Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sen. Darby Hills…

Just days after being sworn in as the new State Senator for Illinois’ 26th District, Senator Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) is already hard at work in Springfield. Sworn in on Friday, February 28, 2025, she wasted no time diving into legislative business, setting up her offices, and taking on key committee assignments.

Reflecting her deep commitment to children and families, Senator Hills has been named the Minority Spokesperson for the Child Welfare Committee, where she will advocate for policies that protect and support children across Illinois.

“I’m excited to be in Springfield, rolling up my sleeves and getting to work for the 26th District,” said Senator Hills. “As a mother and the founder of a charity that helps hundreds of kids each week with meals, medical care, and social services, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to support children and families. It’s an honor to serve as Minority Spokesperson for the Child Welfare Committee, and I’m committed to making sure every child has the safety, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.”

In addition to her leadership on child welfare issues, Senator Hills will serve on the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Judiciary, and Transportation committees, focusing on economic growth, public safety, and infrastructure improvements. As a former Cook County prosecutor, attorney, Barrington Hills Village Board trustee, and founder of Barrington Children’s Charities, she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to her new role.

With both her Springfield and District offices up and running, Senator Hills encourages constituents to reach out with questions, concerns, or issues affecting their communities. She is committed to being accessible and responsive to the people she represents.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WICS | Republicans push for special master in Illinois redistricting lawsuit: Republican lawmakers provided an update on their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ legislative map. The lawsuit, originally filed on January 28, argues that the current state map is a product of partisan gerrymandering. Republicans have requested that the Illinois Supreme Court appoint a special master to redraw the map. They emphasize the urgency of addressing the district boundaries before the next election cycle.

* Bond Buyer | Illinois returns to market with Build Illinois bonds: Fitch Ratings rates the bonds A-plus. Kroll Bond Rating Agency rates the bonds AA-plus. S&P Global Ratings assigns the bonds an A rating. The outlooks on all ratings are stable. In a rating report, Fitch said the ratings reflect an expectation that pledged state sales tax deposits will rise with inflation, as well as a debt structure that can survive significant decline while preserving debt service coverage and pledged deposits that are differentiated from the general operations of the state.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | CTU Delivers 5 ‘Must Haves,’ Ramping Up Pressure to Finalize New Teachers Contract: The union on Wednesday said it has been petitioning its members in recent days and has learned they have significant support for five final items to be settled at the negotiating table. Those issues are: fair pay for educators; an improved elementary school day that includes additional prep time; enforceable class sizes; revisions to what the union feels are “racially discriminatory practices” in the district’s teacher evaluation system; and an increase in the number of librarians, counselors, nurses, clinicians and teacher assistants.

* Crain’s | Former Illinois Medical District CEO departs Sterling Bay: Suzet McKinney, who has served as principal and director of life sciences at Chicago-based Sterling Bay since 2021, ended her tenure with the developer last month, according to an unrelated news release and McKinney’s LinkedIn profile. McKinney had spent five years running the IMD prior to joining Sterling Bay, a hire that punctuated the developer’s intention to build lab space for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

* Sun-Times | New Uber Shuttle service to offer fans leaving the United Center $5 rides: Riders will be able to reserve a seat on a shuttle using the Uber app up to two days before an event, an Uber spokesperson said. Riders can book up to four seats at a time on 23-passenger buses to the Magnificent Mile, Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station. […] Uber did not comment on how long the introductory rate would last.

* Tribune | Visually impaired students learn to navigate Chicago streets without audible warning signals: On a recent rainy morning in Chicago’s Loop, a group of visually impaired students made their way along a sidewalk, sweeping their white canes back and forth to feel curbs and planters. They stopped at a corner to listen. A CTA train roared overhead. Cars rushed in front of them. They waited. When they could hear the traffic move parallel to them, the group began venturing through the crosswalk, safely reaching the opposite corner. The suburban students ranged from sixth grade to high school, and their vision varied from pretty good to almost none. Guided by teachers, their crossing was another little victory in a journey to make their way in a world built for sighted people.

* AP | These Chicago Nuns Advocated for Immigrant Rights for 40 years — Now in Their 90s, They’re Not Slowing Down: The sisters initially took in one family — a single mother from Sierra Leone with five children. But the need was great. Soon after, the sisters had 17 apartments filled with 17 asylum-seeking families and a new nonprofit to fund the ongoing operation, known as Catherine’s Caring Cause. They’ve housed 25 families over the past three years — paying rent and utilities for a year, offering food assistance, providing connections to legal help.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County Board holds town hall meeting on sales tax referendum in advance of April vote: On Monday, the Kane County Board hosted an in-person town hall meeting in Aurora to answer questions about the sales tax referendum question being put to voters in the county on April 1. Next month, Kane County voters will be asked whether they support a 0.75% sales tax increase meant to boost funding for the county’s public safety services.

* Tribune | Niles village trustees approve water hike to align with inflation, consider TIF giveaways for project: Two major items on the agenda at the board meeting were rate changes for water and sewer service that would help Niles cover the cost of two major projects, and a resolution regarding over $2 million in tax increment financing incentives for a redevelopment project on Milwaukee Avenue Water rate increases had been discussed for years, according to a village staff memo explaining the current increase.

* Tribune | Evanston candidates Chow, Suffredin jab at each other’s ethics in Sixth Ward race: With four weeks to go until the April 1 election, Evanston City Council candidates Candance Chow, a challenger, and incumbent Tom Suffredin have thrown shots at each other, each accusing the other of unethical actions in the past or present. Chow and Suffredin, who do not have glaring policy differences in their approach to Evanston government, are vying to represent Evanston’s 6th Ward. Suffredin was elected alderman of the ward in 2017 and is running for his third term.

* Daily Herald | Batavia school board approves support for statewide ‘Vision 2030’ blueprint: The Batavia Unit District 101 board has adopted a resolution supporting Vision 2030, a road map for policy priorities that several school districts want the state to prioritize enhancing academic opportunities. “Vision 2030 provides an aspirational framework to achieve educational excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility,” Superintendent Tom Kim said in a press release. “This approach will help us better serve our students, support our educators, and strengthen our educational programs.”

*** Downstate ***

* KSDK | US Attorney General names interim US attorney for southern Illinois: Attorney General Pam Bondi named [Steven Weinhoeft] the interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois last Friday, about two weeks after Rachelle Aud Crowe “departed” from the role. Weinhoeft previously served in the role from 2018 to 2022. “I am honored and excited to return to this role to serve the people of the Southern District of Illinois,” Weinhoeft said in the press release Wednesday. “I look forward to working with Attorney General Bondi, our talented team, and our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law with integrity and resolve.”

* WCIA | U of I Athletic Director addresses Congress, warns of potential problems with ‘patchwork’ NIL laws: University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman testified at a congressional hearing Tuesday about the future of college athletics. “Efforts underway to reform and modernize college athletics are in many ways overdue, as the NCAA has not always moved with needed urgency,” Whitman said.

* WCIA | Champaign city councilman misses 3rd meeting in a row after swastika post backlash: The last time Williams was in attendance was back at the February 4th meeting. This was when he was on the receiving end of numerous public comments denouncing his behavior toward the Jewish community. Before the meeting, Williams had made a controversial Facebook post where he changed his profile picture to a swastika and later defended the post in the comments.

*** National ***

* CNBC | Private employers added just 77,000 jobs in February, far below expectations, ADP says: Private companies added just 77,000 new workers for the month, well off the upwardly revised 186,000 in January and below the 148,000 estimate, ADP reported. The report reflected tariff concerns, as a sector that lumps together trade, transportation and utility jobs saw a loss of 33,000 positions. On the positive side, leisure and hospitality jobs jumped by 41,000, while professional and business services added 27,000 and financial activities and construction both saw gains of 25,000.

* Tribune | Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo: The VA’s chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top level officials at the agency that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees after the VA expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act.

* NYT | Trump Officials Take Down List of Federal Properties for Possible Sale: On Tuesday, the Trump administration identified more than 440 federal properties that could be sold off, a list that included high-profile buildings like the headquarters of the F.B.I., Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services. By Wednesday morning, the entire inventory had been taken down, replaced by an agency web page that said the list of properties was “coming soon.”

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Report: Underutilized CPS schools driving up costs

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Overcrowding is a problem in only about 5 percent of Chicago’s public schools…

Small class sizes allow for personalized learning and individualized attention, essential for our diverse students to thrive.

CTU member Makenzie Verdone shared how her class sizes have grown each single year. We’re demanding enforceable class sizes in our schools so our… pic.twitter.com/Sx5DHUoh4A

— Chicago Teachers Union (@CTULocal1) March 5, 2025

* Source: Civic Federation…

The recent Civic Federation Financial Landscape Analysis of the Chicago Public School District highlights a long-term issue for the Chicago Public School District (CPS or the “District”): declining enrollment has led to significant building underutilization. Today, a significant mismatch exists between the number of students enrolled in the District and the amount of space available in schools throughout the City. Based on FY2025 CPS data, 58% of District school buildings are underutilized. CPS defines underutilization as enrollment below 70% of a school’s capacity. In 2024, 154 out of 498 CPS schools were at less than half of their capacity. Only approximately 36% of schools are classified as efficiently utilized and 5% as overcrowded.

Operational spending data provides a useful measure to compare schools and identify facilities with particularly high spending per student – in other words, schools that are not efficiently utilized. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) defines Operational Spending Per Student (OSPS) as the average amount spent on a school’s operating costs, including instructional costs, per student in a given fiscal year. Out of the 498 CPS facilities for which operational spending and space utilization data are available, 185, or 37%, are efficiently utilized, and 287, or 58%, are underutilized. The following chart compares the average OSPS, as reported by ISBE’s 2024 Report Card dataset for efficiently utilized versus underutilized schools.

The following table lists the utilization status of CPS schools based on FY2025 Space Utilization Data. Based on CPS’ definition, underutilized schools are those at 70% or less of capacity. Severely underutilized schools are classified here as those at 33% or less capacity. See CPS’ interactive map of schools by utilization here to see these schools’ geographic distribution.

A total of 50 schools are operating at 33% capacity or less. The lowest enrolled school in the District, Douglass High School, has only 28 students enrolled compared to its capacity of 912 students (this is based on FY2025 adjusted 20th-day enrollment numbers). For a complete list of those schools, see the Civic Federation’s Financial Landscape Analysis of the Chicago Public School District report. The cost of operation per student at those schools substantially exceeds the costs at better-enrolled counterparts. The average operating cost per student per year among severely underutilized elementary schools is about $28,000 annually, $4,700 more than is spent on average at efficiently utilized elementary schools. The average operating cost among severely underutilized high schools is nearly $36,000 annually, $12,338 more than is spent on average at efficient schools.

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AG Raoul lays out extensive defense of state immigration laws

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Isabel posted this story earlier today…

Illinois‘ attorney general is urging a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration over the state’s sanctuary protections for undocumented immigrants, arguing that the federal government cannot “coerce” states to enforce federal immigration policy.

* As AG Kwame Raoul’s filing notes, this very issue has been adjudicated twice before…

Both the TRUST Act and the Way Forward Act have been the subject of prior preemption and intergovernmental immunity challenges, each of which failed. First, a group of Illinois sheriffs challenged the TRUST Act’s prohibition on complying with civil immigration detainers, alleging it conflicted with federal law. Judge Johnston of this district dismissed their claims, holding that the sheriffs lacked standing because the TRUST Act did not require them to do anything prohibited by federal law. Because “ICE detainers are not compulsory” under federal law, he concluded, the sheriffs “do not violate federal law by complying with the Illinois TRUST Act. ” Prim v. Raoul, No. 3:20-cv-50094, 2021 WL 214641, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 21, 2021).

Next, following the adoption of the Way Forward Act, two Illinois counties with existing agreements to house detainees for federal civil immigration enforcement in their jails challenged the Act’s termination of those agreements. The counties claimed federal immigration statutes authorizing cooperative detention agreements preempted the new Illinois law, and that forbidding Illinois counties from having such agreements improperly regulated the federal government. Judge Reinhard of this district dismissed their claims. McHenry County v. Raoul, 574 F. Supp. 3d 571 (N.D. Ill. 2021) (“McHenry County I”). He first concluded that the federal statutes at issue did not regulate private actors, and therefore, under Murphy v. NCAA, 584 U.S. 453 (2018), could not be a basis for preemption. 574 F. Supp. 3d at 578-79. In rejecting the counties’ intergovernmental immunity claims, Judge Reinhard further concluded that the federal statute authorizing cooperative detention agreements, 8 U.S.C. § 1103(a)(11)(B), “leaves to the State the decision whether it or any of its political subdivisions enter, or remain in” them. 574 F. Supp. 3d at 581-82.

The Seventh Circuit affirmed, reasoning primarily that the cooperative, non-compulsory nature of the applicable federal statutes provided no support for plaintiffs’ claims. McHenry County v. Raoul, 44 F.4th 581 (7th Cir. 2022) (“McHenry County II”). Agreeing with a prior Fifth Circuit decision, City of El Cenizo v. Texas, 890 F.3d 164 (5th Cir. 2018), and a Ninth Circuit decision, United States v. California, 921 F.3d 865 (9th Cir. 2019), the Seventh Circuit concluded that federal law gives “states and localities the option, not the requirement, of assisting federal immigration authorities.” McHenry County II, 44 F.4th at 592 (quoting California, 921 F.3d at 889); accord El Cenizo, 890 F.3d at 177. Further, because the Tenth Amendment precludes federal commandeering of state and local law enforcement, the federal government could not require Illinois’s cooperation in federal civil immigration enforcement. McHenry County II, 44 F.4th at 592. McHenry County II continues to be controlling precedent in the Seventh Circuit.

* More excerpts…

Consistent with the Tenth Amendment, federal law preserves Illinois’s sovereign right to opt out of assisting federal immigration agents with their civil immigration enforcement responsibilities. That is what Illinois has done through its statutes, the TRUST Act and the Way Forward Act. 2 In asserting that federal law preempts these state laws, the complaint systematically mistakes federal immigration agents’ preferences for legal obligations. What federal immigration agents may want Illinois law enforcement to do is not the same as what federal law requires. […]

Plaintiff asserts that the TRUST Act is an obstacle to federal immigration enforcement that must yield to the supremacy of federal law. Plaintiff is wrong as a matter of both constitutional and statutory law. The anticommandeering principle derived from the Tenth Amendment limits what Congress may compel states to do in enforcing federal immigration law, and the statutes Plaintiff cites reflect those limits. See Murphy, 584 U.S. at 480 (“a direct command to the States” is “exactly what the anticommandeering rule does not allow”). No federal statute preempts the TRUST Act. […]

The federal government has failed to identify any “valid statute enacted by Congress” reflecting a “clear and manifest purpose” to conscript Illinois into assisting with federal immigration enforcement. Kansas, 589 U.S. at 202; Arizona, 567 U.S. at 400 (quoting Rice, 331 U.S. at 230). Yes, the federal executive has changed. But there has been no intervening change in federal law that disturbs Illinois’s sovereign choice to opt out of assisting in federal immigration enforcement. And yes, Illinois’s choice may “frustrate” implementation of “[f]ederal schemes,” like the current federal executive’s avowed commitment to conduct the largest mass deportation in American history. California, 921 F.3d at 890. But this frustration is not obstacle preemption when the Tenth Amendment protects Illinois’s sovereign right not to cooperate in the President’s schemes. […]

The complaint cites federal regulations that belie any suggestion that Illinois law enforcement officers must detain noncitizens when presented with detainers or administrative warrants. Compl. ¶ 33 (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 287.7(a)). The type of “immigration detainer” that federal immigration agents use to seek custody of individuals detained by state and local law enforcement is explicitly described in federal regulations as a “request,” not a mandate. 8 C.F.R. § 287.7(a). That is why federal courts—including in this district—have repeatedly and uniformly held that immigration detainers are requests that may be declined. […]

When the prior Trump Administration attempted to withhold federal grant funds from Chicago because its ordinance excluded federal immigration agents from local lock-ups, the Seventh Circuit, rejecting the claim, distinguished between “refusal . . . to aid in civil immigration enforcement” and “affirmative interference.”

There’s lots more, so go read the rest before you pop off in comments. Thanks.

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Intoxicating Hemp: No safety? No thanks!

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A federal loophole has led to a booming gray market across Illinois for intoxicating hemp products, which use synthetics to alter the composition of hemp to get consumers high.

This is happening outside the structure of the state’s legal cannabis industry. This means intoxicating hemp faces NO quality testing, NO age restrictions, NO packaging requirements, NO potency rules, and NO taxes to fund programs in communities impacted by the War on Drugs. Most intoxicating hemp products aren’t even produced in Illinois. By contrast, Illinois cannabis businesses face extensive rules and regulations to operate, with products tracked from seed to sale. When consumers purchase legal cannabis grown and processed in Illinois, they know their products are safe.

Hemp and cannabis come from the same plant. Both products can get users high. Why the different rules? Illinois already has a system in place to regulate hemp – it’s called the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. It’s time for Illinois to close the intoxicating hemp loophole.

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USDOJ wants to join challenge to Illinois law that requires nonprofits to disclose demographics of boards and officers

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s in January…

Activist Edward Blum is targeting another diversity effort in Illinois, this time suing over a new state law that requires many nonprofit organizations to publicly disclose aggregate data about race, gender and other demographics of their board members and officers. […]

The new suit was filed today in the U.S. District Court in Chicago against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other state officials. It targets SB 2930, which was sponsored by state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last July. The law took effect Jan. 1.

Under the law, qualifying charitable groups must ask their directors and officers to provide demographic information, including their “race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” The groups must disclose the aggregate demographic data on their websites for at least three years.

The suit takes issue with the law’s reliance on Illinois Department of Human Rights demographic classifications, particularly on race. (The state agency uses the same racial classifications as the federal government, the suit says.)

You can view the complaint here.

* Yesterday, the Trump administration filed to join Blum’s legal challenge. Crain’s…

“The United States cannot and will not sit idly while a state denies its citizens equal protection under the guise of diversity,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a written statement after the Department of Justice filed a motion to intervene in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Bennett. […]

The Justice Department, in a court filing Tuesday, said, “This encouragement by the state of Illinois for nonprofits to discriminate on the basis of race when selecting directors and officers is forbidden by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and there is no diversity exception to this.”

The filing cites a comment by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, when he signed the measure, that the reporting and posting requirements are “to encourage nonprofits to reflect the diversity of the communities they support.”

The Justice Department joins Blum’s group in asking the federal court to declare the Illinois law in violation of the U.S. Constitution and to enjoin it.

Click here for Tuesday’s filing and click here for AG Bondi’s press release.

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It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WAND…

A common call State Senators receive from constituents are employees complaining how they haven’t received money from unpaid wages, even after winning in court.

A bill by Illinois Senate Democrats hopes to remove some administrative burden, which has been delaying unpaid wages being sent back to employees on time after winning in court.

The plan is supported by the Illinois Department of Labor, but the Illinois Chamber of Commerce is in opposition, who said it leaves business owners in the dark. […]

The proposal passed 15-3 out of committee, where it heads to the Senate floor for further discussion.

* Rep. Natalie Manley…

Working to expand pathways for certified public accountants (CPAs) to work in Illinois, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is sponsoring a bill that would add two additional methods for CPAs to gain licensure and make it easier for non-residents to provide CPA services in the state.

“With tax season upon us, this bill fixes some of the barriers for residents that want to become a CPA and establishes a pathway for current CPAs that want to work in Illinois — licensure stalls, red-tape, and antiquated requirements,” said Manley. “This is a practical, no-fuss solution that lowers barriers to CPA license access to address the profession’s pipeline crisis and workforce shortage by one, encouraging out-of-state accountants in good standing to come practice in Illinois, and two, allowing qualified accounting graduates who have passed the CPA exam to become licensed.”

Manley recently filed House Bill 2459, which would amend the Illinois Public Accounting Act by carving two new pathways for accounting professionals without disturbing the current path to licensure, allowing CPA applicants to become licensed with:

1. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, at least two years of experience, and the passage of the CPA exam; or
2. A bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with 30 hours of accounting concentration, at least one year of experience, and passage of the CPA exam.

“By putting two new licensure methods on the table for our accounting professionals, we can ease burdens around tax season where so many of our residents request accounting services by slashing the red tape that’s kept more than qualified individuals from practicing and serving our state.”

House Bill 2459 is currently under consideration by the Financial Institution and Licences Committee.

* Center Square…

A consumer advocate is calling for utility reform after multiple corruption-related convictions tied to ComEd.

Citizens Utility Board Director of Governmental Affairs Bryan McDaniel said the series of trials have been “sad and infuriating” for Illinois consumers. […]

McDaniel urged Illinoisans to support Senate Bill 1275, filed by state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Western Springs. McDaniel said the measure is aimed at preventing utility companies from enhancing their political power with consumer dollars. […]

McDaniel also expressed support for Illinois House Bill 1621, filed by state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, which would prevent utilities from making campaign contributions to people seeking municipal or state office.

* WCIA…

Lawmakers in the Capitol filed a bill that would make landlords set their property prices according to areas they are based in rather than using computers to set prices. This comes after the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined other states in a lawsuit against top six landlords in the country for allegedly fixing rent prices across the nation using algorithms.

The bill filed by Rep. Lilian Jiménez (D-Chicago) will stop landlords and property management businesses from using computer systems and algorithms to set rent prices. Jimenez said the rent price should be made by the people, not computers. […]

Jiménez said her bill does not prevent landlords from using technology but rather stops the requirements to use rent algorithms which can take away the competitive practice. […]

Jiménez said that putting these laws in place will prevent anticompetitive practices from expanding in other parts of Illinois and create more opportunities for the local property owner and allow people to invest in their community.

HB1427 from Rep. Jiménez is scheduled for a hearing in the Housing Committee today.

* Sen. Robert Peters…

A new bill aiming to improve patient safety and provide fairer treatment for nurse agencies has passed the Senate Labor Committee, thanks to State Senator Robert Peters.

“This measure is about protecting both patients and nurse agencies alike,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Right now, a small mistake is treated the same way as a serious violation, which isn’t fair to agencies who comply with state law. This bill will allow penalties to be more appropriately matched to the severity of the violation.”

The Nursing Agency Licensing Act sets guidelines to ensure nurse agencies meet certain operational standards and holds them responsible for the actions of the nurses they dispatch to health care facilities. Currently, Illinois law imposes a flat $10,000 fine for every violation of NALA, only targeting licensees or applicants. These guidelines do not account for the severity of the violation, meaning minor mistakes can result in the same financial punishment as more serious issues.

Under Peters’ measure, the scope of accountability will be expanded, holding all violators accountable and making penalties more proportional to the violation. This will improve patient safety and ensure nurse agencies can operate effectively without fear of disproportionate fines, creating a fairer system that is better equipped to protect the public and the health care professionals who serve them. […]

Senate Bill 67 passed the Senate Labor Committee Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

* Capitol News Illinois…

On Tuesday, environmentalists made their pitch for how to bolster the state’s grid and implement new consumer protections. The plan comes from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, a group of consumer and environmental advocates that has backed several major energy bills, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. That law set Illinois’ goal to shut down all power plants using fossil fuels by 2050.

The ICJC proposal, contained in twin House and Senate bills, offers several provisions aimed at stabilizing volatile electricity prices and increasing grid reliability. It’s a broader proposal than when the group announced an early version in its platform last spring.

The bill would bump up the energy efficiency targets for the state’s major utility companies, increase their minimum spending on low-income efficiency programs and create “time of use” electric rates that offer electric customers lower rates at times of day with lower demand and higher rates at times of high demand.

Ameren Illinois, the utility for downstate, would have its energy efficiency targets increased more to match the already higher targets for ComEd, according to Kari Ross, Natural Resource Defense Counsel energy affordability advocate.

* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a measure that would allow short-term teachers to take family and medical leave.

“Illinois has been tackling the ongoing teacher shortage for years – and this is another step in the right direction,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “We should be encouraging people to become educators, not holding them back.”

Senate Bill 1584 would permit the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses if the licensee has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act during the time they were licensed under short-term approval.

Feigenholtz’s measure comes in response to a local resident who took FMLA leave during her pregnancy when she was a short-term approval teacher. The initiative seeks to allow an extension to expiration date for a short-term approval license if a teacher has taken FMLA leave while having short-term approval. […]

Senate Bill 1584 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

* Rep. Maurice West…

State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, will join advocacy group Mascots Matter this Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. for a Capitol Blue Room press conference to discuss their initiative to prohibit public schools from using discriminatory disability mascots.

“We need to ensure all schools across Illinois show empathy and compassion in addressing the problematic names of certain mascots,” said State Rep. Maurice West. “Our schools should be a place we teach our children about respect and understanding, and holding on to sport nicknames considered to be a slur is irresponsible.”

“This week, the Mascots Matter campaign is proud to join Representative Maurice West at the Illinois State Capitol to discuss House Bill 3527, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that seeks to eliminate harmful and outdated mascots from Illinois schools, including those that perpetuate harmful stereotypes toward individuals with disabilities defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Shelby Holloway, Co-Director of the Mascots Matter Campaign. “This bill is a critical step toward ensuring that all individuals are empowered to embrace diversity, respect, and cultural understanding. We believe that this important measure will help foster a more inclusive future for Illinois, one that honors the dignity of every community.”

West’s House Bill 3527 creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act and would require relevant public schools to phase out their problematic name, logo, mascot and other relevant material. “Discriminatory disability mascot” is defined in the legislation as any name, logo or mascot that is derogatory or representative of an individual or group based on disability, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

If passed and implemented, impacted schools would need to have adopted a new mascot identity by September 1, 2028.

* More…

* WAND | AI companies could have to be entirely powered by renewable energy under IL plan: With lawmakers facing a new challenge in data centers and AI requiring record levels of power, the plan would force those companies to produce 100% of the power required for the new technologies. The energy would have to be renewable only and does not count nuclear energy. […] The House bill has not been assigned to a committee yet, but the Senate bill has been assigned to the Energy and Public Utilities committee, where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.

* WAND | Bill improving Illinois school emergency response plans heads to Senate floor: The legislation could require the Illinois State Board of Education to work the State Fire Marshal, State Police, and Illinois Emergency Management Agency to develop clear threat assessment procedures and rapid entry response plans. […] The proposal would call for emergency rules to be implemented based on procedures agreed on by state and local officials. Senate Bill 2057 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

* WAND | Illinois bill could help address school, athletic events conflicting with cultural, religious holidays: A plan moving in Springfield could require the Illinois State Board of Education to identify days where major school events may conflict with cultural or religious holidays. […] Senate Bill 1616 passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday afternoon. The measure now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

* WAND | Illinois bill could help address school, athletic events conflicting with cultural, religious holidays: “We’ve got wonderful models. Washington state has a very easily accessible list,” said Amy Zimmerman from the Jewish United Fund. “Even Wilmette School District has a nice list as well. They not only have the date. They tell you a little bit about the holiday.” Senate Bill 1616 passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday afternoon. The measure now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

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As Chicago continues to look the other way, Decatur city council bans sweepstakes machines

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here for background if you need it. WCIA…

On Monday, Decatur’s City Council voted to ban electronic sweepstakes machines. […]

“They say that they’re a free play, so you don’t actually have to put any money in. But we’ve found through investigation that you do end up having to put money in to end up getting any sort of prize,” Decatur Communications Coordinator Ryan Huffer said. […]

“Some businesses have been approached here about having them located in the City of Decatur, so we wanted to get ahead of that,” Huffer said.

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Illinois Hospitals Are Achieving Nursing Excellence Through ANCC Magnet Program

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Across the state, hospitals from rural communities to urban centers are improving patient outcomes, empowering nurses to lead change and fostering a culture where nurses can thrive. Over 50 Illinois hospitals have met the rigorous requirements of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that align with those three critical components of nursing care.

ANCC’s Magnet Hospital Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Services is one way hospitals can show their communities that they are dedicated to a strong nursing workforce and an environment that promotes excellence. To achieve Magnet distinction, hospitals must satisfy ANCC’s high standards for quality care and adopt innovations in professional nursing practice.

Magnet hospitals provide their nurses with education and development at every stage of their career and hospital leadership fully supports their nursing staff, both of which promote exceptional nursing care.

As America’s No. 1 most trusted profession since 2002, according to Gallup, nurses have an essential role in patient well-being, the patient experience while receiving care in a hospital and in optimal patient outcomes. Learn more about Illinois’ Magnet hospitals.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs. Capitol News Illinois…

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that changes to federal funding mean Illinois is missing reimbursements for costs for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, or LFPA, and can no longer run the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, or RFSI.

The state agency said the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture has told states it will not reimburse them for any costs for the programs dating back to when Trump took office on Jan. 20.

LFPA, which funds the Illinois-EATS program, uses federal funding to buy fresh products from farmers at a fair market value, then distributes the food to communities via food pantries and other similar programs designed to help people in need for no additional cost. All the food produced as part of Illinois’ program comes from socially disadvantaged farmers, including those the federal government defines as “new farmers.”

More than 170 farmers have supplied food to 883 locations in Illinois through Illinois-EATS.

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WBEZ | Venezuelans in Chicago face Trump’s decision to end protected status: With or without Temporary Protected Status, many Venezuelans intend to stay in Chicago. But the uncertainty from losing those protections is reverberating through the Venezuelan community and beyond. It’s putting pressure on business owners, straining relationships and forcing families to consider going into hiding. “It’s a little bit scary,” Rincón said, “but we’re not here to be scared. We’re always hoping for the best and always with the best attitude.”

* Law & Crime | ‘Right not to cooperate in the President’s schemes’: States can’t be forced to help Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations, Illinois argues in court filing: Illinois‘ attorney general is urging a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration over the state’s sanctuary protections for undocumented immigrants, arguing that the federal government cannot “coerce” states to enforce federal immigration policy. The Justice Department earlier this month sued Illinois, the City of Chicago, and Cook County, seeking a court order prohibiting the enforcement of local laws — namely the Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, and the Welcoming City Act — alleging that they were “are designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law.”

Click here to read the motion.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Chicago landlord ordered to pay $80,000 for threatening to call ICE on tenant, a first under 2019 state law: A judge ordered a Chicago landlord last month to pay $80,000 to former tenants after the landlord threatened to call ICE on them during a verbal dispute in June 2020, according to court documents. The case is the first to reach a judgment under the state’s 2019 Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, according to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which filed the case on behalf of the tenants.

* The Trace | Illinois Law Acknowledges Gun Possession Doesn’t Mean Pulling the Trigger: In January, a new Illinois law changed the names of six weapon possession charges in an effort to better clarify when someone is charged with illegally possessing a weapon as opposed to using one in a crime. While the new law simply changes the names of the charges, advocates say it could help those convicted face less discrimination. “What we were learning through our criminal defense attorneys is that even in the courtroom, they were encountering judges who were misinterpreting what the defendant in front of them had done because of this inaccurate title,” said Emma Ruth, the policy manager at Cabrini Green Legal Aid in Chicago, a nonprofit that provides free legal support to people involved with the criminal legal system.

* Michael Frerichs | Tariffs are Trump tax attack on American workers: Farmers and rural voters across Illinois backed Trump by lopsided margins. If tariffs spark a trade war, they will be among the first victims. Canadian buyers will simply shift to competitors like Brazil. The Trump tax will mean lower prices for our farmers across downstate and will hurt agriculture-dependent industries from ADM in Decatur to Libby’s canned pumpkins in Morton. ADM already announced layoffs amid “regulatory policy uncertainty and (global) market challenges.”

*** Statewide ***

* WAND | Chinese tariffs on corn, soy ‘causing a lot of stress’ to local farmers: According to Doug Gucker, Illinois Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, this escalation could have significant implications for Illinois farmers, as the state exports more than 50% of its agricultural production. “This is a big deal. If we don’t have exports, then it becomes an issue,” Gucker told WAND News.

* Muddy River News | Fall archery season in Illinois yields record harvest of 1,045 wild turkeys: Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary record statewide total of 1,045 wild turkeys during the 2024-25 fall archery turkey season, according to information from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The total compares last year’s harvest of 803 and the five-year average of 763 birds harvested. The previous record total for fall archery season was in 2015 when 851 turkeys were taken.

* WIFR | ‘Makers Madness’ contest opens voting to name The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois: More than 250 Illinois-made products were nominated for the contest, including energy storage equipment, life-saving medical products, electric vehicles, components for space exploration and sweet treats. […] Voting takes place online, allowing the public to vote up to five times a day for the top 16 products. Voting ends March 16, and results will be announced March 18.

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Mayor Brandon Johnson Ready To ‘Stand Up’ For Chicago At Congressional Hearing Wednesday: Johnson, along with the mayors of Boston, New York City and Denver, accepted an invitation to testify on Capitol Hill sent by U.S. Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and chairman of the GOP-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Comer’s committee is investigating sanctuary jurisdictions “and their impact on public safety and the effectiveness of federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws of the United States,” according to a public letter addressing Johnson and his fellow mayors.

* The Triibe | Mayor Johnson is taking his message straight to Black Chicagoans: According to Johnson, some $20 billion in investments have been allocated for Black Chicagoans. Johnson’s team also says those investments include $426 million for disaster relief from the 2023 and 2024 floods; the Psi Quantum Campus on the South Side, which is expected to generate a $20 billion economic impact over the next 10 years and more than 175,000 jobs; and the new Advocate Health Care hospital with its accompanying 10 new outpatient facilities.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago is kicking off the search for its next schools chief: The board is enlisting Alma Advisory Group to run a national search for a replacement for Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. The previous school board fired Martinez without cause in December, which, under his contract, allowed him to remain at the district’s helm until late June. Martinez makes about $360,000 a year and will receive $130,000 in severance pay.

* City Bureau | Long Covid and the Fight for Clean Air: Amid the election season’s heated debates, stump speeches and political analysis, politicians and pundits repeatedly referenced one constant and deadly issue in the past tense: COVID-19, specifically Long COVID. COVID-19 was the 10th leading underlying cause of death in the United States in 2024, with hundreds or thousands dying each week, and its effects are persistently felt across racial and economic lines. And experts and advocates say people aren’t taking it seriously enough.

* Sun-Times | Chicago moves toward going fur-free: The ordinance advanced Tuesday would make it a crime to “sell, offer for sale, trade or otherwise distribute for monetary or non-monetary consideration a fur product in the city.” Specifically exempted are used fur products and fur products used for religious or “traditional tribal, cultural or spiritual purposed by a member of a federally- or state-recognized Native American tribe.”

* Sun-Times | Lead Madigan prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney’s office after more than two decades: Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu is expected to leave the office March 14, according to office spokesman Joseph Fitzpatrick. Bhachu has also taken on mobsters and other criminals at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, and he’ll end his tenure as chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section.

* ABC Chicago | Lollapalooza 2025 dates released, sneak peek at merch: This year, the event will take place from July 31 to August 3rd in Grant Park. Although the official lineup has yet to be released, organizers teased merch. […] Last year, Megan Thee Stallion and Hozier kicked off the festival and Chappell Roan may have had the biggest Lollapalooza set of all time.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Proponents pushing for passage of Palatine Township mental health referendum: If the binding referendum passes, the township supervisor would appoint a seven-member volunteer board, including a liaison from the township board. The proposed tax is 0.04% of equalized assessed value and estimated to raise $1.7 million annually. It would be used to help meet the needs of people in Palatine Township living with mental illness, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities.

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights trustee candidate cleared in campaign finance probe: The board voted 8-1 Monday night to accept and place on file Village Attorney Hart Passman’s findings and take no further action on a formal written complaint brought by resident Keith Moens. Trustee Wendy Dunnington, who proposed an amended motion that would have compelled Hunter to make an additional update to Illinois State Board of Elections records, was the lone “no” vote.

* Daily Herald | Two write-in candidates create contested race for District 211 school board election: Violetta Flis of Hanover Park and Natasha Mucci of Palatine met the filing deadline to be considered valid write-in candidates, the Cook County Clerk’s office confirmed Tuesday. Flis’ name appears as Wioletta Myskal-Flis on the write-in candidacy paperwork filed with the clerk. They join balloted candidates Anne Lopez of Hanover Park, former candidate Jane Russell of Rolling Meadows and former Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 board member Kenneth Van Dyke of Roselle in the race for three available four-year terms on the board.

* Tribune | Exonerated after 24 years in prison, man sues Evanston police, saying they coerced murder confession: Attorneys for Frank Drew, who was 16 at the time a fellow Evanston teen was murdered and is now 45 years old, have brought a federal civil rights lawsuit against the defendants, including eight then-members of the police department, Cook County and a former prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. The suit asks a jury to award damages in recompense for Drew’s wrongful arrest and prosecution, and the near quarter century he spent in prison for a murder, according to his attorneys.

* Sun-Times | Pace considers express buses on I-290, I-88: The suburban bus agency has been running express buses on the shoulder of I-55 since 2011 — and more recently along the Jane Addams Tollway. Now, Pace is seeking public feedback to determine if it should add new “express” routes in the west suburbs.

* Crain’s | Why this dive bar has been boarded up for months — and the guilty plea that will finally fix it: Nisei Lounge is inherently old-school, but its exterior has appeared particularly tattered of late, even by the standards of an old Wrigleyville dive bar. A piece of graffitied plywood has covered some of the storefront window for the last 18 months. The plywood was a necessity at first. A burglar broke into the bar in September 2023. He entered through the window and bent its frame. The bar reopened later that day, but the owners waited to replace the window because they wanted to get restitution from the burglar to help pay for it.

*** Downstate ***

* TSPR | Pritchard: ‘At this point I have nothing to add’: A Galesburg mayoral candidate who was unable to participate in a forum last week due to illness says he’ll let his campaign materials “reverberate” for the time being and has not accepted a challenge from his opponent for a debate. […] “Given the significance of this race, I think it is important that the voters get to see the deep differences between our political histories and platforms,” Schwartzman said in the release. “Therefore, I hereby invite Mr. Pritchard to a one-on-one debate to be held within the next few weeks. I hope to hear a prompt response and look forward to discussing our different visions for Galesburg’s future.”

* Herald-Whig | Roundtable targets modern approach to labor shortage: But a report commissioned by the Upjohn Institute found small- to medium-sized manufacturers lag behind compared to larger manufacturers and often face larger financial, skill set and cultural hurdles in adopting automation technology. Quincy area businesses and human resources professionals came together Tuesday for the Western Illinois Regional Roundtable focused on modern approaches to address the local labor shortage.

* WCIA | Seven Point Dispensary to expand in Danville after approval of consumption lounge: The ordinance came to the council after Seven Point, a dispensary in Danville, hoped to expand its business. But, some City Council members weren’t at the meeting in February so there weren’t enough votes. During the Tuesday night meeting, supporters and opponents of the change spoke up during public comment. Before the council could vote to approve the ordinances, however, they first had to vote to “reconsider” the votes since it failed last meeting.

*** National ***

* WIRED | Elon Musk’s $1 Spending Limit Is Paralyzing Federal Agencies: At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, scientists aren’t able to order equipment used to repair ships and radars. At the Food and Drug Administration, laboratories are experiencing delays in ordering basic supplies. At the National Park Service, employees are canceling trips to oversee crucial maintenance work. And at the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Aviation Administration, employees worry that mission-critical projects could be stalled. In many cases, employees are already unable to carry out the basic functions of their job.

* The Wrap | LA Times Pulls AI Tool One Day After Launch for Downplaying KKK: “Local historical accounts occasionally frame the 1920s Klan as a product of ‘white Protestant culture’ responding to societal changes rather than an explicitly hate-driven movement, minimizing its ideological threat,” the AI-generated note read. The note was added by “Insights,” the name of the Times’ new AI tool, to a Feb. 25 article on the 100th anniversary of Anaheim removing KKK members from its city council. Writer Gustavo Arellano said the historical decision was an example of “how to combat tyranny and white supremacy — and also that the work is never really done.”

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Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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