* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Democrats pick Jessica Dixon Heitman, late US senator’s granddaughter, to replace ex-state Rep. Harry Benton. Tribune…

- A granddaughter of late US Senator Alan Dixon was appointed Monday to a far southwest suburban Illinois House seat left vacant by two-term state Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned earlier this month in disgrace amid sexual harassment allegations.
- Jessica Dixon Heitman, who briefly worked in Harry Benton’s district office in early 2023 shortly after he took office, was unanimously chosen by Democratic Party officials in Will and Kendall counties to fill the seat and serve as the party’s nominee in the November general election.
- “I worked for him for a short amount of time. It was not a great fit,” she said in an interview after her remarks. “The office environment was not something I felt was conducive to anything successful happening in the (legislative district) … It’s a hard thing to talk about.”
- Beyond tougher ethics laws, Heitman said she wants to see public schools fully funded, ease the property tax burden on Illinois homeowners, advocate for workers’ rights and push for equity “to our broken healthcare system.”

* At 9:40 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will participate in a fireside chat at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois SNAP costs: State wins one-year delay on food aid penalty, but major costs still loom: In recent months, “Illinois has launched an aggressive, multi-year effort to improve payment accuracy,” IDHS’ Griffith said, including staff training, additional caseworkers and technology and communication improvements. The state is also lobbying Congress to push the cost-sharing penalties back even further to October 2029, she said.

* WGN | Where are Darren Bailey and the Illinois GOP?: Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month in the Chicago region. His team posted a picture of a meet-and-greet at a Pilsen restaurant last week that featured 12 people in the frame. We’re a little more than three months before the election. […] Bailey’s campaign said the farmer-turned-politician is currently focusing on energizing supporters downstate and will spend ample time in the Chicago region soon. The campaign contends voters aren’t yet paying attention to the November race.

*** Statewide ***

* Crain’s | Illinois cannabis demand grows despite falling prices: The amount of cannabis sold in Illinois rose 9.3% during the first six months of the year, showing demand is still growing six years after the state legalized recreational marijuana use. Retail shops sold 27.6 million cannabis products, ranging from smokable flower and vapes to gummies, the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation data shows. The rate of unit growth accelerated from 7.3% during the same period a year earlier.

* Tribune | In 1976, Illinois buried a ton of time capsules. What we’re digging up now is complicated, or sometimes weird: Some feel ironic. The Elgin High School Class of ’76 time capsule was opened in June. Gale Miller, who served on the school’s Bicentennial committee (though she was Class of ’77), was there to find… a JCPenney catalog, a copy of the school’s dress code. “Hair could only be so long, no sweatshirts — it’s hilarious since students dressed like (expletive) in 1976. There was a Pet Rock, with a homemade house, but I do wish (the capsule) had been more honest about what it was like then. There was nothing on all of the racial tensions in Elgin at the time. The principal then wouldn’t have allowed it. And so this time capsule reflects the times very selectively.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Illinois AFL-CIO makes endorsements after putting Democrats on pause: “Last month, we sent a message that lawmakers must address labor’s unfinished priorities in the upcoming veto, lame-duck, and spring sessions and that the legislative process itself has fallen short of what working people deserve,” Drea said in a statement on Monday. “It is clear from recent conversations with state leadership that the message has been received, and that we can look forward to a more collaborative process in the months to come,” he said. “Union members are now ready to get to work for our endorsed candidates.”

* Center Square | Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political: Before Senate Bill 714 passed on the House floor on May 27, state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, argued that Giannoulias championed the legislation to help further his own aspirations. “And we shouldn’t be saddling the Illinois resident who has auto insurance, has automobiles, so that somebody else can pursue an additional political office,” Keicher said. […] Giannoulias said the insurance industry is powerful and Keicher is an insurance salesman, but the legislation passed in spite of their efforts. “He’s gotta do what he has to do. We were able to pass this bill against our auto insurance salesman who apparently is also a member of the House,” Giannoulias said.

* ABC Chicago | IL Board of Elections could rule Tuesday on ballot challenges in race to replace ‘Chuy’ Garcia: Two independent candidates for U.S. Congress could find out Tuesday if their names will be on the November ballot. Illinois elections officers said Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macías do not have enough petition signatures to be on the November ballot. Both candidates are running to replace outgoing Congressman Chuy Garcia.

* Crain’s | Illinois-led quantum effort lands $30M in federal funding: The Bloch — a partnership between Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin — is one of six regional tech hubs to receive $169 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The award underscores the growing base of quantum computing technology and research underway in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, as well as their manufacturing prowess. “This award is a powerful validation of Illinois’ vision to become the global capital of quantum – helping us accelerate innovation, strengthen supply chains, and create good-paying jobs,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a written statement announcing the funding.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Chicago Public Schools leaders say board must pass budget to make September payroll: Despite skepticism from some board members, Chicago Public Schools leaders said Monday that the district’s $9.88 billion budget must be passed this month or it risks missing payroll for its 45,000 employees. If the budget isn’t approved, “the immediate consequence … is we wouldn’t be able to make payroll in September,” CPS CEO Macquline King told the Tribune in an interview. “If we’re not able to make payroll, then it ultimately disrupts services for our students.”

* Crain’s | Save A Lot ending deal with Yellow Banana, putting seven Chicago stores at risk of closing: Seven Save A Lot stores in Chicago are at risk of closing as a result of the grocer terminating its licensing agreement with operator Yellow Banana, a city-backed partnership that aimed to expand food access in underserved communities. The supermarket chain has decided to end an arrangement with Yellow Banana that allowed the Cleveland-based company to operate stores under the Save A Lot name due to significant financial challenges, including cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Save A Lot said in a statement.

* Block Club | Chicago Police SWAT Team Officer, Woman Shot In Albany Park: ‘Absolutely Tragic’: The officer was wearing a bullet-proof vest when he was shot, authorities said. ABC7 captured video of the officer walking with assistance into an ambulance. […] “The officer right now is stable and is being seen by his family,” Waller said. ” … He’s expected to make a full recovery.” Waller said doctors at Illinois Masonic “did a great job.”

* Block Club | Officials, Neighbors Question If City Policies Aimed At Protecting Immigrants Are Being Followed: In a news release Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the Police Department is reviewing the Illinois Accountability Commission’s April report calling on Chicagoans to report crimes by immigration agents. The report details allegations of misconduct by agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Thr commission recommended local law enforcement investigate several shootings and violent incidents. Chicago police will review the report’s findings independently, evaluate all available evidence and decide “whether additional investigation or referrals are warranted under Illinois law,” according to the Mayor’s Office release.

* Sun-Times | Four beluga whales on way to Shedd from closed Canadian park: Two more whales were headed to SeaWorld in San Antonio Monday, according to The Canadian Press. It’s the first phase of a plan to move up to 30 belugas over the next few weeks from Marineland to several American aquariums as well as to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. Earlier this month, Shedd announced it could receive as many as 10 belugas from Marineland.

* Sun-Times | Kyle Teel likely headed back to IL after ugly ankle injury during White Sox win at Texas: Kyle Teel had to be helped off the field after suffering a left ankle injury in the White Sox’ series-opening victory Monday at Texas, likely sending the prized catcher back to the injured list less than a month after working his way back to the field. The second-year backstop, who missed most of the first half with hamstring and knee injuries, was in visible pain after diving to his left and landing awkwardly on his ankle while trying to tag out Ezequiel Duran at home in the second inning of a 10-3 win.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | District 214 faces ethics complaint for referendum-related polling: In a 14-page complaint delivered to the Arlington Heights-based district’s ethics officer, Americans for Prosperity — Illinois calls for an investigation into whether taxpayer-funded referendum activity crossed from factual information into prohibited polling, voter surveying, campaign strategy or referendum advocacy. The libertarian advocacy group, which has a regional office in Rolling Meadows, filed a similar complaint in June against Palatine Township Elementary District 15 related to that district’s successful $93 million referendum in 2022.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora invites resident feedback on budget, safety, infrastructure, sustainability during upcoming events: Aurora city officials have announced a series of town hall and workshop events that aim to gather resident feedback for the city’s 2027 budget and its long-term plans for public safety, infrastructure and sustainability. All four sessions in the series will be held at the Aurora Public Works facility at 2185 Liberty St. in Aurora.

* Tribune | Northbrook volunteers use old-fashioned scythes to clear invasive species: The task for the day was to remove sawtooth sunflower and tall goldenrod, said Rebeccah Hartz, restoration volunteer and assistant director of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves. Hartz indicated they “are not woody species,” like buckthorn. And the best tool for the job, she said, was the scythe.

*** Downstate ***

* WCBU | Morton Industries expands to East Peoria manufacturing facility in support of data center market: “We had some new prospectives [clients] reach out to us based upon our tube capability, and the data center market is going to have a lot of tubes inside of them,” said vice president of operations Troy Deiss. “As these things grow throughout the nation and the world, I think the tubular fabrication is going to be even more popular, especially for these that are being used as cooling tubes, cooling the processors and the chips inside the units.”

* SJ-R | Former Leland Grove police chief indicted on theft charge: A former Leland Grove police chief who was terminated over a driving under the influence of alcohol arrest earlier in 2026 was indicted by a Sangamon County grand jury July 15 for theft. The grand jury also indicted Daniel T. Ryan for misapplication of funds and official misconduct, according to the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk’s website. Ryan was the subject of an Illinois State Police investigation.

* WCIA | Illinois firefighters train for high-risk grain bin rescues in Philo: “If you’re buried into the grain to your waist, it would take roughly 600 pounds of force over your body weight to pull you out,” Newcomb said. […] “Farmers are constantly in and out of these bins, spring and fall. A lot of grain moves throughout Central Illinois,” said Firefighter paramedic Will Lannon.

* NPR Illinois | A look at this year’s State Fair Horse Show: Society Horse Show Session I is August 10-14, 2026 - 9am, Noon and 6:30 Monday - Wednesday 8/10-12, Noon & 6:30pm Thursday 8/13, and 9am - Noon Friday 8/14 Featuring American Saddlebred, Hackney Pony, Roadster, Shetland Ponies and Welsh Ponies […] The Morgan Jubilee, Monarch Horse Show, Youth Charity Horse Show, Mid-America Mane Event continue to showcase some great horses for the rest of the season through October this year.

* Fox Illinois | New Eastern Illinois Athletic Director, Mark Wilson, discusses state of programs: Now, his job is to help turn around panther football, a program with rich tradition has just one winning season since 2013. “I’m going to have to get shoulder to shoulder, lock arms with Coach Wilkerson, learn what his challenges are,” he said. “Because I know, and when I first arrived at Tennessee Tech, one of the programs we were chasing was Eastern Illinois football.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | UAW chief in feds’ crosshairs, jeopardizing union’s fight for self-governance: A grand jury has subpoenaed the union’s court-appointed monitor, according to Bloomberg, as it probes claims that Fain sought benefits for his fiancee and her sister. That revelation came in a report by the monitor, Neil Barofsky, who concluded that Fain unjustly demoted two top officials for refusing to follow his orders. The findings have thrown the UAW’s looming presidential election into chaos; Fain has denied wrongdoing and accused Vice President Rich Boyer, one of his five challengers, of trying to “steal the election” with false charges. Fain also claims the monitor holds a “political grudge” against him.

* NYT | The U.S. Is Pulling Back on Energy Efficiency: “The turn away from efficiency has been oddly timed,” said Christine Egan, executive director of the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program, a nonprofit group that works on efficiency policies worldwide. “Energy prices are going up, demand is going up, and you’d think we would want our products to be as efficient as possible.” The result is that consumers could end up using more electricity and burning more gas when electricity costs are rising faster than inflation and gasoline is averaging $4 a gallon. While more efficient cars or appliances can be more expensive, consumers often save money over time because they use less energy.