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Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Talk with you Monday…

Be careful making wishes in the dark
Can’t be sure when they’ve hit their mark

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Tribune…

A legislative inspector general’s investigatory report released Friday found disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton violated state law by engaging in sexual harassment, and also revealed the existence of a third female victim, a staffer for another state legislator who said Benton’s “creepy” behavior in a Springfield bar last year made her feel uncomfortable. […]

The former Benton staffer sent [House Speaker Chris Welch’s] office a lengthy list of allegations, many of a sexual nature, against Benton in April 2023, followed by an additional list weeks later, the Tribune has reported. But Welch’s office did not address Benton until that July. By then, the staffer had quit Benton’s office, saying she feared for her mental health.

“The Chief of Staff and the Ethics Officer for the Speaker’s Office decided to confront Benton with these allegations after the district employee resigned in June 2023 to avoid retaliation by Benton if he found out who filed the complaint,” McCuskey wrote.

That statement is at odds with what Welch has said at various Democratic caucus meetings as he has tried to contain criticism over his handling of the Benton situation. In those meetings, Welch has maintained that it was the former Benton staffer who asked his office not to pursue questioning Benton until she had quit. The staffer told the Tribune she did not recall telling Welch’s office that.

The former Benton staffer rejected Welch’s office’s suggestions that she file a complaint with the legislative inspector general’s office at the time because she did not want to become a pariah and jeopardize a future job in politics and government, she told the Tribune. She instead thought the matter could be handled internally. […]

In a statement, Welch maintained the report “reaffirms confidence that our office acted responsibly–following legal guidance, respecting the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as additional information established a pattern of misconduct.”

But in the report, McCuskey made no judgment on the speaker’s office’s actions. Additionally, the report makes no mention of whether Welch ever spoke to Benton following the former staffer’s allegations.

* Gov. JB Pritzker signed a heap of bills today. Click here for the full list and click here for our live coverage of press releases.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Ammons investigating committee member says work to be timely: As that federal case continues in the courts, state Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterch, said the House Special Investigating Committee will look into the charges. “It’s very important because we have a culture of corruption that’s been going on for many, many years here in Illinois,” Niemerg told The States by The Center Square. Niemerg said among the committee’s first actions will be to approve a letter asking the U.S. Attorney’s Office to outline more about their investigation that produced the charges.

* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs law regulating how social media platforms interact with children: House Bill 5511, known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, imposes a series of requirements on social media companies and how they are to interact with users under 18 years old. The law, which will take effect in 2028, was one of Pritzker’s top priorities during the spring legislative session and received unanimous support in both chambers. “Big social media companies have intentionally designed their platforms to keep kids online for as long as possible,” Pritzker said before signing the bill at an event in Chicago. “Their algorithms learn what captures a child’s attention, which most often seems to be anger and euphoria, and then the algorithm keeps feeding them more of it. Why? The almighty dollar. They feed our kids an unrealistic picture of life and sell them products and agendas to achieve it.”

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | As School Year Approaches, South Side Students ‘Sick Of Waiting’ For Peace Room Partnerships: Hyde Park Academy administrators abruptly ended partnerships with the community groups in May, as the partnerships no longer aligned “with the specific needs of the school community,” Chicago Public Schools officials said at the time. Since then, students and organizers pushing to restore the partnerships say the room has existed in name only, without the programs that established it as a needed “safe space” at Hyde Park Academy. That safe space was especially needed last school year, when three classmates were killed in crashes and a shooting, they said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Cook County Health projects $100M spike in charity care as Medicaid rolls shrink: CCH is projecting its uncompensated payer mix will rise by 30% in 2027. Charity care costs are projected to increase by $100 million, reaching an estimated $485 million. To maintain access to care, the $4.7 billion preliminary budget includes a $40 million increase in support from Cook County coffers, bringing the total county budget support up to $208 million.

* Daily Southtown | Orland Township among defendants in First Amendment lawsuit brought by Supervisor Paul O’Grady: The lawsuit names former Orland Township Clerk Cindy Murray, the township, state. Sen. Michael Hastings, the village of Orland Hills, Orland Hills Mayor Kyle Hastings, Orland Hills Village Board member Kyle Hastings II, unnamed Orland Hills police officers and “as-yet unnamed co-conspirators,” as defendants, according to the complaint. O’Grady filed the lawsuit in December 2025 with help of three people who ran alongside him on the Orland Township Together slate during the April 1, 2025 township election: Reem Odeh and former board members John Lynch and Patrick Feldner. […] Defendants in the lawsuit, including Orland Township, filed three separate motions to dismiss the case based on the plaintiffs failing to state a claim. U.S. District Court Judge Andrea R. Wood is considering those motions, with the next hearing in the case scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 22 via phone.

* Crain’s | Alcohol distributor Republic National cutting nearly 300 jobs in Illinois: The Texas-based company, which distributed brands such as Gallo wines and Jose Cuervo tequila, told the state of Illinois it is cutting 280 jobs at facilities in Niles and Romeoville, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice Filing. Republic National filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the weekend. Its Illinois joint venture — like those in several other states — was not part of the bankruptcy filing. But the company said in its WARN filing: “The company has been exploring various strategic alternatives that would secure capital to avoid liquidation of its Illinois facilities. Unfortunately, there currently is no financing available to continue operations of the facilities.”

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights uncorks drinks-to-go downtown social district: Nine businesses — Beer on the Wall, Big Shot Piano Lounge, Cortland’s Garage, Hey Nonny, Mago Grill & Cantina, Metropolis Ballroom, Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant, Salsa 17 and Scratchboard Kitchen — are selling to-go drinks from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 26. Anyone 21 and older who shows an ID and wears a wristband can purchase one drink at a time from a participating business. Beer and cocktails are poured in 16-ounce plastic cups with a village-designed label identifying the establishment and date of sale.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | Madison County Board Chairman Slusser defends Fauci hanging post as ‘rhetorical hyperbole’: Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said Friday that a comment he made on Facebook calling for the “public hanging” of Dr. Anthony Fauci was “rhetorical hyperbole.” Slusser’s comments were posted in the replies to a post that appears to have since been deleted. Slusser, from his personal account, made the comment around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. “He should receive a public hanging,” Slusser wrote of Fauci.

* Press release | Rep. Katie Stuart Condemns Hateful Comment by Madison County Board Chairman, Demands Retraction and Apology: “This rhetoric is harmful and disgusting. Political violence is always wrong, and we should all be able to denounce political violence no matter our party affiliation. The recent rise in political violence has taken lives on both sides of the aisle; we should work to end this dangerous cycle, not fuel the fire. From county board members to the President, elected officials should not resort to threats of violence just because they disagree with or dislike someone. I am calling for Chairman Slusser to retract this comment and publicly apologize for his appalling choice of words as a public official. No matter our political party, we can all agree that violence and hatred of this kind is always uncalled for, unacceptable, and unbecoming of a public official.”

* WCIA | Massey family reacts to Prisoner Review Board’s denial of Sean Grayson’s release from prison: Shortly after, the Massey family began speaking in opposition to Grayson’s release. The four were administered under oath before Sontae Massey began speaking first. “I’m not sure that I can write, speak or articulate anything that can encompass the devastation that Sean Grayson has created for our family,” Sontae said. “We should all be in agreement upon one simple concept: no one is above the law. It is noteworthy that I believe he received a compassionate sentence from the jury because of his condition.”

* Press release | SIU Carbondale researchers name new microbe after the university: Scott Hamilton-Brehm, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, discovered a novel microbe and named it Caldatribacterium inferamans strain SIUC-1. This translates to “the mysterious hot-living bacterium that loves the underworld.” And it has the potential to unlock mysteries about life beyond Earth. Hamilton-Brehm was working in Nevada’s Desert Research Institute on a NASA-funded project called Life Underground when he discovered the microbe. He plunged a fishing line nearly 2,500 feet into the Earth’s harsh environment via a borehole, collecting water samples where microbes could colonize a sponge.

*** National ***

* CNN | New York sues prediction market Kalshi alleging it’s an illegal gambling operation: Attorney General Letitia James alleges Kalshi failed to obtain a state gambling license and pay related taxes. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York State court early Friday, is seeking an order enjoining Kalshi’s operations, plus fines, restitution and the forfeiture of profits. “New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple.”

* NYT | Plug-In Solar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in U.S. Backyards: Utah became the first state to legalize plug-in solar systems last year. Nine others, including New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado, have joined it, and lawmakers in California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and several other states are considering doing so. Colorado enacted one of the broadest plug-in solar laws this year. The sponsor of the bill, State Representative Lesley Smith, a Democrat, said she had first seen the technology during a trip to Germany, which has pioneered its use. When she discussed plug-in solar systems at a town hall, she said, “everyone started clapping.” (From Isabel: A bill to bring plug-in solar to Illinois stalled in the Senate. Click here for more on the bill if you’re interested.)

  2 Comments      


Rep. Kelly Cassidy: Speaker Welch has issued a ’series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings’

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Kelly Cassidy…

The Legislative Inspector General’s report tells a disturbing story of a persistent culture of sexual harassment in Springfield–and of the utter failure of our system of accountability. Based on this report, it is even more clear that Rep. Benton’s resignation was just–but he should have been forced to leave our workplace far earlier, before he was able to do so much additional harm to more women.

Then, there is the matter of process. The Speaker’s staff were made aware of egregious sexual harassment at the hands of former Rep. Benton. The victim understandably declined to follow the guidance to take her case to the Legislative Inspector General. The process can be intimidating, as I know firsthand. But the Speaker’s explanation that his office did nothing more to pursue accountability for or reduce potential further harm from Rep. Benton because the victim did not want to go to the LIG is insufficient. There were other steps available to the Speaker to protect other staff and ensure accountability for Rep. Benton that we have seen employed in cases of other members over the years. We know that, because the Speaker has now, three years later, pursued those steps, and has done so apparently without the victim’s express permission.

From the LIG report, here is what is clear:

    ● The Speaker’s Office filed a complaint in March 2026 regarding Rep. Benton’s behavior after making initial contact with the LIG’s office in February.
    ● That complaint did, apparently, include the former Benton staffer’s experience, despite her reported insistence that her case not be brought before the LIG. We can debate whether or not her wishes should have been respected–but the argument the Speaker has been making, which is that he took no action for nearly three years out of respect for her wishes, does not hold up to scrutiny.
    ● The LIG filing from Speaker Welch’s Office also included two other complaints about Rep. Benton’s behavior toward women. It is unclear whether those two women agreed to have their cases included in the LIG complaint, or whether the Speaker’s team even asked them what they wanted. The Speaker should clarify this, and what his office’s standard procedure for such complaints will be going forward.
    ● Had the Speaker intervened meaningfully in 2023, he may have been able to prevent the victimization of the other two women, who were harassed in May 2025 and January 2026, respectively. Instead, $1.4 million was spent to reelect Benton to his seat in 2024.

Just as important is the question of what was not addressed in the report, which is the matter of Speaker Welch’s inappropriate conduct toward the former staffer of Rep. Benton.

The woman came to the Speaker for advice, and he told her to move their communication to an encrypted app, where he asked her to meet him at a bar. Even if the Speaker did not intend to send flirtatious signals, or to generate pressure on a young woman he had already indicated he found attractive, the effect of his behavior was to make her uncomfortable. I encourage the Speaker to acknowledge that publicly and apologize to the woman for his conduct. If we are going to be able to move forward in earnest, that is a necessary step. This young woman, like so many before her, chose to leave our workplace entirely. We should all view that as a loss not just for her–but for all of us who want what’s best for our state.

The Speaker must demonstrate a sincere desire to repair the harm he has done, and to correct the broken system in which we are all operating. To date, that has not been the spirit of his response. Instead, we have heard a series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings. That has been disappointing. Efforts to make changes to the laws and procedures around inappropriate behavior in the Capitol must center the experiences of victims. Unless we examine these policies through the eyes and experiences of the people we’re intending to protect, we will continue to fall short.

Finally, I am alarmed by the rebuttal to this report filed by the lobbyist who was sexually harassed by Rep. Benton in January 2026. She lays out numerous errors written into the account of her experience by LIG McCuskey. The LEC has made clear that the summary report is the result of interviews with at least two dozen individuals, and there may be variations in their recollections. But we can not disregard her concerns and should begin from a place of believing a victim’s account.

Ensuring that victims feel safe coming forward, whether to their Ethics Officer or the LIG, requires us to create mechanisms that protect their stories, their confidentiality, and their belief that they have access to recourse in the face of abusive behavior in the workplace.

  26 Comments      


LIG initially recommended no expulsion proceeding against Benton - One complainant claimed ‘inaccuracies’ in the report

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Legislative Inspector General’s conclusion…

I do not recommend that disciplinary proceedings be taken against Rep. Benton pursuant to Article XII of (House Rule 91) of the ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY because the proceeding in the House would be lengthy and require a Special Session.

* One of the complainants had some objections…

July 29, 2026 RESPONSE TO REPORT

There are inaccuracies in the Legislative Inspector General’s report that must be addressed. It is likely that these errors stem from the fact that LIG McCuskey did not record our one-on-one interview or take contemporaneous notes.

The inaccuracies in the LIG report on my experience are as follows:

1. I did not report the incident to the Speaker’s office. The incident was reported by someone else without my knowledge.

2. Harry Benton never said to me, “You want to get out of here and have some fun?,” as the LIG report states. I never claimed that Benton made this statement to me. What Benton did say to me was the following: “I look like a five, but I f*ck like a ten,” “I am not hitting on you, unless you are interested,” and “Let’s just say you are too hot to be a lobbyist.” I shared this directly with the LIG throughout the interview and in multiple subsequent phone conversations.

3. I did not “immediately” turn to the other male state representative, as the LIG report states. Rather, I called him the next day to share what had happened the night before. I did so in the hopes that the state representative would address the problem directly with Benton to attempt to prevent him from addressing women in this manner in the future.

4. The other state representative did not respond: “What do you want me to do about it?” as depicted in the LIG report. I never claimed that and do not know why this is stated in this report. Rather, the state representative listened to my story, shared my concern and indicated to me that what Benton said to me was not an isolated incident.

5. In his supplemental response letter to Speaker Welch dated July 24, 2026, LIG McCuskey said that another victim and I both stated that we “had no objections or redactions and thanked [McCuskey] for preserving” our confidentiality. In fact, I raised the inaccuracy noted in item (3) above to LIG McCuskey in that conversation, and he responded to me that it “doesn’t matter.” It is also important to note that he did not read me the report, but only gave me a high-level summary in advance.

6. Despite the LIG’s statement that he was unable to substantiate any claims that Benton had shown people photos of women on his phone, I did inform the LIG that Benton showed me photos on his phone of women that he claimed to be sleeping with. I do not know why the LIG disregarded this information, and thereby concluded that the allegation is unfounded.

While the errors in the report are concerning, the underlying facts remain the same. Harry Benton did make inappropriate sexual comments to me despite my protestations, and his resignation was appropriate.

I request that the Legislative Ethics Commission correct these inaccuracies and ensure that the record accurately reflects the information I provided during the investigation.

Respectfully,

Lobbyist as referenced in Item 2 on page 6

The LIG forcefully denied any inaccuracies.

* Back to the report…

The Only Claims from the Complaint Which Are Founded

1. A district director of a [redacted] district office filed a complaint with her [redacted] that Rep. Harry Benton had sexually harassed her in a bar in Springfield following the [redacted] Latino Unity Day Festivities. While the district director was at the [redacted] Rep. Benton approached her and leaned over her and put his hand on her back. She said that made her feel very uncomfortable. He began a conversation by lamenting that [redacted] County elected Officials disliked him. He continued to lean over her while touching her back. She then backed away from him because he made her feel uneasy; She said he was creepy. An individual came to intervene and stood between the district director and Benton. When interviewed Rep. Benton, he denied that any of this ever occured. I found the district director to be credible; Both leaning over someone and leaning in too close are considered sexual harassment when it is unwelcomed conduct. This late-night bar encounter with Rep. Benton touching her back caused the district director to feel Benton was acting creepy and caused her to pull away and require the assistance of an individual to step in between her and Benton. This, example of unwanted behavior is clearly taught in sexual harrassment training and was ignored by Rep. Benton. I find this claim of sexual harassment to be founded.

2. I will now address the final allegation in the March 4, 2026 complaint against Rep. Harry Benton. A registered female lobbyist reported this incident to the Speaker’s Office and it has been referred to me for investigation as the LIG. I interviewed the lobbyist, Representative Harry Benton and a male state representative. All three were present and talking together in a bar in early January or February of this year. The lobbyist when interviewed, told me that Representative Benton said to her “You know, I might be a 5, but I f*ck like a 10. You want to get out of here and have some fun?” The lobbyist said that comment made her shocked and disgusted. She said she immediately turned to the male state representative nearby and said to him “What are you going to do about your boy?” The state representative responded, “What do you want me to do about it? He is always like this.” When I interviewed the male state representative, he said he was a friend of Rep. Benton and a friend of the lobbyist and was present at the bar. He confirmed what the lobbyist said to him and what he replied to her. He told me that she appeared very angry because of whatever Harry said to her. He told me he could not confirm what Benton said word for word because he wasn’t that close to their conversation. When I confronted Rep. Benton during our interview on May 29, 2026, he denied the entire incident and said it didn’t happen. Moreover, he threw in this statement, “I don’t hit on lobbyists.” My veteran investigator who was present with me during the interview said, “‘I believe he lied.” I responded that I know he lied as well because I have interviewed all three individuals in person and I believe the lobbyist and the bystander are truthful. Accordingly, this allegation in the complaint is founded.

* Regarding the 2023 incidents…

On April 14, 2023, a district office employee of Rep. Benton sent a lengthy email to Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s Chief of Staff detailing acts of sexual harassment by Harry Benton. The email started in part as follows; “I do want this documented as several women work for him if something were to happen in the future.” The employee further said “I am leaning towards just getting this on the record and not doing much more with it.” The email would thereafter detail many odd statements made to the employee as well as many statements of direct sexual harassment.

During the first week of employment, Rep. Benton said to her ‘’The reason I ran for office was to get away from my wife.” During her three-hour job interview Rep. Benton “asked me to be vulnerable.” In early February 2023, Benton said to the employee the following dress attire comment “make sure you don’t forget to wear something underneath that.” On February 9, 2023, she documented this conversation “asked to stay at my friend’s condo with me in the city, put me in an extremely awkward situation having to say no to him.” Also in February, 2023, she said Benton “sent me a picture of an OnlyFans model on accident? He asked me to send it back.” Benton than said, “Makes me feel better now I have this on you.” My investigation revealed that OnlyFans is a well-known social media platform for pornographic content. When the employee requested a webcam for district office zoom meetings, Benton responded “why, so you can double dip in the office?” His comment refers to using a webcam for pornographic content which is what women on OnlyFans offer to subscribers. Undeterred, in early March, Rep. Benton told the employee, “See, I’m doing a good service, I am keeping you off the pole with this job.” This comment references the pole dancers at a strip club. At a dinner with a lobbyist during this same time frame, Benton said about this employee, “She will do, she was the cheapest.” In Springfield, in front of staff, employee stated a conversation in March; “I said my boyfriend was taking me to the gun range. He responded (referring to Rep. Benton) ‘Wow, you’re going to let him take you instead of me?’”

It doesn’t take but a cursory reading of the April 14, 2023 E-mail documentation from the complaining district office employee to see a very early pattern and practice of sexual harassment by Rep. Harry Benton. The Chief of Staff and the Ethics Officer for the Speaker’s Office decided to confront Benton with these allegations after the district employee resigned in June 2023 to avoid retaliation by Benton ifhe found out who filed the complaint.

The Zoom meeting to discuss the former district office employee’s complaint was conducted on July 20, 2023 or on a date close to that date. On July 19, 2023 the employee emailed the Chief of Staff indicating that Rep. Benton had invited the employee to join the Zoom meeting. It is very interesting that Benton did this even though he had always taken the position that the complaint did not come from his office staff and was only based on rumor. The employee did not participate in the Zoom meeting and wrote in the July 19th email ‘’I want to note that! will not pursue any further actions beyond this. The reason l reported this was for the protection of the other women in the office.'’

On July 20, 2023 the Chief of Staff emailed the complaining employee the following; “I would still encourage you to consider filing a report With the LIG; n:ote thatthe.statute of limitation is 1 year after the most recent alleged violation or of a series of alleged violation. So, while there is SOL (Statute of Limitations), there is still time if you do change your mind after further distance after leaving the Office. Know that we reiterated the severity of retaliation and/or intimidation and will continue to do so. As promised to you, your name or identifying situation will never be used (unless you tell me otherwise). As always; reach out any time.'’ […]

Even though the one year statute of limitations has passed on this portion of the March 4, 2026 complaint, I include it as a matter of pattern and practice of sexual harassment occurring during the entirety of Harry Benton’s career as a member of the General Assembly. This statement is made in this summary report because as L1G, it is my opinion and the opinion of my veteran investigator that Harry Benton was not credible during the entirety of our interview with him at his lawyer’s office in Springfield on May 29, 2026.

* From a supplemental LIG letter to the House Speaker…

To my surprise this week, Harry Benton’s tirst employee who he had sexually harassed called me. It was our first conversation. She wantedto know if I had obtained the emails she had sent to from April through July 2023. I told her I believed I had all of the emails and I explained how I had referenced them in my report. I told her I related only the facts from her emails in my report, as well as emails to her. Also, I told her that I used her account of Benton’s sexual harassment to show his pattern and practice of sexual misconduct over the years. Finally, I told her that I could not act on his misconduct because of the statute of limitations which she said she understood. I did not discuss with her anything printed in the press because it cannot be part of my report which was completed on June 30, 2026. She seemed satisfied with how I prepared the report and thanked me for preserving her confidentiality.and requested no redactions of the part of the report which mentions her.

  11 Comments      


Speaker Welch statement (Updated x2 with Pritzker statement)

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch released the following statement:

“I thank the Legislative Ethics Commission for releasing this report and the Legislative Inspector General for conducting a thorough, independent investigation. The report reaffirms confidence that our office acted responsibly—following legal guidance, respecting the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as additional information established a pattern of misconduct.

“We know that even when established procedures are followed, we have a responsibility to ask whether those procedures are strong enough, clear enough, and responsive enough to protect people—especially women who may fear that speaking out could jeopardize their careers, relationships, or standing within this institution. This report must represent more than an accounting of what happened. It must serve as a catalyst for meaningful, structural change. If there are gaps in our policies, our laws, or our workplace practices, then it is our duty to close them. The work has already begun. My office will work with all members of the House to explore creating a centralized human resources office to assist all members as employers and support their district office employees, and we will bring in an outside expert to review this case and make additional recommendations. We look forward to bringing together legislators, advocates, workplace experts, and other stakeholders to identify stronger protections, streamline reporting processes, improve support for those who come forward, and ensure greater clarity and accountability at every level. Women are leaders championing issues that move us all forward, and when women thrive in the workplace, we all thrive.

“We will work together to strengthen our laws, improve our policies, modernize our practices, and continue building a General Assembly worthy of the trust placed in it by every employee, every legislator, and every Illinois resident we are privileged to serve.”

…Adding… From earlier this month…

Welch previously said McCuskey’s report will provide “a full and accurate account of the steps my office took to support those who came forward.

Um, I didn’t actually see much of that in the report.

…Adding… Gov. Pritzker’s office…

“Governor Pritzker believes the release of the Legislative Inspector General’s report on former Representative Benton’s actions is the first step toward transparency and accountability, but that it is clear the General Assembly has more work to do. No one should fear any form of harassment in the workplace, and everyone deserves access to resources and recourse if they are faced with inappropriate behavior. The House now has a responsibility to resolve any unanswered questions, strengthen its harassment prevention and reporting procedures, and hold itself to the high standard the people of Illinois expect and deserve.”

  6 Comments      


LIG report released

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ll add more in a bit, but click here and find the links under “LIG Case No. 26-005.”

  7 Comments      


Legislative Ethics Commission still fine-tuning Benton report (Updated)

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Confirmed that this is being pushed back. Stay tuned…


…Adding… Click here for the Zoom link. Click here for the BlueRoomStream link.

  Comment      


Pritzker says he looks forward to seeing Welch’s CPS funding plan

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Gov. Pritzker was asked about House Speaker Chris Welch’s pledge to lead the charge on sending more state money to CPS during veto session…

The funding that we provide at the state level is a known quantity for schools all across the state of Illinois. And I would say, you know, I think it’s of course challenging to face a budget that you know where there’s revenue that’s expected that the Speaker is planning to have a plan for, but we don’t know exactly how. […]

The Speaker must have mentioned it for a reason, so he may have a plan, and I’m unaware that he’s done a roll call about that plan. […]

Again, as I understand it, I mean, I only heard what the Speaker said, and he seems to have a plan or is planning to put something together, and so I look forward to seeing that.

I want to be clear. I have advocated for and accomplished higher education funding throughout my term in office by almost $3 billion a year. We’ve increased education funding across the state of Illinois. I want to do more, and we’re not yet where we need to be. I want to do more, and at the same time, I’m a big believer in, and I think you’ve seen this: balanced budgets. You have to balance the budget, try to run a surplus, make sure you have priorities in order to fund the things that we really need for the people of the state of Illinois. I came into a hollowed-out state government, and we now have, we are running surpluses. We’ve every year balanced the budget, but I want more to go into education. Again, always looking for a way to do that.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* Meanwhile, Chicago Board of Education member Michilla Blaise put up a Facebook post celebrating the passage of a new CPS budget, which includes an assumption that $150 million in new money will come from the state. She was asked about this assumption in comments…

That’s a heckuva plan. /s

  25 Comments      


Sean Grayson denied early medical release from prison

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* First, some background from Capitol News Illinois…

The ex-Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in her kitchen is asking for medical release from a state prison ­— and maintaining that Massey “attacked” him.

Sean Grayson’s case will go before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Friday, less than six months into the 20-year prison sentence he received after being convicted of second-degree murder in October.

He filed for release under the Joe Coleman Act in May, citing symptoms of advanced colon cancer.

In his hand-written application, obtained by Capitol News Illinois via the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson did not show remorse in his description of the shooting, maintaining that Massey attacked him with a pot of boiling water. He also did not check a box stating his condition was likely to lead to his death in the next 18 months.

It’s standard process for the Illinois Department of Corrections to conduct a medical examination following the receipt of an application for release to determine eligibility. In this case, the medical professional, whose name was redacted, did fill in the box that said Grayson was likely to die within 18 months.

Click here to read Grayson’s application.

* WAND…

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board decided today Sean Grayson will not be released from prison. The decision was made by a three-member panel from the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

It was a 3-0 vote to deny the petition. Grayson can request early release again if he would like.

Before the review started, more than two dozen demonstrators stood outside the Prisoner Review Board building, asking that Grayson stay behind bars.

More than twenty members of the Massey family and supporters attended the hearing. This included Sonya Massey’s cousins, children, father, and uncle.

  6 Comments      


Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Thank you, Governor Pritzker and members of the General Assembly for taking an important step forward for Illinois students with a $26 million investment in free, healthy school meals, a $17 million increase and the largest expansion in over a decade.

Your leadership is turning policy into meaningful action, helping schools provide nutritious meals that support students’ health, learning, and success every day. At a time when families and educators are facing growing challenges, this investment demonstrates a strong commitment to the well-being of Illinois children.

This significant progress begins to fulfill the promise established in 2023 to expand access to healthy school meals and shows what is possible when leaders prioritize the health and success of students.

While this investment marks an important milestone, more work remains to fully fund school meals and ensure every child has reliable access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum together to make that vision is a reality for every Illinois student.

Learn more at: https://www.healthyschoolmealsil.com/


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Color me highly doubtful

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last night…


* News coverage roundup from Isabel…

    * Chalkbeat Chicago | Seeking to reverse layoffs, Chicago school board approves budget, assuming more state money will come: Bucking warnings from Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King, the school board amended and narrowly passed a roughly $10 billion budget proposal Thursday that assumes the district will receive $150 million more in state funding than projected. Eleven board members voted to reverse hundreds of school-based staff layoffs included in King’s proposal, heeding the demands of the Chicago Teachers Union and the principals union.

    * WBEZ | Chicago School Board approves budget that reverses layoffs, but counts on shaky state funds: Emila Zoko, the district’s acting chief budget officer, issued stark warnings in her presentation to the board about the consequences of approving a budget that includes more money from the state than has yet to be appropriated. She said the budget would not be seen as balanced, which is required under state law, and could result in a credit downgrade. That could, in turn, make it more expensive for the district to borrow money and pay off debt. And if state lawmakers don’t come through soon, the school district would have to cut spending midyear.

    * Tribune | After divisive debate, Chicago school board passed $9.96 billion budget banking on uncertain state funding: CPS CEO Macquline King warned the budget amendment may leave the district vulnerable to midyear school cuts if the money doesn’t come through. Lenders will also “not look favorably” at unconfirmed revenue, which could lead to credit downgrades and higher borrowing costs, officials said. “We need to learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them,” King said.

    * NBC Chicago | Chicago School Board approves amended budget that relies on more state funding: Board members debated the amendment proposal for hours after Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told CTU members that he would fight for the additional funding in November’s fall veto session. “I strongly support in the veto session committing to a supplemental funding bill,” Welch said. Welch is trying to shore up his own political base and facing calls to resign his speakership because some members question how he’s handled sexual harassment allegations against disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton.

    * WGN | Chicago Board of Ed votes to pass amended $10 billion CPS budget: “If we are not including the state in this conversation, then we are fooling ourselves and we are robbing our kids of opportunities,” Board Member Michilla Blaise said. Many of those who supported the amended budget proposal that passed on Thursday have demanded a special session in Springfield, where the district’s woes could be ironed out while pressing state lawmakers to fully fund the district. “The only way this works is if Springfield figures out how to meet the state law and fund Chicago Public Schools by 20% more,” Chicago Teachers’ Union President Stacy Davis Gates said on Thursday.

    * Chicago Teachers Union | What Today’s Vote REALLY Means: For the First Time Ever, CPS is Budgeting for A Piece of What Springfield Owes: As incredible as it is to see people on the board standing up for children outnumber individuals who are there to cut, the reality is that anything done today is magical thinking until Gov. Pritzker joins the team. Gov. Pritzker has been in office for eight years and owes the state’s students $6.4 billion dollars from pre-K to PhD. CPS is owed $2 billion by Springfield’s own formulas. Today, the board voted today to assume the legally required funding from the Illinois General Assembly.

    * Press release | Statement from the Civic Federation on Chicago Public Schools’ Budget: “We strongly support the CEO’s objection to this amendment and commend her commitment to presenting a budget grounded in realistic financial assumptions. “By adopting a budget that relies on uncertain State revenue, the Board has increased the District’s financial risk. If these funds do not materialize, CPS will likely need to enact mid-year cuts and layoffs and further delay the long-term reforms needed to restore the District’s financial stability. Ultimately, it is Chicago’s students and their families who bear the immediate consequences of today’s decision.”

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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.

Friday, Jul 31, 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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Today’s must-read

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click: For Chris Welch, is past prologue? - Facing ethical questions, house speaker has history in Proviso

Ouch.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Trump administration stops work on Great Lakes Asian carp project near Joliet. Sun-Times…

    - Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on the Trump administration to immediately reverse a work stoppage on an embattled project needed to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes near Joliet.
    - Contractors at the Brandon Road Interbasin Project received a work stoppage order on July 24 stating the project is under administrative review, despite about $2 million worth of material already on site.
    - The $1.15 billion project in the Des Plaines River near Joliet is seen as a crucial way to stop invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.

* At 10 am, Gov. JB Pritzker sign the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Sean Grayson, seeking medical release from his murder sentence, still maintains Sonya Massey ‘attacked’ him: In his hand-written application, obtained by Capitol News Illinois via the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson did not show remorse in his description of the shooting, maintaining that Massey attacked him with a pot of boiling water. He also did not check a box stating his condition was likely to lead to his death in the next 18 months.

* CBS Chicago | Columbia College Chicago launches first scholarship for students who experienced foster care: Columbia College Chicago is now the first private college in Illinois to offer free tuition and wraparound support to students who have experienced foster care. […] “It’s giving students that need a little bit more from foster care a little more support and development to say, ‘We believe that you are just as valuable and that you can cross the finish line,’” Kirk said.

*** Statehouse News ***

* CBS Chicago | Former Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg takes focus statewide as top aide to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul: Now serving as Raoul’s top aide, she’s turning her focus to the state of Illinois. “I think there are opportunities to apply that kind of efficiency lens to the work of the office,” she said. […] As for landing Witzburg as his chief of staff, Raoul said he tried to hire her in the past, but this time was a fit.

* Gov. Pritzker’s spokesperson reacts to Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez saying “we’re going to find you, governor” at yesterday’s CPS Board hearing…


*** Chicago ***

* ABC Chicago | Social media influencers helping boost Mayor Johnson’s online presence; some question transparency: Hennessy reviewed Johnson’s recent social media activity after he stated that those posting about him were not paid but acting organically. She said she noticed “a significant uptick in the number of influencers,” including some from out of state, “trying to humanize, trying to make Brandon Johnson seem cool.” “As our sort of communications environment emerges and changes, I don’t see why at some point that type of disclosing wouldn’t be necessary. I think that there’s some value in people knowing who’s responsible for what,” Johnson said during a news conference Wednesday.

* Block Club | Ald. Bill Conway Launches Reelection Bid, Ending Speculation About Mayoral Run: The alderperson who represents parts of Downtown and the West Loop made the announcement to supporters via email Thursday afternoon, saying he spent the past several months reflecting on how he could best serve the city. “After serious consideration, I’ve concluded that the best place for me to continue making a difference is right here in the 34th Ward, serving the residents who put their trust in me,” Conway said in the email.

* Crain’s | Push to sideline Johnson from picking new police chief draws mixed response: Johnson’s office declined to comment on the letter. The mayor previously said on WBEZ he supports the current selection process and it shouldn’t “wait based upon a political cycle or calendar.” Driver argued in a letter to the City Council the timing of the search coinciding with the mayor’s race could lead to a lesser-quality crop of candidates because veteran police leaders are hesitant to put their names forward for what ultimately could be a months-long job if Johnson is not reelected. Driver told Crain’s a potential new mayor “will more than likely want their own police superintendent.”

* Crain’s | Illinois Tech to lay off 160 as enrollment, financial woes force restructure: The Illinois Institute of Technology will lay off 160 faculty and staff members as part of a sweeping financial and academic restructuring, a move that reportedly prompted a faculty senate vote of no confidence in the school’s top leadership. […] The science and engineering-focused Bronzeville university is particularly vulnerable to the Trump administration’s foreign student measures, as the school depends on international students for about half of its enrollment and is in the middle of extending coursework abroad — targeting students who may not immediately, or ever, come to the U.S.

* Sun-Times | Art Institute of Chicago workers’ union pushes back against museum’s pending custodial contract: “We’re out here to say it’s not fair,” said Cameron Day, staff representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, the union’s bargaining unit. “We want to have a conversation. Let’s keep these workers in-house here at the Art Institute of Chicago.” […] The decision to outsource the jobs through third-party contractor GDI Integrated Facility Services is “better for daily operations” at the cultural institution, the spokesperson said.

* WBEZ | After decades behind bars, Ivy Kelly was given a choice: Walk free, or keep fighting to clear his name: Kelly has always insisted he’s innocent of the 1999 killing that led to his decades-long prison sentence. In 2014, an appeals court raised doubts about his trial’s fairness. Eventually, prosecutors made Kelly an offer: He could walk free — if he just admitted guilt. We’ve spoken a couple times online, but I’ve come to the jail to ask in person about his response to the offer — a response that has weighed heavily ever since.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Safety or surveillance? Debate over license plate cameras in the suburbs heats up: Rolling Meadows council members agreed this week to hold a special public session in August to address citizens’ concerns about the use of the cameras on city thoroughfares. That comes days after the police chief in the small McHenry County village of Holiday Hills was charged with unlawfully accessing reader data to track six people from his personal life, including three women he dated. In DuPage County, three men appeared in court Monday facing charges they stole or vandalized at least five cameras in and around Lisle. They’ve since become folk heroes to some, with one collecting nearly $8,000 in an online fundraiser to support his legal defense.

* Pioneer Press | Oak Park board advances possible changes to single-family zoning: In the proposed changes, single-unit dwellings would still be allowed in all districts where they’re already permitted and multi-unit buildings would no longer be grouped into just one category, but would be divided into subcategories based on the number of units up to five. Those with six units and more would constitute another category.

* Daily Herald | ‘Something I can do to help’: Suburban donors respond to blood shortage crisis: “My husband has been going through cancer treatments, so he has been getting blood at Condell (hospital),” said Glass, of Libertyville. “So I feel like I need to give back.” Glass was among a handful of donors who saw an announcement about the blood drive Thursday afternoon at Club Five Health clinic and wellness center on Milwaukee Avenue. The event was prompted by the Red Cross’ declaration on Monday of a “national blood crisis” — only the second time the nonprofit has made such a public statement in its 145-year history.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | CUB challenges Ameren Illinois over rate hike and questionable grid spending: “Everybody agrees that Ameren needs to maintain its system, but they should do it in a way that doesn’t bankrupt their customers. That’s why consumer advocates get involved, to weed out wasteful, unwarranted and unnecessary spending,” Chilsen said. Chilsen said hearing directly from customers could make all the difference in how the ICC rules on these cases.

* Illinois Times | Wyndham hotel up for sale: Affiliated told Rajabi in a letter in August 2025 that the vandalism in the early morning hours of March 27, 2025, “was intentionally caused by Mr. Rajabi, Mr. Rajabi colluded with others to cause the damage, and/or the damage was caused by other individuals with the knowledge of Mr. Rajabi.” Affiliated also said Rajabi filed a fraudulent claim related to a purported March 2024 lightning strike on the hotel building that resulted in Affiliated paying Rajabi $4.05 million.

* First Alert 4 | Multi-studio film complex on the way to Wood River, Illinois: President and CEO of Hollywood River Studios Christopher Breakwell explained to me the Metro East is a great location, “It really is the centerpiece of being close to St. Louis, for us St. Louis has kind of been undershot in the Hollywood community not a lot of movies have been here, there’s just beautiful architecture and beautiful landscapes that we can take advantage of.”

* WCIA | Thomasboro Mayor resigns, cites ‘personal and professional reasons’: The Mayor of Thomasboro submitted a letter of formal resignation on Thursday. The letter obtained by WCIA states the resignation of Jeff Roberston is effective as of 5 p.m. on July 29. Roberston states that the decision came after careful consideration, and that he decided to step away from his position for personal and professional reasons.

* WTVO | Rickie Traeger says he’s a ‘political prisoner’ in letter from Winnebago County Jail: Traeger, 46, has been lodged in the Winnebago County Jail since April after authorities accused him of threatening Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. Court records allege Traeger sent an email to the mayor that included statements such as “hold your family close you never know when today could be your last” and “you’re never gonna forget me.” Prosecutors also alleged Traeger later told police he was going to shoot the mayor.

* Daily Egyptian | Carbondale’s painted hay bale tradition ends as family farm changes hands: What began as a hobby slowly became one of Carbondale’s most recognizable roadside landmarks. Drivers would honk as they went by. People stopped to take pictures. One visitor traveled from Canada just to photograph the display, Jim said. Even schoolchildren — riding the bus that Jim drove as a secondary job — would often ask him what he was going to paint next.

* Capitol City Now | Justice Miller’s big bequest: The Community Foundation of the Land of Lincoln says Miller’s trust has given it $3.2 million, of which $1.2 million has already been granted to seven women- and children-focused charities “He shared with me he saw so many people come before him in court where there were troubles with young people, especially,” said the foundation’s president and CEO, John Stremsterfer. “Oftentimes he witnessed that many of these young people were raised by single mothers, and he had great empathy and sympathy for women in those situations.”

*** National ***

* 404 Media | Data Centers Are Easy to Build. Powering Them Is Complicated, Slow, and Expensive: On Wednesday the power flickered in homes from Washington DC to Chicago. The cause was a data center disconnecting from PJM — a massive power grid that connects 13 states including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan, a span that covers 67 million customers. The incident points to a larger problem with the compute warehouses fueling the AI boom: It’s physically and economically impossible to build power infrastructure fast enough to meet the demands of AI data centers and when problems occur, everyone will pay the price.

* AP | Anthropic says its AI models hacked 3 organizations during testing: Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI company behind Claude, posted on its website Thursday that it discovered the three incidents after reviewing more than 141,000 evaluation runs. It had launched a “large-scale” cybersecurity review which specifically looked for evidence whether its AI models were able to access the internet from within testing environments that should have been sealed off, in response to the OpenAI incident, Anthropic said.

  6 Comments      


Good morning!

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Um…



* Buddy Guy & Keb’ Mo’…

And I’ve got the blues running through my veins

Sweet, sweet jazz. /s

This is an Illinois open thread.

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

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program will provide support to an estimated 100,000 people in Illinois who were deemed ineligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, as of May 1. The state allocated $70 million for the program in the budget passed this year, with one $400 benefit allowed per household.

Congress expanded the work rules for the SNAP program to include 55- to 64-year-olds, veterans and parents whose youngest child is age 14 or older. Since those rules went into effect in Illinois, about 148,000 people have lost food assistance, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services, which administers the program and will also distribute FRESH funds.

Overall, participation in the SNAP program in Illinois declined by 16% since last summer when President Donald Trump signed into law the bill that overhauled the program.

Households eligible for the FRESH program do not have to apply, according to state officials. The funds will be distributed through LINK cards, which is how SNAP recipients receive funds to buy groceries.

*** Statehouse News ***

* NBC Chicago | Thousands of Illinois residents will receive $400 in benefits in the coming days: According to IDHS, the FRESH Program “…gives a one-time [$400] cash payment to people whose SNAP benefits were reduced or stopped because they did not meet the federal SNAP work requirement.” Previously, Illinois SNAP recipients were exempt from work requirements due to the state’s high unemployment rate, Perry explained. Come August 1, an estimated 100,000 eligible Illinois residents who recently lost food assistance benefits due to new federal regulations should see a one-time $400 deposit on their LINK cards.

* Windy City Times | ‘Celebrate what makes you different’: Why Chicagoan Mario Treto Jr. chose a life in public service: Treto was first appointed to his role in 2021 by Gov. JB Pritzker. He is perhaps best known as the first openly gay Latino cabinet member in the Illinois state government. He told Windy City Times that his background as a child of Mexican immigrants inspired him to work in politics. While growing up, it fell on him to translate doctor’s appointments and building permits to his parents, who came from, as he described, “modest means” in Mexico. He was raised in the predominantly Latino Little Village neighborhood.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | City will seek to dismiss federal complaint in shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo: The city of Chicago plans to seek dismissal of a new federal complaint filed by the family of Adam Toledo, the 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer in 2021, according to documents filed Thursday, even as the family is pushing for a January trial date. A report, filed in federal court in Chicago, offers the first look at the status of the federal civil case in the March 29, 2021 police shooting that roiled the city, after a state court case was abruptly dropped just before jury selection was about to set off a high-profile trial.

* Crain’s | Realtors’ membership could slip after Compass boosts rival trade group: There’s a new challenge for the influential Chicago-based National Association of Realtors, which has worked to retain members on the heels of a few troubled years and a struggling nationwide real estate market. The challenge comes from the giant real estate brokerage Compass, which is putting its considerable weight behind a smaller startup trade association.

* ABC Chicago | Lollapalooza gates open on day 1 in Grant Park: During the festival weekend, Lollapalooza will stream live across both Disney+ and Hulu for the first time. Livestreamed content is available across all four days of the festival weekend.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Des Plaines District 62 lost $3.2M in fraud scheme, officials say: The stolen money had been intended for a vendor but did not go to the expected recipient, District 62 officials and Des Plaines police said in a joint news release. District 62 employees committed no criminal acts, according to the release. “Based on our investigation, this is an external criminal matter,” Police Chief David Anderson said in the release. No arrests have been made, nor have charges been filed, police said. Des Plaines police and the FBI are investigating.

* Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan alderwoman appears in court on voter-fraud charges: Waukegan Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton, 1st Ward, learned little about the charges the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office has filed against her for voting fraud at her initial court appearance Thursday, except that she must return to Lake County Court. Charged with felony mutilation of election material and the misdemeanor of disregarding the election code for casting a vote in the March 17 primary for her deceased mother, Bolton surrendered to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office after a warrant was issued.

* Shaw Local | State Sen. Hastings calls for disaster declaration for Will County communities damaged by storms: Democratic state Sen. Michael E. Hastings from Frankfort called on Gov. JB Pritzker and the state of Illinois to declare communities affected by Monday’s storms a disaster area. The storms hit eastern Will County and other south suburbs on Monday, causing widespread damage, extended power outages, fallen trees and significant cleanup efforts.

* WMTV | Dodge County sheriff expands lawsuit over Illinois woman’s ICE detention claims: Four months after filing a federal defamation lawsuit over claims an Illinois woman was secretly detained at the Dodge County Jail, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt has expanded the case, adding another defendant and alleging a civil conspiracy. The amended complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, adds Sarah Afzal, the sister of Sundas ‘Sunny’ Naqvi, as a defendant and accuses Afzal, Naqvi and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison of conspiring to spread false claims that Naqvi was secretly detained by immigration authorities and held at the Dodge County Jail.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | First look shows recidivism holding steady in McLean County: A first glimpse at the new data set, which ISU sociologist Frank Beck is still being worked on, now considers 23 years of records, and showed 67% of criminal and misdemeanor convictions have not been convicted again. According to the Stevenson Center’s data, that’s 15,629 people navigating the criminal justice system with a single offense resulting in judgment.

* WSIL | SIU Establishes Center Preserving Local Black History: “We found out that everybody has all these projects that they’re doing and nobody knows what each other is doing,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “So that this is going to be an important role of the center to connect everybody.” The center’s collection includes historic newspapers documenting life in Cairo, emancipation records and the autobiography of Reverend Henry Armstead. Armstead wrote about being born into slavery, gaining his freedom and helping build churches across Southern Illinois. One of many stories the center wants to continue archiving.

* WAND | Boys and Girls Club of Decatur has critical need for $750,000 this year: The organization has a critical need of $750,000 this year and cannot provide quality after-school care without it. oys and Girls Club Board Chair Niki Fenderson said so many families depend on its services. “We try to bring in a lot of different activities to help our students experience so much more than they would get to regularly,” Fenderson said.

* Capitol City Now | Pinball has arrived downtown: Developer Chris Nickell has put some machines in the former Cafe Moxo on Adams Street and is calling the place Vault 66. He ended up teaming up with the Dumb Records guys, Brian Galecki and Jeff Black,” said Michelle Ownbey, executive editor of the Springfield Business Journal. “Of course, they’ve got an arcade there in the back of Dumb Records, and so they decided to team up on this endeavor, and Dumb Records is now staffing what is essentially a second location. For ten bucks you get a wristband, and that gets you all-access play at both locations Chris is up to something like fourteen pinball machines, and I understand he is also bringing in some arcade games. This Saturday is going to be the grand opening.”

*** National ***

* Axios | Musk plans massive push for GOP in midterms: America PAC will focus on door-knocking, digital advertising and direct mail aimed at turning out the conservative base, including voters who typically are less inclined to cast ballots in a non-presidential election year, sources with knowledge of the plans tell Axios. Musk’s representatives declined to specify exactly how much he’d spend. But given what he donated in 2024, the number is expected to be high.

* Mediaite | ABC Accuses Trump FCC of ‘Attempted Censorship’ In Fiery New Court Filing: “The retaliation against ABC is a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the Administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price,” the network wrote in the filing. ABC currently faces the potential loss of several broadcasting licenses. […] “The FCC has spent the last 18 months searching for some pretext for revoking the Stations’ licenses,” it also reads. “The Commission has found none, because the Stations easily meet the standard for license renewal—which under the law means that the Commission cannot revoke their licenses or order a hearing on their renewal applications.” Despite that, the FCC has pursued ABC “on multiple fronts.”

* CNBC | U.S. economy slowed to 1.5% growth rate in Q2; June core inflation at 3.3%: Gross domestic product, a broad measure of goods and services, increased just 1.5% for the April-through June period, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis numbers adjusted for seasonality and inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a growth rate of 1.8%, following the 2.1% increase in the first quarter.

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Pritzker calls Bailey a racist, in Spanish

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* JB trying out his Spanish to blast his opponent for being a racist…


English translation…

Donald Trump is a racist. And Darren Bailey wants to be just like him. This November, say no to both.

Not here.

* Pritzker’s bilingual attempts haven’t always gone so well…


* Anyway, Bailey responded to Pritzker’s latest…


Transcript…

Friends, today JB Pritzker called me a racist. But this isn’t really about me. It’s about you, because this is what JB Pritzker does to people who disagree with him. If you don’t support his agenda, you’re not just wrong, you’re an extremist. You’re a racist. Tomorrow, you’re a fascist.

JB will do everything that he can to make this election about anything except his own record. After nearly eight years in office, that’s the one conversation that he can’t afford to have. He doesn’t want to explain why property taxes keep climbing. He doesn’t want to explain why he doubled the gas tax. He doesn’t want to explain why Illinois families are staring at the biggest tax hike in Illinois history. He doesn’t want to explain why people are paying more and getting less, and he certainly doesn’t want to explain why repeat offenders are escaping justice.

And not for nothing, when people in my own party mocked JB Pritzker’s weight, I called them out. I said it was wrong because politics should be about ideas, not personal attacks. It’s a shame that Governor Pritzker doesn’t have the class to treat the people of Illinois with that same respect.

Friends, I’m not running to call people names. I’m running to lower your taxes, make Illinois affordable, give drivers a break at the pump, and keep the bad guys in jail. That’s the conversation Illinois deserves. Thank you, and God bless.

  39 Comments      


It’s now signed into law

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Gov. JB Pritzker…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed a package of legislation that protects some of the most vulnerable Illinoisians. This includes expanding safeguards for older adults, people with disabilities, children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with serious mental illness. Together, these measures promote independence, safeguard against exploitation, improve access to critical services, strengthen oversight, and help ensure Illinoisans receive the support and protection they deserve at every stage of life.

“Every Illinoisan deserves the opportunity to thrive,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These new laws strengthen protections for children, older adults, and people with disabilities by helping prevent exploitation, expanding access to care, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their own lives. Illinois continues to lead by putting people first.”

“These laws expand access to services, safeguards and opportunities that make life easier for our most vulnerable Illinoisans,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Strattton. “In Illinois, we’ll continue prioritizing the rights and dignity of every resident and ensure necessary protections are accessible for our most vulnerable communities.”

Governor Pritzker signed the following measures into law:

    - HB 1783: Supporting language development for deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind children (Rep. Mussman/Sen. Cappel), effective immediately
    - HB 4509: Strengthening care for nursing home residents with serious mental illness (Rep. Grasse/Sen. Koehler), effective January 1, 2027
    - HB 4649: Strengthening protections for older adults experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation (Rep. Gong-Gershowitz/Sen. Stadelman), effective immediately
    - HB 4728: Increasing transparency and accountability for congregate care facilities serving people with developmental disabilities (Rep. Faver Dias/Sen. Cervantes), effective July 1, 2027
    - HB 4911: Protecting older adults from financial exploitation (Rep. Stuart/Sen. Lightford), effective July 1, 2027
    - HB 5365: Expanding supported decision-making for adults with disabilities and mental health conditions (Rep. Mussman/Sen. Feigenholtz), effective January 1, 2027

Together this package of legislation reinforces Governor Pritzker’s goal of improving the lives of all Illinoisians, giving these communities the protections and opportunities they deserve.

* Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz…

Seniors will be better protected from potential financial exploitation under a new bipartisan measure led by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.

“Financial scammers can quickly wipe out the savings that Illinois residents have worked their entire lives to build up,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “This legislation empowers law enforcement and the judiciary to quickly intervene in potential cases of financial exploitation, protecting seniors and their assets from bad actors looking to take advantage of them.”

House Bill 4649 allows courts to issue temporary restraining orders against the potential scammers, restrict contact between the scammer and the victim, and freeze financial assets or lines of credit. Necessary living expenses would remain available even with a freeze in place.

The legislation expands upon current provisions that allow for the Attorney General, Department of Aging or provider agencies to petition courts to freeze financial assets in suspected cases of exploitation.

* Sen. Dave Koehler…

State Senator Dave Koehler’s House Bill 4509 designed to improve nursing home mental health evaluations has become law.

“Careful care of our most vulnerable population sends a clear message that even as you age, our state will allow you to do so with grace and dignity,” said Koehler (D-Peoria) “This law ensures that those who are in nursing home care living with a serious mental illness receive the proper help and mental health review so they can return to a life of comfort without being a threat to those around them.”

The new law requires the Illinois Department of Human Services or a designee to visit any individual admitted to a nursing home with a diagnosis of serious mental illness within 60 days of admission. It would also require a resident review within 72 hours when a resident with serious mental illness experiences a significant change in their physical or mental health.

The law also require IDHS to ensure there are no conflicts of interest among the employees administering pre-admission screenings. The goal is to give families the confidence that the residents are being evaluated fairly and appropriately.

* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

Illinois will soon join a growing list of states that have maximized independence by expanding alternatives to traditional guardianship under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.

“Individuals should be able to make independent choices regarding their personal and financial life decisions,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “This new law will support that goal, giving people the freedom to decide for themselves, while ensuring guidance is there when they need it.”

Illinois’ supported decision-making process allows an individual to identify a supporter to help them interpret information, weigh options and communicate their decisions about health care, life choices and financial matters. This unique model fosters confidence and supports people’s ability to make informed decisions while maintaining autonomy.

Traditional guardianship is more restrictive than a supported decision-making agreement in terms of the autonomy someone has over their finances, employment, housing and other life decisions. Many people do not need to enlist a traditional guardian prematurely but will instead benefit from their chosen decision-making assistant when making complex or weighty decisions.

To maximize opportunities for greater autonomy, Feigenholtz’s new law will establish clear guidelines for implementing and overseeing supported decision-making, ensuring the effective and safe application of supported decision-making for any Illinoisan who needs it. […]

House Bill 5365 was signed into law Thursday and takes effect Jan. 1.

* Sen. Kimberly Lightford…

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a new law to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from financial exploitation by empowering banks, credit unions and investment firms to intervene when suspicious activity is detected on a vulnerable adult’s account.

“Financial exploitation is one of the most devastating forms of elder abuse, and it often goes undetected until serious damage has already been done,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “House Bill 4911 gives banks, credit unions and financial professionals the authority and the protection they need to step in when something doesn’t look right – and that could make all the difference for a vulnerable adult and their family.”

Under the law, financial institutions will be empowered to disclose suspicions of financial exploitation to trusted contacts, co-owners, beneficiaries, or known family members of the account holder, and will be able to place a temporary hold on transactions when exploitation is reasonably suspected. Institutions acting in good faith will be shielded from administrative and civil liability for such holds.

The law will also expand the list of mandated reporters under the Adult Protective Services Act to include investment advisers, securities dealers and financial institution employees with direct access to eligible adult clients’ accounts – and will allow the state to share exploitation records with licensing boards, investigatory units, and prosecutorial bodies when the alleged abuser falls under their jurisdiction.

* Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…

State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a new law ensuring that children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind have equitable access to early literacy development.

“Every student learns differently, and they should not be prevented from learning because of that,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This law gives all children equitable language development access, guaranteeing they can learn in the way that works best for them.”

Realizing that people who are deaf often face hurdles for language equality access, Loughran Cappel sponsored House Bill 1783. The law creates a language needs assessment program for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, informed by deaf educators, early childhood experts, Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission members, and Illinois state agencies.

The program will approach language and communication milestones inclusively, making sure that evaluations use English, American Sign Language, the primary language used in the child’s home, or protactile – a touch-based language developed by and for the deaf-blind community – developmental milestones for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or dead-blind. The law will help ensure that there are multiple visual and language education systems for deaf children, promoting language equity.

The law also establishes a language needs advisory committee to generate resources for deaf children’s families and recommend language and communication assessment implementation plans to the Illinois Department of Human Services. […]

House Bill 1783 was signed into law Thursday and takes immediate effect.

  1 Comment      


SDG says Welch support for more CPS money ‘monumental’

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. And subscribers know more. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates testified to the Chicago School Board meeting today about its budget vote…

We’ve spent our entire summer, teachers who got layoff notices asking this city to invest in young people. Yesterday, they had an interaction with Speaker Chris Welch, and he said, ‘I have your back.’ And then some reporter went to the Senate President, and he says the same thing. I don’t think you know how monumental it is at this juncture in this fight because I do this every year. I’ve done this every year as an employee of the Chicago Teachers Union since 2011.

That ’some reporter’ was me. And Harmon’s statement was not nearly as emphatic as Welch’s. The Speaker said he was taking the lead in sending more state money to Chicago Public Schools during veto session. Harmon said this…

You will find no greater supporter of public education than the Senate Democratic caucus. The Senate President looks forward to working with our allies and partners to identify resources, and he shared this with the IFT executive board earlier this week.

* Now, let’s flash back to when CTU was vigorously defending the previously embattled House Speaker. From December of 2019…

Alaina Hampton, the political consultant who recently settled a sexual harassment case with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his Democratic organization, is still in a battle with the Chicago Teachers Union. During her suit with the Dems, Hampton had claimed CTU did not hire her because she had been blackballed by Madigan’s organization. Hampton had sought documents from CTU, but the organization initially refused. It eventually was compelled to turn over the documents.

The case is now settled, but Hampton says CTU has continued to disparage her on social media, so her legal team filed a cease and desist order.

Hampton revealed the legal move Monday in a tweet directed to CTU after a spokeswoman described the case as having “factual distortions, hyperbole and outright lies.” The spokeswoman’s tweet was deleted, but not before Hampton responded with her own tweet: “You can’t hide from the truth. That’s one reason my attorneys sent you and CTU a cease and desist for defamation a month ago.”

Background on that story is here.

A familiar playbook is being used right now. But that old battle plan didn’t end well.

  26 Comments      


Anybody wanna buy a wreck?

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* In my opinion, this hotel was needlessly run into the ground and then was mysteriously rendered inoperable and uninhabitable. So, I’ll volunteer to buy it if they promise to first tear it down and give me $20 million. Press release…

Hilco Real Estate, LLC, a practice of Hilco Global–a diversified financial services company that delivers expert professional services and capital solutions to help clients maximize value and drive performance across the business lifecycle, announces September 15 as the bid deadline of the bankruptcy sale of the former Wyndham City Centre, a landmark, full-service hotel located at 700 E. Adams Street in the heart of downtown Springfield, Illinois.

The property spans an entire city block and is improved with a prominent 31-story hotel tower totaling 374,200± SF, making it one of the largest hospitality assets in the Springfield market. Originally constructed in 1972, the hotel features 369 guestrooms and 27 apartments, an extensive amenity package including a restaurant, lounge, café, indoor pool, fitness center and business center, as well as adjacent structured parking. A rooftop communications lease generates monthly revenue of $12,000+, available separately from the real estate.

The property’s approximately 50,000± SF of meeting, banquet and event space position the asset to accommodate conventions, government functions, corporate meetings, association events, weddings and other social gatherings. This combination of extensive guest accommodations and large-scale event facilities creates a compelling opportunity for hospitality investors, owner-operators and redevelopment groups.

What’s your bid?

  49 Comments      


Today’s quotable (Updated)

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Assistant House Majority Leader Marcus Evans was asked about the controversy surrounding Speaker Chris Welch…

We take on the responsibility as elected officials, but we know it comes with scrutiny. The thing is with scrutiny, you just want a fair process and a protocol to ensure fairness. But the scrutiny is going to come. And when you take on a job, you don’t have to do it. Elected officials’ positions are never unfilled. That means a lot of people want to do it, and if you don’t want to take the scrutiny, it’s going to be hard for you to do it. It’s just a part of the process.

…Adding… I don’t think some commenters are really quite getting this. His message seemed pretty clear to me: There are plenty of people who want your job so sometimes it sucks to be you, but you gotta expect to take the scrutiny.

Maybe some of y’all could use some more coffee or something.

  43 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Speaker Welch pledges to CTU he’ll push for more CPS funding amid scrutiny over handling of harassment claims. Tribune…

    - “I strongly committed in the veto session to supporting the supplemental funding bill because I know we’re all going to be there (in Springfield) for veto session,” Welch told CTU members at an Illinois Federation of Teachers board meeting.
    - It’s the latest opportunity the Hillside Democrat has had to court progressive-minded interests as he navigates uncertain support among his own members, many of them progressives, as leader of the 78-member House Democratic Caucus.
    - It’s unclear where the state would find the money after Gov. JB Pritzker last month signed a nearly $56 billion budget that relied on a series of new taxes and other tweaks to come into balance, while also reviving some temporary election-year tax breaks Democrats last used when Pritzker sought a second term four years ago.

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

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Press release | Governor Pritzker Launches FRESH Program to Support up to 175,000 Illinoisans the Trump Administration Kicked Off SNAP: Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that Illinoisans who lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive a one-time $400 benefit per eligible household member through the new Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program. This $70 million program was enacted as part of the Governor’s FY27 budget, which was focused on making life more affordable for Illinois families especially after the Trump Administration slashed food assistance for Illinoisans. Approximately 100,000 Illinoisans will receive a one-time benefit beginning August 1, and IDHS will provide funding each month to additional individuals who lose coverage until funding is exhausted.

* Tribune | Illinois lawmakers seek families hurt by courthouse immigration arrests as more states weigh right-to-sue laws: Illinois elected officials in the Latino Caucus and allied advocates are seeking to connect families of people arrested at courthouses with civil rights attorneys for potential legal action, Democratic state Rep. Lilian Jimenez of Chicago said Wednesday. The call for affected families came months after Illinois passed a law largely banning civil immigration enforcement against people involved in courthouse proceedings. It also coincided with an announcement that lawmakers in several other states are pursuing similar legislation that would make it easier for people to sue immigration enforcement agents, following Illinois’ lead.

* WGLT | State’s Attorney is using FOIA to seek Unit 5’s communications with WGLT about Chiddix teachers: The state’s attorney sent a Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] request to Unit 5 asking for all emails, letters, text messages, FOIA requests and FOIA responses between Unit 5 and WGLT since January pertaining to Brandon Knapp and Andrew Miller. The two men are awaiting trial for alleged misconduct with children. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Unit 5 said the school district had not anticipated the request. “We do not know the purpose of their FOIA request and do not wish to speculate,” the district said.

*** Data Center News ***

* Illinois Times | New solar field could soon be owned by parent company of CyrusOne data center: linois Times asked AES if the company will prioritize powering operations or companies owned by parent Global Infrastructure Partners should AES stockholders approve the deal. Ella Walker, development manager for AES, did not directly answer the question in a response sent to IT. “This transaction will deliver compelling near-term value to stockholders and better position AES to drive sustained growth across its business units, allowing the company to deliver reliable energy solutions for customers and create long-term value for other stakeholders, including its workforce and local communities,” Walker wrote.

* Center Square | Data centers warn of national security threat if centers don’t develop: “How about if we say ‘we’re not going to incentivize you, we’re going to tell you that you’ve got to bring energy with you,’” Pritzker said last week. “If you’re going to come and you’ve got to have closed loop systems that make sure that you’re not contaminating our water or taking too much of our water and costing people in your utility bills, water and electricity.” Data Centers Coalition Executive Vice President Dan Diorio told The Center Square that’s what developers are doing. He worries such a move will backfire. “That exemption provides a valuable incentive to ensure that communities are served by the most up to date equipment and the most energy efficient equipment,” Diorio told The States by The Center Square. “I worry that this is going to ultimately have and be a long term detriment, to fostering economic development, in the state of Illinois and elsewhere.”

* WAND | Decatur residents raise concerns at data center town hall: These are some of the questions organizers hoped to answer during the “Let’s Talk Data Centers” town hall Wednesday night. Hundreds of residents attended the meeting, hoping to get clarity about how large-scale data centers could affect the community. One main concern is the environmental impact. “We were in a big drought in 2025, so water stress is coming,” said Andrew Rehn of Prairie Rivers Network.

* WAND | Meeting to vote on Hut 8 rezoning, annexation in Latham for data center canceled: A meeting that was going to be held Monday where The Village of Latham Board of Trustees would have voted on the Hut 8 rezoning and annexation plan has been canceled. Data center developer Hut 8 filed an application with the Village of Latham to rezone farmland for a data center project. Hut 8 has not withdrawn its application for annexation. So, it is possible that the hearing will be rescheduled.

* Grist | It’s official: Data centers are slowing America’s shift away from coal: A report released last week from the Energy Information Administration found that carbon emissions from the U.S. power sector rose by 4 percent last year — larger than the increase in the economy overall, where emissions only ticked up 2 percent. The agency attributes this rise to a 13 percent increase in coal power generation, partially driven by the proliferation of large-scale data centers.

*** Statewide ***

* WGN | Illinois vote-by-mail applications open August 5: Illinois voters will soon be able to apply for vote-by-mail ballots ahead of the November election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Officials said applications for vote-by-mail open August 5. Voters who want to receive a ballot by mail must submit an application to their election authority either in person or online. The deadline to request a ballot is October 29.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WBEZ | Democratic state lawmakers push to hold ICE accountable nationwide: A group of Democratic state lawmakers from around the nation were in Chicago Wednesday to push for more legislation that would give the public the ability to sue U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over fatal shootings and arrests made without warrants. “I never imagined that I would spend the majority of my first two years in my term drafting laws and helping support laws that protect people from our own federal government,” said state Sen. Graciela Guzman, D-Chicago, who led a news conference organized by an advocacy group known as State Innovation Exchange.

* Tribune | NASCAR seeking larger grant from state to bring Chicago Street Race back in 2027: The problem, first reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, is that NASCAR was seeking $15 million from the state for next year’s event — up from the $5 million grant it received for the last Chicago Street Race in 2025, according to a source familiar with negotiations. NASCAR did not specifically address the reported $10 million funding gap Wednesday, but issued a statement touting the economic impact of the Chicago Street Race while confirming a deal is not done to bring it back in 2027.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois state elections board tells DOJ it follows federal law on voting integrity: “The Board and Illinois election authorities take very seriously their responsibility to maintain up-to-date and accurate voter registration records while ensuring that no eligible voters are disenfranchised by being mistakenly removed from the rolls,” Marni Malowitz, the state board’s general counsel, said in a letter Monday to the U.S. Department of Justice. “Illinois’s comprehensive list maintenance framework, consistent with the (National Voter Registration Act), ensures free and fair elections.”

* Crain’s | Michael Madigan asks U.S. Supreme Court to review bribery conviction: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his conviction, saying the case gives the court a much-needed opportunity to resolve differing interpretations of federal bribery law. In a petition for review dated July 27, attorneys asked the court to overturn an April 27 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upholding his conviction on an array of corruption charges.

* CBS Chicago | Bill to crack down on fraudulent tow truck operators goes to Gov. Pritzker’s desk: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ bill to crack down on rogue tow truck companies and strengthen oversight has been sent to the desk of Gov. JB Pritzker. The Illinois General Assembly approved HB 4843 unanimously. The bill expands the authority of the Secretary of State’s office to suspend or revoke certificates and special registration plates issued to tow truck and wrecker operators who obtain their registrations fraudulently, use tow truck license plates illegally, or otherwise violate vehicle registration laws.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | ‘I Hope to See Mayor Johnson Come Off the Sideline’ in Mayoral Race: CTU President Stacy Davis Gates: “I hope to see Mayor Johnson come off the sideline,” said Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union in an interview with WTTW News on Tuesday. “And I hope to see the people who support him get out here and pass a petition. If he’s not going to pass one, I’ll pass one for him.” The incumbent mayor kept reporters guessing when asked Tuesday about his reelection plans during an unrelated news conference.

* Sun-Times | Latino high schools hit especially hard by teacher cuts in CPS budget heading for vote: High schools like Kelly are being hit hard by budget cuts that district officials acknowledge will affect the student experience. When laying out the budget earlier this month, the district said it was cutting nearly 1,000 core instructional positions, which include English and math teachers, as well as art teachers. But Chicago Public Schools only publicly released information on how exactly budget cuts are impacting individual schools on Monday — just days before Thursday’s budget vote and weeks later than it typically shares this information.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools budget conflict revolves around revenue assumptions, timing: Many board members don’t like the cuts in the current spending plan. Some say they’re a painful necessity to balance the budget. Others say the district should keep pushing for more state money, press the county over a tax-revenue issue, and pass a budget that assumes those dollars will come through. Why does CPS have to pass a budget this week to make September payroll? Two reasons: the late distribution of property taxes and the need to borrow money.

* Sun-Times | Mayor makes a last appointment to Chicago school board, choosing leader on school integration plan: Connie Anderson will fill a vacancy on Chicago’s school board representing the city’s Far South Side, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office announced Wednesday. That means Anderson will get to serve for a few months in the seat she’s seeking in November, when Chicagoans will vote for all 21 members of the school board for the first time. She’s still facing a challenge to her candidacy, which will likely be decided by mid-August. There is one other candidate in that race and one expected write-in.

* Sun-Times | City Council urged to postpone police superintendent search until after mayoral election: A key member of a Chicago police oversight body urged the City Council Wednesday to postpone the search for a permanent replacement for retired Police Supt. Larry Snelling until after the mayoral election. As president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, Anthony Driver led the nationwide search that culminated in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s selection of Snelling. Driver stepped down as president to mount what turned out to be a losing race for Congress, but he is still a commission member involved in the search for Snelling’s replacement.

* Cook County Record | Chicago PD can’t curb class action over race-based traffic stops: In an opinion filed July 27, U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland granted class certification to five named plaintiffs who allege Fourteenth Amendment and Illinois Civil Rights Act violations. Rowland traced a four-decade history of lawsuits alleging Chicago Police discriminated in their stops of pedestrians. And she noted several successful legal challenges, including the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court opinion, Chicago v. Morales, that neutralized a Chicago “gang loitering” ordinance as unconstitutionally vague.

* WTTW | Chicago Can’t Keep Trying to Poison Its Way Out of Rat Problem: Watchdog Report: By relying almost exclusively on complaints logged with 311 to determine where abatement is needed, Chicago’s Bureau of Rat Control — under the Department of Streets and Sanitation — is playing defense rather than offense, the report concluded. “This audit shows the need for a unified strategy, coordinated across city departments, to cut rats off from the resources that let them thrive and multiply,” said David Glockner, Inspector General for the city of Chicago. “Without a change in tactics, it will be nearly impossible to make lasting progress.”

* Tribune | The story behind the White Sox pope hat: Initially, it was planned as a special ticket giveaway limited to 1,500 people attending. “It was a way for us to test the waters and, within 24 hours of the announcement, we tripled that number in ticket sales,” said Mike Downey, the White Sox senior director of marketing and fan promotions. “We were getting so much positive sentiment that we expanded it to an all-fan giveaway. Everyone who comes to the ballpark will get a pope hat.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | ‘So caring’: Community rallies to help Wheaton pantry that lost three tons of food after storm: “The folks who live around PRC in Wheaton and Westmont are so caring and generous. As soon as we announced we had to discard food and asked for help, we immediately started hearing from people,” she said. Closed Tuesday for cleanup, the PRC — which also operates a clothing closet and offers educational programs including computer training, literacy and job coaching — reopened Wednesday.

* Tribune | Forest Park cemetery workers arrested during Operation Midway Blitz seek damages: Daniel Greer and Darren Eichler, who were detained while at work at Concordia Cemetery, are not suing the government but instead seeking compensation — $1 million each — under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows citizens to pursue compensation for wrongdoing by federal employees. […] According to the claim, the federal agents who were shouting from the other side of the river then crossed a footbridge into the cemetery. Greer and Eichler, along with their supervisor and co-worker, retreated into a locked area by the cemetery’s water intake building and told the agents they disapproved of their actions. Their supervisor began videotaping the agents, who allegedly cut the padlock on the gate, tackled both Greer and Eichler, sprayed them with chemical munitions and restrained them.

* Daily Herald | Not what it once was, but still plenty of ag to show off and celebrate at Lake County Fair: “Lake County in general isn’t as much an agricultural county as some of the others, but we still do have plenty of agriculture in this county we want to show off and celebrate,” she later added. In fact, the Lake County Fair Association’s mission “shall be the preservation of the past, promotion of the future, and education on the future of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, rural and domestic economy of the Lake County community.”

* Tribune | Former gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner buys $5.2M Barrington mansion from Motorola Solutions CEO: With about 8% of the vote in the Republican primary, Heidner lost to winner Darren Bailey, who snared 53% of the vote and now is facing off in the general election for governor in a rematch against incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. Longtime real estate developers and managers, Heidner and his wife, Alisa, in 2012 founded Gold Rush Gaming, which now operates in more than 700 locations around Illinois. The Heidners also own the Ricky Rockets fuel center gas station chain and a wholesale fuel supplier.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Sean Grayson hearing to decide whether he is released early from prison, citing terminal cancer: Speaking with WCIA on Wednesday, Hall explained that during Grayson’s hearing, neither he nor his lawyers will not be present. A three-person panel will consider the case; deliberations will be made in private, but the vote will be made in public. If the board grants Grayson release from prison, he will be on supervised release for five years.

* WTVO | Rockford Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina seeks appointment as interim mayor following McNamara resignation:Rockford 5th Ward Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina announced Wednesday that she intends to seek appointment as the city’s next interim mayor following Mayor Tom McNamara’s planned resignation at the end of August. Torina becomes the first member of the Rockford City Council to publicly declare her interest in serving as interim mayor, a position that the council will fill after McNamara leaves office on August 31. The council is expected to select one of its members to serve as acting mayor beginning September 1 while the city prepares for a special mayoral election in 2027.

* WCIA | Springfield Diocese sued over sexual abuse allegations involving former Taylorville priest: A lawsuit filed in Sangamon County last week alleges the Catholic Archdiocese of Springfield enabled and concealed the sexual abuse of an altar boy by a former priest in Taylorville in the 1990s. The lawsuit was filed by Gould Grieco & Hensley PLLC on July 22, 2026. It alleges that Father John O’Connell — who served at St. Mary’s Catholic School and Parish in Taylorville — sexually abused a young boy between 1991 and 1994. O’Connell died in 2002 at the age of 68.

* WCIA | Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office employee let go after online video: They said the off-duty employee made “insensitive and derogatory” remarks and are “completely inconsistent with the values, professionalism, and standards expected of every member of this agency.” The man in the video, which is widespread on social media, says that “I don’t want any minorities here, that’s how it is.”

* STLPR | Miles Davis’ metro-east home collects stories to celebrate 100 years of influence: House of Miles East St. Louis launched its storytelling initiative earlier this year. Museum curators want to memorialize the artist by collecting memorabilia owned by people who had known Davis or have memories of his childhood home, now the site of the museum. The project started after curators heard from visitors of their experiences with Davis, said Lauren Parks, president and founder of the museum.

* WGLT | McLean County Penguin Project launches theater program for adult performers with disabilities: The chapter’s existing theater program, which modifies full-scale musicals for the stage, serves performers ages 10 to 24. Director Jackie Gunderson said the upper age limit was set deliberately: many services for disabled people end at 22, often the same year other supports, therapies and social routines fall away all at once. Setting the traditional program’s cutoff at 24 gave participants a two-year buffer before joining the alumni program, allowing the actors to acclimate to the adult-style program.

*** National ***

* IPM Newsrooom | Weatherman-turned-congressman Eric Sorensen wants to guide weather preparedness from D.C.: Sorensen said he’d like to see the federal government take a more proactive role in more accurately forecasting the weather and warning the public when precautions are necessary. He said the federal government is usually associated with weather disasters after the fact, such as the floods in Texas in July of last year when more than 100 people were killed. […] Sorensen found a Republican colleague, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska — another former broadcaster — to help form the Weather Enterprise Caucus. It’s a group of lawmakers who will assess weather forecasting and research, and examine the weather’s impact on the economy, national security and our general safety.

* Chalkbeat | As more teen boys turn to sports betting, financial literacy teachers rush to show gambling’s real odds: Data obtained by Chalkbeat from GoGuardian, an education software company that provides institutions tools to block and restrict certain webpages, shows that the rate of sites blocked in its gambling, betting and fantasy sports category has increased nearly 30% since the company started tracking in 2022, from a low of 13.48 blocks per 1,000 students to 17.4 this year. The company blocks roughly 140,000 attempts to access such sites on average every month — although that’s still a tiny fraction of the 86 million monthly attempts to access blocked content.

  11 Comments      


Good morning!

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* RIP Glen Hansard…

And of all the money that e’er I spent
I’ve spent it in good company

This is an Illinois open thread.

  9 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Jul 30, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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« NEWER POSTS PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Access to FDA-approved obesity treatments shouldn't depend on a patient's financial situation
* Good morning!
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
* Reader comments closed until next Thursday
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Yesterday's stories

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