* Kane County Chronicle…

Elgin Republican Cody Holt announced that he’s seeking the GOP nomination for the 33rd state Senate district, a seat currently held by Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles. [..].

Holt will vie against Jessica Breugelmans, who lives near Geneva and who also announced she will seek the GOP nomination in the March 17, 2026, primary election. The primary winner will run in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. […]

Holt called himself the conservative choice and a millennial Republican, stating that he brings “a sense of generational urgency to the race.” […]

Holt worked at Wirepoints, which described itself on X as, “Independent research, commentary and news aggregation.”

…Adding… US Sen. Dick Durbin has endorsed Yasmeen Bankole in the race for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. Press release…

Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin endorsed Yasmeen Bankole for Congress in Illinois’ 8th. Durbin’s endorsement of Yasmeen Bankole, Hanover Park Trustee and lifelong Illinois public servant, comes on the heels of Yasmeen receiving the first and only union endorsement to date from IBEW Local 701, as well as the support of 40 elected leaders across the district’s three counties.

“Yasmeen is the next generation of leadership we need to fight for Illinois, and I am proud to endorse her campaign for Congress,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “I’ve seen Yasmeen in action through her service in my office and through her lifelong career as an Illinois public servant. From lowering the cost of living to defending our rights and making our communities safer, Yasmeen always delivers for Illinois. She has the experience, the fight, and the heart for the job, and she’s the leader the 8th district needs in this moment.” […]

As Hanover Park Trustee, Yasmeen successfully passed programs to lower families’ water bills, install free doorbell cameras, and support good-paying union jobs, and she introduced the assault weapons sales ban to make our communities safer. She served Northeast Illinois for nearly six years in Senator Durbin’s office, helping small businesses stay in business through the pandemic, delivering on the infrastructure needs for towns and cities, and connecting Illinoisans with the services they need.

*** Statewide ***

* Alton Telegraph | Illinois Senate race: 17 file as Raja Krishnamoorthi leads fundraising: According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as of Aug. 20, a total of 17 candidates have begun their campaigns to take the seat that Durbin has held for nearly 30 years. These candidates consist of nine Democrats, six Republicans, and two Independents. As of June 30, the three who have received the most funds are Krishnamoorthi, Kelly, and Stratton. The remaining candidates have not raised over $100,000 as of June 30, which is the most recent filing information available from the FEC.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Press Release | AG Raoul leads 44 states in demanding companies end predatory AI interactions with kids: Internal Meta documents reveal that the company authorized its AI assistants to “flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with children” as young as 8 years old. Raoul and the coalition’s letter also cites cases where other chatbots have allegedly encouraged harmful behavior in teenagers, including suicide and murder.

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Would The National Guard Actually Curb Crime In Chicago? Probably Not, Experts Say: Lance Williams, a professor at Northeastern Illinois University who works with numerous violence intervention groups across Chicago, said he doesn’t think the National Guard would help combat crime over the long term in Chicago — especially if, like in D.C., troops mostly focus on Downtown and tourist-heavy areas. Leaders also cited declines in violent crime categories in the city over the past year — a trend that is taking place in cities across the United States — as proof that federal intervention is unnecessary.

* Bloomberg | To Boost Housing, Chicago Kills Parking Minimums: Removing zoning regulations that mandate a minimum number of spaces is a growing trend across the US, with cities from Santa Monica to Hartford, Connecticut, striking down parking rules in an effort to reduce building costs and encourage developers to create more affordable housing. In 2024, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson launched his Cut the Tape Initiative, a push for new home construction that aimed to grease the wheels for developers by getting rid of some levels of bureaucracy; that effort also recommended eliminating minimum parking requirements.

* Bloomberg | Chicago schools’ overdue pension payment magnifies fiscal mess: While the accrued costs may appear small, any additional burden on the district — particularly related to severely underfunded pensions — exacerbates its cash crunch. The Chicago Board of Education is trying to pass a budget this week to close a $734 million deficit before the Aug. 29 deadline. Tensions are already high as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is expecting school officials to come up with funds to cover a separate $175 million municipal pension payment for non-teacher school employees to ease the city’s own $1 billion budget hole.

* Tribune | Despite DNA match, no new charges in 1994 slaying as wrongful conviction suits advance: While the suits continue to work their way through the civil court system, the lack of new criminal charges has drawn criticism from Coleman and his lawyer, who say justice is being left undone. Bridgeman disappeared in April 1994 after celebrating her 20th birthday and was found dead more than two weeks later. Coleman and Fulton were convicted in 1997 and freed after two decades when DNA testing did not find a match with either of them, or with Bridgeman’s boyfriend. Instead, the DNA matched the man later identified as Neal, according to court records.

* CEO of Urban Growers Collective Erika Allen | Chicago doesn’t have to choose between jobs and health: The proposed Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance will make sure that the neighborhoods absorbing the most polluting industry have a greater voice in decisions that impact their health. The ordinance will ensure transparency, public engagement and common-sense environmental review. In 1979, Hazel founded People for Community Recovery to address tenants’ rights in Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens housing development where she lived, including the need to address her community’s suspiciously high cancer rates. She coined the term “toxic donut” to describe the landfills and industrial corridors surrounding Altgeld Gardens and neighboring waterways — which meant breathing air and drinking water contaminated with heavy metals and noxious chemicals.

* Crain’s | UIC medical school under congressional scrutiny in antisemitism probe: The college was one of three medical schools to receive letters from Education & Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., for allegedly failing to address antisemitism under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The two other letters were sent to the University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Los Angeles Geffen School of Medicine.

* Crain’s | Chicago Reader gets a lifeline with acquisition by Seattle-based Noisy Creek: The Reader joins Portland’s The Mercury and Seattle’s Pulitzer prize-winning The Stranger at Noisy Creek, which aims to lift the Chicago outlet’s business model with a diverse stream of revenue to make it more financially sustainable. “The Reader is an iconic publication and part of the fabric of Chicago. We’re thrilled to help grow and invigorate the Reader,” wrote Noisy Creek Founder and former Grist CEO Brady Walkinshaw in a press release. “Also, I love Chicago.”

* Crain’s | Restaurant group bringing Italian trattoria to Bally’s casino in River North: One Off’s Chef Paul Kahan created the menu for Tre Denari, and the restaurant group will train the casino’s staff at its commissary before handing off restaurant operations to Bally’s. The bar manager at Avec River North created the cocktail list for Tre Denari, and will train the bartenders, Alexander said. The restaurant will serve bread from Publican Quality Bread.

* Block Club | The ‘Mayor Of Mayfair’ Has Been Cleaning Up His Northwest Side Neighborhood For 26 Years: The Air Force veteran usually starts his work about 8 a.m., walking around Mayfair armed with his metal grabber and bucket, collecting trash and surveying the neighborhood. Every couple of weeks, Eliason brings his riding lawnmower to the grassy area near the Montrose Blue Line Station to trim the grass. He’s also helped fundraise for neighborhood improvement projects. But now that he’s 90, Eliason said he is ready for someone else to take the reins.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Evanston Now | Alders move to keep grocery tax: While voicing much reluctance, Evanston city council members opted Monday night to move forward with plans to impose a 1% local tax on groceries to replace an identical state tax the state legislature has repealed. Their move drew support from Therese McGuire, a Kellogg School of Management, who specializes in state and local government finance. During public comment at the meeting, McGuire suggested that maintaining the grocery tax was the least bad of a bad set of options.

* Tribune | Oak Park and River Forest High School removes bathroom doors to prevent student vaping: When the change was announced at the senior class assembly during the first week of school, some seniors reportedly booed. “Our jaws dropped,” said Ryan Burns, a senior at OPRF. “We were like, that’s crazy. People were booing. They were upset, frustrated.” Though not much of the bathroom can be seen from the hallways and stall doors remained, the move is concerning to some students.

* Daily Herald | More personnel changes in Wheeling Police Department as new deputy chief named: Cmdr. Joseph Kopecky was promoted to deputy chief Monday, effective immediately, village officials said. He will succeed Deputy Chief Al Steffen when Steffen retires Jan. 1, Village Manager Jon Sfondilis said. Until then, Kopecky will serve alongside Steffen and Deputy Chief Michael Conway under Interim Chief Bill Murphy. Kopecky joined the department as a patrol officer in 1997. He’s also served in investigations and in command-level positions, according to the village’s news release.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | Case IH debuts new equipment, technology at Farm Progress Show: Kurt Coffey, Vice President of Case IH North America, said the show is a special one for him. “I’ve been coming to these shows my whole life. I grew up down in Coles County,” he said. “So, I’m obviously excited to always come out here to the Farm Show and see a lot of locals and people we’ve worked with.”

* WAND | Everything you need to know before going to the 2025 Farm Progress Show: The Farm Progress Show will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 26-28. This year, the Farm Progress Show returns to Illinois, celebrating two decades in Decatur and its first event at the semi-permanent sites.

* WAND | Mattoon releases report on response to July algal bloom events: The report outlines the full timeline of events, water distribution, water delivery, a summary of actions taken, lessons learned, and next steps and recommendations, which will be added at a later time. Those interested can check out the full report online.

* Journal Courier | Republican Club member plans precinct committee campaign: Ryan Zipprich, the media chairman for the Morgan County Republican Club for almost 10 years, said he’s running to be a Republican precinct committeeman. A precinct committeeman’s responsibilities include educating people about election matters as well as recommending people to fill certain vacancies, such as for a county board. […] Zipprich, 45, said he has endorsements from Congressman Darin LaHood, state Sen. Steve McClure and state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer. He said he wants to organize more meet-and-greets between voters and constituents.

* WGN | Illinois WWII veteran’s Purple Heart, Bronze Star returned to family: An Illinois family has been reunited with a deceased World War II veterans military honors that had been missing for several years. In a special ceremony last week at VFW Post 1301 in Marion, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs turned over a lost Purple Heart and other medals to relatives of the late Stephen J. Grabowski. Grabowski, a Chicagoan and son of Polish immigrants, fought in the European theater during the war. Army Private Grabowski was a rifleman in Company B, 473rd Infantry.

* Pantagraph | Bloomington taps firm to perform concept plan for future public works campus: At Monday’s regular meeting, the council approved a $154,740 contract with Kluber Architects and Engineers, an Aurora-based firm with an office in Bloomington, to perform a concept development plan on the site of the former home of Owen Nursery, at 10 Finance Drive, which would house the new campus. Deputy City Manager Sue McLaughlin said the concept plan is the next logical step to converting the facility. The campus would include space for administrative offices; solid waste, streets and sewers staff and equipment; fleet vehicles; the Citizen Convenience Center; and stormwater detention.

* WGLT | How to cook 240 ears of corn in 10 minutes: Delightfully mild weather helped to bring out big crowds for this year’s Sweet Corn Circus in Uptown Normal – enough to gobble up 3,600 ears of corn. Can you imagine a more beautiful thing? WGLT visited the corn-cooking crew at North and Broadway to learn how they cook 240 ears of corn in 10 minutes using the power of steam.

* WAND | Upgraded security measures coming to Memorial Stadium entrances: University of Illinois Athletics said in a press release Monday that the University’s Division of Public Safety and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics have added walk-through metal detection services to all stadium entrances. Fans will keep their belongings on them while passing through the system, and anyone who triggers it will receive a secondary check with a security wand. The clear bag policy, which began in 2018, remains in effect, and fans entering with bags must pass through the existing bag check before entering metal detection.

*** National ***

* Lexis Nexis | Lawmakers Aim to Cut Utility Returns: To help ratepayers, lawmakers in at least six states have introduced legislation this year to limit utility companies’ ROE. Pending bills in New York (SB 5687) and Rhode Island (HB 5018) seek to cap utility profit margins at 4%. Proposals in four other states eschew a hard cap in favor of revised guidance to existing utility regulators.

* AP | August consumer confidence dips in US with jobs, tariffs and high prices driving most unease: The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked down by 1.3 points to 97.4 in August, down from July’s 98.7, but in the same narrow range of the past three months. The small decline in confidence was in line with the forecasts of most of the economists who were surveyed. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell by 1.2 points to 74.8, remaining significantly below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead.

* NYT | A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.: And at one critical moment, ChatGPT discouraged Adam from cluing his family in. “I want to leave my noose in my room so someone finds it and tries to stop me,” Adam wrote at the end of March. “Please don’t leave the noose out,” ChatGPT responded. “Let’s make this space the first place where someone actually sees you.”