable population, Governor, you should stop with the national campaigns. Come home, sharpen your budget pencil, and let’s get to work. It is time for you and your administration to work with both parties in approaching the upcoming budget. In that spirit, on behalf of all Illinoisans, regardless of who they voted for, I am calling on Governor Pritzker to pledge to not increase taxes on Illinois families and businesses in this upcoming budget year, Illinois has real Illinois problems right here that need to be dealt with. It is time for Governor Pritzker to take a break from the national campaigns and to start to think Illinois.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* Wirepoints.org’s Ted Dabrowski was on WLS Radio yesterday…
Q: I guess the place we start with you is, when did Governor Pritzker become a warrior of any kind?
Dabrowski: Well, he’s always been a culture warrior. He’s been, I guess, very tribalistic, separating people, dividing. He’s really good at delivering his talk. He’s smooth, he’s controlled. But underneath it all, he’s always dividing people, and that’s why I think he’s a warrior. He’s saying, ‘Look, you come after the people that I’ve segmented out, the ones that I’ve instilled fear in. If you come after them, I’m going to defend them. And that’s basically the message he had for Trump right after Trump won. So you know, he didn’t, he didn’t waste any time in telling Trump, stay away from Illinois. He went right at it. […]
Q: The election here, and we saw these gains being made by Republicans here in Illinois. I mean, not enough to swing this state red. But is part of that playing into Pritzker coming out and saying, ‘Hey, don’t screw with me’. Because, I mean, I think there’s a real chance that 10 years from now, this state might be swinging the other direction.
Dabrowski: Look, he’s certainly on defense, right? I mean, you know, he tried that, if you look at his rhetoric, especially like at the DNC, and even before that, you know, he’s always calling Pritzker all kinds of things. Pritzker all kinds of names, misogynistic, all those names, homophobic, blah, blah, blah. He was aggressive. And then the press has been aggressive against Trump here in Illinois. So, you know, they didn’t, they weren’t successful in slowing down the move, right? So Trump got, Trump did the best he’s ever done in the three different elections he’s had. He got 45% of Illinois. Nobody expected that. So the other side is under threat. And a lot of people, I should say, are sick of kind of this culture wars and tribalism that Illinois pushes.
Q: Yeah, but realistically, what can Pritzker do to stop, I mean, the federal government’s the federal government, you know? I mean, like, what’s Pritzker thinking he can really accomplish here by, by saying, ‘Hey, Trump, don’t come after me and my people.’
Dabrowski: Well, you know, he’s trying to create a mecca for the kind of vision he has, trying to invite everybody from the rest of the country here. Whereas a lot of people going to Florida and Texas, yeah. So, you know, you will have some movement from Florida to Illinois and in from Texas to Illinois, for those people who are of the issues that Pritzker pushes so hard, the whole LGBTQ and the abortion and things like that. So he’s going to try to attract people that way. But, you know, it’s not a winning strategy, it’s a divisive strategy. And this is my problem with Pritzker, he’s not standing on just general American principles of merit and achievement and accomplishment. And you know, in the just being generally good people to everybody. He really points out who are those who’ve been aggrieved. He wants to single them out, and then he wants to act like he’s gonna be the one to save them. And that’s why he’s calling himself the warrior. He’s gonna save those people. It’s a bad strategy, because he’s not saving all Americans. He’s not saving all Illinoisans. He’s picking out people that he wants to, quote, protect.
Well, that’s not exactly what the purpose of it is. We’re protecting democracy, and we do believe that between the Congress and the President, that there are proposals that I’ve heard, like we heard recently, I think the last few days, about the potential for passing laws that would take money away from states where we don’t allow prayer in schools. Now, you could say that’s a constitutional issue for the Supreme Court, or you could say it’s an attack on a state, where we need to protect the separation of church and state. So that’s something that comes out of the President-Elect’s transition, and I’ve heard echoed by members of the Congress.
The action items are vague. Pritzker described the goal as one to “leverage our collective strength, experience and institutional knowledge to drive policies that protect the rule of law” among the states.
“We’ll design and implement affirmative strategies to protect the rule of law and deliver for people in the states. We’ll work to reinforce key state institutions to protect executive agencies, elections, state courts and other democratic bodies. Then we’ll develop playbooks to enable governors and their teams to anticipate and swiftly respond to emerging threats,” he said.
When fully implemented, the initiative will be a “peer opportunity for governors to learn from one another on best practices and policies,” Polis said.
* House Speaker Chris Welch appeared on the 21st Show today…
Q: What are you and other Illinois Democratic leaders looking at in regard to what may be coming from President Elect Trump’s second term?
Welch: Well, I will tell you, one of the things I’m proud about is and proud to be an Illinoisan, is the work we’ve already done in this space. In 2019 we passed the Reproductive Health Act. In 2022 we put workers’ rights in our constitution. In 2023 we strengthened the Reproductive Health Act. So we’ve already done a lot of things that make Illinois a beacon, not just in the Midwest, but across the country. But, you know, we started having conversations before the November 5 election, because of the possibility of a Trump presidency, and certainly those conversations have intensified since his re election, and so those conversations are happening. But I want to underscore something. The work ahead of us is bigger than Donald Trump, and it’s not going to be done or resolved in a two-week veto session. The House that is returning for veto session, and the House that will take office in January, we’re committed to defending the rights of Illinoisans every time we show up, and we’re also committed to controlling costs for families every time we show up. We’re committed to rebuilding our fiscal house and ensuring everyone who wants to work hard has a chance to get ahead. And those are the things we’re going to focus on in the veto session in January and beyond that. That’s what the voters have sent us to do.
Q: I am wondering, though, because there could really be some federal/state friction coming up. Let’s say, for example, Trump federalizes the Illinois National Guard and orders them to begin rounding up migrants who do not have legal permission to be in America, undocumented people. How does Illinois respond to that? How should Illinois respond to that?
Welch: That’s a hypothetical that I certainly don’t know how to address, because I certainly hope that something like that doesn’t occur. You know, the only thing I can say is that we’re going to continue to have conversations with the governor, with the Senate President, with our respective caucuses. And under our leadership, we’ve already proven that Illinois is a place that believes in freedoms and protects people. And we’re going to continue to be a place that people can count on. We’re not just a beacon in the Midwest. We’re a beacon in the country. I can’t predict what Donald Trump will do. We know what he said. We know what he said he would do. We have to continue to have conversations with everyone and come to alignment on what we’re going to do to continue to the state. […]
Q: Last week, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget put out its annual report on the state’s finances, and it predicted a budget shortfall of $3.2 billion, billion with a B, for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. It’s a pretty drastic increase from the $900 million deficit state government had to deal with last year as the work to create a new budget begins for the General Assembly next year. What? What options are on the table for dealing with this potential shortfall?
Welch: Let me answer the question this way. You know, because I’ve been really proud of the work that we’ve done on the budget since I’ve been Speaker. We balanced the budget every year I’ve been speaker. In some of those years, we have had grim forecasts, just like we do now, and we’ve still managed to produce budgets with surpluses, additional payments to our pension obligations and credit rating upgrades. I think we’re at nine so far. So I fully expect the General Assembly that takes office in January, we’ll approach the next budget with the same responsible approach of going line by line, weighing priorities and making smart decisions for our future like we’ve done the last four years. And my calls with my caucus members the last couple of days, many, I’ve lost count, talked about the budget work ahead. There’s things that rolled up, they’re ready to get to work, they’re ready to do it in a responsible and compassionate way.
Q: Last thing I want to ask you about, we have talked on this program a number of times now about, I think it’s 25 counties. At this point, voters have approved some sort of referendum saying that Chicago Cook County, maybe the entire Chicago land area, I don’t remember the exact language should become a separate state and down state, Illinois would become the 51st state people, even people who support it. We talked to somebody from the Madison County Board who supports this, and said it’s more symbolic, because it feels like Democrats aren’t responsive to the concerns of their voters. How do you respond to this idea that Democrats have steamrolled and certainly we’ve seen the success of the map has has made it very difficult for Republicans to make inroads and represent their constituents in the way they would choose to.
Welch: Listen, Democrats represent folks all over the state. We have to listen to their concerns and try to address their concerns. We have to try to be unifiers and not dividers, and I’d love to continue to listen to those folks. Illinois is a great state to live, work and play. If there’s some things that we’re not doing that they think we should be doing, I’d love to hear from them. I’m Speaker of the House, I’m not Speaker of the Democrats. If there’s a concern they’d like to addressm call the Speaker’s office, come talk with me. We’re here to help the entire state, and the things that Democrats have done, especially since I’ve been Speaker the last four years, I’ve helped every single corner of this state. And if there’s more things we can do. I want to do that we’re playing an infinite game, and we want to make this state better. Each and every day we go to work. And so there’s some things, some ideas that people think we need to make them better? Love to hear from them.
Security has been beefed up here at the state Capitol. The Secretary of State’s Office has added more police officers to statehouse grounds, and visitors who aren’t government employees will need to go through a metal-detection screening. The office said it just wants to make sure visitors know that “safety and security are a priority.” The changes were in the works before last week’s election.
I’m not quite seeing the relative threat posed by reporters and lobbyists compared to, say, a random state employee who doesn’t even work in the building.
Your thoughts?
…Adding… ILCA…
Dear Secretary Giannoulias,
We at the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association appreciate your efforts to keep the Capitol Complex safe. But we were disappointed that the changes to Capitol security instituted today were made without any advance warning to our organization.
It is thus unclear to us, at this time, how the new policy came about, whether it will be permanent, and whether the needs of the press corps were considered.
Several members of our organization, including photographers and videographers, carry heavy equipment and must frequently and quickly enter and exit the building for rallies on the grounds and other job necessities.
We’d appreciate if you’d consider those needs in formulating future policy decisions, as the number of credentialed reporters are far fewer than the lobbyists who carry similar credentials, and many reporters office daily from the Capitol similarly to state employees.
If the rules rolled out today are temporary, we would further appreciate if you’d consult with our organization about to best meet the needs of the press corps while also ensuring everyone’s safety as permanent rules are finalized.
Again, we recognize changes to protocol are likely necessary to better secure the building. But we think there are better ways to do so than the process we’ve experienced thus far in the veto session.
And we stand ready to work with you to better the process in the new session.
Sincerely,
Members of the ILCA board
Dave Dahl, President
Brenden Moore, Secretary
Jeremy Gorner, Treasurer
Jerry Nowicki
Mike Miletich
The former chief lobbyist for electric utility Commonwealth Edison has spent the last week telling a federal jury how he bent over backward to accommodate hiring requests from former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Led by the prosecutor questioning him, ComEd exec-turned-cooperating witness Fidel Marquez repeatedly said he and other utility leaders agreed to hire or contract with the powerful speaker’s allies in order for Madigan “to be more positively disposed toward ComEd’s legislative agenda.”
But on Tuesday, an attorney for Madigan co-defendant Mike McClain, ComEd’s longest-serving contract lobbyist, began his cross-examination of Marquez by drilling down on his previous testimony – and his guilty plea in 2020 for bribery conspiracy.
“Are you not saying and are you not testifying at this trial that in your mind, the purpose of this conspiracy was to trade jobs at ComEd for Mike Madigan taking action?” Cotter asked, referring to action Madigan is alleged to have taken on legislation ComEd pushed in Springfield.
“I said it was to consider ComEd’s agenda favorably,” Marquez said.
Madigan had previously been “hostile” toward electrical utilities like ComEd — Marquez testified he knew the speaker “didn’t like” the company — but through his relationship with McClain, he came to have a “favorable disposition” toward ComEd’s legislative agenda.
“It was part of Mike’s job to do everything he could to have the best communication between the speaker and his staff, and ComEd?” Cotter asked Marquez.
“Yes,” he replied.
“It made sense, did it not … that Mike McClain spent an enormous amount of time on Speaker Madigan?” Cotter asked.
McClain defense attorney Patrick Cotter asked Marquez about several pieces of legislation that affected ComEd.
Cotter played a recording of McClain talking with Marquez and then-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore in 2018 about a plan to kill a low-income bill that ComEd opposed. In the recording, McClain suggested including vendors, unions and municipal leaders. Marquez admitted that, during the call, none of the participants asked to include Madigan.
Cotter also asked Marquez about favors and job recommendations. Earlier, Marquez had described requests from McClain that ComEd hire individuals that Madigan wanted the utility to hire.
Marquez testified that ComEd also considered job recommendations from then-Senate Majority Leader John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and then-Illinois State Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs.
Prosecutors have gone to great lengths to show constant communication between Madigan and McClain through secret FBI recordings and testimony from various witnesses. But Cotter noted that it was McClain’s job, as a lobbyist, to know what special interests motivated Madigan, as well as the political dynamics at any one time.
“The amount of attention that a lobbyist spends or gives to an elected official is often based on how important that official is, in the political sense?” Cotter asked, making note of Madigan’s vast power over the Legislature at the time.
“That may be a factor,” Marquez said.
Cotter also confirmed with Marquez that, as vice president of external and governmental affairs, Marquez was “ultimately in charge of all the lobbyists” at ComEd. That would theoretically include a group of Madigan allies paid as subcontractors through a ComEd contract with Doherty.
As Marquez’s direct examination wrapped up Tuesday, prosecutors showed another slew of emails and recordings in which McClain pushed ComEd to hire people with political connections.
Madigan seemed particularly interested in getting a job for Vanessa Berrios, daughter of then-Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios. The speaker apparently first floated the idea to McClain in a December 2018 phone call, which was played for jurors.
“My thought was that there might be a place for her at ComEd,” Madigan told McClain.
In the ensuing months, McClain emailed Marquez at least twice about getting ComEd to hire Berrios, who had worked for her father when he headed the Cook County assessor’s office.
Berrios ultimately was offered an interview with ComEd, Marquez testified Tuesday, but declined.
* Click here for some background if you need it. Rep. Carol Ammons introduced HB5907 yesterday…
Creates the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act. Provides that all general operating expenses for public universities shall be distributed by the Board of Higher Education through a funding formula for eligible public institutions and shall be administered by the Board. Defines “eligible public institution”. Sets forth provisions concerning the adequacy targets and resource profiles of eligible public institutions. Provides for the distribution of State appropriations and the calculation of the base funding minimum for each eligible public institution. Provides that the Board shall oversee an accountability and transparency framework for assessing the distribution and use of all funds appropriated by the funding formula and evaluating the funds’ effects on institutional outcomes pertaining to student affordability, enrollment, persistence, and outcome metrics. Provides for reporting and the establishment of an Accountability and Transparency Committee. Provides that the Board shall establish a Funding Formula Review Panel tasked with studying and reviewing topics pertaining to the implementation and impact of the funding formula. Contains provisions concerning the Board’s annual budget request and the collection of data. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Removes certain provisions concerning budget proposals. Effective immediately.
Today, state legislators and public service workers unveiled the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act (HB5909/SB3988), legislation sponsored by State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) and State Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) that will make significant progress in fixing the broken Tier 2 pension system. Thousands of public service workers are expected to rally in Springfield at noon today in support of the legislation as they demand lawmakers take action.
The current broken system undercuts retirement security for public employees and makes it harder for schools, universities, cities, counties, and the state of Illinois to attract and retain needed workers.
The four key provisions of the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act are designed to solve the current system’s major problems:
Problem: Compared to Tier 1 participants, Tier 2 participants pay the same amount toward their pension from every check, yet must work longer and retire later.
Solution: The Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act aligns the Tier 2 retirement age with Tier 1.
Problem: Tier 2 participants now receive a diminished cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that fails to keep pace with inflation.
Solution: The Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act implements an across-the-board 3% simple-interest COLA for all Tier 2 participants.
Problem: Tier 2 participants’ pension benefit amount is reduced by a lesser final-average-salary calculation.
Solution: The Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act brings the final average salary calculation back in line with Tier 1.
Problem: Tier 2 participants are subject to a pensionable salary cap that runs afoul of federal law (the so-called “Safe Harbor” problem).
Solution: The Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act adjusts the pension salary cap to match the Social Security wage base.
In addition to the key elements above, the bill makes a number of minor but meaningful changes to the pension code to address issues specific to particular job titles or pension concerns.
A suburban mom is hoping that lawmakers will pass a bill during their veto session in Springfield to allow for aid-in-dying medication for terminally ill patients.
Suzy Flack’s son died after a battle with cancer two years ago, an experience that taught her about the importance of allowing physicians to render medical aid for those who are dying with a terminal illness. […]
“It is not a decision that anyone takes lightly,” House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel said. “Many people feel at peace just to get the medicine.”
Under provisions of the law, medication can only be obtained by individuals 18 years of age and older, who are diagnosed as terminally ill with less than six months to live. The patient must be mentally capable of making decisions, and two physicians must sign off on the process.
Patients are allowed to change their minds, and must be informed about all end-of-life care options. Finally, doctors are not required to participate in the administration of the medication.
Amends the School Finance Authority Act of the School Code. Reinstates the School Finance Authority and reverts any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Chicago Board of Education upon the abolition of the original Authority established by the Article back to the Authority. Provides that any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Board before the abolition of the original Authority and after the reinstatement of the Authority under the amendatory Act shall remain vested in the Board. Updates the expiration dates of terms of the Chairman, the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Governor, and the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Mayor. Requires the Board to adopt and submit for approval a financial plan on or before March 1, 2026 and adopt and submit for approval a budget on or before February 1, 2026 with respect to the remaining portion of the fiscal year ending in 2026. Requires the Board, beginning in fiscal year 2028 and every second year thereafter, to adopt a financial plan covering a period of 2 fiscal years. Requires the Board to submit a staffing plan for the fiscal year ending in 2026 to the Authority within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes other changes.
Other unresolved issues include gun safety measures that Democrats haven’t been able to bring over the finish line.
Legislation that’s become known in Springfield as “Karina’s Bill” would require law enforcement to remove firearms from people who have orders of protection against them, clarifying when and how authorities can confiscate such weapons. As it stands, guns aren’t always taken from people in those situations even if the owner’s firearm identification card is revoked. […]
Another holdover proposal would require gun owners with valid FOID cards to report their guns lost or stolen within 48 hours, instead of 72 hours, upon discovering their guns are missing. Another measure would prohibit storing or leaving a firearm outside an owner’s immediate possession or control unless it’s unloaded and secured in a lock box, making it inaccessible to a minor or anyone else who is barred from using guns.
“We know that the bills that we pass in Springfield have real life and death consequences. It is clear that we must address child access to firearms and safe storage,” Rep. Maura Hirschauer, a Democrat from Batavia, said at a news conference on Chicago’s West Side in October. “We know that gun owners can help make their homes and communities safe by storing their guns securely. A comprehensive statewide safe storage policy will have an impact on this.”
* ICYMI: Lawmakers return to Springfield as projected budget deficit looms. Capitol News Illinois…
Illinois lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday for the first time since May following news earlier this month that they’re facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The news didn’t surprise Republicans, who condemned “drunken spending” policies, but the Senate’s top Democratic budget leader defended the state’s spending priorities and cautioned next year’s budget is still more than six months away from passage.
“This was not unexpected and certainly there’s a long time between now and the end of the fiscal year and we’ll be prepared,” Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said.
The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a report on Nov. 1 projecting the state will face a $3.2 billion deficit for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1. The annual report from the governor’s budget office typically sets a benchmark for state lawmakers as they begin budget talks early in the year.
* At 11 am Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Willard Ice Building 40th Anniversary Celebration. Click here to watch.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* Sun-Times | Pritzker, Colo. Gov. Polis launch governors’ coalition to protect against ‘threats of autocracy’ under Trump: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis have formed a coalition of governors to fight against “increasing threats of autocracy” and strengthen democracy during a second Donald Trump presidency. The goal of Governors Safeguarding Democracy, or GSD, is to protect state-level institutions of democracy — and to utilize their collective legislative, budgetary, executive and administrative powers. Pritzker said it will “catalyze collaboration across state lines.”
* Capitol News Illinois | Amid flurry of gun ban challenges, federal appeals court considers Cook County assault weapon law: A panel of federal judges is weighing whether to overturn a Cook County ban on semiautomatic weapons in a case that could upend other local bans and call into question the statewide prohibition on the controversial class of firearms. But the appeal under consideration at the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals faces potentially long odds of success. The constitutionality of local bans on “assault weapons,” the phrase used in such laws, has been upheld by the 7th Circuit three times in the past 10 years, including once in 2023
* WCIA | IDOA pitches new hemp regulations to lawmakers: The new rules center around testing and licensing, specifically for hemp at academic institutions. “For the universities that get this license, they wouldn’t have to comply with all the various testing requirements,” Sam McGee, a counsel for IDOA, said. “They would just have a little bit easier of a testing requirement and they could do research.”
*** Statehouse News ***
* Capitol News Illinois | Capitol Briefs: Former Gov. Quinn pushes for ‘millionaire tax’ amendment; Underground Railroad task force issues findings: A task force created by a 2023 law to explore ways chronicle Illinois’ Underground Railroad history announced its findings on Tuesday, recommending the state create a commission that would organize historical sites and stories about the network. “Too many in Illinois believe we need to travel to the East Coast to visit locations on the Underground Railroad, unaware of the enormous activity that took place in their own backyards here,” task force member and Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman said.
*** Statewide ***
* Tribune | Attorney General Kwame Raoul launches unit to investigate innocence claims: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is launching a unit to investigate cases in which new evidence could prove the innocence of people convicted of serious crimes. “Wrongful convictions destroy lives. Wrongful convictions diminish faith in our criminal justice system,” Raoul said Tuesday at a downtown news conference, flanked by state’s attorneys and members of the new unit. “They put victims and public safety at risk by allowing the true perpetrators to escape unpunished.”
*** Chicago ***
* Tribune | Embattled CPS CEO criticized in meeting with mayor as Johnson administration continues moving to fire him: Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez got chewed out this week by allies of Mayor Brandon Johnson over impending charter school closures, in a contentious City Hall meeting that could spell the next step in Johnson’s monthslong push to oust the embattled schools chief. The Monday meeting, which the mayor attended, featured a presentation by Martinez over the looming closures of seven Acero charter schools, according to attendees. It took a hostile turn when several progressive aldermen began grilling Martinez on the slideshow.
* WTTW | Chicago Will Remain a Sanctuary City, Despite Donald Trump’s Threats, Mayor Brandon Johnson Says: In his first remarks on the outcome of the presidential race, Johnson said Chicago will not allow Chicago Police officers to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deport Chicagoans. That assistance is now prohibited by city ordinance. “We will not bend or break,” Johnson said. “Our values will remain strong and firm. We will face likely hurdles in our work over the next four years but we will not be stopped and we will not go back.”
* Tribune | With CPD a possible target for personnel cuts in budget plan, consent decree monitor raises alarm: “Cutting these positions permanently could be a devastating blow to the future of CPD reforms,” Maggie Hickey, head of the independent monitoring team, told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer during a consent decree status hearing Tuesday. “The proposed budget cuts would be a step backward for the CPD reform process at a pivotal point,” Hickey said, “just when progress is starting to be felt.”
* Crain’s | Outrage over delivery fees has waned, but lawsuit against Grubhub lives on: Grubhub co-founder Matt Maloney, who stepped down as CEO nearly three years ago, says he’s about to be deposed in a lawsuit filed against food-delivery app companies by the City of Chicago when Lori Lightfoot was mayor. The suit was filed in late 2021, during the peak of both the COVID-19 pandemic and restaurants’ outrage over delivery fees and other charges that often totaled 30% or more of the retail price of the food.
* WBEZ | Five of the best Amtrak adventures from Chicago for train lovers: I’m a bit of a rail fan myself, and I’ve taken multi-day trips from Chicago to California and Florida, along with multiple shorter Amtrak trips across the country. (I’m currently on the inaugural run of the Floridian, the first train to connect Chicago and Florida since 1979.) It’s a fantastic way to see the country, and the routes from Chicago are some of the most scenic train trips you can take in the U.S.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Southtown | State tells Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard her pick for cop chief not cleared for duty: A state agency has told Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard her temporary choice for police chief is “not authorized to exercise law enforcement authority” and urged her to remove him from public service. Tiffany Henyard, at a Nov. 6 Village Board meeting, named Ronnie Burge Sr. to a temporary 30-day posting as chief, after trustees voted against the appointment. A Nov. 8 letter from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board states Burge “has been wearing a Dolton Police Department uniform and carrying a firearm publicly for the last few weeks,” even though he’s not authorized to do so.
* Daily Herald | Mayoral races heating up in Lisle, West Chicago: Incumbent Mayor Chris Pecak is expected to face at least one opponent: Mary Jo Mullen, a current village trustee. Mullen is campaigning under the banner “Lisle Forward” with a slate of village board candidates. “I’m running for mayor because I think Lisle really needs change,” said Mullen, who served as Lisle Township supervisor before being elected to the village board in 2021. “We’ve been making progress around development and economic development very, very slowly.”
* Tribune | Evanston/Skokie School D65 was asked to consider pausing school in historically Black area: memo: With the district’s deficit standing at more than $10 million, the best financial course of action would be to pause construction on Foster School, Robert Grossi, the financial consultant, suggested in the memo, while also acknowledging the historic significance of the district’s desire to provide a neighborhood school for 5th Ward children. Many in the community have voiced support for building Foster School, however, and some public commenters at an Oct. 15 special Board meeting saw the building of the school as necessary to further racial equity in Evanston.
* Tribune | Berwyn woman says far-right streamer Nick Fuentes allegedly assaulted her: Marla Rose, 57, a self-described progressive, said she approached Fuentes’ home Sunday after friends who knew she lived in Berwyn encouraged her to go see if rumors of prank deliveries to his home were true. Fuentes’ home address had been leaked online in response to his posts on social media where he boasted, “Your body, my choice. Forever” last week in an apparent reference to abortion rights after Donald Trump won the presidential election. […] She said Fuentes opened the door before she could ring the doorbell. “In that same movement, he pepper-sprayed me in the face … screamed an expletive at me,” Rose said.
* NBC Chicago | Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train returning to the Chicago area later this month: Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train will tour Canada and the U.S. from, Nov. 21 through Dec. 20, raising donations for food banks across the company’s network, according to a news release. As it treks across the nation, the holiday train will make not just one — but three stops in the Chicago suburbs. Last holiday season, the train held events in Gurnee and Pingree Grove. This time around, a stop in Franklin Park will be added to its itinerary.
* WCIA | Rock Springs Nature Center in Decatur receiving $900K upgrade: Rock Springs Nature Center is receiving a new indoor-outdoor classroom that will change the way they host people and events thanks to an almost $900,000 grant. The new space in Decatur will let classes in the center move from inside to outside with ease. The people at the center are excited about adding these new options to their curriculum. The Macon County Conservation District applied for the money last summer and got it from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act Program earlier this year.
*** National ***
* Crain’s | Rivian announces formal launch of $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen: The automakers announced the deal in June. Since then, the size of VW Group’s investment in Rivian and the joint venture has risen from the initial estimate of $5 billion. Rivian is bringing its technology to the table and Volkswagen Group is bringing its global scale, executives said. “The partnership with Rivian is the next logical step in our software strategy,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group. “With its implementation, we will strengthen our global competitive and technological position.”
* You can click here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
