Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
* NBC Chicago | What time does the DNC start tonight? Here’s the full Day 4 schedule, where to watch: As has been the case for each night of the convention so far, major performances and celebrity appearances are expected throughout the night, with speculation swirling over who could be in attendance. Already, sources have confirmed that Pink will perform Thursday night and The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, are also expected to hit the stage. * Politico | Kamala Harris had more donors in just 10 days than Biden had the whole election: Harris’ campaign and affiliated joint fundraising committees received contributions from nearly 2.3 million individual donors from July 21, when Biden dropped out of the race, through July 31, according to a detailed POLITICO analysis of new fundraising data. Biden had just shy of 2.1 million donors dating back to April 2023, when he formally launched his reelection bid. (In fact, Harris surpassed Biden a day earlier, on July 30.) * Sun-Times | Supt. Snelling says no arrests were made at Wednesday’s protest: “The individuals who showed up on Tuesday came here strictly to commit crimes, to fight with the police and cause destruction to the city,” Snelling told reporters at a media briefing this morning. “That wasn’t the focus of the group yesterday. They just wanted to be heard, and we allowed that to happen,” Snelling said. However, Snelling said there was one “dust-up” during Wednesday’s protest from Union Park to the United Center’s security perimeter. * Tribune | DNC sees third day of protests as Chicago’s top cop blasts demonstrators who confronted officers at Israeli consulate: Snelling was also asked why the protest drew so many journalists when another, more peaceful candlelight vigil on Tuesday memorializing those killed in Gaza went largely uncovered. “It sells,” Snelling said, adding there are those looking for a repeat of the chaos of the 1968 convention. “Why cover the people who are calling for peace? Everybody wants to see the carnage.” * CBS | Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Asian American Caucus on supporting Harris: “We have grown the Asian American caucus from 0 to 17 members in just eight years in a state that is only 7% Asian American, we’re so proud,” Cook Country Commissioner Josina Morita said. Morita is a founding member and chair of the Illinois Asian American Caucus. “There’s a saying that you’re either at the table or on the menu, and we’re so excited that our community, for the first time in this last decade, has really come to the table,” she said. * Pantagraph | Six-time DNC attendee Nikki Budzinski steps into role of delegate for first time: “I’ve always been, in multiple conventions, a volunteer on the floor,” Budzinski said. “And what you don’t realize when you’re at home is so much of this is really well-organized and put together, and it takes a lot of volunteers to help organize the signs that you see, making sure that people get to their seats, making sure that people know where they’re going.” * CBS | Illinois’ DNC delegates hear from top party leaders ahead of Harris’ speech on final day: “I think it’s important for us to remember that we are all blessed. We’ve been on the floor or in the arena as the first woman to be elected president of this country has been nominated by her party,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is also chair of the Cook County Democratic Party. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also spoke to Illinois delegates about being on Harris’ shortlist for running mates, alongside Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, before she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to join her on the ticket. * Tribune | Stephen Colbert grills JB Pritzker on hot dogs and Chance the Rapper performs on Night 3 of ‘Late Show’ in Chicago: Colbert, playing the humble hot dog vendor, also interviewed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at the United Center, asking him how he takes his Chicago dog. “With mustard and everything else, but no ketchup,” Pritzker said. “A terrorist is going to blow up the Bean unless you have ketchup on a hotdog, do you eat the ketchup on the hot dog,” Colbert questioned. “Mustard only,” Pritzker responded. * Tribune | ‘That’s my dad!’: Gus Walz tearfully cheers on his father as he accepts Democratic VP nomination: “That’s my dad!” the 17-year-old could be seen saying. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, who was accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president in a speech to thousands of people in a packed arena and millions more watching at home. The teen’s exuberance captured hearts and went viral, becoming perhaps the defining image of his father’s address and further humanizing a running mate picked by Vice President Kamala Harris in no small part for his everyman appeal. * Sun-Times | Thousands march on DNC without incident — or a permit: ‘We just want a peaceful protest’: The event followed Tuesday’s clash in the West Loop between protesters and Chicago police that led to 59 arrests. But the group involved in Tuesday’s violence was not affiliated with the coalition that planned Wednesday’s event that began at Union Park. And the organizers of the latest demonstration were familiar with Chicago police. * Sun-Times | Pro-Palestinian groups protesting outside the Cultural Center: Code Pink, which has interrupted other events this week, is among the groups present. The protesters outside the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., have been chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Kamala, you can’t hide. You’re supporting genocide.” * Sun-Times | Uncommitted delegates stage sit-in while calling for Palestinian American speaker at DNC: “I am begging that the Democratic Party, who has made space for so many, be the party that makes space for the Palestinians who are hurting,” said Jonathan Simonds, an uncommitted delegate from Hawaii. The sit-in has been peaceful and quiet. On Wednesday night, journalists and onlookers stood in a semi-circle around delegates and demonstrators who sat cross-legged on the sidewalk and stood with a banner that read “Arms Embargo Now,” in all caps. * FOX Chicago | 19-year-old Northbrook woman attends DNC as Illinois’ youngest delegate: ‘I have hope for the future’: “I’ve met so many cool people,” said 19-year-old Claire Satkiewicz. “And to be able to see some of my favorite political leaders speak like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders yesterday was very cool.” Satkiewicz, who was raised in Northbrook, is about to begin her sophomore year at Northeastern University in Boston. Luckily, classes don’t start until next week because she is attending the DNC as Illinois’ youngest delegate. * Sun-Times | Oprah Winfrey’s speech at DNC: ‘Who says you can’t go home again?’: Full text of Winfrey’s convention address to delegates at United Center. * Block Club | Salt Shed, Ramova Theatre And 2 Other Historical Chicago Buildings Win Award For Preservation Efforts: Nonprofit preservation organization Landmarks Illinois is honoring four Chicago institutions for their efforts in rehabilitating historical buildings. Those four buildings — Lawson House on the Near North Side, Bridgeport’s recently remodeled Ramova Theatre, Bucktown’s The Salt Shed and The Terminal in Humboldt Park — have been awarded the 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. * WBEZ | DNC speakers tout big plans for manufacturing, while Chicago remains slow to rebound: However, the full picture is more complex. Much of that increase in manufacturing jobs is due to a postpandemic recovery. Meanwhile, uncertainties about sustainable growth persist. In addition, recent estimates are subject to an annual revision. For example, on Wednesday, the BLS reported it overstated manufacturing job growth by 115,000 in the 12 months that ended in March. The final estimates for March 2024 will be announced in February 2025. * Crain’s | River North office skyscraper owner pays off $431 million loan: Newport Beach, Calif.-based real estate firm Irvine today announced it retired its loan tied to the 60-story tower at 300 N. LaSalle St. when it matured earlier this month. The company did not disclose the balance of the debt, but a source familiar with the mortgage said the outstanding balance was around $431 million, down from the original $475 million loan amount Irvine took out to finance its $850 million purchase of the building in 2014. Cook County records do not show any new debt borrowed against the property. * Daily Herald | Construction of 164 townhouses about to start at Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates: Preparations only await the issuing of a building permit now that an updated and slightly revised approval has been made of the site plan first given the green light in February 2023. Only minor changes to aspects such as lighting and landscaping were made, though the original approval was in need of a refresh for being more than a year old, Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Peter Gugliotta said. * The Times Weekly | Will County Health installs Naloxone Distribution box at Veterans Assistance Commission in Joliet: “The Will County Health Department is continuing to make Naloxone readily available throughout the county,” said Dr. Kathleen Burke, Will County Health Department’s Program Coordinator for Substance Use Initiatives. “Adding a distribution box at the Veterans Assistance Commission is a great step to help us make this life-saving drug available to our veterans.” * Sherry C.M. Lindquist | This is why it matters that Western Illinois University fired all its librarians: The priorities expressed by the cuts taking place at WIU over the last decade are consistent with such cuts being taken all over the country in which the liberal arts and humanities are being gutted. Administrators such as President Kristi Mindrup at WIU claim to be cutting their universities into “the right shape.” How do we know what the right shape is? Who decides that it is the liberal arts, the humanities or the librarians who are responsible for “misshapen” institutions? * WSIL | Residents hopeful a new industrial project in Murphysboro will boost economy and add more jobs: Once home to a train repair shop a hundred years ago, it had many uses through the years, and now it will be revitalized for an aircraft maintenance company, Crucial MRO. Crucial MRO’s Vice President Wesley Perkins says they want to become a one-stop shop in Southern Illinois. * WCIA | WCIA drone footage shows cows on the loose after I-57 crash: WCIA drone footage shows the ongoing chase for the loose cows after a semi-truck hauling them rolled over on I-57 near Tuscola. Overhead views of the footage show one cow making it’s way through a corn field as community members riding horses try to track it down. * WICS | Central Illinois school districts still facing teacher shortage, is legislation helping?: Newschannel 20 spoke with several school districts to see if the legislation aimed at combatting the teacher shortage is truly helping. “Williamsville School District feels the pain just like all the other school districts,” said Tip Reedy, superintendent of Williamsville School District. “It still hurts not having 12 classrooms covered,” said Jennifer Gill, superintendent of District 186. * WIFR | Landmarks Illinois announce Preservation Award winners: On Wednesday, Landmarks Illinois announced the winners of the 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. The preservation efforts awards were bestowed to rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects in Rockford and Woodstock * WCIA | Man arrested for impersonating a police officer in Effingham County: 39-year-old Jerrod Estes has been arrested on multiple charges, including false personation of a peace officer. He was taken into custody at his Teutopolis home on Tuesday. The arrest is a result of a four-month investigation into an incident back in May. Several victims were pulled over in Effingham County by a person pretending to be an officer. * AP | Labor dispute stops Canadian freight railroads and could cause major economic disruption in US: Canadian National and CPKC railroads both locked out their employees after the deadline of 12:01 a.m. EST Thursday passed without new agreements with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference that represents some 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers. All rail traffic in Canada and all shipments crossing the U.S. border have stopped, although CPKC and CN’s trains will continue to operate in the U.S. and Mexico. * DNYUZ | What Kalamazoo (Yes, Kalamazoo) Reveals About the Nation’s Housing Crisis: Like Detroit, Kalamazoo got walloped by a foreclosure crisis in the early 2010s that left many of its neighborhoods with overgrown lots where ramshackle houses had been bulldozed. And like virtually every other city I’ve written about, its housing problems first appeared among lower-income families, then climbed steadily up to those considered solidly middle class. As affordability problems have moved up the income ladder, both Kalamazoo County and the state have expanded their aid programs to include households that had previously made too much money to qualify for subsidized housing. It’s part of a nationwide shift in which housing assistance has moved from an anti-poverty focus to what is increasingly looking like a middle-class support program. Those ideas now permeate Vice President Kamala Harris’s housing plan, which calls for assistance both for first-time home buyers and developers who build housing for them.
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The Democrats’ ‘F-word’
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * As subscribers know, I asked Gov. JB Pritzker about his repeated use of the phrase “convicted felon” when describing former President Donald Trump. An excerpt from that story…
* And that brings us to this recent thread by an anti-incarceration activist…
The rest…
It should be noted that Gov. Pritzker did not use the word “felon” during his DNC address this week. * Anyway, your thoughts on this topic?
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A little context, please
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Neil Steinberg wrote a long story the other day for the Sun-Times about the 1968 Democratic convention…
* Wednesday’s Sun-Times headline… ![]() Mass arrests? According to the article “nearly 60 arrests” were made. So, less than a tenth of that day in ‘68. Also, two protesters were injured, “one for knee pain and another a finger injury,” and two cops were hurt but refused treatment. * Not only has this not been like 1968, this year’s convention is nothing at all like the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. From Wikipedia…
The week included a march that had estimated attendance in the hundreds of thousands.
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Mendoza puts Mayor Johnson on blast for his comments on Israel
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Mother Jones interview of Mayor Brandon Johnson…
* Isabel asked Comptroller Susana Mendoza this morning for her take on Mayor Johnson calling the war “genocidal”…
* Meanwhile, from Jewish News Service…
* Isabel asked Mendoza about those statements from the Consulate General about the mayor…
Take a couple of very deep breaths before commenting, please. Thanks.
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‘Even in our fractured state, all of us count and all of us fit somewhere’
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Earlier this week…
Some video is here. * This is from Rev. Jackson’s 1984 “Rainbow Coalition” speech at the Democratic National Convention…
* And from his 1988 DNC “Keep hope alive” address…
Not long after the convention that year, my best friend Brian Monahan and I drove through the South Side at like 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. Black people were waiting at just about every bus stop for miles to go north. “They catch the early bus,” is a line that has stuck with me ever since. Rev. Jackson is a human being. He has his faults. But I wanted to use this opportunity to thank him for his service to our country.
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Open thread
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?..
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Three down, one to go! It’s the last day of the DNC… * Tribune | South suburban school board member lone Illinois delegate not to back Harris nomination: Alejandro “Alex” Gallegos, a Crete-Monee Unit School District 201 board member, was the one person in the delegation to vote “present” rather than for Harris, two sources said. Reached by phone Wednesday, Gallegos repeatedly declined to comment. “It’s not about me,” he said. * Crain’s | Brandon Johnson on what’s next after the DNC: For the second time this week, Johnson didn’t respond directly to a question about his labeling the war “genocidal” in an interview with Mother Jones, but said there’s “nothing controversial” about what he’s called for. “We condemned the heinous terrorist attack against the Israeli people. And what we’ve called for is the releasing of the hostages and an immediate, permanent ceasefire. That is what America wants,” he said. * Sun-Times | Notorious computer hacker charged with spray-painting Chicago cop car during West Loop protest: Notorious computer hacker Jeremy Hammond is accused of spray-painting a Chicago police car during a chaotic anti-war demonstration Tuesday night in the West Loop that resulted in dozens of arrests. Hammond, a former member of the “hacktivist” collective known as Anonymous, faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly scrawling an anarchist symbol on a police car after protesters descended on the Israeli consulate, according to Cook County prosecutors and court records. * Sun-Times | Parents of Hamas hostage with Chicago roots speak at DNC: Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of 23-year-old Hersh Polin-Goldberg, wore stickers with the number 320, drawing attention to the number of days their son has been held. “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive,” Goldberg said. * Crain’s | Common, BBQ ‘cigars’ and an actual ton of cheesecake: Inside the DNC party circuit: Around 10 p.m., Common burst onto the stage to cheers and wild applause. His energetic performance had the crowd dancing as he performed songs celebrating Chicago. At one point, he invited guest Tifair Hamed onstage, seated her on a stool, and serenaded her with a “love” song. During the impromptu performance, he referenced Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx (who was in attendance), Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. * Tribune | Kamala Harris’ family members are popping up around Chicago this week during the DNC. Here’s the rundown on who’s who.: Kamala Harris has a husband, Doug Emhoff, who could make history as America’s first gentleman spouse. Two stepchildren who call her “Momala.” A politically connected sister who is a top adviser and sounding board. A brother-in-law who temporarily stepped away from a top private sector gig to help elect her. A niece who is the mother of two daughters that Harris dotes on. There’s also her husband’s ex-wife, who defends Harris and Emhoff and their blended family. They’ve been popping up around Chicago and on social media this week during the Democratic National Convention, where Harris will formally accept the party’s presidential nomination. * Tribune | Meet the DNC delegates: Two 17-year-olds from Minnesota, a retired librarian from Arizona and many more: Two 17-year-olds from Minnesota who turn the legal voting age days before the November election. A nonprofit leader from Louisiana who celebrates her 80th birthday in nine days. A retired Arizona librarian enthralled with the sights along Michigan Avenue: These are three of the thousands of delegates who traveled to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, which continued Wednesday at the United Center. * WBEZ | What’s a hometown girl like Susana Mendoza to wear to the DNC? ‘I love Chicago’ T-shirts, of course: While some politicos are making headlines for their designer suits and dresses at the DNC — one Illinois politician says conventions are no place for satin or chiffon. Instead, Comptroller Susana Mendoza is making a splash with her casual, Chicago pride T-shirts, straight from a souvenir shop on Michigan Avenue. Standing in her hotel room with her outfits of the week laid neatly on the bed, Mendoza showed WBEZ the shirt that’s gotten her a lot of attention this week. * WBEZ | Illinois’ top legal officer is using Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ for political metaphors: In his speech to Illinois delegates, Kwame Raoul came back to “Not like us” at least 14 times. Kendrick Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” is a diss toward fellow rap star Drake and his inner circle. But one Illinois politician is taking the song to a whole new civic level — using the phrase to try to highlight the contrast between Democrats and Republicans. * Illinois Speaker Chris Welch spoke with the Center Square’s Greg Bishop yesterday… * WSPY | Morris State Sen. Rezin-sponsored bill, Sami’s Law, signed into law by Governor Pritzker: A bill sponsored by Morris State Senator Sue Rezin requiring adult changing stations at rest stops and the State Capitol has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1089, also known as Sami’s Law, was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 9, about 18 months after the bill was initially filed by Rezin. The bill is named after the 26-year-old daughter of one of Rezin’s staff, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy. Rezin says the bill took a while to get through the legislature but is proud to be able to help those who truly need that accessible space. * Rep. Hoan Huynh | Don’t take Asian American voters for granted: The return of the Democratic National Convention to Chicago inevitably brings back to mind the events of 1968 and the violent clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War protesters. I can trace a personal connection to that time: My father served in the South Vietnamese military alongside the U.S. Allied Forces. After the war ended, my family lived through a period of doubt, finally receiving political asylum from the United States after President Jimmy Carter signed the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980 to deal with the mounting humanitarian crisis of the Vietnamese “boat people.” * Daily Southtown | Harvey residents question Mayor Christopher Clark’s trip to Las Vegas convention, city leaders push economic development: Since becoming mayor of Harvey in 2019, Christopher Clark’s administration has promoted an economic development program advertised under the slogan Building a Better Harvey. To advance efforts to revitalize Harvey’s nearly deserted downtown, members of the city’s Economic Development Committee attended a real estate conference in May to draw potential investors and forge connections with other business leaders, according to Glenn Harston, the city’s spokesperson. * Daily Herald | Arlington Heights chamber director officially declares bid for mayor: Having already formed a campaign exploratory committee in the spring, Arlington Heights chamber boss Jon Ridler officially declared this week he’s running for mayor. Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce since 2004 and a resident since 2013, joins a growing field of candidates that includes Trustee Tom Schwingbeck, who was first to announce his candidacy in May, and Trustee Jim Tinaglia, who declared in July. * SJ-R | Resolution calling for independent review of sheriff’s office’s hiring practices withdrawn: Sangamon County Board member Gina Lathan, who worked on the resolution that was withdrawn, said she decided to support the Massey Commission resolution “with the expectation and understanding” that the commission would address certain points put forth in her resolution. * BND | Illinois eliminated sales tax on groceries, but a metro-east city may bring it back: Highland estimates the elimination of the grocery tax to cost the city approximately $330,000 to $350,000 a year. This is approximately 10% of the city’s sales tax revenue. At the moment, Highland’s grocery sales taxes are primarily divided between public safety, streets and parks programs, according to a memo from Highland City Manager Chris Conrad. Approximately 58% of the tax goes to public safety, 26% to streets and 16% to parks. Keeping the cut in proportion, that would mean cutting the public safety budget by $192,000, streets by $86,000 and parks by $53,000. * SJ-R | These 11 Springfield-area nursing homes were fined upwards of thousands of dollars: Several Springfield and Springfield area nursing homes were the subjects of violations in a quarterly finding made by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In all, 268 violation reports were found in the second quarter of 2024. * WIFR | Man saved from grain silo in Lee Co.: The man was knee-deep in corn and tried to escape, but he was stuck there for about three hours. Rescue crews were able to strap a harness to him and pull him to safety. * WICS | Du Quoin State Fair announces 2024 theme days: The Du Quoin State Fair ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m. with the Twilight Parade stepping off at 6 p.m. The grand marshal of the parade is 4-H. * AP | Taylor Swift calls cancellation of Vienna shows ‘devastating’ and explains her silence: “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” She thanked authorities — “thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote — and said she waited to speak until the European leg of her Eras Tour concluded to prioritize safety. * CNN | Google agrees to first-in-the-nation deal to fund California newsrooms, but journalists are calling it a disaster: The plan calls for a $250 million commitment over five years from Google and the state, a majority of which would fund California newsrooms, and launch an artificial intelligence “accelerator” designed to support journalists’ work. The deal ends a high-profile bill, dubbed the California Journalism Preservation Act by state assemblymember Buffy Wicks, that would have forced technology companies, including Google (GOOGL) and Meta (META), to pay news companies to distribute their content online. The bill, which was modeled after similar laws implemented in Australia and Canada, would have funded local news organizations that have seen their business models collapse amid the rise of big tech platforms. * NBC | People with HIV cannot be categorically barred from joining the military, judge rules: Americans with well-treated HIV can no longer be barred from enlisting in the U.S. military, a federal judge ruled Thursday, striking down the Pentagon’s last remaining policy limiting the service of those with the virus. “Defendants’ policies prohibiting the accession of asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with undetectable viral loads into the military are irrational, arbitrary, and capricious. Even worse, they contribute to the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV-positive individuals while actively hampering the military’s own recruitment goals,” wrote Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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