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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Jury selection continues in the trial of Sen. Emil Jones III…
* WAND…
* WGLT | Illinois proposes a victim-first approach to combat human trafficking: There were more than 2,000 human trafficking victims in Illinois from 2019 to 2023, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Nearly one-third of victims live in Central Illinois, one tally shows. Experts warn it can happen anywhere and to anyone — and they want something done to prevent this abuse and to help its victims. One of those experts on human trafficking is Carol Merna from the Center for Prevention of Abuse. The Peoria organization has been around for 50 years. It created a division to help combat human trafficking in 2018. * Daily Southtown | Dolton trustees seek forensic audit of finances; Tiffany Henyard skips final meeting: Trustee Kiana Belcher, reelected to the board, moved to request proposals from outside firms to conduct a forensic audit, saying such a probe will “give us some clarity on what we don’t know” about village finances. Belcher said the audit would focus primarily on spending in the village’s Police, Water and Housing departments. * Daily Herald | Des Plaines closer to creating local grocery sales tax: Des Plaines City Council members on Monday overwhelmingly supported creating a local 1% sales tax on grocery items to offset the pending elimination of an identical state tax. But the tax isn’t a sure thing yet. A second vote is needed. * Tribune | Wind Creek to open hotel Friday at Chicago area’s fastest-growing casino: In March, Wind Creek hit new highs with nearly $16.9 million in adjusted gross receipts — up 25% month-over-month — and drew more than 219,000 visitors, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. Overall, the state’s 16 casinos generated $170.9 million in adjusted gross receipts and welcomed 1.39 million visitors last month; both figures were up by more than 21% over February. * WTTW | Ex-Northwestern Football Players Expected to Settle Hazing Scandal Lawsuit Against University, Coach Pat Fitzgerald: A group of former Northwestern football players who sued the university following allegations of a yearslong hazing scandal under ex-head coach Pat Fitzgerald is expected to settle their lawsuit. According to a university spokesperson, settlement documents are currently being finalized after Northwestern and the former student athletes recently engaged in a mediation process that resulted in the agreement. * Lake & McHenry County Scanner | Attorney has license suspended for defrauding victims out of $139K while working at McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office: A Crystal Lake attorney had his law license suspended for committing a scam where he defrauded victims out of $139,000 while working as a prosecutor for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Illinois Supreme Court issued a two-year suspension for attorney Brendan M. Pierard, of Crystal Lake, last month. […] The IARDC said Pierard’s suspension is due to him engaging in multiple acts of deceit over five years and committing wire fraud in connection with a cryptocurrency scam. * Press Release | Project offers technical assistance to small food-related businesses in DuPage and Kane counties: The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is partnering with the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC), both units of the University of Illinois, to offer free technical assistance to 10 small food-related businesses in DuPage and Kane counties. Businesses will benefit by lowering their operational costs and reducing wasted food and resources, thereby increasing their sustainability. “Smaller businesses, such as restaurants, grocers, and food pantries, often don’t have the same opportunities for technical assistance as larger businesses,” said Zach Samaras, ISTC project manager. “With the smaller operations, we can make change happen quickly.” * Crain’s | Local investor adds to suburban hotel buying spree: A venture led by Northbrook-based investor Parag Patel paid $13.1 million last month for the 107-room Home2 Suites by Hilton in northwest suburban Schaumburg, according to Cook County property records. The Patel venture bought the four-story inn at 1300 E. American Lane from an affiliate of Oak Brook-based Inland National Development, which completed construction of the property a couple blocks from Woodfield Mall in 2017. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson to jump-start budget talks with larger shortfalls expected: Johnson sent a letter to aldermen Monday outlining a series of initial budget-focused meetings starting this month and continuing through the summer. With the formal discussions, he hopes to quell pushback from a City Council widely frustrated by the delayed, tangled budget process he led last year. “We’re starting the process a lot earlier. We’re more transparent than we’ve ever been and the point of all of this is that we come together, collectively,” Johnson said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday. “This is not about pointing a finger at anyone.” * Crain’s | Why Johnson’s industrial zoning plans are giving the biz community heartburn: Named for an environmental justice advocate from the city’s Southeast Side, Mayor Brandon Johnson is preparing new legislation meant to address the environmental impact caused by decades of clustering polluting companies in Chicago’s Black and Brown neighborhoods. Years in the making, Johnson is set to introduce the Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance on April 16, but those plans could be stalled if the draft language has not yet landed on the right balance between addressing environmental harms without risking good-paying jobs to satisfy the City Council. * Crain’s | Green Social Housing ordinance going up for a vote: The so-called Green Social Housing program would take $135 million from Johnson’s housing and economic development bond to establish a revolving loan fund allowing the city to partner with private developers to build or acquire apartment properties with at least 30% of the units permanently set aside as affordable housing. The program is ripe for in-demand neighborhoods where high market-rate apartments would more readily subsidize the costs of permanently maintaining the affordable units. The city’s development partner would manage the buildings. * PJ Star | Close races hang in balance as more than 2,000 Peoria ballots left to be counted: More than 2,000 ballots are expected to be tabulated Tuesday, according to Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon. Those ballots could be the deciding factor in the too-close-to-call races in Peoria’s 2nd and 4th council districts. Candidates Alex Carmona and Estrella Diaz were separated by just 73 votes following after the April 1 general election that saw Carmona tally 1,360 votes to 1,287 votes for Diaz. * NYT | I.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information With ICE: The Internal Revenue Service has agreed to help homeland security officials find immigrants they are trying to deport, according to court records, committing to sharing information in what would be a fundamental change in how the tax collector uses its tightly regulated records. In a court filing, the Trump administration said that the I.R.S. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement had reached the agreement on Monday and that the two agencies had not yet shared any information. Under the terms of the deal, a redacted version of which was submitted in the case, ICE officials can ask the I.R.S. for information about people who have been ordered to leave the United States — or whom they are otherwise investigating. * SCOTUS Blog | Justices pause order to reinstate fired federal employees: In a brief unsigned order, the court explained that it was not weighing in on the claims by other plaintiffs in the lawsuit – specifically, unions representing government employees, whose claims Alsup did not address because he concluded that he likely did not have the power to hear them. The court also did not weigh in on the propriety of the firings more generally. Justice Sonia Sotomayor indicated that she would have denied the Trump administration’s request to pause Alsup’s order.
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Securing The Future: How Ironworkers Power Energy Storage With Precision And Skill
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] As Illinois accelerates toward a clean energy future, ironworkers are doing more than just supporting the transition—they’re making it possible with safe, skilled, and reliable rigging and equipment setting on some of the state’s most critical energy storage projects. Thanks to bold investments by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly, energy storage—especially battery systems—has become a centerpiece of the state’s green infrastructure. Behind the scenes, union ironworkers are the ones rigging and setting massive battery units and essential equipment with unmatched precision. These are not just construction tasks—they’re mission-critical operations that demand expertise, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to safety. From anchoring battery enclosures to securing large-scale energy storage units in place, ironworkers are central to ensuring these projects meet performance and safety standards. Their contribution is foundational to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which is reshaping how Illinois stores and delivers clean power. Including highly trained union labor on these complex jobs not only protects workers and communities—it guarantees the success of each installation. When you see a battery system supporting solar or wind energy in Illinois, know that ironworkers had a hand in setting it safely, skillfully, and reliably. In every bolt tightened and every rig lifted, ironworkers are powering a greener tomorrow.
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UPDATE: This post about 314 Action Fund’s US Senate poll is retracted until I receive a response
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller *** UPDATE - April 24 *** I tried for days to ascertain the name of the polling firm which conducted this alleged survey. 314 Action Fund has ignored repeated emails and tweets. I called and was told a spokesperson would return my call and that hasn’t yet happened. This is a very simple, basic question: Who conducted your poll? Unless and until I receive an answer, I’m retracting this post. Sorry. I should’ve asked the question at the very beginning.
The primary is a long way away, but Sen. Durbin remains stubbornly in place. Somebody may probably need to nudge him aside, but possible successors are all obviously wary of confronting him. Still, the person who strikes first could reap the rewards of early small-dollar contributions. Underwood appears to be trying to have it both ways for now. * Press release…
* Keep in mind that Underwood is a nurse, so this all has the look of being coordinated, whether it is or not…
A far more interesting result would’ve been head-to-heads against Durbin.
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More like this, please
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois press release from 2011…
That wasn’t an easy bill to pass. * Editorial at the time…
* Three years later…
More…
* Rep. Carol Ammons today…
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Healing Communities: Illinois Hospitals Are Making Sure Healthcare Is Accessible to Communities
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Just last month, Loretto Hospital in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood opened a new Women’s Wellness Center designed to “reduce barriers to essential healthcare services for women who may face transportation, financial or cultural obstacles,” said Tesa Anewishki, the hospital’s president and CEO. “We believe that access and investment are the antidote to communities in crisis.” Across Illinois, hospitals are finding ways to ensure anyone can access healthcare when they need it. Such efforts are part of how Illinois hospitals care for their communities beyond the 24/7 health services provided within their facilities. Other examples of Illinois hospitals providing accessible care include:
• Morris Hospital in Morris offering cardiac screenings at three high schools to detect cardiac issues among students and save young lives; and • Memorial Health’s mobile crisis unit responding to 911 calls for mental health concerns alongside police officers, with 15 clinicians providing round-the-clock care in central Illinois. Illinois hospitals are investing in community health and well-being. They’re partnering with community organizations to provide convenient, accessible care and free health services. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* I could see myself switching to a retro plate…
* WAND…
* WAND…
* Rep. Carol Ammons…
…Adding… Capitol News Illinois…
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Billions Spent, Staffing Still Falls Short: Workers Call For Accountability
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Frontline nursing home workers are at the Capitol today, joined by lawmakers and senior advocates, releasing findings from a new report on the state of long-term care in Illinois. Despite $15 billion in public funding over the past five years—including hundreds of millions intended to support staffing—1 in 5 nursing homes still fail to meet the legal minimum staffing standards. These standards were enacted in 2010 to protect residents and improve care. In 2019, the legislature—working with groups like AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association—passed fines to hold facilities accountable, which finally went into effect in January. After 14 years of lead time, the industry is already lobbying to weaken those fines. That’s why workers are calling for action—not only to protect the law as written, but to go further. They’re backing a Direct Care Minimum bill that would ensure public dollars go toward staffing and resident care—an approach used in Illinois home care and other states’ nursing home systems. Meanwhile, the industry is also in the Capitol today. We don’t know all they’re asking for—but any new funding must come with real accountability and transparency. In this moment, as Medicaid faces national threats, it’s more important than ever that we get this right and ensure public dollars serve the people they were meant to help.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Federal funding cuts, state budget woes have Chicago recovery services scrambling to survive. Tribune…
- The state has reduced its own funding for substance use treatment by $3 million, leaving the Gateway Foundation scrambling to cover room and board costs not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. - Although Gateway secured an emergency $430,000 from the Illinois Department of Human Services, that funding will expire this month, threatening services for residents and creating stress for staff.
Federal Medicaid cuts and rising inflation are threatening essential services that thousands of people across our state rely on every day. With reimbursement for support rate expenses currently being paid at 2017 levels in 2025, nursing facilities have already begun closing, leaving staff without jobs and needy Illinoisans without services. Lawmakers should support SB1606/HB2858 to protect the most vulnerable and reform Medicaid reimbursement rates before more people suffer. * Gov. Pritzker will sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Illinois and the United Kingdom at 2 pm. Later, at 6 pm, he’ll deliver remarks at the Illinois Utility Business Diversity Council’s Advocacy Day, held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Click here to watch live. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Sun-Times | Federal judge rules part of Illinois ‘right of conscience’ abortion law is unconstitutional: A federal judge in Rockford has ruled that a portion of a 2016 Illinois law violates the constitutional right to free speech for compelling anti-abortion medical professionals to provide information about abortion care to patients without being prompted. U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston on Friday issued a split ruling in the case brought by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and three anti-abortion pregnancy centers. The plaintiffs had argued that the law imposed unconstitutional conditions — forcing anti-abortion activists to talk about “benefits” of abortion that they do not believe in. They also argued that abortion counseling would “encourage the procedure.” * Crain’s | Latest opioid settlement nets $355M from Mylan, about $9M for Illinois: Illinois, along with 13 other states, has reached a $335 million settlement with Mylan Inc. over allegations the company deceptively promoted its opioid products as being less prone to abuse “despite knowing for years that many of its opioid products — particularly its fentanyl patches — were actually more vulnerable to abuse,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office said in a release. If approved, Illinois will receive more than $9 million in abatement funds from the settlement, which will be paid over nine years. * Sen. Emil Jones III quotes Jay-Z in his own defense ahead of trial… * Subscribers were told about this earlier. Comptroller Susana Mendoza appears to be gearing up for a run for mayor of Chicago as a conservative Democrat…  Sen. Robert Peters, a strong supporter of the SAFE-T Act, responded without directly naming Mendoza …  * Sun-Times | Cook County state’s attorney orders blanket objections to electronic monitoring in cases seeking detention: Cook County States Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has ordered prosecutors to object to all judge’s orders for electronic monitoring if the prosecutors were trying to hold the person while awaiting trial, according to a memo from Burke’s office obtained by the Sun-Times. In the memo, Burke cited 57 escape charges that have been leveled against defendants since Dec. 2 and accused the Chief Judge’s Office of not being adequately prepared to handle the responsibilities of managing electronic monitoring, which previously was under the purview of the Sheriff’s Office. * Tribune | Cook County state’s attorney’s office to expand pilot that allows police to directly file some gun charges: The office launched the effort in January in the department’s Englewood District on the South Side, where police officers through Wednesday initiated charges in 43 gun possession cases. The program will now begin in the Far South Side’s Calumet District while the office reviews data with an eye on expanding the program, officials said. The initiative will likely bring some relief to prosecutors in the office’s Felony Review Unit, which is staffed at all hours by assistant state’s attorneys who work with police to evaluate whether charges are appropriate. * WBEZ | Cook County leaders are touting the success of their guaranteed income pilot program: Cook County’s pilot program to provide guaranteed income to more than 3,000 people did what it was intended to do, early findings suggest — it helped provide some economic stability. “We got to make the case that these are great investments in our residents and our citizens,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. * Daily Herald | Why pay for Des Plaines’ elected officials could increase: Des Plaines’ future mayors, city council members and city clerks would be paid significantly better than current officials under a proposal that was tentatively approved Monday night. If the council confirms the proposed increases at its next meeting, the clerk’s salary would double to $12,000 annually, the mayor’s salary would nearly triple to $30,000 annually and aldermen would see their pay quintuple to $15,000 annually. * Shaw Local | This DeKalb County township park board race is separated by 1 vote: The Franklin Township Park District’s Board of Commissioners asked voters to pick two seats out of three candidates, and the margin is too close to call for one seat, unofficial results show. Franklin Township is in northwest DeKalb County. Steven Boettger was the top vote-getter with 99 votes. But his challengers are separated by just one vote. Christopher Brantley collected 89 votes to Garry Willit’s 88 votes. * Shaw Local | New age-restricted apartment plan in Crystal Lake aims for rents below area average: The area is slowly turning away from being a business district amid a trend of residential complex proposals. The Sunshine Apartments proposal is near another age-restricted apartment complex called The Residences of Crystal Lake that opened in 2020. Nearby at 551 Congress Parkway, city council approved a 93-unit apartment complex in December. Though the apartments are expected to go at market-rate, developer John Konsor said the units will rent out at prices lower than the average price in the area. Commissioners indicated there is a high demand for more affordable options. * Daily Herald | Appellate court backs IDOT in revoking Oakbrook Terrace red-light cameras; city pondering appeal: The Illinois Department of Transportation had the authority to yank Oakbrook Terrace’s permit for red-light cameras near a popular mall, a state appellate court has decided. Third District Appellate Court justices issued a ruling Friday finding the city flouted a requirement to provide IDOT with camera data reports. “The city’s failure to provide all the mandated reports directly violates the terms of the permit that were intended to increase public safety,” the judgment states. * WGN | New tuberculosis case reported in second suburban high school: Joliet West High School officials reported Monday that a student has been diagnosed with the infectious disease. The school said the student is receiving treatment and will remain home until they are no longer contagious. School officials add that they are working with the Sunny Hill Tuberculosis Clinic and have already notified students and staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected student. * The Telegraph | SIUE proposes cutting seven bachelor’s degree programs: In an email to SIUE students, staff and faculty Friday, Chancellor James Minor said he recommends eliminating the art history, music theory, musical theater, physics and French degree programs, as well as the chemistry department’s bioprocess and medical science programs. Despite a $10 million deficit for the current fiscal year, Minor said SIUE is not in a “budget crisis.” * BND | No arrests after confrontation between O’Fallon demonstrators and man with Nazi flag: No arrests were made following a disturbance between a protester and counter-protester on Saturday in O’Fallon. Police Chief Kirk Brueggeman said officers responded to a call when a young man was seen carrying a red flag bearing a swastika near Schildknecht Funeral Home and City Hall on Lincoln Avenue around 11: 30 a.m. […] “I wasn’t there. I am looking at a video now. It was a small disturbance and did not result in any arrests,” he said. “It came up rather quickly, in front of the funeral home. Police separated both sides and both parties went on their way.” * WGLT | Normal council OKs Connect Transit expansion beyond Bloomington-Normal: Connect Transit is currently operated through a joint ordinance from the town and the City of Bloomington. The change would extend the agency’s service area from the confines of Bloomington-Normal into all of McLean County. If approved by Bloomington, the move could fill the gap left when McLean County ended a contract with Show Bus last year. The funding amount paid by the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington would still not include expenses outside of their respective city boundaries. * WSIL | Sandbagging Efforts as Ohio River Rises in Mound City: Students from Shawnee Community College’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program stepped up to help fill and load sandbags—many of them residents of Pulaski or Alexander County, who said they felt a responsibility to protect their communities. The river isn’t expected to crest for several more days, and officials say now is the critical window for prevention. * WSIL | Officials say Big Muddy River in Murphysboro expected to Crest Wednesday: Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens says they are providing over 5,000 bags for Murphysboro residents to protect their homes. “Available at Boss Truck Service, and the sand is free, and the sandbags are free. Some people got sandbags just to put around their furnace that might be in their basement if they were worried about flash flooding or water coming up in their basement,” Stephens said. * 25News Now | Central Illinois Girl Scout earns highest honor aiding the disabled: Erica Justkiv of Girl Scout Troop 4152 developed lesson plans on how to sew bags that can be hung on walkers and wheelchairs. Justkiv is now a Bradley University student, but she worked with her alma mater of Washington Community High School and the “Busy Bees” weekly sewing group to create walker bags, cell phone pouches and blankets. They were donated to nursing homes. Her lessons will now be used for the school’s fashion class in the upcoming semesters as a community service project. * Tribune | Vendor responses cool to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request they volunteer to accept less: The city of Chicago’s request to vendors to accept 3% cuts to their contracts to help balance the city’s books has fallen far short of its goal while yielding a handful of incredulous and scathing responses, according to emails. […] The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects responded on behalf of its 3,300 members to Roberts’ request, describing it as “deeply troubling … counterproductive and damaging” to the “perceived reliability of working with the city of Chicago.” * WBEZ | Ex-Gitmo detainee could air allegations of torture by former Chicago detective: A Cook County Circuit Court judge is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on whether to allow testimony by a former Guantánamo detainee before she rules on a request to throw out a decades-old murder confession allegedly coerced by a Chicago detective. Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a terrorism suspect held for 14 years in the U.S. detention camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, endured a shocking interrogation allegedly overseen by Richard Zuley, a Chicago detective stationed at the camp while on leave from CPD. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago principals union looks to lock in first collective bargaining agreement: In February, CPS and the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association, the union representing school leaders, restarted contract talks after putting them on hold in the fall amid time-consuming and often contentious negotiations between the district and the Chicago Teachers Union. The district reached a tentative agreement with the CTU last week. The principals union is advocating for more professional development, a process that allows unsuccessful candidates for principal jobs to grieve that result and get feedback, eligibility criteria, and more due process for principals facing discipline, among other things. * Sun-Times | Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun to chair DuSable Black History Museum board of trustees: Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun has been elected board chair of The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, the museum announced Monday. “As the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, Carol Moseley Braun has a long history of championing civil rights, social justice and educational equity. Her appointment to the role of Board Chair aligns perfectly with the museum’s continued efforts to preserve and promote the rich history and cultural contributions of African Americans and Black people worldwide,” museum officials said in a news release. * NYT | The Three States That Are Especially Stuck if Congress Cuts Medicaid: Even many blue states that passed expansion through their legislatures will probably stop Medicaid coverage for poor adults if cuts go through. Twelve states, including Illinois and Virginia, have passed legislation that would automatically rescind the expansion if federal funding dips. The states with constitutional amendments are already beginning to prepare for the possibility of a major budget hole. In Oklahoma, for example, federal Medicaid funding makes up almost 30 percent of the state’s entire budget. * AP | RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. Kennedy said he’s assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations. […] Kennedy cannot order communities to stop fluoridation, but he can direct the CDC to stop recommending it and work with the EPA to change the allowed amount. * NYT | Trump Administration Aims to Spend $45 Billion to Expand Immigrant Detention: The request, which comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calls for contractors to submit proposals to provide new detention facilities, transportation, security guards, medical support and other administrative services worth as much as $45 billion over the next two years. ICE does not yet have that much money itself. But if funded, the maximum value would represent more than a sixfold increase in spending to detain immigrants. It is the latest indication that President Trump and his administration are laying the groundwork to rapidly follow through on his promise for a mass campaign to rid the country of undocumented immigrants. * CNN | How Actual ‘Fake News’ on X Caused Real Market Whiplash Monday Morning: The false posts may have originated from a real Fox News interview with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at around 8:30 a.m. ET. Hassett was asked whether President Donald Trump would “consider a 90-day pause in tariffs,” and he replied in part: “The president is (going to) decide what the president is (going to) decide.” According to CNN’s analysis, the first X post to claim Hassett said Trump would consider a 90-day pause in tariffs came at 10:11 a.m. ET from an account called “Hammer Capital” with the handle “yourfavorito,” which has barely 1,000 followers. * AP | Clem Burke, multifaceted drummer of iconic rock group Blondie, has died: rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes, has died. He was 70. The band said in a statement on its website Monday that he died from cancer but no additional details were provided.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Apr 8, 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here to follow the Sen. Emil Jones III trial. Capitol News Illinois’ Hannah Meisel is covering the case…
* WAND | IL Senate unanimously passes plan keeping veteran tiny homes affordable: Sen. Sally Turner (R-Lincoln) refiled her bill this year to allow tiny homes to be exempt from the 2023 state law requiring all homes to be built with electric vehicle charging capacity. […] This plan passed unanimously out of the Senate Thursday. Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) said Turner did a wonderful job working on this bill to help her constituents. Senate Bill 39 could be assigned to a House Committee in the coming weeks. * Olivia Allen | A look at a variety of education legislation: Illinois Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) proposed a bill last session to give all educators “daily, continuous, uninterrupted” individual classroom planning time, equal to one class period but no less than 45 minutes. The bill, Senate Bill 2721, also says teachers could use this time to attend meetings, trainings or conferences. While it hasn’t been assigned to a committee yet, I think Illinois lawmakers should consider revisiting SB 2721 this session — to me, it’s a sure-fire way to provide teachers with additional and necessary support. * WCIA | ‘Best I’ve ever seen’: New simulator offers state-of-the-art training to all Illinois police departments: Several police academies have simulators like this in the state, and larger police departments have their own simulators that don’t have as many bells and whistles. This one, however, is going to be different, and it’s all because of who can access it. “I think the primary objective when we started looking at virtual reality training or simulation training in this manner was to close the gap on opportunities from large departments down to our smallest departments in the state,” Paul Petty, Manager of in service training at ILETSB said. * Tribune | Andrew Boutros officially announced as interim U.S. attorney in Chicago: Veteran Chicago lawyer and former federal prosecutor Andrew Boutros was officially appointed Friday to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The move is effective April 7 and was announced internally by the office of U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, according to Joseph Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago. * Streetsblog Chicago | Is ‘Walk Score’ Really Just a ‘White Score’?: Neighborhoods that score highly on the “Walk Score” metric are more likely to be disproportionately white, a new study finds — and it may be creating a troubling feedback loop that drives investment away from neighborhoods of color, and towards the communities that need it least. In a provocative new paper, researchers Kate Lowe of the University of Illinois Chicago and Anna Brand of the University of California, Berkeley found that Windy City census tracts that were rated most highly by the popular real estate algorithm mapped almost exactly onto the census tracts with the highest share of white residents — and a literature review suggested that the same thing is likely true in other dense urban areas. * Crain’s | Wall Street regulator takes back Chicago office space it slashed last year: After shedding a chunk of its Chicago office space, the agency that writes and enforces rules for Wall Street brokers has taken it all back and then some. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has expanded its office at 101 N. Wacker Drive by more than 25,000 square feet, bringing its new footprint at the top of the 23-story building to about 70,000 square feet, according to people familiar with the matter. * Block Club | Water Tower Place ‘Past Its Prime’ As A Mall— But Mag Mile Recovery In Full Swing, Backers Say: During March’s town hall meeting, Hopkins confirmed those plans, saying MetLife plans to keep the first three floors as retail and repurpose the remaining floors for office and medical office space. “We think that will not only revitalize Water Tower Place, but ensure its success for hopefully decades to come,” Hopkins said. “I can’t imagine what would happen to this community if Water Tower Place went the way of Chicago Place and became a vacant white elephant.” * WSJ | Ken Griffin Pushed the Luxury Home Market to New Highs—For Better or Worse: After purchasing the two penthouses at Faena House for a record sum, he resold them in two transactions in 2020 and 2021 for an aggregate $46.2 million, taking a 23%, or $13.8 million, loss on the resale. Griffin wasn’t the only big-name buyer to take a loss at the building amid a slowdown in the Miami market pre-Covid. Art dealer Larry Gagosian and investor Leon Black were among the buyers who also sold at a loss. … “The decline in value of Ken’s Chicago properties is representative of the failed political leadership in Illinois and the appreciation of his property in Florida far outstrips any losses in Chicago,” Ahmed said. * Daily Herald | ‘We got killed’: Cemetery board weighing next move after referendum fails: The future is uncertain for several Kane County cemeteries after the Campton Township Cemetery District’s referendum failed Tuesday. Voters resoundingly rejected the request for a tax rate increase, with 3,080 votes opposed to 890 votes in favor. “We got killed,” said cemetery board Chair John Hamer. “I’m going to get together with our board and figure out what to do. We cut to the bone already. It’s obvious what we are not maintaining.” * Daily Herald | What drove voter turnout in some suburban counties this election?: Turnout was up throughout the suburbs from four years ago when the same seats were up for grabs — except in Will County, which has seen steady decline since 2017, according to records from county election officials. The largest spike was seen in Kane County, where there was a 10 percentage-point increase in turnout from 2021. Nearly 22% of all Kane County voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results tallied by Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham’s office. That’s up from an 11.2% turnout in 2021. * Evanston Now | Schenita Stewart named state Police Chief of the Year: In an announcement Monday, the Association said Chief Stewart has “transformed her department with visionary leadership, strengthening collaboration and trust, and excellence among officers.” The chiefs’ group also said that Stewart’s commitment to officer well-being, transparency, and community engagement has “set a new standard in policing.” * Daily Herald | Rep. Bill Foster’s town hall at McHenry County College sold out but livestream planned: Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster is hosting a town hall on April 16 at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake. […] Foster hosted a town hall last month at Benedictine University in Lisle that included Foster and about 600 constituents, according to a press release from Foster’s office. * SJ-R | ‘It’s a ridiculous argument.’ City’s new city council rules leave residents frustrated: “It’s not communications decision to not air that, it’s coming from the mayor’s office,” Moredock said. “With the QR code, that will be coming from the Mayor’s office; we had a year ago a situation came up with potential for liability. We don’t know where those QR codes go. They (the camera team) have been given guidelines to not show any QR codes.” * PJ Star | ‘I intend to tell the story’: Bradley’s new president shares optimistic vision for the future: Shadid enters his presidency during a rocky period at the university, with the final leg of Standifird’s tenure having been financially tumultuous amid a $13 million budget shortfall in 2023. The institution saw cuts to programs and staff layoffs that led to campus-wide division, distrust and student protests. * KWQC | Rock Island Mayor-elect to join wildlife protests for Milan Bottoms: Officials from the Nahant Marsh Education Center said Ashley Harris will join conservationists during two “roost-ins” before the Rock Island City Council votes on expanding a TIF district that could allow for development in the Milan Bottoms. Harris will be at “roost-ins” from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on April 9 and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 14. The first “roost-in” will be at the Milan Bottoms, and the next one will be at Rock Island City Hall. * Maybe the GA can get together for a post session slide…
* WIRED | What Makes Modern Measles Outbreaks Different: Look closely at the outbreak’s edges, though, and the patterns are more unusual: It’s not just children getting measles. Where Texas’s outbreak has spilled over into New Mexico, for example, half of the confirmed cases and one potential death involve adults, largely unvaccinated. Last year, too, adults older than 20 accounted for more than a quarter of U.S. measles cases. This is all in keeping with what experts have warned: Adults are now susceptible to this childhood disease. * WIRED | Bluesky Can’t Take a Joke: The lack of humor detection is made worse by tech: algorithmically curated content, à la Bluesky’s Discover feed, surfaces random posts to random people. A Maddow referral on Bluesky might see an ex-Twitter user’s vivid description of what they’d do to the Hamburglar if they saw him in person and react with genuine horror and confusion. It’s also PEBKAC issue—problem exists between keyboard and chair. You cannot force a person to understand a joke. The only action more futile is to get mad about it.
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
Despite Sen. Balkema urging Democrats to focus on the bigger problem, his bill has no Democratic co-sponsors. * Governors State University Professionals of Illinois President Mike Hart…
* Sun-Times…
A Pritzker-backed bill to regulate hemp previously passed out of the Senate but completely stalled out in the House. * WAND…
* Sen. Javier Cervantes…
* Sen. Julie Morrison…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Charles Koch, Leonard Leo and… Kwame Raoul? (Updated)
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Retailers like Abby enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Cook County state’s attorney asks state labor board to dismiss employee unionization petition
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the 2024 campaign…  * The state’s attorney has now filed this response to the unionization attempt with the Illinois Labor Relations Board…
* The Illinois State’s Attorney Association filed in opposition to HB2973, which removes some of the managerial designation from assistant state’s attorneys. But State’s Attorney O’Neill Burke’s office did not file a witness slip. That amended bill is now on 2nd Reading in the House. * I asked for an explanation…
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Behind the ‘complete wipeout’ in DuPage and what’s to come
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
* Charts from Uncrewed…   One of the reasons Republicans held onto several of those seats this year was because no Democrats ran against them. * Also, remember last week when Illinois Republican Party’s state central committeeperson Jeanne Ives said this about the results?…
Local issues are very important…
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Open thread
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI:State Sen. Emil Jones III heads to trial on bribery charges. Tribune…
- it’s the first case from the sprawling red-light camera probe to go before a jury, and will feature testimony from FBI mole Omar Maani. - An undercover video taken by Maani allegedly shows him and Jones eating at another downtown restaurant when Maani asked point-blank how much Jones wanted in exchange for his assistance. * Related stories…
∙ WGN: State senator in red light probe: ‘Raise me five grand – that’d be good’ * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Tribune | Sean Morrison stepping down as Cook County GOP chair: Sean Morrison announced Saturday that he will resign effective April 14 as Cook County Republican chairman after nine years, saying it was time to infuse “new energy” into the GOP leadership in a county dominated by Democrats. Morrison, a Cook County Board member from Palos Park, said his decision to step down from the GOP post was “not a new decision” but had been planned in consultation with family and friends to take place after the November general election and last week’s local elections. * Patch | ‘Lawfare’ Text Harassment Case Against Ex-Aide Dropped: Attorney: The Illinois Attorney General’s Office this week opted to drop the case against a former political aide facing harassment charges linked to texts sent to a state legislator. The charges against Timothy Pawula, 32—including harassment through electronic communication and transmission of obscene messages and obscenity—followed a purported text message scandal involving Pawula and Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort). Pawula was accused of sending messages containing fabricated, sexually explicit images depicting Hastings, Gov. JB Pritzker and Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island). […] Separately, Pawula is also currently being sued by State Sen. Michael Hastings, who alleges Pawula and several others deployed a “smear campaign” against him in the November 2022 election. * WBEZ | Abrupt $1 million loss for Illinois Humanities after Trump cuts funding tap: The Trump administration this week canceled $175 million in grants made by the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds programs in 50 states. The agency is also undergoing deep staff cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency, as first reported by the New York Times. Among the Illinois organizations that received federal humanities funding in the past three years are the Adler Planetarium, the Newberry Library, the Field Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Art Institute of Chicago, several colleges and universities and even the city’s newest cultural institution, the National Museum for Public Housing, which formally opened Friday. * The Crusader | Attorney General Raoul files lawsuit to protect libraries and museums: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers and minority-owned businesses nationwide. In March, the Trump administration issued an executive order that would dismantle federal agencies created by Congress that collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars for programs in every state. As a result of this executive order, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – one of the targeted agencies – has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raoul and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s order that millions of Americans rely on, especially those in underserved communities. * Capitol News Illinois | It’s not just Chicago. Downstate public transit agencies face funding challenges: A 17-year-old formula in state law requires about 7.5% of sales taxes collected in areas served by transit agencies to be deposited into the state’s Downstate Public Transportation Fund. The fund provides downstate agencies with funding for up to 65% of their operating expenses while local funding sources such as property taxes, rider fares, bus advertisement sales and cost-sharing contracts cover the other 35%. * Sun-Times | Illinois still tops nationally in nuclear energy, No. 3 in carbon-free electricity: Thanks to generating more nuclear power than any other state, Illinois ranks third nationally in producing carbon-free electricity, according to analysis by Inside Climate News of data from the Energy Information Administration. The national leader in carbon-free electricity is Texas, which has a huge lead in renewable energy, followed by California. Pennsylvania, which is second in nuclear generation, also ranks high for production of carbon-free electricity. * WAND | Federal staffing cuts to LIHEAP will negatively impact local programs: In an effort to reduce government spending, the Trump Administration eliminated 10,000 jobs within the Department of Health and Human Services, including positions responsible for managing LIHEAP. Local leaders are concerned about the future of the program due to the lack of federal personnel. Tara Murray, the Executive Director of the Empowerment Opportunity Center in Decatur, said although they still have access to their funding, they now are trying to solve what happens when the fiscal year ends, and the funding runs out. * Tribune | How a plan to streamline Cook County, state computer systems led to massive costs and delays: In a three-year window starting in 2015, executives of a little-known Plano, Texas, corporation — Tyler Technologies Inc. — persuaded all three to give them the crucial job. The collective price tag was initially $75 million and what officials called the “go-live” deadlines were three to five years out. But since then, an Injustice Watch and Chicago Tribune investigation found, the cumulative projected cost swelled to more than $250 million while execution was dogged by slowdowns and shortcomings. Two of the projects have yet to reach their declared finish line, and the third is still in need of fixes. * Daily Herald | A time for change: Meet the class of new mayors in DuPage, Kane suburbs: In his successful bid for Aurora mayor, John Laesch drew a stark contrast with two-term incumbent Richard Irvin on a host of issues in the state’s second-largest city. As a city alderman, Laesch criticized Irvin for a deal to provide millions of dollars in donated property and loans to the owners of Hollywood Casino. Laesch painted a picture of two Auroras: one of big businesses and developers and the other of residents and small businesses. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora Mayor-elect John Laesch says City of Lights Center project ‘pretty much dead’: The 4,000-seat theater and 600-person event space called the City of Lights Center proposed for downtown Aurora, which Laesch previously spoke out against and said Thursday as a project is “pretty much dead” under his incoming administration, would have cost the city between $100 million and $120 million, according to past reporting. “Nobody’s made a compelling argument to me,” he said. “I haven’t seen any concrete plans that say this is going to be a success.” * Tribune | Backyard chickens might not crack high egg prices, but Chicago-area owners say they’re worth it: In west suburban Winfield, residents are banned from raising livestock. Amid soaring egg prices, however, the town held an advisory referendum April 1 on whether the village should rethink its policy on backyard chickens. The non-binding measure to allow chickens lost by just 51 votes, according to unofficial results. Village President Carl Sorgatz said Winfield put the question on the ballot because the issue has inspired a lot of passionate debate in town. * Tribune | New film ‘How Lucky Can One Man Get’ captures the magic of John Prine in concert: [“How Lucky Can One Man Get”] is a joyful film, capturing Prine during a 2010 concert at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Prine’s alma mater (class of 1964) and, between songs, hearing conversation peppered with stories of family, young love, working as a mailman and memories of vanished neighborhood hangouts of his deeply influential youthful years. That concert, just like one in 1999 and this event, was a fundraiser for the Maywood Fine Arts Association, headed by Lois Baumann, a classmate of Prine’s. The association provides arts instruction to the children of Maywood and surrounding communities. * Tribune | Chicago Housing Authority paid out more than $787,000 over the last five years to 9 exiting senior leaders: Nine Chicago Housing Authority senior leaders received more than $787,000 collectively in separation agreement payouts over the last five years, including two who had received written warnings from Tracey Scott, the agency’s former CEO. A Tribune analysis of CHA records shows that each of the nine received at least two months of compensation at the salary level they had on their last day of work. Six of the agreements were signed between August 2024 and early March 2025. CHA “acknowledge(s) the volume of these recent transitions” and is working to “identify inefficiencies within our structure and make decisions that will best support our residents now and in the future,” said CHA spokesperson Matthew Aguilar in a statement to the Tribune. CHA did not respond to questions and instead provided the statement, saying it could not comment on specific personnel matters. * Crain’s | With Sterling Bay surrendering a big slice of Lincoln Yards, what happens next?: But despite a situation Boatright described as “not ideal” for the future of the proposed 14.5 million-square-foot campus, she said the default notice is mostly a formality as the city seeks clarity from Bank OZK about its intentions for the property. For now, the City Council-approved planned development for the northern portion of Lincoln Yards and the deal to use TIF money to pay back its developer for public infrastructure work remains in place. * Crain’s | United Airlines makes a play for O’Hare’s road warriors: United and American have long been fierce competitors for corporate travel, where frequent-flyer status is critical. The campaign urging customers to switch to United’s loyalty program is another example of how the Chicago-based carrier is trying to take market share from American at home. And winning over lucrative frequent-flyer clients is a key pillar of that strategy. * Edward Keegan | Wrigley Field is losing some of its magic with demolished historic buildings: For a decade, I have characterized the Rickettses’ remodeling of Wrigley Field as a metaphoric poached toad: The changes have been incremental and small, but eventually the temperature has been raised high enough that the frog is dead. * WBEZ | What’s That Building? National Public Housing Museum in the former Jane Addams Homes: The three-story brick building where the National Public Housing Museum is opening isn’t only the last of the 32 buildings that once made up the Jane Addams Homes, Chicago’s first public housing development. It’s also a remnant of its time when public housing was meant to be human-scaled and homey. The Jane Addams homes were built in the 1930s and early 1940s, before the pressure to build giant high-rises that would overshadow the earlier developments, both literally because of their height and figuratively because of their devolution into badly maintained warehouses of the poor. * 25News Now | Proposed $625K lawsuit settlement shines light on Peoria County Sheriff’s sergeant’s 1970 murder: The Peoria City Council is scheduled to decide on Tuesday whether to pay $625,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by the estate of a man suspected of killing a Peoria County Sheriff’s deputy almost 55 years ago. The estate alleged Cleve Heidelberg’s constitutional rights were violated when he was arrested for the murder of Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Raymond Espinoza during an attempted robbery at the old Bellevue Drive-In movie theater in May of 1970. Heidelberg was found guilty of Espinoza’s murder, but the conviction was vacated in 2017. * WSIL | Pope County officials and volunteers to fill sandbags as Ohio River rises: Authorities in Pope County will be filling sandbags on Monday to help keep floodwaters from the Ohio River away from homes and businesses. They also ask residents to help. The Pope County Rural Fire Protection District said they will start filling sandbags behind the ambulance base off of Eddyville Blacktop starting at 7:30 a.m. on April 7. * Pew | Competing Forces Complicate State Education Funding: As policymakers grapple with these more immediate questions, the question of declining enrollment still looms over all long-term conversations. Even as per-pupil spending and other cost drivers increase nationally, enrollment has been on a downward trajectory, a trend that can create larger issues for school funding that may not be fixable with a formula change. * CNN | Measles vaccination rate may be even lower than estimated, leaving kids vulnerable amid outbreak: As the United States faces one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades, with at least 569 reported cases in multiple states, a new analysis finds that nearly a third of young children who were eligible to be vaccinated against the disease did not get their first shot on schedule. * NYT | Supreme Court Lets Trump Suspend Grants to Teachers: The grants at issue in the case helped place teachers in poor and rural areas and aimed to recruit a diverse work force reflecting the communities it served. In February, the Education Department sent grant recipients boilerplate form letters ending the funding, saying the programs “fail to serve the best interests of the United States” by taking account of factors other than “merit, fairness and excellence,” and by allowing waste and fraud.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and today’s quotable
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Apr 7, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Apr 7, 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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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Setup…
* Song…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* IPM Newsroom…
Former Illinois Senator Greg Zito passed away this week. The family has asked for donations in his name to Children’s research towards Type 1 diabetes. * WGN | Illinois public health director on administration plan to cancel over $400M in pandemic-era grants: Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the funding that Illinois public health is expecting to lose from President Trump’s freezing COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments. * Press release | Illinois Chamber provides statement on Reciprocal Tariffs: The Illinois Chamber remains focused on working with our trade partners, legislators and elected leaders to guide our state’s economic growth, with a laser-like focus on policies that are pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-Illinois. We believe that it is essential to focus on your core business and drive growth within it. The same is true for our state and our country. As the situation has developed with tariffs, we acknowledge that unfair trading practices and trade barriers exist, and we would prefer to see the focus placed on negotiating free trade agreements. This approach drives growth. With the many concerns about the potential recessionary impact and economic effects on businesses of all sizes, our position remains unchanged: Tariffs, especially reciprocal tariffs, are not the answer. * Tribune | Minal Desai projected to win Skokie clerk race: Skokie voters appeared to decide on Election Day, Tuesday, April 1, that the village’s current appointed clerk, a former Skokie Park District commissioner and polyglot, will continue to serve the village for the next four years. Minal Desai, who was appointed clerk by Mayor George Van Dusen last April, declared victory in the three-way race for Skokie clerk. Desai won a little over 48% of the vote, James Johnson won 31% of the vote and Naema Abraham won 20% of the vote, in unofficial results reported by the Cook County Clerk’s office. * Daily Southtown | Jim Dodge, incoming Orland Park mayor lays out short-term priorities, mending relations with police: Dodge said morale among police officers is low and recruiting officers has been a problem. “I want to sit down with the folks in the department and work to address their concerns,” he said. Chapter 159 of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, in its January endorsement of Dodge, said the village’s administration “imperils the independent, effective, and professional law enforcement service Orland Park’s citizens have earned and deserve.” * Block Club | Prescribed Burns Were Banned 3 Decades Ago. Now, Cook County Is A Leader In Urban Burning: Twelve different crews were conducting prescribed burns at various locations across Cook County that Tuesday. The Forest Preserves of Cook County burns an average of 7,738 acres every year, making it one of the largest urban prescribed burn programs in the country. The practice has even grown in recent years — 30 years after the entire program was nearly snuffed out. * Daily Herald | Service, workforce cuts possible after voters spurn Kane’s $51 million sales tax request: The sales tax hike — which would have added 75 cents to a $100 purchase of nonfood and other items — was to bring in more than $51 million in revenue to support public safety programs, officials said. Instead, voters flatly rejected the ballot measure, with 52,437 against it and 17,421 for it, according to the unofficial results. * Sun-Times | Addison man’s colonoscopy bill topped $10,000 because some insurance isn’t bound by Affordable Care Act rules: Six months later, Winard was still working on starting his business, so he signed up for another short-term policy, this one with a different insurer, for about $500 a month. […] Winard’s bill totaled $10,723.19, including $1,436 for the anesthesia and $1,039 for the recovery room. After an insurance discount, his plan paid $817.47. Winard was left owing $7,226.71. * Daily Southtown | Blue Island voters back limiting gaming cafes, split on making Western a two-way street: The referendum to limit gaming cafes received 76% support, according to unofficial results. The referendum to ask the state to convert Western Avenue to a two-way street was nearly split, with 49.3% in favor and 50.6% against, unofficial results show. Out of more than 12,300 registered voters in the city, only 906 cast ballots this election, according to the Cook County clerk’s office. Mayor Fred Bilotto, elected in 2021, and his Party for Blue Island slate ran uncontested. * WGN | Coach Chris Collins is staying at Northwestern: ‘I’m excited to get to work and see what we can do’: Chris Collins, head basketball coach at Northwestern, joins John Williams and Dave Eanet to talk about reaching an agreement to remain the head coach through 2030. Coach says he is excited to build something special in Evanston and keep pushing the program forward. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson landed a teachers union deal. Was it worth it?: One City Council opponent, downtown Ald. Brian Hopkins, had a succinct answer when asked what the negotiations cost Johnson and the CTU: “Their reputations.” Asked to justify the chaos that got him here, Johnson rattled off contract highlights such as smaller class sizes and higher veteran teacher pay. “I mean, I could keep going. I’m saying all of it is worth it when we are investing in our public accommodations,” the mayor said. “I believe that if the members of this union decide to codify the agreement, it’s going to be an incredible win for the people of Chicago.” * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson responds to Trump threat to revoke CPS funding over DEI: ‘We’re gonna sue’: “We’re gonna sue,” Johnson told reporters at an unrelated public housing event. “We’re not going to be intimidated by these threats. It’s just that simple. So whatever it is that this tyrant is trying to do to this city, we’re going to fight back.” On Thursday, the Education Department issued a notice demanding states and school districts sign a certification against DEI policies or else risk Title I funding. Chicago Public Schools receives $1.3 billion in federal funding. Over $400 million are grants under Title I, which targets students who fall below achievement standards. * Tribune | For this year’s Record Store Day, our definitive guide to Chicago record stores: You can tell a lot about a city by its record stores. Like independent bookshops and craft breweries, they function as safe spaces to connect with the community, get a pulse on cultural happenings and gather with friends. The best shops have a distinct flavor and relaxed feel. They invite you to discover the familiar and unknown, and get lost for hours in music. Steered by fanatics who possess specific expertise, the most rewarding brick-and-mortar stores give you the unexpected thrill that occurs when you chance upon a record you’ve sought for years. No online experience comes close. * Daily Southtown | New museum in Pullman to recognize role of Black women in labor movement: Now a new effort is afoot to recognize an oft overlooked element of that effort. Randolph’s success at organizing a union that would represent thousands of workers all over the United States rested squarely upon the efforts of women such as Rosina Corrothers Tucker. Tucker was the wife of a Pullman porter and became an early advocate for the union that pushed for better pay, better working conditions and a grievance process. She also became a labor organizer for other labor groups and a crusader for civil rights. * Windy City Times | Lisa Isadora Cruz reflects on decades of giving back to Chicago’s trans community: Born and raised in the projects in Puerto Rico, Cruz came to the U.S. after years of struggling under anti-trans laws and public sentiments. Now in her late 60s, she’s had a lifetime of serving the LGBTQ+ community through roles connecting people with physical and financial resources and being a model for having a full life with HIV, which she has been living with since the ‘80s. * WGLT | Dan Brady says Bloomington faces a pending financial storm as he assumes mayor role: Dan Brady says the city faces several big challenges as he prepares to take the mayor’s office next month: public safety, water problems and what he calls a pending storm — the city’s financial crunch. After the city kept its property tax levy flat for the second consecutive year, Brady said the city will need to explore department reorganization and other steps to cut costs. “What can we do with early outs, early retirement programs? What can we do about holding off capital purchases for the city, equipment, etc.? What’s a want and what’s truly a need and then [what are] the priorities?” Brady said in an interview on WGLT during Morning Edition. * WGLT | As a strike looms, ISU’s lab school workers await decision on their own union recognition: Educators in ISU’s K-12 lab schools [Metcalf and University High] are trying to get recognition for their first union, called the Lab School Education Association [LSEA]. They petitioned for that recognition last summer and recently won a favorable decision from an administrative law judge with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. A full board decision is expected soon, after which the new union could begin negotiating its first contract with ISU. * Car Scoops | How Much Of Your Car Is Really Made In The USA?: Take the Lincoln Nautilus, for example. Only 5% of this car is made in the US, with 87% coming from China. On the other hand, the Kia EV6 is 80% American-made, while the Honda Ridgeline and Acura MDX are 70 percent American-made. * The Guardian | RFK Jr says 20% of Doge’s health agency job cuts were mistakes: Around a fifth of the 10,000 jobs cut from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were done in error and will need to be corrected, the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has admitted. Mass layoffs from the health department began this week amid a push by Donald Trump’s administration to shrink the size of the federal government workforce. Union representatives were told around 10,000 people were to lose their jobs ahead of further reductions that could see the department’s 82,000-strong workforce slashed by nearly a quarter.
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Ironworkers: The Backbone of Our Energy Storage and Green Transition Economy
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Ironworkers are at the forefront of Illinois’ green energy transition, ensuring a sustainable future while securing strong, union-backed wages. Thanks to the historic investment in renewable energy by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly, thousands of Illinois ironworkers are finding employment in green energy projects, including energy storage. From day one, ironworkers have been erecting wind turbines and battery plants. By advancing hydrogen and other energy storage solutions, they play a crucial role in making the ambitious goals of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) a reality. Their expertise ensures that Illinois not only meets but leads in clean energy innovation. By including all of union labor in renewable energy projects, we strengthen our workforce, our economy, and our environment. The future is green—powered by the hands of skilled ironworkers.
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Feds move to dismiss charges against their prized mole Solis
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the US Attorney’s office…
* Sun-Times…
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It’s just a bill
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sen. Mark Walker…
* WAND…
* Sen. Celina Villanueva…
* WAND…
* WGLT…
* Sen. Julie Morrison…
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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In which I almost agree with Tom DeVore (Updated)
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * It kinda makes me choke to say it, but DeVore is right about this…  You wanna win as a Republican in the suburbs? You gotta do what you gotta do. Plain and simple. * And yet, when it comes to prominent Republican women accepting campaign contributions from the IEA - which has backed Republicans for decades here - he calls them RINOs… 
There’s a word for this sort of double standard. …Adding… Aaron Del Mar interrupted a massive whine-fest about the ILGOP to speak some hard truths about Republican candidates today…
Winners do the work.
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Healing Communities: More Than Healthcare Providers, Hospitals Are Economic Engines
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois hospitals are driving local economies across the state through a combined $117.7 billion in economic activity every year. Such significant contributions to the state and local economies come from providing good-paying jobs and spending on supplies, services, and capital. While hospitals are best known for their lifesaving care—and always being there when you need them—their role stretches farther. They’re also working hard to address community health needs, provide accessible care and train future clinicians. As economic anchors in their community, Illinois hospitals create 445,000 direct and indirect jobs, and they support working families through over $50 billion in direct and indirect salaries annually. What’s more:
• Illinois hospitals directly employ 190,000 Illinoisans. • Every $1 in hospital spending leads to another $1.40 in community spending. Illinois hospitals spend nearly $62 billion to have at the ready the medical equipment and supplies needed to care for patients in any circumstance. In addition, the hospital community spends over $5.5 billion on capital projects yearly that benefit patients and employ local businesses. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities.
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Open thread
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois joins 18 other states suing to block President Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution. WHO…
- The lawsuit is the fourth against the executive order issued just a week ago. - It seeks to block key aspects of it, including new requirements that people provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a demand that all mail ballots be received by Election Day. * Related stories… ∙ AP: States sue to block Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution ∙ WaPo: Democratic attorneys general sue to block Trump’s voting restrictions ∙ Click here to read the lawsuit. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * ABC | Concerned for service members, governor seeks security assurances from Joint Chiefs: Pritzker said he was reaching out as he’s “lost faith” in the ability of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, one of the key members of the Signal incident, to “maintain the integrity of our national defense operations.” […] “Currently, over 1,700 Illinois National Guard members are deployed on federal active-duty service by directive of the President, so I cannot stand by silent as their lives are put at risk,” he added * Tribune | In a big-money era, University of Illinois shrugs off rules on athletes’ NIL deals: But not one of those endorsements — which are allowed now that student-athletes can profit from their personal brands — was reported to the university, as state law requires. In fact, the entire Illini team reported just $9,100 in name, image and likeness deals during the 2023-24 season, according to records obtained by the Tribune and ProPublica. By comparison, the average earnings reported for a male basketball player in the Big Ten and the three other biggest college conferences were more than $145,000 during that school year, according to data that institutions voluntarily provided to the NCAA. * WBEZ | Families turn to Illinois Attorney General to help bring back surgeries for transgender youth: Dozens of families and medical students are calling for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to prompt two major hospitals in Chicago to resume transgender surgeries for young people. About two months ago, Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which are near downtown Chicago, stopped providing gender care surgeries for people younger than 19 after an executive order from Republican President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funding, among other potential actions. * Press Release | AFP-Illinois Ad Campaign and Grassroots Push to Extend Trump Tax Cuts: oday, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is launching a seven-figure ad and grassroots campaign highlighting what will be a Tax Day nightmare next year for working families across Illinois if Congress fails to renew the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). This critical legislation has provided essential tax relief to families and small businesses nationwide and is overwhelmingly supported by hardworking Americans. * KWQC | Man evades deputies during firearm removal search: A man has eluded Jo Daviess County deputies who were attempting to remove guns from the house after a restraining order search warrant was issued. Deputies then investigated the domestic-related order to remove firearms from the residence of 53-year-old Enrique O. Silva of Galena. […] A deputy attempted to make contact, but Silva ran. Silva is thought to have entered the home, but the deputy did not, because it is assumed firearms were in the home. * WCIA | ‘It shaped me’; Black leaders in Urbana talk resilience, motivation to push the city forward: DeShawn Williams is the new Mayor of Urbana — the first Black man to be elected to the role. He ran unopposed in Champaign County’s general election and now joins a growing list of influential African American leaders throughout the city, including Fire Chief Demond Dade and Police Chief Larry Boone. It’s the first time in Urbana’s history all three positions are held by Black men. * BND | St. Clair County cities get $30M in grant for recovery from 2022 flooding: Five cities in St. Clair County will get a share of a $30 million in federal grants to help in disaster recovery efforts from flooding in July 2022, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) announced Thursday. This aid is separate from the $89.5 million St. Clair County received in January for disaster recovery from flooding in July 2024. * BND | East St. Louis schools could lose $19 million in federal funds clawback: The East St. Louis school district stands to lose more than $19 million as the U.S. Department of Education claws back unspent federal pandemic-relief funding. The district is counting on that funding to finish major heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects to improve indoor air quality — a critical component of reducing the risk of airborne illnesses like COVID-19 — in all 10 of its schools, said Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, the district’s executive director of communications. * WAND | NWS confirms 5 tornadoes touched down during Wednesday’s storms: The tornadoes ranged from EF-0 to EF-2, with the strongest winds reaching speeds up to 135 mph. NWS reported an EF-0 touched down just west of Cissna Park, three EF-1 tornadoes, one in Lincoln, one southeast of Loda, another in Montrose, Effingham Co., and an EF-2 reported near Vandalia Lake in Fayette Co. * WCIA | Central IL counties cleaning up after multiple tornadoes touch down: Some people in Central Illinois had a lot to clean up on Thursday after Wednesdays severe weather. At least five tornadoes touched down, including in Cumberland County. A few people in the area saw damage on their properties and both trees and power lines came down. It’s the second time in the past few weeks that a town in the county was hit by a tornado. * WAND | Chatham voters pass tax levy for necessary repairs to public library: The Chatham Area Public Library will have access to more funding thanks to a recently-passed tax levy. In the consolidated election, voters passed a referendum with 55% of the vote for a tax levy to benefit the public library. Library Director Amy Byers said the library staff are grateful that the community supported their efforts to repair the facility. * WCIA | Tango music festival returns to Champaign-Urbana: The CU Tango Music Festival will take place April 3-6 throughout Champaign-Urbana. Program organizers said new this year, they’ll have performances and a collaboration with 40 North 88 West’s Boneyard Arts Festival and Krannert Uncorked at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. * PJ Star | Bob Dylan’s biggest fan might be from Peoria. He’s about to reach an amazing milestone: As Jaeger anticipates his 200th Dylan concert, he reflects on the joy of shared experiences with fellow fans and the enduring power of music to connect people. Walk into any local record shop, and you’re bound to find a few Bob Dylan records. But in the basement of Matthew Jaeger’s East Peoria home lies a collection to rival them all: hundreds of albums packed into shelves, spanning from his favorite artist’s earliest years to the most recent work — albums you could find anywhere and Dylan’s most coveted rarities. * Crain’s | Progressive Caucus leaders turn up the volume on their beef with Johnson: Disappointed with the response to their concern that Mayor Brandon Johnson was seeking to oust them from his City Council leadership team, three leaders of the Progressive Caucus are amplifying their criticism of the Fifth Floor. Progressive Caucus co-chairs Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, and Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, and caucus secretary Ald. Matt Marin, 47th, sent a letter to Johnson yesterday seeking assurance that he was not planning to strip them of the committees they chair after word got back to them that some in the mayor’s office had allegedly discussed the plan. * Crain’s | Biggest Chicago law firms silent in face of Trump attacks: The biggest law firms in Chicago will not talk about how they would respond if confronted with an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting their operations. Crain’s reached out to 19 of the 20 firms on its list of the largest law firms in the area to seek comment on the recent string of executive orders, and none were willing to discuss the issue. The executive orders targeting the firms have splintered the legal community, with some fighting and others coming to terms with the administration. * Sun-Times | ‘Where is the Glock?’ Gun turned over to Chicago police wound up in the hands of a teenager, records show: The lost weapon’s journey mirrored an earlier event in which a gun turned in by a Cook County judge disappeared from another buyback in Chicago — only to resurface at a fatal police shooting in Cicero, as the Better Government Association and Chicago Sun-Times reported in 2017. After that report, the city launched an investigation that lasted more than five years. But investigators decided it would be “difficult and unwise” to question everyone involved in the buyback. So they didn’t interview anyone. * Crain’s | Foxtrot’s rebirth has the backing of a Pritzker: William Pritzker, first cousin once removed of Gov. JB Pritzker, confirmed to Crain’s he is a “significant investor” in Foxtrot. He was coy about his specific share, saying simply, “Your imagination can fill in what that number is, but it’s not like we’re 48%,” emphasizing he is not the majority stakeholder. Paperwork filed with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission lists him as an owner, which indicates his stake is north of 5%, though it’s unclear by how much. * Naperville Sun | Partisan politics in Naperville’s nonpartisan election raises questions over how future races will be run: Although they were running for a nonpartisan position, White, Holzhauer, Syed and Gibson deciding to join forces and securing Underwood and Foster’s endorsements sent a clear message about where they stood, they said. “A lot of this comes down to where your values align,” White said, “and with our congressional representatives, there was synergy as far as alignment on values there.” * Tribune | Will County judge dismisses GOP lawsuit; veto of attempt to stop 143rd widening to stand: A Will County judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed last year by 10 Will County Board Republicans against County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant over a road widening project in Homer Glen, ending the litigation. The 10 County Board members sued Bertino-Tarrant after she initially signed a resolution that stopped an expansion of 143rd Street to five lanes as planned. Bertino-Tarrant later said she realized her mistake and vetoed the resolution, prompting the lawsuit filed April 18, 2024. * Patch | ‘A New Day’ And Dodge: Orland Park’s Pick For Mayor Basks In Win: * Tribune | After contentious Aurora election, time will heal – and answer lots of questions: We can all concur it was a brutal, negative mayoral campaign in Aurora – and we’re glad it’s over. Of course, not everyone agrees on who should have won. But a victor has been declared and it’s time now that we all stop, inhale deeply, and then focus on repairing the damage that can come when emotions and negative ads – and yes, lots of outside money – complicate the issues most important to a community. * Daily Herald | ‘What’s not to like about a healthy lake?’: Pilot monitoring program launched in Lake County: The initiative by Lake County Lake Lovers involves providing state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and expertise to gather data on lake health twice a month through October. Key water quality indicators such as the concentration of phosphorous, dissolved oxygen, algae growth and others will be measured and compared over time on each lake in a collaboration between trained citizen scientists and more than two dozen lake volunteers. * NYT | Kennedy Guts Teams That Share Health Information With the Public: Some of those employees were press officers, but many worked behind the scenes — on social media, newsletters, information campaigns and personal outreach — to translate complicated scientific studies into accessible guidance and to ensure that the recommendations and cutting-edge research produced in the department’s dozens of offices reached the people who needed them. * AP | Federal judge says she will temporarily block billions in health funding cuts to states: A federal judge will temporarily block President Donald Trump’s administration from cutting billions in federal dollars that support COVID-19 initiatives and public health projects throughout the country. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, appointed by Trump in 2019 but first nominated by former President Barack Obama, in Rhode Island said Thursday that she plans to grant the court order sought by 23 states and the District of Columbia. “They make a case, a strong case, for the fact that they will succeed on the merits, so I’m going to grant the temporary restraining order,” said McElroy, who plans to issue a written ruling later. * The Guardian | Oregon abandoned its radical drug law. Then came the mass arrests: In September, Oregon lawmakers enacted legislation turning low-level drug possession into a more serious crime punishable by up to 180 days in jail. The resulting crackdown has led to thousands of arrests statewide in recent months. People targeted in cities such as Medford, and overworked public defenders tasked with representing them, say the drug enforcement has been chaotic and at times brutal. * AP | Demand for the viral ‘torpedo’ bats has sent a Pennsylvania factory into overdrive: Victus isn’t the only company producing the bulgy bats, but they were among the first to list them for sale online after the Yankees made them the talk of the sports world. The torpedo bat took the league by storm in only 24 hours, and days later, the calls and orders, and test drives — from big leaguers to rec leaguers — are humming inside the company’s base, in a northwest suburb of Philadelphia. “The amount of steam that it’s caught, this quickly, that’s certainly surprising,” Smith said. “If the Yankees hitting nine home runs in a game doesn’t happen, this doesn’t happen.”
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Apr 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Apr 4, 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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