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Illinois NOW: ‘We should be able to trust that men in leadership, who claim to want to protect women, will actually do so’
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois National Organization for Women…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Shaw Local…
* JB for Governor…
* Capitol City Now | Pritzker defends Choate layoffs: Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday defended the layoffs of about 250 people who worked at the Choate Mental Health Center (pictured) in southern Illinois. “Remember, the reason there are staff reductions is because we have literally moved the developmentally disabled residents there to better facilities; so, at some point, you don’t need staff when there is nobody at that facility,” said Pritzker after a bill-signing ceremony in Elgin. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois recognizes gambling addiction, allowing new treatment options: The legislation, Senate Bill 2749, updates the state’s existing Substance Use Disorder Act to codify gambling addiction under the same framework as alcohol and drug use disorders, allowing the Illinois Department of Human Services’ behavioral health division to offer programs and support to compulsive gamblers and affected families. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, said recognizing the disorder under the law would make it easier for the state to provide resources for those struggling with gambling addiction. * Daily Herald | ‘I was unable to speak’: Autism advocates laud statewide Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops: The intent is to “make traffic stops safer, calmer and more predictable for drivers with autism spectrum disorder and the law enforcement officers who serve our communities,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who helped steer the legislation. The program will be managed by the secretary of state’s office and standardized blue envelopes will be available at DMVs and participating police departments starting in 2027. * Tribune | Chicago Public Schools ups tax increment financing dollars in budget by $85 million to avoid furloughs: The change raises the district’s anticipated TIF surplus to $285 million in its proposed 2026-27 budget, replacing savings that would have come from cutting five paid professional development days. TIF districts are special taxing zones aimed at spurring redevelopment by pooling increases in property tax revenue within a designated area. When City Hall declares a surplus, that pooled money is returned proportionally to the taxing districts, with roughly half going to CPS and a quarter going to the city. * WBEZ | CPS reverses course, says no staff furloughs ahead of budget vote: Board members technically have until Aug. 30 to sign off on a spending plan, but district officials say they need a balanced budget in place to secure a short-term loan. Without that loan, district officials say they won’t be able to make payroll in September. Supt. Macquline King said she decided to make the change after holding budget hearings and listening to other feedback. She also indicated that she wanted to improve the chances that the budget would be approved on Thursday. * Block Club | Advocates Urge City To Keep Funding For Free Legal Services For Immigrants: Chicago immigrants need legal aid, services and information to navigate their cases, help a loved one and prepare for a potential immigration arrest, immigration advocates said. To meet that need, the city’s Legal Protection Fund provides money to local groups that offer free legal aid and educate immigrant communities about their rights. As of March 31, it’s spent $4.48 million of the $4.5 million it’s allocated for the fund, city data shows. * Block Club | Construction Begins On Logan Square’s Megamall Plaza: The hope is the redesigned space, tentatively called the Logan Square Megamall Plaza, will complement nearby public amenities, including the updated traffic circle. “The vision for the plaza is to create a welcoming public space that supports local economic development and provides opportunities for community gathering and events,” Ald. Anthony Quezada (35th) wrote in his newsletter last week announcing the start of construction. * Naperville Sun | Naperville could replace grocery tax with higher sales tax: Last year, the council implemented a 1% local grocery tax to fill a $6.5 million budget deficit created when the General Assembly abolished the statewide grocery tax. The city’s new tax took effect Jan. 1. At the July 21 council meeting, staff reported that tax revenue has fallen short of expectations because early compliance was weaker than anticipated. * Daily Southtown | La Grange Park officials highlight a year of ‘difficult projects’ in State of the Village address: “The work that we’re getting ready to start on are very difficult projects and took years of planning and years of saving in order to bring them to reality,” village manager Julia Cedillo told a crowd of about 30 residents at the July 22 event at the La Grange Park Public Library, which was moderated by deputy village manager Maggie Jarr. “It’s very hard to pick any one of the items on the agenda. There are so many wonderful things that the staff and Village Board have been working on together during the last year and few years that we’re so proud of,” Cedillo said. * Pioneer Press | Clarendon Hills board nixes $3.2 million no-bid streetscape contract: Tech said Sunday that he was surprised by the outcome of the July 20 board vote denying a contract with Burke LLC. “I believed the proposal was consistent with the board’s objectives and the direction we have been moving to improve the overall safety and viability of our downtown area,” he said. “I plan to meet individually with the board members to determine which priorities we should focus on moving forward.” Tech said he believes the idea of a no-bid contract was a major stumbling block toward board approval. * NPR Illinois | Sangamon County board member seeking to put recall referendum on November ballot: Illinois allows governors to be recalled, but local recalls are handled on a per-municipality basis. The Chicago suburbs of Buffalo Grove, Wheeling and Arlington Heights all have established recall for their officials; Cahnman said that several other states also have set up this process. […] Cahnman tried to get similar petitions through county government after the shooting of Sonya Massey in 2024 by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. After the shooting, then-Sheriff Jack Campbell was discovered to have “ignored a million red flags” about hiring Grayson, Cahnman said. * WAND | Macon Co. Sheriff’s Office concludes oversight of Macon Co. Animal Control: For about 20 years, the Sheriff’s Office entered into what was intended to be a temporary agreement to help the County Board stabilize the agency. Instead, the temporary arrangement continued for two decades. As an independent county department, Animal Control will operate under the oversight of the County. * WAND | Downtown Springfield sees new businesses and plans: Twelve new businesses are expected to open in Downtown Springfield between winter 2025 and fall 2026, according to Jay Shanle, executive director of Downtown Springfield Incorporated. Shanle took over as executive director in April and has changed how business owners and community members see the area. “Downtown is a unique environment,” Shanle said. “It’s something that you can’t get anywhere else in Springfield. It’s a special place that the people want to be a part of.” * Capitol City Now | Murphy talks up Chamber: Mike Murphy says he is living the dream. “I know this may sound corny to some, but I just wake up every day wanting to make sure everyone has the opportunities that I did,” said the president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “Our members are tremendous. I know how hard it is. I say the most important thing our members do is put the key in the door and open up every day, because it not only gives the people of our community the opportunity for their services, but, more importantly, it gives all their employees the opportunity to have a job.” * NPR Illinois | Batter Up! Women’s Pro Baseball League to launch in Springfield this weekend: The Women’s Pro Baseball League is the fifth professional league for women’s baseball in U.S. history. Its first season will begin 71 years after the closure of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was immortalized in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.” League organizers previously said that Springfield was chosen for its inaugural season because of its proximity to cities like Chicago and St. Louis, as well as the fact it was the site of the first professional women’s baseball game in 1875. * AP | Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation law banning prediction markets is halted in federal court: U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minnesota found that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Kalshi and Polymarket were likely to succeed in their challenge to the law and that letting it take effect would cause “irreparable harm” to the operators. The law was scheduled to take effect Saturday. It would have made it a crime to create or operate prediction markets or help administer nearly any activity connected to one. The law will remain blocked while the lawsuit proceeds. * CNN | AI is making your life more expensive: Recent data shows that the gargantuan interest and investment in AI adoption (estimated to be around $750 billion for this year alone) have pushed a variety of prices higher, lifting overall inflation in the process. “The higher inflation means that households must spend just over $375 more to purchase the same goods and services as they did this time last year due to AI’s inflationary impact,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, wrote in an email to CNN. The good news: AI is still just a minor contributor (an estimated 0.2 percentage points) of overall inflation, and the impacts are currently limited to a handful of categories. * Axios | America’s blood supply “alarmingly” low, patient care at risk, Red Cross says: The Red Cross says it has “less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood,” which is the most commonly transfused blood type. Due to the shortage, the organization is limiting distribution of type O blood to hospitals. Blood donations fell to a four-year summer low in 2026, the Red Cross said on Monday.
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Rate the new HRO ads
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My own opinion is that if the alleged victim didn’t want this issue to go public then Heitman was right to respect those wishes. The HRO apparently disagrees…
* Anyway, rate ‘em…
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Mayor West? (Updated)
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * WTVO…
* Rep. Maurice West just happens to live in Rockford…  Just sayin. * Isabel reached out to Rep. West, but we haven’t yet heard back. We’ll let you know if we hear anything from him. …Adding… That was fast…
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Pritzker signs school cell phone restrictions bill
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * From the governor’s press release…
* More…
* QC Times | Quad-Cities schools mostly ready for Illinois phone ban: The East Moline School District has had phone ban rules since the 2022-23 school year. The policy, which hasn’t changed since then, requires students to place their phones away and on silent in their lockers. Superintendent Kristin Humphries said it has been positive, and students have done “a good job for the most part following these rules.” In the first years, there were some “bumps,” but students gradually adjusted. * WSPY | Morris High School Superintendent Shares Thoughts on State Passing Cell Phone Ban Law: The measure generally bans cell phone use throughout the school day in elementary and middle schools and restricts use during instructional time in high schools. Exceptions are allowed for medical, educational and emergency situations.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The Question: Which of these five numbered proposals do you support the most? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. After you’ve made your initial favorite choice, you’re also encouraged to talk about any of the other proposals.
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Two Speaker Welch allies appear to be girding for a major battle
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I lost count of the number of appalled Democratic legislators and lobbyists who sent me this Facebook post by House Speaker Chris Welch’s campaign executive director…  * The same goes for this Speaker Welch insider…  Discuss.
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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price. Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners. Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Anti-data center movement is on collision course with Labor Unions. Newsweek…
- In June, however, Pritzker directed his administration to “pause the processing of data center agreements while we continue working with the General Assembly and stakeholders on a comprehensive framework that protects affordability, safeguards our natural resources, and ensures responsible growth across Illinois,” he said in a statement. - Kristine Kavanagh, communications director for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, which represents operating engineers in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, told Newsweek that the union supports building data centers, but that must come with responsibility. She said lawmakers have been “receptive” to their concerns about data centers. * At 10:30 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will sign SB 2427, banning cell phones in schools from bell-to-bell to create distraction-free classrooms. Click here to watch. * Sun-Times | Is Hawthorne Race Course being torn down for a data center? Cicero thinks so: One resolution before the trustees opposes a data center at the nearby Hawthorne property, though there has been no public acknowledgment that any such plan is in place. The resolution says town officials don’t want any projects built anywhere near Cicero, home to more than 80,000 people. A mystery buyer by the name of Allimac 2023 LLC agreed to pay $90 million for the property at 3501 S Laramie Ave. in Stickney, which borders Cicero. The owner has not publicly identified itself or said what it will do with the land. * Tribune | Illinois teachers union sues to force Cook County treasurer to issue property tax bills and make payments: While the suit adds pressure, it’s unclear whether it can or will move the needle to get bills out the door faster. Pappas has steadfastly insisted the delays are occurring upstream of her office, and there’s little she can do to move more quickly. Pappas’ office did not comment on the suit, but did say in a written statement that it anticipates sending CPS a chunk of money this week. The district has said it needs $85 million to avert implementing furlough days. * Capitol City Now | Brad Cole to retire from IL Municipal League: Cole said Monday he would depart his job in January, to be succeeded by Rockford mayor Tom McNamara. “I think he brings some good experience,” said Cole. “Our board was very interested in having a mayor like myself at the top of the organization to speak with that background and that experience, whether that’s to the General Assembly or the Congress or just to each other.” * ABC Chicago | Ethics report expected to scrutinize IL House Speaker Welch’s handling of harassment complaints: House Republican Leader Tony McCombie criticized Welch’s handling of the earlier allegations, saying, “Not only not speaking to him about it, not reprimanding him then, he didn’t remove him from the caucus then. Then he continues to spend one point four million dollars to get him re-elected. That’s a real problem.” Republicans have also launched a political ad highlighting Welch’s use of his professional Instagram account to like posts featuring women in swimsuits. Washington said the issue could resonate among Democratic women in the legislature. * 25News Now | Area lawmakers weigh in on speaker’s handling of allegations against disgraced representative: “What I have found- the information I have without having read the report - is that the victim did not want to come forward. The victim asked that information not be shared,” said [Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth], adding that she still has confidence in Welch’s leadership “at the moment.” * Center Square | Trump, member states aligned on reform of PJM amid capacity concerns: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker mentioned during an appearance at a climate conference last week that the part of the state’s power grid being on the PJM grid has negative impacts on residents. “I almost want to declare independence. Not from the United States, although there’s moments,” Pritzker said. “Independence from these regional transmission organizations because when we’re doing it right here and yet someone next door or five states away is doing it wrong and it’s affecting everybody.” * SJ-R | Illinois’ first appellate defender, death penalty foe dies in Springfield: Theodore “Ted” A. Gottfried, who served as the Illinois appellate defender for three and a half decades and was on the landmark commission that recommended death penalty reforms to then-Gov. George Ryan in 2002, died in Springfield July 23. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s mayoral campaign revs up as circulation of nominating petitions starts: Johnson’s political director Christian Perry said it simply means there are “groups that supported us last time that would like to see him run” and there is a “good deal of organic energy on the ground to see his leadership continue.” “They reached out to us, asked if it was OK, and we gave the OK that they could absolutely” circulate petitions on Johnson’s behalf. “But the mayor still hadn’t come to a decision,” Perry said. * Tribune | Fast-moving storms bring golf ball-sized hail, power outages across Chicago area: ‘Insane’: Monday’s weather saw a slew of warnings and watches take effect throughout the city, collar counties and northwest Indiana. Storms grounded flights, suspended public transportation and sent those outside seeking immediate shelter. By Monday evening, nearly 320,000 customers were without power, according to ComEd. * Sun-Times | Rep. Delia Ramirez visits Chicagoans at Kentucky ICE detention center and calls conditions ‘devastating’: The Illinois congresswoman joined two Democratic colleagues at the Campbell County Detention Center in Newport, Kentucky, where she checked on two constituents: Ricardo, a 39-year-old man who has been detained since September and Octavio, 53, who has been detained for two months. Ramirez said both are diabetic and have complained to her about inadequate food and medication. * WBEZ | George Clinton expands his Afrofuturist universe through paintings, now on display in Chicago: Though he is colorblind, he has created a variety of vibrant motherships using acrylic, spray paint and charcoal. The exhibit even includes a tiny replica of the iconic, $500,000 spaceship that he debuted on his P-Funk Earth Tour in 1976. Building upon the universe he created as the leader of Parliament-Funkadelic, his visual art underscores his contribution to Afrofuturism, a cultural movement that envisions a future of liberation for Black people. * Evanston Now | Biss submits resignation letter, affirming October departure: Mayor Daniel Biss submitted a formal, notarized letter of resignation to Evanston City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza on July 21, binding him to a departure from office as Evanston’s 22nd mayor just before midnight on Oct. 18, 2026. * Daily Herald | District 220 board members violated policies, investigation finds: Two Barrington Area Unit School District 220 board members violated board policies by posting images of students, district property and the district’s chess piece logo on campaign social media sites, an outside investigator determined. Board members Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler have since deactivated those campaign Facebook pages. * Crain’s | Oak Park mulls wiping out zoning that only allows houses: With the village board set to hear two consulting firms’ proposal at its meeting today, the near west suburb is in an early stage on the trail blazed in the past few years by Minneapolis and the states of Oregon, California and Washington. Opening single-family zones to multiunit buildings was also a key part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s housing initiative called BUILD, which failed in the spring legislative session. If the proposal from consulting firms Opticos Design and All Together goes through over the next several months, Oak Park would accomplish locally what Pritzker couldn’t do statewide. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora may add nine electric vehicle chargers to support its electric fleet: Just over 70% of the $292,000 total expense for the chargers would be covered by federal reimbursement grants, and city funds would pay the remaining $80,707. The reimbursement vouchers were awarded to the city in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. * WCBU | Peoria Housing Authority taking initial steps toward demolishing ‘obsolete’ Harrison Homes: * WIFR | Data center moratorium request stalls in Rockford committee meeting: The push to temporarily pause new data center proposals surfaced during the Rockford Codes and Regulations committee meeting, as committee members continue debating what regulations should be in place before the city considers any future projects. “Tonight, where there was no second or conversation about this moratorium it kind of reflects a little bit of the consistency that we’ve seen with this item being proposed, where there was no conversation with colleagues over the last maybe month or two with the individual or alderman who proposed this,” 13th Ward Alderperson Tamir Bell said. * Crain’s | U of I launches search for next president at one of Illinois’ most important engines: The University of Illinois is launching its search to replace Tim Killeen as president of a system with three campuses, more than 100,000 students and a nearly $9 billion budget. Killeen has been in the job 11 years, among the longest tenures of a U of I president. He stabilized an institution that had been embroiled in a political scandal followed by a financial crisis. Then he grew it, with enrollment rising 29% and its budget increasing 59%. * WGEM | Quincy Regional Airport faces uncertainty as federal EAS funding cuts swirl: Quincy Regional Airport is currently in a nearly $6.5 million EAS contract with Contour Airlines, which operates flights to Chicago and Nashville. Airport Director Bill Lantz said the program supports two separate streams of federal money — EAS subsidies, which go directly to airlines, and entitlement funds, which are used for airport upkeep and infrastructure. A cut to EAS subsidies could trigger a reduction in entitlement money as well. * Effingham Daily News | Demolition derbies change over the years, but the goal remains the same for Becker: ‘I want to have a good show for the fans’: nce a driver, now behind the scenes, Jon Becker has always had demolition derbies in his blood. Becker drove in them from 1985 to 2001. Following an injury, he was forced to work with demolition derbies through a new lens. “I joined the fair board in 2008 and helped manage the demo,” Becker said. “I had also announced demos from 2001 to just recently, but only do the Effingham County Fair now.” * MPR News | Silos are disappearing from the farm landscape. One woman wants to track them down before they do: Silos probably fade into the background for most people who live in the Corn Belt. Though they often serve as landmarks, people’s connection to them has tended to be utilitarian. Occasionally, silos have been saved by being converted into housing or public space, but many others have been destroyed. But their legacy is rooted in Illinois. Historians believe the first one in the Midwest was built in Spring Grove, Illinois. Bill Kemp, historian with the McLean County Museum of History, said silos transformed agriculture in the Midwest.
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Good morning!
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gonna be an interesting few weeks ahead. In the meantime, I just wanna make one thing abundantly clear… There ain’t no easy way out How’s it going by you?
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WTVO…
* Crain’s | What about nuclear options? Those take a long time to ramp up: Small modular reactors hold the promise of being cheaper and faster to deploy because of new, more efficient technology and smaller capacity. The goal is that reactors can be built in factories and deployed in clusters to bring power to the grid or onsite for a large user, such as a data center, more quickly and at a much lower cost than a traditional nuclear reactor. A traditional large-scale reactor produces about 1 gigawatt, or enough to power 750,000 to 1 million homes, and the size required by some of the giant “hyperscale” data center campuses, which are used to train models for artificial intelligence. A large manufacturing plant typically uses about 100 megawatts. The modular nuclear technology hasn’t yet been commercialized. * Daily Herald | Illinois allows residents to claim roadkill bucks and does — and thousands do: The agency operates a surprisingly popular program that processes about 2,500 roadkill deer claims annually statewide, according to IDNR’s latest figures. Cook and the collar counties combined average about 180 claims annually. The agency’s dedicated website is where they get started. “If you get to them right away it’s a shame to let the meat go to waste,” said John Schalz, a butcher who specializes in processing wild game and operates John’s Elgin Market in South Elgin. “We do mostly steak cuts, but also we can make sausage and sometimes jerky.” * Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs bills designating Emmett Till Day, requiring boater’s liability insurance: Teachers now have greater ability to challenge written warnings about alleged misconduct. Under Senate Bill 2914, before a school board can vote to issue a written warning to a teacher for alleged misconduct, the teacher has a right to challenge the findings in the proposed warning, either in person or in writing. And if the board votes to issue the warning anyway, it allows the teacher to take the issue to binding arbitration. * Capitol City Now | SNAP discussion: It’s difficult to find opportunities to fulfill work requirements: Audience member Jill Steiner, who is chief human resources officer at the YMCA of Springfield, touched on work requirements to get social services. “You can have people really willing to do it and ready to do it, but this community lacks the opportunity to do it,” she said. “You can say people need to work those hours, but if there is no outlet to get to the opportunities, they’re just stuck.” * Press release | Community leaders, lawmakers push Pritzker to reopen Weiss, West Suburban: North and West Side advocates are pushing Gov. J.B. Pritzker to use his official powers to quickly reopen two important Chicago-area hospitals that have closed in the past 11 months: Weiss Memorial Hospital in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. An alliance of community groups called the Coalitions to Save Weiss and West Suburban is demanding: An immediate meeting with Gov. Pritzker and the state health agencies with the Coalitions to Save Weiss and West Suburban and the affected communities and ensure that the community has a formal role in decisions about the hospitals’ future. Move to reopen both hospitals under new, responsible ownership, using the leverage the state holds as a major creditor and through its oversight of hospital ownership. Require community input into processes for reviewing extensions and decision-making, and require a credible, funded reopening plan as a condition for any further state support. * WTTW | Election 2027 Begins: Candidates for Chicago Mayor, City Council Are Gathering Signatures Earlier Than Ever: A bill signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2024 moved up the deadline for candidates to qualify for elections by a month in most cases, giving elections officials more time to review petitions and decide challenges. This upcoming municipal election is the first to have to meet those new rules, forcing candidates to end their summer vacations early to ensure they make it on the ballot. * WTTW | Interim Top Cop Collecting $142K Annual City Pension While Earning $211K Salary, Records Show: Newly installed interim Chicago Police Supt. Fred Waller is collecting an annual city taxpayer-funded pension of $141,608 while he has been earning more than $210,648 per year as a deputy director, bringing his total annual compensation to $352,256, according to records obtained by WTTW News. Waller, 64, has now twice served as CPD’s interim leader, first leading the department from May 2023 to September 2023 before Mayor Brandon Johnson picked Larry Snelling as the city’s top cop. After Snelling took office, Waller stayed on to advise Snelling, serving as deputy director in the superintendent’s office, records show. * Tribune | Chicago launches resource center for rideshare, taxi drivers: As of May, Campos said, around 87,000 workers were registered to drive for rideshare app companies such as Uber and Lyft in Chicago. Drivers licensed as “public chauffeurs,” a group that includes drivers of taxis, limos, pedicabs and sightseeing vehicles like tour buses, numbered 13,000. * Crain’s | Chicago restaurants forced to rethink menus and suppliers amid cyclosporiasis scare: For example, a North Carolina outbreak was tied to cilantro, parsley and lettuce. Some Chicago restaurants have switched lettuce suppliers and added menu items that do not use lettuce. Roanoke quickly reduced its leafy greens orders from suppliers after customers began steering clear of the salads, Alaoui said. And some of what it does order usually ends up getting wasted. * Block Club | This City Mushroom Farm Grows Fungi For Chicago’s Top Chefs — And ‘The Bear’: The television appearances are one sign of how far Four Star Mushrooms has come since the company began in 2019 inside a roughly 400-square-foot shared warehouse in Logan Square, where Weber and his business partner determined how to reliably and sustainably grow specialty mushrooms — and whether people would buy them. In 2022, Four Star moved into its current home at 320 N. Oakley Blvd. The indoor farm now occupies about 14,000 square feet and produces seven types of mushrooms year-round, including lion’s mane, chestnut, blue oyster, black oyster, king trumpet, maitake and golden enoki mushrooms. * WIRED | Inside the Wild Rescue Mission That Took 4 Beluga Whales to Chicago: All female adults in their 20s, the quartet swam through the enclosure displaying the species’s signature slow and graceful dives and twirls. They gave no indication that just about 72 hours beforehand they’d each been hoisted up in a custom stretcher, placed on a truck bed in individual transport boxes filled with cold saltwater, driven to an airport, boarded on a jet, and flown to a city in a new country hundreds of miles from the ocean. To achieve the first leg of this mission, the consortium inventoried “every stretcher, every pole, every resource we had,” Tang says. “It is a logistical marvel.” * Crain’s | Court approves $90M Hawthorne Race Course sale, ending Chicago-area racing: Hawthorne Race Course is a key step closer to redevelopment after a federal bankruptcy court approved the sale of the 108-acre horse track property just west of Chicago to a venture planning to turn it into a different use. Judge Timothy Barnes signed off on the $90 million sale to a Delaware-based entity that submitted the sole qualified bid in a recent auction, according to federal court records. The pending sale of the property at 3501 S. Laramie Ave. in Stickney is part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding for Hawthorne, whose ownership turned to the court system earlier this year to reorganize and try to revive its struggling business. * Naperville Sun | Why Naperville is ending city-affiliated task forces: Naperville will no longer have city-affiliated task forces due to concerns over perceived endorsements of groups that operate independently from city standards. Task forces were established by the city about 12 years ago as a way to provide support to informal, private groups in Naperville without subjecting them to typical state and city code regulations, but the city has received questions over its relationship with the organizations, prompting staff to look into the matter. “Staff reviewed the practice and determined that there’s no ordinance or policy framework for (a task force) designation, and that providing public resources or putting them on a website for private groups raises questions, legitimate questions about equity and endorsement and appropriate use of city resources,” Naperville City Attorney Michael DiSanto said at the July 21 Naperville City Council meeting. * Daily Herald | Naperville reigns as ‘retail mecca,’ producing $5.7B in sales last year: Illinois’ third-largest city has retained its spot as the top suburban retail sales generator in the Chicago metropolitan area for another year, according to a recently released report from Chicago-based consultant firm Melaniphy & Associates. Naperville has held the title since 2017, thanks in part to its shopping centers, restaurant scene, automobile dealerships, gas purchases and grocery stores. * CBS Chicago | Flooding in Summit, Illinois, after severe storms: In southwest suburban Summit, Illinois, near the border of Bedford Park, the downpour was so sudden and intense, entire roads and sidewalks flooded. * Press release | University of Illinois Board of Trustees launches national search for the system’s 21st president: The system’s next president will succeed Tim Killeen, who announced he will step down June 30 after more than a decade of transformative leadership. “Few leadership roles in American higher education carry the opportunity and responsibility embodied in the presidency of the University of Illinois System,” said Jesse Ruiz, chair of the board of trustees. “This role is one of stewardship and possibility. Our next president will assume leadership of a system with extraordinary strength and momentum, and will have the opportunity to build on that legacy while helping define what comes next for public higher education.” * IPM Newsroom | Champaign County Board tables resolution on Clerk Aaron Ammons, appoints new member for District 6: The board also appointed Chyna Figueroa-Dixon to represent District 6, filling a vacancy after a previous member announced her resignation. Figueroa-Dixon will represent a region that includes the northern part of Champaign. Her predecessor, Samantha Carter, accused the board of having “lost focus” during a meeting in June. “In order for me to be here and be 100% involved, I have to trust your leadership, and I don’t,” Carter said. “We’re vocal on certain subjects, but then we’re silent on others, and that makes this board ineffective.” * WJBC | ISU Trustee’s approve National Pan-Hellenic Council plaza: The plaza will feature nine pillars and a donor wall recognizing historically black fraternities and sororities and their impact on the university. “The Divine Nine, historically black fraternities and sororities, have been an integral part of Illinois State University for more than 50 years. To recognize their legacy, contributions, and lasting impact, the university proposes the construction of a National Panhellenic Council Plaza,” said Aondover Tarhule, president of the university. * WSIL | Community reacts to layoffs, patient relocations at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center: Others worry the changes could have a ripple effect throughout Union County, making it harder to find a job. “It concerns us, it always concerns us. Everybody needs jobs down here. We’re in a really depressed area,” Kent Young said. Residents also expressed concerns whether enough mental health services will remain available locally as Choate scales back operations. * WGLT | Rivian files lawsuit to get back refund from Trump administration’s illegal tariffs: It’s unclear how much money Rivian is hoping to get back. Rivian’s complaint, filed Thursday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, does not give an exact dollar amount. It’s seeking the refund, plus interest and attorneys’ fees. TechCrunch, which first reported the lawsuit, reported that Rivian’s chief financial officer previously said it would be in the “tens of millions of dollars.” Rivian has not responded to WGLT’s request for comment on the amount sought. * WIRED | Measles Is Becoming So Common That Treatments May Soon Be Needed: Fueled by large outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah, the US had already surpassed last year’s 2,289 measles cases, and it’s only July. For comparison, there were just 285 cases in all of 2024. […] “What we’re seeing now as we get a resurgence of measles in communities is a horrible lack of options when somebody gets exposed,” says Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and chief medical officer of Invivyd, a Connecticut-based biotech company.
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Question of the day
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * NPR…
* The Question: Should it be legal or illegal for Illinoisans to bet on Illinois elections? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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Oberweis called ‘Career candidate, perennial loser’ in Florida TV ad (Updated x2)
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The spot…
[From Rich: I regularly spend colder weeks in that very district. You can’t swing a dead lizard without hitting someone from the Chicago metro area. So, quite a few of the oldsters in the district (and there are a lot of oldsters there) already know who he is.] …Adding… A flashback to Oberweis’ 2004 US Senate Campaign… …Adding… H/T to Marc Avelar, who pointed out that Oberweis referenced his Soldier Field helicopter commercial just two weeks ago…
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Stop torturing mentally ill prisoners
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times and The Marshall Project…
This story gets worse with every paragraph. Go read the whole thing.
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Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students
Monday, Jul 27, 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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Maybe try this
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
* More…
* Politico | ‘I can’t believe’ we’re here again: The sexual harassment concerns have revived divisions within the Women’s Caucus dating back to Welch’s rise to speaker in 2021. At the time, lawmakers learned that Welch had been named in a 2002 domestic violence incident, though the woman involved did not press charges, and Welch later said they had reconciled, reported the Illinois Times. He also had previously been sued twice for alleged sexual harassment or discrimination while he was board president of Proviso Township High School District 209. Plaintiffs in both cases dropped their lawsuits, according to the Times and other reports. Welch called it a Republican hit, saying: “At no other occasion have these events been brought up and I firmly believe my Republican colleagues are threatened by the potential growth of my profile.”
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] A Bloomington staple for generations, AB Hatchery & Garden Center is your one-stop shop for gardening, pet care, and animal supplies. Owner Bill Inks combines his expertise in horticulture and retail with exceptional customer service to help every customer find exactly what they need. Whether you’re shopping for native Illinois plants, specialty pet food, or backyard chickens, you’ll find what you need at AB Hatchery. 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 Bill in Bloomington 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
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois sees 16% drop in SNAP enrollment one year after food program overhaul. Sun-Times…
- IDHS estimates 148,000 people lost SNAP because of the work requirements. State officials had initially estimated 400,000 people would lose benefits - Nearly 97% of the people still receiving SNAP were exempted from the expanded work rules because they meet certain requirements, such as living with a physical or mental condition or having a child who is 13 years or younger, according to the state. * At 9 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver remarks at the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit. At 9:30 am, he will participate in an NCSL panel. Click here to watch. * Fox 2 Now | Judge blocks Illinois from offering in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants: On Friday, Judge David W. Dugan ruled Illinois’ RISE Act and DREAM Act policies as “unconstitutional and invalid” as applied to undocumented students. Dugan ruled that the policies violate federal law by providing residency-based college benefits to undocumented students while not extending the same benefits to all U.S. citizens who live outside the state. The order, however, is on hold for 14 days while the state decides whether to appeal the case. * Maria Pappas | Homeowners blast property tax increases, but only 20% vote when given a chance to reject them: Suburban governments and school districts asked voters to approve 20 binding property tax referendums to upgrade schools, buy new emergency and rescue equipment, renovate libraries and rebuild aging roads. Voters approved 15 of them and rejected the other five during the April 2025 consolidated election for local government offices and the March 2026 primary for federal, state, county and township governments. Turnout for those referendums averaged 20.1%, with the fate of four each determined by less than 10% of voters. That low-turnout trend, which is particularly acute in local and primary elections, was first identified in a March 2024 Treasurer’s Office report and again in follow-up report one year later. * Crain’s | Giannoulias’ money is reshaping the Chicago mayor’s race — before he’s even entered it: Giannoulias wanted to know he would have support if he ran for mayor, Poulos said, and if he decides against a run, “there’s an expectation out there that the money would be returned.” “This guy could sit back, ride it out, do a great job as secretary of state, and when JB’s done running out a third term, he can run for governor,” Poulos said. * WBEZ | A new Illinois law keeps hospital finances hidden from the public: A new law in Illinois requires hospitals to file more financial information with state regulators, giving them a deeper look into whether medical centers are struggling. But these records will be hidden from the public, the law states, limiting how much patients, their doctors and even community leaders like city councils know about hospitals in their back yards. This is one piece of a broad law Gov. JB Pritzker signed in June “to support at-risk hospitals, strengthen our statewide care infrastructure, and defend the interests of patients and taxpayers,” he said in a news release at the time. * 4 the Record | Independent Gov candidate Corbett takes aim at Illinois regulations: Collin Corbett talks about expanding the Illinois economy by making it easier to do business in the state, specifically saying he would get rid of unnecessary regulations on businesses. what regulations would you try to eliminate with help from state lawmakers? “This has to be a full effort,” Corbett said. “There are so many things that are requirements that a bigger business has no trouble handling because they’ve got a big accounting department. They’ve got a big legal department, and they can keep up with all the changes. Who this hurts the most is small businesses.” * Center Square | GOP makes political push in House races amid lawmaker controversies: The Republican organization also began running an ad against Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch, in which they questioned Welch’s ability to remain in his role after he allegedly delayed taking action on complaints against Benton. Another potentially tight race, which Republicans are making a push for is downstate in the 104th district. Mary Catherine Roberson, D-Danville, is running for the seat against Rep. Brandun Schweizer, R-Danville, who is completing his first term this year. * Evanston Roundtable | Lieutenant governor candidate joins annual Evanston Democrats meeting: Mitchell shared some of his priorities with the RoundTable in an interview before he spoke at Sunday’s event. “I believe in organizing fundamentally,” he said. “I believe in going door to door and talking to people. I’m grateful that folks are doing that here.” While that door-to-door organizing happens in Illinois, Mitchell said efforts modeled after Operation Swing State — where local Democrats traveled to places like Wisconsin and Michigan ahead of the 2024 election to support Democratic candidates there — are also important moving forward. * Tribune | Thomas Nolan, longtime Springfield social service lobbyist, dies at 83: “He was a quintessential Irishman, always a twinkle in his eye and a story to tell,” said Judy Erwin, a retired state lawmaker from Chicago who formerly served as a top staffer for the late Senate President Philip J. Rock. “He was always a welcome sight in Springfield, where there were some people you might want to avoid,” she said. “Tom was one of those people who could put a smile on your face whenever you saw him around the rail.” * WBEZ | Chicago renters’ rights are at stake in dueling City Hall proposals: Currently, property owners who live in their building with six or fewer units are considered small landlords, and that building is exempt from most of the city’s renter laws — a definition maintained in the proposal from the mayor. FAIR, the proposal from City Council, would create three tiers of landlords. Small landlords could own up to 12 rental units throughout Chicago and need not live in any of the buildings. * Tribune | In historic shift, Latino officers soon to be largest racial group in Chicago Police Department: As of June 2026, CPD employed 4,403 white officers, a sharp decline from the 6,217 on payroll in August 2017. The number of Latino officers, meanwhile, has increased by more than 40 percent since then, now totaling 4,158, records show. There are about 2,300 Black CPD officers, approximately 20 percent of the department, and that figure has largely held steady over the last decade. * Crain’s | Why one Chicago accounting firm is saying no to the private equity wave: Mowery & Schoenfeld, which provides wealth management services, technology consulting and investment bank advisory in addition to its core accounting services is laser-focused on its long-term growth strategy of recruiting good clients. Remaining independent is an attractive point of differentiation on that front. […] More than 60% of the firms on Crain’s list of the 25 biggest accounting firms in Chicago have received some form of private equity investment since the first one was made in 2021, according to Allan Koltin, CEO of Chicago-based Koltin Consulting Group, which advises accounting and financial firms. * Sun-Times | John Prine mural adorns Old Town School of Folk Music: In white are tributes to Prine’s life, much of it referencing his job as a mail carrier before his musical career took off. “Maywood, Illinois,” his hometown, is written in postcard lettering on one side of the mural. The postcard appears to be flipped on the side and features Prine’s signature and two stamps — one showing his own face and one of his friend and fellow Chicago musician, Steve Goodman. While Goodman was not a mail carrier, a Lake View post office is named after him. * Daily Herald | Three Northwest suburban hospitals accused of not properly providing pricing information: Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System was sent a letter of warning from the federal government over the issue, while Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates and Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Des Plaines were sent more severe requests for plans to provide transparent pricing. Failing to comply can result in penalties of up to $2 million annually. A Daily Herald review of the three facilities’ websites revealed all offer price guides for standard services. * Tribune | Vernon Hills toy manufacturer sues Trump administration again over new round of tariffs: The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. Court of International Trade with co-plaintiff HMTX Industries, a Connecticut-based flooring company, challenges the 10% to 12.5% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on top trading partners for alleged forced labor practices. The tariffs levied Friday by the Trump administration invoke Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which empowers the president to implement tariffs on countries that engage in unfair trade practices. The Office of the United States Trade Representative cited forced labor in global supply chains at the top 60 trade partners covering 99.4% of U.S. imports. * Daily Herald | Roosevelt University, Schaumburg launch business incubator for suburban entrepreneurs: Schaumburg Economic Development Director Matt Frank said the idea of a business incubator was part of the village’s strategic plan to overcome economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the desired use for a federal Community Development Block Grant and fell to Roosevelt University, the village’s favored partner, to implement it. The program initially called for participants to be of low- to moderate-income to qualify. * WGLT | FUSE program has led to fewer arrests among people with mental illness, substance use disorders: A McLean County program for people struggling with substance use and mental health has resulted in fewer brushes with the criminal justice system. […] The voluntary program enrolls people affected by mental illness and substance abuse who frequently interact with McLean County’s criminal justice system, emergency rooms and homeless shelters. FUSE is funded by an intergovernmental sales tax agreement between McLean County, Bloomington and Normal collected to pay for public safety and mental health initiatives. * Illinois Times | Mental Health Board seeking executive director, lawyer: Board chair Steve Nardulli said while the process can be somewhat fluid, he wants to finalize the executive director position by the end of September. Whoever is hired will be tasked with organizing the board’s priorities and long-term funding plans. The position has a wide pay range of $80,000 to $150,000, “commensurate with education and experience,” according to the job description. Interested applicants need to apply by Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. * WCIA | Coles Co. Fair kicks off with new facilities following destructive June tornado: The fair board had one month to get repairs done before opening day, which meant they had to work fast to resurrect the property. Coles County Fair Board President, Mark Grant, said rebuilding the hog barn, show ring, and replacing the roof on the art hall was all thanks to the community wrapping their arms around him when he needed it most. “Really happy that it all came together and we got it done,” Grant said. * Stateline | Crime continues historic decline as homicide rates approach century lows: A new analysis from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice found that nine of 13 crime categories tracked in 36 cities declined compared with the first six months of 2025. Homicides fell 18% in the first half of the year, with 215 fewer killings among the 30 cities that reported data for the offense. * Bloomberg | Trump Mail Vote Plan Blocked as Appeals Court Favors States: A three-judge appellate panel said it would not pause a lower court ruling that barred federal agencies from immediately enforcing Trump’s executive order in almost two dozen states and the District of Columbia where Democratic officials sued. […] The Justice Department signaled in earlier court filings that it would consider taking the fight to the US Supreme Court. While the Boston judge’s injunction doesn’t apply nationwide, it’s considered a significant impediment to the administration’s ability to carry out Trump’s executive order for the November vote. * Bloomberg | Why wildfire smoke still catches cities off guard: NOAA’s current smoke prediction model makes forecasts 48 hours ahead, but the agency is implementing a new model that will forecast 84 hours into the future. It will be operational this fall, according to Ahmadov. The advance was made possible by improvements in computer modeling, but better observational data from satellites will be key for further progress. * CNN | Cyclospora outbreaks start with human contamination. Nobody has ever been able to figure out how: Cyclospora outbreaks are difficult to investigate in large part because of the parasite itself. People who ingest tainted food or water don’t get sick right away. It can take up to two weeks for the cramping, nausea, watery diarrhea and bloating to start. By the time people realize that their symptoms aren’t going away and seek medical attention, it may be three weeks to a month after exposure.
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Good morning!
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Traffic and Jerry Garcia at Soldier Field… Do anything take us out of this gloom I knew so many people who were there. What’s up?
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Jul 27, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition of Capitol Fax
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * NBC Chicago…
* Gov. Pritzker signed a slew of bills into law today. We are posting all press releases here. * Transport Topics | Fuel taxes rise in several states as Illinois hits pause: Many states adjust motor fuel tax rates either Jan. 1 or July 1 through formulas tied to inflation or other economic benchmarks. This year, automatic consumer price index-based adjustments contributed to increased diesel and gasoline taxes in California, Maryland, Washington and Virginia. However, Illinois drivers avoided a planned motor-fuel tax hike after state lawmakers opted to impose a six-month halt through Dec. 31. * Tribune | Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce now linked to Illinois and 3 more states: Federal health officials on Friday said they have linked cases of a diarrhea-causing parasite tied to shredded lettuce to an additional four states, expanding the scope of the largest U.S. outbreak of cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak first tied to Taco Bell restaurants now includes Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Previously the agency’s investigation included five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. * Illinois Department of Public Health…
* Press release | Governor Pritzker Announces Ability Engineering Technology’s Expansion in Illinois: AET is the second announced tenant of the IQMP FaQtory, a building to house suppliers that are manufacturing equipment and components for companies at the Park. FaQtory is being partially funded by the federal government through its Tech Hubs competition and partially funded by State quantum funds. The State previously announced a Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act (MICRO) agreement for Zero Point Cryogenics, who will also be a tenant at the IQMP FaQtory. * Tribune | ‘Deportation factory’: Chicago’s immigration court epicenter for US spike in removal orders, analysis shows: It was the first recorded instance of dozens of so-called “mega-master” hearings: enlarged versions of early-stage hearings where immigrants appear in large groups. Combined with a massive turnover in judges on the Trump-controlled court and less-immigrant-friendly rules, the hearings helped fuel a dramatic rise in the number of removal orders issued by judges there — turning what once was a large but average court into a national trendsetter for the president’s push for mass deportations. * Tribune | Complaint accuses school board president candidate Hilario Dominguez of breaking campaign finance rules: Dominguez’s candidate committee reported no contributions or spending in its first quarterly report, which “cannot be accurate,” according to the complaint, filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections last week on behalf of challenger Sendhil Revuluri. The complaint was first reported by Chalkbeat. The filing accuses Dominguez — the political director of the Chicago Teachers Union — of failing to report the costs of gathering petitions, printing campaign materials and setting up a website. He also held a fundraiser, the complaint alleges, but did not disclose any donations. * Crain’s | Feds appeal blocked Obamacare enrollment rule in Chicago lawsuit: The Health and Human Services Department will fight to restore policies it says are vital to protecting the health insurance exchanges against fraud. HHS filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on Tuesday to reverse a decision the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland handed down last month that invalidated portions of a program integrity final rule the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued last year. * WTTW | CPD Forensic Division Lab Earns National Accreditation: The CPD on Thursday announced that its Forensic Services Division is now an accredited laboratory by the American National Standards Institute’s National Accreditation Board, the result of what the department said has been a multi-year effort. “Receiving accreditation is the culmination of years of hard work by the men and women of the Forensic Services Division to standardize the laboratory’s operations in accordance with national standards,” First Deputy Superintendent Antoinette Ursitti, who oversaw the accreditation efforts, said in a statement. * Tribune | Chicago mayoral election 2027: Who are the candidates so far?: But with the kickoff date for candidates to collect nominating petitions on July 28, the field is expected to grow. Some contenders could also get knocked off the ballot should they fail to meet the 12,500-signature threshold during the notoriously cutthroat petition-challenging process. * Sun-Times | Obama drops in at WNBA event inspiring ninth grade girls at presidential center: Next time Aliyah talks to her mother, she’ll get to tell her she shook Obama’s hand. “I was freaking out, I was turnt, I almost passed out,” Aliyah, 14, said. “I was everywhere.” The event kicked off just before 10 a.m. with comments from WNBA brand strategist Nina Kossoff. Friday’s gathering was among many events in Chicago this week tied to the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held Saturday at the United Center. * Shaw Local | ‘A massive undertaking’: Joliet, Will County take action to repair broken water service in Preston Heights: A city-county program to bring Joliet water into areas where utility systems have failed got new attention in recent weeks. Plans for former Southeast Joliet Sanitary District will get a full airing on Thursday when city and county officials hold a community meeting at 6 p.m. in the Nowell Park Recreation Center. The meeting comes after the Joliet City Council this week agreed to open the recreation center for emergency showers as an option for residents in that area during extended water main breaks. * Elgin Courier-News | D300 wants tax hike to fund $355M in school improvements, new training center: The D300 school board this week voted 7-0 to place the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. Bonds sold would fund more than 20 projects, including classroom additions to overcrowded schools, repairs to aging buildings, safety updates, entrance security improvements, and a new career and technical education center for hands-on training. If the measure is approved, the owner of a $400,000 home would see a property tax bill increase of about $8.41 per month, or $101 per year, a news release on the initiative said. * Patch | IARF Backs Choate Transition, Calls for Continued Investment in Community-Based Disability Services: The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF) is applauding the Pritzker administration’s decision to complete the transition of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from Choate Developmental Center, calling the move another important step toward expanding safe, person-centered care in community settings across Illinois. […] “The leadership shown by Governor Pritzker and DHS Secretary Quintero in closing the remaining I/DD beds at Choate Developmental Center stands in stark contrast to the message being sent from Washington, D.C.,” [IARF President and CEO Josh Evans] said. “In Illinois, we will advance equity, the civil rights of persons with developmental disabilities, and the opportunity for Illinoisans with disabilities to reside in communities of their choice.” * Capitol City Now | A deep dive into conditions at Logan Correctional Center: A new report by the John Howard Association sheds light into less-than-favorable conditions at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln. Jenny Vollen-Katz, Executive Director, talks with Dave Dahl on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. * WCIA | ‘A lot of tears…a lot of stress’: Decatur businesses relocating amidst lack of roof repairs: Two Decatur businesses are closing their doors and relocating after the owners said they were forced out of their current building amidst unrepaired roof leaks. Matt Crawford, the owner of RTB Fitness, said he got a call from WTD Properties last Tuesday, telling him he needs to leave the building at the end of August. Crawford said he had issues like a leaking ceiling for some time, and his business isn’t the only one experiencing this. * The Pantagraph | Woodford County Board member resigns, saying he’s ‘extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve’: Woodford County Board member Nick Miller has resigned, leaving a vacancy in District 3 on the 15-member board. The board approved Miller’s resignation Tuesday. He sent a resignation letter to board chairman Chuck Nagel earlier this month, saying he was stepping down as of July 10. Miller didn’t give a reason for his resignation in the letter and didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but the military veteran recently took a job in the county’s Veterans Assistance Commission. * AP | Wisconsin voters sue to allow for vote to count if absentee ballot is late: The lawsuit comes amid growing concerns about how quickly the United States Postal Service will be able to deliver ballots ahead of the November midterms. Control of Congress is at stake, and Wisconsin voters will be electing a new governor as well as determining control of the Legislature. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission warned the U.S. postmaster general in May that any delay could deprive citizens of their fundamental right to vote. In January, a group of mostly Democratic U.S. senators also wrote the postal service, raising concerns that a change in how it postmarks mail could invalidate many mail-in ballots. * Tribune | Journalists ‘reckon’ with needs, changes necessary for the Fourth Estate to survive: Oligarchic takeovers and consolidation of mainstream media outlets have led to increasing hostility, harassment and political attacks against journalists — it’s dangerous to be a member of the Fourth Estate, according to independent journalist Georgia Fort and opinion writer Karen Attiah. The pair spoke recently of the twists and turns they have endured at “America @250: A journalism reckoning” — a convening of journalists, funders and civic leaders at Impact House — reflecting on the past, present and future state of a free press in America.
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Cassidy: Allegations against Speaker Welch are ‘deeply concerning’ and ‘have not been adequately explained’
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here for some background if you need it. Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
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Department of Energy admits billions of dollars in grants canceled solely for partisan reasons
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the DOE filing…
Many of the canceled grants here were meant for the University of Illinois.
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Maybe Illinois can learn something from Wisconsin about data centers
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I reached out to the Citizens Utility Board to ask if Illinois is one of those 24 states…
Thoughts?
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AG Raoul still staying busy
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Reuters…
Illinois receives more than $40 million annually through the Homeland Security Grant Program, according to Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office. * Banking Dive…
* More…
* Press release | AG Raoul calls on congress to extend Haitian TPS: In a letter to congressional leaders, Attorney General Raoul and the coalition called on Congress to pass H.R. 1689/S.4814, which would extend TPS protections for Haiti. The coalition also asked Congress to pass legislation that would provide judicial oversight of TPS decisions and establish a pathway to permanent residency for TPS holders. The coalition’s letter comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe, which upheld the termination of TPS for Haitians and Syrians while laying the groundwork for the revocation of TPS protections for other countries without any form of judicial oversight or review. * Press release | AG Raoul opposes EPA’s rollback of PFAS limits in drinking water: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, today filed comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rollback on drinking water regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of widely used toxic chemicals that do not naturally break down in the environment, more commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” The rollback means public drinking water systems will not be required by federal law to test for PFAS, report on their presence in public drinking water or treat drinking water to remove these chemicals so people do not consume them.
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A real rural danger most people never know about
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Growing up in rural Iroquois County, I knew people who were killed or maimed while driving through rural intersections without stopping during late summer…
Responsible farmers will not plant or will mow down corn near intersections, which rarely have stop signs. But not every farmer is responsible. They plant as close to the roads as possible. At night back then, we would turn off our headlights for a second, turn them on and (just to be sure) turn them back off again as we approached unregulated blind intersections at night. But not everyone was lucky. So, to my many rural friends, be careful out there. Just stop and make sure you live.
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Campaign stuff
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Looks like they used a smoke machine…
* More from Pritzker…
* Background is here if you need it. Collin Corbett…
CNI…
From the governor’s office…
* Bailey’s turn…
* Back to Pritzker…
Discuss.
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Question of the day
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Your answer?… 
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Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students
Friday, Jul 24, 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
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker administration to lay off workers, reduce operations at downstate Choate facility. Tribune…
- The moves follow Pritzker in 2023 announcing he planned to repurpose Choate while expanding opportunities for residents to move into smaller group homes in the wake of repeated reports that many Choate residents were abused, neglected and otherwise mistreated. - At Choate specifically, there were just under 200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in March 2023, according to IDHS. As of Thursday, that number was down to 16, the agency said. A block of 75 beds for behavioral health patients will be phased down in March, and a 40-bed forensic unit will remain, IDHS said. * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today. * Capitol News Illinois | These 9 Illinois communities say they’re interested in new nuclear facilities: Of the nine Illinois communities that responded, six are those that already host nuclear: the city of Marseilles and the counties of DeWitt, Grundy, Ogle, Rock Island and Will. Two more are counties that have lived alongside large-scale power plants of another type: coal. Those are Peoria County, which saw its coal-fired power plant decommissioned in 2022, and Jasper County, which is set to see its coal plant decommissioned next year. * Crain’s | United suspends 10 new routes to small cities from O’Hare: Travelers in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana and several other small cities across the Midwest will have to wait a little longer for direct flights to Chicago on United Airlines. The airline says it’s further delaying 10 new routes from O’Hare International Airport because of the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent decision to extend for another year the limits on the number of flights at the airport. The FAA initially limited the number flights to and from O’Hare from May to October but now says the restrictions will continue through October 2027. * NYT | Illinois Changes Tack on Data Centers: Last month, Pritzker suspended those incentives, saying the tech companies building data centers had gotten out of control and were driving up people’s energy prices. “We can put a pause on the building of data centers by disincentivizing, or at least making it harder, taking away those tax credits,” he said on Tuesday at the Aspen Ideas climate conference in Chicago. Pritzker was responding to the growing backlash against data centers, a movement that has swept the country in recent months. President Trump announced on Thursday afternoon that nearly 200 companies and politicians have signed a voluntary pledge to prevent A.I. data centers from driving up electricity costs for millions of Americans. But the pledge is largely symbolic and difficult to enforce, experts said. * Tribune | Illinois to annually honor Emmett Till, Chicago teen whose 1955 murder galvanized Civil Rights Movement: Illinois will annually honor Emmett Till, the Black teenager from Chicago whose 1955 murder galvanized the Civil Rights Movement and became a glaring example of failures in the justice system, under a new law Gov. JB Pritzker signed Thursday. “Every policy that advances justice passed, every bill signed, every monument built, is in the spirit of the legacy of accountability and progress, every inch of which was fought for, often with blood,” Pritzker said. “Today, we are building on that legacy.” * Sun-Times | Springfield commission votes to release report on disgraced ex-state Rep. Harry Benton this month: “The Legislative Inspector General’s independent investigation into former Representative Benton provides a full and accurate account of the steps my office took to support those who came forward,” Welch said in a statement Wednesday. “My colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus and I have been clear that the report should be released while taking any necessary steps to protect the privacy and dignity of the innocent people who spoke out. Today’s vote is a positive step for accountability and transparency, and I look forward to the full report being released this month.” * WTTW | Chicago Board of Education Members Weigh How to Close $732M Budget Gap: Last week, CPS CEO Macquline King unveiled a proposed $9.88 billion budget to close the district’s funding gap. The plan calls for $200 million in Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, funds from the city, the layoff of 760 teachers and 801 support staff, and five unpaid furlough days for CPS employees. King told reporters last week that her budget focuses on cuts away from the classroom and students. * South Side Weekly | U. of C. Scientists Call for Halt to Quantum Construction: “What we already know is sufficient to justify canceling the project,” said Josh Sodicoff, a co-chair of Science for the People’s local chapter and a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Chicago’s Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology program. “But what we have uncovered through review of environmental reporting, permits, press releases and the underlying science shows a project both capable of massive negative impact on its neighbors while unlikely to meet its most basic aims.” * Crain’s | Chicago safety-net hospitals search for a lifeline as funding crisis deepens: Chicago’s healthcare safety net is at a breaking point — squeezed by rising labor and drug costs, Medicaid reimbursements that can’t keep pace and a funding structure that hospital leaders say systematically advantages large health systems over small ones. A payroll scramble at Roseland Community Hospital reflects a broader crisis squeezing hospitals. In the past year, the region has seen the closure of two safety-net hospitals, other hospitals struggling to pay their bills and a storm cloud rising in the form of drastic losses predicted in Medicaid rolls. * WTTW | Ex-Top Cop Snelling Must Answer Questions Under Oath About Traffic Stops, Federal Judge Rules: U.S. District Court Judge Mary Rowland rejected efforts by lawyers for the city to significantly curtail the duration of Snelling’s deposition and prevent lawyers for the five Black and Latino Chicagoans who had been repeatedly stopped while driving — both before and after they filed suit — from asking about Snelling’s handling of traffic stops while he served as commander of the Englewood (7th) Police District. * Cook County Record | Chicago can force landlords to pay tenants $10K for ‘relocation assistance’: Nothing in the U.S. Constitution prevents the city of Chicago from forcing landlords who purchase apartment buildings out of foreclosure to pay $10,000 in “relocation assistance” to tenants who don’t want to renew their lease, a federal appeals court has ruled. On July 22, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge to that provision in Chicago’s so-called “Keep Chicago Renting” ordinance, saying the money the city has ordered landlords to pay to tenants is merely a kind of economic regulation on the landlord-tenant relationship, and can’t be considered an unconstitutional “taking” of the landlord’s property by the city government. * Crain’s | Chicago-based private listing network draws antitrust scrutiny from Congress: Under the deal, Compass agents anywhere in the U.S. could post private listings on MRED’s long-standing private listing network, where homes are marketed agent-to-agent without going on a public listings site. In return, Compass pledged to subsidize some of the cost for as many as 100,000 agents to sign onto MRED, which would more than triple MRED’s membership ranks. Critics, including the big real estate portal Zillow, have said the deal harms consumers because it puts some real estate listings out of sight of some buyers. The lawmakers are looking into that question as well, their letter indicates. * Tribune | Chicago makes progress installing crossing signals for the blind, but fixes and more signals needed, monitor says: The city “is off to a strong start” in its first year of a court-ordered program to install crossing signals for the visually impaired, an independent monitor found — though none of the new signals inspected met all technical requirements. Chicago installed accessible pedestrian signals, or APS, at 78 intersections — eight more than required initially. With previously installed signals, that brings the total to 165 intersections with the signals, representing about 6% of nearly 2,800 pedestrian signalized intersections. * WGN | New geofencing will limit e-bikes and scooters in Edgewater: Manaa-Hoppenworth says it’s important to remove e-bikes from the sidewalks on Sheridan Road to improve pedestrian safety. “Getting bikes off of Sheridan Road sidewalks has been a public safety priority for me and my team, because we know that everyone is safer when we organize our streets with clear spaces for pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists,” the alderwoman added. * Block Club | Rogers Park’s Historic 400 Theater, Closed Since 2023, Reopening This Month Under New Owner: Theater owner Jordan Stancil announced last year he was taking on the shuttered New 400 Theaters and planned to reopen as The 400 Theater, Block Club previously reported. Stancil is the operator of three movie houses in Michigan, including the Rialto Theater in Grayling, Michigan, which his family has owned since 1915, he said previously. The New 400 closed in 2023, ending a 111-year-run that made it the oldest movie theater in the city and one of its last independent cinemas. Its former owner, who also owns the retail strip the theater occupies, said at the time he would look to find a new operator for the theater, but the space sat dormant since its closure. * Daily Herald | Arlington Heights couple pleads guilty to vandalizing local GOP headquarters: Brock McNerney, a 72-year-old retired financial planner, and Moisette McNerney, a 69-year-old retired special education teacher, admitted to criminal damage to property and criminal defacement of property charges as part of a plea agreement. Cook County Judge Thomas Newinski sentenced the couple to 18 months court supervision, 100 hours of community service, a $100 fine and court costs. Newinski also ordered the couple to pen an apology letter to the Wheeling Township organization. * The Marshall Project | At Joliet prison, desperate men set themselves on fire: There have been more than 70 fires at the facility in the last three years, according to an investigation by The Marshall Project, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. That includes a dozen cases in which men incarcerated there set themselves on fire. […] Cellblocks lacked sprinklers, and fire alarms were turned off or inoperable. At an annual inspection, the prison would not provide a fire evacuation plan. Guards delayed ambulances responding to emergencies at the prison or trying to take men with serious injuries to the hospital. * Harvey World Herald | Calumet City Ald. Monet Wilson to sue TTHS D205 alleging district violated her civil rights over football camp: But the camp was ultimately cancelled. Wilson and Ebony Rucker, Reach 4 The Sky President Keith Rucker’s niece, provided differing narratives as to why during the meeting. Wilson alleged that president Nina Graham barred Wilson’s family from the camp and that she would sue the board in response. Ebony Rucker, a district employee, took to the podium during public participation first to give a statement on behalf of The Reach 4 The Sky Foundation. Foundation president Keith Rucker decided to cancel the camp to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and protect the integrity of both the foundation and district, she said. * Tribune | Woodridge draws thousands of film enthusiasts from across the country to see ‘The Odyssey’ in IMAX 70 mm: John Marks admits he didn’t have to drive his family across state lines in the middle of the night to see “The Odyssey.” But as he stood in the lobby of Woodridge’s Cinemark Seven Bridges and IMAX at 2 a.m. on Thursday, he couldn’t imagine seeing it anywhere else. The Indiana resident is one of thousands flocking to the multiplex since the film’s release last week. One of only 25 theaters nationwide showing “The Odyssey” in IMAX 70 mm, the southwestern suburb has become an unlikely destination for cinephiles determined to watch the nearly three-hour film as director Christopher Nolan intended. * Crain’s | Chicago-area warehouse vacancy inches up as companies shed space: The share of available warehouse space across the Chicago area inched up to 5.06% midway through the year from 4.91% at the end of the first quarter, according to data from real estate services firm Colliers. The vacancy rate has modestly increased for three consecutive quarters and now tops 5% for the first time in two-and-a-half years, though it remains close to the all-time low of 4.5% set in 2022. * WICS | Board Tables Ammons Resignation Resolution: The Champaign County Board voted to table for one year a resolution calling on County Clerk Aaron Ammons to resign following his federal indictment earlier this month. Ammons was indicted on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering. The resolution states the county clerk serves as Champaign County’s chief election authority and keeper of vital public records, positions that require “public trust, transparency and integrity.” Supporters of the measure told board members the allegations have damaged public confidence in the office and urged the board to take action. * WAND | Champaign County Board tables resolution calling for Ammons’ resignation: During public comment, some residents spoke in defense of the county clerk and said that he deserves his chance to defend himself in federal court. “And it seems designed to short circuit the justice system in order to force the resignation of a local elected official who hasn’t even had their day in court,” said one resident. Others took the time to implore the board to pass the resolution. “Your no vote [on] this resolution will confirm to the public that your political party and protecting your friends are more important than the public trust,” said a second resident. The motion to table the vote was made by a single board member instead of the entire board. * The Southern | Records reveal why Benton mayor sought ISP investigation against fire chief: The investigative file shows investigators reviewed charitable donations, fundraising proceeds, checks written to the Benton Fire Department and outside bank accounts after questions were raised about how some donations were handled. After reviewing the investigation, Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn declined to prosecute, writing in a June 17 memo that she found “no evidence whatsoever that a crime has been committed.” * BND | East St. Louis schools launch 24/7 mental health crisis line: East St. Louis School District 189 now has a 24/7 crisis line to help students and their families navigate mental health struggles. Individuals can call or text 618-228-3622 any time to connect with a trained professional. Support is offered in English and Spanish, and is made possible through the district’s partnership with Gaggle ReachOut, according to a news release. * WCIA | EIU AD Wilson to take ‘really close look’ at upgrading football facilities: Among Wilson’s many accomplishments in 21 years leading Tennessee Tech sports was the beginning efforts of a $55 million renovation to the Golden Eagles’ football stadium. He plans to take a close look at EIU’s football facilities, with upgrades being entirely possible in the future. “I know that [the football] facility is about the same as it was 22 years ago during my first visit here at Tennessee Tech,” Wilson said of EIU’s football facilities. “Certainly [Wilkerson] needs some updating, and we’ll work to make that part of a strategic plan – and work to fundraise with our alumni and friends – and see if we can implement.” * Climate Colored Goggles | Researchers used electric stoves to treat asthma. It worked: For 72 homes where at least one resident suffered from “poorly controlled asthma,” the team measured health outcomes before and after the gas-to-electric switch: How often were participants awoken by asthma at night? How much time did they spend wheezing? How much shortness of breath did they experience? Did they need to visit the emergency room? Did they have to stay home from work or school? Lo and behold: Across every health metric studied, people got better. Not just better, actually — dramatically better. * Variety | Why Aren’t There More Imax 70mm Screens for ‘The Odyssey’? ‘It’s Not Practical,’ Company Says: “We build new projectors every day, but film projectors using this film — it’s just not practical,” Gelfond said. “Can all 2,000 of our theaters be film projectors? No. There’s just not that many around. But I think we can continue to grow it.” After reaching a near-record year at the box office in 2023, fueled by Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” Imax knew it needed to expand its fleet of 70mm film projectors ahead of “The Odyssey.” For over a year, Imax embarked on a massive effort to track down broken, abandoned and often-forgotten projectors, salvaging parts to refurbish and install additional projectors. The strenuous process also required training 60 new projectionists from scratch. * WaPo | Man gets two life terms for killings of Minnesota lawmaker and her husband: The man who shot and killed a former speaker of the Minnesota House and her husband at their home last year was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday. Vance Boelter had pleaded guilty last month to fatally shooting state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, at their home outside of Minneapolis in June 2025. In the early-morning rampage, Boelter disguised himself as a police officer and targeted other lawmakers, injuring state Sen. John A. Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette. * MediaIte | Ousted 60 Minutes Reporter Says She Was Asked To Report on Things That Didn’t Happen Under Bari Weiss: According to an audio recording obtained by Oliver Darcy’s Status, former 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega accused CBS News chief Bari Weiss of leading a push to include claims in stories that her reporting team could not verify, alleging she was asked to report on incidents that “never happened.” Speaking with ABC News’ John Quiñones Thursday at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference & Expo in New Orleans, Vega publicly discussed her firing for the first time, detailing what she described as repeated efforts by CBS News’ new leadership to influence her reporting.
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Good morning!
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Seger has a new one… Straight to your side
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jul 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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