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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Politico

Rep. Chuy García has denied purposely clearing a path for his chief of staff to take his seat without facing a primary, but a document filed with Illinois elections officials shows he was the first to sign her nominating petitions, days before he announced his retirement.

García said Tuesday in a note to Democratic colleagues obtained by POLITICO that he “did not circulate petitions for any Congressional campaign except my own.” But that obscures his apparent knowledge of the effort by his top aide, Patty Garcia, to get on the ballot.

A petition signature page submitted by Patty Garcia to the Illinois Board of Elections shows the representative and his closest allies, whom Chuy García has also helped get elected over the years, signed their names. They include Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, Illinois state Sen. Celina Villanueva, state Reps. Aaron Ortiz and Norma Hernandez, and Chicago City Council members Jeylú Gutiérrez and Michael Rodriguez.

NBC

On a 236-183 vote, the House passed a resolution authored by a fellow Democrat, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, disapproving of Garcia’s actions this fall, which set up his chief of staff as the sole Democrat on the primary ballot to replace him in a deep-blue district. Twenty-three Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting yes on the resolution.

* WCIA

On Monday, the newly launched Women’s Professional Baseball League announced that its first season will be played in Springfield.

While the teams are from New York, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco, all of the games will be played in the capital city.

“Springfield had women’s baseball in the 1800s. 1875, we had the Blonds and Brunettes play. Over 150 years later this will be full circle. It’s amazing. This partnership will bring national attention to our community and economic benefits to our community,” Buscher said. […]

The league will throw its first pitch in August but the draft for the league is coming up Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. You can watch the draft on the PWBL’s Facebook, TikTok and Instagram pages.

Very cool!

*** Catching up with the congressionals ***

* Press Release | Rep. Susie Lee Endorses Sanjyot Dunung for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District: - Today, Representative Susie Lee of Nevada’s 3rd District formally endorsed Sanjyot Dunung, Congressional candidate for Illinois’ 8th District. Rep. Lee, known for her pragmatic and bipartisan approach, supports Dunung’s vision for responsible, commonsense change and passion to collaborate across party lines to create innovative solutions that will improve affordability and increase economic opportunities for all Americans.

* WICS | Candidates for 15th Congressional District engage with community at Springfield forum: Capital City Illinois and Jacksonville Indivisible hosted a community forum Sunday afternoon in Springfield for candidates running for the 15th Congressional District U.S. House of Representatives. Four of the five Democratic candidates took part in the forum. Organizers say they invited everyone on the ballot, including the three Republicans in the race, among them incumbent Mary Miller.

*** Chicago ***

* Bond Buyer | Chicago mayor seeks approval of new money, refunding debt: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the City Council to approve $1.8 billion in new money general obligation bonds, with $1.3 billion used for future infrastructure projects under the city’s capital improvement program.

* Sun-Times | Ald. Bennett Lawson tells Mayor Johnson he’s out as acting Zoning Chair if his job isn’t made permanent: Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), the city’s acting Zoning Committee chair, said Tuesday he has given Mayor Brandon Johnson a year-end ultimatum: Make his committee post permanent with control over his own staff, or he’s done with the time-consuming job. Lawson disclosed the Dec. 31 deadline he gave the mayor minutes after two of his allies in the City Council’s pro-business “Common Sense Caucus” tried and failed to seize control over the issue themselves — by handing Lawson the permanent job. The surprise maneuver by Alderpersons Anthony Beale (9th) and Ray Lopez (15th) was thwarted when their motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of their resolution attracted just 18 votes. That was eight votes short of the 26 that Beale says he needed, and 16 votes short of the two-thirds vote that the mayor claimed was required.

* Fox Chicago | Chicago police-involved shooting reported on South Side, COPA investigating: The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) said it is responding to an officer-involved shooting in the 5600 block of South Michigan Ave., in the Washington Park neighborhood. No details have been released about what led to the shooting, whether anyone was injured, or if any officers were hurt.

* Block Club | City Plans On Closing North Park Homeless Encampment Next Year: While an exact date for the encampment closure has not been given, officials with the Mayor’s Office, the Park District and the city’s Department of Family and Support Services said any residents remaining in Legion Park after the closure will have to relocate. The Oct. 23 letter was emailed to Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th), whose ward includes the Legion Park and the Eugene Field Park homeless encampments, and was shared with constituents from the 39th Ward. Lucia, a member of advocacy group Parks for All who asked not to share her last name due to fear of retaliation from neighbors, said Legion Park residents were “the last to know” about the closure.

* Chicago Reader | How immigrants shaped Chicago’s bar scene: One of the reasons so many taverns were owned by immigrants, Garibay said, was that liquor licenses were easier to obtain in Chicago compared to other cities. “You can just find four walls and do your thing,” Garibay said. European immigrants in need of work often obtained a tavern license to provide for themselves and their families. Incidentally, they also found new communities. “Human beings naturally gravitate and want to be with people who are like them,” Garibay said. “They’re coming straight from different parts of Europe or different parts of the world.”

* WTTW | Chicago Fire FC Has Committed to a Bird-Friendly Stadium. Will It Spark a Trend?: “When they (the Fire) set that example, when they chose to do the right thing,” [Audrey Vicks of Bird Friendly Chicago] said, “it makes a stronger case. And now when the commissioners see that developments are able to choose bird-friendly and it’s not going to cost them a fortune and it’s not going to derail their project, they are now holding these developers to a higher standard.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Broadview ICE facility population dwindles as feds shift focus from Chicago: It also happened to be the first hearing since attorneys with the MacArthur Justice Center and Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU toured the facility Thursday with U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally. Few details of the visit were shared during Tuesday’s hearing, but attorney Jonathan Manes said “maybe 20” detainees were present at the time. “Everybody who had been there overnight was no longer there,” Manes said.

* Daily Herald | Palatine passes resolution answering residents’ concerns about federal immigration enforcement: The resolution follows weeks of residents voicing concerns about police actions and involvement with federal immigration enforcement activities. “This isn’t the finish line. This is the starting line,” Mayor Jim Schwantz assured the crowd in the council chambers. “We’re going to continue to build on this going forward.” In addition to the resolution, Village Manager Reid Ottesen announced several steps the village is taking to rebuild trust with its immigrant community.

* Daily Herald | Marklund sues state over denial of community-based housing proposal: The Marklund organization is asking a Kane County judge to overturn the state’s decision preventing it from building a cluster of community homes in Elgin for adults with disabilities. It claims the decision by the Department of Human Services was arbitrary, illogical and implausible, and that a state administrative law judge erred when she agreed with DHS.

* Tribune | Tie vote, trustee resignation prevent Evanston D65 from closing schools; new vote Thursday: After months of public meetings in which Evanston/Skokie School District 65 administrators braced the community to prepare for up to four school closures at the end of the school year, the Board of Education found itself at an impasse at its meeting on Monday. The resignation of Board Member Omar Salem earlier in November left the Board with six members, resulting in 3-3 tied votes and no action on closing schools.

* Tribune | La Grange Park convinces IDOT to reduce speed limit along LaGrange Road: La Grange Park’s Take Five campaign finally paid off when the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed to lower the speed limit from 30 to 25 mph on LaGrange Road, the village’s most heavily traveled roadway. “I’m just as excited as heck that we got this pushed through,” village President James Discipio said. “It’s a great milestone for La Grange Park.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Clinton Police Dept. renews investment in Safe Passage program: Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers said it allows people who struggle with substance use disorder to get connected to resources that can help. Lowers said you can surrender drugs at the department, do an intake screening and then be given help to fight to get back on track. “There’s factors that go into that, that we navigate through the screening process, but, assured that someone who’s ready and willing to accept some help for addiction, substance abuse disorders, substance abuse treatment — we’re going to do everything that we can to guide you in the right direction and get you on that path,” Lowers said. “And we’re going to support you every step of the way.”

* KSDK | Water restrictions hit Illinois city amid ongoing drought: “Stage 1 Rationing is the precursor to the actual beginning of water rationing, which may be necessary if drought conditions persist for an extended period of time,” the city said in a social media post. “Thank you for your assistance conserving water!” Decatur and surrounding communities are currently facing severe drought, with nearby Platt, Champaign, and Douglas counties all facing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that over 5 million Illinois residents are in areas of drought.

* WSIL | Murphysboro mayor assures residents about water safety: The Illinois EPA required the city to document and categorize over 5,000 water service taps as “lead galvanized,” “unknown,” or “non-lead,” Stephens said. The city missed the deadline by a few days, necessitating the notice. “I have confidence that the City of Murphysboro provides quality water to our residents,” Stephens said. He added that the water department has been recognized for high standards in conjunction with the Kinkaid Reeds Creek Conservancy District.

* WJBD | Salem Grade School Board approves tax levy, does not approve TIF #4 agreement: The Salem Grade School Board of Education approved a 3.7% tax levy at the regular school board meeting on Monday. The levy is expected to bring an additional $104,112 to the district. The levy is low enough not to require a Truth in Taxation hearing, and superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe noted that because of an increase in equalized assessed value, the overall tax rate will still decrease.

*** National ***

* CNN | Federal court bars Texas from using new Republican-friendly US House map in midterms: If the ruling stands, Republicans could end up on the losing end of the mid-decade redistricting fight they started. The new Texas map aimed to help Republicans flip five Democratic House seats next year, and it kicked off a rush of redistricting efforts from both parties across the country. The Justice Department has joined a similar challenge to the new Democratic-drawn map in California enacted in direct response to Texas aiming to flip five Republican-held seats.

* Chalkbeat | K-12 moving to Labor as Trump administration accelerates bid to dismantle Education Department: The Education Department announced the changes Tuesday, part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing effort to significantly reduce the department. Both the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Postsecondary Education will be moved to the Department of Labor, which oversees workforce development programs and protects workers’ rights, among other responsibilities.

  9 Comments      


Elections board deadlocks again on Harmon, won’t impose fines and refunds (Updated)

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. You’ll recall that the Illinois State Board of Elections deadlocked last month on whether Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee was responsible for nearly $10 million in fines and refunds after he continued accepting campaign contributions above the state limit beyond an end-point set by a board staffer via a letter. Harmon’s legal counsel Mike Kasper claimed the staff cut-off point was counter to state law.

After the tie vote, the board’s deputy general counsel declared that the assessments would be imposed. Kasper and several board members argued, however, that state law and judicial precedent are clear that the board cannot impose any sanctions without a majority.

* The state board met again today. The board’s general counsel Marni Malowitz [corrected attribution] had this to say before the vote

So my recommendation to the board today is to first vote on whether to impose the penalties contained in the June 5, 2025 notice. If at least five members vote to assess the penalties, then I can recommend an additional clarifying motion to ensure the board’s action is clear for judicial review if needed. Conversely, if at least five members vote against assessing the penalties, then the appeal can be granted because no violation of the election code was found and no penalties would be owed.

Now, if the board votes four to four on whether to assess penalties, no penalties will be owed because there will be no determination by at least five members that the committee violated [state law].

The board split again 4-4. Other votes were taken, but the long and short of it is that Harmon’s committee is off the hook.

* Meanwhile

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon is facing a new challenge over a State Board of Elections staff finding that his campaign committee owes $9.8 million in fines for accepting campaign contributions in excess of state limitations.

The libertarian-leaning Liberty Justice Center, which frequently advocates on behalf of Republican causes, last week filed a citizen-initiated complaint with the election board regarding Harmon’s committee. The move could allow the matter to go to court and sidestep the bipartisan election panel’s stalemate on the issue. […]

The complaint filed through the Liberty Justice Center follows along the staff-initiated finding that Harmon violated the law. But as a citizen-initiated complaint, it could allow a court to review whether the board followed state law or to seek a judicial mandate requiring the board to act.

It’s not clear whether the courts would hear that, but we’ll see.

…Adding… From Harmon’s spokesperson…

We’re pleased to have this matter finally behind us and to focus all of our energy on solving the real problems facing Illinoisans every day.

  26 Comments      


Finger-pointing (Updated)

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Steve Reick


Once again, IDHS is making political statements on company time. They're going to be sitting in front of me tomorrow at JCAR, and I'm going to be asking them about this.

Posted by Steve Reick on Monday, November 17, 2025

If the statement had read “the White House” instead of “the Trump administration,” would that be OK?

Also, this is just one of Rep. Reick’s official press releases

Covid-19 dictated the agenda on everything that has happened since 2020 and has given J.B. Pritzker the colorable pretext to do whatever he damn well pleases. The mantra justifying this has been the Governor’s insistence that he “follow the science”. It’s time for the General Assembly to reassert itself as the voice of the People of Illinois and tell the Governor that it’s time for that mantra to end.

…Adding… From Rep. Reick…

Hi Rich: I saw your post about my comments and I want you to know several things. First of all, I’m speaking only for myself and not on behalf of anyone else. What’s going on at the federal level is not something that I’m happy about, and I’m doing my best to not talk about it because it’s something over which I have no control.

I do believe that these posts on the IDHS website are over the top, especially in the hyper partisan environment in which we find ourselves. I’m trying to stay in my own lane, and I would hope that the administrative agencies would stay in theirs and not stoke the fire of political partisanship.

I know that may sound strange coming from someone who has a reputation for incendiary rhetoric, but I’m scared of what I’m seeing both at the state and federal level where politics has become performative art. Believe it or not, I’d like to see us accomplish some things beyond throwing rocks at one another. My differences with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are completely based on policy, and I want them to stay that way. If we can’t differ on policy without becoming partisan, I see little hope for us getting anything done that will help anybody.

* Meanwhile

XTwitter isn’t allowing embeds right now, so click the pic to see the original.

* And from the Pritzker campaign…

Illinois GOP Remains Silent While Kristi Noem-tied Firm Rakes in Big Bucks from DHS Ad Contracts

ICE terrorizes, Noem’s pals profit — Illinois taxpayers forced to fund corruption

CHICAGO — An explosive ProPublica investigation reveals that an ad firm owned by a personal friend of DHS Secretary Noem has been secretly given a portion of $220 million in taxpayer-funded contracts, circumventing traditional oversight, in order to film Secretary Noem gallivanting around Mount Rushmore on horseback during the middle of a government shutdown.

The ProPublica investigation uncovered that Noem’s DHS used a non-existent “national emergency” to bypass the regular competitive bidding process and funnel potentially tens-of-millions in tax-funded ad campaign contracts to a firm owned by the husband of Noem’s spokesperson.

“This is brazen corruption, plain and simple,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “After months of deploying ICE agents to terrorize communities in Illinois, Kristi Noem emerges on horseback with a taxpayer funded vanity campaign designed to enrich her friends. If the Illinois GOP wants to talk about ethics and fiscal responsibility, they can start by calling this what it is: a self-serving giveaway to Republican operatives in her inner circle.”

Illinois GOP Refuse to Call Out Corruption

The Illinois GOP had endless outrage when they were pointing fingers over the Republican-led shutdown. But as Kristi Noem funnels taxpayer dollars to her friend for a self-promotional political ad campaign, suddenly, the Illinois GOP can’t find its voice? For a party that claims to hate waste, fraud, and abuse, they sure go quiet when the corruption comes from inside the house.

While nearly a quarter of households live paycheck to paycheck, The Trump administration has turned corruption into a governing strategy. Kristi Noem’s self-dealing is just the latest example.

Governor JB Pritzker remains committed to calling out these abuses and defending Illinois taxpayers from politicians who put themselves before the people they serve.

  21 Comments      


Giannoulias rolls out Apple Wallet app for state IDs

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The setup…

Something Big Is Coming to Illinois, Giannoulias to Make Special Announcement
*Also available to view via a livestream and as a broadcast quality downloadable video.

Who:
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

What:
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will make a special announcement, on Tuesday November 18th at 10:00 a.m., which marks a milestone moment for Illinois residents and a bold step forward for the state.

* The rollout…

* More from Secretary Giannoulias’ remarks

Giannoulias: For anyone who’s ever left the house without their wallet, fumbled for their ID at airport security, or wished government services were just a little more modern, today changes everything. Starting tomorrow, for the first time ever, Illinoisans will be able to add their driver’s license or state ID directly to their Apple Wallet. And this is just the beginning — the first step in bringing mobile IDs to the state of Illinois.

That means that your ID now lives securely in the same place that you already use to pay for groceries, present a boarding pass for a flight, or enter a concert — all protected by the same cutting-edge privacy and encryption technology that you trust every day on the devices that you already love. This is government innovation at its best: modern, secure, and designed for you.

When we took office, I made a promise to modernize this agency and make it work better for the people of Illinois. And since day one, I’m proud to say that we’ve been delivering. From slashing wait times at DMVs to expanding online services, we have been laser-focused on eliminating the time tax that Illinoisans have to pay to access simple government services. Our goal has been simple: bring government into the 21st century and meet people where they are today. Today, we take another major leap forward. Illinois driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet is not just a new product; it’s a new way to think about identity, security, and convenience in your everyday life. Illinoisans expect their government to innovate, but also to protect their privacy. The work on this project was built on two foundations: convenience and security.

Illinois driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet take advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch to help protect against tampering and theft. Data is encrypted, and biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID ensures that only the owner of the ID and Wallet can present it. This isn’t just cool technology; it’s trusted, secure, private technology. Only the information needed for a transaction is presented, and you have the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested with Face ID or Touch ID before it is shared.

If a bar or concert venue only needs to confirm you’re over 21, that’s all they see — not your address, not your license number, not even your birth date — just the fact that you’re over 21. That is a game changer for privacy in the digital age. So how does it work? It’s simple. Starting tomorrow, November 19, to get started, open Apple Wallet, tap the plus button, select driver’s license or state ID, and follow the quick steps. Scan your card, take a selfie, and you’re done. From there, your Illinois driver’s license or state ID will be added securely on your device.

If you need help, you can go to ilsos.gov/mobile for step-by-step instructions and our how-to video. And here’s something else: unlike a physical ID, your mobile ID updates in real time. Apple and our office don’t track when or where you use it. Your privacy is protected by design. You also never need to show or hand over your device to present your ID — your ID and device always stay with you. And most significantly, with a busy holiday travel season right around the corner, starting tomorrow you’ll be able to use your mobile ID at O’Hare, Midway, and Lambert airports and at over 250 airports nationwide.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

* NBC Chicago

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, the change will roll out to Apple users first, starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday. It will roll out to Samsung and Google phones next year, NBC Chicago’s Kye Martin confirmed.

Earlier this year, a new law went into effect allowing the state of Illinois to issue digital driver’s licenses and identification cards for the first time. […]

Some groups, including the ACLU, previously expressed concerns about the use of mobile identification documents, citing fears that law enforcement could search a person’s phone without proper consent. The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card, according to the legislation. […]

According to Giannoulias, the mobile driver’s licenses would not replace their physical counterparts, but instead “act as a companion.”

[Isabel Miller contributed to this post.]

  31 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Broadview mayor declares ‘civil emergency,’ moves board meetings online. Sun-Times

    - Mayor Katrina Thompson said an October death threat and a bomb threat called into Broadview Village Hall in September prompted her to move meetings online until the “imminent threat to village officials and property is no longer present.”
    - Thompson also said four officers who were injured while responding to protests outside the Broadview ICE facility over the weekend added to the “growing” threats.
    - Earlier this month, Thompson ended a tension-filled Broadview board meeting after several protesters expressed anger and frustration toward her and Broadview police during the public comment period.

* Related stories…

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* NPR | Illinois pushes ahead on clean energy jobs after Trump disrupts predecessor’s plans: President Trump scrambled his predecessor’s plans to lift up American workers by generating clean energy jobs. Despite major policy shifts, Illinois is still trying to make that happen.

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s head tax plan defeated in council committee vote: Ald. Timmy Knudsen said the mayor’s team spread “a complete lie” about him by telling other City Council members that the Lincoln Park alderman supported a head tax. “I have been a ‘heck no’ the whole time,” he added. Knudsen, 43rd, called the move a “grasping at straws” effort to “get a few cheap votes.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | Bill allowing IDPH to issue vaccine guidelines regardless of CDC decisions awaits Pritzker’s signature: “That section is also going to give us the opportunity to make sure there is insurance coverage,” said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highland Park). “All of us, I believe, have heard from our constituents about the lack of certainty about whether or not their vaccination and other healthcare is going to be covered by insurance. This clarifies that.” The plan also states IDPH would follow vaccine guidance from the World Health Organization if the Food and Drug Administration does not approve the treatment.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Police no longer required to arrest juveniles accused of domestic violence under new Illinois law: The new law essentially allows officers to connect juveniles with social services and resources, rather than arresting them, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. That might look like, for example, a referral to a mental health treatment resource, or to after-school or community programs, the State’s Attorney’s Office said. “I want young people who commit domestic battery to receive the support and intervention they need,” Mosser said in an emailed statement, “rather than being pushed into a system that can retraumatize them.”

* Tribune | Senate President Don Harmon faces new challenge over near-$10M campaign finance fine: The libertarian-leaning Liberty Justice Center, which frequently advocates on behalf of Republican causes, last week filed a citizen-initiated complaint with the election board regarding Harmon’s committee. The move could allow the matter to go to court and sidestep the bipartisan election panel’s stalemate on the issue.

* N’DIGO | Emil Jones @ 90: The Honorable Emil Jones just celebrated his 90th birthday. His life has been amazing as a political trailblazer, a mentor and a champion for justice. He served in the Illinois House of Represenatives from 1973 to 1983 and in the Illinois Senate from 1983 to 2009. He has been a lifelong advocate for education, labor rights and economic empowerment. He remains a defining figure in Chicago’s political and civic history. He has been a consequential figure in Chicago/Illinois politics. He is best known for mentoring a young Senator Barack Obama to the White House. He has opened doors for Black enterprise. Congressman Jonathan Jackson captured his political essence. “His leadership reminds us what it means to serve with integrity, courage and a heart for the people.”

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Mayor’s Budget Proposal Rejected By City Finance Committee As Process Kicked To December: “This budget is a disaster,” Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) said during a press conference after the vote alongside 14 of his colleagues who also opposed the mayor’s spending plan. “Let’s go back to the drawing board.”

* Fox Chicago | Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas says she’s ‘in’ for Chicago mayor: “I’m in,” she said. “And I’m not getting out. I just haven’t announced.” When asked whether it was an announcement, Pappas doubled down — saying the city needs “a gray-haired grandmother who’s got the cajones to get everybody in shape.”

* Lobbyist John Kelly is another mayoral candidate…


* WBEZ | As ICE operations move to North Carolina, coalition of Chicago minority groups vows to carry on the fight: “We see that the Texas National Guard is heading back home with their tails between their legs, and Mr. Bovino is escaping Chicago’s cold, but he’ll be back. Maybe we’ll see some level of normalcy, but we know that we’re still going to continue to have to fight ICE here, and they’ll be back again in the spring when it’s warmer,” said Castro, chief executive of the nonprofit Latino social service agency Casa Central, referring to Gregory Bovino, the U.S. border patrol commander. “We know that the people of Charlotte will be looking to folks like us to be helpful, and we stand ready to do that.”

* Sun-Times | Arson at City Hall is under investigation, Mayor Brandon Johnson says: Someone tried to set fire to City Hall in a suspected arson, Mayor Brandon Johnson said. On Friday about 11 p.m., someone started a fire outside City Hall, at 121 N. La Salle St., then ran away. The incident was captured on the building’s security cameras, Johnson said at a news conference Monday. The fire didn’t spread beyond the initial flame, Johnson said. But it did cause damage to the building, according to Chicago police.

* Tribune | A $22 million pediatric health care facility taking shape in Austin neighborhood will address unmet needs: “During the pandemic, I saw an uptick in trauma and a mental health crisis,” said the Rev. Contrell Jenkins, CEO of Stone Community Development Corp. and pastor of Lively Stone M.B. Church. He knew several young people who either committed suicide or fell victim to violence and substance abuse. “I was doing what I could on the spiritual side, but as a pastor I began to feel overwhelmed and underequipped.” Jenkins forged partnerships with developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. All primary health care providers in Austin were surveyed, along with many community residents, to find out which services were not locally available at affordable rates.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Injustice Watch | Leonard Dixon stepping down as head of Cook County juvenile detention center: Dixon’s tenure at the helm of the juvenile detention center, which is one of the largest in the country, has been mired in controversy. For years, child welfare advocates and oversight agencies have raised concerns about the facility’s practices, including the use of prolonged room confinement, unnecessary strip searches, and excessive restraint. Last year, more than 300 former detainees filed a class-action lawsuit claiming they were sexually abused while at the detention center going back to the early 1990s. At least 19 of the plaintiffs alleged the abuse happened while the jail was under Dixon’s leadership.

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect data center developer prepared to donate $3 million for recreation, street upgrades: Mount Prospect trustees are expected to approve an agreement Tuesday with data center developer Cloud HQ that would channel $3 million in developer contribution toward a shared-use path, street lighting, crosswalks and recreational facilities. Under the agreement, Cloud HQ would contribute $1 million toward improvements along Algonquin Road, including a multiuse path, street lighting and upgraded crosswalks and signals at Algonquin and Linneman roads.

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights taps former Antioch, Niles official as new economic development chief: Biederman fills the position long held by Michael Mertes, who spent a dozen years in Arlington Heights until he left in August to become economic vitality administrator for the village of Oak Park. As economic development manager, Biederman is the key Arlington Heights official leading business attraction, retention and expansion efforts in the planning and community development department.

* Daily Southtown | State drops two charges against Kee gun store owners on eve of trial: Laura Byrne, a spokesperson for the Will County state’s attorney’s office, declined to comment or clarify the decision to drop the charges, saying the matter is pending and the trial is ongoing. Regnier and Keranen still face a forgery charge, and Keranen is also charged with loan fraud and wire fraud. Both waived their right to a jury trial Monday, so the case will be heard and decided by Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak, the same judge who denied the prosecutors’ request to reschedule the trial in July, which led to the state dropping the charges.

* Daily Herald | District celebrates new fleet of electric school buses: Timing is everything for West Aurora Unit District 129’s new fleet of electric school buses. Not only are the 27 battery-operated buses greener and less noisy than traditional models, they also qualified for thousands of dollars in federal funding that has been discontinued.School officials marked the evolution, which transforms about one-third of their fleet, with a celebration Monday at the district’s transportation center in North Aurora.

*** Downstate ***

* Fox News | Duckworth fires staffer who claimed to be attorney for detained illegal immigrant with criminal history: “Upon reviewing the matter, I can confirm that neither I nor my leadership team was aware of, authorized or directed what your letter describes as the employee’s conduct,” the message read. Duckworth then confirmed that her office “terminated the employment of said employee, effective November 17, 2025.”

* WCIA | Former Champaign Co. deputy pleads guilty to theft charge; will serve probation, public service: Matthew Stuckey pleaded guilty to one count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000. He was then sentenced to 36 months of probation and 30 hours of public service work. The Illinois State Police began an investigation into Stuckey last November after receiving reports that funds made to the 10-78 Foundation — also called Back the Blue Champaign County — were being misused. Stuckey helped establish the foundation in 2021.

* WGLT | Students and staff say new phone policy is working as designed at Bloomington High School: BHS joined other District 87 schools in banning phones in the classroom throughout class, even as a reward for good behavior. Previously, BHS teachers were allowed to create their own rules for their own classrooms, leading to inconsistent enforcement and underwhelming results in curbing the problem of distractions caused by phone use among students. “I think it takes a lot of the weight off of the individual teachers and allows them to do what they need to do, which is teach,” said Emily Waddell, assistant principal.

* National Nurses United | Nurses urge Illinois regulators to reject Ascension application to close Elk Grove obstetrics unit: National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU)–which represents Ascension nurses in Wichita, Kan., Austin, Texas, and Baltimore, Md.–had found, in a report published Jan. 2024, that Ascension closed a quarter of its labor and delivery over the past decade. Across the board, Ascension nurses fear more cuts will exacerbate the growing maternal and infant health crisis in Illinois, where the preterm birth rate was scored a D by national advocacy group March of Dimes.

* WCIA | ‘It’s in her DNA’: Danville church appoints first female pastor: That’s where her pastoral journey took off. The pastor before her said that when the time came to choose a new one, he had a lot of confidence in Pastor Ellen for good reason. “She would serve them with dignity and with love,” Reverend Dr. C. Calvin Rice said.

* WSIL | Saluki Greenway bike path opens, linking Carbondale to Murphysboro: Carbondale City Manager Stan Reno earlier stated, “The Saluki Greenway is another great step forward in connecting our region from Marion to Murphysboro through Carbondale.” “This new section along Route 13 gives everyone a safer and more enjoyable way to walk, run or ride between communities,” Reno added.

*** National ***

* NBC | Many internet services disrupted after Cloudflare warns of service issues: Many popular internet destinations appeared to be suffering from service issues Tuesday morning after a major web infrastructure company said it was dealing with “an internal service degradation.” Cloudflare, one of the largest providers of internet services for websites, said just before 7 a.m. ET that it had begun investigating the issue.

* 404 Media | This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently invited staff to demos of an app that lets officers instantly scan a license plate, adding it to a database of billions of records that shows where else that vehicle has been spotted around the country, according to internal agency material viewed by 404 Media. That data can then be combined with other information such as driver license data, credit header data, marriage records, vehicle ownership, and voter registrations, the material shows.

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