Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2025

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here for some background. The Teamsters Union put out a press release today with the headline: “Billionaire Governor’s Anti-Worker Measure Further Harms Amazon Workers”…

The Teamsters Union is condemning Gov. JB Pritzker for vetoing House Bill 2547, the Illinois Warehouse Worker Protection Act (WWPA). The bipartisan legislation, which passed through the statehouse with overwhelming support, would have prevented companies like Amazon from abusing the workforce by regulating the use and disclosure of warehouse quotas.

“We are deeply disappointed that the governor has vetoed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. In doing so, he has abandoned the very people who give their all every day, working under inhumane production quotas that are not only unacceptable but also dangerous,” said Thomas W. Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. “Having been a warehouse worker, I’m deeply familiar with the harsh and inhumane conditions in this industry, and I know firsthand why this bill is necessary. It’s unfortunate that our Governor doesn’t have those same experiences or sympathies. Warehouse workers, including those at Amazon, are simply trying to provide for their families honestly and safely, and the Illinois governor has turned his back on them.”

California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington have already passed their own versions of the WWPA, and a similar measure at the federal level has bipartisan support.

“The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is the most commonsense, effective solution to the rampant abuse of warehouse workers by greedy and dangerous companies like Amazon,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The Teamsters will never stop fighting for it, both federally and in state houses across the country. In light of the governor’s reckless act, Illinois clearly needs stronger leadership that has the backbone and compassion to put hardworking families first.”

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 125,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

* The Governor’s Press Secretary Alex Gough…

“Governor Pritzker will not make decisions based on statements from people who spoke in favor of Donald Trump’s anti-worker agenda last summer and aided Bruce Rauner’s attacks on working families. We were clear from the beginning with our concerns with the Teamsters that this would not be enforceable, and presented legal issues. As he said in his veto message, the Governor shares the goal to protect warehouse workers from dangerous and unfair conditions and invites all union leaders to engage in good-faith conversations that will deliver a real solution and actually protects workers.”

* The secret is out!…

Happy birthday, Rich!

*** Statehouse News ***

* Chicago Reader | Illinois’s public defense crisis: Illinois is facing a public defense crisis. That was the message from lawyers, lawmakers, policy advocates, and organizers who converged at the Northwestern Pritzker Law’s downtown campus on March 24 for a daylong summit on the future of public defense. The event, hosted by Northwestern’s Children and Family Justice Center and the Illinois Justice Project, was organized ostensibly to support a bill moving through the General Assembly that would create a statewide public defender agency. Numerous speakers highlighted the need for substantive structural change to address funding disparities, conflicts of interest, and an overall dearth of data about public defense in Illinois.

*** Statewide ***

* Block Club | Sanctuary Policies ‘Protect Public Safety,’ Groups Argue In Response To Justice Department Lawsuit: As the federal government continues to pursue its lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County and Illinois over their “sanctuary” policies, local legal groups this week filed a brief arguing that sanctuary laws actually promote public safety — and encourage economic growth. An amicus brief in the case was filed Tuesday by the ACLU of Illinois and the National Immigrant Justice Center on behalf of several local immigrant advocacy organizations.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Accused Skokie candidate won’t get ethics hearing before election: Skokie Trustee James Johnson, who is running for village clerk and in the midst of an ethics violation investigation, won’t receive a conclusive hearing before the April 1 election on whether or not Johnson used the village’s resources for political gain. An amendment to an ethics complaint targeting Johnson was submitted to the village’s ethics commission on Monday, according to one of the eight Skokie residents who submitted the complaint in February. The amended complaint caused the investigation to start over, and caused an evidentiary hearing scheduled for last week to be canceled.

* Tribune | Wealthy white homeowners vote more on property tax hike proposals in Cook County, study finds: Referendums for $45 million in infrastructure spending in Western Springs, $94.9 million in school upgrades in Northbrook, and for permission to go above state tax caps in the Northfield Park District, Prospect Heights and Roselle are on the ballot this spring. And Pappas’ office found a small number of voters — largely rich, white homeowners — tend to have the strongest turnout for these types of property tax votes.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton 148 Board defends salary increase for superintendent making $450,000: Dolton Elementary School District 148 Board members say they were excluded from discussions leading to a salary increase for Superintendent Kevin Nohelty, boosting his $450,000 salary $30,000 each of the next two years. During a packed meeting Tuesday, board President Larry Lawrence explained the decision to increase the salary, approved at a special meeting March 18, was because Nohely stayed on past his contract’s end date in June 2022 as the board searches for his replacement.

* Daily Herald | District 200 school board race pits incumbents against challengers questioning middle school projects: Unlike the election battles in the pandemic’s shadow, the candidate roster this time is largely divided along more familiar lines, with some challenging the status quo and raising questions about a voter-approved plan for major projects in the district’s oldest middle schools. […] It’s the first school board contest since 68% of voters in November backed the district’s request to take out $151.5 million in bonds for work at Edison, Franklin and Monroe middle schools.

*** Chicago ***

* Chicago Mag | Karen Lewis’s posthumous new memoir recounts the transformation of the Chicago Teachers Union into a disrupter of the status quo: ”Initially I thought Renaissance 2010 was a terrible joke; I didn’t believe it would really happen until I started to see it in action. I wasn’t worried for myself, because I taught at a selective enrollment school that would never close. Yet I knew my sisters and brothers throughout the city were being devastated. Renaissance 2010 led to the closure of more than 100 public schools; it maligned veteran Black teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators; and it launched many charter, contract, and alternative schools without unionized workforces.”

* Sun-Times | Amtrak busing travelers to St. Paul, Milwaukee after canceling trains from Chicago: Amtrak began busing passengers Wednesday between Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota, and Milwaukee after discovering corrosion issues on several of its passenger cars, raising the prospect of long-term service disruptions. The passenger rail service said it is running buses in place of trains on its Borealis route, which runs one train a day to and from Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota. Half of Amtrak’s six daily Hiawatha service trains to and from Milwaukee are also running on buses.

* Crain’s | Chicago food banks stung by Trump cuts while costs climb: In the west side of Chicago, Wendy Daniels has seen an increase of about 25% in the number of new people coming through her food bank since January. That’s a worrying trend, she says, as tariffs, inflation and funding cuts are set to squeeze grocery budgets while making it more expensive for food banks to cover their operating costs.

* Sun-Times | CPD cracking down on sloppy appearance of some cops or face reprimand, according to scathing internal memo: Officers have to wear “clean and serviceable” uniforms with no holes or tears and are forbidden from wearing hoodies underneath or tactical pants, according to the memo, sent out earlier this week by Area 5 District Cmdr. William Betancourt and which was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. “We have spoken about this for the past 18 months and we are still not addressing the officers in the districts in regards to this!” Betancourt said in the email.

* Tribune | Julie Woestehoff, Chicago education activist who urged local control of schools, dies: Julie Woestehoff was the longtime executive director of Chicago-based Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), a reform-minded schools advocacy group that pushed for citizen involvement in the city’s schools and equitable use of standardized tests. Woestehoff encouraged “many parents to get involved with their children’s education because she believed that parents were the key to advocating for their own children. They knew what the children needed,” said Wanda Hopkins, a former PURE assistant director. “And we believed that every child had the right to have the best education possible.”

* Tribune | Lady Gaga announces ‘Mayhem’ tour with Chicago concerts in September: Lady Gaga has announced a tour behind her new album “Mayhem” with Chicago dates in September. The tour, dubbed “Mayhem Ball,” will play the United Center (1901 W. Madison St.) on Sept. 15 and 17. An artist ticket presale begins at noon April 2. Access that presale at signup.ticketmaster.com/ladygaga; the signup closes at 8 a.m. March 30. The public pre-sale begins noon April 3; more at www.livenation.com. There will also be a presale for Citi card holders beginning at noon March 31 and a Verizon pre-sale at noon April 1.

*** Downstate ***

* WMBD | Peoria County prosecutor arrested for allegedly possessing stolen firearm: Kali Pray, 28, and her passenger, Drake Tharp, 23, of Creve Coeur, were both charged in Woodford County Circuit Court with possession of a stolen firearm and for not having a valid FOID card. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of up to seven years behind bars. Anna Perales, a spokeswoman for the Peoria County State’s Attorney‘s office, said Pray had been on “administrative unpaid leave when this incident happened. We are reviewing the matter.”

* WCIA | University of Illinois employees rally for fair wages: Their previous agreement expired in September, and negotiations for a new contract have been going on for a year. Now, the union members say the increased .25% wage offer, bringing the total offer to around 2.5% for the first year, is not enough for some of the lower-paid union members to earn a living wage.

* WCIA | Reynolds Towing addresses employee’s Nazi salute after video circulates online: An offensive video circulating online has led to a man getting fired from his tow-truck job. Reynolds Towing in Champaign is apologizing for the antisemitic clip. The video shows an employee standing on the back of a tow truck in a Reynolds towing uniform giving a Nazi salute. He then said an expletive referring to Jewish people.

* WCBU | Peoria County extends low-income broadband access program: Allen says 36 people enrolled in the pilot program, funded by a $125,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The county received an extension to the grant, allowing for funds to rollover to July 2026 and for the inclusion of a second cohort of households.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Rivian spins out startup focused on ‘micromobility’ EVs: The new “micromobility” company, known as Also, is launching with $105 million in funding from Rivian and venture capital firm Eclipse. Rivian, which makes consumer EV trucks and SUVs, will have a minority stake in Also. Chris Yu, a Rivian executive who will lead the new company as president, said in an interview that current options are limited for customers looking for plug-in vehicles smaller than a standard car. “There is a lack of personalized experience you get, like with a Rivian, for small EVs.”

20 Comments

Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A last-minute provision called the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) was snuck into the budget process last May and will create chaos for small businesses and consumers across Illinois if it takes effect on July 1, 2025.

The IFPA gives corporate mega-stores like Walmart and Home Depot — who pushed for this backroom deal — millions more in profits, while small business owners get new expenses and accounting headaches. What’s more, consumers could be forced to pay for parts of their transactions in cash if this law moves forward.

A recent court ruling in the litigation challenging the law suggests IFPA is likely pre-empted by federal law for national banks and will only apply to credit unions and local Illinois banks, putting local banks at a disadvantage against their national competitors.

Illinois lawmakers should repeal the IFPA and focus on protecting small businesses and consumers across the state — not lining the pockets of corporate mega-stores.

Stop the countdown to chaos by supporting a repeal of this misguided and flawed policy. Learn more at https://guardyourcard.com/illinois/

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Vinicky focuses on new career

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last week…

A special - and final - time hosting @wttw’s weekly recap, before a new career adventure. It’s been an honor, truly. Tune in at 7 pm, with guests @rap30, @BpopeTV, @ndblumberg and @byaliceyin , produced by Paul Caine with @CrystinImmel and @jaysmithwttw in charge. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3lQGMU7FON

— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 21, 2025

* This week…

Intersect Illinois Announces Strategic Leadership Hires, Adds Depth in Key Areas

Amanda Vinicky, Elizabeth Gichana, Kyla Karten, Kate Lindgren, and Ramya Koritala to support Intersect Illinois’ business attraction strategies

CHICAGO, IL – Today, Intersect Illinois announced the addition of five key leaders to its team, reinforcing its commitment to driving investment, job creation, and economic growth across Illinois. These strategic hires further strengthen the organization’s expertise in life sciences, site readiness, business development, data-driven research, and communications strategy.

“Expanding our team to encompass more expertise is a top priority for our organization as Team Illinois seeks to build on its competitive business advantages,” said Christy George, President and CEO of Intersect Illinois. “Amanda, Elizabeth, Kyla, Kate, and Ramya are tremendous assets to the team, and each of these accomplished professionals brings specialized expertise that will help advance our mission. With the addition of Robin Ficke and Dr. Preeti Chalsani last year, our team is stronger than ever, and we look forward to the impact these leaders will make in driving growth across the state.”

Amanda Vinicky has been named Vice President of Communications. She will lead Intersect Illinois’ communications strategy, amplifying the organization’s mission, success stories, and economic impact to key stakeholders, media, and the public. A talented journalist with over 20 years of experience, Vinicky previously served as a correspondent and host on WTTW-TV’s “Chicago Tonight” and was Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois and the Illinois Public Radio network—work that garnered Emmys, Lisagors from the Chicago Headline Club, and other reporting awards. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield’s celebrated Public Affairs Reporting program and has degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“Most anyone who has met me knows I have an unbridled love of Illinois, which is why as a journalist I pushed its leaders to be their best on behalf of its residents,” Vinicky said. “As a lifelong Illinoisan, I know all that the state has to offer and I’m dedicated to being part of Intersect Illinois’ work in sharing that story and advancing the state’s growth.”

I’ve known Ms. Vinicky since she was a PAR intern way back in the day. I never thought she’d leave journalism, but this is a great move for her, and a bad omen for WTTW.

* To this day, I still utter the line “Focus, Amanda. Focus”…

Instead of answering yes or no questions, @GovRauner replied like a broken record saying “focus, Amanda, focus” & “focus is a good thing.” pic.twitter.com/zPFx27jQqz

— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) June 2, 2017

Classic.

24 Comments

It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Retired educator and college basketball referee Ed Hightower…

In high-pressure moments, when everything is on the line, leaders must be able to make the right call. As March Madness takes hold this spring, Illinois lawmakers must make the right call regarding affordable housing.

Growing up in a family of eight children in Southeast Missouri, I knew what it meant to struggle. We didn’t have indoor plumbing until 1966, when my mother moved us to Alton, Illinois. That experience shaped my understanding of the critical need for safe, affordable housing — something too many families in Illinois still lack today. […]

I urge Illinois lawmakers to support the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit — an innovative solution to our state’s affordable housing crisis.

I believe this legislation could be a game-changer. It provides the push developers need to move projects forward. This tax credit is a low-risk investment for taxpayers. Private investors supply the funds upfront, and the state issues credits only after developments are completed and families move in. It’s a fiscally responsible way to create much-needed housing while spurring economic growth. […]

The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit will close those financing gaps by making the critical commitment for developers and investors to give these developments the green light. More than half of the states nationally have adopted credits like Build Illinois Homes to drive affordable housing investment. During these trying times, people need safe, affordable housing and education, health care, and social service support. All work together to lift people and their communities.

* Center Square…

Lawmakers discussed proposed regulation of hemp-derived intoxicating beverages in a state Senate Liquor Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon.

State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, filed Senate Bill 1766, which would impose taxes on hemp manufacturers and distributors. It would also force hemp businesses to be regulated by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

“We are open to making modifications to the bill, but I think it’s time that this form of beverage be entered into the regulatory space. We think this is a good way to do it,” Cunningham said. […]

Chris Coleman of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois spoke in support of SB 1766 and said it would impose strict labeling requirements on hemp beverages.

Coleman also addressed lawmakers’ concerns that highly-caffeinated beverages are not part of the bill.

Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois Tiffany Chappell Ingram …

“While we agree that it’s time for Illinois to take action against intoxicating hemp products, including THC beverages, this proposal falls short of providing consumers the protections they deserve. These products are not alcoholic beverages – differing greatly in their effects on consumers as well as the way they are produced, tested, labeled and sold – and should not be regulated under our state’s liquor laws. THC beverages are derived from the cannabis plant and should be regulated under the state’s existing cannabis laws, which prioritize public health, safety, and industry oversight. We are eager to collaborate on a more appropriate path forward.”

* Rep. Carol Ammons…

Working to bring transformative change to Champaign-Urbana communities and statewide, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, successfully advanced legislation filling crucial gaps in education and access to economic opportunities.

“Spearheading these bills, to me, is about restoring opportunity,” said Ammons. “Whether it’s through fairer licensing, access to education, or removing unnecessary barriers, we’re creating real pathways for all Illinoisans to prosper.”

In efforts to expand pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals, Ammons’ House Bill 3462 would refine licensing requirements for those with a criminal record — enforcing the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR) to evaluate licensing applications based on the manner of a person’s conviction, rather than if they possess “good moral character,” an ambiguous term used for justification of denial.

Plus, continuing her advocacy for expanded education for the incarcerated, Ammons’ House Bill 2466 would further support formerly incarcerated students by removing a provision that excludes them from the opportunity to participate in academic programs and financial aid, such as the monetary assistance program (MAP).

Ammons’ work also seeks to remove barriers that hinder those from practicing their profession. House Bill 3356 removes hair-braiding from the list of license cosmetology professions, allowing individuals to self-start in the hair braiding profession without having the financial obligation to pay IDFPR a licensing fee.

* Sen. Erica Harriss…

Another deadline week has come and gone in the Senate as we inch closer to the adjournment of our spring legislative session at the end of May. We just wrapped up week seven of session, a week in which we had to pass Senate bills out of committee that we hope to pass this spring.

Last week, I was able to pass Senate Bill 2463 out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is a bill I worked closely on with the Department of Natural Resources. It is intended to offset taxpayer costs in the event that an oil well operator fails to remediate a well they are responsible for after operations have ceased.

While I am thrilled to have passed a couple of bills out of committee, I have filed extensions on my bills that were assigned to committees but haven’t received a vote. Most of those bills relate to property taxes, with the goal of helping save Illinois residents money.

* WAND…

A proposal moving in Springfield could require health insurance companies to cover prescription vitamins.

State employee, private insurance, and managed care plans would be forced to provide the new coverage for prescription vitamins starting January 1, 2027.

House Democrats said this policy will not apply to vitamins purchased over the counter, but Republicans still argue the bill will cause higher insurance premiums. […]

House Bill 3699 passed out of the House Insurance Committee on a partisan 11-5 vote. It now moves to the House for further consideration.

* KSDK…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ambitious plan to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees has hit a significant roadblock, exposing the complex political dynamics of higher education reform in Illinois.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 3717, would enable community colleges to grant bachelor’s degrees in applied fields, potentially transforming access to higher education for thousands of students. Despite Pritzker’s vocal support, the House Higher Education Committee declined to advance the bill last week.

“I’m glad to see negotiations continuing,” Chairwoman Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) said. “I think we need to focus on finding pathways for students to earn the credentials they need to support their careers and on supporting all our institutions of higher education across the state.’

For Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), the proposal represents a personal mission. A Waubonsee Community College alumna who later transferred to Aurora University, she understands the financial challenges of higher education firsthand. “School is turning into more of a luxury at this point, and it is unfortunate,” Hernandez said. “I saved a lot of money by starting at community college.”

* Center Square…

Illinois lawmakers are considering a slew of bills affecting gambling in the state. […]

One measure, Senate BIll 2145, would require fantasy sports companies to pay a fee to operate in the state and places a tax of up to 40% on their contest receipts. Tim Jensen of Real Time Fantasy Sports said the bill would end their Illinois operations.

“As a smaller operator, we have hundreds of Illinois players that have been with us for years if not decades, however, the half-million dollar licensing fee exceeds our total gross revenue for the state of Illinois and would effectively lock us out of the state,” said Jensen during a Senate Gaming, Wagering and Racing Committee hearing Tuesday. […]

State Sen. Christina Castro, D-Elgin, said if you want to play, you have to pay.

“Whether the tax the gaming board proposed is the right one I’m not sure, but it’s something to say I don’t want to be taxed, I don’t want to pay fees,” said Castro. “You want the privilege to do business in Illinois, guess what, you’re going to pay for that privilege.”

* Sen. Steve Stadelman…

Following an Illinois Supreme Court decision that weakened protections for journalists, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to safeguard the rights of Illinoisans and news outlets to state their opinions in the media.

“This legislation is needed in order to protect media and what they do on a daily basis,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “We need to stand up for free press and speech, and this measure shows our efforts to do so.”

Senate Bill 1181 builds on existing law to ensure the Citizens Participation Act protects individuals and the press from lawsuits intended to silence or intimidate them, regardless of the motive behind the lawsuit. A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is a legal tactic used to silence or intimidate critics by burdening them with costly and time-consuming litigation, often targeting individuals or organizations who speak out on issues of public interest.

The Supreme Court ruled the state’s anti-SLAPP law did not protect media outlets or journalists. Stadelman’s legislation clarifies news organizations should be shielded from retaliatory lawsuits.

Senate Bill 1181 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last Wednesday.

Comment

More decline

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois “Leisure and Hospitality” employment grew by more than 56,000 between January of 2015 and January of 2019. It kept growing through 2019, then, of course, tanked during the pandemic. The sector peaked in February of 2020, but it was 17,400 below that level here as of the end of last year…

The sector has been hard-hit everywhere, but it grew by 3 percent nationally from February of 2020 to December of last year, compared to the 3 percent decline in Illinois.

32 Comments

Sparks Fly At Nursing Home Industry Legislative Hearing

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Sparks flew in a high-drama House Human Services Committee hearing last week as Committee Chair Representative Anna Moeller and Representative Yolanda Morris called attention to nursing home owners falling short of meeting minimum safe staffing requirements, despite significant state investment intended to address staffing shortages.

The nursing home industry-backed HB2922 attempts to ease fines meant to enforce accountability for understaffing in facilities, even though nursing home owners previously asked for and received millions in tax breaks and additional state funding intended specifically to improve staffing levels.

Despite the resources provided by the state, way too many nursing homes continue to operate short staffed, resulting in real harm and ongoing risks to our seniors.

Rep. Morris, a former nursing home certified nursing assistant, highlighted the severity of staffing issues, “It’s time for you guys to learn how to start staffing up and be held accountable.”

Committee Chair Rep. Moeller added, “Why do we have to keep fighting the battle every year with the industry? Why can’t you just do what you’re supposed to do to take care of our seniors?”

Lawmakers Moeller and Morris underscored the critical need for accountability, emphasizing that the industry has received hundreds of millions of dollars in public resources meant to improve care for our seniors. Oppose HB2922, because the minimum required resident care can’t wait.

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Promises made…

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it…

* Spam text message yesterday…

39 Comments

Pritzker: ‘We will not blindly follow illegal orders’ (Updated)

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here for the EO. From the Washington Post…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring people to provide documents proving they are citizens when they register to vote, a mandate that experts said could prevent millions of Americans from voting.

The order reflects Trump’s long-standing fixation on election administration as well as his baseless claims following the 2016 and 2020 presidential races that both were riddled with fraud, particularly illegal voting by noncitizens. There is no evidence that widespread corruption, by noncitizens or others, tainted either contest.

Republicans in dozens of states have sought for decades to require voters to present identification to cast ballots, but Trump has taken that effort to a new level with an executive order establishing a federal mandate to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The U.S. Constitution designates the power to regulate the “time, place and manner” of elections to the states, with the proviso that Congress can step in and override those laws. It gives no specific power to the president to do so. Election experts said that Trump was claiming power he does not have and that lawsuits over the measure were all but guaranteed. […]

Others suggested that the order reflects Trump’s desire to expand executive power — and for the Supreme Court to allow it. His order directs the Election Assistance Commission — an agency governed by statute enacted by Congress — to change the federal voter registration form to require government-issued documentary proof of citizenship.

Lots of his EOs are essentially performative.

* Gov. Pritzker press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s executive order to attack free and fair elections in the United States:

“Voting is a fundamental right and sacred responsibility of every American. Yet, once again Donald Trump is ignoring the rule of law and circumventing Congress.

“We need to call this what it is: another illegal, extreme, and dangerous attempt to take power away from the American people and hand it over the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, who wishes to decide which U.S. citizens can and can’t vote.

“We will not blindly follow illegal orders because Donald Trump wrote them down on a piece of paper. Illinois follows the laws of the land – not the decrees of an aspiring king hell bent on disenfranchising millions of voters who deserve to have their voice heard.

“In the face of these attacks on voting rights, Illinois will continue to administer free and fair elections while standing up for strong, secure, and accessible democracy.”

…Adding… Rep. West…

State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee, released the following statement responding to Donald Trump’s latest attack on Illinois’ electoral process:

“Illinois elections are secure, accessible, and fair. In recent years, the Illinois General Assembly has worked collaboratively with the Illinois State Board of Elections and local election authorities to enact legislative solutions with the goal of promoting civic engagement and ensuring all voters can cast their ballots in a safe, convenient manner.

“When Illinoisans go to the polls, they must have confidence that their vote will be counted quickly and accurately. Instead of engaging Congress or working with the states, Donald Trump is attempting to hand down illegal orders to interfere with our electoral process and potentially disenfranchise millions of people. This new effort comes after years of promoting bizarre, false election conspiracy theories, eroding trust in our democracy and its civic institutions.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to continue to strengthen our electoral system and ensure our votes are free from illegal interference by any outside actor – including the president. Illinois will follow the law, not Donald Trump’s whims.”

24 Comments

Intoxicating Hemp: No safety? No thanks!

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A federal loophole has led to a booming gray market across Illinois for intoxicating hemp products, which use synthetics to alter the composition of hemp to get consumers high.

This is happening outside the structure of the state’s legal cannabis industry. This means intoxicating hemp faces NO quality testing, NO age restrictions, NO packaging requirements, NO potency rules, and NO taxes to fund programs in communities impacted by the War on Drugs. Most intoxicating hemp products aren’t even produced in Illinois. By contrast, Illinois cannabis businesses face extensive rules and regulations to operate, with products tracked from seed to sale. When consumers purchase legal cannabis grown and processed in Illinois, they know their products are safe.

Hemp and cannabis come from the same plant. Both products can get users high. Why the different rules? Illinois already has a system in place to regulate hemp – it’s called the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. It’s time for Illinois to close the intoxicating hemp loophole.

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Good morning!

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Grace Potter covers Fleetwood Mac with Gov’t Mule…

You better put your kingdom up for sale

Keep the discussion Illinois-centric, please.

4 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: ‘How is this going to work?’: Transit reform advocates far apart on major issues. Daily Herald…

* Related…

∙ NBC Chicago: Dozens of Metra, CTA train, bus lines could be cut due to $770M budget hole: Transit officials

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois AG pushes for more funding amid legal battles with Trump administration: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pushing for additional funding for his office as it takes on a host of lawsuits and legal filings against actions by the Trump administration. “What we want to make clear to the legislature is that we’re a good investment, right? And it’s not a time to disinvest in our office,” Raoul said in an interview.

* Subscribers knew about the lawsuit Monday. Tribune | Sen. Michael Hastings alleges smear campaign in 2022 tight race to hold office: State Sen. Michael Hastings alleges in a lawsuit that Republican operators conspired to organize a “smear campaign” leading up to the November 2022 election, which included sending out what the Frankfort Democrat’s lawsuit describes as obscene text messages to voters. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 28, alleges a conspiracy to “execute a malicious text-message campaign designed to defame, humiliate and harass” Hastings leading up to the Nov. 8, 2022, election.

* WICS | HIRE360 offers life-changing career paths for central Illinois through trades: With nearly $5 million in funding from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s CEJA Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, HIRE360 has expanded its reach to central Illinois. Now, its first class is set to graduate on Saturday, marking a major milestone in workforce development.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Raoul joins motion to block dismantling of U.S. Education Department: In a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, the coalition of Democratic attorneys general are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the mass firing of half the agency’s employees, which Trump ordered March 11, as well as the transfer of student loan management and special education services to other federal agencies.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Harvey World Herald | As state cracks down on delinquent audits, Mayor Chris Clark addresses financial reporting concerns: Mayor Chris Clark responded to critcism over the administration’s ongoing financial reporting challenges at the council’s regular meeting on March 10, focusing on the finance department’s compliance with municipal code and absent treasurer reports. But what Harvey’s top official neglected to mention was a state crackdown on delinquent audits. Criticism flies that city officials aren’t financially transparent, with City Treasurer Aisha Pickett barely giving regular reports.

* Sun-Times | Race, wealth disparities underlie turnout for ballot questions hitting voters’ wallets: An analysis from the Cook County treasurer’s office — ahead of the April 1 suburban consolidated elections — reveals turnout on tax-related referendums is highest in areas that are predominately white, wealthy and mostly homeowners.

* Shaw Local | 2 Joliet Junior College trustees create ‘hostile atmosphere’ for president, staff: report: Joliet Junior College’s president claimed two members of the Board of Trustees harassed him, with one causing him to fear for his safety, according to an independent report following an investigation by a law firm.

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect trustee candidate owes $32,000 in back property taxes: Mount Prospect village board candidate Jack Brogan owes more than $32,000 in overdue property taxes for four residential parcels he plans to develop along Golf Road. Brogan, who is running as a write-in candidate, acknowledged he is late with the tax payments, but said he has been approved for a construction loan and will pay the taxes. He said he plans to construct three homes on the property and his banker advised him to pay the taxes when he is ready to build.

* CBS Chicago | Show of support for Lynwood, Illinois mayor after questions about her salary: On Monday night, CBS News Chicago’s Lauren Victory pressed the mayor about her salary, and why she is taking home nearly triple the amount in the budget for her position. Before Curry was elected four years ago, an ordinance drastically reduced the mayoral salary from $85,000 to $20,000 a year. […] Curry is currently paid for three different positions — village president at $20,000, cannabis commissioner at $5,000, liquor commissioner at $10,000. That amounts to a grand total of $35,000 in the village budget.

* Daily Southtown | Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere cited after accident with child bicyclist: Jacqueline Traynere, the past Democratic Leader from Bolingbrook, was involved in the accident about 8:15 a.m. March 11 at the intersection of Lily Cache and Lindsey lanes in Bolingbrook, a police report said. […] The child fell off the bike and was uninjured, the report said. […] The witness told police she observed the driver of the car check on the child but then drive east on Lily Cache Lane, according to the police report.

* Daily Herald | Police: Skeletal remains found in missing Elgin woman’s car: Schepers was 23 when she disappeared after attending a party with coworkers at a Carpentersville bar in 1983. Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said Tuesday morning that a search of the river on Monday by the department and Chaos Divers, a group that uses sonar to search for people suspected missing in bodies of water, yielded a vehicle with the license plate XP8919, which matched the 1980 Toyota Celica owned by Schepers.

* CBS Chicago | 1 subdivision in Lisle, Illinois gets its water through private company, and has much higher bills: In all, about 350 customers in Lisle get their water from Illinois American Water rather than the village. “We can’t even have village water, even though we’re taxpayers and village residents,” said Srail. So how much more do families like Srail’s pay? Every two months, a typical homeowner would pay more than $100 if they get water from Illinois American — and those are the charges even before one drop of water flows.

* Shaw Local | Federal funding cuts delay Sterling-Rock Falls fire training facility construction: Rock Falls Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Sommers said the departments are losing $825,000 in federal Community Project Funding appropriations they had planned to use to build a burn tower where firefighters from both communities could train in live-fire conditions. […] However, Sommers said that despite their CPF allocation request having made it out of the Appropriations Committee last fall, it was part of ongoing temporary spending bills. The final spending bill eliminated CPF requests.

* Shaw Local | Niles West removed former coach Nick Torresso after numerous violations. He denies all allegations.: Niles Township High Schools District 219 originally placed Torresso on indefinite suspension with pay from his coaching and teaching duties at the school on Oct. 1 after complaints of “improper treatment of students and staff.” The district’s Board of Education unanimously approved Torresso’s dismissal as football coach on Dec. 10 after a district investigation found that Torresso violated three board policies.

*** Downstate ***

* 25News Now | Rivian on ‘accelerated’ construction schedule for massive plant expansion in Normal: The automaker on Tuesday released a construction update including visual proof of progress that’s being made on building a 1.1 million square foot addition on the east side of the existing plant, plus new space for paint, battery, and material flow. […] When the expansion is finished, the plant in Normal will have the capacity to make 215,000 EV’s a year, according to the company’s release.

* WAND | Construction projects start work across central Illinois: In Champaign, the largest projects are taking place where Interstate 57 and Interstate 74 intersect. “There’s going to be three ramp closures, to facilitate traffic movements to the outside lanes of I-74,” said Paul Wappel, Spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Transportation. “This will allow for the removal and replacement of the remaining inner portions of the I-74 over the I-57 bridge. This will also allow for completion of all I-74 pavement. Late summer or early fall, I-57 paving will begin there. By the end of the year, we hope to have all the ramps open.”

* PJ Star | ‘Target on our backs’: Why Peoria donating a fire engine to Ukraine sparked concerns: The city will donate the engine, which was scheduled to be retired from the fleet, to Ukraine via the Mossville-based organization US Ambulances for Ukraine at no cost to the city. The motion to donate the fire engine passed 8-2 with councilmembers Mike Vespa and Kiran Velpula both vocalizing concerns with the timing of the donation, with Vespa going further saying he worried the donation could put a “target” on Peoria from a “vindictive” President Donald Trump.

* WICS | Springfield’s District 186 considers cuts amid funding concerns: Springfield’s District 186 is evaluating potential budget cuts over the next three years, with a focus on minimizing the impact on classrooms. The district has proposed a deficit reduction plan due to concerns about state and federal funding. Superintendent Jennifer Gill emphasized the district’s commitment to maintaining essential services. “We want to keep these cuts as far away from the classroom as possible,” she said.

* WAND | Full cleanup, demolition set for former Pillsbury Plant in Springfield: Moving Pillsbury Forward (MPF) has officially signed contracts to fully clean up and demolish all remaining structures at the site within the next 12 months. “The neighborhood, the 12,000 people that in within one mile of this site have needed this to happen for a number of years,” said Chris Richmond, President of Moving Pillsbury Forward.

* WTVO | Whiskey made in northern Illinois advances to Top 8 in 2025 Maker’s Madness contest: Whiskey Acres Blue Popcorn Bourbon, made in northern Illinois, has advanced to the final 8 “coolest products made in Illinois” in the state’s 2025 “Maker’s Madness” contest. The bourbon is made by Whiskey Acres Distilling Co., in DeKalb.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Johnson warned to seek Council OK before taking action to cover $175M CPS pension payment: Fifteen independent City Council members put Mayor Brandon Johnson on notice Tuesday: Any move he makes to use city funds to cover a $175 million pension for nonteaching school employees must be made with legislative consent. Johnson does not have the votes on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education to approve a borrowing or refinancing measure after seven board members declared their opposition to the mayor’s favored option. As a result, the mayor is now on the clock to come up with a plan B before city auditors close the books Monday on 2024.

* Crain’s | Choose Chicago targets Long Island tourism exec as new CEO: Board members at the city’s tourism agency are in advanced talks to hire Discover Long Island President & CEO Kristen Reynolds as Choose Chicago’s new chief executive, according to sources familiar with the matter. No deal has been completed, but the board’s search committee targeted Reynolds as its top choice after a roughly yearlong hunt to find a new permanent leader for the organization.

* South Side Weekly | Police District Councilor Threatened: A social media post that a 10th Police District Council member made about a police-involved killing has sparked complaints and recriminations between her and two alderpersons. The district councilor, Kiisha Smith, said that a letter Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) and Ald. Monique Scott (24th) disseminated about the post led to her receiving an anonymous threat. Scott, who also told a pastor he shouldn’t host the district council’s meeting at a Lawndale church, denied the threat was connected to the letter.

* Crain’s | Chicago home price growth more than doubled the national rate in February: For most of the 2010s, Chicago’s home prices lagged the nation, and even when the pandemic and super-low interest rates sparked a housing boom, prices here rallied but didn’t reach the fizzy heights of places like Phoenix and Miami. That’s all changed. As they have for months now, home prices in Chicago rose again robustly in February, not only growing at more than twice the pace of the nation’s prices, but also widening the gap more with each passing month.

* CBS Chicago | Loyola Ramblers didn’t make NCAA Tournament, but are geared up for NIT quarterfinals: Head Coach Drew Valentine and the Loyola Ramblers missed out on making the NCAA Tournament despite a solid season in the Atlantic Ten. But the Ramblers are making the most of a second chance to keep playing in March. They are staying locked in as they prepare for the NIT quarterfinals in what has been a competitive tournament for them so far — having won the first two games by a combined four points.

*** National ***

* The 21st Show | Should Section 230 be repealed?: The shield is to prevent liability for immunity, provide immunity for what’s posted by third parties on these interactive computer services. And then the sword aspect of it is that it allows these… interactive computer services to go in and say, ‘I’m going to remove this material.’ And if they do that with good faith intentions, then their decisions to remove material will not subject them to liability by third parties who say, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t have taken that down. We’re going to sue you because you took that down. You’ve removed material of mine that should have been kept up.’ So that’s kind of a basic overview of Section 230. It’s a shield. It’s a sword.

* WaPo | Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism: The Department of Health and Human Services has hired David Geier to conduct the analysis, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Geier and his father, Mark Geier, have published papers claiming vaccines increase the risk of autism, a theory that has been studied for decades and scientifically debunked.

* US News | Moody’s Says US Fiscal Strength on Course for Continued Decline: It projects debt to gross domestic product, a key ratio in assessing a country’s finances, will rise to around 130% by 2035 from nearly 100% in 2025. Debt affordability will worsen at a faster rate, with interest payments accounting for 30% of revenue by 2035 from 9% in 2021, it said.

* WaPo | Trump administration cuts national database tracking domestic terrorism: Jensen said this cancellation comes at a time when their data revealed the first two months of 2025 saw a 25 percent increase in terrorism and targeted violence incidents compared to the first two months of last year.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.

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