* A tiny update on the Madigan jury…

The judge is going to instruct them to rely on their collective memory and the evidence on this one.

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) February 3, 2025

* Rep. Steve Reick joined the Groundhog Day celebration in Woodstock, where the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray was filmed…

* FYI…

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | McCombie urges cohesion amid party in fighting: The head of Illinois House Republicans is responding to calls for her to step down from her leadership role. The Illinois Freedom Caucus, made up of six state representatives and one senator, is accusing House Minority Leader Tony McCombie of playing “silly games” after she denied several services at the Capitol for not voting for her as leader. McCombie said the suspension of certain caucus-specific services does not affect any legislator’s ability to serve constituents, and the focus should be on “fighting Democrat policies that are failing Illinois families, not each other.”

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | ISP Troopers now can get college credit from Illinois universities for training: The state started these partnerships with multiple universities, including Eastern Illinois University, Governor’s State University, Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Troopers and officers who have completed the ISP training academy can now take what they’ve learned to these universities and get credit hours towards certain degrees.

* NBC Chicago | Why is the US requiring Real IDs, and where will you need one?: That’s because, beginning May 7, 2025, the federal government will require who all those who fly domestically to use either a valid U.S. passport or a Real ID in order to board a plane. The program is part of the Real ID Act, was passed by Congress in 2005 after the publication of the 9/11 Commission Report in an effort to increase security of identification documents, making them more difficult to duplicate.

* WGLT | DCFS launches new app for caseworkers and families: DCFS hopes that will lower stress levels for workers and families. “This app not only empowers children and families, but also reduces the administrative burdens on caseworkers, allowing them more time to concentrate on the children and families they serve,” said DCFS director Heidi E. Mueller.

* WAND | Illinois corn growers respond to tariffs on largest trading partners: [IL Corn Growers Association President and Waterloo, IL farmer Garrett Hawkins] issued the following statement: “The farm economy is in a really tough spot right now with low commodity prices and high input costs. Export demand for corn products has been about the only positive in the market recently. Mexico, Canada and China are major buyers of our ag products, and any retaliation from these countries on our exports will likely target farmers. I know that President Trump supports farmers and the rural economies they’re a part of, so we’ll look for a quick resolution that protects our relationships and benefits both farmers and our end customers.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | High-ranking Chicago Housing Authority director fired amid ongoing staff exodus: The Chicago Housing Authority has seen major turnover in recent months, with four top officials resigning and a high-ranking aide being fired over an inspector general investigation that found alleged financial and ethical misconduct. Records obtained by the Tribune show that two high-ranking employees left with separation agreements that will pay them through their last day, with a third being paid over 4 ½ months beyond his last day and a fourth being paid three months beyond her last day.

* WBEZ | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to tax hemp and pass the ‘Anjanette Young ordinance’ in his 2025 to-dos: As for the Illinois statehouse, Johnson’s agenda would take baby steps toward increased revenue for Chicago by reversing changes to the state’s telecommunications tax and a corporate revenue tax. Johnson’s team will also look to secure a greater share of funding from the Regional Transit Authority to address local transit woes, though details on that strategy are so far scarce.

* Crain’s | Seniors face eviction under plan to sell retirement home to Chicago PE firm: The deal has sparked outrage among residents and their families, especially because a sale to another company — that would have left the residents of the 100-unit health center in place — fell through. Pandemic restrictions, labor shortages, soaring wages and supply costs helped push Harborside to the brink. It’s a common thread among continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs, many of which rely on a steady stream of entrance fees to pay operating costs, debt service and resident refunds. Harborside was unable to pay its bills as occupancy slumped. The site is among at least 16 CCRCs that filed for bankruptcy since 2020.

* Sun-Times | Police oversight agency probing fatal North Lawndale shooting: The Civilian Office of Police Accountability responded to an “officer-involved shooting” Sunday morning in North Lawndale. Officers responded to robbery call in the 1800 block of South Ridgeway Avenue at 10:47 a.m., where they saw a man they chased on foot, they said. The man exchanged gunfire with police at multiple locations and was wounded, police said.

* WBEZ | Chicago Cultural Center launches major mosaics renovation project in Preston Bradley Hall: While the dome may be the center of attention in Preston Bradley Hall, there are other treasures deserving of lingering gazes. About 10,000 square feet of Tiffany glass and mother of pearl mosaics adorn the marble walls in the form of scrolls, rosettes and flowers. They also border inscriptions in multiple languages. The passages promote the virtues of learning, a fitting message for a building that once housed the first Chicago Public Library.

* Crain’s | Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie makes switch to NBC 5 Chicago: Goudie will join the “NBC 5 Investigates” team, which includes Bennett Haeberle, who recently earned five Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, along with producers Katy Smyser and Lisa Capitanini. The veteran journalist began his career at ABC 7 Chicago in 1980 and eventually became head investigative reporter. Last month, he exited the station and the reason for his departure was not immediately clear.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect in line for federal funding for new fire station: Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg, toured the facility Friday with Mount Prospect and other officials. He said a Community Project Funding request for the project passed the House Appropriations Committee in December, but still needs approval from the full House and the Senate. That could happen as soon as March. He said he is committed to making sure the funding is delivered in full despite recent uncertainty over a proposed freeze on federal assistance.

* From the boss…

What these outlets are doing is promoting an unchecked authoritarian fantasy.

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) February 1, 2025

* Daily Herald | ‘Delayed far too long’: Volo Bog State Natural Area among state sites targeted for improvements: After decades on the wish list, long-sought improvements at Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside have been funded and are expected to proceed. Replacing the existing boardwalk and floating trail has been designated by the Illinois Capital Development Board as part of a $60 million effort to address key deferred maintenance projects at five Illinois Department of Natural Resources facilities and parks.

* Tribune | Baxter announces CEO’s immediate retirement, days after $3.7 billion sale of kidney care business: Deerfield-based Baxter International announced Monday that its CEO and board chair José Almeida is retiring, effective immediately – an announcement that came just days after the company sold its kidney care business for $3.7 billion. Baxter did not say in a news release why Almeida is retiring now, effective immediately, but Almeida said in the release, “With the key elements of our broad strategic transformation complete, this is the right time for a new CEO to lead the company into its next chapter.”

*** Downstate ***

* IPM News | Champaign County Public Defender’s Office is facing a funding crisis after tax referendum fails: Public Defender Elisabeth Pollock said her office has been underfunded for years — making it hard to recruit and retain staff. And she expects the situation will get worse going forward, since a Champaign County referendum that would have likely increased funding for the office and other public safety initiatives failed to pass last fall. “We’re going to just continue to drown, and I’m going to continue to lose people, people who are going to leave the office because of better-paying opportunities,” she said.

* Press Release | SIU Carbondale’s spring 2025 enrollment rises, following a remarkable fall: Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s spring 2025 enrollment is up 3.3%, or 344 students, compared to last year. The increase – the second year in a row of over 3% – follows a fall that saw the highest overall boost in the number of students in 33 years.

* SJ-R | Springfield attorney, cannabis compliance regulator mayor’s pick for Ward 1 alderman: Jeffrey G. Cox, acknowledged as a critical component to the success of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program and the launch of the state’s recreational use five years ago, will be put up before the Springfield City Council as the Ward 1 alderman candidate. The appointment by Mayor Misty Buscher will be on first reading Tuesday. It could go to a vote by Feb. 18. Cox would replace current City Clerk Chuck Redpath Sr., who served for nearly three decades on the city council but cannot run again in 2027 because of term limits.

* Rockford Register Star | Election 2025: Get to know the candidates who want to represent northwest Rockford: Ald. Bill Rose, D-9, says he sought help for alcoholism and has remained sober for more than three years since a July 2021 DUI arrest. He said he hopes to serve as an example for people trying to turn their lives around. Rose said he prioritized neighborhoods during his eight years on City Council and wants a third term to continue that work. Early voting began Jan. 16.

* SJ-R | New community center for children opening on Springfield’s east side this spring: The Better Life Better Living For Kidz Community Center is set to open at 1507 E. Cook St. on March 1 taking the location used previously by the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. The after-school program will provide a computer lab, audio and video studio and coding classes. The center will also offer financial literary classes and a chess team.

*** National ***

* WaPo | D.C. federal judge likely to extend ban on Trump OMB funding freeze: U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan said after a 90-minute hearing that she would weigh further written arguments Monday afternoon, but was inclined to extend her earlier order preventing new restrictions from taking effect in the Trump White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The prior order expires at 5 p.m. Monday. AliKhan said she believed that the advocates, nonprofits and businesses who filed the lawsuit — represented by the left-leaning group Democracy Forward — had established that “irreparable harm” would result to funding recipients without a temporary restraining order. The parties are set to make arguments later this month over whether to block the funding freeze from taking effect throughout the litigation.

* NBC | Some migrants arrested in Trump’s immigration crackdown have been released back into the U.S.: Those released are being kept on a monitoring program known as Alternatives to Detention, the five sources familiar with the releases said, which has for more than a decade been used to keep track of where migrants are as they make their way through the immigration system. ICE can track them by ankle monitors or wrist bands or through telephonic check-ins.

* Interesting point…

The Republican Party spent all of Obama’s term obsessed with building the Keystone XL pipeline so we could import more oil from Canada.

Now they’re spending Trump’s 2nd term angry that we’re importing too much oil from Canada since that’s the reason our bilateral trade deficit.

— Brendan Duke (@Brendan_Duke) February 3, 2025

…Adding… Update…