* The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Illinois had the second-highest unemployment rate in September, behind only Washington, DC. Minnesota (2.0%), Missouri (2.5%), Iowa (2.7%), Indiana (2.8%), Wisconsin (3.2%), Kentucky (3.8%), Ohio (4.0%) and Michigan (4.1%) were all lower than Illinois’ reported rate of 4.5%.
And according to WalletHub, Illinois’ unemployment rate is almost 20 percent higher than it was in September of 2019, months before the pandemic. Only three states, South Carolina, Colorado and Hawaii, fared worse by that measure.
On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced the unemployment rate hasn’t changed.
The unemployment rate is at 4.5% right now.
Nonagricultural jobs did increase by over 14,500 in September.
The industries with the most growth are educational and health services, government, and professional and business services.
“Today’s data is a clear indicator that the Illinois labor market continues to remain strong and stable,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “As continued claims levels remain at historical lows, IDES is committed to connecting job seekers and employers throughout the state with the tools and resources they need to take advantage of the current landscape.”
Illinois’ unemployment rate was up one percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for September.
The Illinois unemployment rate was down one percentage point from a year ago when it was at 5.5%.
We may be seeing the first signs of a cooling job market after a red hot summer. The Labor Department reports that US employers added 263,000 jobs in September, a smaller increase and in August the month before, and this might be good news for the Federal Reserve which has been trying to slow down the rate of inflation. And Bureau Chief Economics Correspondent Scott Horsley joins us now. […]
Horsley: Well, it shows that September was another solid month for job gains, but not quite as strong as the month before. The economy added about 16% fewer jobs last month than it did in August. by historical standards. This is still a pretty hot job market but it’s not quite as hot as it was during the summertime. And as you mentioned, that’s kind of what the Federal Reserve has been hoping for,
Q: Which is kind of counterintuitive, right? I mean, a cooling job market is a positive signal for the Federal Reserve. Can you explain that?
Horsley: Well, it is in this case, and that’s because the Fed has been concerned that the job markets been out of balance. There is too much demand for workers for the workers who are available to fill those jobs. And as result, employers have been bidding up wages at an unusually fast pace. Now of course, rising wages is a good thing for workers but it can also add fuel to the inflationary fires. So the Fed has been hoping to see more of a balance between help wanted signs and job applicants. We did get an encouraging sign earlier in the week when the report came out from the Labor Department showing job openings in August fell by about 10% from about 11 million jobs at the start of the month to 10 million just before Labor Day, even as hiring held pretty steady.
* More…
* Illinois gets $7 million for unemployment system upgrades as debt persists : Four major equity projects will be funded through the grant, according to a news release by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. These projects include upgrading the UI service delivery systems, processes and communications for easier access and experience. This involves making the UI information easier to understand, translating the information into various languages, growing the self-service digital options and increasing the outreach to organizations within the community.
* Illinois manufacturers have a job waiting for you: There are nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs open in the U.S. These are some of the best-paying, most technologically advanced and exciting careers out there. That’s especially true in Illinois, which might be called the epicenter of manufacturing in the United States. A recent study found the total economic impact of manufacturing in Illinois is estimated to be between $580 billion and $611 billion annually — the largest share of state’s gross domestic product of any industry. Manufacturing directly employs 662,298 workers but ultimately supports as many as 1,771,928 jobs, generating up to $150 billion in labor income for Illinois residents annually.
* Illinois’ clean energy jobs grew by 5% in 2021: Here’s where the work is: Jobs in clean energy — such as installing solar panel arrays, recycling lithium-ion battery modules and planning electric vehicle charging infrastructure — grew by more than 5,000 in Illinois last year, according to a recent report.
A federal judge Friday agreed to let the feds delay their prosecution of AT&T Illinois for two years, apparently following the lead set in 2020 by another judge when prosecutors first leveled a bribery charge against ComEd.
Both utilities have now faced charges as a result of the yearslong investigation that led to this year’s racketeering case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. And both have now entered into deferred-prosecution agreements with the office of U.S. Attorney John Lausch.
AT&T Illinois, like ComEd, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. And Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu on Friday told U.S. District Judge Jorge Alonso he expected that cooperation to be helpful in the prosecution of Madigan and former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza. […]
Meanwhile, AT&T Illinois aims to resolve its own criminal charge through its deal with the feds. If the utility holds up its end of the bargain, including payment of a $23 million fine, prosecutors are expected to drop the criminal charge filed against it. Alonso set a status hearing in the case for Oct. 14, 2024.
For more than a decade, Brian Gray was AT&T’s top executive in Illinois for a critical area — dealing with politicians in a state known for its corruption.
As the director of legislative affairs, he oversaw a stable of lobbyists, and in recent years he also headed the telecom giant’s political action committee in Illinois.
Gray had joined AT&T in 2000 after serving as a military pilot and rising to the rank of commander in the U.S. Navy, according to his online professional networking profile.
But Gray was one of two longtime executives who stopped working for AT&T in Springfield last month after many years as lobbyists, records show.
And sources close to the ongoing federal investigation into political corruption at the Illinois Capitol say Gray was one of the three unnamed and unindicted employees referred to by authorities in the case filed last week against their onetime boss, the former AT&T President Paul La Schiazza.
The former president of AT&T Illinois pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges alleging he orchestrated and approved a scheme to funnel payments to an associate of then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for the speaker’s help passing legislation important to the company.
Paul La Schiazza, 65, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week with conspiracy, federal program bribery, and using a facility in interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity. The most serious counts carry up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
La Schiazza, who has homes in Rhode Island and Florida, pleaded not guilty through his attorney during a telephone hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cummings. He will remain free on a recognizance bond while his case is pending.
Asked by the judge if he’s currently employed, La Schiazza replied, “No your honor, I am not.”
* Madeleine Doubek, executive director of Change Illinois in Crain’s…
Acevedo was a lobbyist when he took the AT&T payoff, according to federal prosecutors, as was former state Rep. Luis Arroyo when he was caught trying to bribe former state Sen. Terry Link.
Campaign mailers this season claim lawmakers are banned from lobbying their colleagues right after they leave office. That’s technically true, but the key word there is “right.” Former legislators can lobby their colleagues after waiting six months or less if they quit near the end of a General Assembly session. This is one of the weakest cooling-off periods in the nation. It needs to be at least two years.
We need more disclosure and better, searchable databases of lobbyists, consultants and their clients. And what happened to the push to create a searchable database of lobbyists who are campaign donation bundlers? If lobbyist Jane Doe is a bundler who collected $100,000 in donations for candidate John Smith, she likely has much greater influence with Smith than others do.
Acevedo was a consultant for an AT&T lobbyist, so he didn’t have to register. Now he would have to register. I do not understand why the good government advocates continue to ignore this new law. But whether or not the GA strengthens its weak revolving door ban, it ought to include lobbyist consultants in the mix.
The Illinois Veterans’ Home at LaSalle is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases among its veterans and staff. Based on robust rapid testing and the support of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) laboratories, in quick succession, we have identified 23 staff and 42 residents as positive for COVID-19. All the residents who tested positive have been moved to the negative pressure isolation unit and are being closely monitored and cared for by dedicated Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) personnel. All cases are mild presenting mostly as cold-like symptoms, and no one has required hospitalization. Responsible parties have been notified per CDC regulations and notice of the outbreak is posted on the IDVA website. The IDVA Senior Infection Preventionist has been at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home working with clinical personnel since the onset of this outbreak. Additionally, the State Medical Officer of the Illinois Department Public Health along with IDVA Director Terry Prince have been at the Home to provide advice and assistance. The residents are vaccinated, and COVID-19 treatment therapies have been administered as needed.
Our top priority is the health and safety of our military veterans and the heroic staff who care for them. We take this very seriously. We are following recommendations from local health officials, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the CDC, and the IDPH to safeguard everyone at the facility. This includes conducting health screenings every four hours on our veterans, COVID-19 testing of staff at each shift change, use of N-95 respirator masks with protective face shields, maintaining social-distancing practices, using gloves and gowns, and intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Communal dining has been curtailed in the home until the outbreak has ended. Activities and social services staff continue to develop leisure activities, in accordance with social distancing practices, to care for the psychosocial wellbeing of our veterans. Visitation is allowed; however, we highly encourage family members to delay their visit until the outbreak is resolved.
We are grateful to our team for their incredible work during this difficult time as they have responded swiftly, appropriately, and professionally to this outbreak.
I live in the Northwest suburbs, and we are less than four weeks from an election when the political signs start to blossom for the second time this year, and they are an eyesore.
Most of the villages have specific guidance and allowance for political signs, and don’t allow these signs: in the right of way (between the sidewalk and the curb); on medians within 2 feet of the roadway; in front of empty lots or buildings; or on public property.
It seems that the volunteer organizations that put these signs in place are ignoring the ordinances of the various cities they are in. These are politicians who want our votes ignoring their constituents’ laws.
When one sign is left, many more pop up around it. I know it has been accepted for a long time, but I never knew the cities were against these signs, yet seem neutered to act. While villages allow public displays of personal political support on homes and businesses because they are a great and a powerful representation of our democracy, politicians and their proxies place their signage on public roadways artificially representing the size of their local support while being a visual nuisance and against city code using public property.
* The Question: Should Illinois law be changed to allow the state and local communities to fine campaign committees for each sign removed from a public right of way? Explain, along with how high or low you would make the fine if you could.
* DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin was on the Jeanne Ives SAFE-T Act panel the other day and said this…
One final part about the law, what happens when you dry up cash bail, is that right now, when defendants post bond and they’re found guilty, when restitution is ordered to victims, that money comes out of bond money, and victims of crime will not receive that restitution out of bond money.
* I reached out to the governor’s office to ask about state funding for victims’ assistance and was told the Fiscal Year 2023 budget puts $10.5 million new GRF in the Attorney General’s budget for awards and grants under the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act, on top of the existing $5.5 million appropriation. Plus, the AG received a new $7 million GRF appropriation for the Crime Victims Service Division. Plus the GRF appropriation for the Court of Claims’ Crime Victims Compensation Act went from $6 million to $7 million. The Court of Claims also gets federal money. There’s also new state funding for the Violent Crime Witness Protection program.
* And there’s another side of the money issue from Sen. Elgie Sims, a SAFE-T Act sponsor…
Sims said the opposition’s misinformation campaign against the ACT is nothing more than a “red herring that is there to distract you from the real issue. The real issue is that over the last five years, not my numbers, $700 million has gone into the cash bail system. Imagine what could happen in the communities” with that kind of money.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has spent the last two weeks working with other state’s attorneys, law enforcement officials and legislators to make changes to the SAFE-T Act before its introduction Jan. 1, 2023.
Mosser, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos and DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin have met twice a week over Zoom with legislators and advocates for the SAFE-T Act, the Illinois Sheriffs Association, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police for negotiations over changes to the act. […]
Mosser said she worries about how under the new law, defendants in serious crimes would not be detained. For instance, someone involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in death who fled the scene or someone who threatened a school would not be able to be detained, she said.
“I think this was all unintended and when you have a year and a half to pick apart the legislation, you find these things,” Mosser said.
We have the fall veto session coming up here in mid-November. Are you anticipating a follow-up measure related to the SAFE-T Act?
We do have a public safety working group that’s been meeting on this continuously since the end of session. I do understand that they are having some very productive conversations. And if that group has a recommendation for us, we will be prepared to put it on the board and call it (for a vote). It’s likely that they will have a recommendation for us, because we’ve already had three trailer acts to the SAFE-T Act pass. And they’ve committed to continuing to do the work. And a fourth trailer bill would only be keeping with that commitment.
What are your priorities in a follow-up bill?
I don’t have any priorities. My priority is to listen to my caucus. And the caucus is doing the work. They’ve been meeting since the end of session. Our public safety working group is very diverse and geographically diverse, ethnically diverse, genderly diverse. And they’ve been doing the work, meeting with the advocates. They’re going to have a recommendation for me, as the leader of the caucus. I’ll put it before the entire caucus, we’ll vet it, and likely put it on the board, because it’s gone through our process. But it would be premature for me to get ahead of a group that’s been doing that kind of work, with talk about what my agenda would be. I haven’t met with any of these advocacy groups. They’ve been doing work, and the proper respect would be to allow them to continue to do that work.
* More…
* How will eliminating bail affect counties’ finances?: “The first use of bail bond money that comes into the county is for victim restitution and that’s where you’re trying to make those victims whole,” said Hawthorn Woods state Sen. Dan McConchie, the chamber’s Republican leader. “They’re not sure how they’ll handle victim restitution going forward.”
* Lake County sheriff candidates debate SAFE-T Act merits, myths: Idleburg said he’s told people on the campaign trail that when a resident reports someone is trespassing on their property a deputy will come out and tell the person they need to leave and will be able to arrest the person if they determine it is necessary. “(If) you said that this person is a threat to you and your family that individual will be detained and they will be escorted off the property,” Idleburg said. But in a separate interview with the Daily Herald Editorial Board, challenger Mark Vice, a Round Lake Republican, cited that same debunked claim as one reason he’s 100% against the law. Vice is a 16-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.
* SAFE-T Act concerns or making political hay? McHenry County Board sends resolutions opposing act on party-line vote to Springfield: All seven Democrats present voted against the resolution for the SAFE-T Act, while all but County Board member Kelli Wegener, D-Crystal Lake, voted against the resolution opposing House Bill 3447. Wegener abstained, and on Wednesday said she did so because she felt more information was needed before a full vote could take place. Wegener in a statement Wednesday said the resolutions were brought forth “to create a political issue just before the elections.”
* Halpin, Thoms go head-to-head on SAFE-T Act & inflation policy: “It does end the cash bail system, and gets the system back to a threat-based system as opposed to how much money you have in your wallet,” Halpin said. “No cash bail puts a financial burden on the counties,” Thoms said. “Now that could end up increasing property taxes. We’re starting to give the criminals more rights than the victims.”
* Illinois Attorney General candidate Thomas DeVore visits Sycamore to discuss SAFE-T Act: Evans also said she’s concerned by recent gun violence on DeKalb’s north side, especially as it pertains to DeKalb County youth. “That’s why I’m getting involved in politics and even getting involved in the school board because I also know what they kids are being taught in school,” Evans said. “I just see a lot of damage being done to society. And I believe that the SAFE-T Act is going to only make things worse for our communities, make them unsafe, and probably get a lot of people killed.”
* Some of these numbers are inaccurate or, at the very least, confusing. Politico…
Women passing men at the polls
… The data shows 146,362 women and 122,010 men have requested and returned their mail-in-ballots or voted at early-polling sites as of Oct. 20 — or, 54 percent of women and 45 percent of men have voted.
Still outstanding: More women than men have also requested but not yet returned their ballots. The data shows 318,896 women (58 percent) and 229,255 men (42 percent) are still holding on to their ballots.
Not a surprise: Women have outnumbered men in recent elections, according to historical data from the Board of Elections. In the 2020 General Election, women outnumbered men by 15 percent. In the 2018 General Election it was by 14 percent.
OK, using Politico’s numbers, current Illinois data shows that of all ballots returned this fall, 54.5 percent were from women and 45.5 percent were from men. That’s a nine-point spread.
Using State Board of Elections data, in the 2020 general election, the turnout by gender was 54 percent women and 46 percent men, an 8-point spread among the vast majority of voters with identifiable gender status.
In 2018, the spread was 54 percent women to 47 percent men, or 8 points.
So, yeah, if women return their ballots in the same approximate percentage as they requested/received them (16-point spread), then that would be a big difference from years past and signal an absolute blow-out. Right now, though, the return rate is just a wee bit higher than the past two election cycles. That is, of course, still good news on its face for Democrats because that party did very well the last two cycles.
As Bailey seeks to weaken Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Black support, governor launches new ad with endorsement from former President Barack Obama
A new TV spot from Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker touts an endorsement from former President Barack Obama just as the governor’s opponents are seeking to weaken his support among Black voters. […]
The commercial’s release comes after Bailey and his allies have sought to tamp down enthusiasm among Black voters for the first-term governor.
“Black people should not vote for J.B. Pritzker,” former WLS-Ch. 7 reporter Charles Thomas, who is Black, says in an ad from a Bailey-aligned political action committee called People Who Play By The Rules.
OK, first of all, a whole lot of Illinoisans voted for Obama, not just Black Illinoisans.
And, secondly, it looks like the former POTUS cut a bunch of ads the same day, in the same room, wearing the same clothes. This is what a five-minute Twitter search found over the weekend…
When you cast your vote this election, it’s not just candidates on the ballot. Democracy itself is on the line and it’s up to us to defend it. pic.twitter.com/1mI6DO1R70
Obama doesn’t mention Ron DeSantis by name here, but he does say Charlie Crist “cares about people, instead of bullying them.” pic.twitter.com/fsYMIgbbT5
With Democrats struggling against well-funded Republicans to retain control of the U.S. House, some in the party are gazing covetously at the huge war chest assembled by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., perhaps for a future bid for the U.S. Senate.
Krishnamoorthi says he’s getting a bad rap and that he has more than paid his dues by sharing proceeds of his fundraising with members of his caucus. “When someone else in the House asks me to help, I do,” he said in a phone interview.
But quiet grumbling from other Democrats has been going on for a while and shows no sign of ending soon. […]
Krishnamoorthi doesn’t deny that he’s potentially interested in running for the Senate someday. “I have no idea what’s going to happen to (incumbents) Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth,” he says. “What I do know is that having money obviously helps you get things done in Washington.”
* DPI…
The Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) today launched wrongforillinois.com to make sure voters know the truth about State Supreme Court candidates Mark Curran and Mike Burke. Both candidates are wrong on abortion, wrong on democracy, wrong on January 6th — and wrong for Illinois.
With zero experience as a judge, Mark Curran is a far-right extremist who is totally unqualified to serve on the State Supreme Court. In addition to his ultra-MAGA views on abortion, election fraud, and January 6th, Curran has been rated “not recommended” by the Illinois State Bar Association.
Mike Burke is being propped up by anti-choice groups and far-right extremists with ties to the January 6th rally. Can we trust Mike Burke to be independent when that’s the company he keeps?
Click HERE to visit the website and learn the truth.
* Illinois early vote totals…
The @illinoissbe has updated early vote totals (10/24/22): Total VBM requested: 795,085 Total VBM returned: 265,937 Total VBM outstanding: 529,148 Return Rate: 33% Total Early Vote: 66,934 Total Grace Period: 1,009 Total Already Voted: 333,880https://t.co/44ga6Axjmq
The most up-to-date Early Vote and Vote By Mail totals in Chicago, night of Sunday, October 23, 2022.
The Early Vote total stands at 5,220 ballots cast.
Additionally, 28,903 Vote By Mail ballots have been returned to the Board – total VBM applications stands at 192,542.
The grand total is 34,123 ballots cast so far in Chicago for the November 8th General Election.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Early voting expands throughout Illinois Monday: Every county has additional designated voting sites open and if you are a Chicago resident, you can vote at any early voting site no matter what ward you live in but voters must cast their ballot at their home precinct.
* Darren Bailey’s uphill candidacy for farmers, cops and Illinoisans who feel ‘pushed aside’: In his run for governor, Bailey has offered himself up as a herald for those he considers to be the overlooked in Illinois, those he believes have been ignored, forgotten and excluded from a Chicago-driven plan led by Pritzker for the state to thrive. It’s a religion-rooted regional crusade that has made Bailey the most conservative major nominee for the highest elected office in Illinois, a state where all three branches of its government are controlled by Democrats.
* Meet the Illinois 72nd House District Candidates: Gregg Johnson and Tom Martens: Johnson: “I do not support repealing the SAFE-T Act, but I do believe it is an imperfect bill that needs further clarification before it takes effect. Working in the Illinois Department of Corrections for over 30 years, I have seen what works and what doesn’t, and the current status quo does not work. […] Martens: “The SAFE-T Act is not criminal justice reform, and it needs to go. Having bail is supposed to be the first deterrent when deciding to commit a crime. No one is holding a gun to anyone’s head and making them commit crime. Sentencing guidelines need reform more than anything.”
* GOP voters told to hold onto mail ballots until Election Day: Republican activists who believe the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump have crafted a plan that, in their telling, will thwart cheating in this year’s midterm elections. The strategy: Vote in person on Election Day or — for voters who receive a mailed ballot — hold onto it and hand it in at a polling place or election office on Nov. 8.
* State’s attorneys have repeatedly called out the governor for this anecdote about moms shoplifting diapers as not reflecting actual reality. But Gov. Pritzker continues using it…
Keep in mind that Darren Bailey is defending a system that’s in place now, where wealthy, the violent people can go free if they have enough cash. And we’re talking murderers and rapists and domestic abusers being led out because they happen to have enough money. And yet someone who might be a shoplifter, a young mother who you know steals diapers and formula, might be put in jail and not be able to get out because she does have a couple hundred dollars to get out awaiting trial.
* From the Chicago Tribune’s story on Darren Bailey…
In one of his daily devotionals that he posts on Facebook, Darren Bailey read passages from Ephesians that included God’s guidance that “slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear.” Bailey said of the slave reference that “we know today what that means is people, if you’re working for someone, if you have someone above you in authority, you know, respect.”
But then he continued reading the passage that included, “Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good that we do, whether we were slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them. Remember, you both have the same master in heaven and he has no favorites.”
I mean, even if he’s right about the passage pertaining to workers and not to actual slaves (and there’s some real debate about that), why even bring it up?
* From the Tribune’s story on Illinois Supreme Court candidate Mark Curran…
This year, in an interview on the political news show “Public Affairs,” he told host Jeff Berkowitz that God prompted him to run for the court after allowing him to see that Freemasons, members of a fraternal organization that has clashed with Catholicism, held sway over the judicial system in Lake County.
Curran walked back some of those comments in his interview with the Tribune. He said he believes many same-sex parents are doing a good job raising their children, and that his concerns were based in religious liberty. He added he didn’t write everything on his Facebook page, doesn’t think the election was rigged against Trump and doesn’t believe the Freemasons still control Lake County’s courts.
As for his faith, he said it is based in “natural law,” and that compels him to rule upon laws as they are, not how he might want them to be. The former Democrat said he is no lockstep partisan, and suggested some of his remarks had a political calculation.
“I ran for U.S. Senate,” he said. “Regardless of how I felt about it, how do you think it would have worked out if I just threw President Trump under the bus? It’s not going to be well-received.”
The “religious liberty” line was mainly in defense of people who didn’t want to serve LGBTQ customers. And that’s what you might call natural law.
And he admits that he went all-in for Trump to avoid upsetting the guy and his followers?
Also, how did he come to the conclusion about the Freemasons controlling Lake County’s courts? Bizarre.
Curran also points to Rochford’s campaign contributions to Chicago power broker Ald. Edward Burke, including a $1,500 donation recorded weeks after federal agents raided the alderman’s offices in 2018 (he has since been indicted on racketeering and bribery charges).
Rochford’s spokeswoman said that check had been written before the news broke, and that the contributions had been a way of honoring the judge’s late father James Rochford, a Chicago police superintendent who had a tradition of donating to Burke’s annual Christmas event.
If that’s truly the reason, then she shoulda had more sense than that.
In a small southern Illinois town earlier this year, a 58-year-old employee at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center was accused of sexually assaulting a person with a “severe or profound intellectual disability.”
The victim, who was unable to give consent, was only identified in court records with the initials “E.K.” and the alleged assailant was later identified as a mental health technician at the 270-bed, state-run home who also was accused of a separate sexual assault of a girl under 13.
The shocking charges against Charles Mills this March were the latest in a string of scandals at Choate, a home in downstate Anna for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses, though few significant reforms at the home had been taken. […]
But some advocates for people with developmental disabilities question whether Pritzker’s reforms are enough and why Choate continues to operate. Experts who’ve studied and monitored residential services in Illinois and nationally say harmful conditions can flourish in large, state-run homes for people with developmental disabilities — of which Choate is one of seven in Illinois. Federally funded research shows 16 other states and the District of Columbia had “closed, downsized, privatized or converted” all of their similar facilities as of 2018.
Disability service providers across the nation are overwhelmingly turning away new referrals, shutting down programs and services and struggling to maintain standards and there’s no relief in sight.
Findings released this month from a survey of 718 organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities nationally show that providers are continuing to shrink more than two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set the beleaguered sector into a tailspin.
Of the providers surveyed, 83% said they are turning away new referrals, 63% indicated that they have discontinued programs and services and more than half said they’re considering further closures. Nearly all respondents said they’ve had trouble achieving quality standards. […]
And the problems are only expected to get worse. The survey found that 66% of providers anticipate more vacancies and higher turnover when COVID-19 relief funding runs out and other regulatory flexibilities associated with the public health emergency end.
The findings come just months after Congress failed to move forward despite more than a year of negotiation on an ambitious Biden administration plan to invest $400 billion to reinvigorate the nation’s home and community-based services system.
71% of Case Managers are Struggling to Find Available Providers
FACT: More than four in 10 respondents (42%) reported that they offer case management services in addition to long-term services and supports. Of those respondents, 71% indicated that it is difficult to connect families with services due to lack of available providers.
IMPACT: Case managers work with people with I/DD to coordinate services to meet their needs. Due to their role finding and managing availability of services, case managers are often in a unique position to assess accessibility of the provider network—suggesting there are now fewer services to be offered than before.
I get it. To many of you, I’m different. I’m a working farmer who speaks with a Downstate twang and buys my suits off the rack. But like you, I feel that taxes are too high, our streets aren’t safe and our education system is failing our kids. And after back-to-back billionaire governors, it just isn’t working for us. It’s time we have a governor who understands families. I will put people first, not the elites. Let’s fire Pritzker and take our state back
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
In Darren Bailey’s latest ad, he claims he “understands families,” but time and time again he’s made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t understand any family who lives, loves, or worships differently than he does.
Bailey and his running mate, Stephanie Trussell, have repeatedly used social media to disparage the Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities. He once posted a video that claimed “Islam is NOT a religion of peace,” and denigrated transgender individuals, writing, “When a young girl decides she is too fat and develops an eating disorder, we get her psychological help. When a young girl decides she is a boy, we adjust reality to fit her desires.” Bailey has also stated that he “believe[s] in biblical marriage between a man and a woman.”
Numerous anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ+ groups have supported Bailey, including the Illinois Family Institute and Awake IL, an organization that Bailey continued to support even after their posts led to vandalism and harassment at UpRising Bakery and Café.
“Darren Bailey’s hateful speech and dangerous positions towards women, Muslims, Jews, and LGBTQ+ individuals show how far he is from ‘understanding’ Illinois families. He enthusiastically takes every opportunity to double down on his radical agenda to spread hate and divide us, even going so far as to introduce legislation that would kick Chicago out of the state,” said JB for Governor spokeswoman Eliza Glezer. “With Darren Bailey at the top of the Republican ticket, hate is truly on the ballot. On November 8, Illinoisans will send a resounding message that hate has no home in Illinois.”
House Speaker Chris Welch reported raising a whopping $14 million in the third quarter, with almost half of that, $6 million, coming from Gov. J.B. Pritzker. That gives Welch a huge cash advantage for the home stretch over his Republican counterpart.
Welch’s personal campaign committee reported raising $7 million between July 1 and Sept. 30, and reported having $11.6 million cash on hand at the end.
Welch’s caucus committee, Democrats for the Illinois House, also reported raising $7 million in the same time period, with $6 million of that coming from Pritzker. The committee ended the quarter with about $5.8 million in the bank after spending $6.4 million.
From Oct. 1 through Oct. 21, Welch reported raising another $1.5 million for his personal committee and about $500,000 for his caucus committee, giving him a total of $19.4 million to spend in the final five weeks or so of the campaign if he cleans out the accounts. Welch earlier transferred close to $10 million from his personal committee to his caucus committee. So, his available cash for the final push is likely up to $16 million, but could be more if the need arises.
Senate President Don Harmon reported raising $4.9 million during the third quarter for his personal committee and ended with $13 million in the bank.
Harmon’s caucus committee, ISDF, raised about $9 million, with $7 million of that coming from Harmon’s personal committee and another $1 million from Pritzker. It ended the quarter with $4 million after transferring out $4.5 million to members and spending $1.9 million on polling, media production, etc. plus some overhead.
Harmon has reported raising another $1.8 million from Oct. 1-21 for his personal committee and $6.1 million for his caucus committee, with $1 million from Pritzker and $5 million transferred from Harmon’s personal committee. So, he’s sitting on a total of $19.9 million, plus another million or so in his other accounts.
As expected, Republican fundraising could not even come close to keeping pace with the Democrats. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s personal committee reported raising $820,000 in the third quarter, just 12% of Welch’s haul. Durkin ended the quarter with $319,000, after spending $1.8 million, including sending $300,000 to his caucus committee, House Republican Majority. He’s since reported raising $1.4 million through Oct. 21.
House Republican Majority reported raising about $1.4 million in the third quarter, plus Durkin’s $300,000. It spent $1.6 million and ended the quarter with $220,000. It has since reported raising $1.6 million through Oct. 21, but $850,000 of that came from Durkin’s personal committee.
All told, that left Durkin with about $2.5 million to spend in the final five weeks — about 16% of Welch’s grand total.
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie reported raising $2.7 million in the third quarter, with about $2.2 million of that coming from Richard Uihlein. He reported spending $3.1 million, with $2.9 million going to his caucus committee, Senate Republican Victory Fund. He ended the third quarter with $1.2 million cash on hand and has since reported raising $870,000.
The Senate Republican Victory Fund reported raising about $400,000 in the quarter, plus the $2.9 million transferred in by McConchie. It spent $3.3 million, and ended the quarter with $296,000. It has since reported raising $1.3 million, with $1 million of that coming from McConchie’s personal campaign.
Total it up, and it appears that McConchie has about $2.6 million to spend on the final five weeks — about 12% of what Harmon has.
Legislative caucuses, the governor and other candidates all qualify for a major postage discount by using their respective state parties to handle their mailing operations. So, looking at party spending gives us an idea of what’s happening on the mailer front.
After shedding leadership that couldn’t legally raise or spend state campaign funds, the Democratic Party of Illinois reported bringing in $8.3 million in the third quarter and ended with $5.8 million. It has since reported bringing in $4.3 million, giving it $10.1 million in available mailer spending during the final weeks.
The Illinois Republican Party raised $2.2 million, spent $1.5 million and ended with $1.1 million cash on hand. The ILGOP has since reported bringing in $3 million, giving it $4.1 million for the home stretch — much less than half what DPI had.
* With redistricting, two IL lawmakers don’t live in the districts they want to represent: Two candidates from Madison County filed to run for state offices in the Nov. 8 election even though they do not live within the new boundaries of the districts they wanted to represent. But since this is the first election after the state’s redistricting process, the two candidates — state Rep. Amy Elik, a Republican running in the 111th District, and state Sen. Kris Tharp, a Democrat running in the 56th District — are allowed to stay on the ballot.
* Suburban Democrats spend big to hold two U.S. House seats in newly redrawn districts: ‘We are running to win’: The congressional districts mapped last year by the Democratic super-majorities in the state Legislature were drawn to give the party an advantage, and analysts have rated both seats as likely wins for Democrats. On top of that, Underwood and Casten both have out-spent their Republican rivals, with Underwood’s $3.7 million more than 10 times the $300,000 Gryder had spent as of the latest campaign finance reports. Casten has outspent Pekau nearly 5 to 1.
* Neither side is taking anything for granted in this congressional race: Foster is in a potential semi-pickle in part because Democratic Party leaders got greedy earlier this year. In hopes of shoring up neighboring suburban Democrat Lauren Underwood and creating a second district for Latinos on the north side of the metropolitan area, Foster’s old district was dismembered in the remap. Joliet and parts of Naperville and Aurora were taken out and the new district was moved so far west, all the way to Belvidere, that Foster prizes an endorsement that he just got from the Illinois Farm Bureau. A district that was majority minority now is heavily white.
* We’re getting out of the endorsement game: Crain’s reporting is and always will be independent and rigorous. But at a time when trust in the media generally is at a low point, we’re cognizant that anything we do that erodes that trust further is a mistake. And given the plethora of political information that’s readily available now, continuing an endorsement tradition rooted in the days when such information was scarce is unnecessary.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported that more than 1.1 million Illinoisans have received a dose of the new, bivalent COVID-19 vaccines since they were approved for use in early September, including 207,000 doses in the last week. Since the approval of the updated booster shots, daily vaccination numbers have been trending at the highest level since early February, during the major surge in illnesses caused by the Omicron variant. The new bivalent vaccines are designed to offer added protection from the now-dominant strains of the Omicron variant.
The announcement comes as the CDC released data showing that 26 counties in Illinois are at an elevated level for COVID-19, up from 16 a week ago. This includes three counties at High Community Level for COVID-19. IDPH is reporting 11,955 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 43 deaths since October 14.
“I am encouraged to see the large and growing numbers of Illinoisans who are taking action to protect themselves and their families with the new bivalent booster,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. “For those who have not gotten the new bivalent booster or the flu shot, NOW is the best time to get fully immunized and protected, while COVID-19 community levels are still relatively low. As we are currently experiencing a sharp increase in severe pediatric respiratory diseases that is resulting in a shortage of pediatric beds – and at the same time facing the prospect of a fall and winter surge of COVID-19 and other illnesses affecting all of us – I am strongly recommending the latest COVID-19 and flu shots for all those who are eligible. These immunizations are especially important for anyone over 50, immunocompromised, or those with chronic medical conditions.”
IDPH is working with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) to encourage physicians and parents to ensure children are fully protected from COVID-19 and the flu. ICAAP is providing resources for doctors and parents HERE.
IDPH reported that over the last week, an average of more than 29,000 doses of the new bivalent vaccines were administered across the state each day. This is more than triple the daily average for all vaccinations for most of the summer.
The CDC authorized two new bivalent booster vaccines on September 1 that include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an added mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
Initially, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, was authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, was authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. On October 12, the CDC authorized the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech for children ages 5 through 11 years, and from Moderna for children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years.
The updated boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to visit www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,796,038 cases, including 35,168 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic.
As of last night, 1,060 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 124 patients were in the ICU and 51 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 94 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.
* The Question: Have you received your bivalent booster yet? Explain.
Intro: German Shepherd barking with a mother and son carving pumpkins on the porch.
Mike: “Nothing’s better than a good watch dog to protect the family - keep you safe when you’re not looking.
As State Treasurer, that’s what I’ve done.
When big banks and tech companies tried to rip us off, I made them pay back over 1.5 billion dollars to taxpayers.
And I forced life insurance companies to pay families back over $800 million in unclaimed benefits.
It’s your money and I’m proud to be your watch dog.”
In about a month, 58 states attorney’s sued the state over the SAFE-T Act. Now, they are being consolidated into a single county.
A court document published Thursday shows all parties involved decided to consolidate all the cases into Kankakee County. Kankakee State’s Attorney Jim Rowe was the first state’s attorney to sue the state over the SAFE-T Act. All parties were consulted before the motion was filed.
“Allowing one court to resolve the challenges to the SAFE-T Act will thus not only avoid the risk of conflicting rulings and relief, but also minimize the expenditure of resources by and before multiple courts,” the document reads.
By the way, if you want a copy of Sen. Scott Bennett’s reform legislation, click here.
A claim seen by many PFA opponents is that county jail populations will see significant reductions once it goes into effect in January 2023. However when asked on Wednesday, [Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell] said it was still undetermined whether those incarcerated prior to Jan. 1 would be let out retroactively.
Still, having to “prepare for the worst,” the sheriff recounted the number of people currently in the Sangamon County Jail and gave an assessment. Looking at county jail statistics from August, he said approximately 100 out of the approximate 330 inmates in the county jail could be let out.
“That’s about a third of the jail, but again that may not happen,” Campbell said, who previously joined with Wright in a lawsuit against the state over the SAFE-T Act.
A question raised from the audience was about the elimination of requiring a sworn affidavit when filing a complaint against a police officer or department, but [Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates] said that won’t affect Quincy.
“We haven’t required that for about 20 years,” he said. “If we get a complaint through any means, we investigate all of those.”
I have never understood the opposition to anonymous complaints because law enforcement has heavily relied on anonymous tips forever.
* Hearings were held on a proposed omnibus bill for months and months. The Illinois Supreme Court even formed a study commission in 2017, which included a wide range of stakeholders, and which released a report in 2020. So, this claim is exaggerated for effect…
The sponsors of the SAFE-T Act have asserted they were addressing flaws in our state’s criminal justice system. If this was true, then input should have come from judges, state prosecutors, public defenders, private criminal defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, probation officers, civil rights advocates, victim’s rights groups and clerks of the circuit courts.
The proper way to address the merits of a bill is to hold hearings, allow proponents and opponents to be heard and allow the members of the General Assembly to discuss both the purpose of the proposed law and the precise statutory language to be adopted.
In other words, create a legislative history.
The 764-page SAFE-T Act was introduced in the Illinois Senate at 4 a.m., and it passed at 5 a.m. It took the Illinois Senate only one hour to radically alter Illinois’ justice system. Hours later, the SAFE-T Act was introduced in the Illinois House for the first time. It passed at 11 a.m. No bona fide hearings or debates occurred. There was no opportunity for input from proponents or opponents. Ramrodding through any bill, let alone one that will profoundly affect the lives and safety of nearly 13 million Illinoisans, is irresponsible, improper and wrong.
* CPD Superintendent…
In response to a question from Ald. Marty Quinn, Brown calls for changes to be made to the criminal justice reform law (known as the SAFE-T act) that would require defendants with a history of violent crimes to be held before they are tried.
Rich – A statement from Ald. Quinn in regard to Cherone’s tweet you posted. Thanks!
“When I spoke in opposition of the SAFE-T Act today, I offered Supt. Brown my help in repealing the portion of the Act that allows electronic monitoring to more individuals. He was open to that, and I’m glad he saw things in a similar way.”
* Illinois SAFE-T Act: McHenry County board OKs resolution to oppose controversial new law: County board members voted 13-8 at a Tuesday night meeting to pass a resolution opposing the SAFE-T Act after listening to the public’s comments and engaging in a “robust debate” on how to protect the interests of McHenry County constituents, a statement said.
* I’m a pastor, policy advocate and mom, and I support the Pretrial Fairness Act: If you have some questions about what’s happening with money bond and incarceration in our state, I totally understand. Illinois has been inundated with lies regarding the Pretrial Fairness Act, the portion of the SAFE-T Act that will end our state’s use of money bond in January. As disinformation and scare tactics spread, the Winnebago County Board passed a resolution calling for the repeal of this legislation. While their resolution has no actual legal effect, I was disheartened by the messaging.
* Taxes, public safety among topics in Kane County Board District 18 election: Williams, 52, of Blackberry Township, said issues for voters include the SAFE –T Act and taxes. In regard to the SAFE –T Act, Williams said there are concerns about “the no-cash bail provision of the law.” Public safety has been a concern as crime seems to be migrating from Chicago to areas west of the city, he said. “There has been an influx of crime in the area from people coming in from the city. We’ve had several instances in my subdivision where stolen cars have entered and people’s belongings and homes have been invaded,” Williams said.
* Should possession of a little fentanyl, cocaine and heroin be a misdemeanor, not a felony?: McHenry County officials don’t think so, judging by what State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally and Coroner Dr. Michael Rein told a county board committee recently. “As with the SAFE-T Act, the supermajorities in the House and Senate are attempting to quietly remake the criminal justice system in extreme ways that jeopardize public safety,” Kenneally said in a release after the meeting. “Decriminalizing marijuana was the first step toward legalization, and that appears to be the track Springfield is now on with fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, PCP, LSD, methamphetamines and Ecstasy. … “Consequences are an incredibly important part of treating drug addiction,” he said. If charges for personal-use amounts of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine are reduced to misdemeanors, he said, defendants will not be eligible to participate in drug-court programs.
According to [AdImpact, a Chicago media analytics firm], combined spending on TV and radio since July 1 has hit the $65 million mark. A few more ads likely will be purchased, but the $65 million includes payments for ads that will run over the next two and a half weeks before the Nov. 8 election.
Either way, it appears to be a record figure. In 2020, a reported $47 million was spent on political media ads here. That was a drop from 2018 when the total was $62 million. But that election featured the battle of the billionaires for governor with J.B. Pritzker taking on the well-off then-incumbent Bruce Rauner and his super-rich friend, Ken Griffin.
However, particularly notable is spending, even on broadcast TV, for seats in the state House and Senate. Any single House district represents only a tiny fraction of the Chicago area, less than 2%. So 98% of the money spent on those ads by a particular candidate is, in a sense, wasted. But those ads are still coming and, anecdotally, more state rep candidates are on Chicago TV than ever before.
In 2020, the House Democrats ran Chicago broadcast ads for 11 candidates, about what they’re doing this year so far. But they went up pretty early this year in some races.
Subscribers have been getting a full rundown of these ads in both chambers, including another one today. And, sure, those ads reach far more people who don’t live in the district than those who do. But the spending is about reaching as many people who vote in the district as possible, and broadcast is still a valuable tool which has been shown to work time and time again.
* Foster, Casten and Schneider are targeted by a Dick Uihlein-funded PAC…
As Governor, my administration will oppose mandating COVID vaccines for grade school, college and employment. We all know the mandate candidate, J.B. Pritzker, will force it on your kids because he thinks the government knows better than parents. #twill
The radio interview grew intense when Thomas accused Pritzker of taking Blacks for granted during his first term in office.
Thomas said, “The reason I’m doing what I’m doing right now is not because they’re paying me $50,000. Keep in mind I got expenses too. I got to pay people that work with me. But why I’m doing this is because of this, ‘if you ain’t a Democrat, you ain’t Black.’ This [President] Joe Biden BS. I’m tired of that. I’m not going to do that anymore. And I’m not going to have JB Pritzker come up here and talk about he’s going to give us equity in the weed business, and we got nothing. Zero. He took us for granted. He played us.”
When asked where Bailey stands on the cannabis issue, Thomas replied, “Darren Bailey voted against cannabis being legalized. But I did ask him very pointedly, I said, ‘what would you have done if you had been governor and the legislature Democratic supermajority overruled you and legalized cannabis despite your veto? He said, well I would have to make sure everybody got their fair share. And I said does that mean Black folks would have got 15 to 20 percent of the stores that are already there. He said, ‘well I guess so if that is what equity is.’
“I guess so.” Well, that changes everything. /s
* ILGOP…
“From Pritzker’s tax increases to Bidenflation, Nikki Budzinski has made a career out of making life more expensive for Illinois residents,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. It’s troubling that as Illinois residents struggle with Pritzker’s taxes and Biden’s inflation - that she helped cause as Budget Director - that Budzinski has been able to do so well for herself.”
* I missed this one from the other day…
Indicted former Speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan’s latest corruption charges involving AT&T amplify just how complicit current Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Democratic Party of Illinois Chair and State Representative Lisa Hernandez - both major recipients of Madigan Money - were in allowing corruption to run without restrictions in the Democratic party.
“Speaker Welch and Chairwoman Hernandez abdicated their responsibility to the people of Illinois to cover for Mike Madigan and were rewarded for their loyalty by obtaining major leadership positions in the Democratic Party,” said Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “What do they have to say now about the corruption charges against their leader and political godfather? The people of Illinois deserve to know.”
Two years ago, after ComEd admitted to a nearly ten-year scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin demanded the creation of a special committee to investigate Madigan’s corrupt activity and determine grounds for discipline. Instead of running a real investigation, Welch, who was chosen to ‘lead’ the committee by Madigan, called it a “show trial” and shut down the committee without issuing any conclusions or findings after only three sham meetings, one witness and no subpoenas.
“Welch and Hernandez presided over a sham ‘Special Investigation’ into then-Speaker Madigan’s role in the ComEd scandal. They used it to provide him political cover, and were rewarded for their ‘hard work’,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “The Democrats talk about the defining choice in this election, and they are correct - we are very different. Democrats cover for corruption to protect their power and Republicans want to take it away and give it back to the people of Illinois.”
Welch called the investigation a “political show that was concocted” by Republicans as a “power grab” for the minority party – but federal investigations prove otherwise as corruption charges against Madigan and his accomplices continue to grow.
After successfully shutting down the House investigation into Madigan, Welch was promoted to Speaker of the House and Hernandez was elected as the new chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. All three Democrats on the investigative panel were funded by campaign committees controlled by Speaker Madigan who had given about $585,000 to Manley, nearly $133,000 to Hernandez and more than $100,000 to Welch, according to state election board records as reported by WBEZ.
“Speaker Welch and Chairwoman Hernandez had the opportunity to live up to their oaths of office and end the pervasive corruption that has plagued our state,” said House Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer who served on the committee. “Instead, they chose to protect the power of politicians and political insiders. They failed the committee, they failed the people of Illinois and they continue to remain silent and actionless as the culture of corruption continues to operate.”
* Press release…
A press conference in support of HB 5785/SB 4229 will be held Friday, Oct. 21, in Rockford. Together with State Rep. Dave Vella of Rockford and State Sen. Christopher Belt of Swansea, Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza is championing a measure to ensure timely compensation for the next of kin of fallen first responders and members of the armed forces.
The state’s Line of Duty Compensation Act provides benefits for the families of law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces, firemen, paramedics and other first responders killed in the line of duty. However, the appropriations for these benefits can sometimes run out before the end of a fiscal year, requiring the state legislature to approve supplemental appropriations. That needlessly costs families time when they need support the most urgently. This measure aims to ensure a continuing line of appropriation so that there is no delay to the families.
* Laying the groundwork for a “stolen election” claim? Maybe…
New Poll Shows Darren Bailey Within Striking Distance of J.B. Pritzker in Illinois https://t.co/lMdEh5u8hE
That poll claimed 44 percent of the electorate say they’re Republicans, compared to 47 percent who said they were Democrats. I don’t know of any other Illinois statewide polls in the last 20 years which show a spread that even.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) was able to help thousands of homeowners with their mortgage payments last spring. Now, the Pritzker administration is reopening the mortgage assistance program to help more people who struggled to make payments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
IHDA is making $115 million available to eligible homeowners starting Nov. 1. People can receive up to $30,000 from the Homeowner Assistance Fund, which is paid directly to a mortgage service or lender.
…Adding… New ad…
I'm fighting to stop Biden and Pelosi's radical agenda and protect our Southern Illinois values. Check out my newest TV commercial that is airing district-wide! pic.twitter.com/irLfu2PtUo
The @illinoissbe has updated early vote totals (10/21/22): Total VBM requested: 780,487 Total VBM returned: 235,002 Total VBM outstanding: 545,485 Return Rate: 30% Total Early Vote: 60,021 Total Grace Period: 828 Total Already Voted: 295,851https://t.co/44ga6AxRbY
* Foster, Lauf on opposite sides of abortion debate: But after winning the 11th District GOP primary in June, Lauf removed a section about her stance on abortion from the site. The missing text can be found on the nonpartisan Ballotpedia website.
* Illinois gubernatorial candidates asked about gender affirming care for minors: “Just look at the Parental Notification Act, Governor Pritzker allows children to make their own decisions without their parents involved, and it is wrong,” Bailey said. “I believe parents have the best interest in mind for their children and that parents should be making that decision, not teachers or doctors or governors.”
* Schakowsky’s fundraising towers over GOP challenger Rice’s: Schakowsky, of Evanston, collected $166,898 during the year’s third quarter, records show — far from the million-dollar hauls that U.S. Reps. Sean Casten of Downers Grove or Lauren Underwood of Naperville reported for their respective races in the 6th and 14th Districts.
* Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza touts a financial rebound while her GOP opponent questions her ties to Madigan: Teresi entered October with a little more than $26,000 in her campaign fund after raising more than $38,000 from July through September, including $21,000 from the campaign fund of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who headed Griffin’s slate of Republican candidates but finished third in the GOP primary for governor. Mendoza had more than $1.4 million on hand at the start of the month, having raised more than $623,000 and spent a little more than $184,000 in the previous quarter.
* 18th State House District candidates Gabel and Hutchinson talk key Illinois issues ahead of the election: Hutchinson said the [SAFE-T] act has made Illinois’ neighborhoods unsafe. He said he supports providing police with more resources to address crime in communities instead. Gabel, who supports the act, said because it has not gone into effect yet, it has not affected neighborhood safety. She said she supports the act because it seeks to reform systemic racism in the criminal justice system by addressing use of force, body camera usage and pretrial detention, among other issues. The two candidates did, however, agree that banning automatic assault weapons would better protect communities from gun violence.
* Incumbent Joe Aiello faces newcomer Daniel Pittman in race for Sangamon County treasurer: This is Pittman’s first time running for elected office. He has received endorsements from Vote Vets, New Politics and Run For Something. Aiello works closely with organizations such as Veterans Administration, American Legion, St. John’s Breadline and others. As for endorsements, “The most important endorsement is from the voter on Election Day,” Aiello said.
* Recruiters at breweries, schools to fix poll worker shortage: As Adams noted, part of the challenge in recruiting more poll workers is reaching younger people. That’s something Cook County, Illinois (where Chicago is located) has been working hard at. Sally Daly, the deputy clerk of communications at Cook County Clerk’s Office, explained that they’ve been doing outreach with high school students. Even before the students are old enough to vote, they can sign up to work the polls. “We go into [high schools] and make a pitch to students .. .and let them know if they’re 16 years or older they can serve as an election judge. And we pay, they can make some money for a day and also serve their democracy,” she said.
* Posted in the order they were received. Pritzker campaign…
Today, the JB for Governor campaign released a new ad featuring two-term Democratic President and South Side resident Barack Obama sharing his endorsement of Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton for reelection.
President Barack Obama: Illinois will always hold a special place in my heart. You believed in me before anyone else did. And you believed in JB Pritzker, too.
He’s made Illinois a national leader on so many issues we care about: raising the minimum wage, protecting voting rights, cracking down on the sale of illegal guns.
JB also signed a landmark law protecting a woman’s right to choose.
That’s why I’m proud to cast my ballot to reelect JB Pritzker.
That’ll be on broadcast TV, as well as other platforms.
…Adding… Looks like Obama taped other candidate endorsement ads in the same room. Click here.
* Proft’s PAC…
People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new ad, “POLITICIAN VS. PROSECUTOR.” It is available on YouTube, the PBR PAC Facebook Page and will run on statewide media this week.
Both are Democrats, but only one is telling the truth.
Pritzker: “There’s no such thing under the SAFE-T Act as ‘non-detainable offenses.’ No one is getting out of jail, if prosecutors do that that’s on them.”
VERSUS
Glasgow: “Well obviously, that is not the truth. We have about 640 people in jail. Half of them would walk out on Day 1, and that’s not on the prosecutor, that’s on the statute.”
* Illinois is the second-largest sports betting market in the US. WGN…
The latest data release by the Illinois Gaming Board shows $565 million in gross gaming revenues for the state in August alone, $8 million more than New Jersey.
According to PlayIllinois.com, an online blog based in Las Vegas devoted to news about legal and regulated gambling in Illinois, those revenues were up 9% from July and a whopping 41% from August 2021.
PlayIllinois attributes the growth to a March 2022 change in legislation which allowed Illinois residents to register for sportsbooks through the internet rather than at one of the state’s land-based casinos.
The August data also shows the state has passed the $1 billion mark in gross gaming revenue from online activity since it began 29 months prior. That amount accounts for 94% of all sports bets made, meaning only 6% of sports bets are made in physical books across Illinois.
A proposal to relocate and expand Aurora’s Hollywood Casino is cleared for a final vote at the Aurora City Council meeting Oct. 25.
If the deal passes — the 12 City Council members had no objections to the proposal at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting — the new resort will be located on Farnsworth Avenue, across from the Chicago Premium Outlets on the city’s east side.
The new Hollywood Casino campus would move from its current location on the Fox River to the I-88 corridor where it would occupy a space that would include a 200-room hotel and a 10,000-square-foot event space, officials said. The city-owned site most recently housed two hotels and a car dealership. […]
The funding includes a $50 million bond issuance from the city, which officials said would be repaid from increased property taxes received from the new site, not from general funds from taxpayers.
“As an added assurance, if property taxes aren’t enough to cover payment in any given year, Penn has agreed to make up the difference,” Clayton wrote in an email.
CBS 2’s Shardaa Gray spent Wednesday speaking with business owners near the existing casino, some who want it to stay, while others say good riddance.
One business said they’d like to see the casino stay because it brings in customers. Another business said they’ll do fine if they stay or leave, but one restaurant said the casino is hurting their business. […]
Despite council members wanting to move forward, some residents are against the move.
“I want you to think about this check and next week when I come back, if you vote yes, I’m going to ask you to sign this check,” said Aurora resident David Cannon during a city council meeting.
While other suburban casinos are moving to new locations, Elgin’s Grand Victoria Casino is not only staying put but unveiling a new $4 million renovation that adds a Caesars Sportsbook and a World Series of Poker Room to its downtown operation. […]
Staying competitive in an Illinois gaming market that is “evolving just about every time you turn your head” is the goal, he said, and they’re always looking for ways to add new gaming experiences.
While competitor Hollywood Casino plans to move its Aurora and Joliet casinos to new locations — the former is leaving its downtown spot for a higher traffic area near Interstate 88 and Farnsworth Avenue — Grand Victoria won’t be going anywhere, Guerrero said.
“We are committed to the city of Elgin, to our region,” he said. “We are happy with the support and the assistance we’ve gotten through the community, and we hope to continue those relationships going forward.”
* More…
* Bally’s Chicago Comes to Project Labor Agreement: Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) today announced that it has signed a Multi-Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council (CCBT) and the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department as it relates to construction of its flagship Bally’s Chicago casino.
* Bullets, Ballots And Bribery Define Early Illinois Gambling History: In Illinois’ early days, Americans generally accepted gambling as entertainment. But, when gambling commercialization took over, criminality followed, and the pastime became associated with laziness and vice —particularly among the upper classes. By 1830, Chicago’s protestant clergy denounced the activity, and city officials followed suit, jailing the owners of at least two local betting parlors.
* Rivers Tops Illinois Casinos Again In September: Last month, all 11 brick-and-mortar casinos in Illinois combined to hold over $113.8 million of gamblers’ wagers on slots and table games. Rivers accounted for about 41.3% of that total with $47 million in gross receipts. The next strongest performer in September 2022 was the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. Gross revenue from slots and table games there for the month came to about $12.1 million. The only other Illinois casino to post gross revenue of at least $10 million in September 2022 was Harrah’s Casino & Hotel in Joliet.
* 2,200 housing units near casino site get plan commission’s OK: The proposal envisions four high-rises, the tallest being 620 feet, or roughly 60 stories. Developer Jeffrey Shapack said he would start the multiphase project by converting a Salvation Army building at 509 N. Union Ave. into a hotel with 141 rooms.
* Darren Bailey makes stops in Southern Illinois Thursday on his state wide bus tour: “Gas, groceries, heating our homes. It has become too much. It’s too much. And it’s unfortunate that the little things, the sweetest things in life. We’re having to cut those out and it shouldn’t be that way. We can fix that. We can fix that. And we will. And it will start on November nine, Friends.” Bailey and Trussell also made a stop in Mt. Vernon, Anna, and Harrisburg. They were joined by Senator Terri Bryant and Representatives Paul Jacobs and Patrick Windhorst.
* Formerly incarcerated people in Illinois would get help finding jobs if a proposed bill passes: With the national unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated residents standing at about 27%, compared to 5% in the general population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan think tank. Now, Illinois lawmakers and advocates hope the proposed SAFER Communities Act will further help returning citizens — while at the same time helping small businesses and communities, too.
* As candidates fill the airwaves, spending on campaign ads hits a record pace: According to the firm, combined spending on TV and radio since July 1 has hit the $65 million mark. A few more ads likely will be purchased, but the $65 million includes payments for ads that will run over the next two and a half weeks before the Nov. 8 election.
* Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza touts a financial rebound while her GOP opponent questions her ties to Madigan: Teresi, 38, has since run a low-profile campaign in her bid to unseat Mendoza, attempting to tie her opponent to Democratic corruption while arguing that her financial credentials make her better suited for the relatively obscure state office, which oversees the state’s checkbook. Mendoza, 50, who made a failed bid for Chicago mayor in 2019 and is often seen to still have higher political ambitions, isn’t shy about taking credit for a modest rebound in the state’s finances during her six years in office — she was elected to a full term two years after winning a special election in 2016.
* Senate District 36: Candidate Halpin answers questions on pandemic, jobs and public safety: “Like throughout Western Illinois what Galesburg needs is jobs, jobs, jobs. We’ve seen over the years companies continue to shift jobs overseas and down to Mexico. I mean it’s been happening for 20 years or more. Maytag leaving in 2004, Gates Rubber shutting down divisions, any number of businesses throughout western Illinois. And so we need to start bringing things back,” Halpin said.
* Our public servants are getting old. Are toxic politics scaring away young people?: “We need a new generation,” U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Oct. 9. “We need new blood, in the House, the Senate and White House. I think that the country has been saying that.” I’ll add that we need new blood on city councils, village boards, township boards, park boards, library boards and other local units of government.
* Beyond the Race for Governor, This Illinois Election Will Feature Some Big Decisions: The balance of the state’s Supreme Court, which brings with it questions over major issues like abortion; races that could determine control over the U.S. House of Representatives; whether or not Illinois’ constitution will change and more could all be decided
