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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Block..
* Press release…
* IPM Newsroom has two stories worth reading on school discipline. One examines Springfield’s Lanphier High School, which suspends Black students at one of the highest rates in Illinois…
The other looks at Chicago’s Kenwood Academy, where suspensions are rare…
* Injustice Watch | Immigrants in Illinois are finding success challenging their detention in federal court: Before 2025, such habeas cases were rarely filed by people held in immigration detention. During the four years under the Biden administration, only 10 immigrants filed habeas cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which covers Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. But in the first 15 months of President Donald Trump’s second term, 274 immigration habeas cases were filed in the Northern District of Illinois. The vast majority were filed after the launch of Operation Midway Blitz, the federal immigration enforcement campaign that began in September and led to the detention of nearly 3,800 immigrants across the Chicagoland area. * Click here for Citizen Action/Illinois’ 2026 State Legislative Scorecard. * WGLT | Illinois looks to fast track schools to install rooftop solar panels: Illinois lawmakers want to make it quicker for schools to connect solar energy to the grid. One Central Illinois grade school has been waiting two years to connect rooftop solar panels. The bill requires energy companies to give priority to schools and companies have 30 days to give an evaluation on a project. They will also have to disclose upgrade costs to the grid and construction timelines to the school. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk to be signed. * Shaw Local | Joliet-area legislators blast Bears on stadium deal, one calls team ‘a liar’: State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, labeled the Bears “a liar” in her comments during a panel discussion in Joliet hosted by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce. “Having to call their bluff, that is not good negotiation,” Ventura said. “If you come to the table in Springfield and you are a liar, it doesn’t bode well for you.” * Crain’s | Mike Quigley to make mayoral bid official with Saturday kickoff: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is making his long-anticipated run for Chicago mayor official this weekend, with a campaign kickoff event scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the historic Uptown Theatre. […] Quigley, who has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2009, previously served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He’s entering an already crowded field of candidates seeking to unseat Johnson or succeed him should the mayor decide not to seek a second term. * Block Club | Why Is Mayor Johnson Keeping Secrets About The Parking Meter Deal?: Johnson and his aides have refused to disclose records showing what analysis or calculations they made while putting their bid together out of the public eye. Even members of the City Council have been left in the dark. Still, the council is now under pressure to approve a new meter sale, to different private investors, that alderpeople and the public know almost nothing about. * Tribune | Chicago Media Report: Rising TV pundit Adam Mockler, ABC 7 enlists viewers in FCC battle and CNBC to hit Cboe: During an April 30 appearance on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” Mockler so rattled Scott Jennings during a discussion about the war in Iran that the network’s seemingly unflappable resident conservative commentator blew up and unleashed on-air profanity at his young foil. The incident went viral, boosting Mockler’s social media following and his progressive pundit street cred, helping the 23-year-old to launch his own weekly debate series on YouTube. * Tribune | Michelin retired its Green Stars to the dismay of sustainable chefs in Chicago: Last month, Michelin quietly announced that it was phasing out the Green Star distinction and chefs would no longer be able to advertise that they have it. Besides Daisies, Feld is the only other restaurant in Chicago to be given a Green Star. “Is it a let-down? Of course,” Frillman said. Chefs like Frillman have widely expressed disappointment in Michelin’s decision, saying that the abrupt removal of the designation undoes years of high-caliber sustainability recognition. * Lake County News-Sun | D128 appoints new member as grooming allegations prompt shakeup: ‘There’s a culture problem within 128’: Former board President Jim Baston retired suddenly earlier this year, despite winning a four-year term in 2023. Although no official reason was given for why Batson left with just months of the school year left, his departure came shortly after controversy rocked the district. A lawsuit filed in March accused Parker Rohde, a teacher at Libertyville High School, of grooming an unidentified 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome, starting during the fall 2024 semester. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council OKs Mayor John Laesch’s slate of new board members for Paramount, other venues: The appointments are said to represent Laesch’s vision for the future of the Aurora Civic Center Authority — namely, that it will offer more diverse programming and be more financially stable. The organization owns the Paramount Theatre, the Copley Theatre, Paramount School of the Arts and North Island Center, and manages the city-owned RiverEdge Park and Stolp Island Theatre. * Daily Herald | ‘I want to feel the freedom’: Elgin honors 30 new American citizens: The event is coordinated by a group of community volunteers representing Centro de Información, the city of Elgin, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Elgin Community College, Elgin Area Historical Society, Gail Borden Public Library, The Literacy Connection and YWCA of Elgin. The Elgin Master Chorale performed patriotic selections during the ceremony. Afterward, the League of Women Voters hosted a voter registration table, and the Kane County Clerk’s office demonstrated how to use the county’s voting machines. * WGLT | Bloomington-Normal’s homeless count drops. Advocates worry federal policy changes could erase gains: The Bridge has largely been at capacity ever since. It made a big dent in the community’s homeless population. One week later, volunteers canvassed McLean County to track the homeless population. It’s called the Point-In-Time [PIT] count, an annual, national effort to see who is unhoused and try to connect them with services. The count is one of several factors that determines federal funding for homeless services. On Jan. 29, a night when temperatures fell below zero, volunteers found three people outside in Bloomington-Normal. The year before, on a night not quite as cold, they found close to 40. * Muddy River News | Plan Commission votes to deny special use permit for proposed solar farm at 36th and Payson Road: Brink, the city’s director of operations, cited an ordinance that the city council passed in 2024 that recommended solar facilities only be constructed in the 1 ½-mile buffer outside the city limits if that area is zoned industrial. “This was not one of those,” Brink said. The parcel of land proposed for this solar facility is located just outside Ward 5 and zoned RU1 (rural and agricultural). * WTVO | Rockford committee deadlocks on spending taxpayer dollars on mobile grocery store: The committee considered an agreement with Angelic Organics Learning Center, operating as Farmers Rising, in partnership with City Center Market, to launch the program. The plan called for up to $822,000 in casino tax funds to support startup costs and three years of operations. After discussion, the committee voted 2–2 on the funding agreement, meaning the motion failed to advance due to the tie. * WSIL | Shawnee National Forest Urges Visitors to Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Zebra Mussels: Even small amounts of leftover water can carry zebra mussel larvae, allowing them to spread to previously unaffected waters forest service officials stated. “Do your part—clean, drain, and dry,” the agency advises, encouraging visitors to help safeguard the region’s “big backyard” for future generations. * 404 Media | The Tokenpocalypse Is Here: Companies Are Scrambling To Stop Spending So Much on AI: “What we’re seeing right now is just rapid escalation in AI token spend,” he says “As companies start to scale AI, moving from like simple chatbots into use cases that feature agentic workflows and automation and then enterprise-wide deployment of some of these tools like Copilot, Claude Code, and Codex, we’re hitting this inflection point where AI is becoming material to the cost structure; spend is becoming very unpredictable; and leadership, especially at the CFO, COO, and CIO level, are still asking the question of whether they’re getting value from what we’re spending on in the context of AI.” * Cal Matters | Uber passed an insurance law in California. It did not disclose key info, a lawmaker says: As the ride-hailing giant pushed to lower the required insurance coverage it must carry for uninsured and underinsured motorists, Uber told lawmakers that passing Senate Bill 371 would be good for consumers because insurance costs were rising. It passed, reducing Uber’s liability for uninsured and underinsured motorists from $1 million to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. But a May report from Consumer Watchdog found that the company mostly self-insures, meaning it was paying its own subsidiary insurer and amassing a stockpile of tax-free reserves. * Guardian | ‘Extremely overwhelmed’: apartment renters face rising tide of fees: Long lists of fees are common at buildings operated by Greystar, a private equity-backed conglomerate that owns or manages more than 1m apartments across the US. According to tenants, housing attorneys, public officials and court claims, this tangle of extra charges fattens the company’s bottom line, increases renters’ risks of eviction and undermines fair competition in the apartment market by muddying the real price they pay for shelter.
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Pritzker on mail-in ballots threat: ‘We’ll see them in court’
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Today…
More…
* Isabel asked Gov. Pritzker about this today…
You’ll recall that AG Kwame Raoul’s budget was cut by $10 million this spring.
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Pritzker signs Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act (Updated x2)
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* More… * Daily Herald | Four years after Roe’s reversal, Illinois still a destination for women seeking abortion care: Thirteen states prohibit abortion and 10 have restrictions banning the procedure starting anywhere from six to 22 weeks into a pregnancy, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization. Abortion is outright banned in Indiana and prohibited after six weeks of pregnancy in Iowa. About 155,000 individuals left their home states for abortion care in 2024, and 35,470 of them came to Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research institution. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ abortion landscape continues to evolve amid persistent growth in demand: The Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides financial, logistical and material assistance to abortion seekers, is the largest of its kind in the nation. Since June 2022, the fund has assisted more than 60,000 callers and distributed more than $25 million in direct support. In 2025, about 13,760 people, or 43% of the nearly 32,000 people who came to Illinois from out-of-state, were given direct support from the fund, an increase from the 28% of callers who received that level of support in 2024, according to data released by the group. * KFF Health News | Despite state bans, abortions have almost doubled. The reason? Pills via telehealth: But because medication abortion is now the most common form of abortion in the U.S., restricting mifepristone would have a wide impact even in states without abortion bans. “Stopping the FDA’s unlawful mail-order mifepristone scheme will surely decrease the number of chemical abortions across the country,” said Gabriella McIntyre, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, which partnered with Louisiana in its suit. * Pritzker campaign…
…Adding… Bailey…
“Made-up”? …Adding… From the governor’s press release…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] For over 30 years, Marc Maslauski has helped men look and feel their best at Jim Herron Ltd. in Springfield. Known for quality menswear and exceptional personal service, Marc takes pride in creating a shopping experience that keeps customers coming back. Whether you’re searching for a tailored suit, sport coat, or everyday style upgrade, Jim Herron Ltd. delivers timeless fashion with a personal touch. 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 Marc in Springfield who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Chicago Bears still looking to piece together stadium legislation in Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says. Tribune…
- Pritzker said his office has been a player in the ongoing Illinois negotiations with the NFL franchise, which has been considering elements of two bills that each passed one chamber of the Illinois General Assembly this spring. - The state still needs the Bears to put together specific provisions of a bill, Pritzker said. Once the team is able to put together a proposal, he said, “they need to begin conversations with members of the legislature that they weren’t able to win over before, and again, we’ve been advising and trying to help out wherever we could.” * Related stories… * At 11:30 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will sign legislation that protects reproductive freedom on the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision. Click here to watch. * Sun-Times | As ‘Broadview Six’ prosecutor faces reckoning, Boutros yet to escape cloud hanging over his office: U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros has launched a review of cases involving veteran prosecutor Sheri Mecklenburg, whose apparent misconduct has led to the collapse of the Broadview case and two others. But attorneys for the Broadview defendants have raised alarms about “what appears to be a determined effort to blame a single prosecutor.” * Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker to sign Illinois abortion legislation shielding patients’ medical records: On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday will sign the latest legislation bolstering Illinois’ status as a haven for abortion care in the Midwest. The measure passed by the General Assembly last month will shield patients’ abortion-related digital medical records from access by outside authorities who have sometimes used them to pursue criminal cases in states where the procedure has been outlawed. * Capitol City Now | Organization applauds extension of affordable housing-related tax credits: The Illinois Housing Council says the ten year extension of tax credits that were about to expire is important, given how housing in general, and affordable housing in particular, is in short supply. “We are, really, in a severe housing shortage,” said Allison Clements, Executive Director, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. “The state faces a deficit of nearly 300,000 affordable rental homes for our lowest income residents. We really just haven’t been building enough housing. We know that between 2017 and 2023, our housing production rate fell 33 percent.” * Patch | Shelter CEO To Step Down Amid State Senate Run: helter Youth & Family Services CEO Carina H. Santa Maria will transition from her role in September as she pursues her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate, the organization’s Board of Directors announced. Santa Maria has led the Arlington Heights-based organization since 2018. She is also an Arlington Heights village trustee and previously announced her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate. Current State Sen. Mark Walker, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, has said he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term. * CBS Chicago | CPS holds first budget hearing; CTU wants Illinois lawmakers to convene to fund schools: Tuesday marked the first Chicago Public Schools budget hearing of the summer, as the district faces a $ $733 million shortfall. This comes as the Chicago Teachers Union is calling on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to call lawmakers back to Springfield. The union said a special session is needed to fund schools fully. * Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker is leading Chicago fundraiser for Senate candidate and rising Democratic star James Talarico: Talarico, 37, spent about two weeks in the Chicago area last year during the walkout. On Wednesday, Pritzker will serve as a “special guest” at a Chicago fundraiser in support of Talarico. Federal Election Commission records show Pritzker contributed $3,500 to Talarico’s campaign in March. Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley is among several prominent Chicagoans listed as hosts of the fundraiser, according to the invite. Suggested contributions range from $500 to $5,000 for hosts. The top tier is $13,500. * Center Square | Bill filed to repeal ‘punitive’ digital asset tax: State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, filed House Bill 5798 on Monday. “There’s a lot of constituents and other folks that have interests that think this is going to raise revenue and tax them around $60 million or more,” Cabello told The Center Square. * NBC Chicago | ‘Data center capital’ of the Midwest expands as Pritzker calls for regulations: Mayor Craig Johnson said all of the data centers are located in the town’s business and industrial parks, far away from residential neighborhoods. […] He said the data centers generated $26 million in revenue to the village last year alone. In some years, the windfall is so high that the town issues $200 gift cards to residents as tax rebates. * The Southern | Carbondale passes moratorium on data center development: The Carbondale city council adopted a resolution putting a one-year moratorium on data center development during its regular meeting on Tuesday. The resolution passed on a 4-1 vote, with Nancy Maxwell voting against it. Clare Killman was absent from the meeting. It comes in response to a community meeting in May at the Unitarian Church where several city staff and council members were present. The Southern provided coverage on that meeting, where the impacts of data center development were discussed. * Data Center Dynamics | Closed incinerator near Chicago eyed for potential data center development: Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant said he was open to the idea of a data center being developed at the site. “I know there are a lot of negative stories out there, but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” he told NBC. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution, and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.” * AP | 40 mayors worldwide endorse a pact to shape data center development: About half of participating mayors are from the U.S. That includes Seattle and the California cities of Palo Alto and Riverside. In the Southwest, Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined. On the East Coast, Beverly, Massachusetts, signed, as did Lincoln, Nebraska; Chicago and Cleveland in the Midwest and Miami in the South. […] The pact lists several standards for data center developments. Urban data centers should be built on abandoned or underutilized land in an area that minimizes negative impacts on noise, heat and air pollution. Developments should be fueled by renewable energy and battery storage, and data centers should reduce water use and emissions, as well as capture waste heat. * WIRED | Some Electricians Think Building Data Centers Is for Sellouts: Threads about how AI will affect the economy now pepper r/electricians, a subreddit with around half a million monthly visitors. Some users wonder whether the work will eventually prompt widespread job losses. Others aren’t sure if their labor makes them complicit in the damage done to local communities or whether it’s unethical to take on data center work. For some, the answer is a firm no. Ultimately, they argue, work is work. One electrician based in the Midwest says he no longer tells people what he does for a living. * WBEZ | Air pollution is often worse in the summer. Now, Chicago can monitor it neighborhood by neighborhood: The air monitors are part of a 5-year project that went live last fall. They’re designed to collect local air data that can show Chicagoans real-time pollution figures that can help officials develop guidance for permitting, urban planning, and air-quality control. The network is about to be put to the test as it faces its first Chicago summer — the season when air pollution tends to worsen, in part, due to climate change. * CBS Chicago | Payroll in jeopardy for healthcare workers at Roseland Community Hospital, union says: Roseland is a 134-bed safety-net hospital that has operated on the Far South Side for more than a century, but SEIU healthcare union leaders say about 200 healthcare workers could possibly not get paid. The union represents a good portion of the more than 500 staff members at the hospital, which includes support and professional services. It’s not clear what’s behind the potential payroll problem, but the SEIU vice president says, “I can confirm that on June 11, the union was informed that the payroll due our members on June 30th was in jeopardy.” * Sun-Times | Chicago’s first F1 Arcade to open in August: “About 1% of people get to actually experience an F1 race [in person] in their lifetime. So if we can bring that experience and what an F1 driver gets to experience in that seat and that adrenaline, … I think that’s that whole thing we want to recreate as much as possible,” he said. There will be 61 full-motion racing simulators with multiple game modes, allowing visitors to race individually or in teams. There will also be private event spaces. * Tribune | Chicago White Sox sit alone atop the AL Central standings after 2-1 win against the Cleveland Guardians: Chicago White Sox designated hitter Randal Grichuk doubled and scored on a single by shortstop Colson Montgomery in the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas led off the sixth inning with a home run. Those were the only three hits in the game for the Sox. And it was just enough to defeat the Guardians 2-1 in front of 28,883 at Rate Field. * Sun-Times | State’s Attorney’s office says it will make it harder for ICE to access sensitive data: Don Black, chief of staff to Cook County States Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, said the office is working with Appriss on new contract language that would further restrict data sharing. “The goal is to close any ambiguity in the contract and make sure the data is used only for the purpose it was intended,” Black said. * Evanston Now | Biss says he will resign in October: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said Tuesday afternoon he plans to resign from office on Oct. 18 to allow for a special election next spring, where voters will have an opportunity to select the city’s next mayor. In his annual and final State of the City Address, Biss said the purpose of his resignation “is to be absolutely certain” a special election could occur in the spring. After his speech, he told reporters he intends to write a formal letter “soon” outlining his resignation plans. * Press release | Northwestern Tech Helps Power Apple Vision Pro Wheelchair-Control Feature: Apple recently unveiled a new Vision Pro accessibility feature that allows users to control powered wheelchairs using only their eyes. Northwestern University technology helps make it possible. The feature uses the Vision Pro headset’s advanced eye-tracking system to send driving commands to compatible wheelchairs. Software developed by Northwestern’s Project DRIVE acts as a bridge between the headset and wheelchair’s control system, translating eye movements into signals the wheelchair can understand. * Reuters | Constellation Energy to supply nuclear power to Walmart facility under 15-year deal: Retail bellwether Walmart, opens new tab has signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab, the companies said on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Constellation Energy will supply nuclear power from its Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois to Walmart’s previously announced “high-tech” perishable distribution center, currently in development in Belvidere, Illinois. * STLPR | Illinois EPA takes ‘toxic tour’ through these contaminated Metro East sites: Local residents and activists took three top officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on a “toxic tour” of the Metro East on Friday. The goal was to show them what life is like in the communities confronting sewage-contaminated floodwaters, as well as foul emissions from a hazardous waste incinerator. Among the attendees were Illinois EPA Director James Jennings, Deputy Director of Environmental Policy Amanda Raddatz and Environmental Justice Coordinator Chris Pressnall. * WSIL | Jefferson County Tornado Victims Begin Long Road to Recovery: Volunteers are helping the Thompson family clean up their property after a tornado destroyed their home. Where the house once stood is now a cleared lot. Kelley Thompson says she’s grateful for the support from her community. Youth camp kids from her church and vollunteers came out to help run machinery and pick up debris. “I can’t thank God enough for sending all these people,” Thompson said. * WGLT | Murals add color and hope for youths in juvenile detention: The McLean County Juvenile Detention Center [MCJDC] commissioned Champaign artist Leslie Kimble to paint the two murals in the common areas of the facility. The project was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Program Coordinator Brianna Nelson said the initiative started last October. […] Nelson said Kimble asked the youths to pick colors, images and words they’d like to see on the walls every day. * STLPR | East St. Louis connects youth with food through Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s new project: After six Olympic medals and over a decade of dominating track and field, Jackie Joyner-Kersee has spent her post-athletic career giving back to her hometown of East St. Louis. Her newest contribution is the Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center. The center will give East St. Louis youth opportunities to get hands-on experience with agriculture and prepare them for STEM careers. It features classrooms, labs and kitchens, and has summer and after-school programs to introduce kids to plant science. * WCIA | Springfield EMS worker sentenced to probation in 2022 patient death: WCIA previously reported that body camera footage shows 35-year-old Earl Moore Jr. was strapped face-down to a stretcher in the midst of a hallucinatory episode Moore was experiencing. The coroner ruled that the 35-year-old died of asphyxiation. Although Cadigan’s case saw its resolution Tuesday, the case involving the other EMS worker — Peggy Finley — remains ongoing. She appeared in court on Monday for a planned trial call hearing. The next court date in Finley’s case is scheduled for Aug. 24. * Bloomberg | Stephen Miller Said to Drive DOJ Memo Eroding Disability Rights: Miller, the president’s powerful deputy chief of staff, was frustrated that the department’s Civil Rights Division was still reaching settlements compelling states to transfer those experiencing mental illness out of institutions, added the individuals, who spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation. They said Miller felt DOJ’s agreements—including one reached with South Carolina in December—would increase homelessness and didn’t adhere to President Donald Trump’s July executive order pressuring cities and states to move homeless people into treatment centers * WaPo | Nation’s second-largest school district passes strict new screen time rules for students: Los Angeles public schools will ban screens for its youngest learners and limit device usage for other students, marking one of the most aggressive attempts to restrict the amount of time children spend on devices at school The new rules, approved on Tuesday, will be phased in starting in August following backlash to the devices districts nationwide have spent billions on since the coronavirus pandemic. The Los Angeles school board had passed a resolution in April that required the district to limit students’ screen time.
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Good morning!
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. Politico…
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ abortion landscape continues to evolve amid persistent growth in demand: The Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides financial, logistical and material assistance to abortion seekers, is the largest of its kind in the nation. Since June 2022, the fund has assisted more than 60,000 callers and distributed more than $25 million in direct support. In 2025, about 13,760 people, or 43% of the nearly 32,000 people who came to Illinois from out-of-state, were given direct support from the fund, an increase from the 28% of callers who received that level of support in 2024, according to data released by the group. * Tribune | Workers plan to strike at six Illinois Prime Healthcare hospitals: The union members include workers who maintain HVAC systems, plumbing and other systems, according to the union, and they work across six hospitals: Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago; Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago; Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines; Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago; Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston; and Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Saint Elizabeth is closed, but workers still maintain the building, according to a union spokesperson. The strike comes after the union filed 10 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board earlier this month against Prime hospitals and MedSpace Services, which is a subsidiary of Prime Healthcare Management, Inc. * Capitol News Illinois | ‘A Legacy Brand Sunset’: Illinois Radio Stations Reckon With CBS News Radio’s Shutdown: In Chicago, WBBM Newsradio was among the Audacy stations left searching for a replacement after CBS News Radio announced it would end its services. As late as April, it was unclear what would fill the gap, until the station switched to ABC News Radio one day before CBS News Radio went silent, according to the Chicago Tribune. For some downstate Illinois stations, however, the switch came seamlessly. Tammy Sondgeroth, general manager of NRG Media Ottawa, which operates WCMY, said the station moved to NBC News Radio almost immediately after learning of the closure. * Payments Dive | Buy now, pay later groups ‘neutral’ on Illinois bill : The Illinois bill “is probably an indication of growing interest in states picking up from where the CFPB has backtracked,” Saunders said Monday in an interview. Under the law, BNPL players operating in Illinois would be licensed and overseen by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The measure – which defines a BNPL loan as one with a term of 120 days or less – also mandates a dispute resolution process and refunds for consumers. * WGN | Illinois Secretary of State announces more than $27M in grants to libraries across state: The Secretary of State’s office is awarding more than $22.6 million through its annual Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant programs, which represents a 15% increase over last year’s grants. A total of 640 public libraries in Illinois will receive $20.6 million in Per Capita Grants to support books and multilingual materials, internet access, digital resources, staffing, community programming and facility improvements. Funding amounts were calculated according to a formula based on the population of each community. * Capitol City Now | Illinois junk fees ban arrives on Pritzker’s desk: The plan makes it unlawful for any business to advertise, display, or offer a price for products or services that does not include all mandatory fees or surcharges before taxes. Sponsors said junk fees cost an average family of four $3,200 annually. * Sun-Times | Chicago sues Airbnb and a host company for alleged improper rentals: The complaint filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court alleged that real estate broker Milan Rubenstein and his company, Slumber Stay LLC, did not properly register his short-term rentals and used a single nontransferable hotel license for multiple listings — then kept renting those units after being issued citations. Airbnb was accused of profiting from those allegedly unlawful rentals rather than working with the city to ensure compliance with the Shared Housing Ordinance. * CBS Chicago | Mayor Johnson addresses call for Chicago Department of Gun Violence Prevention: “A particular advocacy group has been calling for such an office to exist through multiple administrations, and we’re going to continue to hear how the work that we’re doing to drive violence down can work in coordination with the visit that this organization and organizing apparatus has,” Mayor Johnson said. A proposed ordinance to create the Department of Gun Violence Prevention would bring together existing violence reduction programs under one umbrella, with more than $100 million allocated in the city’s budget. * Press release | 40th Ward Dems Youth Organizer Fighting to Recover After Devastating Car Accident; Friends, Colleagues & Chicago Politicos Rally Support: Truman Community College student Ana “Rey,” a well-known fixture since childhood in the 40th Ward Democrats office, is fighting to recover after a severe traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident on April 25, 2026. 40th Ward Committeeperson, Maggie O’Keefe, who has mentored Ana since she was in eighth grade – later making Ana Deputy Committeeperson – is spearheading a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of her care while also working on policy solutions to improve Illinois Medicaid coverage. “Ana walked into my office when she was in eighth grade, determined to be involved in the community that raised her,” said Maggie O’Keefe, 40th Ward Committeeperson. “Now it’s our turn to help her. When we found out that her insurance–Illinois Medicaid–will not cover the physical therapy she needs, we knew she would need more help than her friends and family alone could give her.” * Block Club | Chicago’s Bike Lanes Don’t Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds: The Chicago Department of Transportation last month published a report on the economic impacts of bike lanes that examined six commercial corridors with different types of bike lane projects. Researchers analyzed data as well as surveys and interviews with local businesses, residents and real estate developers. The case studies compared the surveyed areas with “control” corridors nearby, and looked at the change in sales tax revenue, commercial property vacancy and employment, as well as safety and bike usage data since the lanes were installed. * Block Club | Work Begins On Bronzeville Trail, The South Side’s 1st Elevated Bike Path: Members of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force — joined by State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet and Bronzeville Community Farm’s Rosalyn “Roz” Owens — were on hand to mark a milestone signaling that work to convert the two-mile abandoned rail into a public park is officially underway. “The soil borings beginning here at 45th and State Street may look like technical work, but they represent something much bigger. It will reconnect communities, create new public space, support health and wellness, strengthen local businesses, and bring new energy to this historic neighborhood,” said du Buclet. * NYT | Barack Obama Has Strong Opinions About Cheeseburgers: The chef Cliff Rome said President Obama — once called “Foodie-in-Chief” by People Magazine — told him that the burger that would end up on the menu at the Obama Presidential Center was missing a few essential ingredients. Namely, it needed a smear of yellow mustard and the bite of a sharp Cheddar. “He had a lot of opinions on what makes a good cheeseburger,” said Mr. Rome, who was tapped by the Obamas to conceptualize and run two restaurants, Tafari’s Kitchen and a casual cafe, on the center’s campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. * Naperville Sun | 171 townhouses proposed for one-time Naperville hockey arena site: But the site’s location at 2255 Monarch Drive, at the northwest corner of Ferry Road and Comfort Drive, is raising some issues for city staff. Anna Franco, a member of the city’s planning services team, said staff is concerned about the inconsistency of the proposed single-family attached housing with the site’s designation in the land use master plan. The future use for the property calls for a “regional center,” and Franco said townhouse-style units are not listed as a primary or supporting use within that designation. * Tribune | Feds: Owner of Oak Lawn methadone clinic stole millions, funded lavish lifestyle including yacht ‘Butt Nekkid’: The charges were part of a nationwide effort called the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which the U.S. Justice Department says resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims and “significant patient harm.” According to the charges, Robinson is the owner of ODA Solutions, a clinic that offers both substance abuse services and mental health services from the same site in the 4200 block of West 95th Street in Oak Lawn. * Daily Herald | ‘This is huge’: Major League Baseball to hold America250 event at suburban drive-in: The theater was one of four drive-ins nationally selected by MLB as part of its America250 celebration on July 4. The festivities will include a showing of the classic childhood baseball movie “The Sandlot” and a live screening of that night’s Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game. They’ll also have MLB Ballpark Bites and baseball-themed activities, including Wiffle ball, a pop fly scramble and virtual batting cages. * Daily Herald | Rolling Meadows to outsource garbage collection after long haul of in-house service: Aldermen will vote on a proposed 5-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling Services to pick up refuse, landscape waste and recycling from single-family homes throughout town, in a deal that would provide notable cost savings for residents, city officials said. At the same time, the council will take a preliminary first reading vote on a separate 10-year lease extension with Lakeshore, which has operated the city-owned transfer station at 3851 Berdnick St. for the past three decades. * Pioneer Press | Winnetka Music Festival celebrates 10 years of bringing world-class talent to the suburbs: For its 10th anniversary, the two-day festival welcomed more than two dozen artists to the stage, with headliners Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Father John Misty performing alongside notable musical acts like Grace Potter, Jonah Kagen, Petey USA, Ben Kweller, Futurebirds and more. * WCIA | Wiz Khalifa joins Grandstand lineup for Illinois State Fair: On Tuesday, it was announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Wednesday, Aug. 19. He is joining the likes of Ella Langley, Ziggy Marley, The Chicks and Bailey Zimmerman at this year’s festival. It was also announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 29. * Illinois Times | Rolling out the welcome mat: Springfield seeks to capitalize on Route 66 centennial, America 250: Being the host city as the starting point for the Great Race is something of a Super Bowl event for people such as Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl. The competition to be the host city is fierce, as two additional days of festivities accompany it. The vintage cars are the major attraction, as gearheads the world over come to see and, if they’re lucky, take one for a spin. The route to Pasadena will traverse much of Route 66. * WAND | Café vendor opportunity open at future Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Hub: The county is offering incentives to attract businesses, such as a basic commercial kitchen and potential subsidies on rent and utilities. Two informational sessions are planned to explain The HUB space and RFP requirements. They will be available in person, virtually, and will be recorded. * SJ-R | Roughly 175-year-old ‘witness tree’ officially removed in Springfield: A tree dating from the time Abraham Lincoln and his family lived at a home at Eighth and Jackson streets in Springfield was removed June 19, a little more than a week after storms irreparably damaged it. * WaPo | CDC’s chief blocked a covid vaccine study. Now it’s in a top medical journal: The study, which had been slated for publication in March in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that the covid-19 vaccine reduced the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half last winter. The findings were consistent with what researchers have found in past years, that the vaccine can help reduce the risk of severe illness in adults even after accounting for immunity from prior vaccination or infection. “Science was never the issue,” said Michelle Barron, one of the study’s authors and senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, a nonprofit health system in Colorado. “Certainly it was within [the CDC’s] purview to keep it out, for whatever reason, but it was clearly not for scientific reasons that the study was withheld from publication in the MMWR.” * Bloomberg | Trump orders U.S. to speed quantum adoption, boost cyber defenses: Trump said the first order would launch an effort to create a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations. White House officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of the signing, said they believed a computer could be developed by 2028. The order also calls on agencies to work on plans to deploy quantum-enabled sensors and networks in the next five years, the officials said. The order also supports coordination with allies to protect quantum intellectual property and bolster supply chains.
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Et tu, Greg Abbott?
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * March, 2022…
* March, 2023…
* January, 2025…
* September, 2025…
* June, 2026…
* Today…
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Pritzker asked about special sessions for Bears, school funding
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Bears…
Please pardon any transcription errors.
* IFT…
He hasn’t talked about a data center special session.
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Rate Pritzker’s new TV ad
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
* The spot… * Transcript…
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Today’s quotable: Pritzker on data center regulations
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. Pritzker was asked about data center regulations yesterday…
Discuss.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: ‘Broadview Six’ damage spreads with review of 20 years of one prosecutor’s cases. Sun-Times…
- Ten defendants in three cases handled by Mecklenburg have now seen their federal charges permanently dropped as a result of the grand jury controversy in Boutros’ office. - Boutros said his office will be conducting “an individualized review and assessment of all available grand jury minutes” of Mecklenburg’s Chicago tenure since 2007, estimating that the review will encompass “more than 100 grand jury cases.” * Related stories… * At 11 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver remarks at the Amrize Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Click here to watch. * CBS Chicago | Illinois Accountability Commission chair says fresh wave of ICE arrests has begun, with new tactics in play: Ruben Castillo, former chief judge of the federal court for Northern Illinois, told CBS News Chicago he is watching for signs of a tactical shift under new Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin — months after a spring surge that many expected never materialized following last year’s Operation Midway Blitz sweep. “We are going to take a different approach that can be more effective and less public-facing,” Mullin said in remarks obtained by CBS News. * Rep. Curtis Tarver | Southeast Side, or Hammond, should beat Arlington Heights for Bears: I am asking the Bears to give South Works and the South Lakefront a full, serious feasibility review. Envision a Museum Campus South plus Quantum. This is a vision we can build upon rather than displace. We can connect world-class museums, sports, science, health care, education, lakefront access, jobs, small businesses and neighborhood revival. That would be a citywide development strategy, not old Chicago with new renderings. * Aurora Beacon-News | State Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, to retire at the end of current term after 20 years: “Living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 37 years has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to public service,” she said in a statement on her website. “While I have been fortunate to manage this disease for many years with few symptoms, it is now time for me to slow down and focus on my health.” Holmes was first elected to represent the 42nd District in 2006, defeating then-Will County Board member Terri Ann Wintermute in the race for a seat that had long been held by Republican Sen. Ed Petka. Before that, Holmes served on the Kane County Board. * Sun-Times | Bears stadium fail wasn’t Pritzker’s only fumble — his affordable housing plan also went nowhere: According to Democratic lawmakers, the major sticking point was a provision creating a statewide zoning standard for “middle housing.” “I recognized from my own local government background that the one size fits all approach doesn’t always work as we all think it will,” said Senate Majority Leader Cristina Castro, D-Elgin. * WAND | Bill increasing fine for drivers ignoring school bus safety arms awaits Pritzker’s signature: This plan would create a uniform $300 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation. “It’s not a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank). “Instead, it empowers local law enforcement with options and greater local control so they can choose what’s best for their community to curb dangerous driving behavior.” * Crain’s | Pritzker wants legislators to take up data centers in the fall: Opponents have questioned whether Pritzker has the authority to administratively suspend or slow the applications for the incentives under a program that dates back to 2019. “We’re going to address the issue, I hope, in the veto session,” Pritzker said at a press conference today. “We have authority to decide what process we’re going to use in order to go through those tax credits. * WTTW | Data Center Policy Debate in Illinois Spans Environmental, Economic Goals: “The data center industry has been around for decades,” said Brad Tietz, state policy director of the Data Center Coalition. “We’re going to use twice the amount of data in the next five years that we used in the past 10 years… and it’s not just entertainment. It’s hospital records, bank records, government, schools, public safety, remote work, telehealth, the list goes on.” In 2018, data centers accounted for 1.9% of all electricity consumption in the U.S. according to a 2024 report from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs. By 2023, that jumped to 4.4% of all electricity in the country. And the trend is not slowing down, with estimates for 2028 ranging from 6.7-12%. * NBC Chicago | Mayor of suburban Robbins keeps an open mind to data center: “I know there is a lot of negative stories out there but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” Bryant said. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.” The owner of the property told NBC 5 at least five brokers have approached him about data centers at the site. His asking price is $25 to $30 million, with a credit for demolition. * Naperville Sun | Developer behind rejected Naperville data center exploring former BP site: According to an internal city memo obtained by the Naperville Sun, Karis is considering the purchase of the 168-acre INEOS property, formerly the BP campus, on which to build a data center and an advanced manufacturing hub at 150 W. Warrenville Road. If plans were to move forward, the proposed data center would be the same size as the one previously proposed for the Nokia property at 1960 Lucent Lane off the I-88 corridor, the memo said. In addition to data centers, Karis is known for building cold storage facilities, industrial buildings and advanced manufacturing facilities. * Capitol City Now | Data center-related repeal; public still skeptical of Springfield council: People who have been showing up at city council meetings these days say Springfield is not doing enough to protect itself from data centers, and the city council’s repeal of a CWLP rate classification for such projects is not doing much to quell speculation that a data center is indeed poised to come into the city. In fact, some commenters wonder if city leaders are actually okay with hosting a data center. * Rockford Register Star | Committee backs Rockford tax district that could include data center: Residents who filled the audience and brought signs opposing a data center, worry a data center could drive up electricity costs, consume too much water and potentially harm the environment. They also cited concerns with industrial development near residential, agricultural and forest preserve areas. “With the comments received during the public hearing, the ordinances approving the South Rockford TIF District state that TIF Funds, public subsidies and tax increment revenue available through South Rockford TIF District is prohibited to be used to incentivize data centers,” according to a memorandum to Rockford City Council. * WGLT | Consultant from Normal wants to diversify the data center discussion in McLean County: Meece said he would like to see a data center locate in the area — but not unless the public approves of such a project. “I would do my best to protect our residents and the people working here, but the one thing I will not do is go against what the general consensus is of the people in McLean County,” he said. “I don’t want to be a part of that; I don’t want to be a part of putting something in our town that people don’t want.” * Politico | A new tax in Data Center Alley: Virginia lawmakers today voted to tax data centers for the electricity they use, capped at $600 million per year. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is expected to approve the eleventh-hour agreement — which breaks a monthslong budget stalemate and allows the state’s Democratic trifecta to avoid what would have been Virginia’s first government shutdown. * Tribune | ‘Should I have done this?’: Dozens of candidates fight to stay on Chicago’s school board ballot: In this November’s race, nine board members appointed by Johnson, a close ally of the Chicago Teachers Union, are running to keep their seats, and all are facing objections, along with two members elected with CTU backing. During the 2024 school board elections, 27 of 47 prospective candidates faced objections, many of them from CTU, and more than a dozen were ultimately knocked off the ballot. But in a reversal from the last election cycle, the Urban Center, a pro-school-choice lobbying group, is behind at least 14 of the objections. * WTTW | Chicago’s Sidewalks Aren’t Accessible for People With Mobility Challenges, Lawsuit Argues. The City Wants the Case Dismissed: Last fall, the firm that successfully took on Chicago’s inaccessible crosswalks brought another lawsuit against the city — this time, arguing that it has long failed to properly build and maintain sidewalks, curb ramps and other key pedestrian infrastructure that people with mobility disabilities must navigate, as well as to provide accessible alternate routes when construction blocks rights of way. It’s not the first time Chicago has faced claims like this. In 2005, the city was hit with a federal class action over its failure to build curb ramps. Chicago settled the case in 2007 by pledging to spend $50 million — the largest-ever settlement in an ADA suit at the time. * ABC Chicago | Chicago homeowners dispute massive water bills, seek answers from city: The ABC7 I-Team is hearing from more Chicago residents who say they are being overcharged on city water bills, including one homeowner facing a bill of more than $235,000 at a vacant property that she says does not have running water. Back of the Yards resident Diane Carli said the bill has caused significant stress and has left her concerned about potential consequences, including wage garnishment or a property lien if it is not paid. * Sun-Times | Sam Antonacci delivers walk-off winner as Sox open series vs. Guardians with thrilling win: Replays, for those reviewing them in the umpires’ TV replay booth, did not provide sufficient evidence that the call on the field was wrong. That’s how close it was. “Sometimes,” said a man in the elevator who looked like Jerry Reinsdorf, the Sox owner who officially doesn’t speak to the media, “you just have to be lucky.” * Daily Herald | Vanishing act: Schaumburg neighborhood meets its demise: A 55-year-old neighborhood along Schaumburg’s southwest border is vanishing from the landscape this week as crews tear down longstanding homes to make way for an industrial development. All 19 houses lining Long Avenue are expected to be down by the end of next week, said Laura Stark, construction manager for Chicago-based Logistics Property Company LLC. The firm purchased the homes with plans to replace them with two industrial buildings totaling 436,500 square feet this summer, said Ben Fish, vice president of its Midwest region. * Daily Herald | As investigation into Mundelein woman’s fatal shooting continues, mayor and critics have their say: Using words like “murder,” “coward” and “shame,” supporters of the family of a Mundelein woman who was fatally shot by police last month during an apparent mental health crisis expressed their anger during Monday’s village board meeting. The people who talked about the late Mary Alice Love’s life and death for about 90 minutes included relatives and friends who knew the 37-year-old woman well — and strangers deeply troubled by how she died. * Pioneer Press | Lake Bluff, Lake Forest officials preparing for new state laws for e-bikes, scooters, etc.: Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said he supports the measure. “It’s much clearer to follow the way they classified everything,” he said. Burke said he is working with the city’s communications team on a social media campaign to inform residents about the upcoming state regulations. In October 2023, the Lake Forest City Council approved an ordinance requiring riders of electronic mobility devices to walk them through the central business district. Violators can face penalties, including fines. * Aurora Beacon-News | New Hollywood Casino Aurora ready to open to the public Wednesday: Work on the property has been finishing up in the past few weeks. But, after years of work, the finish line appears near for those involved in bringing the casino to its new home in Aurora. The new casino— a $360 million project that’s been under construction since 2023 — is replacing the longtime riverboat Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora, which turned off its lights on June 10 after operating there since the 1990s. * Daily Herald | Bloomingdale Yard construction ushers in transformation of Stratford Square to ‘The Grove’: Search Stratford Square on YouTube, and you’ll see videos of what was a “dead mall” or the “most depressing mall in America,” each with tens of thousands of views. Bloomingdale leaders intervened, acquiring the old department stores and finally the core of the mall itself. Looking to make a fresh start, the village had the entire mall demolished, save for the last anchor retailer, Kohl’s. […] Now, there are signs, not of a “dying mall,” but of new life: Vertical construction has begun on the massive property, one of the first major steps toward the larger redevelopment of the area into “The Grove at Bloomingdale.” The owner of the Naperville Yard is bringing a similar, roughly 100,000-square-foot indoor sports and family recreation hub to the former mall site. * WAND | ADM to invest $103 million in improvements to Decatur facilities: According to the Office of the Governor, ADM’s investment will create 50 new full-time jobs and keep over 1,000 present full-time jobs. “We’ll be investing to replace 40,000 control systems across the corn plant, the East Plant and the West Plant with state-of-the-art technology. When we think about protecting what matters and supporting safety, quality and efficiency, this is a hugely important project for us,” said ADM President for North America Christopher Cuddy. * WAND | Meridian Elementary won’t open in August due to heavy storm damage: Extreme winds seriously damaged the building and ripped off part of the roof, while rain then left water damage in several classrooms. “Every single major system in the building has been affected by water. From the ground, you couldn’t really see the extent of the wind damage that had occurred, but when you got inside and saw how much water actually was inside the building. Almost the entire rubber membrane that keeps water out had been blown off,” said Meridian School District Superintendent Shane Gordon. * WCIA | Pritzker joins opening of new soybean processing plant in Gilman: The new plant is home to the single largest extraction process in the country, processing up to 300,000 bushels a day and providing a stable market for more than 7,000 local family farms. The facility will also create 40 new full-time jobs. […] In addition to the soybean crushing plant, the company also has a 50-acre solar array with the capacity to generate enough energy to provide power directly to the plant or to feed to the grid. * WCIA | Attorneys for EMS worker accused of murder to file new motions; partner to be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter: The case against the two Springfield EMS workers accused of playing a part in the death of Earl Moore Jr. continues as they appear in court this week — with one of them set to be sentenced. Peggy Finley was in court on Monday for a planned trial call hearing, which is a hearing to assess whether the parties are ready to proceed to trial. The hearing didn’t last long; Finely’s attorneys said they are not ready and that they intend to file new motions in the case after Tuesday. * WCIA | New Asian American Heritage Trail showcasing cultural sites in Champaign-Urbana: The Asian American Heritage Trail in Champaign and Urbana will highlight places that showcase Asian influence in the twin cities. Signs will be in place soon to guide people along the trail, which will include the Refugee Center, the Hindu Temple and the Far East and Ginza grocery stores. Archivist Sarah Bennett with the Urbana Free Library worked on the project. She said it is important for people to know more about the Asian culture that is right in their backyard. * AP | Senate passes a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices: The bill, which passed 85-5 and now heads to the House, has been the focus of intense negotiations in recent weeks as lawmakers in both parties try to address housing costs in an election year. The final version of the legislation bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes but doesn’t include a Senate provision that would have required investors to sell newly constructed homes within seven years. * MediaIte | Trump Says He’s ‘Preparing Lawsuits Against ABC for False Reporting’: On Monday night, the president went on Truth Social and wrote that a lawsuit is headed ABC’s way. He accused ABC News of not reporting that his two predecessors spent $100 million to renovate the pool, a figure which he appears to have made up, as President Joe Biden oversaw no major work on it. Meanwhile, the Obama administration spent $35 million on the pool. * NYT | Major Supreme Court Decisions Testing Trump’s Policies Remain: Before the justices take their annual summer break, they will resolve a series of high-profile cases testing the administration’s policies to expand presidential power and reshape the federal bureaucracy. Significant decisions still to come will determine whether Mr. Trump can end the longstanding guarantee of birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born babies of undocumented immigrants and fire Lisa D. Cook, a leader at the influential and independent Federal Reserve.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Poetry from The Boss… You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain How’s life?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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