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Frerichs calls Pritzker veto ‘misguided’

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker vetoed an initiative by Treasurer Michael Frerichs today, citing the danger of SB246 being used to “benefit fringe and extremist groups”…

Today, I veto Senate Bill 246 of the 104th General Assembly. The bill is designed to allow the State Treasurer to create a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment processing program to benefit 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) organizations. Non-profit organizations would be able to deposit funds with the Treasurer and potentially benefit from the Treasurer’s higher investment returns.

The Treasurer’s work to support Illinoisans by addressing the financial needs of Illinois non profits has always been commendable, and my administration highly values the critical work many non-profit organizations are doing throughout the State. This legislation is well intended to support the financial needs of Illinois non-profits, and it led community banks and credit unions to recognize there was a gap in services they have been offering. Because of the hard work of the Treasurer and advocates, these private financial institutions have created financial products to meet those needs. My administration is eager to assist in that effort.

Though SB 246 is well-intended and might benefit non-profits whose missions advance interests the state desires to promote, it would unfortunately also allow Illinois’ financial investments to be used to benefit fringe and extremist groups. I cannot sign a bill that unintentionally allows extremist groups to advance their hateful missions by exploiting state services and resources.

This is not an exercise in hypotheticals - hate groups are growing. Some of their members have been elevated by the Trump White House to positions of power and are no longer on the fringes of American society. They are currently attempting to reshape the legal and ethical boundaries of our country from within the federal government. In Illinois we must remain vigilant. While the federal tax rules were designed to prevent hate groups from qualifying for non-profit status, recent changes in policies, rules, and decision-making at the federal level suggest the trend is to accept extreme views and organizations that promote violence and racial discrimination.

On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol, the Vice President of the United States, and Members of Congress were attacked by a mob attempting to stop the Congressional certification of the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. Among those persons found guilty of criminal acts related to the attack were members of the group known as the Oath Keepers.

On January 20, 2025, several members of the Oath Keepers, who were convicted of offenses related to the January 6, 2021 attack received Presidential pardons of their crimes. Subsequently, I directed our state’s hiring agency to consider any participation in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol to be “infamous and disgraceful conduct” for purposes of the Personnel Code and to recognize such participation as antithetical to the mission of the State to prevent the hiring of these individuals. It was and remains important to ensure that Illinois government does not allow the hate and danger that entered the Capitol that day to infiltrate our state’s government and the services we provide.

To support its activities, the Oath Keepers formed the Oath Keepers Educational Foundation, a 50l(c)(3) charitable organization. That organization’s tax-exempt status has since been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service. However, an associated group, the Indiana Oath Keepers, is currently registered as a 50l(c)(3) charitable organization and is in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. If Senate Bill 246 were signed into law, the possibility remains that the Indiana Oath Keepers could pa1ticipate in this state’s non-profit investment pool, as the bill does not require that a participating non-profit be located in Illinois in order to participate in the program. Oath Keepers is just one of a number of extremist organizations that could become investors in the state’s non-profit investment pool, and our state should not represent or promote the interests of these type of hate groups.

Some have suggested this issue can be resolved through rulemaking, but that would necessitate the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) reviewing administratively proposed rules and voting on whether the standards that have been proposed appropriately limit the charitable organizations that may participate in the Treasurer’s investment pool. A government program that includes standards based on an organization’s views, activities, founders, or members to exclude non-profits with extreme positions could give rise to legal challenges.

I recognize that many non-profits with beneficial missions are facing real financial hardships, perhaps now more than ever. As noted above, my administration has encouraged community banks to offer various unique financial resources to non-profits. Community banking solutions can help give non-profits greater flexibility, such as interest-free revolving lines of credit. I look forward to continuing to foster relationships between non-profits and community banks, and my team stands ready to suppo1t non-profits.

Pursuant to Section 9(b) of A1ticle IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 246, entitled “AN ACT concerning State government,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Frerichs himself testified in favor of the bill.

* From Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs…

I am disappointed the governor vetoed this bill. Like the governor, I decry the rise of extremist and hate groups and the efforts of the Trump administration to mainstream hate. I strongly disagree with the governor’s misguided belief that hate groups would use a state investment pool. The bill specifically requires that to be eligible, a nonprofit must provide a copy of their audited financial statements. No hate group would ever agree to that. Sunshine remains the best disinfectant for fighting hate.

Trump is decimating funding for nonprofits throughout Illinois. Make no mistake: Local food pantries, youth and community centers, homeless shelters and other non-profit groups will be hurt. The Nonprofit Investment Pool Act would allow the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office to help those groups combine resources and earn greater investment returns to make up some of Trump’s unconscionable cuts. Every dollar we make through smart investing is another dollar non-profit organizations can invest in our local communities at a time when many non-profits and communities are struggling for resources. They also could generate interest income toward major expenses or purchases for their organizations, including repairs and upgrades to facilities, buying new equipment, or hiring workers.

More than 150 nonprofits, including the Jewish United Fund, the Illinois AFL-CIO, the NAACP/Westside Division, the Illinois CPA Society, the Illinois Environmental Council, and the Sierra Club, sent letters in support of this legislation. We will be discussing potential next steps with our legislative sponsors.

Frerichs also included copies of his letter to the governor urging passage, as well as supportive letters from the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Woodstock Institute.

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Pritzker signs controversial bill giving personal injury lawyers more reach in suits over toxic substances

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Governor signed a plethora of bills this afternoon, including the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s Senate bill 328. From the governor’s press release…

Bill Number: SB0328

Description: Expands jurisdiction for claims alleging injury or illness resulting from exposure to toxic substances. Under this bill, a foreign corporation consents to general jurisdiction in this state in the limited circumstances involving actions (1) alleging injury or illness resulting from exposure to a substance defined as “toxic” under the Uniform Hazardous Substances Act of Illinois (430 ILCS 35), and (2) where jurisdiction is proper under section 2-209(a) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-209(a)) as to one or more named co-defendants. By its express terms, SB 328 does not allow the exercise of general jurisdiction over a foreign corporation in actions that are not covered by the Uniform Hazardous Substances Act of Illinois, as set forth in section 13 of that Act (430 ILCS 35/13).

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

* From the Tribune earlier this month…

A proposed law on the governor’s desk would expand the reach of personal injury lawyers, allowing them to file suit against any business operating in Illinois that exposes individuals to toxic substances — even if the company and the plaintiffs are based in another state.

Trial lawyers say the measure would offer fairness and convenience, primarily for Illinois residents who are injured in other states. Traditionally those plaintiffs have had to file suit in the state where they were hurt or where the company is headquartered. […]

Under the measure, any company that registers to do business in Illinois could be brought into court to face allegations of harm from toxic substances. Cases of this type routinely involve multiple defendants, and under the measure only one of them needs to be from Illinois.

An Illinois resident who is injured in multiple states, such as someone who was exposed to asbestos while working at his employer’s plants around the country, would be able to sue in his home state, rather than having to file in multiple jurisdictions, said Tim Cavanagh, president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

* The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association called on the governor to veto the bill. Crain’s…

Several trade groups are urging Gov. JB Pritzker to veto the bill. They include the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Restaurant Association and the Chicagoland and Illinois chambers of commerce. […]

“If this bill is enacted, it’s going to create a black eye for Illinois when we’re pursuing economic development opportunities,” says Mark Denzler, CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. ”Illinois does not need another burden to overcome in attracting business.”

* Mark Denzler, CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, told this to Rich today…

I’m an outspoken advocate for Illinois, and have been very supportive of the governor and the General Assembly and a lot of things they’ve done.

This is a huge step backward. Illinois is now going to be only the second state in the nation with this. And this is getting national attention in an unwanted way from the business community. And again, we take a couple steps forward, and then this is an unforced error where we’re taking steps backward. And the business community across the United States has paid attention to it.

In our opinion they should let the courts in Pennsylvania work through this to see if it is unconstitutional. But why create a black eye for Illinois when we’ve made so many positive steps?

* The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association…

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association thanks Gov. JB Pritzker for acting to protect those who live and work in our state from toxic substances by signing Senate Bill 328 into law. We applaud the governor for rejecting the Trumpian propaganda campaign of lies and fear-mongering mounted by the opponents to this urgently needed measure.

The sole intent of this new law is to provide the possibility of a more complete justice for grievous harms done to people by corporations that failed to protect their employees or customers from exposure to toxic substances. It will allow individuals who have suffered due to the actions of a company doing business in Illinois to hold accountable all businesses that contributed to their injury or illness, not just those that are legally or physically headquartered here.

For those who are sick or dying, who cannot navigate the process of retaining legal counsel and filing suits in multiple states, nor endure the rigors of extensive and expensive travel for court proceedings, this change is a godsend and will ease the already considerable burdens they bear.

We also thank the members of the General Assembly who voted to send SB 328 to the governor. They, too, are to be commended for recognizing that, while those at the nation’s capitol strip away health, workplace and environmental protections, Illinois chooses a different path and will not tolerate people being exploited and hurt by big-money special interests.

The truth is that Illinois is a very good state for business. It always has been and will continue to be now that SB 328 has become law. We have a highly skilled workforce, robust transportation networks and a wide range of economic sectors, including agriculture, arts, education, health care, logistics, manufacturing and professional services. We are an example for the nation that proves it’s not necessary to embrace race-to-the-bottom policies that trample workers’ rights and eliminate consumer protections to thrive.

Gov. Pritzker’s signature on SB 328 has added additional teeth to our laws that will deter big businesses from behaving badly by putting profits before people and unfairly forcing Illinois taxpayers to clean up the messes irresponsible corporations leave behind.

* Senate Republican Leader John Curran…

“I am deeply disappointed that Gov. Pritzker ignored our calls to join the Governor of New York in vetoing this special interest legislation that will further deter businesses from investing in Illinois. Under Gov. Pritzker, Illinois is a bottom five state in the nation for economic growth and job creation because of bad business policies like SB 328. Gov. Pritzker and his legislative allies continue to protect special interest insiders at the expense of working families across Illinois.”

* Press release…

Statement from Leading Business Groups on Gov. Pritzker Signing Sweeping Legal Overreach Legislation SB 328

Illinois’ business community issued the following statement following Gov. JB Pritzker signing SB 328.

“We are disappointed that Gov. JB Pritzker did not take this opportunity to protect the citizens, business community and economy of Illinois by vetoing SB 328. By failing to reject this disastrous proposal, businesses and taxpayers will now be vulnerable to predatory lawsuits that will clog up our legal system and stymie our economic growth.

This measure, brought forth by trial lawyers in the final hours of the legislative session, creates a significant and concerning expansion of liability for out-of-state businesses operating in Illinois. Under this law, any company simply registered to do business in Illinois is subject to lawsuits, even when the underlying claims and parties have no connection to the state. Rather than moving to Illinois and creating new jobs and economic investment, many businesses will avoid our state entirely, undermining the momentum our state has worked so hard to create.

We urge Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to refocus their efforts on economic growth and expansion, which benefits all workers, families and communities.”

* House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…

“At a time when Illinois should be focused on growth and opportunity, Democrats have once again chosen to reward trial lawyers at the expense of job creators. Our state already ranks at the top in all the wrong categories, and with Governor Pritzker signing SB 328, he’s turning up the heat on an already hostile business climate.”

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Stand by for news

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bunch of bills into law today, including a pretty controversial bill backed by the trial lawyers. He also vetoed a bill backed by Treasurer Michael Frerichs.

We’re working on a couple of posts and trying to gather some react.

Meanwhile, several press releases from legislators about their bill signings have been posted on our press release app.

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* [From Rich]: The US Department of Justice has responded to the Illinois State Board of Elections’ decision to not fully comply immediately with a request for voter registration documents, including drives’ licenses numbers, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. More on that refusal is here. But the DOJ’s response cites several federal laws allowing the access to the information (including the last four Social Security digits). Click here for that. A board spokesperson says the federal response is “under review.”

* As subscribers know, Rep. Buckner floated an event surcharge during a City Club appearance in June. Sun-Times…

A key player in the Springfield scramble to save mass transit said Friday there will be a fall bailout that uses a mix of tax hikes and a modest fare increase to avert dire service cuts at CTA, Metra and Pace.

State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) even floated a new idea to add to the revenue mix: a “large event surcharge” that would add anywhere from $1 to $3 to the price of tickets to major concerts and sporting events.

“It can be a catalyst to increase ridership,” Buckner said. “If you’re going to Lollapalooza and you’re paying an extra buck or $2 on your ticket each day, that ticket also doubles as your pass on the system for that day. That’s not just putting money in the coffers. It’s actually getting people to give back to the system and to use the system, which is what we’ve got to find a way to do as well.”

Buckner said a stalled $1.50-per delivery tax proposal could be part of the revenue mix but, “I don’t know if the $1.50 that the Senate did was the right level.”

* South Side Weekly…

A data broker that allows users to obtain information about incarcerated people could be a digital backdoor enabling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to access the personal data of thousands of immigrants in Cook County.

At a Cook County Board meeting last year, commissioners raised concerns about the Sheriff’s use of the system, called VINE (Victim Information [and] Notification Everyday), but voted to keep it. VINE notifies crime victims when an offender or defendant is released from jail, transferred, or has a change in custody status.

ICE’s access to that data goes far beyond the public’s, letting agents combine VINE jail records with personal data to build profiles that can pinpoint where people live and work. Immigrant rights advocates contend that the data, intended for victim notification, has been repurposed into commercial databases ICE uses to locate and arrest immigrants.

Now, advocates are renewing their push to get the Board to amend the County’s contract with VINE after its current contract ends in November.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Block Club | Private Pools Across Chicago Shut Down All Summer Thanks To Health Dept. Delays: While the City of Chicago used to do a large number of pool inspections, Martin said the city passed off most pool inspection responsibilities to the state in 2024 because of the increased workload caused by hosting the Democratic National Convention. Since then, the state has done most of the city’s pool inspections, which occur annually, Martin said.

* Tribune | Illinois’ rental assistance program has restarted. Here’s what you need to know.: While the program saw a third of its funds wiped away for the 2026 fiscal year that began July 1, $50 million in state funds are available. The reduction came as rents in Chicago keep rising and after the state grappled with serious fiscal challenges when balancing its budget this year, issues exacerbated by a federal government focused on axing spending. State lawmakers cut spending in various areas beyond housing as well.

*** Chicago ***

* Compact | The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump: The story of the University of Chicago is in one sense unique. No peer institution has borrowed so much in relation to its assets; none spends remotely as large a percentage of tuition on servicing debt. Despite gifts and the surge in the stock market, the University’s endowment has actually shrunk under its current president from 2021 to 2024 because it has been liquidating assets to mask the size of its deficits. But its story also distills forces and trends in American higher education that are corroding ideals, and wasting money, throughout the land.

* Sun-Times | We’ve been tracking grocery prices in Chicago: Coffee and ground beef are up: For the last nine months, the Sun-Times has been tracking grocery prices for 35 items at four major Chicago retailers — and the prices keep getting higher. Our latest price check this month found a number of items increased, causing our total shopping basket to be higher at most of the stores. The total for our basket at Jewel-Osco was $276.65, up by $3.30 from July — and up $14.20 since we started tracking prices in December. At Mariano’s, our total was $270.15, an increase of $3.20 compared to July’s basket total.

* Tribune | ‘There definitely was a need’: CPS, communities host back-to-school events to big crowds: Educational book and supply costs in the average U.S. city have increased by about 1.3% from January to July, according to data maintained by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank. Since July 2023, those prices have increased by more than 10%. Average weekly wages, in comparison, grew by 0.2% in Cook County in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

* WBEZ | Savannah Bananas, the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, to make Chicago debut at Rate Field: When the Savannah Bananas take the field at Rate Field Friday and Saturday evenings, it will be the first time Chicago gets a taste of what’s come to be known as Banana Ball (think baseball’s version of the Harlem Globetrotters). “The Bananas are the perfect combination of a world where baseball meets a circus, meets a concert … something for everybody,” said team spokesman Sam Bauman.

* Block Club | Chicagoans Unite To Expand Search For Bam Bam, The Service Dog Stolen From A Blind Man: While Bam Bam has still not been found, a team of neighbors and animal lovers have created an email tip line, a fundraiser for search efforts and a Facebook page to keep the community up to date and streamline the search on Santiago’s behalf. A website was also made with all the information in one spot, including a link to download flyers.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | State trooper, a youth hockey referee, arrested on federal child porn charges: An Illinois state trooper who also served as a youth hockey referee was arrested on child pornography charges this week while at work at the agency’s Des Plaines headquarters, authorities said. Colin Gruenke, 38, of Deerfield, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court on Thursday with one count of distribution of child pornography, court records show. Prosecutors are seeking to have Gruenke held without bond pending trial, and a detention hearing is set for Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young Kim.

* Daily Herald | Former Kane County coroner Rob Russell announces bid for sheriff: Russell cited his dozen years as coroner as instrumental in boosting his positive name recognition throughout the county. “I’m very proud of the work we did during my three terms as coroner,” Russell said in the release. “I was encouraged by Democrats, Republicans, and independents to succeed Sheriff (Ron) Hain.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council pushes back on possible reductions in support for Paramount: The presentation described the city’s use of American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, money which had to be obligated by 2024 and spent by 2025, Aurora Chief Financial Officer Stacy Peterson told the council. Much of that funding was spent on ongoing costs, she said, like the ShotSpotter system, body cameras and dash cameras for the police, the addition of 49 full-time employees and financial support to things like the Aurora Civic Center Authority.

* Daily Southtown | South, southwest suburban districts align Title IX policies with new federal guidance: Orland High School District 230 and Bremen High School District 228 are among districts statewide that received suggested Title IX policy revisions from the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Policy Reference Education Subscription Service in April, aiming to bring schools in compliance with federal law and best practices, said Jennifer Waterman, director of communications for District 230. The Title IX revisions revert the policy back to its 2020 version, which removes protections for students facing sex discrimination, meaning students facing discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, as defined in the 2024 policy, are no longer protected.

* Daily Southtown | Governors State University predicts loss of revenue with Trump pullback on student visas: “Every administration has a different viewpoint on how they handle international students,” said Paul McGuinness, the Governors State vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “But there’s also a difference in the type of institution and how you might benefit from students.” The Trump administration canceled visas of international students at institutions including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and the University of Chicago as part of a larger movement nationwide.

* Naperville Sun | Ribbon-cutting event held for new DuPage County Crisis Recovery Center: The DuPage County Board and DuPage County Health Department cut the ribbon this week on the county’s new Crisis Recovery Center, which will offer around-the-clock support for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Expected to officially open the first week of September, the center is the first of its kind in Illinois to provide mental health crisis services for children and adults, officials said in a news release. It aims to reduce unnecessary hospital emergency room visits as well as interactions with police that put a strain on public resources, the release said.

* Tribune | Two priests who serve the poor at Evanston church could be forced to leave U.S., parish fears: The archdiocese, like many others in the United States, is facing a shortage of priests as fewer men choose that vocation. Some Chicagoland parishes rely on immigrant priests to fill the gap. Nearly 60% of younger diocesan priests — under the age of 50 — who serve in the Archdiocese of Chicago are immigrants, according to a 2023 report. The number is a considerable contrast with priests over the age of 50, of whom 81% were born in the U.S. The average age of a priest in 2023 was 64.

*** Downstate ***

* Sun-Times | Corn dogs & cows: Scenes from the 2025 Illinois State Fair: The 2025 Illinois State Fair in Springfield ends Aug. 17. From livestock competitions to carnival rides and festival eats to the butter cow, attendees experienced several activities highlighting Illinois’ farming industry. Here’s some of what the Sun-Times saw during our visit.

* We made sure to get our annual pork burger from the Pork Pavilion…

Can’t miss a pork burger at the @capitolfax table #ilstatefair pic.twitter.com/q522v4oGaW

— IsabelMillerMedia (@IsabelMMiller) August 14, 2025

* BND | Metro-east elementary starts school year without its principal: Madonna Harris served as an assistant principal at Collinsville Middle School for seven years before retiring in May 2025. When Maryville Elementary Principal Charity Eugea was unable to start the school year due to health concerns, the district called Harris in to be the school’s acting principal, Collinsville school district superintendent Brad Skertich said.

* WGLT | Past State Farm Holiday Classic president arrested, charged with theft from the charity tournament: Police have arrested a past president of the State Farm Holiday Classic for allegedly stealing from a nonprofit that runs the charity high school basketball tournament. 39-year-old Kyle W. Myers of Normal has pleaded not guilty to theft of more than $100,000 and less than $500,000 over a two-year time frame.

*** National ***

* NYT | How Train Riders With Disabilities Are Faring on Amtrak: Passengers are facing blocked wheelchair space, getting stuck in doors and suffering other indignities 35 years after the Americans With Disabilities Act became law. […] The couple, who estimate that they’ve spent 560 hours on Amtrak together in the last three years, traveling coast-to-coast five times, said that riding the train is still much easier than flying. But the indignities they’ve experienced — not just trash cans and a faulty app but also incorrectly deployed boarding ramps, inaccessible dining cars and more — have left them with the sense that they must constantly advocate to receive the services they’re entitled to by law.

* AP | The US plans to build a $750M fly factory in Texas to stop a flesh-eating cattle parasite: Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture hopes to be producing and releasing sterile male New World screwworm flies into the wild within a year from the new factory on Moore Air Base outside Edinburg, Texas, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the border. She also said the USDA plans to deploy $100 million in technology, such as fly traps and lures, and step up border patrols by “tick riders” mounted on horseback and train dogs to sniff out the parasite.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - A couple of campaign updates

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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A look at the numbers

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

The chairman of the Texas Republican Party said Thursday that he thinks Illinois is winnable for the GOP in 2026, despite the party’s lack of success in recent elections.

Speaking to a joint meeting of the Illinois party’s state central committee and county chairs, Abraham George pointed to the fact that Donald Trump won 43.5% of the vote in Illinois in the 2024 presidential election. That was three points more than he received in 2020, when he lost his first reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden, and nearly five points more than he received in his first presidential run in 2016. The closer margins, however, were mostly due to fewer votes for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, as Trump improved his vote total by just over 2,000 from 2020 to 2024.

“That’s not a blue state anymore. That’s a purple state,” George said. “This state can flip to a Republican pretty fast.”

* Sun-Times…

Texas Republican Party Chair Abraham George, who earlier drew cheers in saying Illinois could flip to red, was asked how the state can do that while struggling to find recognizable candidates to run in statewide contests.

“That’s up to the Illinois Republican Party to do that. But Donald Trump got 43% in Illinois, and I think it is trending toward a Republican state in the last six cycles,” George said. “It seems to be more red every single time. So I think if they put in some work into it, it can become a real challenge for Democrats to win.”

Rounded presidential and gubernatorial results for the past six cycles…

2020 was a particularly huge year for Democrats, and 2014 was Pat Quinn’s defeat (after beating Bill Brady by less than a point four years earlier).

Other than that, the Democratic results have been pretty static, while the Republican results have nudged up a wee bit (although the third party candidates in 2018 and 2016 appeared to hurt their numbers).

* Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Illinois dropped some oppo yesterday…

While Illinois Democrats continue to support their Texas colleagues’ fight for democracy, the Illinois Republican Party today hosted far-right Texas GOP Chair Abraham George as their featured speaker. The Democratic Party of Illinois released the following statement:

“In true ILGOP fashion, they’re once again platforming violence, bad ethics, government overreach, and imposing their values on your lives. Instead of using their time and energy to fight the authoritarianism and fundamentalism that marginalizes so many Americans, they invite those ideals to breakfast.”

These are the values the ILGOP are celebrating:

• Police called on Texas GOP chair candidate over family dispute | The Texas Tribune
• Texas GOP chair draws ethics complaint over speaker race | The Texas Tribune
• Texas GOP chair claims church-state separation is a myth as lawmakers | The Texas Tribune

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Catching up with the congressionals (Updated)

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Evanston Now…

Democratic congressional primary candidate Kat Abughazaleh appeared Thursday afternoon at a rally of Evanston residents opposed to a planned Popeyes restaurant. […]

The 26-year-old content creator said she was “so moved” by the protest, adding, “our leaders often ignore what we’re fighting for.” […]

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss is also among the candidates in the crowded Democratic primary seeking to succeed Jan Schakowsky in representing the 9th Congressional District. […]

[The protestors] been calling on Biss to — in the words of the mural painted this week on the center’s wall — “Say no to Popeyes.”

[From Rich: So, the idea here is that a congressional candidate is helping force a South Asian-owned Popeyes franchisee to sell his building to a White woman under the guise of “helping small businesses” and “under represented communities” and “healthy choices”? Did I get that right?]

* Evanston Now political reporter Matthew Eadie…

Scoop: #IL9 candidate Bushra Amiwala is hosting Texas lawmakers Rep. Salman Bhojani and Rep. Suleman Lalani Friday in Morton Grove for a prayer service before Texas Dems head back home after breaking quorum in Illinois

Amiwala is running to replace Jan Schakowsky in Congress

— Matthew Eadie (@mattheweadie22) August 15, 2025

* More from the press release…

On Friday, August 15th, Bushra Amiwala will host Democratic lawmakers from Texas at the Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove, Illinois. The prayer event, open to the public, will run from 1:00 to 2:30pm.

Texas State Representatives Salman Bhojani, Suleman Lalani and many others who wish not to be disclosed at this time will attend. They have walked out of the Texas legislature to prevent the GOP from redrawing the state’s U.S. House maps. The proposal the Democrats aim to prevent would flagrantly gerrymander the state in favor of Republicans, disenfranchising thousands of voters.

Bushra Amiwala, a candidate running to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, is proud to welcome the lawmakers into her community.

“Gerrymandering is far too common in Republican districts. Democrats have sued against gerrymandering, won those suits, and had those rulings ignored by Republicans in power,” said Amiwala, the first Gen Z elected official in the country. “Congressional maps should reflect the populations and demographics of the United States. If they don’t, then we need a new vision of what democracy looks like in this country.”

* Meanwhile…Evanston Round Table…

With the candidate petition circulation period set to begin on Tuesday, Evanston resident and former Niles Township High School District 219 board member Jill Manrique filed paperwork on Monday morning to launch a March 2026 Democratic Primary bid for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat.

Manrique now joins more than a dozen other candidates vying to succeed longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who has held the position since 1999 and announced her impending retirement in May. […]

Unlike many other candidates, Manrique has not registered a website or made any official statement announcing her campaign yet, but she said she has plans for a “more robust launch in the future.”

“I do have folks around me that are here to help and not only collect signatures, but spread the word amongst our community,” she said. “So right now we are going to focus on circulating petitions, continuing to build our base and gain strength.”

* US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in the Sun-Times…

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Monday unveiled a detailed “Trump accountability plan” for his U.S. Senate campaign, vowing he would push to restrict ICE agents from wearing masks, block “radical” judges nominated by President Donald Trump, and introduce constitutional amendments to block self-pardons and a potential presidential third term.

Krishnamoorthi’s 17-point plan also includes a push for legislation that would make executive orders targeting individuals or specific entities invalid — and another bill that would give anyone targeted by the Department of Justice for denaturalization the right to a jury trial and the right to counsel. […]

“My plan outlines how, as Illinois’ next U.S. Senator, I’ll use every tool in my toolbox to limit the damage he can do to this country and its citizens — while making sure a Trump-like White House, one without deference for the rule of law, due process, and civil rights — never happens again,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement to the Sun-Times. […]

Krishnamoorthi’s package includes a direct response to Texas Republicans and their current Trump-backed redistricting plan. The plan includes legislation to end mid-decade redistricting and require states to use independent commissions or three-judge panels for redistricting and another bill to ban federal agents from arresting state legislators for not attending legislative sessions or leaving their state. Krishnamoorthi also wants legislation passed that would deny federal election grants and funding to states that trigger mid-cycle redistricting for partisan purposes.

* Illinois’ GOP congressional delegation skipped Republican Day at the State Fair yesterday. Mitchell Armentrout at the Sun-Times…

[U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood] and his two fellow Republican members of the Illinois congressional delegation, Reps. Mary Miller and Mike Bost, weren’t at their party’s State Fair rally. None of them faces major challengers in their deep-red downstate districts.

…Adding… US Senator Bernie Sanders is stopping in Chicago for a rally with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and 2nd CD candidate state Sen. Robert Peters…

Bernie Sanders announces several congressional candidates joining him for stops in the Midwest, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Robert Peters in Illinois and Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/f5C2Xv69e5

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) August 15, 2025

21 Comments

It’s now a law

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed two measures aimed at strengthening union protections in Illinois amid the Trump administration’s stripping of federal workers’ union contracts.

The signing comes after the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined at least three other federal agencies in canceling contracts with unions to comply with a March executive order that said collective bargaining requirements no longer applied to many federal agencies. President Donald Trump said the cancellations were allowed because the agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, play a role in national security, a claim that labor groups are disputing in court.

“With my signature, we are restoring hard fought worker protections that Trump and Congress are trying to destroy, protections that were established under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Coal Mine Safety Act,” Pritzker said. “This new state law means Trump can’t take these rights away from Illinois workers.”

One measure requires that the Illinois Department of Labor replace any repealed federal occupational safety standard with a state standard to protect workers across the state. A second measure signed into law changes the Prevailing Wage Act and ensures that workers are paid the Illinois prevailing wage whenever it is higher than the federal rate when federal construction projects are administered by a state or local government.

* More from the governor’s press release…

HB1189 amends the Prevailing Wage Act, to ensure that when federal construction projects are administered by a state or local government, workers are paid the Illinois prevailing wage whenever it is higher than the federal rate. This ensures timely, fair compensation that reflects current local labor conditions, rather than waiting for federal adjustments.

HB2488, which the Governor signed previously but was highlighted at today’s ceremony, eliminates references to a federal program in the Equal Pay Act to ensure that federal changes do not undermine the state requirement that private employers with 100 or more employees report on employee wages by gender and race or ethnicity. The bill also clarifies that apprentices are not subject to a lower fringe benefit rate than journeymen under the Prevailing Wage Act.

* 25News Now…

An Illinois law taking effect next year will prioritize child internet crimes.

Illinois is joining 13 other states in enforcing “Alicia’s Law”, or HB2586, which will help prioritize state resources to combat child internet predators after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the bill on Monday.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said ISP has opened 145 cases of internet child crimes in 2025. He said with the new law, internet crimes against kids are now a statutory, legal, and required mission of state police.

“About four years ago, ISP really started to focus on these internet crimes against children cases,” said Kelly. “We work very closely with our federal partners and our partners in the attorney general’s office. This something that has become a bigger part of what we do.”

* We told you about this recently-signed law last month. ABC Chicago…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recently signed a bill to crack down on squatting, but that law doesn’t go into effect until January 1. […]

[Army veteran Bradford Robinson] says his realtor came by his property last month to show a prospective buyer the house, but when they arrived, the lockbox had been broken and the locks were changed. […]

“The young lady in the house showed [the police] a bogus lease,” Robinson said. “With that being said, with the lease, the police said there’s nothing that they could do… the police actually asked me to have you come out to do a report because you seem to have a little bit more pull in getting things done.” […]

State Representative La Shawn Ford, who co-sponsored the squatter bill, met with the veteran to see what he could do to help.

“I’ve been working with Speaker Welch, and we’re gonna do everything we can,” Rep. Ford said. “I asked if we can file a bill to make it effective in October.”

9 Comments

Today’s must-read

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* ABC7 last December…

Serious test questions about a Chicago lab could change the outcome of hundreds of impaired driving convictions in Illinois and that could unlock the jail doors for some DUI convicts.

After a months-long investigation, the ABC7 I-Team discovered some test results from a prominent Chicago lab used by prosecutors have been deemed unreliable and could be inaccurate.

The lab, University of Illinois Chicago Analytical Forensic Testing Laboratory, is accused of providing flawed test results in cases of driving-under the influence of marijuana, many of them resulting in motorists convicted and sent to jail, and there are allegations of a cover-up. […]

The University of Illinois Chicago has now stopped doing tests for marijuana in law enforcement cases

* Maya Dukmasova did a deep dive for Injustice Watch. Some dot points…

• Faulty science: Between 2016 and 2024 a forensic toxicology lab at the University of Illinois Chicago tested people’s bodily fluids for DUI-cannabis investigations using scientifically discredited methods and faulty machinery.
• A crisis concealed: Lab management knew its machines were not producing reliable results for THC blood tests, yet for years failed to notify law enforcement or fix their testing methods.
• Wrongful convictions: The senior forensic toxicologist at the lab testified in court cases in misleading ways, prosecutors later admitted, contributing to people being convicted for DUI offenses with little or no evidence they were intoxicated.
• Lack of transparency: After shuttering its human testing program last year, the lab finally issued a disclosure to 17 prosecutors’ offices admitting their test results may have been compromised going back years. However, the University of Illinois hasn’t taken any steps to notify the people whose body fluids were tested about the possibly compromised results.
• No oversight: Illinois has no meaningful forensic science oversight system. A recently created state forensic science commission has no authority to investigate complaints, shut down labs, discipline analysts, or issue legally binding findings.

* A few excerpts…

In a months-long investigation — including more than 45 Freedom of Information Act requests, more than 100 interviews, and a review of some 8,000 pages of public records — Injustice Watch found more than 2,200 cases in which body fluids were tested for THC by the UIC lab between 2016 and 2024. In addition to improperly testing urine for DUI-cannabis investigations, these sources indicate the lab was for years unable to differentiate between legal and illegal types of THC in people’s body fluids. Worse, internal records examined by Injustice Watch suggest the lab was aware of some of the problems in its testing since at least 2021 but continued to perform tests and report results to law enforcement, mostly in DUI cases. [UIC forensic toxicologist Jennifer Bash], meanwhile, repeatedly testified about the lab’s findings in inaccurate and misleading ways. […]

Injustice Watch also found university officials charged with overseeing the lab were focused on the lab’s financial performance, and not on the quality of its scientific work. According to internal emails, officials’ eventual decision to shut down human testing at the lab came as a result of its failure to generate revenue. […]

For nearly three years, the UIC lab kept testing blood and urine in DUI cases using a method unable to properly detect the presence of delta-9 THC — even though the state’s legal limits are tied exclusively to delta-9. […]

The accrediting agency’s audit report detailed a slew of problems at the lab: months of missing records on “calibrators and controls used in THC quantitative testing”; years of missing evaluations on THC measurement uncertainty; no procedure to “preclude an individual from technically reviewing their own work”; no instructions for reporting inconclusive results; failure to properly review and document complaints about laboratory activities. The instrument used for THC screening hadn’t received required annual maintenance in nearly two years. […]

Texas has a state law requiring prosecutors to continuously disclose evidence to defendants; prosecutors can be disciplined for failing to do so. There’s a “junk science writ” that allows people to seek new trials if they can show flaws in the forensic evidence used to convict them. Most recently, the state created a portal making crime lab files directly open to both prosecutors and defense attorneys, eliminating some of the burdens of transmitting evidence. […]

In researching an upcoming book, Stout found only eight states with laws requiring forensics labs to be accredited or certified to produce evidence used in criminal prosecutions. In this environment, bad science can flourish because most defendants, police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges do not have the expertise to evaluate the validity of what scientists say.

Go read the rest, particularly if you are a legislator involved with this topic.

6 Comments

Again, what the heck is going on here? (Updated)

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Remember this Sun-Times and the Illinois Answers Project story from yesterday?…

Carlos Baker, the Chicago police officer who shot and killed his partner Krystal Rivera during a foot pursuit earlier this year, allegedly attacked a female officer late Sunday at a bar in Wicker Park, the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Project have learned.

The officer who was injured in the attack filed a police report while she was being treated for a split lip at Rush University Medical Center, alleging that Baker and another woman beat her late Sunday at DSTRKT Bar & Grill, 1540 N. Milwaukee Ave.

* Believe it or not, it gets worse. Sara Machi with CBS2…

Already under investigation for the on-duty shooting of his partner Krystal Rivera, Chicago Police Officer Carlos Baker may have misrepresented himself and violated department policy in the aftermath of a bar fight in Wicker Park last weekend. […]

While reporting on the initial incident, CBS News Chicago learned from an employee at a neighboring business that Baker called their shop, identified himself as a police officer investigating the bar fight — in which he is actually listed as a suspect — and asked for access to the surveillance cameras.

The employee showed CBS News Chicago the business’ caller ID, which showed Baker’s last name and phone number and a time stamp, 3:01 p.m. Wednesday, as news was breaking about the bar fight.

When a CBS News Chicago reporter called the number and left a voicemail, she promptly received a call back by a man who identified himself as Carlos Baker. He asked if “our restaurant” cameras are working and if they had video of the Sunday night incident.

When told he was speaking to a reporter, Baker hung up.

This guy appears to be a complete menace.

* Oh, and one more thing…

Chicago police say Baker is now on medical leave but has not been stripped of his police powers. He still has his badge and service weapon

I’m just saying, but if I was in CPD management, I’d be worried that every day this guy has police powers is another day the city could be on the hook for another lawsuit.

Then again, those payouts come from a separate pile of city budget cash, so CPD has no incentive to prevent fiscal problems caused by bad actors. Maybe that ought to be changed.

* And maybe FOP Chicago Lodge 7 President John Catanzara might think about retracting his premature and intense defense of Officer Baker last month…

There is nothing nefarious here. The department is not hiding anything. It is simply trying to support an officer and honor the family and the fallen officer Crystal Rivera.

…Adding… The Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba…

23 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Illinois Republicans rally around President Donald Trump, but internal infighting continues. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ CNI: New Republican to run for Illinois governor as election season begins
∙ WGN: Illinois Republicans push Trump message at State Fair’s GOP Day
∙ Center Square: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’
∙ Sun-Times: Illinois Republicans rally behind Texas GOP redistricting plan, celebrate Trump bump

* I didn’t think Coldplay was on the Grandstand lineup this year…

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Pritzker signs union protection bills amid Trump war on federal unions: One measure requires that the Illinois Department of Labor replace any repealed federal occupational safety standard with a state standard to protect workers across the state. A second measure signed into law changes the Prevailing Wage Act and ensures that workers are paid the Illinois prevailing wage whenever it is higher than the federal rate when federal construction projects are administered by a state or local government.

* Tribune | Texas House Democrats planning their departure from Illinois and back to Austin: “Under the advice of legal counsel, Democrats must return to Texas to build a strong public legislative record for the upcoming legal battle against a map that violates both the current Voting Rights Act and the Constitution,” a statement from the Texas House Democratic Caucus said. “Trump thought he could easily get his way in Texas with compliant Republicans, but Democrats fought back ferociously and took the fight to Trump across America. We will return to the House floor and to the courthouse with a clear message: The fight to protect voting rights has only begun,” the Texas Democrats said of the Trump-backed Texas remap effort.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | Illinois scientists reassess threatened species for first time in nearly 40 years: After collecting and analyzing the data, the team updated the S-ranks for each species. The team learned that the Laurentian fragile fern, the small whorled pogonia, and a plant known as goosefoot corn salad have been wiped out in Illinois. But, they also learned that 71 species are now less endangered than they were in 1987. Only three species are more endangered today, compared to 40 years ago.

* STL PR | Illinois and Missouri used to be covered in prairie. A new book traces its ‘ruin and redemption’: In a new book, “Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie,” environmental journalists Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty chronicle the history and future of this essential landscape. Hage and Marcotty were guests on St. Louis on the Air on Wednesday. “Many of us Midwesterners think, ‘Oh, it’s that flat, boring part before you get to the mountains,’” Hage said. “What we discovered working on the book, and what many scientists and ecologists have discovered in the last couple of decades, is that, in fact, the prairie is an incredibly rich ecosystem and an invaluable ecosystem in terms of the health of our planet.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol City Now | On Republican Day at the State Fair, Pritzker signs workers’ protection bills at Springfield union office: Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton — also one of several candidates running for U.S. Senate — didn’t mince words when also claiming Trump is trying to do harm to Illinois. “The President of the United States — a man notorious for abusing and manipulating workers — is actively using his office to attack the rights of all workers and labor unions,” said Stratton. “Whether he knows it or not, in doing so, he’s highlighting why Illinois’ work is so crucial.”

* WMBD | Illinois bill could help people with opioid addiction disorder: An Illinois bill could change harm reduction strategies across the state to help those addicted to opioids. The proposal would change homeless shelter rules. Any shelter that receives state funds would not be able to kick somebody out on the sole basis of a drug sobriety rule.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago Public Schools deficit deadline: CPS started the summer with a $734 million deficit for the school year that begins Aug. 18. WBEZ and the Sun-Times are tracking how the Board of Education and CPS officials work to close the budget hole, this month and long-term.

* WBEZ | CPS board rebuffs budget plan from school district leaders: Eleven of 21 members sent a letter to interim CEO Macquline King saying these two items need to be in the budget for this school year. It comes a day after King’s staff presented its budget proposal and touted that it could close a $734 million budget deficit without a loan. The proposal included the municipal pension payment, but made it contingent on the state or the city sending the school district more than it is anticipating in the budget.

* Evanston Roundtable | CTA looks to better utilize vacant L station retail space: The topic came up on July 9, when the Chicago Transit Board, CTA’s governing body, discussed an ordinance to raise rates at parking lots owned by the agency. The discussion led to a conversation about redeveloping underutilized CTA-owned parking lots and garages, which dovetailed into a conversation about vacant retail spaces. […] During the July transit board meeting, CTA Chief Innovation Officer Molly Poppe said that, while the agency still sees many retail spaces as revenue generators, it’s also looking into offering some spaces for “community benefit.” Chief Financial Officer Tom McKone added that those uses may still generate revenue, since that kind of activation could bring in more potential riders to stations.

* Sun-Times | Cutting parking requirements for homes built near transit aims to help fix housing crisis: Passed by the Chicago City Council on July 16, the ordinance gives developers the option to reduce — what was historically required — off-street parking in new or rehabbed housing projects. Depending on its proximity to a CTA or Metra stop, off-street parking can be reduced by up to 50%, or even eliminated. Off-street parking typically takes the form of surface parking lots or parking garages.

* Sun-Times | Past his term’s midpoint, Mayor Johnson’s job approval rating stands at 26%, survey shows: Well past midterm and a year before his reelection campaign begins in earnest, Mayor Brandon Johnson has a 26% approval rating with a majority of Chicagoans unhappy with his job performance — no matter where they live, what race they are and how much money they earn. The good news for the first-term mayor is that he had nowhere to go but up since polling earlier this year showed him languishing in single digits.

* Tribune | Streeterville residents back Northwestern’s hospital construction plan, but worry about loss of green space: After listening to Northwestern Memorial Hospital officials outline a proposal to build a 1.2 million-square-foot tower on a vacant lot in Streeterville, residents at a Wednesday night community meeting were mostly supportive of the project. Many also mourned the impending loss of one of the neighborhood’s few green spaces. “It was so nice of the hospital to plant wildflowers there that we can enjoy,” said Deborah Gershbein, president of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, which co-hosted the community meeting with Ald. Brian Hopkins, (2nd). “But we will all need health care, and we’re so fortunate that the heart of this community has such a wonderful hospital, and (with these plans) it will get better.”

* Tribune | Lawyer for CHA who used ChatGPT to cite fake court case sanctioned in separate case for improper AI use: A lawyer hired by the Chicago Housing Authority recently revealed that her citation of a fictitious court case when defending the agency in a case involving the alleged poisoning of two children by lead paint was a result of using ChatGPT and failing to check her work. Turns out, it was not her first time improperly using artificial intelligence, court records show. A motion to dismiss and a reply in support of the motion to dismiss were filed in February and April, respectively, in the chancery case Calderon v. Dynamic Manufacturing, Inc. In the case, a woman alleges she was subject to a hostile work environment by her employer, violating her rights under the Illinois Human Rights Act, court records show. Combined, the two court filings contained 12 hallucinated case citations by attorney Danielle Malaty.

* Block Club | Lakeview’s Kelly Park Still Hasn’t Seen Upgrades 6 Years After They Were Promised: Neighbors spent years raising money and pushing for upgrades at Kelly Park, but the project keeps getting delayed despite more than $1 million in funding. Park district officials say work will start this fall, but neighbors aren’t so sure.

* WTTW | Chicago Program Put 30,000 Young People to Work This Summer: Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’s been working to expand the program and increase youth hiring in the city, surpassing a goal to provide funding for 1,000 more positions. Last summer, Johnson expanded the program with an additional 2,400 positions. He has said that investing more in services like summer jobs programs can help reduce crime by providing productive activities for young people.

* Block Club | Cubs To Host First-Ever Oktoberfest In Wrigleyville This Fall: The festival will take place Sept. 19-21 in the Toyota Camry Lot at 1126 W. Grace St. It will be open to all ages and will feature traditional Oktoberfest staples like a ceremonial keg tap, beer tents, carnival rides, live music and themed competitions. The food lineup will include Oktoberfest staples like bratwurst with sauerkraut, giant pretzels with mustard or beer cheese, schnitzel, potato salad and sweet treats like apple strudel. And also plenty of beer.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | ‘I’ve got questions’: Town hall to address proposed closure of Elk Grove hospital’s maternity ward: Since the July 1 announcement, Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said he’s had many conversations with Ascension Illinois CEO Polly Davenport, who plans to attend the town hall meeting with other top hospital officials. “They are going to have an opportunity to explain to this community what is happening at Alexian Brothers today and what the future of Alexian Brothers is going to look like,” Johnson said. “This is an important issue for this community. Elk Grove has partnered with Alexian Brothers for 60 years. … Obviously we’ve got some concerns. This is a chance for all of our residents to ask the questions.”

* Shaw Local | Joliet City Council could vote on adopting local grocery tax next week: The Joliet City Council is expected to vote next week on a local 1% grocery tax. The tax would replace the 1% state grocery tax that is ending Jan. 1. The state law eliminating the tax gives municipalities the option of replacing it with a local tax to maintain revenues that otherwise would go away.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council approves renewing ShotSpotter service for next three years: On Tuesday, the Aurora City Council gave final approval for the city to renew its contract with ShotSpotter, a service that detects gunfire within a certain area, for three years. The city has used the service by SoundThinking, Inc., since it was first approved by the City Council in 2022, according to past reporting. Roughly two square miles of Aurora is covered by ShotSpotter, according to past reporting. The coverage areas include certain neighborhoods or other areas that historically have had more gunfire, while leaving out the areas that have not.

* Evanston Round Table | ‘It’s just been a disaster’: Parents of Special Olympics athletes angry, heartbroken at city’s treatment of Woodson: Woodson, the program coordinator responsible for Evanston’s Special Olympics teams and accessible recreation was dismissed for an “inability to improve his performance” in administrative duties, according to personnel files released by the city. His removal was cemented on Tuesday when he submitted a notice of retirement to the city. But his dismissal has resulted in sobbing kids. Scores of angry, disappointed and mistrustful parents. Canceled athletic events. Protests at public events. In the minds of the parents who spoke to the RoundTable, the city pressured their coach, friend and mentor to end his relationship with the city’s Special Recreation program where he worked for 35 years. Since then, anxiety overwhelms athletes and parents.

* Daily Herald | Schaumburg’s Septemberfest grounds adapting to village hall construction: And even though construction of a new building has started, the space available for the fest is only a little less than when the previous village hall had been standing there for 52 years. The most significant loss of space is between the construction site and the pond to the north, where many artists and crafters used to set up. As a result, Summit Drive will be closed from Schaumburg Road for a stretch southward to accommodate these vendors in the street.

* Shaw Local | New Hollywood Casino Joliet opens with fanfare, seen as regional destination: The new Hollywood Casino Joliet opened Monday with fanfare that included a traditional Chinese lion dance and an announcement that the casino has become an official sponsor of the Chicago Bears. Executives also honored their Joliet roots, recognizing seven employees who have been with the casino since a group of local investors opened it in 1992.

*** Downstate ***

* IPM News | Local grocery tax will continue in Savoy when Illinois phases out statewide collection: “This is not a new tax, but rather a longstanding revenue source for the village of Savoy and for every community in Illinois that’s been in place for decades,” said Village Administrator Andy Quarnstrom during an August 6 board meeting. The tax represents one cent for every dollar spent on food products at a grocery store. It will not apply to other items available at a grocery store such as home goods, alcohol, soft drinks and candy. The current statewide grocery tax accounts for $350,000 to $450,000 in revenue for Savoy, according to village documents.

* WGLT | McLean County Board fills vacancy in District 3, approves more wind turbines: County Administrator Cassy Taylor said the special use application will add 35 wind turbines to a field with 58 turbines already in operation. Since federal tax cuts outlined in President Trump’s tax and spending bill, some renewable energy developers have had to rethink their projects currently in the pipeline. Board chair Elizabeth Johnston said she is not personally aware of any move by developers to speed up construction. “These were projects that were already in the wings, even before the election last year and before some of the changes coming out of [Washington,] D.C. this year,” Johnston said. “I’m not feeling the urgency, I haven’t seen necessarily the urgency in the county, in the zoning board of appeals meeting.”

* WJBD | Salem teen wins big at State Fair: Kaolin Lewis earlier won reserve overall for the Simmental breed and was grand champion in the Land of Lincoln Simmental competition. Lewis also showed a Charolais Heifer that was also a grand champion. Lewis is in her fifth year showing at the state fair and is a seven-year member of the Marion County Pioneers 4-H club.

*** National ***

* NYT | SpaceX Gets Billions From the Government. It Gives Little to Nothing Back in Taxes.: The rocket maker’s finances have long been secret because the company is privately held. But the documents reviewed by The Times show that SpaceX can seize on a legal tax benefit that allows it to use the more than $5 billion in losses it racked up by late 2021 to offset paying future taxable income. President Trump made a change in 2017, during his first term, that eliminated the tax benefit’s expiration date for all companies. For SpaceX, that means that nearly $3 billion of its losses can be indefinitely applied against future taxable income.

* NYT | Draft of White House Report Suggests Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations: A highly anticipated White House report on the health of American children would stop short of proposing direct restrictions on ultraprocessed foods and pesticides that the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called major threats, according to a draft of the document that was reviewed by The New York Times.

* WaPo | Landmark plastic talks collapse with the U.S. opposing key production limits: After spurning other global environmental efforts, the United States showed up in force in Switzerland for landmark plastic treaty talks — seeking a deal, the Trump administration said, but opposing the production limits that many other nations saw as the main solution.

* WaPo | Electricity prices are surging, opening up a new line of attacks against Republicans: They are crafting an argument that not only have prices not come down but the sweeping tax and spending law Trump signed into law in July will make energy costs worse. That legislation, among other things, rolled back clean energy tax credits that were expanded in the Inflation Reduction Act that President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022, which could make solar and wind energy projects less financially feasible. It also reoriented government spending toward fossil fuels. Following the passage of that bill, Trump signed an executive order compelling his administration to “crack down on remaining loopholes allowing access to renewable energy tax breaks,” our colleague Jake Spring reported.

10 Comments

Open thread

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

3 Comments

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

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Friday, Aug 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

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