* ICYMI: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon appeals potential $9.8 million fine for improperly accepting campaign cash. Tribune…

- Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign fund is appealing nearly $10 million in fines from the Illinois State Board of Elections, which claims he violated fundraising limits by accepting $4 million more than allowed after the March 2024 primary.
- Harmon’s attorney, Michael Kasper, argues the penalties are based on an “absurd” interpretation of the law, claiming a $100,001 self-contribution in January 2023 should have lifted fundraising caps through at least the end of 2024.
- “The staff’s analysis would create an absurd system that unfairly benefits self-funding candidates and also turns campaign finance compliance into simple accounting gimmicks,” Kasper wrote.
- Kasper also outlined a legal argument defending Harmon’s last-minute attempt this spring to pass a measure that would have negated the case and the $9.8 million penalty.

Click here to read the appeal.

* Related stories…

∙ Forest Park Review: Harmon appeals order to pay back millions in donations
∙ Tribune: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon faces potential $9.8 million fine for improperly accepting campaign cash
∙ CBS Chicago: Illinois election officials say Senate President Don Harmon accepted campaign cash over limit

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Feds want nearly 6 years for former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore: The feds say a former ComEd CEO who “enthusiastically and unreservedly authorized” a criminal conspiracy aimed at former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan deserves a sentence of nearly six years in prison. Anne Pramaggiore “made the choice to participate in a years-long conspiracy that corrupted the legislative process in Springfield,” federal prosecutors wrote in a 64-page court filing Monday night. “As CEO of ComEd and then CEO of Exelon Utilities, Pramaggiore could have put an end to these crimes at any time,” they said. “She had that power.”

* Tribune | Illinois-based American Academy of Pediatrics sues Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine changes: The Illinois-based American Academy of Pediatrics and five other prominent medical groups are suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over changes made to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that a decision in May to remove COVID-19 vaccines from the federal list of recommended vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women was unlawful and “endangering the lives of patients.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* QC Times | Norine Hammond announces run for reelection to Illinois House: Norine Hammond plans to run for reelection to the Illinois House of Representatives, she announced Monday. […] Hammond said in Monday’s news release that she remains committed to promoting transparency, fiscal responsibility and policies to serve rural communities. “Throughout my tenure, I’ve worked to ensure our voices are heard in Springfield,” Hammond said in the news release. “Too often, laws are written with only one county in mind, ignoring the unique needs and values of our region. I’ve opposed policies out of step with our principles — measures that would never gain support in western or downstate Illinois — and have stood for a government that represents all citizens.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Chicago adult education programs in limbo as Trump administration withholds funding: “It’s created havoc in the whole system,” said Mark Mulroe, president of A Safe Haven. “It’s just like a cleaver, without any ability to transition into it.” The nonprofit provides transitional housing across the Chicago area and other social services including GED classes. In addition to adult education, the affected grants support before- and after-school activities, teacher training and English-language support. The grants were already appropriated by Congress through continuing resolution and signed into law by Trump in March.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson determined to push for Council vote on ‘granny flats’ measure next week: Mayor Brandon Johnson may or may not have the votes to give single-family homeowners carte blanche to turn their attics, basements, garages and coach houses into revenue-generating “granny flats,” but he’s determined to try, setting the stage for a showdown vote at next week’s City Council meeting. Senior mayoral advisor Jason Lee said Monday it’s time to bring to a head — in a way that maximizes the number of affordable units created — the yearlong debate aimed at determining whether to legalize accessory dwelling units citywide “by right,” or require a special use permit for those added residential units.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson open to keeping NASCAR in Chicago — after exploring date change, top aide says: Senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee acknowledged that there are “some real limitations on moving the date” based on NASCAR’s overall schedule and “some of the local events in Chicago in the same footprint” in and around Grant Park. But now that the event’s three-year contract has expired, a search for alternative dates is the next step. NASCAR has 90 days to request a contract extension from the Chicago Park District. “Certainly, there is interest in seeing if it can work on another date, just because of some of the challenges that the 4th of July weekend present,” Lee told the Sun-Times on Monday.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Here’s what some Chicagoans want to see in a new Chicago Public Schools leader: The next chief of Chicago Public Schools should prioritize high-quality instruction, make schools feel safe, and have strong communication skills, said respondents in a recent survey conducted as part of the Chicago Board of Education’s search process for the district’s next leader. Zencity — a company focused on community engagement and research — conducted an analysis of about 2,700 respondents that it recruited on its own, and separately looked at results of another 880 people who received the survey from a board member or Alma Advisory Group, the firm that CPS has hired to conduct the CEO search.

* Crain’s | Chicago startup aims to protect homebuyers from HOA surprises: Green suggested his clients buy a policy with HOA Warranty, a new product devised by a former Chicago real estate agent to protect against unexpected special assessments. Based on experience with other clients and other buildings, Green estimated a special assessment could cost these buyers between $5,000 and $7,000. The buyers spent $800 in hopes it will keep them from having to pay $5,000-plus later. If there’s no special assessment, they’re out $800.

* Sun-Times | Lou Della Evans Reid, legendary gospel choir director, has died at 94: “It was a really big, rich, robust harmonic style of gospel singing,” said gospel music broadcaster Bob Marovich. “She was this diminutive person, under five feet tall, in front of this big choir, and she’s jumping and shaking her fist … Other musicians, if they wanted musical nourishment, they would go there. It was that powerful. “To watch her perform was an event itself,” Marovich said. “She was a very physical choir director, and then she’d turn around and direct the audience, too.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Jeff Tobolski’s ‘web of corruption’ deserves 5½ years in prison, feds say: Federal prosecutors want a prison sentence of more than 5 ½ years for former Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, who they say “went on an aggressive and persistent cash grab to enrich himself” while holding elected office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam wrote in a 12-page court filing Monday that “the sheer breadth of Tobolski’s corrupt schemes is staggering,” that he “created a vast web of corruption” by enlisting others in his wrongdoing, and that he cracked jokes about it all.

* WGN | ‘It’s egregious’: Country Club Hills School District 160 under fire for mismanagement and financial missteps: Since then, Williams has continued to be a very vocal participant in school board meetings, which is where WGN-TV met her in May. It emerged then that the district’s finances might need some scrutiny, so WGN-TV started digging into the spending habits of Superintendent Duane Meighan and the rest of the board, namely former president and current secretary, Jacqueline Doss. […] The lengthy list of issues includes—in just the last two and a half years—district credit card reports in Meighan’s name, showing hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on high end hotel stays and upscale restaurants.

* ABC Chicago | Charges dropped against Harvey Alderwoman Colby Chapman: According to the Harvey police chief, the Cook County State’s Attorney office dropped the felony charges against Alderwoman Colby Chapman. Chapman was accused of pushing an officer’s arm and pulling away as she was removed from a meeting back in April. Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings said in a statement in part, “I am disappointed and concerned by the State’s Attorney’s decision to drop felony charges against Alderwoman Chapman without so much as a grand jury hearing, despite the clear evidence that she struck a Harvey police officer while resisting lawful orders.

* Daily Herald | Schaumburg lowering requirements for electric-vehicle capability at new multifamily buildings: Schaumburg trustees are expected to use their home-rule authority Tuesday to adopt less stringent electric vehicle requirements for any new large-scale multifamily construction. State law that took effect 18 months ago requires EV chargers for every parking space at larger multifamily developments, but Schaumburg is asking for only 20%. “We want to be conscious of the environment, but there’s also the question of what’s reasonable,” Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said. “The general feeling was that things aren’t going to move as fast (in the electric-vehicle market) as they have been.”

* Aurora Beacon News | National nonprofit supports Aurora’s free pet microchip program with grant: A free pet microchipping program by the city of Aurora will continue for another year after the city was awarded a grant from national nonprofit Petco Love, officials announced Sunday. Aurora residents can call 311 to set up an appointment to get their pet microchipped for free through the program. Microchips are small implants put under a pet’s skin that contains contact information for the pet’s owner when read by a certain device.

* Daily Herald | Three-story sporting, dining and entertainment venue coming to St. Charles: Expected to open next spring in the Fox Haven Square development on the east side of St. Charles, Harbor House will bring three stories of entertainment and activities, including the area’s first padel courts. Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. In addition to three padel courts, the 46,000-square-foot venue will feature six indoor pickleball courts, seven duckpin bowling lanes, pingpong tables and a darts gallery. Every level will have outdoor patio space with bocce courts and other lawn games.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | Have Trump and U.S. Steel given up on Granite City? Many in the Metro East fear so: Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson and two state lawmakers, Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, and Rep. Amy Elik, R-Godfrey, have written separate letters to the White House, advocating for the steel mill. “Granite City needs your help, President Trump, to gain the investment from U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel that will allow this plant to be a leader once again making high-quality steel here in the U.S.A.,” the two lawmakers wrote. After more than two decades of what some residents see as numerous empty promises and a lack of investment from U.S. Steel, many steelworkers, current and retired, feel frustrated that Granite City Works appears to be on the losing end of this massive deal that Trump helped broker.

* BND | Pride, hope and fear at naturalization ceremony in metro-east: Simisola Adefionie, who immigrated from Nigeria nine years ago, says the crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration added stress to the process. “I feel so relieved,” she said. “Now I can go visit home without worrying about if I will be able to come back.” Adefioie said it’s hard for immigrants to travel without fear of being entry back into the country they’ve come to know and love. When her father was dying, she elected not to attempt a visit out of concern she would be denied entry back into the U.S. Her mother still has not met her children.

* IPM Newsroom | The killing of Sonya Massey – one year later: The year after the shooting, there have been developments. The Massey Commission, aimed at changing policing and how mental health access is handled, was created. The Commission has held numerous hearings in the community and organized several events in recent days to honor Massey, including a balloon launch earlier Sunday. “We must work together to never, ever forget the God-loving woman who was tragically taken from our community by an act of violence,” Mayor Misty Buscher told the crowd.

* NPR Illinois | Ken Page explains the 1908 Race Riot and how its legacy continues in Springfield today: The 1908 Race Riot is a dark moment in Springfield’s history, yet many grew up not knowing about the tragedy that set back Black businesses and families for many years to come. President of the Springfield Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Ken Page spoke to Community Voices about the riot and how its legacy continues today. He also shared his experience growing up in Selma, Ala. during the civil rights movement and how it led him to the ACLU.

* WCIA | ‘Having more space… a cleaner space’: Douglas Co. starting shelter renovations: Douglas County Animal Control is beginning to work on renovations. While nothing has drastically changed, as you walk down the hall — you can definitely see their vision coming together. The biggest change so far is the kennel placed in the back — the shelter manager said they’re making progress slowly but surely. Building manager Riley Weinstock said the improvements will help them take better care of their animals.

* WGLT | Advocacy group for people with criminal records launches Fully Free BloNo chapter: The Fully Free BloNo launch party from 3 to 7 p.m. includes a hog roast and other food and drinks. There’s no cost to attend, and it’s open to the public. The event aims to build community, but it’s also a call to action, according to organizers. “A person’s felony shouldn’t have to follow them the rest of their life. We feel like once they complete their sentences, it should be over with,” said Toy Beasley, a Bloomington resident and an organizer who helped launch the group.

*** National ***

* NYT | I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit: The agency made that statement in a court filing intended to settle a lawsuit filed by two Texas churches and an association of Christian broadcasters. The plaintiffs that sued the I.R.S. had previously asked a federal court in Texas to create an even broader exemption — to rule that all nonprofits, religious and secular, were free to endorse candidates to their members. That would have erased a bedrock idea of American nonprofit law: that tax-exempt groups cannot be used as tools of any campaign. Instead, the I.R.S. agreed to a narrower carveout — one that experts in nonprofit law said might sharply increase politicking in churches, even though it mainly seemed to formalize what already seemed to be the agency’s unspoken policy.

* ABC | TSA to end shoes-off policy for airport security screening: An unexpected memo went out to TSA officers across the country last week stating the new policy will allow all passengers to keep their shoes on in all screening lanes at many airports across the country, starting Sunday. The goal is to roll the new policy out to all U.S. airports shortly, according to the memo. Previously, only passengers in the TSA PreCheck line were able to keep their shoes on in most cases.

* NYT | OpenAI and Microsoft Bankroll New A.I. Training for Teachers: The American Federation of Teachers said it would use the $23 million, including $500,000 from the A.I. start-up Anthropic, to create a national training center. The tech industry’s campaign to embed artificial intelligence chatbots in classrooms is accelerating. The American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest U.S. teachers’ union, said on Tuesday that it would start an A.I. training hub for educators with $23 million in funding from three leading chatbot makers: Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic.

* The Athletic | Pride progress? As gay pro athletes consider coming out, each announcement makes a mark: It was never Jason Collins’ intention to be a spokesperson or the leader of a cause. He just wanted to live a life that was open and honest, a life untangled from the usual excuses and dodges that are in the playbook when you’re in the closet. But when you emerge as the first active, openly gay player in NBA history, as Collins did in 2013, you can’t not be a spokesperson. One of the constants in the evolution of the openly gay athlete in the major North American men’s professional sports leagues — the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS — is that everyone who comes out is providing a for-free blueprint for those who dare to be next.