Caption contest!
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As subscribers were told earlier this week, White Sox legend Ozzie Guillén is at the Statehouse today. Isabel was able to meet him…
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* The Illinois Environmental Council on the congressional budget reconciliation bill…
The budget reconciliation bill, which narrowly advanced early Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote, includes sweeping rollbacks to the clean energy tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and signals an extreme reversal of the federal government’s commitment to climate action and environmental justice. Among the most concerning provisions of the bill are drastic cuts and limitations to clean energy tax credits:
• Due to the repeal of these tax credits, residential energy bills in Illinois are projected to increase $168 annually, and commercial and industrial energy bills are predicted to increase 21%.
• Illinois is projected to lose over $16.8 billion worth of investments from public and private sources due to the repeal of the clean energy investments, putting 105 facilities at risk of closure across the state.
• Repealing the clean energy tax credits will increase air pollution in Illinois by 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030 and 6 million metric tons by 2035.
• Illinois stands to lose almost 30,000 jobs due to the repeal of the clean energy tax incentives and federal programs by 2030.
* Meanwhile, on a different but still related topic, this is from the Citizens Utility Board…
Ameren Illinois’ summer price for electricity will soar by an estimated 50 percent on June 1, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) warned in a consumer alert Thursday, as the watchdog urged the utility to work with customers struggling to pay their bills so they can keep their power on during hot weather.
At a news conference, CUB explained the causes of the price spike – including the regional power grid operator’s new methodology for pricing reserve power that unacceptably raised consumer costs. CUB has launched CUBHelpCenter.com, which has tips on how to get through an expensive summer.
While cautioning that pricing has not been finalized, CUB said Ameren has reported that its electricity supply rate, also known as the “price to compare,” is set to increase by about 50 percent, to about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on June 1. This higher rate, which includes the supply price, a transmission charge and a “supply cost adjustment,” will increase summer power bills (June through September) by 18 percent to 22 percent, Ameren has estimated. In October, the price is expected to decrease–to roughly 8 cents to 9 cents per kWh, Ameren said.
“We urge Ameren Illinois to work with customers to keep their power on this summer, so they can stay safe and cool,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. “High bills can be stressful, so we ask people across central and southern Illinois to check on neighbors, friends and family this summer to make sure nobody is taking risks by keeping their homes too hot. Long-term, this price spike just shows we’ve got to keep working for consumer protections for electric customers.”
Moskowitz called for passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB2473/HB3779) in Springfield. The bill would implement a number of pro-consumer clean energy policies, including expanding energy efficiency and other programs that help reduce demand. She also said there is a continuing need for reform at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional grid operator for all or parts of 15 states from the upper Midwest through Ameren Illinois’ territory in central and southern Illinois and down to Louisiana.
CUB provided information about the price spike as well as consumer tips:
What’s the cause? The price for reserve power—called “capacity”—skyrocketed in a MISO-run auction that has a major impact on what consumers pay for electricity. In addition to years-long delays in connecting power plants that could help lower prices–which is also a problem with PJM Interconnection, northern Illinois’ grid operator–perhaps the biggest factor in the price spike was that MISO introduced a new pricing methodology that CUB said unfairly compromised affordability in the latest capacity auction.
What part of the bill is impacted? Supply, which is the cost of the actual electricity, and transmission. This makes up about a half to two-thirds of bills. Ameren does not profit off this price spike–under law the utility is required to pass supply costs onto customers with no markup. (Ameren profits off rate hikes on the delivery side of bills.)
If Ameren doesn’t profit off this spike, who does? Big energy companies that sell electricity to utilities.
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* AP…
Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, police said. […]
The two people killed, identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American, were a young couple about to be engaged, according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. […]
The gunman, identified by police as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, then walked into the museum, was detained by event security and began chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” Smith said. FBI agents on Thursday morning conducted a search of a home believed to be connected to Rodriguez in the 4700 block of North Troy on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Chicago Field Office on Thursday confirmed its agents are supporting the FBI’s Washington Field Office and conducting related “court-authorized law enforcement activity in the Chicago-area“ in connection to the shooting.
* Sun-Times…
According to a LinkedIn page associated with Rodriguez, he worked an administrative job at the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Information Association. The group confirmed his employment there, saying in a statement that they are “shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime.”
Rodriguez was once a member of a local branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the group confirmed Thursday. The group said he has not been affiliated with the group since 2017, the group said.
“We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the D.C. shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL,” the Party for Socialism and Liberation wrote on social media.
“He had a brief association with one branch of the PSL that ended in 2017. We know of no contact with him in over 7 years. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it,” the group wrote.
* Washington Post…
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post to X on Thursday that authorities are working to confirm whether “certain writings” are linked to Rodriguez, an apparent reference to the manifesto. The document, titled, “Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home,” accuses Israel of “genocide” and says “a perpetrator” may be a good person at times, “and yet be a monster all the same.” The message concludes, “Free Palestine — Elias Rodriguez.”
* Gov. JB Pritzker…
“I was horrified to hear of the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC last night. Shortly after the incident occurred, I learned that a member of my team was attending the event. While they are shaken up, they are thankfully safe. MK and I are praying for the victims and their families and all of those affected by this tragedy.
“Law enforcement has apprehended the suspected gunman, and although the investigation continues, make no mistake: this was an attack on the Jewish community.
“An evening of connecting and belonging hosted by the American Jewish Committee quickly turned into a nightmare. Young Jewish people and diplomats came together in a museum built to honor their shared history but then had to flee gun shots and witness the killing of a young couple. As a Jew who led the building of a museum dedicated to standing up against bigotry and hatred, I know how sacred these places are and what trauma this incident has caused.
“Whether it’s gun violence or the rising tide of antisemitism, Americans of all backgrounds have an urgent obligation to stand for peace and reject bigotry in all its forms and in every way possible.”
* Rep. Bob Morgan…
When extremists tell us they want to ‘Globalize the Intifada,’ we must believe them. This double murder is the direct result of dehumanizing language against Jews and the exponential rise in antisemitism in the far-left and far-right of our political system. The Jewish community has been sounding the alarm about fear for our safety, and too many have turned a blind eye. We will say prayers for Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lishinsky as we mourn during Sabbath prayers Friday night, and I will say an extra prayer that elected officials from all backgrounds step up to combat antisemitism in all its forms.
* Related…
* Neighbor describes alleged DC shooter as ‘normal, friendly guy’
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
As Illinois charts its path toward a clean energy future, lawmakers must remember the promises made under CEJA—the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. CEJA was never just about clean energy; it was about equitable clean energy. That means creating good-paying union jobs for all workers, especially those from historically excluded Black and Brown communities.
Yet today, a new energy storage bill threatens to undo that vision. Without strong, inclusive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) language, this legislation risks handing energy jobs to a narrow slice of the construction industry—jobs that will go disproportionately to white, politically connected workers, while locking out the very communities CEJA aimed to uplift.
We can’t let Illinois’ clean energy transition be built on the backs of exclusion. Labor unity means every union has a seat at the table—not just the favored few. Ironworkers, roofers, painters, bricklayers, glaziers, boilermakers, cement masons, carpenters, millwrights and many other crafts helped build this state and deserve a shot at building its future.
Lawmakers: don’t sell out working families. Reject any energy storage legislation that doesn’t include inclusive PLA language. Because when we say “green jobs,” we should mean jobs that are union, local, and equitable.
This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about justice, too.
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Krishnamoorthi continues fundraising prowess
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Raja Krishnamoorthi press release…
Today, the Raja for Illinois campaign announced that he has raised over $1 million in the two weeks since entering the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
The significant haul – first of its kind in the crowded primary contest – adds to the campaign’s significant resources. Prior to entering the U.S. Senate race, Raja raised an “eye-popping $3 million” in the first quarter of this year, ending March with over $19 million on hand.
No other candidates in the race have disclosed their fundraising totals.
“Over the last two weeks, thousands of donors have chipped in what they can to support Raja because they know Illinois families need a U.S. Senator who can take on Donald Trump and fight for our families,” said Raja for Illinois Campaign Manager Brexton Isaacs. “Raja has spent his career standing up to bullies, and, thanks to our generous supporters, he will continue to do just that in the U.S. Senate.”
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Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
A last-minute provision called the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) was snuck into the budget process last May and will create chaos for small businesses and consumers across Illinois if it takes effect on July 1, 2025.
The IFPA gives corporate mega-stores like Walmart and Home Depot — who pushed for this backroom deal — millions more in profits, while small business owners get new expenses and accounting headaches. What’s more, consumers could be forced to pay for parts of their transactions in cash if this law moves forward.
A recent court ruling in the litigation challenging the law suggests IFPA is likely pre-empted by federal law for national banks and will only apply to credit unions and local Illinois banks, putting local banks at a disadvantage against their national competitors.
Illinois lawmakers should repeal the IFPA and focus on protecting small businesses and consumers across the state — not lining the pockets of corporate mega-stores.
Stop the countdown to chaos by supporting a repeal of this misguided and flawed policy. Learn more at https://guardyourcard.com/illinois/
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WGN…
Few things receive near-unanimous support in the Illinois legislature, but a bill to crack down on squatters came close.
“We have people simply trespassing on people’s property who don’t belong there, squatting and taking residence up on their own,” said State Rep. Jawaharial Williams (D-Chicago).
His bill changes state law to differentiate squatters from tenants and forego the months-long eviction process. It passed unanimously in the Illinois House and received only a single “no” vote in the state senate. The bill, SB1563, needs Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature to become law. […]
Real estate attorneys say criminals have been known to break into unoccupied homes and then pose as landlords offering prospective tenants a fake lease. They then take advantage of state law meant to protect true tenants from wrongful evictions.
* WAND…
A plan led by state Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) would keep the current state and federal occupational health and safety policies for some jobs. Coal miners, warehouse and factory workers will continue to have the same safety laws even if the federal government removes them. […]
This bill would also ensure the state maintains the same wages for those workers, even if the federal government reduces their pay.
While receiving support from his fellow Democrats, Republicans raised their concerns on the proposal. Speaking on the concerns raised by businesses, state Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said creating state specific laws for interstate businesses will cause major issues. […]
Peter’s bill passed out of the Senate on a partisan 38-19-1 vote. It will now head to the House for further debate.
* Sen. Cristina Castro…
As the federal government takes steps to dismantle agencies and lay off qualified public servants who administer key programs serving millions of Americans, State Senator Cristina Castro is moving forward with a plan to protect state-administered federal programs from future interference.
“Here in Illinois, we aren’t going to sit by while the health care and food assistance programs our neighbors rely on are hollowed out and job opportunities are eroded,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This legislation is key to making sure dedicated public servants — who serve vulnerable residents in need — aren’t left on the chopping block.”
Federal merit systems — standards that states must adhere to for employees who administer specific grant programs — have been in place since the passage of the Civil Service Act in 1883. These standards are meant to ensure the individuals responsible for federal dollars are highly qualified, treated fairly, safeguarded from discrimination, compensated adequately and protected from partisan coercion. Programs currently covered by federal merit requirements include Medicaid, aging programs, unemployment insurance, SNAP, foster care and adoption assistance, and several grant programs serving people with disabilities and families with dependent children.
Under Castro’s measure, the current personnel merit requirements would be codified in state law, ensuring that if the federal government weakens or eliminates its requirements, key programs like unemployment insurance, SNAP and Medicaid will continue to be administered in Illinois by qualified, capable state employees. […]
House Bill 1586 passed the Senate Labor Committee Tuesday.
* Center Square…
The state Senate passed House Bill 1189 Wednesday afternoon. The measure calls for Illinois’ prevailing wage to override federal prevailing wage for federal projects if the state wage is higher.
State Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, was asked about the bill’s constitutionality and higher taxpayer costs potentially leading to fewer projects in Illinois.
“I really don’t think that’s the issue,” Belt said. “Other states are currently doing it. The Missouri Department of Transportation right now implements this. Minnesota, California and Washington are among three other states that right now implement this very legislation that we’re looking at trying to enact.” […]
Forty senators voted in favor of the bill and 18 voted against it. House Bill 1189 can now be sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. If he signs it, the law would take effect July 1.
* WCIA…
Illinoisans could soon have access to emergency birth control straight from pharmacists — and no prescription would be needed from a doctor.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee passed a bill to update the state’s Pharmacy Practice Act. This would let pharmacists in Illinois dispense the emergency contraceptive ulipristal acetate — more commonly known as Ella — and other non-hormonal options as a way to prevent pregnancy. […]
“Women come in all shapes and sizes so it only stands to reason that medication should be tailored to them as needed,” [Sen. Rachel Ventura] said. “By allowing pharmacists to prescribe all types of contraceptives, including non-hormonal options, this bill aims to improve access so that every individual can make the best choice for birth control.” […]
It passed the committee with seven votes in favor and three against. It has already passed the House and is now headed to the Senate floor for further debate.
* Capitol News Illinois…
The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that adds new anti-bias education requirements for providers of maternal health services.
The measure is aimed at combating maternal mortality in marginalized groups. If signed into law, it would mandate providers receive one hour of training prior to renewing a state license, starting in July 2026. The Senate passed the bill on a 44-12 vote, following its passage 82-29 in the House in April. It needs only a signature from Gov. JB Pritzker to become law.
The training required by House Bill 2517 would educate providers on historic racial discrepancies in maternal care in an effort to reduce implicit biases among providers. Health care professionals would be allowed to count completion of the course toward minimum continuing education requirements.
“As a country, the United States is the most dangerous place to give birth in the developed world, and it’s three times as dangerous for Black people,” said Kelly Hubbard, director of policy and advocacy at EverThrive Illinois, where she works to advocate for optimal maternal health policies. That statistic comes from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s 2023 Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
Seeking to reinforce the supportive role of the Department of Children and Family Services, State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation aiming to remove the agency’s authority to operate its own law enforcement agency.
“DCFS should be a source of help for families in need, not a force of intimidation,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This bill would create a necessary boundary to ensure families in crisis are met with care, not criminalization.”
Peters’ measure would remove the department’s statutory authority to appoint personnel to act as peace officers in counties with more than 500,000 people. Instead, it would reaffirm that any law enforcement needs involving DCFS would be handled by local or state police.
For families already navigating difficult situations, the bill would offer peace of mind and clarity, reinforce trust between communities and DCFS, and reduce chances of escalation.
“When families turn to DCFS they’re often facing some of the hardest moments of their lives,” said Peters. “It’s our duty to make sure these families receive the support they’re seeking, and this bill does that.”
House Bill 1715 passed the Senate Wednesday.
* WAND…
An Illinois bill to expand access to Alzheimer’s treatment is heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.
Legislation signed into law last year required the state employees insurance program to cover medically necessary FDA-approved treatments and medications to slow progression of the disease. The law also requires coverage for diagnostic testing for doctors to determine the best treatment or medication starting July 1.
Now, lawmakers want to require this coverage for patients on any health insurance plan.
“This requirement applies to private health insurance plans regulated by the state, self-insuring counties, self-insuring municipalities, self-insuring school districts, health maintenance organizations, and limited health service organizations,” said Rep. Mary Gill (D-Chicago)
* Capitol News Illinois…
Another bill that cleared the General Assembly would require all school buses in K-12 schools to have seat belts on them.
According to Senate Bill 191, any school buses made after 2031 would be required to have seat belts that go over the lap and shoulders of all passengers.
The bill doesn’t require school district staff, a contractor or any entity in charge of school buses to make sure students are wearing seat belts; it would just require new buses to have them.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists on its website that buses are designed so “children are protected from crashes by strong, closely spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.” Short school buses already require seat belts because they are closer in weight to normal cars.
* Sen. Rachel Ventura…
To support ongoing efforts aimed at protecting and revitalizing local landscapes and ecosystems, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Anna Moeller advanced legislation through the Senate that would create new rewilding strategies by giving the Illinois Department of Natural Resources more authority to implement conservation tactics. […]
House Bill 2726 would grant the Illinois Department of Natural Resources more power to implement rewilding as a conservation strategy. This could include the restoration of land to its natural state, the reintroduction of native species — particularly apex predators and keystone species — and the restoration of ecological processes as defined by state-specific baselines.
“Rewilding” means to restore an area of land to its natural uncultivated state. This term is used especially with reference to the reintroduction of species of wild animals that have been driven out of an area or exterminated by human interference. […]
Under current law, IDNR currently has no statutory authority to take measures that are necessary for the implementation of rewilding as a conservation strategy in Illinois. Illinois would be the first state to explicitly pass legislation on rewilding, advancing efforts to preserve and protect species.
House Bill 2726 passed the Senate on Wednesday.
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Repeal IFPA Now
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Jody Dabrowski, CEO of Illinois Educators CU:
IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities.
“My members would be so frustrated.”
Stop the Chaos for Our Hard-Working Educators!
Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: Rare Abraham Lincoln artifacts sell for nearly $8 million at Chicago auction. WBEZ…
An auction of precious Abraham Lincoln artifacts raised close to $8 million Wednesday, meaning a likely seven-figure windfall for a cash-strapped Springfield foundation that was selling part of its Lincoln collection to pay down a multimillion-dollar debt.
The Lincoln Presidential Foundation’s decision to auction off about 10% of its collection was a jolt to Illinois’ history world, but it posed a rare opportunity for Lincoln collectors to buy museum-quality relics that can go generations without being on the market.
In Wednesday’s auction, an unidentified bidder known only as “Paddle 1231” snatched up some of the most expensive and historically dramatic items for sale, including blood-stained gloves and a handkerchief Lincoln had with him the night he was fatally shot at Ford’s Theatre.
The gloves were the most expensive thing sold Wednesday, drawing a winning bid, with fees included, of $1.51 million.
***************** Advertisement *****************
Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
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* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* WGN | Federal budget cuts threaten academic support for at-risk Chicago youth: For the last 25 years, Chicago Hope for Kids (CHK) has supported some of the city’s most vulnerable children, providing academic support throughout the year. Federal budget cuts proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration threaten a significant reduction in the number of kids they can serve this summer.
* WGN | Homer Glen man accused of threatening Illinois State Representative: Steven Brady, 40, faces a felony charge in connection with an alleged threat against Illinois State Rep. Nicole La Ha on Friday, May 16. La Ha is an Illinois House of Representatives member, representing District 82. Following an Illinois State Police probe, troopers arrested Brady without incident on Monday, May 19. Authorities did not disclose the nature of the threat or offer any additional details.
*** Statewide ***
* Report: Medicaid cuts risk maternity care for rural Illinois: Medicaid pays for half of all births across the state. Kathy Waligora, deputy director of external affairs for the advocacy group Everthrive Illinois, said rural communities already face health care challenges, including hospitals closing or no longer offering maternity care. She emphasized any threats to the program would leave millions without health insurance and affect health outcomes for women and babies across the state.
* 25News Now | Local food bank worries more will need help if SNAP benefits are cut: As current federal budget negotiations suggest a $300 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, a local nonprofit believes this will only spike the demand for food. The reconciliation bill is under consideration by the House of Representatives to determine how much federal funding programs like SNAP will receive. The Community Impact Director for the Neighborhood House, Noah Palm, said the nonprofit is tracking a 20% to 30% increase in people coming to the food pantry.
*** Statehouse News ***
* A musical interlude…
* Politico | The Danny Davis question: Congressman Danny Davis, who hasn’t officially announced his plans for 2026, tells Playbook he’s only focused on the budget negotiations in Washington this week. But we hear state Rep. La Shawn Ford, an ally of Davis’, has started to call mayors and aldermen in the 7th Congressional District to let them know he’s pulling together a campaign. Stay tuned.
* FYI…
* Press Release…
Just one week after launching his campaign for Congress, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has unveiled his initial slate of endorsements in the race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District. The early backing from prominent state legislators and elected officials underscores strong momentum behind Biss’ progressive vision for the district.
Initial endorsers include:
State Rep. Mary Beth Canty (54th District)
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (14th District)
State Rep. Sharon Chung (91st District)
State Rep. Nicolle Grasse (53rd District)
Retired State Sen. Heather Steans (7th District)
Illinois Democratic State Central Committeeman Leo Smith (9th District)
* Crain’s | Illinois payroll hits highest level since Great Recession: State government has 55,340 workers, eclipsing the total it had in 2008. The state positions it as a success in finally staffing hard-to-fill roles at chronically understaffed social service agencies, such as the Department of Children & Family Services and the Illinois Department of Human Services.
*** Chicago ***
* WTTW | Chicago to Pay $62.5M to Settle 4 Police Misconduct Cases: The Chicago City Council agreed Wednesday to pay $62.55 million to resolve four lawsuits alleging a wide range of misconduct by Chicago police officers. Just five months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $144.5 million to resolve nearly two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than 76%, city records show.
* Invisible Institute | Chicago cops dismissed recruit’s claim a colleague sexually assaulted her. Then, he was accused again and again: At the same time, Chicago Police Department investigative records show, Tabb started telling other recruits that Byrd-Maxey had overreacted and that he had only tapped her on the shoulder so he could get to his seat. The following week, when Byrd-Maxey reported the incident to her class leader, he talked with fellow recruits, and they downplayed the encounter. A recruit who witnessed what happened and was friends with Tabb later told investigators Byrd-Maxey was “trying to victimize herself.”
* WTTW | Vote Blocked on Plan to Allow CPD to Declare ‘Snap Curfews’ to Stop Teen Gatherings: Seventeen members of the Chicago City Council joined together in an unprecedented show of force Wednesday to block a vote on a measure to allow Chicago Police Department officials to preemptively impose a curfew anywhere in the city and begin enforcing it with just 30 minutes notice in an effort to stop large teen gatherings. It takes just two City Council members to use a parliamentary procedure to block a vote until the City Council’s June meeting. But Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward) and Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) said 15 other members of the City Council had signed on to the letter stopping the vote.
* Leslie S. Richards | Philadelphia’s transit faces deep cuts. Chicago can still avoid this fate: These are not doomsday scenarios. They are very real and very imminent, and they will profoundly affect how people get to work, school and critical appointments. Trust in transit cannot be rebuilt while preparing to take it away. Philadelphia and Chicago have much in common. Both operate legacy transit systems that serve millions of riders across dynamic and diverse regions. Both are navigating post-pandemic ridership trends and rising operating costs.
* WBEZ | What’s the deal with Lower Wacker? Answers to your questions about Chicago’s basement: On its face, the phrase “double-decker street” sounds unique and innovative. But once you actually enter the bowels of Wacker Drive, it can lose its allure quickly. Like the top level, Lower Wacker winds along the curves of the Chicago River. Add in the dim lighting, minimal signage and nonexistent GPS signal and you’re in for a far more daunting adventure than you anticipated on a trip downtown.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Tribune | Waukegan parade organizer accuses alderman of intimidation; ‘This behavior is … inappropriate and very unethical’: Elizabeth Marrero, a director of not-for-profit organization Juntos — the organizer of the Viva la Independencia parade in September — said Felix asked the group to withdraw its special-use permit granted by the city on Jan. 14. The group began working on it in December. “Felix stated that the parade had been promised to other individuals and warned us that if we do not withdraw, they will find loopholes to revoke the permit,” Marrero said. “No public official should use their position to intimidate or manipulate (a) community group.”
* Daily Southtown | Calumet City clerk Nyota Figgs testifies in document destruction lawsuit: In a lawsuit brought by Calumet City alleging she illegally destroyed records, city clerk Nyota Figgs testified Tuesday that she was given proper authorization. Though Figgs’ supporters claim the records lawsuit represents a targeted political attack from Mayor Thaddeus Jones, its trial has continued, with closing arguments scheduled for June 18.
* Naperville Sun | Firearm arrest No. 10 made at Naperville Topgolf parking lot: Officers were performing a proactive foot patrol of the Naperville Topgolf lot when they observed suspected drugs and a handgun in plain view inside a parked, unoccupied Honda, according to Naperville police spokeswoman Kelley Munch. […] After a nearly four-month break, gun-related arrests outside the facility started up again in early February. Last month alone, police made five such arrests in the business’ lot.
* Naperville Sun | DuPage County Board member Sheila Rutledge to step down in August: Reached over the phone, Rutledge said she loves her work on the county board but decided that her focus should be on Winfield Township. When she vied for the supervisor position earlier this spring, Rutledge had always intended on stepping down but anticipated an overlap between the two roles to see through several county projects, she said.
* Daily Herald | Naperville police chief says the city will have ‘zero tolerance’ to unlawful conduct at gatherings: On Friday, Naperville police issued multiple citations after a group of about 200 teens gathered in the downtown area. One 15-year-old female from Aurora was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated battery to a police officer and other misdemeanor charges. Police responded again on Saturday to a car meetup that attracted roughly 100 spectators who were standing outside as cars drove around them in a circle and did doughnuts in the parking lot, authorities say.
* Reuters | Exxon Mobil says working to resolve operational issue at refinery in Joliet, Illinois: Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab said on Tuesday it was working to resolve an issue at its 275,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Joliet, Illinois. The Houston, Texas-based company reported an equipment failure involving its process unit boiler that resulted in a gas release at the Joliet facility, according to a filing.
* Crain’s | Highland Park penthouses sell at $3.7 million, a record for suburban condos: The two condos are both on the fourth floor, the top, of the Park Sheridan, a project of Fulton Developers, whose president, Mark Muller, told Crain’s a year ago that he was targeting affluent empty nesters who are reluctant to move to downtown Chicago.
*** Downstate ***
* WQAD | Woman accused of stealing from Rock Island County has previous conviction for embezzlement: News 8 has learned that 62-year-old Leisa Streeter previously went by the name Leisa Whan, who pleaded guilty in 1990 to embezzling $9,000 from the Aledo branch of the state bank of Sherrard where she worked as a teller. She was sentenced to three years of probation in 1991.
* Our Quad Cities | Rock Island County deputy announces candidacy for sheriff: Rock Island County Sgt. Marcus Herbert on Monday announced his candidacy for Rock Island County sheriff. “For 20 years, I’ve served with the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office,” he said in a news release. “I started my career as a correctional officer in 2005, becoming a deputy sheriff in 2010 after graduating from the Police Training Institute. In 2014, I became a certified bomb technician through the FBI and U.S. military, equipping me to handle complex threats.”
* WGLT | Town of Normal and nonprofit collaborate to facilitate homeless encampment dispersal:
The Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District [BNWRD] and the Town of Normal have been working with Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM] on how to best handle dispersing the AutoZone tent encampment along Sugar Creek. BNWRD is starting a major construction project this summer in the encampment area because one of the last combined sewer overflows in Normal is nearby.
* NCSL | My District: Is Home to the Legacy of Carl Sandburg: Sandburg, one of America’s most celebrated writers, won three Pulitzer Prizes, including one for his multivolume biography of Abraham Lincoln. He addressed Congress on the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday and even earned a Grammy. Before achieving literary acclaim, he worked locally as a milkman, an ice harvester, a firefighter and a pottery laborer, and he served in the Spanish-American War.
* WCIA | U of I researchers discover two new crayfish species, encourage conservation action: University of Illinois researchers studying an invasive species of crayfish recently made a unique discovery — two new species that had long been mistaken for the Signal Crayfish. The Signal Crayfish is invasive and has spread to Europe, Asia and parts of the United States. As U of I researchers studied the Signal Crayfish, they eventually identified two new species — the Okanagan Crayfish and Misfortunate Crayfish — in the Pacific Northwest.
* WGLT | Downtown Bloomington named as a new State-Designated Cultural District: The City of Bloomington’s Downtown Cultural District and the other four designees can “apply for $3 million in funding that will be tailored to fit their individual needs and support the goals of their program to foster economic development and help communities preserve their unique cultural identities,” according to a state announcement.
*** National ***
* DNYUZ | States and Cities Fear a Disaster Season Full of Unknowns Amid Federal Cuts: Governors and mayors are also anticipating less financial aid, as the Trump administration shifts the burden of response and recovery away from the federal government. Exactly who will pay for what moving forward is a gaping question as disasters become bigger and costlier. “There’s no plan in writing for how FEMA intends to respond during this disaster season,” said Trina Sheets, the executive director of the National Emergency Management Association, which represents state emergency managers. “Things seem to be changing on a daily basis. But there’s no road map for states to follow or to be able to plan for.”
* KFF | The Spotlight Is on Medicaid Cuts, But the ACA Marketplaces Could See a One-Third Cut in Enrollment: Some of the legislative language describing these policy changes is murky and the policies themselves are quite technical. It’s not entirely clear what is intended and unintended. But a cut in coverage even close to this magnitude in the Marketplaces would also result in financial hardship for millions of low-income people and destabilize some smaller state Marketplaces or possibly lead to them closing up shop. Marketplaces have to maintain a fixed operational structure to function (supported by plan payments to them, not government), so if enrollment falls too much, smaller Marketplaces in smaller states may no longer be viable.
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Thursday, May 22, 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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