Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Mayor Brandon Johnson is being urged to hold off on naming a permanent leader of the Chicago Transit Authority even as he attempts to gain support to install the city’s chief operating officer, John Roberson, in the post.

A coalition of transit advocates sent Johnson and CTA board chair Lester Barclay a letter on April 18, urging the city to take a step back and conduct a national search to fill the position to lead the $2.1 billion agency. […]

The advocates want a CTA leader with experience running a large transit agency, securing federal funding, managing relationships with advocates and who rides the system he or she presides over, among other qualifications.

The push comes as the mayor’s office and Roberson are seeking to shore up the votes for his nomination, which must be approved by the seven-member CTA board. The mayor controls four appointments to the board, with Gov. JB Pritzker appointing three.

* ABC Chicago…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is trying to woo Canadian tourists to come visit Illinois this summer.

The move in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week. […]

Pritzker is hoping to re-assure Canadians that Illinois and the U.S. welcomes our neighbors to north despite the current political rift between the two nations.

“I don’t blame anyone from Canada whose appetite for visiting the U.S. might have soured-with our current president and the shameful way he’s represented us on the national stage as of late. But as Governor, and self-designated chief marketing officer of Illinois, I want to reassure you that we’re as eager as ever to have you come here,” Governor JB Pritzker [said in a video promo]. “Here in Illinois, we’re ready and eager to prove that Midwest nice is the closest thing to Canadian hospitality you can get south of Windsor. As you head south through our shared Great Lakes, we are ready to welcome you to the middle of everything.”

…Adding… Gov. Pritzker will travel to DC, next month to testify before a Republican-led panel on sanctuary cities…

BREAKING: Sanctuary Governors will TESTIFY on June 12 on how their states’ policies are SHIELDING criminal illegal aliens and jeopardizing Americans’ safety.

📍Kathy Hochul (NY)
📍Tim Walz (MN)
📍JB Pritzker (IL) pic.twitter.com/LMsGqRPhFZ

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 6, 2025

*** State House News ***

* Jewish Insider | Schakowsky retirement sets up Illinois Democratic primary battle over Mideast policy: In an interview with Jewish Insider on Monday, Fine touted her pro-Israel platform and described herself as a staunch defender of the Jewish state who has long been outspoken against rising antisemitism fueled by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Stressed athletes and coaches wait as deadline nears to solve NCAA’s ‘changing’ roster limits issue: The $2.8 billion settlement, if approved, would benefit thousands of former and current college athletes. It would provide back pay to former athletes for missed name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. And it would allow current and future athletes — especially elite ones and those who participate in the money-making sports of football and men’s basketball — to benefit from revenue sharing from their universities. But U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s approval of the House settlement has been held up by one issue: roster limits.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | ‘State of Black Chicago’ report lays out path to building wealth amid stark racial gaps: “The State of Black Chicago 2025: A Laddered Path to Wealth Building” focuses heavily on a key data point from a report by The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy. The 2024 findings show that the typical Black family in the Chicago metropolitan area reports a median net worth of $0, compared with $210,000 for a white family.

* WTTW | Chicago-Area Organizations Working on Everything From Youth Mentorship to Homelessness Lose Positions Following AmeriCorps Cuts: “The damage is done, the damage is critical and what they’re gonna find out is that the damages are gonna have more of a cost than their perceived savings,” said A Safe Haven Foundation President Mark Mulroe, whose organization was impacted by AmeriCorps cuts. Five AmeriCorps VISTA members at A Safe Haven Foundation, which provides services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Chicago area, were told Monday that there was no longer funding for their positions after the nonprofit was informed of grant terminations, according to Mulroe.

* Sun-Times | New book illuminates Wrigley Building. Iconic structure? Yes. Superb? Not so much.: What we get far less of are the critics who lined up over the years to give the Wrigley Building the backhand. Lewis Mumford referred to its “safe mediocrity.” The Wrigley Building is “just what the name implies,” sniffed Frank Lloyd Wright — admittedly not famous for kindness toward other architects — noting it “illustrates the principle that an ugly building by day, if illuminated, will be ugly by night as well.” […] Sharoff brushes away such criticism (and Samuelson dismisses the enduring skybridge mystery in a few chicken-crossing-the-road sentences: It was built in 1931 to get to the other side).

* Chicago Mag | The Sketchy Future of Court Artists: Currently, there are two main sketch artists who freelance for the television news stations and newspapers in town: Lou Chukman and Cheryl “Cookie” Cook. That’s down from the days when every station and newspaper in town had their own courtroom sketch artist on staff. Now a new face, Cliff Questel, has gotten on board what may be a sinking ship. , 62, is a graphic artist by day, but recently has been seen at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse — referred to by its location, “26th and Cal,” by most in the news business — as well as other courthouses in the Chicago area.

* Tribune | Nancy Faust on her Chicago White Sox return after a 15-year absence: ‘I never expected a resurgence like this’: Faust spent 41 seasons — more than 3,000 games — on the South Side, missing only a handful of games due to the birth of her son. She is widely recognized for incorporating popular music into ballpark repertoire and for choosing songs that relate to each player based on their name, number or even their home state. Ever chant “Na-Na Hey-Hey Goodbye” when the opposing team pulls their pitcher? That’s because Faust played it first. […] The White Sox announced Monday that Faust, 78, will return to The Rate — which was known as U.S. Cellular Field the last time she played there almost 15 years ago — with her organ for six home games on select Sundays. Her appearances start on Sunday with Mother’s Day and end on Aug. 10, which happens to be her and husband Joe’s 45th wedding anniversary.

* Block Club | Andersonville’s Midsommarfest Returns In June With Headliners The O’My’s, Sixteen Candles: The free, family-friendly festival is 5-10 p.m. June 13, noon-10 p.m. June 14 and noon-9 p.m. June 15 on Clark Street between Foster Avenue and Gregory Street. It’s expected to host as many as 80,000 people throughout the weekend. This year will be the 59th edition of Midsommarfest, one of Chicago’s oldest and most beloved street festivals, according to the event organizer, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Aurora Beacon-News | Attrition program, cost-cutting measures debated as Kane County Board grapples with impending budget shortfall: The county is on pace to dip below the required 90-day reserves in 2027 if revenue and spending remains level, county officials have said. One solution was an additional revenue stream, most notably a proposed 0.75% sales tax touted by some as a viable solution to the budget gap. But, in April, voters overwhelmingly shot down the measure.

* Patch | Newly Sworn-In City Council Member Announces Bid For DuPage Board: In an announcement celebrating being sworn in for his second term on the Naperville City Council, council member Ian Holzhauer announced plans to run for a seat on the DuPage County Board. […] “ The number one duty of candidates and elected officials is to be candid with voters. Many have asked about my future intentions. Rather than be cagey, I will be straightforward: I will be running for DuPage County Board in District 5 in the midterm election.”

* Daily Southtown | Jim Dodge sworn in as Orland Park mayor, says it’s ‘a new day’ for the village: Sworn in Monday as Orland Park’s mayor, Jim Dodge said it’s “a new day” in the village and pledged he and other new elected officials are “going to do everything to make sure we listen” to residents. Dodge won election in April 1, defeating Keith Pekau, who was seeking a third term. Sworn in with Dodge were Village Clerk Mary Ryan Norwell and trustees John Lawler, Dina M. Lawrence and Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad.

* Daily Herald | The ‘perfect fit’: Former Buffalo Grove deputy hired as Lisle’s police chief: It didn’t take long for new Lisle Mayor Mary Jo Mullen to name a new police chief — one of her first official moves since being sworn into office. Village trustees have confirmed Mullen’s appointment of Michael Rodriguez to the long-vacant post. His hiring comes months after Kevin Licko stepped down as Lisle’s police chief. “We interviewed Mike back in December. I would say all of us really felt that he was the empathetic, mentoring, coaching style of leader that our force really needs right now,” Mullen said Tuesday.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Normal extends deadline for short-term rentals, gets pushback on Illinois Art Station hirings: The moratorium, applying to properties such as Airbnb or VRBO offerings, was to give Normal time to consider and evaluate regulatory alternatives. The council approved a change for it to last until July 1, rather than June 1. That gives extra time for Normal to better assess the situation should any land-use bills become law by the end of the Illinois spring legislative session on May 31.

* WGLT | NPR stations like WGLT wade through uncertainty following executive order: WGLT Assistant Executive Director and Development Director Melissa Libert says it’s unrealistic for added community support to entirely make up for a loss of federal funding. That would be about $175,000 annually if all federal funding was removed. “It would be significant,” Libert said. “What we are worried about is that the attacks just keep coming.”

* KHQA | New funding allows Girl Scouts to expand mental health outreach in rural western Illinois: The funding will support programming aimed at 350 girls across Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike counties. The initiative brings mental health education directly to youth in underserved communities by offering age-appropriate programming focused on self-care, confidence, communication and resiliency.

* WCIA | Douglass Branch Library shows off new makerspace: Manager Thea Green said they received a $50,000 grant from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to give the community a new space to be in. “Just to bring the community together, to let their creative mind go and make something and take something home that they would enjoy to have in,” Green said.

* WCIA | Shozo Sato, founder of U of I’s Japan House, dies at 91: The organization announced on Tuesday that Shozo Sato passed away at the age of 91. Sato founded Japan House in 1975, about a decade after first coming to Central Illinois from Japan. He arrived in 1964 as a visiting artist-in-residence for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the College of Fine and Applied Arts. “He recognized the need for cultural arts education to build cultural bridges and committed the rest of his life to teaching in the United States,” Japan House wrote. “His tenacity and vision for teaching Japanese arts and culture started the original Japan House at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”

*** National ***

* NBC | Supreme Court allows Trump to implement transgender military ban: The justices granted an emergency request from the Trump administration to lift a nationwide injunction blocking the policy while litigation continues. The court’s brief order noted that the three liberal justices dissented. The decision is a loss for the seven individual transgender service members, led by lead plaintiff Emily Shilling, a Navy commander, who had sued to block it.

5 Comments

Noem says people without REAL ID can still board airplanes (Updated)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Alexi ain’t too happy…

WE’VE BEEN SCREAMING THIS FOR MONTHS. Thanks ⁦@Sec_Noem⁩ for continuing to call this a “deadline” & then dropping this news the day before!! #FederalGovernment

“Travelers with no REAL ID can still fly” Kristi Noem says | AP News https://t.co/OfyEVpT0rk

— Alexi Giannoulias (@Giannoulias) May 6, 2025

* AP…

Travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.

Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said.

“But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

Across the country, Department of Motor Vehicle offices extended their hours to help meet the demand. But despite that, some people waited for hours Tuesday to get a REAL ID ahead of the long-delayed deadline.

* Guardian…

While initially recommended by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005, implementation has been repeatedly delayed. It was pushed back in 2022 to address the lingering impacts of the Covid-19, but the TSA confirmed last month that it would finally come into effect on 7 May, “making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists”.

A group of state senators from Kentucky asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again, arguing that the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards in time to meet the deadline.

DHS had initially said that passengers would not be able to fly domestically without the new ID or another form of TSA-approved identification after Wednesday’s deadline passes.

“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver’s licenses and identification cards,” said John Essig, the TSA’s security director for airports in the New York City region, in a press release on 3 April.

“The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”

…Adding… Secretary Noem will be in Springfield tomorrow…

Homeland Security LIVE
Secretary Noem to Host Press Conference in Springfield, IL
Event Date: May 7, 2025
Event Time: 10:00 AM CT / 11:00 AM ET
This press conference will highlight how sanctuary policies in Illinois have unleashed violence on American citizens — including rape, sexual assault, murder, shoplifting, and more — while shielding illegal aliens responsible from facing consequence.

24 Comments

Misguided Insurance Regulation Proposals Could Increase Premiums For The Majority Of Illinoisans

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Several bills proposed this legislative session seek to ban certain factors that insurance companies use to set fair and accurate insurance pricing for customers. The bills would ban the use of credit-based insurance scores, zip codes, age, and gender in insurance pricing.

An op-ed published recently in the Chicago Tribune explains why such bans could cause insurance rates to rise for the majority of consumers.

Case in point: When the use of credit was banned in Washington in 2021, more than 60 percent of Washington drivers saw an increase in their insurance premiums. Should similar legislation pass in Illinois, the majority of Illinoisans with better-than-average credit could see premium increases.

With stubbornly high inflation and high property taxes, now is not the time to pass bills that could end up hiking insurance premiums for most Illinoisans.

Click here to learn more.

Comments Off

Coverage roundup: Rep. Robin Kelly launches US Senate bid

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were told about Rep. Kelly’s announcement this morning. The Hill…

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced Tuesday that she’s running for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) seat, becoming the latest prominent Illinois Democrat to make a bid.

“I’m Robin Kelly. You could say I’ve been an underdog my whole life,” the House Democrat said in a video posted on the social platform X launching her Senate bid.

Kelly painted herself as a politician who has consistently defied the odds, including by ousting a 10-year incumbent state House member in 2002 and winning a crowded 2013 Democratic primary for Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District over former Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.), who previously received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.

Kelly also used her video to tout her record, particularly her work on a sit-in in Congress over gun control legislation and her efforts toward extending Medicaid for new mothers.

* Rep. Kelly’s launch video…

Today I announce my run for the US Senate. This moment demands proven leaders with the experience to take on tough battles. I've never backed down—not from gun lobbyists, not from MAGA extremists, and not from a fight for what's right. Join my campaign 👉 https://t.co/LMijDeBMCi pic.twitter.com/bAH2KYW5Cf

— Robin Kelly, Ph.D. (@RobinLynneKelly) May 6, 2025

* Tribune…

Kelly’s announcement that she is vying for the Senate seat comes two weeks after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launched her campaign last month with the backing of Pritzker, her two-time running mate.

The race for the party’s nomination to replace Durbin, a Springfield Democrat who was an ally of Kelly’s and announced in April that he would not seek a sixth term, isn’t the first time Kelly has faced off against a candidate backed by the billionaire governor and his political apparatus.

After working with Durbin in 2021 to defeat a Pritzker-backed candidate and become the first woman and first Black official to chair the Democratic Party of Illinois, Kelly dropped her bid to retain the seat a year later when allies of the governor rallied behind his handpicked state party leader, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez of Cicero.

Kelly now enters a race in which her only declared opponent already has the backing of two of the state’s top Democrats: Pritzker and the state’s other senator, Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates. Durbin told reporters last month that he intended to make an endorsement in the race only in “an extreme case.”

* NBC Chicago…

Kelly is undeterred by the challenge of going up against the state’s top Democrat.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked the governor endorsed his lieutenant governor. I think that should be expected,” she said. “I’m hoping that people take a look at all of us that are running. I’ve been an effective leader. I’m a fighter. I’ve been standing up to Donald Trump just in these last three months, with my town hall meetings, with my face-to-face or my teletown hall meetings. I mean, the proof is in the pudding of the work I’ve done.”

* Sun-Times…

Kelly said she’s spoken to Preckwinkle about her bid, and she will be seeking the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party at the party’s slating in July.

Kelly has focused on health care, immigration and gun control in the House. She’s a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. She’s also a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction for the Democratic Caucus. She’s also a co-chair for the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

“Definitely I would take my health care work to the Senate. There’s still too many disparities in health care, and you know, hopefully the Medicaid issue we’re going to solve in a better way. But if that … gets through, that’ll be a problem,” Kelly said. “Diversifying the health care pipeline, clinical trials. Those are things I’ll still be looking at.”

Kelly said she would also push to pass in the Senate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which seeks to strengthen voting rights protections with federal oversight. The bill has been reintroduced every year since 2013.

Kelly said she works with Durbin often and has “hinted” to him that she would be interested in running for his seat. She said she’ll be seeking his endorsement.

* Politico…

Kelly has just over $2 million cash on hand, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports.

Fundraising will be key in the 2026 Senate race to succeed the retiring Durbin. Stratton has not yet had to report her fundraising numbers but could get a boost from Pritzker, a billionaire who could single-handedly reshape the money race. She currently has about $100,000 in her state campaign account. A PAC started earlier this year to support Stratton has also not revealed its fundraising numbers.

Underwood has about $1.2 million in the bank, and Krishnamoorthi has reported more than $19 million cash on hand.

* More…

* Roll Call | Rep. Robin Kelly is running for Senate in Illinois: In 2002, Kelly won election to the state House and served two terms before becoming the chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Both she and her boss had a rough year in 2010. Giannoulias lost a U.S. Senate race to Republican Mark S. Kirk, and Kelly lost her bid to replace her former boss.

* ABC Chicago | Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly running for US Senate: “Well I think the Obama card is always a good one to play in Illinois and she does have a deep relationship with the former president,” ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said. […] “Well it hasn’t swayed her, she’s got just a million or two in her campaign fund,” Washington said. “It think it’s very far out to just figure out who has the best fundraising ability. Each candidate is going to have their own strengths and weaknesses.”

* Fox 32 | U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly launches Senate bid to succeed Dick Durbin: Kelly led a House sit-in over gun violence legislation and co-sponsored bills protecting domestic violence survivors. As a state lawmaker, she partnered with then-state Sen. Barack Obama and current Senate President Don Harmon to pass legislation targeting illegal gun sales.

33 Comments

It’s just a bill

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Rep. Kam Buckner…

State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, is leading the House efforts to reform law enforcement hiring practices in response to the 2024 murder of Sangamon County-resident Sonya Massey.

“Last year, Sonya Massey lost her life because our process for hiring law enforcement has fundamental flaws,” Buckner said. “The man responsible for her murder concealed serious indiscretions and, as a result, he was given a badge, which he used to gain entry to Sonya Massey’s house, and a gun, which he used to shoot her. Reforms we are putting in place will close the loophole that put Sean Grayson, a person clearly unfit to be a member of law enforcement, in a position to perpetrate this tragedy.”

Continuing his record of fighting for safer and more equitable policing in Illinois, Buckner is sponsoring Senate Bill 1953. This measure requires the release of personnel records between law enforcement agencies and hiring boards prior to the hiring of police or law enforcement officers.

Senate Bill 1953 was written with input from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs Association. It has the support of the ACLU, the Attorney General’s Office and numerous law enforcement organizations. Senate Bill 1953 was passed with unanimous support in the Senate, and is currently being considered in the House.

* WAND…

A 2023 law will allow Illinois to start building small nuclear reactors next year, but some lawmakers argue the state should lift the 1987 moratorium on large nuclear reactors as well. […]

“The MISO and PJM grids are under severe power pressures,” Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said Friday. “Numerous grid study reports have sounded the alarm that the US is and will be short of power in the 2030s.” […]

Industry leaders said it could take eight to 10 years for Illinois to build more nuclear facilities. Although, sponsors believe this expansion could help downstate communities that saw their economy once boom with coal plants. […]

Senate Bill 1527 had 27 co-sponsors as of May 5. Rezin hopes to move the legislation before the chamber’s committee and third reading deadline of May 9.

* G-PAC…

Illinois Representative Maura Hirschauer, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee, today announced a key Wednesday hearing on Safe At Home (SB8), which will protect more children, teens, and vulnerable people from accessing guns in Illinois.

Safe At Home is sponsored by Hirschauer and Rep. Kevin Olickal and will strengthen the state’s safe storage law and reporting requirements for lost and stolen guns. Working together, these safety measures will protect more children, teens, and vulnerable and prohibited people from accessing deadly weapons, helping to prevent the increasing number of instances of accidental shootings, suicide, mass shootings, and crime and violence in Illinois communities. […]

Provisions of Senate Bill 8 include:

- Outlines improved safe storage requirements in homes where a minor, at-risk person, or someone prohibited from using firearms could gain access to them.
- Changes definition of “minor” to a person under 18 years of age (military and national guard excluded).
- Adds civil penalties associated with the failure to safely secure firearms; at first violation, courts may impose community service or restitution.
- Strengthens requirement for reporting a lost or stolen firearm from 72 to 48 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft.
- Requires education for gun owners of the obligation to report a lost or stolen firearm at the time of firearm purchase and FOID/CCL application and renewal process.
- Requires ISP to create a portal for law enforcement to report individuals who have failed to report the loss or theft of a firearm.
- Imposes penalty of revocation of FOID card on second violation for failure to report lost and stolen firearms.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Health care unions continue to rally for legislation to address understaffing they say strains hospitals and threatens both patient safety and staff well-being.

Lawmakers are considering the Hospital Worker Staff and Safety bill, which would establish mandatory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and increase support for underfunded hospitals.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 21 and House Bill 3512, aims to establish minimum staffing ratios in hospitals and fund critical safety-net hospitals across the state. Advocates with health care worker unions have been holding a series of rallies at the Capitol in support of the legislation in recent weeks. […]

But similar versions of the proposed legislation have been introduced at the Statehouse for recent years and have failed to gain traction. Generally backed by unions representing nurses, such as the Service Employees International Union, previous staffing ratio measures have run into opposition from hospital groups that say they’re unworkable.

The proposed legislation filed this year has yet to receive a hearing in a substantive committee, meaning it will be an uphill battle for it to move by the time the legislature adjourns at the end of the month.

* Streetsblog Chicago…

Good news for rail fans: Recently, Illinois legislators discussed a groundbreaking bill to launch statewide train service.

Senate Bill 1901 and House Bill 3285 and would beef up the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Railroads, giving it the clout to plan, engineer, and coordinate elements of a statewide rail program. The Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee mulled over the proposed law on April 23. The analogous House committee considered the bill on April 30.

The aim of this initiative is coordinate train and bus service all across the Land of Lincoln. The backbone of the system would be high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis, and service would be aligned with local public transportation.

In addition to supersizing IDOT’s railroad bureau, the legislation would help bankroll the maintenance and construction of existing and new track and bridges. It would also help pay for electrifying track, purchasing new trainsets, and supporting ongoing operations.

Something to keep in mind: HB3285 and SB1901 are both appropriation bills.

* Sen. Mike Simmons…

State Senator Mike Simmons is leading legislation that would allow the use of municipal wastewater for industrial processing, reclaiming it from a variety of sources.

“Utilizing treated wastewater reflects our commitment to sustainable resource management,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This initiative not only conserves water but also supports environmental resilience.”

By reclaiming water from a variety of sources, treating it and reusing it, industrial wastewater could be used for power generation or cooling of data centers. Because this water may have limited contact with humans, it tends to be less costly and less energy intensive to treat and reuse, ultimately saving money and resources for communities.

House Bill 2391 would allow the use of treated municipal wastewater for industrial purposes.

“We need to rethink how we use every drop,” said Simmons. “Recycling treated wastewater is a smart, forward-thinking way to conserve resources and protect our environment.”

House Bill 2391 passed the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee on Thursday.

6 Comments

Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment?

SOO Green makes it possible.

Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois.

The SOO Green Advantage:

• Accelerates Illinois’ Clean Energy & Jobs Act goals
• 60,000+ new jobs
• Lower energy costs for families and businesses
• $26 billion in economic benefits statewide
• $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions

With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois.

Learn more at www.soogreen.com.

Comments Off

From the legal front: AG Raoul requests preliminary injunction to block Trump EO on voting restrictions

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here for the motion for a preliminary injunction and click here for the original lawsuit. Press release…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul [yesterday] joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration from implementing an executive order President Trump signed in March, which is an unconstitutional attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country.

The executive order attempts to conscript state election officials into the president’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans register to vote. It also seeks to upend commonsense, well-established state procedures for counting ballots – procedures that make it easier for Americans’ voices to be heard.

“I am urging the court to block this executive order because the authority to modify the rules established for U.S. elections lies with Congress. Instead of imposing voting restrictions, we should focus our efforts on encouraging more Americans across the country to participate in the democratic process,” Raoul said. “I will continue to defend Illinois law, which empowers people to vote, and oppose any attempts to disenfranchise voters.”

Raoul and the attorneys general filed a lawsuit earlier this month in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, explaining that the power to regulate elections is reserved to the states and Congress. Raoul and the coalition asked the court to block the challenged provisions of the executive order and declare them unconstitutional and unenforceable because the challenged provisions go beyond the scope of presidential power and are otherwise contrary to law.

In their motion for a preliminary injunction, Raoul and the attorneys general explain that the executive order acutely injures their states’ compelling interest in the integrity of their election processes. For example, the documentary proof of citizenship requirements have necessitated an immediate response from some state elections officials, who must consider how to carry out their voter registration duties subject to the new requirements by meeting with their staff, speaking with local elections officials, and beginning to plan for a near future with the requirements in place — or risk the loss of federal funding.

In addition, to force states to comply with the new ballot receipt deadline, the executive order uses enforcement threats by the U.S. Attorney General and conditions on funding. In order to properly administer elections in line with that new ballot receipt deadline, state elections administrators must devote significant additional resources to training, education and support of local elections officials and the voting public.

Joining Attorney General Raoul in filing today’s motion for a preliminary injunction are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin

* This ought to be a no-brainer. No single executive should be able to unilaterally impose voting restrictions on states. But check this out from the ILGOP…

We sounded the alarm last week when JB Pritzker openly declared he would refuse to follow President Trump’s executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. That’s election rigging—plain and simple.

Pass a bill, sign it into law.

* Sun-Times…

An estimated 9% of voting-age U.S. citizens, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available, according to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice and other groups. The study also found racial disparities in the numbers, with about 8% of white voting-age U.S. citizens not having citizenship documents readily available compared to 11% of voting-age U.S. citizens of color.

20 Comments

RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path.

Retailers like the Erich enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.

Comments Off

Open thread

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

8 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were given a rundown on this race this morning. ICYMI: Sen. Laura Fine launches campaign for Schakowsky’s seat. Press release…

Today, State Senator Laura Fine announced her candidacy for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, pledging to bring her years of experience fighting for Illinois families to the halls of Washington.

A lifelong resident of Glenview and a longtime champion for healthcare access and consumer protection, Fine’s path to public service began with a deeply personal fight. In 2010, her husband Michael was involved in a catastrophic car accident that nearly took his life. When their insurance company denied coverage, Laura studied and earned her insurance license to understand and battle a system stacked against patients – and won. That experience ignited her mission to reform the system not just for her family, but for others across the state.

“We are at a historical moment, where our rights are under attack by a President who is selling out working families to line the pockets of his wealthy cronies. I’ve spent my career fighting that fight, passing historic legislation that puts people over special interests,” Fine said. “I want to build on Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s legacy, serving as a steadfast progressive representative for Illinois’ 9th.”

In the Illinois State Senate and previously in the House, Fine built a reputation as one of the state’s most effective lawmakers. She has led the fight to strengthen mental health parity, crack down on insurance company abuses, ban toxic environmental pollutants, and establish reproductive health care as a fundamental right under Illinois law. Her efforts moved Illinois from leading the nation in wrongfully cancelled policies to having some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country.

* Related stories…

∙ Kat Abughazaleh Is Not Running A Normal Campaign. That’s the Point.
∙ Crain’s: How Raja Krishnamoorthi became the money leader in the Senate sweepstakes
∙ NBC Chicago: Rep. Robin Kelly announces run for Senate, making her 2nd candidate to enter race

***************** Advertisement *****************

Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance

*************************************************

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Daily Herald | Giannoulias urges Illinoisans not to panic about REAL ID deadline: Meanwhile, thousands are thronging to DMVs mistakenly thinking the state will stop processing them Wednesday. “That is not the case,” Giannoulias said at a virtual briefing Monday. “Even after May 7, you will still be able to get a REAL ID.” “So, to those of you who are waiting in lines for a very long time, please, please, please know that we will be issuing REAL IDs for the foreseeable future, probably forever.”

* WQAD | Illinois initiative saving students thousands on grad school prep costs: The “Prepare for Illinois’ Future” program covers costs for major graduate entrance exams like the LSAT, MCAT and GRE, along with interview preparation and certification fees. It’s already saving students thousands, but its future is uncertain as state lawmakers continue budget talks. WIU said the program has saved its students more than $75,000. “This program helps truly tear down some barriers for students,” Justin Schuch, vice president of student success at WIU, said.

* Sun-Times | Dubbing herself an ‘underdog,’ Rep. Robin Kelly launches Senate bid to replace Durbin: Kelly said she’s spoken to Preckwinkle about her bid, and she will be seeking the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party at the party’s slating in July. Kelly has focused on health care, immigration and gun control in the House. She’s a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. She’s also a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction for the Democratic Caucus. She’s also a co-chair for the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Sun-Times | Illinois, other states sue Trump administration for blocking wind energy development: In Illinois, wind power is the state’s largest source of renewable energy. The 17 states and Washington, D.C., say Trump is jeopardizing a power source critical to economic vitality, energy mix, public health and climate goals.

* SJ-R | Illinois’ head of tourism was quietly fired 3 months ago. Here’s why: The report listed multiple concerns, saying the greatest is that DCEO has been paying “significant amounts” of state funds to TimeZoneOne for years without supporting documentation or reconciliation of TimeZoneOne’s expenses. This is both before and after Thomas began working for DCEO. Reconciliation reporting is the process of verifying and matching financial transactions to ensure accuracy.

* NBC Chicago | How Gov. Pritzker is building a national image ahead of potential run in 2028: His national press coverage has been steady increasing this year, but his spot on Kimmel’s show came just days after he was the headliner at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100-Club Dinner. In his second visit to the Granite State — traditionally, the first state in the presidential primary race — Pritzker had the coveted spot typically reserved for those seeking to run for president.

*** Downstate ***

* WSPD | IDPH: Six measles cases confirmed in state, includes four in Southern Illinois: According to IDPH, there have been four confirmed measles cases in Southern Illinois and two unrelated adult cases in Cook County, for a total of six in the state this year. The people infected did not require hospitalization. No children have contracted measles in the state so far this year. Social links between the three Southern Illinois cases are known, IDPH said. One person may have visited locations in Missouri, including the St. Louis Aquarium, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

* WGLT | At first public forum, most express support for proposed shelter village south of downtown Bloomington: In his opening remarks Friday, Home Sweet Home Ministries CEO Matt Burgess said dozens of cities and towns across the country have successfully implemented shelter villages like this one. “Not only do people move indoors and stay indoors, but rates of engagement in services increase, calls for emergency services decrease and neighborhood crime rates typically decline,” Burgess said. There is reason to believe that The Bridge will have the same kind of impact on the Bloomington-Normal community, according to Burgess.

* WAND | Tourism pumps millions into regional economy: In Decatur, Teri Hammel Executive Director of the Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said in 2023, tourism revenue total $226.8 million in Macon County. Revenue comes through local food & beverage taxes, hotel taxes and gas taxes. Hammel goes on to say tourism supports 1,533 jobs in Macon County.

* NPR Illinois | Springfield’s Mayor nominates next fire : Mayor Misty Buscher is recommending the promotion of Assistant Fire Chief Nicholas Zummo to Springfield Fire Chief and Assistant Police Chief Joseph Behl to Police Chief. These promotions are pending City Council approval. Alongside these recommendations, Mayor Buscher will also promote Captain Julie Plunk to Assistant Fire Chief and Commander Ryan Leach to Assistant Police Chief.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | United Airlines fires back at American and vows a big hiring increase in Chicago: After American Airlines filed a lawsuit Friday against the city of Chicago over the proposed re-allocation of gates at the airport, United Airlines President Brett Hart told employees today “we plan to take steps to protect our interests and utilize these new gates to benefit our customers.” United filed a motion to intervene in American’s lawsuit against the city in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

* WBEZ | The Second City performers threaten strike over pay: The Actors Equity Association announced the possibility of a strike. Negotiations between Actors Equity and leadership at The Second City have been ongoing since February. The performers and stage managers are seeking higher pay. The current contract expired April 13. […] Elrod said the negotiations have been cordial, but the two sides are still “very far apart” when it comes to wages. “Second City workers are very much dedicated to strike for a living wage, and that is something that the lead negotiator can pull if the next meeting doesn’t go well,” he said.

* WTTW | Illinois’ Rare Plants Have a Fighting Chance of Survival Thanks to This Volunteer Monitoring Program: When it comes to endangered species, animals receive the lion’s share of attention versus plants. They get more protections, too. “Plants have gotten the short end of the stick,” said Gretel Kiefer, a plant ecologist at Chicago Botanic Garden, with nearly 30% of U.S. species at risk of extinction. It’s her job to help change that, at least in Illinois.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | As aquifer dries up, some Will County towns say they aren’t worried about running out of water: As Joliet races to meet state requirements to be eligible to tap into Lake Michigan water before the region’s groundwater is depleted, a handful of neighboring towns are holding off on making plans to identify alternative sources. About 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Joliet is at the epicenter of a regional water crisis where many suburbs will run out of water supplied by the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer by 2030, according to estimations in a 2018 report by the Illinois State Water Survey.

* Daily Herald | New Arlington Heights mayor sworn in, meets with Bears president on first day: Just out of architecture school at Iowa State and working at his first job at the Arlington Heights architecture firm Hundrieser/Gutowsky, Tinaglia recalled when he was a weekend bartender the night the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986. “That was a fun place to be,” he told the audience Monday night. “I told (Warren), ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to do that again together sometime soon?’ Maybe there’s a road path to make that happen. I’m crossing my fingers that that’s true.”

* Daily Southtown | Jason House sworn in to replace Tiffany Henyard as Dolton’s mayor: “Unity,” the new mayor said, was top of mind at the Royal Estates Assisted Living Ballroom, where as many as 500 people gathered to celebrate new beginnings for the village of just over 20,000 residents. “That’s what’s really going to grow this moment to its culmination. And that’s what it’s going to take for us to work together,” House said.

* Crain’s | Golf Mill shopping center put up for sale amid plans for $440 million overhaul: Golf Mill Shopping Center, on the cusp of a major overhaul aimed at transforming the aging suburban mall into a mixed-used development, has been put up for sale by the developer. The Sterling Organization has hired JLL brokers to market the property, comprising nearly 80 acres in north suburban Niles, CoStar News reports. The move comes less than a year after village officials approved the 1.1 million-square-foot site for a $440 million redevelopment.

12 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Selected press releases (Live updates)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Comment

Live coverage

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.

Comment

« NEWER POSTS