Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Anthony Gonzalez Alvarez, 27, of Lyons, pleaded guilty in April to a felony charge stemming from a traffic altercation with Border Patrol agents in Brighton Park in October.

His sentencing had been scheduled for July 22. On Thursday, however, prosecutors filed a cryptic motion asking for the sentencing to be stayed as “the parties are in the process of evaluating a potential legal issue” with the charge to which Alvarez pleaded guilty.

The motion stated that the U.S. attorney’s office “has re-offered” Alvarez a plea agreement that would resolve the case as a misdemeanor — which could allow him to avoid any prison time. […]

To have a felony conviction unravel after a defendant pleads guilty is a rare occurrence at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. But Alvarez’s case has an even more interesting wrinkle.

Court records show Alvarez was indicted on Oct. 23 by the same grand jury that had also returned an indictment that same day in the “Broadview Six” case, which later collapsed amid allegations of wrongdoing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg.

* From Rep. Stephanie Kifowit…

*** Statewide ***

* WAND | Illinois launches America 250 website, events celebrating state history: The new America 250 webpage is meant to serve as a digital gateway to Illinois history, showcasing the state’s contributions to the nation’s political, economic, agricultural and cultural development. It will feature historic photographs, documents and other treasures from the collections of the Illinois State Archives and the Illinois State Library, while also giving access to a complete schedule of America 250 events and activities happening throughout the Capitol Complex.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Task force pitches long-term Chicago budget fillers, but many need state buy-in: The group also said the city should seek a rule change in Springfield to make sure there’s a fiscal impact note whenever lawmakers change the city’s pension benefits, contributions or funding. The city claimed that recent state-mandated pension changes were done without enough consultation or a full accounting of the cost, let alone any help paying for them. Among the most feasible tweaks: making sure leaders meet twice a year to discuss significant pension policy decisions.

* WTTW | Chicago Budget Task Force Recommends Long-Term Structural Reforms to Address City’s Fiscal Challenges: The Chicago Financial Future Task Force — a group of nearly two dozen business, labor, public policy and community leaders — published its final report Thursday that included 58 policy recommendations, such as instituting a downtown congestion fee, restructuring electricity tax rates and instituting property tax increases based on the national consumer price index. “This challenge was not created overnight,” Chicago Urban League President and task force co-chair Karen Freeman-Wilson told reporters this week. “So there has to be — for there to be sustainability — a gradual fix. And it’s not just revenue, it’s not just cutting expenses, it’s not just looking at some of the long-term structural liabilities. It’s all of those things.”

* Crain’s | Chicago’s political megadonors crack the nation’s top 50: Several other donors with Chicago ties also made the Post’s top 50. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker ranked 37th after contributing $12 million to Democratic causes. Citadel founder Ken Griffin — whose financial empire was headquartered here until his high-profile departure to Miami — ranked 39th with $10.5 million in Republican donations. J. Christopher and M. Jude Reyes, the billionaire brothers who co-chair Rosemont-based Reyes Holdings, ranked 41st after giving $10.1 million.

* Sun-Times | New study finds the creative sector is Chicago’s third-largest industry: The report states that only healthcare and professional, scientific and technical services make up larger workforces in Chicago. It also found that Chicago’s creative economy generates $50 billion in economic output, measured by the sales of goods and services, like concert ticket sales or broadcasting services.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Weeks after tornado, Bartlett cleaning up again from damaging storms: Bartlett Fire Protection District Chief William Gabrenya said fire crews began receiving service calls at about 6:30 p.m. and handled 38 “storm-related incidents” over the course of the night. […] National Weather Service storm survey teams are starting their investigations in Huntley and working their way southeast into the Carpentersville and Bartlett areas, officials at the agency said.

* Daily Herald | ‘A legacy for all of us’: St. Charles eyes redevelopment of former police station site: City council members gave direction to staff this week during a workshop meeting to draft a statement of interest signaling support for working with the park district and the property’s redevelopment. A statement of interest agreement could be reviewed by aldermen in July, Deputy City Administrator Derek Conley said. Mayor Clint Hull expects to put together a group of city council and park district representatives to begin work on the project.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville lags far behind other towns in protecting historic buildings, study finds: But when it comes to preserving its historic buildings, the city lags behind peer communities and should dedicate more resources to preserving its structures, according to a report issued by Naperville Preservation Inc. The nonprofit, which spent about a year putting together the analysis, created its own preservation plan after being told repeatedly that the city does not have enough staff to focus on the subject. Members have been told by city staff that historic preservation appears to be a low priority for the Naperville City Council.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | East St. Louis schools could lose food pantry, programs while grant is in limbo: Emma Giamberdino, deputy director of policy, communications and external Affairs for ACT Now Illinois, said her organization has already seen some schools lay off staff and cut back programs when the funding was first disrupted in December. “I unfortunately don’t have a timeline,” Giamberdino said. “A lot of that infrastructure had already been degraded. I think the worst part about this is that students, families and certainly the practitioners and school staff are really the ones that are suffering.”

* WCIA | Funding uncertainty threatens Urbana Farm to School program: “We alternated for several years in securing grants for the farm school program as we were building it up and getting the components in place,” Barkley said. These grants, Sola Gratia’s executive director said, are ones that they and the public health district have consistently found. That is until one from the USDA fell through this year. “And what we need right now is for the school district to be taking some ownership and investment into the program,” Barkely said.

* Illinois Times | Man fights city hall: He lives in an 18-square-foot home on a corner lot at 17th and Carpenter streets. He built the “pod” himself, he says, from watching how-to videos on YouTube, and it features solar panels, battery-powered generators, a foundation of heavyweight tires, air conditioning, insulation, a six-foot bed, a microwave and an internet connection from a cheap satellite service. He wants to market the mass production of such do-it-yourself, off-the-grid tiny homes not only for his potential profit, but more because of a “calling from God” to better help the homeless get off the streets, just like he did. He thinks he can design a car that would run for at least 100 miles on “a gallon of water and electricity.” Meanwhile, the city of Springfield is “unjustly harassing me,” he says, because none of the structures on the lot he owns are up to code regarding zoning and other public works requirements.

*** National ***

* AP | Supreme Court allows Trump administration to end legal protections for Haitians, Syrians: The decision overturns lower court orders and allows the Department of Homeland Security to swiftly end temporary protected status, a program that protects a total of 1.3 million people from 17 countries. The Trump administration argued judges that can’t second-guess immigrations officials’ decisions about the protections, which were intended to be temporary.

* AP | Supreme Court ruling blocks thousands of lawsuits against maker of Roundup weedkiller: The high court, in a 7-2 ruling, found that Roundup cannot face failure-to-warn lawsuits in state courts because federal regulations have found a cancer link unlikely and do not require a warning label. Though focused on Roundup, the ruling could affect similar health claims against other pesticide products. “This decision is good for American farmers who help feed the world,“ Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said. ”It provides the regulatory clarity necessary for innovators like us to develop the agricultural tools that guarantee an affordable food supply.”

* NYT | Apple Raises Prices on Macs and iPads Amid the A.I. Boom: Apple increased prices on some laptop and tablet models $200 or more. A base model of the MacBook Pro, for example, now costs $1,999, up from $1,699. Apple’s entry-level laptop, the MacBook Neo, now costs $699, $100 higher than when it was unveiled in March.

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When it comes to natural disasters, we’re basically on our own

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Illinois has seen a record number of tornadoes just six months into the year after a series of spring and summer storms barreled their way across the Midwest, causing millions in damage as federal disaster assistance wanes in Democrat-led states.

Experts chalk the sudden increase up to temporary fluctuation, although a small increase over decades is in line with current climate change research. But more severe weather events could strain local and state governments as recent analysis shows blue states have struggled to get federal aid requests approved under the second Trump administration.

The National Weather Service confirmed a record 153 tornadoes in Illinois as of June 23, a number all but guaranteed to increase as teams continue to evaluate late June storms while more tornadoes are bound to occur in the second half of the year. Before 2023, Illinois hadn’t recorded more than 73 tornadoes in a calendar year since 2006.

* Illinois chart…

But…

A Politico analysis found Democrat-led states saw just 23% of their disaster requests granted in the first year of Trump’s second term, compared to 89% for their Republican counterparts. Under the past six administrations — including Trump’s first term — states led by either party saw similar rates of approval, between 70% and 90%. The analysis also found that the administration takes twice as long to issue decisions on requests from blue states.

* From that analysis…

From the story…

• Trump’s 23 percent approval rate of Democratic requests is unprecedented. Every president since Reagan has approved at least 67 percent of requests from Democratic-led states. Republican Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump in his first term each approved a higher percentage of requests from Democratic states than from Republican states.

• Trump has taken 80 days on average to approve or deny requests from Democratic-led states — compared to 39 days for Republican-led states.

• Trump has been openly partisan on social media about using disaster funding for political purposes. He has linked his decisions to grant aid with his electoral victories in Republican-led states.

• Eight out of Trump’s 10 denials for Democratic-led states came despite FEMA having documented high levels of damage after on-the-ground inspections. Previous presidents have rarely denied disaster aid for events that caused as much damage as FEMA found for the eight denials.

• Trump’s denials of Democratic-led states overwhelmingly affected counties that supported him in 2024, suggesting that Trump’s rejections were directed at state leaders who oppose him politically.

* Gov. Pritzker was asked about this topic yesterday…

It’s hard to say that this administration doesn’t have politics playing a part in virtually all of its decision making, even when there are lives at risk. But you know, I also will say, I looked at a study that showed that on a, I think it’s on a per capita basis, that California, Illinois, and Ohio have received the least remuneration in the face of disasters, and I think again it’s on, I think, a per.. it might either be on a per disaster site or a per person basis. But I saw Ohio in there, and I thought that’s a Republican state, it’s controlled by a Republican legislature. So, I’m not sure, and maybe it’s that the president does not like Governor DeWine, who he has said he does not like. Maybe that’s what it’s about. I don’t know. I can’t really tell.

All I can tell you is this is not the way the country should be run. It should not be. Look, you run an election, you fight over issues, you know, between the two parties, and then someone wins and has to run the state or the country, and you’re there in charge of the benefit of all of the people of your state or your country, not just the people who voted for you, and not against the people who didn’t vote for you, so I would just, you know, reiterate, I am concerned there’s politics involved, but it is hard to pinpoint.

I’m inclined to believe, because in so many other ways this president seems like every decision is based on, you know, going after his enemies, protecting his friends, even, you know, corruptly taking money from people that he doesn’t like and opposes, so I don’t know the answer, I guess, to your question, and it’s very hard to pinpoint, but we should receive FEMA dollars for the disasters that have occurred in the state of Illinois.

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CBS poll: Large majorities say data centers ‘mostly bad’ for environment, water and energy resources and utility costs

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* New national poll…

Majorities believe data centers are mostly bad for the environment, for resources like water & electricity, and for people’s energy costs in the areas where they are built.https://t.co/xv2CBz3gZF pic.twitter.com/tuUWYDsv0K

— CBS News Poll (@CBSNewsPoll) June 25, 2026

* More from CBS News…

Many Americans are skeptical about having a data center in their area, fueled largely by what they perceive as negative impacts on the environment and resources.

The construction of data centers in the U.S. has accelerated in recent years, but most Americans feel they don’t know a lot about them yet.

People’s own lack of familiarity with data centers contributes to their unease about having one in their local area. While people tend not to favor them no matter how much they feel they know, the less they feel they know about data centers, the less likely they are to favor one.

Overall, by more than two to one, more Americans oppose than favor having a new data center built in their area. Many aren’t sure.

* From the toplines…

* Methodology…

This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,023 U.S. adults interviewed between June 2-4, 2026. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ±2.8 points.

Discuss.

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Illinois’ SNAP error rate increased in 2025 (Updated x2)

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Remember Rich’s column from last summer about Illinois’ SNAP payment error rate?…

The costs to Illinois’ government because of the new Republican congressional budget reconciliation law will be steep. […]

If current trends continue, Illinois will have to pay 15% of the total SNAP benefit costs, which, according to the governor’s office, would be $705 million a year.

The reason the state is on the hook for 15% of benefit costs is because of its high SNAP payment error rate, which stood at 11.56% in fiscal year 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The state’s error rates for underpayments to SNAP beneficiaries was less than 1%, but its overpayment error rate was 10.6%.

The new federal law requires that states with SNAP payment error rates of 10% or higher must pay 15% of SNAP benefit costs. The state will struggle mightily to afford that, so lots of people may lose their food aid if things don’t change. […]

If Illinois could reduce its error rate to above 8% but below 10% — on par with states like Michigan, Ohio and Texas then it would pay 10% of benefit costs, or $470 million a year.

* Numbers released yesterday show Illinois’ SNAP payment error rate hit 14.67 percent in FY2025. WTVO…

Illinois could face hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties or lost federal funding tied to its administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as new federal data shows the state has one of the highest payment error rates in the country.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent SNAP Quality Control report found Illinois posted a 14.67% payment error rate in fiscal year 2025, well above the national average of 10.62%. The rate reflects how often benefits are issued incorrectly, including both overpayments and underpayments. […]

Under changes approved in a 2025 federal law, states with high SNAP error rates could be required to cover a share of program costs. Illinois’ current trajectory could put it on the hook for roughly $700 million annually if its error rate remains above 10%.

The policy establishes a sliding scale: states with error rates above 10% may be responsible for 15% of total SNAP benefit costs, while lower error rates would reduce that share. […]

Illinois received about $4.7 billion in SNAP funding last year, meaning even a partial cost shift could have major budget implications.

* The AP…

An exception in the federal law gives states with the highest error rates more time to try to reduce them. States with error rates of at least 13.34% last year will receive a delay in their cost-share requirements until at least the 2029 fiscal year.

The delay will benefit Alaska, which had the highest error rate of over 23%. Other jurisdictions receiving a one-year, cost-share delay are Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and the District of Columbia. […]

A recent survey of state agencies that run SNAP found that most already are analyzing the root causes of their payment errors. The mistakes appear to be evenly attributable to SNAP recipients and program administrators, and many states are planning to increase staff focused on eliminating errors, according to the survey released by American Public Human Services Association.

But states also are planning for cuts, if they are forced to pay a portion of SNAP benefits. More than a quarter of the states responding to the survey said they could consider narrowing eligibility policies, and four states said they could consider withdrawing from SNAP entirely. The report did not list those states.

* US Department of Agriculture…

In addition to this matching fund requirement, states with PER at or above 6% threshold are required to submit a Corrective Action Plan to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration detailing how they will address the root cause of their errors. Some of these states may also be liable for a separate financial penalty as part of the SNAP quality control process.

* House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the annual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rates (PER) showing Illinois’ rate as one of the highest at 14.67%:

“Illinois’ SNAP error rate has skyrocketed because of years of mismanagement, and our most vulnerable will be paying the price.

“This isn’t about taking benefits away from families who legitimately need assistance. It’s about making sure the program is administered properly and taxpayer dollars are protected. Fraud, waste, and abuse have no place in government.

“Governor Pritzker can’t blame the federal government for Illinois’ failures. If families lose benefits, it will be because he refuses to fix one of the highest error rates in the nation, that responsibility rests squarely with him.”

Thoughts?

…Adding…. Gov. Pritzker today…

We have worked steadfastly really, every day. Our Department of Human Services and others have worked together to make sure that we’re upgrading the technology, upgrading the number of people that we have applied to the SNAP error rate from that time to now, and we’ve made a significant dent from that time to now. That number is now significantly down from not just the 14% but below the 11 plus percent that was originally reported.

…Adding…. The governor did not have the new error rate number, but stood by his claim that the rate was below FY24.

22 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Unified transit police force is ‘easiest’ option but could be costly, Sheriff Dart says. Sun-Times…

* Related stories…

• NBC Chicago: Why you’re seeing more officers on the CTA: curbing smoking, loud music, fare evaders and more
• Daily Herald: ‘We are going to get it right’: Dart outlines plans to curb crime on trains, buses

* At 1:30, Gov. JB Pritzker will host a bill signing press conference for a package of consumer protection measures that lower costs for working families. Click here to watch. At 6:15 pm, the governor will deliver the opening remarks at Common Defense’s National Convention and Leadership Summit.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Daily Herald | Independent governor hopeful Corbett’s place on ballot affirmed after Bailey campaign pulls objection: Bailey’s team “did whatever they could to keep us off the ballot, but they couldn’t stop our commonsense movement of everyday Illinoisans,” said Corbett, a longtime Republican operative. In response to the objection, Corbett’s petitions were scrutinized last week by Illinois State Board of Elections staff who found that he had 27,323 confirmed signatures, more than the required 25,000, officials said.

* NYT | Utah Senate President Loses Primary After Data Center Backlash: The president of the Utah State Senate, who championed a huge data center beside the Great Salt Lake, was defeated in his Republican primary on Tuesday night, one of the most high-profile signs of the voter backlash to data center projects. The vote to oust the Senate president, J. Stuart Adams, was a stunner. Mr. Adams was one of the longest-serving and most powerful politicians in Utah, a solidly Republican state, and had won earlier re-elections with little opposition.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Press release | New JB For Governor Ad Features Governor Pritzker’s Success in Bringing New Industries to Illinois: The 30-second ad features Richard Demirjian, President of TCCI Manufacturing, explaining how Gov. Pritzker’s investments allowed the company to expand in Decatur, growing economic opportunity for downstate Illinois. The ad will air on Illinois broadcast and cable television markets downstate, as well as on digital platforms.

* Capitol News Illinois | New Illinois driving test age requirements start July 1: The 2025 law, titled the Road Safety and Fairness Act, also creates a process for immediate family members to report cognitive or physical health declines to the state for review. The minimum age for a driving test will be raised from 79 to 87, although drivers 79 and older will still be required to take a vision test, and if they have a driving violation, a written test.

* WIFR | New Illinois law expands cyberbullying definition to include AI-generated images: As of July 1, schools across Illinois will face new responsibilities involving student safety and technology. State Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) refers to a report saying students across the country are using artificial intelligence programs to create harmful images of classmates. “There are growing reports nationwide of students using AI programs to create explicit or harmful images of classmates, and that raises concerns about safety and accountability,” Stadelman said.

*** Data Center News ***

* Daily Southtown | Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto opposes data center development: Bilotto said a data center would not maximize jobs, economic impact and long-term community benefits, standards he said best serve the community. “I have an obligation to treat every property owner fairly,” he said. “That said, being fair does not require us to be without a vision for Blue Island’s future.” The mayor’s opposition comes after property owners Builders Capital sent a letter to the city offering to demolish hospital buildings and exchange the hospital property for the city-owned Libby property, where they said they want to build a data center, Bilotto said.

* Illinois Times | Future data center tax breaks on hold: “Data centers are coming. They’re being proposed, they’re being negotiated, and they are being approved,” he said. “Too many communities are being forced to respond one city at a time, one village at a time, one zoning meeting at a time. That is not a strategy, that is a setup. While regular people are still trying to figure out what is happening, the lawyers have already met, the developers are already called, the lobby is already moved and the paperwork is already in motion. That is why we need the POWER Act; we need statewide standards.”

* WQAD | Video: Lee County, Illinois, residents expected to protest potential data centers: Rock Falls Alderman Marshall Doane will submit his petition against data center development at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday.

* WGN | Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage: At a commission meeting held on June 3, residents said they were not given information about the scope of the project, so they filed a freedom of information request and said what they found was alarming. “We feel like we’ve been totally ignored. The public hearings we’ve had are like political theater. It’s just a formality. They’ve already made up their mind,” Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard said. “They had all these plans up to 18 months ago even prior to the sale of the property. We found a letter from the village manager who basically guaranteed we can re-zone.”

* WSJ | The Data-Center Boom Is Sparking a Third Wave of Inflation: The data centers used for AI require sophisticated computing equipment, cooling systems to keep that equipment from overheating, electric and fiber-optic cables and backup generators to prevent power disruptions. Based on announced and planned developments, Van Nieuwerburgh estimates that spending on the AI build-out through 2032 could come to about $8 trillion—nearly five times the market value of the entire New York City property market. With so much demand, prices are rising for many of the things that go into the AI build-out. And because those things are used for more than just AI, those price increases are spilling over into the broader economy.

* E&E News | Tech heavyweight Oracle challenges Wisconsin data center rules: The company lodged a lawsuit on Friday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court challenging the Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s April order establishing terms and conditions for data centers to receive electric service. Oracle, a partner in the $15 billion Stargate data center in Port Washington, Wisconsin, said the PSC requirement would force the company to post a letter of credit for electric service that would cost more than $100 million annually in fees. The company said the requirement is unreasonable and would chill further data center investment in Wisconsin.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Seven in 10 Chicago voters say they’re not inclined to re-elect Johnson: According to the survey conducted for One Future Illinois, a business-backed group that has been critical of the mayor, 71% of poll respondents said they are not inclined to vote to re-elect Johnson for a second term in the February 2027 city election. The survey of 801 likely Chicago voters also found that 66% disapprove of Johnson’s job performance at City Hall, with 46% strongly disapproving. A third, 34%, gave a thumbs-up to Johnson’s performance. […] A person familiar with the findings said of the 71%, 51% said they definitely would not vote to give Johnson a second term, and 20% “probably” would not do so. Among Black voters, 51% said they definitely or probably would not back Johnson for re-election. [From Isabel: Click here for the cross tabs on that question.]

* Sun-Times | CHA Operating Chair Matthew Brewer joins the race for mayor: If Johnson were truly the “collaborator-in-chief” he claims to be, Brewer said, the mayor would not have “all of the fractured relationships and power struggles” that have made him unable to “find common ground” at every level of government. “My approach to leadership is bringing everyone together around similarity, rather than trying to alienate people along lines of difference,” Brewer, 46, told the Chicago Sun-Times.

* Brewer’s intro video…

* Crain’s | After CHA showdown with Johnson, Matthew Brewer enters mayor’s race: It’s unclear what lane Brewer will try to carve out for himself in a jam-packed mayoral field that includes politicians with decades of experience and voting records. Thus far, Brewer is the only announced Black candidate and could draw backing from those hoping to eat into Johnson’s base of support among progressives and with Black voters. He has met with business groups seeking support, but it’s not clear if they will break from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who’s expected to jump in the race this summer.

* Crain’s | Bally’s escalates fight over video gambling, threatening legal action: Bally’s is threatening to sue Chicago and reopen key parts of its casino agreement with the city if aldermen refuse to reverse course on video gambling. The company says allowing video gambling terminals in bars and restaurants could force a renegotiation of hiring and diversity commitments and jeopardize at least $4 million in annual payments Bally’s makes to the city.

* Tribune | Video gambling hearing ends after tensions flare between Mayor Brandon Johnson allies, opponents: His subsequent exchange with [Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Ivan Capifali] over what he described as the city’s lax enforcement with illegal sweepstakes machines ultimately blew the meeting up. “This is a circus, OK? That’s all this is, is a circus, and we’re doing all of ourselves a disservice by even talking about this right now,” Beale said. “And Ivan, I’m sorry, man. You make excuses left and right. Your integrity is zero. You have none. … Ivan, commissioner, I believe that you need to resign because you are doing a disservice to the city of Chicago.” Beale then immediately moved to adjourn the meeting, and a majority of the aldermen in attendance backed his motion, ending the proceeding.

* Sun-Times | Neglected Frank Lloyd Wright house on the West Side sold for $125,000: Austin Coming Together Executive Director Darnell Shields said the organization and the community want to make the home a place where visitors can learn about the house, as well as the neighborhood’s architecture, culture and history. “And while they’re here, [visitors can] support our businesses and restaurants along Madison,” Shields said, adding that Wright’s open plan design of the home’s first floor would make the space conducive for hosting events and gatherings.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Aurora Beacon-News | Contracts approved for two multimillion-dollar sewer and water main projects in Aurora: One of the contracts — which is being awarded to Performance Construction & Engineering, LLC, for a little over $4.6 million — is for sewer separation, sanitary sewer extension and water main work in the city’s 4th Ward. This work is essentially the second phase of a sewer separation project on Broadway done last year, Aurora Assistant Director of Public Works Kurt Muth explained at a City Council Infrastructure and Technology Committee meeting earlier this month.

* Tribune | Hollywood Casino Aurora launches new $360 million land-based facility: Hollywood Casino Joliet ranks fifth among the state’s 17 casinos with $60.9 million in adjusted gross receipts through May, up 67% year-over-year, according to the latest report from the Illinois Gaming Board. Meanwhile, Hollywood Casino Aurora ranks ninth with $41.8 million in revenue, down slightly year-over-year, according to Gaming Board data.

* Daily Herald | Community mourns passing of Lake County Vice Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham: Longtime Lake County Board Vice Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham, a tireless voice for constituents and others who needed assistance, has died. Her son, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, shared the passing of the family’s “beloved matriarch” on social media Tuesday afternoon. “Vice Chair Cunningham was the bedrock of our family, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and guiding light,” he wrote.

*** Downstate ***

* BND | Nearly half of St. Clair County taxing districts levied higher taxes in 2025: Across taxing districts in St. Clair County, total EAV rose an average of 5.5% in 2025. That means many districts could keep their tax rates steady while still collecting more tax dollars. The district with the largest dollar increase in its 2025 levy request was Southwestern Illinois College, which requested nearly $4.4 million more than the previous year. But the district also saw a $393 million increase in its EAV, enabling it to keep its tax rate steady.

* WGLT | Prosecutors allege a decade-long ‘pattern of behavior’ as judge jails second Chiddix teacher before trial: McLean County Judge Amy McFarland said Wednesday there was “no doubt” the state had met its burden of proof that Andrew “Drew” Miller, 40, of Normal poses a threat to society and should be detained. Miller has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Wednesday’s pretrial detention hearing was Miller’s second appearance in McFarland’s courtroom after his attorney, Josh Rinker, requested a continuance to prepare arguments for why his client should be released with conditions while navigating the criminal legal process.

* STLPR | O’Fallon, Illinois, library wants voters to approve $17.5M bonds for a new building: The median home value in O’Fallon is $275,000, and that household pays roughly $130 in property taxes to the library annually. The sale of bonds would increase that annual tax to roughly $250, Johnson said. “I view it as an investment — as an investment in our community,” he said. “Just like we all want good schools, good parks, safe streets (and) nice roads, this is an investment in our infrastructure that can literally be a community asset for generations to come.”

* WCIA | Vermilion Co. school district hopes to improve athletic facilities with $9M bond: $8 million of that money would go toward new softball and baseball fields, a combined football and soccer field and a facility for locker rooms, concessions and restrooms. Superintendent Andrew Jordan said this upgrade has been a long time coming. “We are looking to use that money to improve our current facilities,” Jordan said. “We don’t have a softball field, we don’t have a baseball field, and we don’t have a competitive track that we can use.”

*** National ***

* USA Today | Supreme Court live updates: Major rulings possible on citizenship, Trump priorities: The court is expected to hand down some − but not all − of its remaining decisions on Thursday, June 25. Some of President Donald Trump’s top priorities are at stake in many of the remaining cases. If his arguments win, the court could restrict birthright citizenship, refuse asylum claims and remove protections against deportation for Syrians and Haitians. Two election-law cases could change how mail-in ballots are counted and how parties spend money on candidates. And the court could resolve whether states can ban transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams.

* AP | Dozens of states could face new costs because of high error rates in SNAP food aid: States with high error rates will have to make choices that could impact their residents. To fund SNAP benefits, do they spend less on public schools, law enforcement or mental health care? To save money, do they squeeze people off SNAP by making it harder to stay in the program? Or do they drop out entirely from the federal food aid program that’s been around for decades? “There are billions of dollars that are at stake that states will have to find the money to be able to pay if they want to continue to operate a SNAP program,” said Chloe Green, assistant director for policy at the American Public Human Services Association.

8 Comments

Good morning!

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Darondo…

What’s going on?

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Block..

Kalshi is taking the state of Illinois to court over its new law putting in place a regulatory regime for prediction markets, which the platform says puts it at odds with the federal government.

The company filed a complaint this week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Governor JB Pritzker, and other state officials. The platform says it will be “irreparably harmed” when the new law takes effect on July 1.

Last week, Pritzker signed into law broad budget and revenue legislation, SB3019, that does a number of things, including, controversially, enacting a 0.2% charge on the value of digital asset transactions or services provided to Illinois customers as well as requiring prediction market platforms to get a state license. In its complaint, Kalshi says those requirements are preempted by federal law because its event contracts are regulated at the federal level. […]

Kalshi asked the court to grant it a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, and a permanent injunction to prevent Illinois from enforcing the law.

“Prediction companies are seeking to use the courts to avoid complying with the same rules and consumer protections that apply to other wagering operators in Illinois,” a spokesperson from the Office of Gov. Pritzker said in a statement. “The state of Illinois will continue defending Illinois’ authority to regulate these activities and protect consumers.”

* Press release…

Admitting defeat, the Darren Bailey campaign conceded their fight to remove Independent candidate for Governor Collin Corbett from the ballot by withdrawing their objection, securing Collin’s and Carolyn Schofield’s spot on the ballot.

Collin’s campaign ended last week’s records exam with 27,323 valid signatures, well over the 25,000 requirement. This officially makes history, with Collin being just the third Independent candidate for Illinois Governor in the last 86 years, and the first serious third party or Independent candidate since 1912.

* IPM Newsroom has two stories worth reading on school discipline. One examines Springfield’s Lanphier High School, which suspends Black students at one of the highest rates in Illinois…

Lanphier High School in Springfield disciplines Black students at a higher rate than any other school in the state, except for Kennedy Middle School in Rockford.

At Lanphier, there were fewer than 500 Black students in the most recent year of data, yet they received almost four times that number of in-school and out-of-school suspensions. […]

The Illinois Report Card data for the 2024-2025 school year at Lanphier lists no incidents of violence with injury and no incidents of alcohol or tobacco. There were 118 incidents of violence without physical injury, 25 drug offenses and 2,280 incidents categorized under “other reason.”

The other looks at Chicago’s Kenwood Academy, where suspensions are rare…

Kenwood is big, with more than 2,000 students, most of whom are Black. And the school rarely uses suspensions.

“With Kenwood, they see us as actual humans,” [junior Jabari Carson] said. […]

Principal Karen Calloway said the school’s one word mission is college, for every student. Kenwood sends students to Ivy Leagues, historically Black universities, state schools, and liberal art schools.

“We are a national leader in scholarship applications. That’s our big tag line. It’s our claim to fame and we do a pretty good job in making sure that we achieve that,” Calloway said.

*** Statewide ***

* Injustice Watch | Immigrants in Illinois are finding success challenging their detention in federal court: Before 2025, such habeas cases were rarely filed by people held in immigration detention. During the four years under the Biden administration, only 10 immigrants filed habeas cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which covers Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. But in the first 15 months of President Donald Trump’s second term, 274 immigration habeas cases were filed in the Northern District of Illinois. The vast majority were filed after the launch of Operation Midway Blitz, the federal immigration enforcement campaign that began in September and led to the detention of nearly 3,800 immigrants across the Chicagoland area.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Click here for Citizen Action/Illinois’ 2026 State Legislative Scorecard.

* WGLT | Illinois looks to fast track schools to install rooftop solar panels: Illinois lawmakers want to make it quicker for schools to connect solar energy to the grid. One Central Illinois grade school has been waiting two years to connect rooftop solar panels. The bill requires energy companies to give priority to schools and companies have 30 days to give an evaluation on a project. They will also have to disclose upgrade costs to the grid and construction timelines to the school. The bill now goes to the governor’s desk to be signed.

* Shaw Local | Joliet-area legislators blast Bears on stadium deal, one calls team ‘a liar’: State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, labeled the Bears “a liar” in her comments during a panel discussion in Joliet hosted by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce. “Having to call their bluff, that is not good negotiation,” Ventura said. “If you come to the table in Springfield and you are a liar, it doesn’t bode well for you.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Mike Quigley to make mayoral bid official with Saturday kickoff: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is making his long-anticipated run for Chicago mayor official this weekend, with a campaign kickoff event scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the historic Uptown Theatre. […] Quigley, who has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2009, previously served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He’s entering an already crowded field of candidates seeking to unseat Johnson or succeed him should the mayor decide not to seek a second term.

* Block Club | Why Is Mayor Johnson Keeping Secrets About The Parking Meter Deal?: Johnson and his aides have refused to disclose records showing what analysis or calculations they made while putting their bid together out of the public eye. Even members of the City Council have been left in the dark. Still, the council is now under pressure to approve a new meter sale, to different private investors, that alderpeople and the public know almost nothing about.

* Tribune | Chicago Media Report: Rising TV pundit Adam Mockler, ABC 7 enlists viewers in FCC battle and CNBC to hit Cboe: During an April 30 appearance on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” Mockler so rattled Scott Jennings during a discussion about the war in Iran that the network’s seemingly unflappable resident conservative commentator blew up and unleashed on-air profanity at his young foil. The incident went viral, boosting Mockler’s social media following and his progressive pundit street cred, helping the 23-year-old to launch his own weekly debate series on YouTube.

* Tribune | Michelin retired its Green Stars to the dismay of sustainable chefs in Chicago: Last month, Michelin quietly announced that it was phasing out the Green Star distinction and chefs would no longer be able to advertise that they have it. Besides Daisies, Feld is the only other restaurant in Chicago to be given a Green Star. “Is it a let-down? Of course,” Frillman said. Chefs like Frillman have widely expressed disappointment in Michelin’s decision, saying that the abrupt removal of the designation undoes years of high-caliber sustainability recognition.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Lake County News-Sun | D128 appoints new member as grooming allegations prompt shakeup: ‘There’s a culture problem within 128’: Former board President Jim Baston retired suddenly earlier this year, despite winning a four-year term in 2023. Although no official reason was given for why Batson left with just months of the school year left, his departure came shortly after controversy rocked the district. A lawsuit filed in March accused Parker Rohde, a teacher at Libertyville High School, of grooming an unidentified 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome, starting during the fall 2024 semester.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council OKs Mayor John Laesch’s slate of new board members for Paramount, other venues: The appointments are said to represent Laesch’s vision for the future of the Aurora Civic Center Authority — namely, that it will offer more diverse programming and be more financially stable. The organization owns the Paramount Theatre, the Copley Theatre, Paramount School of the Arts and North Island Center, and manages the city-owned RiverEdge Park and Stolp Island Theatre.

* Daily Herald | ‘I want to feel the freedom’: Elgin honors 30 new American citizens: The event is coordinated by a group of community volunteers representing Centro de Información, the city of Elgin, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Elgin Community College, Elgin Area Historical Society, Gail Borden Public Library, The Literacy Connection and YWCA of Elgin. The Elgin Master Chorale performed patriotic selections during the ceremony. Afterward, the League of Women Voters hosted a voter registration table, and the Kane County Clerk’s office demonstrated how to use the county’s voting machines.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Bloomington-Normal’s homeless count drops. Advocates worry federal policy changes could erase gains: The Bridge has largely been at capacity ever since. It made a big dent in the community’s homeless population. One week later, volunteers canvassed McLean County to track the homeless population. It’s called the Point-In-Time [PIT] count, an annual, national effort to see who is unhoused and try to connect them with services. The count is one of several factors that determines federal funding for homeless services. On Jan. 29, a night when temperatures fell below zero, volunteers found three people outside in Bloomington-Normal. The year before, on a night not quite as cold, they found close to 40.

* Muddy River News | Plan Commission votes to deny special use permit for proposed solar farm at 36th and Payson Road: Brink, the city’s director of operations, cited an ordinance that the city council passed in 2024 that recommended solar facilities only be constructed in the 1 ½-mile buffer outside the city limits if that area is zoned industrial. “This was not one of those,” Brink said. The parcel of land proposed for this solar facility is located just outside Ward 5 and zoned RU1 (rural and agricultural).

* WTVO | Rockford committee deadlocks on spending taxpayer dollars on mobile grocery store: The committee considered an agreement with Angelic Organics Learning Center, operating as Farmers Rising, in partnership with City Center Market, to launch the program. The plan called for up to $822,000 in casino tax funds to support startup costs and three years of operations. After discussion, the committee voted 2–2 on the funding agreement, meaning the motion failed to advance due to the tie.

* WSIL | Shawnee National Forest Urges Visitors to Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Zebra Mussels: Even small amounts of leftover water can carry zebra mussel larvae, allowing them to spread to previously unaffected waters forest service officials stated. “Do your part—clean, drain, and dry,” the agency advises, encouraging visitors to help safeguard the region’s “big backyard” for future generations.

*** National ***

* 404 Media | The Tokenpocalypse Is Here: Companies Are Scrambling To Stop Spending So Much on AI: “What we’re seeing right now is just rapid escalation in AI token spend,” he says “As companies start to scale AI, moving from like simple chatbots into use cases that feature agentic workflows and automation and then enterprise-wide deployment of some of these tools like Copilot, Claude Code, and Codex, we’re hitting this inflection point where AI is becoming material to the cost structure; spend is becoming very unpredictable; and leadership, especially at the CFO, COO, and CIO level, are still asking the question of whether they’re getting value from what we’re spending on in the context of AI.”

* Cal Matters | Uber passed an insurance law in California. It did not disclose key info, a lawmaker says: As the ride-hailing giant pushed to lower the required insurance coverage it must carry for uninsured and underinsured motorists, Uber told lawmakers that passing Senate Bill 371 would be good for consumers because insurance costs were rising. It passed, reducing Uber’s liability for uninsured and underinsured motorists from $1 million to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. But a May report from Consumer Watchdog found that the company mostly self-insures, meaning it was paying its own subsidiary insurer and amassing a stockpile of tax-free reserves.

* Guardian | ‘Extremely overwhelmed’: apartment renters face rising tide of fees: Long lists of fees are common at buildings operated by Greystar, a private equity-backed conglomerate that owns or manages more than 1m apartments across the US. According to tenants, housing attorneys, public officials and court claims, this tangle of extra charges fattens the company’s bottom line, increases renters’ risks of eviction and undermines fair competition in the apartment market by muddying the real price they pay for shelter.

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Pritzker on mail-in ballots threat: ‘We’ll see them in court’

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today…

PETERS: Yes or no, if a state refuses to turn their absentee voter list to the federal government, will the Postal Service still mail their ballots under this proposed rule?

POSTMASTER GENERAL STEINER: No.

PETERS: So the proposed rule basically coerces states to hand over their… pic.twitter.com/5bnJb5Atnr

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 24, 2026

More…

Postmaster General David Steiner told senators that, under a new proposed rule, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not deliver mail ballots unless states hand over their voter lists to the Trump administration.

“Under our proposed regulation, no,” Steiner said during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing Wednesday after being asked whether USPS would refuse to deliver election mail if states refuse to divulge their voter lists.

“We would tell the state that we need the manifest,” Steiner added.

* Isabel asked Gov. Pritzker about this today…

Isabel: Postmaster General Steiner testified to a US Senate committee today that the Postal Service will not mail ballots if a state refuses to turn their absentee voter lists over to the federal government. And does Illinois have a backup plan if this happens?

Pritzker: Well, we’ll see them in court.

Isabel: And any thoughts related to that?

Pritzker: You know, this is, over and over again, the attacks from this administration on our states. These are illegal attacks, and you know we’re, thank goodness we have a great attorney general in the state of Illinois. Thank goodness that we have leadership in the state of Illinois that believes that we need to be protecting people’s voting rights, which is not something that the federal administration today is doing. So that’s all I can say about it. We’re going to fight like hell to protect your right to vote.

You’ll recall that AG Kwame Raoul’s budget was cut by $10 million this spring.

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Pritzker signs Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act (Updated x2)

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday will sign the latest legislation bolstering Illinois’ status as a haven for abortion care in the Midwest. […]

The legislation, spearheaded by state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, and state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights; limits access to medical record systems containing abortion-related information. Data won’t be allowed to be shared across state lines without the patient’s consent unless it’s for technical support, quality assurance or billing purposes, according to the bill.

Any information on abortion services will be required to be segregated from the rest of a patient’s medical record, which will have access disabled to out-of-state entities.

If the new privacy safeguards are violated, patients would be able to sue. Health information exchanges will be required to implement the changes by July 2027. […]

Separately on Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health was set to issue an updated standing order giving pharmacists more leeway to provide prescription birth control methods directly to residents, including all forms of self-administered prescription contraception.

* More…

* Daily Herald | Four years after Roe’s reversal, Illinois still a destination for women seeking abortion care: Thirteen states prohibit abortion and 10 have restrictions banning the procedure starting anywhere from six to 22 weeks into a pregnancy, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization. Abortion is outright banned in Indiana and prohibited after six weeks of pregnancy in Iowa. About 155,000 individuals left their home states for abortion care in 2024, and 35,470 of them came to Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research institution.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ abortion landscape continues to evolve amid persistent growth in demand: The Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides financial, logistical and material assistance to abortion seekers, is the largest of its kind in the nation. Since June 2022, the fund has assisted more than 60,000 callers and distributed more than $25 million in direct support. In 2025, about 13,760 people, or 43% of the nearly 32,000 people who came to Illinois from out-of-state, were given direct support from the fund, an increase from the 28% of callers who received that level of support in 2024, according to data released by the group.

* KFF Health News | Despite state bans, abortions have almost doubled. The reason? Pills via telehealth: But because medication abortion is now the most common form of abortion in the U.S., restricting mifepristone would have a wide impact even in states without abortion bans. “Stopping the FDA’s unlawful mail-order mifepristone scheme will surely decrease the number of chemical abortions across the country,” said Gabriella McIntyre, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, which partnered with Louisiana in its suit.

* Pritzker campaign…

“Four years ago, American women lost their constitutional right to an abortion after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court justices did what he hand-picked them to do: overturn Roe v. Wade.

“With abortion rights under assault across the country, I have fought to make Illinois a safe haven for women seeking care. That is because I believe that a woman’s right to control her own body should not be a matter of debate. And I believe that when a woman makes the decision to seek an abortion, she should be met with dignity, empathy, and compassion.

“My opponent, Darren Bailey, does not share those values. He has compared abortion to the Holocaust, celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and recently said there was nobody ‘more pro-life’ than him. As a legislator, he opposed the law that protected a woman’s right to choose in Illinois. When we passed that law, he led the failed attempt to repeal it. Darren Bailey is an anti-choice extremist. He cannot be trusted.

“Let this anniversary serve as a call to action. We need to codify the right to an abortion into federal law. Until then, I will do everything I can to make sure that Illinois remains a beacon of freedom for abortion rights.”

…Adding… Bailey…

JB wants this race to be about a made-up culture war.

I want it to be about why Illinois families can't afford to stay in Illinois.

That's the conversation he's desperate to avoid. pic.twitter.com/gM3yx7yFch

— Darren Bailey (@DarrenBaileyIL) June 24, 2026

“Made-up”?

…Adding… From the governor’s press release…

With Governor Pritzker’s signature, the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act cements Illinois’ status as a safe haven for comprehensive healthcare access and patient privacy. The bill goes into effect July 1, 2027. The legislation will:

1. Prohibit entities that maintain or facilitate the transfer of health information, including health information exchanges and electronic health vendors, from sharing sensitive medical information across state lines.
2. Require these entities to develop and enable the following features to protect patient privacy:
3. Separate sensitive medical information from the rest of the patient’s record.
4. Limit user access to sensitive medical information.
5. Automatically disable access of sensitive medical information to people and entities outside of the state.

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

For over 30 years, Marc Maslauski has helped men look and feel their best at Jim Herron Ltd. in Springfield. Known for quality menswear and exceptional personal service, Marc takes pride in creating a shopping experience that keeps customers coming back. Whether you’re searching for a tailored suit, sport coat, or everyday style upgrade, Jim Herron Ltd. delivers timeless fashion with a personal touch.

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

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Marc in Springfield who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Chicago Bears still looking to piece together stadium legislation in Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says. Tribune…

* Related stories…

• CNI: Bears taking advice, but haven’t put forward specific stadium plan, Pritzker says
• CBS Chicago: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker open to calling special session for bill to keep Chicago Bears in Illinois
• Crain’s | Pritzker offers up a playbook for a special session on a Bears deal

* At 11:30 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will sign legislation that protects reproductive freedom on the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | As ‘Broadview Six’ prosecutor faces reckoning, Boutros yet to escape cloud hanging over his office: U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros has launched a review of cases involving veteran prosecutor Sheri Mecklenburg, whose apparent misconduct has led to the collapse of the Broadview case and two others. But attorneys for the Broadview defendants have raised alarms about “what appears to be a determined effort to blame a single prosecutor.”

* Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker to sign Illinois abortion legislation shielding patients’ medical records: On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday will sign the latest legislation bolstering Illinois’ status as a haven for abortion care in the Midwest. The measure passed by the General Assembly last month will shield patients’ abortion-related digital medical records from access by outside authorities who have sometimes used them to pursue criminal cases in states where the procedure has been outlawed.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol City Now | Organization applauds extension of affordable housing-related tax credits: The Illinois Housing Council says the ten year extension of tax credits that were about to expire is important, given how housing in general, and affordable housing in particular, is in short supply. “We are, really, in a severe housing shortage,” said Allison Clements, Executive Director, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. “The state faces a deficit of nearly 300,000 affordable rental homes for our lowest income residents. We really just haven’t been building enough housing. We know that between 2017 and 2023, our housing production rate fell 33 percent.”

* Patch | Shelter CEO To Step Down Amid State Senate Run: helter Youth & Family Services CEO Carina H. Santa Maria will transition from her role in September as she pursues her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate, the organization’s Board of Directors announced. Santa Maria has led the Arlington Heights-based organization since 2018. She is also an Arlington Heights village trustee and previously announced her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate. Current State Sen. Mark Walker, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, has said he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term.

* CBS Chicago | CPS holds first budget hearing; CTU wants Illinois lawmakers to convene to fund schools: Tuesday marked the first Chicago Public Schools budget hearing of the summer, as the district faces a $ $733 million shortfall. This comes as the Chicago Teachers Union is calling on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to call lawmakers back to Springfield. The union said a special session is needed to fund schools fully.

* Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker is leading Chicago fundraiser for Senate candidate and rising Democratic star James Talarico: Talarico, 37, spent about two weeks in the Chicago area last year during the walkout. On Wednesday, Pritzker will serve as a “special guest” at a Chicago fundraiser in support of Talarico. Federal Election Commission records show Pritzker contributed $3,500 to Talarico’s campaign in March. Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley is among several prominent Chicagoans listed as hosts of the fundraiser, according to the invite. Suggested contributions range from $500 to $5,000 for hosts. The top tier is $13,500.

* Center Square | Bill filed to repeal ‘punitive’ digital asset tax: State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, filed House Bill 5798 on Monday. “There’s a lot of constituents and other folks that have interests that think this is going to raise revenue and tax them around $60 million or more,” Cabello told The Center Square.

*** Data Center News ***

* NBC Chicago | ‘Data center capital’ of the Midwest expands as Pritzker calls for regulations: Mayor Craig Johnson said all of the data centers are located in the town’s business and industrial parks, far away from residential neighborhoods. […] He said the data centers generated $26 million in revenue to the village last year alone. In some years, the windfall is so high that the town issues $200 gift cards to residents as tax rebates.

* The Southern | Carbondale passes moratorium on data center development: The Carbondale city council adopted a resolution putting a one-year moratorium on data center development during its regular meeting on Tuesday. The resolution passed on a 4-1 vote, with Nancy Maxwell voting against it. Clare Killman was absent from the meeting. It comes in response to a community meeting in May at the Unitarian Church where several city staff and council members were present. The Southern provided coverage on that meeting, where the impacts of data center development were discussed.

* Data Center Dynamics | Closed incinerator near Chicago eyed for potential data center development: Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant said he was open to the idea of a data center being developed at the site. “I know there are a lot of negative stories out there, but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” he told NBC. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution, and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.”

* AP | 40 mayors worldwide endorse a pact to shape data center development: About half of participating mayors are from the U.S. That includes Seattle and the California cities of Palo Alto and Riverside. In the Southwest, Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined. On the East Coast, Beverly, Massachusetts, signed, as did Lincoln, Nebraska; Chicago and Cleveland in the Midwest and Miami in the South. […] The pact lists several standards for data center developments. Urban data centers should be built on abandoned or underutilized land in an area that minimizes negative impacts on noise, heat and air pollution. Developments should be fueled by renewable energy and battery storage, and data centers should reduce water use and emissions, as well as capture waste heat.

* WIRED | Some Electricians Think Building Data Centers Is for Sellouts: Threads about how AI will affect the economy now pepper r/electricians, a subreddit with around half a million monthly visitors. Some users wonder whether the work will eventually prompt widespread job losses. Others aren’t sure if their labor makes them complicit in the damage done to local communities or whether it’s unethical to take on data center work. For some, the answer is a firm no. Ultimately, they argue, work is work. One electrician based in the Midwest says he no longer tells people what he does for a living.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Air pollution is often worse in the summer. Now, Chicago can monitor it neighborhood by neighborhood: The air monitors are part of a 5-year project that went live last fall. They’re designed to collect local air data that can show Chicagoans real-time pollution figures that can help officials develop guidance for permitting, urban planning, and air-quality control. The network is about to be put to the test as it faces its first Chicago summer — the season when air pollution tends to worsen, in part, due to climate change.

* CBS Chicago | Payroll in jeopardy for healthcare workers at Roseland Community Hospital, union says: Roseland is a 134-bed safety-net hospital that has operated on the Far South Side for more than a century, but SEIU healthcare union leaders say about 200 healthcare workers could possibly not get paid. The union represents a good portion of the more than 500 staff members at the hospital, which includes support and professional services. It’s not clear what’s behind the potential payroll problem, but the SEIU vice president says, “I can confirm that on June 11, the union was informed that the payroll due our members on June 30th was in jeopardy.”

* Sun-Times | Chicago’s first F1 Arcade to open in August: “About 1% of people get to actually experience an F1 race [in person] in their lifetime. So if we can bring that experience and what an F1 driver gets to experience in that seat and that adrenaline, … I think that’s that whole thing we want to recreate as much as possible,” he said. There will be 61 full-motion racing simulators with multiple game modes, allowing visitors to race individually or in teams. There will also be private event spaces.

* Tribune | Chicago White Sox sit alone atop the AL Central standings after 2-1 win against the Cleveland Guardians: Chicago White Sox designated hitter Randal Grichuk doubled and scored on a single by shortstop Colson Montgomery in the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas led off the sixth inning with a home run. Those were the only three hits in the game for the Sox. And it was just enough to defeat the Guardians 2-1 in front of 28,883 at Rate Field.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | State’s Attorney’s office says it will make it harder for ICE to access sensitive data: Don Black, chief of staff to Cook County States Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, said the office is working with Appriss on new contract language that would further restrict data sharing. “The goal is to close any ambiguity in the contract and make sure the data is used only for the purpose it was intended,” Black said.

* Evanston Now | Biss says he will resign in October: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said Tuesday afternoon he plans to resign from office on Oct. 18 to allow for a special election next spring, where voters will have an opportunity to select the city’s next mayor. In his annual and final State of the City Address, Biss said the purpose of his resignation “is to be absolutely certain” a special election could occur in the spring. After his speech, he told reporters he intends to write a formal letter “soon” outlining his resignation plans.

* Press release | Northwestern Tech Helps Power Apple Vision Pro Wheelchair-Control Feature: Apple recently unveiled a new Vision Pro accessibility feature that allows users to control powered wheelchairs using only their eyes. Northwestern University technology helps make it possible. The feature uses the Vision Pro headset’s advanced eye-tracking system to send driving commands to compatible wheelchairs. Software developed by Northwestern’s Project DRIVE acts as a bridge between the headset and wheelchair’s control system, translating eye movements into signals the wheelchair can understand.

*** Downstate ***

* Reuters | Constellation Energy to supply nuclear power to Walmart facility under 15-year deal: Retail bellwether Walmart, opens new tab has signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab, the companies said ‌on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Constellation Energy will supply nuclear power from its Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois to Walmart’s previously announced “high-tech” perishable distribution center, ⁠currently in development in Belvidere, Illinois.

* STLPR | Illinois EPA takes ‘toxic tour’ through these contaminated Metro East sites: Local residents and activists took three top officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on a “toxic tour” of the Metro East on Friday. The goal was to show them what life is like in the communities confronting sewage-contaminated floodwaters, as well as foul emissions from a hazardous waste incinerator. Among the attendees were Illinois EPA Director James Jennings, Deputy Director of Environmental Policy Amanda Raddatz and Environmental Justice Coordinator Chris Pressnall.

* WSIL | Jefferson County Tornado Victims Begin Long Road to Recovery: Volunteers are helping the Thompson family clean up their property after a tornado destroyed their home. Where the house once stood is now a cleared lot. Kelley Thompson says she’s grateful for the support from her community. Youth camp kids from her church and vollunteers came out to help run machinery and pick up debris. “I can’t thank God enough for sending all these people,” Thompson said.

* WGLT | Murals add color and hope for youths in juvenile detention: The McLean County Juvenile Detention Center [MCJDC] commissioned Champaign artist Leslie Kimble to paint the two murals in the common areas of the facility. The project was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Program Coordinator Brianna Nelson said the initiative started last October. […] Nelson said Kimble asked the youths to pick colors, images and words they’d like to see on the walls every day.

* STLPR | East St. Louis connects youth with food through Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s new project: After six Olympic medals and over a decade of dominating track and field, Jackie Joyner-Kersee has spent her post-athletic career giving back to her hometown of East St. Louis. Her newest contribution is the Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center. The center will give East St. Louis youth opportunities to get hands-on experience with agriculture and prepare them for STEM careers. It features classrooms, labs and kitchens, and has summer and after-school programs to introduce kids to plant science.

* WCIA | Springfield EMS worker sentenced to probation in 2022 patient death: WCIA previously reported that body camera footage shows 35-year-old Earl Moore Jr. was strapped face-down to a stretcher in the midst of a hallucinatory episode Moore was experiencing. The coroner ruled that the 35-year-old died of asphyxiation. Although Cadigan’s case saw its resolution Tuesday, the case involving the other EMS worker — Peggy Finley — remains ongoing. She appeared in court on Monday for a planned trial call hearing. The next court date in Finley’s case is scheduled for Aug. 24.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Stephen Miller Said to Drive DOJ Memo Eroding Disability Rights: Miller, the president’s powerful deputy chief of staff, was frustrated that the department’s Civil Rights Division was still reaching settlements compelling states to transfer those experiencing mental illness out of institutions, added the individuals, who spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation. They said Miller felt DOJ’s agreements—including one reached with South Carolina in December—would increase homelessness and didn’t adhere to President Donald Trump’s July executive order pressuring cities and states to move homeless people into treatment centers

* WaPo | Nation’s second-largest school district passes strict new screen time rules for students: Los Angeles public schools will ban screens for its youngest learners and limit device usage for other students, marking one of the most aggressive attempts to restrict the amount of time children spend on devices at school The new rules, approved on Tuesday, will be phased in starting in August following backlash to the devices districts nationwide have spent billions on since the coronavirus pandemic. The Los Angeles school board had passed a resolution in April that required the district to limit students’ screen time.

12 Comments

Good morning!

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I think I’m ready to start a mood change…

Make my haze blow away

Tell us what’s happening by you.

5 Comments

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

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Comment

Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. Politico…

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 just broke the caps in the Illinois secretary of state race by spending $255,000 on advertising through its independent expenditure PAC supporting Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

The ad spend with Panache Strategies is large enough to lift contribution limits for all candidates in the race and open the door to unlimited donations for Giannoulias’ reelection campaign, even though he is expected to breeze by little-known Republican challenger Diane Harris.

A similar $255,000 contribution via Local 150 was made during Giannoulias’ primary campaign, despite the absence of any serious opposition then, too. […]

Under Illinois law, Giannoulias could transfer money raised for his secretary of state campaign into a potential mayoral campaign. Breaking the caps now gives him the ability to collect much larger checks should he decide to make a run for City Hall.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Workers plan to strike at six Illinois Prime Healthcare hospitals: The union members include workers who maintain HVAC systems, plumbing and other systems, according to the union, and they work across six hospitals: Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago; Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago; Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines; Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago; Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston; and Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Saint Elizabeth is closed, but workers still maintain the building, according to a union spokesperson. The strike comes after the union filed 10 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board earlier this month against Prime hospitals and MedSpace Services, which is a subsidiary of Prime Healthcare Management, Inc.

* Capitol News Illinois | ‘A Legacy Brand Sunset’: Illinois Radio Stations Reckon With CBS News Radio’s Shutdown: In Chicago, WBBM Newsradio was among the Audacy stations left searching for a replacement after CBS News Radio announced it would end its services. As late as April, it was unclear what would fill the gap, until the station switched to ABC News Radio one day before CBS News Radio went silent, according to the Chicago Tribune. For some downstate Illinois stations, however, the switch came seamlessly. Tammy Sondgeroth, general manager of NRG Media Ottawa, which operates WCMY, said the station moved to NBC News Radio almost immediately after learning of the closure.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Payments Dive | Buy now, pay later groups ‘neutral’ on Illinois bill : The Illinois bill “is probably an indication of growing interest in states picking up from where the CFPB has backtracked,” Saunders said Monday in an interview. Under the law, BNPL players operating in Illinois would be licensed and overseen by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The measure – which defines a BNPL loan as one with a term of 120 days or less – also mandates a dispute resolution process and refunds for consumers.

* WGN | Illinois Secretary of State announces more than $27M in grants to libraries across state: The Secretary of State’s office is awarding more than $22.6 million through its annual Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant programs, which represents a 15% increase over last year’s grants. A total of 640 public libraries in Illinois will receive $20.6 million in Per Capita Grants to support books and multilingual materials, internet access, digital resources, staffing, community programming and facility improvements. Funding amounts were calculated according to a formula based on the population of each community.

* Capitol City Now | Illinois junk fees ban arrives on Pritzker’s desk: The plan makes it unlawful for any business to advertise, display, or offer a price for products or services that does not include all mandatory fees or surcharges before taxes. Sponsors said junk fees cost an average family of four $3,200 annually.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago sues Airbnb and a host company for alleged improper rentals: The complaint filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court alleged that real estate broker Milan Rubenstein and his company, Slumber Stay LLC, did not properly register his short-term rentals and used a single nontransferable hotel license for multiple listings — then kept renting those units after being issued citations. Airbnb was accused of profiting from those allegedly unlawful rentals rather than working with the city to ensure compliance with the Shared Housing Ordinance.

* CBS Chicago | Mayor Johnson addresses call for Chicago Department of Gun Violence Prevention: “A particular advocacy group has been calling for such an office to exist through multiple administrations, and we’re going to continue to hear how the work that we’re doing to drive violence down can work in coordination with the visit that this organization and organizing apparatus has,” Mayor Johnson said. A proposed ordinance to create the Department of Gun Violence Prevention would bring together existing violence reduction programs under one umbrella, with more than $100 million allocated in the city’s budget.

* Press release | 40th Ward Dems Youth Organizer Fighting to Recover After Devastating Car Accident; Friends, Colleagues & Chicago Politicos Rally Support: Truman Community College student Ana “Rey,” a well-known fixture since childhood in the 40th Ward Democrats office, is fighting to recover after a severe traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident on April 25, 2026. 40th Ward Committeeperson, Maggie O’Keefe, who has mentored Ana since she was in eighth grade – later making Ana Deputy Committeeperson – is spearheading a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of her care while also working on policy solutions to improve Illinois Medicaid coverage. “Ana walked into my office when she was in eighth grade, determined to be involved in the community that raised her,” said Maggie O’Keefe, 40th Ward Committeeperson. “Now it’s our turn to help her. When we found out that her insurance–Illinois Medicaid–will not cover the physical therapy she needs, we knew she would need more help than her friends and family alone could give her.”

* Block Club | Chicago’s Bike Lanes Don’t Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds: The Chicago Department of Transportation last month published a report on the economic impacts of bike lanes that examined six commercial corridors with different types of bike lane projects. Researchers analyzed data as well as surveys and interviews with local businesses, residents and real estate developers. The case studies compared the surveyed areas with “control” corridors nearby, and looked at the change in sales tax revenue, commercial property vacancy and employment, as well as safety and bike usage data since the lanes were installed.

* Block Club | Work Begins On Bronzeville Trail, The South Side’s 1st Elevated Bike Path: Members of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force — joined by State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet and Bronzeville Community Farm’s Rosalyn “Roz” Owens — were on hand to mark a milestone signaling that work to convert the two-mile abandoned rail into a public park is officially underway. “The soil borings beginning here at 45th and State Street may look like technical work, but they represent something much bigger. It will reconnect communities, create new public space, support health and wellness, strengthen local businesses, and bring new energy to this historic neighborhood,” said du Buclet.

* NYT | Barack Obama Has Strong Opinions About Cheeseburgers: The chef Cliff Rome said President Obama — once called “Foodie-in-Chief” by People Magazine — told him that the burger that would end up on the menu at the Obama Presidential Center was missing a few essential ingredients. Namely, it needed a smear of yellow mustard and the bite of a sharp Cheddar. “He had a lot of opinions on what makes a good cheeseburger,” said Mr. Rome, who was tapped by the Obamas to conceptualize and run two restaurants, Tafari’s Kitchen and a casual cafe, on the center’s campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Naperville Sun | 171 townhouses proposed for one-time Naperville hockey arena site: But the site’s location at 2255 Monarch Drive, at the northwest corner of Ferry Road and Comfort Drive, is raising some issues for city staff. Anna Franco, a member of the city’s planning services team, said staff is concerned about the inconsistency of the proposed single-family attached housing with the site’s designation in the land use master plan. The future use for the property calls for a “regional center,” and Franco said townhouse-style units are not listed as a primary or supporting use within that designation.

* Tribune | Feds: Owner of Oak Lawn methadone clinic stole millions, funded lavish lifestyle including yacht ‘Butt Nekkid’: The charges were part of a nationwide effort called the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which the U.S. Justice Department says resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims and “significant patient harm.” According to the charges, Robinson is the owner of ODA Solutions, a clinic that offers both substance abuse services and mental health services from the same site in the 4200 block of West 95th Street in Oak Lawn.

* Daily Herald | ‘This is huge’: Major League Baseball to hold America250 event at suburban drive-in: The theater was one of four drive-ins nationally selected by MLB as part of its America250 celebration on July 4. The festivities will include a showing of the classic childhood baseball movie “The Sandlot” and a live screening of that night’s Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game. They’ll also have MLB Ballpark Bites and baseball-themed activities, including Wiffle ball, a pop fly scramble and virtual batting cages.

* Daily Herald | Rolling Meadows to outsource garbage collection after long haul of in-house service: Aldermen will vote on a proposed 5-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling Services to pick up refuse, landscape waste and recycling from single-family homes throughout town, in a deal that would provide notable cost savings for residents, city officials said. At the same time, the council will take a preliminary first reading vote on a separate 10-year lease extension with Lakeshore, which has operated the city-owned transfer station at 3851 Berdnick St. for the past three decades.

* Pioneer Press | Winnetka Music Festival celebrates 10 years of bringing world-class talent to the suburbs: For its 10th anniversary, the two-day festival welcomed more than two dozen artists to the stage, with headliners Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Father John Misty performing alongside notable musical acts like Grace Potter, Jonah Kagen, Petey USA, Ben Kweller, Futurebirds and more.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Wiz Khalifa joins Grandstand lineup for Illinois State Fair: On Tuesday, it was announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Wednesday, Aug. 19. He is joining the likes of Ella Langley, Ziggy Marley, The Chicks and Bailey Zimmerman at this year’s festival. It was also announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 29.

* Illinois Times | Rolling out the welcome mat: Springfield seeks to capitalize on Route 66 centennial, America 250: Being the host city as the starting point for the Great Race is something of a Super Bowl event for people such as Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl. The competition to be the host city is fierce, as two additional days of festivities accompany it. The vintage cars are the major attraction, as gearheads the world over come to see and, if they’re lucky, take one for a spin. The route to Pasadena will traverse much of Route 66.

* WAND | Café vendor opportunity open at future Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Hub: The county is offering incentives to attract businesses, such as a basic commercial kitchen and potential subsidies on rent and utilities. Two informational sessions are planned to explain The HUB space and RFP requirements. They will be available in person, virtually, and will be recorded.

* SJ-R | Roughly 175-year-old ‘witness tree’ officially removed in Springfield: A tree dating from the time Abraham Lincoln and his family lived at a home at Eighth and Jackson streets in Springfield was removed June 19, a little more than a week after storms irreparably damaged it.

*** National ***

* WaPo | CDC’s chief blocked a covid vaccine study. Now it’s in a top medical journal: The study, which had been slated for publication in March in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that the covid-19 vaccine reduced the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half last winter. The findings were consistent with what researchers have found in past years, that the vaccine can help reduce the risk of severe illness in adults even after accounting for immunity from prior vaccination or infection. “Science was never the issue,” said Michelle Barron, one of the study’s authors and senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, a nonprofit health system in Colorado. “Certainly it was within [the CDC’s] purview to keep it out, for whatever reason, but it was clearly not for scientific reasons that the study was withheld from publication in the MMWR.”

* Bloomberg | Trump orders U.S. to speed quantum adoption, boost cyber defenses: Trump said the first order would launch an effort to create a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations. White House officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of the signing, said they believed a computer could be developed by 2028. The order also calls on agencies to work on plans to deploy quantum-enabled sensors and networks in the next five years, the officials said. The order also supports coordination with allies to protect quantum intellectual property and bolster supply chains.

3 Comments

Et tu, Greg Abbott?

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* March, 2022…

Meta, formerly the Facebook company, announced today that it will invest $800 million in the creation of a Hyperscale Data Center in Temple, Texas. The new facility, which will total approximately 900,000 square feet when completed, will be located on 393 acres off NW H K Dodgen Loop and Industrial Blvd., and will support approximately 100 operational jobs in the community. The project is expected to employ 1,250 construction workers onsite during peak construction, which will begin in Spring 2022. […]

“Meta’s continued expansion in Texas is a testament to the exceptional business climate and skilled, diverse workforce we have here in the Lone Star State,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “It is because of hardworking Texans and our commitment to helping businesses grow that companies continue to move and expand all across Texas. We are excited to welcome Meta to Temple and look forward to the new job opportunities they will bring to the local community, as well as the advancements in technology we will see in the future.”

* March, 2023…

As Gov. Greg Abbott signals stronger support for the creation of a new program to replace a multibillion dollar corporate tax break program that expired last year, he’s also drawing a clear line in the sand: wind and solar energy projects need not apply.

“I support [the program] not providing economic incentives for renewables,” Abbott said during a news conference in Austin. “There’s already federal incentives for renewable projects, and those will continue to be allowed. As it concerns especially energy and power and the power grid, our focus is on dispatchable power,” such as natural gas or coal. […]

Renewable energy has proliferated in Texas: The number of wind turbines has grown significantly over the past decade, and the number of solar farms is rising, too. Texas produces more wind energy than any other state. It rivals California for solar. Both types of power don’t pollute the air and are cheap, generally beating out sources such as natural gas to sell the electricity they produce.

* January, 2025…

Stargate will construct data centers right here in Texas.

Texas is the home of innovation. https://t.co/4H90Xra9uo

— Governor Abbott Press Office (@GovAbbottPress) January 27, 2025

* September, 2025…

Abbott opens arms to data centers, teases big AI investment

Governor said project in works to eclipse Oracle, Open AI’s $400 billion investment in “Project Stargate”

* June, 2026…

Late last year, Texas electricity officials faced an astonishing rush of requests from data center developers wanting to connect to the state’s grid. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator, was logging dozens of new requests each quarter from companies that sought to pull more electricity than traditional data centers did — by a long shot. […]

The proposals kept coming. ERCOT in the last two years received 519 requests to connect large electricity users, compared to 24 such requests the year before that, according to its records as of May. The estimated electricity that large projects could need added up to a gobsmacking 438,595 megawatts — which would equal roughly a third of all the power generation in America.

* Today…

How quickly and drastically Abbott has changed his tune here tells you he's burnt his hand on the stove top with this issue. https://t.co/Fp0qb190cc

— Lyndon Baines Johnson (@lyndonbajohnson) June 23, 2026

17 Comments

Pritzker asked about special sessions for Bears, school funding

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bears…

Q: And what are those [Bears] conversations looking like? Are they happening with your staff, with lead leaders, or are the Bears kind of putting together a proposal?

Pritzker: They’ve asked for advice, and so our staff, as well as legislators, have offered them that. I think they’re looking at both of the bills that passed, the one in the House, the one in the Senate, hoping to put the the provisions of each of those together in a form that they think will pass. And then, of course, they need to begin conversations with members of the legislature that they weren’t able to win over before, and again, we’ve been advising and trying to help out wherever we could.

Q: Is there any sense of urgency to all this?

Pritzker: Of course, of course. Are you kidding? We want to get it done as soon as possible, and if they’re able to put everything together as we hope they will, you know, I’m, as I’ve said, I’m willing to call a special session, so that we can get a vote on it long before the veto session, if that’s possible. And so we’re, we’re working and helping them in every way we can.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* School funding…

Q: Do you have any sense of whether, anything, any kind of special session? CTU is holding a rally tonight calling on special session to truly fund schools.

Pritzker: Yeah, I agree with everyone who says that schools are not as well funded as they should be. Indeed, every year I have increased funding for our K-12 education. It’s almost $3 billion in total, in addition to the EBF, the base increase in funding. I’ve added on top of that things like the teacher vacancy program, which helps schools in the toughest districts hire teachers that they’ve had a harder time hiring. We now have, I think, more teachers employed in the state of Illinois than we’ve ever had before, and we now rank in the top 10 among 50 states for our K-12 education, pre-K to 12. So I’m proud of the direction things have gone, but I couldn’t agree more that we need more funding for our public schools. That’s why I’m continuing every year, even with tough budgets, even with Donald Trump attacking education and attacking state budgets. We have found enough money to increase funding for public schools.

[Cross-talk]

If there’s an opportunity for us to improve funding for schools, and there’s somebody who’s come up with an idea about how you might get it done. Remember, an amendment to the Constitution does not require the governor; it actually requires a super majority of the House and the Senate to pass it. And so, I, as you know, I’ve been in favor of a more graduated income tax system, and I’ll continue to be in favor of that, but it’s something that the legislature needs to take up.

* IFT…

President Davis Gates last week also called on Gov. Pritzker to convene a special session of the General Assembly to address our state’s public education funding crisis and raise revenue from the ultra-wealthy to help close the $6.4 billion funding gap facing Illinois public schools from pre-K to Ph.D.

If Gov. Pritzker can call a special session to discuss data centers and a stadium proposal for billionaires, he can surely call one to address the educational needs of Illinois students.

He hasn’t talked about a data center special session.

10 Comments

Rate Pritzker’s new TV ad

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

New JB For Governor Ad Highlights Governor Pritzker’s Commitment to Strengthening Food Access, Eliminating Food Deserts

CHICAGO, IL – Today, JB For Governor released a new TV ad called “Go Back,” highlighting how Governor Pritzker is driving state investments to eliminate food deserts and build new grocery stores in communities that need it most.

The 30-second ad features Liz Abunaw, founder of Forty Acres Fresh Market, explaining how Gov. Pritzker’s investments helped her launch a grocery store in central Austin, a Chicago neighborhood that did not previously have one. It is an example of Gov. Pritzker’s commitment to ensuring all families have access to affordable, fresh produce, regardless of their zip code.

The ad will air on Chicago broadcast and cable television markets, as well as on digital platforms.

* The spot…

* Transcript…

LIZ ABUNAW, Forty Acres Fresh Market Founder: Let’s go back.

Back before central Austin had a grocery store of its own.

Back when getting fresh food required a car or bus ride.

With JB Pritzker’s help, now families can buy groceries right here.

Too often, people don’t believe in business owners like me.

But JB was critical to getting us off the ground.

And he’s helping open grocery stores in so many neighborhoods.

This is not easy work, especially these days.

But JB gets it.

He’s standing behind our business and our community.

13 Comments

Today’s quotable: Pritzker on data center regulations

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker was asked about data center regulations yesterday…

Q: There’s a lot of talk here about the possibility of data centers coming here. What’s your view on those?

Pritzker: I think you know that I’ve been pushing, and did push, in fact, to have some regulations put in place. So that I think on several fronts we would demand that data center operators pay for their own power, making sure that they’re either bringing power with them or they’re paying rates that would make sure that no one in the area is paying a higher rate than they would otherwise. So that’s on electricity, and of course we need to produce more electricity, so whether it’s solar fields or other kinds of maybe a small modular nuclear device, that that’s something we should be thinking about requiring of data center providers.

Second, is of course we need to make sure that they’re recycling water that they’re using, so that they’re not, you know, taking water out of the local community, you know. We’re, I think, our state is well known to be one that has fresh water more than almost any other state. We, we have about 20% of the world’s fresh water that’s either on the shores of the state or in the rivers or underneath. Aquifers, we also are 80% of the US is fresh water. We need to guard that, and we need to make sure that people are paying their utility bills aren’t paying for the utilities that are being used by those data centers.

And then, lastly, I think locals, people in the local community, should have more say about the siting of where those data centers go, because unless they’re, you know, incredibly well built, they produce a lot of noise, they’re unsightly sometimes, and so we just want to make sure that we’re dealing with all that.

That was not something that some years ago, when Illinois was not a destination, that we had to worry about very much, because we just didn’t have enough data centers to mean that that was going to be a problem. Now, as you’re seeing with AI data centers and others, and the fact that we’re in a PJM and MISO territories, where other states are using our electricity, we’ve got to make sure that we’re kind of battening down the hatches and protecting our consumers and our residents. […]

I’m not opposed to local governments deciding that that’s what they want to do, that the local residents decide we don’t want any, that’s okay. I think there are, you know, trade-offs, but I’m saying if we had regulations that actually protected the local community, I think you’d probably have fewer people saying that they don’t want it, and some saying, like, hey, they’re paying a whole lot of property taxes to reduce our property taxes in a local area, but I think it’s up to a local community to decide that.

Discuss.

21 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: ‘Broadview Six’ damage spreads with review of 20 years of one prosecutor’s cases. Sun-Times…

* Related stories…

• Tribune: US Attorney Andrew Boutros drops arson case amid new grand jury gaffes by ‘Broadview Six’ prosecutor
• WTTW: Chicago US Attorney’s Office Reviewing Past Grand Jury Proceedings After Another Case Tied to ‘Broadview Six’ Prosecutor Falls Apart
• ABC Chicago: Chicago US Attorney drops 3rd case citing ’serious irregularities’ focusing on prosecutor’s conduct

* At 11 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver remarks at the Amrize Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* CBS Chicago | Illinois Accountability Commission chair says fresh wave of ICE arrests has begun, with new tactics in play: Ruben Castillo, former chief judge of the federal court for Northern Illinois, told CBS News Chicago he is watching for signs of a tactical shift under new Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin — months after a spring surge that many expected never materialized following last year’s Operation Midway Blitz sweep. “We are going to take a different approach that can be more effective and less public-facing,” Mullin said in remarks obtained by CBS News.

* Rep. Curtis Tarver | Southeast Side, or Hammond, should beat Arlington Heights for Bears: I am asking the Bears to give South Works and the South Lakefront a full, serious feasibility review. Envision a Museum Campus South plus Quantum. This is a vision we can build upon rather than displace. We can connect world-class museums, sports, science, health care, education, lakefront access, jobs, small businesses and neighborhood revival. That would be a citywide development strategy, not old Chicago with new renderings.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Aurora Beacon-News | State Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, to retire at the end of current term after 20 years: “Living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 37 years has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to public service,” she said in a statement on her website. “While I have been fortunate to manage this disease for many years with few symptoms, it is now time for me to slow down and focus on my health.” Holmes was first elected to represent the 42nd District in 2006, defeating then-Will County Board member Terri Ann Wintermute in the race for a seat that had long been held by Republican Sen. Ed Petka. Before that, Holmes served on the Kane County Board.

* Sun-Times | Bears stadium fail wasn’t Pritzker’s only fumble — his affordable housing plan also went nowhere: According to Democratic lawmakers, the major sticking point was a provision creating a statewide zoning standard for “middle housing.” “I recognized from my own local government background that the one size fits all approach doesn’t always work as we all think it will,” said Senate Majority Leader Cristina Castro, D-Elgin.

* WAND | Bill increasing fine for drivers ignoring school bus safety arms awaits Pritzker’s signature: This plan would create a uniform $300 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation. “It’s not a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank). “Instead, it empowers local law enforcement with options and greater local control so they can choose what’s best for their community to curb dangerous driving behavior.”

*** Data Center News ***

* Crain’s | Pritzker wants legislators to take up data centers in the fall: Opponents have questioned whether Pritzker has the authority to administratively suspend or slow the applications for the incentives under a program that dates back to 2019. “We’re going to address the issue, I hope, in the veto session,” Pritzker said at a press conference today. “We have authority to decide what process we’re going to use in order to go through those tax credits.

* WTTW | Data Center Policy Debate in Illinois Spans Environmental, Economic Goals: “The data center industry has been around for decades,” said Brad Tietz, state policy director of the Data Center Coalition. “We’re going to use twice the amount of data in the next five years that we used in the past 10 years… and it’s not just entertainment. It’s hospital records, bank records, government, schools, public safety, remote work, telehealth, the list goes on.” In 2018, data centers accounted for 1.9% of all electricity consumption in the U.S. according to a 2024 report from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs. By 2023, that jumped to 4.4% of all electricity in the country. And the trend is not slowing down, with estimates for 2028 ranging from 6.7-12%.

* NBC Chicago | Mayor of suburban Robbins keeps an open mind to data center: “I know there is a lot of negative stories out there but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” Bryant said. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.” The owner of the property told NBC 5 at least five brokers have approached him about data centers at the site. His asking price is $25 to $30 million, with a credit for demolition.

* Naperville Sun | Developer behind rejected Naperville data center exploring former BP site: According to an internal city memo obtained by the Naperville Sun, Karis is considering the purchase of the 168-acre INEOS property, formerly the BP campus, on which to build a data center and an advanced manufacturing hub at 150 W. Warrenville Road. If plans were to move forward, the proposed data center would be the same size as the one previously proposed for the Nokia property at 1960 Lucent Lane off the I-88 corridor, the memo said. In addition to data centers, Karis is known for building cold storage facilities, industrial buildings and advanced manufacturing facilities.

* Capitol City Now | Data center-related repeal; public still skeptical of Springfield council: People who have been showing up at city council meetings these days say Springfield is not doing enough to protect itself from data centers, and the city council’s repeal of a CWLP rate classification for such projects is not doing much to quell speculation that a data center is indeed poised to come into the city. In fact, some commenters wonder if city leaders are actually okay with hosting a data center.

* Rockford Register Star | Committee backs Rockford tax district that could include data center: Residents who filled the audience and brought signs opposing a data center, worry a data center could drive up electricity costs, consume too much water and potentially harm the environment. They also cited concerns with industrial development near residential, agricultural and forest preserve areas. “With the comments received during the public hearing, the ordinances approving the South Rockford TIF District state that TIF Funds, public subsidies and tax increment revenue available through South Rockford TIF District is prohibited to be used to incentivize data centers,” according to a memorandum to Rockford City Council.

* WGLT | Consultant from Normal wants to diversify the data center discussion in McLean County: Meece said he would like to see a data center locate in the area — but not unless the public approves of such a project. “I would do my best to protect our residents and the people working here, but the one thing I will not do is go against what the general consensus is of the people in McLean County,” he said. “I don’t want to be a part of that; I don’t want to be a part of putting something in our town that people don’t want.”

* Politico | A new tax in Data Center Alley: Virginia lawmakers today voted to tax data centers for the electricity they use, capped at $600 million per year. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is expected to approve the eleventh-hour agreement — which breaks a monthslong budget stalemate and allows the state’s Democratic trifecta to avoid what would have been Virginia’s first government shutdown.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | ‘Should I have done this?’: Dozens of candidates fight to stay on Chicago’s school board ballot: In this November’s race, nine board members appointed by Johnson, a close ally of the Chicago Teachers Union, are running to keep their seats, and all are facing objections, along with two members elected with CTU backing. During the 2024 school board elections, 27 of 47 prospective candidates faced objections, many of them from CTU, and more than a dozen were ultimately knocked off the ballot. But in a reversal from the last election cycle, the Urban Center, a pro-school-choice lobbying group, is behind at least 14 of the objections.

* WTTW | Chicago’s Sidewalks Aren’t Accessible for People With Mobility Challenges, Lawsuit Argues. The City Wants the Case Dismissed: Last fall, the firm that successfully took on Chicago’s inaccessible crosswalks brought another lawsuit against the city — this time, arguing that it has long failed to properly build and maintain sidewalks, curb ramps and other key pedestrian infrastructure that people with mobility disabilities must navigate, as well as to provide accessible alternate routes when construction blocks rights of way. It’s not the first time Chicago has faced claims like this. In 2005, the city was hit with a federal class action over its failure to build curb ramps. Chicago settled the case in 2007 by pledging to spend $50 million — the largest-ever settlement in an ADA suit at the time.

* ABC Chicago | Chicago homeowners dispute massive water bills, seek answers from city: The ABC7 I-Team is hearing from more Chicago residents who say they are being overcharged on city water bills, including one homeowner facing a bill of more than $235,000 at a vacant property that she says does not have running water. Back of the Yards resident Diane Carli said the bill has caused significant stress and has left her concerned about potential consequences, including wage garnishment or a property lien if it is not paid.

* Sun-Times | Sam Antonacci delivers walk-off winner as Sox open series vs. Guardians with thrilling win: Replays, for those reviewing them in the umpires’ TV replay booth, did not provide sufficient evidence that the call on the field was wrong. That’s how close it was. “Sometimes,” said a man in the elevator who looked like Jerry Reinsdorf, the Sox owner who officially doesn’t speak to the media, “you just have to be lucky.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Vanishing act: Schaumburg neighborhood meets its demise: A 55-year-old neighborhood along Schaumburg’s southwest border is vanishing from the landscape this week as crews tear down longstanding homes to make way for an industrial development. All 19 houses lining Long Avenue are expected to be down by the end of next week, said Laura Stark, construction manager for Chicago-based Logistics Property Company LLC. The firm purchased the homes with plans to replace them with two industrial buildings totaling 436,500 square feet this summer, said Ben Fish, vice president of its Midwest region.

* Daily Herald | As investigation into Mundelein woman’s fatal shooting continues, mayor and critics have their say: Using words like “murder,” “coward” and “shame,” supporters of the family of a Mundelein woman who was fatally shot by police last month during an apparent mental health crisis expressed their anger during Monday’s village board meeting. The people who talked about the late Mary Alice Love’s life and death for about 90 minutes included relatives and friends who knew the 37-year-old woman well — and strangers deeply troubled by how she died.

* Pioneer Press | Lake Bluff, Lake Forest officials preparing for new state laws for e-bikes, scooters, etc.: Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said he supports the measure. “It’s much clearer to follow the way they classified everything,” he said. Burke said he is working with the city’s communications team on a social media campaign to inform residents about the upcoming state regulations. In October 2023, the Lake Forest City Council approved an ordinance requiring riders of electronic mobility devices to walk them through the central business district. Violators can face penalties, including fines.

* Aurora Beacon-News | New Hollywood Casino Aurora ready to open to the public Wednesday: Work on the property has been finishing up in the past few weeks. But, after years of work, the finish line appears near for those involved in bringing the casino to its new home in Aurora. The new casino— a $360 million project that’s been under construction since 2023 — is replacing the longtime riverboat Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora, which turned off its lights on June 10 after operating there since the 1990s.

* Daily Herald | Bloomingdale Yard construction ushers in transformation of Stratford Square to ‘The Grove’: Search Stratford Square on YouTube, and you’ll see videos of what was a “dead mall” or the “most depressing mall in America,” each with tens of thousands of views. Bloomingdale leaders intervened, acquiring the old department stores and finally the core of the mall itself. Looking to make a fresh start, the village had the entire mall demolished, save for the last anchor retailer, Kohl’s. […] Now, there are signs, not of a “dying mall,” but of new life: Vertical construction has begun on the massive property, one of the first major steps toward the larger redevelopment of the area into “The Grove at Bloomingdale.” The owner of the Naperville Yard is bringing a similar, roughly 100,000-square-foot indoor sports and family recreation hub to the former mall site.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | ADM to invest $103 million in improvements to Decatur facilities: According to the Office of the Governor, ADM’s investment will create 50 new full-time jobs and keep over 1,000 present full-time jobs. “We’ll be investing to replace 40,000 control systems across the corn plant, the East Plant and the West Plant with state-of-the-art technology. When we think about protecting what matters and supporting safety, quality and efficiency, this is a hugely important project for us,” said ADM President for North America Christopher Cuddy.

* WAND | Meridian Elementary won’t open in August due to heavy storm damage: Extreme winds seriously damaged the building and ripped off part of the roof, while rain then left water damage in several classrooms. “Every single major system in the building has been affected by water. From the ground, you couldn’t really see the extent of the wind damage that had occurred, but when you got inside and saw how much water actually was inside the building. Almost the entire rubber membrane that keeps water out had been blown off,” said Meridian School District Superintendent Shane Gordon.

* WCIA | Pritzker joins opening of new soybean processing plant in Gilman: The new plant is home to the single largest extraction process in the country, processing up to 300,000 bushels a day and providing a stable market for more than 7,000 local family farms. The facility will also create 40 new full-time jobs. […] In addition to the soybean crushing plant, the company also has a 50-acre solar array with the capacity to generate enough energy to provide power directly to the plant or to feed to the grid.

* WCIA | Attorneys for EMS worker accused of murder to file new motions; partner to be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter: The case against the two Springfield EMS workers accused of playing a part in the death of Earl Moore Jr. continues as they appear in court this week — with one of them set to be sentenced. Peggy Finley was in court on Monday for a planned trial call hearing, which is a hearing to assess whether the parties are ready to proceed to trial. The hearing didn’t last long; Finely’s attorneys said they are not ready and that they intend to file new motions in the case after Tuesday.

* WCIA | New Asian American Heritage Trail showcasing cultural sites in Champaign-Urbana: The Asian American Heritage Trail in Champaign and Urbana will highlight places that showcase Asian influence in the twin cities. Signs will be in place soon to guide people along the trail, which will include the Refugee Center, the Hindu Temple and the Far East and Ginza grocery stores. Archivist Sarah Bennett with the Urbana Free Library worked on the project. She said it is important for people to know more about the Asian culture that is right in their backyard.

*** National ***

* AP | Senate passes a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices: The bill, which passed 85-5 and now heads to the House, has been the focus of intense negotiations in recent weeks as lawmakers in both parties try to address housing costs in an election year. The final version of the legislation bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes but doesn’t include a Senate provision that would have required investors to sell newly constructed homes within seven years.

* MediaIte | Trump Says He’s ‘Preparing Lawsuits Against ABC for False Reporting’: On Monday night, the president went on Truth Social and wrote that a lawsuit is headed ABC’s way. He accused ABC News of not reporting that his two predecessors spent $100 million to renovate the pool, a figure which he appears to have made up, as President Joe Biden oversaw no major work on it. Meanwhile, the Obama administration spent $35 million on the pool.

* NYT | Major Supreme Court Decisions Testing Trump’s Policies Remain: Before the justices take their annual summer break, they will resolve a series of high-profile cases testing the administration’s policies to expand presidential power and reshape the federal bureaucracy. Significant decisions still to come will determine whether Mr. Trump can end the longstanding guarantee of birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born babies of undocumented immigrants and fire Lisa D. Cook, a leader at the influential and independent Federal Reserve.

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Good morning!

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Poetry from The Boss…

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets

How’s life?

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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