Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* We’ve raised less than $700 today. We can do better!

We’re still at $28,705 total, and LSSI needs a whole lot more to make sure every foster child gets a Christmas gift this year. Every dollar goes straight to gifts, and the average one costs about $25.

So please, if you can give, click here and help turn this day around. We really need to pick it up. Thank you!

* Bloomberg…

A group backed by financier Michael Sacks has started funding ads against Chicago’s plan to bring back a tax on large corporate payrolls, drawing the ire of Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Common Ground Collective, which has raised $11 million to drive change at City Hall years before the next mayoral election, is financing six-figure digital and streaming ads, including one that characterizes the proposed levy as $100 million in new taxes. The group is backed by Sacks, chairman of asset management firm GCM Grosvenor and a prominent Democratic donor, and has more than 100 contributors.

Johnson, who is struggling to pass a budget before the Dec. 31 deadline, has proposed charging companies with at least 100 employees a tax of $21 per worker per month. The tax, once dubbed a “job killer,” would raise $100 million for community-safety programs.

“Frankly I think it’s beneath these so-called business leaders to lie to the public about the community safety surcharge,” Johnson said at a press conference this week, naming Sacks specifically. “My challenge to them is to just explain their reasoning and debate the pros and cons of this proposal.”

* Illinois Bankers Association CEO Randy Hultgren is retiring …

Illinois Bankers Association CEO Randy Hultgren has informed his board of directors he will be retiring from the helm of the statewide business group at the end of the 2026 Spring legislative session.

“The IBA is in strong financial shape. We’ve had record participation in recent conferences and we’re coming off legislative and legal wins to protect our members and their customers,” Hultgren said. “We’ve united as an industry to battle the ill-conceived Interchange Fee Prohibition Act that would cause financial losses to Illinois small businesses, hurt consumers and make Illinois banks an outlier in the nation’s banking system. We’ve invested in programs to build talented future leaders for the banking industry; and our organization helped draft the “Access to Credit in Rural Economies Act” which made it into federal law this year and will make it easier for farmers and rural homeowners to access low-cost credit. […]

The Board of Directors says a search will begin immediately to succeed Hultgren.

“While we would have preferred Randy stay, we respect his decision to step down next year and we’re thankful for his accomplishments on behalf of Illinois bankers. He has led the IBA through a period of unprecedented success and his legislative expertise as a former state and federal lawmaker made us the most effective voice for banks in Springfield, Washington, D.C. and Chicago,” said IBA Board Chair T.J. Burge, president and CEO of the Community Partners Savings Bank in Salem, Illinois. “We’re grateful for the time Randy is committing to our search process, participating in the spring legislative session in Springfield and helping the next leader transition into office. Randy’s successor will have big shoes to fill.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Greg Hinz | Who — and what — do voters want in the Legislature? Here’s a race to watch.: An interesting test of that proposition is shaping on Chicago’s North Side, where four contenders are vying in the March Democratic primary to succeed state Rep. Margaret Croke, a Democrat who is giving up her seat to run for Illinois comptroller. Such vacancies rarely arise in that part of town. Three contenders have more or less conventional political pedigrees, from activity in ward political organizations and local school councils to work in the Barack Obama White House and at City Hall. The fourth has little connection to the district beyond living there but is staked by a ton of family money. And to boot, in his college days a little over a decade ago, he headed Cornell University Students for Mitt Romney.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | CPS Board approves $17.5 million settlement for former student sexually abused at Little Village high school: The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday approved a $17.5 million settlement for a former student who was sexually abused by a former dean at a Little Village high school. It’s the largest settlement for a school sex abuse case in Illinois history, according to the law firm representing the former student.

* ProPublica | Chicago Promoted Two Police Officers After Investigators Found They Engaged in Sexual Misconduct: The officers’ promotions this spring were not due to an oversight. Department officials knew about their disciplinary records, but those records could not be considered as the department evaluated their fitness for promotion. The main qualifying factor was their test scores from a two-part exam That Chicago police officers can rise in the ranks in spite of significant problems in their records reflects a decadeslong failing that the Chicago Police Department has been repeatedly called on to fix, an investigation by the Invisible Institute and ProPublica found.

* Tribune | State/Lake ‘L’ station to close Jan. 5 for demolition, construction: Throughout construction, the city said, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express trains won’t stop at State/Lake. Riders can use nearby stations at Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake, the city said, as well as the Lake Red Line subway station, which will remain open. The rebuild will also impact Loop drivers. Starting Dec. 8, eastbound Lake Street between State Street and Wabash Avenue will have intermittent closures during off-peak hours, CDOT said. Starting Jan. 5, Lake St. will be limited to local traffic only between Dearborn Street and Wabash.

* Crain’s | Foxtrot is reopening its old Loop location: LaVitola seemed unfazed by downtown foot traffic being down and retail vacancies being up — dynamics that have prompted some business leaders to shy away from the Loop. “The building is doing really well,” he said of Willis Tower. “And the store was really starting to build a loyal following in that part of the Loop prior to everything that happened.”

* Crain’s | Coming soon to a screen near you: a documentary tracing Schwinn bike history: Schwinn, founded as Arnold, Schwinn & Co. in Chicago in 1895, served as a classic rags-to-riches-to-bankruptcy story through four generations of family ownership, while signaling the painful post-industrial transition of many Chicago firms hammered by overseas competition in the late 20th century. The book, “No Hands: The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, an American Institution,” by former Crain’s staff journalists Judith Crown and Glenn Coleman, was published in 1996.

* Block Club | Bucktown, Logan Square UPS Stores Reopening This Month Under New Ownership: A year after the city shut down two UPS Stores in Bucktown and Logan Square over licensing issues, a new franchise owner is reopening them. The UPS Stores at 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Bucktown and 2020 N. California Ave. in Logan Square will reopen this month, a company spokesperson confirmed. The stores have been shuttered since December 2024, when they were ordered closed by the city for operating without business licenses under previous franchise owner The Neely Group.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* The Chicago Federation of Labor endorsed Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for reelection over Ald. Brenden Reilly….

The CFL has announced endorsements for the General Primary Election on March 17, 2026. After a thorough vetting process, CFL affiliates voted to endorse pro-labor candidates who will be strong, consistent voices for working people across Cook County. https://t.co/Oqx1RaZYuE

— Chicago Federation of Labor (@chicagolabor) December 3, 2025

Click here for all of CFL’s endorsements.

* Forest Park Review | Hosty, former Forest Park leader, named RF township clerk: Former Forest Park Village Council member Mark Hosty was appointed River Forest Township Clerk on Nov. 18 to replace Margaret Detmer who resigned her post effective at the end of that day. Detmer, who was appointed Township Clerk in 2024 when the previous clerk John Becvar was appointed Township Supervisor. Becvar replaced Carla Sloan who had resigned her post. He was reelected to a full four-year term earlier this year. Detmer said that she resigned because of the time commitment of the part time job and the pressure of being the mother of three small children.

* Daily Herald | 178 single-family homes proposed in Crystal Lake where Amazon warehouse was planned: Atlanta-based Pulte Homes is proposing to build 178 single-family homes at 275 S. Main St., where Amazon originally planned to build a 180,000-square-foot distribution center on the 63-acre parcel. Amazon received approval by the city, but the company walked away from the plan in 2022 before it formally purchased the property. The residential plan, called Lakeland Farm, includes a center passive park area with walking paths throughout the development. Developers plan to have three access points off Main Street, Exchange Drive and Commonwealth Drive, said Karen Weber, attorney representing Pulte Homes.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville council passes new e-bike age restrictions, fines for parents: The new rules, proposed last month, were unanimously approved. State law already governs the use of such vehicles, but many suburban communities are adopting stricter rules to govern e-bike and e-scooter usage, citing issues with young people in particular not following the rules of the road. Similar to state law, Naperville has three classifications for e-bikes: Class 1 low-speed electric bicycles, which are pedal assist and can reach speeds of up to 20 mph; Class 2 low-speed electric bicycles, which are both pedal assist and throttle and have a maximum speed of up to 20 mph; and Class 3 low-speed electric bicycles, which are pedal assist and can reach speeds of up to 28 mph.

* Daily Herald | Geneva committee recommends $59.4 million police station referendum: A group of Geneva alderpersons has recommended that the city place a question on the March ballot that would ask voters to approve a plan to borrow $59.4 million for a new police facility. The alderpersons have also recommended asking voters whether they support the city becoming home rule in a referendum that could appear on a ballot within two years. At Monday’s Geneva Committee of the Whole meeting, alderpersons voted 7-2 in favor of pursuing the police facility question. Third Ward Alderperson Larry Furnish was absent.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Hearing on proposed Sangamon Co. data center brings hundreds of supporters, opposers: “We’re going to need every union trade that’s available to us locally. We’ve committed to signing a project labor agreement. It’s not lip service,” said Bradd Hout, CyrusOne’s director of location and power strategy. Union members dressed in orange were the project’s most vocal supporters at Wednesday’s public hearing

* Illinois Times | Sober living house for LGBTQ+ in the works: Casey Prather credits a sober living home run by Springfield resident Julie Benson to playing a part in the longest stretch of sobriety he’s experienced in his adult life. Prather calls Benson’s Home Sweet Home Sober Living home, which he began living at almost two-and-a-half years ago, “unlike any other” he’s experienced. Now, the pair are working together to find a new residence to create a sober living space for LGBTQ+ individuals.

* BND | Freeburg area farmer vows to resume egg sales after bird flu decimates flock: “I was shocked at how fast it went through,” farmer Joel Funk said Wednesday. “It’s devastating.” Funk noticed some chickens had died last weekend and initially thought the deaths were caused by the cold weather that had moved into the metro-east. By Sunday he suspected the deaths were due to something deadlier than low temperatures.

*** National ***

* Reuters | Chicago Fed sees November unemployment rate steady at 4.4% as alternate data shows job losses: The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged around 4.4% in November, the Chicago Federal Reserve estimated on Thursday, while closely watched data from a private provider added to the evidence that the U.S. labor market is slowly weakening. With official unemployment reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics still delayed following the government shutdown in October and November, the new reports could add weight to arguments at next week’s Federal Reserve meeting in favor of cutting the benchmark policy rate another quarter of a percentage point.

* Bloomberg | Trump’s AI Push May Hinge on Renewable Energy: The Trump administration is moving to fast-track the construction of power-hungry data centers as a matter of national security. At the same time, it’s adding roadblocks for new solar and wind farms. But the two policies could be at odds: Hindering renewable energy projects risks slowing the AI boom — and could exacerbate rising electricity prices, a slew of data suggests. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment right now to get the power to supply this,” said Robert Whaley, director of North American power at Wood Mackenzie, an energy consultancy. “In the next 10 years, there’s really nothing to replace renewables.”

* Automotive News | Rivian’s next phase hinges on mass-market R2 and advanced autonomy, CEO says: Four years after the California automaker launched its high-end R1T pickup and R1S crossover, Rivian begins a new growth phase focused on the more affordable R2 crossover, an evolving software-defined platform and self-driving. “Right now we’re just completely heads down, focused on the development of our technology platform sets,” Scaringe said in an interview on Dec. 1. “That’s the big tactical focus, and then the big product focus is R2.” The midsize crossover will have a starting price around $45,000 before shipping when it launches in the first half of next year, about half the average selling price of Rivian’s bigger R1 vehicles, Scaringe said.

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Pritzker on medical aid in dying bill: ‘It’s a hard issue… but most of all, it’s about compassion’

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. During yesterday’s press conference, Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about the medical aid in dying bill [End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act] that’s sitting on his desk…

I’ve been listening to everybody that has a view on it. I have not announced anything or decided anything.

You know, every time I talk to somebody has a little bit of an effect, you’re sort of cumulatively gathering information. And I know there are people who feel passionately on both sides. I have said before that I have friends who’ve gone through this with their relatives, and it’s painful for the person who’s experiencing the pain in the last six months of their lives, as well as for the entire family, and sometimes with the, you know, competent decision-making on the part of somebody who’s suffering. It feels like for them it was the right thing to do. I’m talking about a specific circumstance I can think of in another state.

And then at the same time, I understand people who have religious values that say that this is inappropriate and that we should just provide hospice care and maybe make it as comfortable as we possibly can for somebody who’s dying.

So it’s a hard issue. And I don’t want anybody to think that making up your mind about this is very easy. I think there’s a lot to consider, but most of all, it’s about compassion. And again, there’s evidence and information on both sides that leads me to think seriously about what direction to go.

* He was also asked if he discussed the bill during his recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV…

It’s actually something that I brought up, and we didn’t have a conversation about it, because we were just, you know, at the beginning of our conversation, I think he and I were both kind of dismissing to each other the things that we may disagree about, because there are very few, honestly. But kind of acknowledging that there may be things that we disagree about. Obviously, we are members of different religions. Don’t really disagree so much. It’s just had differences in that way. So we kind of it, was a kind of a brief part of a conversation in which we were dismissing all those things and then getting to the things that we really have so much in common. And I so much respect who he is and what he represents. And of course, the fact that he’s from the state of Illinois is a great point of pride for all of us.

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Federal news coverage roundup: O’Hare raid warnings, Feds drop more charges, propaganda suit, hospitals’ safety-net fears

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune…

The city of Chicago ignored concerns raised by an advocate about immigration raids at O’Hare’s rideshare parking lots for weeks before federal agents swept up more than 70 people there, emails obtained by the Tribune show. […]

An advocate for rideshare drivers first emailed the city on Sept. 19, saying she was concerned federal agents might target a parking lot near O’Hare International Airport where rideshare drivers wait for ride assignments. But the city did not appear to take any action in response to her warning until U.S. Border Patrol agents first conducted a raid at the parking lot three weeks later, on Oct. 10. […]

In an interview, [Lori Simmons, lead organizer for the Chicago Gig Alliance,] said she had not received any communications from Stastny or other Aviation Department officials between the time of her first email and the day of the first raid on Oct. 10.

Simmons said she had been worried the feds would target rideshare drivers because she knew many of them were immigrants. “And sure enough they did,” she said.

The city, Simmons said, “did nothing” with her warning, “and then acted surprised when it happened.”

* Click here for some background. Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel…

JUST IN: The Trump administration responds to the bid to dismiss the case challenging Operation Midway Blitz in front of Judge Ellis.

It says plaintiffs seek to "throw in the towel" with "procedural gamesmanship," and insists a dismissal with prejudice prevents future claims. https://t.co/SjdP83CuLU pic.twitter.com/0I1C66lh3U

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) December 4, 2025

* Tribune…

Federal prosecutors moved Wednesday to drop charges against a comedy club manager accused of shutting a car door on a federal immigration agent’s leg in the Lakeview neighborhood, the latest in a string of dismissals in high-profile cases that resulted from the Trump administration’s so-called Operation Midway Blitz.

Nathan Griffin, 24, was charged in late October with assaulting, impeding or interfering with a federal officer during one of many skirmishes between federal agents and U.S. citizens that punctuated the Trump administration’s wave of illegal immigration enforcement in and around Chicago. […]

The motion to scrap the case against Griffin without prejudice follows prosecutors’ move to drop charges against Marimar Martinez, the 30-year-old woman who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Brighton Park who claimed Martinez “rammed” a federal vehicle with her own car in an Oct. 4 standoff.

In a nine-page opinion regarding another one of those cases, against a U.S veteran charged with assault, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes wrote he could not “help but note just how unusual and possibly unprecedented it is” for Chicago’s venerable U.S. attorney’s office to bring charges “so hastily” that, once more facts came out, they were unable to obtain an indictment in the grand jury or were forced to dismiss the case as not provable.

More from WTTW…

The incident began when two Border Patrol agents were searching for a body-worn camera near Broadway and Belmont Avenue that had been lost during a previous immigration arrest, according to court records.

Video captured by the agents’ body-worn cameras showed Griffin closed a car door on a U.S. Border Patrol agent’s leg as the agent was trying to get out of his vehicle, causing a “small gouge and scrapes,” according to the criminal complaint filed against Griffin.

But Curtis Flagg, the Laugh Factory’s president of operations, told the Chicago Tribune that Griffin was walking with his mother when he saw a man getting detained.

When Griffin intervened by asking the agents to leave the man alone, agents tackled him to the ground, triggering a melee caught on video by bystanders before Griffin was detained and taken away.

* Sun-Times…

President Donald Trump’s administration is facing a lawsuit seeking the release of all video footage filmed during the high-powered overnight immigration raid of a Chicago apartment complex in September.

The images captured by a government camera crew were later used in highly edited Hollywood-style videos — which experts called “propaganda” — that were published by the federal government to win support for its deportation campaign.

Democracy Forward, a Washington D.C.-based legal organization that has challenged the Trump administration, state and local governments and right-wing movements over the past decade, filed a public records request for all original footage from the raid in the South Shore neighborhood. That request has gone unfulfilled, the group said, so it filed a seven-page federal complaint in the U.S. District court in D.C. late last month. […]

A camera crew of at least nine people filmed the South Shore raid, according to security footage from a nearby elementary school that was obtained by the Sun-Times through a public records request. The photo and video team wore street clothing, some with neon Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs vests.

Click here for DHS’ social media video of the South Shore raid and here for the lawsuit.

* Crain’s…

Four Chicago-area hospital leaders laid out their fears that worsening burdens stemming from massive federal funding cuts will severely fray the health care safety net.

At yesterday morning’s Crain’s Hospital CEO Breakfast, executives said Medicaid spending cuts, combined with expired tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans and rising costs for employer-based insurance, threaten the quality and availability of care across the region — not just at traditional safety net hospitals. […]

[Dia Nichols, president of Advocate Health Care,] spoke of OBBA being just one “domino” that will fall. He said before impacts of Medicaid work/volunteer requirements and twice-yearly redeterminations kick in at the end of 2026, hospitals and health systems will already be feeling the pressure.

[Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health,] noted hospitals are finding that people are avoiding and delaying health care as a result of immigration enforcement activity and that some Medicaid recipients believe restrictions are already underway.

* More…

* CBS Chicago | Trump administration seeks detailed information on SNAP recipients from democratic states, including Illinois: States, including Illinois, have until Monday, Dec. 8, to formally respond to the federal government. It remains unclear how quickly or if residents or food banks might feel any impact. “The truth is the administration does not have the ability to do this, and I think it’s reprehensible to use food and food insecurity as a weapon to try to effectuate a policy that is completely unrelated to it. The courts have ruled such, and I believe if we have to take them to court again, we will,” Pritzker said.

* Block Club Chicago | How The Feds Used Propaganda To Frame Their ‘War’ On Chicago: ‘They’re Lying Constantly’: As Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz swept through Chicago this fall, federal leaders and agencies issued statements and social media posts that contradicted what reporters and witnesses saw on the ground. They’ve attempted to discredit journalists even after a federal judge ruled that Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, a face of the operation, lied and the federal government had deceived the public and made false claims. Experts who study propaganda and state media say the pattern goes beyond spin. In press releases and social media posts, the Department of Homeland Security has built a narrative meant to project control and valorize its agents, the experts said. At the same time, it has cast protesters and bystanders as threats or obstacles.

* Tribune | Federal funding cuts threaten Chicago Harbor Lock, one of the nation’s busiest: The Army Corps requested $3.85 million for the operation and maintenance of the Chicago Harbor Lock and Dam next year, Corps spokesperson Emily Helton said. But in his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, President Donald Trump allocated under $300,000 for the harbor, leaving a shortfall of more than $3.5 million, Helton said. In order to try to close the gap, Helton said, the Army Corps will use just over $1 million in leftover operating funds from this year. It will also reallocate some money it had previously planned to use for electrical rehabilitation work at the harbor.

* South Side Weekly | Fraudsters target immigrants seeking legal help: Sometimes, notarios defraud people in immigrant communities by trading on the names and reputations of upstanding organizations. The American Bar Association does not represent clients in court. […] Fear, lack of familiarity with the U.S. immigration process, and the acute need for affordable immigration services all make immigrants susceptible to fraud, experts say. And immigration raids by federal agents are likely to exacerbate the problem, as victims may be hesitant to seek help from law enforcement agencies. “With the aggressiveness of ICE and the apprehension that people have to come out and be public—these notarios are bottom feeders, and they make something bad worse,” Wildes said.

* WaPo | Illinois can set its own vaccine guidelines, bypassing Trump administration: State lawmakers say the new law is the first of its kind. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed it just days before a federal vaccine panel plans to vote on a major change to America’s childhood immunization schedule. Illinois is among several Democratic-led states developing their own systems to assess vaccines, an attempt to address warnings by some public health officials that the Trump administration has politicized vaccine science.

* The 21st Show | Breaking down Northwestern University’s $75 million settlement with the Trump administration: Northwestern University has announced an agreement with the Trump administration over a discrimination investigation. The university will pay $75 million to the federal government, and make commitments to comply with Trump preferences in admissions, hiring, campus protests policies, and trans health care. In exchange, the administration is dropping its investigations against the school and restoring federal funding.

* Tribune | Enterprise Rent-A-Car license plate revoked after immigration agents illegally swapped it out, records show: The penalties for displaying an unauthorized plate or obscuring or modifying license plates in any way include fines and potential jail time. License plates may also be suspended or revoked by the secretary of state. That’s what happened to an Enterprise vehicle, according to a revocation letter from Giannoulias’ office to the business’ parent company, EAN Holdings LLC, obtained by the Tribune. The company must now request a new plate, under state law.

* Tribune | Operation Midway Bliss redefines blitz with gift drive for families affected by immigration enforcement: The gift haul was coined Operation Midway Bliss as a way to reclaim the name from the federal government’s Operation Midway Blitz, which wreaked havoc on the city’s immigrant community. “When I saw those Angel Trees blowing up (on social media),” said McNiff, who lives in the Gold Coast, “an idea sparked of something I can do for my neighbors here in Chicago, aside from just yapping on TikTok or going to a protest, something that can actually have an impact directly.”

7 Comments

Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - 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 the Hagers, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Question of the day: 2025 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager goes to Liz Moody…

She is always on top of everything, so quick to respond and offer help to anyone who asks. She always keeps her members organized, and handles all the daily chaos with kindness and a smile.

Honorable mention goes to Mike Wasielewski, who emerged as a late favorite.

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager is a tie: Amanda Daley and Brandy Loftus…

They do an excellent job managing the Leader’s schedule and assisting the staff and the many personalities that make up an average day in 316. They do it with smiles on their faces and can always get a laugh out of anybody, no matter how bad or long a session day it may be.

All of those folks above are top-notch. Congrats!

* On to today’s categories…

* Best Democratic State Senate Staff Member

Nominees can come from the government and campaign sides. Bill Schneider won last year and is not eligible. Mary Hanahan was the other winner, but she’s now with a law firm.

As always, please explain your nominations or they won’t count. This is more about intensity than numbers. Also, do your very best to nominate in both categories. If you can’t, you can’t, but please tell us why.

* After you’ve entered your nominations, please click here to contribute to our annual Christmas toy fundraiser for foster kids. We raised more than $6,000 yesterday, but Lutheran Social Services of Illinois has more than 2,500 foster kids in its care and they must raise more than $62,000 to buy all of them modest presents. As I write this, we’ve raised $28,455. That’s not bad, but it’s way below the threshold. Those kids count on us, so, please do your best to chip in whatever you can.

Let’s help spread some genuine Christmas joy as widely as we possibly can.

Thanks!

33 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Illinois unveils plans to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

• First Listen: The state of Illinois is ready to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday
• Tribune: Illinois to celebrate United States’ 250th birthday with public art, history initiatives
• Daily Herald: How Illinois plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

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* At 11 am Gov. Pritzker will attend an event to celebrate the 119th birthday of American Postal Workers Union Local 1.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Investigate Midwest | Pesticide drift is catching schools off guard. Lawmakers want to require notice before spraying.: House Bill 1596 would require certified pesticide applicators to provide written notice, 24 to 72 hours before spraying, to private and public schools, daycares, and public parks and playgrounds within a half mile of the application site. The notification requirement would apply only to large-scale operations over five acres that use boom sprayers, tractor-mounted sprayers and airplanes to apply weed killers — not residential applications. Violators would face a $250 fine, which increases to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for additional infractions. Bill sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Grayslake Democrat, said the bill could change during the next legislative session, which begins in January.

* Tribune | Federal funding cuts threaten Chicago Harbor Lock, one of the nation’s busiest: The harbor lock is one of the nation’s busiest for both commercial and recreational use; more than 900,000 passengers and 80,000 vessels traveled through it last year. But looming federal funding cuts have become a source of worry for boaters who rely on the lock. […] The Army Corps requested $3.85 million for the operation and maintenance of the Chicago Harbor Lock and Dam next year, Corps spokesperson Emily Helton said. But in his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, President Donald Trump allocated under $300,000 for the harbor, leaving a shortfall of more than $3.5 million, Helton said.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois State Board of Education extends timeline for public comment on school accountability overhaul: Sanders wrote in a weekly message on Tuesday that the Illinois State Board of Education will keep the current public comment window open until Jan. 7, instead of Dec. 7. There will also be opportunities for the public to weigh in on the proposal’s drafts between January and April. Under the new timeline, state board members would discuss the final plan during the March board meeting and vote on new accountability metrics in April, instead of discussing the plan in December and voting in January.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Former Sen. Roland Burris has endorsed Rep. Margaret Croke for comptroller. Press Release…

Today, former U.S. Senator, Illinois Attorney General and Illinois Comptroller Roland Burris announced his endorsement of State Rep. Margaret Croke in her campaign for State Comptroller. Burris, who made history as the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois when he became Comptroller in 1978, went on to serve in multiple statewide offices before being appointed to the U.S. Senate. He cited Croke’s steady leadership, strong fiscal judgment, and commitment to responsible, ethical government as key reasons for his support.

“Throughout my career and lifelong commitment to public service, I have seen firsthand what true leadership requires,” said former Senator Roland Burris. “Margaret Croke exemplifies the strength and fiscal discipline needed to serve as Comptroller. She is not only prepared to keep our state financially secure, she is prepared to move it forward. From my hometown of Centralia to the heart of Chicago and every community in between, I have absolute confidence that she will fight for every Illinoisan and lead with unwavering integrity and purpose.”

* Sun-Times | Illinois secretary of state bolsters REAL ID services to help residents avoid new TSA fee: State officials are partnering with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon’s office to streamline processes to obtain birth certificates, marriage licenses and the other additional personal documents needed to get a REAL ID. Clerk’s offices will have designated cashiers for REAL ID-related requests, as well as a new appointment system.

* Rep. La Shawn Ford | I survived prostate cancer. Without ACA tax credits, other Americans may not be as lucky: Black men are nearly twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men. In neighborhoods like Austin, Englewood, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale — where poverty, food insecurity and limited access to specialists already shorten life expectancy — this kind of policy failure isn’t just immoral. It’s lethal. I was lucky. I had insurance. I had a health care team that moved quickly. But I also had fear, and I some sleepless nights. I had to tell my daughter that I had cancer. And I had to fight — not just for my health, but for my peace of mind. No one should have to fight for access to health care on top of fighting for their life.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Council bloc urges Johnson not to brush off budget overhaul: A day after a bare majority of the City Council signed on to a letter outlining $441 million in potential alternatives to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $16.6 billion budget, it’s unclear if the defiant move will force the mayor back to the table. The alternative proposal stripped out Johnson’s proposed corporate head tax, reduced borrowing costs and increased an advance pension payment through a grab bag of increased garbage, rideshare and liquor taxes and $90 million in spending cuts that the mayor has argued are not feasible in 2026.

* Crain’s | Hospital CEOs warn health care safety net will begin unraveling next year: Endeavor’s O’Grady criticized OBBA, saying the legislation is anything but beautiful for hospitals. He said as emergency rooms fill with sicker, uninsured patients who have delayed care, all patients will face longer wait times and other disruptions. Hospital finances will take a hit from rising levels of charity care and bad debt, especially in Illinois where medical debt cannot damage a person’s credit rating, O’Grady noted.

* Tribune | Sweeping ban on hemp products in Chicago advances in City Council: Proponents argue the proposed ban would make Chicago safer by speeding up a pending congressional prohibition on the products that get users high. But Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has urged aldermen to rework the ordinance with narrower regulations. Hanging in the balance are dozens of small businesses like Rubina Mirza’s Ukrainian Village shop, Kizmah CBD. “This proposed ban on these products will put me out overnight and destroy all the hard work I spent with my family building a small business,” Mirza told aldermen as the meeting started in a room packed with hemp supporters.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools finds buyers for three vacant schools: The district is seeking the Chicago Board of Education’s approval at its next meeting on Dec. 18 to sell the old Bontemps Elementary in Englewood on the South Side for $75,000, the old Henson Elementary in North Lawndale on the West Side for $25,000, and the former Shedd Elementary, which last served as a satellite building for Bennett Elementary, in Roseland on the Far South Side for $25,000. All three buildings closed in 2013. The proposed sales come after CPS put 20 properties on the market in May. Stephen Stults, the district’s director of real estate, said they got bids for 12 properties.

* Sun-Times | Business concerns stall plan to let Chicagoans flag crosswalk, bus and bike lane parking scofflaws: Everyday Chicagoans will have to wait for the right to use their cellphones to provide recorded evidence of bus, bike lane and crosswalk parking violations, thanks to concerns raised Wednesday by business groups. First Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata initially proposed a measure that would allow citizens to report parking violations by both commercial and passenger vehicles.

* WTTW | Feds Drop Charges Against Laugh Factory Manager Accused of Assaulting Immigration Agent in Lakeview: Nathan Griffin, 24, is now the latest person to have been charged during what the federal government called “Operation Midway Blitz” in a blaze of publicity only to have prosecutors quietly dismiss the case after failing to get an indictment or determining that there was not enough evidence to go forward. Griffin was charged with one count of forcibly assaulting and interfering with a federal agent in the performance of his official duties in connection with a melee that occurred on Oct. 24, hours before a team of masked immigration agents tear gassed a crowd in Lakeview.

* Sun-Times | Museum of Science and Industry workers ratify first union contract: The contract with the Hyde Park museum covers roughly 120 employees, and includes an average 8% pay raise and 3% annual increase over the next two years, according to a Wednesday statement from the Museum of Science and Industry Workers United. The contract also adds holiday pay for part-time employees, policy changes on remote work, just cause for discipline, a grievance procedure and a joint committee on paid parental leave.

* Sun-Times | Killings of Black Panthers dedicated with plaque in Chicago 56 years later: It’s the latest of 12 plaques to be placed around Chicago, as well as another in Peoria, as part of the Black Panther Heritage Trail that denotes historic sites in Illinois. “We have to remember the people who stood up and gave their lives,” Nefahito said. “We see where we’re at now. … We can’t be complacent, we can’t take the liberties and rights we have for granted. We have to fight, work and be kind to each other. We always have to help others and look for opportunities to get involved.”

* Press Release | CTA and Chance the Rapper Team Up to Launch New “Enjoy the Ride” Campaign: “I think this partnership is so important because I grew up taking the Red Line train from 79th,” said Chance. “All of the train lines create a pathway to connection and an opportunity for people to build community, and that’s what STAR LINE is about. It’s about us forming together to fight anything that’s going against us. This is an important time in the city for people to stand up, be brave and protective of each other.”

* Crain’s | Ken Griffin’s last remaining Chicago condo lands a buyer: The last piece of Citadel chief Ken Griffin’s portfolio of Chicago condos went under contract to a buyer today, nearly two and a half years after he began selling his units in various downtown towers after moving his business empire and family to Florida. The condo, on the 67th floor of the Park Tower on North Michigan Avenue, was Griffin’s longest-held property in Chicago. He bought it in 2000, when the building was new, for $6.9 million, according to the Cook County clerk. That’s the equivalent of paying $12.98 million in 2025 dollars.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Will 2026 be the year for this stalled downtown Arlington Heights apartment project?: Facing rising interest rates, difficulty in raising equity capital and higher construction costs, a developer’s plan for a six-story, 135-unit apartment building with a ground-floor restaurant in Arlington Heights remains in limbo two years after receiving zoning approvals. But Joe Taylor of Barrington-based Compasspoint Development expressed confidence that 2026 will be the year to get shovels in the ground and transform the long-vacant office building site on the edge of the village’s downtown.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Geneva considering bond referendum in March for new police station, mulls vote on home rule by 2028: The possibility of selling bonds to construct new public safety facilities is not new in Geneva — the city had initially planned to put the question to voters last April, but pulled it from the ballot in January after discovering a calculation error that would have doubled the projected property tax payment. Now, the Geneva City Council is again considering a referendum — with a particular emphasis on constructing a new police station for the city.

* Daily Herald | ‘Vendors, volunteers and vibes’: Why Arlington Heights Farmers Market is ranked top in the state: The competition of 1,263 farmers markets nationwide tallied more than 60,000 votes by the public.“That is really something to be proud of, because I know a lot of people enjoy it, and it doesn’t happen easy,” said Mayor Jim Tinaglia, who recognized farmers market committee members at this week’s village board meeting. “These are people who work really hard to make it happen.”

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Sonya Massey’s family breaks silence following Sean Grayson’s request for new trial: Sonya Massey’s cousin, Sontae Massey, told me his family is not surprised that Grayson’s lawyers are filing for a new trial. Sontae said his family doesn’t want to make a big deal out of Grayson’s defense team trying to accomplish certain procedures at the last minute. He said Grayson is guilty and everyone saw the crime he committed through the body camera footage. Sontae said Grayson is now a convicted felon and he got the conviction he deserved.

* News-Gazette | Champaign council unanimously rejects ban on public camping: The city council unanimously voted down a proposed ban on public camping after hearing two hours of public comment on the ordinance, which Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth called “draconian and regressive.” Chynoweth, who also chairs the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless, said that the city broke trust by not communicating with its partners in the continuum about the proposal. “This is a reactive and uncollaborative approach,” she said at Tuesday’s lengthy Champaign City Council meeting. “That may seem an unfair accusation, but I looked up how many times I have met with staff members on your senior team and a council member in the last three weeks. Seven meetings, 10 hours of meeting with your staff members, and I did not know about this till I woke up this morning.”

* WGEM | SAFE-T Act, conservatism debated in race for 8th Judicial Circuit judge’s position: Over the years, Pratt has advocated for the change on the basis that it doesn’t let people without a large bank account sit in jail while only the wealthy walk free. […] Under the SAFE-T Act, judges are allowed the discretion on whether to allow a defendant in a case to be jailed or to be granted pretrial release. During a pretrial hearing, a defense attorney and a prosecutor can both make the case on why a defendant should or shouldn’t be detained. […] Bass voiced his displeasure with the SAFE-T Act.

* WAND | Sangamon Co. residents voice concerns over proposed $500 million data center: “We don’t know the effect that it’s going to have on our utility bills, but we do know that everywhere these things have been built. Utility bills have gone way, not just a little,” said community member Don Hanrahan. The county is partnering with a company called CyrusOne. The project includes six data centers on one large campus, which could take six to 10 years to complete. Illinois has multiple data centers. These facilities represent more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure investment. Many people are concerned their electric bill will skyrocket, but the rural electric cooperative says rates will not increase.

* PJ Star | What to know about East Peoria emergency alert system breach: The data taken from Crisis24’s systems includes people’s names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and passwords used to create their profile for CodeRED, which notifies people about emergencies such as boil orders, weather-related closures and police and fire events. The city said that the CodeRED system was immediately decommissioned, with a new platform being created through Crisis24 using backed-up data. Any resident signed up for CodeRED through March 31 was immediately transferred over to the new platform.

* WAND | Free skating returns to downtown Springfield: The rink, located in Union Square Park, opens for the season on Wednesday with a special grand-opening celebration featuring historic re-enactors portraying Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The event begins Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. and will include ALPLM leaders and special guests. According to the ALPLM unlike traditional ice rinks, this skating surface is made of artificial material, giving visitors an ice-like experience even in above-freezing temperatures. Guests can bring their own skates or borrow a pair at Union Station at no cost.

* SJ-R | Residents spent millions on these gaming machines in Springfield: 833 video gaming terminals live in Springfield, spread across 151 establishments. What establishments are most popular, and which pay out the most? Gamblers in Springfield wagered $596.4 million in 2024, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. The capital city wagered more than any other Illinois city in that year, winning $544.3 million.

*** National ***

* AP | Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records’ Booker T and the M.G.’s, has died at age 84: AP) — Steve Cropper, the lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter who helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics “Green Onions,” “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” has died. He was 84. […] Cropper’s very name was immortalized in the 1967 smash “Soul Man,” recorded by Sam & Dave. Midway, singer Sam Moore calls out “Play it, Steve!” as Cropper pulls off a tight, ringing riff, a slide sound that Cropper used a Zippo lighter to create. The exchange was reenacted in the late 1970s when Cropper joined the John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd act “The Blues Brothers” and played on their hit cover of “Soul Man.”

18 Comments

Good morning!

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Keb’ Mo’…

Lift up your voice and sing

* We raised about $12,000 on Monday to buy Christmas presents for foster kids cared for by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. We raised about $10,000 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we raised less than $6,500.

Let’s be clear, these are not horrible numbers. But we’re at $28K and the total needed to buy presents for more than 2,500 foster kids is $62,500.

People, please, click here and dig deep. Thanks!

* Anyway, this is an open thread.

2 Comments

Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

We’ve raised $4,000 so far today. Thank you! But that’s not enough.

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois needs a lot more to make sure every foster child in its care receives a Christmas gift this year. All the money goes directly to gifts, and the average gift costs about $25.

So this is the moment to step up. If you can give, please click here and help us close that big gap. Every dollar truly counts. Thanks!!!

* AP…

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week that the federal government would start withholding money to help run the SNAP food aid program from states that don’t provide data on participants, including their immigration status.

The department said the government needs the data to spot fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps 42 million Americans, or about 1 in 8, buy groceries.

The plan to withhold the administrative funds is an escalation of a legal battle that’s been going on since shortly after President Donald Trump took office. It’s decidedly partisan. Only states led by Democrats have failed to provide the information the administration seeks. […]

USDA plans to notify states that have not provided the requested information that they’re not in compliance as soon as next week. The states would have more time to comply.

And after that, they could appeal.

Governor JB Pritzker was asked about the threat to withhold SNAP benefits at an unrelated news conference today…

Pritzker: As you know, they’ve been gathering databases that are— people should deserve privacy, whether they’re a SNAP recipient or not. It should not be information that gets gathered by and then disseminated by the federal government. But we’re obviously following all the rules around SNAP. We always have nothing that they’re requesting would reveal anything that’s untoward about the program. And again, this is all about effectuating a policy that’s bad for the United States, bad for the state of Illinois. All we’re trying to do is feed people. And everybody in the United States deserves to have a decent three squares a day, and SNAP is really not very much money to provide to people. I don’t know why they’re going after this problem. You want to go after want to go after fraud. I mean real fraud. There are lots of people who are Medicaid providers, Medicare providers out there that the federal government should be looking into to ask what kind of fraud that they’re perpetrating. And indeed, that kind of fraud gets exposed every once in a while, but it seems to me, they’ve taken people off of that job, out of the FBI and then other jobs like the DEA and ATF all, to move them over into immigration work that is ineffectual, inappropriate. We need comprehensive immigration reform, not hunting people down based upon the color of their skin. So I reject the idea that the federal government is doing something that’s good for the country by gathering these databases, because we know that’s not what it’s all about.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Volts | How Illinois passed its third big clean-energy bill in a decade: David Roberts, Kady McFadden and John Delurey talk about the state’s decision to empower its utility commission to directly procure clean energy. We discuss why capacity markets are too slow for the current environment and their strategy of aggressively framing renewables and storage not just as green, but as the only “fast and cheap” way to protect ratepayers from price spikes.

* Sen. Robert Peters | Our IVF experience heightened awareness of threats to access: Somehow, the Republicans didn’t anticipate the tidal wave of national outrage that their attacks on IVF would create. The dream of starting or expanding a family isn’t a partisan issue, and access to IVF is extremely popular across both parties. In 2023, nearly 96,000 babies were born from IVF, up from the year before, accounting for almost 3% of all births in the U.S. Yet Republicans continue blocking a bill sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would protect IVF nationwide.

* Chicago Reader | Righting systemic wrongs of Illinois prisons: Even though Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011, we allow for “death by incarceration.” Most incarcerated people over 20 in Illinois have no opportunity to earn parole or early release, since the state abolished discretionary parole in 1978. In 1998, the state passed the so-called “truth-in-sentencing” laws, which have restricted most people from earning time off their sentences. This means those with life sentences without parole or de facto life sentences will likely never see life outside of prison again.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | SEIU looks to beef up CPS ranks amid dispute with teachers union: The Service Employees International Union is looking to beef up its ranks within Chicago Public Schools, a development with significant implications for the workers it is looking to organize — and for city politics. SEIU Local 73 filed a petition to add about 1,600 school-based CPS workers to its ranks with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board on Nov. 10. But the union’s one-time ally, the Chicago Teachers Union, contends that some of those workers rightfully belong to CTU. The dispute is the latest development in a feud between the two progressive labor unions that has its roots in a turf war over other jobs within the school district.

* Legal Newsline | CTU can’t sue group for campaigning in union elections: At issue is the federal Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, a 1959 law that bars a union or an employer from spending money promoting candidates for union office. CTU and member Moselean Parker accused a rival group, Educators 4 Excellence, of violating that law by recruiting and promoting candidates during a May 2022 CTU election cycle. After U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang dismissed the complaint, CTU took the issue to the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Michael Brennan wrote the panel’s opinion, filed Nov. 19; Judges Joshua Kolar and Nancy Maldonado concurred, with Maldonado writing a brief special concurrence.

* WBEZ | Trump administration sued for South Shore raid footage that fed propaganda videos: Democracy Forward, a Washington D.C.-based legal organization that has challenged the Trump administration, state and local governments and right-wing movements over the past decade, filed a public records request for all original footage from the raid in the South Shore neighborhood. That request has gone unfulfilled, the group said, so it filed a seven-page federal complaint in the U.S. District court in D.C. late last month. The suit seeks to compel the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to search for and release any available footage.

* Block Club | Little Village Chamber Leader Thanked Border Patrol As Agents Arrested Neighbors, Video Shows: The staffer, Olman Chaheine, was the chamber’s director of outreach and community development, tasked with connecting and supporting Little Village businesses and the Latino-majority community. Little Village — a famed enclave for Mexican Americans and Latino immigrants — has been hit hard in recent months as federal agents targeted the area during Operation Midway Blitz, taking employees as they worked inside local restaurants and snatching people off the streets. Businesses have struggled as workers and would-be customers stayed home out of fear. … In an emailed statement Tuesday night, the Little Village Chamber of Commerce leaders said they strongly condemn the statements made “by a former staff member.”

* Block Club | South Side’s 1st Youth Crisis Center Opens At Renovated Englewood Community Service Facility: The $3 million overhaul includes a new mental wellness clinic, a family resource hub and a “Golden Years Program” for seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The mental wellness clinic hosts the first Youth Crisis Stabilization Center on the South Side, McKinley Community Services CEO Jamal Malone said. The Sophia Cafe, an addition to the Englewood center named in honor of the nonprofit’s founder, will provide healthy food options to the community while employing people with disabilities when it opens to the public in the spring, Malone said. Food served at the cafe will be sourced from the nonprofit’s outdoor urban farm on 18th Street and Wabash Avenue, Malone said.

* Sun-Times | Chicago torture victim imprisoned 33 years for double murder now in line for $15 million settlement: Smith was released from prison in 2020 after spending 33 years behind bars, and has since been granted a certificate of innocence. The settlement amount being weighed by the Council pales in comparison to the $66 million that he sought in his lawsuit filed in 2021 in federal court in Chicago. Smith was 39 when he was arrested in September 1987 for the murder of his wife’s mother and her grandmother. According to his lawsuit, officers placed Smith “in a small windowless interrogation room and handcuffed him to a ring on a wall” before they “beat him in the chest, threatened and choked him.”

* Sun-Times | Illinois Medical District getting its first park in 80 years: The park would occupy a triangle of land bounded by Ogden Avenue, Polk Street and Damen Avenue. The project’s officials and architects said the park would act as a place of activity and rest, despite its busy locale. And it will be the site of the previously announced permanent memorial to COVID-19 victims and workers — one of the nation’s first.

* Tribune | Bruce Dold, former Chicago Tribune editor and ‘consummate newspaperman,’ dies at 70: Bruce Dold, who rose from suburban reporter to editor and publisher during his prodigious four-decade career at the Chicago Tribune, had only a handful of bylines after his name took its place on the masthead. But the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist left an indelible mark on the newspaper and the city, tackling the issues of the day, promoting civil discourse and influencing public policy. From clearheaded editorials that found common ground to the groundbreaking endorsement of Chicago’s own Barack Obama for president, Dold led the Tribune into the new millennium with a reverence for the newspaper’s storied history, and an open mind for the future.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Federation of Labor backs Pat Hynes over Fritz Kaegi for Cook County assessor: The umbrella organization for Chicago unions is backing Pat Hynes for Cook County assessor against incumbent Fritz Kaegi in the March Democratic primary and taking sides in various contested county board races. The Chicago Federation of Labor announced its endorsement of Hynes and other Cook County candidates in a Wednesday morning release, saying the Lyons Township Assessor and a former employee of the assessor’s office “knows how to get the job done.”

* Progressive Railroading | New panel to study passenger rail along Wisconsin-Illinois lakeshore: The meeting will focus on establishing the commission’s organizational structure and beginning the early coordination necessary to explore the feasibility of future passenger-rail service in southeastern Wisconsin, connecting the downtowns of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee to Chicago and communities along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, according to a press release issued by Racine city officials.

* Daily Southtown | ‘Extremely dangerous for the citizens’: Harvey Fire Department staffing down to 40% after new layoffs: Before the city announced a financial emergency and began mass layoffs, the Fire Department had 37 staff, said Keith Freeman, secretary of Harvey Firemen’s Association Local 471. Now, they’re down to just 15, and have gone from three active fire stations to just one. “This is very potentially going to cost injury or the lives of the citizens,” Freeman said. “The manpower that we have in the city, we agreed upon because it’s the required manpower to do the best we can for the citizens, to keep the citizens safe. That’s our top priority.”

* Daily Herald | Wheeling special census postponed due to government shutdown: The historic federal government shutdown that cost millions of Americans paychecks and financial aid before ending in mid-November had another casualty — Wheeling’s long-planned special census. The census was supposed to begin in October. It was commissioned by the village board to prove Wheeling has grown since the 2020 federal census put the town at 39,137 people.

* Daily Herald | Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove set restrictions for e-bikes and e-scooters: In Des Plaines, e-bikes, e-scooters and similar vehicles that are capable of exceeding 28 mph are forbidden on public streets, public sidewalks and in public parking lots. Riding through a city parking lot to reach a destination is OK, however, officials clarified before Monday’s unanimous vote. Among other rules, anyone under 16 years old is prohibited from operating less-powerful e-bikes or similar vehicles on public streets or public sidewalks and in public parking lots. Motorized vehicles that are considered toys for young children and can’t go more than 10 mph may only be operated on sidewalks, within crosswalks or on private property.

* Daily Herald | Neighbors helping neighbors: Des Plaines area volunteers cook, deliver 700 Thanksgiving dinners: The Des Plaines Community Foundation, Sysco Chicago and Sunrise Grill all worked together to provide and deliver Thanksgiving Day dinners. As a result, more than 700 recipients, including homebound seniors and people with disabilities, had a very happy Thanksgiving. “This is our 15th year making the meals and delivering the turkey dinners, and 700 is the highest number of meals to date,” said Dina Argus, executive director of the DPCF. “It’s a group effort. Turkey dinners were delivered to those in wheelchairs, on oxygen and the blind — all those who have difficulty leaving their homes.

* Shaw Local | Joliet renews prison lease amid questions from residents: The City Council approved a lease extension on the Joliet Correctional Center property on Tuesday but not without facing questions from the public. City officials said they are willing to work with the Forest Preserve District of Will County, which is interested in buying 135 acres of open land on the site.

* Crain’s | Lakefront homes lose millions in value from Winnetka bluff protections, lawsuit claims: Of the four examples, the steepest drop in value, 64%, is for Barbara Irwin’s blufftop home on Taylorsport Lane. The pre-ordinance value was $7.54 million, but under the ordinance it dropped to $2.69 million, according to Cohn Reznick’s analysis. It’s because the ordinance renders about 17,700 square feet of her 44,600-square-foot lot unbuildable.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | EMS workers accused of killing Earl Moore Jr. will be tried separately: Attorneys for Cadigan and Finley said there are too many differences between the actions of the two EMS workers, and a jury would have a hard time convicting one defendant for the other’s actions. The judge ultimately agreed to separate the cases. The state now has to decide which case to bring to trial first. The first trial will start in May, and the judge wants the second to follow soon after.

* WICS | Illinois State Police highlight Scott’s Law after snowplow crash on US Highway 36: Monday afternoon on U.S. Highway 36, near the Moultrie and Piatt County line, a driver hit an IDOT snowplow from behind. The driver of the car was rushed to a local hospital with injuries. […] ISP says the crash is being investigated as a Scott’s Law violation.

* Sun-Times | Fenwick shocks East St. Louis to win the 6A state title: Tuesday in the Class 6A state championship game, Fenwick junior Jake Thies put his name into Fenwick history right next to the former Notre Dame great. Thies’ two big plays, a 74-yard TD run in the third quarter and an interception in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, were the key moments in the Friars’ 38-28 win against heavily favored East St. Louis at ISU’s Hancock Stadium.

*** National ***

* NYT | Private Employers Cut Jobs in November, the Latest Sign of a Slowdown: Private employment fell by 32,000 jobs last month, the payroll processing company ADP said on Wednesday. It was the third decline in four months and, taken at face value, would be a clear sign that the labor market, after months of cooling, had entered a new, more worrying phase.

* NPR | The use and misuse of the word ‘ideology’: Today, “ideology has essentially become a form of name-calling,” said Jason Blakely, a political scientist at Pepperdine University and author of Lost in Ideology. He argues conservatives often deploy the term to describe what they view as faddish beliefs that threaten traditional moral orders, while liberals use it to criticize inherited hierarchies they see as limiting human flourishing.

7 Comments

Kinda looks like magic money

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As you probably know, a group of Chicago alderpersons proposed a competing budget idea to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fiscal plan yesterday. Click here for the synopsis. The proposal makes $441.4 million in adjustments including eliminating the mayor’s $100 million corporate “head tax,” restoring $139.9 million in advance pension payments and funding $166 million in firefighter back pay without borrowing.

The council proposal includes $441.4 million in revenue sources. The greatest single amount, $150 million - about a third of the entire proposal - is an undefined “Improved Debt Collections” line.

* It’s not at all clear how the city is supposed to do that. It has had real trouble for decades collecting debt, much of which is deemed uncollectible.

The idea was mentioned briefly and mostly down deep in some news stories. Tribune…

The aldermen’s budget also relies on a number of untested ideas: $26 million to come from licensing city property for “augmented reality” advertisements, $150 million from “improved debt collection” and $31.6 million from improved revenue projections based on data released Friday.

Crain’s…

The $441 million replacement package includes at least $153 million in new or increased taxes, a staggering $150 million in improved one-year debt collections and $31.6 million from an improved revenue forecast.

WTTW…

The alternative plan calls for the city to collect $150 million more in debt from residents than the mayor’s plan projects, and urges the city to increase its estimates on tax revenue collection by $31.6 million, saying the mayor’s plan is too conservative.

ABC 7…

The alternative budget includes over $90 million worth of efficiencies and $150 million in debt collections.

Discuss.

24 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Another supplement to today’s edition

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Pritzker says he has no regrets about wearing bullet-proof vest on Jimmy Kimmel show to mock Trump’s statements on Chicago crime

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’ve always said that politicians should leave the comedy to comedians. This advice comes from watching decades of “jokes” backfire badly on some of them. I’ve also made it clear that I really don’t like this whole idea of responding to criticism of Chicago crime by going downtown and posting pretty pictures and videos. Yes, it’s a gorgeous city. A great city. But Chicago has problems that can’t be whitewashed with how spectacular downtown is.

You may disagree, but that’s just what I believe.

* Anyway, the two warnings came together last month during the Thanksgiving break…

As @GovPritzker jokes about crime and violence, Chicagoans are being killed, violated and traumatized.

Check out the contrast between his Kimmel skit and the reality for Chicagoans on the ground.

2026 is a change election. Vote @tedforillinois #twill @ilgop #crime pic.twitter.com/m7BCkUCmMX

— Ted For Illinois (@TedForIllinois) November 24, 2025

Ted is being overly dramatic, of course, but that’s the job of a candidate. So don’t get too hung up on him. He’s being used here mainly to illustrate the context.

* From today’s presser…

Isabel: Governor, in early October you appeared downtown for a Jimmy Kimmel show wearing a bulletproof vest to mock Trump’s claims that Chicago is a lawless battle zone. But last month, a teen died and others were injured outside the Chicago Theater on State Street. Do you regret that choice of satire?

Pritzker: People that call Illinois a hell-hole or Chicago a hell-hole, people that denigrate our state deserve to be mocked. And that is what I was trying to do.

The fact is that this is a great city in the greatest state in the nation, and we should be showing it off, and not having a President of the United States denigrating it, by the way, with facts that are old or inaccurate. And so that’s what I was trying to do, and I don’t regret that at all.

I think everybody needs a laugh, even in the midst of, frankly, in the onslaught that comes from The White House every single day

Thoughts?

53 Comments

Catching up with the federal candidates (Updated)

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* NBC…

Mayra Macías is a lifelong Democrat and Chicago native who has worked on Latino advocacy and promoting former President Joe Biden’s agenda. She announced her candidacy Wednesday to run as an independent in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District. If elected, Macías said she would caucus with Democrats.

“I’ve really focused my whole career on building and serving and making sure that we’re fighting for quality education, health care and affordable housing,” Macías said. “Under the Trump administration, we’re seeing a lot of this progress rolled back.”

[Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s] surprise retirement announcement in early November created a firestorm and drew a rebuke from his own party. His plans were known only to his chief of staff, Patty Garcia (no relation). Because the congressman announced his retirement after the filing deadline, Patty Garcia was the only one to file the required signatures before the deadline to run as a Democrat in March.

But there is still time to run as an independent in a general election, with signatures not due until May. Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, another potential candidate, confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that he launched a committee to explore a run as an independent.

Reuters…

In an interview, Macías credited Gluesenkamp Perez for bringing attention to the issue and said she is eager to engage voters and let them know they will have a choice next fall.
“We can’t turn a blind eye to anti-democratic practices here in our own backyard because they’re perpetuated by our own party,” she said. “We have to hold each other accountable if we’re seeking to uphold our democratic institutions and the democratic process nationally. We can’t just do it when it’s convenient.” […]

She highlighted affordability, immigration and democracy as key planks of her campaign and framed herself as a fighter who will stand up to President Donald Trump’s administration to protect those in her Latino-heavy district.

“Seeing the impact, or sometimes what feels like the lack of impact, members of Congress have, I did think deeply about this decision,” Macías said. “It’s rooted in wanting to make sure that I’m fighting so that people like my family don’t feel like they work hard and they keep working harder and yet things are getting more and more expensive because of Trump’s tariffs and there’s no respite in sight.”

According to the State Board of Elections, Marías and Sigcho-Lopez would need 10,816 valid signatures to run as Independents. They could collect up to 17,304 signatures.

*** UPDATE *** Very important list…

Today, Progressive Democrat Patty García announced a broad coalition of labor support, including new endorsements from unions representing over 1.5 million members in Illinois and nationwide (see below), underscoring García’s long-standing partnership with labor. Their support reflects her long-standing advocacy for protecting workers’ rights, strengthening collective bargaining, and expanding economic opportunity for working Americans.

“I am honored to receive the support of the hardworking men and women who keep our communities running every single day,” said Patty García. “In Congress, I will fight for fair, livable wages, safer workplaces, stronger unions, and an economy that uplifts workers. We’re building a campaign rooted in the workers and families of this district, and I’m proud to have labor by my side.”

Labor Coalition Endorsing Patty García for Congress:

LIUNA Laborers’ Local 4
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWED)
Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council
Teamsters Joint Council 25 (JC25)
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS)
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
SEIU Illinois State Council,
SMART Transportation Division
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)

“Patty has a long history of standing with unions and workers,” said Thomas Stiede, President of the Teamsters Joint Council 25. “Patty has fought for increased wages, affordable healthcare, and lower costs for working families being squeezed by the affordability crisis. Patty will attack the challenges confronting working families head on and our members will work hard to elect her the next Congresswoman from Illinois’ 4th.”

“Some might think Patty is a new face, but trust me: those of us who know her know that the 4th Congressional office wouldn’t run without her,” said Brenda Bedolla, City and County Political Coordinator for SEIU. “She’s not new to the work. Patty García has been the backbone behind Congressman Chuy García’s success.”

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Politico…

—In IL-08: Yasmeen Bankole has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in her bid for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District.

— In IL-07: State Rep. La Shawn Ford has been endorsed by state Reps. Carol Ammons, Michael Crawford, Fred Crespo and Thaddeus Jones in his bid for Congressman Danny Davis’ seat.

— Also in IL-07: Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin has been endorsed by Ald. William Hall and Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry in her bid for Congress.

— In IL-02: Patrick Keating, a trial and appellate attorney, is kicking off his campaign Thursday for the Democratic primary for Congress in the 2nd District.

* The Sun-Times…

U.S. Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi on Tuesday released a lengthy economic policy blueprint that includes a nationwide free lunch program, expanding the child tax credit and helping first-time homeowners get a refundable tax credit.

Krishnamoorthi’s “Restore the American Dream” plan includes policies for all stages of life — from children to those in retirement. The fundraising leader in the heated race to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin in August unveiled a “Trump accountability plan” for his Senate campaign that includes pushing to restrict ICE agents from wearing masks and introducing constitutional amendments to block self-pardons and a potential presidential term.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are also vying for the Durbin seat. Kelly in September released an economic policy blueprint aimed at affordability that calls for taxing the ultra rich, raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicare. And Stratton in October released an economic agenda that includes expanding Medicare and bringing Illinois Birth Equity Initiative to the federal level to reduce maternal mortality.

Just as with the bulk of Kelly and Stratton’s plans, the success of many of Krishnamoorthi’s policy positions rely heavily on Democrats being able to clear substantial measures through the Senate.

* US Senate Candidate Juliana Stratton…

I’m proud to be endorsed by @StopBigMoney, and I’m joining their Unrig Washington campaign to enact lasting reform to our political system.

It’s simple:
✅ Refuse corporate PAC money
✅ Support a stock trading ban
✅ Crack down on dark money#ecuunrigwashington pic.twitter.com/4XjuHQAwdl

— Juliana Stratton (@JulianaStratton) December 2, 2025

GOP US Senate candidate Don Tracy’s response…

In yet another X post today, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton repeats her campaign talking point that she rejects corporate PAC money. Right around the same time she made her initial pledge, however, billionaire Governor JB Pritzker launched a super PAC for the benefit of her campaign. It’s just another political maneuver.

Here’s how the game works: Stratton repeats her talking point about refusing corporate PAC contributions while Pritzker builds the PAC infrastructure behind her. Direct donations to her campaign face federal limits and require public disclosure. The Illinois Future PAC? Unlimited amounts, anonymous donors (aka:“dark money”), zero accountability for Stratton.

“Stratton and Pritzker are running a political two-step on Illinois voters,” Don Tracy states. “She makes the pledge. He builds the machine. Stratton keeps her hands clean with public promises, while Pritzker’s operatives do the heavy lifting through the Illinois Future PAC.”

Voters hear “no corporate PAC money” and think they’re getting reform. Meanwhile, special interests and lobbyists give her unlimited money through Pritzker’s super PAC.

“Career politicians like Pritzker and Stratton know exactly what they’re doing: maintaining the same power structure while telling voters they’re getting something different.

“I am running for Senate because I’ve had enough of Illinois and Chicago Democrats’ political double-talk, and I believe Illinoisans have too. It’s time we had a strong leader in Illinois who focused on doing the right thing and standing up for Illinois working families rather than continuing to play these tired political games.”

* More…

The Intelligencer | Seven questions with Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi:

10 Comments

Question of the day: 2025 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager is a tie. Tara Horn…

Sen. Sue Rezin’s LA is one of the most competent, responsive, organized and friendly LA in the capital. She greets everyone who comes in kindly even when she is insanely busy managing all of Sen. Rezin’s meetings. She also helps with other members given she has 20 years of knowledge. Definitely should be this year’s winner!

And Tracy Weiters…

Tracy Weiters in Senator DeWitte’s office is an institution in the Capitol, going back to her time with House Republican Leadership. She has retained the institutional knowledge necessary to be helpful to both lobbyists and staff in many more ways than just managing her member’s office and calendar in Springfield. Not to mention, it’s been a big year for transportation and revenue, both issues Senator DeWitte serves as MS for, and she stayed on top of it all. She’s very deserving of this year’s Golden Horseshoe.

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager goes to Trisha Ray…

She’s truly great. She’s incredibly organized and keeps her Senator on track. But she’s also kind and always willing to help. Sen Peters takes on a lot of big issues, and often controversial ones, and she’s able to handle the steady stream of in-person visits and calls (which are often vitriolic) with incredible grace.

Honorable mention goes to Emily Ozier.

Congratulations!

* OK, let’s move on to today’s categories…

Best House Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager

Remember to explain your nominations or they won’t count. This is about intensity, not numbers. Also, do your very best to nominate in both categories. Breeann Steinacher and Caitlin Anderson won last year and are not eligible this year.

* After you’ve made your nominations, please click here and help us buy Christmas presents for more than 2,500 foster kids in the care of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. They count on us every year, and we just cannot let them down. Thanks!

32 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: After ominous signs from 7th Circuit, attorneys abruptly move to dismiss lawsuit restricting use of force by immigration agents. Tribune…

* Related stories…

• NYT: Lawsuit Challenging Border Patrol’s Use of Force in Chicago Area Is Dropped
• AP: Protesters move to end their lawsuit over immigration officers’ tactics in the Chicago area
• Sun-Times: Lawyers challenging aggressive Chicago immigration enforcement move to dismiss case

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*************************************************

* Governor JB Pritzker will be at Navy Pier at 10:30 am to “highlight Illinois’ plans to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.” Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Appeals court weighs release of immigration detainees to electronic monitoring: The judge ruled in response to immigration and civil rights lawyers’ allegations that Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly violated a 2022 federal consent decree restricting the use of warrantless arrests for undocumented immigrants. But the Trump administration appealed, and on Tuesday argued to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that the judge overstepped his authority by modifying the consent decree. At least one of the three judges on the panel — Trump appointee Thomas Kirsch II — seemed to agree. He criticized Cummings’ November order to release detainees along with his Oct. 7 order extending the consent decree until February. Cummings was appointed by President Joe Biden.

* NBC | Illinois officials warn rental car companies that it is illegal for immigration agents to swap license plates: The office’s review of more than 600 public complaints alleging the practice has so far led to one license plate revocation, according to another letter obtained via the FOIA. That revocation was of a license plate belonging to a 2026 Chevy Tahoe that had been rented by immigration agents, according to a statement from the Illinois secretary of state. The rental company targeted in the Nov. 10 letter, EAN Holdings LLC., which is the parent company of Enterprise Rent-A-Car and other brands, can request a hearing to challenge the decision. A company representative did not respond to a request for comment.

* Tribune | Ray LaHood, former GOP congressman and Obama’s transportation secretary, named head of Edgar Fellows program: He was named distinguished director of the program by the nonprofit board Wednesday and will take on a larger role in outreach and civic engagement as well as in supporting the financial sustainability of the organization’s initiatives. “Edgar Fellows is Jim’s living legacy to the State of Illinois,” former Illinois first lady Brenda Edgar said in a statement. “The entire Edgar family is pleased that longtime friend and respected Illinoisian Ray LaHood will be joining the organization in this important role.

*** Statehouse News ***

* CNI | Pritzker signs bill allowing Illinois to issue state-specific vaccine guidelines: IDPH will now be able to form guidelines using a combination of the CDC’s guidance, recommendations from the World Health Organization and other medical and scientific disease prevention experts — and require that immunizations recommended by the state be covered by state-regulated insurance plans. House bill sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, emphasized the timeliness of the issue, referencing breaking news from Tuesday morning that indicated the CDC vaccine advisory committee planned to discuss child immunization schedules and the efficacy of Hepatitis B vaccines when it meets on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.

* WTVO | Illinois extends financial aid to undocumented students starting January 1st, 2026: Beginning January 1st, 2026, undocumented students living in Illinois will become eligible for state and local financial aid under a new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August. House Bill 460 extends eligibility for grants, scholarships, stipends, and other state funded student aid to all Illinois residents regardless of immigration status. Bill sponsor Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) said, “If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | First, ICE raided their Chicago apartment building. Now, they’re being forced to vacate it: The Circuit Court of Cook County granted an order on Nov. 24 from Wells Fargo Bank to have residents at 7500 S. Shore Drive to vacate by Dec. 5 for those with valid leases and all other occupants were instructed to leave by Dec. 12 of this year. The South Shore Tenants Union, supported by the Metropolitan Tenants Organization and Southside Together, said they were blindsided by the court order, which was granted without tenant input and leaves members “scrambling to find housing in bitterly cold weather.” “This is my community and I should not be forced out especially at a time like this when it’s literally freezing outside,” said Travaris Ivy.

* Sun-Times | Mayor Brandon Johnson makes emotional plea for embattled corporate head tax proposal: Johnson began his weekly City Hall news conference with defiance, but ended it emotionally as he talked about his father, now fighting Alzheimer’s, who taught him the work ethic and drive to protect everyday people, something that has guided the mayor through this second straight budget stalemate. “There are lines of Chicagoans, right now, of people who do not have food. … And if you’ve never gone hungry, you wouldn’t know why I have that urgency — if you’ve never opened up your refrigerator and there’s nothing in it. Poverty sucks,” the mayor said.

* Block Club | Mayor Johnson Doubles Down On Corporate Head Tax As Majority Of Alders Pitch Alternative Budget Plan: “Corporations are making a killing right now, and we have alders that are more interested in defending these big corporations than families like mine who went without food and electricity and could not afford rent and mortgage,” Johnson said. “The vast majority of the people in this city are struggling every single day just to make the ends meet. And we have alders that are playing games with those families.”

* Crain’s | Breakaway aldermen offer counter-budget that kills head tax: The plan, presented in a letter to be sent to Johnson and provided to Crain’s, accounts for hundreds of millions in changes to Johnson’s $16.6 billion plan and includes new or increased taxes on rideshare trips, garbage collection, liquor sales — with an exemption for bars and restaurants — and an additional $90 million in potential savings the mayor has previously said would not be feasible in 2026.

* WBEZ | As cold weather settles over Chicago, advocates call out Trump’s new homelessness policies: Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to shift $3.9 billion in long-term housing to transitional housing requiring work and addiction treatment. More than 7,500 Illinoisans could be at risk of losing housing.

* Crain’s | Illinois EPA signs off on revamp of old South Works site to quantum campus: The site had previously received a letter from the IEPA requiring no further remediation at the vacant former U.S. Steel South Works, but the developers voluntarily enrolled in the state’s site-remediation program. […] The IEPA’s approval clears the way for construction to begin at the quantum park, which takes up 128 acres of the site south of 87th Street. Work on a facility for PsiQuantum, which plans to build one of the world’s first commercial-scale quantum computers on the site, will begin this month, along with remediation work. Clayco is building PsiQuantum’s facility.

* Higher Ed Dive | University of Chicago nearly halves its budget deficit to $160M: The University of Chicago cut its fiscal 2025 budget deficit by about 44% to $160 million after years of belt-tightening measures amid financial headwinds, it announced last week. The private nonprofit’s operating loss fell by over half to $86.4 million, per its latest financials.

* Daily Herald | O’Hare ‘conundrum’ could upend when Global Terminal, new concourses are built: The challenging logistics are why Chicago might revise a hard-won 2024 deal with United and American airlines that prioritized building a Global Terminal and a new satellite “Concourse D.” A second, satellite “Concourse E,” would come last. Instead, the city might construct both satellite concourses first and put the Global Terminal, which replaces Terminal 2, on temporary hold. “O’Hare planners face a conundrum,” DePaul Professor Joseph Schwieterman and analyst Samantha Rouzan wrote in “O’Hare’s Traffic Trajectory,” a study released Wednesday.

* Sun-Times | DuSable Black History Museum, CEO misused public funds, whistleblower alleges: The lawsuit is the latest in an ongoing whistleblower campaign by Kim Dulaney, a retired Chicago State University professor who joined the South Side museum in 2021 as director of education and programs. She later became the vice president of the same department. Dulaney alleges in her suit, filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, that she was retaliated against after “questioning DuSable’s irregular fiscal practices.” Dulaney claims in the suit that she was excluded from meetings, harassed and ultimately terminated in October. The lawsuit brings the claims forward under the Illinois Whistleblower Act.

* Block Club | Should Christkindlmarket Move? Mayor Floats Idea, But Vendors And Organizers Not So Sure: Johnson did not share details about where the popular market could go. “We want to make sure that we have a safe mechanism in which people can enjoy Downtown, and so that may include looking at a much larger space,” he said. “And that’s a good thing for our economy.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Cook County’s top prosecutor touts increase in pretrial detention, urges electronic monitoring reform: Since taking office, judges have granted detention in 80% of violent crime cases, 85% of aggravated domestic battery and 76% of machine gun cases, all higher than under the previous state’s attorney, Kim Foxx, according to the state’s attorney’s office. “We are not asking for detention on every case,” Burke said. “We are asking for detention when someone presents a danger to the community, and we will continue to do that on each and every case when someone is a danger.”

* Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi released his first video ad of his reelection campaign…

Our first ad is live!

Big corporations have been gaming the property tax system for years. When their bills go down, yours go up to make up the difference — just like a seesaw.

The system is rigged. That’s why I'm fighting to make it fairer for you. pic.twitter.com/e0gjrRUGyf

— Fritz Kaegi (@fritz4assessor) December 2, 2025

* Daily Herald | Hanover Park police officer detained by ICE returns to active duty: Department leaders previously stated that Bojovic’s hire in January was made in full compliance with federal and state law. Officials said Bojovic presented the village with a valid Work Authorization Card issued by the federal government’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additionally, both FBI and Illinois State Police background checks revealed no criminal history, officials said. Bojovic returned to active duty Monday, and village will provide him back pay for the time he was on administrative leave.

* Tribune | Lake Bluff trustees closer to a vote on policies on possible federal agents’ immigration actions in the village: At their Nov. 24 meeting, trustees unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance outlining village procedures in light of Operation Midway Blitz, a controversial federal immigration crackdown in which officers have detained numerous people, including some in nearby communities.

* Daily Herald | DuPagePads receives historic $5 million grant from Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez Bezos: The 40-year-old organization plans to use the $5 million over the next five years to expand outreach, create a year-round family overflow shelter and accelerate rapid rehousing for families, officials said in a grant announcement. The funds will also sustain educational and transportation supports for children experiencing homelessness.

*** Downstate ***

* Illinois Times | Grayson’s attorneys ask for new trial: Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson’s lawyers say he deserves a new trial for the 2024 murder of Sonya Massey because the presiding judge erred when allowing the jury to hear Grayson’s disparaging remarks about Massey after the fatal shooting. “As a result, the events following the shooting had no relevance to the issues in the case,” attorneys Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff wrote in their Nov. 26 motion for a new trial. “The only purpose served by the introduction of that evidence was to improperly inflame the passions of the jury – which was substantially prejudicial to the defendant.”

* WGLT | Connect Transit awarded $5 million grant for planned Bloomington transfer center: Officials have said the project has been targeted for a late 2026 opening. Transit officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday. “This funding is a welcome addition to the resources we are investing in our new Downtown Bloomington Transit Center, which is a major step forward,” Connect Transit Board Chair Julie Hile said in a statement. “We are eager to deliver on its modernized infrastructure, expanded access, and improved efficiency and safety as a member of the downtown business community. We are grateful for the federal support that makes this possible.”

* WCIA | U of I researchers get $1M FDA grant to study foodborne illness: In a news release, the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences announced that a U of I research team will use the grant money they received to monitor meat products for resistant bacteria. “These pathogens can cause disease, and they can transfer their antimicrobial resistance properties to other pathogens. We risk being surrounded by ‘superbugs’ which are difficult to kill by using traditional, anti-microbial drugs,” said principal investigator Pratik Banerjee, associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

*** National ***

* NYT | 5 Years After His Death, John Prine Gets a Cinematic Send-Off: For someone so close to his family, friends and community, John Prine’s funeral was an uncharacteristically distant affair. The memorial service for the singer-songwriter, who died from complications of Covid-19 in April 2020 at 73, had been made strange by the pandemic. “We had to beg for the opportunity for the immediate family to even gather at the funeral home here in Nashville,” recalled his wife, Fiona Whelan Prine. “We were literally sitting eight feet apart. There was no hugging. There was no commiserating.”

13 Comments

Good morning!

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I love this song…

Carve the turkey, turn the ball game on
Make Bloody Mary’s ’cause we all want one

* Good news: We raised almost $10,000 yesterday to buy Christmas presents for foster kids, putting our total at $21,675.

Bad news: Lutheran Social Services of Illinois has 2,500 foster children in its care. At $25 per gift, that means the need this year is $62,500.

Bottom line: We have a long way to go, campers.

Please click here and make a foster kid happy at Christmas. Thanks!!!

* This is an open thread.

4 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some additional news

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

The Shriver Center on Poverty Law announced Tuesday it will close at the end of the year, citing financial challenges.

The downtown Chicago-based organization has for more than 50 years litigated, shaped policy and trained lawyers, activists and community leaders working on economic and racial justice.

After evaluating the Shriver Center’s financial state this year following decreases in earned and donated revenue, the organization’s board of directors determined it could not overcome multi-year structural deficit, the organization said.

*** Statewide ***

* WIFR | Fee added to paint purchases with start of new paint recycling program in Illinois: Those buying paint in Illinois will now pay a little more as part of a state program. The program, provided by nonprofit organization PaintCare, is designed to help households and businesses recycle leftover paint. It went into effect December 1, 2025. […] Under the law, paint manufacturers are required to develop and implement a cost-effective paint stewardship program that reduces the generation of leftover paint, promotes paint reuse and recycling and manages paint waste in an environmentally friendly way.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois temporarily suspends road tests at DMV’s due to wintry weather: The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has temporarily suspended road tests at DMV facilities due to dangerous road conditions. According to the SOS’ office, that suspension was announced on Tuesday morning, citing “unsafe road conditions” after several days of wintry weather that have hammered the state. […] There was no immediate word on when those services would resume. Motorists are urged to check the state’s website for the latest information on test conditions at their local DMV.

* Illinois Answers Project | Illinois’ Low-Cost Library Program Takes on the Justice Gap: The need is serious. Researchers report that in Illinois there are just four legal aid lawyers for every 10,000 low-income residents who need one. And most civil litigants without attorneys struggle to access basic court resources. […] Last fall, it partnered with the Chicago Bar Foundation and the Illinois Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission (ATJ) to launch the library initiative that puts a $1,000 computer setup in 18 libraries across the state and provides legal training for staff.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Bloomberg | Illinois among states pressing ‘buy now, pay later’ firms for loan details: “Consumers may not realize that buy-now-pay-later loans don’t have the same protections as other loan products,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a press release. “Individuals who are facing financial hardship or who are new to using loans are especially vulnerable to getting trapped in a cycle of debt, particularly if taking out many buy now, pay later loans. I join my fellow attorneys general in asking that these lenders provide information, so we can determine whether they are complying with consumer protection laws.”

*** Catching Up with the Federal Candidates ***

* Sun-Times | Krishnamoorthi’s ‘American Dream’ economic plan includes homeowner tax credit, free lunch for kids: Krishnamoorthi’s “Restore the American Dream” plan includes policies for all stages of life — from children to those in retirement. The fundraising leader in the heated race to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin in August unveiled a “Trump accountability plan” for his Senate campaign that includes pushing to restrict ICE agents from wearing masks and introducing constitutional amendments to block self-pardons and a potential presidential term.

* 9th CD candidate Daniel Biss has been endorsed by Attorney General Kwame Raoul…

"Since our time together in the state senate, I’ve known Daniel Biss as the progressive leader to turn to when trying to get hard things done. Now that as Attorney General I’m at the forefront of standing up to the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks, Daniel has been a… pic.twitter.com/oVOA3tAoJ0

— Daniel Biss (@DanielBiss) December 2, 2025

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Mayor Johnson Rejects Rival Budget Proposal, Saying It Is $700M Short: “Look, they’re going to have to find 34 alders who can compel working people that they’re gonna balance the budget off of their backs,” Johnson said, vowing to “protect the working people of Chicago” and calling the rival budget proposal “$700 million short.” It would take 34 alderpeople to override a mayoral veto.

* Illinois Answers Project | Budget Woes: Mayor, Council Clash Over Programs That Feds Once Paid for That Johnson Wants to Keep — on The City’s Tab: An Illinois Answers Project review of published data, memos and records requests found that Johnson’s budget proposes to shift 62 full-time employees previously backed by ARPA — mostly mental health outreach workers — onto the city’s ledger at a cost of $7 million. The mayor also wants to carry over $26 million in grants for programming related to youth employment, homelessness services, domestic violence programs and support for victims of violent crimes, according to city budget officials. About $10 million of that sum would be shifted to the Corporate Fund, the city’s core operating budget, with about another $13 million diverted to a new Community Safety Fund and the rest moved into a fund backed by cannabis taxes.

* Crain’s | Citywide ban on intoxicating hemp up for a vote over Johnson’s objection: The City Council’s License Committee is expected to vote on a measure that would extend current local bans at the neighborhood level to the entire city despite the Johnson administration asking aldermen to pump the brakes. The full City Council would need to approve the measure. As drafted, the ban would begin 10 days after the ordinance is approved. Lead sponsor, Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, told Crain’s “I’m confident in my roll call.”

* ABC Chicago | Chicago residents worry over Cook County property tax increases as payment due soon: Some West Side residents and pastors held a press conference Monday morning, pleading for help, as the Cook County property taxes are due in two weeks. They fear the higher bills could lead to vacant buildings and homelessness. “The people who can least afford to pay are given the highest bills; it means get out of town. We don’t want you in this city,” said the Rev. Marshall Hatch, with New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.

* Tribune | Actor and director Robert Townsend raises funds for West Side nonprofits with pop-up film fest: Townsend is in Chicago this week to host a pop-up film festival Dec. 6-7 — one that will showcase films significant to him and subsequently raise funds for the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP and The Answer, Inc., the Forest Park-based organization that supports people of color with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families. Townsend is childhood friends with Karl Brinson, Westside Branch NAACP president, and Debra Vines, CEO and founder of The Answer, Inc.

* Crain’s | Chicago Reader names new editor-in-chief: The Chicago Reader has a new leader: Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sarah Conway, who was just brought on as editor-in-chief for the weekly newspaper, the outlet announced today. Conway, who grew up in Joliet, joins the Reader from City Bureau, where she held roles ranging from managing editor to senior reporter for eight years. She also co-founded and led Borderless Magazine as editorial director for three years while also reporting for City Bureau. It was during her time at City Bureau that she landed the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, for a series on how Chicago police investigate missing persons cases.

* Sun-Times | Chicago overtakes NYC for worst vehicle congestion in the US, survey says: Chicago placed second worst in the world behind only Istanbul. The report said traffic on average is worsening across the globe. “As the demand for vehicular travel continues to grow faster than the supply of roadway[s], traffic congestion and delay[s] tend to grow,” the authors wrote in the report. Chicago drivers saw a 10% increase in 2025 in the average time wasted this year in peak traffic, according to the report.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Northwestern deal with Trump administration divides students, faculty: Jackie Stevens, president of Northwestern’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, noted that a large cohort of faculty feels “ongoing disappointment” about the agreement. She characterized it as both an acquiescence to Trump and a betrayal to academic freedom. “It’s extortion,” Stevens said. “I don’t even think it’s about the $75 million, I think it’s just about the show of power, right?”

* Evanston Now | Biss slams NU deal with feds: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said he was “disgusted” by terms in Northwestern University’s agreement with the federal government that includes a $75 million payout to close investigations and return funding. In his first statement since the agreement was announced Friday evening, Biss wrote that the Trump administration had “essentially blackmailed Northwestern University … into bending to its will,” by freezing nearly $800 million in federal funding.

* Daily Herald | How to enforce ICE ban? Arlington Heights ordinance suggests going to court: “If they violate this, there’ll be documentation and consideration of legal action, but at the same time we just have to acknowledge the reality of this, and we don’t want to lull people into a false sense of security,” Recklaus said. Trustee Wendy Dunnington, who proposed the rules last month, said the board’s unanimous vote shows residents that village officials care about the issue. “We know that people are scared and that immigrants are an important part of our community and that we really value them in Arlington Heights,” she said.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County begins to adjust its roadwork plans: One of those moves was an almost $7 million cut in funding for transportation in favor of public safety spending, by way of reallocating some of the Regional Transportation Authority sales tax funds the county receives. It was shortly after followed by a hike in the county’s motor fuel tax to replace that lost revenue.

* Daily Herald | Batavia pub gets OK for video gambling, despite being next to two churches: The Batavia City Council approved a conditional-use permit Monday night after a lengthy debate about whether the business is too close to Bethany Lutheran Church and First Congregational Church of Batavia. The council voted 8-6 to approve the measure, with aldermen Tony Malay, Alice Lohman, Dustin Pieper, Leah Leman, Kevin Malone and Abby Beck voting “no.”

* Crain’s | Long-delayed Loeber farm housing plan may get Schaumburg’s financial assist: With about $4.8 million in tax increment financing money going to building a bridge over Salt Creek and connecting to distant utility lines, “you make it financially feasible to have the lower density that the neighbors and the community have been asking for,” Joe Nitti said. His Elmhurst-based homebuilding firm, Nitti Group, is seeking village officials’ approval to develop 122 residential units on the 33-acre parcel off Meacham Road near Algonquin Road.

*** Downstate ***

* WSIL | Jackson County officials update CodeRED alert system after cybersecurity attack: The agency shared a statement by Crisis24 Customer Support that on December 1, they successfully integrated data into the CodeRED by Crisis24 platform. This data, sourced from backup information of the legacy OnSolve CodeRED system, includes community notification enrollment, E911 data, and customer utility data. This backup reflects data available as of March 31, 2025.

* WJBD | City of Centralia approves next year’s budget: The Centralia City Council approved the city’s FY26 budget at the regular council meeting on Monday night. The budget shows an overall surplus of roughly $455,000. A public hearing was held before the meeting to present the budget. No members of the public gave any questions or comments on the budget at the hearing. The council also approved the annual property tax levy, keeping it the same as the previous year’s levy. Centralia city manager Galen Mahle said that due to increased revenue from the half-cent sales tax increase going into effect on January 1, the city did not need to increase the levy for a balanced budget this year.

* WCIA | Springfield Fire Dept. canceling monthly tornado siren due to weather: In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Springfield Fire said that due to the extremely cold temperatures, they would be canceling this month’s scheduled tornado siren test. They said cold weather can damage testing equipment and that ensuring reliability during an actual emergency is their top priority. The department said the regular tornado test will resume next month, weather permitting. They urged residents to make sure they are signed up for emergency alerts and have multiple ways to receive severe weather notifications.

* NPR Illinois | Country artist Ella Langley to play the Illinois State Fair grandstand: The Illinois State Fair has announced country music performer Ella Langley will take the Grandstand Stage as part of the 2026 Illinois State Fair lineup on Friday, August 21, 2026. Langley, one of country music’s most dynamic and fastest-rising new voices, has rapidly become a force in the genre. Her debut album, hungover, earned widespread critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Billboard and more, while her 3x Platinum-certified breakout single “you look like you love me” featuring Riley Green topped Country radio, hit the Billboard Hot 100 (Top 30), and also made CMA history—sweeping every category it has ever been nominated for and becoming the first song in CMA history to win all four honors: Single of the Year (2025), Song of the Year (2025), Music Video of the Year (2025), and Musical Event of the Year (2024)—making it the first track in CMA history to claim all four honors.

*** National ***

* 404 Media | Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build its Surveillance AI: Companies that use AI or machine learning regularly turn to overseas workers to train their algorithms, often because the labor is cheaper than hiring domestically. But the nature of Flock’s business—creating a surveillance system that constantly monitors U.S. residents’ movements—means that footage might be more sensitive than other AI training jobs.

* AP | Trump administration says it will withhold SNAP from Democrat-led states if they don’t provide data: President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless they provide information about those receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is in the works because those states are refusing to provide data the department requested such as the names and immigration status of the aid recipients.

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It’s Giving Tuesday, so here’s my pitch

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As I’ve told you before, I simply cannot imagine what the life of a foster child must be like. They’re abruptly pulled from often-times dangerous environments and handed over to an entirely new family.

Yeah, their home life was rough, but it was the only life they’d ever known. Trauma added onto trauma through no fault of their own.

But, hopefully, they end up with loving foster parents and maybe one day they can even go back home.

* In the meantime, all of these children deserve something to smile about. That’s where we come in. By helping purchase Christmas presents for more than 2,500 foster kids in the care of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, we can help create those smiles, even if just for a day.

As I write this, people have contributed nearly $17,000 to buy Christmas toys. But we can do better. Much better.

So, please, look into your hearts and click this link to help create some smiles for kids who deserve to smile a whole lot more.

* You don’t have to give a lot of money if you can’t afford it. I would never ask you to do that. All I’m asking is that you click here and give what you can to help buy some Christmas presents for children whose lives have been completely upended.

Thanks.

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Pritzker says he understands the pressure on Northwestern, but ‘I just feel like every day democracy is slipping away whenever any of us capitulate in any significant fashion’

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I saw lots of stories during the break about Northwestern University agreeing to pay the federal government $75 million to get out of some legal hot water, but I haven’t seen many reports that actually detail what’s in the agreement. Click here for some insight into that, and click here for the actual agreement.

Gov. Pritzker is not just one of the state’s most outspoken Trump critics, he’s also a Northwestern law grad who, along with his spouse, donated $100 million to what is now the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Isabel and I were both curious what he thought about the agreement, so she brought it up at today’s press conference…

Isabel: What’s your reaction to Northwestern agreeing to a settlement that adopts Trump-era definitions of sex and gender and restricts gender affirming care for minors? Do you believe the university should accept the terms? And are you concerned about the precedent this could set for other Illinois institutions?

Pritzker: I don’t think the universities should be capitulating to the extortion that’s being brought upon them by the federal administration. Period. End of sentence. Any university.

I am, you know, of the belief that every time a university signs an agreement based upon this extortion that they’re whittling away just a little bit at the democracy that I think we’ve all relied upon. So I understand what the challenges are for universities, that they’re having hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe even more than a billion dollars, taken away from them, each one. These are research institutions that all of us rely upon, by the way, for their medical research and other work that often leads to, well, groundbreaking life-saving solutions to problems in the world.

But we are, as each day goes by and as each university battles with these questions, we face the, problem of the truly existential nature of the challenge that’s before them and before us as a result.

* Isabel also asked Pritzker if he’d met with Northwestern’s president. He said he did. She asked some follow-ups to her follow-up…

Isabel: What was that conversation like?

Pritzker: I expressed what I said to you about universities and the extortion that the federal government is bringing upon them.

Isabel: Did he offer any apologies?

Pritzker: I think he expressed what I think most people in his position might say, which is the pressure that’s being put on universities today is massive. And if you think about what they were attempting to do in the face of having more than $700 million taken away from them from the federal government. Remember, we’re all for efficiency in the federal government, and you know, if you can spend less money and get the same or better results, great. That’s not what the Trump administration is doing. They’re trying to effectuate policies that are not law by taking grants away and holding the university hostage, and forcing them, therefore, to sign an agreement that might have things in it that aren’t even in the law and that the university may not want to or may not believe in, in order to get the hundreds of millions.

Why is that important to a university? Well, you can imagine you’ve got scientists that you’ve attracted to R1 institutions. These are the best research institutions in the country, and they are in danger of losing those people to foreign governments, to foreign universities, or just competitive universities.

I want them to stay in Illinois. But again, I understand the pressure that’s on them. I just feel like every day democracy is slipping away whenever any of us capitulate in any significant fashion.

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Question of the day: 2025 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Place to Gather for Dinner During Session Weeks goes to Vele…

I am always amazed at how good the food is here!! It is right there with some of the best dining establishments in Chicago!! With a great bar to compliment the food!

I hadn’t been there since they moved from downtown, but some friends of mine and I went during veto session and I was impressed.

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Place to Gather for Drinks, Etc. During Session Weeks goes to Saputo’s…

The Saputos bar has to be one of the best spots to talk Springfield shop!! Jennifer always pours a good drink with a smile!!

Never a dull moment.

* On to today’s categories…

Best Senate Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager

As always, please try to nominate in both categories. Yes, I know it’s not easy, but do your best. Also, please explain your nominations or they won’t count. Last year’s winners were Dana Hooven and Thera Bond, so they’re not eligible this year.

* After you submit your nominations, please click here and donate to our annual fundraiser to buy Christmas toys for foster kids. We raised more than $12,000 yesterday, but a whole lot of LSSI foster kids depend on us every year, so please spread some holiday joy. Thanks!

62 Comments

Rate Brendan Reilly’s TV ad

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Spotted last night on Channel 7 news…

Everything’s more expensive lately. So when Mayor Johnson tried to raise property taxes last year, I blocked it.

Now I’m running for Cook County President, because their budget’s grown by over 250% on Toni Preckwinkle’s Watch. It’s expensive enough to live here. Taxes shouldn’t make it worse. Working Ffamilies need a break. I’ll keep Cook County out of your pocket and hold the line on taxes. It’s time for a change, because you deserve better.

53 Comments

Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like the Hagers, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Darren Bailey reflects on tragedy, his decision to continue gubernatorial run. NBC Chicago…

* Related stories…

• Tribune: Humbled by personal tragedy, Republican Darren Bailey resumes his quest for Illinois governor
• ABC Chicago: GOP IL gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey speaks out after helicopter crash kills family members

***************** Advertisement *****************

Sponsored by PhRMA

340B hospitals mark up medicines and pocket the profit

Did you know 340B hospitals can charge thousands of dollars for medicines they might have bought for a penny? And they pocket the profit – passing the bill to Illinois patients, employers and taxpayers who are hit with higher medicine costs. The fact is this government program was created in 1992 to help patients access more affordable medicines. Today, the 340B program has become less about patients and more about boosting the bottom lines of hospitals and for-profit pharmacies. Tell Congress it’s time to fix 340B. Read more.

*************************************************

* At 10:30 am Gov. Pritzker will sign a bill “bolstering vaccine access.” Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Nearly 1,900 immigrants were detained during the first half of Operation Midway Blitz. Most had no criminal record: Of the 1,895 people detained by ICE, 1,271 lacked any criminal record. Another 343 people arrested had a pending criminal charge, while 281 had a criminal conviction. Of those with a criminal conviction, the vast majority of offenses were misdemeanors, traffic citations or non-violent felonies. Only 28 arrestees —1.5% — had been convicted of a violent felony or sex crime.

* Sun-Times | What Northwestern accepted from the Trump administration to get back $790M in research funds: Professors interviewed by the Sun-Times disagreed that the university remains autonomous. They decried the agreement as a violation of academic freedom and free speech. “I’m disappointed that we have capitulated,” says Laura Beth Nielsen, a sociology professor. “I’m gobsmacked at the idea that anyone can say with a straight face that this isn’t an invasion into our academic freedom.”

* WAND | Clean Slate Act: Bill automatically sealing nonviolent felony records awaits Pritzker’s signature: The proposal could allow felony convictions currently eligible for expungement to be automatically sealed by a circuit court judge or the Illinois State Police. State lawmakers passed legislation in 2017 to allow certain offenders with nonviolent felony convictions to apply for expungement. However, each of the state’s 102 counties have addressed the record sealing process differently.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | With O’Hare traffic rising, city asks airlines to rethink terminal construction plans: The city of Chicago is talking with the major airlines at O’Hare International Airport about going back to the initial plan for construction of new terminals. The city originally proposed building two new satellite concourses adjacent to Terminal 1 before demolishing Terminal 2 and replacing it with a new global terminal. But the airport’s two largest carriers, United and American airlines, balked at the cost and sequence of construction. During months of tense negotiations, they pushed the city to delay building the second satellite until after the global terminal.

* Tribune | More CPS students are graduating high school, but finishing college is a challenge: The overall college completion rate for CPS alumni is 48% — below the national average of 64%, according to an annual study from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research and the To&Through Project. “Getting students into college is a great first step, but starting college and not completing is not a good outcome, for the most part,” said Alex Usher, director of data and research at the To&Through Project. “There’s definitely work to be done ahead.”

* WBEZ | Roseland Hospital opens delayed sickle-cell clinic on Chicago’s South Side: Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder affecting red blood cells and causing pain and organ damage. It disproportionately affects African Americans patients. Many South Side families lack timely access to care, often relying on emergency departments during a sickle-cell pain crisis. Roseland Community Hospital primarily serves African Americans patients.

* Tribune | Chicago officials ease capacity limit for Christkindlmarket; organizers say cap remains unsustainable: The city on Monday agreed to increase the event’s space restriction by nearly 1,000, bringing the amended capacity limit up to 2,500 people, according to Mark Tomkins, the president and CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce, which runs Christkindlmarket. In a statement to the Tribune, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said the city was working with organizers to “increase capacity in a safe and organized manner” in response to concerns raised.

* WBEZ | Illinois prison artist wowed that her artwork reached Pope Leo XIV: Diaz submitted a drawing of herself as a young girl, dancing in a garden with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a butterfly resting on the other. Half of the drawing is in black and white, depicting a barbed wire fence and a prison tower. The other half is in color, showing sunshine and flowering bushes wrapping around a white picket fence. Diaz called her piece “Praising My Way to Wholeness.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* ABC Chicago | Evanston-Skokie District 65 board deadlocks again on which schools to shutter to close funding gap: There is no consensus again as District 65 school board members arrived at a tie vote Monday night on whether to close one or two additional schools at the end of this school year. That means Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies is likely the only one that will shutter next spring. Like last month, board members deadlocked when voting on competing plans to close either just Kingsley Elementary School, or to close both Kingsley and Lincolnwood elementary schools.

* Daily Herald | Could goats be forest preserve district’s secret weapon against invasive plants?: Grazing isn’t an uncommon practice but would be new to the forest preserve district. It’s considered a research project to understand longer term costs and effectiveness. “We think this could be a way to provide additional management to degraded areas containing buckthorn,” and help achieve a 100-year plan objective, he said. The agreement would last four years, which matches terms of farm leases, but could be canceled or expanded depending on results.

* Daily Herald | ‘I think we’ve got a hit’: Metra riders love café car idea — what’s the next step?: Surveys of riders showed 98% said they would recommend the café car to friends and family, and 94% would pay for drinks and snacks. Nearly 60% of participants said they would visit the café car one to two times a week, and 26% intended to make purchases every week. The prototype car received an average 4.6 rating out of 5 for look and design, and a 4.5 score for space and comfort.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | Carlyle names ‘temporary’ police chief amid FBI investigation: “The investigation being conducted by the FBI centers around one individual,” Smith said in a statement. “That individual has been placed on paid leave for now. “I want to make clear that the Carlyle Police Department is not, and I repeat, not under investigation,” she said. “Services provided by the police department will not be interrupted, and under new leadership the police will continue to serve the citizens of Carlyle.”

* WCIA | Child advocate program expands into Ford County: The organizers behind the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program announced that they are expanding their services into Ford County starting after the new year. CASA is a nationwide organization that promotes and protects the best interests of children who have
been abused or neglected. In 2025, Illinois CASA served 82 of the 102 counties in Illinois.

* WGLT | Normal council approves raise for Reece; hears pleas to keep College Ave. firehouse open: The Normal Town Council on Monday approved a year’s contract extension and a raise of nearly 5% for City Manager Pam Reece. The action adds $11,000 to her current salary of $226,000, effective April 1, 2025. It also increases the contribution to her retirement savings account — from $2,750 per year to $3,000 per year. The contract extends Reece’s employment by one year; it now runs through March 31, 2028.

* STLPR | Alton company launches $25M fiber project to bring high-speed internet citywide: AltonWorks, which already opened a coworking space and has a number of housing efforts underway, is behind the opening of FiberNet. The service will reach 94% of the city’s residents and provide speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, the same connectivity used by Fortune 500 companies, AltonWorks said. “Today marks Alton’s entrance into the next century,” John Simmons, CEO of AltonWorks, said in a statement. “We’re not just installing cables. We’re dismantling digital barriers, unlocking innovation, and ensuring that every child, every entrepreneur, and every resident has access to the same world-class opportunities as anyone, anywhere. This network will serve Alton for the next 100 years, evolving with technology we can’t even imagine today.”

*** National ***

* Floridian Press | DeSantis Will Call for Special Legislative Session on Congressional Redistricting: “Yeah, yeah, so we’re going to redistrict. The issue is that there is a Supreme Court decision that we are waiting on - the argument in October about Section 2 of the VRA [Voting Rights Act] that impacts Florida’s maps, so we’re going to do it next Spring,” Gov. DeSantis said. “I am going to talk to Sen. Albritton about when it makes sense to do it, but that will be done. I think we are going to be required to do it because of this court decision.”

* NOTUS | The Plan to Address Expiring ACA Subsidies Is That There Is No Plan: “My assumption is that by next week, when we have to have that vote, that we might not be far enough along on the bipartisan discussions,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday. He added: “I think that the conversations are still active on a solution. Whether that originates with the White House or folks working up here remains to be seen.”

8 Comments

Good morning!

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Beach Boys will kick off our holiday season…

She’s candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel

* If you weren’t at the blog yesterday, make sure to click here and donate to our annual Christmas toy fundraiser for foster kids. We raised $12K yesterday, but we have a long way to go. Thanks!

* What’s up?

2 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some additional news

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller