* ICYMI: Expansion of battery storage operation helps Illinois’ clean energy goals, but much more is needed. Tribune…

- Illinois needs more batteries to unlock the full potential of its growing wind and solar capabilities, according to consultants to the Illinois Power Agency and other state regulators in a report last month.
- Illinois will need 50 gigawatts of installed solar and wind capacity by 2050 to get close to its goal of using only non-carbon sources to generate electricity by then, the agencies said.
- With additional batteries, Illinois could make its solar panels more productive and reliable by, for example, storing the power they generate during the day and then pumping it into the grid or nearby homes and businesses after the sun goes down.

* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s subject matter hearing can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Pressure builds on Pritzker over whether to opt Illinois into federal education tax credits: As a result, while 31 states have opted into the program so far, most Democratic governors either haven’t decided yet, like Pritzker, or have opted out, according to SGOlist, a site for scholarship-granting organizations. Only two, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, have chosen to opt their states in.

* Reuters | Grok cases highlight risks for AI companies under Illinois privacy law: Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI has been hit with two proposed class actions alleging its Grok platform violates a stringent Illinois privacy law through its manipulation of facial images, marking the latest lawsuits against AI companies over their collection and use of biometric data. The cases against SpaceXAI were filed ‌in the federal court in Chicago, one of which was filed on Monday. They both allege that the company, formerly known as xAI, illegally collected and used an individual’s biometric information from an uploaded “selfie” photo without written notice.

*** Statewide ***

* Sun-Times | Democrat Juliana Stratton faces Don Tracy, former GOP chair, in Senate battle for Dick Durbin’s seat: Should Stratton win, she’d be part of a new class of incoming Illinois Democrats in a year that saw a seismic shift set in place by Sen. Dick Durbin’s retirement. With Reps. Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia also announcing their retirements, the state saw five open congressional seats and the open Senate seat.

* 21st Show | Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Iran war, ICE accountability, and her campaign for U.S. Senate: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is the Democratic nominee for U.S. senator from Illinois, seeking to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin when his term ends in January 2027. In an interview recorded Friday, we talked about the war in Iran, what she means when she says we ought to “abolish ICE,” and what Democrats should prioritize if they regain control of the U.S. Senate.

*** Statehouse News ***

* KSDK | ‘I’ll pause everything’: Darren Bailey’s interview, in full: Over 18 minutes, Mr. Bailey said he would pause all state data center incentives on his first day in office and disputed federal data showing Illinois produces more electricity than it uses. He called the Republican who endorsed his opponent “a complete failure” and said threats against the Christian school he founded stemmed from Mr. Pritzker’s campaign attacks. Mr. Bailey cut the conversation short for another interview.

* Treasurer Mike Frerichs | How Illinois’ treasurer is using public money to spur new housing: We’re not the only ones trying new ideas to build more housing. Chicago’s innovation streak has drawn SOCAP, one of the world’s largest impact investment conferences, to the city for the first time on Oct. 12-14 at Willis Tower. The conference gathers worldwide community of investors, fund managers, foundation leaders, entrepreneurs and practitioners and places a spotlight on our region as a hub for practical, capital-driven solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Housing is a topic woven into the conference.

* Daily Southtown | Calumet City alderman mounts write-in campaign for 29th District House seat:
Wilson said she lacked the funds to defend herself in court after Jones’ sister objected to her ballot petitions, which is why she is running as an independent write-in candidate. But Jones said she is a “miserable person” who filed fraudulent signatures with the Cook County clerk’s office. “Everybody has the right to run, but when you’re running with malicious intent, everything around you is going to fail and crumble,” Jones said.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson again calls for taxes on big corporations as budget showdown looms: Johnson remained tight-lipped on his specific budget plans during a City Hall news conference, but hinted he may also propose higher taxes on cloud computing software and social media companies. He called on aldermen and state legislators to clear the way for his renewed tax-the-rich push — a sign he is once again willing to wage a high-stakes public fight as City Hall crafts a spending package. Johnson is expected to unveil his budget proposal on Oct. 21, starting the clock for him and City Council opponents to pass something before the calendar flips to 2027, when all their seats are on the election ballot.

* Sun-Times | Public wants taxes boosted on big business, and survey proves it, Mayor Johnson claims: Johnson released a “budget engagement report” that he believes strengthens his hand in the battle for a preelection budget with the renegade City Council majority that rejected his corporate head tax a year ago. Of the 591 responses generated at five events across the city, 88% of those surveyed wanted the city to raise taxes on large corporations. No other options got more than 50% support, the mayor said.

* Tribune | After report of partying in Dubai with Texas Senate candidate, accused Loretto Hospital fraudsters plead not guilty: A day after a national news report linked them to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a former executive at Chicago’s Loretto Hospital and one of his top medical suppliers were arraigned on a superseding indictment alleging they stole almost $16 million from the small safety-net facility. Anosh Ahmed, who served as chief financial officer at Loretto until 2021, and Sameer Suhail, a medical doctor who owned companies that did business with the hospital, each pleaded not guilty during a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez.

* Block Club | Cabrini Green Apartments, West Side Health Center Among Projects To Get Key Zoning Approval: Brinshore Development and the Michaels Organization are seeking to construct a 78-unit apartment building at 537-547 W. Oak St. on long-vacant land that’s currently owned by the Chicago Housing Authority. The Near North Side project near the former Cabrini Green site has been in the works for years. It will rise to seven stories and include a mix of public housing, affordably-earmarked and market rate apartments.

* Block Club | After City Pledges To Fix Cortland Bridge By 2028, Alders Defer Plan To Yank Its Landmark Status: The Cortland Street bridge over the Chicago River has been shut down since last September, when the Chicago Department of Transportation began a long-term rehabilitation project. It was delayed indefinitely this summer because of the discovery of new issues with the 124-year-old bridge. The structure remains open to pedestrians and cyclists, some of whom have embraced the closure and are advocating for it to remain open and car-free. But many drivers in Bucktown and Lincoln Park have expressed intense frustration over the removal of a vital east-west artery over the Chicago River.

* Sun-Times | Bears’ Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland turn up for premiere of ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’: Bears tight end Colston Loveland is used to getting yelled at by coach Ben Johnson, but the crew of Hallmark’s “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story,” was even more demanding about the details. Loveland has a cameo in the movie, which premiered Tuesday in Lake Forest and will debut Saturday on Hallmark Channel, and the job was tougher than he expected. “I was moving around too much sometimes and messing up the shot,” he said, alluding to some nerves about his acting debut. “I’d move my shoulder an inch and they’d say, ‘Make sure you stand still.’ That was new.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Endeavor Edward Hospital nurses file for union vote: Nurses at Endeavor Edward Hospital have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to form a union at the Naperville Hospital. The move is part of a nationwide effort by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee to unionize about 4,500 nurses in four hospitals throughout the country. Locally, union activity has intensified for Endeavor at Evanston Hospital, for Prime Healthcare at a number of its hospitals and for other healthcare providers.

* Daily Herald | Palatine bans smoking on downtown sidewalks, parking lots: Palatine is banning smoking on public sidewalks and rights of way in parts of the village’s downtown within 300 feet of a newly created smoking section. The rule comes as the village recently reopened a portion of Slade Street that had undergone streetscape improvements over the summer. The designated smoking area is in a pavilion outside a parking lot along Slade, south of the railroad tracks. A code amendment approved by the village council also bans smoking in public parking lots.

* Tribune | Democrat Daniel Biss aims to keep party’s hold on Illinois’ 9th District vs. GOP’s John Elleson, who raises $0: Elleson hasn’t reported raising any money for his campaign and said he isn’t soliciting contributions because voters may be struggling financially, and because it is difficult for a Republican to win the district.

* Daily Southtown | Appointed Democrat Kisha McCaskill faces Republican Richard Nolan in Cook County Board 5th District: After fending off Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher in the March Democratic primary, Kisha McCaskill now faces Republican Richard Nolan in the general election for 5th District Cook County Board seat. The seat, previously held by Monica Gordon, includes parts of the South Side and large sections of the south and southwest suburbs with portions of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Lake, Rich, Thornton and Worth townships.

* Daily Southtown | Will County District 5 candidates talk solar farms, Des Plaines River bridge: Johnson said residents have significant concerns on the number of solar energy facilities proposed and the proliferation of data centers. Johnson said she spoke to state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, on the rise of solar energy facilities. She said it shouldn’t be the intent of the solar law to issue blanket approvals, and some homeowners have been boxed in by solar developments. She said it’s important to balance the interests between municipalities, residents and farmers.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | County clerk candidate forum focuses on tax errors, budget overruns and future vision: A forum for McLean County Clerk candidates on Tuesday saw Democratic challenger Joshua Crockett suggest a series of budgetary overruns and erroneous tax bills in the office form a pattern that indicated time for a change. Incumbent Kathy Michael, a Republican who’s been in office since 2010, apologized for tax errors, blaming them on the loss of an experienced tax administrator. And she said budget overruns that were ultimately approved by the McLean County Board were evidence of a process that was working. She also suggested the focus on the office’s errors had a political slant, and didn’t account for years when the office was under budget.

* WCIA | Decatur Mayor calling on churches, organizations to help fill gap left by Oasis: “We’ve got to take care of our urgent needs of people. You know, find them a place where they can shower, do laundry, use the bathroom. And then we have to look at long-term, because what are we going to do now? Because this is what the Oasis was truly. An oasis where people could get their mail, keep their belongings in a locker, they could go and visit with other people or have a place where they could be with dignity. We have to restore that,” Wolfe said.

* WGLT | Bloomington council approves BPD drone docks, emergency shelter ordinance: The Bloomington City Council on Monday approved installing two drone docking stations and possible police cameras at Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District locations. All but one council member approved the intergovernmental agreement between BNWRD and the Bloomington Police Department. Police Chief Jamal Simington wasn’t sure exactly how many times a day a drone might be launched from the docks, saying, “It depends on the manpower availability and trained pilots as well.”

* WCIA | EIU alerts community of ‘concerning social media posts;’ investigation underway: In a Facebook story post Tuesday morning, the college said it is aware of these posts, which they said have been circulating over the past 24 hours. They said at this time, the school has not identified any credible threats to the campus community. EIU added they are continuing to investigation this situation and are monitoring social media activity and other relevant information. The university said it will provide updates to the campus community as more details become available.

* BND | St. Clair County Board member has been delinquent on property taxes for years: Baricevic said Tuesday that he refinanced the house and thought the bank was paying the property taxes. He said he didn’t know his payments were late or that an investor had bought the bills. “I understand that it’s something I need to take care of,” he said. “… I’ve got a few weeks to pay. I’ll make the payment. It was a banking mistake.”