* Background is here if you need it. The Illinois Realtors Association has spent more than $500,000 on a “consumer awareness campaign” targeting some Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Linda Holmes, who voted yes on the Senate’s transit plan…

* Sun-Times…

A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced former Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan to 18 months of probation for conspiring to bribe an Oak Lawn trustee for the benefit of a politically connected red-light camera company.

The sentence matched the request from Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam. She told U.S. District Judge LaShonda Hunt that O’Sullivan cooperated “very quickly” with federal investigators and provided important information “about other individuals that are either still under investigation or were matters important to the government.”

“This was truly the only involvement the defendant has had in any sort of crime,” Ardam said. […]

Hunt told the courtroom that “this pay-to-play mentality really does have to end.” But she ultimately told O’Sullivan that “this was just one minor blip in your entire story.”

Prosecutors told the judge earlier this month that O’Sullivan played a “minor role” in the conspiracy to pay off the Oak Lawn trustee. Also involved in the scheme were former Cook County official Patrick Doherty and onetime red-light camera executive Omar Maani.

* WTTW…

Federal prosecutors are asking that Jay Doherty, a former contract lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison, be sentenced to more than a year in prison following his conviction in the “ComEd Four” bribery case.

In a sentencing memo published late Tuesday, prosecutors asked that Doherty be sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Doherty and his three codefendants — former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime confidant Michael McClain and ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker — were each convicted in 2023 of bribery conspiracy and willfully falsifying the utility company’s books.

Prosecutors alleged they had plotted to give “a continuous stream of benefits” to “corruptly influence and reward” Madigan in order to get his support on critical energy legislation in Springfield.

* Governor JB Pritzker…

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Intersect Illinois today announced that quantum company Infleqtion will headquarter its global quantum computing operations in Illinois as a future tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). As part of the expected $50 million investment, the company will create dozens of new jobs, accelerating the growth of its hardware and software workforce and cementing a major expansion of its presence in the state’s innovation ecosystem. This announcement comes as hundreds of quantum leaders from business, government, and academia across the globe gather for the inaugural Global Quantum Forum hosted in Chicago.  […]

With support from the State’s Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act (MICRO) Program, Infleqtion will develop a utility scale, neutral atom quantum system, which includes design and development of the next generation of Infleqtion’s Sqale quantum computer. The company will focus on R&D and manufacturing quantum computers, software development, and the development of quantum algorithms and applications for real-world use cases.  […]

Infleqtion will serve as a founding member of the National Quantum Algorithms Center, supporting strategic partners and federally funded programs including ARPA-E, the U.S. Army, and private foundations like Wellcome Leap. Infleqtion will join a growing list of tenants at the IQMP including anchor tenant PsiQuantum, Diraq, the IL-DARPA Quantum Proving Ground, the National Quantum Algorithm Center, and IBM’s Quantum System Two. […] 

DCEO’s MICRO program provides incentives for companies that manufacture microchips, semiconductors, quantum computers, and associated component parts as well as those engaged in research and development. This MICRO agreement specifies a minimum company investment of $14 million and the creation of at least 36 full-time jobs. A link to the full Infleqtion MICRO agreement can be found on the DCEO website. 

* Capitol News Illinois…

The U.S. Department of Justice added its voice this month to a lawsuit by private entities accusing the state of Illinois of failing to properly maintain a statewide voter registration list, in violation of a 1993 federal law.

In a filing known as a “statement of interest,” the Justice Department said the government has an interest in the outcome of the lawsuit, although the filing stops short of asking the court for permission to intervene as a party in the case.

“This case presents important questions regarding enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act,” attorneys in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in the filing. “Congress has vested the Attorney General with authority to enforce the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) on behalf of the United States. Accordingly, the United States has a substantial interest in ensuring proper interpretation of the NVRA.”

The lawsuit challenges the state’s practice of delegating to local election officials the responsibility of conducting regular maintenance of voter registration rolls, including the task of purging people from the rolls when they die or move out of the jurisdiction. Under NVRA, the suit argues, the state is responsible for carrying out that function. […]

The Illinois attorney general’s office, which is defending the State Board of Elections, has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, arguing the plaintiffs lack standing to bring the suit. It also claims the plaintiffs have not stated a valid claim because NVRA allows states to delegate its responsibilities to local authorities.

*** Statewide ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Trump Administration’s Changes To Head Start Sow Uncertainty Among Illinois Child Care Providers: For now, Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association, said her organization is encouraging Head Start providers not to implement any new policies until there is further guidance from the Trump administration. However, she doesn’t know when that will happen. “From what we hear, the Office of Head Start has been told by the administration to work on guidance,” said Morrison-Frichtl. “It’ll be weeks before any guidance comes out, or months. I’d be surprised if we have it by the end of the summer.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* WTTW | Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan Files Notice of Appeal Challenging Landmark Corruption Convictions: In an expected move, Madigan on Wednesday filed his notice of appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court after he was convicted in February on 10 felony charges including bribery and wire fraud. While he’s scheduled to begin serving a 7.5-year prison sentence in October, the former speaker this month had already asked to remain free while he challenges those convictions.

* Tribune | Lake County treasurer has hopes for statewide post: At the Cook County session, [Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein] stressed her background in technology and pledged to bring “innovation and modernize how we manage money in the state,” according to the Tribune. “These are unprecedented times, and people we love are afraid, and we need a fighter at every level.” In emailed answers to questions from the Tribune, Kim said she can provide “a local executive’s perspective” to the comptroller’s job. She said she wants to run for the office because she thinks it needs someone who understands how to responsibly manage public dollars.

* Center Square | Fiscal differences remain as Illinois lawmaker urges for transit special session: State Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, made the call Monday during a ceremony to mark the reopening of four Chicago Transit Authority train stations on the city’s North Side. “I as a state senator am calling on my colleagues to come back to Springfield and have a special session so that we can fully fund public transit. We need a special session today, not next month and not in the veto session,” Simmons said.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s CFO says property tax hike ‘likely’ in 2026 budget: Asked in an interview with Bloomberg’s Romaine Bostick whether a property tax increase would again be proposed for the city’s 2026 budget, Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said “it is likely that that will be part of the package,” without addressing how to garner support from the City Council to pass it. One of Johnson’s “budgeteers” last year, Ald. Matt O’Shea, 19th, said he would need to see major cuts and efficiencies to be won over. “And if it doesn’t happen, I’m a no vote, and so are the majority of my colleagues,” he said. “We need to start talking about stuff we never talked about before.”

* Tribune | Ald. Walter Burnett’s wife violated Chicago Housing Authority ethics policy: Williams-Burnett serves as the chair of the Chicago Intellect political action committee and did not disclose the position to CHA, a violation of the Hatch Act — the federal law that restricts the political activity of some government workers and a component of CHA’s ethics policy. “It is our conclusion that (Williams-)Burnett violated the Ethics Policy in her false and intentional denial of holding any position with the PAC or knowing anything of its activity,” said the CHA ethics officer in an April 2022 email to then-CHA CEO Tracey Scott, the human resources director and inspector general.

* Chicago Mag | A Brief History of Nepotism in Chicago Politics: Nepotism in politics is back in the news, if it ever actually left. Alderperson Walter Burnett Jr. is resigning from the City Council, and hopes to see his 29-year-old son, Walter III, appointed to his seat. All indications are that Mayor Brandon Johnson will honor the father’s wish to pass his job down to the next generation of Burnetts. As Mike Royko wrote in Boss, nepotism “is part of the system of the Machine…A Chicago Rip Van Winkle could awaken to the political news columns and, reading the names, think that time had stood still.” Royko then offered a Biblical accounting of fathers who had passed down power to their sons: “Edward Dunne, mayor, begat Robert Jerome Dunne, judge; John J. Touhy, ward boss and holder of many offices, begat John M. Touhy, Illinois House Speaker,” and so on and so forth. In Chicago, power is not earned, it’s inherited.

* Crain’s | Northern Trust denies holding merger talks with Bank of New York Mellon: Northern Trust denied it has held merger talks with Bank of New York Mellon, throwing cold water on speculation about a deal that would move control of the homegrown institution out of Chicago. “I want to reaffirm our commitment to remain independent,” Northern Trust’s chairman and chief executive officer, Michael O’Grady, said in prepared remarks during a conference call with analysts following the release of its quarterly earnings report. “Contrary to recent speculation, during my tenure as CEO, we have never entertained discussions regarding the sale of the company with any financial institution, nor do we intend to.”

* WTTW | Chicago Spent $510.9M on Overtime in 2024, Including $273.8M for Police, Down Slightly From Last Year: The Chicago Police Department spent $273.8 million on overtime last year, 6.5% less than in 2023 and but still more than two and a half times the $100 million earmarked for police overtime by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2024 budget, according to data published by the city’s Office of Budget and Management.

* Crain’s | Farmer’s Fridge finds fresh momentum: Farmer’s Fridge menu items have doubled in the last few years, from roughly 25 to about 50 offerings ranging from salads, sandwiches and snacks, as well as breakfast items, all of which have a shelf life of about five to seven days. Snacks include items such as hand-dipped dark chocolate trail mix, and meals include steak chopped salad with roasted potatoes and shaved Parmesan, with prices ranging from $5 to $14. The menu is meant to be healthy, but not “diet food,” said Saunders. “So that you don’t feel like you’re compromising at all.”

* Daily Herald | It just works: Chicago Dog Deep Dish pizza collab from Portillo’s, Lou Malnati’s surprisingly delicious: This unholy union actually works. It turns out you can put neon green relish on a pizza. It was like a marriage of two people who have very little in common, but somehow they’re good together. All the ingredients from the two classics are there.

* Block Club | Rosa’s Lounge Launches Independent Record Label To Spotlight Chicago’s ‘Unrecorded’ Talent: Willenson said the label will focus on elevating local blues, R&B and rock-adjacent musicians who don’t have the resources or time to record an album but who have exemplary talent, or those with a specific project in mind and connection to Rosa’s. Rosa’s Lounge Records is a joint venture between the founders and artists, who will retain their music rights and license them to the record label so the musicians can maintain control over their intellectual property, Willenson said.

* Sun-Times | Bears will lean on Dennis Allen’s experience — and grit — at defensive coordinator: Dennis Allen is down his best player. The Bears’ new defensive coordinator will have to operate the next few weeks of training camp without cornerback Jaylon Johnson, whom the Bears say has a leg injury that he suffered during offseason workouts. “I know Jaylon’s going to do everything he can to get himself back and get himself ready as quickly as possible,” Allen said Wednesday after the Bears’ first practice at Halas Hall. “He’s a consummate professional. So I feel good about him being ready when his body’s ready to go. So from that standpoint, not a ton of concern there.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* The Triibe | ‘We cannot give up.’ Chicago mothers push for accountability from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office: McFadden’s grief is prolonged, she says, because of the lack of timely closure regarding Malcolm’s death. That time lapse is why she and other moms are advocating for a “compassionate system” of death notification and identification within the medical examiner’s office. Additionally, at least one family is proposing legislation that calls for an end to unchecked immunity that shields the medical examiner’s office from accountability when it fails to properly identify bodies or notify families in a timely and compassionate manner.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora launches five public transition committees to gather community input: The Public Transition Committees span topics such as finances, sustainability, housing, public safety and education, according to a recent city news release announcing the new committees and their members. Over the next few months, the committees will create formal recommendations to the Mayor’s Office that will together form a “master transition document” planned to be released in late fall, the news release said.

* Lake County News-Sun | Another drowning reported at busy Illinois Beach State Park: Recovery operations continued Wednesday for the body of a 14-year-old boy who drowned at Illinois Beach State Park at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Beach Park Fire Chief Tom Stahl. It’s at least the second drowning this summer at the park, where first responders have complained more equipment and manpower are needed to handle emergencies in the wake of beach-related improvements the state has made in recent years. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Forest Preserves, and the Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan and Pleasant Prairie fire departments were aiding in the search, Stahl said. The Coast Guard was also involved.

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights Park District celebrates 100th anniversary with a giant chair: A giant Adirondack chair is traveling across Arlington Heights as part of the Arlington Heights Park District’s centennial celebration. The giant blue chair — marked with the park district’s 100th anniversary logo — has appeared at a different location every week since April. The chair moved to Carriage Walk Park on Wednesday. “People love it, and for us, it’s so great to see so many families being able to make memories,” said Amy Lewandowski, chair of the district’s 100th anniversary committee.

*** Downstate ***

* Illinois Times | Massey Commission makes plans for work to continue: “(Sonya’s cousin) Sontae Massey and many other members of the commission have made it no secret that we want the work to continue,” commission cochair JoAnn Johnson told Illinois Times after Monday’s meeting. “As we’ve always said, we want systemic change. We want widespread change; we don’t want Band-Aids,” said Johnson, who worked for Illinois State Police for almost 30 years. “We want to see citywide, countywide change, and that’s going to take longer than 10, 11 months. We’re just really hitting our stride.”

* WCIA | Mahomet announces next Chief of Police: On Tuesday, it was reported that the village will be naming David Smysor as its next Police Chief at a special board of trustees meeting on Aug. 12. Smysor will be replacing the outgoing chief, Mike Metzler, who is retiring on Sept. 30. Smysor will officially assume the new role on Oct. 1. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Urbana Police Department where he is responsible for strategic oversight of department operations including patrol, investigations and administration divisions. Smysor has been a law enforcement officer for 24 years, all with Urbana Police where he started as a patrol officer in 2001.

* WCIA | Piatt Co. couple saves substance abuse recovery program: Jan Gantz and Stephen Lyons, a married couple from Piatt County, saved a substance abuse recovery program at Piatt County Mental Health Center last Thursday with a donation of $100,000. The program — the Recovery Oriented System of Care — provides counseling and social events for people working towards recovery. […] “We have lost a grandson to an overdose,” Gantz said. “His siblings, Harper and Sage and Finn, I just want to say that this is, in a way, a memorial to your brother.”

* WGLT | Residents of an East Bloomington enclave live without reliable quality water: David Smith and his family owned the well and the pipes to houses from the start of the subdivision. McLean County Board member Corey Beirne’s district includes Colonial Meadows. Beirne said David Smith died two to three years ago. “He left it to an individual that has been running it. Unfortunately, this person is not a water professional or a utility professional and has been in a bit over his head and is unfortunately in an unsustainable spot right now, just can’t meet the needs of the community,” said Beirne.

* BND | Another metro-east festival cancels event as security problems persist: Community festivals in the metro-east have faced problems with fights and crowd disturbances including the “stampede” of about 300 teenagers at Belleville’s Oktoberfest in 2022. As a result, outdoor festivals are being closed ahead of schedule and two have been canceled altogether. Organizers of NickFest at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in O’Fallon announced this month that they have canceled their 2026 event after police were called to the festival in May when fights were reported. Most of the fights occurred in the neighborhood near the festival, a police spokesman said.

* WSIL | Florida trio fined $29K for wildlife violations in southern Illinois: The combined fines of $29,491 include civil penalties for the unlawful harvest of White-Tailed Bucks, the state’s attorney stated. A portion of these fines will support the Illinois Conservation Police Operations Fund. Additionally, the poachers will reportedly face 11 ½ years of revocation in 48 states due to the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact. Tripp said the three men traveled to Illinois with a semi-automatic rifle equipped with a night vision scope and an infrared spotlight. Tripp also said they spent hours at night locating and shooting deer from their vehicle, later loading the carcasses into a rental truck.

* WGLT | Illinois Shakes outperforms 2024 with 10 days to go: All three productions are now open at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival [ISF] and ticket sales have already exceeded last season’s box office, including a handful of sold-out performances. The festival’s full houses are an endorsement festival artistic director Robert Quinlan’s inaugural season. The season was built around celebrating the power of theater, with new productions of two of Shakespeare’s best-known titles—Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream—plus the festival debut of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

*** National ***

* NPR | Trump aims to get rid of AI regulations and finance exports to win AI race: In total, there will be more than 90 policy actions taken in the coming year, said Michael Kratsios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy — though details on many of those actions are still in development, and will rely on input from the AI industry and others. Kratsios told reporters that federal procurement rules will be changed to allow only AI platforms deemed free from “ideological bias” such as DEI initiatives.

* NYT | What if Everything We Know About Sacagawea Is Wrong?: Jerome Dancing Bull, a Hidatsa elder, took the microphone first. The day was warm enough that someone had propped the door open to the outside; the sun was blindingly bright, the prairie a labrador’s scruff in the distance. “They got it all wrong!” he told the people in the room, referring to the bare-bones, truncated life sketched out for Sacagawea by Lewis and Clark and the historians who followed them. In that telling, Sacagawea was born a member of the Shoshone tribe in present-day Idaho, was kidnapped by the Hidatsa as a child, spent most of 1805 and 1806 with the expedition and died in 1812, while she was still in her 20s. The Hidatsas insist that she was a member of their tribe all along and died more than 50 years later, in 1869. And not of old age, either: She was shot to death.

* AP | US home sales fade in June as national median sales price hits an all-time high of $435,300: Existing home sales fell 2.7% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Sales were flat compared with June last year. The latest home sales fell short of the 4.01 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 24th consecutive month to reach record heights.