Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller I just want you to play your soul, Buddy
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Man arrested for threatening Rep. Keicher (Updated x2)
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Forrest Brandon of DeKalb has been arrested for threatening a public official, Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore). From the police department synopsis…
It’s a Class 3 Felony. …Adding… Sen. Rezin…
…Adding… Shaw Local…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* WGEM reporter Max Cotton…
Bodycam footage of the shooting is expected to be released Monday. The video “will shock America’s conscience,” Crump said. * Capitol News Illinois | State’s largest privately owned water utilities seek rate increase amid lawmaker scrutiny: Aqua Illinois, which serves 273,000 people, is seeking a $19.2 million increase. That would bring with it $29.91 in bill increases, according to the Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group. The requests must be reviewed by the Illinois Commerce Commission before the utilities are allowed to modify their rates. The ICC will then likely modify the requests to comply with state law, and it will respond to arguments presented by entities such as the Illinois attorney general, local municipalities and advocacy organization. * Brownfield Ag News | Illinois famers could see best crop ever: Matt Bennett, who grows corn and soybeans in Shelby County, says a rainy July has changed his fortunes. “It’s all pollinated at this point.” He says, “Then getting three inches of rain on corn that’s pollinated. I’ll tell you what. It put a smile on my face. I think that there’s going to be some awfully, awfully good corn here this year.” * Good Morning America | Illinois launches new push to help residents find unclaimed money: “GMA” teamed up with the Illinois Department of Treasury to help Chicagoans get access to their unclaimed cash. * Crain’s | McDonald’s, Metra hit in CrowdStrike cyber woes, but crisis seems to be easing: McDonald’s Corp., United Airlines Holdings Inc., and the LSE Group were among the major companies to disclose issues from communications to customer service. Airports from Singapore to Zurich were impacted. The New York subway said arrival information is unavailable for most of its lines, but services are operating. Bloomberg terminals were operating as normal. * WBEZ | Goal! For migrant kids, a free soccer program in Chicago: Amigos Unidos FC is mostly for migrant children from Colombia and Venezuela. The program, which started in June and runs twice a week through the first week of August, isn’t managed by any specific agency or nonprofit. Instead, a couple college students and their friends came together hoping to create a unique space for young asylum seekers who are passionate about soccer. * Crain’s | Chicago newspaper delivery snafus continue after storm takes down Trib printing plant: Because of the size and volume of Tribune’s print operation — which handles printing for the Chicago Sun-Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Daily Herald as well as the Chicago Tribune — the company has been searching for existing plants in different states, sending drivers as far as Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri to collect papers for distribution in the Chicago area, according to the memo. * Chicago Mag | A New Tour Gets a Head Start on the Centennial of Route 66: Route 66 means something different to everyone, and the road has something to offer everyone, even in the few miles that pass through Chicago. The fabled highway turns 100 years old in 2026, and Chicago is already celebrating its centennial with this trolley tour, new interpretive signs, and a classic car show series. A ride down Route 66 is a ride through Chicago history. * Sun-Times | More than 10 years added to sentence of man who plotted to detonate car bomb outside Chicago bar: A man who plotted to detonate a massive car bomb outside a Chicago bar has been resentenced to 27 years in prison after a federal appeals found his initial sentence too lenient. Adel Daoud was handed the new prison term on Friday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse more than three years after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his initial 16-year sentence “fell outside the range of reasonable sentences” and removed the judge in the case. * Block Club | 5 Years Ago, Chance The Snapper Was Rescued From Humboldt Park Lagoon. Now, The Gator Is Thriving: Five years ago this week, Florida gator trapper Frank Robb heroically rescued a wayward gator from the lagoon’s murky waters, ending a frenzied search that brought hundreds of people and news crews from across the country to Humboldt Park’s namesake park. For a week leading up to Chance’s capture, hundreds, if not thousands, of Chicagoans camped out around the perimeter of the lagoon, trying to catch sight of the evasive gator. We dubbed it “Gator Watch.” Block Club readers named him Chance the Snapper in an online poll. * Block Club | The Ultimate Guide To Chicago Patios: 200+ Beer Gardens, Backyard Terraces And More: From Albany Park’s Nighthawk to Bridgeport’s Kimski, Edgewater’s Waterfront Cafe to Lakeview’s Cebu and Pilsen Yards to Uptown Taproom, there are myriad options across the city to get fresh air while you’re drinking, dining and hanging out. * The Onion | MLB Reminds White Sox That Games Televised: “Based on the way you’re playing, we just wanted to make sure you understand that there are people watching you—that pretty much anyone can go on TV and see what you’re doing on the field,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, explaining that many, many Americans have cable and internet connections and can watch all the games the team is losing, as well as highlights of every White Sox batter who strikes out, every fielder who drops the ball, and every pitcher who, once again, allows the bases to become loaded. * Sun-Times | With Monday’s storms, the Chicago area surpassed the yearly tornado average in one night: The tally could increase as the weather service investigations continue, with meteorologists now studying satellite footage to confirm tornadoes. Typically, the area covered by the weather service’s Chicago office experiences between 16 and 20 twisters in a year, according to meteorologist David King. * WTTW | A Southern Illinois Resident and His Band Have Been Providing the Soundtrack to the RNC: For the entirety of the Republican National Convention, a five-piece band has filled the arena with musical interludes, prompting delegates to sway and sing to “What I Like About You” by The Romantics and The Beatles’ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” They are among the popular songs covered by the band Sixwire. The band is based in Nashville, but its keyboardist, Steve Hornbeak, is from southern Illinois. “I moved away when I was 20 years old, pursuing the music dream,” Hornbeak said, but “decided to move back to where I grew up, and settled in Anna.” * WSIL | Marion VA volunteer becomes Illinois State DAV Commander: A former volunteer with the Marion VA has taken the title as the new Illinois State Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Commander. U. S. Veteran Donnie Houghland fulfills the role after many years of dedication to veterans in Southern Illinois. […] Houghland says he feels honored to take the role of State Commander of the DAV and hopes to improve the lives of veterans and their families during his time in this position. * Muddy River News | Pike County Historical Society receives grant from Landmarks Illinois for Shastid House: The Pike County Historical Society was awarded $5,000 to be used to replace the roof on the Shastid House, one of the oldest houses in Pittsfield, constructed in 1838. The Shastid House was visited by Abraham Lincoln and today is part of the federally designated Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. * PJ Star | HOI Fair, Pride Fest and more: Here are 5 things to do in Peoria this weekend: River City Pride Fest 2024, presented by Peoria Proud, will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Riverfront Park in Downtown Peoria. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 17 and under. The event will include activities for the whole family. * SJ-R | Springfield eatery celebrating 100 years by offering original prices from 1924: It’s been a century since the first Maid-Rite sandwich was served, staking Springfield’s claim as home of the nation’s first drive-thru. The recipes for the signature, seasoned loose meat sandwich served with mustard, onions and pickle relish on a steamed bun and scratch-made root beer haven’t changed over the decades. […] Quaisi is celebrating the local landmark’s anniversary by rolling back prices from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the celebration. Buy one sandwich or root beer at regular price and get the second for a nickel. That’s a bargain, considering Maid-Rite’s 75th anniversary was marked with menu items selling for 75-cents. * WCIA | Man accused of killing Pour Bros. manager not guilty by insanity: In a trial that lasted less than an hour, Lee found that the prosecution had submitted evidence that would have found Tshimanga guilty, but expert opinions from two doctors indicated he suffered from mood disorders, paranoia and severe delusions. […] For that reason, [Judge Matthew Lee] found Tshimanga not guilty by reason of insanity. Tshimanga will, however, remain in custody until he can be transferred to a facility operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services to receive treatment for his conditions. Lee said he will spend an indefinite amount of time there, possibly the rest of his life, which would have been the maximum sentence had he been found fit to be convicted. * AP | Moon fests, moon movie and even a full moon mark 55th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing: The cosmos is providing a full moon for the 55th anniversary of the first lunar landing this weekend, and plenty of other events honor Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s giant leap. Aldrin, 94, the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew, headlines a gala at the San Diego Air and Space Museum on Saturday night. He’ll be joined by astronaut Charlie Duke, who was the voice inside Mission Control for the July 20, 1969 moon landing.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Extra
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Caption contest!
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From House Speaker Chris Welch’s caucus committee’s website. The pic was taken at their Wednesday night fundraiser and promoted via email… ![]() Try your best to keep it clean. Thanks.
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.
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US Reps. Sean Casten, Chuy Garcia call on President Biden to drop out of race (Updated)
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Five Illinois US Reps. have now said the POTUS should drop out. Mike Quigley, Brad Schneider and Eric Sorensen have already done so, and we have two more today. Casten…
* Garcia…
* And while this statement doesn’t call on Biden to step aside, it’s still worth noting…
…Adding… ILGOP…
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How the CrowdStrike outage is affecting Illinois (updated)
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * CNBC…
* WaPo…
* Tribune…
* ABC Chicago…
* Some of the state’s driver facilities are impacted…
…Adding… An update from SOS Giannoulias… ![]() * The RTA is also having issues…
The Illinois Treasurer’s office started using CrowdStrike in 2022, I’ve reached out to see if they’re having any problems. I’ll update if they respond. … Adding… The Treasurer’s office got back to me…
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Abbott says he will resume migrant busing to Chicago ahead of DNC
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Chicago hasn’t updated its migrant dashboard since Wednesday, when it reported 5,665 people in shelters, well below the 13,900 in late January - a 59 percent decrease. * The Sun-Times last August…
* Today from Block Club Chicago…
The city now has 17 shelters, down from nearly 30. * From Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough…
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Open thread
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?..
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Bill aimed at protecting domestic abuse victims from gun violence gets fresh look after high court ruling. Tribune…
If you want to watch the City Club of Chicago event click here. * Tribune | Judge ends Aqua lawsuit, activists, legislators oppose proposed water rate hikes: Will County Judge John Anderson has approved a consent order ending the years-long lawsuit between state officials, University Park and Aqua Illinois. This decision comes while Aqua and Illinois American Water — the state’s two largest private water providers — face opposition from legislators and the Citizens Utility Board for requested rate hikes that could raise water bills by $30 a month. Anderson delayed the decision July 8 after some University Park residents raised concerns the $900,000 Aqua would pay for lead remediation was insufficient. However, because the order was previously agreed upon by the village’s lawyer, Burt Odelson, and the other representing attorneys June 7, Anderson signed the order. * Crain’s | Dan Seals is leaving Intersect Illinois as CEO: Dan Seals will step down as CEO by the end of the month after nearly three years in the job, Chairman John Atkinson said today. “Intersect Illinois has seen tremendous growth over Dan’s tenure, and we truly appreciate his passion for economic development and his dedication to the state of Illinois,” he said in a statement. Paulina San Millan, senior vice resident of business development, will serve as interim CEO while the group looks for a replacement for Seals. * Sun-Times | Bob Newhart, comedic legend who grew up on Chicago’s West Side, dies at 94: Sitcom and stand-up legend Bob Newhart, who was a relatively unknown commodity living with his parents on the West Side when his first comedy album catapulted him to fame in 1960, has died at 94. […] It all started with “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” a collection of Mr. Newhart’s phone conversations with imaginary, unheard characters, as well as his angst-filled portrayal of a driving instructor. * Capitol News Illinois’ RNC day 4 recap… * Sun-Times | Illinois Republicans close out RNC with energy behind ‘more focused, disciplined’ Trump: Hours before former President Donald Trump accepted the GOP nomination, Illinois Republicans on Thursday claimed the “the table has been flipped” on Democrats who head toward the Nov. 5 election with uncertainty at the top of the ticket while the GOP builds momentum. The state’s super-minority Republicans are leaving the GOP National Convention energized, and with a lot of confidence, which they claim will help them win more seats in the state — despite a redistricting lockout and a severe lack of high-profile donors. * Daily Herald | Outgoing Illinois GOP chair bemoans ‘loose’ voting laws: Under Tracy, the state party hired a full-time election integrity director, filling the role of local county and township organizations that have weakened amid GOP electoral losses. […] “It used to be we had election day. Now we have election season,” Tracy said at the Illinois GOP’s daily press briefing Thursday. * Tribune | Rod Blagojevich drops into Milwaukee to tout Trump. Illinois GOP left unenthused.: Outgoing Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy said he’s “not a fan of Gov. Blagojevich at all,” though he can understand why he’d want to ride on Trump’s coattails. He also said he thinks Blagojevich’s conviction is not comparable to Trump’s. “There is no comparison between what Blagojevich did to get convicted by the feds for trying to sell a U.S. Senate office and the sham political prosecution of President Trump,” said Tracy, of Springfield. […] “If he wants to talk good about Republicans, God bless him,” Bost said of Blagojevich. “He sure wasn’t a Republican when he did what he did.” * WTTW | Illinois Republicans Say Democrats in ‘Freefall,’ Confident in Trump Against Biden or Any Nominee: Should Biden step aside, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) said, Republicans should expect that Trump will face Harris. Convention rules would make it hard for Democrats to go another route, according to Bost. “It all boils down to the fact that this particular president, who has earned these delegates, has to actually step down and turn the delegates over,” Bost said. “Unless they use the 25th Amendment.” * Sun-Times | GOP Pritzker-replacing-Biden quip gets jeers from Illinois delegation: U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, who is running against Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, elicited some boos from a tired but happy room of Illinois Republican delegates on Thursday when he offered Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a top of the ticket replacement for President Joe Biden. “The Democrats are in a full blown civil war,” Moreno said. “Think about this for a second now. One hundred and 10 days away from this election, we don’t even know who President Trump and JD Vance is going to run against. We have no idea. It could be your governor.” * Fox Chicago | Pritzker blasts Trump following RNC speech: ‘narcissism and dishonesty’: “Tonight, Donald Trump demonstrated once again his narcissism and dishonesty. “We know what a second Trump term would look like. It would be a disaster for America’s working families. Trump wants to enact the extremist policies in the Project 2025 manifesto. Another Trump administration would further deny women access to abortion, IVF, and contraception - even in states where Democrats have protected those rights. Trump promises to take away overtime pay and increase dangers for workers.” * Capitol News Illinois | After years of controversy, state pauses CO2 pipeline construction, for now: The law issues new regulations for carbon capture and sequestration, a technology used to take carbon dioxide pollution and store it deep underground. Sandstone formations in central Illinois are uniquely suited for gas storage, which has attracted national attention to the region as a possible hub for carbon dioxide storage. * Bond Buyer | Treasurers explore political line between ESG policy and data: As states tinker with laws that restrict pension investments in funds that favor environment, social, and governance factors, the debate over strategy and long-term fiscal responsibility continues between red and blue state treasurers who oversee investment policies. * QC Times | Illinois lawmaker recap: New child tax credit will ‘help a lot of working class people,’ Halpin says: Halpin said “it wasn’t a perfect budget” that legislators passed and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed, but he supported it due to some of the “great things” included, such as $50 million in funding for a child tax credit. The credit would apply to low- and middle-income families with children under the age of 12. “I think that’s going to help a lot of working class people here in the Quad Cities and Western Illinois. And I’m excited about making sure we’re continuing to fund our K-12 education in the way that we’ve committed to do in the past.” * QC Times | Illinois lawmaker recap: Swanson ‘disappointed’ farm groups cut out of carbon capture talks: Swanson said he was proud to sponsor legislation bringing greater awareness to the law colloquially known as Scott’s Law, which requires that drivers change lanes (or slow down if not possible) when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights. He said he was also hopeful that legislation creating a historic preservation board to assist the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in managing and preserving state historic sites will lead to more attention and resources for sites like Bishop Hill and the boyhood home of Carl Sandburg. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s water-bill delinquents include City Council members: Diane Gottlieb, who has made a fortune as a public housing landlord, has nearly $1.5 million in past-due bills owed for dozens of properties. Gottlieb has collected millions of dollars in government subsidies from the Chicago Housing Authority to pay all or part of the rent for her low-income tenants. […] Ald. William Hall (6th) was one of them. His Chatham home had a utility bill backlog of $1,769.53 dating to June 2023. Then, earlier this month, he paid the past-due tab shortly after Sun-Times reporters asked about it. That included $112 in late-payment penalties. Hall says he had his account set to auto-pay with a debit card that got hacked and that he forgot to update his payment information after canceling the card. * Press Release | Joyce Appoints Julie Morita as President & CEO: The Joyce Foundation has appointed Julie Morita, MD, as its new President and CEO. Morita was selected following an extensive national search to replace longtime President and CEO Ellen Alberding, who is stepping down after 22 years in the role. Morita will join the Foundation on October 1. “I am thrilled and deeply honored to step into the role of President at the Joyce Foundation. It is a tremendous privilege to lead an organization with such a remarkable legacy of positive impact,” Morita said. “I take seriously the responsibility of upholding the Foundation’s values and am committed to working closely with the Foundation’s staff, partners, and Board to further its mission and vision.” * Daily Southtown | Will County Board votes against non-sanctuary designation, calling it anti-immigrant: Several audience members held signs saying immigrants are welcome here, and told the board the resolution tells current residents and immigrants they do not belong. The resolution needlessly scapegoats people who come to Illinois seeking safety and opportunities, they said. “It does nothing in the affirmative,” Cesar Guerrero said. “It is, quite simply, political posturing.” Eleven Democrats voted against the resolution and eight Republicans voted in favor of it. * Daily Southtown | Tinley Park and Park District spar over remediation at former mental health center: The Village Board approved a $134,612 contract extension with Sewer Assessment Services for inflow and infiltration investigations, allowing for smoke testing in high-risk areas to identify defects that allows groundwater to infiltrate the village’s sanitary system. […] However, Elizabeth Harvey, an environmental attorney representing the Park District, said the district does not plan to pump the stagnant water through village sewer systems. Instead, they intend to manage it on the property or in a ditch owned by the district that runs along the property. * Sun-Times | Highland Park massacre victims sue Illinois State Police for approving suspect’s gun card: Five lawsuits filed in the last month in the Illinois Court of Claims allege state police negligently approved Robert E. Crimo III’s gun ownership application in 2019 despite Highland Park police issuing a “clear and present danger” alert against him months earlier. […] The state police — who won’t comment — have said the alert did not rise to the level of denying him a gun ownership card. But the lawsuits claim the alert, prompted by a police house call, included details that showed Crimo was not fit to obtain guns. * Daily Herald | What’s behind one suburb’s 184% increase in DUI arrests? ‘Unwavering commitment’: In 2022, West Chicago police made 72 arrests on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs charges. One year later, the number of busts rocketed to 202. That astounding 184.7% increase got a shoutout this week from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, which on Wednesday released its 2023 DUI Survey. * WCIA | Former Sangamon Co. deputy arraigned, new details revealed in Sonya Massey’s death: Court documents filed by the Sangteamon County State’s Attorney reveal that the two entered Massey’s home to gather further information and ensure the home was safe. While the other deputy checked the home and found nothing dangerous, Grayson is said to have remained with Massey in the living room. * SJ-R | Ribs, oysters and beer, cars and more: 8 summer festivals on deck in Springfield: There’s live music from Revel in Red (July 19) and Soul Experience and The Shenanigans (both July 20), food, vendors, a “sweet cornhole” tournament, a 5K, a Row4Dough to benefit Special Olympics, Ancient Games, children’s activities and the Illinois Championship Cow Chip Throw. * WaPo | Trump, Biden photos found on rally shooter’s phone, but motive unclear: The 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who tried to kill former president Donald Trump at a rally last weekend had searched online for information about Trump and President Biden and had photos of both men saved on his phone, according to lawmakers and others briefed on the investigation.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jul 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Governor Pritzker signed SB1289 today. Click here for some more background. The governor’s press release…
* AP…
* WICS reporter Julia Rosier obtained Grayson’s charging documents…
…Adding… The People’s Lobby…
* The Howlett Cafeteria got dinged by the Sangamon County Department of Public Health in June. SJ-R…
* Outgoing Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy, U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Mike Bost and state Rep. John Cabello held a press availability this morning…
* WTTW | Illinois GOP Leaders Won’t Commit to Accepting Election Results, Say They Remain Concerned About Fraud: Tracy said voters should be required to show a government-issued identification card to cast a ballot and the rules governing signature verification on mail-in ballots tightened. Illinois current rules amount to a “recipe for fraud,” Tracy said. * WTTW | Illinois Republicans Strike Optimistic Tone About Congressional, Senate Candidates at Final Day of RNC: Jim Carris, a first-time candidate running against U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) in the 10th Congressional District, said GOP challengers are “energized.” He said the state of the economy motivated him to run. “We’ve got a bunch of new candidates who have never run for office before, like myself and a number of others from all over the state, who are giving of themselves, and they’re putting their own wealth and reputations on the line to serve the greater good,” Carris said. “I can’t think of anything more rewarding than trying to help others.” * Capitol News Illinois | LaHood calls for resignation of Secret Service director: In the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, of Peoria, called for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. […] “It’s an embarrassment for the United States,” he told reporters after the ILGOP’s breakfast meeting Thursday. “It’s a weakness that the United States is viewed around the world when the leading presidential candidate is shot at and almost murdered.” * WBEZ | Illinois Republicans are taking advice and reflecting on how they can win more elections: The Illinois Republican Party has not held a statewide office since Bruce Rauner was governor. Just 3 of the state’s 17 U.S Representatives are Republican. Both U.S. Senators are Democrats. And Democrats hold supermajorities in Springfield. As the Republican National Convention enters the home stretch – Illinois Republicans are taking advice and reflecting on how they can win more elections and gain more influence statewide. * Daily Herald | ‘I expressed myself’: Suburban GOP official confronts Matt Gaetz at RNC and goes viral: “He was really being over the top, just pushing people aside, the way he was speaking,” Porter said. “So I expressed myself. I thought it was time for him to move along. “I was happy to have the chance to look him in the eye and tell him what I thought,” he added. “I just wish I hadn’t sworn.” * Mother Jones | RNC Platform Official: Nothing In Our Platform Says We Won’t Ban Abortion Nationwide: A day after the adoption of the platform, Ed Martin—president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, a conservative group, and one of three people the RNC and the Trump campaign appointed to run the committee that wrote the platform—appeared to suggest on his radio show, Pro America Report, that the platform signals support for a federal abortion ban: “It’s got protections for pro-life. Don’t let anybody tell you there’s not protections for pro-life,” Martin said. “There’s not as many words describing it, but there’s protection under the Constitution, that life is protected.” * Crain’s | Illinois scores high on mental health, low on cancer care in women’s health report: Overall, Illinois placed slightly better than average, No. 22 among 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s & Reproductive Health. lllinois had the second-lowest rate of women ages 18 to 64 who report poor mental health. The state also had a low rate of women ages 18 to 44 reporting depression before or during pregnancy and a high percentage of women in that age group who received postpartum checkups after birth. * Block Club | Attorney General Joins Fight Against Lakefront Dump Expansion: Environmental activists suing to stop the expansion of a lakefront dump site for polluted sediment now have a big name in their corner: the state’s attorney general. Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a 16-page brief last week opposing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ plan to expand its Southeast Side confined disposal facility. The 43-acre facility, which neighbors Calumet Park at the mouth of the Calumet River, stores sediment dredged from the river and five other federally maintained waterways in the city. It’s on land owned by the Park District, which does not charge the Army Corps for its use. * Tribune | As convention nears, CPD faces renewed questions on use of body-worn cameras: With the Democratic National Convention about a month away, the chief judge of Chicago’s federal court has called for greater clarity in the Chicago Police Department’s policy dictating when officers may deactivate their body-worn cameras. But the order issued this month by Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer gives the city and CPD until Aug. 30 — more than a week after the conclusion of the DNC — to provide a new draft of the policy to the Illinois attorney general’s office and the independent monitoring team that assesses consent-decree compliance. * Chalkbeat | Union members assail Chicago Public Schools budget plan ahead of board vote: The mayor-appointed school board is slated to vote on the budget a month later than usual. Notably, the proposal does not factor in raises for educators. The district is negotiating new contracts with its teachers and principals unions, and officials noted that the budget would need to be revised to account for the cost of these contracts once they are settled. * WBEZ | Chicago’s Millennium Park has become a gravity-defying art gallery: Dodging tourists and pigeons, and with my app at the ready, I came across the first augmented reality art by Chicago-based artist Carlos Rolón. Rolón is an internationally recognized artist who works in multiple mediums, with his work often focusing on personal identity. On a sign in front of Wrigley Square sat a brief description of Rolón’s background as well as of his featured work, “Ni Aquí, Ni Allá (Neither Here, Nor There).” * Sun-Times | Wildlife experts are investigating why piping plover chicks are dying: “Juvenile birds have a hard time making it to adulthood in the wild,” said Matthew Allender, a wildlife veterinarian with Brookfield Chicago Zoo and University of Illinois. “But the fact that we have only one nest of piping plover chicks on Montrose Beach makes it of great interest.” The chicks, hardly 2 weeks old, were the offspring of Imani and Sea Rocket and days away from being named. Their only surviving chick appears to be healthy. * Elgin Courier-News | Elgin had second-highest number of DUI arrests in Illinois in 2023, anti-drunk driving group says: Aurora police took the top honor this year, chalking up 366 arrests for driving under the influence. Elgin’s second-place arrest number was 282, the survey said. Rounding out the top 10 were Bloomington, Decatur, Rockford, Lombard, Waukegan, Elmhurst, West Chicago and Addison. * Naperville Sun | DuPage County Board member Lucy Chang Evans, former Secret Service agent from Naperville, speaks on Trump assassination attempt: Evans says she thinks what happened Saturday will be a “teaching moment.” She conceded that she did not “want to second guess what they did” at Trump’s rally, but “20/20 being hindsight, most people would say that setup was not safe.” […] “I don’t know what went into the decision,” said Evans, speaking to the site security plan for Trump’s rally. “I don’t know if something changed. … I don’t know if somebody decided to change things at the last minute.” * 25 News Now | McLean County in the running for $200 million Rivian expansion and hundreds of new jobs: Rivian is looking at Normal and other unspecified sites for a $200 million expansion that could add hundreds more to the electric vehicle maker’s workforce. It’s a “whole new project” separate from Rivian’s planned $1.5 billion addition to make the company’s less expensive R2 sport utility vehicle, said Patrick Hoban, head of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. * The Southern | Pro-life organization files SCOTUS case against Carbondale: Coalition Life v. City of Carbondale, the petition filed by Thomas More Society attorneys and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul, comes as part of a larger effort to wipe out “bubble zone laws,” which the organization perceives are restrictive upon sidewalk counselors throughout the entire country. With this effort, the petition asks SCOTUS to overturn its 2000 Hill v. Colorado decision, which ruled the First Amendment right to free speech was not violated by a Colorado law limiting protest, education, counseling and distribution of literature within eight feet of a person entering a healthcare facility. * WAND | “Sonya Massey should be alive today.” Lawmakers, officials share statements on death of woman killed by deputy: Illinois lawmakers and officials are sharing their thoughts on a Springfield woman killed in her own home by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy. Sonya Massey, 36, was shot at her home on Hoover Ave. by now-former deputy Sean P. Grayson on July 6. * WCIA | Ameren Illinois wrapping up Monday storm repairs, cleanup : After Monday evening’s storms, related power outages in the Champaign region are now restored, Ameren confirmed Thursday. […] Ameren said a some outages remain in Peoria, though they may not be storm-related. * WCIA | Future of Danville’s former Quaker Oats site remains uncertain: In Danville, the Quaker Oats factory has been sitting vacant for more than a month. Officials are growing concerned about the site’s uncertain future. It was shut down a month ago and officials are hoping there’s some redeeming factor for the empty site. Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron said the building may not be viable for future companies to use. “I think that’s the important thing. We just need a pretty honest evaluation of the state of the building and figure out where we’re going to go from there.” * WCIA | Girls flag football coming to Urbana High School this fall: Head Coach Ordell Walker said the program was supposed to begin next year, but high interest jumped the timeline. “Our athletic director, Mr. Waller, sent out a survey to just kind of see interest level and we had about 70 girls respond. About 50 said they think they would play if we started it,” Walker said. “So that gave us the motivation to try to move things up and get started this year.” * BND | Another bear sighting reported in southern Illinois, sheriff says: “This is a confirmed sighting with multiple witnesses,” Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich said in a Facebook posting that featured photos of the bear. Diederich said the bear was seen early Thursday in the area of Galatia Post and Angelville roads about 12 miles east of Marion. * Crain’s | Discover sells student loan business for up to $10.8 billion: The sale to Santiago Holdings, an affiliate of investment firms Carlyle and KKR, comes as Riverwoods-based Discover is in the process of being acquired by Capital One Financial Services. Discover’s student loan portfolio contained a balance of about $10.1 billion as of June 30, the company said in a statement, and the deal is expected to be closed by the end of 2024. The final sale price will be determined by the balance at the sale’s close. * Religion News Service | Voter protection training begins as clergy, secular groups look toward election: On Monday (July 15), Catholic nuns, rabbis and community and labor leaders gathered online to hear a Bible-based introduction in the first of seven “poll chaplain/peacekeeper” virtual training sessions aimed at equipping volunteers to keep the environment calm at polling places, especially in battleground states. […] More than 80 people attended the 90-minute online training, which included breakout groups with practice scenarios, ranging from someone holding a gun to a bystander shouting obscenities outside a polling place. Trainees were given tools to help build trust with people in line to vote, as well as a special phone number to call if they witness intimidating behavior.
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Pritzker says he agrees with law enforcement officials that police need more training
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * In the wake of the indictment of now-former Sangamon County Deputy Sheriff Sean Grayson for the on-duty murder of Sonya Massey, Gov. JB Pritzker was asked today if he supported further criminal justice reforms to state laws…
Almost exactly two years ago, I did a late-night walk through some of Chicago’s West Side with Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara. During that walk, I asked him if he believed that CPD officers needed more training. He told me he believed they did. * If you click here and look at the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board’s training mandates, you’ll see no minimum hours are required for annual and three-year training categories. The only minimum hour requirements are for just two of the three-year training mandates on use of force…
* In comparison, this is from the state’s hair stylist training rules…
Thoughts?
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tribune…
* The Question: Which Republicans do you think will run for governor in 2026? Make sure to explain your answer and also avoid vitriol. I’m curious who you think will run. I’m much less curious about why you think candidate x would be awful or whatever. Thanks.
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Unemployment rate rose to 5 percent in June, but payrolls increased by 10,400
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * IDES…
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Today’s quotable
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Open thread
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Springfield-area deputy indicted; faces three murder charges in killing of Sonya Massey. SJ-R…
- Sean Grayson faces three counts of first-degree murder, along with two other charges. -Grayson is in custody and will make a first court appearance at 2 p.m. on Thursday when he will be arraigned. - A review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including body camera footage, “did not support a finding” that Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser stated. * Related stories… ∙ ABC Chicago: Illinois deputy charged with murder after fatal shooting of Springfield woman who called 911 ∙ NYT: Sheriff’s Deputy Faces Charges in Death of Illinois Woman ∙ WCIA: Deputy indicted for murder of Sonya Massey, fired by Sangamon Co. Sheriff * Governor Pritzker released a statement last night…
The governor will be at Richland Community College at 11:30 am to sign legislation enacting state-level regulations on carbon capture and sequestration projects. Click here to watch. * Crain’s | Argonne’s giant X-ray microscope gets an $815M upgrade: The Advanced Photon Source, like the lab’s supercomputers, is one of the things that makes Argonne unique. It’s now the brightest of the world’s three giant X-ray microscopes. (The other two are in France and Japan.) Argonne’s X-ray beams are now 500 times brighter than before. * WGN | 4-year-old Illinois boy competes in National Mullet Competition: Bohdi Fischer and his mullet, “The Swayze Special,” will compete in the 1-4 age group while strutting the “business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back” hairstyle. The National Mullet Competition will also collect donations that benefit Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors. The charity is dedicated to providing veterans wounded in combat with accessible, mortgage-free and injury-specific homes. * WTVO | Winnebago principal’s personal experience inspires Illinois school’s cardiac safety law: “Anybody who enters our school, whether it be an employee, a child, or just a visitor, is safe. If a cardiac emergency occurs,” said Heather Baker, principal of Dorothy Simon Elementary School, at 309 S Benton Street. Several years ago, Baker suffered a cardiac arrest at her prior school. “My life was saved by my coworkers who did CPR,” she recalled. “So because of their training, they recognized that I was having a cardiac arrest, which is the most important step. They called 911 and they worked as a team to jump in and start CPR right away. But had they not had that training and talked about a plan previously, I wouldn’t be here today.” * Dispatch-Argus | Illinois lawmaker recap: Rep. Gregg Johnson pleased to see local tax incentive program: Johnson said some of the successes from session include the state making its full required pension payment. On a local level, he was happy that the Illinois Quad-Cities were added to the River Edge Redevelopment Zone program, which offers tax breaks and incentives meant to spur the redevelopment of environmentally-challenged riverfront properties. “Another big focus of mine has been trying to use the Mississippi River as a place to draw people in, and I think the River’s Edge tax credit is going to do quite a bit to bring businesses in as well.” * Tribune | At RNC, Illinois GOP starts looking to 2026 election: .S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was taunting an old Capitol Hill nemesis on the crowded floor of the Republican National Convention when an Illinois Republican Party official with a low profile outside of state GOP circles stepped in. “Shut up, don’t be an a–hole,” Illinois Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter said to Gaetz, who was interrupting an interview being given by the man he helped oust as House speaker, former California U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy. […] That’s not likely to happen, but Porter may have designs on public office in Illinois. During this week’s convention, Porter has been among a handful of names floated by some Illinois top Republicans as possible GOP candidates for governor in 2026 as the state party looks to reinvent itself with new leadership after years of losing ground to Democrats. * Capitol News Illinois | On party infighting, Illinois’ new GOP chair says ‘start calling those people out’: But amid promises to “make Illinois red again,” the ILGOP’s chair-elect Kathy Salvi invoked the analogy of parenting the beleaguered party in a Wednesday speech to GOP delegates in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. “Remember, I’m the mother of six children,” Salvi said, reiterating a well-worn line from her unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2022. “Seven now – the Illinois Republican Party.” * Pantagraph | Under new leadership, Illinois GOP urged to ‘build bridges’ within party: “Listen, I love this party because sometimes we air our dirty laundry with one another and it gets into the press,” Salvi said. “But we need to say, ‘You know, let’s give that person the benefit of a new fresh day.’ And that’s how we will win elections here in Illinois.” * 21st Show | Illinois Freedom Caucus leader discusses the Republican Party’s direction and unity: It’s day three of the Republican National Convention and today we’ll start with the Illinois Republican Party. There is a subgroup of Illinois Republicans who have generated plenty of energy and debate over the past few years — the Freedom Caucus in the Illinois House. It’s a group of seven conservative Republicans, led by our first guest today, state Representative Chris Miller who represents the 101st District. * Crain’s | Johnson withdraws plan to install progressive ally as zoning chair: Johnson’s attempts to win the necessary votes to install a new chair became more difficult because he made a commitment to the Latino Caucus to keep one of their members in the position, but several are not allies of Johnson; some are freshmen, who traditionally do not chair committees; and others jockeying for the position, including Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, and Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, were not favored by the mayor. * Sun-Times | City clears homeless tent camp ahead of DNC as last residents are told to leave: The 30 or so people who’d pitched their homes in a shady, weedy strip abutting a Dan Ryan Expressway ramp had been offered space in one of the city’s most coveted shelters and warned that demolition day was coming. […] The given deadline was 9:30 a.m., with demolition at 10. Police officers searched tents with flashlights in their latex-gloved hands in case anyone was still sleeping — or hiding. One last tent occupant emerged and walked away, a bag on his back. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s top watchdog pushed to add ex-Police Supt. David Brown to city’s do-not-hire list: Chicago’s independent watchdog pushed to bar former Police Supt. David Brown from being rehired by the city after he refused to cooperate with an investigation stemming from a drug bust involving a police chief’s car. Police officials ultimately rebuffed the request to add Brown to the do-not-hire list because it “seemed severe” and Brown had already resigned, according to a report issued this week by Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s office. * Tribune | Chicago-area exec charged in scheme to bribe Amtrak official with trips, steaks and jewelry in $100M Philadelphia train station renovation: Lee Maniatis, 56, of Palos Park, currently the chief operating officer of Dolton-based MARK 1 Restoration, was charged in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia in a criminal information made public Wednesday with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, court records show. An arraignment date has not been set. Maniatis’ Chicago-based attorney, Ted Poulos, told the Tribune Wednesday that Maniatis “has been cooperating in the government’s investigation since 2019 and will continue to do so.” * Daily Herald | After more than 20 years, Lake Zurich’s lakefront promenade ready for a reboot and refresh: Brick pavers will be removed and replaced and irrigation installed for new native flowers, shrubs and trees. Creating softer curves on planting beds, installing new “street furniture” and customized emblems in the brickwork also are part of the project. Repainting streetlights, railings and structures was added to the bid package after $362,154 in budgeted village funds was redirected to the promenade project. * NBC Chicago | Rihanna’s popular clothing brand opens 1st Illinois location at suburban mall: Savage X Fenty opens Friday at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park in the southwest suburbs, according to a press release. The label is known for its inclusive approach to lingerie and apparel, the release said, with sizing ranging from extra-small to 4XL. […] The new store comes as a slew of suburban malls see new stores, including new Vuori and Sandra outlet stores at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont. * BND | ‘This time it was so much worse.’ Belleville animal shelter floods again, rescues step up: Several metro-east rescues took in animals from St. Clair County Animal Services after its pet adoption center flooded Tuesday in a weather event that brought substantial damage to the area. […] “The animals are currently safe and buildings are cool. We will keep you updated if we need fosters for cats, kittens and dogs as the warms up,” BAHS said in a Facebook post, noting Ameren Illinois had visited the site. The humane society remains closed to the public. * Tribune | Illinois-based John Deere ends support of ‘social or cultural awareness’ events, distances from inclusion efforts: In a statement posted Tuesday to social media platform X, John Deere also said it would audit all training materials “to ensure the absence of socially-motivated messages” in compliance with federal and local laws. It did not specify what those messages would include. Moline, Illinois-based John Deere added “the existence of diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy.” But it noted that it would still continue to “track and advance” the diversity of the company, without providing further details. * NBC Chicago | I-55 in Will County reopens after days-long closure due to tornado that downed live power lines: I-55 in Will County reopened early Thursday in both directions, the Illinois State Police confirmed, days after severe weather with destructive winds and more than a dozen tornadoes left downed, live power lines across the busy Interstate. The dangerous conditions, which trapped drivers in their vehicles for hours led officials Monday evening to close I-55 between U.S. 6 and River Road in Channahon.
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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