Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* A small update on Mike McClain’s request for probation…
* The Illinois Department of Employment Security…
* WICS | Illinois offers cash rewards for capturing invasive black carp: Through the “Keep, Cool, Call” program, individuals can earn $100 for each black carp they capture, with a maximum reward of $1,000 per month. Participants are encouraged to catch black carp using legal methods such as hook and line or bowfishing. To qualify for the reward, individuals must take clear photos of the fish’s head, mouth, and total length, note the location and water conditions, humanely kill the fish, and freeze it. Possession of live invasive carp is illegal. * WAND | Illinois could soon ease requirements for emergency vehicle drivers living outside the state: A bipartisan bill on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk could help address the shortage of emergency vehicle drivers across the state. Sponsors said people who live in neighboring states but work as public safety employees should be able to operate emergency vehicles in Illinois if they have the required driver’s license in their home state. The proposal states that nonresidents must complete the fire service vehicle operator program with the State Fire Marshal to be eligible. * WTTW | Number of Unhoused Chicagoans Dropped 60% But Remains at All-Time High, Survey Found: The number of Chicagoans living in city shelters or on city streets dropped 60% between January 2024 and January 2025, according to the annual survey used by federal officials to track homelessness, but remains at an all-time high for longtime residents, city officials announced Thursday. More than 7,450 people in Chicago lacked a permanent place to sleep, according to the annual “point-in-time” count, which sends volunteers out to count the number of unsheltered people on the city’s streets on a single night and is used by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials to determine federal funding levels. The 2025 count took place on Jan. 23. * Tribune | Lawyers for Chicago Housing Authority used ChatGPT to cite nonexistent court case: In the latest headache for CHA, law firm Goldberg Segalla used artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, in a post-trial motion and neglected to check its work, court records show. A jury decided in January, after a roughly seven-week trial, that CHA must pay more than $24 million to two residents who sued on behalf of their children, finding the agency responsible for the children’s injuries, including past and future damages. The firm apologized for the error in a June 18 court filing, calling it a “serious lapse in professionalism.” * Sun-Times | Retiring Walter Burnett says his ’son of the 27th Ward’ has earned the right to take his City Council seat: Retiring City Council dean Walter Burnett said Thursday his 29-year-old namesake is not only his son but a “son of the 27th Ward” who has earned the right to replace him. Some community leaders have argued that the city’s fastest-growing ward deserves better than a continuation of the old-school, all-in-the-family parade of Chicago politicians who have bequeathed their seats to their children. * Sun-Times | Jury sees final moments of Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso’s life: What followed was captured on Vasquez Lasso’s body cam. In the video, he jumps out of his car and begins to chase after the man, while screaming out, “Stop! Stop! Stop!” Seconds later, the man turns and points a gun at Vasquez Lasso, standing feet away. Shots ring out, and the officer falls backward. His body camera shows just the sky above. * The Triibe | New lawsuit against The Duplex restaurant in Logan Square alleges wage theft: The Duplex, a popular restaurant in Logan Square, is being sued by former employees who allege various workplace violations, including failure to pay out tips, failure to pay minimum wage or overtime pay and neglecting to provide and retain records of time worked. Those employees are also seeking class action status against the restaurant group. The lawsuit was filed July 1 in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division as a collective action against For the People Hospitality Group LLC, the minority-owned parent company behind both The Duplex and Wicker Park’s The Revolver. LeQoinne Rice, who is the co-owner of For the People Hospitality, was named in the court filing along with his hospitality group manager, Christopher Scardina. * Crain’s | Before tariffs hit, this Lincoln Square toy store made a big bet. It may save their season.: Shopkeeper Scott Friedland tapped into a line of credit to buy $700,000 in toys and games, and hired two extra employees to help manage the torrent of packages. The stock accumulated quickly in the toy shop’s basement. Friedland and his manager used their own garages and basements to store the excess. Friedland’s goal was to buy as much inventory at pre-tariff prices as possible, attracting customers with lower prices and in-demand stock. So far, the gamble has paid off. Timeless Toy’s sales are up about 18.4% year over year. * Crain’s | RFK Jr. wants artificial dyes out — but Chicago candy makers aren’t biting: The candy industry, in particular, doesn’t seem to want to go along for the ride. It’s the biggest food user of the synthetic dyes, and the directive challenges Chicago-area confectioners, including Mars Wrigley, Ferrara and Tootsie Roll. The candy industry seems to be saying things are just fine as they are. “Consumers know that confectionery products are treats and that they contain sugar, food colors and other FDA-approved ingredients,” says Christopher Gindlesperger, a spokesman for the National Confectioners Association in Washington, D.C. “Chocolate and candy are safe to enjoy as they have been for generations.” * The Athletic | What I’m hearing about NASCAR’s 2026 schedule: Mexico City, Chicago and more: Would NASCAR like to race in downtown Chicago next year? Yes, provided the league can strike the right deal. Are both the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago amenable to NASCAR coming back for a fourth consecutive year? Yes, provided they can strike the right deal. These caveats have left the future of the Chicago Street Course up in the air. * Sun-Times | Kim Deal on making music with Steve Albini and warming up crowds for Olivia Rodrigo: There’s no way to start a conversation about Chicago with Kim Deal without the name Steve Albini. The late, great producer and audio engineer behind Chicago’s Electrical Audio recording studio was basically on Deal’s speed dial for almost 40 years, as she came up the ranks in iconic acts like Pixies and The Breeders. From his legendary Studio A, he zeroed in on the raw power and vociferous noise characteristic of Deal’s many seminal projects — albums like Pixies’ “Surfer Rosa,” The Breeders’ “Pod” and her 2024 solo debut “Nobody Loves You More.” * Sun-Times | First 2025 human case of West Nile virus reported in Lake County: A county resident in their 70s became ill in early July, according to the Lake County Health Department, although the sex, location or condition of the person was not provided. Last year, six human cases were reported in Lake County. The first batch of mosquitoes testing positive for the virus in Lake County were sampled June 24 at a Southlake Mosquito Abatement District trap in Highland Park. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora Mayor John Laesch to hear from community through town hall tour: The Community Listening and Action Town Hall Tour, officially announced late Monday, will be held four Saturdays in a row beginning on July 26. The workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at locations across the city designed to cover each of the 10 wards, according to a city news release. “We want to give the community an opportunity to provide feedback on the state of Aurora,” Laesch said in the news release. “This listening tour will help my staff and I to better understand what our residents want to see from us and the City over the next four years.” * Daily Herald | Making progress: Spring Hill Mall demolition ahead of schedule and sparking developers’ interest: The village, which envisions a mix of residential, retail and entertainment on the mall property, plans to seek proposals for redevelopment after demolition work is complete, Village President Chris Nelson said. “We’re still unwinding the spaghetti,” Cavallaro said. “Once we get everything clear, we’ll start.” * Daily Herald | Prospect Heights approves land swap enabling hangars to replace hotel at Chicago Executive Airport: “The resubdivision cleans up old property lines from the days before it was Chicago Executive Airport,” Prospect Heights Building & Development Director Dan Peterson said. “It’s the first step necessary for Sky Harbour to move forward with the rest of their planning.” While nothing changes operationally for the Aviation Plaza building, the swap prevents it from being cut off from about a dozen parking spaces in the northeast corner of its lot, Peterson added. * Aurora Beacon-News | Quad County Urban League celebrates 50 years of creating as ‘family’ and ‘game-changer’: Her photo may have been prominently displayed, along with Aurora matriarch Marie Wilkinson’s, when the Quad County Urban League celebrated its 50th anniversary at Monday’s open house, but Theodia Gillespie was determined to keep the focus of this event on others. With about 40 years working for the League – and over three decades as its president and CEO — Gillespie certainly has been at the forefront of the success of this group, which since July 14, 1975, has been advancing civil rights and empowerment through community partnerships for African-Americans and other underserved populations in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties. * Lawndale News | Forest Preserves of Cook County Expands Conservation Corps: More than 40 youth and young adults have summer jobs this year through the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Conservation Corps programs thanks to a program expansion made possible by funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Recognized for collaborative and successful Conservation Corps programs, the Forest Preserves is the sole recipient of the newly created IDNR Youth and Young Adult Conservation Corps (YYACC) grant. Since 2005, these three Conservation Corps programs have engaged more than 3,500 people. With the $344,000 YYACC grant, this year’s offerings have been able to add crews, equipment and more. Conservation Corps programs are managed in partnership with Friends of the Forest Preserves, the Student Conservation Association and Audubon Great Lakes. * Daily Herald | Nostalgic for bar cars? Metra may introduce ‘café cars’: Through surveys and in conversations with riders, “’we’ve heard a lot of comments about ‘when are the bar cars coming back?’” Executive Director Jim Derwinski said at a Wednesday board meeting. The new models would offer refreshments but that might not include alcohol, officials said. * WCIA | Where to get water as Mattoon ‘do not drink’ order continues:: The Salvation Army Mattoon and Walmart in Mattoon are teaming up to give out free drinking water. The water distribution will take place at the Walmart at 101 Dettro Drive in the northwest corner of the parking lot, and people attending are asked to use the McDonald’s entrance and follow the signs to Lawn & Garden. At Walmart, they’re handing out cases of bottled water, gallon jugs of water and nursery water. Donations are also being accepted for The Salvation Army. The water distribution is taking place until 7 p.m. on Thursday and will also take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, or while supplies last. * BND | Massage parlor prostitution ring in southern Illinois exposed, owners charged: Federal investigators allege that five massage parlors in southern Illinois and Indiana were operating as a front for prostitution. The parlor’s owners, Jianhong Hu Allbright, 57, of Shoals, Indiana, and Yalong Cao, 25, of Schaumburg, Illinois, were indicted Wednesday on conspiracy and money laundering through prostitution charges for operating five illicit massage parlors throughout southern Illinois and Indiana. The charges were filed in the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois. * BND | Poachers get heavy fine for spotlight hunting deer in southern Illinois: Five Mississippi men have been fined thousands and sentenced to years of probation after they used illegal hunting methods to poach deer in five southern Illinois counties, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday. Lee Johnson, 54, of Saucier, Mississippi, organized deer hunts in which he and four others used motor vehicles and spotlights to locate deer, mark their location, then would go back to shoot them with a rifle, according to court records. * WCIA | Illinois leaders gather to honor Scott Bennett, continue his legacy at admin center dedication: Among those in attendance included familiar faces like State Senator Paul Faraci, Representative Brandon Schweizer and Vermilion Advantage President Mike Marron. The ceremony officially named the Champaign County building after him on the day he would have turned 48 years old. Stacy Bennett said the purpose of the dedication is to honor Scott’s life and legacy to a community he loved very much. * Illinois Times | An intermission for change: Temporary closure brings much-needed refresh to UIS Performing Arts Center: The Public Affairs Center building at UIS is undergoing a major plumbing replacement project that will temporarily close the UIS Studio Theatre and Sangamon Auditorium. While this may be disappointing news for the patrons who look forward to our events, it also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Because, let’s face it, after more than 40 years, Sangamon Auditorium is ready for its “second act.” * Barron’s | US Firms Passing Some Cost Hikes To Consumers: Fed Survey: Many US firms passed along “at least a portion of cost increases” to consumers in recent weeks, as businesses faced higher prices linked to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. Businesses also expect costs to remain elevated, “increasing the likelihood that consumer prices will start to rise more rapidly by late summer,” according to the central bank’s “Beige Book” survey of economic conditions. * Crain’s | Rivian picks Atlanta for East Coast HQ as $6B Georgia plant nears: Rivian is establishing its East Coast headquarters in Atlanta later this year to support operations at its second electric vehicle plant, set to begin construction in 2026, the company said. “The office will open in late 2025, followed by further expansion in 2026 as construction accelerates at the company’s new manufacturing site in Social Circle, just outside the city,” Rivian said July 17. * NYT | Justice Dept. Asks for 1-Day Sentence for Ex-Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Raid: The chief of the Justice Department’s civil rights unit has asked a federal judge to sentence a Louisville police officer convicted in the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor to one day in jail, a stunning reversal of the unit’s longstanding efforts to address racial disparities in policing. Last year, a federal jury in Kentucky convicted Brett Hankison, the officer, of one count of violating Ms. Taylor’s civil rights by using excessive force in discharging several shots through Ms. Taylor’s window during a drug raid that went awry.
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Meanwhile… In Opposite Land
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Wyoming…
* Arkansas…
* The Atlantic…
* Utah…
* Texas…
Maybe Illinois could join in?… ![]() * Idaho…
* Texas…
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Sen. DeWitte bows out of reelection
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
DeWitte is one of a handful of Republicans who works to be as bipartisan as he can, considering the times. He won the Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Republican in 2021…
* The precincts that currently make up Sen. DeWitte’s district have collectively leaned Democratic starting in 2020. Not a single statewide Republican has carried it since then, albeit in the low-to-mid single digits. In other words, he may have had a tough race next year and the SDems are probably favored to pick up the open seat, depending on candidates, etc. Republican Rep. Dan Ugaste and Democratic Rep. Suzanne Ness are his two House members.
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SB 328: Separating Lies From Truth
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
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Pritzker says $241.8 million federal funding for Illinois schools being withheld
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
Discuss.
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No deal, no special session: Buckner says transit talks not there yet
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Last month, House transit negotiator Rep. Kam Buckner told Crain’s he’d be open to a transit special session—if a deal can be reached.
Rich told subscribers late last month that key negotiators, including the Speaker and Senate President, don’t see the point in returning to Springfield without a transit deal. * Yesterday, Buckner signaled that a transit agreement still hasn’t been reached, telling Evanston Now a special session isn’t on the horizon…
Thoughts?
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When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Findings of a recent economic study were clear — the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product. Retailers like Chris in DeKalb enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Catching up with the federal candidates (Updated x2)
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Raja Krishnamoorthi is out with another statewide TV ad…
* Transcript…
* Playbook…
…Adding… Looks like Krishnamoorthi quietly took Dominick’s name out of a Facebook post after including his endorsement…
This might be related to Cicero paying a $675,000 settlement in a sexual harassment case involving Dominick — or Dominick calling for the death penalty. His name also came up during Sen. Emil Jones III’s bribery trial, when Omar Maani testified he paid $23,000 to attorney Michael Del Galdo to show his “appreciation” for the Cicero Town President. * Tribune…
* Moving on to the 2nd Congressional District. Tribune…
* Daily Herald…
…Adding… More from Capitol News Illinois…
Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, Christopher Swann, Kevin Ryan and Jump Shepherd are on the Cook County Democratic Party’s Friday slating schedule for Durbin’s Senate seat. * More…
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Hexaware: Your Globally Local IT Services Partner
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] As a global IT services company rooted in communities around the world, Hexaware combines deep industry expertise with cutting-edge solutions to boost productivity, create new opportunities, and strengthen economies everywhere. Our Corporate Video showcases our transparent, action-oriented approach—from local community initiatives to enterprise-scale programs—designed to deliver real results you can see and measure.
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Open thread
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Johnny Cash & Johnny Rodriguez cover a 1948 Woody Guthrie composition… Some of us are illegal, and others not wanted, Tell us what’s going on by you.
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Isabel’s morning briefing (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: More than 900 people now say they were abused at Illinois youth prisons. Sun-Times…
- Attorney Jerome Block said his clients deserve compensation, though there is “no amount of money that can fully make these survivors whole.” - In a statement, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice said it is aware of the recently filed lawsuits and cannot comment on active litigation. * Related stories…
∙ Fox Chicago: Nearly 1,000 lawsuits allege sexual abuse at Illinois, Cook County juvenile detention centers ∙ Tribune: Another 107 former detainees allege sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers ∙ NBC Chicago: Former juvenile inmates claiming sexual abuse by staff in Illinois grows to more than 900 * LSR | BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet Set IL Sports Betting Minimums: Starting Wednesday, BetMGM requires all Illinois sports betting customers to stake at least $2.50 on all wager types, including straight bets, parlays, Same Game Parlays, round robins, and bonus bets. BetMGM notified customers of the change earlier this week. Hard Rock Bet implemented a similar policy, requiring a $2 bet minimum that similarly applies to all bet types. * Sun-Times | Governor JB Pritzker pens letter urging President Trump’s education secretary to unfreeze $6.8B in grants: Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday joined 13 Democratic governors in demanding that Education Secretary Linda McMahon release $6.8 billion in education grants that are being withheld by the Trump administration. The letter to McMahon comes just days after 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze in education grants for K-12 schools and adult education. States were notified that the grants were being withheld on June 30 — and more than 100 House Democrats also wrote a letter to McMahon last week, pressing for her to “follow the law” and release the funds ahead of the new school year. * Press Release | AG Raoul sues Trump Administration for unlawfully ending disaster mitigation program: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 states, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempt to illegally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike. For the past 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities across the nation with resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. By focusing on preparation, the program has protected property, saved money that would have otherwise been spent on post-disaster costs, reduced injuries and saved lives. * WAND | IDFPR launches 24 additional license types to new licensing system: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has announced that 24 additional professions can now obtain licensure through the Department’s newly launched online licensing system, known as CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). * Press Release | Democratic County Chairs’ announce Party Builder honorees: Today, the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) announced the remaining members of the Class of 2025 Party Builder Award honorees to be honored at the 2025 Annual County Chairs’ Brunch on Wednesday, August 13th at the BOS Center in Springfield. The Party Builder Award was established eight years ago to thank those who have shown exceptional dedication to strengthening the Democratic Party. The newest Party Builder Award honorees are Terry Redman, Chair of the DeWitt County Democratic Party, the Vice President of the IDCCA, and the State Central Committeeman for the 15th Congressional District, and the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership (IWIL) Training Academy, an organization that prepares and trains Democratic, pro-choice women to run for elected office, seek public appointments, and govern at all levels in Illinois. * Sun-Times | Illinois leaders blast State Farm as it hikes home insurance rates: The Illinois Department of Insurance has the power to sue insurance companies over rate hikes once they’re in effect. But state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park, said that process could take a couple of years. He introduced a bill this year that would require insurance companies to get prior approval from the state insurance department for any rate increases of 5% or more, with a 30-day public comment period following a proposed rate increase of more than 10%. Hastings’ bill would have also capped rate hikes at 15% per year, unless the insurer could provide evidence of increased claims due to natural disasters. The proposal went nowhere. * Civic leaders | Gov. JB Pritzker should veto bitter pension sweetener for Chicago: But now, the bill on its way to Pritzker’s desk would undo much of that work, making the city less affordable, putting its credit rating at risk and shifting the cost to future generations. Illinois politicians have been doing this to the city for decades, and we are hopeful that our governor will end this fiscally irresponsible practice. At a minimum, we should have an honest assessment of the short- and long-term costs and consequences. * CNI | Comptroller Mendoza won’t run for reelection, opening up statewide office: While she didn’t commit to a run, she said she is “leaving the door open.” Several U.S. House seats are up for grabs, along with Illinois’ first open U.S. Senate seat since 2010. But when asked whether she was interested in a position in Congress, Mendoza laughed. “No thank you,” she quickly said Thursday, before moving on to questions about a potential mayoral bid. * Others eyeing Mendoza’s seat are Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and Rep. Margaret Croke…
…Adding… Sen. Karina Villa is on tomorrow’s Cook County Democratic Party slating schedule for Comptroller. * Yesterday, Mendoza left the door open to a Chicago mayoral bid…
* Sun-Times | City Council adjourns for summer recess after approving ethics reform, but without authorizing ‘granny flats’: The City Council adjourned for the summer Wednesday after approving another round of ethics reforms and $35.2 million more in police abuse settlements, but punting on the thorny issue of whether to authorize “granny flats” citywide. Before heading off for the annual August recess, alderpersons also gave a royal send-off to retiring Zoning Committee Chair Walter Burnett (27th). If there was a vote for Mr. Congeniality, Burnett would win it hands-down. He is, by far, the Council’s most popular member. * Crain’s | As Burnett exits City Council, Johnson’s in a bind to find a new Zoning chair: Johnson turned to Burnett last summer only after the post had been vacant for 10 months following Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, stepping down after apologizing for briefly physically blocking a colleague from entering the City Council chamber during a heated meeting. The normally routine elevation of a mayoral ally to a leadership position vexed the mayor’s office as it couldn’t round up the votes for the mayor’s desired pick, despite Johnson personally making calls on behalf of combative progressive ally, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th. * Tribune | ComEd’s $10M relief fund running out after 60,000 customers apply in first week: “Based on the high demand seen, we anticipate the fund will soon close, and ComEd will make an announcement once funds are fully exhausted,” ComEd spokesperson Lauren Huffman said Wednesday. Exelon, the utility’s Chicago-based parent company, is donating the relief money for the fund, which is being administered through Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago and The Salvation Army. The application process began July 7 and the agencies are sorting through thousands of customer requests seeking a share of the $10 million, Huffman said. * WBEZ | Mom sues CPS over alleged ‘extreme acts’ of racist bullying and sexual misconduct against daughter: The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages of at least $50,000 for the young girl, who expressed suicidal thoughts in the wake of the bullying. Sher’Ron Hinton, the girl’s mother, and her attorneys say they also want CPS to agree to systemic reforms, including the creation of an office to address bullying. A CPS spokesperson said officials do not comment on pending litigation, but noted that the district “is committed to the safety and well-being of our students.” * Crain’s | Frederick Ford, who broke barriers as Union League Club’s first Black president, dies at 98: The beloved accountant was a pioneer among minority communities as the first Black member and first Black president of the prestigious Union League Club of Chicago, and a champion of its admittance of women. Originally from Missouri, Ford climbed up the ranks as an accountant in Chicago to become executive vice president and chief financial officer at Draper & Kramer, a real estate development and financial services firm, breaking the industry’s color barriers years before the civil rights movement took hold. * Block Club | Artis Restaurant And Lounge Closes For Good After River North Mass Shooting: Owners Brandi Artis and Brittany Artis announced the closure Tuesday afternoon in a social media post. Their decision follows Ald. Brendan Reilly’s (42nd) call for the restaurant to be permanently shut down in the wake of the shooting. “Our curated space of love and acceptance was threatened by a senseless act of hate … We will continue to grow through the pain and find ways to heal, together,” the owners wrote in their statement. * AP | Puppies rescued from flood-stricken Texas arrive at Chicago shelter: Nine puppies from parts of Texas submerged by catastrophic flooding that killed at least 132 people arrived Wednesday at the no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago, joining dozens of puppies that had already arrived. The critters landed by plane at Waukesha Airport in Wisconsin then made a three-hour journey by van to Chicago. * WGN | Ryne Sandberg shares health update amid cancer battle: Beloved Chicago Cub and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg took to social media Wednesday to share an update on his health. Sandberg, 65, announced in December his prostate cancer has relapsed and spread. He shared the following update with fans on Instagram Wednesday. * Tribune | Chicago Sky players voice solidarity as WNBA and union brace for a potential work stoppage in November: “There’s so much at stake right now,” Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere said. “We need to put pressure on the league. If that means sitting out, we’re ready for it. It’s empowering in the way that we have a voice to make a change in our league.” The current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don’t reach an agreement by then, a work stoppage could begin. * Daily Herald | Naperville may increase local sales tax to offset grocery tax repeal: Naperville officials are leaning toward a home rule sales tax increase to help offset the loss of revenue from the elimination of a statewide grocery sales tax. City council members on Tuesday voted 5-4 on a first reading of an ordinance for a 0.25% increase to the home rule sales tax with a two-year sunset clause. A final vote on the matter is expected in August. * Shaw Local | Woodstock sales tax hike wins City Council approval: After a public hearing on the tax increase – which is allowed without voter approval because of the city’s home-rule status – the Woodstock City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the additional sales tax, as well as an upcoming bond sale to pay for part of the $9.3 million renovation. The change will bring the total sales tax rate that shoppers in Woodstock will pay to 8.5% when the increase in the local tax goes into effect Jan. 1. * Shaw Local | Will County agrees to $85,000 settlement in lawsuit claiming violation of sanctuary laws: Will County reached an $85,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit claiming that county law enforcement violated sanctuary laws with the detention of an immigrant who was the key witness of a reckless homicide. The 2023 lawsuit filed by Norberto Salvador Navarro was dismissed in March in response to the settlement. * Daily Southtown | Orland Park hits snag in replacing lead water lines; homeowners say no: Officials are trying to find a work-around that doesn’t involve going to court to force the homeowners to go along. For now it isn’t a big deal. Although the village has to report its progress in eliminating the lines, it could face fines come 2027 if it doesn’t reach the goal, according to Public Works Director Joel Van Essen. Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines. The village said it is expecting the per-home cost to replace the lines at $10,000 to $15,000, but is saying the total cost could be as much as $80,000 for the four homes. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council to consider reorganization of various city divisions: Laesch told The Beacon-News in an interview earlier this month that the changes were made based on “common sense,” efficiency of operations and his own priorities as mayor. In Aurora City Council committee meetings, he has said the changes were made after talking with city staff. Likely the largest of the proposed changes is that the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs will no longer exist. The three divisions previously under that department will be spread out across the city: equity and engagement will each be made into their own sub-department under the control of the Mayor’s Office, while special events will be taken over by the communications department. * WCIA | ‘Lack of trust’; Mattoon community powering through second ‘do not drink’ order: Community members said while they know the city is working to combat this issue, they could also work on communication. Genna McCaslin said she and others who live slightly outside the city have gotten some emergency alerts to their phones, but not consistently. * WCIA | Dozens still living in condemned apartment complex in Champaign: The 29 buildings at the Champaign Park apartments were all condemned in June, after years of neglect from an out-of-town landlord. “We think there’s 100 people here,” Danielle Chynoweth, supervisor of Cunningham Township, said. “Just standing here I’ve seen over a dozen people in the few minutes I’ve stood here.” * Telegraph | SRO crowd complains about water at Bethalto Village Board meeting: Many brought bottles of brown water taken from their taps, while others brought articles of clothing damaged or ruined by the water. Others brought photographs and told stories about their added expenses for bottled water or filters, concerns about potential effects of drinking the discolored water or other health issues. While some talked about moving out of the village, others demanded that they be reimbursed for extra expenses, and suggested the village provide bottled water for them to drink. * WTVO | Belvidere votes against 1% grocery tax. How much could you save?: The Belvidere City Council unanimously voted to drop the 1% grocery tax in 2026. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law eliminating the grocery tax in Illinois, leaving it up to local municipalities to choose to continue it after January 1st, 2026. “The city of Belvidere is going to do just fine without it,” said Mayor Clint Morris. “And, you know, I think it’s the right thing to do.” * WAND | Lucky Horseshoes, Springfield Park District still at odds over stadium dispute: The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes and the Springfield Park District continue to battle over what to do with Robin Roberts Stadium, the home of the ‘Shoes. The stadium is controlled by the Park District, but the team wants it to be transferred to a non-profit organization called “Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium,” which is controlled by the team, citing a lack of upgrades and repairs. * WTVO | Oregon school district releases strict discipline guidelines for cellphone ban policy: The Oregon School District announced this week that it would be partnering with the company Yondr for lockable pouches for students to stow their cellphones during classes. “Beginning August 13th, we will launch the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program – a proven, bell-to-bell approach that supports student focus, well-being, and connection by removing mobile phone distractions during the school day,” Principal Jen Speakes said in a letter to parents. * WQAD | Carl Sandburg College building new agriculture incubator thanks to $1.8M grant: The State of Illinois has awarded $7 million to four colleges around the state to enhance tech incubator programs. Locally, Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg received $1.8 million in funding and will use the money to renovate a new agriculture incubator for students. The Sandburg Annex building, located in downtown Galesburg, was once used to host Sandberg’s dental hygiene program. In the next year, the space will be a beacon of mentoring and business development for anyone interested in agriculture. * WTVO | Rockford gets a pro soccer franchise in MLIS: A couple local men want to take soccer in Rockford to another level, the professional level. Starting this coming winter, Rockford will have a men’s pro team in Major League Indoor Soccer. Fernando Rodriguez, a life-long Rockford resident and Raul Sanchez, a native of Cuba who played soccer for East High School have been a part of the Rockford soccer scene for many years as players, instructors and running youth teams. Recently, they were awarded an expansion franchise in Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS). It’s called the Rockford Thunder. * AP | Senate passes $9 billion in spending cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid requested by Trump: The legislation, which now moves to the House, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the targeted spending, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad. It also could complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and even some Republicans have argued they are ceding congressional spending powers to Trump with little idea of how the White House Office of Management and Budget would apply the cuts. * BBC | The atomic bomb marker inside your body: One of the earliest uses of the bomb spike was to assist crime investigators seeking to identify the age of unidentified human remains. Forensic scientists have found that they can measure bomb carbon-14 in teeth, bones, hair or even the lens of the eye to help them estimate how old a person was, or when they died, according to Eden Centaine Johnstone-Belford of Monash University and Soren Blau of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in Australia. In a 2019 review, Centaine Johnstone-Belford and Blau cite multiple examples where the bomb spike has informed police enquiries. For example, in 2010 investigators used it to confirm a body found in a northern Italian lake had been dumped there by the killer the previous year. * The Atlantic | The States Are Going Full RFK Jr.: Though RFK Jr. has the power to enact monumental change, much of MAHA’s actual successes at reforming the American diet haven’t come from Washington. While states pass law after law cracking down on food, Kennedy’s own biggest action to date has been relatively modest: a campaign pressuring food companies to voluntarily remove synthetic food dyes from their products. The states are out-MAHAing the MAHA king, much to his pleasure.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jul 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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