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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ABC Chicago…
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. * A can’t miss…
* CNI | Pritzker Signs Disaster Proclamation to Aid Area Communities After Recent Severe Storms : The proclamation, which took immediate effect, is intended to mobilize resources for debris removal and repairs to public infrastructure and will give small, rural communities the opportunity to apply for disaster relief funding of up to $250,000. “I know these storms have impacted countless Illinois families and requires we band together to help them recover,” Pritzker said in a statement announcing the proclamation. “As this relentless and unprecedented weather continues to wreak havoc across our region, I remain committed to ensuring those impacted get the resources and help they need.” * Press release | ICC sets second public forum for Illinois American Water rate case: * Daily Herald | ‘Making American history unavailable’: Genealogists lament plan to move National Archives from Chicago: Among those national treasure troves is the nondescript building on Chicago’s southwest side that houses the National Archives at Chicago. It contains 140,000 cubic feet of national records from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, ranging from naturalization papers and tribal documents to court transcripts and Great Lakes maritime records. But the materials housed there will likely become less accessible to historians, genealogists and ordinary folks curious about whence they came since NARA announced that it will close the archives in Chicago and San Bruno, California. * Crain’s | Chicago Quantum Exchange CEO stepping down: Kate Waimey Timmerman, who helped launch the Chicago Quantum Exchange eight years ago, plans to step down as CEO in October. The consortium of nearly 70 academic research institutions, national labs and commercial partners has been a key piece of the city and state’s effort to create a leading global hub for quantum computing. It predates the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. * Sun-Times | Ford City Mall developer modifies project plans ahead of first city hearing: Chicago-based Kurv Industrial, formerly Bridge Industrial, plans to demolish Ford City Mall and build a four-building industrial campus. The project will be considered by the Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday. Kurv’s plans submitted to the Plan Commission show a new Ford City heritage plaza celebrating “over 80 years of Chicago history,” with landscaping and seating. It also shows a new CTA bus station along Kostner Avenue, east of the mall. * Sun-Times | CTA adding 4 bus routes to Frequent Network: When complete, the expansion will bring 24 total bus routes to the Frequent Network, which provides service every 10 minutes or better on weekdays from 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Unrelated to the Frequent Network, the CTA also is adding more buses to seven other routes by the end of the year: The extra scheduled buses — many of them during midday, evening and weekend hours — are supported by new funding from the landmark Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, according to the CTA. * Daily Herald | Promising development proposal for property overlooking Lake Zurich ends with termination of sale: In September, the village board was all-in on the concept for The Waterfront Lake Zurich, a two-story commercial building planned for a restaurant and 19 townhouses to be arranged in five, three-story buildings. […] On Monday, the board unanimously agreed to terminate the proposed sale of 173 W. Main St. to THG Holdings. Known as “Block A,” the village-owned property is comprised of 10 consolidated parcels totaling 1.7 acres directly across the street from the promenade fronting Lake Zurich. * Press release | AG Raoul enters consent order in lawsuit against Pacific Ethanol Pekin LLC: The consent order requires Pacific Ethanol to pay $75,000 in civil penalties and fund the $125,000 replacement of a water control structure at the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, which will allow water management on the approximately 320 acres of protected wetlands at the site located in Fulton County, Illinois. * WGN | Spirit of America Celebrate 250: Pontiac, a small town in the heart of Illinois, captures the essence of Route 66: The construction of I-55, which skirts by the edge of town, signaled a new era. But thanks to Route 66, Pontiac — with a population of about 11,000 these days — is still a place that attracts visitors paying homage to the Mother Road, from curious Americans to visitors vacationing from overseas. Like brother and sister Pawel and Veronica Stepnowski from Gdańsk, Poland, who along with their parents traveled 3,000 miles to see Route 66 up close and personal, starting in Chicago. * First Alert 4 | Illinois Schools Implement New Cellphone Ban as Students Return to Class: In Edwardsville, a cellphone policy has already been in place for several years. Students use a cubby system in each classroom to store their phones during class. On the first day of school, students are assigned a number for each class and must place their cellphone in the corresponding cubby each day. * WMBD | Peoria lawyer seeks withdrawal from Riverview Plaza case amid building battle: In a statement, Patrick Hayes, the city’s attorney, said, “The City has not directly spoken with Attorney Leiter about his request to be removed from the MJ Illinois cases, but it does appear from recent filings and requests that either he or his client no longer wish for Attorney Leiter to represent MJ Illinois. “As long as this does not delay any litigation and new representation remains active on the cases, the City will not be objecting to Attorney Leiter’s withdraw,” the statement said. * STLPR | How a teacher used Lego to bring the most magical place on Earth to the Metro East: “The kids had a lot of Lego stored back in the basement area,” Schieppe recalled. “We ended up purchasing [Cinderella’s] castle to build and then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘Well, let’s make Main Street.’ Things kind of took off from there and then just spiraled out of control.” What started as a small build that fit on his kitchen table has now all but taken over his O’Fallon, Illinois, basement. Schieppe’s 31-by-16 foot Magic Kingdom is so big now he has to strategically crawl underneath a maze of large tables to a single person-size hole he made in the Adventureland section of his replica to access hard-to-reach parts of the park. * Illinois Times | USA Today papers to use tech giant favored by ICE, militaries: The nation’s largest newspaper chain turned heads Aug. 6 – in what would otherwise be a traditional, jargon-filled earnings call that garners few headlines – when USA Today executives announced its papers would be using Palantir to “collect, connect and activate audience data to drive more effective and faster monetization.” Executives said the move is necessary as website traffic from Google and other intermediaries continues to sink. Mike Reed, CEO of USA Today Company, said the parent business will be using “Palantir’s AI-powered platform” to convert “the sheer scale of our audience into known, orchestrated, first-party relationships. * AP | Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13: A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being.
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Illinois Tollway board approves toll increases beginning in 2027
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Daily Herald…
* Sun-Times…
* American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois…
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HGOP trolling of Speaker Welch continues on Governor’s Day
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers know more about what happened in Springfield yesterday. Today, the House Republicans have put up about 20 signs along the roads leading into the state fairgrounds… 
Speaker Welch, however, won’t be attending today’s Governor’s Day events. According to a spokesperson, his kid’s first day of school is today. The Republicans also have a new video. Click here. …Adding… Politico had a tiny bit this morning about yesterday’s trolling that I missed because I didn’t read it until just now…
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Heh…
* The Question: Jim Oberweis’ next political campaign?
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Music brings people together, and Mike’s Music has been a cornerstone of Southern Illinois’ music community for decades. Mike Ricci has spent more than 30 years sharing his expertise at his store in Carbondale. Whether you’re picking up your very first guitar, upgrading your gear, scheduling lessons, or looking for expert instrument repairs, Mike and his team are dedicated to helping musicians of every age and skill level. Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Mike in Carbondale are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker signs disaster proclamation to aid recovery after months of ‘relentless and unprecedented’ storms. Sun-Times…
- The declaration would free up more state funds and resources for those recovering from weeks of severe weather. It also expedites the contract and procurement process for local governments to help speed recovery efforts. - The state’s Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will all assist the listed 15 counties in recovering from the three months of storms, as part of the order. 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. * At 9 am, Governor JB Pritzker will speak at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association Brunch. At 11 am, he will attend a naturalization oath ceremony at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. At 11:30 am, the governor will host Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair. * CBS Chicago | Pentagon orders “research security audit” at University of Illinois, 29 other schools: On Monday, the Department of Defense announced the audit, and said it is “designed to protect American taxpayer-funded research investments from unauthorized technology transfer, intellectual property theft and adversarial exploitation. “The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has received a letter from the Department of War,” their spokesperson, Pat Wade shared with CBS News Chicago in a statement. […] The Pentagon didn’t name the schools being audited, but a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters told the Associated Press they include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University. * WAND | Pritzker signs bill closing gaps in protection for domestic violence survivors: “We want to make sure that those survivors have the security that is intended and was granted to them by the court,” said Jennifer Welch from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Delays in service can leave the victim unprotected and make it more difficult for law enforcement and the legal system to respond to abuse, harm and harassment.” * Cook County Record | Madigan’s convicted ex-top deputy can’t get his IL state pension back: A Cook County judge has ruled that Tim Mapes, the convicted chief of staff for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, cannot get his six-figure state pension back. Mapes, who for decades served as the right hand for Madigan and also served a stint as the Illinois Democratic Party’s executive director, filed a lawsuit in August 2025 in Cook County Circuit Court alleging the State Employees Retirement System and its board wrongly stripped him of his pension after he was convicted of perjury for allegedly attempting to obstruct federal criminal proceedings against his former boss. * WGN | Campaign season kicks off at the Illinois State Fair: Major players in campaign and government will descend on Springfield this week to rally support ahead of the November general election. Democrats will gather Wednesday morning for their annual brunch with the Illinois County Chairs’ Association. Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts will headline the events. Party leaders are also expected to honor Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring in January after a political career that spans four decades. * WSPY | State representative could be making return to local politics: The Kendall County Democrats say that Kifowit is gathering petition signatures to run for the Oswego Village Board among other returning candidates in 2027. Kifowit is not seeking reelection to the Illinois Statehouse. She had failed to win the Democratic nomination in a run for Illinois Comptroller earlier this year. * 25News Now | Independent candidate for governor seeks to break 2 party grip on Illinois politics: Corbett is the third independent candidate for Illinois governor to make the ballot in 86 years. Regardless of the November election’s outcome, he said his campaign is focused on building a long-term independent majority. * Tribune | Excessive odors and landfill fires are next round in Southeast Side’s battle against pollution: On Aug. 5, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the city of Chicago sued A-F Acquisition LLC, which operates under the name Pullman Innovations. The lawsuit alleged that the company allowed excessive odors, caused illegal air pollution, constructed a boiler without a permit that could cause or contribute to air pollution, and violated certain conditions of the operating permit at its Chicago facility, according to a news release. Two days later, the attorney general issued another news release announcing a lawsuit against three companies alleging they endangered the environment and public safety by allowing fires to break out at the Harbor View waste facility, a closed landfill site about 4 miles from Pullman Innovations. * WTTW | Ethics Board Investigating Mayoral Hopeful John Kelly for Filming Campaign Videos in Chicago Fire Stations: Kelly defended the videos in an appearance on “Chicago Tonight” Monday, hours after his campaign posted a video to his social media accounts taken at a fire station in Gage Park. That video showed him riding on a Chicago Fire Department truck’s aerial platform, which is used to rescue fire victims from high rises and during other emergencies or to extinguish flames from above. “That wasn’t a campaign video, this is part of my tour of the city of Chicago,” Kelly said, reiterating his pledge to visit all 96 fire stations in Chicago. “We’re there as a private citizen, asking them questions. We don’t distribute any kind of campaign literature. We don’t ask them for signatures. What we’re doing is talking to the Chicago firemen, because elected officials are not talking to them. I’m prepared to take those kind of political hits.” * Tribune | Mob-connected, Chicago businessman indicted on tax charges alleging hidden interest in sweepstakes gaming: A mob-connected Chicago businessman has been indicted on tax evasion charges alleging he had a hidden interest in a sweepstakes gaming company run by the now-imprisoned son-in-law of Joe Berrios, the former Cook County assessor. Robert “Bobby” Dominic, 71, a longtime associate of the Outfit’s Grand Avenue crew known for his connections to Richard’s Bar on the Near West Side, was charged in a five-count indictment made public Tuesday in U.S. District Court with tax evasion and failure to file tax returns. * Press release | Statement on CPS Canceling plans to rollout of Google Gemini: Illinois Families for Public Schools is pleased that Chicago Public Schools has pulled their plan to roll out Google Gemini for all high school students districtwide for the start of the new school year. We appreciate this rapid reversal. We began sharing information about this rollout just over two weeks ago and made an action tool available on August 13th for parents to write to the district about it. * Blooomberg | Longtime Chicago auto tech firm CCC draws takeover interest: Copart Inc. is in talks to acquire CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc., the car-insurance software provider that has been weighing selling itself, according to people familiar with the matter. Dallas-based Copart, which specializes in used and salvaged car sales and has a market value of roughly $30 billion, has been vying with several private equity firms including GTCR and Veritas Capital about acquiring Chicago-based CCC, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. * AP | Amazon set to expand drone delivery of lightweight packages to Chicago and 500 other US cities: Amazon’s plan would expand its drone delivery operation more than sixfold nationwide into hundreds of new communities, including the Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland and Boise metro areas. The drones will primarily fly in the suburbs well away from skyscrapers and major airports that could cause problems. * Tribune | Jesse White Tumblers take the stage in ‘America’s Got Talent’ live quarterfinals: Tuesday’s episode marked one of four quarterfinal shows that will determine which acts will advance to the semifinals next month. Unlike the auditions, which are prerecorded and at the will of the judges alone, advancing out of the quarterfinals rests with voting viewers. From here on out, public votes will decide who stays and who goes. Well, for the most part. In each quarterfinal episode, judges will select one act they want to send straight through to the finale, while three more acts will advance to the semifinals based on an audience vote. Results will be announced Wednesday night. * Daily Herald | Some drivers skeptical of need for hefty toll hikes as decision looms: If approved, I-PASS passenger vehicle tolls would be raised from on average 7 cents per mile to 11 cents, or 57% more, and truckers would see a 30% jump in 2027. In addition, inflation-related hikes tied to the Consumer Price Index would be levied every two years beginning in 2029. * Evanston Roundtable | Former Councilmember Jane Grover announces mayoral campaign: Former Seventh Ward Councilmember Jane Grover announced Friday that she will run for mayor in next year’s crowded special election to succeed departing Mayor Daniel Biss, staking out a return to municipal office after leaving over a decade ago to work for a regional planning agency. Grover, 63, sent an email announcement Friday that pitches her as bringing “the broad perspective and deep experience” needed to address the city’s problems, and specifically calls out stabilizing city finances, making services more responsive and capitalizing on “opportunities to move Evanston forward” as key focuses. * Daily Herald | From sweet to sour: Ownership dispute over shuttered Sugar Factory in Rosemont: Killerman sued the Rizzos for misappropriation of funds and breach of fiduciary duty; the Rizzos sued him for the same. The Sugar Factory franchisor sued everyone for not paying fees to continue to use the restaurant name and branding. Those matters are now before an arbitrator in Florida. * Daily Herald | Mental health board question in Elk Grove Township on the ballot in November: The Elk Grove Township Board voted at the 11th hour on Monday to place a referendum question about establishing a township mental health board on the November ballot. If voters approve, Elk Grove Township would join other townships, including Wheeling and Palatine, in establishing a board serving the needs of residents with mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorders. * WICS | Paxton Faces Flood Damage, Drainage Concerns: Mayor Bill Ingold said city crews are going door to door documenting damage at homes and businesses. That information will be combined to determine the financial impact of the flooding and help make a case for assistance. “We feel like having a bigger number, dollar number, is going to be more impactful … and then we’re going to be able to take it to the state, to the county level and into the state to see if we can get some aid for those people,” said Ingold. * WGLT | Assistant Bloomington Police chief on leave pending lawsuit alleging false arrest, First Amendment violations: A video shared with WGLT by Chicago-based attorney Jared Kosoglad, who is representing Chubb and Higgins, appears to show Williams leaning into a vehicle displaying his badge. The person holding the camera asks Williams multiple times to identify himself and state his badge number. The video then shows Williams walking away. He’s wearing a plaid shirt, khaki shorts and flip flops. Williams approached the vehicle, the suit said, startling Chubb and Higgins when his police badge hit the car. Chubb, the driver, and Higgins, who was in the passenger seat, began filming Williams and verbally criticized him, the suit said, but neither person “threatened Williams, touched him, obstructed him, damaged property of engaged in violence.” * WAND | Champaign Unit 4 voters to consider $192 million school referendum: A nearly $200 million price tag is what the Champaign Unit 4 School Board will ask voters to consider in November. “We are 120-plus students over capacity right now in the three middle schools we have. Jefferson and Franklin each have four trailers outside the schools, and they have been there for 25 years,” said School Board President Tony Bruno. * ABC | Fake polling from mysterious company highlights danger of unvetted election surveys: On Kalshi, the price of a “yes” contract on Bass winning the Los Angeles mayoral election rose two cents, from about 63 cents to about 65 cents, within fifteen minutes of Median’s post. On Polymarket, roughly twenty separate accounts traded thousands of contracts in Bass’s favor six minutes after the tweet. In the days leading up to Bass’s post about Median, trading on the LA mayoral election had been thin, with a typical trade over that week being under ten dollars. While the price movements were small, the concentration of trading on both platforms shortly after the release of Median’s fake poll was not. * NC Newsline | Four prominent NC lobbyists indicted over bourbon-tasting junket: According to the indictments, Ferrell and Heath “unlawfully and willfully” directed their respective principals, North Carolina Spirits Association and beverage giant Diageo, to provide money to a group called Greater Carolina to “directly and indirectly” pay for lawmakers’ travel expenses, hotels accommodations and meals. Miskew and Wilkinson are accused of directing their respective principals, Churchill Downs and the Sazerac Company of Louisville, KY, to pay for events directly benefiting the legislators and other lobbyists and staff on the junket.
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Good morning!
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
From the CTU’s lawsuit…
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. * Press release…
* AP | Governors’ races are being increasingly buffeted by the toxic politics of data centers: Shapiro isn’t the only potential 2028 White House hopeful to step up his criticism data centers. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat running for a third term, halted new sales tax exemptions for data centers there until lawmakers impose tougher standards on their operations. * Capitol News Illinois | With $65M infusion, Pritzker has now self-funded $439M since 2018 campaign launch: Pritzker contributed $171.5 million to his JB for Governor campaign account to defeat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 and $145 million to beat GOP opponent Darren Bailey in 2022. His campaign fund has spread some of that money around to other campaigns. Facing Bailey again in 2026, Pritzker’s spending has slowed, relatively speaking, as the latest donation brings his tally for this cycle up to $90.5 million. * Crain’s | Giannoulias calls for $22 minimum wage: Despite proposing to increase their labor costs, Giannoulias said business leaders should line up behind a minimum wage hike. He said he’s been meeting with industry groups seeking buy-in. […] The gradual wage increase would exempt businesses with tipped workers like bars and restaurants, firmly re-establishing the tipped credit Johnson sought to eliminate over five years until the City Council extended the phase-out. * The Real Deal | Chicago brokerage caught up in federal probe of Dodgers owner Mark Walter: Federal prosecutors are circling four businesses controlled by Mark Walter, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which includes the Chicago-based Bradford Allen commercial real estate brokerage and Chicago’s Hudson Trading. Bradford Allen has been tied to investment firm Guggenheim Partners, where Walter is CEO, for years. The brokerage is now a part of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probe into Walter to investigate whether he or his companies committed fraud by concealing financial ties while they borrowed billions from insurers he controlled, according to the Wall Street Journal. * ABC Chicago | Chicago families paying average $794 per child on supplies: Many parents are likely getting some sticker shock, Deloitte Chicago’s Matt Adams joined ABC7 to breakdown what a study found. The average spending per student in Chicago is almost $800 dollars. * Daily Herald | Cook County mailing tax bills Sept. 1, after two-month delay: Second installment bills in Cook County typically are mailed by July 1 and due Aug. 1. However, ongoing problems with a yearslong overhaul of the county’s tax system led to delays once more this year. In 2025, second installment bills didn’t go out until November, forcing some local governments — such as school, library and park districts — to dip into their reserves or take out short-term loans to pay their bills while awaiting their property tax dollars. * Tribune | Northwestern University to revamp decades-old African Studies program, cut some staffers: Northwestern University officials deny reports that the school is closing its decades-old Program of African Studies, saying it is instead undergoing administrative changes. The 78-year-old program will move from being one of the school’s “Research Institutes and Centers” under the university’s Office for Research to being administered under the Office of the Provost, NU’s Vice President for Global Marketing and Communications Jon Yates confirmed in an email to the Tribune. […] The number of faculty positions will also stay the same throughout the transition. However, two staff positions in the Office of Research — where the program was previously housed — are being eliminated. For Meagan Keefe, the program’s director of operations and outreach programming, co-sponsorships, publications and grant development, the shift came as a shock. * Daily Herald | Grayslake schedules extended comment session on controversial data center plan: “Our coalition strongly opposes any form of aggression, threats or violence against anyone involved on either side of this,” said Michael Smith, chair and co-founder of lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition. The group is supporting a lawsuit filed against the village, T-5 Data Centers LLC and Alter Asset Management Co., the developer of Cornerstone business park where the data center will be built. * Oak Park Journal | Oak Park village board election season begins with new candidate : The official election does not take place until April 6, 2027, but candidates are able to start getting petition signatures as early as next week and nomination paperwork is due in November. Corbin said she hopes that starting the conversation early will get more people involved and “the more the merrier” when it comes to other candidates. * Aurora Beacon-News | Why District 204 is reducing pay for retired teachers who work as substitutes: In a reversal from a decision made earlier this summer, Indian Prairie School District 204 is cutting pay for retired teachers who work as substitutes in the district by 35%. Despite some criticism of the move, the cuts were approved during the Indian Prairie school board’s meeting on Aug. 11. The district has said the substitute rates were creating budget concerns, and that reducing them is expected to save the district about $400,000 next year. * Sun-Times | 354 Niles luxury apartments at former White Eagle site to be completed in 2027: Once the $156 million Riverbank project is complete, Niles officials said the gateway will be revitalized with art, much-needed housing and public green space. “What you’re going to see along Milwaukee Avenue is transformation,” Chris Ragusto, Niles’ director of community development, said. Developing the Riverbank is Noah Properties, led by Bart Przyjemski. Przyjemski is a native of Poland and a former Niles resident. He purchased the site in December 2025 for $5.7 million, with a $3.9 million mortgage from California-based Genesis Capital, property records show. * Crain’s | This Chicago suburb has one of the nation’s hottest housing markets: Wheaton fits a broader pattern in this year’s rankings: All of the top 10 ZIP codes are in the Northeast or Midwest and are located in suburban corridors near major cities. Realtor.com says buyers increasingly are willing to pay a premium for larger, established homes with character, amenities and access to major employment centers. * IPM Newroom | Bipartisan group of Champaign County Board members thwart vote on home rule, blocking a plan to ban data centers: An attempt to pass home rule in Champaign County Monday night was cut short when a bipartisan group of county board members left the meeting early, forcing the meeting to end after three minutes and before any member of the public could comment on the issue. Champaign County Executive Steve Summers called the special board meeting last week, with the intent to vote on putting the issue of home rule on the November ballot. Residents and some elected officials have championed the county gaining home rule status as the only way for the county to permanently ban data centers. The county currently has a moratorium on data centers that ends next spring. * WGLT | Joint B-N data center forum to include a mix of environmental, energy and policy experts:Both the city and town are in the middle of dual moratoriums on data center projects, put in place to give the municipalities time to draft regulations on hyper-scale data centers. Hyper-scale data centers use 5 or more megawatts of power. The forum is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. * WCIA | Champaign Co. State’s Attorney leading efforts to uphold victims’ rights in the courtroom: Marsy’s Law for All is honoring Champaign County State’s Attorney, Julia Reitz, and her victim advocacy team. The law gives legal rights to the victims of crimes in Illinois.[…] In addition to Rietz, the Champion of Victims’ Rights Award was also presented to the Champaign County victim advocacy staff: Lisette Lugo, Senior Victim Advocate; Jessica Cox, Kimberley Easton-Morris and Chantelle Jasper. * WICS | Weathering the Illinois State Fair: Keith Cullers said his family has been serving Cullers Fries at the Illinois State Fair for 81 years, making unpredictable weather nothing new for the business. “Yesterday that storm blow through, we kicked up some dirt, we closed our awnings, we probably closed up for about 10 minutes and back up we was and they came out and kept on going. So it didn’t hurt us too bad,” said Cullers. * WGLT | Bloomington extends dual disaster declarations tied to microburst, heavy rain: On Thursday, a microburst dropped 1.5 inches of rain within a one-hour period, causing several areas and roads to flood. Wind gusts topped 60 mph, snapping trees and power poles across the city. McLean County’s Emergency Management Agency Director Cathy Beck said Thursday that Bloomington appeared to have sustained most of the damage. Mayor Dan Brady declared a local disaster emergency for the storm damage and power outages Thursday evening, and issued another on Saturday as flooding became the focus. Now, both of those declarations are in place until Sept. 16. * Kansas Reflector | Three years after police raid on Kansas newspaper, reporter settles lawsuit for $850K: Phyllis Zorn, the reporter whose acts of journalism served as an excuse for the August 2023 police raid of the Marion County Record, will get $850,000 from the city of Marion to settle her federal lawsuit over the raid. Attorneys for Zorn and the city filed a motion Tuesday, exactly three years after the raid, to dismiss the case. Kansas Reflector reviewed a copy of the settlement agreement, which has not been entered into the court record. * CNBC | Disney-owned ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC: On Tuesday, ABC said it “continues to face irreparable harm” from the administration, which “has been acting” through the FCC. Last week, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro doubled down on the company’s position in a CNBC interview. “I think you saw in our FCC filings our position on this is clear,” D’Amaro told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin at the time. “We’re very principled on this. We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic and integrity, and we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business.”
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NASCAR drops Chicago street race, returns to Joliet
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Athletic…
* Crain’s…
Thoughts?
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * AFP…
* The Question: What is your preferred voting method? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Also, stick to the question, please. Thanks.
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IEA endorses Pritzker, CTU still demanding more state money
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Chalkbeat Chicago…
* WGN…
* Tribune…
* From the governor’s Q and A…
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Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students
Tuesday, Aug 18, 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
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Compared to other states, Illinois takes lax approach toward funeral home oversight. Sun-Times…
- “If we can’t figure out how to head off people from engaging in this kind of behavior, then we have to have some sort of enforcement mechanism on the back end to try and figure it out before it’s too late,” Wake Forest University Law Professor Tanya Marsh said. - Creating a unified board is something state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, is considering. She chairs the House State Government Administration Committee, which typically handles funeral home legislation, and worked on the bill granting the comptroller more regulatory powers over cemeteries. 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. * NBC Chicago | Hundreds of invasive carp found on Illinois River 80 miles from Lake Michigan: Officials say the location where the fish were found could indicate a spawning event occurred further upriver or in one of the tributaries that feeds into the Illinois River, and as a result surveillance monitoring is being stepped up in several key areas as a precaution, including in the Dresden Island Pool, which is located approximately 30 miles closer to Lake Michigan.[…] The news comes just weeks after the Army Corps of Engineers issued a stop work order on construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, which are set to produce a series of barriers designed to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan. * Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker pours $65M into his campaign fund ahead of November elections: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has added $65 million to his gubernatorial campaign — giving him flexibility to spend on his own campaign and to support other candidates across the country. The contribution was reported on Aug. 10, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Pritzker is heavily favored to win a third term in November, facing Republican challenger Darren Bailey, whom he beat in 2022. Prior to that large contribution, Pritzker had about $3.1 million cash on hand ahead of the November election. In the past, the billionaire governor has self-funded his three campaigns to the tune of more than $326 million since 2017. * ABC Chicago | Republican IL governor candidate Bailey calls for ending tolls; Pritzker questions funding plan: Gov. JB Pritzker criticized Bailey’s proposal, saying it lacks fiscal realism. “He believes that magic beans can take care of everything; so it’ll be interesting to see. What I can tell you is that every one of the proposals that I’ve seen from him is unrealistic. He doesn’t understand the state budget,” Pritzker said. * Crain’s | Big Pharma trade group joins legal fight against Illinois drug discount law: The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America‘s lawsuit is the latest challenge to state-based laws designed to protect hospitals, clinics and pharmacies from unfettered access to 340B discounts. Dozens of states have enacted laws seeking to transform the program, while parallel federal efforts are also underway. * WGN | Independent candidate for governor Collin Corbett shares his plans for school funding and data centers: As political eyes turn to Springfield this week for the Illinois State Fair, an independent candidate for governor is taking a different track. “I don’t know that I want to crash somebody else’s party. Instead, I’m going to spend my time talking to the voters,” said Collin Corbett, noting that with a Governor’s Day and a Republican Day, he feels even the State Fair is stacked against an independent candidate. * WJBD | State Police utilize Bicycle Response Team at Illinois State Fair, plan to train over 100 troopers as bicycle operators: The Illinois State Police’s (ISP) new Bicycle Response Team is on a roll this summer as it hits the streets of the Illinois State Fair for the first of many large-scale events the team is expected to attend in support of ISP’s mission of protecting public safety. The Bicycle Response Team was established to increase operational mobility, visibility, and service during events where traditional patrol vehicles are less effective due to crowds and environmental restrictions, such as fairs, festivals, and parades. According to ISP, bicycle patrols allow Troopers to reach harder to get to areas at large-scale events more quickly, as well as increase crowd management capabilities. Bicycle patrols are also meant to enhance community engagement through a ‘ride and represent’ approach, allowing Troopers to interact more readily with people at events. * WHBF | Rock Island teen wins Illinois’ best bagger competition: According to a release from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Carlos Sabino, 17, won the the first Illinois Best Bagger Competition at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Sabino works at Hy-Vee in Rock Island and won a $500 prize. Shelby Morton from Hy-Vee in Galesburg won second place and a $250 prize, and Mike Clark from Hy-Vee in Moline won third place and a $100 prize. * WAND | Illinois veterans gather at State Fair for annual Veterans Day celebration: Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher also made an appearance delivering a speech and calling on community members to show their appreciation for veterans every chance they get. “If you’re not a veteran every time you see someone wearing something that represents their service, please thank them,” said Mayor Buscher. “Sometimes veterans go underappreciated and we need to make sure they know how thankful we are for them.”This annual celebration has been a state fair tradition for decades and Vaughn says he expects it to continue for generations to come. * Tribune | Who will be the next Chicago school board president? Meet the candidates: In a historic first for Chicago, all 21 school board seats will be on the November ballot. The board was previously composed of seven mayoral appointees, but is currently in a two-year transition period, split between 10 elected and 11 appointed members. Get to know the candidates for school board president. * WBEZ | Illinois lawmakers want chaotic ‘mega master’ hearings at Chicago’s immigration court to end: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi denounced the hearings as the “latest effort to weaponize the immigration courts to facilitate mass removals” at the expense of due process, in a five-page letter sent to Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday. The lawmakers repeatedly cited recent Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ reporting in the letter, which was signed by nearly every Illinois Democratic member of Congress. At Chicago’s Downtown immigration court, Sun-Times and WBEZ reporters documented daily schedules with as many as 185 cases per judge, tiny courtrooms holding dozens more people than they were designed for, and drastically shrinking notice time for immigrants to appear before a judge — with or without a lawyer. * Sun-Times | Chicago Teachers Union sues Illinois Policy Institute for ‘toxic’ branding, ‘defamatory’ claims about audits: The new lawsuit claims the finalization of the audit reports were delayed for “innocuous reasons,” including that the finalization for fiscal year 2020 through 2023 were delayed due to complications from the pandemic and staffing turnover, as well as the impact of a lawsuit to protect pension benefits. The suit says the reports have been available to CTU members for review. The suit includes an Aug. 22, 2025, social media post by the Liberty Justice Center, which features a cartoon of Davis Gates and the words “Cooked Books,” mimicking the branding of the restaurant Cracker Barrel. The union says that post was “part of Defendant’s strategy to ‘make the union itself toxic’ through sustained negative messaging.” And the suit says the “cooked book” statement was defamatory because it “falsely imputed CTU’s engagement in criminal conduct.” * Tribune | Years before corpses found at South Side funeral home, owners left decomposing bodies in van: police: According to a police report obtained in a Freedom of Information request, the officer learned that while Clark Morgan’s funeral director license had been revoked, his wife, Johanna, had an active license. But they were still dubious enough about the discovery, and the couple’s “defensive” responses to their attempts at investigation, that officers spent hours the following day investigating, including reaching out to family members of the deceased and seeking advice from the Cook County state’s attorney’s office about whether charges should be filed. Ultimately, the police investigation was closed and the Morgans faced no criminal charges in the matter. Asked about the case, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office referred to the police report. * CBS Chicago | Exclusive look inside Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park development in South Chicago: Henderson is CEO of P33, a nonprofit dedicated to innovation here in Chicago with a focus on tech opportunities. “What’s interesting now is when you go to India, where I was recently, or Taiwan, or to Europe, and you say you’re from Chicago, it’s commonly recognized that Chicago is the leading global place in the world for quantum computing,” he said. This first phase of construction, anchored by PsiQuantum based in Palo Alto, California, the goal is to build and deploy the world’s first large-scale quantum computer in Chicago. * WBEZ | Jesse White Tumbling Team gets second chance on ‘America’s Got Talent’ as troupe rolls into live rounds: The tumblers’ current run on the show follows a 2008 “AGT” initial audition that did not fare so well, as they failed to advance into the competitive live rounds. Nearly 20 years later, the show came calling, said Emmanuel McGhee Sr. McGhee is a 26-year organization veteran who worked his way up through the organization’s ranks to his current role as head coach/choreographer/manager. He also works full time in the Illinois secretary of state’s office. “The [show] reached out to us maybe about a year ago … asking if we wanted to audition again. And of course, we said yes,” said McGhee. * Press release…
* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora city employees demand a ‘fair contract’ as negotiations continue: Five months after picketing outside City Hall and 20 months after beginning contract negotiations with the city, a group of unionized Aurora city employees is again demanding what they call a “fair contract.” Union members demanded higher wages and other changes to improve quality of life and workplace accommodations at the Aurora City Council meeting on Aug. 11. Local 3298 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — made up of roughly 180 Aurora city employees across various departments — had its contract expire at the end of 2024 and has been in contract negotiations with the city since January 2025. * Pioneer Press | Niles Village Board approvess three referendum questions for November ballot: The Village Board met in a special meeting on Aug. 14 to vote on the measures, days before the state deadline. Niles Mayor George D. Alpogianis said trustees wanted to reintroduce term limits to voters who had rejected a referendum in March that set term limits to all current and future elected officials to five, four-year terms, or a maximum of 20 years in the same elected office. * Shaw Local | Sleepy Hollow village trustee charged with felony theft of Maserati; hasn’t been at meeting in months: Police records also state that Noor, who goes by McGuire on the village’s website, moved in August 2025 and no longer lives in Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow Village President Courtney Boe said local officials are seeking to determine where the trustee lives but do not have any address confirmed. […] Under the name McGuire, Noor is also an elected Republican precinct committeeperson in Dundee Township 26. Dundee Township GOP Chairman Joseph Connell declined to comment. * WAND | District 186 releases AI guidelines, introduces 3-strike rule for grade schoolers: The district encouraged students to use AI as a tool to push forward thinking. Teachers must also communicate clear AI guidelines to students. “We want them to know that they need to communicate, and this could be in a syllabus at the beginning of the year, when AI may or may not be allowed, and to what level,” said District 186 Assistant Superintendent Erica Filipiak. The district has a three-strike rule for elementary students. Students who use AI to cheat on the first offense can redo the assignment for full credit. * WCBU | Mayor Ali views Phoenix Manor project as another key piece to revitalizing Peoria’s South Side: Peoria Mayor Rita Ali remains steadfast in her belief that the planned Phoenix Manor permanent supportive housing development on the South Side ultimately will benefit the neighborhood. “One, it adds more population, more housing to the area, which is in desperate need of housing,” Ali said in her latest regular one-on-one interview with WCBU. “We need more density there. * WGLT | Clean-up continues as school resumes in still soggy Bloomington-Normal: Illinois State University students like junior Katelyn Slobodian had just arrived in town Thursday when the storm dumped nearly two inches of rain on the Normal campus in one hour. “It just came out of nowhere. It was the day I moved in, and my dad couldn’t drive home because the roads were so flooded, and you can’t see anything,” Slobodian said. “I saw a lot of pictures of cars that were completely submerged. And the house I was staying at, their Wi-Fi power line just completely got torn down and trees came down and broke car windows and everything.” * WGLT | Normal debuts public sculpture park, recommits to public art: The sculpture park has been in the works for two years. It was originally approved by the town council in 2024, and the sculptures were purchased in 2025. The work had some false starts when initial bids came in over budget, triggering a second round of bidding. One Normal Plaza is just off Route 66 on the site of the historic Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s School [ISSCS], originally established to care for children orphaned during the Civil War. * AP | ICE pitches legal insurance to help shield local officers who make immigration arrests: Under the plan, officers would purchase insurance covering up to $500,000 in personal liability, which typically funds legal fees, settlements and judgments. Officers would be reimbursed up to $250 annually — roughly what the insurance is expected to cost. One prominent critic of ICE’s immigration crackdown said the program would be yet another way for officers to avoid personal accountability for misconduct.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Every year in early October, a group of people gather in Strawberry Fields park in NYC to sing, dance and otherwise celebrate John Lennon’s birthday. This is truly my kind of party… How’s it going by you?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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