* From the Illinois State Board of Elections…

Attached is a lawsuit filed today making Illinois the 19th state to be sued over federal access to its full voter database.

The State Board of Elections will seek representation from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. As usual, we will have no comment on this pending litigation.

Matt Dietrich
Public Information Officer
Illinois State Board of Elections

Click here to read the lawsuit.

* WTTW…

As federal immigration enforcement operations ramp back up around Chicago, a new commission met publicly for the first time Thursday to begin documenting a record of any and all abuses committed by federal agents.

The Illinois Accountability Commission held its first public hearing Thursday in the Little Village neighborhood, where federal agents have repeatedly targeted residents in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.

“This is only the beginning,” Rubén Castillo, the commission’s chair and former chief judge for the Northern District of Illinois, said Thursday. “We begin with a simple mission just to tell the truth as to what has occurred and to show what the repercussions have been.” […]

Thursday’s three-hour hearing focused largely on federal agents’ use of “less lethal” chemical weapons such as tear gas and pepper balls.

Rohini Haar, a doctor and lecturer at the University of California-Berkley, testified Thursday about the impact of chemical irritants, telling commissioners that tear gas — which has been banned in warfare but can be used by law enforcement — can affect and injure nearly every part of a person’s body.

* Chicago Rep. Kam Buckner on the “Chicago” Bears’ threat to move to Indiana…

* NBC…

As of Dec. 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had logged 26,632 cases of whooping cough in 2025. The last time the U.S. saw so many cases was more than a decade ago, in 2014, according to CDC data.

Whooping cough is preventable. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get four doses of the DTaP vaccine — which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis — before kindergarten.

But an NBC News/Stanford University investigation has found that DTaP vaccination rates are plummeting across the country, as part of a larger, troubling trend of growing vaccine hesitancy that is fueling a resurgence of preventable diseases, including measles.

Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., provided data to NBC News on DTaP vaccination rates, including 31 that provided specific data on how many kindergarteners got the first four doses of the vaccine.

About 70% of the counties and jurisdictions in those 31 states were below the 95% target rate recommended for community protection, NBC News found. In Texas, where the Owens family lives, more than half of the counties — 58% — came in below that recommended rate.

Illinois seems to be doing a bit better than our neighbors…

*** Statehouse News ***

* QC News | Illinois treasurer returns missing money to QCA food pantries: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is returning $100,000 in missing money to food pantries statewide. Each December, Frerichs’ office focuses on returning money through the ICash program to nonprofit groups that help people in need. This year, Frerichs decided to help food pantries that saw resources stretched and demand spike when the federal government shutdown stopped food assistance to many Illinois families in November.

* WAND | Illinois law requires AEDs in nursing homes by 2030: The law also calls for all healthcare employees at the facilities to be trained on how to use defibrillators during medical emergencies. 54% of the state’s nursing homes already have AEDs, but sponsors believe every facility should have them. “The average cost is $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the model chosen,” said Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet). “Almost 40% of the homes have found ways to pay for AEDs.”

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson vows to do ‘whatever it takes’ to avoid a city government shutdown: Johnson’s biggest beef is the decision by opposition Council members to replace the corporate head tax in his proposed budget with more than $90 million in “enhanced debt collections on everyday Chicagoans,” he said, calling the plan “immoral” and “simply not feasible.”

* Inside Climate News | A Long Wait for Flooding Help in Chicago May Be Nearing an End: After the city submitted a disaster recovery plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in July, the federal government awarded the city $426 million through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. Most of that money will support infrastructure improvements like flood mitigation and green alleys designed to prevent severe flooding in the future, with about $15 million allocated for direct reimbursements to residents for flood repair expenses. The city must implement those projects over the next six years.

* Crain’s | This dealmaker is shaping some of Chicago’s biggest economic development bets: Co-leading the new team is the culmination of a real estate career that started 18 years ago when O’Connor left city government after stints in the mayor’s office, the Department of Planning & Development and World Business Chicago, the city’s business-recruiting and retention operation. Clients and colleagues from those days describe her grit and diligence in the roles. “She was profoundly productive,” says Paul O’Connor (no relation), former executive director of World Business Chicago. “She has a work ethic to die for. She never took her foot off the gas.”

* Tribune | Judge rules against Paul Vallas in suit over payments to shore up Black vote: Last week Judge James Hanlon granted Enyia’s motion for a summary judgment, ruling that each of Vallas’ counts lacked evidence and that the defendant would likely prevail at trial. Such a judgment closes the case after two and a half years, a saga Enyia said was “long and difficult.” […] Hanlon, however, deemed Vallas’ allegations without merit, stopping his lawsuit from proceeding further.

* Sun-Times | Lincoln Yards megadeal on North Side morphs into a tale of two projects: The dormant North Side property once branded for the Lincoln Yards megadevelopment has acquired split personalities — with one entering the city approval process while the other awaits a new owner. Developer Jim Letchinger has submitted a zoning proposal for the northernmost chunk of the property. Dubbed Foundry Park, his plan follows through on a pledge he made in July to build a “walking” neighborhood on a smaller scale compared with a prior developer’s plan.

* Crain’s | Friends of the Parks wants a $50M cut of the South Works quantum revamp: The nonprofit group, which is best known for undertaking legal fights to stop private development of public lakefront space, said in a press release this week it wants the developer of the site, the state and the city to commit $50 million for “park benefits and protections.”Friends of the Parks doesn’t specify uses for the money beyond supporting “community-prioritized improvements for Southeast Side parks, such as restrooms, shaded seating and gathering areas, access improvements and amenities that support community needs.”

* Crain’s | American ramps up O’Hare flights in high-stakes battle with United: American Airlines, which has been aggressively adding flights to defend its turf at O’Hare International Airport, plans to increase flights 30% in the spring. The airline says it will have over 25 more destinations in the spring than it had this year, including Erie, Penn.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Tri-Cities Airport near Knoxville, Tenn. The airline also will extend seasonal service — such as winter-only flights to Santa Fe, N.M.; and Key West, Fla.; and summer-only flights to Hilton Head, S.C., and Panama City, Fla.

* Chicago Reader | ‘It’s hardly imaginable that the VDB can survive’: The nonprofit Video Data Bank (VDB) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), one of the country’s foremost resources for the distribution of contemporary video art, is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. However, on Wednesday, November 12, the organization was shaken when SAIC unceremoniously laid off three of VDB’s five staff members, including its director, Tom Colley, a 27-year veteran of the organization who previously served as archive and collection manager. Also laid off were digital collection and media manager Elise Schierbeek and distribution assistant Nicky Ni. Remaining as part of the staff are distribution manager Emily Martin and archive and collection manager Kristin MacDonough. Colley, Schierbeek, and Ni declined to speak on the record during their ongoing separation negotiations.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | FBI cases in Harvey wind down as one brother of ex-mayor gets a day in jail, another pleads guilty: Last month, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced him to only a day in jail, which she considered to be served, along with two years of supervised release. He was ordered to repay $47,500 in government funds he allegedly took as bribes during the investigation. The government also says he should forfeit another $800,000 he raked in from the club over the years. Prosecutors have said the scheme generated about $36,000 a year from 2003 to 2007 and about $72,000 a year from 2008 to 2017, before an FBI informant paid the bribes with government money until 2018. The government’s forfeiture request is pending.

* More news out of Broadview…

The ICE “processing” facility in Broadview is in this industrial zone. Unraveled reported that DHS has expressed interest in purchasing property across from the current facility to build a new detention center.

* Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie…

This post appears to be a swipe at Daniel Biss, who sent out a fundraising email soon after confronting Bovino yesterday

But an email late Wednesday night explicitly says, "Don't worry, this isn't a fundraising email," with a donation link at the bottom https://t.co/C9HqiawWTf pic.twitter.com/3HbCwvC800

— Matthew Eadie (@mattheweadie22) December 18, 2025

* Sun-Times | Cook County’s top prosecutor offers alternative to jail for Chicago teens accused of serious crimes: The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $1 million in funding Thursday for the program, which will provide academic and after-school support services to teens who otherwise may have been locked up while awaiting trial. “Young people need structure and activities, and they also need a community that cares,” State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said in a statement Thursday. “This program builds on that foundation. At the same time, we must recognize the need for new approaches to address the stubborn public safety problem of minors who continue down a path of escalating violence.”

* Naperville Sun | Naperville Park Board approves $55.2 million budget with tax hike: Park district officials estimate the tax levy hike will translate to about $17 more per year in propery taxes for an average homeowner with a house assessed at $515,000. Under that scenario, the portion of the tax bill paid to the district will climb to $458, representing about 5% of the overall amount paid in property taxes. More than half of the district’s budget is supported by property tax revenue, which funds daily operations, capital projects, ADA improvements, inclusion services and debt obligations.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Batavia City Council OKs sales tax hike to fund future police facility: The idea for a local sales tax increase is that the city could accumulate funds in anticipation of a future police facility project, what Newman’s memo calls a “save-then-spend” model. The plan is aimed at reducing how much debt is issued for the eventual project, the memo notes, “thereby lowering interest costs and long-term financial obligations.” And it spreads the cost of the police facility beyond Batavia residents, Newman’s memo notes, pointing to the Randall Road corridor’s retailers and the revenue they generate from out-of-town shoppers.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Oswego OKs concept plan for development at old school site: School District 308 officials said the Traughber building has remained in disrepair, causing the district to invest more than $250,000 annually for maintenance and other expenses. Village staff was directed to negotiate a redevelopment agreement between the village, school district and the developer for the project, called Traughber Estates.

* Daily Herald | Will speed humps, stop signs solve Mount Prospect neighborhood’s cut-through traffic problem?: For years, residents have voiced concerns about cars, school buses and trucks using their neighborhood to get from Central Road to Golf Road without having to use Arlington Heights Road or Busse Road. Recent traffic studies showed approximately 900 vehicles per day using Audrey. “I have children. There are other neighbors that have children. I’m concerned for their safety,” neighborhood resident Vito LiRosi said. The village board rejected installing small traffic circles, as well as stop signs at other intersections. Dorsey said federal standards for traffic control devices mandate stop signs not be used for speed control.

* Daily Herald | Northern Illinois Food Bank CEO named food bank leader of the year by national publication: Julie Yurko, who has led NIFB since 2014, was recognized for her “tireless commitment to centering neighbors, strengthening satisfaction and loyalty across the Food Bank’s network, and driving innovation to meet the evolving needs of Northern Illinois communities,” according to Food Bank News. […] The publication also highlighted the organization’s impactful use of Net Promoter Score (NPS) tools and the implementation of neighbor councils, both of which ensure that community voices help shape and improve food access services.

*** Downstate ***

* KHQA | Pike County, IL school district considering bussing students out of state: “We don’t want to jump the gun on anything. We want to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for our kids and our community. We want to make sure that the programs we put ‘em in are the best programs possible.” said Susan Stout, Co-President of Western Education Association. “There’s a lot of questions going across state lines when we do have Quincy Area Vo Tech.” […] “With Missouri, the vocational center there, Missouri students get first choice versus Illinois students. So, some of those opportunities may not even be available because they’re already closed out,” said Anna Pulver, teacher at Western CUSD 12. “So, we could be paying for something that students might not even get the opportunity to do when we have the Quincy vocational one and other options within our state of Illinois. And our tax dollars would stay within our state of Illinois.”

* WCIA | Champaign Central High School apologizes for inadvertent letter announcing mask ban: Champaign Central High School is apologizing after a letter was sent to parents in error, indicating that face coverings would be banned from being worn in the school. In a follow-up letter, Acting Superintendent Dan Casillas explained the original letter was still in draft form and was “distributed inadvertently.” “To clarify, Central High School is not implementing any new mask mandates,” Casillas said. “While we have experienced several recent incidents in which full face coverings prevented staff from being able to identify students, creating safety concerns, we will continue to address these situations on an individual basis.”

* WSIL | Marion’s Mayor Absher the winner in Salvation Army’s bell ringing contest: The friendly challenge pitted Carbondale Mayor, Carolin Harvey against Harrisburg Mayor, John McPeek and Marion Mayor, Mike Absher. On separate weekend days during December, each mayor spent two hours in front of their local Kroger location, ringing the traditional bell. By the end of the challenge, a total of $2,768.36 was donated to the mayors’ red kettles.

*** National ***

* NYT | Trump Moves to End Gender-Related Care for Minors, Threatening Hospitals That Offer It: If finalized, the proposed new rules, announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a news conference Thursday morning, would effectively shut down hospitals that failed to comply. Medicare and Medicaid account for nearly 45 percent of spending on hospital care, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. It follows other efforts by the administration to pull back from or eliminate policies that recognize gender identities beyond being born male or female.

* AP | Rural schools hit by Trump’s grant cuts have few options for making up for the lost money: Federal dollars make up roughly 10% of education spending nationally, but the percentage is significantly higher in rural districts, which are not able to raise as much money on property taxes. […] That is the case in Kentucky. Nine rural school districts that received grants to hire counselors will have to decide whether they can afford to keep them. Already, more than half those counselors have left for other jobs.

* AP | Trump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug: The switch would move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. Cannabis would instead be a Schedule III substance, like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. Reclassification by the Drug Enforcement Administration would not make it legal for recreational use by adults nationwide, but it could change how the drug is regulated and reduce a hefty tax burden on the cannabis industry.