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DPI says it voluntary recognized staff union
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * DPI press release…
Thoughts?
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * It’s now signed into law…
WAND has more on the bill…
* WTTW | Illinois Confirms 194 Probable Cases of Cyclosporiasis as Parasitic Infection Spreads: The state has seen 194 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis as of Monday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. In Chicago, there are 47 confirmed and probable cases among residents, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health on Monday. Of that number, 23 have not traveled internationally, making it more likely they acquired the illness locally, according medical director Dr. Janna Kerins. * Independent Gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is officially on the ballot…
* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs new laws on birth control, AI regulations, play-based learning: Senate Bill 3341 allows minors to receive birth control without permission from their parents or another adult. With Illinois’ new law, half of states now allow minors to access birth control on their own. During debate on the bill in the Senate, Republicans objected and said it cuts parents out of important decisions concerning their children. They also worried minors won’t fully understand complications from birth control. * Press release | Historic House Speakers from Across the Nation to Gather in Chicago for “Beyond the Gavel” Brunch Celebration: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will welcome four of the nation’s most influential legislative leaders to Chicago for Beyond the Gavel, a first-of-its-kind brunch celebration honoring historic leadership, enduring legacy, and the impact of public service beyond elected office. Hosted during the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), along the iconic Chicago River, the event will bring together five trailblazing House Speakers who have each made history in their respective states. * Tribune | After ballot challenges, at least 5 Chicago school board races will likely be uncontested: The Chicago Electoral Board voted Tuesday to remove five school board candidates from the ballot after upholding challenges to their nominating petitions, likely leaving at least five races uncontested in the historic November election. Current board members Angel Velez in District 9A on the South Side and Cydney Wallace in District 8B on the Southwest Side — who were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and are aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union — were among those removed. Their opponents will now be the only candidates in their respective districts. In District 10A on the South Side, Krista Nichols Alston was thrown off the ballot. The board hasn’t yet made an official ruling on candidate Tameka Walton, but she was endorsed by CTU as write-in candidate. That means elected incumbent Che “Rhymefest” Smith will likely be the only name printed on the ballot. * Tribune | City Council blocks Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago Housing Authority appointments: A special meeting in the council Housing Committee was quickly upended when Ald. Pat Dowell protested the direct introduction of three commissioners to the Chicago Housing Authority board. Dowell, Johnson’s Finance Committee chair, condemned what she said was a pattern from the administration of abusing the direct introduction process rather than taking the usual steps to bring proposals to the body. “These CHA nominations are not an emergency, and this administration continues to thwart the rules of order and procedure of the City Council as outlined in this document that we all voted on, and we cannot allow this pattern to continue,” Dowell, 3rd, said. * Block Club | Federal Funding Cuts To Permanent Housing For Homeless Could Leave More Chicagoans On The Streets: Deborah’s Place serves nearly 700 women, with about one-third living in federally funded Permanent Supportive Housing units. Its executive director, Kathy Wilson, fears that funding cuts will force them to convert their programs into shorter-term transitional housing, displacing housing-insecure people in the process. “All of the women that we’re serving have disabilities that would be barriers to them all of a sudden going out to get a full-time job. Many of them get Social Security or disability income, and that is not enough to afford fair-market rent,” Wilson said. “If we converted to transitional, they would have two years of a subsidy, and then they would be on the streets. * Daily Herald | People angry about fatal shooting of Mundelein woman again pack village hall in protest: It was the latest in a series of village board meetings dominated by people upset and enraged by the killing two months ago of 37-year-old Mary Alice Love in her family’s home. The 20-plus audience members who took to the lectern to talk about the case included Love’s parents, other relatives, friends and strangers. They alleged racism contributed to the fatal confrontation. They demanded the officer who fired the shots be fired. * Patch | Lake Co. Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Threatening Trump, Public Officials: The same day, Schneider appeared at the Lake County courthouse while involved in a pending foreclosure case and allegedly told the judge presiding over the case that he would burn the courthouse down. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. * Crain’s | Frustrated judge wants settlement in West Suburban hospital fight this week: A Cook County judge aired frustration with a newly appointed lawyer who still hasn’t been fully briefed on a potential settlement between the owners of shuttered West Suburban Medical Center and pressed both parties to come to an agreement by the end of the week. * Daily Herald | Neighbors who complained about smell from feed plant now battling warehouse proposal in Mount Prospect: The commission voted 3-2 Thursday to recommend approval of the zoning change to allow the warehouse. It paves the way for 1600 Bishop Partnership LLC to replace a four-story office building with a warehouse in excess of 90,000 square feet at the southwest corner of Kensington and Wolf roads in the village’s Kensington Business Center. The LLC is affiliated with the Wingspan Development Group, part of the Nicholas Family of Companies, which has its headquarters in the business park. * Elgin Courier-News | Elgin smoke shop seeks to add liquor to their inventory after THC ban: Abdul and Goma Musa’s request that they be allowed to expand Friday Tobacco at 968 Dundee Ave. into an adjacent unit so the brothers can sell packaged liquor won the endorsement last week of the Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission. Their application for a conditional use permit now heads to the Elgin City Council. Abdul Musa, who runs the store’s day-to-day operations, said many customers have told them they usually stop at a liquor store after visiting the tobacco shop, which is what prompted them to consider diversifying what they sell. * Daily Herald | Elgin issues alert after drinking water samples exceed allowable lead levels during test: The first set of test results from this year indicates a 90th-percentile value of 0.0185 mg/l, exceeding the 0.015 action level. According to a news release from the city, this period’s results are “much lower” than previous tests due to changes in the water treatment process. * WSIL | Mounds residents race to save belongings as floodwaters rise: Floodwaters rushed through neighborhoods in Mounds, forcing families to get what they could to stay dry with more rain in the forecast. Residents spent the day carrying out belongings and wading through water that reached knee-high in some areas of an apartment complex. […] As the water kept rising, the Mounds Fire Department called in boats from Mounds City to help rescue people trapped inside their apartments. Fire Captain Curtland Sawyer said he had never seen flooding like this before. * WCIA | Hotly contested Urbana apartment complex finds its final decision in round four: The vote was pushed back for a few different reasons; first, city council members said they wanted more time to learn about the details of the project. Last week, they said they wanted the developers to be at the meeting for a decision. Both of those asks were met, and now, and the city was ready for an answer. “What is the cost of choosing not to build? What is the cost of losing residents who cannot find a home that fits their needs?” said Champaign-Urbana resident Adani Sanchez. * WMBD | Peoria County now sending jury duty postcards instead of letters: Official summons from the Peoria County Jury Commission will now be sent as postcards instead of letters, according to a Peoria County Government Facebook post. The summonses are for petit and grand jury duty and include instructions on the next steps you need to take when you receive them. * The Hill | ICE plans to temporarily limit traffic stops following fatal shootings: reports: The shift comes after two high-profile deadly shootings during traffic stops Last week, agents shot and killed Lorenzo Sagrado Araujo in Houston, Texas. While ICE said he had weaponized his vehicle, other men in the van he was driving said the accusation was false, and that officers in unmarked vehicles trailed them before surrounding their vehicle on the driver and passenger sides. * The Telegraph | Why the internet is becoming so infuriating to use: And a growing number of “AI agents” are using them to carry out tasks on their users’ behalf, meaning there is no human to see adverts or be enticed into impulse purchases, and often harvesting data without their consent. Captchas and other bot tests are now ubiquitous. Cloudflare, which relies on other tests such as the “verify you are a human” tick boxes, says it now carries out 7.7 billion anti-bot checks a day, up from 2.1 billion in 2023. But bots have become better at evading them. Two years ago, researchers at the University of Zurich found that machine learning systems could solve 100pc of robot tests provided by reCaptcha, Google’s captcha system (the company is responsible for the quizzes asking you to click all the squares containing buses, bridges or fire hydrants out of a grid of 16 squares). * Albuquerque Journal | State, Roadrunner lure Illinois quantum startup to Albuquerque: The New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios awarded $500,000 in grant funding to Photon Queue, an Illinois quantum computing startup, to locate and hire in Albuquerque. Roadrunner Venture Studios is an Albuquerque firm that invests in early-stage deep technology startups such as Photon Queue, a two-year-old company, and provides them with resources to grow.
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Benton demands respect at township meeting, has still not withdrawn from House race
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Wheatland Township Board of Trustees unanimously last week approved this statement calling on former Rep. Harry Benton to resign as Highway Commissioner…
There was no further discussion. * Benton, however, spoke later in the meeting…
There was no further discussion. * Also, as of 1:41 this afternoon, Benton has still not withdrawn from his House reelection campaign, even though he promised to do so eleven days ago.
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Dick Durbin’s last hurrah is blasted by state and national groups
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
The legislation would create the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center, which would be under the Department of Homeland Security. The center’s director would be appointed by the Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). * More than 125 organizations, including several in Illinois, have banded together to oppose inserting the legislation into the “must-pass National Defense Authorization Act”…
They go on to say that the proposal is “dangerously overbroad,” would “quietly construct a massive public-private surveillance network,” would deepen “DHS’s influence over state and local policing through grants and open-ended cooperation agreements,” and would entrench DHS and ICE in local law enforcement…
* ACLU Illinois…
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who has been outspoken about ICE and DHS, is a co-sponsor.
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The rest of the story
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers were given much more detail about this story on Monday. Politico…
Blaha actually interviewed Stava and posted it on Substack…
Video of the hearing does not appear to show any staff members whispering in Rep. Stava’s ear. And several legislators said during the hearing that her language to criminalize violations needed to be changed to civil penalties, similar to the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. Stava also justified calling the vote that day by telling the committee, “if people want to vote against their constituents’ privacy” then that was on them. For the most part, Democratic legislators have tried not to go public about internal disagreements on the anti-BDS bill, but there are definitely fissures. Kinda curious to see what happens next.
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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price. Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners. Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: As Illinois revamps property tax sales, questions over repaying homeowners loom. Crain’s…
- The legislation makes substantial changes going forward to the annual tax debt auction, but does not get Illinois and its counties off the hook for the liability built up over decades by the old system, which a series of federal court decisions has hung on the government’s shoulders. - Also not settled is the question of whether the legislation will have one of its intended effects: generating enough money from fees on tax buyers to pay out claims of lost equity by property owners who lost their homes since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision finding tax systems like the one in Illinois are unconstitutional. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Tribune | Illinois elections board judge recommends Mayra Macías’ name not be on 4th Congressional District ballot: A hearing officer for the state Board of Elections is recommending to the board that independent candidate Mayra Macías be blocked from running for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District in the contest to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. The recommendation Friday determined the independent candidate did not gather enough valid signatures for her name to be placed on the November ballot. The decision is not final but marks a major blow to Macías in a race defined by García’s late decision to drop out and handpick a successor in the Democratic primary who is now challenging efforts to prevent other candidates from running in the general election. * Tribune | Can Indiana pay for a Bears stadium? Analysts ask how it will pay its debt as some residents balk at new taxes: A fiscal analysis by the state’s Legislative Services Agency did not address the costs, but estimated the proceeds for the stadium from a slew of proposed taxes in the legislation. A 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties could generate an estimated total of at least $12 million to $18 million annually, legislative Chief Economist Randhir Jha estimated. A 5% increase to double Lake County’s innkeeper’s tax could collect at least $5 million annually. An admissions tax of 12% of the ticket price for events at the stadium could bring in around $12 million a year. * WGN | Mayoral speculation abound as Giannoulias drops new campaign ads: The timing is impossible to ignore, as the ads come two weeks before candidates can begin circulating petitions for next February’s mayoral contest. The Giannoulias campaign says the ads will run on TV, cable and digital platforms. It’s a major flex. Giannoulias ended the last campaign filing period with close to $20 million in the bank, which would help propel him into the mayoral campaign top tier should he enter the race. * Austin Weekly News | 8th House candidate Franklin introduces herself to local Dems: Franklin got a healthy round of applause when she noted that she’d be the first woman to represent the 8th District. And one of the youngest. She’ll soon have a direct say in other legislation, and said she’s keeping an eye on the West Suburban Hospital situation. The 8th House District is ground zero for the ongoing financial and legal debacle that threatens to take a major safety net hospital permanently off the board for West Side residents. She will soon represent much of the Austin neighborhood east of Austin Boulevard, areas heavily impacted in numerous ways by the closure of West Sub. * Sun-Times | Finance Committee stalls showdown vote on sale of Chicago parking meters: A City Council committee poised to reject a New York investment firm’s $2.53 billion bid to acquire Chicago parking meters instead postponed that politically-volatile vote Monday under threat of a lawsuit by the current owner. In a July 3 letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson, Finance Chair Pat Dowell warned that the proposal by Chicago Parking Meters LLC to unload the 57 years that remain on the lopsided deal “has not secured the support necessary to advance from committee at this time.” * WBEZ | CTU endorses 15 school board candidates, throwing weight behind incumbents, mayoral picks: The Chicago Teachers Union announced Monday it will endorse only 15 candidates in the upcoming school board race in which all 21 seats are up for election — a decision that could make it difficult for the union to hold onto its majority. The union will back 10 incumbents who they supported in the election two years ago or were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson, a former organizer for the CTU, is an ally of the union. Notably absent from their list of endorsements is Yesenia Lopez, who won in 2024 with the union’s endorsement, but occasionally voted independently of other CTU-aligned school board members over the past year and half. * ABC Chicago | Chicago Public School lays off more than 160 employees: As of Friday, 162 people have been notified. Of those, 82 are central office positions and the other 80 are citywide positions. The cuts come as CPS tries to close a budget deficit that exceeds $730 million. Officials plan to unveil details of the district’s proposed budget later this week. * Chalkbeat Chicago | CPS lays off 162 employees as it works to close budget deficit for 2026-27 school year: The layoffs will save the district $18 million, CPS spokesperson Mary Fergus said in a statement. […] Of the 162 people laid off, 38 people are represented by SEIU Local 73, the union that represents support staffers at CPS, such as custodians, and 25 were represented by the Chicago Teachers Union. The unions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. * WTTW | Key City Panel Gives Green Light to $425M Subsidy for Chicago Fire Stadium Site: The subsidy will make it possible for the team’s owner — Joe Mansueto, the billionaire founder of financial services firm Morningstar — to build a new $750 million stadium south of the Loop. The soccer club is privately financing the stadium, even though it would not be reachable unless the city agrees to use taxpayer dollars to build the necessary infrastructure. Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward) was the only alderperson to vote against both parts of the massive subsidy, while Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward), Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) and Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) voted against the portion of the subsidy that will be used to build a city-owned parking garage. * ABC Chicago | Derek Mayer returning as special agent in charge at US Secret Service Chicago Field Office: In his first interview as SAC, he tells the I-Team it’s an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. For the past year, while working as the chief security officer and vice president of executive protection for P4 Companies, Mayer acted as ABC7’s law enforcement expert, which he is unable to continue to do in his new role. * Tribune | Munetaka Murakami back for Chicago White Sox — and slugger added to AL roster for All-Star Game and HR Derby: “Just truly happy,” Murakami said through an interpreter of the All-Star selection. “Because of the injury I thought I was not going to be playing for the All-Stars. So I’m just really happy that they called my name.” Murakami went 1-for-5 with an RBI double Friday after returning from a lengthy stint on the injured list. He suffered a right hamstring strain on May 29 and went on the IL the next day. * CBS Chicago | First public hearing held on proposed toll hike tied to $26.5 billion road improvement program: During the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, no one at the hearing outwardly spoke out against the hike. However, at a nearby rest stop, some expressed that they don’t support the proposed toll increase. “You commute every day, whether it’s a job or anything of that nature, yeah, it can become expensive,” said Jericho Harris. Harris says though he doesn’t want to see the price increase, he feels like he has no choice in the matter. * Naperville Sun | Naperville commission votes in favor of ban on kratom products: Naperville already restricts the sale of kratom to anyone under the age of 21 and prohibits its possession by anyone under the age of 18. But the commission voted Thursday, July 9, to recommend that the city council take a stronger stance in the wake of health experts raising concerns about new synthetic variations of the drug, which are producing a stronger, more opioid-like effect. * Daily Herald | Prestige neighbors now battling warehouse proposal in Mount Prospect: The homeowners cited public safety issues and traffic concerns in their letter. “Mount Prospect should have consideration for the public safety issues and the residential fabric of our neighborhood,” they wrote. “Our communities pay well over $1 million a year to get our kids safely to River Trails school district. Our roads are busy enough with semitruck traffic.” * ABC Chicago | Northwest suburban high school principal to lead National Principals Association: Huntley High School Principal Marcus Belin will take a leave of absence from the school next academic year after being named president of the National Principal’s Association. Belin, who has led Huntley High School for nearly a decade, said his time at the school has been rewarding. * Daily Herald | Rosemont mall keeps parking fees despite shopper decline: Fashion Outlets of Chicago officials and Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens don’t appear to be budging from their positions about paid parking at the indoor mall. […] He cited the mall’s statistics that track foot traffic year over year. The number of shoppers walking into the mall was steadily increasing until the paid parking policy started in February. Then it was down 17% in March — compared with the same period last year — 14% in April, 12% in May and 14% in June. * Tribune | Lawsuit alleges IDOC inmates denied exercise in ‘dungeon-like’ solitary cells: The Illinois Department of Corrections confined inmates in “dungeon-like conditions” in solitary confinement and refused to allow them to exercise, causing chronic physical and psychological pain, a complaint filed on Monday alleges. The amended complaint, filed in federal court in Southern Illinois, names IDOC Director Latoya Hughes, along with other wardens and officials, accusing them of depriving some inmates at Menard Correctional Center of nearly all ability to move their bodies on a daily basis. * WGLT | Bloomington sets date at BCPA for public forum on data centers: The City of Bloomington will host a public planning commission meeting focused on “hyper scale” data centers at 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said a panel will be available to the commission. He did not specify who would be on the panel during his report at the city council meeting Monday night, adding more information would be released later. […] Bloomington is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on proposals for data centers. It started in late May, following similar action by Town of Normal. * WCIA | Separation agreement sheds new light on Clinton Board of Education, superintendent parting ways: The document reveals that Goebel and the Board of Education “mutually” enter into the agreement, which waives any “charges, grievances, lawsuits, claims or other potential litigation between the parties.” But, the agreement makes the distinction that it is not an “admission of any wrong-doing” by the board or Goebel, because both parties “expressly deny any and all liability or wrong doing in connection with disputed issues.” The agreement also states that Goebel will remain a licensed administrator of the Board until June 30, 2027. During that time, he will be “absent from duty on paid administrative leave” and will continue to receive his $148,526 salary, along with his district benefits. * ABC | LAPD ending deal with company operating license plate-reading cameras: “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras,” said Dean Gialamas, LAPD’s chief information officer. “The LAPD had to make a difficult decision, in this case discontinuing using Flock services until we can get those data, privacy, security and sharing concerns ironed out through a contractual relationship.” * WaPo | One of sci-fi’s most difficult questions about AI is becoming real: “I just don’t think the developer is in a position to know exactly how their product is being used,” David Sacks, a venture capitalist who until recently was one of the White House’s top AI advisers, said in a podcast interview with Politico in May. Just as Microsoft isn’t held liable when a money launderer uses an Excel spreadsheet, AI companies shouldn’t be blamed when a criminal uses their technology, Sacks said. For decades, technology companies have been shielded from liability for things said and actions committed by people using their platforms thanks to Section 230, a foundational internet law enacted in 1996. But critics of AI companies say that the current technology is fundamentally different. Chatbots and other AI tools are interactive, engaging with users and stating their own perspectives. * AP | New York to impose the country’s first statewide moratorium on data centers: New York will block the construction of any new large data centers for up to a year so the state can create rules to protect the environment and energy grid from the power-hungry facilities that fuel artificial intelligence technology. Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to sign an executive order Tuesday morning imposing the country’s first statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers, which house thousands of computer servers and require massive amounts of energy and a steady supply of water to keep cool.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Perhaps the greatest folk/country song ever written. Kris Kristofferson… I’d smoked so much the night before
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WGLT…
* NBC Chicago | Illinois Tollway proposes highest rate hike in history: How much rates could go up and when: The Illinois Tollway Monday night will hold its first public hearing over proposed rate hikes that could be the largest in state history. The proposed hikes, part of a $26.5 billion capital program, would fund the next 15 years of roadwork on the tollway system. […] “Today, the Illinois Tollway proposed its next long term capital program, Driving Connections, a 15 year, $26.5 billion transformative plan to improve our tollways between 2027-2042,” a release from the Illinois Tollway said. “This includes signature projects to improve traffic as well as widespread maintenance and improvement projects.” * Sun-Times | Pritzker for president? Handicapping the Illinois governor’s political future: It’s the most common question Pritzker is getting from local and national reporters. And for now, the answer is unclear. The Sun-Times spoke with Pritzker in Corpus Christi, Texas on June 26 before he delivered an address before the Texas Democratic Party. Asked where he is in his decision-making process on whether to run for president, the governor denied there was even a “decision-making process.” “Not at all,” Pritzker said. “I literally, I’m running for reelection as governor because we have a whole lot more work to do in the state.” Asked directly if he planned to run for president at a June 16 event in Chicago, the governor deflected and called the election “the most important election of our lifetimes.” * Chalkbeat Chicago | How should schools use AI? Illinois is providing some guidance for teachers and districts.: Illinois state education officials issued a 400-page document Thursday that provides teachers with an extensive framework for using artificial intelligence responsibly in the classroom. How the technology gets used in schools is ultimately up to district leaders and the guidance document emphasizes the importance of human relationships in teaching and learning. It also discloses that popular AI chatbots ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini assisted in early drafts of the framework. * Edwardsville Intelligencer | Illinois has no road rage charge as local driver pushes for change: When Jennifer Smith experienced what she describes as road rage, the gray area in the law became personal for her, and she said she is trying to do something about it. Smith said she did not get the support she wanted from police, and she has started a petition asking for legislative change. Under the Illinois Compiled Statutes, one definition of reckless driving is, “A person commits reckless driving if he or she drives any vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” The statute does not specify how to determine whether a driver is demonstrating “willful or wanton” disregard. It does stipulate that reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor unless certain injuries occur, in which case it is a Class 3 or Class 4 felony. * WCSJ | State Rep Encouraging Constituents To Come Up With Possible Legislative Ideas: 75th District State Rep Jed Davis was in our studios last week providing the latest happenings in Springfield. He said they are not in session now, but Davis is getting ideas for possible legislation next year. “Starting a list. If anybody has an idea, now would be the time to talk. You know, I know we talked a little bit about Colleen Murphy last time. She’s a great example of walking into our front door and saying, hey. I have an idea. And literally nine months later, the Governor signed her idea into law. That’s wild, and that’s really fun when that happens. But we’re starting to compile that list, which is awesome, and we’ll see how that all goes here.” * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget chair comes out against parking meter sale: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget chair took a stand against the planned sale of Chicago’s infamous parking meter lease to a private firm Monday, arguing the city should instead create a trust to purchase the system itself. Ald. Jason Ervin, one of Johnson’s closest allies, became the latest council member to join the naysayers on the proposed deal that would land the system a new owner. His stance came as the mayor’s Finance Committee chair Ald. Pat Dowell was expected to pull a vote Monday afternoon, sources told the Tribune. * School board member Jennifer Custer | Blame county’s delayed property tax bills for CPS financial woes, not the state : CPS is already facing serious cash-flow pressures due to ongoing delays in Cook County property tax distributions and underperforming year-end financials. 2026 is projected to end with a negative net cash position of approximately $642 million, with $914 million in TANs outstanding against a cash balance of only $272 million. The district’s expenses are outpacing incoming revenue; there is no cash reserve cushion. CPS is reaching the legal limits on available borrowing for 2026. The current $1.25 billion borrowing capacity is expected to be fully exhausted in August. Without action, operations will cease, paychecks will stop and the start of the school year will be thrown into chaos just as families are ending their summer breaks. * Tribune | Archdiocese: St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger removed amid sexual abuse investigation: In a letter to the congregation Saturday, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said that, in line with the Archdiocese’s child protection policies, the allegation has been reported to law enforcement authorities. “I want to stress that the welfare of the children entrusted to our care is our paramount concern,” Cupich wrote. “The Archdiocese of Chicago takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously.” * ABC Chicago | Chicago City Council committee expected to vote on transfer of ownership of parking meters: The parking meter system has been controversial since it was privatized under then Mayor Richard M. Daley for more than $1 billion. Critics have called the original deal one of the worst in the city’s history. Under Mayor Brandon Johnson, the city bid as much as $3.2 billion to try and buy the parking meter system, before abandoning the effort. The bid was made last year, but recently made public due to a non-disclosure agreement. * Tribune | Famed tumbling team mourns as members bring legacy to national stage: On Monday night, longtime team member Jeff Williams was killed in a crash in northwest suburban Mundelein. A day later, Chicago watched as the hometown team auditioned for — and ultimately moved forward — in this season of “America’s Got Talent.” “We are hurt by his death, (we’re) very saddened by that,” tumbling coach and friend Emmanuel McGhee said in an interview with the Tribune on Thursday. “But at the same time, we’re very happy to go to the next round. I think he (would) want us to go to the next round.” * Fox Chicago | Data center fears grow after massive land purchases in Chicago suburb: “August of 2025, we heard rumblings of a data center being built in Essex Village,” resident Kylee Raney said. “Since then, we have found out that Constellation Energy has purchased over 700 acres on top of Essex Village. Some of that acreage includes land that goes right up to residential homes. We’re talking 10 feet.” Raney is one of the organizers of the Essex Coalition. The group has about 40 members who have been tracking the Essex Village Board’s actions related to the land sales. * Daily Southtown | Dolton District 149 pays Superintendent Maureen White $181,000 for early departure from contract: Her latest contract was set to run from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027, with White expecting a 6% salary increase to $321,350 for the 2026-2027 school year. Instead, the district and White “mutually agreed to part ways due to differences in organizational fit and future direction,” according to a retirement agreement that allowed White to leave the district June 26. The district agreed to pay White $180,730 to release her from the contract, the retirement agreement states. * Daily Herald | Schaumburg Convention Center looks to build on two decades of success: This year’s opening of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games and a six-level, 900-space parking deck heralded the commencement of a long-awaited and much-anticipated entertainment district. “For 20 years, the hotel and convention center were looking forward to the area developing to build on the full potential,” said Dieter Heigl, general manager of the Renaissance for the past decade. * Daily Herald | Should suburban pet owners fear screwworm’s return?: “It’s nothing we need to worry about yet,” says veterinarian Jason Szumski, medical director at Bartlett Animal Hospital. “We’re answering questions as (pet owners) ask.” Lori Ross, an emergency vet and medical director for Michigan-based Emergency Veterinary Care Centers, said NWS has not been detected in Michigan, Indiana or Illinois. Still, “vigilance is critical,” she added. * Daily Herald | ‘We’re all pretty proud’: Equine Guardians taking care of displaced Palatine Stables horses: They were among the roughly two dozen school horses and ponies displaced following the controversial closing of the Palatine Stables in late 2024. Now they are among 17 under the care of the nonprofit group Gehrke started, Equine Guardians. The organization, which is run by former instructors, boarders and longtime riders, has an online fundraising site. Several horses are listed on the website, equineguardians.org. * WAND | Pivot Energy bringing 2 solar projects to Douglas County: The company says the project will have a combined 10 megawatt capacity, meaning they generate enough electricity to power nearly 2,400 homes. Pivot said it plans to invest nearly $50,000 into local nonprofits as well as pay nearly $450,000 in local property taxes over the next 20 years. Construction will start next year. * SJ-R | Veterans group battles state over fairgrounds home: IDOA attorneys emailed a letter to the veterans’ group, which this year lost the Illinois State Fair beer contract it had for more than 50 years, on June 26, stipulating it had 10 business days to remove its belongings from the building, plus a semi-trailer and a camper.[…] “Why is our name on the front if it’s a state of Illinois building? Why do we have a parking lot designated for this organization?” Alwood said The building is still used for quarterly meetings, with Teams set up so members from all over the state can attend. During the fair, it was an easy meeting place for volunteers, who could be ferried to the different beer tents with golf carts. * WCIA | U of I program aims to help veterans transition to college: “The service you know, purposely takes a person, changes their identity to make them fit into the military service. And then at the end, overnight, they take all those services, all that support away and expects that person to find it on their own. What we want to do is fill that gap of leadership and structure to help them, do that,” said Chez Veteran Center Director Andrew Bender. * Bloomberg | DOJ Guts Civil Rights Tool That Fought Job Bias for 50 Years: The Department of Justice’s recent memo to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission further eviscerates civil rights by seeking to eliminate a longstanding antidiscrimination tool used to fight discriminatory employment practices. In its June 9 opinion to the EEOC, the DOJ concluded that the commission’s guidelines on disparate impact liability under Title VII are unconstitutional. The opinion paves the way for race-based employment discrimination, the likes of which haven’t been seen in more than 50 years. * AP | No relief from the heat as many US cities will see record overnight temperatures: Another week of blistering heat will bring even more health risks in the coming days, as overnight temperatures won’t provide much relief. The National Weather Service is predicting that more than 90 temperature records across the U.S. will be tied or broken this week through Wednesday — and most of those will be overnight heat records. Health experts say overnight temperatures that fail to cool down are even more dangerous than daytime temperatures that soar.
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It’s now signed into law
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ACLU of Illinois…
* Planned Parenthood Illinois Action…
* Rep. Norine Hammond…
* WAND…
* More… * Press release | Villanueva law to protect divested property owners from equity theft: In 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin that local governments keeping surplus money through property tax foreclosure is a violation of residents’ Fifth Amendment, which guarantees the right to fair compensation for government seizure of property. Geraldine Tyler owned a condominium in Minneapolis, which she accrued a $15,000 tax debt on after stopping property tax payments. Hennepin County foreclosed on Tyler’s home and sold the property for $40,000 – satisfying Tyler’s debt and keeping the remaining proceeds. Tyler sued the County, and the U.S. Supreme Court held that Hennepin County’s actions in retaining the surplus equity violated the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Villanueva’s law will help prevent Illinois property owners from falling victim to this type of equity theft. House Bill 4537 updates the tax sales process, ensuring that when a property owner’s redemption period expires, their property is sold through a public auction that takes into account the market value of the property before a buyer is granted the full deed from a court. If the property sells at auction, the buyer will get their money back, court fees will be covered and any surplus equity will be refunded to the divested property owner. * Press release | Johnson’s new law creates non-profit investment pool: Senate Bill 2968 authorizes the State Treasurer to create a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment-processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities for 501(c) non-profit organizations located in Illinois. The Non-Profit Investment Pool will provide hundreds of non-profits across the State the opportunity for safe, liquid, and competitive investments. Non-profits across the state will be able to pool their invest-able assets together in a fund to earn greater returns, at a much lower cost than they would on their own. Participants will earn interest proportionally based on their account balance. For Illinois Funds participants, earnings are calculated daily and paid monthly. * WAND | Pritzker signs Rev. Jesse Jackson youth voter empowerment bill: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Friday to ensure all high schools offer students of voting age the opportunity to register during the school day in a safe, accessible and nonpartisan environment. Sponsors said the law can help even more young people be prepared to vote. “The reverend cared deeply about making sure young people had both a diploma and a voter registration card,” said Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago). “I am just grateful and honored to carry a bill dedicated to the reverend and his legacy.” * WAND | New IL law requires court date reminder texts for people on pretrial release: The new law requires pretrial service agencies to send three reminder text messages to people on pretrial release before their court dates. It also states pretrial service agencies must keep a copy of the message and a delivery receipt with their records. Sponsors said research shows texts are very effective in helping people keep their court dates. * Press release | Affordable housing initiative for DuPage and Will counties to be greenlit under new Ellman law: House Bill 4571 allows counties with populations between 750,000 and 2 million, as well as counties with executive forms of government and populations between 650,000 and 2 million, to take additional actions to support affordable housing development and preservation. Under the law, eligible counties could acquire property, transfer land between units of local government, sell or lease property below market rate and offer financial incentives such as grants, loans and infrastructure improvements to encourage affordable housing construction. * Press release | Halpin effort to prevent exploitation of those needing guardianship becomes law in Illinois: Halpin’s law will provide multiple guardrails to ensure private professional guardians are qualified. These include having a personal meeting with the respondent prior to appointment, background checks, certifications, fee disclosures and financial management standards. The law will impose reporting obligations and allow for court removal due to noncompliance. The Chicago Tribune identified cases where patients with assets that were ordered into conservatorship were taken advantage of by one particular management organization assigned as guardian. In many cases, the care management organization “then benefited from providing months or years of services funded by the former patient.” * Press release | Guzmán law to ensure CNAs are paid for every hour they work signed into law: The new law requires CNA wage increases and reimbursement calculations to include every hour worked, including both productive and nonproductive hours. Covered hours include paid sick leave, paid vacation, training time, bereavement leave, holidays and paid time off. Employers that fail to comply will be subject to penalties and fees. Employees of several Central Illinois memory care facilities have claimed the company they work for has not been paying employees on time. According to SEIU, low wages contribute to a staggering 65% workforce turnover rate, making it more difficult to recruit and retain the caregivers Illinois seniors rely on every day. * Press release | Villanueva law to strengthen identity protections for youth in state’s care: Additionally, to ensure the needs of youth in care are being met, DCFS, service providers and caregivers are required to support services, care planning and placements that are consistent with the youth’s health, safety, well-being and best interests. To mitigate any risk of adverse action to youth in care, Villanueva’s law requires DCFS to consider the youth’s preference regarding interstate placement and implement ongoing communication, monitoring and assessment when a child is placed in care out of state. * Press release | Loughran Cappel law to broaden autism diagnostic access for children: Currently, psychologists and pediatricians are able to diagnose children with autism spectrum disorders, but speech-language pathologists cannot. Loughran Cappel’s law will allow speech-language pathologists to diagnose children under the age of three with autism spectrum disorders, as long as the pathologist has autism diagnostic evaluation training and the child receives services within the early intervention team-based system. To mitigate working families’ cost barriers, the law will also ensure that insurance companies cover children receiving a speech-language pathologist’s diagnosis. This coverage will apply to families receiving Medicaid as well.
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UCIMC: Titianna Ammons’ hiring ‘was in no way influenced by Representative Ammons’
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. Press release…
Discuss.
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Rate Giannoulias’ new campaign TV ads
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Press release…
Rating?
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A look at Rep. Ugaste’s Bears/property tax proposal
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release last week…
The enclosed fact sheet is here. Please consult that before asking questions in comments. * I asked our resident school-related expert commenter “JS Mill,” to give me some thoughts…
Discuss.
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What can be done about this?
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Also, as a reminder, the Illinois constitution prohibits a member from being kicked out twice for the same offense. That’s why Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) was able to return to the Statehouse after he first given the boot and then was elected by the voters (an attempt to run an independent candidate failed). So, the charges may have to be narrowed or people can hope that the feds file a superceding indictment. * Anyway, I’m all ears on what your thoughts are on how this sort of thing can be prevented.
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller [The following is a paid advertisement.] All In One Laundry Center and Services is a Springfield-based, full-service laundry company led by President and CEO Pamela Frazier. Services include coin laundry, wash-and-fold, dry cleaning, alterations, commercial laundry services, and pickup and delivery. Under Pamela’s leadership, All In One Laundry has grown to be recognized for its exceptional service and commitment to the community in Central Illinois. 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 Pamela in Springfield who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Immigration arrests near county courthouses still persist, despite state law. Tribune…
- Since the beginning of the year, immigration agents have been in or around county courthouses at least 50 times through June 9 — a rate of more than twice per week. - Critics say federal immigration enforcement near Illinois courthouses is disrupting state court operations and discouraging people from seeking justice, while the Department of Homeland Security argues the practice is a “common sense” enforcement strategy. * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Sun-Times | Illinois Dems trash former state public health chief who’s now seeking Senate bid: ‘Maine deserves better’: Before moving to Maine, Shah presided over a series of fatal Legionnaires disease outbreaks at the state of Illinois’ veterans’ home in Quincy that were linked to 14 resident deaths and the sickening of dozens of other staff and residents at the former facility. His oversight under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration was condemned at the time for worsening the horrific and preventable public health crisis and causing a greater loss of life. * Politico | Reading between the ad lines: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is launching an extensive television advertising campaign today as he seeks reelection — a move that also lands just two weeks before candidates can begin circulating petitions for Chicago’s February mayoral election. […] The new 30-second ad spots, titled “Accomplishments” and “Demand Better,” focus on Giannoulias’ record running the Secretary of State’s Office and what the campaign describes as government’s responsibility to deliver better service, protect people’s rights and earn the public’s trust. * NBC Chicago | State senator accused of holding up honorary street sign over ‘retaliation’: [Rep. Lisa Davis] and [political consultant Sabha Abour] said an IDOT official informed them that another lawmaker – State Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago – reached out to IDOT to block the renaming. “I was taken aback and surprised that Senator Preston would call them because IDOT only has those two responsibilities – make the sign and put it up,” Davis said. * ABC Chicago | ‘Little Palestine Way’ sign installed on Bridgeview street after delay: IDOT had postponed the ceremony at the last minute. Some who helped organize the event blamed politics for the delay. So, community members decided to take matters into their own hands and went ahead with the renaming. * Crain’s | Illinois sues to stop Trump from ending school mental health grants: Several states, including Illinois, are suing to stop the federal government from cutting mental health funding for schools, arguing a judge already ordered the Trump administration not to touch the congressionally approved programs. Illinois stands to lose millions of dollars in student mental health grant money if the education grants are discontinued at the end of July. * Tribune | State-funded America 250 commemorations kept mellow as federal funding cuts still sting in Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker’s office listed about $376,000 in costs for semiquincentennial-specific state programming, a relatively low price tag amid federal funding cuts and a striking contrast to the all-out, politically charged events in the nation’s capital. Illinois residents and visitors may see a lasting impression from the celebrations, however, as the bulk of those state dollars, about $300,000 from existing funding, went to grants for 22 public art projects throughout the state, including a mural of singer-songwriter and Maywood native John Prine going up on the exterior of Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. The other biggest line item: the printing of Illinois “passports” encouraging visitors and residents to see historic and civic sites, for a cost of about $76,000 “from existing operating resources,” according to the governor’s office. The state’s overall spending plan for day-to-day operations during the budget year that began July 1 totals nearly $56 billion. * Muddy River News | IL House Deputy Majority Leader Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, bringing Democratic presence to the “red sea”: Now in her second term in her party’s leadership role, Hernandez said a community’s “redness” or Republican majority has never stopped a Democrat before. “I have really committed myself to making a Democratic presence across the state,” Hernandez told Muddy River News before making her formal remarks at the dinner. “I really try to provide the resources necessary to elect Democrats from the local to the federal level. And I think we’ve been doing pretty good.” * WGN | Gov. JB Pritzker signs new Illinois energy laws: House Bill 4456 makes energy bills more affordable, expanding the discount program for low-income electricity and gas customers. Eligibility for the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has increased to 300 percent at or below the poverty level. * CNN | Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of vast data centers: They focused on more than 6,000 data centers located away from highly dense urban areas, as surface temperatures around these were less likely to have been affected by other factors, such as manufacturing or the heating of homes. The researchers also filtered out seasonal impacts, global warming trends and other influences. They found surface temperatures increased by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit after a data center started operations. In extreme cases, nearby temperatures increase by up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit. * The Hill | Data centers become flash point in gubernatorial races : “Could you invent an easier political target if you tried?” said Sam Silverman, founder of the Silverman Strategy Group, which focuses on the intersection of technology and politics. “Absent gigantic changes in strategy, this only gets worse.” “I’m generally a techo-optimist, and I’d advise anyone actively campaigning as pro-data center in their community that it’s electoral malpractice,” Silverman, who most recently worked for Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), told The Hill Friday. * Wisconsin Public Radio | Groups sue Wisconsin DNR over environmental review of Port Washington data centers: Both Sierra Club and MEA had urged the DNR to conduct a full EIS for the project. The agency conducted an environmental analysis summary of the project instead. They say the DNR violated Wisconsin’s Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an EIS because the data center is a major development that would significantly affect the human environment. In April, Port Washington residents and environmental advocates had urged state environmental regulators to deny permits for the data center campus, which includes four data centers that span 672 acres. The first phase of the project would use 1.3 gigawatts of energy or enough to power 640,000 homes, but it could require up to 3.5 gigawatts of electricity in the future. * Sun-Times | Chicago school board bars candidates from taking CPS vendors’ campaign contributions: “As we enter into unprecedented waters for the board and campaigning, I thought it important that we inoculate the board from the optics of pay to play,” Board President Sean Harden said during discussion of the resolution at a June meeting. The board approved the measure Wednesday in a 16-1 vote. Each candidate would be responsible for confirming that campaign contributions aren’t coming from active CPS vendors or any organizations that have applied for district contracts, according to the resolution. The district relies on vendors for various goods and services, from landscaping to academic tools, whose contracts are approved by the board. * WBEZ | ‘Where do they go?’ What West Side patients face after their hospital closes: Longtime orthopedic surgeon Dr. Victor Romano stopped taking his elective cases to West Suburban around the time Manoj Prasad took over in 2022. Romano worried if something happened to his patients in the middle of the night, there wouldn’t be doctors in the intensive care unit to take care of them. Federal inspectors were concerned about this, too, when they found patients at the hospital could be at risk of serious harm or death. A company repossessed a robot he used for knee replacements, Romano says. He opted to perform surgeries at other hospitals that kept their operating rooms cool. At West Suburban, temperatures in the ORs climbed into the 80s, he says. * Crain’s | West Loop TIF funds to back infrastructure around Chicago Fire FC stadium: Chicago officials plan to redirect $287 million of West Loop property tax revenue for infrastructure surrounding Chicago Fire FC’s new stadium at the 78, a shift poised to help jumpstart the South Loop megaproject and reduce risk for developer Related Midwest. The proposal — set for consideration today by the City Council Finance Committee — would restructure a controversial tax-increment financing subsidy for the long-vacant 62-acre site along the Chicago River south of Roosevelt Road. * Crain’s | FAA extends flight limits at O’Hare: “FAA finds that significant delay and operational disruption would occur at O’Hare if the order were to expire as originally scheduled.” The flight caps, which were scheduled to expire Oct. 24, will be extended to Oct. 30, 2027. The FAA imposed limits on flights this summer after the airport’s two largest carriers, United and American airlines, ramped up their schedules in a battle for market share and gates. * CBS Chicago | Man charged with trespassing at Gov. JB Pritzker’s Chicago home on 4th of July, police report shows: According to the police report, 46-year-old Dwayne Milton was seen on camera allegedly jumping over a fence and walking in the backyard of Pritzker’s house. He was quickly arrested and he admitted to officers he had an outstanding warrant in Cook County for shoplifting. There is no indication he had a weapon or even knew it was the governor’s house. * Tribune | 3 takeaways from Chicago White Sox’s MLB draft haul, including a ‘dream come true’ for Nazareth’s Landon Thome: “I was always able to keep it together as a player,” the Hall of Famer Jim Thome said. “This is tough. This is so special. What a day, just to watch your son go through that, his name be called, it’s a dream come true, right? “You watch them as kids. They grow up, they love the game. And then as they love the game, they go through this process of just wanting to play. And then when you are in that moment yesterday, you don’t really know if that will ever happen. When it does, it’s so special. It’s hard to explain, but what a great moment.” * Tribune | Chicago’s second heat wave of the season to bring poor air quality Monday, more 90s starting Tuesday: As a heat dome builds in the Plains and “dangerous” record highs become a possibility for parts of the country, the Chicago area is forecast to experience at least three days of 90-degree weather this week, Tuesday through Thursday. The area will get little overnight relief as temperatures remain in the mid to upper 70s. No rain, mostly sunny skies and light winds will contribute to the uncomfortably warm weather. * Daily Southtown | Judge denies appeal in La Grange pipeline standoff with McCook quarry operators: If the ruling stands, it will pave the way for the village to go ahead with the planned $37 million 50th Street stormwater project. “This clears another hurdle,” village manager Jack Knight said. “We have been pursuing the project through the appeal process, so with that out of the way, there’ll be one less obstacle for us.” The pipeline in question partly runs through property owned by Heidelberg Materials. The 54-inch pipeline had, for the better part of a century, taken excess stormwater from the village directly to the McCook Ditch. Quarry operators severed the pipeline in 1992 during mining operations, which left the rainwater draining into the quarry. The water then had to be pumped into McCook Ditch. * Tribune | Aurora aldermen disagree on regulating PACs in Mayor John Laesch’s proposed ethics package: The Aurora City Council spent over two hours workshopping Mayor John Laesch’s long-discussed campaign finance ethics reform package last week, with some aldermen at odds with the mayor over regulating political action committees. Council members also debated the definition of doing business with the city and other requirements on disclosures that some aldermen said they felt treated them as “criminals” for running for office. Despite some disagreement, the council overall reached a consensus over several language changes in the ethics proposal, such as eliminating disclosure requirements for loans and services. * Shaw Local | Cornerstone Services in Joliet to host grand opening on new behavioral health center: This new behavioral health center features an expansion of services still offered at the Black Road facility, according to Matthew Lanoue, director of development at Cornerstone Services. “The program has grown so much,” Lanoue said. “The staff is still there. It just had no space.” Cornerstone Services’ behavioral health program provides “high-quality mental health services available in Will and Kankakee counties,” according to the Cornerstone Services website. […] State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, who helped obtain funding for the building’s renovation, will be present for the celebration - and tours will follow the ribbon-cutting, Lanoue said. * WGLT | Town of Normal resident and officials question conduct of council member Kathleen Lorenz: A resident of the Town of Normal has accused council member Kathleen Lorenz of yelling and swearing at town workers about town leadership during an incident last month in Uptown. Documents acquired by WGLT under the Freedom of Information Act also indicate two later interactions with the engineering technicians. One was an apology session supervised by a town staff member. Another, following that mediation, was in a town parking deck during which Lorenz accosted the workers and renewed the conversation. Town administration has raised the issue of retaliation by Lorenz in response to the third interaction. * BND | Judge warns East St. Louis leader of possible jail time for withholding records: * Illinois Times | Developers pitch solar farm to Divernon residents: A Dallas-based company hopes to build a 1,100-acre solar project between Divernon Township and Pawnee Township by 2029. Leeward Renewable Energy held an open house Wednesday at the Divernon American Legion, where community members and representatives of the company met to talk about the solar farm’s location, construction, environmental impact and employment potential. Henkle Branch Solar is the limited liability company created to oversee the project, which the company says will generate up to 100 megawatts of solar power. The site is anticipated to operate for 30 or more years, during which time it is expected to generate an average of $400,000 in property tax payments, according to Kristen Rosenberger, the public affairs regional manager at Leeward. Henkle Branch Solar is also offering $25,000 in “neighbor benefit grants” to homeowners and renters located within 1,000 feet of the project boundary. * WTTW | Logan Prison Is Moving 140 Miles North. Here’s What Employees, Incarcerated Women Have to Say: Logan’s move elicits mixed emotions among both the women incarcerated inside of it and its employees. Correctional officers worry about job security, while some incarcerated women are concerned about moving away from their downstate families and others don’t want another prison built at all. Meanwhile, some residents in Lincoln think the prison’s move is a death knell for their town. * WGLT | Housing experts react to what federal housing legislation means for Central Illinois: “Housing supply is one of the biggest issues, impacts that buyers, sellers, renters, employers and communities are actually having…” said Camill Tedrick, incoming president of the Mid-Illinois Realtors Association [MIRA], the multiple listing service agency in Central and Southern Illinois. “People still want to buy homes. First time homebuyers still want the opportunity to build wealth through home ownership, but many are really facing the challenges with affordability.” Tedrick said she was disappointed to learn President Trump canceled the signing of the bill. Although he reaffirmed Friday that he would not sign the bill, it is set to become law tonight after a 10-day waiting period expires. * WAND | Where to find cooling centers in central Illinois: During regular business hours, public buildings such as libraries and municipal buildings are generally available for people to cool down in. The state of Illinois has an interactive map with cooling centers available in your area. * WaPo | Conflicting court orders over citizenship data stir more midterm confusion: The recent decisions from a pair of judges — one appointed by Trump, one by President Joe Biden — injected more uncertainty into this fall’s elections. They centered on state access to an enhanced version of a federal database stocked with citizenship information. […] * NPR | Campaign text messages could soon get more effective — and annoying: AI-powered platforms are training bots to sound like political candidates in text messages, holding personalized conversations with thousands of potential voters simultaneously. The bots are also gathering data, learning what each voter wants from their representatives and using that information to shape future campaign messaging. Aaron Sheeks, the CEO of Akillion, an AI platform that lets people run their own Large Language Models or bots, said many of his current clients are running for political office.
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Good morning!
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’d like to give a big shout-out and lots of huge hugs to two friends of mine who lost their moms this month: Adam Vaught and Mark Denzler. There are no words for losses like this… I get a little bit weary I miss my mom * Hannah Meisel sent me this and it’s been a great help to me, so I’ll share it with you…  I hope so. I really hope so.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Rodney Crowell and friends… Well baby says she’d really love a party
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Welch appoints members to special investigating committee (Updated)
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. Speaker Welch…
…Adding… House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Former state legislators Dave Sullivan and Mike Zalewski got together for the latest episode of Zalewski’s podcast. Click here to listen. It’s a good one. * Press release | NFIB: John Deere Settlement Paves the Way for Right to Repair for Small Businesses: The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released a statement highlighting the need to expand right to repair efforts following the recent antitrust lawsuit settlement between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and John Deere. “This settlement is a huge win for farmers, independent repair shops, and all small businesses who rely on John Deere products in some aspect of their business,” said Mary Alex Hamby, NFIB Principal of Federal Government Relations. “Now, we have the chance to build on this incredible momentum and bring the same access to independent auto and electronic repair shops. Lawmakers have the clear opportunity to compel manufacturers to share the critical data and tools that small business repair shops need to level the playing field, lower costs, compete, and serve their customers.” * Crain’s | Johnson moves to reclaim control of rogue CHA board: Mayor Brandon Johnson is trying to reassert his influence over the Chicago Housing Authority, nominating three new board members to replace a mayoral challenger and two others who voted to install a new leader of the agency over the mayor’s objection. Johnson is directly introducing three nominees to the Housing Committee for a July 14 vote in an attempt to fill the 10-member board with allies, but it’s unclear who the mayor wants to lead the $1.4 billion agency. * Sun-Times | ICE arrests have increased in Chicago, but tactics less publicized than last fall, legal groups say: Last week, at least 20 people were arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago, and another 17 people have been arrested so far this week, according to reports from rapid response groups who document the arrests. Those numbers seem to be an increase from recent months, said Marcela Rodriguez, co-chair of the Illinois Latino Agenda and a member of the nonprofit group Enlace Chicago. * Sun-Times | Court monitor dings city for lacking a single compliant accessible crosswalk signal for impaired pedestrians: Besides failing the technical requirements, the monitor found that many devices were not functioning properly or required maintenance. The city has work to do on that end, Weisberg said. But the city has made substantial progress at identifying and constructing accessible signals at crosswalks across the city. * Tribune | Black Chicagoans displaced for the Dan Ryan Expressway are the focus of ‘Remember’: It’s those truths that Hunter wants to find and gather in her project, part of “The Ways We Remember: Celebrating 20 Years of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium” and featured in the BMRC Gallery. (Founded as a collective, the Black Metropolis Research Consortium is an archive of Black Chicago life.) Hunter is seeking to talk with people, their relatives, and neighbors who remember the Dan Ryan displacement. To aid in this, Hunter has been holding “memory tea” sessions for the past two years with Chicagoans in their late 70s and early 80s who remember the Dan Ryan being built, to hear and share their stories. * Block Club | Pitchfork Sues Co-Founder, Saying He Misappropriated $564K After Fest Shuttered: A lawsuit filed this week on behalf of Pitchfork Festivals LLC in federal court in Chicago accuses co-founder Mike Reed of keeping $564,680 that he falsely claimed were expenses he had already incurred to prepare for the 2025 fest before it was cancelled. Instead of returning the money, Reed allegedly secretly transferred the money from the company that was under contract with Pitchfork to another entity that he controlled. * Block Club | Shedd Aquarium Rescuing 10 Beluga Whales From Shuttered Canadian Park: The aquarium is preparing to rescue and rehome up to 10 beluga whales from Marineland of Canada, a shuttered zoo and amusement park in Ontario, according to the Shedd. It’s unknown when the whales will arrive at the aquarium, but rescues are slated to begin in the “next few weeks,” according to the Shedd. The Shedd is one of several facilities expected to take part in the rescue of 30 stranded beluga whales. Other participating facilities include aquariums in Georgia, San Diego, San Antonio and Spain. * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan stepping up efforts to replace lead water pipes: ‘Every resident … deserves equal access to clean, safe drinking water’: After three years of asking residents to voluntarily use a camera and technology to show the city whether the water service line in their home is lead, galvanized or copper, David Motley, the city’s public relations director, said identifying the pipe type is now a resident’s obligation. Though the method of determining the pipe’s material remains taking a picture of the pipe in the home and sending it to the city electronically, Motley said a lack of technological know-how or equipment is no longer a barrier. An active education campaign is also underway. * WGN | School supt. charged after WGN Investigates finds bills for porn and more: Prosecutors say Toulios, who was the superintendent of Argo Community High School District 217, used the district-issued credit card to make more than $10,000 in unauthorized purchases, including more than $4,000 spent on adult-content websites. The investigation also revealed more than $4,000 spent on golf equipment and more than $5,000 in Visa gift cards, some of which were allegedly used to pay for adult websites and personal purchases, according to prosecutors. * WSIL | Last WWII-era Quonset Hut at SIU Being Demolished: The World War II-era structure is the last of what was once hundreds of Quonset huts on campus. Historic photos provided by SIU’s Special Collections Research Center show the large, aircraft hangar-like building that served the university for decades. Heavy equipment moved in this week to tear down the longtime landmark after years of limited use. University officials said the project is a significant undertaking, but completing the demolition during the summer helps improve safety while fewer students, faculty and staff are on campus. * WCIA | Champaign-Urbana caddie academy lets high schoolers to learn on and off the course: If you find your way out to Atkins Golf Club in Urbana this summer, you’ll find some new faces ready to help you play better while changing their lives. Eight high school students are hitting the links as caddies for most of the summer, raking in the dough, while also working toward the Evans Scholarship, which gives select students full tuition and housing for their undergraduate degrees. * SJ-R | ‘Big Boy’ train to stop in Springfield: The world’s largest operating steam locomotive will soon make a stop in the capital city. Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” No. 4014 is journeying west from the east coast in collaboration with Norfolk Southern Railway, as the railroads celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. * Tribune | Why is beef so expensive? And can consumers expect lower prices anytime soon? ‘It’s got to get worse before it gets better.’: Average prices are up nearly 13% in the last year, with a pound of ground beef now costing $6.75 nationwide, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Midwest, prices are even steeper, kissing $7 per pound. The cost of ground beef has already surpassed all-time highs twice this year, and cattle ranchers and beef market experts alike doubt it’ll be the last. The historically high prices seen this year are the result of a combination of economic and environmental factors — from inflation and a labor shortage to drought and disease. All contribute to one bottom line: less beef. * 404 Media | We Are Living in a ‘ChatGPT Flyer Pandemic’: Jonathon Yule, executive creative director for design at the creative studio Concrete in Toronto told 404 Media that these types of posters continue a long tradition of terrible graphic design that we see in the world, but with “none of the charm” that may accidentally come from a business owner making something low quality. “Terrible posters are nothing new,” Yule said. “The only difference today is generative AI makes it easier than ever to get the veneer of “polish” with none of the charm that these types of posters might have had when the designer was faced with constraints (usually time, resources or experience). These types of posters would have typically been done by designers either working at a small agency or print shop and these mid-level design jobs are disappearing. Stepping back to think about where this style (and its acceptance in the world) might have come from I’m going to have to pin the blame on YouTube and AB-tested-whatever-gets-more-clicks approach to thumbnail design with the exaggerated facial expressions and shoddy yet eye catching typography.”
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Another garbage ‘report’
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * This SJ-R story caught my eye…
According to that story, Illinois ranked 47th in the nation in freedom of the press. * So, I went to the State of the Nation Project’s website, and it indeed does have Illinois ranked 47th in the nation…
* So I went to that source, the US Press Freedom Tracker. That data claims just two incidents in Illinois this year. But both of those incidents are actually the same incident…  That assault was horrific…
* But a whole lot of other states had more reported incidents than Illinois: California and New Jersey each had 67 incidents. Minesota had 24. DC had 15. Oregon had 8. Virginia had 5. New York had 4. Maryland had 3. And somehow we’re 47th?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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House Republicans initiate special investigating committee of Rep. Ammons (Updated x2)
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…
* Three signatures automatically trigger the special investigating committee. From House Rule 91…
And from there, the case can be sent to a Select Committee on Discipline. A resolution to expel Ammons would need an “affirmative vote of 79 members elected.” [Isabel Miller contributed to this post.] …Adding… Illinois Freedom Caucus…
…Adding… News-Gazette…
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Survey: Rural residents most worried about data centers
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* From the survey narrative…
* Percent of respondents very worried about the potential impacts of AI/data center development, including “New data centers will impact electricity costs,” “Overuse of water,” and “Agricultural land will be used for data centers”…
* Back to Investigate Midwest…
* More…
* Shaw Local | Questions arise over data centers’ water use, Illinois considers mandating water-efficient cooling systems : The currently stalled state legislation, known as the POWER Act, does not mandate closed-loop cooling, but does require developers to use any type of cooling system [for data centers] that is at least as efficient as closed-loop cooling. An advocate of the POWER Act, state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said her residents have “consistently raised concerns about rising water rates and the increasing cost of living.” […] “There are ways to cool these centers without water, so the language needs to be flexible enough for those solutions, as well,” Ventura said. * TCD | Illinois officials face data center moratorium push as sixth grader says, ‘We need our water’: The Mahomet Aquifer, the region’s main water source, was at the center of the East Central Illinois dispute over large-scale data centers. MPR News reported that more than 100 people attended the meeting with signs reading “Protect Our Water” and “Approve the Moratorium,” reflecting fears about what new development could mean for the aquifer. Among those who addressed the county board was sixth grader Samuel Tomory, who argued that protecting the aquifer mattered more than expanding artificial intelligence. * WAND | Macon County residents speak on potential data center ordinance: A member of the board told WAND News in early June that a data center moratorium would be considered in the future. Communities are asking for transparency throughout the process and want the board to consider all the potential drawbacks of a data center. “Do you want to be remembered as someone who helped trillion dollar companies replace the American workforce, or as someone who had the courage to stand against the behemoths who care more about money than our families and neighbors?” one resident posed. * WAND | Aurora residents say data center noise is disrupting daily life despite mitigation efforts: “At its worst, it’s like a helicopter. At its best, it’s a low hum, a noise that will never stop,” Evans said. Neighbors compare the sound to having a train behind their homes every night. They say the noise is often worse overnight. After years of complaints, CyrusOne has taken steps to reduce the noise. But residents say the sound remains disruptive. “Instead of being a helicopter on a roof, it might be a helicopter coming from about 50 feet away,” Evans said. David Szala agrees. After measuring the sound levels, he said the data center has reached 80 decibels, which is about as loud as a running blender.
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Serious Lip Balm, founded by Khara Koffel and Megan Luckey, creates all-natural, handmade lip and skin products designed to help you feel your best. What started as a simple homemade gift in Jacksonville, Illinois, has grown into a thriving brand carried by more than 500 retailers across North America. Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Khara and Megan in Jacksonville are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Federal appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban, overturning lower court ruling. Tribune…
- The majority opinion from St. Eve and Judge Frank Easterbook, a nominee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, sends the case back to US District Court in southern Illinois with instructions to rule in favor of the state of Illinois. - The longevity of that victory remains in question, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court indicated last week that it would take up legal challenges to similar laws in Cook County and the state of Connecticut. * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * WTTW | One Big Beautiful Bill Requires States to Front SNAP Costs. Illinois Could Pay Tens of Millions Annually: But local organizations combating food insecurity worry that the cost shifting could reduce SNAP benefits for Americans who need them. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, more than 12 million monthly SNAP payments are made to more than 1.9 million people in Illinois. Nolan Downey is the senior policy director at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He said states are staring down the barrel of losing SNAP entirely if they cannot front extra costs. * Capitol News Illinois | Republicans call for more transparency, accountability after ‘disgraceful week’ for House Democrats: Two Illinois House Democrats were publicly accused in the last week of inappropriate or criminal behavior. Former Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, resigned on July 3 after House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said an internal ethics report revealed inappropriate behavior. Then on Wednesday, Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, was indicted on 10 federal corruption charges for allegedly misusing campaign and state funds. “This has been another disgraceful week for the Illinois government, driven by conduct by members on the Democratic side of the aisle and the failure of leadership to demand real accountability,” House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said at a news conference on Thursday. * WAND | Pritzker signs LIHEAP expansion, utility charge transparency bills into law: House Bill 4456 will increase the income eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Democrats said the LIHEAP change can help more households qualify for the help they need. “It’s critically important to protect low income and middle income households from unsustainable utility costs,” said Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Waukegan). * Sen. Cristina Castro on Nirav Shah launching a US Senate campaign in Maine…
* WAND | House GOP call for special investigating committee following Ammons indictment: House GOP leaders said Ammons is facing serious allegations involving taxpayer dollars and public trust. A special investigating committee would hold hearings to discuss unethical behavior shown by the Democrat. However, her own party leaders would have to agree to launch the investigation. “This pattern of alleged criminal behavior makes it clear that the Ammons family has repeatedly defrauded taxpayers for their own benefit,” said Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville). “This unethical and possibly criminal behavior seems to be a family affair. They must do the right thing for once and resign from public office.” * Capitol News Illinois | Speaker Welch’s approach to ethics cases involving his members: Welch, speaking with reporters after reciting the Declaration of Independence in Springfield on Wednesday, repeated a version of what he and Senate President Don Harmon have said on several occasions: the courts are the best venue to adjudicate criminal wrongdoing by legislators. “You guys have known me even before I was speaker, I’m a big believer in due process,” Welch said. “Just as my statement said earlier today, she’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. She has every right to due process, but these are some very serious allegations. Let’s not be mistaken by that.” * Fox Chicago | Former Gov. Pat Quinn pushing ‘Millionaire Amendment’ to lower Illinois property taxes: The measure did not advance during the spring legislative session. Ford said drafting issues prevented the bill from reaching the House floor but believes lawmakers can fix those issues and bring it back. “We know we have the votes in Springfield when we get it right,” Ford said. * CBS Chicago | State leaders urge caution for parents considering buying e-bikes for their kids, as bill awaits Pritzker’s signature: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a public service announcement on YouTube Thursday as part of his office’s Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready campaign. He emphasized that e-bikes often are not really bicycles, but “essentially electric motorcycles being marketed to kids” that can hit 40 to 50 miles per hour. “These aren’t bike speeds, they’re highway speeds,” Giannoulias said. “When crashes happen at those speeds, the consequences can be devastating.” * Crain’s | Johnson reveals why City Hall abandoned its $3.2B bid for parking meters: In a memo sent to the City Council’s Finance Committee ahead of a potential July 13 vote on transferring the parking meter concession to Stonepeak Partners, the administration says financing the purchase would have required backing the bonds with revenue beyond the parking meters themselves, potentially putting other city revenues at risk. […] A second official, likewise given anonymity to speak about the deak, said the original 2008 agreement did not give Chicago any advantages in the event of a sale, denying Johnson any leverage against private buyers. * Crain’s | It’s not just property and sales taxes that you’re paying in Chicago: Chicago’s 2026 budget closed a historic $1.2 billion deficit by relying on fee and tax increases on ride-share trips, liquor sales and plastic shopping bags, and introducing measures like licensing augmented reality programs and placing ads on city infrastructure. Fines, forfeitures and penalties make up the third-largest nontax revenue source for the city. Watchdog group the Civic Federation repeatedly has warned that the budget isn’t structurally balanced and relies too much on one-time fixes or debt instead of operating revenues. * ABC Chicago | University of Chicago Law to ban phones, laptops in classroom for first-year students in new AI plan: The school made the announcement Thursday as part of a broader plan to respond to the rise of artificial intelligence, beginning in the upcoming fall semester. “We will be piloting a coordinated approach to classroom and examination policies for the core 1L curriculum during the 2026-2027 academic year. Across all 1L sections, we will prohibit the use of electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones in the classroom,” a segment of the new plan reads in part. “There will be some limited exceptions to this policy.” * NBC Chicago | ICE activity ramps up in Chicago area again, with masked agents seen taking people away in cuffs: “We learned that last week about 21 people were taken,” Marcella Rodriguez, executive director of local organization Enlace Chicago said at a press conference Thursday on the city’s northwest side. “And this week alone, up to today, 17 people across our communities have been taken. We know that they are targeting areas around schools, even though summer programs are taking place.” * Tribune | Aldermen reject Mayor Brandon Johnson’s move to ask voters if millionaires should be taxed: Only one of Johnson’s three proposals for November won committee approval. Johnson’s referendum would ask Chicagoans whether the city should use “all lawful means” to address the economic harm caused by President Donald Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” deportation campaign. Aldermen also blocked consideration of Johnson’s other ballot request, to ask voters whether the city should establish a property tax relief fund — while arguing the mayor had overstepped. * NBC Chicago | Chicago, Cook County task force seeks to improve court system for domestic violence survivors: The Chicago-Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force presented a report with its findings to the Chicago Public Safety Committee on Thursday. Elected officials and advocates pointed to a troubling trend: As violent crimes were going down in Chicago last year, domestic violence cases were rising, including a 56 percent increase in fatal shootings. […] Miller also said victims can have different experiences at different courthouses, so the task force wants to streamline the process when victims go to courthouses to file protective orders. Brown recounted her experience: filling out a 30-page document just to file that order, then waiting to see if an advocate was available to assist her. * Tribune | Domestic violence task force calls for Cook County courts to open up records: “The system that women go into is unlike any other government system. There’s absolutely no one in charge, there’s no coordination, and you get bounced back and forth between different court divisions,” across the city, county and state, Chicago77 executive director Katie Dunne said. “And there’s policies and laws right now that impede data sharing between those agencies that limit any coordination. So truly, that lack of understanding of the system has created just a culture of confusion” for victims and public employees alike. * Lake County News-Sun | Officials bemoan upkeep of Waukegan-owned cemeteries: ‘The dead should have more respect than they’re getting’: Oakwood Cemetery is more than 150 years old and serves as the final resting place for historic figures of Waukegan, Civil War veterans and a “Potter’s field” of Spanish Flu-epidemic victims. The 50-acre Sheridan Road site is owned by the municipality, along with Union Cemetery, dating back to 1845 .Neither has a dedicated budget for maintenance. A series of annual landscaping contracts with conflicting schedules has raised questions about the perpetual care covenant in recent years. The city’s Public Works Department carries responsibility for upkeep at the two cemeteries in its budget, with no line item other than for contractual services. * WAND | Effingham County announces company withdraws solar project application: ffingham County announced Thursday that Mason Plains, LLC (Nexamp) has withdrawn its application for a large solar project in the county. According to the county, the proposed project site was located in rural Mason, and the application was originally filed in April. A public hearing on a solar panel special use application set for Wednesday has been canceled. Additionally, the application will no longer be considered by the Effingham County Board. County residents had previously voiced concerns about the project, which would have spanned 16 acres on prime farmland. * WGLT | 15 people detained during ICE raids in Bloomington-Normal: Mellor said they were captured at various locations throughout the community, most of them at their place of employment. She said they all came from separate families, except one case involved a pair of brothers. About half of those detained Mellor described as “long-term residents of the community,” while the rest had recently arrived. She said most had been granted humanitarian parole, a Biden administration program created in 2023 which the Trump administration later revoked. Others had applied for asylum, while a few had pending family petitions. * WGLT | 14 new counts added to case against 2nd Chiddix teacher, cheer coach: New charges have been filed against Andrew “Drew” Miller, a Chiddix Junior High teacher and longtime cheerleading coach accused of soliciting sexual images and video from minors and, in at least one instance, attempting to meet in person. McLean County Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron Fredrick previously noted the state’s intention to bring additional charges against 41-year-old Miller, from Normal, who has been detained since his arrest in June on 42 felony counts. * The Daily Egyptian | More southern Illinois counties become news deserts as local newspapers close: A restructuring of Arlington Heights-based Paddock Publications taking place in early June has led to the shutdown of at least 13 of the 20 local newspapers owned by their subsidiaries, the majority of which served communities in southern and central Illinois, including the Marion Republican and the Harrisburg Register. * Fox 2 Now | East St. Louis cameras curbing illegal trash dumping: Watson is pleased to hear that the City of East St. Louis recently installed 14 surveillance cameras in trouble spots to deter illegal trash dumping. The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day and funded through a federal grant. […] Powell said cameras have been operating for several months and have already resulted in more than 30 tickets issued. Fines can range from $500 to $5,000, according to Powell. She said the program’s focus is not on issuing fines, but rather deterring illegal trash dumping. * WCIA | Sweet corn is back in season and one Central Illinois business is selling out fast: Sweet corn season has arrived in Central Illinois, and Thursday was the first day of sales for one local business. The Lingley Brothers in Rantoul saw lines wrapped around one of their four locations Thursday, and workers said they were selling out of their stock quickly. Lingley Brothers have locations in Tilton, Hoopeston, Danville and Attica, Indiana. They have been growing sweet corn since the 90s. Crop sellers said they are expecting this to be one of the largest harvests this year. * Forbes | Trump Fires Commissioners Of Bipartisan Federal Election Body: The three remaining members of a bipartisan federal committee that helps states and local officials administer elections were fired by the White House on Thursday, a move that could impact the midterms just weeks after after the Supreme Court upended a 90-year-old precedent and allowed the president to remove independent federal agency officials. […] The White House confirmed the firings and told NBC News that the ousted individuals will be “replaced,” without specifying a timeline as new appointments will need Senate approval. * The Guardian | Satellite mirror plans could disrupt sleep and ecosystems worldwide, scientists say: Proposals to deploy reflective mirrors and up to 1m more satellites in low Earth orbit could have far-reaching consequences for human health and ecosystems, leading sleep and circadian rhythm researchers have said. Presidents of four international scientific societies representing about 2,500 researchers from more than 30 countries are among those who have raised concerns in letters to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). * The Drive | How Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked Me for Days Over ‘Stolen’ Plates and Sent Police After Me: Eventually, after a tense hour, I did. The Plymouth Police Department had been tracking me for days using Flock license plate cameras, waiting for the right moment to strike, because they thought I’d stolen the Range Rover. And the reason I was ID’d as a dangerous car thief was a simple data error made 2,000 miles away in California, creating an edge case within an edge case that Flock’s AI camera network was unable to handle. […] The New Jersey plates that were allegedly stolen from the LA dealer were 34 03 DTM, not 34 10 DTM. But when the police report was created and the plate was entered into Flock’s system, it was just recorded as 34 DTM.
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Good morning!
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign stuff
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jul 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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