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Poll shows broad Chicago opposition to ICE, National Guard
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
Public Policy Polling conducted the survey. * Let’s focus on the racial/ethnic crosstabs. This is a poll of 582 Chicago voters with a Margin of Error of +/- 4.1 percent. But the MoE for the subsets we’re looking at are much, much higher…
White +/- 6.0 Black +/- 7.5% Other+/- 16.6% * With that in mind, we’ll start with Trump’s Chicago approval…  * Trump sending the National Guard into Chicago…  * President Trump has called Chicago a ‘hellhole and ‘most dangerous city in the world.’ He says deploying the National Guard would ‘clean up’ the city, though the National Guard would not have police powers. Local officials say they welcome federal anti-violence resources and law enforcement cooperation, but declining crime rates show there is no emergency that merits a military response and deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Having heard some more information, let me ask you again: do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose President Trump’s proposal to send the National Guard into Chicago?…  Notice how support rises among Latinos with the “informed” question, but opposition remains the same. That indicates some persuadability. This poll was taken before everything really ramped up, so we’ll see what happens when reality has kicked in. * Chicago crime…  * Trump increasing federal immigration enforcement in Chicago…  * President Trump has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE to aggressively enforce immigration laws nationwide. These enforcement actions have increased deportations of undocumented residents, but have also resulted in cases of unidentified agents detaining and deporting American citizens and valid visa holders, while separating some families. Supporters say that strict enforcement of immigration laws upholds the rule of law, while critics say that recent enforcement action undermines the rule of law, because it lacks due process and transparency. Having heard some more information, let me ask you again: do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the Trump Administration increasing federal immigration enforcement in Chicago through aggressive ICE detainments, expedited deportation removals, and workplace raids?…  No real change in the Latino response with the “informed” question. * How worried are you that deploying the National Guard or aggressive immigration enforcement in Chicago could violate residents’ rights or freedoms: very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?…  Again, this was taken before the big ramp-up.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Sun-Times courts reporter Jon Seidel…
* Edgar Fellows Executive Director Janet Mathis…
…Adding… Press release…
More here. * Press Release | Illinois Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.4%, Payroll Jobs Decrease in August: The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls decreased over-the-month in August, down -13,300 (-0.2%) to 6,153,700. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -2,500 to -1,100. The industry sectors with over-the-month jobs increases included: Information (+800), Manufacturing (+400), and Construction (+300). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,500), Private Education and Health Services (-4,000), and Professional and Business Services (-2,600). * Press Release | AG Raoul files lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Ticketmaster over deceptive business practices: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit today against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (Live Nation), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Ticketmaster), over the company’s unlawful coordination with ticket brokers that drives up prices for tickets in resale markets. The lawsuit also alleges that Ticketmaster deceptively displays lower ticket prices on its website, only to charge customers substantially more at checkout. * WTTW | Feds Threaten to Withhold CPS Grant Funds Due to Black Student Success Plan, Transgender Student Guidelines: “The Black Students Success Plan, however, is designed for and exclusive to black students and black educators,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights, wrote in the letter. “It is not, for instance, available to white or Asian American students and educators. This is textbook racial discrimination, and no justification proffered by CPS can overcome the patent illegality of its racially exclusionary plan.” […] A CPS spokesperson said Wednesday the district would not comment on “ongoing investigations.” The district’s Black Student Success Plan aims to bring in more Black teachers, reduce suspensions against Black students, promote teaching on Black culture, increase belonging and close opportunity gaps. It provides a five-year roadmap to improve the outcomes of Black students, who make up a third of the district’s population. * Block Club | Cook County Public Defender Opens Legal Center In Austin: The centers specialize in supporting neighbors navigating criminal court, including offering walk-ins for free legal information. Private pods are available at the office to attend virtual court hearings with staff support, if allowed by the court. The Public Defender’s Office will also use the Austin center to offer legal education for situations such as traffic stops, immigration issues, how to get a gun license and carry a firearm, how to legally possess cannabis and other topics that involve potential encounters with law enforcement. * Block Club | In Little Village, Residents Are Blowing Actual Whistles To Warn Neighbors About ICE: In June, after consulting with Los Angeles residents who have recently experienced immigration raids and a militarized federal law enforcement presence, the Little Village group added a new tool to its efforts: a bright orange whistle. “We had the idea of coming out with a whistle so people could hear that noise, and if they don’t have legal status, go the other way — run as quickly as possible to safety and to make sure they don’t open their doors,” said Baltazar Enriquez, president of the Little Village Community Council. * Block Club | South Loop Fire Stadium Traffic Won’t Snarl Streets — If Fans Bike Or Take Transit, Traffic Study Says: The $650 million stadium project will have limited on-site parking, development representatives said at a recent community meeting. Between on-site parking and the use of nearby lots and garages, there will be roughly 2,800-3,000 parking spaces available on Fire game days. Shuttle services are planned for fans using off-site parking facilities. To accommodate fans, the development team is pitching a plan to use temporary street closures on game days along with temporary parking restrictions and increased public transit service. The stadium would also rely on existing infrastructure, including pedestrian and bike lanes and water taxis. * Chicago Mag | Jeff Tweedy Just Wants to Let His Light Shine: Fresh from a rehearsal with his 20-something musical sons, Spencer and Sammy, and local musician and songwriter Liam Kazar for a show at the Newport Folk Festival, and before that a promotional photo shoot, Tweedy is tired and feeling a bit wonky in the head at the moment. While the migraines he’s long suffered from have abated of late, he’s well attuned to signs that his body needs recharging. For now, though, he’s still game for talking. And so he does, about everything from his long marriage and his latest album to the downside of ego and his determination to fight for democracy. “What I have control over,” he says, “is keeping my mind free.” * WTTW | Minority-Serving Colleges in the Chicago Area Push Back Against Federal Funding Cuts: Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the agency is cutting this funding because MSIs racially discriminate “by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas.” But Michael Anthony, president of Prairie State College, a community college in Chicago Heights, said he wouldn’t describe how his school handles enrollment that way. “These are our students,” Anthony said. “These are your citizens, your constituents that are in this community that choose to come here. 90% of our students are from the southwest Chicago region. This is not a quota. This is who lives here.” * Daily Herald | Mount Prospect renews contract with controversial license plate camera reader outfit: “We inadvertently clicked on (it) because we didn’t realize (on) the other side, anybody who checked on nationwide lookup had access to everybody else who clicked that same box,” explained Mount Prospect Police Chief Michael Eterno. “That was something we did not know at the time.” Flock Safety implemented several new safeguards in response, including complete removal of agencies that violated Illinois data-sharing agreements and AI-powered audits to flag any search terms that go against Illinois law. * Shaw Local | ‘We have lost our minds’- Debate over Dome of Unity sculpture for downtown Joliet gets heated: The City Council is divided on whether to move ahead with the $197,000 sculpture that proponents say will help bring visitors to downtown Joliet but which one councilwoman derided as resembling an “old wiffel ball.” The City Council is slated to vote Tuesday on whether to add the sculpture to a $9 million city square under construction. The matter was hotly debated at the pre-council meeting Monday night. * Sun-Times | Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants ICE agents out of Hines VA Hospital parking lot: “It is preposterous that VA would believe allowing ICE to operate on the Hines campus will not adversely impact delivery of care for Hines’ patients,” Duckworth wrote. The senator said she is a Hines patient — and has experienced the limitations of the parking lot, which has long lacked the capacity to handle the daily volume of patients, family members and caregivers. * CBS Chicago | Central Street Busker Fest in Evanston, Illinois to celebrate street performance: The businesses on Central Street offer up everything from cuisines of the world, fashionable clothing, books, toys, games, plants, dance classes and hand-ground spices. But a day on Central Street does typically not involve mimes, puppeteers, poets with typewriters strapped to their bodies, or the mayor of Evanston himself juggling fire. * Illinois Times | Grayson’s background ruled irrelevant for trial: Jurors at former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson’s murder trial won’t hear potentially disturbing details from Grayson’s military service and previous jobs in law enforcement even though the revelations led to new requirements for background checks of police statewide. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin on Sept. 12 agreed with Grayson’s defense lawyers that the information wasn’t relevant and could unfairly sway jurors based on longstanding rules of evidence and case law. Except in certain circumstances, testimony, evidence and legal arguments must focus on what happened immediately before, during and after an alleged crime. Prosecutors argued the details they want the jury to hear are exceptions to those rules. * STLPR | Increased SIUE enrollment and program cuts led to balanced budget, chancellor says: After a $10.3 million deficit last year at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the SIU Board of Trustees voted on Thursday morning to unanimously approve a balanced budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The now accepted proposal has the university bringing in and spending nearly $341.6 million, according to university documents. Along with the deficit came “really difficult decisions by the university,” said SIUE Chancellor James Minor, who’s led the campus since 2022. * WCIA | Little rain, high variability in farmers’ yields trending in Central IL this harvest season: The Champaign County Farm Bureau said that the name of the game this year is variability Yields aren’t only varying from farmer to farmer, but from field to field, and sometimes, within fields. […] “There’s been a lot of differences in rainfall, even mile to mile this year. And so, that’s making a big difference in our numbers. I think some farmers are getting out there, and they’re finding more crop than they maybe expected. But then, there’s also farmers that are out in the fields, and they don’t have near the crop that they would in a year where they got normal rainfall,” Champaign County Farm Bureau’s Manager, Bailey Conrady, said. * Health Care Dive | House lawmakers scrutinize nonprofit hospitals’ tax-exempt status: Nonprofit hospitals have long been criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for benefiting from tax breaks and under-delivering on promises to deliver community or charity care to low income patients. Several watchdog reports and investigations from lawmakers have concluded large nonprofits routinely receive more benefits from tax breaks than they provide in community care, and can even “price gouge” low income patients. However, on Tuesday, Republicans at a Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee hearing mostly led the charge for reform, claiming nonprofits don’t pass along financial benefits to patients. * Crux | In Crux interview, Pope stresses welcome of LGBTQ Catholics, won’t change teaching: “What I’m trying to say is what Francis said very clearly when he would say, “todos, todos, todos.” Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” the pope said. * Change Research | The New American Mythology: Belief in Conspiracy Theories and Their Political Impact: A consistent theme across all three groups is the belief that much is hidden from the public. These sentiments are not confined to the most conspiratorial segments but run broadly through the electorate. In fact, more than four in five voters say many very important things happen in the world without the public ever being informed. Nearly eight in ten agree that politicians usually conceal their true motives, while two-thirds suspect that powerful people work in secret to shape major political and economic events. Even when accounts of an event conflict, large numbers assume deception: over four in ten think such contradictions almost always signal a cover‑up, and nearly as many believe it happens at least some of the time. * Bloomberg reporter…  The story is here.
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A stubborn double-down
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. Streetsblog…
* And then the publication goes on to claim that he voted “No” because of campaign contributions from unions like LiUna (Laborers) and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150…
Um, Senate President Don Harmon has received millions of dollars from Local 150 and LiUNA and he voted for the bill, which wasn’t mentioned until the site updated the post after a protest from Leader Curran’s spokesperson. * And when it was pointed out to them that Local 150’s lobbyist filed a witness slip in favor of the bill, this was the response…
The union opposed a revenue source involving a toll increase. But it, along with all other unions, supported the final bill, which was in flux all day. That’s the only floor vote which matters. And Local 150 did, indeed, issue support for the bill as passed. Anyone who demands support for legislation as “originally conceived” demonstrates a complete lack of awareness about how the legislative process works. Bills are amended all the time. * But the bottom line here is that no Republicans voted for that bill when it hit the floor. And their “No” votes weren’t because of Local 150 because 150 supported the final version. They mainly opposed it because the bill would raise taxes. That’s the default Republican Party position on pretty much everything. Occam’s Razor, etc. The SGOPs are currently working on an alternate funding proposal that wouldn’t raise taxes, but it uses some one-time revenues for ongoing operations and critics warn that dipping into the Rainy Day Fund would lead to a credit downgrade for the state. Also, that rapidly evolving bill was passed shortly before midnight on the last day of session, so everybody knew it was doomed in the House. The main reason for passing it out of the Senate was so Senate Democrats could go home and say they tried, and to attempt to set the terms of the upcoming summer talks with the House and stakeholders. * Leader Curran demanded a correction/retraction and didn’t get one. Local 150 is now demanding a retraction. Click here to read the letter. Harsh.
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Competition Works: Lower Bills. Reliable Power. Say NO To Right Of First Refusal
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois families are sweating through heat and higher electricity bills this summer. Across the Midwest, some relief from energy inflation is in the forecast. Thanks to competitive bidding, dramatically lower costs have resulted compared to no-bid Right of First Refusal (ROFR) proposals. Here’s the proof:
Fairport to Denny Transmission Line (MISO – Missouri)
Reid EHV to IN/KY Border Transmission Project (MISO)
• Delivered long-term cost savings
Matheson–Redbud Transmission Line (SPP – Oklahoma)
• Provided a superior engineering solution compared to other proposals In many cases, incumbent utilities won these bids, proving that when they compete with other qualified builders, consumers win. It saves money and drives better results.  Competition Works. Legislators should choose competition and protect Illinois families.
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Pritzker takes heat over event pic with accused criminal (Updated)
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * August 25…
* September 5 press release…
* CWB…
You simply can’t possibly vet everyone who wants to take a pic with a governor at events, particularly events like this where many of the participants have past criminal records. But, hey, it’s definitely a gotcha moment for Pritzker…  * ILGOP…
* Pritzker administration response…
…Adding… Chicago CRED and Metropolitan Peace Initiatives…
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Mayor still trying to point fingers over bill that passed unanimously
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here for some background. WTTW in August…
From Rich: The bill passed both chambers without a single “No” vote. * Also in August, here’s Crain’s…
From Rich: Martwick is one of the mayor’s strongest legislative supporters. * Days later, Gov. Pritzker was asked about the topic at the Illinois State Fair…
From Rich: The mayor never actually said that he called the governor about the bill. * Fox Chicago yesterday…
* From the governor’s office…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Study finds recidivism down among youths in Cook County court program offering links to social services. Tribune…
- The Chapin study examined 144 participants between 2022 and 2023 during a time when the initiative expanded beyond a pilot program. - The study found that 18% of participants picked up a new charge, in contrast to 28% of a comparison group. The review also found high participation among the juveniles referred to the program, with 85% graduating and nearly all successfully hooking up with at least one community-based service. * CBS Chicago | Woman charged in shooting at Illinois state senator’s home; attack not politically motivated, police say: Based on surveillance video footage from several homes and license plate reader technology, detectives were able to identify the vehicle used in the shooting, and Thompson was taken into custody within 30 minutes in south suburban Lansing, near the Indiana state line. During questioning, Thompson confessed to the shootings, and said her intended target was an estranged relative who lives in the area. Police said the shooting was not politically motivated, and Thompson was not at the home she intended to target. * Investigate Midwest | Rural Illinois’ food economy depends on immigrants: In Macon County, anchored by Decatur and the global headquarters of Archer Daniels Midland, nearly 1,000 immigrants have arrived in the last four years – but the county has still lost more than 3,000 residents in that time, showing how immigration can slow but not always reverse population loss. While two-thirds of Illinois’ land is devoted to farmland, the state’s hundreds of food processing plants also drive its nonmetropolitan economies — and they rely heavily on immigrant workers, both legal and unauthorized. Food manufacturing is concentrated in the Chicagoland region, including Kane, DuPage, Lake, and suburban Cook County. Between 2023 and 2024, over 50,000 migrants arrived from the southern border to Chicago. * WAND | Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments over class action lawsuit filed against Walgreens: Calley Fausett used a debit card at a Walgreens in Arizona and realized 10 digits of her card number were included on the receipt. The federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act states that receipts cannot show more than five digits of a card. Fausett filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois stating the company broke the law and put customers at risk for identity theft. Walgreens’ attorneys argue this violation was not enough to give Fausett standing to sue, as she did not suffer concrete harm. * NBC Chicago | Video of Illinois senator goes viral as she warns of masked agents on suburban street: Villa said individuals who appeared to be masked ICE agents approached people in the community. “These masked individuals came upon people with the color of my skin and picked them up,” she stated. “One of them was in a van. There was about 13 people, including a minor. One was at a grocery store, an apartment complex, and someone simply walking on the side of the street. This is why we have gathered here today to talk about and show the strength of this community, this immigrant, beautiful community.” * Daily Cardinal | Pritzker talks preserving democracy, encourages peaceful protest at Cap Times Idea Fest: Pritzker said he “hates” the mid-decade redistricting currently going on, adding that President Donald Trump is clearly trying to “manipulate” the system, which directly goes against what the framers intended. […] “If Missouri does it, Maryland is going to need to do it. If Indiana does it, it may be that Illinois has to do it,” Pritzker said. “That may be what happens now that you know they’re going to take advantage of every opportunity they’ve got. I don’t like any of this again. I don’t want to do it… But it can’t just be the good Democrats that are doing independent commissions.” * WGN | Pritzker slams ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show: ‘An attack on free speech’: “A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say,” Pritzker said on social media Wednesday evening, as his comment came within minutes of news breaking that ABC would pre-empt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over the host’s remarks. “This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand,” Pritzker added. “All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.” * Founder of Cor Strategies Collin Corbett…
* 25News Now | Republicans and Democrats oppose potential statewide delivery tax in Illinois: “For us, especially in central Illinois, maybe even some of the more rural areas of the state, a lot of people really do rely on deliveries to be able to be connected to the world, so to pay a tax on those deliveries to me, to fund transit up in the Chicagoland area, seems not like a really great idea,” said Democratic State Representative Sharon Chung of Bloomington. * WMBD | Quad Cities area Democrat to challenge for Illinois House seat against Peoria Republican: 25 News reports that Nicole Dopler of Rapids City is running as a Democrat for the 73rd District. The seat is currently held by Republican Ryan Spain of Peoria. The district covers portions of Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, and Stark Counties. Dopler says she is campaigning to protect healthcare and education, as well as getting young people access to affordable housing and higher education. * Crain’s | Union-backed amendment scrambles granny-flats legalization push: At the Sept. 25 meeting, Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, plans to introduce an amendment that would let aldermen block accessory dwelling units in their wards. Quinn, a longtime opponent of ADUs in single-family neighborhoods, also wants contractors on such projects to use certified apprenticeship programs. * Sun-Times | Snelling pushes to keep police vacancies in budget, seek other cuts to close city deficit: Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling vowed Wednesday to resist any attempt to eliminate altogether 984 police vacancies — even as Mayor Brandon Johnson struggles to erase a $1.15 billion shortfall after two straight years of deficit spending. Johnson has ordered all of his department heads to cut 3% to 5% from their 2025 budgets. Instead of cutting vacancies, Snelling said he plans to meet that $92 million mandate through a hiring slowdown. He plans to hold open those 984 police positions, but budget less money for those vacancies he knows the city won’t be able to fill. * Sun-Times | 30 arrests reported in Trump’s deportation campaign in Chicago — but feds won’t provide full tally: But about half of the names and alleged charges released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security couldn’t be definitively matched to court records. Officials have also released sparse details about the past arrests, making it difficult to independently verify some of the alleged crimes. * Evanston Now | Metra hoping to avoid service cuts in 2026: The Metra Board of Directors was told on Wednesday that, according to a presentation, the * Sun-Times | Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemns fatal ICE shooting in Franklin Park: Sheinbaum joined a growing chorus of calls for a thorough investigation into the death. Villegas González appears to be the first person shot and killed by an on-duty ICE agent since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday said his office has asked ICE for “all the information around” the shooting, but admitted, “they have given very little.” * Daily Herald | Mount Prospect proposes regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motos: “I believe in stronger fines than what’s in place here,” said Trustee Vince Dante. “I don’t think $50 up to $500 is going to be a deterrent for them to not do it again.” Police Chief Michael Eterno pointed out the safety concern by sharing a photo of a young rider performing a wheelie on Northwest Highway. Eterno quoted figures from the Consumer Product Safety Commission showing nearly 361,000 emergency room visits from 2017-2022 for micro-mobility device accidents, with children under 14 representing 36% of injuries. * Evanston Now | Biss vetoes grocery tax: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss Wednesday vetoed the city’s grocery tax ordinance, passed by the City Council on Monday. The ordinance would implement a local 1% grocery tax, filling the $2.5 million annual revenue gap that city staff estimated Evanston would face with the expiration of state-imposed grocery tax at the start of 2026. * BND | East St. Louis schools address unreliable bus service as frustrations mount: The district contracts with Illinois Central School Bus in Caseyville to transport its students. The drivers are employees of Illinois Central, not the district. A shortage of bus drivers — which drivers say is the result of alleged mistreatment by Illinois Central — has led to delays, overcrowding and, in some cases, buses not arriving at all, community members reported. * Illinois Times | WICS anchor resigns following her unauthorized on-air tribute to Charlie Kirk: WICS news director Heather Voudrie Nodine told Illinois Times no one at the station has been suspended or fired in the last 90 days. … In most of the stories she is described as a “news anchor.” But the WICS news director also said that is inaccurate. Nodine said Harmony has never worked for WICS’ news division. She said Marketplace, the show Harmony hosted, is produced by the station’s advertising department and that she was an advertising employee * WGLT | Concerns over ICE limits attendance at Hispanic heritage celebration at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington: Organizer Criselda Joaquin said this year’s attendance was down an estimated 2,000 visitors because of fear of ICE raids. “The turnout has been less this year. I did have a couple of community members drop out selling food, and their reason being everything that’s been going on with immigration in Chicago, which has been disheartening but I completely understand,” Joaquin said. * WGLT | Panel: Accessing prenatal care in Central Illinois is not easy for some women: Transportation challenges, difficulty acquiring obstetric care, and the limitations of language barriers are major priorities to be addressed in Central Illinois, according to the panelists. […] Statistically, higher rates of diabetes and hypertension are present in some Black and brown communities, said Rebert. But sometimes those aren’t addressed during pregnancy. “Historically Black women have been mistreated by the medical community, [and that’s resulted in that population having] a fear of the medical community. And there are some biases within providers against those communities, as well,” she said. * WIFR | Pearl Place Apartments in Belvidere wins 2025 Landmarks Illinois preservation award: The 2025 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards honor Pearl Place Apartments in Belvidere. The restoration of the historic Garfield School made it possible for the building to continue serving seniors and veterans in the area, rather than being converted to market-rate apartments, according to Landmarks Illinois. * NYT | The Hepatitis B Vaccine Is Under Threat. Here’s What to Know.: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly questioned whether babies should continue to receive the vaccine on their first day of life. […] Most pregnant women in the United States are screened for hepatitis B in the first trimester. But screening isn’t perfect, and testing negative in the first trimester “doesn’t mean you cannot contract hepatitis B later on,” said Dr. Amanda Kost, a family medicine doctor at University of Washington Medicine. Some research suggests as many as 14 percent of pregnant women may not get tested, which may be because of inadequate prenatal care or because they refuse the test. There is also a rare risk of false negatives. These screening gaps are one reason doctors recommend a first dose of the vaccine the day a baby is born. * Crain’s | Nonprofits push back as Trump hints at crackdown after Kirk killing: “At a moment that is fragile and fraught, we must rise to the higher standard we all collectively desire. Now is a moment for leadership that drives unity rather than sows further division. Our organizations will continue focusing on helping people across all backgrounds, geographies, ideologies, and belief systems, to heal, thrive, and live peacefully together, protected by the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution,” the letter concludes. Among the 100 philanthropies to sign the open letter are the MacArthur Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, Spencer Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art, Michael Reese Health Trust and Grand Victoria Foundation. * The Atlantic | Who to Trust If You Can’t Trust the CDC: Today, Monarez testified before a Senate committee that Kennedy fired her after less than a month in her role because she refused to accept his vaccine policy. According to Monarez, Kennedy demanded “blanket approval” of all recommendations made by the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which Kennedy dismantled in June and has since remade in his own anti-vaccine image. Over the next two days, the group is scheduled to discuss vaccines for COVID, hepatitis B, and other diseases. According to a Washington Post report, at the meeting, Trump-administration officials also plan to use a database of unverified vaccine-injury reports to link COVID shots to the deaths of 25 children.
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Open thread
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * How are you?
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Sep 18, 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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Your moment of zen
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Oscar’s groomer always sends a photo of Oscar when the work is finished. Today…  One time, the groomer sent me a pic of Oscar with a Cubs bandana. I showed up wearing my White Sox cap. He immediately apologized. Profusely.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Chicago Tribune…
* Capitol News Illinois’ Ben Szalinski…
* Tribune…
* WMBD | Illinois lawmaker suggests estate tax reform for farmers: State Representative Sharon Chung said in a town hall Tuesday she hopes to change the estate tax to help Illinois farmers. “Farmers tend to really take the brunt of the estate tax more than your everyday people,” she said. An estate is taxed a percentage of all the properties, investments and all other belongings when the owner dies. * Capitol City Now | Sally Turner named Legislator of the Year by organization: Sen. Sally Turner was named the 2025 Legislator of the Year by the Illinois Association of County Veterans Assistance Commissions Monday night. […] IACVAC cited Turner’s legislative work, particularly Senate Bill 39 which made veteran housing more affordable, that improves the lives of veterans statewide, according to the release. * Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | 2025 “Paul Simon Courage in Public Service” Award Honors Gov. JB Pritzker: Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) and Lutherans Unite for Illinois today honored Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker with the Paul Simon Courage in Public Service Award for exemplifying Sen. Simon’s lifelong commitment to developing just, compassionate, and responsible public policy, especially in defense of Medicaid and social services. The award was established in 2004 by several Lutheran organizations to honor the late Sen. Simon’s extraordinary legacy of public service. * Tribune | Trump, ICE target police in Chicago, other cities for recruitment in NFL ad: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement specifically pitched jobs to the city’s cops when it ran a local advertisement during a Monday night NFL broadcast. “Attention Chicago law enforcement,” the commercial said, the city’s skyline in the background. “You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city safe. But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down.” “Join ICE, and help us catch the worst of the worst,” it continued before touting a $50,000 sign-on bonus and student loan forgiveness. * Sun-Times | CPS special ed staff cuts, shuffling leave students lost, behind and unserved: The analysis found that CPS cut about 250 special education teachers and 673 aides last spring. It then added back hundreds of positions, most of them weeks after school started on Aug. 18. With the school year already underway, many principals have no idea how they’ll fill these new openings, and some are still short positions. It can be unsafe for students who need these supports in some situations without the proper number of special education aides, school staff say. And learning for all students can be disrupted when a special education teacher isn’t available to differentiate lessons for students of varying abilities. * Sun-Times | Pilsen coal plant demolition puts pressure on city not to repeat Little Village fiasco: The owner of the former Fisk coal-fired power plant wants to demolish more than a dozen structures around the facility, a project that will require added city scrutiny because of risks to public health and the environment. […] Midwest Generation, a division of NRG Energy, is seeking city permission to tear down 13 structures, including storage tanks and silos, around the more than century-old building. The demolition will require dust control and other precautions. * WAND | Mayor Brandon Johnson visits WGN Radio – talks taxes and federal troops: Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson joins Bob Sirott to discuss Chicago’s crime statistics over the years, his suggestion concerning vacancies on Michigan Avenue, and what he thinks about President Trump claiming that he will send federal troops to Chicago. He also talks about the affordability of housing in Chicago compared to other big cities, how property taxes will be handled going forward, and Bob’s advice to Mayor Johnson. * Capitol News Illinois | ‘We are not backing down’: Feds ramp up immigration raids in Chicago area: Some public officials have directly confronted DHS agents. State Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, posted a video Monday showing her approaching masked federal agents in SUVs in a West Chicago neighborhood. Villa, a candidate for comptroller, was seen running down the street telling people to hide in their homes. Crowds have also gathered in protest outside a Broadview detention facility where ICE is holding people in custody. The protests have occasionally devolved into skirmishes with ICE tactical teams as protesters have blocked entries and exits into the facility. * Tribune | Cook County to consider $22.3 million for men wrongly convicted in fatal fire: At a 2012 hearing, attorneys questioned CPD’s conclusions about the fire, alleging abuse by detectives and failure by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office to question the narrative. It took another ten years — with delays partly driven by the pandemic — before the three men were exonerated and released, in 2022. The Chicago City Council agreed to pay a collective $48 million settlement to the men back in May. Commissioners on the county board’s Finance Committee are set to consider paying each man $7.45 million. * Lake County News-Sun | Lake County residents urged to document ICE actions: Knowing they cannot stop raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Lake County, leaders like state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, are urging residents to bear witness and make a record of area ICE activities. “When you see ICE, take out your phone and video everything you see,” she said Tuesday. “Get videos and photos from all angles. This is putting ICE on notice that we will not tolerate them terrorizing us and our communities.” * Daily Herald | Opponents of closing maternity ward at Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village take case to state board: Opponents of Ascension’s plan to halt obstetric services at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village took their case to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which held a hearing this week in Elk Grove Village. They gave testimony highlighting potential risks to expectant mothers as childbirth services are consolidated under the umbrella of the St. Alexius Women and Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates. * Daily Herald | Firefighters will relocate to Rosemont when Des Plaines firehouse is replaced: The Des Plaines City Council on Monday approved an agreement with Rosemont that will allow the crew members and vehicles normally at Des Plaines Station No. 62 to use Rosemont’s Station No. 2 for at least one year. Rosemont approved the agreement Sept. 8. The agreement ensures uninterrupted fire and emergency medical coverage in southern Des Plaines during the eventual construction of a new Station No 62, Fire Chief Matt Matzl said in a memo. * Naperville Sun | Identifying someone who’s died not as simple as it sounds in some cases, DuPage coroner says: As the second most-populous county in Illinois, DuPage sees about 10,000 deaths a year, Lukas said. Not all of those deaths get reported to the coroner. If a person dies of a natural death and a physician is available to sign the death certificate, the coroner is not needed. State laws determine which deaths get reported to the coroner. “We are obligated by law to investigate any sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths,” Lukas said. Of the 10,000 or so deaths a year, about 6,500 will come through the coroner’s office. That number includes not just physical bodies, but also cremation permit requests and deaths reported by hospice organizations. * Shaw Local | Kankakee City Council rejects plan for Fortitude shelter: A homeless shelter will not be operated in Kankakee by Fortitude Community Outreach – at least for the next 12 months. At Monday’s Kankakee City Council meeting, the conditional use permit request was rejected by a 12-0 vote despite another impassioned plea from supporters of the organization. * Daily Egyptian | Why is SIU using AI when our syllabi say that students can’t?: SIU System President Dan Mahony said naming ceremonies are “extraordinarily rare” — he’s only ever attended three. But this one was extra special, because the School of Journalism and Advertising became the first school at SIU to be named after a woman. […] “We decided to do something entirely different and have ChatGPT give us a bio on Charlotte,” Mahony said. “And I find that whole concept terrifying, but her bio is really incredibly impressive, and ChatGPT was clearly impressed as well. And I will say they gave me this task because they’ve heard me speak before and decided you better read something.” * WGLT | Panel centering LGBTQ immigration issues convenes in Bloomington: A lunchtime panel this week aims to illuminate specific challenges and barriers LGBTQ immigrants face. The panel, sponsored by Prairie Pride Coalition, is connected to Welcoming Week, a nationwide initiative advocating for inclusive communities, and features representatives from The Immigration Project, Illinois State University’s Queer Coalition and Rainbow Railroad, a global nonprofit which helps LGBTQ people escape persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity. * NPR Illinois | Study: UIS contributes nearly $1 billion to the Illinois economy: The University of Illinois Springfield added $943.2 million to the Illinois economy during fiscal year 2023, according to a new economic impact study conducted by Lightcast, a nationally recognized labor market analytics firm. […] The analysis found that UIS supports 9,093 jobs statewide through operations, student and visitor spending, volunteer contributions and the increased productivity of alumni. The largest single impact comes from UIS graduates, whose higher earnings and contributions to Illinois businesses added $847.9 million to the state’s economy in 2023. * NPR | RFK Jr. ‘wanted blanket approval’ for changes at CDC, fired director testifies: “He just wanted blanket approval,” Monarez told members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Wednesday. “Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology.” Over the three-hour hearing, Monarez repeatedly countered Kennedy’s claims – which he outlined in a Wall Street Journal op-ed and reiterated during a congressional hearing in early September – that she was fired because she was not a “trustworthy person.” * AP | Federal Reserve cuts key rate for first time this year: The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. Yet the central bank’s focus has shifted quickly from inflation, which remains modestly above its 2% target, to jobs, as hiring has grounded nearly to a halt in recent months and the unemployment rate has ticked higher. Lower interest rates could reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business loans, and boost growth and hiring. * Tax Notes | Present at the Creation: A Short History of the SALT Deduction: The United States has never had a federal income tax without a SALT deduction to make it more palatable. Lawmakers have defended the deduction on various grounds, typically advancing claims about fairness and federalism. But Congress has often treated the deduction’s existence as a given — an element of the law so obviously necessary that it requires almost no explanation.
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What Illinois Can Learn From Texas On Battery Energy Storage
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] As Illinois confronts skyrocketing electric bills, legislators are on the hunt for solutions that provide relief as quickly as possible. Battery energy storage is our best and most cost-effective solution. But last session— without evidence —opponents attempted to claim that battery energy storage wouldn’t work. Try telling that to Texas, where the rapid deployment of battery storage has already prevented blackouts and saved consumers billions. Called “Ground Zero for the US Battery Boom” by Bloomberg, Texas added enough storage in 2023 to power 3 million homes and drop grid emergency risk during peak hours from 16% to less than 1%. The result? Storage saved consumers an estimated $750 million in 2024. Texas has proven that storage is the quickest, cheapest, most reliable way to get consumers relief from skyrocketing, demand-induced price spikes. Storage is a nimble way to address growing populations, power-hungry data centers, and meet other electrification-related power needs. These are benefits Texas saw from storage even as the state reduced its gas generation capacity by 166 MW last year. Illinois lawmakers should follow Texas’s lead and pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Act this fall to deploy 6GW of energy storage by 2035. Click here for more information.
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Speaker Welch: ‘We haven’t had any conversations regarding redoing our maps in the middle of a decade’
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * House Speaker Chris Welch was in Bloomington this week…
Despite all the media hype and the governor’s hinting around, it was just never gonna happen. The Democrats are pretty much maxed out now and diluting districts could put members in jeopardy down the road. Filing season is also well underway. And what sort of message would it send after hosting those fleeing Democratic Texas legislators if Illinois Dems did to Illinois Republicans what the Texas Republicans did to their Democrats?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition (Updated)
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Stay careful out there (Updated x2)
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * After the assassinations of two Minnesota legislators and then Charlie Kirk, pretty much everyone in this business is on edge…  * Shaw Local…
* Shorewood police say they have a suspect in custody…
* Isabel reached out to the Senator. Here’s her report…
…Adding… A source told us local authorities have determined the incident at Sen. Cappel’s home was not politically motivated. * On a related note, these two comments have now been hidden on a WSIU story about the Joe DeBose House campaign, but we have a screenshot…  Click here to read more about what appears to be the commenter. (If that link doesn’t work, click here for a pdf.) …Adding… Joe DeBose…
* Related…
* ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker says threats increased to his office since Charlie Kirk shooting: Governor JB Pritzker said that in the days since Charlie Kirk’s assassination his office has seen an increase in the number of threats. “The number of threats that have come in over the last few days has been an enormous multiple of those that were coming in in the days before,” Pritzker said.
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Unclear on the concepts
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Notice anything missing from this brainiac’s “analysis”?…  What’s missing is Rep. Benton’s 2024 totals. Benton won by 2,335 votes in 2024 - 52.21 percent to 47.79 percent. That’s a higher margin than his 2022 victory of 51.66 percent to 48.34 percent. Politics ain’t magic, unless you traffic in such a thing and your followers don’t know any better. * For whatever reason, House and Senate Republicans have an inordinate fear of Tom DeVore, even though he doesn’t seem to understand basic politics. For example, DeVore’s backing a Republican candidate against Rep. Charlie Meier and regularly slams the incumbent for highlighting local businesses, restaurants and festivals…  That’s just so unbelievably ignorant. Praising local businesses and organizations is a core function of any good politician. DeVore’s constant attacks just reinforce the notion that Charlie is everywhere in his district and truly respects the hard-working people who provide goods and services to his constituents. People (literally) eat that stuff up. I really think Republicans should start sending Facebookers DeVore’s way because he’s inadvertently making their case for them.
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Illinois is an island for adequate MMR vax rates, but trouble could be ahead
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * NBC News…
* National MMR vax rate map…  Yikes. * Now, zoom in on Illinois…  Cook is at 94.9 percent, so it’s moving into a danger zone. * NBC 5…
Click here to search for school districts statewide. * Another real problem is St. Louis…
Luckily, all the Illinois counties nearest to St. Louis have 97-98+ MMR vax rates. Believe it or not, Arkansas and Mississippi appear to have very strong vax rates.
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RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path. Retailers like Tim Peterson in Evanston enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Oversight panel objects to new Illinois prison mail policy. Capitol News Illinois…
- That objection does not block the rule from remaining in effect through January. But it sent a clear message to the department that it will need to make significant changes — and listen to feedback from incarcerated people’s families, attorneys and other interested stakeholders — if it wants to make the rule permanent. -“I think what you’re hearing from this committee on a bicameral and bipartisan basis is that there is a belief you are doing this wrong,” state Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, told IDOC staff during a committee meeting in Chicago. * Related stories… * Subscribers know more. WaPo | Illinois state senator confronts ICE agents: Illinois State Senator Karina Villa (D) walked through a Chicago suburb on Sept. 15, warning neighbors of the presence of what appeared to be ICE agents. * Tribune | Officials and local leaders encourage people in US without legal permission to stay home amid federal activity: “This is an engineered crisis,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said at a news conference at Daley Plaza Tuesday evening, “a spectacle designed for headlines, not for the safety of our neighborhoods. … (This administration is) targeting hardworking people who have been our neighbors for decades. People who run local businesses, sell flowers at the corner, and have shown up every day to build a better life here.” Early Tuesday — just over a week since the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Midway Blitz” began — Gregory Bovino, an official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection who led immigration operations in Los Angeles this summer, posted on social media announcing that his agency had “arrived” in the Chicago area. * WGLT | Illinois House speaker says lawmakers are more aware of their surroundings: While the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has escalated fears of political violence, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has been on high alert since June 14, when Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home. Since then, he said his caucus has been briefed regularly by the Illinois State Police and other groups about potential threats. Speaking with reporters at the Bloomington Public Library ahead of a community town hall with State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, Welch said legislators have become very mindful of their surroundings. * WMBD | Downstate will get ‘something’ from Chicago transit bill according to Illinois House Speaker: The Windy City’s transport system is facing a fiscal cliff. It needs additional funding, or thousands of jobs could be lost, and service lines could be cut. While the Speaker of the House Chris Welch said it will benefit Downstate, he can’t give any details on what changes it will make to statewide transit. * WMGL | Joe DeBose announces campaign for Illinois House District 118: “I’ve had enough of the budgets in Springfield growing larger and larger while the family budgets in Southern Illinois grow smaller by the day. My commitment is simple: to stand firm, speak the truth, and work hard every day to protect our freedoms, lower taxes, and deliver results for Southern Illinois,” said DeBose. “I’ve helped conservatives win tough fights and pass common-sense policies across the country. I know how to work with others to deliver results, but let me be clear: I will never back down when it comes to fighting for you, the families, taxpayers, jobs, local businesses, and communities of Southern Illinois.” * Adam Braun is running in the Democratic primary for Rep. Hoan Huynh’s seat as Huynh makes his bid for Congress. Press release…
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul has endorsed Sen. Sara Feigenholtz for reelection…
* Sun-Times | Hyde Park Labs marks another push to make Chicago a tech hub: Hyde Park Labs aims to be a hub for deep tech innovation and quantum computing in Chicago. It will host IBM’s next-generation quantum computer before it eventually moves to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. The quantum computing campus will be at the former U.S. Steel South Works site. “Hyde Park Labs and the UChicago Science Incubator are a milestone for innovation on Chicago’s South Side,” said John Flavin, CEO of Portal Innovations. “Portal’s mission has always been to bridge the gap between academia and private industry. The partnership with the University of Chicago will allow us to help grow innovative life sciences, quantum and deep-tech startups locally.” * Sun-Times | South Side activists, residents call on elected officials to stop development of quantum computing campus: Residents, gathered across from New Sullivan Elementary School, said elected officials haven’t done enough to inform neighbors about the development. They also expressed concerns over a lack of transparency, potential displacement and environmental concerns at the site. Southside Together wants officials to rehabilitate the fallow land and invest in resources the community wants and needs. * Block Club | Chicago Budget Task Force Recommends Tax Hikes, Higher Fees To Close $1 Billion Gap: Mayor Brandon Johnson should consider raising garbage and rideshare fees, hiking the liquor tax, extending a hiring freeze and tying property tax increases to inflation to help close a more than $1 billion budget gap in 2026, according to a coalition of civic and business leaders. Those ideas are just a few of almost 90 recommendations included in a report issued Tuesday by the Chicago Financial Future Task Force, a group convened by Johnson’s administration to help fix Chicago’s budget woes next year and beyond. * Crain’s | American squares off in court against city and United over O’Hare gates: American Airlines is asking Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thaddeus Wilson to stop a process that would give United five more gates while taking four from the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier, beginning Oct. 1. The airport is reallocating gates for the first time based on a use-it-or-lose-it provision in a new lease agreement signed in 2018. The carriers and the airport claim millions of dollars are at stake, in costs associated with moving airlines and passengers to new gates and tickets that already have been sold to customers. * Tribune | ‘You don’t get a break’: Chicago Public Schools lunchroom workers demand higher wages, fair contract: More than 1,800 lunchroom attendants, cooks and porters staff the district — and about half regularly struggle to cover basic expenses like housing and food, according to their union, UNITE HERE Local 1. “CPS lunchroom workers put their heart and soul into cooking and caring for Chicago’s children,” said Karen Kent, president of UNITE HERE Local 1, which represents hospitality workers across the city. “We know Chicago loves their lunchroom workers, but these workers can’t serve from an empty cup.” * WBEZ | Chicago anchorman Bill Kurtis on his new book ‘Whirlwind’ and journalism’s crisis moment: As a broadcast journalist, he covered some of the 20th century’s most gruesome murder cases, from Charles Manson to Richard Speck, and broke landmark reporting on the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. More recently, he has lent his signature deep voice to both Will Ferrell’s “Anchorman” and NPR’s weekly quiz show “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” * CBS Chicago | U.S. citizen tased and detained during ICE operation in Des Plaines, Illinois: Family members said that the man was released from the hospital after he said he was tased in the face while being taken into federal custody. The only problem—he was born in Chicago. Although his father is undocumented, they all ended up in ICE custody. * ABC Chicago | 2 apparent US citizens swept up in Elgin ICE raid documented on Noem’s social media: They arrived like a military operation. Agents could be seen in camouflage uniforms with military helicopters circling above at about 5:30 a.m. They broke the front door down and entered the home. Members of Elgin’s rapid response teams want to keep their identities anonymous. * Daily Herald | Palatine neighborhood dealing with rat infestation: While several sightings have occurred in residents’ yards, to his knowledge no one has officially reported rats inside their homes, Lamerand said. The cause remains undetermined, though theories include construction work on Route 53 or the demolition of Arlington Park. The village has responded by working with residents to eliminate food and water sources that attract rodents. * Daily Herald | ‘Catalyst for good’: Presidents Cup, Medinah leaders announce six-figure donation for DuPage’s Crisis Recovery Center: With a year to go before Team USA tees off against a squad of international players, the event, staged by the PGA Tour, is already making a mark. “From the start, we wanted this Presidents Cup to be about more than world-class golf. We wanted it to be a catalyst for good, delivering a positive impact far beyond our gates,” said Mike Scimo, chair of the host committee and former club president. * Daily Herald | Second measles case confirmed in suburban Cook County: A 4-year-old suburban Cook County child has tested positive for measles, the second confirmed infection in the county this year, health officials said Tuesday. The Cook County Department of Public Health believes the child was infected during international travel. Officials say they’re working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. One identified point of exposure is O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5, between 7:30 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11. * WAND | SPD officers display unity amid recent criticism of department: [Springfield Police Chief Joe Behl] said during the meeting that he has agreed to meet with community activist Tiara Standage after he issued a department-wide boycott of the Faith Coalition for the Common Good due to Standage’s involvement with the group. * WCIA | NTSB releases final report on 2023 Teutopolis HAZMAT disaster: Finally, the NTSB noted that none of the first responders contacted the shipper of the anhydrous ammonia in Ohio. The shipper’s identity and emergency phone number were listed on papers in the cab of the crashed truck, but they were left there by the driver when he self-extricated and were not retrieved by first responders. Under federal regulations, the shipper was required to provide emergency response and incident mitigation information. * WAND | District 186 faces ongoing budget issues; further cuts likely on the way: Springfield School District 186 is experiencing some challenges with the budget. On Monday night, board members voted on a budget, but the district is still facing a multi-million-dollar deficit, and district leaders are trying to find solutions for the next school year. “The cuts that we made last spring for this current budget, which was to the tune of about $3 million, were things that we could do without touching the classroom at this point in time,” said Superintendent Jennifer Gill. * WCIA | 126 employees impacted in layoff as Rantoul distribution center transitions to 3rd party provider : Revelyst Inc., which designs, manufacturers and houses outdoor products, was a part of Vista Outdoors, before the company split into two. On Sept. 3, Revelyst issued a WARN Notice, regarding its decision to conduct a mass layoff at its Rantoul facility. According to data shared with Illinois workNet Centers, the layoff will impact 126 employees and is scheduled to begin Nov. 3, 2025. * WAND | Decatur City Manager resigns after less than 2 years back in role: Decatur City Manager Tim Gleason is stepping down after less than two years back in the role. “I had planned on being here longer … figured it would at least be two years,” Gleason said. “Sometimes you just need to make a decision, put yourself first. It’s time for me to move on.” * WCIA | U of I research team investigating wildfire smoke impacts on health: Molitor said his team set out to discover how common wildfire smoke was in different parts of the country — including in Illinois — and what impacts it has on people’s health. After taking data from satellites that measure smoke plumes and matching that to data on health outcomes, they learned that on days the smoke plumes roll in, there’s an uptick in visits to the emergency room and deaths. * WJBD | Salem City Council approves agreement for four license plate readers for police department: The Salem City Council has approved the lease of four FLOCK license plate readers for the next two years. The move was opposed by Centralia resident Mike Musick, who worked with a company before retirement involved with Missouri Department of Transportation roadside cameras. “It’s too much,” Musick said. “The percentage of crimes solved versus the number of individuals whose mobility is tracked in detail in coming and going—I’m uncomfortable with it.” * Forbes | Stephen Miller’s Quota Likely Drove Korean Arrests In Immigration Raid: Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney at Kuck Baxter in Atlanta, represents 11 individuals arrested in the raid and pieced together what happened at the facility. ICE did not bring Korean language interpreters—proof Koreans were not the intended target—but managed to determine that the South Koreans at the facility entered on B-1 visas or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization known as ESTA. * Reuters | Trump files $15 billion defamation case against New York Times, Penguin Random House: The lawsuit filed on Monday in Florida federal court centers on a book about Trump by two New York Times reporters and three “false, malicious, defamatory, and disparaging” articles that he says were aimed at sabotaging his chances in the 2024 presidential election. In a statement on Tuesday, the Times said Trump’s lawsuit has no legitimate legal claims and is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a campaign update
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Sep 17, 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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