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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* WICS | Illinois launches statewide circuit court survey: The Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Judicial Conference have launched a new statewide survey to gather feedback on the state’s circuit courts. Officials said it is the first statewide circuit court survey conducted since 2015. The results will be used to help inform future policy decisions and improve court services. The survey began Tuesday and will remain open through July 31. * University of Chicago | The Polsky Center Joins Statewide Effort to Attract NSF Quantum X-Labs Teams to Illinois: The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is joining the State of Illinois and quantum organizations across Chicago to provide funding, facilities, and venture-building support for teams pursuing quantum technologies through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s X-Labs initiative. Earlier this month, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the Illinois X-Labs Fast Fund, a $3 million capital fund designed to encourage teams receiving NSF X-Labs Phase 0 awards to establish and grow their work in Illinois. * Press release | Illinois Ranks #2 in the Country for FAFSA Completions: The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) released their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Tracker for the Class of 2026, and Illinois is now ranked second in the nation and first in the Midwest for completion of the FAFSA — the highest position and the highest rate (71.4%) ever for an Illinois high school graduating class. “Illinois’ increase in FAFSA completion is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators – and a clear demonstration that the state’s continued efforts to expand awareness, remove barriers, and connect students with financial aid are making a real difference,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Every completed FAFSA represents a world of opportunity opened and brings Illinois a step closer to making educational attainment a reality for every student in every corner of our state.” * Press release | Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Strengthening Support for Illinois Service Members and Veterans: Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed three bills into law that will fortify recruitment to the Illinois National Guard with newly incentivized peer-to-peer referral practices, as well as connect our state’s veterans to continued education pathways and life-saving breakthrough therapies for suicide prevention. SB 3737: Requires universities to promptly readmit students following academic military leave, effective January 1, 2027 (Sen. Porfirio/Rep. Stuart) SB 3818: Incentivizes Illinois National Guard recruitment with peer-to-peer referrals, effective January 1, 2027 (Sen. Porfirio/Rep. Swanson) SB 3926: Moves the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council under the Department of Public Health, effective January 1, 2027 (Sen. Porfirio/Rep. Hirschauer) * Fox Chicago | Data center craze draws concerns from wary Illinoisans: Illinois is the third largest data center market in the country, but some people are concerned with the environmental and economic effects. FOX Chicago’s Liz Dueweke breaks down the numbers on data centers in Illinois and the Midwest and why people are protesting data center development. * Politico | Pritzker, Hochul diverge on data centers: Hochul is enacting a pause on permits for up to one year for the largest new data centers in New York while state officials there sort out how to regulate the fast-growing industry. The move followed action by New York lawmakers, who passed legislation that would implement a one-year pause on data center construction. Hochul didn’t sign or veto the bill. Illinois lawmakers never got that far. Pritzker hasn’t stopped data center construction, but he has shut off a key incentive. On July 1, his administration stopped processing new tax incentive agreements after state lawmakers left Springfield without passing the broader regulatory package he wanted. * Reuters | Pollution from Musk’s unpermitted xAI power project hits hardest in Black communities: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has installed 59 natural gas turbines for its Colossus 2 data center project in Tennessee without securing federal clean air permits, according to communications between regulators and xAI representatives. Potential emissions from the turbines are far beyond the threshold that would require a federal permit, and would be released near predominantly Black communities already estimated to be suffering disproportionately high rates of lung disease, according to a Reuters analysis based on government data and information in the correspondence with regulators. * Sun-Times | Big financing steps forward for The 78, Foundry Park projects: Two of Chicago’s most pivotal but challenging undeveloped sites — Foundry Park on the North Side and the vacant South Loop parcel known as The 78 — moved forward in a big way Wednesday before the City Council adjourned for a summer recess. Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced a $201.6 million tax increment financing subsidy for JDL Development’s scaled back vision for North Side industrial land along the Chicago River that once was supposed to be home to the Lincoln Yards megaproject. And despite a slew of concerns from Council members, the full Council approved a $425 million TIF for The 78, a reference to Chicago’s unofficial 78th community area. The subsidy will bankroll public improvements needed for the South Loop development, anchored by a $750 million soccer stadium privately financed by Chicago Fire billionaire owner Joe Mansueto. * Block Club | Homeless Shelter Coming To Far Northwest Side: ‘This Is Overdue’: The shelter will be non-congregate, meaning resident will stay in double or single rooms, and there will be 40-70 beds. The shelter will serve single adults and will give priority to people 60 and older. LaPointe said her office has started to talk with potential shelter operators and plans on putting out a formal request for operators to be considered to manage the shelter. Julietta Mkrtychian, LaPointe’s chief of staff, said her team hopes to have a shelter operator chosen by late 2026 or early 2027. * Crain’s | Sprout Social to lay off 20% of its staff: The Chicago-based maker of software to monitor and manage social-media accounts said today it will lay off 260 workers. The company didn’t blame the cuts solely on AI but said the goal is “to streamline the company’s organizational structure and align its cost base with its strategic priorities, including its ongoing investments in AI-powered social intelligence.” * WTTW | Teen CPD Employee ‘Goose-Stepped’ Across High School Stage Wearing Nazi Uniform: Watchdog: “The uniform, march and salute created the impression that the individual was evoking Nazi Germany,” bringing discredit to the police department, according to the first quarterly report released by Inspector General David Glockner. Another member of CPD was fired after showing other employees of the police department photos of the teen dressed in the Nazi uniform while at work, creating “an offensive work environment,” according to the inspector general’s report. * Block Club | Edgewater Synagogue Redevelopment With Lakefront Access Gets Alderperson’s OK: Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said she will support Emanuel Congregation’s revised plans after the developer also agreed to include more family-sized housing units, public bathrooms and donations for nearby park improvements. * Daily Herald | Hindu group sues Elgin to get OK to build temple: A Hindu congregation that wants to build a temple and townhouses in eastern Elgin is suing the city to get a 59-year-old court-ordered restriction on the land removed. Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest argues in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court that a 1967 consent decree violates the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which forbids discrimination based on religion when it comes to land uses. The federal law was enacted in 2000. The lawsuit also argues the decree violates the congregation’s First Amendment religious freedom rights and Illinois law. * WJOL | Romeoville Mayor Noak Appointed To New Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Board: Romeoville Mayor Noak has been appointed to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, a new regional transit board that will oversee and shape public transit policy in the greater Chicagoland region. The board is made up of 20 directors — appointed by state and regional stakeholders — and oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace. In addition, Mayor Noak will continue to serve on the Pace Suburban Bus Board of Directors as the positions are paired under the new governance structure. Mayor Noak has served on the Pace Board since 2022. * TWICS | Y-block project sees support from city, but questions remainEXT: IDNR representatives answered some key questions during Tuesday night’s meeting, though the timeline remains unclear for the project. What we do know is that IDNR promises the Y-block will still be able to welcome previous events back following the development. IDNR outlined their plan for city council members, from potential features to possibly classifying the block as a state park…but Russell Orrill, the deputy director, said the public won’t lose any access. * An unlikely alliance | David Timm, Republican candidate who lost March primary, throws support behind Democrat Marc Bell for sheriff: Democrat candidate Marc Bell, who dropped out of the Sangamon County sheriff’s race prior to the March primary and rejoined the race in April, is now being endorsed by David Timm, a former Republican candidate. Bell held a July 14 fundraiser in Springfield where the two men made a joint appearance and Timm praised the idea of bipartisanship in Bell’s campaign. Timm, a former sheriff’s deputy who received about 46% of the roughly 17,000 ballots cast in the March primary, announced on social media the day before the fundraiser that he’s supporting the Democratic challenger in the November general election over his own party’s candidate, incumbent Sheriff Paula Crouch. * WCIA | Champaign Co. School Districts hoping to get teacher contracts done before the first bell: Both Prairieview-Ogden and Fisher teachers unions are in talks for a new contract. Both groups say they want more money — specifically a number that brings them onto a similar playing field with other schools in the area. “We have teachers that are making $10,000 differences in pay that have similar years of experience and education,” said P.V.O. Education Association Vice President Taylor Owens. * WQAD | Sweet corn season off to a strong start at Smeltzly’s Farm in Cordova: Sweet corn season is underway across the Quad Cities, and one Cordova family says favorable growing conditions have helped produce a strong crop. At Smeltzly’s Farm, freshly picked corn makes the trip from the field to a roadside stand within the same day. “The sweet corn this year, we’ve had plenty of moisture, plenty of heat, and luckily we do have it under irrigation in case we do have to run it,” Travis Smeltzly said. “It’s been a very good crop.” * WCIA | Mahomet Police Department appoints first-ever detective: The Mahomet Police Department has added a new role they’ve never had before: a detective. “As Mahomet is continuing to grow, the police department needs to grow with them,” said Chief of Police Dave Smysor. “It’s for bigger, more complex cases.” But, it’s not a new face for the department. Joel Jessup has been with Mahomet Police since 2023, working as a patrol officer. Now, he is their first detective. * AP | ICE should keep making traffic stops despite recent shootings, Trump says: Ending those stops, Trump wrote, would be “playing right into the criminal’s hands.” “We CANNOT give up one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!” Trump wrote Wednesday on his social media site. Hours after Trump made his views known, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued his own statement saying people illegally in the country would be “arrested and deported wherever they are.” But Mullin didn’t say whether ICE officers will be allowed to carry out traffic stops.
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Benton finally drops out of House reelection bid
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers were told about the unusual circumstances surrounding this withdrawal earlier today. They were also given a withdrawal update. I thought there might be some news stories by now, but this is it so far…
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Poll: Giannoulias generates most excitement in early mayor’s race
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
Percentage of respondents excited for each candidate among likely voters Percentage of respondents who don’t know enough about candidate among likely voters
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also had the lowest “not excited” rating among the potential candidates tested, with just 14.5% of likely voters saying they were not excited about a possible Giannoulias candidacy. Comptroller Susana Mendoza followed at 16%, while 20% said the same about US Rep. Mike Quigley. * The Methodology…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Anti-union lawyers might have cost their clients a lot of money
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Patrick Hughes was the attorney in the Illinois Policy Institute’s attorney who handled the successful Janus v. AFSCME lawsuit, which gutted the rights of public employee unions. Amy Kessem is one of the plaintiffs. She’s the former 41st Ward Republican Committeeperson who has been affiliated with numerous far-right groups. The opinion is here. * The bottom line is that Kessem and other plaintiffs might now be on the hook for the teachers’ union legal fees, possibly including the costs of appeal…
Oops. * From the opinion…
Oops.
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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price. Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners. Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: AI bumps power cost 60% as Chicago’s grid fails to hit supply goal. Bloomberg…
- PJM Interconnection LLC, which serves 13 states stretching from the East Coast to Chicago, said Tuesday that its auction to procure power for the year starting June 2028 tied a $16.4 billion record set in late 2025. Data centers accounted for roughly $6.3 billion of that total, said Joseph Bowring, president of Monitoring Analytics, the grid’s independent market monitor. - The auction fell 6.8 gigawatts short of what PJM will need to guarantee system reliability during demand spikes. The shortfall is equivalent to almost seven traditional nuclear reactors. * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Tribune | Illinois raises limits on wrongful conviction payouts under new law Gov. JB Pritzker has signed: Illinois has had the most exonerations of any state for six of the past seven years, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. But until now, compensation for exonerees through the state court of claims was limited to an inflation-adjusted cap of about $300,000. The change marks “a major stride in criminal legal reform and accountability to those who are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned,” Pritzker said in a video statement. It eliminates the overall $300,000 limit and raises the cap to $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration, including time in jail or juvenile detention before a wrongful conviction, and $25,000 per year for those wrongfully placed on parole, probation or the sex offender registry. * Block Club | Ex-Loretto Exec Gets Deal That Could Keep Her Out Of Jail: Bergdahl and prosecutors have agreed on a deferred prosecution agreement — a type of agreement where, if Bergdahl follows the terms outlined in it, the government will dismiss charges against her in about a year. Prosecutors did not detail the conditions Bergdahl must meet during Tuesday’s court hearing. * WGLT | Bloomington sets date at BCPA for public forum on data centers: Bloomington is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on proposals for data centers. It started in late May, following similar action by Town of Normal. Bloomington is planning to take several months to develop regulations and plans for facilities that use 5 megawatts or more of energy. * WSJ | Data-Center Builders Are Racing to Offload Stakes Worth Billions: America’s data-center developers are ready to cash in on the AI boom. Data-center builders and operators across the U.S. are working with bankers to sell majority equity stakes worth tens of billions of dollars in their companies this summer, according to people familiar with the efforts. * The Center Square | Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism: The head of the embattled Illinois diversity commission has moved to a different state job after a series of investigative stories by The Center Square exposed failures at the agency and prompted bipartisan criticism. Alexandria Wilson held the job at the Commission on Equity and Inclusion for about three years and oversaw a switch to a new computer system that upended its mission to increase access to government contracts for businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities. * Reuters | Illinois Senator: Bears ‘50-50′ to stay in state: State Sen. Sue Rezin said Tuesday that she considers the Bears’ stadium search a close race between staying in Illinois and moving across the state line. Her assessment came about five weeks after the team’s board approved a proposed development in Hammond, Ind. “I would give it a 50-50 chance to have the Bears stay in Illinois,” Rezin said during a legislative update. * WTVO | Collin Corbett certified for Illinois gubernatorial ballot as legal challenge is dropped: The challenge, filed by Republican nominee Bailey’s campaign, contested Corbett’s petition to appear on the ballot. The complaint was officially dropped on Tuesday, clearing the way for Corbett to run. Independent candidates for governor are a rarity in Illinois. In the last 86 years, only three have qualified for the ballot. * WGN | Jesse White: Tumbling Team overcomes tragedy while competing on ‘America’s Got Talent’: Jesse White, founder of the Jesse White Tumbling Team, joins Lisa Dent to talk about his current team’s advancement on America’s Got Talent. Their advancement coincided with the death of longtime tumbling team member Jeff Williams, who was killed in a car crash the same day. Jesse takes a moment to spotlight Jeff and his contributions to the team. Despite emotions being high, both Jesse and the team maintain a positive attitude regarding the competition and hope to continue providing entertainment and doing good for others. * WBEZ | Mayor Johnson’s controversial plan to crack down on ICE agents now faces City Council scrutiny: Police were directed to form new procedures within 30 days to implement the mayor’s order. But nearly five months after that deadline, it’s unclear what the decree has accomplished or what more needs to be done to enforce it. Those questions will be the topic of a City Council hearing this week as enforcement intensifies in the Chicago area, with advocates reporting at least 17 arrests last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. * Crain’s | Midway’s private-aviation facilities are getting a $100M+ makeover: The City Council will vote today on plans to extend the contracts of two companies who operate hangars, fueling and other facilities for non-commercial aircraft at Midway for 20 years. As part of the new deal with with the city, Signature Flight Support and Atlantic Aviation will invest more than $100 million in new hangars, office space and customs facilities. * Block Club | Plan For Loop’s 2nd Weed Dispensary Could Go Up In Smoke: The recent ruling blocked Bloc Dispensary from opening a shop in the South Loop at 400 S. Wells St. after a nearby dispensary sued, arguing that the location, only 470 feet away, violated state law, Crain’s reported. State law generally prohibits a cannabis dispensary from opening within 1,500 feet of another dispensary. The restriction is intended to prevent cannabis businesses from clustering too closely together and saturating the market. The law includes limited exceptions for some social equity licenses, allowing them to open near dispensaries that are not operating under social equity licenses. * CBS Chicago | Immigration rights groups say ICE halting most vehicle stops “a very good first baby step”: Immigrant rights advocates in Chicago said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s move to halt most vehicle stops nationwide is “a very good first baby step,” but believe much more needs to be done to obtain real change in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Except in cases of serious criminal targets, ICE agents nationwide will temporarily stop pulling people over, multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News. * CBS Chicago | Air Quality Alert issued for Chicago area due to high ozone pollution during hot, stagnant weather: The National Weather Service has issued the alert for McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Cook and Will counties in Illinois and for Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana through midnight. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has also put an Air Pollution Action Day into effect, which is declared when widespread ozone or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the level deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups for multiple days. * Daily Herald | Driver gain or wallet pain? Tollway hits the road to sell rate hike, capital plan at statewide hearings: Multiple speakers belonged to labor unions or were affiliated with construction and engineering firms. “Since the last toll adjustment in 2012, the cost of building and maintaining highways has increased between 75 and 85% — far outpacing general inflation,” Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association President Michael Sturino noted Monday. * Paulick Report | ITHA: Hawthorne Sold To ‘Non-Racing Entity’: The announcement comes just over two weeks after Hawthorne, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since February, disclosed it had received a $90 million “stalking-horse bid” for the 108-acre property from an unidentified buyer widely expected to redevelop the site rather than continue horse racing. The identity of the stalking horse bidder has not been made publicly available: court documents indicate the bidder is a Delaware-registered limited liability corporation, whose identity is shielded by Delaware laws. The documents for the stalking-horse bid indicated that the prospective purchaser had no plans to operate a racetrack or pursue Hawthorne’s long-delayed racino project. * Shaw Local | AID funding loss leaves gap in Kane County mental health service; agency blames technical glitch: The Association for Individual Development announced it closed its 24/7 Living Room crisis respite program in Aurora on June 30 after losing a $1.4 million state grant due to a technical funding glitch. “The Living Room is for anybody in mental health crisis to have some place to go that doesn’t rise to the level of the need for hospitalization,” AID President and CEO Lore Baker said. The Living Room provided 1,200 visits for people experiencing mental health crises since opening in January 2024. Baker said AID is asking people to call the governor’s office at 312-814-2121 on Tuesday, July 14 to urge its application to be considered for the grant funding. * Daily Southtown | Thornton Reservoir down to 73% capacity as drainage continues: * Fox Chicago | DuPage County rat infestation isn’t over, and neighbors say they’re facing backlash: Residents first contacted FOX Chicago in May, saying rats from a neighboring property were spreading into their yards and homes and claiming the county wasn’t responding quickly enough. Now, several neighbors allege county code enforcement targeted them with citations after they spoke out. DuPage County officials strongly deny those claims. * Journal Courier | Tensions flare as Morgan commissioner accuses board of sidestepping agenda rules: The Open Meetings Act is legislation that requires business of a government body only to be discussed during formal, regular meetings as a point of public transparency. After Monday’s meeting, Woods sent an email to Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll about issues with the agenda. “Over the past several months, I have repeatedly requested that chairman Wankel place specific items on the agenda for public discussion,” Woods said. “Those requests have not been accommodated. I have also requested that meeting materials be distributed electronically in advance of meetings so commissioners have adequate time to review information before being asked to vote. Those requests have likewise not been honored. I remain concerned that substantive discussions and direction to staff are occurring outside of properly noticed public meetings.” * WSIL | Mounds Community Begins Cleanup After Floodwaters Recede: While the American Red Cross has visited the neighborhood, several residents say they do not qualify for assistance because floodwaters inside their homes did not reach the required threshold. Thomas says local community members came out to help him.[…] The Housing Authority of Pulaski County held a meeting at 2:00pm on Monday for residents to share concerns and discuss what resources are still needed. Mounds fire officials estimate about 25 people were rescued from flooded homes, including residents at the apartment complex. * WCIA | Rantoul will vote on cannabis coming to the village, how board trustees are voted in during November election: Neither ordinance creates any immediate change, according to the board. Instead, it approves placing these referendums on the ballot in November, allowing residents to vote in favor — or against — either of these changes coming to the village. […] Now, however, voters will be asked in the November 3, 2026 election if the village should elect trustees on a village-wide basis instead. * WCIA | Champaign County Forest Preserves looking to expand Homer Lake property: The conservation organization says they’re in talks to buy nearly 34 acres of land across from the entrance. Officials say the new land would allow them to add to the area — while maintaining the three tenants they’re built around. “Those are conservation. We would restore the land to be a native prairie. Education will help people to understand more about the land and the residents like the wildlife that use it. And recreation by putting a trail in there. I know that trails are always things that people want more of in our community, and quite frankly, most of our forest preserves are pretty built out in terms of trails.” said Executive Director Laurie Pearson. * WGLT | ISU Solar Car Team will speed alongside the competition in newest solar car: “It gets a little boring in there sometimes, I’m not going to lie, if there’s not a lot of things going on around you, then you just kind of zone out,” said Mac Brody, president of the team. “There’s no music in there, and there’s no air conditioning… but it’s a lot of communicating with the pit crew.” As the car makes its journey, starting in Minnesota down to Texas and partially along historic Route 66, it is escorted by lead and trail vehicles to alert motorists. Along the 1,500-mile journey, competitors do not forget it’s still a race. * Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Wisconsin election officials refer 2 complaints against Elon Musk: The motion approved by the commission states that it “finds probable cause” Musk violated the state’s election bribery statute “by making a social media post that offered one million dollars to individuals who voted in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election in order to induce them to vote in that election.” * Reuters | Inside RFK Jr.’s push to dismantle decades of U.S. vaccine policy: Early this year, Kennedy went to his director of the NIH, Jay Bhattacharya, with a costly proposal, according to two officials familiar with the request: The research agency should spend $5 billion studying the link between vaccines and autism. That would have dedicated more than a tenth of the NIH’s annual budget to investigating a hypothesis already refuted by scientists worldwide. * Reuters | Trump cuts to clean energy linked to $83 billion in delayed or canceled projects: The analysis found that 223 manufacturing and clean energy projects representing $82.9 billion in investment and 111,765 jobs have stalled or been cancelled during President Donald Trump’s second presidency.
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Good morning!
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Florencia Andrada and Julio Fabiani cover the Stones… And please excuse me while I hide away Call me lazy bones What’s up?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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DPI says it voluntary recognized staff union
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * DPI press release…
Thoughts?
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * It’s now signed into law…
WAND has more on the bill…
* WTTW | Illinois Confirms 194 Probable Cases of Cyclosporiasis as Parasitic Infection Spreads: The state has seen 194 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis as of Monday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. In Chicago, there are 47 confirmed and probable cases among residents, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health on Monday. Of that number, 23 have not traveled internationally, making it more likely they acquired the illness locally, according medical director Dr. Janna Kerins. * Independent Gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is officially on the ballot…
* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs new laws on birth control, AI regulations, play-based learning: Senate Bill 3341 allows minors to receive birth control without permission from their parents or another adult. With Illinois’ new law, half of states now allow minors to access birth control on their own. During debate on the bill in the Senate, Republicans objected and said it cuts parents out of important decisions concerning their children. They also worried minors won’t fully understand complications from birth control. * Press release | Historic House Speakers from Across the Nation to Gather in Chicago for “Beyond the Gavel” Brunch Celebration: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will welcome four of the nation’s most influential legislative leaders to Chicago for Beyond the Gavel, a first-of-its-kind brunch celebration honoring historic leadership, enduring legacy, and the impact of public service beyond elected office. Hosted during the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), along the iconic Chicago River, the event will bring together five trailblazing House Speakers who have each made history in their respective states. * Tribune | After ballot challenges, at least 5 Chicago school board races will likely be uncontested: The Chicago Electoral Board voted Tuesday to remove five school board candidates from the ballot after upholding challenges to their nominating petitions, likely leaving at least five races uncontested in the historic November election. Current board members Angel Velez in District 9A on the South Side and Cydney Wallace in District 8B on the Southwest Side — who were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and are aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union — were among those removed. Their opponents will now be the only candidates in their respective districts. In District 10A on the South Side, Krista Nichols Alston was thrown off the ballot. The board hasn’t yet made an official ruling on candidate Tameka Walton, but she was endorsed by CTU as write-in candidate. That means elected incumbent Che “Rhymefest” Smith will likely be the only name printed on the ballot. * Tribune | City Council blocks Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago Housing Authority appointments: A special meeting in the council Housing Committee was quickly upended when Ald. Pat Dowell protested the direct introduction of three commissioners to the Chicago Housing Authority board. Dowell, Johnson’s Finance Committee chair, condemned what she said was a pattern from the administration of abusing the direct introduction process rather than taking the usual steps to bring proposals to the body. “These CHA nominations are not an emergency, and this administration continues to thwart the rules of order and procedure of the City Council as outlined in this document that we all voted on, and we cannot allow this pattern to continue,” Dowell, 3rd, said. * Block Club | Federal Funding Cuts To Permanent Housing For Homeless Could Leave More Chicagoans On The Streets: Deborah’s Place serves nearly 700 women, with about one-third living in federally funded Permanent Supportive Housing units. Its executive director, Kathy Wilson, fears that funding cuts will force them to convert their programs into shorter-term transitional housing, displacing housing-insecure people in the process. “All of the women that we’re serving have disabilities that would be barriers to them all of a sudden going out to get a full-time job. Many of them get Social Security or disability income, and that is not enough to afford fair-market rent,” Wilson said. “If we converted to transitional, they would have two years of a subsidy, and then they would be on the streets. * Daily Herald | People angry about fatal shooting of Mundelein woman again pack village hall in protest: It was the latest in a series of village board meetings dominated by people upset and enraged by the killing two months ago of 37-year-old Mary Alice Love in her family’s home. The 20-plus audience members who took to the lectern to talk about the case included Love’s parents, other relatives, friends and strangers. They alleged racism contributed to the fatal confrontation. They demanded the officer who fired the shots be fired. * Patch | Lake Co. Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Threatening Trump, Public Officials: The same day, Schneider appeared at the Lake County courthouse while involved in a pending foreclosure case and allegedly told the judge presiding over the case that he would burn the courthouse down. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. * Crain’s | Frustrated judge wants settlement in West Suburban hospital fight this week: A Cook County judge aired frustration with a newly appointed lawyer who still hasn’t been fully briefed on a potential settlement between the owners of shuttered West Suburban Medical Center and pressed both parties to come to an agreement by the end of the week. * Daily Herald | Neighbors who complained about smell from feed plant now battling warehouse proposal in Mount Prospect: The commission voted 3-2 Thursday to recommend approval of the zoning change to allow the warehouse. It paves the way for 1600 Bishop Partnership LLC to replace a four-story office building with a warehouse in excess of 90,000 square feet at the southwest corner of Kensington and Wolf roads in the village’s Kensington Business Center. The LLC is affiliated with the Wingspan Development Group, part of the Nicholas Family of Companies, which has its headquarters in the business park. * Elgin Courier-News | Elgin smoke shop seeks to add liquor to their inventory after THC ban: Abdul and Goma Musa’s request that they be allowed to expand Friday Tobacco at 968 Dundee Ave. into an adjacent unit so the brothers can sell packaged liquor won the endorsement last week of the Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission. Their application for a conditional use permit now heads to the Elgin City Council. Abdul Musa, who runs the store’s day-to-day operations, said many customers have told them they usually stop at a liquor store after visiting the tobacco shop, which is what prompted them to consider diversifying what they sell. * Daily Herald | Elgin issues alert after drinking water samples exceed allowable lead levels during test: The first set of test results from this year indicates a 90th-percentile value of 0.0185 mg/l, exceeding the 0.015 action level. According to a news release from the city, this period’s results are “much lower” than previous tests due to changes in the water treatment process. * WSIL | Mounds residents race to save belongings as floodwaters rise: Floodwaters rushed through neighborhoods in Mounds, forcing families to get what they could to stay dry with more rain in the forecast. Residents spent the day carrying out belongings and wading through water that reached knee-high in some areas of an apartment complex. […] As the water kept rising, the Mounds Fire Department called in boats from Mounds City to help rescue people trapped inside their apartments. Fire Captain Curtland Sawyer said he had never seen flooding like this before. * WCIA | Hotly contested Urbana apartment complex finds its final decision in round four: The vote was pushed back for a few different reasons; first, city council members said they wanted more time to learn about the details of the project. Last week, they said they wanted the developers to be at the meeting for a decision. Both of those asks were met, and now, and the city was ready for an answer. “What is the cost of choosing not to build? What is the cost of losing residents who cannot find a home that fits their needs?” said Champaign-Urbana resident Adani Sanchez. * WMBD | Peoria County now sending jury duty postcards instead of letters: Official summons from the Peoria County Jury Commission will now be sent as postcards instead of letters, according to a Peoria County Government Facebook post. The summonses are for petit and grand jury duty and include instructions on the next steps you need to take when you receive them. * The Hill | ICE plans to temporarily limit traffic stops following fatal shootings: reports: The shift comes after two high-profile deadly shootings during traffic stops Last week, agents shot and killed Lorenzo Sagrado Araujo in Houston, Texas. While ICE said he had weaponized his vehicle, other men in the van he was driving said the accusation was false, and that officers in unmarked vehicles trailed them before surrounding their vehicle on the driver and passenger sides. * The Telegraph | Why the internet is becoming so infuriating to use: And a growing number of “AI agents” are using them to carry out tasks on their users’ behalf, meaning there is no human to see adverts or be enticed into impulse purchases, and often harvesting data without their consent. Captchas and other bot tests are now ubiquitous. Cloudflare, which relies on other tests such as the “verify you are a human” tick boxes, says it now carries out 7.7 billion anti-bot checks a day, up from 2.1 billion in 2023. But bots have become better at evading them. Two years ago, researchers at the University of Zurich found that machine learning systems could solve 100pc of robot tests provided by reCaptcha, Google’s captcha system (the company is responsible for the quizzes asking you to click all the squares containing buses, bridges or fire hydrants out of a grid of 16 squares). * Albuquerque Journal | State, Roadrunner lure Illinois quantum startup to Albuquerque: The New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios awarded $500,000 in grant funding to Photon Queue, an Illinois quantum computing startup, to locate and hire in Albuquerque. Roadrunner Venture Studios is an Albuquerque firm that invests in early-stage deep technology startups such as Photon Queue, a two-year-old company, and provides them with resources to grow.
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Benton demands respect at township meeting, has still not withdrawn from House race
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Wheatland Township Board of Trustees unanimously last week approved this statement calling on former Rep. Harry Benton to resign as Highway Commissioner…
There was no further discussion. * Benton, however, spoke later in the meeting…
There was no further discussion. * Also, as of 1:41 this afternoon, Benton has still not withdrawn from his House reelection campaign, even though he promised to do so eleven days ago.
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Dick Durbin’s last hurrah is blasted by state and national groups
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
The legislation would create the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center, which would be under the Department of Homeland Security. The center’s director would be appointed by the Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). * More than 125 organizations, including several in Illinois, have banded together to oppose inserting the legislation into the “must-pass National Defense Authorization Act”…
They go on to say that the proposal is “dangerously overbroad,” would “quietly construct a massive public-private surveillance network,” would deepen “DHS’s influence over state and local policing through grants and open-ended cooperation agreements,” and would entrench DHS and ICE in local law enforcement…
* ACLU Illinois…
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who has been outspoken about ICE and DHS, is a co-sponsor.
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The rest of the story
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers were given much more detail about this story on Monday. Politico…
Blaha actually interviewed Stava and posted it on Substack…
Video of the hearing does not appear to show any staff members whispering in Rep. Stava’s ear. And several legislators said during the hearing that her language to criminalize violations needed to be changed to civil penalties, similar to the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. Stava also justified calling the vote that day by telling the committee, “if people want to vote against their constituents’ privacy” then that was on them. For the most part, Democratic legislators have tried not to go public about internal disagreements on the anti-BDS bill, but there are definitely fissures. Kinda curious to see what happens next.
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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price. Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners. Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: As Illinois revamps property tax sales, questions over repaying homeowners loom. Crain’s…
- The legislation makes substantial changes going forward to the annual tax debt auction, but does not get Illinois and its counties off the hook for the liability built up over decades by the old system, which a series of federal court decisions has hung on the government’s shoulders. - Also not settled is the question of whether the legislation will have one of its intended effects: generating enough money from fees on tax buyers to pay out claims of lost equity by property owners who lost their homes since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision finding tax systems like the one in Illinois are unconstitutional. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Tribune | Illinois elections board judge recommends Mayra Macías’ name not be on 4th Congressional District ballot: A hearing officer for the state Board of Elections is recommending to the board that independent candidate Mayra Macías be blocked from running for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District in the contest to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. The recommendation Friday determined the independent candidate did not gather enough valid signatures for her name to be placed on the November ballot. The decision is not final but marks a major blow to Macías in a race defined by García’s late decision to drop out and handpick a successor in the Democratic primary who is now challenging efforts to prevent other candidates from running in the general election. * Tribune | Can Indiana pay for a Bears stadium? Analysts ask how it will pay its debt as some residents balk at new taxes: A fiscal analysis by the state’s Legislative Services Agency did not address the costs, but estimated the proceeds for the stadium from a slew of proposed taxes in the legislation. A 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties could generate an estimated total of at least $12 million to $18 million annually, legislative Chief Economist Randhir Jha estimated. A 5% increase to double Lake County’s innkeeper’s tax could collect at least $5 million annually. An admissions tax of 12% of the ticket price for events at the stadium could bring in around $12 million a year. * WGN | Mayoral speculation abound as Giannoulias drops new campaign ads: The timing is impossible to ignore, as the ads come two weeks before candidates can begin circulating petitions for next February’s mayoral contest. The Giannoulias campaign says the ads will run on TV, cable and digital platforms. It’s a major flex. Giannoulias ended the last campaign filing period with close to $20 million in the bank, which would help propel him into the mayoral campaign top tier should he enter the race. * Austin Weekly News | 8th House candidate Franklin introduces herself to local Dems: Franklin got a healthy round of applause when she noted that she’d be the first woman to represent the 8th District. And one of the youngest. She’ll soon have a direct say in other legislation, and said she’s keeping an eye on the West Suburban Hospital situation. The 8th House District is ground zero for the ongoing financial and legal debacle that threatens to take a major safety net hospital permanently off the board for West Side residents. She will soon represent much of the Austin neighborhood east of Austin Boulevard, areas heavily impacted in numerous ways by the closure of West Sub. * Sun-Times | Finance Committee stalls showdown vote on sale of Chicago parking meters: A City Council committee poised to reject a New York investment firm’s $2.53 billion bid to acquire Chicago parking meters instead postponed that politically-volatile vote Monday under threat of a lawsuit by the current owner. In a July 3 letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson, Finance Chair Pat Dowell warned that the proposal by Chicago Parking Meters LLC to unload the 57 years that remain on the lopsided deal “has not secured the support necessary to advance from committee at this time.” * WBEZ | CTU endorses 15 school board candidates, throwing weight behind incumbents, mayoral picks: The Chicago Teachers Union announced Monday it will endorse only 15 candidates in the upcoming school board race in which all 21 seats are up for election — a decision that could make it difficult for the union to hold onto its majority. The union will back 10 incumbents who they supported in the election two years ago or were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson, a former organizer for the CTU, is an ally of the union. Notably absent from their list of endorsements is Yesenia Lopez, who won in 2024 with the union’s endorsement, but occasionally voted independently of other CTU-aligned school board members over the past year and half. * ABC Chicago | Chicago Public School lays off more than 160 employees: As of Friday, 162 people have been notified. Of those, 82 are central office positions and the other 80 are citywide positions. The cuts come as CPS tries to close a budget deficit that exceeds $730 million. Officials plan to unveil details of the district’s proposed budget later this week. * Chalkbeat Chicago | CPS lays off 162 employees as it works to close budget deficit for 2026-27 school year: The layoffs will save the district $18 million, CPS spokesperson Mary Fergus said in a statement. […] Of the 162 people laid off, 38 people are represented by SEIU Local 73, the union that represents support staffers at CPS, such as custodians, and 25 were represented by the Chicago Teachers Union. The unions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. * WTTW | Key City Panel Gives Green Light to $425M Subsidy for Chicago Fire Stadium Site: The subsidy will make it possible for the team’s owner — Joe Mansueto, the billionaire founder of financial services firm Morningstar — to build a new $750 million stadium south of the Loop. The soccer club is privately financing the stadium, even though it would not be reachable unless the city agrees to use taxpayer dollars to build the necessary infrastructure. Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward) was the only alderperson to vote against both parts of the massive subsidy, while Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward), Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) and Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) voted against the portion of the subsidy that will be used to build a city-owned parking garage. * ABC Chicago | Derek Mayer returning as special agent in charge at US Secret Service Chicago Field Office: In his first interview as SAC, he tells the I-Team it’s an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. For the past year, while working as the chief security officer and vice president of executive protection for P4 Companies, Mayer acted as ABC7’s law enforcement expert, which he is unable to continue to do in his new role. * Tribune | Munetaka Murakami back for Chicago White Sox — and slugger added to AL roster for All-Star Game and HR Derby: “Just truly happy,” Murakami said through an interpreter of the All-Star selection. “Because of the injury I thought I was not going to be playing for the All-Stars. So I’m just really happy that they called my name.” Murakami went 1-for-5 with an RBI double Friday after returning from a lengthy stint on the injured list. He suffered a right hamstring strain on May 29 and went on the IL the next day. * CBS Chicago | First public hearing held on proposed toll hike tied to $26.5 billion road improvement program: During the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, no one at the hearing outwardly spoke out against the hike. However, at a nearby rest stop, some expressed that they don’t support the proposed toll increase. “You commute every day, whether it’s a job or anything of that nature, yeah, it can become expensive,” said Jericho Harris. Harris says though he doesn’t want to see the price increase, he feels like he has no choice in the matter. * Naperville Sun | Naperville commission votes in favor of ban on kratom products: Naperville already restricts the sale of kratom to anyone under the age of 21 and prohibits its possession by anyone under the age of 18. But the commission voted Thursday, July 9, to recommend that the city council take a stronger stance in the wake of health experts raising concerns about new synthetic variations of the drug, which are producing a stronger, more opioid-like effect. * Daily Herald | Prestige neighbors now battling warehouse proposal in Mount Prospect: The homeowners cited public safety issues and traffic concerns in their letter. “Mount Prospect should have consideration for the public safety issues and the residential fabric of our neighborhood,” they wrote. “Our communities pay well over $1 million a year to get our kids safely to River Trails school district. Our roads are busy enough with semitruck traffic.” * ABC Chicago | Northwest suburban high school principal to lead National Principals Association: Huntley High School Principal Marcus Belin will take a leave of absence from the school next academic year after being named president of the National Principal’s Association. Belin, who has led Huntley High School for nearly a decade, said his time at the school has been rewarding. * Daily Herald | Rosemont mall keeps parking fees despite shopper decline: Fashion Outlets of Chicago officials and Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens don’t appear to be budging from their positions about paid parking at the indoor mall. […] He cited the mall’s statistics that track foot traffic year over year. The number of shoppers walking into the mall was steadily increasing until the paid parking policy started in February. Then it was down 17% in March — compared with the same period last year — 14% in April, 12% in May and 14% in June. * Tribune | Lawsuit alleges IDOC inmates denied exercise in ‘dungeon-like’ solitary cells: The Illinois Department of Corrections confined inmates in “dungeon-like conditions” in solitary confinement and refused to allow them to exercise, causing chronic physical and psychological pain, a complaint filed on Monday alleges. The amended complaint, filed in federal court in Southern Illinois, names IDOC Director Latoya Hughes, along with other wardens and officials, accusing them of depriving some inmates at Menard Correctional Center of nearly all ability to move their bodies on a daily basis. * WGLT | Bloomington sets date at BCPA for public forum on data centers: The City of Bloomington will host a public planning commission meeting focused on “hyper scale” data centers at 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said a panel will be available to the commission. He did not specify who would be on the panel during his report at the city council meeting Monday night, adding more information would be released later. […] Bloomington is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on proposals for data centers. It started in late May, following similar action by Town of Normal. * WCIA | Separation agreement sheds new light on Clinton Board of Education, superintendent parting ways: The document reveals that Goebel and the Board of Education “mutually” enter into the agreement, which waives any “charges, grievances, lawsuits, claims or other potential litigation between the parties.” But, the agreement makes the distinction that it is not an “admission of any wrong-doing” by the board or Goebel, because both parties “expressly deny any and all liability or wrong doing in connection with disputed issues.” The agreement also states that Goebel will remain a licensed administrator of the Board until June 30, 2027. During that time, he will be “absent from duty on paid administrative leave” and will continue to receive his $148,526 salary, along with his district benefits. * ABC | LAPD ending deal with company operating license plate-reading cameras: “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras,” said Dean Gialamas, LAPD’s chief information officer. “The LAPD had to make a difficult decision, in this case discontinuing using Flock services until we can get those data, privacy, security and sharing concerns ironed out through a contractual relationship.” * WaPo | One of sci-fi’s most difficult questions about AI is becoming real: “I just don’t think the developer is in a position to know exactly how their product is being used,” David Sacks, a venture capitalist who until recently was one of the White House’s top AI advisers, said in a podcast interview with Politico in May. Just as Microsoft isn’t held liable when a money launderer uses an Excel spreadsheet, AI companies shouldn’t be blamed when a criminal uses their technology, Sacks said. For decades, technology companies have been shielded from liability for things said and actions committed by people using their platforms thanks to Section 230, a foundational internet law enacted in 1996. But critics of AI companies say that the current technology is fundamentally different. Chatbots and other AI tools are interactive, engaging with users and stating their own perspectives. * AP | New York to impose the country’s first statewide moratorium on data centers: New York will block the construction of any new large data centers for up to a year so the state can create rules to protect the environment and energy grid from the power-hungry facilities that fuel artificial intelligence technology. Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to sign an executive order Tuesday morning imposing the country’s first statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers, which house thousands of computer servers and require massive amounts of energy and a steady supply of water to keep cool.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Perhaps the greatest folk/country song ever written. Kris Kristofferson… I’d smoked so much the night before
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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