Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Governor JB Pritzker…
* Tribune | CTA begins using gun detection system powered by AI: The $200,000 ZeroEyes test run, which has been in place for about a month, will run through summer 2025 to start, CTA Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan said. The program uses the CTA’s existing cameras to detect guns once they have been exposed, and is now installed on more than 250 of the agency’s roughly 30,000 cameras, he said. […] So far, the program has detected guns carried openly by law enforcement officers and toy guns, including large electronic water guns, he said. ZeroEyes alerted Chicago and CTA officials to the toy guns, noting they were not believed to be lethal weapons, and then it was up to local officials to determine how to respond, Ryan said. * Block Club Chicago | The Race To Build Quantum Campus Is On — And South Siders Won’t Be Left Behind, Officials Say: The quantum campus is the latest proposal for the South Works brownfield, following failed pitches for a movie studio campus, a 20,000-home neighborhood and the mixed-use Chicago Lakeside development, among other ideas. “I know that is very difficult for people” to have seen so many stalled proposals for the site in the past, Angela Tovar, the city’s chief sustainability officer, said last month. * Sun-Times | NASCAR street race to return to Chicago in 2025: The race has brought tourists to the city but has also been met with complaints by some Chicagoans. Some Sun-Times readers cited traffic woes and that part of downtown being out of commission for other activities as reasons to move or stop the street races. Others welcomed the positive attention and money it brought to the city. * Tribune | Beach volleyball returns to Chicago on Labor Day weekend — and features Olympic medalists: Fresh off winning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes will headline the AVP Chicago Open on Labor Day weekend. Returning to Chicago is special for the Canadian duo, as they first played together here in 2022. “Technically, this spot was the first time Melissa and I ever played volleyball together,” Wilkerson said. “That event that we paired up for, we weren’t officially a team. We were kind of just giving it a go because obviously we both played on the AVP and our partner situation had changed, so we’re like, let’s just try it out. * Sun-Times | White Sox just as bad under Grady Sizemore, but players love him – and the feeling is mutual: “I love those guys in there,” Sizemore said of his clubhouse. Love is in the air, unaffected by the glum drum roll of daily defeats in a season headed to 120 or more. Whether Sizemore gets a chance to build his case for the full-time manager’s job for next year and beyond remains to be seen. General manager Chris Getz likes what he has seen, but remains intent on his stated plan to search outside the organization after the season. * WGN | Thornton Township meeting canceled, but Supervisor Tiffany Henyard speaks uninterrupted: With no trustees in attendance, the special Thornton Township meeting called by Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard ended before it began, but Henyard saw an opportunity to speak uninterrupted to the small group of people in the room. […] “That’s what all the hate is about. Your super mayor became too powerful too quick,” Henyard said. “I’m so rare, I’m so unique, and that’s why everybody got problems all about control.” * ABC Chicago | Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over Fox River in Kane County opens after years-long, $204M project: There is also a bike and pedestrian path. The project, which used federal, state and local funds, cost $204 million. Kane County initially planned to pay for the bridge construction with tolls. * Daily Herald | Kane GOP outraged at ‘First Amendment area’ at county building: A First Amendment brouhaha is brewing at the Kane County Government Center, with Republicans accusing Kane County Board Chairman Corinne Pierog of violating their free speech rights by creating a “First Amendment area” away from the main building’s front door. * Naperville Sun | Demolition for Block 59 development in Naperville nearly finished: Block 59 is a $53 million, 91,000-square-foot venture. When complete, the complex will bring a slew of new dining options to the city, including Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheesecake Factory, Piccolo Buco by Cooper’s Hawk, Shake Shack, Stan’s Donuts, First Watch, Fresh Fin, Crisp & Green and Velvet Taco. * WSIL | A Dozen Staff Members at Menard Correctional Center Taken to Hospital After Experiencing Symptoms: Authorities said all Menard Correctional Center staff members have since been released from the hospital. The Illinois Poison Control Center, along with the St. Clair County EMA’s Hazmat Team, is assisting with the investigation. The Menard Correctional Center is placed on a level 1 lockdown and all personal protective equipment (PPE) is available to the staff members there. * SJ-R | More than a kicker: Glenwood’s Mia Gerger has passion for football: Ask Mia Gerger what she loves most about being a kicker on the Chatham Glenwood football team, and she rattles off several things. She says the football team, including the coaching staff, is a large family and she’s happy to be part of that. She loves making kicks that help her team win games or advance in the postseason, such as she did in a Class 6A second round playoff game last year at Oak Lawn Richards. But what she truly embraces is the pressure. * WSIL | 100 Blankets Donated to Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois: The Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois received another donation, this being one which will help keep everyone comfortable during their flight to Washington D.C. The Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois stated they are beyond grateful for the donation of 100 travel blankets for their 13th flight coming up. * CBS | Bugs, mold and mildew found in Boar’s Head plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak: The outbreak has grown to 57 hospitalizations in 18 states linked to recalled products from the plant. At least nine deaths have now been reported, including two in South Carolina and one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York. […] Records released by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to CBS News through a Freedom of Information Act request tally 69 records of “noncompliances” flagged by the agency over the past year at the Jarratt plant.
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Tollway settles lawsuit for $25 million after neglecting to follow state law
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. Marni Pyke…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition (Updated)
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Another dire DNC prediction didn’t come true
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. August 13th…
* Today…
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Thursday, Aug 29, 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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Woke alert!
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * I’ve seen a lot of excitement since yesterday’s announcement. However, Illinois Freedom Caucus member Rep. Adam Niemerg isn’t too keen on a new state flag… * Here is part of the video’s transcript…
* I added a bit more context to some of the members of Illinois’ flag commission… Senate Republican Appointees
- Former Sen. Tom Rooney (R) - Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens House Republican Appointees
- Former Rep. Tim Butler (R) - Kendall County Clerk Matthew G Prochaska - George Howard Senate Democratic Appointees
- Interim Director of SIUE’s Institute for Community Justice and Racial Equity Dr. Tandra Taylor - Cristina Colunga from the Elgin Hispanic Network - Tim Mellman House Democratic Appointees
- SIU Professor of studio arts and art history Najjar Abdul-Musawwir - University of Illinois at Chicago Asst. Professor and Reference Librarian Benjamin Grantham - Lincolnshire Social Studies teacher Andrew Conneen Appointed by the Governor
- Michelle Renae Smith - Pastor and veteran Sherrell L. Byrd, Jr. Appointed by statute
- Graphic Designer at ISBE Sierra Force For more on how these members were picked, click here. * This Somali flag stuff comes from posts like this… * Reuters…
I mean… Minnesota’s flag is blue and has a star?… * Somalia’s flag for reference… ![]()
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IDOT ought to pay attention to its annual survey
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From IDOT’s 2024 Illinois Traveler Opinion Survey Key Findings Report…
* From the full report… ![]() Looks like the public, including those who live in Downstate, is way ahead of the politicians. The handful of people we hear constantly carp about public transit is just that: A handful. * It appears the public is also noticing the massive upgrades to roads and bridges and the topic is just no longer as urgent… ![]() * IDOT really needs to take note of this… ![]() If you’ve ever had to park your car across a wide, busy street from a business, the feeling of taking your life into your own hands is something you don’t soon forget. We’re all pedestrians at some point. We all want to live.
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News coverage roundup: Chicago faces $982 million budget shortfall for 2025
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
Click here for the city’s full budget forecast. * Sun-Times…
* Block Club…
* Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson…
* WBEZ…
* Tribune…
* CBS Chicago…
* More…
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It’s just gonna keep getting worse
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
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Open thread
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Stateville begins transferring out prisoners amid concerns over conditions. Tribune…
- A federal judge earlier this month ordered most Stateville inmates be moved out by Sept. 30 after civil rights lawyers argued the conditions were too hazardous. - As of the end of June, IDOC reported Stateville’s total population was 568. * Related stories… ∙ WJOL: Stateville prison employees to picket, urge “No chaos, no layoffs!” ∙ First Listen: AFSCME weighs in on Stateville prison move out ∙ Shaw Local: Stateville union workers plan Crest Hill demonstration to oppose closure At 11:30 am Governor Pritzker will give remarks at ribbon cutting for new Longmeadow Parkway Bridge. At 1:45 pm the governor will be at the opening of Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. Click here to watch. * Envision Unlimited…
* Sun-Times | Legionella bacteria, lead found in EPA Chicago offices’ drinking water: The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the drinking water of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Loop offices, and employees are demanding the problem be fixed. High levels of lead and copper were also found in a pair of water sources at the offices. * Sun-Times | Chicago Archdiocese introduces natural burial plots, first Catholic diocese in state to do so: An area for natural burials will be dedicated this weekend at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine. Natural burials typically avoid the embalming chemical formaldehyde and non-degradable materials such as concrete vaults and metal caskets. * Crain’s | Here’s just how empty Chicago’s offices were during the DNC: As tens of thousands of delegates, volunteers, media members and more flocked to the United Center for the Democratic National Convention, much of Chicago’s workforce stayed home. In fact, offices in the city were up to half empty during the DNC compared to the same days the week prior, according to the latest data from real estate technology firm Kastle Systems, which tracks badge swipes at commercial office buildings. […] During the DNC, however, those numbers dropped significantly. On Monday, Aug. 19, the first day of the convention, Kastle data shows in-office occupancy was 29.3% relative to pre-pandemic levels. For context, that figure was 46.3% for Monday, Aug. 12. * WICS | Illinois State Treasurer’s Office reports record $1.495 billion earnings in FY 2024: Also in Fiscal Year 2024, which ended June 30, the Treasurer’s Office made a record $1.05 billion in gross investment earnings for cities, villages, school districts, counties and other units of government that take part in the highly rated Illinois Funds local government investment pool the State Treasurer’s Office operates. The Illinois Funds has received the highest rating of AAA from Fitch, a national credit ratings agency. * Crain’s | For these companies, quantum computing isn’t a far-off dream. It’s now.: As the name implies, this new type of computing draws on the concepts of quantum mechanics in physics. Tiny particles of matter or specialized circuits can effectively be in multiple states at once. Instead of storing information as 1s or 0s, as traditional computers do, quantum machines store bits of data in a quantum superposition, which is neither 0 nor 1. If that explanation strikes you as clear as mud, know this: The result is computers that are uniquely suited to process more data and tackle more complicated problems than current machines. What quantum computers are really good at is tackling multiple problems with lots of ever-changing variables. * Tribune | Chicago school board race finalized at 32 candidates: The two candidates removed from the ballot are Kirk Ortiz of the 3rd District and Brittany Bailey Preston of the 9th District. Four other candidates who had objections filed against them had their objections dismissed on Tuesday, confirming their spot on the ballot. Those are Bruce Leon of the 2nd District, Jason Dones of the 3rd District, Andre Smith of the 6th District and Raquel Don of the 7th District. * WTTW | Officials Asked for Public Comment on Proposed DuSable Lake Shore Drive Redesign. They Got an Earful: CDOT provided WTTW News with 308 public comments under a Freedom of Information Act request. Almost all were forms filled out at the open house, with a handful sent via email. Of the 308 comments, 192 say the proposed redesign doesn’t do nearly enough to improve public transportation, with one saying “transit has been given the scraps of scraps.” * Tribune | Downtown lodging industry was big winner during last week’s DNC, thanks to higher room rates and full hotels: Downtown hotels enjoyed a lucrative week during the Democratic National Convention, with occupancy levels as much as 20% higher than the same period last year and rooms rented at much higher rates to the tens of thousands of visiting delegates, lobbyists and other convention attendees, according to data from CoStar, a real estate analytics firm. “It’s economics 101. If demand goes up, prices go up,” said Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar. “These are very healthy numbers, so I think it was a very successful week, at least from a hotel perspective.” * WAND | Advocates, riders renew calls for public transit reform in Chicagoland region: Lawmakers continue to hear complaints about delayed services, lack of routes and limited coordination between providers. Yet, transportation is even harder for people with disabilities. “You can’t just jump in a car with a friend when you’re wheelchair bound,” said Kane County resident Ruth Kuzmanic. “So, you got to schedule that bus. That driver does come and get him and get him there, but it’s always additional hassles because that app is not user friendly.”
* Sun-Times | White Sox swept by Rangers; losses mount to 103: Finishing a game suspended by rain after only four pitches the night before, the Sox lost 3-1 to the Rangers before the sparsest of crowds in the first of two games Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The 4:10 p.m. start, scheduled just 19 hours earlier, figured to attract a small crowd and had about 150-200 fans on a 77-degree afternoon at the first pitch. The loss in the second game left the Sox needing to go 12-16 over their last 28 games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets (40-120) for most losses in major league history. * Daily Herald | Past due: Bills from DuPage County clerk in question again: DuPage County Auditor Bill White said in an Aug. 21 memorandum that the county has been unable to pay 13 invoices totaling $142,823. The reason is insufficient funds in specific budget lines or a lack of documentation to process the bills. All the unpaid invoices are related to election services, including four bills totaling $57,614 from DFM Associates, a company that manages the voter registration program. * Daily Southtown | Walt’s Food Centers to leave South Holland after 87-year run, closing in late September: Walt’s Food Centers is closing its South Holland store, a community where the small family-owned chain started nearly nine decades ago. In a letter posted for customers Monday outside the store, 16145 State St., the company said the store will close Sept. 28 and it is working to relocate employees to other Walt’s locations. * STL Today | Wentzville payroll clerk accused of falsifying timecards for years, stealing more than $49K: Prosecutors allege that Whitehead, a payroll specialist for an unnamed St. Charles County company from 2019 to 2022, paid herself for an additional 136 hours of vacation and bereavement time off, even though she was actually working during that time. Whitehead allowed her either overtime or her salary coefficient, but not both, if she worked more than 80 hours during her two-week pay period. * FOX 2 Now | Illinois lawmaker plans resolution to honor fallen officer: For months, Viola Jonas has been coming up with a plan to honor her late husband, former Centreville police Lieutenant Gregory Jonas. […] Jonas wants a memorial sign in his honor, but after a back and forth with the city, she felt she was not getting anywhere. Lt. Jonas died in the line of duty in 2009, serving in an area now known as Cahokia Heights. With decades in law enforcement, Lt. Jonas is well known there. […] “I believe that the members of the general assembly in the (Illinois) House and the Senate will gladly honor Lt. Jonas,” Illinois State Representative Jay Hoffman (D – District 113) said. * WCIA | Union for Decatur school custodians delivers intent to strike: Custodians delivered their 10-day strike notice at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. They have been at the negotiation table bargaining for wage increases since February. Workers have spoken at several Board of Education meetings this year about how being underpaid affects them and their families. […] [Amanda Francis, who has worked at the district for 6 years,] also said the board offering only a two-year contract for the custodians gives the workers much uncertainty. * PJ Star | What to know about the new $44 million justice center expansion coming to Pekin: The annex will be 79,000 square feet across four levels. It will house three fully finished courtrooms, a top floor shelled for an additional three courtrooms, state’s attorney and probation offices, the Circuit Clerk Traffic Division and an information technology data center. * SJ-R | Springfield sees ‘record breaking’ tourism for third straight year in 2023: Last year, tourism generated a local economic impact of $601.3 million — an increase of more than $70 million from 2022 — per data provided by Tourism Economics, a global tourism research firm, and was part of a statewide increase in visitor spending. This was in addition to the $18.8 million contributed to local tax revenues and the creation of more than 5,000 jobs, per the announcement from the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Springfield on Aug. 22. * SJ-R | ‘You can’t stop’: Springfield business thriving at new home after East Adams Street fire: It’s been more than two months since a fire ravaged the building at 413 E. Adams St. and almost everything inside of it, including the Electric Quill Tattoo parlor. Equipment and art inside the parlor, which had opened up in May and didn’t have building insurance at the time of the fire, were destroyed. Owner Steve Lima contemplated what he would do next but said receiving support from the community made things easier. * The Guardian | ‘January 6 was just the warm-up’: the film that tracks three Maga extremists storming the Capitol: “I think January 6th was just the warm-up,” Premo says. “This November, we’re going to see an even more frantic and desperate attempt to attack every level of the electoral system.” He is not optimistic about the US’s current direction of travel. The country, he argues, is effectively on the brink of civil war. Homegrown premieres in the International Critics’ Week sidebar at this year’s Venice film festival. It is one of a number of campaigning political pictures that could put the event at loggerheads with Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing Italian government. * WaPo | Technical error caused jobs data delay that sparked outrage, BLS says: The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday that a technical issue caused delays last week in the scheduled release of jobs data that carried major implications for the economy and the presidential election. A hitch related to time-stamping prevented the job revisions data from being released on time, according to information provided by the Labor Department, which the BLS is part of. Outside parties, the BLS said, then got the data because of a lack of communication within the agency over how to respond to public inquiries.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Aug 29, 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, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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