Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Sfondeles: Pritzker’s new nonprofit has already contributed $1.5 million to pro-choice candidates/groups
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tina Sfondeles has the scoop…
That Ohio spending is on top of the $1.5 million he dropped in Ohio earlier this year. Plus he sent his campaign manager to the state.
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Afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s Chicago on the UAW deal with Stellantis and reopening and expanding the Belvidere plant…
* Crain’s Detroit on Michigan’s big spending…
* Let’s go back to the UAW contract victory. UAW President Shawn Fain was in Chicago a few weeks ago to speak at a rally…
The gains from the wider strike were impressive…
* The Southern…
* AP…
* But of course…
* And, finally, I once again agree with Kennedy…
* Isabel’s roundup… * Sierra Club | Majority of Illinoisans Regularly Breathe Unsafe Air, According to New Report: Roughly 9 million Illinois residents, comprising 71% of the state’s entire population, live in areas that regularly experience air that the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined is unsafe to breathe, according to a report released by the Sierra Club. The report indicates that light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles massively contribute to the state’s ozone pollution. * Block Club | McCormick Place Lakeside Center Will Close Blinds Every Night To Protect Migrating Birds: Instead of turning the lights off when the building is occupied, leaders at Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority plan to consistently close the blinds and are considering other bird-safety adjustments, according to a news release. […] To further protect birds, leaders are considering installing bird-safe film and barriers on the outside of the glass as well as adding additional decals inside windows, more shades and drapery inside and motorized controls for existing shades, according to the news release. * Journal and Topics | State Rep. Gong-Gershowitz Attends Biden Executive Order Signing On Artificial Intelligence: State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17th) of Glenview sat in the front row of a signing ceremony for President Joe Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) Monday (Oct. 30) in the White House, before coming back to chair hearings on improving AI protections in Illinois. President Biden’s executive order “establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more,” a White House fact sheet released on the order says. * WICS | Resident who helped ISP trooper who was shot speaks out: A local resident says he ran outside to offer lifesaving help after hearing gunshots outside of his bedroom window to the Illinois State Police Trooper who was shot. Travis Rebbe ran outside his home on the 1600 block of Toronto Road and helped the injured trooper until EMS and police arrived. He said once he heard the gunshots, he knew he needed to help. * WSIL | Construction officially underway on new Mississippi River bridge at Chester: This is a project made possible with the help of Governor JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program. According to MoDOT, “the current Chester Bridge has two 11-foot lanes and carries 7,000 vehicles per day. It connects the cities of Chester, Illinois and Perryville, Missouri across the Mississippi River via Route 51. * Chalkbeat | Chicago charter schools face potential crossroads with new mayor, dozens of renewals: The high-stakes renewal process, which scrutinizes charter schools’ academic performance, financial practices, and operational compliance among other factors, comes at a pivotal time, as Chicago’s political landscape is shifting under a new mayor and looming school board elections. Charter communities wonder what it could all mean for their schools. * Mark Ishaug | Make mental health a priority, and fulfill a promise from 60 years ago: While we have made a lot of progress in 60 years, it is important to focus on the parts of the Act that still need to be achieved and the gaps in mental health care that remain. The pandemic created an opportunity for a more public dialogue around mental health and wellness for everyone, with a focus on those who are often overlooked, particularly people dealing with long-term or disabling mental health conditions. During my time leading Thresholds, I have seen first-hand the importance of connecting with individuals in their own spaces and neighborhood settings, outside the traditional clinic experience. * Sun-Times | President Joe Biden will visit Illinois Nov. 9 to tout White House agenda: President Joe Biden hits the Chicago area on Nov. 9 for a swing touting his White House agenda, with a likely fundraising event also on the schedule. The details of the visit, confirmed by the White House, are still in the works. Members of the Illinois congressional delegation have been notified by the White House the president will be making a visit Nov. 9 to the Chicago area, without adding any other information. * NYT | Why pharmacy workers at CVS and Walgreens are protesting: Bled Tanoe, a pharmacist in Oklahoma City who used to work for Walgreens and now works for a hospital, said she was helping to spread the word about the walkouts because she was concerned that pharmacy chains had been telling workers for years to “work faster and work with less help.” * Tribune | After retired Chicago-area priest loses life savings in scam common among seniors, friends and parishioners step up: Banzin said the ordeal started on Aug. 17 when he received an email from what he thought was PayPal, telling him there was a $699 charge on his account from eBay. Knowing this charge was “ridiculous,” Banzin contacted a PayPal support phone number he found online. Instead of the online payment company, he said he accidentally contacted a group of fraudsters. * The Atlantic | Political Analysis Needs More Witchcraft: When trying to understand a political culture, you have to examine the society as it exists, irrational warts and all. And yet, most of us prefer to look at the world through a reverse fun-house mirror, in which the complex and sometimes-wacky beliefs of our fellow citizens are reflected back at us with the straight, clear-cut lines of reason and logic. We attribute voter behavior to policy proposals and economic data, rather than to the knock-on effects of widely held conspiracy theories or other nonrational beliefs. * NYT | Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Thelonious Monk: Where other pianists played light chords with their left hand and quicker notes with the right, Monk played equally complicated notes with both hands, leading to complex arrangements that traversed the entire scale. But he never overplayed; his use of space between the notes elicited peace and tension equally. * Chicago Mag | Dad’s Old Records: It’s easy to assume you know Jeff Tweedy. From his early days in Uncle Tupelo to 29 years at the helm of Wilco, the Grammy winner has crafted alt-country gems with heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics that offer his perspectives on love and life. But World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music, his third book, offers bet-you-didn’t-expect-that turns, including: When Tweedy tries out a new guitar, he plays “Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive — “one of the most important” songs in his life. * Tribune | Shedd Aquarium researchers report mass bleaching of coral reefs in warming Florida oceans: ‘Like a forest without trees’: Between 90% and 95% of corals they surveyed at 76 sites across the Keys and Dry Tortugas over the span of a week showed signs of extreme bleaching, said Shedd research biologist Ross Cunning. Some coral species, such as endangered branching corals like staghorn and elkhorn, were nearly all dead. * Illinois Newsroom | Student filmmaker sheds light on influential Illinois politician in new documentary: “Uncle Joe Cannon” is a student-produced documentary that revisits the life of a prominent 19th-century Illinois politician. Joseph Cannon spent 46 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois — including eight years as Speaker of the House. Even when he led the Republican Party for years, he made it a point to always remember his constituents. * Block Club | Nonstop Christmas Music Starts Thursday On 93.9 LITE FM: This is the 23rd year the station has celebrated its holiday music tradition. Last year was the earliest LITE FM started playing round-the-clock Christmas music — on Nov. 1. The light rock station will start its holiday programming one day later this year than last year. * Lake County News-Sun | Tweaks made to Lake County’s Toys for Tots program; ‘It’s the greatest feeling in the world’: Participants in this year’s U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will have a true holiday shopping experience on a selected day in mid-December where they will browse at a pop-up shop to select gifts for their children.
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Here’s How To Make The Tax Credit Scholarship Better
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] We’ve been listening carefully to the governor, legislative leaders, and many members of the legislature about how to make the Tax Credit Scholarship better – and we now have an amended program proposal that does exactly that. Thousands of vulnerable kids are counting on us to put them before politics. In response to direct feedback, our bill offers substantive improvements along with good-faith compromises which justify extending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program:
2. Reduce the overall size of the program to $50MM (down from $75MM) and reduce the individual giving cap to $500,000 (down from $1MM). 3. Reduce the tax credit for donors to 55% (down from 75%). 4. Encourage more middle-income donors by crediting donations of up to $5,000 with a 100% tax credit. Illinois, let’s do the right thing. It’s about the kids, not the politics. Save the scholarships.
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Asylum-seekers coverage roundup
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’ve seen this argument before and it’s a prime example of why simple solutions are usually neither: 1) Most everyone is already asked if they’d like to go to another city; 2) Transporting human beings against their will would be violating numerous state and federal laws. But, I suppose, the cruelty is the entire point here…
* Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about the asylum-seekers earlier today…
He also said this…
And this…
So far, though, the feds have refused to take over logistics. They’re simply not helping. * Sure seems to be lots of “miscommunications” in the city these days…
* CBS 2…
Something else to keep in mind as temperatures start to rise a bit…
* More from Isabel…
* Tribune | Freezing temperatures, uncertainty and concern among migrants living outside Chicago police stations: ‘How are we going to survive winter here?’: Temperatures plummeted overnight to a low of 30 degrees at O’Hare International Airport, said the National Weather Service, and safety networks stepped in to react to emergencies brought on by the cold. Temperatures were expected to stay around 37 degrees with light snow flurries for 24 hours, weather officials said. * Sun-Times | Unwelcome first snow for migrants at police stations: ‘It’s so cold it hurts’: Thousands of migrants, like Ortiz, are staying at Chicago Police district stations waiting for room in city shelters to open up. Many have found some respite in donations from passersby and city warming buses, but as the city gets its first snow of the season, all that isn’t enough to stave off the cold. “The cold was tremendous,” said Ortiz of the low temps the night before. “It doesn’t let you sleep.” * ABC Chicago | Chicago migrants battle elements as winter nears; many at police stations spend days outside: “The police station wasn’t letting them inside during the day, we think that is changing but it’s not happening at every police station,” said volunteer Fran Zell. * WGN | Migrants in Chicago face harsh winter conditions as city works to provide aid: The freezing temperatures and snowfall echo the growing concerns among migrant families sleeping on the frigid sidewalks of Chicago’s Police Districts. Migrant families, deeply concerned about the harsh conditions, say they do not know how much longer it will be before they get moved to shelters, causing worries about their children’s safety to grow. * CBS Chicago | Chicago migrants’ lives are at risk in tents in cold weather, volunteer says: At the Austin (15th) District police station, 5701 W. Madison St., a group of migrants relied on goodwill to weather the cold. Volunteer Laurel Fischer-Holden, with the Chicago Police Station Response Team spends her days collecting donations – and then drops them off at the police station for the migrants. “What’s happening here is criminal,” said Fischer-Holden. “These are human beings, and they’re freezing. And we can fix it, but we’re not.” * CBS Boston | Massachusetts emergency migrant shelters nearly full, families soon to be put on waitlist: Currently, the state spends about $45 million a month to house both homeless residents and migrants who are new to the state in existing shelters as well as various hotels and motels across the state. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation with a right to shelter law. * NY Daily News | After tour, advocates beg NYC to ditch plan to house migrant kids at Floyd Bennett Field: On the heels of touring the city’s soon-to-open migrant shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, homeless advocates are pleading with Mayor Adams’ administration to reconsider housing children at the site, calling it a “patently dangerous” plan due to insufficient bathroom access, lack of privacy and other concerns. * ABC | Denver Public Schools implementing new strategies to address increasing number of migrant families arriving: In October alone, Denver Public Schools welcomed 400 migrant students into the district, according to Adella Arredondo, the executive director of Family and Community Engagement for DPS. Between July and October 25, DPS welcomed 1,915 migrant students. The influx of students has meant a couple of things for the district. For starters, DPS leaders had to put a call out for more bilingual teachers.
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Protected: Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Center Square…
* From the coalition…
* The Question: Do you support this medical aid in dying concept? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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Senate Dems release new Chicago elected school board map proposal
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here for the interactive map…
* Senate Democrats press release…
* Demographic breakdown… …Adding…Chalkbeat…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign update
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Open thread
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Asylum seekers face their first Chicago winter. Sun-Times…
- Migrants who can sleep inside police stations are often forced out during the day. * Related stories… ∙ Tribune: Freezing temperatures, uncertainty and concern among migrants living outside Chicago police stations: ‘How are we going to survive winter here?’ ∙ NYT: In Chicago, a Neighborhood of Immigrants Is Conflicted About More Arrivals * NBC Photographer George Mycyk yesterday…
* Isabel’s top picks… * NBC | J.B. Pritzker-backed group sends $250,000 to Virginia Democrats: Think Big America, a nonprofit group affiliated with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is donating $250,000 to Virginia Democrats with a week to go before state legislative elections that could decide the future of abortion policy in the state. The group is sending $25,000 apiece to four Democrats running in battleground Senate districts: state Dels. Danica Roem and Schuyler Van Valkenburg, former prosecutor Russet Perry and entrepreneur Joel Griffin. * Sun-Times | Pritzker’s science project: Aggressive bid for federal semiconductor center part of larger plan to make state hi-tech hub: With Chicago in the running for the $11 billion National Semiconductor Technology Center, a multi-university network of researchers and scientists are optimistic Illinois’ advances in engineering and manufacturing — especially quantum — will help them seal the deal. So is Gov. J.B. Pritzker. * What’s your favorite made in Illinois product?…
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup… * Center Square | Coalition lobbying for ‘assisted suicide’ law in Illinois getting pushback: A member of the coalition, Suzie Flack, lost her son to cancer and would like to see a gentle dying option. “I am hoping to carry on and tell his story and to reach people so they can understand that an option like this does provide a lot of comfort to terminally ill individuals,” Flack said. * Forest Park Review | Former Obama campaign staffer running for Danny Davis’ seat: Kouri Marshall never held a political office before — but he’s still running on his record. That record including work for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and work for former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st) and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Marshall also touted his work in the nonprofit sector. He serves as a director of state and local public policy for the Chamber of Progress, a trade organization for technology companies. * Madison-St. Clair Record | Everytown for Gun Safety and others file amicus briefs supporting gun liability law, claiming ‘bad actors in the gun industry … enable gun violence’: The National Shooting Sports Foundation petitioned for the injunction, seeking protection under the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Raveendran of Chicago, who in March filed a brief backing the ban on what the state defines as assault weapons, filed the current brief. * Sun-Times | Rahm or Ed? Expert quizzed on who had most clout in preview of possible Burke trial testimony: Elmhurst University political science professor Constance Mixon agreed during a sneak preview of her potential trial testimony that Burke’s role as the Council’s finance chairman put him in a “powerful and influential position.” She said he’s often been described as the Council “dean,” and she noted he has a “deep history” of the city’s legislative body. * Tribune | Aldermen support March referendum on real estate transfer tax, sending ordinance to full City Council: In a 32-16 vote, the rules committee approved the revamped “Bring Chicago Home” measure, which offers a tiered tax rate on all property sales. Advocates say it would generate much-needed revenue for the city’s homeless population, but opponents in the real estate industry have warned that it would put a further damper on an already-fragile market for offices, retail and apartment buildings and drive up costs for tenants. * Reuters | US Supreme Court won’t wade into Chicago parking meter fight: The justices rejected the drivers’ appeal of an April ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld Chicago’s long term contract with Chicago Parking Meters LLC. The drivers have argued the contract and its restrictions on the city gave Chicago Parking Meters an unlawful monopoly in violation of U.S. antitrust law. * Daily Herald | Rising pension costs to test Schaumburg’s ability to keep tax levy pledge: Since 2009, Schaumburg officials have kept a promise not to increase the property tax levy they established that year because of the economic recession. But they will soon face a dilemma when it comes to that pledge, due to rising police and firefighter pension costs that within a few years could consume the entire levy. * WBEZ | The Calumet Water Reclamation Plant preps for the future as the climate continues to change: “I’ve been in the wastewater industry for 24 years now. And it seems like more and more events we’re having,” said Dan Mikso, one of the engineers at the plant. Despite more frequent floods, plant officials said they are ready for the challenge. * CoStar | Jury Finds Brokers Conspired To Inflate Commissions, Awards Missouri Home Sellers Almost $1.8 Billion: The Chicago-based NAR has contended that the system provides an efficient marketplace accessible to all consumers. But the complaints, including the one for the lawsuit resolved in Kansas City, alleged that the practice is anticompetitive because it requires NAR-member agents to list all properties on regional multiple listing services, with broker commissions agreed to before a home is listed for sale. * Pioneer Press | Sean Loughran sworn in as new Glencoe Public Safety Director: On Oct. 7, the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel killing hundreds and taking many others hostage. By the end of that day, local organizers scheduled a large rally supporting Israel at Glencoe’s North Shore Congregation Israel, headlined by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The rally required large law enforcement presence and might have been a challenge for the head of any agency no matter how long they had been on the job. In the case of Glencoe Public Safety Director Sean Loughran, he had been in his new role for less than a week. * Sun-Times | Pot shop company files suit to blunt planned dispensary at former Rainforest Cafe, limit proximity of minority-owned stores: The lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County by GRI Holdings alleges the proposed Consume Cannabis dispensary at 605 N. Clark St. violates state law by opening within 1,500 feet of its Green Rose Dispensary. * Block Club | Aunt Martha’s Gets Unexpected $9 Million From MacKenzie Scott: Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness, a nonprofit that serves over 105,000 children and adults each year at 30 locations in Illinois, received a $9 million award through the Chicago Community Trust from Scott’s Yield Giving charity fund, the organization announced Tuesday.
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