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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Reader comments closed until next Thursday
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Isabel and I are taking a few days off next week, so we’ll see you Thursday… Come on home
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Governor JB Pritzker signed a bunch of bills into law today. Click here for the full list. Sponsored by Chronic Care Policy Alliance It’s a fact: obesity is a chronic disease. Access to FDA-approved obesity treatments shouldn’t depend on a patient’s financial situation. A recent study of Illinois voters found:
- 81% believe access to obesity treatment is especially important for communities facing higher rates of chronic disease. - 78% agree that when programs like Medicaid cover obesity medicines, they help improve lives and lead to better health outcomes down the road. Expanding access to obesity medicines through Medicaid can help eligible patients receive the care they need to manage a chronic disease and prevent long-term complications. Learn why Illinois policymakers should provide Medicaid coverage for obesity medicines and help ensure every eligible patient has access to treatment. * Jimmy Reimer’s band is playing the state fair tonight…  * Fox News | Harvard, NYU among 30 universities hit with Pentagon foreign-tie audit deadline: According to a U.S. official, the schools subjected to the audit are: Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, University of Texas at Austin, Emory University, Harvard University, Oklahoma State University, Penn State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Cincinnati, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bryant University, Cornell University, Drake University, Duke University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah (Oklahoma), Portland State University, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Stony Brook University, University of Delaware and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. * Cook County Record | Judge: Feds can challenge IL laws teeing up lawsuits vs ICE agents: On Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge David Dugan denied the state of Illinois’ motion to dismiss the challenge brought by the federal Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, against the Illinois laws seeking to limit immigration enforcement actions in the state. In the decision, Dugan specifically rejected assertions from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul that the laws don’t actually pose a “credible threat” to federal authority or to federal agents themselves, even though the laws empower both state officers and trial lawyers to enforce the laws through lawsuits and other actions. * Press release | AG Raoul blocks Trump administration’s unlawful demand of CDL drivers’ personal information: U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from demanding the production of a database of state-owned records containing the sensitive personal information of 17 million drivers and from terminating more than $10 million in federal funding to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) if it refuses to produce the database. * WTTW | Chicago’s Democratic Socialists Back 2 City Council Challengers, While Declining to Endorse 2 Incumbents: Chicago DSA backed four current members of the Chicago City Council, who are running for new four-year terms: Alds. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd Ward), Anthony Quezada (35th Ward) and Angela Clay (46th Ward). Quezada was appointed to replace former Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who stepped down to become the superintendent of the Chicago Park District, and is seeking his first full term on the City Council. However, the group narrowly declined to endorse Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) because he would not tell the group he considers himself an anti-Zionist, sources told WTTW News. * Sun-Times | After their dad was deported, family works to keep his Humboldt Park sandwich shop and legacy alive: Asif Amin Cheema was deported to his native Pakistan in January after 30 years in the United States, where he raised his five kids. In the months since, the Amins have tried to keep his Best Sub #2 sandwich shop afloat while adjusting to a busier — and harder — life. * Tribune | Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson buys $5.2M Loop condo: In the Loop, Wilson’s condo had not been on the market and sold privately, so specific details about it are not publicly available. However, Cook County’s assessor values the condo at $4.615 million. A separate parking space included in the $5.2 million purchase price is assessed at $47,400. “I’ve been leasing it for the last three, four, five years and that was a waste of money,” Wilson told Elite Street. “It’s an investment, you know. If I wasn’t running for mayor, you wouldn’t be calling me.” * Daily Herald | ‘They want to work’: Suburbanites with disabilities find opportunity at Carol Stream expo: Hundreds of suburbanites took in the exhibits at the event organized by state Sen. Seth Lewis of Bartlett. It was the second expo Lewis sponsored after supporting the Dignity of Pay Act, which the Illinois General Assembly passed in November 2024. The first in 2025 was such a success it prompted the Bartlett Republican to stage another. * Evanston Now | Judge lets Albany Care accept patients, for now: A Cook County Circuit Court judge granted Albany Care’s request for an injunction to let it accept new patients while the Illinois Department of Public Health attempts to shut it down. Associate Judge Myron F. Mackoff said “IDPH does not have the statutory authority to enter an indefinite” restriction of the license the mental health rehabilitation center on Maple Avenue in Evanston. * Daily Herald | Amid rise in antisemitism, he’s bridging gap between first responders, Jewish communities: “Now, most congregations have security at least every week for Shabbat, if not security posted at the doors whenever the synagogue is open, if not having security on site at all times,” Glickman told us this week. […] Glickman last week spoke to law enforcement leaders from across the region at the Midwest Security & Police Conference/Expo in Tinley Park, and this week addressed a smaller group of first responders at the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy in Glenview. * NBC Chicago | Tornado sirens ‘accidentally’ activated in multiple Chicago suburbs—again: Reports of sirens going off in DuPage County began hitting social media just before 10 a.m. Some police departments and villages acknowledged the sirens went off despite no severe weather. “The severe weather warning sent at approximately 9:55 a.m. today through DU-COMM was issued in error and was a false alarm,” the Village of Oak Brook said in a Facebook post at 10:05 a.m. The village went on to say that residents should remain “weather-aware,” as the entire Chicago are is under a “slight” risk of severe weather Friday afternoon and evening, which ranks as level two. * WGLT | ‘At least’ $17 million in damage at OSF St. Joseph after microburst, flooding: Derrick Frazier, who has held the position since June, said 11 spots on the roof were damaged. That let water into the Bloomington hospital, and patients had to be moved to another area. Frazier commended the quick action of hospital staff. “It was as if we didn’t have a roof, how everybody was getting wet,” he said. “They were moving the patients from one side of the hospital to the other to get them into safety. So I commend the team for all of the hard work that they did.” * WCBU | Chillicothe notifies residents of elevated contaminants in water supply: Several residents brought their concerns about the contamination and the manner of the notification to the attention of Public Works Superintendent Shawn Sutherland at this week’s department committee meeting. Sutherland indicated there’s nothing in the notice that says the drinking water is unsafe, and that use of a filtration system is recommended. Multiple attempts by WCBU to contact Sutherland for additional comments were unsuccessful. * WCIA | U of I colleges establish new partnership on campus horse farm: Two colleges at the University of Illinois are partnering to streamline operations at the university’s horse farm while ensuring both have access to the herd for teaching and learning. The Colleges of ACES and Veterinary Medicine announced that they’ve formalized a new memorandum of understanding concerning the horse farm. Their two herds will be consolidated at the St. Mary’s Road farm, while the College of Veterinary Medicine will assume day-to-day management of all horses and related facilities. * Heartland News | Carbondale partners with SIU to close Illinois Avenue for Homecoming Block Party: The third annual SIU Homecoming Music Street Festival will return to downtown Carbondale on Friday, Oct. 16, featuring a street closure, local vendors, and a lineup of nationally touring musical acts. Alternative rock band Spin Doctors, known for their 1990s multi-platinum hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” will headline the festival’s main stage. The Grammy-nominated blues and Southern rock group North Mississippi Allstars will perform as the opening act. * Wisconsin Public Radio | Report: Care at Wisconsin hospitals more expensive than in Illinois: Wisconsin hospitals charge nearly 26 percent more for inpatient services than similar health systems in Illinois. That’s the finding of a new report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy. The study uses pricing data reported by commercial health insurance companies and hospitals, which is required under a federal hospital price transparency rule that went into effect in 2021. * Indiana Capital Chronicle | Planned Parenthood can refer Indiana abortion patients out-of-state, federal appeals court rules: A three-judge panel of the U.S. Appeals Court for the Seventh District found Tuesday that providing factual information on abortions, as well as referrals for the procedure, is speech protected by the First Amendment — and that the state’s arguments aren’t strong enough to overcome that. “Young people should not have to navigate a complicated and deeply personal health care decision without clear, honest information,” said Rebecca Gibron, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood’s Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky chapter. * WTTW | Class Action Lawsuit Targets Indiana Power Authority Amid Ongoing Outages From Damaging Storms: Thousands of Northwest Indiana residents affected by this month’s damaging downpours and ongoing power outages have joined a class action lawsuit targeting the state’s largest power utility, claiming it neglected “foreseeable and preventable” issues prior to the storms. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Kenneth J. Allen’s law group, seeks to hold Northern Indiana Public Service Co., known as NIPSCO, to account for what he called “unnecessary outages … that could and should have been prevented.”
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HDems holding out on statewide coordinated campaign
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Politico…
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Pritzker announces Northern Illinois Transit Authority board appointments
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The Tribune…
* Related… * Press release | Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Chicago’s Appointments to the NITA and Transit Agency Board of Directors: Oswaldo Alvarez currently serves on the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Directors. A public policy and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in workforce development and statewide civic initiatives, Alvarez is Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, where he led statewide policy strategy and coalition-building efforts. He also served as Illinois’ Statewide Census Director for the 2020 Census, managing a $47 million operation and coordinating more than 400 community organizations. A Chicago native and fluent Spanish speaker, Alvarez earned his master’s in social policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. * Press release | Lake County Appoints Gary Gordon to NITA Board of Directors: Gary Gordon has been appointed to represent Lake County on the Board of Directors for the newly created Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), a role that will help shape how residents across the region get to work, school and other essential services. […] Gary Gordon is the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Shedd Aquarium and currently serves as Lake County’s representative on Metra’s Board of Directors. * Forest Park Review | Hoskins appointed to new transit board: Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins has been appointed to a new board that will oversee upcoming transit reform in the Chicago area. […] For years, Hoskins has advocated for more resources at the end of the CTA Blue Line and Green Line in Forest Park and been in touch with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office about the village’s challenges near those locations. This year, Hoskins applied for the NITA board and interviewed with Preckwinkle and her team, where he discussed how Forest Park is impacted by local transit, his career as an attorney and his background in social services and mental health. * Daily Herald | Who’s in and who’s out at NITA as new transit force takes shape: The 20 NITA directors, 17 of whom will have dual appointments to either the CTA, Metra or Pace boards, are expected to vote on a chair at their first meeting in September. Director salaries range from $15,000 to $25,000, depending on whether they serve on one or two boards. Thoughts?
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Republican Day coverage roundup
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Darren Bailey’s running-mate Aaron Del Mar speaking at yesterday’s Republican Day event…
* Some background from a JB Pritzker campaign website targeting Darren Bailey…
* We told you yesterday that the Pritzker campaign sent some inflatable dinosaurs to crash Republican Day at the State Fair…
* Bailey was given another chance to answer during a press gaggle…
* And then he was asked again…
And here I thought that Bailey was gonna drop the personal insults. * Full WGN interview… * WGN…
* CNI…
* Not exactly packed…
* More from CNI…
* WAND…
Come to think of it, I didn’t see any incumbent congresscritters at the event yesterday. [Isabel Miller contributed to this post.]
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Complaint deemed unfounded against state lawmaker surfaces in downstate legislative race. Sun-Times…
- In a press release shared by a GOP-aligned consultancy firm and the campaign of Briel’s Republican challenger, Liz Bishop, Jackson accused Briel of unwanted “repeated sexual advances, workplace drug use, harassment and retaliation” while working in the legislator’s district and campaign offices. - “Laura Jackson felt ignored by Springfield and sought assistance elsewhere. After working hard to promote a candidate she felt obligated to correct the record,” Bishop said. * Related stories… Sponsored by Chronic Care Policy Alliance It’s a fact: obesity is a chronic disease. Access to FDA-approved obesity treatments shouldn’t depend on a patient’s financial situation. A recent study of Illinois voters found:
- 81% believe access to obesity treatment is especially important for communities facing higher rates of chronic disease. - 78% agree that when programs like Medicaid cover obesity medicines, they help improve lives and lead to better health outcomes down the road. Expanding access to obesity medicines through Medicaid can help eligible patients receive the care they need to manage a chronic disease and prevent long-term complications. Learn why Illinois policymakers should provide Medicaid coverage for obesity medicines and help ensure every eligible patient has access to treatment. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Tribune | Nearly six years after indictment, plug not being pulled on ‘ComEd Four’ case just yet: Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur proposed that both sides come back in two months, which would give Pramaggiore’s new legal team time to review the extraordinarily large volume of evidence in the case, which includes millions of documents, wiretaps, undercover videos and emails. […] “I want you to be thinking about February 2027 (for a trial),” Shah said. “It’s obviously a case of some vintage. It has been tried before, so in theory, people could get prepared and be ready for it.” * Tribune | RTA approves funding estimates in final meeting before being replaced by Northern Illinois Transit Authority: Current RTA board members’ terms expire Sept. 1, although a handful of current board members have been appointed to the NITA board that will replace it. Thursday was the RTA’s final regularly scheduled board meeting. Members of an RTA transition committee are scheduled to meet again next week. * IDES | Record High Payroll Jobs, Unemployment Rate Down in July: The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in July, down -0.2 percentage point from June, and up +0.6 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised June unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a fifth consecutive over-the-month increase in July, up +11,700 (+0.2%) to 6,176,400, a record high. The June monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +1,500 to +1,800. The July payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. * Statewide | Changing juvenile detention: Recent state inspections show numerous county-level juvenile detention centers fail to meet state standards. There have also been claims of abuse and lack of oversight. Studies have also shown locking up juveniles can have long-term consequences. Two new state laws seek to change the system. Peter Medlin speaks with Elizabeth Clarke, founder of the juvenile detention watchdog Juvenile Justice Initiative about the impact the laws could make. * Rockford News First | Loves Park bakery owner inspires change in state law: Malone said the harassment started again, called the sheriff’s department and learned the person accused of stalking her had not received the final paperwork. “I was so angry that I thought that this was in place for my protection, and it wasn’t,” she said. “Until that person is actually served that paperwork, you’re not protected at all.” Malone then called State Senator Steve Stadelman’s office and explained what happened. * NBC Chicago | Bally’s says its Chicago casino will open on time despite financial issues: Still, Bally’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel Kim Barker says all things are go for an on-time casino opening. “Bally’s continues to be in a strong position to deliver the integrated casino and resort,” Barker said. “That is without question, we do have the funding and we will complete it on time.” * Crain’s | Chicago home prices make biggest jump in over 5 years: The median price of homes sold in Chicago was up 13.3% in July from a year ago, according to data released this morning by Illinois Realtors. That’s a higher year-over-year jump than prices have made in any month since January 2021, when they were up 15.9% from a year earlier. * Sun-Times | With PPP fraud case looming, son of Chicago’s ex-top cop avoids suspension over chaotic arrest: The recommendation to suspend Terry Hillard’s son for as long as a month was wiped out after then-police Supt. Larry Snelling intervened in the case. The younger Hillard faces potential dismissal for allegedly getting more than $18,000 in fraudulent PPP loans. * Sun-Times | Lobbyist John Kelly, a mayoral candidate, vows to use relationships he’s built to save a ‘city in decline’: Kelly is not saying precisely how he would pay for all of that when Chicago is facing a $90 million mid-year shortfall, a $1 billion gap in next year’s budget and a $36 billion pension crisis that has police and fire pension funds dangerously close to bankruptcy. He would only talk in the broadest of strokes about reducing police overtime, cutting the mayor’s 154-member bodyguard detail and approaching private businesses, maybe even some of his own lobbying clients, for help. * Crain’s | O’Hare overhaul shifts gears to speed up new global terminal: The city of Chicago is going back to its original construction plan at O’Hare, building two satellite concourses ahead of the new global terminal that is the centerpiece of the massive facilities overhaul underway at the airport. The Department of Aviation says the move will save money and time. It also will provide some operational flexibility during a major construction project. * WTTW | Chicago Won’t Host 2028 Democratic National Convention: Chicago and Atlanta were eliminated in the first round of cuts made by officials with the Democratic National Committee, leaving Boston, Philadelphia and Denver to battle it out to host the gathering planned for Aug. 7-10, 2028, officials said. All five cities put forward “incredibly strong bids” to put on an “inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that did not explain why Chicago and Atlanta fell short. * Daily Southtown | Will County renews Flock camera agreements despite some dissent: The board approved the proposals by a 14-8 vote, with four Democrats and four Republicans casting no votes. “They can follow you from the second you walk out your door,” said board member Steve Balich, a Homer Glen Republican, who voted against the proposal. “Our liberties are more important than these surveillance (cameras).” Board member Katie Deane-Schlottman, a Joliet Republican, said residents don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy in public. Cameras are on highways, private property and people’s doorbells, she said. * Daily Herald } https://www.dailyherald.com/20260820/news/bartlett-community-debates-use-of-flock-cameras-as-village-considers-extending-contract/: Bartlett, which has been using Flock cameras for four years, is mulling whether to extend its pact with the company for at least another year. A vote on the extension could happen as soon as Sept. 1. But on Tuesday, a group of 10 residents spoke out against the use of the license plate readers. “Bartlett doesn’t feel any safer today than it did in 2024, than it did in 2022,” resident Keith Humphrey told the village board. “I don’t feel like you trust me because you constantly watch me.” * Naperville Sun | Why the Naperville council is taking its time on kratom ban decision: Councilman Benny White acknowledged the relief some speakers said they found from natural leaf kratom but said he still supported a complete retail ban. “Quite frankly, our top responsibility as councilmen and women up here is public safety,” he said. “We talk about fire and police all the time but when it comes to public health … this falls right in line with that for me.” For other council members, the distinction speakers drew between synthetic and non-synthetic kratom products merited more information before making a final decision. * Daily herald | No truth to conflict allegations made against D203 board members, Cush says: Cush addressed the allegations at Monday’s board meeting, saying the district has no contracts with the Alive Center and the board members have not benefited from their involvement with both organizations. “I am making this statement for transparency to our community and to address the detrimental impact that this board member’s recent conduct and allegations have had,” Cush said. * Shaw Local | Village of Manteno lacks quorum; mayor asks police to arrest non-attending board members: The absent board members were CJ Boudreau, who messaged before the meeting that he had matters to attend to at work; Todd Crockett, Annette Zimbelman, who messaged beforehand that she wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t make it; and Joel Gesky, who messaged Village Administrator Chris LaRoque that he wouldn’t be able to make it. Also missing was Village Attorney Joe Cainkar, who had an event to attend at his children’s school. The village of Manteno is suing those same four trustees regarding a special meeting held in June, where they reappointed Cainkar as the village attorney. LaMore terminated Cainkar but the four missing trustees reinstated him in a June 25 special meeting that LaMore said was illegal under village code. That lawsuit got continued on Monday to 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21. * Rockford News First | Flock cameras in Lee County cut down: The three cameras taken down were near Interstate 39 in eastern Lee County. According to the sheriff’s office, the poles were cut over the previous three weeks and will cost hundreds of dollars to repair and replace. * WGLT | Rivian’s tax appeal remains a sticking point for Unit 5’s proposed $252M budget: Rivian, which makes electric vehicles in Normal, has challenged the assessed value of seven properties [including the main plant] impacting its 2025 taxes. Unit 5 says Rivian initially appealed to a county review board that kept things as-is, leading the company to file an appeal with the state’s Property Tax Appeal Board [PTAB]. The appeal remains pending in front of PTAB. “We’re closely monitoring to see what the impact will be because there’s the potential for it to have a significant impact to Unit 5,” Superintendent Kristen Weikle said at Wednesday’s Unit 5 school board meeting. * WMBD | Heavy flooding leaves Central Illinois Farmers watching crops ahead of harvest: The flooding left standing water across parts of the farm and caused physical damage to some crops. Ackerman said water was running through areas of the farm on Wednesday night that were beginning to dry by Thursday. He called it an unusual amount of rain for August. While farmers can benefit from rainfall this time of year, particularly for soybeans, Ackerman said this was simply too much at once. * WICS | Workers Escape Moments Before Mattoon Collapse: City Manager Kyle Gill said officials reviewed video and spoke with witnesses who indicated everyone was able to get out safely. No injuries were reported. “We believe of all the videos that we’ve looked at and talking to witnesses that everybody was out of the buildings. Nobody was injured. But we are going slow to get to the front of that building so we can get into the building and verify,” Gill said. * Fox 32 | One monthly bill Americans can’t avoid is quietly surging thanks to emerging industry: Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas finds that the rapid growth of AI data centers could make electricity more expensive for households in the coming years. And researchers estimate existing data centers that have popped up all over the country in recent years have already pushed average wholesale electricity prices 2% to 6% higher nationwide, with even larger surges in areas where these facilities are concentrated. * Press release | AAPOR Responds to Fabricated Polling Data: An organization acknowledged Monday that it produced fake polls as part of a “short-term social experiment.” At least one news outlet, some online polling aggregators, and a political candidate shared the fabricated data masquerading as legitimate survey results. The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the leading association of public opinion and survey research professionals, strongly condemns the fabrication of data in any polling or public opinion research. Intentionally misleading the public is a serious breach of ethics and undermines legitimate polling and public opinion work. * AP | Nebraska’s largest school district asks police to stop using electric shock gloves on students: Omaha Superintendent Matthew Ray requested that police working in the schools, known as school resource officers, stop using the gloves. Omaha Police agreed. However, the suburban Bellevue police department that patrols two Omaha schools and the large Bellevue district said its officers will continue carrying the gloves. Three other large school districts in the metro area that have Omaha school resource officers assigned to their buildings have not taken action to stop police from using the devices. * Inside Climate News | The Data Center Industry’s PR Blitz Is Backfiring: The ad extolled the purported economic benefits of data centers, including the claim that these enormous power-hungry facilities pay their own energy costs so “North Carolina families don’t have to.” “I knew it wasn’t true, and it concerned me that other people wouldn’t know the other side,” said Parrott, whose land could back up to a proposed data center. “I figured somebody in the data center industry had to be behind it.”
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Good morning!
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Aug 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller ….Adding… Subscribers know more. Starved Rock Media…
* Sun-Times…
Sponsored by Chronic Care Policy Alliance It’s a fact: obesity is a chronic disease. Access to FDA-approved obesity treatments shouldn’t depend on a patient’s financial situation. A recent study of Illinois voters found:
- 81% believe access to obesity treatment is especially important for communities facing higher rates of chronic disease. - 78% agree that when programs like Medicaid cover obesity medicines, they help improve lives and lead to better health outcomes down the road. Expanding access to obesity medicines through Medicaid can help eligible patients receive the care they need to manage a chronic disease and prevent long-term complications. Learn why Illinois policymakers should provide Medicaid coverage for obesity medicines and help ensure every eligible patient has access to treatment. * ABC Chicago | Republican candidates for midterm election share message of unity at Illinois State Fair: Republican voters are far outnumbered by Democrats in Illinois. The message from party leaders was that they are going to have to work harder than their opponents if they are going to win in November. They are hoping they have a policy message that resonates. Darren Bailey, the Republican candidate for governor got a standing ovation as he walked to the podium, offering a message of unity and focus. “Together, we work together. We can get this state back on the right track. We have to be focused on affordability, safety and education,” Bailey said. * Block Club | Park District Installs Mobile Surveillance Cameras To Monitor Ronan Park Homeless Encampment: The Chicago Park District has deployed a new tool in Ronan Park to monitor a homeless encampment that has raised concerns among neighbors, especially after another fire broke out there this week. The district confirmed it placed a solar-powered mobile security trailer with surveillance cameras at the park at 2900 W. Lawrence Ave. over the weekend. Park District spokesperson Irene Tostado said the cameras were set up “to address safety concerns following numerous emergency service calls.” She did not immediately respond to followup questions on whether the cameras have been used in other parks. * Block Club | How Will Illinois Tech Layoffs Impact Bronzeville?: The task force used the course to launch its six-week summer workforce enrichment program last year, with Illinois Tech providing the syllabus and offering instructional assistance for the teens and college students participating, Adams said. “[With the layoffs] we lost a high level of expertise, people who are passionate about design, people who would come up with design ideas for the project. That loss? You can’t measure,” Adams said. * Crain’s | O’Hare overhaul shifts gears to speed up new global terminal: The Department of Aviation says the move will save money and time. It also will provide some operational flexibility during a major construction project. The airlines, which balked at building two satellites ahead of the global terminal that will replace Terminal 2 because of cost concerns, have signed off on the idea, which was first reported by Crain’s last year. * Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker declares ‘BTS Day’ in Illinois in honor of K-pop group’s visit to Chicago: Gov. JB Pritzker has officially declared Aug. 27 and 28 “BTS Day” in Illinois, according to a proclamation he signed earlier this month. The superstar musicians will perform sold-out shows on those days at Soldier Field as part of the septet’s “Arirang” world tour. The governor was petitioned by the fan group Chicago BTS Army and the HANA Center, an immigrant advocacy nonprofit in Irving Park. Both groups also launched a campaign to turn the Downtown skyline “Borahae Purple” — in honor of a popular phrase (“I purple you”) associated with the group. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board rejects hydro-excavation company opposed by Homer officials: he Will County Board voted Thursday to reject a plan by Badger Daylighting Corporation to operate an office and store its trucks on site after the case was delayed multiple times to allow the company to work out a potential compromise with Homer Glen and Homer Township officials. Village and township residents and officials have protested the nondestructive hydro-excavation business’s plan to relocate from Channahon to about 38 acres on 159th Street in Homer Township. * Pioneer Press | New program for adults with developmental disabilities opens in Forest Park: his year, Russo opened CORE, a specialized day program in Forest Park that assists adults that have aged out of school-based care. People in the program work with therapists who assist with building vocational and social skills, learning life skills and discovering how to be independent while honing in on the four points that the organization’s acronym stands for: community, ownership, readiness and empowerment. * WTTW | From Saddles to Seed Nursery, This Former Barrington Horse Farm Is Being Restored to Native Habitat: The Barrington-based nonprofit Citizens for Conservation (CFC) purchased the 232-acre parcel with the intent of returning the farm to its native wetland and prairie habitat. Last year, the organization moved its headquarters to what’s now Hill ‘N Dale Nature Preserve — repurposing an existing building — in order to gain an understanding of the land’s seasonal rhythms and to witness changes in real-time. * WCIA | Paxton Mayor looking for solutions to city’s flooding problems, asking community to pitch in: Mayor Bill Ingold said solutions are being discussed right now within the city, and they center on the community pitching in. Once people cut their grass, they are being asked not to clog street drains with grass clippings and to avoid putting trash in the street, which causes a buildup. The city has been quoted a price of up to $8 million to fix these issues, and Ingold said he needs the community to buy in now more than ever. * BND | St. Clair County lithium-ion battery power plant proposed: Zoning board members pressed Brown and other company representatives for more information about the plant’s daily management, including how personnel would detect problems and notify first responders. They also discussed possible disruptions to the community from noise and construction hours. “I know that this is St. Clair County’s first battery, but this is not RWE’s,” Brown told the board. “We’ve operated them, built them. We know how to do it safely, and we know how to do it where it has a limited impact to the overall community.” * BND | After months of questions, Belleville council approves warming center: An initial vote on the proposal was tabled in March after several council members asked for more details before voting on a project they said could have regional implications. Cathedral of St. Peter Catholic Church offered the use of McCormick Center at 301 S. First St. The large, multi-use building includes a gymnasium, restrooms and a kitchen. The proposal came backed by Rev. Godfrey Mullen, the former Cathedral pastor, who has since been elevated to bishop for the Diocese of Belleville. He said “it doesn’t take a genius” to see the need for such a facility. * WGLT | McLean County Emergency Management is testing drones for rural fire response: McAfee said the EMA, which operates as part of the county Sheriff’s Office, received a grant from Norfolk Southern to purchase the drone. So far, it has been used for search-and-rescue operations and to train cadaver dogs. Once the drone was a few hundred feet in the air, McAfee turned on the thermal imaging function. The drone has a display screen on its controller, which is about a foot wide. There’s another screen stationed on an EMA truck for command crews to observe. * CNN | Video: Route 66 in Illinois: Roadside giants and small-town personality * 404 Media | ‘I Saw a Shiny Thing’: Cop Explains Why He Used License Plate Reader to Stalk Woman: When 404 Media wrote about this issue in early July, Flock claimed it was “aware of 15 incidents of abuse,” though we, local media, and a report by the Institute for Justice had found far more than that. The Washington Post then found “at least 50” incidents and, now, Flock’s CEO Garrett Langley is saying that its system has “caught a lot of bad cops. It’s a ton. It’s more than I ever would have hoped.”
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Campaign roundup
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * [From Rich: You really have to listen to this new radio ad by GOP Attorney General candidate Bob Fioretti. The quality of his voice is pretty darned awful]…
* Darren Bailey reacts to some Pritzker campaign shenanigans…
* During his 2022 reelection campaign, Pritzker contributed $145 million to his campaign and defeated Bailey by 12.5 percentage points…
As a commenter said earlier today, JB “puts the gas peddle to the floor no matter where he is in the polls.” * No DNC repeat for Chicago. AP…
* ‘Dinosaurs against Darren’ are at the fair…
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Pritzker campaign launches ‘Too Extreme’ TV ad targeting Bailey (Updated)
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Press release…
* The spot… The ad is essentially a shorter version of a video the Pritzker campaign released in March. * Script…
Rating? …Adding… Meanwhile…
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Governor’s Day coverage roundup
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
* Proof of story…  * Tribune…
* CNI…
* WGN…
Last year, Giannoulias heaped praise on Mendoza during the fair. * ABC7…
* And…
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Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Thank you, Governor Pritzker and members of the General Assembly for taking an important step forward for Illinois students with a $26 million investment in free, healthy school meals, a $17 million increase and the largest expansion in over a decade. Your leadership is turning policy into meaningful action, helping schools provide nutritious meals that support students’ health, learning, and success every day. At a time when families and educators are facing growing challenges, this investment demonstrates a strong commitment to the well-being of Illinois children. This significant progress begins to fulfill the promise established in 2023 to expand access to healthy school meals and shows what is possible when leaders prioritize the health and success of students. While this investment marks an important milestone, more work remains to fully fund school meals and ensure every child has reliable access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum together to make that vision is a reality for every Illinois student. Learn more at: https://www.healthyschoolmealsil.com/
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois regulators propose allowing licensed cannabis producers to grow outdoors. Tribune…
- Outdoor cultivation is common in other states that have legalized cannabis, from California to Michigan. Researchers say it could save up to 76% of the energy used on indoor cultivation, helping the state towards its goal of reducing net carbon emissions. It could also lower prices for consumers. - The growing area must be fully enclosed by a continuous chain-link fence at least 8 feet high and topped with razor wire or other security wire; and screened or covered so that it’s out of public view from nearby streets or roads. Sponsored by Chronic Care Policy Alliance It’s a fact: obesity is a chronic disease. Access to FDA-approved obesity treatments shouldn’t depend on a patient’s financial situation. A recent study of Illinois voters found:
- 81% believe access to obesity treatment is especially important for communities facing higher rates of chronic disease. - 78% agree that when programs like Medicaid cover obesity medicines, they help improve lives and lead to better health outcomes down the road. Expanding access to obesity medicines through Medicaid can help eligible patients receive the care they need to manage a chronic disease and prevent long-term complications. Learn why Illinois policymakers should provide Medicaid coverage for obesity medicines and help ensure every eligible patient has access to treatment. * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Illinois Times | Unamended consequences: The 2050 planners explain that only about 10% of Springfield’s population and housing units are found within a mile of the downtown core. Most of Springfield’s peer small rural capital cities, such as Des Moines or Madison, in contrast, sustain larger shares of their populations downtown “and are growing those concentrations at a faster annual rate” than Springfield. The 2050 plan does not explain that one of the reasons there are not more people living in downtown Springfield is that the state incited (and the city permitted) the destruction of hundreds of dwellings around the Statehouse beginning in the 1970s, when that neighborhood was mostly residential. * WGLT | Wind farm development could resume in Central Illinois: A federal judge has ordered the Pentagon to lift its freeze on reviewing onshore wind project permits and to end delays that have brought U.S. wind power development to a standstill, including projects in Central Illinois. Johnston said that could make a difference, though the moratorium has not so far been terribly disruptive. “These are projects that have been in the works for a long time, and I’m hoping that that moratorium really serves as just a blip and that the organizations that were looking to come to McLean County, that it did not disrupt their plans at all,” said Johnston. * KWQC | Pritzker in talks with Tyson on repurposing Joslin facility after sudden closure: Pritzker attributed the cost of beef across the country as the reason for the plant’s closure. “It’s a tragedy that was caused by the very high cost of beef across the country. You saw that they unfortunately closed not just that facility, but one in Utah,” Pritzker said. “They’re selling off one in Washington. This is really terrible for the people who live in Joslin. We’re doing everything that we can to lift them up.” * WCIA | IL Attorney General releases audit into U of I’s Discovery Partners Institute: The Illinois Auditor General has released the results of an audit into the University of Illinois’ Discovery Partners Institute, after Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) initiated the audit last year. In 2024, the institute announced it was shifting away from its plan to build a tech hub on the south side of Chicago. Rose said the move prompted him to ask questions about the money being spent on the plan. Now, the audit’s results show each payment toward the development of DPI’s development, known as “The 78” was accurate and accounted for. It shows nearly $50 million was spent on architectural plans, construction and salaries before the project was scrapped. * WGN | Health advocates protest Chicago HIV and AIDS care funding cuts: The AIDS Health Care Foundation staged a protest the morning of Aug. 19, outside the Chicago Board of Health’s meeting in the Loop. Earlier in the year, the organization filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Department of Public Health after it ended grant programs that funded care for HIV and AIDS patients. These cuts have hit the city’s South and West sides the hardest. “These are real people that we’re talking about. These are real systems that have been critically adjusted. There are folks who have fallen out of care, and the question remains, ‘Does the city really care about these communities?’” * Sun-Times | No clear leader in race for Chicago School Board president, poll finds: A third of likely voters in November’s elections have no idea which of the five candidates for Chicago School Board president they’d vote for, or if they’d vote at all, according to a poll released Thursday that provides one of the first looks at the state of the historic contest. The survey of 600 likely voters, which was commissioned by candidate Sendhil Revuluri’s campaign and conducted last week, found that even after hearing brief biographies about each candidate pulled from campaign materials, 34% of likely voters remained undecided or said they’d skip voting in the race. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Board of Education 101: Know the basics of the soon-to-be elected board guiding Chicago Public Schools: A desire for better representation on Chicago’s school board — rather than unceasing mayoral control — played a large part in adding more members. To determine how those members would represent different parts of Chicago, state lawmakers passed separate legislation in March 2024 dividing the city into electoral districts. * Crain’s | Chicago apartment sales jump 91% as rent growth draws investor confidence: Investors traded nearly $2.5 billion worth of Chicago-area apartment buildings in the first half of 2026, a 91% increase from the first six months of 2025, according to data from real estate services firm Newmark, which tracks deals of more than $15 million or 50 units. * Sun-Times | Jesse White Tumbling Team eliminated from ‘America’s Got Talent’: The Jesse White Tumbling Team’s journey on Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent” ended on Wednesday night as the Chicago troupe did not advance to the semifinal rounds of the hit reality/competition series. The outcome was revealed during the show’s first results round telecast. The team’s disappointment was palpable as their hopeful smiles dissolved into heartbreak as the news was announced. * ABC Chicago | Itasca police officer accused of misusing Flock technology, no longer employed by department: Village officials said during an internal audit of the Itasca Police Department, officials discovered that a law enforcement officer allegedly used the department’s technology systems “for a purpose that was not authorized.” “Upon learning of these actions, the Village immediately placed the involved officer on administrative leave while it conducted an internal investigation,” the village said. “The officer is no longer employed by the Itasca Police Department, and per department policy, the matter was turned over to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office for review.” * Daily Herald | Anti-Flock signs removed as Rolling Meadows debates license plate cameras: City leaders say the signs were on public property and rights-of-way — particularly, the parkway grass areas between sidewalks and street curbs — where municipal code prohibits political campaign signs, real estate signs and contractor signs, among others. Organizers of the no-camera campaign admit many placards were placed near the street and on public property — indeed, 15 had arrows pointing up to identify individual cameras — but accused city hall of selective enforcement. * ABC Chicago | Ex-Cook County commissioner accuses Treasurer Maria Pappas of intimidation in complaint over texts: The dispute began after Pappas sent Boykin a series of text messages over the weekend in response to a letter Boykin wrote earlier this month on behalf of mayoral candidate Willie Wilson. The letter criticized Pappas and several other public officials for seeking re-election to their current offices while also pursuing a mayoral campaign. While Pappas has not formally launched a mayoral campaign, she has indicated she plans to run. * Daily Herald | Bartlett has no marijuana dispensaries. It could soon have two at the same intersection: Bartlett trustees are expected to vote Sept. 1 on whether to allow the village’s first pot dispensary at the northeast corner of Route 59 and Army Trail Road. Just two days later, the village’s planning and zoning commission is scheduled to review a proposal for another dispensary at the southeast corner of Route 59 and Army Trail. If built, the dispensaries would be less than 1,500 feet apart. Typically, the state doesn’t issue licenses to recreational marijuana businesses that close to each other, according to Kurt Asprooth, Bartlett’s village attorney. The state usually licenses the dispensary that successfully applies first, he said. * WGLT | McLean County, city and town have more work to resolve shared sales tax dispute: A clean audit of the McLean County Mental Health and Public Safety Fund won’t wipe away all the disagreements over how the county spends sales tax money shared by Bloomington and Normal. McLean County Board chair Elizabeth Johnston said the audit adequately captured what has been happening in the fund and that it shows expenditures happened appropriately. Johnston said as long as the contract continues between the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal and the county, the auditor believes the fund will remain able to meet contractual obligations for criminal justice records handling technology and mental health programs. * Tribune |: A major ethanol refinery on the Illinois River near Peoria has been ordered to fund efforts to restore its wetlands and floodplain after an eight-year legal fight over alleged water discharges up to 40 degrees hotter than permitted, threatening aquatic life. “Rivers can’t speak in court, so we speak for them,” said Robert Hirschfeld, director of water policy at Prairie Rivers Network. * WPSD | Southern Illinois winery permanently closing, cites property tax burden: After nearly two decades as a Southern Illinois hospitality destination, Walker’s Bluff is closing its Winery and Legends permanently on Wednesday, with the owners saying rising property taxes made it impossible to continue operating. [….] Walker’s Bluff CEO Brad Elders told board members the property tax bill had reached about $194,000, approximately $14,200 more than the previous year. He described what the financial strain meant for longtime employees. * WAND | New Unit 4 superintendent addresses registration delays amid residency checks: Champaign School District Unit 4 said hundreds of students have not started school because their parents or guardians cannot prove they live in the district, and it has requested three residency documents. Board member Betsy Holder said in a Facebook post Tuesday that an estimated 750 students are being removed from Unit 4 schools because they do not live within the boundary lines. * WAND | Decatur begins first comprehensive plan update since 2009: Lacie Elzy, director of economic and community development for the City of Decatur, said it is a long-range plan and a roadmap for how the community wants to reinvest in itself and develop over the next 10 to 20 years. “It also gives us, by giving us a policy and a roadmap to follow,” Elzy said. “So, you know, in future years when we are looking at grant funds that are available, when we are looking at budgets and we’re looking at projects coming down the pipeline, we can go back to this document and really be intentional with those investments.” * Capitol City Now | 1,500-pound steer is star of Sale of Champions at Illinois State Fair: Eighteen-month-old Badger (pictured) weighs about 1,500 pounds and is, says Gensini, “the best boy ever.” Soon enough, he’ll be the best steaks and hamburgers distributed at Illinois food banks. While the other animals and commodities at the annual event are auctioned off, the custom the last few years has been for Gov. Pritzker and the First Lady to donate $105,000.
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Good morning!
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Al Green and Chicago… Meeting you has proven to me I’ve apparently trained my algorithm well. Anyway, how’s August going for you?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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