Today, the Illinois Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force released a new report that provides the first in-depth analysis by the state on the far-reaching effects of generative AI on civil rights, education, labor, consumer protections, and the environment. The report outlines critical recommendations for AI regulations and standards in Illinois.
Task force members, led by co-chairs Rep. Abdelnasseer Rashid (D-Bridgeview) and Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago), Secretary Sanjay Gupta of DoIT, labor leaders representing AFSCME Council 31, SAG-AFTRA, and joined by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), the ACLU and others, held an event on Wednesday to announce the report.
“This report serves as both a call to action and a roadmap for ensuring that generative AI is harnessed responsibly in Illinois,” said Rep. Adelnasser Rashid, co-chair of the task force, “We need to foster innovation, while safeguarding against the very real risks that AI poses to privacy, equity, and public trust. Technology can be used to uplift – but only if there is transparency and accountability.” […]
Key recommendations include:
- Supporting Workers: Implementing proactive measures to reskill workers, protect labor rights, and mitigate economic displacement caused by AI automation.
- Safeguarding Civil Rights: Cracking down on algorithmic discrimination in hiring, housing, banking, healthcare, and other industries to ensure that AI does not perpetuate and amplify systemic bias and racism.
- Protecting Democracy: Regulating the use of deepfakes in political ads and communications to safeguard against misinformation and inference in our elections.
- Enhancing Privacy and Consumer Rights: Strengthening data protection laws and implementing privacy-first principles in AI applications to safeguard consumers’ rights and data.
- Fostering Sustainable AI Development: Encouraging the development of energy-efficient, low-carbon AI technologies to minimize environmental impacts. […]
Rep. Rashid will be asking the General Assembly to extend the task force into the future to allow for ongoing monitoring of the effects of AI in Illinois.
* Capitol News Illinois | State lawmakers weigh TikTok’s value: Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Lemont, posted his only two videos to TikTok in January. He said he likes comedy, recipe and workout videos, and he wants to reach out to his constituents. “My kids are on the platform, and they kept saying ‘Hey, you know, RFK Jr. is on the platform, and we see his videos everywhere. Now President (Donald) Trump’s on the platform, he’s everywhere, Joe Biden’s everywhere,” Sheehan said. “So, I got kind of interested in seeing how they were reaching out to a whole different type of audience, so I decided to get on.” Sheehan said he wasn’t concerned about using TikTok right now, despite the national security concerns.
* Tribune | State lawmakers move measure aimed at protecting warehouse workers amid complaints that demands for speed hinder safety: The measure, passed by state lawmakers earlier this month, is in response to reports that warehouse workers are too often pushed beyond their physical limits. In December, Amazon reached a $145,000 settlement with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration over accusations that conditions at an Illinois warehouse left workers exposed to elevated risks of injury. If Pritzker signs the bill into law, Illinois would join five other states that have similar measures on the books and dozens of others that have introduced legislation attempting to address warehouse workplace issues.
* IDPH | IDPH Awards $4.5 Million in Grants to Support Governor Pritzker’s Birth Equity Efforts Across Illinois: The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced it has awarded $4.5 million to 12 groups across the state funded through Governor JB Pritzker’s 2024 Birth Equity Initiative. The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $700,000, were awarded through a competitive process and are designed to support innovative, community-based efforts that have the potential to reduce inequities in populations historically at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes. “Illinois has one of the most robust birth equity initiatives in the entire nation and today’s announcement brings us closer to a state where every mother – no matter her race, economic status, or ZIP code – is afforded the right to a safe and healthy pregnancy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’re grateful to our community-based grantees who are assisting pregnant women and families to drive healthier births, improve long-term health outcomes and create more culturally responsive care infrastructure.”
*** Statewide ***
* KWQC | Illinois, Iowa eighth grade reading scores among highest in US on report card: But Illinois and Iowa showed mostly steady results, and eighth graders excelled in reading. Only two states scored higher than Illinois, and three in Iowa. Overall, Illinois is doing fairly well, especially compared to the national average. Math has seen a little improvement, but reading is staying steady with slight dips. Overall, Iowa shows steady results but with slight declines, especially in math and reading over the years, but it’s still performing better than the national average in most areas.
* Tribune | Advocate Health Care closing all 47 of its clinics inside Illinois Walgreens stores: Advocate noted that, as part of a recently announced plan to overhaul how it provides care on the South Side of Chicago, it will open care locations in churches and community centers where advanced practice providers (such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants) will address common needs such as colds, sore throats, flu and chronic disease management, over video calls. It also plans to expand services at its Imani Village outpatient clinic on the South Side.
*** Chicago ***
* Crain’s | Fritz Kaegi has finalized his Chicago property assessments. Now come the appeals: Commercial property values in Chicago grew last year by more than residential ones, according to new numbers from Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, suggesting some of the local property tax burden will shift from homeowners to landlords when bills come out later this year. But that’s all likely to change in the months ahead. Kaegi today released the final figures from his 2024 reassessment of all Chicago properties, estimates that show the total assessed values of real estate citywide grew by 23% between 2023 and 2024.
* Unraveled | Cop who shot and killed Dexter Reed quits amid investigations: Officer Alexandra Giampapa, who played a lead role in the deadly traffic stop that killed Dexter Reed, Jr. last year, has resigned from the department as investigations into past misconduct mount. She was one of four CPD officers who fired at the 26-year-old during a traffic stop on March 21, 2024. Police records obtained via Freedom of Information Act request show the five-year veteran resigned from the department on November 17. Her resignation comes months after the Civilian Office of Police Accountability opened new investigations into a pattern of dozens of other potentially unlawful investigatory stops conducted by Giampapa and her team. Two weeks after her resignation, city lawyers tentatively reached an undisclosed settlement with Reed’s family.
* Crain’s | Griffin Museum of Science & Industry lands $10M grant to renovate historic South Portico: The project, which is supported by the grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation — the largest donation in the foundation’s history — aims to increase accessibility to the museum, add modern amenities such as a cafe and create a new public space connecting the museum to the Columbian Basin and the rest of Jackson Park.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan hospital asks court to remove coroner from death investigation; accuses her of ‘vendetta’: Reacting to what it believes is a vendetta against Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Vista Health Systems sued Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek Tuesday while seeking an independent investigation into the death of hospital patient Chelsea Adolphus of Waukegan. […] For the past year, Spiegel said Banek has posted critical and “false” remarks about the hospital on a dedicated social media page after she was relieved of her duties as a nurse anesthetist at Vista.
* Sun-Times | Cook County sends first installment of tax bills to 1.8 million property owners: Property owners can choose to make payments online at cookcountytreasurer.com. Over 12,000 owners have paid through the website, totaling $64 million in online payments. “Each year more and more people use our website to pay their property tax bills online,” Pappas wrote in a statement. “People like the convenience of paying online and not having to come downtown to pay in person or write a check and pay for postage.”
* Patch | Man Taken By ICE In Lake Co. Arrested For DUI 20 Years Ago: Family: A Waukegan father and grandfather who came to the United States from Mexico more than 30 years ago — and who was charged with a DUI more than 20 years ago — was arrested by ICE over the weekend. His daughter, Yenitza, told the Lake County News-Sun Andres Marquina obtained a green cardafter coming to the U.S., worked in a warehouse and raised a family in the U.S. He was working with an attorney to get the driving while under the influence charge expunged from his record.
* WAND | Sangamon County Juvenile Detention reopens: The Sangamon County Juvenile Detention is reopening after more than a year. The facility had been shut down after an armed teenager took another juvenile hostage and was killed by police officers in the fall of 2023. Kent Holsopple, the Director of Probation and Court Services, said Sangamon County worked closely with the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts to reopen the Juvenile Detention Center. “With the new security measures in place, including the use a body scanner, and adequate staffing levels the Administrative Office gave approval for Sangamon County to begin accepting juveniles who meet criteria for detention. Over the next 45 to 60 days as we proceed with the reopening we will work toward bringing juveniles currently being held in other counties back to Sangamon County,” Holsopple said in a statement.
* Sun-Times | Eastern Illinois University student dies in off-campus shooting after ‘disarming’ police officer: When officers arrived, they encountered Yahacov Dennis, 22. “A rapidly evolving event” then took place, and Dennis disarmed a police officer of his gun before turning it on himself and firing, police said. […] In a message shared on X, state Rep. Kam Buckner, Dennis’ cousin, said he was devastated by the loss. “While there are still more questions than answers, one thing that is certain is how deeply we loved him,” Buckner said.
* AP | Fed hold rates steady, says job market is solid, inflation ’somewhat elevated: The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday after cutting it three times in a row last year, a sign of a more cautious approach as the Fed seeks to gauge where inflation is headed and what policies President Donald Trump may pursue. The Fed reduced its rate last year to 4.3% from 5.3%, in part out of concern that the job market was weakening. Hiring had slowed in the summer and the unemployment rate ticked up, leading Fed officials to approve an outsized half-point cut in September. Yet hiring rebounded last month and the unemployment rate declined slightly, to a low 4.1%.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office improperly blocked public access to a City Hall room where they said they store Gucci bags, designer cufflinks and other gifts, according to an investigation by the city’s Office of the Inspector General.
A report released Wednesday by Inspector General Deborah Witzburg found Johnson’s office violated the city’s ethics policy that requires mayors to record gifts above $50 and “accepted on behalf of the City” in a publicly available log maintained on the 5th floor of City Hall. Covert OIG investigators visited the mayor’s office last June but were denied access to the log.
The report says Johnson’s staff refused to hand over the list of gifts and directed the undercover investigators to make a Freedom of Information Act request instead. The mayor’s office then allegedly blew past the deadline to respond and only produced an incomplete list of gifts over a month later after the OIG made an official document request.
Perhaps most troubling to the inspector general was how difficult it was to secure the information, which is supposed to be “promptly” reported to the Chicago Board of Ethics and the city comptroller so the items can be added to “an inventory of the city’s properly.”
Witzburg found every mayor since Eugene Sawyer in the late 1980’s has been exempt from those rules, based on an informal agreement with the Board of Ethics that has never been put into law.
OIG has been informed by [the Chicago Board of Ethics] of a 1989 arrangement made between BOE and Mayor’s Office during the administration of Mayor Eugene Sawyer. This arrangement, never codified in the text of the [Governmental Ethics Ordinance] as a further exception to the general rule prohibiting accepting gifts and never adopted in a formal BOE advisory opinion, allows the Mayor to disregard provisions of the GEO that require gift disclosures to BOE. Instead, pursuant to this unwritten agreement, successive mayors have been advised by BOE that they may keep a publicly available log of gifts instead of making statutorily required gift disclosures to BOE. This unwritten arrangement purported to relieve successive mayors from their responsibility of obtaining approvals from BOE and making disclosures to BOE that are expressly required of all City employees and officials by the GEO. According to BOE, this informal arrangement has continued until the present day and is communicated by BOE to mayoral staff during ethics trainings and in informal ethics opinions. BOE’s website does not clarify that gifts to a mayor would not be disclosed on BOE’s website due to the arrangement between BOE and the Mayor’s Office.
The arrangement between BOE and the Mayor’s Office, which excuses mayors from making statutorily required disclosures to BOE, is contrary to the plain language of the GEO and undermines requirements of the GEO that promote accountability and public transparency. BOE communicated to OIG that, pursuant to the arrangement, the mayor should log gifts “in a publicly available log book” which is “kept in the 5th floor suite of offices in City Hall.”
Samantha Slecka spent the better part of three days strapped down to a chair in Madison County Jail in the summer of 2022. It was the same jail where her fiancé had attempted suicide only months earlier.
She had been arrested and detained for meth possession and a warrant for possession of a controlled substance—a charge that was later dropped. Despairing, in withdrawal, and calling out for help in her cell, Slecka said she tried to take her own life.
In response, jail staff restrained her in a chair for 36 hours, then again the following day for nearly 12 hours. She said it was days before she saw a mental health professional.
“I was just screaming the whole time because it just … felt like I was being punished,” said Slecka, 40. “To not have even the ability to move anything—it’s just pretty traumatizing.”
In Illinois Answers’ investigation into the use, misuse, and abuse of restraint chairs in Illinois county jails, Madison County stands out. From 2019 to 2023, the jail reported more incidents exceeding the chair manufacturer’s upper limit–10 hours–than any other jail in the state. Neighboring St. Clair County restrained more people than Madison County did, but largely for shorter periods. […]
In most cases, county records indicated the person restrained had a diagnosed mental illness or need for mental health crisis intervention. Multiple people defecated or urinated on themselves while restrained, which experts often say is evidence of extended restraint or improper care.
Endicott assumed the role of jail administrator in August of 2023. He said inquiries from Illinois Answers in early 2024 prompted him to review and reform the jail’s policies and practices around the use of restraint chairs.
A few months ago, Endicott updated the jail’s system for documenting supervision checks on people restrained, switching from handwritten logs to electronic software. He said he has increased de-escalation training, which he believes has already led to “improvements” in reducing the need to use restraint chairs.
Endicott said he also plans to require staff to video all uses of restraint chairs. That hasn’t always happened in the past. When Illinois Answers requested video of one 17-hour incident from 2019, the county said no video was recorded.
Should be fun watching how all the cheerleaders for that unconstitutional nonsense yesterday react now - or whether the White House doubles down in a different way.
If you want to cut the federal budget, you gotta pass a bill.
The original memo is here, and the spreadsheet with impacted programs is here.
…Adding… More from NBC…
A senior administration official confirmed to NBC that the original OMB memo is rescinded, and said that additional guidance is to come.
…Adding… People are already rushing to their favorite reporters to take credit. From The Hill…
The decision came amid strong behind-the-scenes pushback from Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to a GOP senator who was apprised of the decision to reverse the policy order. […]
GOP senators had been flooded with calls from community leaders who expressed confusion and concern about losing federal grants.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, emailed the following statement after the retraction of the funding memo:
“In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage. The executive orders issued by the president on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments. This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the president’s orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding.”
The “dishonest media coverage.” Hilarious. Leavitt couldn’t answer questions about it yesterday.
They could’ve done funding reviews without unilaterally (and unconstitutionally) cutting off funding. This was such an unnecessarily cruel plan that was doomed to failure.
Each agency, department, or commission head, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of OMB, and the Director of OPM, as appropriate, shall take the following actions within sixty days of this order:
terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and “environmental justice” offices and positions (including but not limited to “Chief Diversity Officer” positions); all “equity action plans,” “equity” actions, initiatives, or programs, “equity-related” grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.
provide the Director of the OMB with a list of all:
agency or department DEI, DEIA, or “environmental justice” positions, committees, programs, services, activities, budgets, and expenditures in existence on November 4, 2024, and an assessment of whether these positions, committees, programs, services, activities, budgets, and expenditures have been misleadingly relabeled in an attempt to preserve their pre-November 4, 2024 function;
Federal contractors who have provided DEI training or DEI training materials to agency or department employees; and
Federal grantees who received Federal funding to provide or advance DEI, DEIA, or “environmental justice” programs, services, or activities since January 20, 2021.
direct the deputy agency or department head to:
assess the operational impact (e.g., the number of new DEI hires) and cost of the prior administration’s DEI, DEIA, and “environmental justice” programs and policies; and
recommend actions, such as Congressional notifications under 28 U.S.C. 530D, to align agency or department programs, activities, policies, regulations, guidance, employment practices, enforcement activities, contracts (including set-asides), grants, consent orders, and litigating positions with the policy of equal dignity and respect identified in section 1 of this order. The agency or department head and the Director of OMB shall jointly ensure that the deputy agency or department head has the authority and resources needed to carry out this directive.
So, unless they want another court fight, they won’t be terminating much of anything. And the rest is what they should’ve been doing in the first place: Examining spending and reporting back to OMB.
…Adding… This is a different judge in the state attorneys general lawsuit…
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
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JERSEYVILLE — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders to announce Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $31 million to support site readiness activities at 24 sites across the state. The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning grants to support due diligence activities, studies and site plans, and Capital Ready grants to support capital infrastructure improvements. Through this funding, 13 Planning grantees and 11 Capital Ready grantees will undertake due diligence and development projects to better prepared sites to attract future investment and new job opportunities in the industrial sector across Illinois’ Economic Development Regions.
“Readiness planning, assessments, infrastructure improvements – these things are all the fundamental work that must be done for businesses and investments to flourish and jobs to grow across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “In every corner of Illinois, there are communities that are overflowing with untapped potential but do not have the resources and support they needed to fully realize it. Now, standing in front of you, I’m happy to say a whole lot has changed – we are investing in our sites, we are thinking about the future, and we are growing economic development across the state.” […]
“Economic growth has a unique power to bring people together. It transcends differences and unites us around a common goal. These resources allow us to pursue developments that are not only the right fit for Jerseyville but align with our values, strengths, and ambitions,” said Jerseyville Mayor Kevin Stork. “Thank you again, Governor, DCEO, and Intersect Illinois for your partnership, vision, and belief in Jerseyville.”
* Pritzker took questions today from reporters. One asked whether he was concerned that Illinois, as a “Blue State,” would have contingencies on federal aid moving forward…
This upsets me, this whole conversation. Because, you know, once you get, I get it, you run in an election, and it’s, you know, it’s the red kid, you know, the Republican candidate against the Democratic candidate. And you know, you’re battling it out. It’s a battle of rhetoric.
And finally, the voters vote. Then you take office. Your responsibility is to all of the people that you lead and represent. So, you know, I’m a Democrat, but I know I did not win Jersey [laughs], Jerseyville. And I know that there are areas of the state that I didn’t win. It’s my responsibility nevertheless, to help build business opportunities and help education systems grow and, you know, get better, and invest in our community colleges and universities. I mean, it’s your job.
And so the idea that a president would target certain areas that didn’t vote for him, I think is something I hope we will not come to accept as okay. It’s not okay. So, that’s disturbing to me.
Do I think that this President will take out his revenge against states that didn’t vote for him? All I can say is, I hope not, and I’m going to try like heck to make sure that they don’t. And I do think that, as discovered yesterday, a lot of these programs, they affect red states, blue states all the same. And so it’s a bad idea to target when you’re going to hit some others that you didn’t know you would.
The long relationship between Michael J. Madigan and Michael McClain played a central role in multiple corruption trials over the last few years in Chicago, and a jury will soon begin to consider a sweeping racketeering conspiracy case against both men.
But first, McClain’s attorney sought Tuesday to define the relationship between Madigan and McClain for the jurors. Defense attorney Patrick Cotter told them that McClain was a lobbyist to Madigan, as well as an adviser. But, Cotter said, “he was also his good friend.”
“We know, now, he’s not,” Cotter told the jury. “And that’s — I guess that’s a casualty of this case. But it was real.”
Soon after Cotter made that comment, McClain reached for a tissue from his seat on the other side of the courtroom, and he pressed it against his eyes.
McClain was a diligent — if sometimes “blunt” and “earthy” — lobbyist who never agreed to or knew about any bribery scheme, his attorney Patrick Cotter told jurors in closing arguments Tuesday. He only ever acted out of a commitment to his clients and a true respect for Madigan, Cotter said.
“Did this very real, very unique and — I would submit based on the overall evidence in this case — very decent human being actually have the intent to engage in a conspiracy to bribe the person he thought of as his closest friend?” Cotter asked. […]
He brought up McClain’s retirement letter to Madigan, which was shown by prosecutors earlier in the trial and included a personal message to the speaker about their close bond.
“This was a very private letter,” Cotter said, adding that McClain “never in a million years” would have thought one day it would be held up in court as evidence in his own corruption trial.
Cotter on Tuesday also went after the government’s other star witness, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, who began cooperating with the FBI after agents approached him in January 2019 and secretly recorded meetings with McClain and their other colleagues.
Cotter reminded the jury of Marquez’s “long history of lying,” including to a judge during his divorce proceedings a decade ago and last spring when he attempted to buy a gun in Arizona and did not check the box that said he was convicted of a felony.
When questioned on cross-examination in November about McClain bringing job recommendations to ComEd from Madigan, Marquez acknowledged that it was part of McClain’s job as the utility’s chief external lobbyist – and that not all of the recommendations were hired.
Cotter also pointed out that Marquez kept his contention vague when testifying about the purpose of the alleged bribery conspiracy, repeatedly saying giving jobs and contracts to Madigan allies was to keep Madigan “positively disposed” toward ComEd’s legislative agenda.
* Cotter also went after FBI mole Danny Solis’ credibility. Jon Seidel…
Cotter: "Danny Solis shouldn't be trusted for anything. Anything. But he certainly shouldn't be trusted for something as important as a major federal crime charged against Mike McClain."
Another scheme outlined by prosecutors involved Madigan and McClain’s alleged efforts to illegally steer business to the speaker’s private property tax law firm amid efforts to develop a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.
Cotter denied that McClain was involved in any bribery in any of those alleged schemes and said that if there had been any recording or email that laid out the breadth of those allegations, the government would have found it and used it at trial.
“It’s not there,” Cotter said, “because the story isn’t true.”
After Madigan and McClain’s respective defense teams finish their closing remarks, the government will next present rebuttal arguments Wednesday before jury deliberations begin.
Illinois Senate Republicans Tuesday announced they would again try to repeal a law that limits state and local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement.
Sponsors seek to reverse aspects of the 2017 law that prohibits law enforcement from participating, supporting or assisting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Illinois law enforcement can currently only work with ICE if presented with a federal criminal warrant or otherwise required by federal law.
Senate Bill 1313 would rather require state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE, “ensuring undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of a felony are identified, reported, and deported,” according to a news release.
The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia) and was filed Tuesday morning. Additional legislation, sponsored by State Senators Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) and Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport), seeks to repeal the Illinois TRUST Act in its entirety.
Creates the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board may regulate the conduct of fantasy contest operators under the Act. Allows the Board to levy and collect fees, surcharges, civil penalties, and, on adjusted gross fantasy contest receipts imposed under the Act, monthly taxes, and identifies other powers and duties of the Board. Includes restrictions, including requiring licensing, of fantasy contest operators. Includes license requirements and requirements for allowable fantasy contests. Contains provisions relating to denial of a license, independent audits, reporting and investigation of prohibited conduct, taxes, compulsive gambling and voluntary self-exclusion, and supplier diversity goals for fantasy contest operators. Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Excludes fantasy contests from the definition of “sports wagering”. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that participants in fantasy contest wagering shall not be convicted of the offense of gambling when conducted in accordance with the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Excludes any real estate, vehicle, boat, or any other property whatsoever used for the purposes of gambling under the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act from the definition of “gambling place” under the offense of keeping a gambling place. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Illinois Gaming Board emergency rulemaking authority to implement the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Effective immediately.
Creates the Safe Autonomous Vehicle Act. Provides definitions. Provides that upon notification to the Secretary of State, a Motor Vehicle Manufacturer may commence a safe autonomous vehicle project with a vehicle installed with an Automated Driving System after providing notification to the Secretary of State and after self-certification under certain conditions. Provides that the Manufacturer shall determine the geographical boundaries of the project and shall maintain incident records and provide periodic summaries to the Secretary of State and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Provides that the Participating Fleet in the program shall be insured by the Manufacturer who shall assume liability for incidents where the automated driving system technology is at fault for that incident. Provides that any person operates a vehicle with automated driving system technology without first satisfying the eligibility requirements in the Act shall be fined $10,000 for a first violation and a second or subsequent violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.
Illinois homeowners and drivers are increasingly blindsided with unwelcome news from their insurance companies that their homeowner and auto premiums are going up — in some cases, by double-digit percentages. […]
The General Assembly must prioritize two solutions this spring. The first is the Insurance Rate Fairness and Consumer Protection Act, which would limit excessive rate hikes and protect consumers from arbitrary pricing practices.
This bill that I have sponsored would require insurers to seek approval from the Illinois Department of Insurance before raising premiums. If the department does not approve the increase within 60 days, the insurer cannot implement the hike. Additionally, rate increases will be capped at 15% per year, unless the insurer can provide exceptional justification — such as increased claims from natural disasters or changes in the regulatory landscape. […]
Another bill, the Insurance Rate Transparency Act, would ensure consumers are fully informed about the cost of their insurance policies before they are forced to renew to address the many people who are caught unaware until their renewal notices arrive with dramatic premium increases.
* SB1342 from Sen. Don DeWitte…
Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that a municipality with a population that is greater than or equal to 1,000,000 may not pass an ordinance prohibiting video gaming within the corporate limits of the municipality. Provides that, in such a municipality, video gaming may be prohibited only by referendum. Preempts home rule powers. Provides that a tax of 34% is imposed on net terminal income in such a municipality and shall be collected by the Illinois Gaming Board, of which 83% shall be distributed to the Regional Transportation Authority and 17% shall be distributed to the municipality in which the terminal is located. Makes conforming changes.
Creates the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act. Creates the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of holding bitcoin as a financial asset. Provides that the State Treasurer may accept gifts, grants, and donations of bitcoin from Illinois residents and governmental entities for deposit into the Fund. Provides that the State Treasurer shall hold all bitcoin deposited into the Fund for a duration of at least 5 years from the date that the bitcoin enters the State’s custody. Allows the State Treasurer, after this period, to transfer, sell, appropriate, or convert to another cryptocurrency any bitcoin in the Fund. Adds provisions concerning the management and security of the Fund; reporting requirements; and voluntary donations of bitcoin by Illinois residents. Provides that the State Treasurer may adopt rules necessary to administer the Act. Effective immediately.
* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Trump administration’s surprise federal funding freeze sows havoc across Illinois before being blocked by federal judge. Tribune…
- U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocked the Trump administration effort to freeze federal grants and potentially trillions of dollars in spending the action minutes before it was set to go into effect at 4 p.m.
- The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.
- The judge’s decision capped a day filled with confusion, frustration and fear across the nation after Trump’s Office of Management and Budget called for the temporary pause on funding, including for programs related to “foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,”
* SJ-R | Illinois Supreme Court will take up State’s petition on Sean Grayson’s detention: Oral arguments will be heard by the high court after the State and defense attorneys for Sean P. Grayson file briefs. The petition, or PLA, asks the Supreme Court to address a Nov. 27 ruling from the Fourth District Appellate Court that would have cleared the way for Grayson’s release from detention under the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, which is part of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T Act.
* WGN | ‘I’m worried about him’: Undocumented father of 4 removed from Elgin home during raid targeting different man: Ramos was wanted for a parole violation for aggravated battery with a firearm and charged with attempted first-degree murder. Family members said Ramos has not lived at the home for months. […] Agents did not find Ramos, but they did encounter 44-year-old Raul Lopez, a father of four who was living in the country illegally. A task force spokesman told WGN-TV that ICE was part of the team and removed Lopez from the house after finding him hiding in the attic.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Tribune | Illinois GOP sues over Democratic legislative remap, calling it ‘not just a little corrupt’: In their lawsuit, Republicans argued the boundaries drawn to give Democrats supermajorities in the state House and Senate are in violation of both the state constitution’s mandate that elections be “free and equal” and a requirement that districts be drawn compactly. The legislative boundaries enacted into state law in September 2021 were “drawn with the primary motivation to ensure Democrat victories and is anything but ‘free and equal,’” the lawsuit argues. “The Enacted Plan thus denies voters their equal right to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.”
*** Statewide ***
* Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois’ 4th grade NAEP scores drop in both reading and math: The latest round of test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP, released on Wednesday shows that Illinois students who missed school or went through the interruptions and struggles of remote learning may still have gaps in their education from that time. However, Illinois eighth grade students — who would have been in fourth grade when the pandemic started — either held steady or outperformed their peers in 2022 in reading and math but their scores lagged behind their peers who took the exam in 2019.
* Tribune | If you’re arrested by ICE in Illinois, what happens next? Legal experts explain the process: Nearly everyone else is up to the discretion of ICE on whether or not they should be detained, Hallett said. Deciding factors that go into that process include whether ICE believes a person is a flight risk, poses a danger to their community or even whether an ICE facility has enough beds to hold someone. “In many cases, ICE is sort of forced into releasing people because there simply aren’t beds available to detain them,” Hallett said.
* Daily Herald | Bicyclist fatalities: How Illinois aligns with — and differs from — national trends: Time of day for fatal bike crashes in Illinois differed significantly from the national trend. NHTSA refers to this as the “time/light condition,” reporting, “over half (56%) of bicyclist fatalities occur in dawn, dusk, or nighttime conditions; the highest proportion.” In contrast, 87% of Illinois bicyclists were killed during those same time/light conditions, based on 20 of 23 crashes in which time of day was identified.
*** Chicago ***
* WTTW | CTA Says Federal Funding for Red Line Extension Still Expected Despite Freeze: “Our position is that the Red Line Extension Project’s full funding grant agreement that the CTA and (Federal Transit Administration) executed recently, like similar grant agreements that the CTA secured for projects such as the Red Purple Modernization Program, is a binding and legal commitment by the federal government to provide the committed and obligated funds,” CTA spokesperson Tammy Chase told WTTW News in a statement. “As a result, we do not interpret any recent activity to have any impact on the federal government’s commitment to fund this essential transit project.”
* ABC Chicago | ICE arrestee from local weekend raid ordered released by federal judge: After spending roughly 48 hours in federal custody - first at the HSI offices in Lombard, then at the MCC Chicago federal prison - Martinez-Cermeno is scheduled to be released from custody Tuesday evening. While prosecutors mentioned that there is an “ICE detainer” for Martinez-Cermeno, and that ICE would likely take him into custody upon his release, the judge said this was legally unacceptable as ICE did not have the proper judicial warrant to detain him further, and that an ICE detainer is only a “civil request.”
* Block Club | Chicago Emergency Response Times Are Worsening. A Slain Rapper’s Mom Wants to Know Why.: Weekly’s lawsuit highlights a persistent chorus of concerns over Chicago’s emergency response times, which critics say are too slow to help injured people. In Illinois, the state’s administrative code requires fire departments to measure EMS response times against a standard of six minutes, one minute longer than the National Fire Protection Association’s widely followed five-minute standard. Weekly’s lawsuit states that the city’s failure to transport Duck sooner delayed his access to care that could have potentially saved his life.
* WTTW | Johnson Declines to Immediately Respond to Request to Testify to Congress About Sanctuary City Status: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday declined to respond to a request from the Republican chairperson of the U.S. House Oversight Committee about the city’s self-proclaimed status as a sanctuary city. Instead, Johnson referred questions to the city’s top lawyer, Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry, who said the letter sent by U.S. Rep James Comer (R-Kentucky) was under “legal review.”
* Dan McGrath | Wrapping up a miserable year in Chicago sports: The White Sox literally set a record for ineptitude with their 121 losses, but if you thought that was as bad as it gets, along came the Bears. They’ll finish 4-13 barring some unlikely miracle on Green Bay’s frozen tundra. They’ve done worse seven times in their century-long history — remember 1-13 in 1969? — but the 11-game losing streak the team will carry into next season is more representative of its flailing futility than the record.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* FOX Chicago | Tiffany Henyard involved in scuffle at heated Thornton Township meeting: According to those present, Henyard’s boyfriend confronted the activist, Jedidiah Brown, leading to an altercation. Henyard reportedly pushed her table aside and ran to the back of the room, allegedly joining the brawl. Police were on the scene as the situation unfolded.
* Shaw Local | Will County schools, local governments evaluate plans after Trump’s call to freeze federal funds: Lockport Township Supervisor Alex Zapien said the potential ramifications of the pause on federal funding are “concerning,” with several vital initiatives that could be affected. “For example, [Lockport] Township currently has an ARPA-funded senior bus project in progress and this may face delays or disruptions depending on the length of this pause. Furthermore, our partnership with the fire department on a mental health counseling program, which serves residents who heavily rely on Medicaid, could be jeopardized if Medicaid funding in Illinois is indeed blocked as is being reported,” Zapien said.
* Daily Herald | ‘A better toolbox’: Winter presents unique opportunities for restoration work in forest preserves: The large-scale restoration work of removing aggressive, invasive species and helping native ones flourish follows seasonal changes across the collar counties. […] “When you’re out chainsawing down trees and dragging brush, it is super physically intensive, and so you are not cold because you’re working so hard,” said Shaela Rabbit, natural resources specialist with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. “When it’s not very cold and the ground isn’t frozen, that means that we can’t have large equipment helping us clear, and we can’t get as much done as during the winter.”
* 25News Now | City of Bloomington leaders contemplate solutions to ‘terrifying’ reality of housing market: During Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council President and CEO Patrick Hoban said as the population continues to grow, there is already a need for 4,500 houses in 2025. “The terrifying part is if you project that out to 2030 and 2035, it’s saying you need 16,000 houses,” Hoban said. According to Mid-Illinois Realtors Association President Tracy Patkunas, there are only 99 homes on the market right now in Bloomington-Normal.
* NBC | ICE makes close to 1,200 arrests in one day: Data first obtained by NBC News shows that Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a total of 1,179 people on Sunday, which is more than the 956 arrests that the agency posted on X on Sunday night. But just 613 of those total arrests — nearly 52% — were considered “criminal arrests.” The rest appear to be nonviolent offenders or people who have not committed any criminal offense other than crossing the border illegally.
* NYT | Kennedy, in His Own Words: Flu, Diabetes, Autism and More: For years Mr. Kennedy has questioned the safety of vaccines, including those for polio and measles, two diseases that continue to harm children. More recently, he has said that he’s not planning to take vaccines away from Americans but wants to release safety data to the public — even though nearly all of the data is already publicly available.
* You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. 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.
Today, Governor JB Pritzker directed agencies to report on potential impacts of President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional federal funding cuts for Illinois’ most vulnerable communities and people. While the State will continue fighting these illegal actions, there are several areas of urgent concern the State will continue monitoring:
Access Issues for Federal Funding Portals
Despite official information from the federal government stating that programs that provide assistance directly to individuals will not be impacted, state agencies and partner organizations reported issues accessing payment systems throughout the day on January 28. Federal officials have not responded to requests for more clarity or on the status of payments and the systems, further adding to the uncertainty. Illinois officials experienced issues with the following systems:
• Payment Management System (PMS) portal operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Throughout the day on January 28, 2025 Illinois officials and partners were unable to access the portal for at least part of the day for following programs:
o Medicaid and ACA expansion populations
o Home-delivered and congregate meal sites for seniors,
o Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (disaster recovery and mitigation programs)
o Child care and Head Start programs
o Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF)
o Vaccinations and disease surveillance
• Electronic Line of Credit Control System (eLOCCS) portal operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
o Rental assistance programs for people who are homelessness and/or have disabilities.
Resources for Illinois Families and Children
• Medicaid:
o Provides health care to 3.3 million low-income Illinoisans including children.
• Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG):
o Supports child care for low-income families for 140,000 children in over 80,000 households.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):
o Assists 300,000+ low-income households annually with energy bills.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF):
o Provides cash assistance and work support for 75,000 low-income residents.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid ReHousing:
o Provides housing support for approximately 2,600 families and 9,000 Illinoisans.
• Child Welfare Programs:
o Support for foster care services, adoption services, guardianship and reimbursement for residential placements, impacting 20,000 children in care statewide.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP):
o Provides meals to children enrolled at participating daycare centers, as well as older individuals with disabilities at adult day centers, providing 1,000,000+ meals to Illinoisans per year.
Support for Older Illinoisians
• Administration for Community Living (ACL) programs, including:
o Nutrition programs - 13 million meals served in 2024
o Supportive Services (e.g., transportation, in-home care)
o Family Caregiver Support Programs – 16,000+ caregivers in Illinois
• Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP):
o Provides support to older Illinoisans with enrolling in healthcare. SHIP provided counseling to 103,000 beneficiaries in FY24.
• Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers (MIPPA):
o Helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries enroll in cost saving benefits, which supports 74,000 Illinoisans.
Critical Public Health Services for Illinoisans:
• Maternal and Child Health Services (Title V):
o Provides funding to improve the health of mothers and children through initiatives like prenatal care and infant screenings.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Programs:
o Funds mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services, including opioid response initiatives.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs):
o Funds health care for underserved populations, including preventive and primary care services.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants support programs for:
o Immunizations
o Disease surveillance (e.g., HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis)
o Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP)
• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program:
o Provides essential medical care and services for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
• Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant:
o Funds state-level public health initiatives, including chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
Support for Illinoisians with Disabilities
• Section 811 Housing:
o Provides housing support and services for persons with disabilities.
• The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD):
o State agency that advocates for policy changes to promote choice, independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities in Illinois.
• Employment Supports for Disabled Workers:
o Funding includes pre-employment transition services, supported employment programs, job training activities, and vocational rehabilitation programs.
• Respite Support for Families:
o Funding for emergency respite support for individuals with disabilities benefiting more than 1,100 families.
Economic Development for Illinois Communities
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG):
o Provides grants to communities to expand housing and other economic development efforts.
• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG):
o Provides funding to combat poverty through local programs like job training and housing assistance.
• State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI):
o Provides funding to help small businesses access low-interest loans, venture capital and other financing.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title 1 Funding:
o Funds programs and resources to provide job search, education, and training activities to help jobseekers and our workforce.
Infrastructure:
• Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD):
o Access to significant federal funds for broadband expansion.
• Federal formula funding for transportation infrastructure:
o Includes highway, transit, and aeronautics programs and projects
• Federal discretionary grants funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, including:
o National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program
o Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program
o Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant
o Airport Improvement Grants
o Port Infrastructure Grants
o Grants to Amtrak to improve passenger rail
o Rail Safety Grants
Agriculture
• Meat and Poultry Inspections:
o Provides risk oversight the entire meat and poultry supply chain. IDOA receives reimbursement from the federal government for up to half of its inspection activities.
Disaster Mitigation:
• Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Programs: Five state disaster programs are federally funded and would be unable to proceed:
o Public assistance (PA) and individual assistance (IA)
o Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
o Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
o Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
o Pre-disaster Mitigation (PDM)
Within minutes of the White House freezing billions in federal grants and loans, a federal judge temporarily blocked the funding pause from taking effect — issuing a "brief administrative stay" — until Monday at 5PM.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans that could total trillions of dollars.
U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.
The White House had planned to start the pause as they begin an across-the-board ideological review of federal spending.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The governor just said the state was able to access the Medicaid system as of about an hour ago (around 3 o’clock).
*** UPDATE 3 *** Pritzker went off on the president today…
The United States Constitution clearly states that Congress has the power of the purse and sets laws to obligate federal funding for all 50 states. What Donald Trump tried to do in the last 24 hours is illegal.
Let’s be clear, this is a demonstration of cruelty against people who depend on us, working families who rely on federal assistance to pay their rent, people who need help paying their utility bills, parents who need critical programs like Head Start for quality, affordable child care, and 3.5 million Illinoisans who get their health insurance through Medicaid. Despite what the White House press secretary said at the podium earlier, I believe it is my duty to report to you the truth of what actually happened today in Illinois.
Donald Trump’s administration is lying to you. The White House’s attempt to walk back what they did today does not match what we saw on the ground.
They assured us that Medicaid would not be affected. That was a lie. Our state agencies were unable to access the Medicaid system until an hour ago, preventing payments for services. And this has been reported from states across the nation.
When we reached out to federal agencies, they informed us that they have been directed not to discuss any guidance with states. They have canceled previously scheduled meetings for this week.
The White House assured us that Head Start would not be affected. That was a lie. Providers across the state experienced outages and some were unable to make their payroll. They assured us that they were doing nothing to take away individual assistance from the most vulnerable people in our state, but they refused to say that they would restore LIHEAP, the low income housing, Energy Assistance Program, payments to support the unemployment system and meals on wheels. These are programs that hundreds of 1000s of illinoisians depend on, children, seniors, veterans, working parents.
Let’s just be clear about what happened over the last 24 hours. At 7:42pm last night, we saw a memo from the White House saying that they were pausing federal funding across the board. This morning, along with all 50 states across the country, we discovered that our ability to access critical federal funding had been cut off, and now the administration would like us to believe that these were just coincidental website outages.
Donald Trump and his administration have not earned the benefit of the doubt. They are either lying to us or they are critically incompetent. This is what happens when you staff the federal government full of project 2025 contributors that don’t have any experience governing and don’t think that the laws apply to them. The consequences of their actions are not hypothetical. They are not numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real people, ordinary Americans struggle, struggling to afford groceries, rent, and health care.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… More from Pritzker…
I was very happy to hear as I entered this room today that an administrative stay has been granted. Let me assure you, the state of Illinois will fight this unlawful order with everything we have. We’re working with the Attorney General, who has moved forward with other states to continue pursuing legal action to protect the people of Illinois. Last November, on the day after the election, I made a promise to the people of Illinois when it comes to threats to our freedom, health or security. If you come for my people, you come through me.
…Adding… More Pritzker…
You think it’s an accident that the memo came out last night and then this morning, our state agencies, like Medicaid could not access those systems? It’s not an accident. The intention here is to disrupt. The intention here is to make cuts, and it will affect people all across our state.
…Adding… Pritzker…
When our agencies reached out to the federal agencies, we literally were informed that they are not to speak with us.
-30-
*** UPDATE 4 *** The attorney general’s lawsuit is here.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* Background is here if you need it. Some of what I’m using in this post is in the other post, but I’m trying to refocus and make this more readable.
The federal government is now saying the Medicaid portal will be back up soonish. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see…
Update from the White House on the Medicaid portal shutdown - spokesperson says payments are still being processed and should be back up and running: https://t.co/CGEBLt9xpl
A notice at the top of the federal Medicaid Payment Management System website on Tuesday read: “Due to Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments, PMS is taking additional measures to process payments. Reviews of applicable programs and payments will result in delays and/or rejections of payments.”
So, we don’t really know what’s going on.
* But, as I noted on the earlier post, even if the system goes back into operation, we still don’t know the fate of trillions of federal funding dollars that are being held up. From the Sun-Times…
Trump’s administration announced the pause in federal grants, loans and other financial assistance as they embarked on a sweeping review of spending — a measure aimed at “ending ‘wokeness’ and the weaponization of government,” according to a memo from Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The funding freeze could affect trillions of dollars and cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also halted, according to the Associated Press. […]
In the federal memo, Vaeth wrote: “The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.”
Vaeth said each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all federal financial assistance programs.
“In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders.”
The full memo is here, and the spreadsheet with impacted programs is here.
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined several other AGs around the country to file a lawsuit against the budgetary action. From his remarks today…
This unconstitutional pause in funding will have a devastating impact on the public safety, prosperity and quality of life of all.
Democrats and Republicans alike will be negatively impacted by this pause in funding.
It impacts our ability to go after offenders who prey on a our children, because this impacts our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Our task force has enabled us to capture a record number of child predators. That is compromised.
It impacts… funding that allows our law enforcement partners to fight crime and impacts those who rely on Medicaid for life-saving health care.
It impacts our capacity to provide for veterans who served our country. Head Start and child care programs. The support for critical research at our universities. And support for farmers who grow our food. And of course, critical investment in infrastructure needed for our roads and bridges and keeping our working families working.
In the fiscal year ending in 2024, Illinois agencies received nearly $30 billion in direct federal aid, according to a report from the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. More than $19 billion in federal funding went to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in Medicaid-related payments, according to CGFA.
Billions went to grants in other parts of state government, including some $2.3 billion to the Department of Transportation, $401 million to the agency tasked with economic opportunity and $314 million to the Environmental Protection Agency, the same report said.
Challengers to Trump’s actions to withhold funding would likely cite the Impoundment Control Act, a law passed in 1974 to regulate the president’s control over the budget. This followed efforts by then-President Richard Nixon to withhold spending on programs he did not support, like Trump has indicated his intention to do.
Under that law, the president can temporarily withhold funds — but must notify Congress first, and the decision cannot be based on policy grounds. The president can also ask Congress to rescind spending decisions, which can also be grounds for a pause in spending.
The spreadsheet includes specific questions for over 2,600 specific accounts within agencies across the government, large and small — every Cabinet department and independent agencies ranging from the Federal Communications Commission to the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
The questions, intended to ensure that federal programs are in compliance with Trump’s executive orders and policy goals, include the following:
• “Does this program provide Federal funding to non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens?”
• “Is this program a foreign assistance program, or provide funding or support activities overseas?”
• “Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the revocation and rescission of the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan?”
• “Does this program include activities that impose an undue burden on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources (including through funding under the Inflation Reducing (sp) Act of 2022; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)?”
• “Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the directive to end discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities, under whatever name they appear, or other directives in the same EO, including those related to ‘environmental justice’ programs or ‘equity-related’ grants?”
• “Does this program promote gender ideology?”
• “Does this program promote or support in any way abortion or other related activities identified in the Hyde Amendment?”
• “If not covered in the preceding columns, does this program support any activities that must not be supported based on executive orders issued on or after January 20, 2025 (including executive orders released following the dissemination of this spreadsheet)?”
The Trump folks say the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional. We’ll see.
The scramble began late Monday, after the White House budget office circulated a list of spending programs under scrutiny that seemed to implicate virtually every function of the federal government. The funds it identified for review included a vast array of initiatives that help the poor, potentially arresting funds that provide rental vouchers, nutrition benefits and college aid to low-income Americans.
The administration also pointed to federal programs that inspect meat, poultry and eggs for potential foodborne illnesses, and payments to farmers whose crops are ravaged by natural disasters. And they included a sizable roster of initiatives to protect public health, seemingly aiming to freeze money meant to fight the spread of AIDS, research cancer causes and detection, and prepare for bioterrorism attacks. […]
The Trump administration also said it had set up a process for agencies to work with the White House on evaluating their funding, and already had approved “many programs to continue” operating normally. Otherwise, OMB said some spending could come back online in as quickly as a day, as the White House looked to deflect criticism that it had taken radical action.
* Governor JB Pritzker updated his public schedule…
Daily Public Schedule: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
What: Governor Pritzker to hold press availability to discuss Donald Trump’s unlawful actions to cut essential programs for Illinois working families.
Where: 555 W. Monroe – 3rd Floor Press Room, Chicago.
When: 4:00 pm
Watch: www.illinois.gov/livevideo
*** Madigan Trial ***
* Tribune | Evidence in corruption case really just ‘lobbying and politics,’ attorney for Madigan confidant argues: Michael McClain, a longtime confidant of ex-speaker Michael Madigan, was a smart and diligent lobbyist who never agreed to or knew about any bribery scheme, his attorney told jurors Tuesday in closing arguments in Madigan and McClain’s landmark public corruption trial. “What the evidence of this trial did show is lobbying and politics. Lobbying and politics,” McClain attorney Patrick Cotter said in his closing remarks, adding: “Lobbying and politics is not a crime.”
* Fox Chicago | Illinois GOP bill would require law enforcement to coordinate with ICE: Sponsored by State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia), Senate Bill 1313 supports “targeted operations” to deport undocumented immigrants accused or convicted of felonies and calls on Illinois to take on an “active role” in helping ICE. […] The bill’s sponsor condemned Pritzker’s support of the Illinois Trust Act, which bars local law enforcement from helping ICE unless required by law or a criminal warrant.
*** Statewide ***
* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools launches long-awaited site to show how schools are doing: The new school accountability dashboards replace the district’s controversial number ratings for schools, which CPS put on hold and then scrapped during the pandemic. Those ratings had drawn the ire of educators and some community members, who said they unfairly stigmatized campuses that serve students with high needs. The old level ratings had also factored into high-stakes decisions about school closures and staff overhauls.
* WCIA | CUB challenges Ameren Illinois’ proposed $134 million gas rate hike: The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said that Ameren has already earned $111 million in gas rate hikes since 2021. And, the new proposal would increase “key delivery charges by more than 20 percent,” according to CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz. CUB said that the proposed hike would increase the customer charge by about 24%, to $25.16 per month, and the per therm (unit of heat energy) distribution charge by about 28% to 56.207 cents per therm.
*** Chicago ***
* WBEZ | Chicago’s immigration sweeps have restaurant and food industry employers feeling anxious: Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said Monday that its members are “very anxious” about possible arrests of Chicago-area workers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But as of Monday morning, there had been no reports of restaurant employees being arrested; nor had Toia heard anything about workers failing to show up for work because of fears of an ICE raid.
* Sun-Times | Dr. Phil had no business taking part in ICE immigration raids in Chicago, Durbin says: “Dr. Phil has as much business being on these raids as he does performing surgery,” Durbin said. McGraw is a psychologist. Federal agents allowed McGraw enormous access during the Sunday operations, tagging along with President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, in Chicago to oversee the operation. The deal was mutually beneficial — Homan got favorable coverage as McGraw used his live coverage to build an audience on his MeritTV digital television network.
* WTTW | UChicago Terrorism Expert Says Jan. 6 Pardons ‘Normalized Major Political Violence’: “This has also legitimated and normalized major political violence,” said Robert Pape, political science professor at the University of Chicago, terrorism expert and the founding director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, or CPOST. “Nearly 200 of those granted clemency are militia group members who, by their very membership in violent groups, pose a danger, and many of those who were sentenced to long prison terms, not just because of their role in Jan. 6, but because they pose an ongoing threat to police, the government and to our country and many of the others.”
* NBC Chicago | NBC 5 colleague missing from Lakeview neighborhood: Chicago police are searching for Kevin Spencer, a 34-year-old man from the city’s Lakeview neighborhood. Spencer, who works in NBC Chicago’s IT department, was last heard from Friday Jan. 24, according to police. Spencer did not report to work this week, which concerned friends and family members say is uncharacteristic.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Southtown | Wildfire at forest preserve near Tinley Park under investigation, officials say: Fifteen fire departments, coordinated by the Tinley Park Fire Department, responded to the blaze at 6 p.m., according to Carl Vogel, director of communications for the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Although the fire was outside Tinley Park’s jurisdiction, it was elevated to a second alarm brush box, prompting assistance from fire trucks across the area, according to a news release from the Tinley Park Public Safety Department on Facebook.
* Daily Herald | Suburban police navigating conflicting state, federal directives on immigration crackdown: Asked how police will navigate conflicting directives, Addison Police Chief Roy Selvik said he anticipates legal questions related to federal law versus state law to continue. “Our current policy mirrors the TRUST Act and state law, and our agency will continue to operate under the guidance and recommendations set by the Illinois attorney general’s office,” he said.
* Crain’s | Bizarre death fuels concerns at struggling Waukegan hospital: The Lake County Coroner’s Office is blasting safety and quality conditions at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan following the death of a patient who had gone missing and was later found hypothermic on the facility’s roof. Chelsea Adolphus, a 28-year-old woman and Waukegan resident, was admitted to Vista Medical on Jan. 22 but was found the next day on the hospital’s roof wearing only a hospital gown at about 8:45 a.m. — almost seven hours after leaving her room, according to the coroner’s office.
* Daily Herald | Archdiocese rejects reprieve for St. Thomas of Villanova school in Palatine: “As a school’s enrollment decreases, it becomes increasingly challenging to rebuild, as families often seek assurances of long-term stability when choosing a school for their children,” he wrote. Fundraising efforts, he added, can add instability that further drives down enrollment.
*** Downstate ***
* SJ-R | Springfield nonprofit continues helping women recovering from substance abuse: The nonprofit was founded by Executive Director Rev. Margaret Ann Jessup providing transitional employment, mentoring, recovery tools and a safe community for women recovering from substance abuse. In 2021, the nonprofit opened a housing program, which saves girls in the home 70% of their income. “When I got out of seminary, I wanted to start something to benefit this community to help women other people couldn’t or wouldn’t help,” Jessup said. “When you’re in recovery and you have any criminal past or have problems with the courts, probation, all of those require you to meet with people at certain times, do outpatient rehab, do drops at different times … there’s a lot of barriers to success.”
* WCIA | The Fray to perform at the Devon’s Amphitheater in Decatur: On Tuesday, Decatur announced that The Fray will perform at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater on May 24, 2025. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased here. Prices range from $35 for lawn tickets, to $69 for standing pit or reserved tickets.
*** National ***
* NYT | Caroline Kennedy Urges Senators to Reject Her Cousin’s Nomination: She urged lawmakers, who will be questioning Mr. Kennedy at his confirmation hearings Wednesday and Thursday, to reject his nomination. She cited his lack of experience, misinformed views on vaccines and personal attributes. In the letter, she described how he led other family members “down the path of drug addiction. “His basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks,” Ms. Kennedy wrote. “It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.”
* Axios | Which companies are rolling back DEI and which are standing firm: Mentions of DEI and “diversity equity and inclusion” in earnings calls have dropped roughly 82% since Q2 of 2021. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) dropped the word “equity” from its strategy, while corporate communicators have started to lean more heavily on terms like “belonging” and “diversity of thoughts and perspectives.”
* Rep. McLaughlin won his House race in November by just 47 votes. Sen. McConchie won his last race by just 385 votes. But McLaughlin now wants to replace McConchie…
Martin McLaughlin, a proven Republican leader and experienced public servant, has formally announced his interest in filling the 26th District Senate seat following Senator Dan McConchie’s upcoming resignation.
McLaughlin has extensive experience advocating for common sense policies and fiscal stewardship in the region for over a decade. His record of winning elections in challenging districts and his dedication to conservative principles make him the strongest candidate to retain the seat and ensure future Republican success.
“Many of you know my record of service, not only at the local level, but across the state,” McLaughlin said. “As a three-time elected State Representative and twice-elected Village President of Barrington Hills, I’ve consistently demonstrated my ability to win against well- funded opponents and deliver results for my constituents.”
McLaughlin highlighted his recent initiatives to engage low-propensity voters in Lake and McHenry Counties, which have already proven beneficial to Republican candidates. He emphasized his unique ability to energize voters and secure victories in a competitive district. “In my last election, I faced a $3.8 million opposition effort and still won decisively— outperforming President Trump by over 5% in the 52nd District, while spending only $170,000. This demonstrates my ability to stick to the real issues that matter to my constituents and allows me to effectively represent a purple district,” McLaughlin stated.
McLaughlin also addressed concerns about insider politics and nepotism, referencing Senator McConchie’s recommendation of the party chairwoman’s son for the seat. “Republicans have rightly criticized Democrats for engaging in such practices. The 26th District deserves a candidate with a proven record, not one selected through insider politics. Republicans believe in merit-based selection. If the committee chooses to go down this path, I will actively campaign for the seat in the 2026 primary - and I will win”.
Looking ahead, McLaughlin is confident in his ability to lead Republican efforts in the next election cycle, where 16 Republican Senate seats will be up for grabs. “I’m prepared to raise the resources necessary and ensure that our party succeeds, both in the 26th District and across the state,” he said.
“The party chairwoman’s son” he’s referring to is ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi’s son Joe, who is a law partner with his father, Al Salvi.
…Adding… Sen. McConchie sent me his endorsement of Joe Salvi several hours ago, but it wound up in my spam folder…
Without reservation, I fully endorse Joe Salvi to be appointed to replace me as State Senator for the 26th District of Illinois.
I have competed in three general elections in this district. Even as the district has moved to the left, even when I have been outspent by the Democrats, I have always found a way to win. And not only have I won, I have regularly outperformed virtually every other Republican candidate on the ballot.
In short, I know exactly what it takes to win in this district. And Joe has it.
To win, it takes a commitment to our commonsense values while being accessible, relatable and reasonable. My reasons for endorsing Joe are simple.
Joe:
• Is loyal to our shared conservative values and to the Republican party.
• Developed the necessary campaign experience on Peter Roskam’s winning 2016 Congressional
campaign and honed the skills necessary to win.
• Has committed to raise the funds needed to bring the fight to the Democrats.
• Already has a team of volunteers ready to assist with parades, events and, most importantly, door
to door canvasing – an activity that Rep. Syed and Maria Peterson has proven translates into real,
bankable votes.
• Has an incredibly strong work ethic paired with an outgoing, friendly personality that is welcoming
and attractive.
• Possesses strong character and integrity. Joe will be the same person in Springfield that he is at
home. We can trust Joe.
I have personally known Joe for 10 years. In that time, he has always been positive, upbeat and optimistic – qualities too often lacking in our party today. He is married with young children presenting an image that voters love because it demonstrates that he understands them—that what they need from government are same things they will get from Joe–safety, security, and a government that otherwise stays out of their way.
Importantly, Joe has been a dedicated foot soldier to the party doing the hard work necessary to earn people’s votes. He has experience connecting with voters at events and out in public. Joe has the exact skill set necessary to keep this seat in Republican hands next fall.
In 2015, when I was first considered by Dan Duffy to serve as his replacement, people told me it was not my time, that it was ‘not my turn’. They said that I hadn’t been elected to another office yet. I didn’t let that deter me. In my first race, I was challenged by mayors Marty McLaughlin and Casey Urlacher. They tried to take me out. But I knew the district better than them. I knew what it took to win the hearts and minds of our neighbors. I won that race and every race since.
In considering who to support as my replacement, I looked for similar qualities. I wanted someone who was a trustworthy Republican and who had the personality and skill set needed to win.
Joe is that person. I hope you will join me in ensuring this district is in the best possible hands for the 2026 election cycle.
Thank you for your service to our party and your consideration in this important matter. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 312-933-2477.
Faithfully yours,
Senator Dan McConchie
26th District of Illinois
Illinois has been shut out of Medicaid, just hours after President Donald Trump’s administration announced a pause in federal grants, loans and other financial assistance as they begin a review of spending.
The funding freeze could affect trillions of dollars and cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Grants that have been awarded but not spend are also halted, according to the Associated Press.
Though the funding freeze was supposed to take effect at 4 p.m. Central Time Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office staid that the state of Illinois was shut out of Medicaid as of Tuesday morning. The government-funded health insurance program covered about 3.9 million people in Illinois in 2023, including low-income adults, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in the memo. “This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.”
Vaeth wrote that each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all federal financial assistance programs.
* From the governor’s office…
Since last night, Governor Pritzker has been speaking with the Illinois’ federal delegation, local elected officials, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, and other Governors. The Governor has directed his senior team to assess the detrimental impacts of this unlawful action on the state’s budget and services. State agencies have reported to the Governor’s Office issues with accessing federal funding sites and disbursement systems, including Medicaid systems.
Governor Pritzker’s Statement from last night:
The US Constitution does not grant the President this unilateral authority. In Illinois, we will stand against unlawful actions that would harm millions of working families, children, and seniors.
BACKGROUND ON MEDICAID SYSTEM
The federal Medicaid PMS site refers to the Payment Management System (PMS), which is used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to manage federal funding disbursements for Medicaid and other programs. The PMS serves as a centralized system to track and facilitate the distribution of grant funds to states and other grantees.
Key Details About the PMS Site:
• Purpose: The site allows state Medicaid agencies (like the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services) to request, track, and manage federal Medicaid funds and grants.
• Managed By: The system is operated by the Division of Payment Management (DPM) under HHS.
• Access: States and grantees access PMS via the official portal to request federal fund drawdowns, view disbursement reports, and reconcile payments.
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to freeze federal aid:
“Freezing federal funding that has already been allocated by Congress is unconstitutional. Above all else, it’s inhumane. Every American relies on federal funding—from public safety, disaster relief, medical research funding, and small business loans to Head Start and child care programs, veterans care, nutrition assistance, food inspections, and so much more. Denying critical funding for our families will not make America great.”
No later than February 10, 2025, agencies shall submit to OMB detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause: (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law, until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted.
OMB may grant exceptions allowing Federal agencies to issue new awards or take other actions on a case-by-case basis. To the extent required by law, Federal agencies may continue taking certain administrative actions, such as closeout of Federal awards (2 CFR 200.344), or recording obligations expressly required by law.
Additionally, agencies must, for each Federal financial assistance program: (i) assign responsibility and oversight to a senior political appointee to ensure Federal financial assistance conforms to Administration priorities; (ii) review currently pending Federal financial assistance announcements to ensure Administration priorities are addressed, and, subject to program statutory authority, modify unpublished Federal financial assistance announcements, withdraw any announcements already published, and, to the extent permissible by law, cancel awards already awarded that are in conflict with Administration priorities, and; (iii) ensure adequate oversight of Federal financial assistance programs and initiate investigations when warranted to identify underperforming recipients, and address identified issues up to and including cancellation of awards.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a press conference Tuesday morning that he’s spoken with New York State Attorney General Letitia James about a legal challenge to the spending freeze.
“I spoke to my attorney general this morning. She’s head of the state attorneys general association,” Schumer said. “They’re going to court right away on this horror.”
Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution gives Congress the so-called “power of the purse” by granting it the authority to approve federal spending.
Congress has passed several laws regarding that constitutional authority, including the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which says that the president cannot simply refuse to spend money Congress has appropriated.
Trump’s pick for OMB Director, Russ Vought, has repeatedly called that law unconstitutional and said he believes the president does have the authority to simply ignore sections of spending law that have been passed by Congress and signed into law.
The spreadsheet includes specific questions for over 2,600 specific accounts within agencies across the government, large and small — every Cabinet department and independent agencies ranging from the Federal Communications Commission to the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
The questions, intended to ensure that federal programs are in compliance with Trump’s executive orders and policy goals, include the following:
• “Does this program provide Federal funding to non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens?”
• “Is this program a foreign assistance program, or provide funding or support activities overseas?”
• “Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the revocation and rescission of the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan?”
• “Does this program include activities that impose an undue burden on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources (including through funding under the Inflation Reducing (sp) Act of 2022; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)?”
• “Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the directive to end discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities, under whatever name they appear, or other directives in the same EO, including those related to ‘environmental justice’ programs or ‘equity-related’ grants?”
• “Does this program promote gender ideology?”
• “Does this program promote or support in any way abortion or other related activities identified in the Hyde Amendment?”
• “If not covered in the preceding columns, does this program support any activities that must not be supported based on executive orders issued on or after January 20, 2025 (including executive orders released following the dissemination of this spreadsheet)?”
*** UPDATE 5 *** Illinois is among the states that will sue, according to the NYT.
*** UPDATE 6 *** Comptroller Mendoza…
I am prepared to stand with Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Treasurer Michael Frerichs in fighting this egregious action by President Trump. The freezing of vital federal funds will immediately impact millions of students, parents, medical and health care recipients, women and children, and our schools in Illinois.
We are talking about medical care, law enforcement, veterans care, student loans, TANF, WIC, childcare assistance, school breakfast and lunch programs, Head Start programs, and more - federal programs that were authorized by the U.S. Congress.
My office is doing everything it can to process federal funds prior to the deadline. Because my office prioritizes Medicaid payments, we are current on those bills. In fact, on Thursday we processed all $518 million in Medicaid bills on-hand and received our federal match yesterday before the administration shut down our access to the Medicaid system.
However, I am very concerned about how long this “freeze” may last. It is reckless for President Trump to take this action with essentially no guidance or explanation about exactly which federal funds are included, leaving states to pick up the pieces and figure out how to best protect and provide services to their residents.
Our most vulnerable residents in all 102 counties, along with our healthcare, human services and social service providers, should not be punished by this action dictated by the Trump Administration.
The situation is reminiscent of the Rauner years, when the former Illinois Governor held the budget hostage for his social agenda that led to a budget freeze for more than two years and many providers, vendors, businesses and organizations suffered greatly as a result.
These actions create widespread disruption and chaos rather than stability and predictability, putting American lives at risk.
Likewise, no executive officer, even the President, should undermine the authority of the U.S. Congress in appropriating funds for federal programs.
The people across America that these federally funded programs serve, represent all walks of life – urban, rural, Democrat, Republican and everyone in-between. Disease and disability do not choose to affect one political party over another.
Freezing federal funds critical to providing medical and health care and every other critical category targeted poses a serious threat to all impacted Americans and no one should welcome this misguided action. If President Trump will not reverse his reckless and unconstitutional executive order, I hope and pray the courts will quickly do it for him.
*** UPDATE 7 *** And yet, the state is locked out of accessing some of these systems, including Medicaid…
On Tuesday, education policy experts said they did not believe that the federal government’s main funding stream for K-12 schools, known as Title I, would be immediately impacted by the funding freeze. Federal money, which accounts for about 10 percent of all public education dollars, is paid to states – generally in July and October – which then distribute funds to districts and schools. The promised funding for the current school year has already been received.
*** UPDATE 10 *** Speaker Welch…
What’s been coming out of Washington is sad and concerning on many levels. Blocking legally mandated funding for state and local governments is just another example of the Trump Administration abusing its power to sew chaos, disrupt progress, marginalize communities, and hurt the people he was elected to help.
*** UPDATE 11 *** From AG Raoul’s remarks announcing a lawsuit to stop this pause…
This unconstitutional pause in funding will have a devastating impact on the public safety, prosperity and quality of life of all.
Democrats and Republicans alike will be negatively impacted by this pause in funding.
It impacts our ability to go after offenders who prey on a our children, because this impacts our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Our task force has enabled us to capture a record number of child predators. That is compromised.
It impacts… funding that allows our law enforcement partners to fight crime and impacts those who rely on Medicaid for life-saving health care.
It impacts our capacity to provide for veterans who served our country. Head Start and child care programs. The support for critical research at our universities. And support for farmers who grow our food. And of course, critical investment in infrastructure needed for our roads and bridges and keeping our working families working.
On January 20th, our nation had a peaceful transfer of power. But let’s be clear, January 20th was an inauguration, not a coronation. Congress is given the power to appropriate the funding. The executive branch cannot unilaterally disregard those appropriations passed by a separate and equal house of government.
We will collectively fight this unconstitutional mandate.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 12 *** Ugh…
In a press conference with five other Democratic attorneys general, New York AG Letitia James says at least 20 states have reported being locked out of their Medicaid reimbursement systems. That includes New York and Illinois. pic.twitter.com/LEAdqTXmdh
Update from the White House on the Medicaid portal shutdown - spokesperson says payments are still being processed and should be back up and running: https://t.co/CGEBLt9xpl
Senator Chapin Rose introduced Senate Bill 0211, a measure to expand financial disclosure requirements for public officials on Jan. 22, 2025.
The proposed legislation seeks to broaden the scope of information that must be included in the statement of economic interests filed by public officials. The key addition to the disclosure requirements is as follows:
Public officials would be required to disclose the names of their spouse, siblings, children, or parents who are employees, contractors, or office holders in the same unit of local government as the filer.
This new provision would apply to all individuals required to file a statement of economic interests under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. The bill aims to shed light on potential conflicts of interest and familial connections within local government structures.
Other notable aspects of the proposed amendment include:
- Maintaining existing disclosure requirements for assets, income sources, debts, and gifts.
- Continuing to require disclosure of relationships with registered lobbyists.
- Preserving the requirement to report family members employed by public utilities in Illinois.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that an individual who is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law is authorized to apply for the position of firefighter, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject. Effective January 1, 2026.
84th District State Representative Stephanie Kifowit says she has remained busy during the break between the end of the lame duck session and the start of the spring session, mostly working on re-filing legislation that didn’t pass in the last General Assembly. Legislators had until Friday to submit re-filed legislation for review.
Kifowit spoke about some of the bills she is re-filing, including a bill that would assist reservists and National Guard members serving in elected positions in participating in meetings remotely when they are called into service.
“This could cause them to miss a meeting or a board meeting, whatever position that they are in. So I filed it last year, didn’t get called in the house, filing it again this year. It would amend the Open Meetings Act to allow reservists and National Guardmen to be able to participate remotely and vote remotely if they are serving their country on duty. So I think that’s the right thing to do. It allows the folks that elected them to be properly represented, and it allows that individual to do their job as an elected official.”
Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires a Housing Authority that administers a housing voucher program to reimburse a rental property owner for any damage to its rental unit that is caused by a tenant who participates in the housing voucher program. Provides that reimbursement shall be for property damage not covered under a policy of property insurance that is beyond normal wear and tear and that is the result of the tenant’s negligence and abuse. Provides that any reimbursement amount paid to a rental property owner shall be repayable by the tenant to the Housing Authority. Permits the Housing Authority to offer and enter into an affordable repayment plan with the tenant. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to permit a Housing Authority to deny a tenant housing assistance or terminate a tenant’s housing voucher based on the tenant having payment obligations under a repayment plan or on a tenant’s demonstrated inability to make payments under such a repayment plan.
State Representative Charlie Meier of Okawville has announced he’s collecting petition signatures for residents who oppose a recent legislative proposal that seeks to legalize prostitution in Illinois.
Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to decriminalize the exchange of money for sex among consenting adults. Those who support the bill say it will allow sex workers to operate safely with legal protections. The bill does not remove criminal penalties for sex traffickers or those who abuse sex workers.
Meier fears the threat to women and young girls will skyrocket if penalties for prostitution are eliminated. He also forsees an increase of sexual assault and human trafficking stemming from the proposal.
Meier has started a petition on his website for residents to express their opposition to legalized prostitution. He hopes to be able to present the 109th District’s opposition to this “dangerous legislation” to the legislators who support this movement, so they can “see that their agenda has no business in Southern Illinois.”
A “malignant tumor.” A “stage actor.” A “walking crime wave.” That’s how powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s legal team refers to disgraced former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis who sought to “trick” the speaker into discussing illicit arrangements.
Madigan’s defense attorney Dan Collins told jurors Monday that Solis, the longtime 25th Ward alderperson turned government mole, carried out carefully orchestrated productions directed by federal investigators.
“As you evaluate the circumstances,” Collins said, “you’ve got to understand that these are staged circumstances.”
Collins’ remarks came on the fourth day of closing arguments in Madigan’s landmark corruption trial at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago.
Collins called on jurors to clear Madigan and again distanced him from McClain. The defense attorney derided McClain as “Mr. Important” and argued that he embellished and exaggerated his influence with Madigan — once writing that he was “at the bridge with my musket” for Madigan’s family.
“Who talks that way?” Collins asked.
But Collins saved his most ferocious rhetoric for Solis, who represented the 25th Ward for more than two decades and rose to become head of the City Council’s Zoning Committee. FBI agents confronted him in June 2016 with evidence of his own wrongdoing, and he agreed to wear a wire against powerful politicians such as Madigan and ex-Ald. Edward M. Burke.
If Solis holds up his end of a deal he struck with prosecutors, Solis is expected to avoid a criminal conviction — and will never face an actual trial. Collins argued Monday that Solis’ “free pass” means jurors can’t trust him.
But Collins said there were two sides to Solis, and that the one Madigan was reacting to was a lie.
“Between the deal (Solis) struck, his effort to hide things from the government, and then his tax crimes that we discovered in our investigation, you know everything you need to know about Danny Solis and why you can’t trust him, Collins said. “He is not just a walking microphone.”
Solis played on Madigan’s devotion to his family when he framed his request for a state board seat as a way to support his wife and kids, Collins said. Solis in fact had no real desire to be appointed to a state board — he asked Madigan for a recommendation only at the direction of his government handlers.
“If somebody comes and asks for help, Mike, if possible, will help that person,” Collins said, reiterating a frequent phrase from his closings. “(Solis) asked Mike Madigan if he would help. And Mike said ‘yes.’ This is not a scheme, this is not a bribe, this is Mike Madigan saying ‘yes’ when he’s asked for help — and the kicker for Solis is to use family.”
Regarding former Madigan staffer Will Cousineau’s testimony, Collins said there were inconsistencies.
“He was scared to death up there,” Collins said of Cousineau. “He got himself an immunity deal.”
Collins said it was McClain who claimed he got the Reyes Kurson law firm a lot of business from ComEd over the years, even though firm partner Victor Reyes was a longtime Madigan ally.
“ComEd had a policy of supporting minority businesses,” Collins said.
“That cannot be a thing of value in exchange for official action.”
Collins further accused Solis of using dishonesty to implicate Madigan in the Chinatown land transfer episode. Solis, in 2017 and 2018, represented the area of Chinatown where the parking lot is located. Collins claims Madigan only got involved in the land transfer effort because Solis falsely told him that both the local community and the community’s Democratic state Representative Theresa Mah supported it. That effort sputtered in Springfield when it turned out neither claim was true.
As for potential developers Solis pitched to build on the site once Chicago took ownership of it, Collins denied Madigan wanted anything to do with them. He denied the former speaker even asked for an introduction. […]
The defense attorney concluded his presentation by reminding jurors to “see the man” of Mike Madigan, and warning them not to let their cynicism toward politicians fill in what he claimed were evidentiary gaps in the government’s case.
Though Madigan’s closings are now finished, jurors still need to hear closing arguments on behalf of Madigan’s codefendant Mike McClain, and the government’s rebuttal closings, before they begin deliberations.
Sorry to hear the news about Garth Hudson. He was a beautiful guy and the real driving force behind The Band. Just listen to the original recording of The Weight and you’ll see.
* Way back in the day, a bunch of us would gather every Sunday night at Bruce’s Tavern at 11th and South Grand for an open mic hosted by Springfield singer/songwriter Tom Irwin (more here). A handful of us, known as the Bruce’s Tavernacle Choir, would sing along with the featured performers. The Weight was one of our favorite songs…
* ICYMI: Congressional panel calls Johnson, other sanctuary city mayors to testify about ‘obstructionist policies’. Sun-Times…
- Mayor Brandon Johnson and the mayors of three other sanctuary cities have been called to testify before Congress as part of an investigation into how local policies are affecting enforcement of President Donald Trump’s promise of “mass deportations.”
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were also summoned to testify at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing Feb. 11.
- The mayors were also asked to hand over all documents and communications related to their cities’ sanctuary status, including those between each city, non-governmental organizations and state officials.
* Reuters | US reports first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu in poultry: The United States has reported its first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu in poultry on a duck farm in California, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday. U.S. authorities also detected the more common H5N1 strain on the same farm in Merced County, California, they said in a report to Paris-based WOAH, adding that the almost 119,000 birds on the farm had been killed by Dec. 2.
* WaPo | White House Budget Office Orders Pause in All Federal Loans and Grants: The White House budget office has ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, according to a memo sent to government agencies on Monday, potentially paralyzing a vast swath of programs and sowing confusion and alarm among the array of groups that depend on them. The directive threatened to upend funds that course throughout the American economy: Hundreds of billions of dollars in grants to state, local and tribal governments. Disaster relief aid. Education and transportation funding. Loans to small businesses.
*** Statehouse News ***
* FOX | Homan demands apology from Illinois governor over ‘lie’ that ICE targeted Chicago school: ‘Sowing fear’: “Pedro Martinez lied,” Homan said on “America Reports,” Monday. Martinez, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, said on MSNBC Friday that ICE agents visited an elementary school on the Southwest Side earlier that morning. […] “Governor Pritzker, rather than calling ICE and asking, ‘Did this happen or did it not happen?’ he goes on social media and terrifies elementary schoolers. … He accuses me of terrifying the community. No, he terrified the community. He terrified the children,” Homan said.
* Labor Tribune | Illinois completes minimum wage increase, among other pro-worker law changes this year: Another bump in Illinois’ minimum wage took effect on Jan. 1, as part of a number of changes in state’s Labor laws this year. Illinois’ minimum wage increased to $15 an hour as of Jan. 1, the final step in a series of raises that began six years ago. Youth workers also will see an increase to $13 an hour, and tipped workers will be paid $9 an hour.
*** Statewide ***
* WCIA | Illinois celebrated for clean energy efforts: Sunday was International Clean Energy Day, and Illinois is being celebrated as the state that came out on top as the national leader. Almost 100,000 solar installations are scattered across the state. That creates enough electricity to power almost 550,000 homes.
* WAND | State organization works to address attorney shortage in rural areas: In an effort to tackle the growing shortage of attorneys in rural communities, the Illinois State Bar Association has launched an innovative initiative. The Rural Practice Fellowship Program is a program aimed to connect law students and young attorneys with career opportunities in underserved rural areas. The Illinois Bar Association said this is to ensure that legal services remain accessible to all Illinois residents.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | As Trump eyes mass deportations, historians see parallels to past campaigns to force out immigrants: Olga Martinez recalled her father’s experience as a Mexican immigrant living in Chicago in a 1982 video interview that later became part of the Southeast Chicago Archive and Storytelling Project. She said the family never knew who was behind the trucks or financially backing the effort. “My dad always questioned, ‘Why were we asked to go back to our country?’” Martinez says. “You know, he saw the Serbians, the Croatians, nobody was asked to go back except the Mexicans.”
* Tribune | Illinois EPA opposes proposed toxic waste dump expansion on Southeast Side lakefront: In a letter filed in federal court, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said the proposed expansion of a toxic waste dump on the Southeast Side would go against state law. It’s the latest development in a lengthy battle over the future of a 45-acre disposal site on the Lake Michigan shoreline. “This is a major win for our community, to have both the Illinois attorney general and the Illinois EPA say that the expansion of this toxic landfill will not be (approved),” said Amalia NietoGomez, executive director of social justice nonprofit Alliance of the Southeast.
* Crain’s | Illinois pitches Nvidia on South Side quantum campus: Representatives from the giant chip company were in town for dinner and a site visit to the planned Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park being built at the former U.S. Steel site on the Far South Side, according to several people familiar with the visit. Nvidia is the dominant maker of graphics-processing chips that are used to run artificial-intelligence software and supercomputers. The company’s name is synonymous with cutting-edge technology — and it was the most valuable publicly traded company in the world before a steep sell-off yesterday sparked by a Chinese company’s claim of being able to develop AI with fewer, cheaper chips.
* Sun-Times | Former CPS gym teacher sentenced to 17 years in prison for grooming, sexual assault of students: Andrew Castro, 38, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday on multiple charges, including predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and exploitation of a child under 13. Cook County Judge Domenica Stephenson sentenced Castro to 10 years for the assaults, seven years for each abuse case and one year for the exploitation charge. With some of the sentences to be served concurrently, the total prison term would be 17 years.
* Tribune | Olivia Clarke, who started group aimed at helping cancer patients with humor, dies: “Olivia’s passion was second to none. She poured her heart into everything she did — work, volunteerism, relationships, fun,” said Maria Black, chief marketing officer of law firm Kirkland & Ellis. “She had this spark of energy that never seemed to wane.” Clarke, 46, who lived on Chicago’s Near South Side, died of complications from breast cancer Jan. 15 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said her sister, Meagan Casey.
* Crain’s | Chicago winters reset the thermostat on what is normal: To be a Chicagoan is to know how to be cold. How to trudge through snow. How to grit your teeth and carry on as bone-chilling winds gust through the Loop. But these days, that defining regional characteristic is changing, because the climate is changing. What once was frigid is now merely chilly, and perhaps only occasionally so.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Southtown | Nate Fields back on ballot as Thornton Township supervisor candidate, judge rules: The board, made up of township Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Darlene Gray Everett as well as Clerk Loretta Wells, voted last month to remove Fields and two other supervisor candidates from the April 1 ballot. Michael Smith and Keith Price, who is food assistance program manager in Supervisor Tiffany Henyard’s township administration, brought five challenges against Fields, only one of which stuck.
* Daily Southtown | Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard worked to hide true condition of village finances, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says: Just months after her election in 2021, there was a “concerted and systematic effort” by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard to hide the condition of village finances from trustees, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday. In her final report on her investigation into Henyard and village finances, Lightfoot told some 200 residents and others the concealment continued and that, by March 2022, trustees “were effectively cut off from receiving regular financial reports.”
* Lake County News-Sun | Lake County coroner calls for Waukegan hospital death investigation; says owners ‘must be held accountable’: Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said Monday she has asked state officials to investigate the death of a patient who died of hypothermia in her medical gown on the roof of Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan last week. Banek said she wants the Illinois Department of Public Health to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Chelsea Adolphus, 28, who died about two days after checking herself into the hospital. Banek also said she sent a letter to the hospital asking that all evidence associated with the incident be preserved.
* Daily Herald | Friends of Barrington teen killed by train honor memory, hold village’s feet to fire: Friends of 17-year-old Marin Lacson gathered at a gazebo Monday evening near the downtown Barrington railroad crossing where she was fatally struck by a Metra train on Jan. 25, 2024. Approximately 50 people holding signs and candles celebrated her short life and mourned the anniversary of her passing. But several in the gathering took action, walking to nearby village hall to urge the village board and officials to move quicker to get pedestrian gates installed at the Hough Street crossing.
* Evanston Now | District 65 cuts 73 positions: Needing to wipe out $13.2 million in red ink, the Evanston/Skokie District 65 Board of Education voted Monday night to eliminate 73 jobs, including central office (26), teaching (18), and non-classroom school-level positions (29). The reductions, which take effect July 1, will eliminate about 5% of the district’s jobs. […] District 65 has lost more than 20% of its enrollment since 2018, but while the number of students had been coming down, the number of employees went up, with much of the growth coming under previous superintendent Devon Horton.
*** Downstate ***
* WAND | After-school program providers, parents demand Pritzker admin release grant funding: A coalition of after-school program providers, families and students called on Gov. JB Pritzker to release $50 million to fund their programs Monday. Advocates said state lawmakers approved the funds for their grants, but the Pritzker administration never distributed the money. Over 27,000 Illinois students lost their after-school programming this school year, and more than 2,000 staff are out of jobs due to the lack of grant funding. Susan Stanton, the executive director of Act Now, said after-school programs are critical for youth and teens.
* Shaw Local | Sandwich votes to ban sweepstakes machines: The Sandwich City Council has voted to ban sweepstakes machines – which look like slot machines but are unregulated and untaxed – from operating in the city. “It provides fairness to those who have legal gaming in our community,” said Sandwich Mayor Todd Latham, who had proposed banning the machines after discovering they were operating in one Sandwich business. “I still don’t understand even looking at the sweepstakes machines what you could win on the deal. It’s very unclear. I think it’s just simply misleading and not something that benefits our community.”
* PJ Star | DEI, immigration, homelessness show differences between two of the mayoral candidates: Questions about the City of Peoria’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts sparked debate Monday night between Peoria mayoral candidates Rita Ali and John Kelly. They presented different opinions about the effectiveness of DEI programs and their future in Peoria. Kelly, an at-large city councilman challenging Ali for her mayoral seat, drew multiple negative reactions from the crowd at a mayoral candidate forum put on by the Peoria chapter of the NAACP on Monday night when he made clear his skepticism of the effectiveness of DEI programs in Peoria.
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* Fox Chicago | Indiana man fatally shot by sheriff’s deputy identified as Jan. 6 defendant: During the traffic stop, a Jasper County sheriff’s deputy attempted to arrest the suspect, but the suspect resisted, officials said. “An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Further investigation revealed the suspect was armed with a gun during the traffic stop.
* NOTUS | The Race for Dick Durbin’s Senate Seat Has Already Begun: Durbin is expected to make an announcement soon over whether he’ll run for reelection in 2026. Should he choose to retire, his seat would open up for the first time in nearly three decades. NOTUS asked all 17 members of the Illinois U.S. House delegation if they were interested in the Senate. Five members said yes, and observers expect several other federal and state figures to jump in — making for a far closer race than in 2017, when Sen. Tammy Duckworth was the obvious Democratic frontrunner to take on Republican incumbent Mark Kirk.
* The Atlantic | China’s DeepSeek Surprise: One week ago, a new and formidable challenger for OpenAI’s throne emerged. A Chinese AI start-up, DeepSeek, launched a model that appeared to match the most powerful version of ChatGPT but, at least according to its creator, was a fraction of the cost to build. The program, called DeepSeek-R1, has incited plenty of concern: Ultrapowerful Chinese AI models are exactly what many leaders of American AI companies feared when they, and more recently President Donald Trump, have sounded alarms about a technological race between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. This is a “wake up call for America,” Alexandr Wang, the CEO of Scale AI, commented on social media.
* NPR | Doctors opposing RFK Jr. rally in the lead-up to his confirmation: Noble laureates have written that Kennedy would put the nation’s health in jeopardy. The American Public Health Association, representing 25,000 professionals in that field, has come out against his nomination, based on his “consistent disregard for scientific evidence.” And recently thousands of physicians and others in health care have signed onto letters echoing these concerns.
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