Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rides For Moms Provides Transportation To Prenatal Care

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Surgo Ventures partnered with Uber Health and local health centers to provide transportation assistance to expectant mothers facing transportation challenges to their prenatal appointments. Across one city, the initiative covered over 30,000 miles, ensuring over 450 participants reached their prenatal appointments without hassle. One participant shared, ‘There were days when I didn’t want to get up from bed. Knowing that someone was going to pick me up… made me feel safer.’ With programs like Rides for Moms, transportation is no longer a barrier for new mothers to access essential medical care. Learn more

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Daily Southtown…

Calumet City’s municipal credit card statement showing charges from Hooters, a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, a hotel in New Orleans and a Cadillac lease have led aldermen to question whether Mayor Thaddeus Jones or another official is attempting to charge city taxpayers for personal expenses.

Concerns over city spending began when aldermen noticed the city was being charged for the lease payment of a Cadillac that, according to 6th Ward Ald. James Patton, is used by Jones’ wife, Saprina. […]

Patton noted Saprina is not a city employee. The agenda from a City Council meeting April 25 shows a request to pay $14,220 to Napleton River Oaks Cadillac Inc.

Jones declined requests for comment on questions regarding the Cadillac charges.

* JB Pritzker on SB2412, that prevents political party committees from appointing challengers if the party didn’t field a candidate in the primary, at an unrelated news conference today…

Well, as I understand that bill, and again, it just got put through I think yesterday and I haven’t seen the details of it. But as I understand, this is actually an ethics bill. It really does make sure that we don’t have backroom deals to put people on the ballot and run as a result of, you know, some small group of people in a smoke filled room making the choice. So I think to me more transparency is better.

* Jeremy Gorner…

* MAA shows some speed…

NEW VIDEO: @ChicagosMayor RUNS from me and another reporter as we tried to ask him about the arrest in the death of Officer Luis Huesca.

He did not comment. As you see he drove off.

More on this at 4 on @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/oFj7YfIRjP

— Darius Johnson (DJ) (@DariusJohnsonTV) May 2, 2024

*** Statewide ***

* WBEZ | Illinois environmental advocates say coal ash cleanup isn’t happening fast enough: Illinois set itself apart from the majority of the country when it finalized its coal ash rules back in 2021. Most states, save for a handful like North Carolina and Michigan, relied on 2015 federal guidelines designed to monitor and clean up only some coal ash residuals. Environmental groups scrutinized the rule for years as it excluded from potential oversight legacy coal ash ponds and landfills at power plants that were retired when the rule took effect. Now advocates say the forthcoming permits are dragging. “The Illinois EPA has been reviewing these proposed permits for almost two years,” said Andrew Rehn, the director of climate policy at Prairie Rivers Network in Champaign. “And that’s like a long time for these permits to sit and just be under review.”

* Sun-Times | Why does Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources claim the public has no right to 98% of waterways?: Not far from our office door in Champaign lies the source of the Embarras River, which flows southward for 195 miles, coursing through eight counties before emptying into the Wabash River. Early settlers used this river and others as corridors for travel, trade and fishing. In time, they enjoyed boating on it in places like Greenup in Cumberland County. But according to the DNR, not one mile of the Embarras River is navigable and hence open to the public. The agency says much the same about tens of thousands of other river miles, including popular canoeing rivers such as the Middle Fork of the Vermilion just east of Champaign, the state’s only nationally designated scenic river. Users of these rivers, the agency asserts, do so only with the implied permission of neighboring landowners — permission that any landowner at any time could withdraw.

* SJ-R | Organizations rally for social justice in schools, communities in Springfield: Black Greek organizations were joined by registered participants outside of the state Capitol on Wednesday to advocate for social justice in schools, communities and other spaces. The two oldest and intercollegiate Black organizations, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority held, a joint advocacy day to focus on topics such as criminal justice reform, education and equitable health care.

* IDOT | Rebuilding Metro East: Interstate projects highlight another historic construction season: Entering one of its busiest construction seasons ever, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that major projects in the Metro East are planned or underway, fueled by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. Twenty major projects combined represent a total investment of nearly $825 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Howard Brown Health workers ratify contract: The INA said the three-year agreement includes a 7% average pay raise, a $19.23 minimum wage across the organization, lower health insurance premiums, insurance coverage for part-time workers and two weeks of paid leave for gender-affirming care, among other things. The ratification ends a year and a half of tense labor relations for the LGBTQ-focused health provider, punctuated by two strikes and an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board.

* Block Club | Dom’s Kitchen & Market’s Sudden Closure Leaves North Side Food Pantry ‘Scrambling’ For Donations: Care for Real, the food pantry with locations in Edgewater and Rogers Park, used to get thousands of pounds of groceries from Dom’s before the upscale grocer abruptly closed late last month. The food pantry offered its clients pre-packaged meals like sandwiches and salads donated from Dom’s, Jen Kouba, Care For Real director of development and communications, said.

* Tribune Column |Why I’m boycotting the Kentucky Derby — and why Chicago sports fans should too: My boycott comes in response to the vital role the management team at Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) played in the Bears’ 2023 destruction of the world-renowned and tradition-rich Arlington International Racecourse, one of the precious gems of Chicago sports. The rubble that remains is a monument to the greed of the people who run CDI and their disregard for the owners and trainers who raced their horses there and the fans and families who made trips to Arlington part of their summer sports and recreation menus.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | At Graue Mill, historical and environmental interests clash over removal of dam: It should have been a relatively simple project: Dozens of dams have been quietly removed across Illinois amid environmental and safety concerns. Instead, it took over a decade. A group of determined community members believed the dam was an integral piece of the Graue Mill. To remove it was to strip away a historic hallmark in the village, they argued.

* Daily Herald | Patience paying off for Buffalo Grove on Rohrman redevelopment: After more than a decade of sitting dormant, the former Rohrman property on Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove is on its way to new life. Buffalo Grove officials and representatives of Shorewood Development Group gathered with hard hats and shovels Wednesday to make a break with the past and break ground on the future. […] When the dust settles and construction is complete, the 16-acre site on Dundee Road between Old Arlington Heights Road and Bison Park will be home to a new Tesla sales and service center, a 224-unit apartment building and 30,000 to 40,000 square feet of retail space.

*** National ***

* Reuters | Bird flu outbreak in dairy cows fails to deter US raw milk sellers: Thirty of the 50 U.S. states permit the sale of raw milk, which accounts for less than 1% percent of U.S. milk sales. A nationwide survey of pasteurized milk - heated to kill pathogens - found avian flu virus particles in about 20% of samples tested. […] “Our consumers don’t like the FDA. If the FDA says to do something, they will do the opposite,” said Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm in Fresno, California, the largest U.S. raw milk dairy.

* AP | Some WNBA teams look for bigger arenas when Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever come to town: The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their games against the Fever to bigger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in college indicates it’s a smart move. […] “She helps ticket sales, so I think it’s a really great time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite player,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She has been in college. She’s done stuff in college that nobody else has. She’s going to be a great player in the W. There’s no doubt about it.

* Crain’s | Why Walgreens and Walmart struggle to make health care profitable: Walmart’s health care strategy took an abrupt turn Tuesday, as the company announced plans to shutter all clinics and stop virtual care services. Industry watchers say Walmart’s decision to close all 51 centers isn’t surprising, given the steep challenges retailers face to profitably deliver health care services.

* 404 Media | Facebook’s AI Spam Isn’t the ‘Dead Internet’: It’s the Zombie Internet: I have spent more time than anyone I know endlessly scrolling through AI spam on Facebook. I have watched the evolution of Facebook’s AI spam go from slightly uncanny modifications of real images to the completely bizarre and obviously fake. I have done this from my own Facebook account, which I have had since 2005, as well as from two burner accounts I created specifically to track how AI-generated content is recommended on the platform and to see whether Facebook would put AI-generated images into my feed organically. I now use Facebook exclusively to see what kinds of bizarre AI content is going viral, and to attempt to figure out who is making it, why they are making it, and who is interacting with it.

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Rivian announces $1.5 billion investment in Normal facility, Pritzker talks about incentives

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker, Rivian, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined local leaders and partners to announce a new Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentive package for Rivian’s new $1.5 billion investment in Central Illinois. The investment - which will create more than 550 full-time jobs within the next five years alone - will enable the company to produce its highly anticipated R2 model at its Normal, Illinois facility.

“We are taking a tremendous step forward – for our electric vehicle ecosystem, for our economy, and for our state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This partnership brings significant investment in the Illinois workforce – including another manufacturing training academy, a dual credit apprenticeship program for high school students, and further support through the Employer Training Investment Program. Not only are we creating the jobs of the future, we are providing Illinoisans the skills they need to fill them.”

“We are grateful for this investment from the State of Illinois and for the leadership of Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, and Speaker Welch,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “The support from the state will allow us to quickly bring our midsize SUV, R2, to market and provide even greater consumer choice for EVs. Governor Pritzker has always been a strong advocate for providing economic opportunities for Illinois residents and business owners alike. We look forward to continuing our close partnership and building upon the success we have enjoyed.”

Rivian’s $1.5 billion investment in its Normal facility will expand the total capacity for the site to 215,000 units per year, with a focus on the R2 SUV, an affordable and family-friendly EV design. 550+ new, full-time jobs will be created over the next five years to support this manufacturing, all paid at least 120% of the average wage of similar job classifications in McLean County (the agreement estimates a minimum salary of $51,174). The company selected Normal for its historic expansion due to competitive incentives and state support for the project as well as Illinois’ strong workforce, superior infrastructure, and access to suppliers.

“Rivian had many options for its R2 production and its decision to expand in Illinois speaks volumes to the state’s workforce and the strong EV ecosystem Illinois is creating,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Rivian’s expansion cements our partnership and will bolster the state’s already strong supply chain and help attract and retain other industry heavy hitters while creating good-paying clean energy jobs for Illinoisans.”

Rivian’s total 30-year incentive package from the State of Illinois is valued at $827 million, with the majority of funding derived from REV tax credits with a focus on workforce development. Through REV, Rivian is eligible to receive tax benefits totaling nearly $634 million over the next three decades. The REV agreement specifies the retention of at least 6,000 jobs for the entirety of the agreement period. A link to the executed REV agreement can be found here.

As part of Illinois’ commitment to build out comprehensive EV hubs and support Illinois’ workforce, the State will also fund a second manufacturing training academy in Normal, co-located at the new facility to create a new dual-credit apprenticeship pilot program for high schools. Additional support includes a grant through the Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) as well as leveraging the State’s existing workforce networks and programs to train and prepare regional employees for new jobs.

Pending an executed agreement, Rivian will also receive Invest in Illinois funding in the amount of $75 million in capital funding to the company. The Fund was signed into law in early 2023 to make Illinois more attractive when vying for large projects in highly competitive sectors like clean energy. Once the agreement is executed it will be posted online.

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Support House Bill 4781

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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Another budget pressure point (Updated)

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed budget doesn’t include money to help schools deal with the migrant influx. He was asked about that this week and here’s his response…

School districts need more money across the board. That is just a fact. That is one of the reasons we have the evidence-based funding model in place, to put more dollars and put the dollars in the right places. But for sure the education system is underfunded and there are needs, including the new arrivals that have come, the children that are in those schools.

But we also have seen, as you know, in some places like in Chicago, there are fewer students going to school in public schools in Chicago over the years. And so the addition here, while funding has been relatively stable for Chicago, we’ve had fewer students there. So they should be able to handle many of the students that have come.

Meanwhile, again, education across the board has been underfunded.

* But that response ignored the pressures in the suburbs. Capitol News Illinois…

“Over 40 percent of our students qualify for English learner services, and the numbers are continuing to grow,” [Jeannie Stachowiak, superintendent of North Palos School District 117] said. “Just this year, we have enrolled 83 newcomer students who come from 16 different countries, from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South America, and Mexico. Many of these students have suffered trauma in their countries of origin and have experienced interrupted schooling. Several who are enrolled also need additional services beyond that of (English learner), which may include special education as they were not properly identified and supported before they came to the United States.” […]

Most of those [62,644 newcomer] students [in the past two years] are enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, [Kimako Patterson, chief of staff at the Illinois State Board of Education] said, but an estimated 12,771 are enrolled in other districts. She said those students come from 147 different countries, led by Mexico, Colombia, Ukraine, India and Venezuela.

In January, ISBE submitted a funding request for the upcoming fiscal year totaling just over $11 billion, or roughly one-fifth of the state’s entire General Revenue Fund budget. That included $35 million in new funding to support migrant students.

Although Gov. JB Pritzker did not include that money in the budget proposal he sent to the General Assembly, ISBE still hopes to have it included in the final budget that lawmakers pass this session.

* Chalkbeat…

State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat representing suburbs northwest of Chicago, has filed a pair of bills — House Bill 2822 and House Bill 3991— that would allow the Illinois State Board of Education to create a $35 million New Arrival Grant program that would distribute funding to school districts to support migrant students.

Crespo said he plans to amend the legislation to request $150 million for the grant program.

Rep. Crespo’s amendment would actually appropriate $188 million.

* WGN…

“When you get notice that in three days you are going to have 40 students…that’s a stressor on the system,” said Dr. Michael Connolly, superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 21 in Wheeling. […]

Illinois has a grant program to help districts pay for language and cultural programs for new arrivals. Of the 853 school districts statewide, only 80, or about 10 percent have received money through that channel.

Thoughts?

…Adding… From the governor’s office…

Illinois school districts have a number of different options to access federal dollars to support migrant students in the classroom. Every school district in the state has access to funding through the $33.1 million McKinney-Vento program. Certain districts are also able to access $10 million in federal dollars through the Title I School Improvement program. Those school districts that have federal immigrant education programs are also eligible for Title III dollars to support these students. On top of all that, the Stronger Connections Grant program is competitive and offers $40 million for districts with newcomers to the state.

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

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

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Question of the day

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* What would it take for you to support a smallish state investment in a new Chicago Bears domed stadium on the lakefront?

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Credit Unions: A Smart Financial Choice for Illinois Consumers

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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$117.7B Economic Impact: More Than Healthcare Providers, Hospitals Are Economic Engines

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois hospitals and health systems are essential to economic growth across the state. A new report illustrates the hospital community’s role as strong economic contributors who fuel $117.7 billion in economic activity every year, resulting in good-paying jobs and more vibrant communities.

While hospitals are first and foremost providers of life-saving care, their role stretches farther. They are innovators; community partners in addressing challenges of food insecurity, homelessness, health disparities and more; and major employers serving as the hub of economic activity in their communities.

Illinois hospitals and health systems create 445,000 direct and indirect jobs, and they support working families through over $50 billion in direct and indirect payroll annually. What’s more:

As larger purchasers of supplies and services, Illinois hospitals and health systems spend nearly $62 billion to have on hand for every patient the medical equipment and supplies needed to care for patients in any circumstance. In addition, the hospital community spends over $5.5 billion in capital projects yearly that benefit patients, and provide good jobs to Illinois workers. Learn more about the hospital community’s economic impact.

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A fun night for all, House wins interchamber softball game

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The House won last night’s interchamber softball game 14-13…

Mood: House Wins!!!! 💪🏾

House vs. Senate Softball 2024 pic.twitter.com/mpaRVG9czx

— Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (@SpeakerWelchIL) May 2, 2024

* From the Statehouse press corps…

.@SpeakerWelchIL drives in the game-tying run in the top of the 7th. Tied at 13. Senate with a chance to walk it off in the bottom half the inning. #twill https://t.co/H0O5TBqDTG pic.twitter.com/xun2sxycZp

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) May 2, 2024

* Here’s some cell phone snaps of yesterday’s game!…

Big thanks to Rep. Marty Moylan for putting it together!

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It’s just a bill

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Daily Herald…

Despite clearing a key committee and gaining dozens of sponsors, legislation to halt mandatory road tests for Illinois seniors is stalled in the Illinois House, supporters said Wednesday.

The measure was sent back to the Rules Committee April 19, where it’s likely to remain in limbo, said state Rep. Jeff Keicher, chief sponsor of Bill 4431. […]

However, a companion bill spearheaded by Republican Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles is still viable in the Senate.

Illinois mandates drivers ages 79 and 80 to take a road exam if their four-year license renewal is up. For drivers ages 81 to 86, it’s every two years, and for those 87 and older, it’s yearly.

* Center Square…

Another bill has been introduced in Springfield dealing with end of life options for the terminally ill.

Illinois state Sen. Julie Morrison’s Senate Bill 2644 would establish a statewide electronic registry that would contain Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms, which detail what type of medical treatment a critically ill patient does and does not want. […]

Currently, POLST forms can be maintained in hard copy or electronic format. Morrison’s measure would establish a single location to hold all POLST forms through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, making it easily accessible to physicians throughout the state. […]

Morrison’s measure passed the Senate and is now headed to the House for consideration.

* WAND…

High school students taking driver education courses may soon be required to learn about worker safety in highway construction zones.

State lawmakers believe future drivers should have the knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate construction zones with caution and respect to reduce the risk of accidents.

The number of people who died in work zone crashes increased from 586 people in 2010 to 954 people in 2021, according to the National Safety Council. […]

Senate Bill 3151 passed unanimously out of the House Education Curriculum & Policies Committee Wednesday and now moves to the House floor. If the bill passes out of the House and is signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, it would take effect on August 1.

* The News Leader…

A new bill in the state legislature might address the problems that caused Highland to lay off some of its first responders this year.

State Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has filed a bill that increases the amount a district can levy for emergency services. It also allows the districts to charge fees not exceeding the reasonable cost of the service for ambulance services rendered outside the district, and removes a provision setting fees at a certain dollar amount for more flexibility.

Meier filed the bill back in October, before Highland city leaders announced that their contracts with neighboring districts would end and they would be laying off several EMS workers. The other districts had ended their contracts because Highland asked them to increase their tax levies; Highland was maxed out at the amount it could levy, but thanks to reduced payments from Medicare and Medicaid, the city was losing money on its ambulance services, according to city leaders.

House Bill 4179 would amend the Emergency Services District Act to increase the total taxing authority of emergency service districts from .6 percent to .8 percent, and increase the tax rate for current rescue squads from .2 to .4 percent. The ambulance service levy limit remains at .4 percent. It removes the fee caps of $250 per hour and $70 per hour per ambulance worker, while retaining the requirement that fees should be equal to the reasonable cost of service.

* WAND…

A bill heading to the Illinois House floor could help students and families better understand the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

The Illinois State Board of Education and Department of Public Health would be required to create informational resources about the disease and display the materials online.

Sponsors said many children and their families are unaware of the symptoms and treatment even though more than 30,000 children across the country have Type 1 diabetes. […]

Senate Bill 3473 passed unanimously out of the House Education School Curriculum & Policies Committee and now moves to the House floor. The plan previously gained unanimous support in the Senate.

* NBC Chicago…

A new bill under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly would aim to discourage the theft and resale of catalytic converters, with the state having one of the worst rates of such thefts in the country.

According to research cited by bill sponsor Sen. Michael Hastings, more than 2,000 insurance claims were filed between 2020-2022 after devices were stolen from vehicles, the fourth-highest rate in the U.S. during that time according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. […]

The proposed bill, under consideration by the Senate, would require dealers to keep records of vehicle identification numbers of the vehicles from which the converter was removed, and to note any numbers, bar codes, stickers or other unique markings of the devices.

The bill would require recycling facilities to obtain a copy of the certificate of title or uniform invoice showing the seller’s ownership of the vehicle in transactions involving converters.

* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…

State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) advanced legislation through the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety on Wednesday to create the Uniform Statewide Crime Statistics Task Force. […]

House Bill 2323 will create the Uniform Statewide Crime Statistics Task Force. The group would meet at least quarterly to assist the State Police in the development and implementation of an integrated software system for gathering and publishing crime data from all law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

The Uniform Statewide Crime Statistics Task Force would include members from the Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General along with numerous agencies and professionals in the public safety sector. […]

House Bill 2323 passed the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration

* WGEM…

Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to overhauling the state’s child labor laws. The state House Labor and Commerce Committee passed a bill Wednesday modernizing child labor laws.

The bill would substantially update the state’s child labor laws for the first time in nearly 75 years.

An initiative of the Illinois Department of Labor, agency officials argue piecemeal changes over the years have created outdated, conflicting and disjointed provisions in state law.

“We’re trying to just create a whole new bill, gut and replace it, and allow for an easier new way to manage the bill and understand and so employers and everyone else can understand it. I think right now it just creates a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings for a bill that is very important in protecting the vulnerable,” said state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, the bill’s House sponsor. […]

The state Senate passed the bill unanimously on April 10.

* Sen. Rachel Ventura…

State Senator Rachel Ventura has proposed legislation aimed at easing the growing stress that students face in classrooms, prioritizing their physical and emotional well-being to enhance focus and reduce anxiety during school hours. […]

Statistics from the American Psychological Association show that 4.1 million children in the U.S. between the ages of 3 and 17 years old have been diagnosed with anxiety. In Illinois alone, 145,000 children between the ages of 12-17 have depression.

Senate Bill 2872 would provide instruction for school districts on relaxation activities, such as mindful-based movements, yoga, stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, guided relaxation techniques, quiet time, walking, in-person conversation, and other stress-relieving activities, once a week for 20 minutes, in addition to recess, to enhance physical and emotional health.

If a school district wishes, the activities could take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, student-support or advisory class, or as part of another class, including a new class, providing ample opportunities and flexibility for schools to adopt.

The measure would allow a school district to partner with a local community-based organization to provide the activities. […]

Senate Bill 2872 passed the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee on Wednesday and now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

* Sen. Cristina Castro…

People in need of physical therapy could soon have more freedom and flexibility to choose where and how they receive care under a measure led by State Senator Cristina Castro. […]

Castro’s measure would join Illinois with 23 other states that have permanently allowed physical therapists to provide telehealth services. Illinois allowed physical therapists to provide telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state has not passed legislation enabling them to continue this practice.

House Bill 5087 would extend permanent telehealth services to physical therapy while still ensuring people are able to request and receive in-person care when needed. The legislation lays out specified conditions a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant would need to follow in order to provide physical therapy telehealth services. […]

House Bill 5087 passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee Wednesday.

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Open thread

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: House Democrats advance November ballot questions aimed at driving party turnout. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ Capitol News Illinois: Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
∙ WBEZ: Illinois voters could be asked about IVF coverage, millionaire tax in November
∙ Center Square: Democrats replace child welfare bill with changes to election law

Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony at 11 am. At 1:30 the governor will announce an expanded investment in Rivian. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s top picks ***

* WTTW | Illinois Doctors Would Have Easier Access to Patients’ End-of-Life Wishes Under Bill Advancing in Springfield: Another, more controversial proposal (Senate Bill 3499), that would allow patients with terminal illnesses to pursue physician-assisted suicide has not advanced. Its sponsor, state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, said she doesn’t expect to move the bill this spring, as she is continuing to organically build support and plans conversations about it over the summer.

* WCIA | IL Comptroller writes to USPS on potential Springfield center change: Mendoza said she’s worried the extra travel required will slow down payments to people if the Springfield Processing and Distribution Center changes and mail distribution is required in St. Louis or Chicago. “Given that Springfield is the seat of state government where a distribution hub is warranted, I ask for specific assurance from the US Postal Service that an impact analysis is thoroughly conducted prior to implementation so that it can verify there is no potential risk for performance delays,” the comptroller wrote in the letter.

*** Statehouse News ***
* Daily Herald | Pritzker: Bears lakefront stadium proposal still ‘a non-starter’: “The governor’s office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars remains the foremost priority,” Wednesday’s statement reads. The Bears also issued a statement Wednesday, describing the talks with Pritzker’s representatives as “productive.” “We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions,” the team said.

* 25News Now | Gov. Pritzker, Rivian to announce ‘expanded Illinois investment’ on Thursday: Although no details about the investment are being released, two reliable sources told 25News on March 8 that state government leaders were working on financial incentives to help Rivian expand the local factory and perhaps hire thousands more new employees to build the more affordable R2 sport utility vehicle in Normal.

* Chalkbeat | Illinois high school students must fill out FAFSA to graduate — maybe not this year, state says: State law has required students to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate from high school since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Students not planning to go to college could fill out a waiver. But now, a proposal in the Senate would waive the requirement entirely for the current school year. The proposal by state Sen. Dan McConchie, a Republican lawmaker representing northwest suburbs, comes months after the rocky rollout of the federal government’s “Better FAFSA”, which faced multiple challenges including a later opening date and technical issues that caused delays and uncertainty for college-bound students.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois bill would combat catalytic converter thefts, lawmaker says: A new bill under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly would aim to discourage the theft and resale of catalytic converters, with the state having one of the worst rates of such thefts in the country. According to research cited by bill sponsor Sen. Michael Hastings, more than 2,000 insurance claims were filed between 2020-2022 after devices were stolen from vehicles, the fourth-highest rate in the U.S. during that time according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

* WTAX | Illinois House and Senate meet on the field of play: This year the game was played at Robin Roberts Stadium for the first time and a large and enthusiastic crowd was in attendance. The spirit of bipartisanship was strong and several of the players and spectators talked about the importance of events such as this to build personal relationships.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Suspect in slaying of Officer Luis Huesca arrested in Glendale Heights — with Huesca’s own handcuffs: Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, was taken into custody without incident shortly after 7 p.m. following a “multi-state investigation” that involved the Chicago Police Department and “many other” law enforcement agencies, according to Belkis Sandoval, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Tate on Friday night, when documents filed by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office charged him with first-degree murder in the April 21 shooting in the Gage Park neighborhood.

* Sun-Times | These flowers are fake, but Chicago businesses are embracing them in a very real way as means to attract customers: They slither, curl and twine around windows, under eaves, over doorways in a riot of color — the way things might be if the world were abandoned to flowers. And they’re everywhere. In New York or London, you can’t help but notice storefront after storefront smothered in elaborate displays of flowers that never wilt or need water or pruning because they’re all fake.

* NBC Chicago | 8 Chicago-area hospitals receive ‘D’ safety grade; other area hospitals move up in rankings: report: The report, from healthcare watchdog group and nonprofit Leapfrog, ranks nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on safety through using more than 30 metrics that have a “direct impact on patient safety outcomes.” Some of those include nurse and doctor communication, hospital staff responsiveness, patient satisfaction and communication and discharge information, a press release said.

* Block Club | A North Side Mental Health Crisis Team Has Assisted 94% Of Callers Without Police Help: Trilogy’s First-Response Alternative Crisis Team was founded in 2022 through a state pilot program aimed at providing alternatives to calling 911 for people experiencing mental health issues. The group, also known as FACT, was recently approved for state funding for the next fiscal year, and providers hope to continue expanding the program, leaders said.

* Sun-Times | Amtrak adds new trains between Chicago and Twin Cities: The new service, one train in each direction, overlaps the Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee and the Empire Builder service, which runs between Chicago and Seattle, stopping in St. Paul, Minnesota, along the way. The new westbound train departs Chicago at 11:05 a.m. daily, about four hours before the daily westbound Empire Builder, and arrives in St. Paul at 6:29 p.m. The eastbound train leaves St. Paul at 11:50 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 7:14 p.m.

* Block Club | Logan Square, Avondale Could Get Special Tax District As Talks Revived: The Logan Square Chamber of Commerce is again gauging interest in establishing a “special service area” on Milwaukee Avenue between Armitage and Belmont avenues to pay for neighborhood services and amenities. The chamber has begun talks about the special service area with commercial and condo property owners along that stretch of Milwaukee Avenue. It’s at least the group’s third attempt to establish a special service area, which levies an additional property tax within specific boundaries to pay for communal services such as snow removal, trash pickup, business visibility and special events.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Sun-Times | First-ever trial over Zantac cancer claims gets underway in Cook County: The lawsuit is one of many claims made nationwide that the over-the-counter heartburn drug Zantac and its generics have an active ingredient that causes cancer. This is the first to make it to a jury trial.

* Daily Herald | Great Scot: The Highland Games are moving to Wheaton: The Highland Games — convening this June at a new arena in Wheaton — celebrates cherished strands of Scottish culture: clan tartans, song, dance, food and brawn. Athletes heave tree trunks as tall as telephone poles in the caber toss, a test of accuracy. But the Games also showcase the power of family and fellowship.

* WGN | Cicadas ahead of schedule, expected soon in Chicago area: Morton Arboretum experts say they have found the first signs of periodical cicadas a week and a half ago. They are ahead of schedule, and they expect the mass emergence in another week — meaning, millions among billions of them will emerge from the ground.

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