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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
* NBC Chicago | What time does the DNC start tonight? Here’s the full Day 4 schedule, where to watch: As has been the case for each night of the convention so far, major performances and celebrity appearances are expected throughout the night, with speculation swirling over who could be in attendance. Already, sources have confirmed that Pink will perform Thursday night and The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, are also expected to hit the stage. * Politico | Kamala Harris had more donors in just 10 days than Biden had the whole election: Harris’ campaign and affiliated joint fundraising committees received contributions from nearly 2.3 million individual donors from July 21, when Biden dropped out of the race, through July 31, according to a detailed POLITICO analysis of new fundraising data. Biden had just shy of 2.1 million donors dating back to April 2023, when he formally launched his reelection bid. (In fact, Harris surpassed Biden a day earlier, on July 30.) * Sun-Times | Supt. Snelling says no arrests were made at Wednesday’s protest: “The individuals who showed up on Tuesday came here strictly to commit crimes, to fight with the police and cause destruction to the city,” Snelling told reporters at a media briefing this morning. “That wasn’t the focus of the group yesterday. They just wanted to be heard, and we allowed that to happen,” Snelling said. However, Snelling said there was one “dust-up” during Wednesday’s protest from Union Park to the United Center’s security perimeter. * Tribune | DNC sees third day of protests as Chicago’s top cop blasts demonstrators who confronted officers at Israeli consulate: Snelling was also asked why the protest drew so many journalists when another, more peaceful candlelight vigil on Tuesday memorializing those killed in Gaza went largely uncovered. “It sells,” Snelling said, adding there are those looking for a repeat of the chaos of the 1968 convention. “Why cover the people who are calling for peace? Everybody wants to see the carnage.” * CBS | Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Asian American Caucus on supporting Harris: “We have grown the Asian American caucus from 0 to 17 members in just eight years in a state that is only 7% Asian American, we’re so proud,” Cook Country Commissioner Josina Morita said. Morita is a founding member and chair of the Illinois Asian American Caucus. “There’s a saying that you’re either at the table or on the menu, and we’re so excited that our community, for the first time in this last decade, has really come to the table,” she said. * Pantagraph | Six-time DNC attendee Nikki Budzinski steps into role of delegate for first time: “I’ve always been, in multiple conventions, a volunteer on the floor,” Budzinski said. “And what you don’t realize when you’re at home is so much of this is really well-organized and put together, and it takes a lot of volunteers to help organize the signs that you see, making sure that people get to their seats, making sure that people know where they’re going.” * CBS | Illinois’ DNC delegates hear from top party leaders ahead of Harris’ speech on final day: “I think it’s important for us to remember that we are all blessed. We’ve been on the floor or in the arena as the first woman to be elected president of this country has been nominated by her party,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is also chair of the Cook County Democratic Party. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also spoke to Illinois delegates about being on Harris’ shortlist for running mates, alongside Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, before she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to join her on the ticket. * Tribune | Stephen Colbert grills JB Pritzker on hot dogs and Chance the Rapper performs on Night 3 of ‘Late Show’ in Chicago: Colbert, playing the humble hot dog vendor, also interviewed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at the United Center, asking him how he takes his Chicago dog. “With mustard and everything else, but no ketchup,” Pritzker said. “A terrorist is going to blow up the Bean unless you have ketchup on a hotdog, do you eat the ketchup on the hot dog,” Colbert questioned. “Mustard only,” Pritzker responded. * Tribune | ‘That’s my dad!’: Gus Walz tearfully cheers on his father as he accepts Democratic VP nomination: “That’s my dad!” the 17-year-old could be seen saying. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, who was accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president in a speech to thousands of people in a packed arena and millions more watching at home. The teen’s exuberance captured hearts and went viral, becoming perhaps the defining image of his father’s address and further humanizing a running mate picked by Vice President Kamala Harris in no small part for his everyman appeal. * Sun-Times | Thousands march on DNC without incident — or a permit: ‘We just want a peaceful protest’: The event followed Tuesday’s clash in the West Loop between protesters and Chicago police that led to 59 arrests. But the group involved in Tuesday’s violence was not affiliated with the coalition that planned Wednesday’s event that began at Union Park. And the organizers of the latest demonstration were familiar with Chicago police. * Sun-Times | Pro-Palestinian groups protesting outside the Cultural Center: Code Pink, which has interrupted other events this week, is among the groups present. The protesters outside the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., have been chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Kamala, you can’t hide. You’re supporting genocide.” * Sun-Times | Uncommitted delegates stage sit-in while calling for Palestinian American speaker at DNC: “I am begging that the Democratic Party, who has made space for so many, be the party that makes space for the Palestinians who are hurting,” said Jonathan Simonds, an uncommitted delegate from Hawaii. The sit-in has been peaceful and quiet. On Wednesday night, journalists and onlookers stood in a semi-circle around delegates and demonstrators who sat cross-legged on the sidewalk and stood with a banner that read “Arms Embargo Now,” in all caps. * FOX Chicago | 19-year-old Northbrook woman attends DNC as Illinois’ youngest delegate: ‘I have hope for the future’: “I’ve met so many cool people,” said 19-year-old Claire Satkiewicz. “And to be able to see some of my favorite political leaders speak like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders yesterday was very cool.” Satkiewicz, who was raised in Northbrook, is about to begin her sophomore year at Northeastern University in Boston. Luckily, classes don’t start until next week because she is attending the DNC as Illinois’ youngest delegate. * Sun-Times | Oprah Winfrey’s speech at DNC: ‘Who says you can’t go home again?’: Full text of Winfrey’s convention address to delegates at United Center. * Block Club | Salt Shed, Ramova Theatre And 2 Other Historical Chicago Buildings Win Award For Preservation Efforts: Nonprofit preservation organization Landmarks Illinois is honoring four Chicago institutions for their efforts in rehabilitating historical buildings. Those four buildings — Lawson House on the Near North Side, Bridgeport’s recently remodeled Ramova Theatre, Bucktown’s The Salt Shed and The Terminal in Humboldt Park — have been awarded the 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. * WBEZ | DNC speakers tout big plans for manufacturing, while Chicago remains slow to rebound: However, the full picture is more complex. Much of that increase in manufacturing jobs is due to a postpandemic recovery. Meanwhile, uncertainties about sustainable growth persist. In addition, recent estimates are subject to an annual revision. For example, on Wednesday, the BLS reported it overstated manufacturing job growth by 115,000 in the 12 months that ended in March. The final estimates for March 2024 will be announced in February 2025. * Crain’s | River North office skyscraper owner pays off $431 million loan: Newport Beach, Calif.-based real estate firm Irvine today announced it retired its loan tied to the 60-story tower at 300 N. LaSalle St. when it matured earlier this month. The company did not disclose the balance of the debt, but a source familiar with the mortgage said the outstanding balance was around $431 million, down from the original $475 million loan amount Irvine took out to finance its $850 million purchase of the building in 2014. Cook County records do not show any new debt borrowed against the property. * Daily Herald | Construction of 164 townhouses about to start at Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates: Preparations only await the issuing of a building permit now that an updated and slightly revised approval has been made of the site plan first given the green light in February 2023. Only minor changes to aspects such as lighting and landscaping were made, though the original approval was in need of a refresh for being more than a year old, Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Peter Gugliotta said. * The Times Weekly | Will County Health installs Naloxone Distribution box at Veterans Assistance Commission in Joliet: “The Will County Health Department is continuing to make Naloxone readily available throughout the county,” said Dr. Kathleen Burke, Will County Health Department’s Program Coordinator for Substance Use Initiatives. “Adding a distribution box at the Veterans Assistance Commission is a great step to help us make this life-saving drug available to our veterans.” * Sherry C.M. Lindquist | This is why it matters that Western Illinois University fired all its librarians: The priorities expressed by the cuts taking place at WIU over the last decade are consistent with such cuts being taken all over the country in which the liberal arts and humanities are being gutted. Administrators such as President Kristi Mindrup at WIU claim to be cutting their universities into “the right shape.” How do we know what the right shape is? Who decides that it is the liberal arts, the humanities or the librarians who are responsible for “misshapen” institutions? * WSIL | Residents hopeful a new industrial project in Murphysboro will boost economy and add more jobs: Once home to a train repair shop a hundred years ago, it had many uses through the years, and now it will be revitalized for an aircraft maintenance company, Crucial MRO. Crucial MRO’s Vice President Wesley Perkins says they want to become a one-stop shop in Southern Illinois. * WCIA | WCIA drone footage shows cows on the loose after I-57 crash: WCIA drone footage shows the ongoing chase for the loose cows after a semi-truck hauling them rolled over on I-57 near Tuscola. Overhead views of the footage show one cow making it’s way through a corn field as community members riding horses try to track it down. * WICS | Central Illinois school districts still facing teacher shortage, is legislation helping?: Newschannel 20 spoke with several school districts to see if the legislation aimed at combatting the teacher shortage is truly helping. “Williamsville School District feels the pain just like all the other school districts,” said Tip Reedy, superintendent of Williamsville School District. “It still hurts not having 12 classrooms covered,” said Jennifer Gill, superintendent of District 186. * WIFR | Landmarks Illinois announce Preservation Award winners: On Wednesday, Landmarks Illinois announced the winners of the 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. The preservation efforts awards were bestowed to rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects in Rockford and Woodstock * WCIA | Man arrested for impersonating a police officer in Effingham County: 39-year-old Jerrod Estes has been arrested on multiple charges, including false personation of a peace officer. He was taken into custody at his Teutopolis home on Tuesday. The arrest is a result of a four-month investigation into an incident back in May. Several victims were pulled over in Effingham County by a person pretending to be an officer. * AP | Labor dispute stops Canadian freight railroads and could cause major economic disruption in US: Canadian National and CPKC railroads both locked out their employees after the deadline of 12:01 a.m. EST Thursday passed without new agreements with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference that represents some 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers. All rail traffic in Canada and all shipments crossing the U.S. border have stopped, although CPKC and CN’s trains will continue to operate in the U.S. and Mexico. * DNYUZ | What Kalamazoo (Yes, Kalamazoo) Reveals About the Nation’s Housing Crisis: Like Detroit, Kalamazoo got walloped by a foreclosure crisis in the early 2010s that left many of its neighborhoods with overgrown lots where ramshackle houses had been bulldozed. And like virtually every other city I’ve written about, its housing problems first appeared among lower-income families, then climbed steadily up to those considered solidly middle class. As affordability problems have moved up the income ladder, both Kalamazoo County and the state have expanded their aid programs to include households that had previously made too much money to qualify for subsidized housing. It’s part of a nationwide shift in which housing assistance has moved from an anti-poverty focus to what is increasingly looking like a middle-class support program. Those ideas now permeate Vice President Kamala Harris’s housing plan, which calls for assistance both for first-time home buyers and developers who build housing for them.
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The Democrats’ ‘F-word’
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * As subscribers know, I asked Gov. JB Pritzker about his repeated use of the phrase “convicted felon” when describing former President Donald Trump. An excerpt from that story…
* And that brings us to this recent thread by an anti-incarceration activist…
The rest…
It should be noted that Gov. Pritzker did not use the word “felon” during his DNC address this week. * Anyway, your thoughts on this topic?
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A little context, please
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Neil Steinberg wrote a long story the other day for the Sun-Times about the 1968 Democratic convention…
* Wednesday’s Sun-Times headline…  Mass arrests? According to the article “nearly 60 arrests” were made. So, less than a tenth of that day in ‘68. Also, two protesters were injured, “one for knee pain and another a finger injury,” and two cops were hurt but refused treatment. * Not only has this not been like 1968, this year’s convention is nothing at all like the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. From Wikipedia…
The week included a march that had estimated attendance in the hundreds of thousands.
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Mendoza puts Mayor Johnson on blast for his comments on Israel
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Mother Jones interview of Mayor Brandon Johnson…
* Isabel asked Comptroller Susana Mendoza this morning for her take on Mayor Johnson calling the war “genocidal”…
* Meanwhile, from Jewish News Service…
* Isabel asked Mendoza about those statements from the Consulate General about the mayor…
Take a couple of very deep breaths before commenting, please. Thanks.
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‘Even in our fractured state, all of us count and all of us fit somewhere’
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Earlier this week…
Some video is here. * This is from Rev. Jackson’s 1984 “Rainbow Coalition” speech at the Democratic National Convention…
* And from his 1988 DNC “Keep hope alive” address…
Not long after the convention that year, my best friend Brian Monahan and I drove through the South Side at like 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. Black people were waiting at just about every bus stop for miles to go north. “They catch the early bus,” is a line that has stuck with me ever since. Rev. Jackson is a human being. He has his faults. But I wanted to use this opportunity to thank him for his service to our country.
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Open thread
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?..
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Three down, one to go! It’s the last day of the DNC… * Tribune | South suburban school board member lone Illinois delegate not to back Harris nomination: Alejandro “Alex” Gallegos, a Crete-Monee Unit School District 201 board member, was the one person in the delegation to vote “present” rather than for Harris, two sources said. Reached by phone Wednesday, Gallegos repeatedly declined to comment. “It’s not about me,” he said. * Crain’s | Brandon Johnson on what’s next after the DNC: For the second time this week, Johnson didn’t respond directly to a question about his labeling the war “genocidal” in an interview with Mother Jones, but said there’s “nothing controversial” about what he’s called for. “We condemned the heinous terrorist attack against the Israeli people. And what we’ve called for is the releasing of the hostages and an immediate, permanent ceasefire. That is what America wants,” he said. * Sun-Times | Notorious computer hacker charged with spray-painting Chicago cop car during West Loop protest: Notorious computer hacker Jeremy Hammond is accused of spray-painting a Chicago police car during a chaotic anti-war demonstration Tuesday night in the West Loop that resulted in dozens of arrests. Hammond, a former member of the “hacktivist” collective known as Anonymous, faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly scrawling an anarchist symbol on a police car after protesters descended on the Israeli consulate, according to Cook County prosecutors and court records. * Sun-Times | Parents of Hamas hostage with Chicago roots speak at DNC: Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of 23-year-old Hersh Polin-Goldberg, wore stickers with the number 320, drawing attention to the number of days their son has been held. “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive,” Goldberg said. * Crain’s | Common, BBQ ‘cigars’ and an actual ton of cheesecake: Inside the DNC party circuit: Around 10 p.m., Common burst onto the stage to cheers and wild applause. His energetic performance had the crowd dancing as he performed songs celebrating Chicago. At one point, he invited guest Tifair Hamed onstage, seated her on a stool, and serenaded her with a “love” song. During the impromptu performance, he referenced Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx (who was in attendance), Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. * Tribune | Kamala Harris’ family members are popping up around Chicago this week during the DNC. Here’s the rundown on who’s who.: Kamala Harris has a husband, Doug Emhoff, who could make history as America’s first gentleman spouse. Two stepchildren who call her “Momala.” A politically connected sister who is a top adviser and sounding board. A brother-in-law who temporarily stepped away from a top private sector gig to help elect her. A niece who is the mother of two daughters that Harris dotes on. There’s also her husband’s ex-wife, who defends Harris and Emhoff and their blended family. They’ve been popping up around Chicago and on social media this week during the Democratic National Convention, where Harris will formally accept the party’s presidential nomination. * Tribune | Meet the DNC delegates: Two 17-year-olds from Minnesota, a retired librarian from Arizona and many more: Two 17-year-olds from Minnesota who turn the legal voting age days before the November election. A nonprofit leader from Louisiana who celebrates her 80th birthday in nine days. A retired Arizona librarian enthralled with the sights along Michigan Avenue: These are three of the thousands of delegates who traveled to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, which continued Wednesday at the United Center. * WBEZ | What’s a hometown girl like Susana Mendoza to wear to the DNC? ‘I love Chicago’ T-shirts, of course: While some politicos are making headlines for their designer suits and dresses at the DNC — one Illinois politician says conventions are no place for satin or chiffon. Instead, Comptroller Susana Mendoza is making a splash with her casual, Chicago pride T-shirts, straight from a souvenir shop on Michigan Avenue. Standing in her hotel room with her outfits of the week laid neatly on the bed, Mendoza showed WBEZ the shirt that’s gotten her a lot of attention this week. * WBEZ | Illinois’ top legal officer is using Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ for political metaphors: In his speech to Illinois delegates, Kwame Raoul came back to “Not like us” at least 14 times. Kendrick Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” is a diss toward fellow rap star Drake and his inner circle. But one Illinois politician is taking the song to a whole new civic level — using the phrase to try to highlight the contrast between Democrats and Republicans. * Illinois Speaker Chris Welch spoke with the Center Square’s Greg Bishop yesterday… * WSPY | Morris State Sen. Rezin-sponsored bill, Sami’s Law, signed into law by Governor Pritzker: A bill sponsored by Morris State Senator Sue Rezin requiring adult changing stations at rest stops and the State Capitol has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1089, also known as Sami’s Law, was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 9, about 18 months after the bill was initially filed by Rezin. The bill is named after the 26-year-old daughter of one of Rezin’s staff, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy. Rezin says the bill took a while to get through the legislature but is proud to be able to help those who truly need that accessible space. * Rep. Hoan Huynh | Don’t take Asian American voters for granted: The return of the Democratic National Convention to Chicago inevitably brings back to mind the events of 1968 and the violent clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War protesters. I can trace a personal connection to that time: My father served in the South Vietnamese military alongside the U.S. Allied Forces. After the war ended, my family lived through a period of doubt, finally receiving political asylum from the United States after President Jimmy Carter signed the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980 to deal with the mounting humanitarian crisis of the Vietnamese “boat people.” * Daily Southtown | Harvey residents question Mayor Christopher Clark’s trip to Las Vegas convention, city leaders push economic development: Since becoming mayor of Harvey in 2019, Christopher Clark’s administration has promoted an economic development program advertised under the slogan Building a Better Harvey. To advance efforts to revitalize Harvey’s nearly deserted downtown, members of the city’s Economic Development Committee attended a real estate conference in May to draw potential investors and forge connections with other business leaders, according to Glenn Harston, the city’s spokesperson. * Daily Herald | Arlington Heights chamber director officially declares bid for mayor: Having already formed a campaign exploratory committee in the spring, Arlington Heights chamber boss Jon Ridler officially declared this week he’s running for mayor. Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce since 2004 and a resident since 2013, joins a growing field of candidates that includes Trustee Tom Schwingbeck, who was first to announce his candidacy in May, and Trustee Jim Tinaglia, who declared in July. * SJ-R | Resolution calling for independent review of sheriff’s office’s hiring practices withdrawn: Sangamon County Board member Gina Lathan, who worked on the resolution that was withdrawn, said she decided to support the Massey Commission resolution “with the expectation and understanding” that the commission would address certain points put forth in her resolution. * BND | Illinois eliminated sales tax on groceries, but a metro-east city may bring it back: Highland estimates the elimination of the grocery tax to cost the city approximately $330,000 to $350,000 a year. This is approximately 10% of the city’s sales tax revenue. At the moment, Highland’s grocery sales taxes are primarily divided between public safety, streets and parks programs, according to a memo from Highland City Manager Chris Conrad. Approximately 58% of the tax goes to public safety, 26% to streets and 16% to parks. Keeping the cut in proportion, that would mean cutting the public safety budget by $192,000, streets by $86,000 and parks by $53,000. * SJ-R | These 11 Springfield-area nursing homes were fined upwards of thousands of dollars: Several Springfield and Springfield area nursing homes were the subjects of violations in a quarterly finding made by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In all, 268 violation reports were found in the second quarter of 2024. * WIFR | Man saved from grain silo in Lee Co.: The man was knee-deep in corn and tried to escape, but he was stuck there for about three hours. Rescue crews were able to strap a harness to him and pull him to safety. * WICS | Du Quoin State Fair announces 2024 theme days: The Du Quoin State Fair ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m. with the Twilight Parade stepping off at 6 p.m. The grand marshal of the parade is 4-H. * AP | Taylor Swift calls cancellation of Vienna shows ‘devastating’ and explains her silence: “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” She thanked authorities — “thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote — and said she waited to speak until the European leg of her Eras Tour concluded to prioritize safety. * CNN | Google agrees to first-in-the-nation deal to fund California newsrooms, but journalists are calling it a disaster: The plan calls for a $250 million commitment over five years from Google and the state, a majority of which would fund California newsrooms, and launch an artificial intelligence “accelerator” designed to support journalists’ work. The deal ends a high-profile bill, dubbed the California Journalism Preservation Act by state assemblymember Buffy Wicks, that would have forced technology companies, including Google (GOOGL) and Meta (META), to pay news companies to distribute their content online. The bill, which was modeled after similar laws implemented in Australia and Canada, would have funded local news organizations that have seen their business models collapse amid the rise of big tech platforms. * NBC | People with HIV cannot be categorically barred from joining the military, judge rules: Americans with well-treated HIV can no longer be barred from enlisting in the U.S. military, a federal judge ruled Thursday, striking down the Pentagon’s last remaining policy limiting the service of those with the virus. “Defendants’ policies prohibiting the accession of asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with undetectable viral loads into the military are irrational, arbitrary, and capricious. Even worse, they contribute to the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV-positive individuals while actively hampering the military’s own recruitment goals,” wrote Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Aug 22, 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, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* And water is wet…
* Governor Pritzker hosted a panel on abortion ballot initiatives in 2024 organized by Think Big USA this morning…
* Shriver Center on Poverty Law…
* Think Big America Message Analysis: As Think Big America takes the fight to right-wing extremists across the country, this research project aimed to discover the most effective ways to build off the success of the abortion debate and further elevate the threat of Republican extremism up-and-down the ballot ahead of this November’s critical election. * Capitol News Illinois | Amid a ‘really, really big week for labor,’ Illinois unions, Democrats held up as model: Organized labor has been everywhere at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, from the main stage to the Illinois delegation’s morning breakfast gatherings. “This has been a really, really big week for labor and very, very much appreciated, and it’s heartwarming,” Illinois labor mainstay and state AFL-CIO President Tim Drea told attendees to the Illinois breakfast on Wednesday. * Sun-Times | Democrats united despite tide of pro-Palestinian protests, Illinois delegates say: A small but vocal contingent of delegates have withheld support for Vice President Kamala Harris unless she commits to cutting off U.S. weapon supplies to Israel, leading Illinois members of Congress to warn boycotting the polls could tip the scale toward GOP former President Donald Trump. * Tribune | Naperville, DuPage represented at Democratic National Convention: ‘It’s really the experience of a lifetime’: From behind the scenes to the floor of Chicago’s United Center, volunteers, delegates and elected officials representing Naperville and DuPage County made the rounds on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. They basked in the fervor, helped the hubbub run and exuded local pride. Oh, and there was some wonder, too. At the experience itself and the company they found themselves in. * South Side Weekly | CPD Agreement with Outside Agencies Reveals Security Approach: Officers assigned to police the DNC must have been on the job for at least two years and be “in good standing” with their home department. They cannot have been personally sued in the past three years and found liable for First Amendment violations, or have “any sustained complains for excessive, unreasonable or unnecessary force” in the last five years. * Tribune | ‘Enough is enough’: Chicago’s top cop says DNC demonstrators at Israeli consulate there to wreak havoc: Snelling told reporters there were between 55 and 60 arrests — including three journalists — during the pro-Palestinian demonstration. There were only two minor injuries, a testament, he said, to his officers’ restraint and readiness for the DNC. “Once we call the mass arrest, then it was at that point we needed to take people into custody for public safety,” Snelling said. “We attempted to avoid the clash, to no avail. But CPD is not going to run away. We will not stand by and allow our officers to be attacked, because an officer who cannot protect himself cannot protect this city.” * WGN | Police and FBI investigate maggot incident at DNC breakfast in Chicago: Chicago Police and the FBI is investigating whether maggots were intentionally slipped into a breakfast prepared for delegates attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a law enforcement source tells WGN Investigates. It’s unclear if the contamination was discovered before any delegates consumed the food. Delegates were buzzing about the insect attack as Chicago police officers and Illinois state troopers gathered in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel near meeting rooms. * Capitol News Illinois | Obama legacy continues with Harris nomination, DNC speech in Chicago: “It’s been 16 years since I had the honor of accepting this party’s nomination for president,” Obama said, sporting his now-gray hair while joking that he had “not aged a bit” since that time. “And looking back, I can say without question that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best, and that was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as vice president.” * The Triibe | Inside EAT’s preparation process for their DNC march for reparations: Gregory Mann serves as the hype man of the action. Mann is the minister of organizing for the West Side-based nonprofit Equity and Transformation (EAT), which is led by formerly incarcerated people. The organization leads the “Keep it 1000 Campaign,” a demand for reparations for Black Americans during the third day of the DNC. Mann guides participants from the group’s West Side Center to a spot near the United Center, specifically with the goal of commanding President Joe Biden to create a federal Reparations Commission before leaving office. According to the EAT’s news release, a federal commission “would develop proposals for how the U.S. government will deliver full reparations for Black Americans.” The action also is a call to push action on the H.R. 40 Bill, the “Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act,” that has stalled in the House of Representatives for years. * WBEZ | ‘Kamala is brat’: Chicago is ground zero for the most clever T-shirts of the season: The Democratic National Convention has been a boon for T-shirt makers. Vendors have traveled to Chicago from across the country to sell their unofficial, unsanctioned and wildly creative merch. Shirts featuring Harris’ face, along with funny quips and slogans are suddenly a common sight on Chicago’s streets. Among those moving merch this week, The T-Shirt Deli is definitely the established veteran in the game. They’ve been in business for more than 20 years and know a thing or two about designing eye-catching Ts. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s small businesses stay on theme at DNC fair with Kamala Harris-inspired nails and clothing: More than 75 Chicago area vendors — from candlemakers and coffee shops to the Shedd Aquarium and the American Writers Museum — were at McCormick Place Tuesday to showcase the city’s diverse economic and cultural offerings. The four-day vendor fair called “DemPalooza” is free and open to the public until Thursday. It includes training sessions, discussion panels and other programming as part of the Democratic National Convention. * Daily Southtown | Thornton Township trustees put lid on Supervisor Tiffany Henyard’s event spending: The actions came during a township board meeting Tuesday that actually started out as two meetings, both held in the township’s South Holland offices but in different rooms on different floors. An ordinance regulating spending for township sponsored events gives township department chiefs a spending cap of $1,000 per week or $10,000 per month, and requires the board to sign off on event budgets before money is committed or spent. * Daily Herald | Controversial housing plan moves forward in Arlington Heights: A controversial plan for an apartment building for people with disabilities who otherwise could face homelessness is moving forward in Arlington Heights — but at two stories instead of three. At the end of a roughly five-hour meeting that began the night before, a divided village board early Tuesday voted to direct village staffers to prepare the final documents for the proposed Grace Terrace development at 1519 S. Arlington Heights Road. The 4-acre site is vacant now. * WSIL | $30 Million Oasis Sports Complex to be Built on Abandoned Coal Mine in Marion : A sports complex, recently announced in Marion, is expected to bring more economic opportunities to the area and will be at the site of an old coal mine. The Prairie Rivers Network made the announcement, stating federal funding will be used to restore land, aiming the a new $30 million sports complex to be constructed on the site of an abandoned coal mine in Marion. * WCIA | Central Illinois pipefitter launches labor union chapter for women: In August, WCIA is featuring blue-collar workers in Central Illinois. It’s commonly known as a male-dominated industry, but now, a group of women is coming together to show girls can get the job done too. When Laura Abbott graduated from the U of I, she was excited to start her teaching career. She taught for five years in Urbana, then decided to make a career switch after volunteering at “Career Day.” * WCIA | Champaign School District undergoing audit of special education programs: The Board of Education approved of its authorization at their special meeting Tuesday night, with four members voting for the settlement including the audit and three members abstaining. “Thank you to the families and advocates who have tirelessly sacrificed for these students and who have been the voices for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Betsy Holder said in a post on her Facebook page. “Change won’t happen overnight, but we are finally on the right path with taking accountability and moving forward as a district and community to best serve our most marginalized children.” * WCIA | Gibson City Mayor responds to future RhinoAg layoffs: Gibson City mayor Dan Dickey is expressing his sadness after RhinoAg announced Tuesday they will let 80 employees go from their manufacturing facility by the end of next March. The mayor said he already has reached out to Congressman Darin LaHood, IL Senator Tom Bennett, and IL Representative Jason Bunting, along with other agencies to help the transition. “Over the years, RhinoAg has contributed to our community by providing jobs, supporting our local economy as well as assisting with numerous local events, organizations and projects,” Dickey said. “We appreciate RhinoAg and our long-standing partnership, but now must focus on assisting employees and their families with avenues and solutions to help them move forward.” * WGEM | Clashing campaigns: Two sides duel for voter support on Missouri abortion referendum: Now that their proposed constitutional amendment is officially on the November ballot, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom are campaigning like crazy to get the word out. But they’re not the only ones; Missouri Right to Life is campaigning against Amendment Three. The two clashing campaigns started as soon as Amendment Three was officially on the ballot. On November 5, Missourians will vote on whether or not to restore abortion access to the state. If passed, access to abortion and other forms of birth control would be enshrined in the Missouri constitution.
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Another dire, headline-grabbing convention prediction that didn’t come true
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Late last month…
The logistics of such a huge push seemed rather implausible at the time. Also, the fact that the city has impounded at least one bus used to transport migrants may have added to the deterrence. * Sun-Times this afternoon…
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Heh…
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Handful of street fighters achieved their fashion goal, but two journalists also arrested
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * WBEZ last week…
* Same group…
This was a protest targeting the Israeli consulate. * The Sun-Times had eight (8) reporters assigned to the protests last night. Check out the huge number of reporters in this video as the scrum began…
The Tribune has lots of photos here. * Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see any reporters posting videos last night of this behavior…
That would seem to be valuable news context. * Tribune…
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Roundup: Illinois delegation breakfast day three
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Click here for CNI’s live DNC updates. * Mayor Johnson after his speech…
* US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spoke to the delegates…
* They booked some heavy hitters today…
* More from the app formally known as Twitter…
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Pritzker speech and react (Updated)
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. JB Pritzker’s convention speech as prepared for delivery…
* Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
…Adding… ILGOP…
* More from Isabel… * Block Club | Obamas, Pritzker Bring The Energy — And Clap Back At Trump: Pritzker, who was in contention to be Harris’ running mate earlier this summer, received thunderous cheers for one of his comments. “Donald Trump thinks that we should trust him on the economy, because he claims to be very rich,” Pritzker said. “But take it from an actual billionaire. Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.” * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker hammers Donald Trump in DNC speech: ‘Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity’: In a bit of awkward programming, Pritzker’s speech was preceded by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who railed against the “billionaire class” and “the need to get big money out of our political process.” “Billionaires in both parties should not be able to buy elections, including primary elections,” said Sanders, who received a more enthusiastic reaction than Pritzker from the United Center crowd. Pritzker spent more than $300 million of his own money to win two elections as governor in Illinois and gave at least $27 million to the Democratic Governors Association two years ago to spend on boosting his preferred opponent in the 2022 GOP primary for governor. * Capitol News Illinois | In primetime DNC speech, Pritzker leans into role of benevolent billionaire: “Donald Trump thinks that we should trust him on the economy, because he claims to be very rich,” the second-term governor said during a primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention. “But take it from an actual billionaire – Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.” Pritzker, who is worth an estimated $3.4 billion thanks in large part to inherited family wealth from Hyatt Hotels, is the wealthiest current elected official in the U.S. And in the more than seven years since he declared his candidacy for governor, Pritzker has not shied away from pouring cash into not only his own election bids but campaigns up and down the ballot. * Crain’s | After years of prep, Pritzker finally gets his DNC star turn: “We have a choice America, between the man who left our country a total mess and the woman who has spent four years cleaning it up,” Pritzker told the delegates gathered at the United Center during his prime-time speaking slot. “I think it’s time we stop expecting women to clean up messes without the authority and the title to match the job.” * SJ-R | Obama’s 2004 DNC speech kickstarted national rise. Could the same hold true for Pritzker?: Pritzker and Obama took the stage separately Tuesday evening during day two of the Democratic National Convention. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates, in addition to former First Lady Michelle Obama have also delivered speeches. The vision the 59-year-old governor shared including bolstering support for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and touting what is possible under Democratic leadership as seen in Illinois.
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Pritzker on the future
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * The governor was interviewed by Jonathan Martin yesterday and was asked about what’s left to do in Illinois…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Wednesday, Aug 21, 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 the Ervins, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: It’s the third day of the DNC… * Sun-Times | ‘Shut down the DNC’: Protesters clash with police leading to dozens of arrests in West Loop: The protesters walked directly into a large group of police officials, four officers deep, around 7:30 p.m. The officers began to push them the other way and yelled, “Move back, move back.” Scuffles began to break out, and officers wearing helmets moved into the crowd. Video showed officers overwhelming some of the protesters, pushing them to the ground in an effort to secure the chaotic scene. Afterward, the demonstrators began to move east on Madison toward Canal Street, where hundreds of additional officers were waiting.
* Tribune | The DNC action is at the United Center. But the randomness and behind-the-scenes stuff is at McCormick Place.: Carter, of Chicago’s Busy Beaver Button Co., received personalized requests for a Harris/Walz button. He placed the request on an oval sticker, placed the sticker inside a metal whatzit, watched a blunt lever slam down, then stamped out a new DNC pin: “Very Demure for Harris” and “Crazy Cat Lady for Harris” and “People Who Believe in Science for Harris” and “Keeping My Black Job — Harris 2024.” In the first hours of the convention, he’d already made a few hundred. “Beep! Beep!” shouted an older woman in a red, white and blue cowboy hat, steering her electric wheelchair through the crush of people waiting for their own political pins. She was headed to a DNC merch area, toward $30 mugs decorated with presidential heads, hats with donkeys in sunglasses and shirts reading “Trust Democratic Women.” * WBEZ | A 70-year-old doctor criticizes authorities for his ‘totally unjustified, ridiculous arrest’ at DNC: A 70-year-old retired doctor from the North Side says he was subjected to a “totally unjustified, ridiculous arrest” while on a bike ride among protesters marching near the Democratic National Convention on Monday. Hours after spending a rough night at a Chicago police station, Dr. Charles Steinbruegge told WBEZ on Tuesday he was not a protester himself and had merely taken his bicycle out to see what was happening near the DNC when a federal agent detained him and Chicago officers arrested him a few blocks from the United Center. * Tribune | U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who struggled with infertility, says IVF in danger if Donald Trump is elected: “Trump’s anti-woman crusade has put other Americans’ right to have their own families at risk,” she said. “Cause if they win, Republicans will not stop at banning abortion. They will come for IVF next. They’ll prosecute doctors. They’ll shame and spy on women.” The crowd erupted into cheers as Duckworth told Trump to “stay out of our doctor’s offices … and out of the Oval Office, too.” * Crain’s | Duckworth gets some jabs in during DNC speech: Illinois’ junior senator delivered rebukes to former President Donald Trump before the Democratic National Convention tonight on two fronts: first, his disparagement of veterans and, second, his party’s opposition to in vitro fertilization. “Every American deserves the right to be called ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ without being treated like a criminal,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said in a prime time speech before delegates assembled at the United Center. * Daily Herald | Obamas close DNC’s second night with a rousing Harris endorsement: Warning of a difficult fight ahead, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and combative. “America, hope is making a comeback,” the former first lady declared. She then tore into Republican Donald Trump, a sharp shift from the 2016 convention speech in which she told her party, “When they go low, we go high.”
* Sun-Times | Loyola’s Sister Jean talks DNC, Israel-Hamas war and connecting with students as she turns 105: Heading into her 105th year of life, Loyola University Chicago’s Sister Jean Dolores Bertha Schmidt has a simple goal. “I still want to remain a happy person,” she said. Sister Jean turns 105 on Wednesday, making her just 11 years younger than the oldest person alive. * Block Club | Brown Sugar Bakery’s Kamala Cake Honors Presidential Nominee’s ‘New And Exciting Energy’: The South Side bakery put a presidential spin on a traditional German chocolate cake recipe with dark chocolate cake, caramel and chocolate whipped cream and cream cheese drippings. Click here and here to read former President Barack Obama’s and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s DNC speeches. * Tribune | Illinois bans corporal punishment in all schools: State Rep. Margaret Croke, a Chicago Democrat, was inspired to take up the issue after an updated call by the American Association of Pediatrics to end the practice, which it says can increase behavioral or mental health problems and impair cognitive development. The association found that it’s disproportionately administered to Black males and students with disabilities. “It was an easy thing to do. I don’t want a child, whether they are in private school or public school, to have a situation in which corporal punishment is being used,” Croke said. * AP | Democrats are dwindling in Wyoming. A primary election law further reduces their influence: Meanwhile, as Wyoming Democrats face difficulty fielding viable candidates at all levels, many Democrats have been switching their registration to vote in more competitive Republican primaries, then changing back for the general election. […] Republicans decided they’d had enough. The Wyoming Legislature, where the GOP controls over 90% of the seats, passed legislation last year banning voters from changing their party registration in the three months before the August primary. * Crain’s | It’s getting too hot for old Chicago homes to handle, study finds: Elevate, a national nonprofit advocating for equity through climate action, has authored a report about the health dangers of indoor air temperatures during increasingly hot summers. * Crain’s | Goose Island development site hits the market: Real estate services firm CBRE is seeking a buyer for the 2.1-acre site at 1017 W. Division St., according to a flyer. The brokerage is marketing the former lumberyard on behalf of the Ciral family, which closed its Big Bay Lumber business on the property in 2015 but still owns the site. * Daily Herald | ‘Great idea, wrong location’: Fixed shelter for homeless adults nixed in Gurnee: A proposal to convert the FairBridge Inn on Grand Avenue in Gurnee to a fixed-site homeless shelter was derailed Monday. Actually, a $7 million investment by PADS Lake County was eliminated from consideration before an official vote, and a proposed zoning change to allow emergency shelters as a special use in that district was rejected, which made PADS’ request moot. * Daily Herald | Accused of stench, business offers to leave Mount Prospect — but at a price: Prestige Feed Products, a Mount Prospect animal feed manufacturer that has outraged neighbors in the village and neighboring Des Plaines over noxious odors and noise, has offered to move out. But officials of the company located at 431 Lakeview Ct. are asking for a large cash settlement that was initially met coldly by village officials. In a court hearing Tuesday, attorneys for Prestige and Mount Prospect discussed a potential settlement. * Tribune | Vine Street BBQ Fest returns to Park Ridge Aug. 24 to raise charity funds: The sound of sizzling meat and wafts of cooking smoke will return to Park Ridge starting early on Saturday, Aug. 24 for the eighth annual Vine Street BBQ festival and competition. Amateur chefs and pit masters will compete to see who can offer the best BBQ. Proceeds from the event will go to local charities. Jamie Rubin, the event’s coordinator and co-founder, said this year’s competition will consist of 41 amateur teams with about four people on each team. The competition is part of the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and judges will decide who has the best chicken, ribs, sauce, and dish in Park Ridge before it’s all over. * Inside Higher Ed | Library Faculty Eliminated Amid ‘Fiscal Insanity’ at Western Illinois: The university laid off all its library faculty as part of massive cuts, leaving employees and supporters to wonder how the library will serve campus constituents. * SJ-R | Black Lives Matter SPI street signs back up in downtown Springfield: Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory said he felt good that honorary Black Lives Matter SPI Way signs were reinstalled by Office of Public Works crews around the Governor’s Mansion last week. It symbolized, he said, a group needed more than ever in the city. “I’m really proud of them and I’m proud of our community,” Gregory told the SJ-R. “We’ll continue to fight for equality and justice and all that comes with that.” * WCIA | Champaign synagogue cleared after receiving bomb threat: Lieutenant Aaron Lack said staff at the Sinai Temple, located a 3104 West Windsor Road, received an email Thursday morning from someone claiming a bomb had been planted there. Officers were dispatched at 7:38 a.m. that morning in response to the threat. Lack said it was quickly determined that the email was sent to multiple houses of worship across Illinois and Iowa. Regardless, Champaign Police searched the synagogue and found no evidence that an explosive device was present. They also could not determine that there was a local connection to the threat. * Crain’s | Rivian manufacturing chief leaving for Stellantis: Tim Fallon, Rivian’s vice president of manufacturing, is leaving the electric vehicle maker to become head of manufacturing in North America at Stellantis. Fallon led manufacturing at Rivian for two years, according to an internal memo from CEO RJ Scaringe. He spent 16 years at Nissan Motor Co. before joining Rivian.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Aug 21, 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)
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Governor JB Pritzker gets a prime time spot at the DNC…
* Tribune…
* Daily Herald | ‘Elections are now fought in the suburbs’: Illinois delegates hopeful for another historic win in November: DuPage County Board Chairman Deborah Conroy had one bit of advice for fellow delegates at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday morning. “Make sure you have good shoes on Nov. 5 because there will be glass everywhere,” Conroy said, referencing the glass ceiling she and other Democrats are hopeful will shatter with the election of the country’s first female president of color. * Sun-Times | CPD bracing for anti-war protest tonight: Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said his officers are ready for a protest tonight that claims it will be “like ’68” — referring to the rioting in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention that year. The protest set for 7 p.m. outside the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest at 500 W. Madison is not sanctioned by the city, but protesters say on social media that they plan to be there anyway.
* Block Club | Secret Service Looking Into Downtown Bomb Threats: The U.S. Secret service confirmed local law enforcement were investigating and were on-hand at the sites of the bomb threats. “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of threats made to various locations in the Downtown area. Law enforcement personnel are screening the affected areas and examining the credibility of the threat,” said a statement from the DNC 2024 Joint Information Center. * Crain’s | Throughout DNC, Dems play one of the strongest cards in their hand — abortion: Even ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which effectively overturned Roe v. Wade, Gov. J.B. Pritzker moved to enhance access and provide additional resources to abortion providers in the state, and he’s continued to do so since. Illinois Medicaid first began covering abortions in 2018. A year later, Pritzker signed the Illinois Reproductive Health Act, which made abortions a fundamental right in the state and required most private health insurance plans in Illinois to cover abortion as they do for any other pregnancy care. * Crain’s | Malort shots, sliders and skyline views: Inside the DNC party circuit: United Airlines opened the top floors of Willis Tower last night for an after-hours party for reporters and other guests in town for the Democratic National Convention. Among those who were spotted taking in 360-degree views of the city on a picture-perfect night — complete with a rare “super blue moon” — were Maureen Dowd and David Sanger of The New York Times, Jeff Zeleny and Kaitlan Collins of CNN, Philip Rucker of the Washington Post, NBC anchors Lester Holt and his son, Stefan Holt, and Jonathan Martin of Politico. * Sun-Times | Convention canines? Volunteer therapy dogs deployed to help ‘de-stress’ law enforcement during DNC duty: The therapy canines are not police dogs. They are trained to soothe people in crisis, specifically police officers and federal agents waiting to be deployed if any emergency occurs during the Democratic National Convention. “Preparing for the DNC in the advent of thousands of protesters has been a huge undertaking by a multitude of public safety agencies,” said retired police Sgt. Cindy Gross, a 30-year Chicago Police Department veteran who retired in 2001 after years of undercover work dealing with drugs, vice and prostitution. * NYT | A Look Back at Chicago Conventions of Yore: The city’s convention tradition dates back to the mid-1800s, and political parties visited regularly over the century that followed. But it has been an infrequent host since 1968, when clashes outside the convention hall marred the Democrats’ gathering that year. * Tribune | CPS touts progress as Chicago Teachers Union criticism mounts over bilingual education amid bargaining: With CTU members continuing to sharpen their criticism of CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez, the news conference marks the latest salvo in a debate on whether a structural deficit exceeding $400 million in each of the next five school years should limit the district’s ability to fully staff and fund its programs. At Cooper Dual Language Academy, which received 130 migrant students last school year, union members came together to call on Martinez to “step up to the challenge of meeting our students’ needs, or to step aside,” said Walt Disney Magnet School music teacher Kathryn Zamarron. * Chicago Mag | Pay Now, Save Later: Budget whiz Ralph Martire has a plan to close Chicago’s $34 billion pension gap: It’s really not a pension crisis. It has nothing to do with the design of the pension systems themselves or the benefits offered. It is a debt service crisis. For generations, by statute, Chicago was allowed to underfund the pensions. That has created a huge amount of debt owed to the pension systems that compounds interest annually. The big jump in unfunded liability occurred between 2007 and 2020: $22.6 billion. Almost 60 percent of that growth was the statutory allowance for Chicago to underfund its pension. And the reason that legislative rubric was put in place was that the Daley administration wanted to provide services without necessarily paying for them with tax revenue. One way to do that is to defer your long-term obligations. That’s great for taxpayers in the years when you’re underfunding the pension. Not so great later, when you’ve got to make up the difference. * Sun-Times | Pace, CPS paratransit drivers end fourth day of strike without progress in contract negotiations: Nearly 800 drivers employed by SCR Medical Transportation walked out on strike Friday amid efforts to reach a labor contract with the company, said Teamsters Local 727, the union representing the drivers. SCR filed an injunction against Teamsters Local 727 on Monday morning. Union officials said the injunction was “meritless” and was an “attempt to infringe on the union members’ legal right to engage in lawful, peaceful picketing and hand-billing.” * Block Club | The Wild Mile Is Expanding Along Chicago River’s North Branch: Over the past few months, Urban Rivers — a nonprofit that works to transform city rivers into urban sanctuaries — and a team of volunteers have installed floating walkways and garden beds and hauled in over 30,000 pounds of rock aggregate to bring to life the second phase of the Wild Mile. […] The Wild Mile was created as part of a larger effort to redefine and rehabilitate the channelized section of the Chicago River. * Crain’s | Remembering Phil Donahue, a pioneer who elevated daytime TV: “The Phil Donahue Show” built its phenomenal nationally syndicated success as one of those rare places, one particularly appealing for housebound women paternal TV long underestimated as interested only in pap. Phil Donahue, who died Sunday at age 88, presided over what amounted to the People’s Press Conference five days a week from 1967 to 1996, its pre-eminence coinciding with the 11-year, 1974-85 stint in which his signature show was produced in Chicago. * Tribune | Chicago White Sox fail to take advantage of opportunities in 5-3 loss to fall 66 games under .500: At 30-96, the Sox are 66 games under .500 for the first time in franchise history. “We had good at-bats all night, put pressure on, getting guys on,” Sizemore said. “Just got to keep working, keep executing. Even though we got down, we kept fighting, kept clawing back. Getting some big hits late, pinch-hit hits. * Daily Southtown | Park Forest Mayor Joe Woods says he was attacked, seeks outside investigation: In a statement Saturday, Woods wrote he was the victim of a violent crime in which one of the assailants had a large knife in his hands, and Woods said at one point he was “knocked to the ground.” The altercation took place near a restaurant at which a garbage bin fire had just been extinguished. * WTTW | This New Lake County Conservation Preserve is for the Birds, and Only the Birds: The “conservation preserve” designation indicates the Forest Preserves will own and manage the site not for public access or even passive recreational use — which would damage the ecosystem and disrupt the rookery — but solely to ensure these “essential natural resources remain untouched and protected,” according to a statement from the Forest Preserves. * Crain’s | What the activist investor targeting Portillo’s wants management to fix: Engaged Capital wants Portillo’s to aggressively shrink the square footage of its new restaurants as it continues to expand. The brand’s longstanding Chicago-area spaces tend to be vast, some spanning two floors and up to 11,000 square feet, which is uncharacteristically large for a fast-casual chain. Portillo’s here can justify those large spaces because the margins in Chicago remain so strong. Nationally, though, Engaged thinks less is more. * Rockford Register Star | Microsoft proposes Cherry Valley data center on 300 acres: Microsoft unveiled the proposal on 309-acres of what is now agricultural land during an open house Monday at the Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road. The prospect of new high-paying jobs coming to the region attracted the attention of Dino Pandya, a Rockford resident who has one child who studying for a doctorate in physics at Princeton University and another who will soon graduate from Northwestern University with a master’s degree in computer science. * WCIA | U of I professors help usher in Illinois’ quantum age: University of Illinois Professor Brian DeMarco started studying the theoretical field of quantum computing back in the ’90s. Now, he helps make that theory a reality at the University of Illinois. “I just feel so fortunate to be at the have been in the lab at the beginning of it.” DeMarco said. “And now at this point where the state has made this investment to try to build the big one and do it first.” * The Southern | Historical society to host talk on Illinois’ role in the Civil War: The Jefferson County Historical Society will present ‘Illinois in the Inevitable: the Role of Illinois in the Civil War’ 2 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Schweinfurth Museum at the Historical Village. […] Illinois was a microcosm of the United States during its Antebellum Era, according to a JCHS news release. Northern Illinois and Chicago had ties to the Northeast and industry, while the southern portion remained firmly agricultural with the Underground Railroad in southwestern Illinois and salt mines and slave catchers in southeastern Illinois. * AP | Tens of thousands remain without power in Puerto Rico, a week after tropical storm swiped the island: The National Weather Service issued yet another excessive heat advisory, warning of “dangerously hot and humid conditions.” More than 40,000 out of nearly 1.5 million customers remained without power in the afternoon. All schools should have electricity by late Tuesday, officials said, and noted that some 80% of emergency medical clinics, which exclude hospitals, have power.
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Stellantis confirms Belvidere plant reopening is delayed, but stands by commitment to reopen
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s DNC news coverage roundup
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* WaPo…
* Sun-Times…
* Tribune…
* Stephen Colbert’s Chicago anthem… * More… * AP | It’s Been 20 Years Since Barack Obama Made His DNC Debut. He’s Back to Make the Case for Kamala Harris: “President Obama is still a north star in the party,” said Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who credits the 44th president with helping her become her state’s first Black woman lieutenant governor. Besides Harris herself on Thursday, Stratton said, no voice this week is more integral to stirring Democrats, reaching independents and cajoling moderate Republicans than Obama. * Axios | DNC makes Teamsters president sweat: Teamsters President Sean O’Brien has been ghosted by the Democratic National Convention after his request to speak this week in Chicago. […] The Teamsters boss became the first-ever union president to speak at an RNC last month, delivering fiery remarks before a party that has a track record of opposing labor movements.
* Tribune | Steve Kerr returns to the United Center for his DNC speech: ‘I believe leaders should tell the truth’: Former Chicago Bulls star and current Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. “I know very well that speaking out about politics these days comes with risk,” Kerr said. “I can see the ‘shut up and whistle’ tweets being fired out as we speak. But I also knew as soon as I was asked that it was too important as an American citizen not to speak up in an election of this magnitude.” * Block Club | DNC Celebrity Tracker: Here Are The Famous People At The Convention And Around Chicago This Week: Ana Navarro, a Nicaraguan American political strategist and commentator, will host Tuesday night. While Navarro has said she is Republican, she has long criticized Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump, and she often lends support to Democrat politicians. * Tribune | After RV tour championing Democrats, Gen Z activists bring DNC to peers: Sam Schwartz just finished caravaning around the country in an RV for 28 days with half a dozen fellow Gen Z activists. The 20-year-old gun reform activist stopped in 15 districts across 11 states on a mission to get Democrats elected to Congress. On Sunday, he boarded a plane from Palm Beach, Florida, to Chicago to attend the Democratic National Convention with two of his traveling companions: his girlfriend, Emma Levine, 20, and Highland Park shooting survivor Drew Spiegel, 19. * Crain’s | Playing host or progressive preacher? As DNC kicks off, Johnson tries a bit of both: Johnson’s schedule this week includes events where organizers will push for more federal funding for education, discuss Chicago’s potential investment in a municipally-run grocery store and tout Johnson’s early legislative win on gradually eliminating the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers. The week represents an opportunity for Johnson to prove Chicago’s national image is ready for a makeover and to potentially pump life into what’s expected to be his contentious bid for a second term by showing progressives they were right to spend the energy and resources to elect him. * NYT | Highlights From Night 1 of the Democratic Convention: In a city where he was supposed to claim the mantle of the Democratic Party for the final time, at a convention where he was supposed to cement his political legacy, President Biden instead passed the torch of leadership, wiping away tears as the crowd rose to its feet in a sustained ovation and chanted, “Thank you, Joe.” The outpouring of gratitude for his decision to step aside and make way for Vice President Kamala Harris seemed to encourage Mr. Biden as he claimed credit for saving democracy, and for much more, in a nearly hourlong speech filled with optimism and a fighting spirit that capped the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. * Sun-Times | From high school football coach to VP candidate: How to tackle all this, Coach Walz?: Anyway, Tim, you were the defensive coordinator for Mankato West High School when it won the Minnesota 4A state championship 25 years ago. Here’s what Lance Resner, a linebacker on that Scarlets team, told the New York Times about how you fired guys up: “Tim came in with a different swagger. We were pretty dog [crap] for a long time.” So what would you do to stop Caleb Williams and the Bears, a team full of expectations but also coming off a pretty dog-poop past?
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The IL GOP’s take
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi…
Discuss.
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‘Being the biggest crime of the last fifty years, and everybody wanted to get in the newspaper story about it’ (Updated)
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * It looks like the protest organizers did their part to keep the peace yesterday. From the Sun-Times, which had seven (7!) reporters assigned to yesterday’s protest…
* CBS News…
* Check out this video clip from NBC5 of the police push-back. It’s mostly reporters in front of the cops… Another angle from Fox 32…  * The Tribune assigned four reporters…
* AP…
* I posted this yesterday, but one of the defining moments of yesterday’s protest was when the marchers had to pause so they could ask reporters to please get the heck out of their way…
* I wonder who got that fence contract…
* All that being said, this is next…
* More…
* As the DNC in Chicago again sees large protests, a new generation of demonstrators finds inspiration in the past: Michael James, now 82 years old, recalled the police crackdown on those protests, telling CBS News, “It was basically an attack.” James can be seen in a famous photograph of protesters surrounding a police van. * Fox News: Chicago DNC protests to put Illinois’ no-cash-bail law to the ultimate test [Headline explained here.] …Adding… Hope nobody is disappointed…
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President Harmon on staff union legislation: House leadership and staff should “get together and solve their own problems” (Updated)
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * As we discussed, House Speaker Chris Welch was asked yesterday how the Illinois Legislative Staff Association’s lawsuit affects his message on workers’ rights. A reporter asked Senate President Don Harmon this morning why his chamber hasn’t moved a bill that would allow staff to unionize…
Thoughts? [Full video is here.] …Adding… ILSA’s response…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Tuesday, Aug 20, 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 the Ervins, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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IPI commisioned poll has more bad news for Mayor Johnson
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * M3 Strategies is a Republican pollster which did work for Paul Vallas last year, and this particular poll was conducted for the Illinois Policy Institute. However, their polling in the first round of the mayor’s race was dead-on. The results are also about three weeks old. I could go on, but take it for what it’s worth…
Crosstabs are here.
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From last night… 
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Open thread
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: It’s day two of the DNC… * Capitol News Illinois | As DNC opens in Chicago, state leaders tout Illinois as a ‘model of Democratic success’: But instead of focusing on Trump and other Republicans on Monday, Democrats tried to keep the spotlight on their positive vision for what their party can accomplish. “This convention is our opportunity to share our successes, to set the agenda, and to show the entire country why Illinois is leading the way,” DNC Host Committee Executive Director Christy George, who most recently worked in Pritzker’s office on budget and economic issues, told the breakfast crowd. * Tribune | DNC in Chicago: What happened Monday — and what’s coming Tuesday: * Block Club | DNC Speaker Schedule By Day: The main programming runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night. Here’s the expected rundown of the DNC 2024 speaker schedule for the United Center with the associated themes for the day, according to CNN and Axios. * Daily Herald | Walz makes surprise appearance at Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi event: Northwest suburban Democratic U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi was to be the keynote speaker Monday at a meeting of the Asian American and Pacific Islander caucus, but no wonder he began his remarks saying he would observe three rules of public speaking: “be short, be sweet and be gone.” That’s because Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate — was waiting in the wings. * Daily Herald | No ‘cool kids’ table at Illinois delegation’s opening breakfast: Instead of one table for congressional hotshots, one for state politicos and another for grass-roots volunteers, Democrats mixed it up over pancakes at the Illinois delegation’s first breakfast meeting. Democratic National Convention delegates Mark Guethle and Beth Penesis of Kane County shared a table Monday with U.S. Reps. Sean Casten, Bill Foster and Lauren Underwood, state Sens. Laura Murphy and Laura Fine, DuPage County Chair Deb Conroy and others. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth also paused to chat, as did Sen. Dick Durbin. * Sun-Times | Wrought-iron fence closes off site of former homeless encampment cleared before the DNC: What a permanent solution will look like for its former residents isn’t yet clear. “My whole thing with the DNC, it seemed like they were going to give us a vacation from being homeless,” said the neighbor known as “Six-Nine” who now lives at 16th and Union where he feels “safe” and “peaceful.” “When Tremont closes, the people are going to come back to where they know.” * Sun-Times | Biden takes stage at Chicago DNC. ‘Democracy must be preserved.’: “America’s best days are not behind us. They’re before us,” Biden said in a late-night farewell speech capping an evening of delayed programming that bumped him from primetime television. “With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night, to report that democracy has prevailed, Biden said. “Democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered. And now, democracy must be preserved.” * Tribune | Planned Parenthood offers free abortions and vasectomies at mobile clinic near DNC to ‘show what is possible’: A few blocks from the Democratic National Convention, Planned Parenthood is offering free medication abortions and vasectomies at its mobile health clinic to demonstrate “what is possible when policies truly support accessible reproductive health care,” according to the agency. Physicians were providing abortions and vasectomies by appointment on Monday in the West Loop and said they planned to continue doing so Tuesday. As of Monday evening, no appointments on Tuesday were available. The Chicago Abortion Fund has also been distributing free emergency contraceptive at the site. * Tribune | Urban historian Shermann ‘Dilla’ Thomas showcases Chicago’s South and West sides during DNC: As he led the tour, Thomas said that he didn’t limit himself to only describing the legendary skyscrapers of the Loop visible during the river cruise. He also talked about the neighborhoods that the DNC organizers weren’t seeing. “I made clear to them that if Chicago is chosen, they need to also make sure that they include Chicago neighborhoods (to the south of) Cermak,” Thomas said, referring to the street that runs along McCormick Place, the daytime venue of the convention. “So once Chicago got chosen, I guess they remembered me.” * Tribune | Gov JB Pritzker’s national moment has come at the DNC. But it’s much different than first imagined.: Even as he ponders what’s next, Pritzker, not even halfway through his second term, is relishing the role of dutiful host, booking John Legend to play an after-party at the Salt Shed following the governor’s speech and ordering up specially branded JBeer from a pair of local breweries to serve to guests. During the summer’s tumult, Pritzker, a Biden campaign co-chair, displayed the patience and party loyalty that have been hallmarks of his political career. * Gov. Pritzker hits the bars during ‘Daily Show’ episode taping in Chicago: With the Democratic National Convention barely begun, the “Daily Show” mostly skipped the United Center politicking in the first of its four Chicago-based episodes. The focus instead was the host city, ribbed by a procession of jokesters who included Gov. JB Pritzker. In a taped segment, the governor smoothly parried tough questions (“Is ‘The Bear’ a comedy or a drama?”) from Jordan Klepper as the “Daily Show” regular (and former Chicagoan) kept diverting their tour of Wrigleyville into his favorite watering holes. * Here are the speakers for today’s Illinois delegate breakfast…
* Block Club | Judge Upholds Decision To Block Metal Scrapper Southside Recycling From Opening: A Cook County judge on Friday reversed a lower court’s ruling that the proposed metal scrapper — which would take on troubled North Side scrapper General Iron’s assets — should have been permitted to open. * Block Club | Chicago River Swim Moving To Lake Michigan After City Blocked Permit: Organizers of the Sept. 22 swim previously planned to host the 2-mile event in the Chicago River, which would have made it the first open-water swim in the river in nearly a century. The city denied that request due to health concerns. To keep true to the original plans and the event’s name, organizers now plan to start the swim by picking up participants along the riverwalk and transporting them to Ohio Street Beach, 600 N. Lake Shore Drive, by boat, according to a Monday news release. * Daily Herald | As national stature rises, Irvin will seek third term as Aurora’s mayor: Richard Irvin made it official this week, announcing he is seeking a third term as the top elected official of the state’s second-largest city. With four current aldermen flanking him on stage, Irvin said that under his leadership, Aurora has improved economically and gained stature, locally, statewide and across the nation. * Daily Herald | Another truck wedged under Long Grove bridge Monday morning: “The vast majority of the times this happens, it damages the vehicle,” Long Grove Assistant Village Manager Dana McCarthy said. “The bridge is made of heavy duty steel.” After the collision at about 7 a.m., it was more a case of deflating the truck’s tires to free it and get it on its way than addressing any structural damage, he added. * Daily Herald | Colbert shouts out Mount Prospect music fest, among other ‘community calendar’ listings in the suburbs: In a bit that aired on his CBS Late Show last Thursday, the Second City alum and Northwestern University grad was joined on set by actor Sean Hayes for “Chicago’s Community Calendar, your source for what’s going on in Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area.” That included shout-outs to the 56 Music Fix festival in Mount Prospect featuring local bands like Uncle Pigeon, Booti Grooviani, and Day Drinkerz, “who take the stage at 5 p.m., unless they’ve already blacked out,” Colbert quipped. * PJ Star | Ryan Spain responds to WTVP donation being linked to him in Peoria police report: State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, had no knowledge that money improperly donated to his campaign came from the coffers of WTVP-TV, according to a statement from his campaign. Spain’s name was mentioned in a report written by the Peoria Police Department detailing how former WTVP CEO Lesley Matuszak used money from the public television station as her own personal piggy bank, buying luxury goods, vacations, expensive dinners and even making political donations. Matuszak used roughly $7,000 of WTVP’s money to make political donations to Spain’s campaign fund, according to the police report. Non-profits like WTVP are not allowed to make campaign contributions to political candidates under federal tax code. * CNI | In Cairo, massive 3D printer provides affordable housing hope: Hundreds gathered in Illinois’ southernmost city on Saturday to witness a demonstration of the futuristic printer, with American flags waving from the top of its two tall legs. 3D printing is emerging as a promising technology that could accelerate affordable housing development nationwide. The machine, the first of its kind in the region, is owned by Eminence Resource Inc., based in Harrisburg, 80 miles north of Cairo. The company is donating the duplex to the city. * SJ-R | Coroner will serve as sheriff in temporary role following Campbell’s retirement: Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon will serve as sheriff in a temporary capacity it was announced by the county Monday. Meanwhile, a committee will review applications and participate in the interview and nomination process for the candidate who will succeed Sheriff Jack Campbell, who is retiring no later than Aug. 31 in wake of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a deputy on July 6.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Aug 20, 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)
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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