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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * The kid playing guitar on Rodney Crowell’s right is a 19-year-old Steve Earle. And the guy driving the bus is David Allan Coe… Now baby taught me a different way of thinkin’
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Nick Reiner on the passing of former Deputy House Republican Leader Brent Hassert…
* FYI…
* WAND | Lt. Governor Stratton and ILAFA to host Workforce Summit for a thriving Agri-Food industry: “Illinois is leading the way in the agri-food industry by nurturing a diverse and skilled workforce,” said Lt. Governor Stratton. “This summit is a critical investment in our future, ensuring that Illinois remains at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. As I often say, ‘Ag connects us all,’ and we’re building a brighter future for generations to come.” * Crain’s | Illinois computer science programs are enrolling far more women: The biggest gains were made by women, who accounted for 21.5% of computer science majors in four-year programs in the 2022-23 academic year, up from 11.7% a decade earlier, according to a study by the University of Illinois Discovery Partners Institute. The percentage of Asian students nearly doubled to 26.5% from 14.3%, and Latino students grew to 16.9% of computer science majors from 9.5%. Black students declined slightly to 7.5% from 8.2%. * Bloomberg | Chicago aims to ride muni bond refinancing wave sparked by Fed rate cuts: The reopened window is a win for governments who have had limited refinancing opportunities since the Fed started raising interest rates in 2022. And such sales can save cities, states and towns major cash. Chicago, for example, estimates it can reclaim about $70 million of debt-service costs through a proposed $1.5 billion refunding sale to help close its budget deficit. * Sun-Times | Homeless tent camp stirs neighbors’ vitriol on Northwest Side: As much as neighbors complain, Johnson is so far not budging. His administration says there’s no money left for Gompers after spending $70 million in federal dollars for homelessness since 2020. There will be no accelerated move from the Northwest Side park this year, the city said in a statement. City officials and nonprofit groups will continue to monitor the situation, the statement added. On Monday, Sendy Soto, Johnson’s top official in charge of addressing homelessness, will attend a community meeting next to the park to face a crowd of neighbors fuming about the homeless camp. They complain about drinking and drug use, open fires and erratic behavior. * WTTW | As City Prepares to Close 3 Shelters, Advocates See Shifts in Migrants’ Needs: With a decreased migrant population and the unmaterialized surge of new arrivals this summer, the city expects in 2024 to spend less than $141 million to care for the migrants, who are in the country legally after requesting asylum and receiving permission to remain in the U.S. while their cases are resolved. The city is currently facing a projected $982 million budget gap in 2025. * Block Club | After CPS Slashes Funding, Chicago Debates Asks For Help Keeping Beloved Program Alive: The district has a $1.3 million, four-year contract with the nonprofit, agreeing to cover up to $390,000 in expenses for fiscal year 2025, documents show. That includes costs such as equipment, paying debate judges, recruiting and training volunteers, tournament prep and running the summer camp, according to the contract. […] But CPS officials told nonprofit leaders in July they’d only get $208,000 to cover this year’s expenses, Bolden said. Officials cited a part of the contract saying CPS can terminate an agreement “in the event no funds or insufficient funds are appropriated and budgeted … by the board,” Bolden said. * Tribune | A 685-acre tiff: Council, community divided on future of Pilsen taxing district: Progressives such as Johnson and Sigcho-Lopez have traditionally railed against tax increment financing districts, which freeze for decades the property tax revenues distributed to schools, parks and other government bodies and instead earmark those funds for projects within the boundaries. While TIF proponents say those projects spur economic development, opponents often decry the spending as a handout for private developers, or unnecessary in areas that are already thriving. * Sun-Times | Bike theft victims are frustrated, saying the problem is getting worse and isn’t being fixed: Pusateri immediately headed to the nearest police station to file a report. Later, after scouring social media, he found the bike listed for sale on Facebook at a fraction of the purchase price. Someone even contacted him promising to return the bike for a fee after Pusateri listed it stolen online. He brought the Facebook listing — which had the suspected thief’s name and location — to the Chicago Police Department. “I knew exactly who this guy was, and the police were like, ‘We can’t help you at all. We’re too busy,’” Pusateri said. “I did everything I possibly could, even giving the police a solved case, and they still didn’t want to do anything about it.” * Crain’s | Investors buy hotel next to Rivers Casino for $20 million: The property benefits from its proximity to O’Hare and being next to Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, one of the state’s largest gambling facilities. Neither of the Patels responded to requests for comment on the Courtyard purchase. But the investors are planning a $5 million renovation of the 35-year-old property set to begin in December, according to The Real Deal Chicago, which first reported the sale. * WBEZ | Chicago’s beach season is over … or is it? Lake Michigan temps are breaking records.: Lake Michigan is heating up. The lake’s surface temperature has surpassed the running average dating back to 1995 nearly every day this year, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. And it’s not just one Great Lake. All five are warming. The massive bodies of water, which provide drinking water to more than 30 million people, are among the fastest-warming lakes worldwide, according to the federal government’s Fifth National Climate Assessment. * Tribune | What was the final Chicago White Sox home game like? An odd wake, full of melancholy, contradiction — and elation.: In the closing minutes of the last home game for the 2024 Chicago White Sox, one could feel the Earth’s rotation grind to a halt. It was as if Guaranteed Rate Field itself let out an exhausted, terminating sigh of relief. Even the fireworks that marked the end felt rushed, brief and eager to be done with. The hurt was past. The horror — at least here on 35th Street (there were still three games left to play in Detroit) — was over. A lone gull looped high above right field, averted its eyes and flew off. The sky was cloudless and the flat metal top of a vendor’s grill, already scrubbed and cold, chimed with the clumsy clang of dropped tongs. Individual sounds leaped out. * Block Club | 33 Million Birds Migrated Over Illinois In 1 Day This Week. How McCormick Place Is Trying To Keep Them Safe: Chicago Bird Collision Monitors collects about 100 injured or dead birds daily during the peak migration season in September and early October, Prince said. About 75 percent of the birds the group finds are dead, Prince said. Injured birds are taken to the DuPage Wildlife Center, where they’re treated and released into the wild to continue their migration. The group has already noticed fewer bird casualties around the McCormick Place this migration season, Prince said. The new film is an “exciting development” and serves as an example that it’s worth constructing buildings with bird-friendly designs, she said. * Daily Herald | Grayslake mayor says he won’t seek a fifth term and supports veteran village trustee as successor: Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor announced Friday he will not seek a fifth term and will be retiring from local government. “I have enjoyed every day of my time in the office,” he said. “I will be forever grateful to Grayslake for granting me this unique and wonderful opportunity.” Taylor was a village trustee for six years before being elected mayor in 2009. He said he has served with 13 different village trustees in that role, including Elizabeth Davies, who he endorsed as his successor. * Daily Herald | Hanover Park man sentenced for selling ghost guns, gun converter: Jeffrey Levander, 43, was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for the unlawful sale or delivery of an unserialized firearm, six years for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, six years for the unlawful use of a weapon, three years for the unlawful sale of a firearm, and three years for unlawful possession of a firearm, according to a news release from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. His sentences will run concurrently. * Daily Herald | Kane County offers $755,000 Food and Farm Resiliency Grant Program to support local growers: The Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Grant Program is now open for applications, offering $755,000 in financial assistance to local food-growing businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations operating in Kane County can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to help cover essential operating expenses incurred between March 3, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2025. * Sun-Times | Days after his conviction on corruption charges, Ford Heights mayor says he’s stepping down: “He’s gone,” village attorney Michael Stuttley said Thursday about Mayor Charles Griffin, who was convicted by a Cook County judge earlier this week of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the tiny, cash-strapped south suburb. “I saw his letter of resignation.” Referring to Griffin’s fellow village board members, Stuttley said the resignation will be formalized “once they accept” it in coming days. * WCIA | Danville officials say construction won’t prevent access to the ballot box: Construction began this week on the northbound road of Vermilion Street up to Harrison, temporarily closing the intersection. This closure is just outside the early voting location at Joseph G. Cannon Building. Officials with the City of Danville said not to worry about the construction, as it won’t impede anybody from casting their vote at the Election Commission. * Daily Herald | ‘Safest it’s ever been’: Recent high school football deaths not causing alarm: Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the National Federation of State High School Associations, said the organization has counted 12 deaths so far this season. Their data comes from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, which uses reports from NFHS-member schools as well as private schools outside its membership. […] “We started to pay attention, and through coaching education we modified rules, we shifted how we practice and how we play, and obviously elevated our medical response, resources and awareness,” Niehoff said. * My Journal Courier | Completion of Illinois River navigation projects kicks off barge tour of region: The three projects were part of the corps’ Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program. Objectives of the program include enhancing geomorphic diversity and reducing erosion; creating and/or improving fish habitat as well as native fish habitat; and increasing side channel diversity. * SJ-R | Hurricane Helene: Workers from Springfield head to Georgia for assistance: Crews from the City Water Light and Power division of the City of Springfield are heading to assist people with the effects of Hurricane Helene in Georgia. Two crews and a supervisor left Thursday afternoon to assist in Douglas, Georgia. The crews were initially headed to assist the City of Marietta but were reassigned. They were originally tasked to assist with power restoration from Hurricane Helene making landfall, according to CWLP. * AP | Parents will have to set aside some earnings for child influencers under new California laws: The California laws protecting child social media influencers follow the first-in-the-nation legislation in Illinois that took effect this July. The California measures apply to all children under 18, while the Illinois law covers those under 16. The California measures, which received overwhelming bipartisan support, require parents and guardians who monetize their children’s online presence to establish a trust for the starlets. Parents will have to keep records of how many minutes the children appear in their online content and how much money they earn from those posts, among other things.
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like David, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Indictment alleges NYC mayor gamed campaign reform to scam $10 million out of taxpayers
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Here’s an official explainer of New York City’s public financing program for local political campaigns…
* Press release from the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York on the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams…
The full indictment is here. As Illinois has discovered time and time again, reforms won’t stop a determined criminal.
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The Importance Of Energy Storage
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Recent polling shows 72% of Illinoisans support incentives for energy storage, and a majority of Illinoisans would be likely to for a candidate that supports building more energy storage in the state. But it’s not just popular. It’s urgent — Building more storage today is the best way to save Illinois families and businesses from rapidly rising energy costs. By guaranteeing a backup of affordable energy at times when heat waves, storms, or cold snaps threaten Save families money and make energy more reliable. With energy costs set to rise, we need energy storage now. Learn more about energy storage and outstanding bills about it here.
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Big staff changes announced for Pritzker’s communications team
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Press release…
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Question of the day
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller Capitol News Illinois launched its election guide yesterday…
* The Question: Do you plan to vote early (in-person or by mail)? Explain your answer please.
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Open thread
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Chicago Board of Education unanimously votes to halt school closures until 2027. Tribune…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign updates
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Sep 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Pace Rideshare Access Program subsidizes Uber trips, leaving riders with a co-pay of just $2. The impact: “This program has been a godsend for me. It offers flexibility, independence, freedom and the ability to maintain a beautiful life on so many levels,” says one rider. CTA: See how it works.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * IDPH…
* She Runs Illinois 2024 | Morgan Phillips, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 105: She Votes Illinois is pleased to feature Morgan Phillips running for IL House of Representatives, District 105. Follow our series, She Runs Illinois 2024!, leading up to election day as we showcase and uplift the voices of Illinois women running for public office in the upcoming election, November 5, 2024. * She Runs Illinois 2024 | Barbara Hernandez, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 50: What challenges do you see in addressing child marriage in Illinois, and what legislative measures do you believe are most effective in ensuring the protection of minors? “I have carried the bill many times, however, the main obstacle has been the ACLU. I believe that children should not be able to marry at 16 even with a parent’s note. I feel like students can wait until they are 18 to determine if they do want to get married or not, without any religious or cultural pressure,” Rep. Hernandez said. * NPR Illinois | Law aims to protect tenants with complaints from landlord retaliation: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law recently prohibiting landlords statewide from taking retaliatory action against tenant complaints. The bill was proposed by state Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat. “Far too often tenants face retaliation for … trying to exercise their basic rights, trying to make sure that the unit that they live in is habitable and safe,’ he said, “And when they complain about conditions or raise questions with their landlord, instead of getting those conditions fixed or getting good answers from their landlord, they get an eviction notice on their door.’’ * WBEZ | Lawsuit claims years of discrimination against disabled young people in Illinois prisons: The lawsuit was filed by Equip for Equality, a nonprofit advocating for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities, and Latham & Watkins. It covers those who were 22 or younger when they were first incarcerated and who had a plan outlining special education services from their previous school. The complaint states that the correctional agencies have failed to identify eligible students; notify eligible students of their right to these educational services; or provide any special education services and high school credit-bearing courses. * Press Release | IDOT’s Cycle Rider Safety Training Program classes returning statewide: In partnership with Southern Illinois University, IDOT is offering its popular Cycle Rider Safety Training Program to any Illinois resident 16 and older with a valid driver’s license. These classes also come with extra credit: Successful graduates can waive the written and riding portions of the Illinois motorcycle license exam that’s administered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. * WMBD | Illinois county clerks invite public to watch voting process: Starting Thursday, Sept. 26, anyone that has questions about the voting process can visit any clerk office and learn everything about the voting process. Since the 2016 election, more questions have been raised concerning voting security. The clerks say in the press release, that visiting the offices has always been an option, but they are making it clear this year so voters feel confident. * Block Club | City Removing Police And Fire Departments From Mental Health Emergency Response Program: The CARE, or Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement, provides teams of mental health professionals plus specially trained police and paramedics to respond to mental health related 911 calls. The program was launched in two neighborhood clusters during the 2021 budget process with an initial $3.5 million investment and has steadily expanded since then. The CARE program will now operate solely under the Chicago Department of Public Health and will not include police officers or fire department personnel, according to a Wednesday announcement. * Crain’s | UChicago gets anonymous $100M donation to support free speech: The university said the donation will support “UChicago’s leadership on the principles and practice of free expression” and the advancement of a new initiative called the University of Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, which was launched by President Paul Alivisatos in 2023 to buttress open discourse on campus. […] The large donation to support free expression comes after a fraught and turbulent year on college campuses, which saw large student demonstrations and tent encampments protesting the Israeli invasion and ongoing war in Gaza. * WTTW | Wrongfully Convicted Man Speaks Out on Record $50M Verdict: ‘I Won’t Get That Time Back’: Detectives from the Chicago Police Department deprived Brown of food and sleep and questioned him for 34 hours before he was charged. They denied him access to a phone call and legal counsel while keeping him socially isolated. “I was very, very wronged over three days, and that took a toll on my mental (health),” Brown said. “Fighting with the detectives, with the mind games they were playing, was probably one of the worst experiences of my life.” * Block Club | How A Taqueria Connected To A Lincoln Park Gas Station Became Illinois’ Top Taco Spot: The taqueria, which just celebrated its three-year anniversary, is tucked away in a small strip mall that shares a parking lot with a Mobil gas station. El Tragón serves fresh, made-to-order street tacos and other items inspired by small taquerias in Jalisco, Mexico, where owner Gerardo Madrigal grew up. The menu is small, consisting of tacos, quesadillas, chilaquiles and some of the best quesabirrias in the city. * Capitol News Illinois | Sun-Times seeks dismissal of defamation suit centered on Trump Tower reporting: The court, which heard oral arguments in the case last week, is not being asked to rule as to whether the Sun-Times engaged in defamation. It is rather asked if the lawsuit should be dismissed under a state law designed to protect against litigation that “chills and diminishes citizen participation in government” before the case can proceed in circuit court. * Sun-Times | A look back at Derrick Rose’s legendary high school career: Rose had the physical gifts of a superhero. He was blazing fast with the ball, possessed unreal body control, and was the best leaper anyone had seen. Rose lost a few inches on his vertical when he put on muscle and weight in college and the NBA, which is common. But those that saw him in high school will never forget the dunks: they began beautiful and soaring, but ended with swift violence at the rim. * Daily Southtown | Appointments of Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard blocked by Cook County judge: In a ruling Wednesday, Judge Thaddeus Wilson said Henyard didn’t abide by proper procedure when she named Ronnie Burge Sr. as police chief, Michael Smith as village administrator and Angela Lockett as village attorney. Four trustees who are at odds with Henyard contended the appointments were illegal because the Village Board did not vote on them, and the judge agreed. In barring Henyard from making the appointments, Wilson also said the three appointees are ineligible to hold the posts. * Tribune | Toxic chemicals at Homewood nature preserve prompt calls for EPA intervention: Napoleon Haney, Homewood’s village manager, said village officials reached out to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency a few weeks ago and met with agency representatives last week to gather information and determine next steps. “We want it resolved; we want our community beautiful,” he said. “We just want to make sure that the right agencies are involved to assist us in resolving any and everything that’s out of compliance. We’re confident that the IEPA will provide some wonderful guidance.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora Township honors history of boxcar camp, Austin-Western neighborhood: The Aurora Township board approved the honors to “recognize the contributions of generations of working-class immigrants who helped to make Aurora … a major railroad town and major manufacturing center,” according to a resolution passed by the board in the spring. The Austin-Western neighborhood close to the boxcar camp was home to many generations of immigrant working class families who came from many nations. * SJ-R | Sonya Massey’s cousin named a new co-chair of Massey Commission in leadership shake-up: After only one listening session, the Massey Commission has new leadership. One of the newest co-chairs is Shadia Massey, a cousin of Sonya Massey, the namesake of the commission, who was fatally shot by a now former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy in her home in an unincorporated part of Woodside Township on July 6. * WCIA | Master key that can open 90% of Urbana mailboxes stolen from mail carrier: [Nikeya Holmes, a customer service supervisor with the Urbana Post Office,] said she isn’t sure what will happen if the key is not found, but that the Chicago-area has seen similar crimes in the past. She said that the Urbana Post Office will communicate with other offices who have experienced this issue before to figure out what to do if the key remains stolen. * WSIL | Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Raises $115,000: Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois held their annual United We Lead Gala, raising more than $115,000 for the organization. The gala took place in Edwardsville on September 6th. This year’s theme was “Envision Greatness.” Girl Scout officials say the event brings together a wide range of people who share a common goal – to empower today’s girls to become tomorrow’s leaders. * WSIL | Time to enjoy the fall foliage display at Bald Knob Cross of Peace: Bald Knob Cross of Peace organizers say as nature is setting the scene they look forward to their annual Fall Colors at the Cross celebration around one of the world’s largest crosses on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20, 2024. Attendees are advised to bring lawn chairs so they can enjoy lunch and help them welcome Nashville recording artist, Marty DeRoche at 1pm on Saturday. * Fox 32 | Chicago White Sox announce a multiyear deal for analyst Steve Stone: The Sox announced Thursday they’ve inked baseball analyst Steve Stone to a multiyear deal. Stone also announced the deal on the air during the Sox’s series finale against the Angels of Anaheim. Stone’s analysis will move over to the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and work with White Sox play-by-play announcer John Schriffen. * WaPo | How to cover the worst MLB team ever without going (too) insane: “You have to kind of try to figure out a specific moment of a game — when did this one turn?” said LaMond Pope, who covers the team for the Chicago Tribune. “That’s how you go into the clubhouse versus, ‘Talk to me about your general feelings about all this.’” For the most part, reporters said, the players have been both understanding of their circumstances and generally approachable. “A month into the year, it’s, ‘Why do you suck?’ And the answer has always been: ‘Well, we don’t want to suck. We’re trying hard not to suck.’ And they’ve answered it over and over and over again,” said Bruce Levine, a veteran baseball reporter in town. * ESPN | Inside the 2024 White Sox’s road to MLB’s all-time worst recordXT: MORE THAN 17,000 fans — and 375 dogs, attending the season’s final Dog Day promotion — descended upon Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday, there to see the Chicago White Sox set the modern-day mark for losses in a single season. One fan even printed out a hard ticket for the game. “It’s history,” he said. “I want to have a piece of it.” * NYT | How Does a Baseball Team Lose 120 Games? Every Way You Can Think Of: In the fourth inning of a ridiculous baseball game — ridiculous even by the standards of the 2024 Chicago White Sox — I wandered out into the stands to meet Beefloaf. Beefloaf sits in Section 108. I’d noticed him earlier, from across the stadium, because a White Sox home run (a rare thing) had gone sailing past the right field foul pole and landed near his seat. Even in the maelstrom of high fives, Beefloaf stood out: big guy, round shoulders, wearing a tank-top jersey with the number “108” and, in capital letters, “BEEFLOAF.” (Beefloaf is not Beefloaf’s legal name; his 5-year-old daughter chose the nickname, and it stuck.) * Tribune | With Chicago White Sox fans rooting against them, the players have to do it for themselves: A playoff-type atmosphere was in store for the Sox, though they were as far away from the postseason as humanly possible. And with Sox fans rooting for a loss the last two days, the players responded with back-to-back wins, including Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels on Andrew Benintendi’s walk-off single. “It’s huge,” Benintendi said. “I think if we swept the final series of the year, it would be, not funny, but it’d give us all a chuckle.” * AP | A Pennsylvania bakery known for its election cookie poll is swamped with orders: The bakery sells 4-inch (10-centimeter) round sugar cookies, one with blue and white sprinkles and a Harris 2024 label on it and the other with red and white sprinkles and a Trump 2024 label on it. The sale of each Harris 2024 cookie counts as a vote in the poll for Democrat Kamala Harris and likewise for Republican Donald Trump. The cookie poll started in 2008 and accurately predicted the winner the first three times, but not in 2020, when Trump lost the election for the White House to Democrat Joe Biden.
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Unclear on the concept
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s…
Maybe that would be an interesting question if the city was offering to put up a billion dollars. Instead, the teams want the state to pony up that and much more. The city wants the state to expend billions on Soldier Field. And even if it was valid, why would you put $1 billion in one-time cash into ongoing operations? * The rest of the survey…  I guess it’s fine as some sort of exercise to tease out that group’s spending priorities. But, other than that, it’s basically worthless.
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Food for thought
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Progressive Chicago alderperson… 
Hard to argue with any of that.
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AG Raoul: Watch out for AI election misinformation
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Daily Herald…
* Early voting starts today in most of the state, Tribune…
* WBEZ has some background on the income tax advisory question that’s on the ballot…
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Quantum computer company EeroQ sets up shop in Chicago
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WTTW…
* WTVO…
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Open thread
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker calls CPS budget deficit ‘challenging,’ advises against borrowing. WTTW…
* Related stories…
∙ Tribune: Mayor Brandon Johnson cites work ‘to transform this public school system’ when asked about wanting schools chief out ∙ Crain’s: In push to oust CPS chief Martinez, Johnson tests the limits of his power again ∙ WBBM: Pritzker, pressed to comment, speaks on rift between CPS head, Brandon Johnson At 1:30 pm Governor Pritzker will celebrate the opening of HIRE360 Training and Business Development Center. Click here to watch. * Press Release…
* WGN | Dolton trustees: Judge blocks Tiffany Henyard appointments: The bitter battle for control of south suburban Dolton took another turn Wednesday evening when trustees opposed to Mayor Tiffany Henyard said they were granted a key ruling limiting Henyard’s power. Trustees asked a Cook County judge for a temporary restraining order blocking Henyard’s recent appointments of a new police chief, village manager and village attorney. They argued Henyard can’t unilaterally make appointments without their consent. * Block Club | Couple’s Marriage Proposal Goes Viral, White Sox Avoid Record-Setting Loss At ‘Weirdest Game Ever’: The night was already surreal: The White Sox were on the brink of setting the record for most losses in a single season. But even with greater history looming, Taft decided to go through with the proposal anyway. “We enjoy going to games together … And I didn’t really consider that this was going to be the game [the record] could happen,” Taft said with a laugh. “I was hoping the Sox would win. But I didn’t care that much about watching the game. More focused on the proposal.” * Daily Herald | ‘Not a real problem’ or ‘mission critical’? State senate hopefuls differ on climate change: “Climate change is a very convenient political ploy to advocate for all kinds of government control,” said Jon Luers, a software engineer from Chicago. “I believe that the climate has not changed much over the last any number of years that you can name. It does change gradually from year to year and decade to decade, but I believe that we are just fine, and no governmental intervention should be attempted to change that.” [Sen. Rob Martwick], who has held the Senate seat since 2019 after serving as a state representative for much of the same area since 2012, attributed climate change to “the realities of the human condition,” including population growth, the burning of fossil fuels, and excess use of disposable plastics. * South Side Weekly | El Barrio Art Show Celebrates Latinx Heritage: El Barrio Art Show welcomed artists and performers to showcase their work at Southside Sociál in Back of the Yards. Organized by Ruidosa Art Collective founders Stephanie ‘Soli’ Herrera and Garcia, the legacy event was transformed in its second year from a backyard show to an evening of art, vendors, tattooing, and music. It was followed by an official afterparty at Subterranean in collaboration with Mictlān Productions, which hosts underground dance parties and punk shows. * FOX 32 | Not tonight, 121: White Sox win as Benintendi singles in 10th for 4-3 win over Angels: The Chicago White Sox avoided a record-breaking 121st loss for the second straight game, beating the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Wednesday night on Andrew Benintendi’s 10th-inning single. […] Benintendi delivered the go-ahead hit for the second time in as many games when he lined a one-out single to left-center against José Quijada (2-1), helping the White Sox (38-120) put off infamy for the second night in a row. Designated runner Miguel Vargas scored from second. * Daily Herald | Past due: DuPage County clerk credit card bill goes unpaid: A past due credit card bill is now part of the ongoing controversy surrounding the DuPage County clerk’s office and unpaid bills. The $4,812 charge on the county’s only credit card stems from a retrofit to the county clerk’s election van. County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek submitted the bill for payment, but the county finance department noted there was no money in the clerk’s capital budget to pay the bill. * Sun-Times | U.S. Senate passes resolution honoring Palestinian-American boy killed in alleged Plainfield hate crime: The Senate passed a resolution this week honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, the 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy from Plainfield murdered last October in what authorities called an anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian hate crime. The resolution states that “no one should be a target of hate because of their ethnicity or religion, whether such ethnicity or religion is expressed verbally or through how one dresses, such as through the wearing of a hijab, keffiyeh, turban, mitpahat, tichel, shpitzel, sheitel, kippah, or yarmulke,” and that the U.S. “has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination.” * FOX 32 | Suburb eliminates daily fees at Metra parking lots: According to City Administrator Tim Kristin, the decision comes in response to ongoing issues with vandalism and theft at the parking lot payboxes, which have required police intervention and repairs from public works staff. In total, Kristin said the estimated cost to replace 12 payboxes is $60,000. * Sun-Times | Bozo fan Billy Corgan plans three-day celebration of beloved clown: One of Bozo’s biggest fans — Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan — is bringing the clown and a heaping serving of tube TV nostalgia to Madame ZuZu’s, the art and dining space he runs with his wife, Chloé Mendel, at 1876 First St. in Highland Park, in October. The three-day event — Oct. 18-20 — features a host of “Bozo’s Circus”-related activities, including vintage Bozo carnival games as well as an appearance by “Scream” actor David Arquette as the beloved clown. * WCIA | Springfield removes homeless camp two weeks after withdrawing ordinance to fine ‘public camping’: “Outreach coordinators were immediately dispatched on-site to connect with all individuals, providing referrals, resources, and contact information,” city officials wrote in the statement. “Everyone was given the opportunity to collect their belongings. However, some unclaimed items were left behind.” The City called the Public Works Department to remove more belongings. Eyewitnesses reported construction vehicles were used to remove the belongings. * SJ-R | New Springfield-area sheriff is intent on listening to Massey Commission: New Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch told The State Journal-Register in a one-on-one interview last week that she is intent on listening to the Massey Commission and suggestions it might offer regarding policing in the community going forward. “I think the most important thing is for me right now to hear what the Massey Commission has identified as what our community thinks is a big problem with law enforcement,” Crouch said. “I don’t think it’s going to be just the county. It’s law enforcement in general, though our focus with this issue is the county. * WCIA | Danville Quaker Oats building scheduled to be demolished soon: Mayor Williams says what hurts him the most is seeing people without jobs. He says the city owns nearly 100 acres west of the building. Williams also said he’s been in talks with PepsiCo to see if they can get the property Quaker Oats sits on. * SJ-R | Born a woman, fought as a man: Looking for Lincoln campaign to share Albert Cashier story: There are 260 such wayside exhibits in the state, and according Liz Vincent, Pontiac’s director of community enrichment, there’s talk of adding more — more specifically a storyboard for Albert Cashier, who has ties to both Belvidere and Saunemin, Illinois. […] After the war, Cashier returned to Illinois and continued to live as a man, working and voting in elections as well as receiving a pension as veteran. Cashier worked as a farmhand and a laborer in Belvidere and Saunemin, which is about 12 miles east of Pontiac. * WCIA | Central Illinois 3D concrete printing goes viral: LX Construction is responsible for the first 3D concrete printed building in Illinois. The original building and many others have attracted the attention of millions on social media. “We started posting some really easy, simple videos, and before too long the first one hit a million,” CEO of LX Construction Nathan Lilly said. Their most viral video has over six million views. They show their thousands of followers cutting edge 3D concrete printing. * Crain’s | Contract pharma manufacturer putting $146M into big expansion in Rockford: PCI Pharma Services plans to grow its largest manufacturing facility by more than 50%, pouring about $146 million into a 545,000-square-foot expansion into its Rockford facility. The Philadelphia-based contract pharma manufacturer said in an emailed statement it now has five facilities across more than a million square feet at its Rockford campus and employs more than 2,220 people. The facilities perform advanced drug delivery and drug-device combination assembly and packaging, the company said. * NYT | Hurricane Helene Strengthens as It Heads Toward Florida Coast: The storm could intensify to a Category 4, if not higher, before making landfall late Thursday, and forecasters warned Helene’s anticipated large size could make its effects felt across an extensive area. Areas as distant as Atlanta and the Appalachians are at risk for heavy rains. * AP | 10th death reported in Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak: At least 59 people in 19 states have been sickened by the bacteria first detected in liverwurst made at the Jarratt, Virginia, plant. Illnesses were reported between late May and late August, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. All of those who fell ill were hospitalized. The latest fatality was reported in New York, bringing the total deaths to two each in New York and South Carolina and one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Another day, another prison lockdown over unsubstantiated drug fears
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Yesterday…
* I’m highly dubious of these claims by guards…
Also…
* Anyway, I just received this from the Illinois Department of Corrections regarding a lockdown at Shawnee Correctional Center…
Not sure why a lockdown is even necessary. IDOC needs to start an intensive education program.
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Trump-appointed judge threatens AG Raoul, SA Foxx with possible sanctions
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background…
More background is here. * Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Cook Count State’s Attorney Kim Foxx eventually filed a motion to stay judgement pending appeal. Excerpt…
* That highlighted sentence infuriated Judge Iain Johnston, a Trump appointee who openly fretted about that connection when he handed down the original ruling. Judge Johnston issued an order today…
* If you’re unfamiliar with Rule 11(b), it’s about possible sanctions…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. From G-PAC Illinois…
* Illinois Association of County Clerks & Recorders…
* Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park…
* Block Club, WBEZ and Chalkbeat have all put out voter guides for Chicago’s first school board races. * WAND | How to avoid AI before heading to the polls; 2024 Voter Misinformation Guide released: On Wednesday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a 2024 Voter Misinformation Guide to help Illinois voters identify and report election misinformation generated by artificial intelligence (AI). As the election ramps up, so has the use of AI being used to create fake but realistic content about the November election and its candidates. * Press release | State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Returns Missing Money to Nearly 140,000 Residents Through Enhanced Money Match: A record-setting 138,561 people are in line to receive a total of nearly $13.2 million from the state’s Unclaimed Property program and all they have to do is cash the check, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. * South Side Weekly | What’s After ShotSpotter?:” I think the evolution has come from us wanting to see what else is out there, not necessarily committing to another gunshot-detection technology, but we need to see what is in the marketplace to see if there is a fit for the City of Chicago. And quite frankly, I think it’s important to put an RFI out to explore what options are there,” Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garien Gatewood said. * Sun-Times | As Chicago’s mayor tries to oust CPS’ Pedro Martinez, the CEO’s contract is a major hurdle: When Chicago Schools Chief Pedro Martinez took the bold step last week of rejecting Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request that he resign, Martinez did it knowing his contract would make it difficult to quickly oust him. Sources tell WBEZ and the Sun-Times that Martinez is waiting for the Board of Education to decide his fate and that he is holding out hope the members will save him. In statements and in a Chicago Tribune op-ed, he says the school district needs the stability he brings. * WBEZ | McCormick Place Lakeside Center completes bird-safe glass project in time for fall migration: The easternmost structure in the city has two football fields’ worth of glass, and the $1.2 million project took three months to complete. […] Annette Prince with the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors commended the authority for completing the project. Her organization rescues injured birds and recovers dead birds found in the city — many of which have collided into glass. “We are excited McCormick Place finished its application, and we think it’s already yielding good results,” Prince said. “On days we have had hundreds of birds hitting buildings downtown, McCormick Place hasn’t seen as many collisions.” * WBEZ | Lawsuits claim Black students in Northwestern’s prison education program were unjustly disciplined: A pair of federal lawsuits claim the Illinois Department of Corrections unjustly disciplined two Black students in Northwestern University’s prison education program because the students worked together to prevent university staff from harassment during their visits to the prison. Corrections officials deemed the coordinated effort to “stop problems” gang-related activity, according to the federal complaints. The lawsuits were expected to be filed Wednesday morning. The plaintiffs, LeShun Smith and Brian McClendon, allege they were denied due process and targeted because of their race, violating their constitutional rights and effectively ending their education, said their attorney, Alan Mills. * Sun-Times | Chicago area’s data center push continues as developer T5 breaks ground on Northlake facility: “This will be the nicest data center we’ve built,” said Robbie Sovie, T5’s executive vice president of development. “We’re going to have a lot more in the next five to 10-plus years, but this is going to be a great project.” The building, called T5 Chicago III, will serve an undisclosed user, though T5 CEO and President Pete Marin said the customer is “the best at what they do.” * Tribune | Pedestrian safety measures still lacking at many rail crossings — sometimes with tragic results: While road-rail crossings in the Chicago area typically have gates to stop vehicles, there often are no such protections for pedestrians. Of 971 rail crossings with roadway gates in Cook and the collar counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, only an estimated 204, or 21%, have pedestrian gates, according to the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates crossings. * Daily Southtown | Thornton Township trustees call for investigations into Tiffany Henyard spending: After tit for tat calls for accountability during heated exchanges between Thornton Township trustees and Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, officials approved audits of all township departments along with a former official’s credit card during a board meeting Tuesday evening. As Trustees Carmen Carlisle and Chris Gonzalez called out Henyard for continued unauthorized spending and general lack of transparency regarding township operations, Henyard shot back by questioning Carlisle’s spending when the trustee worked as her assistant. She motioned to conduct a “forensic audit/investigation” of former Thornton Township administrator Keith Freeman’s credit card “and Carmen Carlisle’s use of said card.” * Tribune | Weed shops can set up in bustling uptown area of Park Ridge after mayor misses chance to veto: Park Ridge currently has one recreational use cannabis dispensary that opened in 2023 at 1036 Higgins Road. “While my intention was to veto the action taken by Council relative to the expansion of where a cannabis dispensary can apply to operate Uptown … I made a procedural error. My mistake means that my intended action (a veto) never took place,” Mayor Marty Maloney stated in a note to the City Council that he shared by email with Pioneer Press. […] Maloney has been against allowing marijuana dispensaries in Uptown mostly due to the Park Ridge Public Library being in the area. Additionally, the area is a bustling hub in Park Ridge that includes eateries, shopping options, the town’s Metra commuter rail station, is where the farmers market is held and more. * Sun-Times | Evanston shelter mourns Blue Line victims, reaffirms its mission: Around 50 people gathered for the service Tuesday, hosted by Connections for the Homeless at Lake Street Church in Evanston. While the organization hosts an annual memorial to mourn the lives lost of those involved with the group, it was a unique event this year. A former beneficiary of the group’s services, Margaret Miller Johnson, was one of the victims killed in the mass shooting. * Shaw Local | Tiny McHenry County town where mayor fills the potholes is asking to levy its 1st property tax: But that could change on Nov. 5. The village board has placed a question on the general election ballot, seeking approval of a .25% property tax levy. If approved by voters, the levy would bring the village about $5,000 a year for its roads, said Jim Kelly, the village attorney. Even if the village board were to raise that hypothetical levy in the future “it would take us 10 years to get to what Wonder Lake taxes at,” Village Trustee Brian Spiro said at the board’s Monday night meeting. * KFVS | U.S. 60/62 bridge over Mississippi River to reopen ahead of schedule: According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the bridge carrying U.S. 60/62 over the Mississippi River in Alexander County and Mississippi County, Missouri is reopening ahead of schedule. The bridge is set to reopen, weather permitting, by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25. * WAND | Springfield Mayor releases statement on 5th and North Grand community concerns: Memorial Behavioral Health, the City of Springfield’s Community Outreach Coordinator, and the City’s Homeless Outreach Team responded to those concerns Wednesday morning. […] Outreach coordinators were sent out to connect with everyone there, provide referrals, resources, and contact information. “Everyone was given the opportunity to collect their belongings. However, some unclaimed items were left behind,” the Mayor’s Office said. * WCIA | Champaign Co. 911 center experiencing staff shortage: According to METCAD’s Director, Ralph Caldwell, the call center is having a hard time hiring and keeping dispatchers because of the demands of the job. He said the stress and relatively low-pay of the job makes it difficult to keep qualified call-takers. Relatives and loved one of dispatchers, however, have been showing their concern for the lack of staff support. They said it’s not only an added stressor for their loved ones but might impact METCAD’s ability to handle calls. * BND | A second juvenile is arrested in connection with threats made against metro-east school: A 15-year-old has been charged in connection with a social media threat against Cahokia High School last week. Law enforcement officials are not naming the juvenile or the specific charges filed due to the suspect’s age. The teen is being held at the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center, Cahokia Heights Police Chief Steven Brown said. * BND | Belleville Oktoberfest is latest metro-east festival ended early by ‘unruly’ juveniles: Officers asked the band to stop playing and began clearing out the crowd about 8:30 p.m., according to Assistant Police Chief Mark Heffernan. The festival was supposed to run until 9 p.m. […] Heffernan estimated that more than 100 juveniles were involved in the disturbance at Oktoberfest. No one had been charged as of Monday, he said, but police still were investigating alleged crimes, including one case of aggravated battery. * SJ-R | Campaign celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois roots goes from Freeport to Jonesboro: Pontiac, Illinois, could be getting its 10th Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibit with some recently announced grant funding, but did you know there already are 260 exhibits across the state? Many of them are in a community near you. Wayside exhibits are essentially storyboards that serve as historic markers. The exhibits help residents and visitors learn more about Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s 16th president and the Lincoln from which the Land of Lincoln gets its name. * AP | The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week: Fat Bear Week doesn’t officially start at Katmai National Park and Preserve until Oct. 2, when fans can begin voting online for their favorite ursine behemoths in tournament-style brackets. But on Tuesday organizers revealed the four cub contestants in this week’s Fat Bear Jr. contest — with the “chubby champ charging on to face the corpulent competition” in the adult bracket, as Naomi Boak of the nonprofit Katmai Conservancy put it during the livestreamed announcement. * NYT | As School Threats Proliferate, More Than 700 Students Are Arrested: “Five years ago, we averaged 29 school threats per month. Last year, we averaged 785 per month,” said Don Beeler of TDR Technology Solutions, a software company that tracks threats using data from schools, the police and news accounts. On the Monday after the Georgia shooting, he said, 500 schools were under threat.
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IRMA, financial institutions escalate battle over swipe fee law
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tulchin is a legit pollster which does lots of work for the House Democrats. The poll, however, has some pretty leading questions. Illinois Retail Merchants Association press release…
* Response…
Discuss.
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Reason for new bill collapses, so all sponsors are left with is a ’stunt’
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * September 19th press release…
* Same day in Center Square…
* Caulkins’ statement about striking out the voting language because it was already covered under federal law did not deter fellow Eastern Bloc member Rep. Adam Niemerg from saying this in a press release five days later…
* But Matt Dietrich, a spokesperson with the Illinois State Board of Elections, told WGLT that the rest of Caulkins’ bill is also already covered under federal law…
*Hard sigh* * Gov. Pritzker was asked about Rep. Caulkins’ bill today in Chicago…
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Rate the new Sorensen ad (Updated)
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The ad… * Transcript…
* Lee Enterprises’ Illinois political reporter Brenden Moore…
McGraw put his first TV ad out last week. …Adding… McGraw campaign…
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * HB5876 from Rep. Ryan Spain…
WGLT reported in July that the FY2025 budget included a nearly 50% cut to operating funds for Illinois soil and water conservation districts.
* HB303 would have prevented the Chicago Board of Education from making any changes to selective enrollment schools until 2027…
* WGLT…
…Adding… Governor Pritzker was asked at an unrelated news conference today about Rep. Caulkins bill…
* HB5879 from Rep. Sonya Harper…
* Rep. Carol Ammons introduced HB5874 earlier this month…
More information about the bill is here.
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Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Pace Rideshare Access Program subsidizes Uber trips, leaving riders with a co-pay of just $2. The impact: “This program has been a godsend for me. It offers flexibility, independence, freedom and the ability to maintain a beautiful life on so many levels,” says one rider. CTA: See how it works.
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I keep saying it, but nobody listens
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Considering the horribly long lines during every election, the last-minute precinct voting changes, and all the other bungles; I swear, if Chicago and Cook County were in Georgia, people would most definitely say that stuff like this was specifically designed to depress Democratic turnout…
Chicago doesn’t start early voting until October 3rd. But this is all just accepted as the natural order of things.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Why I’m not resigning as CPS chief and we’re not closing any schools CPS CEO Pedro Martinez…
* Related stories… ∙ Fran Spielman: Pushing out Martinez carries huge risks for Mayor Johnson ∙ WTTW: CPS CEO Martinez Asks School Board to Prohibit Closures Until 2027, Says He Refused Mayor’s Request to Resign At 11:30 Governor Pritzker will announce new quantum business investments. Click here to watch. * Tribune | Board of Elections objects to election workers’ union petition, saying union membership constitutes prohibited ‘political activity’: SEIU 73’s communication director, Eric Bailey, said the union was “dumbstruck” that the city had opposed the workers’ petition. “They’re working to ensure the freedom to vote for the people of Chicago,” he said. “All we want is for their freedom to form a union to be upheld in the city of Chicago.” * Tribune | Hundreds of former detainees allege rampant sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers: ‘Wouldn’t wish my situation on anybody’: “These abuses are horrific in nature,” said attorney Todd Matthews at a Tuesday news conference in the Loop. “This has to stop, it has to stop. It has to be dealt with.” The complaints, filed Monday in the Illinois Court of Claims and Cook County Circuit Court, detailed widespread abuse from 1996 to 2021. The more than 270 plaintiffs in the lawsuits — about 40 women and 230 men — join hundreds of others who have alleged similar abuse. * Chicago Mag | The Man Leading Illinois’s Energy Transition: From an early age, JC Kibbey knew the impact a lack of clean air can have. Growing up in the shadow of coal plants in Lansing, Michigan, he often found himself dealing with respiratory illnesses, the result of exposure to pollution. And when one of those plants closed, he watched as people lost their jobs. That’s all been on Kibbey’s mind in his role as the state climate adviser for Illinois, a position he assumed last December after five years at the Natural Resources Defense Council. At the top of his agenda? Helping the state spend a $430 million federal grant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution — part of President Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation. The funds are expected to help Illinois cut an estimated 57 million tons of emissions by 2050, but Kibbey argues that the state’s energy transition has benefits far beyond curbing climate change. * Patch | Anti-Islamic Survey Alleged In Burr Ridge Area Race: Democrat Suzanne Akhras, who is running for District 82’s state representative, said Tuesday she has received multiple reports that a survey is falsely telling residents she belongs to Islamic terrorist groups. […] Based on her information, Akhras, who is Muslim, said the survey asks, “Would you vote for Suzanne Akhras if you knew she belonged to Islamic terrorist groups?” The survey comes through a text, stating, “Dan here with Political Opinion Research with a poll about the upcoming general election.” A link is given to Survey Monkey. * Sun-Times | Court records show two Springfield insiders profited from a controversial state government program: Ex-Illinois state Sen. James DeLeo, D-Chicago, and prominent Republican lobbyist Nancy Kimme each got 1% of the profits from a clout-heavy company called Vendor Assistance Program LLC, but that lucrative arrangement wasn’t publicly known until a week ago, the court documents and other records show. VAP is led by politically connected lawyer Brian Hynes, who has thrived for more than a decade in a state program that allows a small group of companies to buy government debt. Under the program, VAP and the other companies front unpaid state contractors most of what Springfield owes them, and VAP and other “qualified purchasers” go on to pocket the late-payment penalties from the state. * WGEM | Illinois lawmakers discuss potential changes to how higher education is funded: The state House Appropriations Higher-Education Committee met Monday to discuss a potential new funding model based in equity to make college more accessible. […] “Our competition has grown to include out-of-state flagships, privates and many others that have wooed our students with shiny buildings and new equipment. While this hasn’t changed the quality of education that we provide, it does impact that perception of our students and our perspective families,” said Eastern Illinois University Vice President for Business Affairs Matt Bierman. He said Eastern Illinois University’s enrollment has declined significantly over the past 15 years. * Pontiac Daily Leader | Early voting for the Nov. 5 election is about to begin. Here’s what you need to know: If you missed the deadline to register to vote locally or online, you can still vote using grace period registration. The grace period runs from the end of regular registration through Election Day. Grace period registration takes place in person at local election offices, as well as at some early voting sites and at certain polling places on Election Day. Those taking advantage of grace period registration are required to vote the same day they register. * WCIA | State Board of Elections warns of sample ballots through mail: Officials posted to the board’s Facebook page that people may receive what appears to be a ballot from political candidates or organizations. These are not real ballots; they are sample ballots that cannot be used to vote. People will get a real ballot through the mail only if they ask for one. People who are signed up permanently for voting by mail will receive one automatically from the State Board of Elections. * Sun-Times | Vacant armory can’t be used as police station because of air traffic safety rules, Mayor Johnson says: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration on Tuesday cited federal air traffic safety regulations for the decision to use a former National Guard armory to store and maintain police vehicles, aircraft and other equipment — and not for a new Southwest Side police district. Last week, alderpersons in the area accused the mayor of pulling the rug out from under their longstanding campaign for a new district to speed response times. It would be carved out of the existing Chicago Lawn police district, which serves the second-largest geographic area with the fewest officers per capita. They accused the mayor of thumbing his nose at a bill approved by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker calling for the state to sell the closed armory at 5400 W. 63rd St. to the city for $1 “for the express purpose” of creating a new police district. * WBBM | Study on Chicago police reform efforts finds holes in city’s approach: At the request of people within Chicago’s philanthropic community, the New York University School of Law’s Policing Project has been looking into the Chicago Police Department for years. Professor Barry Friedman, the project director, said the city is overly fascinated with finding new approaches to policing rather than focusing on proven methods. * Tribune | New center for organ donors at Rush is first of its kind in Illinois: The Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at Rush is the first of its kind in Illinois. The center accepts patients from area hospitals who’ve been declared brain dead and who’ve been authorized to be organ donors. At the center, doctors and nurses work to keep donors’ organs functioning and ultimately procure their organs, so they can be transported to some of the more than 104,000 people now on waiting lists for organs in the U.S. The center received its first donor Sunday. * Crain’s | Turns out Chicago’s pandemic exodus wasn’t as drastic as it seemed: Although it was the largest exodus from Chicago in five years, it wasn’t nearly as severe as those seen in other big cities, such as New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of IRS data on where people filed their taxes from one year to the next. * Tribune | Crazy night saw Chicago White Sox fans conflicted over the possibility of a record-setting loss: “It’s been a long season,” left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “I think that people here tonight were maybe trying to see history. But they’re going to have to wait one more day.” After a slight pause, Benintendi caught himself and added: “Maybe.” So it’s back again on Wednesday when Davis Martin starts and the Sox attempt to avoid history for a second straight night. They need to win their final five games to avoid holding the record. * Daily Herald Editorial Board | A divisive moment averted: Plans to bring inflammatory speaker to suburbs would only have hurt Illinois GOP: It is hard to wrap our heads around the self-inflicted damage certain northern Illinois Republicans inflicted on themselves and their party in recent days by inviting a misogynistic, homophobic, Holocaust-denying and Black-hating politician from North Carolina to speak at a GOP fundraiser. If former Lake County GOP party leader Mark Shaw was trying to help former President Donald Trump win Wisconsin when he invited Mark Robinson to speak at the Tenth Congressional District Republican Organization in Kenilworth on Sept. 29, he miscalculated. * WGN | Thornton Township trustees ask for auditor to step in amid question over spending: Trustees in Thornton Township are asking for an auditor to step in as they question money being spent on credit cards for events, amid their focus to reign in on spending. “I am the leader for Thornton Township, I am the supervisor for Thornton Township and I’m going to make sure y’all give me my respect and stop playing these games every time you come to the meeting. I need you to please put some respect on my name,” embattled Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard said during Tuesday night’s contentious meeting. * WAND | Increasing diaper costs impacts local families and nonprofits: The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery provides free childcare to families who don’t have access to reliable care. In addition to childcare, they also offer a small pantry, stocked with diapers and formula. Each month, the crisis nursery hands out more than 250 packets of diapers to families in need and have to turn away dozens when their stock runs out. * WICS | Illinois Veterans’ Homes at Anna and Manteno See Increase in Mild COVID-19 Cases: The Illinois Veterans’ Homes at Anna and Manteno are experiencing increased COVID-19 cases among its veterans and staff and the majority of cases have presented mild symptoms. As of September 24th, the following cases have been reported: Anna: 17 residents and seven staff Manteno: 15 residents and nine staff * WCIA | U of I workers hit day 2 of strike as proposal is rejected: Rain or shine union members were back at it to make their voices heard. And U of I students are feeling the impact of the building and food service workers being out here on the picket lines. It’s day two of a strike for more than 700 workers. There’s no compromise on a contract yet. There was an offer made during yesterday’s mediation session. The union rejected it. * WCIA | UIS scores top public regional university in Illinois rating: The University of Illinois Springfield has been recognized as the top public regional university in Illinois for the sixth year in a row. UIS scored better than several other public universities like Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University and Chicago State University. The university tied for 28th place overall for all regional universities in the Midwest with Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, and Winona State University in Minnesota. * PJ Star | Multitalented Peoria native will have recurring role in popular NBC TV show: Peoria native Dionne Gipson will have a recurring role in the upcoming second season of the acclaimed NBC crime drama “Found.” The season debut is Oct. 3. It won’t be the first national exposure for the multitalented Peoria High School alumna. Gipson is an actress, singer and songwriter, born and raised in Peoria. She got her start in the entertainment industry through singing with her father, Byron “Wild Child” Gipson, a popular local musician. She graduated from Florida A&M, a historically black university, and earned a master’s degree in theater arts from Penn State University, according to her website biography. * Politico | The Truth About Emmett Till Wasn’t in Your History Book: What almost nobody knows, including me when I started reporting The Barn, my new book on the untold history of this famous murder, is that he allegedly whistled the day after a long gubernatorial election dominated by intense racial rhetoric. Mississippi during the election of 1955 was a place trapped in a cycle of hysteria, conspiracy and rage. “A Nazi rally,” is how former Gov. William Winter once described to me the state’s mood during the civil rights era. * WaPo | GOP asks court to change voting rules in one state, with impact for all: A panel of federal judges heard arguments Tuesday in a case that could upend the rules for counting a sliver of mail ballots in Mississippi just weeks before Election Day, with possible ramifications for all states. At issue is a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted if they arrive up to five days after Election Day and are postmarked by Election Day or earlier. Seventeen other states and Washington, D.C., have laws allowing postmarked mail ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. Click here to keep up with the La Schiazza trial. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Chalkbeat…
* We discussed this last week. Capitol News Illinois…
* WGEM…
* Chronicle Media | Democratic leadership gets behind Williamson’s second try for 47th House seat: During his Smoke Filled Room podcast on Aug. 30, Collin Corbett, the founder of Cor Strategies, a political consulting firm, called [Rep. Amy Grant] “the third most vulnerable” House Republican. Corbett noted the “extensive polling in specific districts so they can decide where they will and where they won’t put their money in September and in October for the final stretch,” Corbett said. * ABC Chicago | Lawsuits filed against Illinois DCFS, Springfield employees after baby taken from family: One suit is against DCFS, and one is against four of the agency’s employees based out of Springfield. The suit alleges that they knowingly kept an infant away from his family for three months, even when they knew nearly from the beginning that no abuse had occurred. […] In July of last year, he was taken away from his mother, after she took him to the doctor’s office to check up on a burn located on his upper arm. Unable to speak English and with no interpreter provided for her, her attorneys say she was unable to properly answer the questions that were being asked. * CBS Chicago | Some clean energy investments are slow to roll out, while others are spurring job creation: Two years ago, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and nearly three years ago it passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Both pieces of federal legislation provided money to states and local municipalities to invest in clean energy projects. One of those is NanoGraf in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. NanoGraf just awarded a $60 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to stand up a battery material facility for electric vehicles in Flint, Michigan. This facility is set to produce 2,500 tons of NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon anode material per year, and create 200 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs. * Heartland Signal | Chicago Teachers Union’s Stacy Davis Gates talks CPS CEO Pedro Martinez with WCPT’s Richard Chew: “We are deeply disappointed in CEO Pedro Martinez because he has an opportunity to be legendary,” Gates said. “And he has chosen to take our work, turn it in as his own, and then tell everyone he can’t afford to implement any of it. It just feels so cynical and disconnected for the type of partnership coalition that we’ll need to actually resource and transform our school district.”
* WTTW | Chicago Expects to Spend Less Than $141M to Care for Migrants in 2024: Officials: But the surge that many officials said was certain to hit the city never materialized, and the city expects to spend less than $141 million to care for the migrants, who are in the country legally after requesting asylum and receiving permission to remain in the U.S. while their cases are resolved. That is approximately $9 million less than the $150 million City Council earmarked to care for the migrants a year ago when it approved the city’s 2024 budget. At the time, Johnson said he did not think that would be enough to care for the migrants for an entire year but hoped it would convince state, county and federal officials to send additional aid to the city. * Block Club | ‘We’ve Been Tired For A Long Time’: Inside A Public Housing Advocate’s Push To Oust The CHA CEO: In addition to being a veteran activist, [Francine Washington] is a member of the CHA’s board of commissioners. CHA board members typically back whatever the CEO proposes. Criticizing Scott publicly, and calling for her ouster, is unusual. But Washington’s remarks were planned well ahead of time and coordinated with other resident leaders. Frustration with Scott has been growing, Washington said after the meeting, and they wanted alderpeople and the CEO herself to hear it. * Streetsblog | After recent crashes in 39th Ward, constituents urge Ald. Nugent to make safer walk/bike infrastructure happen before someone else gets hurt: On her way out the door, local Alderperson Samantha Nugent shared hers as well. “I don’t have a vision,” she said. She mentioned her plan to listen to constituents about traffic hot spots in the ward, then take those concerns back to the office and map them out. She said the next step will be to take the map to transportation experts and heed their advice on best practices. * Crain’s | Bank weighs holding onto distressed Loop office tower as Google beckons: A French bank that recently foreclosed on a Loop office tower across the street from Google’s future Chicago home is signaling it may hold on to the property after negotiating to unload it at a steep discount. At issue is the future of the 49-story office building at 161 N. Clark St., which a venture led by Paris-based lender Societe Generale took control of in March, according to Cook County property records. The bank had filed a $236 million foreclosure lawsuit last fall and was reportedly in talks earlier this year to sell the property to Chicago-based real estate firms Farpoint Development and Golub, likely taking a massive financial haircut in the process on the $230 million loan it had provided the tower’s previous owner. * Tribune | Flood advisory issued as weather system moves into Chicago area: Tornado sirens blared early Tuesday afternoon in parts of the south suburbs as thunder sounded on Chicago’s South Side and weather officials issued a flood advisory until 3:15 p.m. The flood advisory was for portions of northeast Illinois in Cook and Will counties, according to the National Weather Service. * Sun-Times | Chicago White Sox meme their way through baseball’s worst season ever: Even the Sox’ social media team is struggling to spin the squad’s sad performance. After falling to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, tying the record for most losses, the Sox’ official account on the social media platform X refused to report the score — a running joke in the season’s waning days. Instead, the Sox posted a meme showing a car swerving off the Dan Ryan Expressway toward 35th Street, where the team plays. An edited overhead sign had directed the car — labeled “Admin,” referring to the administrator of the account — to either stay straight and “Post [the] final score” or turn and post “Literally anything else.” * Lake County News-Sun | Lake County official says recycling myth ‘needs to be debunked’; ‘It’s real, and that material has value’: Where there are recycling bins, there are sometimes people claiming they go to the same landfill as regular household garbage. But, officials said, that is definitely not the case in Lake County. Of the roughly 1 million tons of municipal waste generated in the county every year, about 40% is recycled or composted, they said. * KFVS | Southern Illinois lawmakers call for change at prisons after exposure incidents: Illinois State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona), State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) and State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) are urging IDOC to temporarily suspend mail processing services within correctional facilities. IDOC reports items recovered at some of the facilities have tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids, chemicals found in insecticides and Fentanyl, but at some locations, there have been no positive results. Illinois State Police are conducting further testing at their lab. * WJBD | Centralia elects to go with 1/2-cent sales tax to replace 1-cent sales tax being eliminated by the state: City Manager Kory Smith explained how the tax would affect sales tax figures in various sections of Centralia. “If passed, this will bring the city’s total sales rate to 6.75 (percent) in both Clinton and Washington counties, with it still being 7.25 within the Jolliff Bridge Business District within Clinton County. The rate in Jefferson County will be 7.25, as it includes a half-percent county public safety tax. In Marion County the rate will be 8 percent, as it includes 1 percent for a county schools facility tax and a quarter percent for a county public safety tax.”
* WCIA | Person arrested after FBI investigates social media threat at Parkland College: WCIA confirmed with Stephanie Stuart, the Chief Communications Officer for Parkland College, a person was arrested Tuesday morning after law enforcement including Champaign Police Department and the FBI investigated a social media threat mentioning the community college. There was an increased police presence on campus Tuesday morning. The college said there is no threat at this time. * Vermillion County First | Immigration Controversy Causes Retraction from Vermilion Advantage Leader: The press release also included language about seeking funding for “a streamlined regulatory process for immigrants so we are more readily able to attract immigrants into our community.” According to the retraction from Vermilion Advantage and Marron, “that language was inadvertently included by CEO Mike Marron. That language reflects the personal views of Mike Marron and should not have been included in the release. The language does not reflect the views of Vermilion Advantage, nor anyone involved with the organization or its board.” * STLPR | Who owns the Riverfront Times? Signs point to Texas-based companies hawking OnlyFans camgirls: But a path to discovering who purchased the St. Louis alt weekly opened on Aug. 1. A new executive editor took to the Riverfront Times’ X account to introduce himself, JD Davis, and his “plan to save RFT” by publishing articles about OnlyFans. […] By putting his name out there, Davis revealed more than his business plan for the paper. St. Louis Public Radio has dug into incorporation documents, lawsuit filings and information from people close to the matter — all of which points to RSC Ventures, an operation that is leveraging the RFT’s online reputation to fund a link-farming business run by out-of-state owners. * The Tennessean | Nashville legend Johnny Cash becomes first musician honored with statue inside US Capitol: At an unveiling ceremony in the United States Capitol Visitor Center, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined over 100 members of the Cash family to reveal artist Kevin Kresse’s bronze statue. The 8-foot-tall statue depicts the “I Walk the Line” singer with his head slightly downturned, a Bible in one hand and the other on his chest. A guitar is slung over his back. * NYT | The U.S. News College Rankings Are Out. Cue the Rage and Obsession.: Indeed, to students and their parents, the rankings can be tools for narrowing college searches, and status symbols surrounding admissions to certain schools. To university leaders, the rankings are often publicly heralded but privately detested. To regulators, including Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona, the rankings are responsible for “an unhealthy obsession with selectivity” and the development of “the false altar of U.S. News and World Report.”
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This is gonna be one for the lawyers
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * August press release…
* Sun-Times last week…
* Block Club Chicago today…
* OK, to the bills. From the relevant state law…
* From the mayor’s proposed ordinance…
Heh.
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Judge overseeing La Schiazza trial wants to hear acquittal arguments before scheduling another trial (Updated)
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
…Adding… The Tribune…
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * KSDK in June…
* WBEZ in July…
The Question: Do you support a statewide ban of cell phones in Illinois public schools? Make sure to explain your answer.
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Meanwhile… In Opposite Land
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* AP…
* Tennessee…
* Florida…
* Texas…
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The Importance Of Energy Storage
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Recent polling shows 72% of Illinoisans support incentives for energy storage, and a majority of Illinoisans would be likely to for a candidate that supports building more energy storage in the state. But it’s not just popular. It’s urgent — Building more storage today is the best way to save Illinois families and businesses from rapidly rising energy costs. By guaranteeing a backup of affordable energy at times when heat waves, storms, or cold snaps threaten Save families money and make energy more reliable. With energy costs set to rise, we need energy storage now. Learn more about energy storage and outstanding bills about it here.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Hundreds sue over alleged sexual abuse in Illinois youth detention centers. AP…
- Monday’s complaints, based on the accounts of 272 people, name several repeat offenders. - At least one employee accused in a lawsuit filed Monday still works for the state, according to state records. - Many said their abusers threatened them with beatings, solitary confinement, transfers to harsher facilities and longer sentences if they reported the abuse. * WGLT | New exhibit on asbestos reveals a dark, unsettling and important B-N story: A story of corporate greed, willful worker exploitation, and human tragedy in Bloomington-Normal began nearly a century ago. And the investments in worker safety the Unarco company and others failed to make are paying dividends of a horrible sort — ones of blood and lost public treasure. It’s the story of asbestos, the subject of a new exhibit opening Saturday at the McLean County Museum of History. “The anger that you have knowing that the company did this to your family, it eats on you daily,” said Terry Redman of Wapella. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois celebrates dispensary openings while manufacturers face significant challenges: The independent diversity study – commissioned by the state at a cost of $2.5 million by Peoria-based Nerevu Group consulting firm – found that while the state has awarded more licenses to women and people of color than any other regulated market in the United States, white men are still the demographic most likely to have a cannabis license in Illinois. But the Department of Agriculture’s most recent licensee operation status list shows only about 30% of businesses awarded specialty cannabis licenses are operational. And for some social equity applicants, turning the licenses into a functioning business has been difficult. * WAND | Illinois public universities ask lawmakers for equitable, evidence-based funding model: Smaller campuses like Chicago State University receive significantly less funding than the state’s flagship college. Dr. Z Scott told the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee Monday that she would love to have the same quality buildings as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Look at their facilities and compare those to what is happening at Chicago State,” Scott said. “Chicago State received $42 million in state appropriations, a 2% increase, which amounted to $787,000. It was not even enough to keep up with inflation or our growing union demands, reasonable demands for salary increases.” * Center Square | Legislators hear need for more funding for Illinois college, university upkeep: Some university officials said they look to control their own contracts, rather than have it facilitated by the Capital Development Board. CDB Executive Director T.J. Edwards said they’re concerned about ensuring equitable funding. “The only concern I have is how do we duplicate that across multiple universities,” Edwards said. “How do we ensure that multiple universities that may have individual strategies for their delivery of projects are all going to be compliant, are all going to use Illinois Works … that they’re all going to make sure the accessibility standards are being followed.” * Lake County News-Sun | Political newcomer challenging 3-term incumbent in State House District 59; ‘I’m fed up no one is willing to step up’: State Rep. Dan Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, is pleased with the direction the state is going, and wants to continue doing his part as the representative of the Illinois House of Representatives’ 59th District. His Republican opponent this fall, Chris Henning, has a different take on the state of the state. “We’ve got the state on a sound financial footing, and I’m proud of that,” Didech said. “We’ve had nine credit upgrades. Our annual funding for public schools is $350 million a year. It’s been $2 billion since 2018.” * WGLT | Immigration advocate says bill to stop Illinois non-citizens from voting is unnecessary and harmful: “If you have an organization that is going around, particularly going around these housing areas, where we have these illegal aliens, and registering them to vote, I think that makes is pretty obvious,” said Caulkins. Caulkins said he thinks this has been a problem in Illinois, though could not say where. […] Illinois has had one confirmed ballot fraud incident since 2019, a duplicate primary election voter in Macon County in 2022. * 25News Now | Nearly 60 Illinois police officers graduate into leadership roles through cost-free training program: The program is called, ‘Enduring, Surviving, and Thriving as a Law Enforcement Executive in the 21st Century,’ and it was held at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, located at 100 Conference Center Drive. The event was hosted by Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The training is a free four-day course that is meant to prepare incoming officers with the concepts, strategies, and insights needed for success in their new roles. * Tribune | CTU announces ‘no confidence’ in CPS CEO Pedro Martinez: CTU’s announcement comes amid ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and debate over whether the Chicago Board of Education, whose members have the sole power to terminate Martinez, should buck the union’s desires and former CTU organizer Mayor Brandon Johnson — in favor of stability in district finances and leadership. * Fox Chicago | CTU president denies involvement in effort to oust CPS CEO: CTU President Davis Gates denied any involvement in the mayor’s apparent decision to let Martinez go, something Martinez is resisting as his contract requires a six-month notice for termination. […] When asked if she wanted the Board of Education to terminate Martinez, she responded: “No, I want the Chicago Public Schools, I want the Chicago Board of Education, I want the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, I want the Mayor of Chicago to fully fund public schools.” * Block Club | As ShotSpotter Contract Ends, City Starts Search For New ‘First Responder Technology’: Johnson’s office announced the “request for information” for new “first responder technology” on Sunday, the same day ShotSpotter detectors began to go dark in Chicago. The request is the latest move in the prolonged effort to decommission ShotSpotter, which fulfilled a Johnson campaign process but has since ignited a political firestorm. The Chicago Police Department stopped using ShotSpotter shortly after midnight Sunday, a police spokesperson said. * Sun-Times | Ex-Chicago cop — once a national TV pundit on policing — now an accused police impersonator: The former cop appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and CBS News, offering his insights on police misconduct and proper law enforcement procedures. Now, Roberts has become the subject of the news after being charged with impersonating a federal agent in Texas. He was previously hit with similar allegations in Chicago and California two years ago, the Sun-Times has found. * Daily Southtown | Biden OKs disaster declaration in wake of July storms: The announcement comes after Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Gov. JB Pritzker made similar disaster proclamations Aug. 12 and Aug. 30, which unlocked state funds to assist residents in their recovery efforts. With Biden’s declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency can offer individual assistance to residents in areas hardest hit by the July storms, including Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will and Winnebago counties. * Daily Herald | Parents criticize how high school handled discovery of gun at school: In the wake of a student bringing a loaded handgun to Glenbard East High School, parents are criticizing how school officials handled the situation, and they’re calling for schools to have metal detectors at entrances. The gun was found in a boys restroom Sept. 10 and was traced to the home of a 14-year-old boy in Glendale Heights, according to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office. * Sun-Times | Size matters — Illinois could soon lay claim to country’s largest truck stop: Outpost, an Austin, Texas-based company is set to open a 30-acre truck stop in West Dundee in mid- to late October, said Pat Hardin, Outpost’s VP of revenue and operations. “Chicago is really the crown jewel of transportation in this country,” Hardin said Monday. “[And West Dundee] has access to the city without hitting the city traffic.” * Sun-Times | Northwest suburban woman is first in the Midwest to receive ‘groundbreaking’ skin cancer treatment: Alla Pinzour says she’s a trouper. She has lived with melanoma for 15 years. A new therapy offered at the University of Chicago used her own body’s cells to fight the cancer and shrink her tumors. * Sun-Times | Illinois man pleads guilty to Jan. 6 riot property destruction charges: A southern Illinois man has pleaded guilty to a destruction of property charge after he smashed a window in the U.S. Capitol building during the Jan. 6, 2021 riots, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Justin LaGesse, a 37-year-old who lives about 300 miles south of Chicago in McLeansboro, pleaded guilty to felony destruction of property Monday. Proceedings are ongoing for 36-year-old Theodore Middendorf, another McLeansboro resident charged alongside him. * WSIL | 6 sent to hospital after becoming ill sorting mail at Shawnee Correctional Center, tests yield no positive results, IDOC says: The Marion Fire Rescue Hazardous Material Team responded to the correctional facility and tested items and clothing of the staff members who were affected. After testing the items and clothing, results came back negative for any presence of drugs or narcotics, IDOC stated. […] IDOC also stated searches were conducted and the Shawnee Correctional Center’s Investigations and Intelligence Unit found suspicious mail, however, preliminary tests yielded no positive results. * WCIA | U of I building, food service workers begin strike: Although the strike affects food service workers, a university spokesperson clarified that all dining halls are open except the one at Lincoln Avenue and Allen Residence Halls, which is open for kosher meals. The convenience stores operated by University Housing are also open but are not serving made-to-order hot food. * WSIL | Harrisburg officials are investigating after tornado sirens sound with no severe weather: Harrisburg’s Mayor John McPeek says he received calls from emergency officials trying to figure out how they started sounding off. “They don’t know if they got interfered with another town or what happened. But something definitely went wrong for them to go off like that because they should not do that,” Mayor McPeek said. He says the emergency management director is investigating it. * SJ-R | Springfield-area woman turning 112 years old is likely state’s oldest resident: Wenonah Bish, who currently lives in Sherman, will be turning 112 on Oct. 2. […] Bish’s family describes her as someone who prefers to look at what’s coming rather than what’s behind her. She loves calling and talking to her daughter Delores throughout the day, in addition to speaking with her grandson Dirk, who lives in Miami, and her grandson Don who lives in the Dominican Republic.
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SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * The anti-Haas mailer in question is here. Isabel’s text exchange with 79th House District Democratic candidate Billie Morgan about his previous statement that he would’ve voted against the budget bill…
* Many of the Americans for Prosperity Action digital ads I told you about can be viewed by clicking here. Its help wanted page is here.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. Click here to keep up with the La Schiazza trial. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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