* Crain’s…

Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged today that if the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies come to Chicago next week for immigration raids, there isn’t much the city or state can do to stop it. […]

Absent any communication from federal authorities, Pritzker said the city and state are “organizing around the same principles that we had for the Democratic National Convention.

“We had a lot of people coming, a lot of people visiting the city of Chicago. We knew there were going to be protests, and so the preparations for that are really sort of like they were around the Democratic National Convention, making sure that the civilian law enforcement at the federal level, civilian law enforcement at the state level, coordinate as best they can.”

Pritzker said public opinion may be the only way to stop the deployments to Chicago, New York, Baltimore and other cities.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | Former Elgin school board member running for state Senate: Holt served on the U-46 school board from 2015 to 2017. During his tenure, he opposed a district policy allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that don’t correspond with their biological sex. Holt unsuccessfully ran for the Kane County Board in 2022 and for the Elgin City Council in 2013. He isn’t the only Republican candidate for [retiring GOP Sen. Don DeWitte’s] Senate seat. Geneva resident Jessica Breugelmans and Elburn Trustee Chris Hansen also are seeking the GOP nomination.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | ‘Ridiculous’: Top cop pushes back against alderman who suggests city crime stats could be altered: Speaking with the Tribune, Snelling said Napolitano’s social media statement was “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard” and “a slap in the face” to members of the police department. The superintendent also pointed to the years of crime data the city already makes public.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago Public Schools sends letter to parents amid increased ICE activity: That letter acknowledged the increased federal presence that could be observed next month is “creating anxiety and fear about safety at school,” but assured parents and students that policies are in place to keep children safe on school grounds. “While there are no specifics on when — or even if — this will happen, please know that the safety of our students, families, and staff is our top priority,” the letter read. Within the text of the letter, CPS said it will not coordinate with ICE or other federal agents, and will not share student records with ICE or other agencies without a court order. ICE agents are also not allowed access to schools or facilities without a criminal judicial warrant.

* Daily Herald | ‘Extremely unusual’: Former Illinois National Guard chief on Trump threat to dispatch troops to Chicago: But “the president’s authority to call out the National Guard is not absolute,” said Harris, who’s also served as a Republican state lawmaker from Arlington Heights and chief of staff of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office in 2005 and 2006. […] But “the governor normally makes the request to the president to activate the guard. In this case, it’s the president totally ignoring the governor and saying, ‘I’m going to activate the guard.’ It’s just wrong,” Harris said.

* The Triibe | Chicago’s public defender explains why Illinois should fight Trump’s threats on cashless bail: Sharone Mitchell, the chief public defender of Cook County (home to Chicago) and a leading champion of the state’s bond reform, says Chicago’s downward trend in crime proves that the new system, which he argues is more fair, is working and hasn’t harmed public safety. […] “I don’t think there’s really much logic or much policy behind Trump’s declaration here,” Mitchell told Bolts. “I really do think this is much more about politics. It’s about getting over a blue state.”

* WGN | Chicago-area clergy gather to denounce potential National Guard deployment to Chicago: While the White House’s plans to send in the National Guard are still largely unknown, some members of the faith-based community in Chicago say they feel the National Guard is neither warranted nor wanted and are urging the president to rethink his plans. “It is deeply disturbing and frustrating that a sitting president would dare override the duly elected leadership of our city’s mayor and our state’s governor,” Ira Acree, the pastor of Greater St John Bible Church of Chicago, said.

* Block Club | Pedestrian Safety Upgrades Along Dangerous Portage Park Stretch An ‘Instant’ Success, Locals Say: The school, 5330 W. Berteau Ave., is next to Long Avenue, a residential street that has become known as a cut-through route for drivers trying to avoid traffic on Central and Laramie avenues. Portage Park Elementary also sits across the street from the 38-acre Portage Park, which brings even more pedestrian traffic to the area. “When you combine the cut-through traffic with the parent dropoff and pickup traffic, it was kind of the worst of both worlds that was happening,” Corcoran said. “You saw a lot of unchecked, bad driver behavior.”

* WTTW | UIC Students Helping NASA Prepare for Human Return to Moon: For NASA, Taha was creating 3D models of lava tubes. Lava tubes on the moon may one day be used to provide the basis for lunar habitats, shielding astronauts from harmful radiation. Despite her initial skepticism, Taha said her NASA experience was “amazing.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Oak Lawn High School installs AI system designed to detect guns: The district announced this month it was selected as part of Omnilert’s nationwide Secure Schools Grant Program that covers costs for three years of the company’s gun detect appliance. It can be integrated into existing security camera systems, online training sessions and workshops, and technical support. […] Security measures in place at the school include ensuring security officers patrol the school’s limited entrances during busy times and keeping classrooms locked. The district has so far abstained from installing traditional weapon detection methods including metal detectors, which he said can create the stigma of a prison-like atmosphere.

* Crain’s | Owner razing part of Walgreens’ old Deerfield offices to help land a buyer: The move comes more than two years after Phoenix-based Orion was under contract to sell the property to Chicago developer LG Group, which was planning a massive redevelopment into a mixed-use complex with entertainment and retail uses. That deal has since fallen apart as elevated interest rates and tight lending have made it difficult to finance any new group-up development in the area. Orion executives said during a conference call with analysts earlier this month that it was demolishing the existing buildings “to lower carrying costs materially and make the property more attractive to potential investors while we continue to evaluate our alternatives.”

* Tribune | Northwestern’s postdoctoral researchers vote to unionize: Researchers cast 515 votes to be represented by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, and 13 votes against. The final tally was certified Wednesday by the National Labor Relations Board. “It’s beyond exciting to be part of something like this,” said Julia Fadjukov, 36, a postdoctoral fellow researching ophthalmology. “Every postdoc that will now come to Northwestern, not just us, will have this. And we all built it together.”

* Evanston Now | District 65 fires principal: In keeping with district policy, the resolution did not publicly state the name. So Evanston Now filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the paperwork, which revealed that the individual in question was Shalema Francois-Blue. The documents state that “Ms. Francois-Blue’s conduct constitutes cause and grounds for her dismissal as a non-tenured principal in this School District.” The specific allegations … the “basis for dismissal for cause” … were not disclosed in the documents received via FOIA.

*** Downstate ***

* WJBD | Former manager of Franklin County Mine pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud mine safety in underground fire: On Aug. 13, Parsons tried to conceal the existence of the fire from those not already aware of it by evacuating the mine on the false pretense that a belt used to carry coal from underground to the surface was broken. Later that morning, MSHA received an anonymous tip about the fire and then later ordered that the mine be evacuated after inspectors confirmed the existence of the fire.

* WCIA | Urbana Police Chief sets record straight on traffic stop that caused officer to pass out: Boone said that all six officers — including the one who passed out — are doing well. The department said they are stilling trying to figure out what substance could have caused the reaction. […] One of the questions being asked on social media is whether or not the toxicology reports will be released. “In this particular case, I wouldn’t have a problem releasing whatever the substance was,” Boone said.

* Center Square | Du Quoin State Fair gets $50M as senator defends two state fairs in Illinois: State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said she will “keep fighting” for the Du Quoin State Fair, even as critics argue taxpayers should not maintain two state fairs. “For people living in Alexander or Massac counties, Springfield is a four-hour drive — they’re actually closer to Nashville, Tennessee, than to our state capital. That’s why the Du Quoin State Fair is so important to deep southern Illinois,” said Bryant. “It may be funded at only a fraction of what Springfield receives, but it still serves a critical purpose. Some argue Illinois doesn’t need two state fairs, but in a state this large, we do.”

*** National ***

* The Detroit News | Stellantis pauses launch of automated driving tech due to ‘very limited’ market demand: Reuters first reported the automaker’s in-house Level 3 system had been shelved. The news outlet, citing several people familiar with the issue, said high costs, technological challenges and consumer demand had been factors in the decision. Back in February, the automaker had also acknowledged that — while the technology was “ready for deployment” and could be used across all types of Stellantis vehicles — there would be initial challenges with customer demand for such a high level of autonomous driving.

* LA Times | Newsom, California lawmakers strike deal that would allow Uber, Lyft drivers to unionize: The companies have argued that current insurance requirements are so high that they encourage litigation for insurance payouts and create higher costs for passengers. “Labor and industry sat down together, worked through their differences, and found common ground,” Newsom said in a statement. The agreement, he said, will “empower hundreds of thousands of drivers while making rideshare more affordable for millions of Californians.”

* NYT | Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures: A pilot program in six states will use a tactic employed by private insurers that has been heavily criticized for delaying and denying medical care. […] The government said the A.I. screening tool would focus narrowly on about a dozen procedures, which it has determined to be costly and of little to no benefit to patients. Those procedures include devices for incontinence control, cervical fusion, certain steroid injections for pain management, select nerve stimulators and the diagnosis and treatment of impotence.