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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers were briefed on the mayor’s visit this morning. ICYMI: With big problems and modest requests, Mayor Johnson heads to Springfield hoping to break losing streak. Sun-Times…
- “He’s coming down rather late. Time is ticking. You would hope to have these requests earlier in the session,” state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, said. - Johnson is expected to meet Wednesday with Pritzker, Harmon and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker dismisses as ‘ridiculous’ GOP accusations he urged violence in New Hampshire speech: Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday rejected accusations from Republicans — including the state party and the White House — that he was inciting violence with a fiery speech in New Hampshire in which he said Republicans shouldn’t “know a moment of peace.” “That’s ridiculous,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference when asked about the GOP response to his speech. “The peace that I’m talking about is making sure that they know at all times that the American public opposes the policies of congressional Republicans and of the White House.” * AP | Authorities believe crash through Illinois after-school building that killed 4 wasn’t targeted: Authorities said Tuesday they believe a crash through an Illinois after-school building that killed three kids and one teenager wasn’t targeted. A car traveled through a field, then smashed through a building in a small city of Chatham outside Springfield, Illinois, on Monday afternoon. In an update Tuesday morning, police said two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old were killed. Six more children were taken to hospitals and one remains in critical condition. The Illinois driver, who was not injured, was taken to a hospital for evaluation and police said toxicology reports were pending. Police haven’t said if the driver was arrested or taken into custody. * Tribune | Information of more than 9,000 people potentially exposed in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois data breach: The personal information of more than 9,300 people may have been exposed in a recent data breach at health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, according to the company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois became aware of the problem in February, according to a notice posted on its website. An unauthorized person may have viewed individuals’ personal health information through the insurer’s online portal for members, called Blue Access for Members, between Nov. 8 and March 5, according to the notice. The breach was related to member account registrations, according to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. * Crain’s | Advocate doctors to drop Blue Cross Illinois HMO plan: “Advocate Physician Partners has informed us that Advocate Physician Partners, including Advocate Medical Group, will be leaving BCBSIL’s HMO Illinois network on July 1, 2025,” BCBSIL said in an emailed statement. “This change does not impact Advocate Health hospitals or other facilities, which will remain in the HMO Illinois network.” “HMO Illinois members can select a new medical group in the Blues plans’s HMOI network by May 31, or they will be assigned to a new medical group effective July 1,” the statement said. * Sun-Times | Tariffs, funding cuts and migrant raids — how Trump hit Chicago and Illinois in his first 100 days in office: Gov. JB Pritzker has loudly sounded the alarm on the impacts of the Trump administration’s actions, including in late January when he said the administration was “either lying to us or they are critically incompetent” — amid a directive to temporarily freeze federal grants and loans pending a spending analysis aimed at rooting out “wokeness.” Since then, Pritzker has toured the state to highlight Trump cuts to healthcare, child care, infrastructure and Social Security. On Monday, the Democratic governor continued that message at the University of Illinois at Chicago to highlight what he called a “slash and burn” campaign affecting higher education. * Daily Herald | ‘The drunk driving of our time’: Teens must now watch distracted driving video to get learner’s permit: “Make no mistake, distracted driving is an epidemic in America. It is the drunk driving of our time,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said last week while announcing the “One Road. One Focus” public safety campaign. The campaign will include requiring teens watch the video when applying for a learner’s permit, as well as billboards warning about the consequences of taking your eyes off the road and more police patrols. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson hesitant on giving police ‘snap’ teen curfew power: Mayor Brandon Johnson wavered Monday on the idea of giving Chicago police the power to declare “snap” curfews to rein in so-called teen takeovers, days before aldermen are set to consider such a measure. Johnson sidestepped questions about how he will respond to the curfew push led by Ald. Brian Hopkins in the wake of two recent high-profile, large teen gatherings that ended in shootings. The mayor pointed to ongoing negotiations, but did not say what he wants to see enacted. * Block Club | Violent Crime Down In Chicago, Matching National Trend, City Leaders Say: Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling are touting a decline in violent crime this year in Chicago, a shift that comes as cities across the country have seen a reduction in homicides and other crimes since a post-pandemic spike. Flanked by fellow mayors and police chiefs Monday morning at a Chicago meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors that focused on public safety, Johnson and Snelling broadly argued that city and department initiatives — such as a robbery task force introduced last year — have contributed to the city reporting fewer crimes in most categories so far in 2025. * Sun-Times | West Side flood victims still struggling with mold, damage almost 2 years on: Shaw, 43, said she has been helping people with flood damage since the storm hit July 3, 2023, leading to more than 12,000 reports of flooded basements. First she helped people through the process as part of the West Side Long Term Recovery Group, created after the flooding. Now she volunteers her time to guide seniors through the red tape. “It’s been one headache after another,” Shaw said. […] She said the initial payouts from the FEMA program were not enough, averaging around $3,000 to $4,000. She shared news that FEMA has allocated an additional $426 million for victims of the 2023 and 2024 floods in and around Chicago. * Tribune | Funeral services to honor fallen Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer scheduled for this morning in Niles: Meyer, 54, served as a captain of Truck 29 and spent most of his roughly three-decade career on the West Side. He is survived by his wife, four children and his parents, according to his obituary, which noted that “his devotion to his family was known to all who met him.” Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Meyer responded to a garage fire in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street. The fire was extinguished, but Meyer was critically injured when the roof of the garage collapsed on top of him as he was working. * Block Club | West Loop Neighbors Demand ‘Justice For John’ After Beloved Doorman Shot Dead By CTA Worker: John Flemister was fatally shot outside the UIC CTA station by a worker who didn’t have a concealed carry license, officials said. The worker wasn’t charged with Flemister’s death. “We feel like there’s a one-sided story being told,” one resident said. * Sun-Times | Recommended for discipline, Kane County cop who muted his cameras amid car chase, fatal shooting is promoted: Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain has promoted an officer who just two weeks ago was publicly criticized by the area’s top prosecutor for turning off the audio of his squad camera and bodycam during a car chase that ended in the fatal shooting of the suspect by police. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said at an April 11 news conference there would be no charges against the three cops who fired on James Moriarty on May 24, 2023, killing him after a high-speed chase and crash in the far western suburbs. * WSPY | Elburn trustee Lou Santoyo enters Kane County Sheriff race: Retired Cook County Sheriff’s Police Detective and Elburn Village Trustee Lou Santoyo has officially launched his campaign for Kane County Sheriff. At a campaign kick-off event last week in downtown Aurora, Santoyo said his goal is to restore the trust and honor behind the badge, not just wear one. He emphasized that law enforcement should be built on trust, not fear. […] He’s running as a Republican in the 2026 election. * Daily Herald | Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz honored as he prepares to leave office: Lentz presided over his last full village board meeting Monday night. A tribute video — featuring testimonials from family members, former trustees and others — played on the boardroom’s TV screens before Trustee Tim Wilson read a resolution lauding Lentz for his service. Wilson spoke of Lentz’s “extraordinary service, vision and commitment, which have improved the lives of countless residents.” Additionally, Mayor-elect Robin Meier thanked Lentz for educating her about the job and creating a smooth transition. She takes office May 12. * BND | Metro-east school district moves toward restrictive cell phone policy:Currently, Collinsville High School students may use devices in the classroom for educational purposes with teacher permission, during passing periods, before school and at lunch. At its May meeting, the Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 board might change this policy, requiring that high school students have their cell phones off and put away during instructional time and passing periods. * SJ-R | With more backing from county, Massey Commission has familiar name as assistant managing director: Sontae Massey, a cousin of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who was fatally shot by a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy in her home in an unincorporated neighborhood of Springfield on July 6, is now assistant managing director after previously serving on the commission. The commission has become “a forum for analysis and inquiry into the systems and conditions” that serve as context for Massey’s killing as well as others who have suffered at the hands of first responders in the county. * Crain’s | U of I faculty votes to joins Big Ten alliance to defend against Trump attacks: Faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign adopted a resolution today to join a mutual defense pact with other Big Ten schools as a way to blunt the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward higher education. U of I is the first university in Illinois to join the Big Ten mutual defense pact, which has now been adopted by a growing list of Big Ten universities as faculty push to create a unified front to defend academic freedoms against the Trump administration’s attacks. * ABC Chicago | University of Illinois shares class of 2024 success rates report: The new report found that 90% of graduates were employed before leaving campus last year. […] Ninety-one percent of graduates who found jobs participated in an internship of some kind or studied abroad, according to the study. Also, the average salary for an Illinois graduate was $75,000 last year, with a $5,000 signing bonus, according to the report. * Photos: PJ Star | McClugage Bridge truss falls in nighttime implosion * NPR | The White House threatens sanctuary cities in another EO, but courts are skeptical: The Trump administration has previously tried to withhold funding from sanctuary cities and states. During President Trump’s first term, the Justice Department tried to withhold funding from several jurisdictions — but they fought back, and were often able to defeat those efforts in court. […] Last week, a federal judge blocked the administration’s latest effort to withhold funding from 16 jurisdictions, including San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, St. Paul and New Haven. “Here we are again,” wrote U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco, who found that the Trump administration’s actions were likely unconstitutional and granted a preliminary injunction.
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- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 8:08 am:
Still in shock and saddened over what happened in my hometown yesterday. Prayers for the Chatham community, the whole Springfield area, and especially the friends, family, and loved ones of the victims–and also those first responders working constantly at the scene–during this time.
On a different note, it is classless and racist that the SJ-R/Gatehouse has chosen to paywall the Massey Commission article linked above. If I was in charge at the SJ-R for goodwill and to make the paper more diverse, equitable and inclusive I think anything related to the Commission, the trial, and the aftermath of the Sonya Massey tragedy needs to be paywall-free.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 8:33 am:
Ald. Quinn’s quote that Johnson’s actions in Springfield “border on malfeasance” may be a little too kind.
- H-W - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 8:35 am:
First, to Leatherneck, I am so sorry. A lot of folks over here in West Central are saddened as well. You are right to grieve the loss of innocence among your hometown children. We should all mourn.
Re: Tribute Story on Pritzker
Democrats need to be crystal clear on this. It is Donald Trump and his mindless, thoughtless followers like Salvi who are invoking violence. The evidence of violence is dripping from the pages of Salvi’s constant support for Federal Republican policies and practices. If Salvi actually gives a hoot about violence, she would rebuke Trump. But she does nothing except empower him. Salvi should not have a moment’s peace until she backdown from evil and stands against evil.
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 8:55 am:
Im just dumbfounded at the incompetence of Johnson’s administration. Also the fact they dont learn from their mistakes. I really thought he’d be better at this.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 9:01 am:
The SJ-R (FWIW, in an actually unpaywalled article) is already identifying the driver as 44-year old Marianne Akers of Chatham:
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/crime/2025/04/29/ages-of-victims-in-fatal-chatham-crash-released/83340242007/
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 9:07 am:
Re: Blue Cross articles. Even with me being one of the many people that will need to decide which insurance to replace Health Alliance with starting Thursday, definitely after all the above BCBS bad news plus their now-resolved dispute with Springfield Clinic in the last few years makes the choice a little simpler for me. Either HealthLink or Aetna, but leaning toward the latter as Aetna does indeed show the majority of my Springfield Clinic practitioners as in-network (but HealthLink’s physician search portal doesn’t despite SC insisting to the contrary they are in-network for HL).
Also so glad that back in 2011 during the Quinn administration’s efforts to drop Health Alliance from state employee insurance, that I didn’t switch to BCBS. I was moments and signatures away from switching to both BCBS and to the SIU clinics here in Springfield (SC was out-of-network with BCBS at that time) right at the time CMS and Health Alliance reached an agreement to remain an insurance option.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 9:14 am:
==On a different note, it is classless and racist that the SJ-R/Gatehouse has chosen to paywall the Massey Commission article linked above.==
It’s bad that sources like Slate, the Atlantic, and many local newspapers are regularly paywalled and sources like Breitbart are not. Telling the SJ-R that they are “classless and racist” because they are asking you to pay one dollar to read their story so that they can keep existing as a newspaper feels like a bridge too far, though. Ideally there’d be a way to begin a dialogue about in what cases news sources are morally obligated to freely provide news; language like that, though, ends the conversation.
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 10:37 am:
=Funeral services to honor fallen Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer =
RIP and prayers for Capt Meyer - I have friends who served with him: an amazing family man and firefighter. The alleged perpetrator, Charles Green, is facing charges of murder and arson - hope he gets a fair trial and a harsh sentence.
- Former State Employee - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 10:46 am:
Leatherneck - as a former state employee (in the Spfld area) who switched from Health Alliance to HealthLink years ago (spouse is now a state employee so still have HL), all the Springfield Clinic practitioners my family frequents are covered. I can’t speak about Aetna, but HL has been great to work with over the years, especially compared to Health Alliance. You pay more with HL, but that has paid for itself because I don’t spend HOURS on the phone with them like I did with Health Alliance. And when I do need to call HL everything is addressed quickly.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 11:42 am:
First off, I apologize for how I worded my earlier statement about the SJR paywalling the Massey Commission article. Definitely raises the issue of what types of stories should be paywalled and what should not be.
Next, re: HealthLink, I redid their physician search and so far all my Springfield Clinic physicians I go to are showing up. I apparently wasn’t doing the search correctly the first time. So right now it’s looking like HealthLink is the way to go. Doesn’t look like much difference on the SC side on whether to do Tier I or Tier II (but if anyone knows for sure what this means for Springfield Clinic other than the explanation given in the benefit choice handbook, please let me know).
- Lurker - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
I have the same question @leatherneck. The tier 1 and 2 explanations for healthlink is not helping me much.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 12:14 pm:
But interestingly, when I searched HealthLink’s provider directory under “all physicians” and “all specialists” (or something like that) for 10 miles from the 62704 (the zip code of their Wabash office), there were more Tier I providers under SC listed than Tier II. Unless I needed to do a wider search under Springfield Clinic in general (but I didn’t want to worry about the non-Sangamon County Springfield Clinic doctors in my search, as it’s unlikely I’ll ever need to see them). Maybe just stick with Tier I on HealthLink? All of my SC doctors are covered under both tiers.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 12:19 pm:
=== Also the fact they dont learn from their mistakes.===
His list is drastically pared back compared to the last time he came to Springfield. On that, he is learning.
- MyTwoCents - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 1:10 pm:
Leatherneck, I’m in the exact same boat you are. With Health Alliance going out of business I wonder how much BCBS hurt themselves with the Springfield Clinic dispute. Springfield Clinic is such a huge player in the Springfield area. So, even if someone’s primary care doc isn’t at Springfield Clinic, many patients are referred to Springfield Clinic specialists. That has to eliminate BCBS as an option for a lot of employees who might otherwise switch, particularly with BCBS being a lower cost option.
- Illinanny - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
I can’t wrap my head around the idea that JB would have any shot in a national election. He’s going to have to overcome the perception of Illinois as a corrupt, crime ridden, fiscally irresponsible disaster. I can see the strategy of attacking Trump and republicans while it’s low hanging fruit to build up his name recognition, particularly while Newsom is in hiding, but I don’t see that getting him a nomination.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 1:31 pm:
===but I don’t see that getting him a nomination===
Well, one reason is that it’s impossible to predict what will happen in 3 years.
- Illinnany - Tuesday, Apr 29, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
==Well, one reason is that it’s impossible to predict what will happen in 3 years.==
That’s a fair point. I guess he has nothing to lose by trying, and making headlines fighting Trump is a heck of a lot easier than fixing the perception of his home state.