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Reader comments closed for the holiday weekend
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller You who choose to lead must follow
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DPI crows about down-ballot wins; ILGOP chair upbeat
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Democratic Party of Illinois…
* From ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign update
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated x2)
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Gov. Pritzker…
* Some news…
…Adding… Gov. Pritzker…
…Adding… AG Raoul…
* Former Gov. Pat Quinn…
* Stellantis strike? WIFR…
* Crain’s | Illinois government blamed for failing social equity cannabis businesses in new lawsuit: The seven cannabis transporter businesses claim in the new lawsuit, filed Nov. 1 in Circuit Court for the Seventh Judicial District of Sangamon County, that Pritzker and the IDOA changed course in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The change allowed the 22 existing licensed medical marijuana companies to transport their own cannabis goods, instead of following the original 2019 law which required such businesses to use independent transporters — a move that was never reversed. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois school Superintendent Tony Sanders discusses strategy to boost math scores: In a podcast interview recorded Wednesday, Nov. 6, State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders spoke with Capitol News Illinois about the report card and the need to address the sagging math scores. * WBEZ | A majority of the Chicago City Council is calling for an early vote on mayor’s property tax hike: A group of 29 alderpersons across the political spectrum are calling a special City Council meeting next Wednesday in hopes of voting on the proposed property tax hike, separate from the rest of the 2025 budget. “This support’s not there for a $300 million property tax increase — it’s just not there,” said Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward. “So, the reality is: How do we have a real, candid discussion around how this is going to play out?” * Chalkbeat | Results for two outstanding school board races called, with a third still too close: Karin Norington-Reaves, the District 10 candidate who finished second behind Smith, said she is not conceding and is considering legal steps. She said all mail-in and early ballots must be counted and she argued Thursday that voters receiving ballots for the wrong school district denied them the opportunity to participate in the city’s first school board election. She said she has retained a lawyer. “This isn’t about sour grapes,” she said. “When it’s this close, and we have this many uncounted ballots and this many irregularities, I’m not conceding.” * WBEZ | Migrants in Chicago might find legal help tough to get as they try to meet asylum application deadlines: More than 50,000 migrants, most from Venezuela, have arrived in Chicago since August 2022, many who fled violence, threats and persecution and are seeking asylum. With few exceptions, they have one year from arriving to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for asylum. So those who arrived last fall now face only a limited amount of time to do so. * Crain’s | At Old Post Office, Vizient bulks up while Uber shrinks At Old Post Office, Vizient bulks up while Uber shrinks: The health care management consulting firm has signed on to add about 40,000 square feet to its office in the hulking riverfront property at 433 W. Van Buren St., according to people familiar with the matter. The expansion came from a three-party deal in which Vizient will take over space on the building’s 8th floor that has been occupied by Uber, but will lease it directly from the building’s owner, New York-based 601W, sources said. * Block Club | Beloved ‘Mayor’ Of Armitage Brown Line Station Is Retiring In February: People call Janet Martin the mayor of the Armitage Brown Line station for a reason. Martin, a CTA customer service representative, arrives at the station at 5:30 a.m. daily. She cleans the lobby, picks up garbage on the platform and starts her shift at 6 a.m. While there’s a customer service office next to the fare gate area at every station, Martin hardly sits in there. Instead, she’s greeting people and helping with whatever they need: buying a ticket at the kiosk, pushing luggage through the fare gate and assisting people who use wheelchairs. * Block Club | Venezuelan Couple’s Empanadas A Hit In Humboldt Park, Selling Out Daily As They Wait For Work Permits: The couple, asylum seekers from Venezuela, have become a staple at the neighborhood’s busy intersection of North and California avenues. They’re reaping the benefits of the area’s foot traffic, catering to people waiting in the long line at the state’s human services and family community resource building, many of whom are other asylum seekers from Latin America. “We’ve had a lot of opportunities to try new things like this,” Angelica said in Spanish. Block Club isn’t publishing their last name for safety reasons. “Even though we can’t work legally in businesses yet, we have made new friends and received a lot of support for migrants from the local community and organizations.” * Daily Herald | 3 Aurora mayor hopefuls accused of conspiring to force a primary: The objections call Jazmine Garcia and Karina Garcia “sham candidates” and say they conspired with another candidate, Alderman-at-large John Laesch, by collecting signatures for each other or having supporters do so. They acted as a de facto political party, according to the objections, and Aurora’s election is nonpartisan. Doing so violates state election law, according to John Fogerty, the attorney for Tara Loza, who filed the objections. Loza collected signatures for Mayor Richard Irvin, who is seeking re-election. * Tribune | Suburban voters approve more than $1 billion in school borrowing, but draw the line on some measures: Suburban voters outside Chicago generally bucked a national conservative trend in Tuesday’s election by supporting more than a dozen measures to borrow more than $1.1 billion to fund schools, and more for fire stations, park facilities and open land. Notable school spending plans that appeared on the way to approval in unofficial results include $151 million for Wheaton-Warrenville District 200, $150 million for Mundelein District 120, $89 million for Park Ridge-Niles District 64, $85 million for Mount Prospect District 57, and $75 million for Westmont District 201, $64 million for Barrington District 220, $48 million for Salt Creek District 48 in the Oak Brook area, $30 million for Bloomingdale District 13 and $20 million for Cary District 26. * Shaw Local | Kendall County voter participation down in 2024: While Kendall County is the fastest growing county in the state, the vote count of the 2024 General Election reveals the surge in population has not translated to a significant rise in voter participation. Between the 2020 General Election and the 2024 General Election, the total number registered voters in the county increased nearly 9%. * Tribune | Two suburban men charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot, first Chicago-area charges since Trump election: Two suburban men, one a retired professional boxer and another a convicted burglar, have been hit with federal charges alleging they stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and scuffled with police while chanting “Whose House? Our House!” The charges against Michael Mollo Jr., 44, and Emil Kozeluh, 41, are the first Chicago-area cases to be brought involving the events at the Capitol since the election earlier this week of Donald Trump, who repeatedly said on the campaign trail he’d consider issuing pardons if he returned to the White House. * Daily Herald | Trump, turnout, taxes and more: 5 takeaways from Election Day in the suburbs: While the status quo largely prevailed throughout the suburbs in the wake of Tuesday’s election, some results did raise eyebrows. Suburban support for former President Donald Trump grew while every Democratic congressional incumbent handily defeated their Republican challengers. Turnout dipped, local improvements that will cost suburban taxpayers more won over voters and two coroners were ousted.
* WGLT | McLean County Democrats continue long march toward parity: A Twin City political scientist says McLean County Democrats have been building toward gaining control of the McLean County Board through changing demographics for two decades now. “With new voters, a diversification of our community’s population, and the fact that we’re the highest educated community outside of Chicago in the state, those are all things that have led our voting patterns toward the Democrats,” said Illinois Wesleyan University professor Tari Renner. Elections on Tuesday flipped control of the board from a 10-10 split between Republicans and Democrats to a 12-8 advantage for the Democratic Party. * Rockford Register Star | From Rockford to Peoria to Springfield, fewer voters cast ballots on Election Day: Although Election Day felt busy as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off for president, the number and percentage of voters who showed up were below expectations, Rockford Board of Elections Commission Chairman Ryan Brauns said. “It does seem like turnout is down all over, but then the swing states and places with hot races were up,” Brauns said. “I don’t know if it is the fact that Illinois isn’t in play, or that we didn’t have all that much on our local ballot and a lot of unopposed races.” * WCIA | Here’s how voter turnout compares in Central IL counties: Some counties, like Ford and Iroquois, both had more than 70% registered voter turnout rates reported. Champaign County was also unable to match its 79% turnout from 2020. Sangamon County saw slightly lower numbers than in 2020. In the last Presidential election, the county had a 75% registered voter turnout rate. In 2024 they saw a 72% turnout rate. * WSIL | Wife of southern Illinois judge who was shot and killed, appears in court: Megan S. Valentine faces murder charges, along with other felony charges, after police said her husband Michael Valentine, was shot and killed. On Friday, November 8, Megan Valentine had her first court appearance. Online court records state the defense attorney, on behalf of Megan, did not object to his client remaining in custody until the new court date.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Veto session update
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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A vile example of why wireless companies need to crack down hard on mass texting
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * CNN…
* A sample…  * NBC…
Those wireless companies have got to crack down hard on all of these mass texts. Yeah, they make money off of them, but too bad. * The vile messages were sent to Illinoisans, too…
* Raoul has been active on this topic for quite a while now. From a 2022 press release…
This has to stop.
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Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Pace Rideshare Access Program subsidizes Uber trips, leaving riders with a co-pay of just $2. The impact: “This program has been a godsend for me. It offers flexibility, independence, freedom and the ability to maintain a beautiful life on so many levels,” says one rider. CTA: See how it works.
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Trump stuff
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Democrats tend to beat themselves up pretty badly when they lose elections. Jimmy Carter was a pariah for many years after he lost. Hillary Clinton was pilloried after her 2016 loss. Locally, lots of Democrats have still not forgiven Pat Quinn for his 2014 loss to Bruce Rauner…
The Republicans aren’t nearly as tough on their losing candidates. They basically just doubled-down after Donald Trump lost in 2020. Locally, after losing to Pat Quinn, Bill Brady eventually became the Senate Republican Leader. Neither of these are hard and fast rules, of course, because life isn’t completely black and white. I’m just sayin’ “in general.” * What I would suggest to Democrats is that instead of solely focusing on their endless internal blame games, that they try to learn from Trump’s success this year. I saw various iterations of this TV ad during the campaign and it was just about a perfect play to working people… No taxes on tips, no taxes on Social Security and no taxes on overtime…
Simple and effective. Yes, no taxes on Social Security income will be disastrous to the system, but the Dems didn’t really pivot on it and push it back in his face. And the Democrats’ own economic messaging required a lot of explaining because it was less than clear. Trump also talked constantly about inflation, and had a simple solution for job losses by imposing tariffs. Messaging 101: Keep it simple, stupid. * Remember this Sun-Times/WBEZ story about the city’s school board election?…
Four CTU-endorsed candidates are winning out of ten. But one of those four, Jennifer Custer, has credibly pledged independence from the union and the mayor, although the CTU did do some Trump hits on her opponent. And another, Aaron “Jitu” Brown, was unopposed on the ballot (a write-in candidate did file). So, in admittedly simplistic terms, the anti-Johnson/CTU message defeated the anti-Trump message. In Chicago. Let that sink in for a bit. * Illinois Freedom Caucus…
Illinois House Democrats have had difficulties every time Trump’s name has appeared on the ballot here. They lost four House seats and one House seat in 2020. This year, it’s starting to look like a wash. Their record in Trump’s mid-term election was much better, picking up seven seats in 2018. * Politico…
Any thoughts on whether this will be a “big plus” for Mercury-Illinois’ lobbying operation?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Another update to today’s edition
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Kasia and Britni, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Welch says he has secured the votes for another term as House Speaker
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * I interviewed Speaker Welch this morning and he said nobody in his caucus told him “No” when he asked for their votes…
I’ll have more on the Welch interview for subscribers next week.
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Some views from Little Village
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Laura Rodríguez Presa at the Tribune…
Lots more in that very well-written piece, so go read the whole thing.. * Coincidentally, I had a text conversation with Rep. Edgar Gonzalez on Wednesday. He’s a twenty-something progressive Democrat who represents Little Village…
I would add that some of the misinformation he spoke of was claimed in the above Tribune story, which quoted people who believe, for instance, that migrants receive food stamps. That’s not to say their grievances are false. They’re absolutely right to say that nobody from the government helped them when they came here to work. * Meanwhile, this is from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights…
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Roundup: Madigan corruption trial
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* Sun-Times…
* WTTW…
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Open thread
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker Says Illinois Democrats Discussing How to ‘Shore Up’ Protections Ahead of a Second Trump Presidency. WTTW…
“We’re gathering, you know, I would call it, a list of things that we may need to address,” Pritzker said. The governor said it may not happen when the General Assembly meets in November, and could wait until the legislature reconvenes in 2025. “There is time to do that,” he said. “We have a lot of work that we’re looking at doing.” * Related stories…
∙ Sun-Times: Pritzker vows to be ‘happy warrior’ defending Illinois from harmful Trump policies: ‘You come for my people. You come through me.’ * Sun-Times | JB Pritzker studies Project 2025 and Trump, ponders his own political future: Gov. JB Pritzker is combing through thousands of pages of Project 2025, shoring up legal resources and finding ways to further expand reproductive rights and environmental protections — all while he explores his own political future. It’s not the election night Pritzker wanted or expected. And while it has opened up a political path for the Democratic governor, a second administration under former President Donald Trump has the potential to unravel many of the policies that Pritzker has championed since taking office in 2018. * Capitol News Illinois | Consumer groups rail against Chicago gas utility as state investigation nears end: Activists went to the ICC on Thursday, hoping to sway the commissioners into reining in the program, with several citing the report’s findings. Aria Brown, a student at the University of Illinois Chicago, said she wants the commission to require that pipeline replacement be done through a “targeted program that focuses on their most dangerous pipes.” * Center Square | Illinois legislators hear challenges facing substance use treatment providers: Other hearings dealt with issues such as high workforce turnover, Medicaid reimbursement rates and budget limitations. It is estimated that over $770 million of opioid settlement money will go to the Remediation Fund, which will be used for substance abuse programs. * Sun-Times | 29 City Council members call special meeting to reject Johnson’s $300 million property tax increase: If 26 members show up, they’ll have the quorum they need to proceed with a special meeting. However, they will need 34 votes to suspend the rules and immediately consider and then vote on the increase, which has not yet been approved by committee. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) and Anthony Beale (9th), Johnson’s leading Council critics, are certain there will be enough votes to both suspend the rules, and then kill the tax hike. In fact, Lopez predicted all 50 members would show up, fearing it will send the wrong message to tax-weary constituents if they don’t. * Tribune | Aldermen to try defeating Johnson’s $300 million property tax hike: Although 29 aldermen signed the letter and even more are opposed to the tax hike, it remains to be seen whether the coalition holds and votes to defeat it. Johnson has nearly a week to threaten or cajole a few of the malcontents into backing down, or could also use a procedural maneuver to try to block the vote. And Chicago budget history is full of examples of council members talking about opposing some unpopular mayoral proposal only to have a change of heart when it came time to say aye or nay. * WBEZ | Bracing for a shrinking budget, Chicago’s health department scales back: There are currently no plans in 2025 to reopen more mental health clinics that were closed years ago. Instead, the city plans to continue to bring services to where people are or lean on connections with other organizations. For example, nurses already visiting families with newborns can also screen for everything from depression and traumatic exposure to domestic violence and access to guns in the home. * WBEZ | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointed CPS board members could stay on past January: When the entire Board of Education resigned in October and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced their replacements, he said he hoped they could stay on the 21-seat board that will take office in January. The way the law is written, that wasn’t a given. But, as it turns out, all six can stay on. The mayor’s office said it hopes most will agree to continue. * Sun-Times | Three city-run shelters for newly arrived immigrants to merge into unified system: Three city-run and two state-run migrant shelters will remain open past the new year and become part of the One System Initiative intended for all residents experiencing homelessness starting in January, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. The city shelters that will be merged are the former site of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy in the Douglas community on the South Side, a facility that was used by the Marine Corps in North Park and the American Islamic College in Uptown. The two state-run shelters are the Holiday Inn in West Lawn and a former hotel in Hyde Park. * WTTW | Judge Upholds Decision to Fire CPD Sergeant Who Led Botched Raid at Home of Anjanette Young: * Daily Herald | ‘This is such a great partnership’: District 211 program giving students experience in home construction: A new educational partnership in Schaumburg is being celebrated for giving area high school students a hands-on experience in the construction trades. The partnership includes Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, Nitti Development and the BuilderEDU curriculum, which is the brainchild of attorney and Conant High School graduate Jim McKenzie. * WBEZ | Collar county voters back funding for forest preserves: If you voted in Kane, McHenry, Lake or DuPage county, you had the opportunity to decide whether you’d like to pay a little extra to fund forest preserves. Use of the preserves is up 83% since 2006, and even more since the pandemic, when many people “discovered” their counties’ green spaces. * Sun-Times | With south suburban casino set to open, is Chicago area’s gaming market getting oversaturated?: Leaders of the Wind Creek Chicago Southland gave reporters a first look Thursday at the East Hazel Crest casino that’s awaiting state regulatory approval to start welcoming gamblers as soon as this week. The $529 million, 1,400-slot emporium will mark the sixth and final new casino added to the state’s glut of gambling options, part of a 2019 expansion that also introduced sports betting and thousands more slot machines in bars and restaurants. * WSIL | Jackson County State’s Attorney candidates comment on tied election results: With 99% of the ballots in from Tuesday’s election, there’s a deadlock tie between Republican incumbent Joseph Cervantez and Democratic challenger Marsha Cascio-Hale. They each have exactly 10,805 votes. The Jackson County clerk says it will come down to mail-in ballots and provisional ballots to decide a winner. * WIFR | Illinois Department of Transportation offers update on Rockford passenger rail service: The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) says Rockford is the largest city in the state without a train service, but people could soon be able to hop on a train there and get to Chicago in roughly two hours. The ticketing process and prices for these trips are also being worked out. “This is a high priority for IDOT and we’re working as hard as we can to get this delivered,” says Scott Speegle, IDOT passenger rail marketing manager. * AP | Who will buy Infowars? Both supporters and opponents of Alex Jones interested in bankruptcy auction: Both opponents and supporters of the bombastic internet show and radio host have expressed interest in bidding on the Infowars properties he has built over the past 25 years. They include Roger Stone, an ally of Jones and Donald Trump, and anti-Jones progressive media groups. If Jones supporters buy the assets, he could end up staying on Infowars. Up for sale are everything from Jones’ studio desk to Infowars’ name, video archive, social media accounts and product trademarks. Buyers can even purchase an armored truck and video cameras. For now, Jones’ personal social media, including his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, with 3 million followers, are not up for sale, but court proceedings on whether they should be auctioned are pending. * ArtNet | The National Archives Museum Is Under Fire for Allegedly Scrubbing Difficult Historical Events: The museum on the National Mall that is devoted to preserving and presenting the nation’s archives is under fire for allegedly declining to display documents relating to dark episodes in U.S. history, apparently to avoid inflaming opinions among those on the political right. The National Archives Museum, under the leadership of U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan and her top advisers at the National Archives and Records Administration, has allegedly modified planned and existing exhibits involving subjects like the government’s treatment of Native Americans and the history of birth control medication in favor of more anodyne subjects, according to numerous anonymous staffers speaking to the Wall Street Journal, which broke the story.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Nov 8, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Energy Storage Can Minimize Price Spikes
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Each month, families and businesses pay a capacity charge through their energy bill. It’s essentially an insurance policy that pays energy resources (or “capacity”) to be available for when the grid needs them most. Grid operators project a possible shortage of capacity in the coming years, which means the charge for this insurance policy will rise next year for many Illinoisans. Batteries, or energy storage, are currently the best solution to minimize this price spike—but building them at the pace we need will require legislation. The added benefit is the ability to store cheap electricity for use when demand peaks during the day—lowering energy bills and making the grid more reliable. Learn more about legislation that builds urgently needed energy storage here. Paid for by Counterspark.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * MJ Biz Daily…
* Background is here. Southwest Regional News…
* The Hill |Illinois governor on Trump win: ‘You come for my people, you come through me: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) held a press conference Thursday to discuss the aftermath of the election, issuing a warning that if anyone tries to “come for my people,” they will have to “come through me.” “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. Even today, when I’m struggling with many of the difficult questions this election poses, my optimism for the future remains undiminished,” Pritzker said. * WJBC | Gov. Pritzker declines to discuss future political plans after Presidential election: As Gov. JB Pritzker and other Democrats try to figure out what went wrong Election Day, he is trying to reassure Illinoisans who depend on his policies. “Casting a vote is making a wish for the future,” the governor said in Chicago Thursday, not hiding his surprise nor disappointment at Donald Trump’s victory. “Sometimes you live to see that wish fulfilled, and sometimes you must accept that your vote is a down payment on a house that you may wait a long time to finally live in.” * Crain’s |Terry Duffy’s contract extended at CME Group through 2026:CME also said Chief Operating Officer Julie Holzrichter was stepping down to serve as an adviser to the company. Suzanne Sprague will succeed Holzrichter as COO and retain her role as global head of clearing. “We are very fortunate to have built such a strong, capable management team that will ensure a seamless transition as our company continues to move forward,” Duffy said in a statement. * Sun-Times | Comcast credits for defunct NBC Sports Chicago could be good sign for Chicago Sports Network:No, the new home of the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks won’t appear where the defunct NBC Sports Chicago did on Xfinity systems just yet. But monthly credits are coming! “We are automatically applying a monthly credit to customers’ Regional Sports Network [RSN] fees because NBC Sports Chicago is no longer available,” a Comcast spokesperson said. “Customers are receiving emails and bill messages to inform them that no action is needed to get this credit.” * Block Club | Jewish Students Punched, Pushed At DePaul In Possible Hate Crime, School Says:The two were injured but declined treatment, police said. They had been “visibly showing their support for Israel,” according to a letter from DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel. The attackers ran north afterward, officials said. One wore a white T-shirt with khaki pants, and the other wore a black hooded jacket and black pants. Both wore black masks. * Daily Herald |Buffalo Grove pulling out of 20-year-old boundary agreement with Lincolnshire:When Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire came to terms on a boundary agreement in 2005, they settled future territorial disputes over undeveloped land. Now Buffalo Grove officials say the agreement has served its purpose. The village board voted Monday to send notice to Lincolnshire allowing the agreement, which was set to expire this year, to terminate. * Tribune | Glencoe voters approve home rule; Kenilworth, Northfield reject measure:Glencoe voters have said yes to two separate referendum questions in the Nov. 5 election, while Kenilworth and Northfield residents did not approve measures regarding their communities, according to unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk’s office. In Glencoe, nearly 63% of voters approved a switch to a home rule form of government, according to unofficial results. Any Illinois community with a population greater than 25,000 automatically receives home rule status. Communities such as Glencoe with population lower than 25,000 must ask residents for permission to adopt it. * Daily Herald | Parents back Bartlett principal who was placed on leave:Parents at Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett are urging Elgin Area Unit District 46 school board members to bring their principal back. Last month, Matthew Palcer was placed on administrative leave, effective Oct. 28. In a brief statement last month, U-46 officials said Bill Doran, a retired principal from Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300, would provide “additional support at Centennial until further notice.” District officials have not indicated why Palcer, who has been the principal for more than three years, was placed on leave or how long he will remain on leave.
* WCIA | Four Central IL school referendums fail to pass in election:Four school referendums, Champaign County safety tax, and the tax levy for the Strides Shelter all failed. One thing these all had in common — besides one school proposal — is they would have increased taxes. It seems voters were feeling the economic strain, and it shaped the way they cast their ballot. * WCIA | Springfield signs off on new coal supplier for power plan:At its meeting Tuesday night, Springfield City Council approved a contract with Foresight Coal Sales for $86,625,000. The contract will be set for four years.The coal will come from the company’s mine in Hillsboro. There will be a different contract written for the costs of hauling coal from Hillsboro to Springfield. * Havest Public Media |Welcome to Morton, Illinois — the bite-sized town that produces a whole lot of canned pumpkin:On a cool and breezy fall morning, John Ackerman surveys a pumpkin field dotted by various shades of orange, white and yellow. He’s checking to see which are ready for picking. While the growing season started out a little too wet, it’s going to be a good harvest. “Normally, pumpkins like it relatively dry,” Ackerman said. “I’ve been amazed at how great this year was for pumpkins.” * AP | CDC calls for expanded testing for bird flu after blood tests reveal more farmworker infections: Farmworkers in close contact with infected animals should be tested and offered treatment even if they show no symptoms, said Dr. Nirav Shah, principal director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new guidance comes after blood tests for 115 farmworkers in Michigan and Colorado showed that eight workers — or 7% — had antibodies that indicated previous infection with the virus known as Type A H5N1 influenza.
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Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Pace Rideshare Access Program subsidizes Uber trips, leaving riders with a co-pay of just $2. The impact: “This program has been a godsend for me. It offers flexibility, independence, freedom and the ability to maintain a beautiful life on so many levels,” says one rider. CTA: See how it works.
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Pritzker points to down-ballot races as bright side for Democrats
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * More from the governor’s Q and A today…
The House Democrats were also predicting a four-five seat pickup. It’s still too early to make any declarations about either side picking up a seat (or two, in the Democrats’ case). More on the McLean County Board races is here. * The ILGOP reacted to Pritzker’s press conference this afternoon…
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Trump won Cook County Jail’s precinct by two points (Updated)
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Interesting…  Trump won the 19th Precinct in the 24th Ward 594-572 (49%-47%), with 47 people voting for RFK, Jr. Four years ago, Joe Biden won that precinct with 96 percent of the vote, to Trump’s 3. Chuy Garcia won it 767-255 with another 139 for Ed Hershey, the Working Class Party candidate. The Democratic Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke beat Republican Bob Fioretti 680-319 (61%-28%), with 124 people voting for Andrew Charles Kopinski, the Libertarian. The statewide non-binding referendum for a tax on annual income over a million dollars to be used for property tax relief passed 68 percent to 32 percent. And the Assisted Reproductive Healthcare Advisory Question passed 87 percent to 13 percent. …Adding… Just a note to clarify that the jail doesn’t comprise the entire precinct. Some could get that impression from the headline.
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Government can’t fix everything
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * More from Gov. Pritzker’s Q and A today…
One thing they could do for now is buy a TV antenna.
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Governor Pritzker on a third term, veto session, budget forecast, federal grants
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Gov. Pritzker was asked today about what’s next for him politically…
Please pardon all transcription errors. * The governor was asked about his veto session agenda…
* Background is here if you need it. Regarding the budget…
* On to federal grants…
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Madigan corruption trial roundup: Jury views undercover videos
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Tribune…
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WTTW…
* Rep. Sonya Harper filed HB5903 yesterday…
* HB5896 from Rep. Curtis Tarver…
* The Tribunelast week…
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Open thread
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Political operative charged with sending sexually explicit images to 2nd legislator. WGN…
-State Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) tells WGN Investigates he received fabricated graphic images that were made to appear as though he was in a sexually explicit situation with an elected official in Tinley Park. - Rita said he believes he was targeted by Pawula because of his opposition to a proposed race track and casino in Tinley Park. - Pawula is due in court on the new charges on Thursday. Governor Pritzker will hold a press availability at 10:00 am. Click here to watch. * Daily Egyptian | Late results show tie for States Attorney race: Jackson County election results released early Wednesday morning show state’s attorney candidates Joseph Cervantez and Marsha Cascio-Hale tied with exactly 10,805 votes each. […] Cascio-Hale said she was proud of her campaign’s accomplishments, watching Cervantez’s lead shrink but not willing to draw any conclusions at her results watch party. * Shaw Local | More than 1,600 mail-in ballots uncounted in counties that take in Briel-Bishop state rep. race: The race for state Rep. Lance Yednock’s seat is not over. Democrat Amy “Murri” Briel holds a lead over challenger Liz Bishop with as many as 1,700 mail-in ballots yet to be counted. Briel held a 505-vote lead after all precincts were counted in La Salle, Bureau and DeKalb counties in the race to fill Yednock’s seat in the Illinois House. Briel has 23,459 votes, and Republican challenger Bishop has 22,954 votes in unofficial results. * Sun-Times | Trump’s win doesn’t help Illinois Republicans’ numbers in Springfield — but GOP touts ‘massive strides’: The national red wave that sent former President Donald Trump back to the White House didn’t help Illinois Republicans gain significant ground — if any — in Democratic-controlled Springfield on election night. But a day after the polls closed, state GOP leaders on Wednesday celebrated “major strides” illustrated by Trump’s stronger showing in Illinois, which they say portends a turn of fortune for a party still relegated to superminority status in the General Assembly. * Sun-Times | Immigrant advocates and Illinois legislators process Trump’s election – plan for resistance: State Sen. Celina Villanueva woke up Wednesday with the same painful feeling she had eight years ago when Donald J. Trump was first elected — a deep worry for the immigrant communities feeling stressed that Trump has been reelected to a second term. She has a message of hope and resistance for the people feeling vulnerable at the prospect of a new Trump administration that has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. “In 2016, we thought that we were all going to be gone — and we’re still here,” Villanueva said. * WAND | Election 2024: Illinois could see voter turnout reach 68%, miss 2020 record of 73%: The Illinois State Board of Elections expects to see a final voter turnout of 68% for the 2024 presidential election. A significant amount of Illinoisans chose to vote early rather than wait in line on Election Day. Illinois broke a record in 2020 with 73% of registered voters casting ballots. While state leaders say it’s unlikely we’ll see that number this year, there is a lot of optimism from early voting. * Tribune | Aldermen rip Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 property tax hike proposal as budget hearings kick off: Desperate to avoid hitting Chicago home and business owners with a $300 million property tax increase, aldermen pelted the mayor’s finance team Wednesday with questions about alternatives to plug the 2025 budget hole. Their pitches on the opening day of budget hearings ran the gamut from furlough days for city workers to cutting middle managers or halting programs funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. * Crain’s | City Council fights Johnson on property tax hike as budget negotiations begin: The administration also decided to play prevent-defense on an option floated by a few Johnson allies to reduce the property tax by canceling, or chipping away at, a proposed $272 million advance pension payment. The amount is above the $2.9 billion required by state statute to gradually climb the ramp to adequately funding the city’s four beleaguered pension funds. The total increase to the city’s property tax levy will be $345 million, Budget Director Annette Guzman told the committee. Every year the city receives an increase to the levy through new properties coming online, accounting for the extra $45 million above the $300 million increase to the base levy.
* Block Club | Here’s How Your Neighborhood Voted In The 2024 Presidential Election (MAP): Chicago, long a stronghold for Democrats and the host site of the Democratic National Convention, remained largely blue in the election, with Harris claiming about 77 percent of the vote, according to early results. Joe Biden won 82 percent in 2020 when he was elected president. There were pockets of the city that leaned Republican in 2024 and, overall, Trump got about 22 percent of Chicago’s vote, according to early results. * Sun-Times | Prohibition finally ends in small pocket of Lincoln Square as voters overturn 117-year-old alcohol ban: Nearly 85% of the votes cast (285 of 336) on the referendum in the 9th precinct of the 47th ward voted “No” on the question of whether to keep the prohibition of liquor sales in Tuesday’s general election. The ban, which had been in place since 1907, impacted a small patch of the North Side neighborhood. It was bounded by Lincoln Avenue to the west, Sunnyside Avenue to the north, Damen Avenue to the east and Montrose Avenue to the south. * Injustice Watch | Powerful Cook County judge referred to judicial misconduct board over residency conflicts: Embattled Cook County Judge E. Kenneth Wright was referred to a state disciplinary board on Wednesday by the chief judge after an Injustice Watch investigation found he took inappropriate homestead and senior tax exemptions on a house he owned in Will County. Wright, 83, will retain his powerful position as presiding judge of Cook County’s first municipal district while the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board investigates. Meanwhile, Wright faces another challenge from voters in Tuesday’s judicial retention vote. As of Wednesday his vote total only narrowly exceeds the threshold of 60%, with thousands of votes left to count. * WGN | ‘Just like Trump’: Henyard predicts landslide mayoral victory as trustees reject police chief pick during village board meeting: Trustees also said the village is so low on funds that some departments can’t even afford office supplies, like printer paper. Trustees agreed to return three luxury SUVs leased for Henyard’s use, which WGN Investigates revealed cost residents more than $374,000, but Henyard vowed to veto the decision. * Daily Herald | How to spend $304.5 million?: Lake County forest preserves, Mundelein High School preparing for big to-do lists: Forest preserves use is 30% higher than before the pandemic and residents have come to enjoy the benefits of natural areas and were inclined to invest in nature, supporters said. “People have deepened their connection,” said Rebekah Snyder, director of community engagement and partnerships. The bang for the buck also was palatable, with the owner of a home valued at $300,000 paying an extra $33 per year at most. * Naperville Sun | Referendum results show trust in Indian Prairie School District 204, superintendent says: Unofficial results from DuPage and Will counties show voters in Tuesday’s general election were widely in favor of Indian Prairie School District 204’s proposal to sell $420 million in bonds to improve its facilities, and district Superintendent Adrian Talley said these results show voters’ trust and belief in the school system. “It reflects that they believe in us and what we are doing, and believe that we are good stewards of the funding that they give us,” he told The Beacon-News on Wednesday. * WAND | Illinois State Board of Elections provides insight on issues with Champaign County election: The board said an outage reported by Platinum Technology, a voter registration system vendor, kept officials from distributing ballots in Champaign County. Platinum Technology is used in 27 other counties in the state. However, the polling set-up in Champaign County was unique, said Matt Dietrich with the Illinois State Board of Elections. “Rather than having pre-printed ballots that are handed out, Champaign county was relying on a system where every voter comes and checks in, the ballot is printed specifically for them, for their precinct, and then they voted. What happened was, the voter registration data that they needed to generate those ballots, was locked up because of problems with their vendor.” * WCIA | ‘I’ll give it a B’: Champaign Co. Clerk reflects, apologizes and plans for next Election Day: Another headache was the network outage with their third-party “Platinum” service in the morning. “I apologize, because although I don’t have any control over the server and that situation, it is my decision to go with a particular vendor,” Ammons said. “As we move forward, we will re-evaluate some of those things, so I take responsibility for that.” * WAND | Piatt county votes in favor of mental health referendum: The Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center, Tony Kirkman, told WAND News in October, this will help address the treatment shortage in Piatt County, “In Piatt County, we have roughly 16,000 individuals and we only have about 8 or 9 licensed professionals in the county. So, for many, many years, there was a treatment shortage and we’re now trying to protect what we already have here in place.” * WCIA | Resigned Shelby County Board members win election for old seats: According to unofficial results posted on the Shelby County Clerk’s website, former Shelby County Board Chair Robert Orman and Vice Chair Mark Bennett won their races for their seats. They beat Guy Michael Anderson and James Caputo respectively. Orman and Bennett resigned in October. In their resignations, they criticized the board for not following the rules and policies.
* AP | USDA bans school lunch fees for low-income families: School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees” for each transaction. By law, students who are eligible for reduced price meals cannot be charged more than 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. With processing fees, however, families can end up paying 10 times that amount. Processing companies charge as much as $3.25 or 4% to 5% per transaction, according to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * 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.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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