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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Law360…
* The Triibe…
* Capitol News Illinois | Election ’26: 4 Democrats seeking to replace Mendoza as Illinois comptroller: Mendoza herself has been an outspoken supporter of boosting the “rainy day” fund and has continued to advocate for ways to increase its size. The fund’s $2.4 billion balance only funds about two weeks of state operations, and lawmakers suspended the monthly transfer to the fund this year to free up money for other priorities in a tight budget year. “To continue to put money away for a rainy day when we’re in the middle of a tsunami, that’s not when we should be putting money away for a rainy day,” Villa said, adding “there’s no way to prioritize that in this budget.” * Capitol City Now | Amazon has donated 1,000 of the devices to Illinois survivors of domestic violence: “I would like to thank Amazon for giving 1,000 survivors in Illinois an added layer of security,” Raoul said at an announcement in Chicago. “These Ring cameras are for peace of mind to survivors who want to know who is on the other side of the door before opening it. The ability to monitor their homes when they are not there allows survivors to know whether a predator is waiting for them.” […] “For nearly fifty years, the (Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence) has served as the statewide leader in domestic violence advocacy and awareness,” said the coalition’s president and CEO, Carrie Boyd. “With domestic violence homicides having increased by approximately 140 percent in the last several years, while other violent crimes have decreased, this public safety measure is needed now more than ever.” * ABC Chicago | 1K Ring cameras donated for Illinois domestic violence survivors as part of new initiative: “We launched a pilot program, with free devices and subscriptions, and just two weeks later learned that a survivor was quickly able to activate her safety plan, where she received a motion alert that alerted her that her abuser was approaching her home, with a weapon,” said Raquel Medrano, with Amazon Public Policy. * Sen. Graciela Guzman | Illinois families can’t keep paying the bill for climate change damages: Across Illinois, people are making hard decisions about what they can afford and what they cannot. A public works director weighs whether to repave a street or replace a storm drain after another heavy rain. A homeowner opens the mail and braces for an insurance premium increase that pushes a family budget over the edge. These moments are becoming more common, and they point to a system in which families and local governments carry most of the cost of a changing climate, while the companies that helped drive this damage continue to post profits. That is why I am introducing the Climate Change Superfund Act in the Illinois Senate. * Windy City Times | Equality Illinois leader at 2026 gala: Organization “built to face” political challenges: Equality Illinois’s new CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker, gave the keynote at the rights-advocacy’s 2026 annual gala the evening of Jan. 31, where she asserted that the event, which according to estimates hosted about 1,500 attendees, was “not just a gala—it is a sanctuary.” Parker praised both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom were in attendance that evening at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. Both politicians, she said, made clear that “dignity is not conditional” in the state. * ABC Chicago | New program offers volunteer opportunities for SNAP recipients amid new requirements: The non-profit launched “Snap Together Volunteers,” which offers accessible volunteer opportunities for seniors at the Nourish Chicago Pantry, located at 2102 W Ogden Avenue. This program is designed specifically for older adults, aged 55 to 64, who need qualifying volunteer hours. * Fox Chicago | Fight over multi-billion dollar quantum computer campus on South Side not over: With their sights now set on the November general election, they rallied on Wednesday, calling on the community to support a new ballot initiative that lets voters consider whether the microelectronics park currently under construction on the site of the former U.S. Steel plant should be relocated in favor of grocery stores, affordable housing units, and youth centers. * Bond Buyer | Chicago Transit Authority plans return to market with $575M deal: Wells Fargo Securities will price for the Chicago Transit Authority $575 million of first and second lien sales tax receipts bonds on Thursday, Feb. 5. * Sun-Times | Accused fake cop beats third impersonation case after defending himself in Cook County trial: Ellis was arrested twice in the 1990s for felony police impersonation and convicted of both offenses, along with arson in 1997. Ellis’ latest legal saga began in March 2018 when Chicago cops pulled over his car on the South Side for having an expired temporary license plate. When he opened his wallet to give them his driver’s license, the officers spotted a laminated identification card from the Pembroke Township Police Department. The officers couldn’t find any evidence of a Pembroke Township police department, so they arrested Ellis on a felony charge of impersonating a cop. * Tribune | Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter sued by minority partner for allegedly ‘self-dealing’ to devalue other shares: Minority owner Steven Rogers, an Englewood native and entrepreneur who was an early investor in the team, alleges in the suit that Alter abused his financial control of the Sky’s operations to “self-deal” stakes to boost his own shares while decreasing those of minority partners. “Alter’s actions breached his fiduciary duty to the minority investors … and unfairly deprived them of the value of their investments,” the lawsuit said. * Tribune | Harvey Council to hold special meeting Monday to appoint acting mayor after Christopher Clark death : Shirley Drewens is the current mayor pro temp. The town of Harvey has been dealing with a financial crisis. It’s in debt by more than $150 million and has been forced to lay off many city workers, including more than half of the fire department employees. It is a stressful time for the city’s elected leaders, who have appealed to the federal and state governments for help. * Daily Herald | St. Charles plastics plant remains open after being bought by German firm, saving jobs: But when 86 workers were listed by Microplastics Inc. in St. Charles, a last-minute reprieve for “a majority” of them is exactly what happened. And it came from Dippoldiswalde, Germany. After months of expecting the manufacturing plant to close down for good, the German-based company MATEtronix acquired Microplastics Inc., rehiring a majority of the same employees and keeping the equipment in St. Charles. * Daily Southtown | Mokena village officials updating website, not logo, administrator says: The mockup presented in November was part of an informal discussion about the village’s larger project to redesign its website and revamp village operations, he said. Tomasoski said village officials started rethinking village operations in late 2023, early 2024 when a new wave of staff members were hired after several retirements. The influx of staff was a big change from when he started in 2015, he said, when the newest hire had been there for 15 years and some staff members had a tenure of more than 30 years. Naturally, he said, the new staff members prompted new ideas and processes. * WGLT | All this snow hasn’t done much to reduce drought in Central Illinois: State climatologist Trent Ford with the Illinois State Water Survey said the last six months are the driest August-to-January period on record for the Twin Cities at 7.1 inches of precipitation, according to climate records dating back to 1893. The only drier six-month period came during the Dust Bowl period, stretching from December 1933 to May 1934. * WIFR | Public comment wanted on proposal for transportation funds in Rockford: Region 1 Planning Council is the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Rockford Urban and Metropolitan Area. The organization has established a preliminary plan for projects to receive federal funding through Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternative Program and Carbon Reduction Program. * WGLT | Union opposes Unit 5’s move to reject teacher resignation: Kathryn Monti submitted her resignation to the Unit 5 school board to take a new teaching job elsewhere. The school board rejected the resignation, saying Monti resigned mid-year with insufficient notice, and referred the case to the state superintendent for a possible license suspension of up to one year. A request to Unit 5 for the date of Monti’s resignation was not immediately returned. Monti has already left the district. * WCIA | Movie filmed in Central IL comes to the big screen in Savoy: “Moses to Black,” was showing in theaters in Savoy, and the movie was filmed all across Champaign County. In Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul with Flyover Film Studios, at least 100 people were there to see the film, and members of the Champaign County Film Office were there as well. A Q&A was held discussing the benefits of showing large film projects in Champaign. * AP | What to know about the partial government shutdown: The partial government shutdown is vastly different from the record closure in the fall. That is mostly because this shutdown, which started Saturday, does not include the whole of government and may not last long, even as it now drags into the new week. The House had hoped to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday evening, and that would have ended the shutdown. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., now says he is hoping to have the package considered “at least by Tuesday” as he scrambles to round up votes and Democrats hold out for deeper changes to immigration enforcement.
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Catching up with the congressionals
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Federal candidates had until Saturday night to file their fourth-quarter 2025 paperwork. Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie on the numbers out of the 9th Congressional District…
* The Biss campaign’s response to Sen. Fine’s fundraising haul…
* Sen. Mike Simmons also took a swing at Sen. Fine…
* More fundraising numbers from the Daily Northwestern…
* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin reported raising $112,000…
* In the 2nd CD, Sen. Robert Peters goes after Donna Miller. Press release…
* On Friday, 2nd CD candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. claimed a fire destroyed campaign paraphernalia…
Jackson’s opponent Sen. Willie Preston called for an investigation into his claim. Press release…
* More…
* Daily Herald | Candidate’s supporters come together to knit, crochet for people in need: People filled Democratic 9th District hopeful Kat Abughazaleh’s office in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood to knit and crochet hats, gloves and scarves. The items subsequently were given away to people in need of warm gear during the cold snap. “It has been so cold, we gave them away right away,” campaign spokesperson Ramiro Sarmiento said. Abughazaleh, of Chicago, has been known to knit during candidate forums and other public events. But the former journalist and internet personality wasn’t at the gathering.
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SDG warns Pritzker over ‘tax break handout to school-choice billionaires’
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. From that link is this Tribune story…
* CTU/IFT press release…
Emphasis added. Also, note the “Illinois Police Institute” reference.
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Roundup: Illinois Accountability Commission hears expert testimony on ICE, CBP misconduct
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * On Friday, five subject matter experts testified before the Illinois Accountability Commission at its second meeting. The panel was created by Gov. JB Pritzker via executive order in October. Author and journalist Garrett Graff on his testimony…
* Tribune…
* More…
* WAND | IL Accountability Commission highlights aggressive ICE tactics used in Chicago, Minneapolis: “What has become apparent to the public is that these are not just cases of excessive force, but cold-blooded killings of Americans,” said retired Chicago Police Department Commander Cindy Sam. “These federal agents are not just serving law enforcement, they are acting as judge, jury and executioner.” * ABC Chicago | IL Accountability Commission on Midway Blitz calls for rogue federal officers to face prosecution: The commission chairman contended that if the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez last fall during an ICE traffic stop in Franklin Park had resulted in disciplinary action, then perhaps the pair of deadly shootings this month in Minneapolis might not have happened. “Definitely, it seems we need some changes in state law to encourage local officials to actually prosecute agents who are conducting misdeeds, because it seems like the federal government is not going to do that,” Castillo said.
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Fun with numbers
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * You probably saw this development over the weekend. From the Texas Tribune…
This is not a transferable result. It was a low-turnout special election held on a Saturday during unusually miserable winter weather. The Republican candidate had serious flaws. Texas is its own world. Etc. * But just for snicks, I asked Isabel to look at what would happen here if all Republican-held Illinois state legislative districts that Trump won by as much as 17 points (or that Trump lost) in 2024 flipped to the Dems. Purely hypothetically, the Illinois House Democrats would pick up 19 seats (for a grand total of 97 out of 118), and the Senate Dems would gain 8 (for a total of 48 out of 59). Again, this ain’t happening. It’s just a little math exercise. And ten months is an eternity in politics (maybe ten eternities, or forty, or three hundred). Things can always change. But, if there is no radical DC course-correction or a drastic improvement in the economy, you’ll very likely be saying goodbye to a bunch of Statehouse Republican incumbents come November. * Whatever the case, I’m guessing the Republicans are pretty relieved that the Democrats passed a bill to ban parties from appointing candidates after the primary to vacant legislative ballot slots. Some of those above-mentioned Republican-held districts have no Democratic candidates on the ballot.
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When the legend contradicts the actual facts, stick with the legend
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Chicago Tribune covered a Republican gubernatorial candidate forum in Tazewell County…
(Headline derived from this.)
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Matt and Sabrina in Rantoul who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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The debates produced future ad fodder
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column was written before news emerged that Gov. JB Pritzker had contributed $5 million to the super PAC supporting Juliana Stratton…
If Raja decides to use it, Stratton’s answer about the border patrol is a potentially fatal error. Discuss.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker gives $5 million to boost Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate bid. Sun-Times…
- A spokesperson said the PAC’s fundraising has now exceeded $10 million. It spent $2.2 million, leaving it with $4.03 million in December. - he multimillion-dollar bump will help her campaign, but it comes about six months after Krishnamoorthi, the fundraising leader in the race, began airing TV commercials. * Related stories… Sponsored by the Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals: Our Healthcare Backbone At Risk. Safety-net hospitals are the backbone of Chicago’s Black and Brown communities. They provide emergency and lifesaving care for families who rely on them. They also support thousands of good, local healthcare jobs, serving as economic anchors in neighborhoods that have faced decades of disinvestment. With federal support being reduced, safetynet hospitals need more resources – not less – to avoid further strain that could irreversibly damage local health systems and weaken the essential services our communities rely on. Now, these hospitals are under threat. This is not reform. It is a sell-off of community healthcare, driven by outsiders – not by the needs of patients, workers, or neighborhoods. Save safety-net hospitals. Protect our care, our jobs, and our communities. * Gov. JB Pritzker does not have any public events today. * At 10:30 am, Attorney General Kwame Raoul will join the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence to announce a new community initiative with Ring, an Amazon company, aimed at providing domestic violence survivors with technology and safety tools. Click here to watch. * WGN | New requirements for SNAP benefits go into effect Sunday. What does this mean for SNAP benefit recipients?: Meanwhile, local food pantries have been bracing for a last-minute rush before changes to SNAP take effect Sunday. At Common Pantry in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, workers were trying to increase their inventory ahead of changes to SNAP, but they said nothing they do will be able to meet the need that’s coming. * Sun-Times | Chicago bank fails, becoming first in nation to go under in 2026: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ordered the River North-based bank’s closure due to concerns over its financial stability. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was named receiver and brokered the sale of most of the bank’s $261 million in assets to First Independence Bank in Detroit, including all deposits. Customers still have immediate access to their money, and loan customers’ payments are still due. * Medium | Why is the Illinois Democratic Party spreading disinformation about Democratic candidates?: Two such mailers I’ve received are attack ads against Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, who is running for the Illinois State House of Representatives. […] The attack ads claim that “Miguel Alvelo-Rivera and the politicians behind his campaign are pushing their own shortsighted agenda in our community” and juxtapose this claim, and other similar claims, with images of Miguel alongside Donald Trump and Elon Musk — suggesting Alvelo-Rivera is funded by or at least aligned with extremist Republicans. If true, this would be disqualifying for Alvelo-Rivera. So let’s look at what politicians back his campaign – — a relatively standard slate of Democrats, including Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who has long spoken against Musk and Trump and has put forth legislation to abolish ICE. * Center Square | Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district: Pritzker announced that Savencia Cheese USA would add a new production line at its facility in the Stephenson County village of Lena, creating 50 new jobs while retaining 125 existing positions. […] McCombie, R-Savanna, and whose district includes Lena, said creating more jobs is a plus but criticized Pritzker’s policies. “Job growth is always positive, and we can and should be doing more to make it a trend in our state,” McCombie said in a statement to The Center Square. * CBS Chicago | GOP Illinois gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski breaks down his policies: Ted Dabrowski is running in the Republican primary for Illinois governor. He joins Dana Kozlov to outline his policies on immigration enforcement, property taxes, education funding. * Journal Courier | Gambling mogul, Republican gubernatorial candidate may visit Jacksonville: Rob Winchester, a long-time lobbyist and previous senior adviser to former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, has been hired by Heidner’s campaign to visit central and southern Illinois counties and pitch him as the Republican choice for governor in the upcoming primary. He said Heidner would likely be visiting Morgan County in the middle of February, though it has yet to be finalized. * Tribune | Illinois advances in bid to move up 2028 Democratic presidential primary date, but hurdles remain: In essence, the Rules and Bylaws Committee chose to advance all 12 states that applied to be one of up to five states in the early, pre-Super Tuesday window of the primary process. […] But Illinois, with a costly Chicago media market that covers the region where most of the state’s voters reside, might struggle with the fairness standard aimed at allowing smaller, lesser-funded candidates a chance to present their case. * WBEZ | Affordability — or the lack of it — will define Chicago’s housing market this year, experts say: In the greater Chicago region, home sales in 2025 rose slightly by 0.6% year over year, with nearly 89,100 homes sold, according to Illinois Realtors. In 2024, 88,560 homes sold in the region. Meanwhile, home sales across Illinois grew by 4.2%, compared to 2024, when 131,194 homes sold that year. For December, the Chicago metro area saw 6,637 homes sold, down 0.2% from December 2024 sales of 6,650. Across the state, home sales in December were up 2% year over year, with 10,237 homes sold, according to the trade association. * WTTW | Judge Reverses Order, Says Rahm Emanuel Does Not Have to Testify About CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’: U.S District Court Judge John Tharp said that he reconsidered his decision to allow lawyers for Ebony Tate, her mother, Cynthia Eason, and four children to call Emanuel after lawyers for the city renewed their vigorous objections to having the former mayor and potential presidential candidate testify. Allowing Emanuel to testify would make it impossible for the eight officers named in the lawsuit and the city to get a fair trial and turn it “into a media circus when he has nothing to do with the claims against them,” according to lawyers for the city of Chicago. * Tribune | Acting CTA chief lays out priorities after dodging fiscal cliff: When asked about riders who remain frustrated by the frequency and reliability of bus and train service — and who are clamoring for more in the wake of last year’s transit funding bill — Leerhsen cautioned that most of the new dollars expected to come in later this year will go toward sustaining current service levels. When it comes to increases in service, she pointed to an announcement she made last fall of planned 24-hour service on the Orange Line to Midway International Airport. Currently, only the CTA’s Blue and Red lines run 24/7. * WBEZ | Community members warn that Chicago History Museum cuts could impact scholarship of city history: They are also asking the museum to restore hours at the Abakanowicz Research Center, which were limited following a decision to reduce its staffers to part-time status in July. Advocates say reversing that decision will help strengthen the museum’s identity as a prestigious institution that informs visitors from all over the world about the history of Chicago and America. * Sun-Times | White Sox legend Frank Thomas upset with being left off team’s Black History Month graphic: That’s when the Sox published a social-media graphic celebrating “momentous firsts” to commemorate the start of Black History Month. The graphic included moments such as Ken Williams and Jerry Manuel becoming the first Black general manager/manager duo in major-league history. There was one glaring — and, frankly, irresponsible — omission: Thomas, a two-time MVP and the best hitter in franchise history. * Sun-Times | Basil Talbott Jr., Chicago Sun-Times political editor, dies at 89: The fair-minded, truth-seeking Chicago Sun-Times political journalist would never indulge in their emoluments, like a free lunch at a fine restaurant. “Basil would have nothing of that. Absolutely nothing. He insisted that what he would tell the public would be what he believed without any editing or constraint because he was in bed or in debt to somebody,” said Ron Grossman, a retired Chicago Tribune columnist and longtime friend of Mr. Talbott. * Fox Chicago | Chicago Auto Show 2026: Everything you need to know: Chi-Town Alley: The new showcase celebrates Chicago’s automotive communities. The brand-new exhibit will highlight performance cars, custom builds and street-inspired designs. * CBS Chicago | Miami Heat build 54-point lead, roll past Chicago Bulls 134-91 with Adebayo, Larsson each scoring 20: The 54-point hole was Chicago’s biggest since a 58-point deficit against Boston on Dec. 8, 2018. The Bulls’ biggest deficits this season were a pair of 41-point games — one against Minnesota on Dec. 29, the other also against Miami on Nov. 21. Kel’el Ware scored 17 points, Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 14 and Davion Mitchell returned from a shoulder injury to score 13 for Miami, which played without guard Norman Powell (personal reasons) and Tyler Herro (ribs). Powell was announced as an NBA All-Star selection shortly after tip-off on Sunday, getting that nod for the first time in his career. * WGEM | Lawsuit filed against City of Quincy, employee by man who threatened alderman: A lawsuit was filed on Friday against the City of Quincy and City of Quincy employee Thomas Pugh. According to court documents, the lawsuit was filed by Benjamin J. Inman, the man who was recently convicted of threatening an alderman and is charged with possession of child porn. […] Court filings allege that Pugh knowingly cyberstalked and harassed Inman as an employee of the City of Quincy. On Jan. 8, Inman stated twice during proceedings that he could prove that a city employee planted the alleged child porn to frame him. * NYT | Police Report Backs Activist’s Account in Clash With ICE Agent Near Chicago: Mr. Held told The New York Times last week that he had followed Mr. Saracco in late December after the agent left the Broadview facility, and an altercation occurred. Mr. Saracco, who according to the police report initially denied being a law enforcement agent, told police officers who were called to the scene that Mr. Held “began walking up to his vehicle” and recording him on his phone while he was pumping gas into his car. Mr. Held has said he was standing on the sidewalk recording when Mr. Saracco approached him. * Daily Herald | Ex-Huntley school board member gave no reason for sudden resignation: When members of Bittman’s slate took control of the board that year, they chose him to be school board president. Laura Murray became vice president but Bittman and Murray lost their leadership spots after a different slate, backed by a group that opposed the direction Bittman’s slate took the board in, took control of the board last year. Paul Troy then became president. Bittman’s departure leaves Murray as the only member of the slate elected in 2023 left on the school board. * WGN | Sixth water main break within a week affects more than half the residents in south suburban Dixmoor: Village President Fitzgerald Roberts said Sunday night he hoped repairs would be completed by midnight. WGN-TV has been awaiting confirmation from village officials Monday morning on whether the problem has been resolved. Between 800 and 1,000 homes have been impacted, according to officials, which is more than half the village. * Shaw Local | Megalodome Golf launches $50 million investment fund to build domed golf course in Oswego: Canada-based Megalodome Golf has announced that it has launched a $50 million investment fund to build its nine-hole domed golf course near Route 30 in Oswego. The company made the announcement recently on its website. In September 2024, Oswego village trustees unanimously approved the concept plans of Megalodome Golf. * The Daily Illini | ‘Fell the enemies:’ Illini Republicans support ICE amid Minnesota killings: In a post that included a stylized graphic of a presumed federal officer holding a gun to someone’s head, Illini Republicans stated that they “stand with ICE” amid the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. The RSO referred to Pretti and Good, two United States citizens who were both killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the past month, as “traitors.” As of Sunday, the group removed the graphic but kept the larger post, which garnered more than a thousand comments on their Instagram account. * 25News Now | Suspect in Peoria County deputy’s shooting has been running from the law since 2024, court records say: “He faces a long recovery, but we are grateful that he is in stable condition,” the sheriff said. Formal charges have not been filed yet against Bell for the deputy’s shooting. He faces several preliminary charges including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, armed violence. * WCIA | Woman robbed by men claiming to be U.S. Marshals in Decatur: Police: Hagemeyer said a female victim reported that two men had been knocking on doors in the hallway of the hotel she was staying in. She peered out the door and saw that they claimed to be U.S. Marshals. She went back into her room, but before she shut the door they forced their way into her hotel room. Hagemeyer said they flashed a badge at her and claimed to have a warrant out for her arrest. The two men dumped her purse out and stole money and her phone. They left on foot after that, Hagemeyer said. * PJ Star | New details on how much money Peoria could gain from casino settlement: The city of Peoria estimates it could receive about $1.8 million annually as part of a settlement agreement with Boyd Gaming that will see Peoria drop its objections to plans for a new Par-A-Dice Casino. City Manager Patrick Urich told the Journal Star on Sunday that the settlement agreement, which will be voted on by the Peoria City Council on Monday, was being worked on by attorneys as late as Friday afternoon. The special council meeting was announced on Saturday. * WGLT | After relocating one fire station, Normal will share internal data on response times: Normal IAFF Local 2442 has repeatedly claimed in town hall settings and at town council meetings that closing the College Avenue station would negatively impact response times and urged the council to keep it open after the new eastside station came online. Union members also claim certain populations of the town would be left vulnerable, including children and seniors. * 25News Now | Thousands gather for Illinois Music Education Conference while boosting Peoria’s economy: More than 2,100 student musicians from over 215 schools across the state, along with about 10,000 family members, filled the civic center to showcase their talents. Since Thursday, students in grades four through 12 performed in concerts, danced, participated in other theatrical activities, while music teachers attended professional development workshops. Organizers said the event also gives a boost to Peoria businesses, pumping dollars into the local economy. * WBEZ | The quiet, wintry thrill of a freezing Illinois canyon hike: Matthiessen, the lesser known of the two neighboring parks in this area, is named after the industrialist who operated it as a private, 176-acre “Deer Park” in the late 19th century. His crew constructed trails, bridges, stairways and dams that still stand. After his death, the land was bequeathed to the state, which added parcels to make up 2,000 acres today. It doesn’t boast its neighbor’s soaring views of the Illinois River, but the park does have a less trampled feel. * CBS | Officials in Minnesota allege Bovino used language offensive to Jews on conference call: The call, which was held on Jan. 12, five days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, involved multiple federal officials who were trying to coordinate a Saturday meeting to discuss issues related to the massive deployment of federal immigration agents in the area. Bovino was told on the call that Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, could not attend that meeting because he observes the Sabbath. Bovino allegedly responded with audible frustration that Rosen was not available for the Saturday meeting, sources familiar with the planning call said. One of them recounted that Bovino replied, “Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?” That source said Bovino also used the phrase “chosen people” in a disparaging manner. * AP | Fundraising hauls show RNC vastly outpacing Democrats ahead of midterm elections: The Republican National Committee has vastly outpaced Democrats in the crush for cash ahead of the midterm elections, holding a nearly $100 million advantage at the close of 2025, according to year-end filings to the Federal Election Commission. As Democrats have struggled in the Trump era, the RNC tallied $172 million raised in 2025, with $95 million cash on hand at year’s end. In contrast, the Democratic National Committee posted $145 million for the year, with $14 million on hand — and $17 million in debt, to start the new year underwater. * Fortune | Newly released emails and a Trump-ordered investigation have thrust billionaire LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman into the Epstein firestorm: Bondi has attempted to further connect Hoffman to Epstein in the past. During her contentious Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on October 7, she repeatedly invoked Hoffman’s name when questioned about Epstein and Trump and called him “one of Epstein’s closest confidants.” Hoffman has repeatedly denied any such allegations. On November 14, Hoffman hit back, taking to X to demand “Trump should release all of the Epstein files: every person and every document in the files.” The LinkedIn co-founder accused Trump’s probe of being “nothing more than political persecution and slander” and claimed he was never a client of Epstein’s nor did he engage with him in any capacity other than fundraising. * AP | From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who’s who of powerful men are named in Epstein files: The billionaire Tesla founder turns up at least a few times in Friday’s document release, notably in email exchanges in 2012 and 2013 in which he discussed visiting Epstein’s infamous Caribbean island compound. But it’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday or Saturday.
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Good morning!
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Closing the week out with Ronnie Foster…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Background is here if you need it. The Daily Herald…
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Illinois…
* Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey accuses opponent Rick Heidner of “poaching” clips…
* Capitol News Illinois | Student loan borrowers in Illinois could face federal, state ‘tax bomb’ in 2026: President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” enacted last summer, did not make the student loan tax forgiveness provision permanent. As a result, student loans that are canceled or partially forgiven in 2026 and beyond will see taxes owed on those forgiven amounts, advocates said. These taxes could amount to as much as $10,000, depending on the borrower’s income. This includes income-driven repayment plan-related forgiveness; some closed school discharges — where 100% of a student loan obligation is wiped out if a school closes — and private settlements. Meanwhile, some forms of loan forgiveness remain tax-free, such as public service loan forgiveness, teacher loan forgiveness, and death and disability discharge programs. * Press Release | State Rep. Margaret Croke Earns Endorsement of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Statewide: Today, State Representative Margaret Croke announced the endorsement of the Construction & General Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity, the Great Plains Laborers’ District Council and the Downstate Illinois Laborers’ District Council in her campaign for Illinois State Comptroller. The endorsements build on her strong statewide coalition of labor support and reflect her proven record of standing with organized labor, supporting policies that protect workers’ rights, expanding access to family-sustaining union jobs, and investing in apprenticeship and workforce training programs across Illinois. * Capitol News Illinoi s| Interview with Illinois Comptroller Candidate Margaret Croke: As a part of a series of interviews focusing on contested races for major-party nominations in the March 17 primary elections, Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Brenden Moore talk with state Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) about her campaign for Illinois Comptroller. * Daily Herald | Judge: GOP candidate shouldn’t be on 11th District ballots due to signature shortage: The decision to keep a suburban Republican candidate off ballots in the 11th Congressional District was upheld Friday by a Cook County judge. Tedora M. Brown’s attorney said he would promptly file an emergency appeal. “She’s going to keep fighting,” attorney Max Solomon said. “And in the end she’s going to be vindicated.” * Tribune | One detective’s work demonstrates how CPD improved the homicide clearance rate: Records obtained by the Tribune detail how one of the Chicago Police Department’s most effective homicide investigators recently closed that 5-year-old cold case, helping to raise the department’s murder clearance rate to its highest level in more than a decade. CPD’s homicide clearance rate reached 71% last year — up from 55% in 2024 — amid a sharp decline in murders that helped buoy the figure. Records obtained by the Tribune show CPD detectives cleared fewer cases in 2025 — 296 — than in any year since 2019. * Crain’s | American moves to win back gates at O’Hare: The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier notified Chicago aviation officials that it wants to start the annual process of re-allocating the gates that airlines use to park aircraft while passengers board and disembark. Under a new lease agreement between the carriers and the city that was signed in 2018, the gates are subject to a use-it-or-lose-it provision. The city awards gate space based on the amount of flying done by each carrier during the previous year. * WTTW | Park District Asks Chicagoans to Decide What Statue Should Replace Columbus in Little Italy: Chicagoans can vote through Sunday to pick a notable Italian to be honored with a statue in Little Italy’s Arrigo Park, where a statue of Christopher Columbus once stood. […] Ballots can be cast here. * Illinois Answers Project | ‘You’re One of Us’: After Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car Then Holed Up at Home in Armed Standoff with Police, He Got a Big Hug and Initially Faced No Charges: Officer Ryan Harter, who worked at the Downers Grove Police Department about 20 miles away from his home, can be seen drinking and heard slurring his words on police body camera footage of the standoff obtained by the Illinois Answers Project. Police tried but failed to Tase him repeatedly. At one point, Harter allegedly threatened one of his daughters with a pocketknife and also waved a gun at a 68-year-old neighbor. The standoff ended peacefully, with Harter, 41, surrendering himself unarmed to police on the street in front of his house. So peaceful, in fact, the chief negotiator gave him a long hug and told him he was “not in any trouble.” […] Harter wasn’t charged that day, the next or even that week. Plainfield police initially downplayed what happened as “more of a mental health situation.” A police news release about the standoff didn’t mention that Harter was a cop. They closed the case. * Daily Southtown | Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark has died, city says: Clark was administrating Harvey through a period of major financial difficulty. The City Council voted unanimously in October to declare the city financially distressed and apply for state relief. More than 40% of the city’s workforce was furloughed indefinitely shortly after. Clark ran as a reformer in 2019, aiming to replace outgoing mayor Eric Kellogg, who had been prevented from running for reelection by term limits. Kellogg’s tenure as mayor was marked by scandals, including the disappearance of millions in bond money meant for hotel construction, that Clark later said left Harvey in an inescapable financial crisis. * Daily Herald | ‘He knows what our interests are in Washington’: DuPage County to pay D.C. lobbyist up to $96K: The county will pay Lincoln Park Group $8,000 a month. For the past two years, the “boutique government affairs” firm has worked on the county’s behalf in Washington, D.C., as a subcontractor of the McGuireWoods team. The county board first hired McGuireWoods in 2024 at the same rate. Greg Bales, then the firm’s senior vice president, previously worked for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin as senior adviser in the Democratic lawmaker’s government office and as Durbin’s campaign manager for his reelection in 2020, according to a McGuireWoods bio. * Daily Southtown | Homer Glen seeks $4 million in federal grants for sanitary sewer, water rate assistance: Homer Glen is seeking $3 million in federal grants toward building a one-mile sanitary sewer line extension and another $1 million in federal funding to provide financial relief for senior citizens burdened with high water bills. The grant money is not guaranteed, but requesting the federal funds is one step in the process to help reduce the village’s dependency on private septic systems or intergovernmental agreements with other companies and communities, village officials said. * WAND | Former Illinois deputy Sean Grayson in IDOC custody: The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office says former deputy Sean Grayson is now in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. […] Grayson will serve a two-year mandatory supervised release period after his prison sentence ends. He also received credit for time served. * BND | Report by Swansea’s attorney disputes trustee allegations of mismanagement: Swansea’s village attorney has completed an investigation into recent allegations by a Board of Trustees member that officials have been mishandling the village’s general reserve fund. Attorney John Kurowski concluded in his report that Trustee Brian Thouvenot had overstated the issue at board meetings and in Facebook posts, and that there was no need for an independent “forensic audit,” as Thouvenot had requested. * WGLT | OSF adds ‘Victoria’ to OB-GYN team, pushing emergency preparedness in mobile maternal care: “Victoria” is a high-tech birthing simulator that can replicate a variety of birth emergencies, including rare, high-risk complications. An addition to the mobile maternity care unit, “Victoria” provides advanced practice providers [APPs] with the skillset to effectively prepare for any situation they come across on the road. Simulation Specialist Jacob Wilson said “Victoria” prepares health care providers for a range of rare complications related to labor and delivery. * WSIL | $2.25 Million Estate Gift to Strengthen SIU Journalism and Advertising Programs: A $2.25 million estate gift from Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumnus Roy D. Franke will provide long-term support for the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising, enhancing hands-on learning opportunities and student experiences across journalism, advertising and media. The gift, designated through Franke’s estate, ranks among the largest private contributions in the school’s history. Franke earned his bachelor’s degree from SIU in 1966 and directed the funds to support the school within the College of Arts and Media. * WCIA | Danville youth present solutions to try and eradicate gun violence: Students in Vermilion County say they want to end gun violence in their area, and they have ideas they think can be solutions. They partnered with Project Success to put on a gun violence prevention expo. Thursday night, they presented projects detailing ways they think shootings can be curbed, including midnight basketball, a community task force and more. * Bloomberg | ICE Begins Buying ‘Mega’ Warehouse Detention Centers Across US: On Thursday, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said he’d met with the owners of a warehouse identified by ICE who told him they were no longer going to sell or lease the facility to the agency. “I commend the owners for their decision and thank them on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City,” Holt said. “I ask that every single property owner in Oklahoma City exhibit the same concern for our community in the days ahead.” The warehouses, many of which originally were designed and marketed as e-commerce distribution facilities, represent a significant pivot for the administration’s $45 billion immigration detention buildout. Last year, it relied on tent camps constructed in remote places like the Florida Everglades and an Army base in Texas. * AJC | ‘Smoking gun’ video of Georgia vote count is now evidence against Trump: The “suitcases” were official ballot containers. The “double-counted” ballots were only counted once. The “smoking gun” video for voting fraud showed normal ballot counting. State and federal investigators quickly debunked a conspiracy theory sparked by surveillance video of ballot counting at State Farm Arena in 2020. That didn’t stop Donald Trump from making the video the centerpiece of his campaign to overturn the election in Georgia — even though some on his own team knew the voting fraud claims were dubious, documents reviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Catching up with the federal candidates
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * US Senate candidate Robin Kelly is out with her first TV ad… Kelly’s campaign said to expect more next week. * The Tribune on the 8th Congressional District…
Both campaigns claim six-figure ad buys, though neither would specify where those figures fall on the very wide spectrum between $100,000 and $999,999. Ahmed’s spot… Transcript…
Back to the Tribune…
Khot’s spot…
* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin has launched her first radio ad. Press release…
* Moving on to the 9th CD. Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie…
* A representative for Abughazaleh walked out of a Tribune editorial board endorsement meeting yesterday. The Tribune’s Olivia Olander…
* Evanston Now…
* More… * E&E News | Green groups split in closely watched Dem primary: The youth-led Sunrise Movement endorsed Kat Abughazaleh in the primary to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’ 9th District. Another Democrat running in that primary, Daniel Biss, picked up endorsements this week from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. * CBS Chicago | House Republicans want Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss to testify on Northwestern University Gaza protests: Biss noted he has not been formally subpoenaed by Congress, but he would be happy to comply if he was. Schakowsky issued a statement on the letter, writing, “Mayor Daniel Biss showed bravery and leadership by respecting students’ First Amendment rights and declining to deploy the Evanston Police Department in a way that could have undermined these rights. That principled judgment and defense of free speech is exactly why Daniel is uniquely qualified to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.” * Daily Herald | Another 9th Congressional District candidate is putting campaign ad on TV: Called “Yes,” the ad — loaded with fast cuts and visual effects, both usual techniques for a campaign commercial — features Amiwala speaking directly to viewers about her opposition to immigration enforcement efforts and donations from corporate special interests, among other topics. […] The campaign wouldn’t reveal the cost of the ad buy.
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Roundup: Cook County chief judge makes electronic monitoring changes
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* WTTW…
* From the Court’s news release…
* More…
* CBS Chicago | Cook County Chief Judge announces changes to electronic monitoring program: It’s not clear if Reed had been in violation of his electronic monitoring rules for three hours or more at the time of the attack. The chief judge’s office responded to a request for clarification on that detail in Reed’s case and said are looking into it. * Sun-Times | Chief judge reforming electronic monitoring program: Among those critics was Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, who last year instructed her lawyers to object to any use of electronic monitoring, saying it was “a serious threat to public safety.” […] In a statement Wednesday, her office said: “State’s Attorney Burke welcomes all improvements to the electronic monitoring system and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Chief Judge Beach and all those seeking ways to improve public safety.”
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No surprise: Indiana’s Bears stadium bill contains harsh anti-union provisions
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana…
The Indiana bill bans project labor agreements on the proposed stadium project. Indiana is a so-called “right to work” state. That part of Hoosierville is very union-friendly. And several Illinois trade unions cover the region, including Operating Engineers Local 150. * To the bill…
Oof. * Meanwhile…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: With TV ads heating up in Durbin Senate race, Dems try to show off their differences in second debate. Sun-Times…
- The one-hour forum hosted by ABC7, the League of Women Voters and Univision focused on domestic and foreign policy issues and is the second of at least seven debates the candidates have agreed to in the final weeks ahead of the March 17 primary. - U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Stratton both said they would not confirm any nominations made by President Trump, while Krishnamoorthi offered a more middle of the ground response. * Related stories… Sponsored by the Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals: Our Healthcare Backbone At Risk. Safety-net hospitals are the backbone of Chicago’s Black and Brown communities. They provide emergency and lifesaving care for families who rely on them. They also support thousands of good, local healthcare jobs, serving as economic anchors in neighborhoods that have faced decades of disinvestment. With federal support being reduced, safetynet hospitals need more resources – not less – to avoid further strain that could irreversibly damage local health systems and weaken the essential services our communities rely on. Now, these hospitals are under threat. This is not reform. It is a sell-off of community healthcare, driven by outsiders – not by the needs of patients, workers, or neighborhoods. Save safety-net hospitals. Protect our care, our jobs, and our communities. * The Governor will be in Lena today to celebrate the facility expansion for Savencia Cheese USA. Click here to watch at 11:30. * WCIA | ‘For once, the system did not look away’: IL officials react to Sean Grayson sentencing: “The defense asked for a slap on the wrist. The court rejected that minimization and chose real accountability,” the commission wrote in a news release. “When the sentence was delivered, the courtroom exhaled and there were collective sighs of relief. Not because justice had been fully served, but because, for once, the system did not look away. For once, the loss of a black woman’s life at the hands of law enforcement was not discounted, deferred, or diminished.” * WGN | Illinois AG Kwame Raoul says he was ready for Trump court fight: “We saw it coming way before Election Night,” he said. “A group of state attorney generals started getting together, I’d say in the spring of 2024. At that time, Joe Biden was still the presumptive candidate, Democratic candidate for president as a sitting president. And we were all, aware of Project 2025, Agenda 47. … And so we gathered and started preparing for the possibility of Donald Trump being elected.” * WAND | Giannoulias launches e-bike safety awareness campaign, calls for legislative action regulating high-speed vehicles: “Last fall, a Mount Prospect teen was killed when the e-bike he was riding collided with a pickup truck,” Giannoulias said. “And in 2022, an Illinois State University official died after he was struck by an e-bike rider in Bloomington-Normal.” New technology has enabled micromobility devices to travel at more than 50 miles per hour, far beyond the speeds addressed in current state law. Giannoulias is working with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association to develop new programming and curriculum to address micromobility across K-12 education and high school driver’s ed courses.”By pairing education with commonsense safeguards, we can make sure innovation on our streets doesn’t come at the expense of public safety,” said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). * Fox News | The Democrat James Carville thinks is worth watching in 2028 will surprise you: And Carville, who first gained national attention over three decades ago as the chief strategist for former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 White House victory, argues that former Vice President Kamala Harris doesn’t have a shot at winning the next Democratic presidential nomination. […] “If I had to say one guy… I’d take JD Pritzker,” Carville said this week in a sit-down interview with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo on his ‘Arroyo Grande’ podcast. Carville was asked which Democrat he could see carrying the flag into 2028. * WTTW | Illinois Accountability Commission Should Probe Senior Trump Administration Officials, Pritzker Says: “For too long, Gregory Bovino and his rogue federal agents have terrorized communities in Illinois and across the country, violated our people’s constitutional rights and unleashed violence at every turn,” Pritzker said. “Greg Bovino, Kristi Noem and Donald Trump’s other lackeys should find lawyers because they must still be held responsible for the killings and the damage they’ve done to our country.” The commission will consider Pritzker’s request at its meeting set for Friday morning, former U.S. District Court Judge Rubén Castillo said. * STLPR | Dabrowski believes he’s the only Republican who can beat Pritzker in November : “We’re the only campaign that can build the coalition to beat Pritzker, and so I think we’re going to steal the support from the other candidates,” Dabrowski said on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. “But that’s the challenge, of course.” […] President Donald Trump has not endorsed a candidate in the race. While he’s not courting the president’s support, Dabrowski said he wouldn’t turn it down. Trump endorsed Bailey the last time he ran for governor. * Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson may take another stab at passing Bring Chicago Home referendum, top mayoral aide says: Cristina Pacione-Zayas, the former state senator now serving as Johnson’s chief of staff, said the second time could be the charm for a referendum likely to gain steam amid the political rush to confront the affordability crisis in Chicago and around the nation. “If you look at the research, [referendums do] not get passed the first time around. And actually each time you are able to get it out and continue to build on the educational foundation for the voters, you do end up finding success,” Pacione-Zayas told the Sun-Times. “That’s what California has been able to prove [by] how many times they’ve brought things forth that they brought forth in the past.” * Crain’s | Bond investors weary as Johnson and City Council continue budget fight: The weighted average of Chicago’s general obligation bonds has dropped from 130.8 on Dec. 24, four days after the City Council approved a 2026 budget over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s objection, to 117.2 on Jan. 22, according to an index kept by the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago. “Since the beginning of 2026, Chicago has gone in completely the opposite direction of the market as a whole,” said Justin Marlowe, the center’s director. “It may not have an impact on the city’s finances today, but it certainly suggests that it might be more difficult for Chicago to sell bonds in the future.” * Sun-Times | CTU wants to bargain with CPS over remote learning options: The CTU’s vice president said the union will make a formal demand to bargain with the district over the effects of immigration enforcement on schools, anticipating “more vicious” federal operations in the spring. * Sun-Times | Chicago business leader launches Bear Down Community Investment Group to spur regional economic development: The nonprofit, Bear Down Community Investment Group, was founded to expand housing options, construct mixed-use developments, strengthen local businesses and build a skilled workforce across Illinois. The nonprofit is based in Chicago, with an initial focus on Chicago Southland. The Southland includes five counties in Illinois and Indiana, spanning from O’Hare and Kankakee to Valparaiso, Ind. * Crain’s | Billionaire Wacker Drive landlord explores sale in test of Chicago office market: Real estate tycoon Donald Bren is eyeing a sale of one of his company’s three downtown Chicago office skyscrapers, an offering that would test investor sentiment on top-performing, trophy office buildings downtown at a precarious time for the city’s office sector. Newport Beach, Calif.-based real estate firm Irvine is moving toward selling the 50-story tower at 1 N. Wacker Drive, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company recently interviewed brokers and tapped real estate services firm Eastdil Secured to explore a potential sale, teeing up what could be Irvine’s first sale in Chicago since entering the local office market in 2010. * Tribune | Cook County loses road money suit as judge rules $243M misspent: The Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Alliance, a trade group representing construction, design and maintenance firms, originally filed suit in 2018 opposing that policy. They hoped to bar the county from using tax revenues it expected to collect from gas, parking lots, garages, and car purchases on anything but direct transportation projects. The county’s diversion of those dollars threatened their livelihoods, they argued. In a Wednesday interview, John Fitzgerald, the attorney for IRTBA, declared the order “a total and absolute victory” that “shows the county never even came close to meeting its constitutional obligation to spend these transportation funds” in line with the Safe Roads amendment. “It is a victory not just for the roadbuilders but for everyone who uses roads, streets and public transit in Cook County.” * NBC Chicago | Teen accused of stabbing pregnant mom to death in critical condition, sheriff says: Around 5 p.m., Nedas Revuckas sustained injuries in his housing unit at the DuPage County Correctional Center, authorities said. He was immediately treated by Correctional Center medical staff and transported to a local medical facility for treatment. Authorities said he is in critical condition and preliminary investigation suggests his injuries were self-inflicted. No other individuals are believed to be involved. * Daily Southtown | Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge says Amazon ‘full steam ahead’ with planned development despite nearby retail closures: Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer said Wednesday he heard about the planned retail closures through the news media and had no details about the future of the Oak Lawn storefront. Amazon said in a news release it has seen “encouraging signals” in its Amazon branded grocery stores, but the company hasn’t “created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion.” * Crain’s | Why Lurie is building up in the suburbs as some hospitals shy away from pediatrics: Since 2012, more than 20 community hospital pediatric units in the area have closed. Most recently, Prime Healthcare’s St. Joseph Medical Center shuttered its pediatric unit, stating they had a very low volume of patients. Likewise, Northwestern Medicine closed a small pediatric unit at Palos Hospital in 2024. […] The hospital sees opportunity to build more integrated care there, closer to suburban residents home, as it is doing with a new, 75,000-square-foot outpatient center in Schaumburg that will draw families from the north and northwest suburbs. * WAND | Springfield church official arrested for producing child pornography: The attorney’s office said that 54-year-old Michael Mohr of Springfield was charged with one count of producing child pornography. Mohr is president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church –Missouri Synod in Springfield. A search of Mohr’s Springfield home found storage devices with videos of three juveniles in the bathroom. * WGLT | Bloomington’s police accountability board to review Care for Victims report: The board has struggled to draw public participation, with its strongest attendance drawn for discussions on pertinent issues involving police, such as the 2024 fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County deputy. The board unanimously approved the formation of a subcommittee to select topics for each quarterly meeting, which take place in the evenings and offer opportunities for open discussion with the public. Board member Ashley Farmer and youth member Yvett Hernandez will serve on that subcommittee. * WaPo | RFK Jr. picks promoters of debunked vaccine-autism claims for key panel: “It undermines decades of progress toward evidence-based policy,” said Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation. Singer, who is not a member of the panel but has previously served on it, said the advisory group has historically reflected a wide range of perspectives on autism but has now been effectively “hijacked” by individuals advancing positions inconsistent with established scientific research. * NBC | Trump strikes deal with Democrats in government shutdown funding fight: The agreement would fund all of the government except for the Department of Homeland Security through September. DHS would operate on a two-week stopgap bill, according to five sources familiar with the agreement, in order to buy time to negotiate changes sought by Democrats following public outrage over the DHS killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Senators had hoped to vote on the deal Thursday night but couldn’t resolve a handful of minor issues; the chamber will now aim to vote on Friday. The House, which returns to Washington on Monday, would then need to pass the legislation and send it to Trump’s desk for his signature. * Electrek | Musk admits no Optimus robots are doing ‘useful work’ at Tesla — after claiming otherwise: We documented last month that Tesla never came close to producing thousands of Optimus robots in 2025. There was no evidence of even hundreds being built. During the earnings call, Musk was specifically asked about how many Optimus robots Tesla has, and he didn’t answer. What Tesla has demonstrated publicly are robots performing simple tasks like handing out water bottles, and even then, they relied heavily on teleoperation (humans remotely controlling the robots) rather than true autonomy.
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Good morning!
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign stuff
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Jan 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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Lapinski removed from Cook County Republican Party executive office: ‘The Holocaust is an indisputable historical fact’
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is and here if you need it. Press release…
Lapinksi is still a Republican township committeeperson, however. They can’t remove him from that post.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
…Adding… Krishnamoorthi campaign has a new poll…
According to this poll of 800 likely voters taken January 25-28 with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 points, 27 percent remain undecided. * GOP US Senate candidate Don Tracy…
Tracy did not respond yesterday to multiple requests for comment regarding accusations of Holocaust denialism against Ed Lapinski, the 56th House District Republican candidate and executive secretary of the Cook County Republican Party. Krishnamoorthi did respond. * Sun-Times | New state initiative aims for e-bike regulation, safety education: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias made the announcement during a downtown news conference, flanked by transit stakeholders, state Sen. Ram Villivalem and Rep. Barbara Hernandez, both area Democrats. “The bottom line is that riders, drivers and pedestrians are all trying to navigate the system that was designed for a different era,” Giannoulias said. “Without action, these tragic crashes, injuries and fatalities will continue to rise, like it or not.” * The Triibe | How are Illinois politicians responding to escalating aggression by immigration agents in Minnesota: The Chicago City Council’s Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Police and Fire committee members voted to advance a proposed amendment that would expand the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) powers to include investigating Chicago police for violations of the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance. Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) is the lead sponsor of the amendment. “This is an ordinance to hold those accountable who collaborate with ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] and violate our Welcoming City Ordinance,” Fuentes said ahead of yesterday’s joint committee vote. * WTTW | Rahm Ordered to Testify About CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’ During Trial Over Botched Raid: A federal judge has ordered former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to testify next week in an upcoming trial about allegations that a “code of silence” among Chicago Police Department officers led to a botched August 2018 raid of a Back of the Yards apartment that violated the civil rights of a family with four children. […] In a text message to WTTW News, Emanuel erroneously said the raid occurred after he left office. Emanuel, who said he was traveling, did not otherwise respond. Emanuel acknowledged in December 2015 during an emotional speech prompted by the outrage over the police murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald before the Chicago City Council that a “code of silence” among officers had prevented officials from holding CPD officers accountable for misconduct. * Block Club | Meet The Immigrant Seamstress Who Has Made Banners For United Center Legends For 40 Years: Parra has helped create nearly every banner now hanging from the United Center’s rafters, from those honoring the retired numbers of legends like Jordan and Scottie Pippen to the championship banners earned by the Bulls and Blackhawks in dynastic stretches from the ’90s through the 2010s. […] Parra, who is nearing retirement age, has largely rebuffed her own family’s urgings to retire and settle down. She loves her work and intends to continue fulfilling the shop’s orders for the foreseeable future, she said. * Crain’s | Allbirds closing its U.S. stores, including 2 in Chicago: The San Francisco-based company plans to pour its resources into its e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships and international distributorships to improve its reach, flexibility and operating leverage, it said in a news release today. Two outlet stores in the U.S. and two full-price stores in London will remain open. * WTTW | Cook County’s Chief Judge Announces New Revisions to Electronic Monitoring Program: Under the revised protocols, anyone on EM who is accused of a major violation — like an unauthorized absence or tampering with a monitoring device — will be returned to court within 24 hours, no matter when the violation is reported. Previously, that could only happen from Monday to Friday, but courts will begin handling those violations on weekends now, too, beginning Feb. 7. Under the new protocols, an unauthorized absence of more than three hours on weekdays will also now qualify as a major violation requiring the defendant to appear back in court. That limit had previously been set at 48 hours. * Aurora Beacon-News | Rezoning for potential data center rejected by Yorkville commission, City Council vote planned for February: Yorkville has become a sort of hub for data center projects, in part due to the area’s proximity to a ComEd substation. But with these proposed developments has come significant resident opposition. “We’re aware of the differing views in the community surrounding the data center development in general on this site, and development in general on this site,” Gilbert said while presenting the rezoning request at the January meeting. * Crain’s | UChicago expanding OB-GYN care at Ingalls, bucking national trend: Ingalls Memorial Hospital in south suburban Harvey has opened a new women’s health clinic, expanding services in an effort to meet growing demand in nearby communities and expand its capabilities in complex care. The move by UChicago Medicine to reorganize and expand women’s health bucks a trend of community hospitals closing labor units and pulling away from some women’s and pediatric health care. * Daily Herald | DuPage County Board urges Congress to investigate immigration enforcement efforts; withhold DHS funding: DuPage County Board members are urging congressmen to withhold funding for the Department of Homeland Security until a thorough investigation is conducted into recent immigration enforcement incidents, such as the fatal shootings in Minnesota. […] The county board voted 11-5 to add the resolution to its legislative agenda. All the “no” votes were cast by Republicans. * Daily Herald | Elgin police officer should be fired over social media comments about immigration enforcement, panel recommends: Officer Jason Lentz was placed on leave in October following comments he made on Facebook that suggested places where immigration agents could find undocumented immigrants, tagging the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the end of the post. His since-deleted profile picture was an “I stand with ICE” logo. * Illinois Times | Paula Crouch faces primary opponent: The woman appointed as the new Sangamon County sheriff in the wake of the July 2024 murder of Sonya Massey says her experience, education and determination make her worthy of being elected to a four-year term. “I just feel like we started moving in the right direction for improvements,” Paula Crouch told Illinois Times when explaining her decision to seek a four-year term for a job that pays $175,460 per year. “By choosing to run,” she said, “that just gives me the opportunity to give some of the changes that I put in place time to set. And then, obviously, there are some other things that I’m looking forward to for the future that really need more time than the two years I would have been allotted with just the appointment.” * WCIA | OSF gives update on service changes in Central Illinois: A Central Illinois hospital said they’re evolving with the changing needs of the population they serve. And of the employees impacted by the move, about half won’t be coming with them. Last year, OSF announced they would be moving certain services from their Urbana location to Danville and change the use of the freed up space. * WGLT | Bloomington Fire Department to increase social service offerings amid continued fire prevention education: Working smoke alarms, two exits out of a home and closing doors at night are some of the most impactful ways to prevent a fatal house fire, according to Friend. He said none of those were present at the conclusion of what caused a fatal house fire last November that claimed the lives of Tashika Stover, 40, and her 17-year-old son, Hayden. “Those are all real simple things, and they’re taught to us in kindergarten and along the way in elementary school,” Friend said. “We don’t necessarily pick up those messages again unless we read about them, or somebody like myself brings them to somebody’s attention.” * BND | Increased security, no ICE expected at Belleville naturalization ceremony: “The District has not been contacted by ICE and has had no communications with ICE officials,” Warren told the Belleville News-Democrat in a statement. “The District has no reason to believe that ICE will enter onto District property. The guidance was issued to employees as a preemptive measure to ensure employees were aware of the procedures for interacting with ICE officials. The guidance requires employees to follow the law, nothing more and nothing less.” Belleville Assistant Chief of Police Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan said that while ICE does not need to notify local law enforcement of any activity, the department “(does) not anticipate or have any intelligence that would indicate any problems should be anticipated at the ceremony.” * AP | Senate Democrats block DHS funding package ahead of shutdown deadline: Thursday’s 45-55 test vote came as Democrats have threatened a partial government shutdown when money runs out on Friday. But Trump said just ahead of the vote that “we don’t want a shutdown” and the two sides were discussing a possible agreement to separate homeland security funding from the rest of the legislation and fund it for a short time. * Nieman Lab | What a safety expert thinks journalists should know about “less than lethal” rounds and chemical irritants used by ICE: “Back in the day, you’d have [riot police using] beanbag guns, or Nerf or sponge rounds that were moving at 150 to 200 feet per second. The newer “less than lethal” rounds move 450 to 500 feet per second. ANSI Z87.1-rated eyewear, which has for a very long time been the standard if you worked in a machine shop and is the eye protection we wore for non-ballistic threats in Iraq and Afghanistan, doesn’t protect against projectiles moving this quickly. If you catch one of those in the [glasses] frame, it’s not going to do a lot to protect you.”
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Catching up with the congressionals
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Evanston Now on the 9th Congressional District…
Biss held a press conference responding to Walberg’s letter this afternoon. His opening remarks…
* From the Q and A…
Click here to listen to the full audio recording.
* Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie…
* Laura Washington for the Tribune…
* 7th CD candidate Reed Showalter is out with his first campaign ad. The press release…
* * 2nd CD candidate Donna Miller announced an endorsement from US Rep. Jan Schakowsky this morning. Press release…
* Miller appears to have flipped on her position on Medicare for All. From Miller’s Independent Voters of Illinois - IPO questionnaire…
Commissioner Miller’s campaign website…
[From Rich: “Medicare for All” must be polling well with Democrats because Sen. Laura Fine has done basically the same thing as Commissioner Miller on this topic.] * More… * Tribune | Top candidates for the US House in Illinois’ 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th districts for the 2026 election: Three incumbents announced plans to leave Congress, while two others are running for U.S. Senate, opening four seats outright. A fifth contest was thrown into turmoil after U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García announced late in the election cycle that he would not seek reelection, a move that cleared the way for his chosen successor while complicating efforts by potential write-in candidates. All five districts are held by Democrats, making the Democratic primary races the ones to watch. Republicans are also fielding candidates in several races as the GOP nationally hopes to maintain its thin majority in the House. * Sun-Times | ‘Broadview Six’ conspiracy case involving congressional candidate could go to trial in spring: Attorneys in the case sought a trial date Wednesday during a status hearing before U.S. District Judge April Perry. They did so less than a week after a separate case tied to the feds’ aggressive immigration campaign ended with a high-profile jury acquittal. A trial in Perry’s courtroom likely wouldn’t move forward until after the March 17 primary, when Abughazaleh is seeking the Democratic nomination in Illinois’ 9th District. She is one of four Democratic politicians charged in the conspiracy case. The trial is more likely to take place in late May or June. * Sun-Times | Duckworth, Illinois Democrats blast Vice President JD Vance for likening senator to ‘Forrest Gump’: Duckworth responded to the comment by calling it a “petty” insult “at the expense of people with disabilities.” “Forrest Gump ran toward danger in Vietnam. Your boss ran to his podiatrist crying bone spurs,” Duckworth wrote on X. “Petty insults at the expense of people with disabilities won’t change the fact that you’re risking troops’ lives to boost Chevron’s stock price. It’s my job to hold you accountable.” * WTTW | Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez Announces Independent Bid for Congress: “We’re not strangers to being outspent by big corporate PACs,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “I think that there is a desire to elect independent leadership that is unbought.” Sigcho-Lopez is the third candidate to throw a proverbial hat in the ring, joining Patty Garcia and political organizer Mayra Macías, who is running as an independent.
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Illinois Future PAC is out with two new ads for Stratton; Kelly will begin airing TV ads next week; Dick Bigger Jr. endorses Raja
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Illinois Future PAC is launching two new broadcast and digital pro-Stratton ads. Press release…
* The first spot is “Protect”… * And here’s “Abolish ICE”… Rate ‘em. * Punchbowl…
* ABC Chicago…
* Raja for Illinois…
You might remember the name Dick Bigger Jr. from his appearance in a Susana Mendoza political ad back in 2022. * Press release…
* More…
* Press release | Congressman Krishnamoorthi Advances Affordability Agenda with Housing Roundtable in Quad Cities, Food Bank Visit in Rockford: In Moline, Congressman Krishnamoorthi convened a roundtable with local leaders, housing advocates, and community stakeholders to discuss the housing affordability crisis and his newly introduced First Home Affordability Act, legislation designed to help first-time buyers overcome steep upfront costs that are increasingly locking families out of homeownership. “With housing prices surging and more than 75 percent of homes out of reach for a typical buyer, too many Illinois families are locked out of homeownership before they ever get a fair shot,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “My bill, the First Home Affordability Act, provides a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 to help first-time buyers cover upfront costs like down payments and closing costs. At a moment when rising costs are pushing families out of the market, this legislation keeps homeownership within reach—and protects one of the clearest paths to stability and a middle-class life.”
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SCOOP! MUST CREDIT @POLITICO_IL! /s
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * While doing my occasional skim of Politico Illinois today, I noticed this amazing scoop about an Illinois House candidate accused of Holocaust denialism. I sure wish I had written this story first…
Wait. I did write the story first. Thanks for the credit! Oh, wait. There is no credit. Anyway, I got a good chuckle out of the whole thing. It’s about what I’d expect. And, I brightened my day by listening to one of my favorite Jane’s Addiction songs. So, I should be thankful. * However, Isabel asked the House Democratic political operation for a response to our story yesterday. They did not respond at all. They also did not respond to my inquiries, but I eventually noticed that they did post something online. Odd. Unlike the Politico thing, I did not laugh about that.
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Investing In Illinois
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois American Water is more than just a utility. We’re your neighbor, committed to the long-term health and vitality of the communities we serve. Our employees live and work locally, investing their expertise right where it matters most, to modernize water systems and strengthen water quality, reliability, and public health for the long term. Environmental stewardship is also central to who we are. Illinois American Water is committed to protecting the environment and using our most precious resource wisely. Across our footprint, our state-of-the-art treatment facilities and team of water quality experts help ensure we go beyond compliance, holding ourselves to standards that not only fulfill expectations but set new benchmarks for our industry. Community partnership and clean water go hand in hand. We’re dedicated to safeguarding both the resources and the places our customers call home, today and for generations to come. Our community is one worth investing in, and we are proud to spend every day working to help ensure the water we deliver is of the highest quality. Learn more about us.
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Sean Grayson sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Sonya Massey’s mother, father, son, and daughter addressed the court with victim impact statements. WAND…
* NPR Illinois…
* Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield)…
* More…
* AP | A former Illinois deputy is sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey: After the hearing, Massey’s relatives thanked the public for the support and listening to their stories about Massey. “Twenty years is not enough,” her daughter Summer told reporters.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WAND…
* Rep. Stephanie Kifowit…
* Illinois Primary Health Care Association…
* Rep. Maurice West filed HB4611 this week…
* Fox Chicago…
* Rep. Kam Buckner filed HB4663 yesterday…
* HB4621 from Rep. Dave Severin…
* Illinois Primary Health Care Association…
* SB2897 from Sen. Celina Villanueva…
* SB2926 from Sen. Jil Tracy…
* More…
* Press release | Briel Bill to Expand Support, Funds for Local Fire Protection Services: State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is introducing a measure that seeks to utilize the funds already collected by cities for open burn permits and permit violations to support fire protection services in local governments. Briel’s House Bill 4459 would create the Local Government Open Burn Permit Act. The measure allows any county or municipality to establish permit requirements for anyone seeking to perform an open burn. The permit may not be more than $5, which will be used to support local fire protection services. Those found in violation of the act face monetary penalties, which will also be allocated to the municipality’s fire department or local first responder services. * Press release | Ness Bill Targets Tracking Data, Protecting Consumers From Price Increases: With the growing consumer preference for mobile shopping, retailers are increasingly collecting data from online shoppers. Ness is sponsoring House Bill 4248 to create the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, which would create standards for businesses engaged with surveillance pricing. The measure would require online businesses to provide a clear disclosure when they are using the consumer’s personal information to price the cost of a good or service, while allowing consumers to opt-out and pay a baseline price. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of sensitive personal information, like race, religion and immigration status, to determine pricing.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Hawthorne Race Course officials again say they’re working on casino deal, despite debts that caused state to suspend its harness license. Tribune…
- His announcement came after the board suspended the harness racing license at Hawthorne due to its financial difficulties. - The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association has been contacted by 66 people regarding more than $582,000 in bounced checks, said Tony Somone, executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association. * Related stories… Sponsored by the Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals: Our Healthcare Backbone At Risk. Safety-net hospitals are the backbone of Chicago’s Black and Brown communities. They provide emergency and lifesaving care for families who rely on them. They also support thousands of good, local healthcare jobs, serving as economic anchors in neighborhoods that have faced decades of disinvestment. With federal support being reduced, safetynet hospitals need more resources – not less – to avoid further strain that could irreversibly damage local health systems and weaken the essential services our communities rely on. Now, these hospitals are under threat. This is not reform. It is a sell-off of community healthcare, driven by outsiders – not by the needs of patients, workers, or neighborhoods. Save safety-net hospitals. Protect our care, our jobs, and our communities. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois vs. Trump: One lawsuit a week: Capitol News Illinois has compiled a list of the suits Illinois has filed or joined against the Trump administration. The vast majority are ongoing, though Raoul has notched some wins. In more than a dozen cases, permanent injunctions or summary judgement were issued in favor of the plaintiffs — or the Trump administration backed down by restoring funding or dropping policy demands. Only two cases have been dismissed outright. Eighteen preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders remain in place. In all, Raoul’s office has received some form of relief in more than half the suits filed or joined. * WBEZ | Pritzker still deciding if Illinois will join federal program that funds private school scholarships: At least four Democratic governors have said they will not participate, and Pritzker’s continued indecision frustrates a group of advocates who are urging him to reject it. “We think this should be an easy decision for Governor Pritzker,” said Huu Nguyen, vice president for the advocacy group Illinois Families for Public Schools, at a press conference Tuesday. Nguyen warned that opting into the federal program would “hollow out” public schools and eventually reduce funding for them. * BND | East St. Louis schools turn to international teachers to fill staff vacancies: The district brought on a dozen teachers at the start of the 2025-26 school year and plans to add 12 more for the next school year. The teachers represent a small portion of the approximately 570 teachers across the district. […] The teachers are required to secure a J-1 cultural exchange visa, which allows them to legally stay in the U.S. for three years. Then they are required to return to their home countries for two years. * Press Release | New Poll Shows Darren Bailey/Aaron Del Mar ticket with commanding lead in GOP Primary: Bailey holds a commanding 49-point lead and enjoys a massive name identification advantage with a 59% favorable image. Bailey’s support spans the Republican electorate, reflecting broad alignment with voter priorities on affordability, public safety, education, and government accountability. Even at this early stage, he continues to garner significant enthusiasm and loyalty, positioning him well ahead of the rest of the field. […] Osage Research conducted a survey of 412 likely Republican primary voters in Illinois using live phone calls and text-to-web interviews. The margin of error for the Republican oversample is ±5.66%. Quotas were set for age, gender, and geography to reflect the anticipated 2026 Republican primary electorate. * Crain’s | Fund seeks to shore up Illinois as nation’s abortion ’safety net’: The Michael Reese Health Trust is working to raise $5 million in 2026 to strengthen the infrastructure of reproductive health in Illinois as it increasingly serves as a national destination for women seeking abortions. The trust, in partnership with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office, launched the Prairie State Access Fund yesterday to connect donor money with reproductive health clinics. The Prairie State fund is the result of a phone call the health care charity received from Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services Grace Hou “the day after the presidential election,” Ameya Pawar, president and CEO of Michael Reese Health Trust said in an interview with Crain’s. * Daily Southtown | Two Republican candidates aim to unseat Democratic Rep. Mary Gill: Dewar is endorsed by Chicago Flips Red, a grassroots movement dedicated to electing more Republican officials in the Chicago area, and Trump Illinois MAGA Official, according to his website. Dewar reported in his campaign finance filings that he has not raised or spent any funds. He said he held a fundraiser Jan. 16, which would show up in the next quarterly filing due April 15. Lay has not filed any campaign finance reports. * Capitol News Illinois | Interview with Illinois Comptroller Candidate Karina Villa: As a part of a series of interviews focusing on contested races for major-party nominations in the March 17 primary elections, Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Ben Szalinski talk with state Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) about her campaign for Illinois Comptroller. * WTTW | National Guard Deployment to Chicago Cost $21M, Congressional Budget Office Says: The decision by the Trump administration to send 375 members of the Texas and Illinois National Guard to Chicago cost taxpayers $21 million, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office. In all, President Donald Trump’s decision to send federalized National Guard troops to Chicago; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Memphis; Portland, Oregon; and New Orleans cost approximately $496 million through the end of December, according to the report prepared for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. * Block Club | Fugitive Ex-Loretto Leader At Center Of $300 Million COVID Scandal Arrested In Serbia: Ahmed had been living abroad — with federal prosecutors calling him a “fugitive” — since shortly before prosecutors brought charges against him in the Loretto Hospital case. Prosecutors have said Ahmed and Sameer Suhail worked together to embezzle $15 million from Loretto, a taxpayer-funded hospital, and steered another $19 million worth of hospital contracts to Suhail through “corrupt” means, including bribery. Suhail was Ahmed’s friend, business partner and next-door neighbor in Chicago’s Trump Tower. * WGN | Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza hints at possible mayoral run in 2027: Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza joined “The Point” with WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley on Wednesday. Medoza is not seeking re-election for her statewide office next year. Lately, she’s been making a name for herself by posting videos around Chicago, highlighting neighborhoods and offering critiques of how the city is run. * Daily Herald | Elk Grove Village extends deadline to build data centers at WGN transmitter site: The deadline to begin construction of a data center campus on the WGN radio transmitter site in Elk Grove Village has been extended to September 2027, the radio station’s owner and village officials agreed this week. “The problem is the same problem they’ve had since day one: getting the power to that location,” Mayor Craig Johnson said of delays since the redevelopment at 720 Rohlwing Road was proposed in 2022. * Daily Southtown | Harvey City Council meeting canceled on short notice; FOIA lawsuit settlement was on agenda: One item on the agenda was a settlement agreement for a lawsuit brought by local activist Ryan Sinwelski, who runs the Harvey Historical Society. Sinwelski sued the city last May over failures to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests he made in 2024, according to court records. “A lot of times, the only way we can get any answers is through FOIA,” Sinwelski said in a livestream Monday night. “And a lot of times, Harvey still doesn’t answer the FOIAs, so you have to try to sue or get the public access counselors through the attorney general to help. So this one had to come to a lawsuit.” * Lake County News-Sun | Lake County license plate readers prompt mix of opinions: ‘When used responsibly, (they are) a significant asset to the community’: Flock’s website is adamant that its cloud platform has never experienced a data breach or been hacked. Yohnka pointed to news from last summer in Illinois for the potential misuse of the technology. In August, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said U.S. Customs and Border Protection was able to access Illinois license plate camera data, violating the Illinois TRUST Act. * Daily Herald | Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg finds eager buyer at a discounted price: More than four years after a first attempt to sell the Streets of Woodfield shopping center, New York-based private equity firm Blackstone has found an eager buyer in Hutensky Capital Partners of Hartford, Connecticut. However, Blackstone is getting only $69 million for the 692,000-square-foot property it paid $168.5 million for in 2015. The company explained why they were taking the financial hit. “This is a rare instance in our over $600 billion portfolio comprising nearly 13,000 assets,” a Blackstone spokesperson said in a statement. “We aim to invest in sectors with strong fundamentals propelled by macro demand trends, which is why nearly 75% of the real estate we own is in sectors like logistics, rental housing and data centers.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council OKs loan program for sustainable building upgrades: The city is now participating in the Illinois Finance Authority’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financing program, commonly called C-PACE. This type of lending has been available statewide since 2017, but individual local governments still need to approve its use within their boundaries. Alison Lindburg, the city’s director of sustainability, has said the program will support both economic development and sustainability within Aurora. Loans given through the program can fund certain upgrades to commercial, industrial, non-residential agricultural, nonprofit and multifamily properties, up to 100% of the project’s total cost, but with a maximum amount no more than 25% of the property’s total value. * WCIA | Family of Sonya Massey prepare for Grayson sentencing: Sonya’s cousin, Sontae Massey, said anything less than the maximum of 20 years wouldn’t be justice for Sonya. But, there is a chance the sentencing could turn to a new trial if the judge rules in Grayson’s favor. […] On Thursday they will be in the courtroom with their mother’s killer. Both are expected to read statements to the judge, sharing the impact Sonya’s murder has had on them. Sontae said finding those words hasn’t been easy. “It hurts them and they want to put the best foot forward in regards to their mother. So they’re doing everything they can to be strong, but we’re all just shattered,” said Sontae. * KFVS | Southern Illinois Healthcare reports four heart attack patients were shoveling snow: Dr. Rizwan Khan, an interventional cardiologist with the SIH Prairie Heart Institute, says patients with heart conditions need to know the risks. “Your heart is going to go up very quickly while shoveling. It’s a very exertional task. As soon as you start feeling like you’re exceeding your limits, you should take a break, and that’s the problem. Most people say, ‘let me just take a deeper breath and shovel a few more times.’ That’s where we get in trouble. Especially folks that are not very active,” says Khan. All four of the patients who were admitted to the hospital in Carbondale had pre-existing heart conditions that a few of them did not even know they had. Luckily, they are all expected to make a full recovery. * WCIA | 10-year enrollment projection paints bleak picture for Decatur Public Schools: A new enrollment forecast for Decatur Public Schools indicates that the student body could shrink anywhere from 7 to 10 percent in the next decade. The forecast was presented to the DPS Board of Education during its meeting on Tuesday. Prepared by Preston Smith, President and CEO of Business Information Services, it examined DPS enrollment numbers alongside demographical facts and statistics in the community. * NYT | What We Learned After Tracking Every Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Policies: The volume and stakes of the litigation have put an unusually bright spotlight on the often unheralded work of district court judges. Normally, the 677 active-status judges toil at the bottom rung of the federal judiciary. Today, they are on the front lines of a clash between two branches of government. They have faced harsh criticism from the White House and rising threats to their safety, and have complained about the Supreme Court’s penchant for overriding their rulings on its emergency docket. * AP | Democrats threaten to trigger government shutdown over ICE reform: Senate Democrats are threatening to block legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies Thursday, potentially bringing the government a step closer to a partial shutdown if Republicans and the White House do not agree to new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement.
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Good morning!
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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