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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * We told you last month that 12 trans Illinois Army National Guard soldiers had submitted voluntary separation papers. One of them was Dahlia Dahl, daughter of statehouse reporter Dave Dahl. From St. Louis Public Radio…
Dahl is attending college, so she’ll lose that assistance. In response, here’s Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)…
* ABC Chicago…
* Views from the Director’s Lawn by Capitol News Illinois’ Ben Szalinski…
* Texas House Democrats will continue to stay in Illinois. The Texas House Democratic Caucus…
* Eye On Illinois | Libraries could get grant money for security measures – will bomb threats persist?: As frequently observed here, legislation billed as protective often amounts to enhancing penalties in hopes of protective or preventive effects. SB 1550 is different in that it does (subject to appropriations) create an actual pathway for physical protection of people and public property. Yet if fortifying public spaces deterred threats, there would be a downturn in such activity instead of a demonstrated increase. It’s apparent that the intent is to frame money as a response to fear. And politicians typically aren’t forthright about limits of their own power, but that makes it incumbent on voters to read between the lines to understand what’s actually happening. * Center Square | Illinois law empowers officials to crack down on predatory towing: State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, sponsored the bill in response to frequent complaints in her urban district. In 2023, over 500 predatory tows were reported statewide, most in the Chicago area, according to the ICC. “I frequently hear from my constituents and neighbors about bad experiences with rogue tow operators who ignore state rules meant to protect drivers,” Villanueva said at a news conference during spring legislative session. “Many of you have likely heard about motorists scammed by predatory towers, whose cars were taken miles away or whose belongings were held for weeks.” * Chalkbeat Chicago | Who picks the person to lead Chicago schools? Elected officials and legal experts disagree.: At the time, State Sen. Rob Martwick, who represents parts of Chicago’s Northwest Side and some suburbs, said newly-elected and appointed board members had been asking him who has the power to choose the next CEO. […] In the email obtained by Chalkbeat through a Freedom of Information Act request, Martwick cited a section of Illinois’ school code that was first written when Chicago’s schools were put under mayoral control in 1995. It states: “The Mayor shall appoint a full-time, compensated chief executive officer, and his or her compensation as such chief executive officer shall be determined by the Mayor.” * Sun-Times | No charges for Chicago police officers involved in deadly shoot-out with Dexter Reed: Prosecutors determined the evidence presented to them didn’t warrant criminal charges — a decision upheld by an independent appellate review. Lawyers for the Reed family didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability’s administrative investigation remains open. A COPA spokeswoman said the agency is “working on an expeditious closing.” * Evanston Now | Another transit fiscal cliff: The transit authority in Philadelphia says unless a state funding package is approved by this Thursday the first round of service cuts to bus, rail and trolley service will go into effect ten days later. […] Other than the time frame and dollars involved, the Philadelphia situation is basically the same as what could happen to Metra, CTA, and PACE in the Chicago area … massive service cuts plus fare increases in 2026 unless there is a state assistance plan. * Crain’s | Johnson rules out proposed $1.5B corporate payroll tax: The tax, put forward by the Institute for the Public Good, was presented as a “third option” to avoid the annual discussion over seeking a large property tax hike or drastically cutting city services, but was always considered in legally murky waters. Johnson had directed his administration, including the Law Department, to explore ways to craft the tax to pass legal muster, but city attorneys determined that, like other progressive revenue ideas, the tax exceeds the city’s so-called home rule authority and would first require state approval, according to sources familiar with budget discussions. * Block Club | Can EV Ambassadors In Bronzeville Help Chicago Drivers Go Electric?: Illinois has big plans for electric vehicles — but they won’t happen unless residents of its biggest city, Chicago, embrace the battery-powered cars. That’s where EV ambassadors like William Davis come in. Davis is one of a handful of community leaders working with utility ComEd under a new program that’s meant to convince skeptical individuals and businesses to electrify, and to connect them with incentives to do so. “People don’t understand how EVs work, how they make their lives better,” he said, or “from a socioeconomic standpoint, why it’s urgent to accelerate this transition from internal combustion engines to EVs.” * Tribune | Chicago Latin Restaurant Weeks returns with fewer participating restaurants due to immigration uncertainty: While there is a diverse lineup and a variety of specials to pick from, this year’s 20 participating restaurants is almost half what the number was last year, largely due to the political climate. Organizers for Latin Restaurant Weeks said many of its usual roster of restaurants are feeling the economic and emotional effects of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement in the city and suburbs, forcing them to fly under the radar. * Sun-Times | Chicago reports first human cases of West Nile virus for 2025: The first three human cases of West Nile virus this season in Chicago were reported Tuesday. The patients range in age from 40 to 80 years old and live on the Northwest and South Sides. Their symptoms began in late July or early August, the Chicago Department of Public Health said. Though they are the first cases of the virus reported in Chicago in 2025, three other people have contracted West Nile this year in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Those cases were reported in DuPage, Lake and downstate Wayne counties. * Sun-Times | O’Hare reaches all-time June high in passenger traffic: The over eight million travelers at the airport marked the busiest June in its 70 year history and the second busiest month of all time only behind July 2019, the mayor’s office said. * Block Club | City Launches Arts Relief Fund To Help Cultural Organizations Affected By Federal Funding Cuts: The program will offer one-time grants between $10,000 and $25,000 to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Chicago. The deadline to apply is Aug. 20. The fund will help ensure continued access to vital cultural programming across the city, according to the city’s cultural affairs department. Priority for grants will be given to organizations previously awarded funding by the National Endowment of the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services and other affected federal agencies. * Daily Herald | Schaumburg Township road commissioner wants refund for website he says wasn’t ‘delivered’ on time: Lee disputes that, arguing the website at st-roads.org did go live before its July 19 deadline. He said its features include real-time weather reporting and an AI assistant that can reduce the workload of township employees by answering basic questions. “To this day, it’s credited to Mr. Buelow,” Lee said. “It’s up to him whether he wants to take the credit.” But even when informed of the website address Tuesday, Buelow was steadfast control of the site wasn’t turned over to him as highway commissioner and was critical of its content. “I could go on Squarespace and put that up in an hour,” he said. “This isn’t worth $44,000.” * Daily Herald | Naperville Unit District 203 teachers authorize strike: The authorization vote gives the bargaining team the authority to declare a strike; however, there are currently no plans for a walkout, according to a news release issued Tuesday. Students are set to return to school Thursday. A strike is the “the last thing we want to do,” union President Ross Berkley said in a statement. * Sun-Times | Highland Park violence prevention activists take commercial approach in targeting gun companies: The founders of the Highland Park Peace Project aren’t just going after Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer and other gunmakers. Instead, they’re aiming for the bottom lines of companies that do business with them, compiling a public database of dozens of law firms, banks, retailers and more, and branding them as “enablers” of violence or “heroes” in their movement — and encouraging consumers to spend accordingly. “We’re coming at it from an angle that is capitalism-based, rather than waiting around for legislative action,” said Highland Park Peace Project co-founder Stephanie Jacobs, who narrowly escaped the parade shooting herself. * Block Club | Invasive Shrubs Cover Nearly 80% Of Chicago-Area Forests. Can Conservationists Turn Things Around?: Two years ago, the forest preserve was a “wall” of invasive buckthorn shrubs, said Braum, a northwest regional ecologist with the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Those dense buckthorn trees were cleared from the area last winter, but a new crop of waist-high shoots now stand in their place. Forest preserves workers treated the shoots with herbicide last month, in continuation of a cycle that’s become emblematic of the modern-day task of looking after Chicago-area forests: A recent study found that nearly 80 percent of forests in and around the city are infested with invasive shrubs. “You can’t just remove all the invasives and say ‘you’re done,’” Braum said. “It takes constant maintenance.” * Daily Southtown | Tinley Park police union votes no confidence in police chief: More than three dozen Tinley Park police officers signed a vote of no confidence citing 63 reasons why they think police Chief Thomas Tilton should be removed from his position, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Alliance of Police Tinley Park Chapter 192 union. All Tinley Park officers in the union, except officers on probation, signed the document alleging the department has experienced a decline in morale, disregard for staff concerns, a lack of strategic and overall vision, inadequate or absent decisions, operational uncertainty and reduced efficiency due to Tilton’s leadership, according to union representative Ray Violetto, a retired detective. * Crain’s | Gotion to start making EV batteries in Manteno next month: With the addition of two manufacturing lines to assemble EV batteries and commercial chargers, Gotion will have five production lines in operation in Manteno, Chen Li, president of Gotion Americas, tells Crain’s. Another line, which makes residential and consumer energy-storage products for applications such as solar, started in April. Gotion is converting and expanding a 1.5 million-square-foot former Kmart distribution center into a battery-production facility with plans to ultimately hire 2,600 workers in one of the largest manufacturing projects landed by Illinois in a generation. * WCIA | Lake Mattoon beach staying closed: * Smile Politely | Parkland is rolling out a new mobile education unit: The Cobra Pathfinder will officially make its debut this fall. This mobile unit will contain interactive equipment that focuses on Parkland’s various fields of study, including automotive, welding, health professions, agriculture, and more. The vehicle’s goal is to aid in promoting careers and academic programs, which was made possible by the Illinois Community College Board Taking Back the Trades grant. * WSIL | DuQuoin State Fair announces 2025 Grandstand lineup: The Grandstand will host harness racing, ARCA and USAC auto events, and performances by popular country and rock stars. Tickets are available at the Du Quoin Grandstand box office or through Ticketmaster. * CNN | NY attorney general sues Zelle parent company, alleging the payment service enabled widespread fraud: The NY AG’s lawsuit claims that in its rush to sign up new customers, Zelle allowed safety precautions to fall by the wayside. The lawsuit claims that scammers were able to sign up for Zelle through a quick registration process that lacked verification steps, allowing them to pose as businesses and government entities, tricking unsuspecting users into sending funds under false pretenses.
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Pritzker gives unnecessary ‘tutorial’
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * First, some background…
* Now, this post isn’t about Israel and Palestine, but you’ll see how it develops in a bit. From Gov. JB Pritzker’s gaggle today…
1) Condescending much? 2) As pointed out above, 6 percent is the rate where no penalty is incurred. But increasingly smaller penalties will be assessed at various levels below 10 percent. And, as noted above, Illinois has achieved error rates of 6 percent or lower several times in the past. Yes, times change, but states have had no incentive until now to lower its error rates. Not saying this is a good thing, just saying there’s a new reality afoot and it could cost taxpayers a lot of money or cut people off nutrition assistance. 3) And finally, as mentioned above, the under-payment error rate last year for Illinois was miniscule.
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From the mouths of babes
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * I have it on good authority (from her mother) that the child who said this also expressed similar opinions about Sen. Dick Durbin and US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries yesterday…
Heh.
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Consumers Are Getting Slammed With Higher Electric Rates – Don’t Add Fuel To The Fire With ROFR
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois consumers are feeling the heat, both from triple-digit temperatures and soaring electricity bills. Ameren customers are seeing 18–22% rate hikes. ComEd has customers paying as much as triple-digit increases. And it’s going to get worse. In July, the PJM Capacity Auction hit another record high - a 22% increase on top of the record highs everyone just started paying. This will already lead to further rate increases next year! As frustration heats up, lawmakers must choose: support competition that drives prices down or fan the flames of electricity inflation with “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR) legislation. ROFR kills competition and boosts prices by giving incumbent utilities exclusive rights to build transmission lines. It’s so anti-competitive that both presidents - Biden and Trump - opposed it in 2020 and 2023. As the ICC has said, “The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) believes that competition among transmission developers spurs innovative results and helps control costs.”  ROFR would send electricity prices even higher. Springfield should focus on long-term strategies to lower electricity bills, not raise them. As ROFR may resurface this fall, legislators should reject it and stand up for cost-cutting competition that benefits consumers.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * As noted in this Sun-Times article, the debate over expanding the sales tax to cover services has played out ad nauseum for many, many decades. But the devil is always in the details…
Taxing interior decorator services is one thing (and likely wouldn’t raise much money), but a tax on haircuts is in no way a “luxury tax” and has always been a tough one because barbers and stylists have their clients’ undivided attention for maybe a half an hour or more. And they can use that time to rail against a new tax. That sort of politicking is very effective - particularly if you’re a legislator at the mercy of someone with a pair of scissors in their hand. Same goes for car repairs, etc. * The Question: What services would you tax and what services would you not tax? Explain.
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Tracy says he’ll run for US Senate, plus more campaign news
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
* Subscribers know a lot more, but here’s a bit from Politico…
* Media advisory…
* Moylan’s last dance, from the Journal & Topics…
* More…
* GOP candidate for 17th Congressional District is active early this election cycle: Vancil expressed skepticism of official sources like the Fed and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The jobs report numbers and everything, it’s one number one month, and then they retract it a couple weeks later. And who knows what the right answer is or what the real answer is anymore. I’d love to see interest rates come back down. Let’s get this housing going. The housing market nationwide is just stagnant. Nobody’s selling,” he said. Vancil also backs President Trump’s tariffs, though cautiously.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Illinois State Fair Event List
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Tariffs Impact Everyone
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The increased costs associated with tariffs impact all of us, affecting millions of people. Retailers like Luckeyia Murry, owner of Luckeyia’s Balloons & Distribution in Homewood, are faced with challenging business decisions because of escalating tariffs. Luckeyia has seen rising prices for balloons, helium tanks, and nearly every other item needed for her business. Despite these obstacles, she, like many small retailer owners, remains committed to her community and her business. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association has found that while retailers are trying to hold-off on price increases, it’s impossible to absorb the extra expenses for numerous business owners who function on very small margins – which forces consumers to pay more. Retailers like Luckeyia Murry enrich our economy and strengthen our communities, even during the uncertainty of increased tariff expenses. IRMA is showcasing some of the many retailers who continue to make Illinois work.
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Roundup: Pritzker signs Sonya Massey Act
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
* AP…
* More from Capitol News Illinois…
* More… * WCIA | Governor Pritzker signs Sonya Massey’s law: The law is the first of its kind in the United States. Both the Illinois Sheriff’s Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police helped craft the legislation. “The association firmly believes there should be minimum background standards for individuals seeking to protect and serve our communities.” ILACP Executive Director Kenny Winslow said. “We are one-step closer to ensuring that background checks will be more thorough and only those candidates of the highest moral character will be among the police force.” * WGN | Sonya Massey Act targets police misconduct with stricter hiring standards: * ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker signs police reform bill named for Sonya Massey, woman killed by deputy: The measure passed out of the Senate unanimously and out of the House with a vote of 101-to-12. […] For the family and the bill’s sponsors, the hope is this law will bring more accountability to police agencies across the state by making them liable for who they hire. “He should have been fired from the very first one. It was one of those days where I believe would be they were just trying to get rid of him and move him along to the next place, so he’ll be someone else’s problem,” state Sen. Doris Turner said.
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SB 328: Protects Working People & Helps Fight Trump’s Predatory MAGA Agenda
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The same front groups, associations and companies that are backing Trump’s predatory MAGA agenda of raising prices, slashing Medicaid, and gutting the Environmental Protection Agency, Food & Drug Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration are also against SB 328. They wrongly believe our state can’t be pro-worker and pro-business, and want Illinois to turn its back on people who have shared their stories about big corporations that have poisoned them or their loved ones: “Because of my career, I was exposed to a tremendous amount of asbestos coming from various automotive companies. These companies came into our state, sold their products, and now are trying to skirt having to pay for what they did [by] trying to make me file a lawsuit in the state where they are headquartered, or ever worse, in Germany or some other country when all of the asbestos was in Illinois? That doesn’t seem fair.” — Retired union mechanic from Chicago suburbs suffering from asbestos-caused cancer SB 328 is good legislation and another way to show that Illinois will always stand up for working families and the most vulnerable. For more information about SB 328, click here.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois proposes lowering scores students need to be deemed proficient on state tests. Chalkbeat Chicago…
- On the ACT, a college entrance exam all Illinois high schoolers must take, juniors would need to score an 18 in English language arts and a 19 in math and a 19 in science to be labeled as proficient. In the past, students needed to score a 540 on the SAT in both math and English languages arts. - Illinois is not the only state to change the cut scores of its standardized tests. States such as Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Alaska, and New York have made similar adjustments to their assessment systems, according to a report by The 74. * Related stories…
∙ Sun-Times: Illinois wants to lower the bar for passing state tests, saying the standard is unfair to students ∙ Tribune: Illinois students could see new testing standards with proposed state board revisions * Governor Pritzker will be at the Orr Building at 11 am for a naturalization oath ceremony, at the Director’s Lawn at 12:30 pm for Governor’s Day, and will wrap up the day at the Coliseum at 4:30 pm for the Governor’s Sale of Champions. Click here to watch. * WGLT | First major public defense reform in decades awaits governor’s pen: The Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation [FAIR] Act establishes a statewide public defender’s office aimed at providing relief, oversight and independence for public defenders. “The right to an attorney is not just the right to a warm body in court, but the right to a meaningful defense,” said Stephanie Kollmann, policy director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. * Tribune | Anjanette Young ordinance slated for vote — without no-knock warrant ban: Instead the Anjanette Young ordinance, named after the Black social worker who police handcuffed and left naked in her home while serving a warrant at the wrong address, will require cops to wait 30 seconds before entry. It’s a compromise accepted by both Young and her main council ally, Ald. Maria Hadden, one that reflects the shift in the political climate since demand for police accountability reached a fever pitch during the Black Lives Matter movement that exploded in 2020. * Press Release | State Senator Mary Edly-Allen Announces Candidacy for 10th District State Central Committeewoman: State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (Grayslake), proudly announces her candidacy for the open seat for State Central Committeewoman for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District. A lifelong advocate for Democratic values, Senator Edly-Allen brings over 25 years of experience living, working, and organizing in the district she calls home. For nearly two years, Edly-Allen has served as the President of Lake County Democratic Women (LCDW) and has led with energy, vision, and purpose. She has worked hard mentoring, supporting, and helping elect a new generation of strong Democratic candidates to local offices across the 10th Congressional District and throughout Lake County. Her leadership has revitalized local engagement and strengthened the Democratic bench. * Journal-Topics | State Rep. Moylan Gearing Up For 7th And Final Term: One of the primary reasons he wants to serve for another two years is to work on completion of the Chicago area’s mass transit funding bill. Moylan explained that he has been working on that legislation for the last year. While a proposed bill could be approved in the November General Assembly Veto Session, it’s unlikely because it would require a larger than usual number of votes in favor. After January, the number of votes required for passage is 60, said Moylan. * Evanston Now | Hanley officially kicks off bid for state senate: Hanley, an environmental activist, business owner and political organizer who co-founded Operation Swing State last year, announced Tuesday night his name will officially be on next March’s ballot after receiving enough signatures exactly one week after petitioning kicked off. The biggest name backing Hanely is U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring from Congress at the end of her term. Over a dozen Democrats, including Fine, are vying to replace her in Washington. * Tribune | In Illinois, Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries says affordability could be key message for the midterms: “Housing costs are too high. Grocery costs are too high. Utility costs are too high. Insurance costs are too high. Child care costs are too high,” Jeffries said, flanked by U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, both of Springfield. “America is too expensive. We need to drive down the high cost of living. Donald Trump has failed to do it.” * Sun-Times | Trump kills union contracts for Chicago EPA workers: A local union official said she believes Trump’s motive is to actually remove workers’ rights as his administration begins to dismantle the government agency charged with keeping air, water and land protected from polluters. Businesses have long complained about their costs to comply with environmental regulations. “No one with half a brain thinks that we are a national security organization. This is an attempt to just silence federal workers,” said Nicole Cantello, an EPA lawyer and the president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 for the last six years. * Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson resolves contract with firefighters union, without major concessions: Pay raises included in the six-year agreement — up to 20% depending on the rate of inflation — are identical to those awarded to Chicago police officers in the contract that Johnson extended and sweetened. Local 2 was demanding 20 more ambulances, along with paramedics to staff them. Johnson wanted to reshape the Chicago Fire Department to handle emergency medical assistance demands that make up two-thirds of all calls for service. But there will be no increase in the 80 ambulances on the streets of Chicago, and no change to the minimum staffing requirement that mandates five employees on every piece of fire apparatus. * ABC Chicago | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joins Mauser packaging picket line in Little Village: Teamsters Local 705 made the announcement that the mayor will speak at the picket line. More than 100 employees walked off the job on June 9. Teamsters said the company “broke the law and refused to bargain in good faith.” * Sun-Times | Illinois’ regressive tax structure is ‘crime of the century’ that needs to be solved, Chicago’s CFO says: Jill Jaworski, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief financial officer, said the state’s tax inequities can only be solved by switching from a flat state income tax to a graduated tax, and by extending the state sales tax to professional services. * Tribune | Student sues, alleging CPS failed to do a ‘thorough’ background check on guard charged with assaulting her: Before the alleged assault and prior to being hired at Farragut in 2021, Campoverde was arrested more than 15 times and was found guilty of disorderly conduct, one cannabis possession case in Lake County and trespassing in Will County, the lawsuit and court records state. He’s never been convicted of a violent crime, however, and most of the charges against him were dismissed. * Block Club | The Chicago Air And Water Show Returns This Weekend. Here’s Everything You Need To Know: This year’s show recognizes the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Headliners include returning acts from the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. * Daily Southtown | Orland Park District 135 Board seeks more involvement in hiring decisions amid community frustration: Other board members also expressed empathy for community members who spoke during recent public comment periods, many expressing concerns about district administrators creating a toxic workplace and criticizing the recent hiring of Tremaine Harris as assistant principal of the Century Junior High. In response, the seven-person board that includes three members voted in this year discussed ways to better scrutinize the district’s hiring picks before approving them and to vet the social media accounts of candidates. * Daily Herald | Arlington Heights hits the brakes on full-scale ban for youth on e-bikes, e-scooters: Police Chief Nick Pecora’s initial draft ordinance called for an all-encompassing ban on minors under 16 operating so-called “motorized mobility vehicles or devices” on sidewalks and streets. But following comments from adult advocates and even some youth riders, village board members late Monday agreed to claw back the proposed regulations. The rules — pending a final vote Sept. 2 — would bar youth from operating Class 3 e-bikes, which can go 28 mph, but permit anyone of any age to ride Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, e-scooters and other devices. * Daily Herald | Kane County Board rejects solar electricity site near Elgin: Currently, soybeans are being grown in the northern area. The southern part of the site is a flood plain. Forty-four people signed a petition against the proposal. Neighbors were concerned about the loss of the pastoral view from their homes. They also raised concerns about traffic to the site, the fencing, and the types of trees and plants that would have been used to screen the view of the panels from their properties. * Daily Herald | ‘Tremendous potential’: ULI Chicago to present ideas for Naperville’s 5th Avenue area: “It’s really an important node for the city,” says Jon Talty, CEO of Chicago-based OKW Architects. “The idea of that train station deserves kind of some gravitas in terms of one getting off the train and feeling like they’ve arrived somewhere.” Talty chairs an Urban Land Institute panel bringing fresh eyes to an underdeveloped area that has “tremendous potential.” * Daily Herald | Northwest Cook drivers among Illinois’ best, Naperville drivers some of the worst, study says: That’s according to an analysis of self-reported data collected by insurance marketplace platform LendingTree. “The state has pretty good drivers in general, but there are places people can do better,” said Rob Bhatt, an insurance analyst with North Carolina-based LendingTree. Naperville was the only suburb in the bottom five of the analysis, reporting 16 driving-related incidents per 1,000 drivers, placing its drivers fourth worst in the state. * BND | Opponents, supporters of solar farm at Belleville cemetery face off at meeting: “It looks like it’s going to court,” said opponent Jesse Berger, who had warned earlier that the city was opening itself up to legal challenges if it proceeded with the controversial project. “It may be the only way to get it stopped. (Officials) aren’t backing down,” he said. About 60 people gathered on Thursday evening at the Southwestern Illinois Justice and Workplace Development Campus. The city had been required to hold the meeting under guidelines of a state program that’s providing financial incentives for the project. * WGLT | City of Bloomington to host free symposium to discuss future of inclusion and access: The City of Bloomington will host an Inclusion & Access Compliance symposium from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 26 at Heartland Community College’s Astroth Building, 1500 W. Raab Road in Normal. The theme of the free symposium, “Navigating Inclusion: Bringing Divides in a Shifting Landscape,” will bring experts, leaders and community members to dive into strategies for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI] in a changing professional and political landscape. * WCIA | Urbana City Council approves new Deputy Police Chief: The council unanimously approved the appointment of Zachery Mikalik to Deputy Chief during its meeting on Monday. Mikalik, an 18-year veteran of the department, formerly served as a Patrol Officer, Patrol Sergeant and as a Lieutenant with the Illinois National Guard. He currently serves as Services Division Commander, leading initiatives in officer training, wellness, community engagement, and system modernization. * WCIA | Marching for a contract: PBL teachers starting school year with expired contracts: A group of teachers in Ford County flooded a highway with a message, while also trying to get the attention of their administrators. Dozens of teachers from the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District marched to show their unity in a trying time. School starts on Thursday, and they will begin without a new contract. “We wanted to walk in to the meeting together to show that we are all in this together,” President of the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Education Association (PBLEA) Union, Amy Johnson, said. * 404 Media | UK Asks People to Delete Emails In Order to Save Water During Drought: It’s a brutally hot August across the world, but especially in Europe where high temperatures have caused wildfires and droughts. In the UK, the water shortage is so bad that the government is urging citizens to help save water by deleting old emails. It really helps lighten the load on water hungry datacenters, you see. * AP | What to know about Trump’s potential change in federal marijuana policy: Trump said Monday that he hopes to decide in the coming weeks about whether to support changes to the way marijuana is regulated. The renewed focus on marijuana comes more than a year after former President Joe Biden’s administration formally proposed reclassifying marijuana. No decision was made before Biden left office. Meanwhile, many states have already gone further than the federal government by legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults or allowing it for medical purposes.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Whatever anyone else has told you, this is not primitive music. Drummer Paul Cook amplifies the anarchic chaos but somehow holds it all together with his loud and swingy syncopation using every surface within his reach. Cookie’s masterful, pounding, crashing triplets as the song builds to its ultimate crescendo always blow. my. mind… No future How’s life by you?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Aug 13, 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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