* More background is here if you need it, but this is a Daily Herald story from Monday…
Four would-be state legislative candidates, including one from Northbrook, are suing state officials over a new law forbidding political parties from slating candidates after primary elections.
The plaintiffs — all Republicans — also are seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent enforcement of the law so they can appear on Nov. 5 ballots. The lawsuit names the Illinois State Board of Elections and state Attorney General Kwame Raoul as defendants.
From the attorney general’s office…
The court denied the TRO, finding that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate irreparable harm.
This post will likely be updated.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
While the governor’s office instructed its agency directors to prepare for $800 million in potential budget cuts last week, all facets of his plan to raise $1.1 billion in revenue to avoid those cuts remain under consideration.
Deputy Gov. Andy Manar relayed that point on the latest episode of “Illinois Lawmakers” this week, adding that the administration is also open to ideas from lawmakers. The program has been recently acquired by Capitol News Illinois and filmed this week on Thursday.
“The governor has said that if the legislature doesn’t support one or multiple of those individual pieces of his proposal, whether that’s revenue or spending, that all ideas should be welcomed,” Manar told host Jak Tichenor.
There’s a week left before the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on May 24 – and two weeks left before more votes are needed to pass an immediately effective budget – but the last-minute budgeting process is nothing new. Budget negotiations in recent years have resulted in late nights and the occasional overtime session but have ultimately ended in agreement among most Democrats, who control the legislature.
* Brenden Moore…
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*** Statewide ***
* Kate Maher | A new program helps Illinois farmers and hungry families — but only if we fund it: At a time when the demand for food assistance throughout Cook County has increased 26% over first-quarter 2023, Farm to Food Bank is a critical program that gets quality produce, meats, dairy and other products into the hands of families struggling to put food on the table. But Farm to Food Bank is more than an anti-hunger program. It also provides new economic opportunities for Illinois growers, producers, processors and distributors. All of these benefits hinge on a General Assembly vote next week to dedicate funds to the Farm to Food Bank Program in the state budget. Funding this program isn’t just common sense, it’s essential.
* CBS | Illinois Department of Public Health reports first 2 mosquito batches of 2024 to test positive for West Nile Virus: Two batches of mosquitoes in Illinois have tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time this year, the Illinois Department of Health announced on Friday. The Northwest Mosquito Abatement District collected the first batch of mosquitoes in Hoffman Estates, Cook County, on Tuesday. A second batch was found in Jacksonville, Morgan County, on Thursday. The department said the batches follow a mild winter and spring, with the findings coming two weeks earlier than last year.
* Chalkbeat | Illinois high school juniors must take the ACT to fulfill graduation requirements starting next spring: The Illinois State Board of Education was updated on the switch during its monthly meeting on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the school board says the ACT was awarded a $53 million contract over the course of six years. The state requires students to take a college entrance exam in order to graduate. “At the end of the day, it came down to price,” said Stephen Isoye, chairman of the State Board of Education, noting that state law requires assessment vendors to go through a competitive procurement process.
* ABC Chicago | How Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi became a major player on Capitol Hill: Since taking his seat in the House of Representative, he has taken part in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trials in 2019 and 2020 as a member of the Oversight and Intelligence Committee. And he was in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when insurgents stormed the building. He says there’s not quite as much rancor on Capitol Hill as people see. “A little bit less. I think that when people are off camera, I think they’re much more candid,” he said.
* NBC Chicago | Organization calls for emerging cicadas to be ‘celebrated, not vilified’: The two emerging broods are Brood XIII and Brood XIX, which haven’t emerged simultaneously in 221 years. While the cicadas will cause plenty of noise and leave behind plenty of shells, they can actually be beneficial in more ways than one. According to American Humane, the cicadas are “essential” to habitats, and provide benefits to ecosystems across the Midwest. Those benefits can include natural aeration of soil, with cicadas tunneling and burrowing opening up channels for air, water and nutrients to reach the roots of plants.
*** Chicago ***
* South Side Weekly | CPD Stats on ShotSpotter Full of Holes, Experts Say: The CPD report also includes data on the number of gunshots that CPD reported were missed by ShotSpotter sensors. The company’s contract requires ShotSpotter to detect at least 90 percent of unsuppressed outdoor gunfire in the twelve police districts that make up its coverage area. The police department is also required to report verified gunfire incidents for which there was no ShotSpotter alert to the company, via an online portal and email. According to the CPD report, the department reported 205 misses to ShotSpotter in 2023, a year that had 43,503 ShotSpotter alerts.
* Tribune | Morgan Park man continues search for daughter who’s been missing for over a month: Morgan Farley, 25, has been missing since April 3, according to Chicago police, and her dad says he’s relying on friends and prayer to hopefully bring her home, a situation that’s all too familiar for families of Black and brown women and girls in the city. […] However, Farley struggled to get attention from police on the case, as first reported in Capital B News. He said it took more than a week to get ahold of the assigned detective after filling out a missing persons report on April 3. The Police Department posted a flyer on April 16. Although Farley said he knows police have a lot of people to worry about, the process seemed “very slow and drawn out.”
* Block Club | Former Loretto Hospital Exec Charged With Embezzling $500K During COVID Crisis: Heather Bergdahl, 37, has been charged with embezzlement, according to a criminal complaint released Monday. The charges come amid an FBI investigation into Loretto after Block Club Chicago and the Better Government Association revealed questionable practices at the hospital — including funneling vaccine doses meant for the city’s poorest people to places where Chicago’s wealthiest lived and played.
* Sun-Times | Trucks kept backing into NW Side man’s house. Now, City Hall is after him to repair the damage.: Robert Christie wants City Hall to do more to protect his home from errant trucks that find they can’t fit through a nearby underpass. But City Hall went after him recently, citing him for failing to fix the damage the trucks had left. Now, he’s considering selling.
* Block Club | After Coach Suspended For Leaving Student With Relative During Canada Trip, West Siders Rally Around CPS Chess Team: One of Ocol’s students, originally from Peru, did not have the proper identification documents to cross the border. Ocol tried to reason with Canadian border officials, but they weren’t hearing it. […] So the coach said he called the student’s father, who told them he could leave his child overnight with an aunt in nearby Detroit — while the rest of the team journeyed on to the tournament. The school’s principal approved the move, Ocol said. The student’s travel status had not been flagged ahead of time by the school or CPS central offices when Ocol filed his sponsored trip paperwork, he said.
* Crain’s | Major construction at O’Hare won’t start till next year: The Department of Aviation says it will be working this summer to award contracts for excavation and foundation work for the first satellite concourse, but major construction won’t start until the middle of next year. The city expects to sell bonds in the third quarter of this year to fund the next phase of construction, but the amount has not been finalized. A venture involving AECOM Hunt, Clayco and Bowa Construction was designated as the construction manager for the Satellite 1 concourse earlier this year.
* Crain’s | Why a U of I tech founder came home from Silicon Valley to build a company in Fulton Market: Bedrock Materials set up shop in Fulton Market about a month ago. The startup will take its place alongside Nanograf, a Northwestern University battery spinout that’s making lithium-ion cells on the Near West Side. They’re also part of a growing collection of companies related to electric vehicles, including automakers Rivian and Stellantis, bus manufacturer Lion Electric and battery producer Gotion.
* Crain’s | 60 years on, Weigel Broadcasting sticks to the plan: The Chicago-based broadcaster has been a pioneer in the live TV space with expansions and partnerships, while filling a niche that persists even in an era when on-demand media is king. Earlier this month, the company announced its own Channel 26 “The U” as an independent station after Nexstar revealed it would move CW programming to the networks it owns such as WGN-TV. Weigel will also expand its portfolio this summer with the launch of the national network MeTV Toons. The channel is a spinoff of its popular retro Memorable Entertainment TV (MeTV) network that will feature classic cartoons 24/7.
*** The Bears ***
* WBEZ | Bears stadium debate should shift south to Michael Reese site, Civic Federation president says: Bears President Kevin Warren has said the 48.6-acre Michael Reese site — acquired by the city for an Olympic Village that was never built — was one of “10 to 12” Chicago stadium sites the team considered before settling on the lakefront. Warren said the Bears rejected it as “too narrow,” saying it “doesn’t work from an NFL standpoint” because the stadium would have to be built “over an active train line.” The marshaling yards for trucks serving McCormick Place also would have to be relocated, he said. None of those impediments bother Ferguson, the city’s former inspector general.
* Sun-Times | New hope? Why the Bears believe they will succeed where George Lucas failed: That’s not to say the team is ignoring the fight over the Lucas Museum, which effectively ended with a preliminary — but far from final — victory for the advocacy group known as Friends of the Parks. Rather, sources familiar with the proposal say, the team has evaluated three developments that have sparked the most notable lakefront legal battles since 2000, which they think bolster their case for a Museum Campus dome.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Sun-Times | The shepherd and the flock: ‘Passionate’ Cook County sheriff’s official brings back wayward drug users: Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy Director Jason Hughes has picked up and brought back 71 drug court participants, working with drug court Judge Charles Burns. “We’re determined to get them back,” Hughes says, because otherwise “it’s just a matter of time before they will get on fentanyl and die.”
* Patch | Board Has ‘Many Concerns’ About Golf Property: Northbrook Village Prez: At its latest meeting Tuesday, Village President Kathryn Ciesla read a statement regarding the move, saying the Village Board wasn’t aware of the purchase before it happened. “Had the Village known about this land purchase before its closing, the Village Board would have made the Water Commission aware of its many concerns,” Ciesla said. “Of course, Northbrook’s local government does not have the authority to review, approve, or deny the private sale of property.”
* WSPY | Yorkville City Council okays cost sharing agreement for Lake Michigan water project: The Yorkville City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with Oswego and Montgomery which lays out what percentage of the Lake Michigan water project each community will finance. Under the agreement, Yorkville will pay a little over 44 percent, Oswego will pay about 32 percent, and Montgomery will pay around 22 percent. Yorkville is paying the most as it is the furthest community from the source.
*** National ***
* VOX | ChatGPT can talk, but OpenAI employees sure can’t: On Monday, OpenAI announced exciting new product news: ChatGPT can now talk like a human. […] But the product release of ChatGPT 4o was quickly overshadowed by much bigger news out of OpenAI: the resignation of the company’s co-founder and chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, who also led its superalignment team, as well as that of his co-team leader Jan Leike. [..] [Leike’s] resignation message was simply: “I resigned.” After several days of fervent speculation, he expanded on this on Friday morning, explaining that he was worried OpenAI had shifted away from a safety-focused culture.
* AP | Bike shops boomed early in the pandemic. It’s been a bumpy ride for most ever since: The boom didn’t last. Hobbled by pandemic-related supply chain issues, the shops sold all their bikes and had trouble restocking. Now, inventory has caught up, but fewer people need new bikes. So, bicycle makers have been slashing prices to clear out the excess. It all adds up to a tough environment for retailers, although there are a few bright spots like gravel and e-bikes.
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It’s almost a law
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sen. Mike Porfirio and Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar…
Sen. Mike Porfirio and Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar today passed legislation in the General Assembly to acquire a new police district facility representing their districts on the Southwest Side of Chicago. The bill passed both chambers with veto-proof margins. The legislation now heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk for his signature.
House Bill 478 would transfer the Midway Flight Facility located at 5400 W. 63rd St. to the City of Chicago for the express purpose of a police district for $1. The payment would be made to the Department of Military Affairs, which currently owns the property.
“Our residents have spoken and want this facility to be used for public good,” Porfirio said. “We hope Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson will support our efforts to provide better police support on the Southwest Side.”
The current 8th Chicago Police District is the busiest and largest by population, ranking first for all crimes committed across the city. Southwest Side residents voted overwhelmingly - at nearly 87% - for a new police district in the March 19 primary. A group of 15 elected officials representing the community sent Gov. Pritzker a letter in March requesting the state sell them a vacant building to be used as a new police district facility.
“I am honored to have carried and passed this important legislation for our residents who deserve safe neighborhoods like everyone else,” Guerrero-Cuellar said. “I’m hopeful Gov. Pritzker will sign our legislation and Mayor Johnson will see the value in developing an additional police district on the Southwest Side.”
The 8th District has the worst data points in the city on key police staffing metrics, which has led to slow police response times and resident frustration. At its current size, which hasn’t changed since the late 1960s, the 8th District is the busiest and third-largest police district in the city (at 23 square miles) and serves the highest population with over 250,000 residents. That equates to 10 officers for every 10,000 residents, which is the lowest officer to resident ratio in the city.
In January, a broad coalition of elected officials, community groups and local residents added their voices to the call to create an additional Chicago police district and new police beats on the city’s Southwest Side. The group urged Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development to join the effort and help identify land for a new police district building in the community.
* Sen. Dave Koehler…
In an effort to expand access to medication for hereditary bleeding disorders, State Senator Dave Koehler advanced a measure to cut red-tape practices used by insurance companies.
“Prior authorization processes can delay vital medical care, putting patients’ lives at risk,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “We need to ensure Illinoisans can access the medications they need without delays.”
House Bill 4055 would prohibit prior authorization for FDA-approved medication for the treatment of hereditary bleeding disorders for up to six months. Prior authorization is a form of approval by insurance companies utilized before agreeing to cover medications and procedures. These checks can be for age, medical necessity, the availability of a medical alternative or drug interactions.
“This bill addresses the pre-authorization abuse that we see too often,” said State Representative Bill Hauter (R-Morton). “Those with bleeding disorders are oftentimes required to go to the emergency department, which delays care, is crowded or unable to handle their condition and then they have to be transferred to another ED for definitive care and factor. This can all be avoided if these patients can just simply go to their specialty physician and pharmacy. This bill removes the ED visit for pre-authorization and will help patients get the acute care they need in a timely fashion.”
According to the American Society of Hematology, mortality rates and hospitalization rates for bleeding complications from hemophilia — an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly — were 40% lower among people who received care in hemophilia treatment centers than those who did not receive this care. Koehler worked closely with the Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Institute and Representative Hauter to bring this legislation to the Senate. By eliminating prior authorization, Koehler’s bill aims to streamline the processes for patients to receive necessary treatment.
“Many patients do not have time to jump through unnecessary hurdles,” said Koehler. “This measure puts patients first, protecting those whose lives are at stake.”
House Bill 4055 passed the Senate Wednesday.
* Sen. Steve Stadelman…
To protect residents from losing access to their electric or gas services, State Senator Steve Stadelman led legislation through the Senate to prevent the disconnection of services for customers actively seeking energy payment assistance.
“This is a significant step in ensuring that all Illinois residents have access to the energy they need, especially during difficult times,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “No family should have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.”
The legislation would require utility companies with more than 500,000 customers to enact procedures to prevent the disconnection of services for customers who are actively seeking energy payment assistance. Customers who apply for assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or the Percentage of Income Payment Plan would be protected from disconnection for 30 days after the utility receives notice of the customer’s application. If assistance is received, the customer is protected for an additional 45 days.
“This measure is not just about preventing disconnections – it’s about maintaining the dignity and well-being of our residents,” said Stadelman. “Access to utilities is a fundamental need, and this bill ensures that need is met for everyone, regardless of their financial situation.”
House Bill 4118 passed the Senate on Thursday.
* Sen. Karina Villa…
A measure championed by State Senator Karina Villa that would secure reasonable accommodations during licensing exams for individuals whose primary language is not English passed the Senate on Thursday.
“More than ever, our communities are in need of behavioral health professionals who can communicate with clients in different languages,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Empowering more bilingual individuals to pursue these professions will help improve the quality of care provided across the state.”
House Bill 5457 would codify accommodations that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is required to provide under the Americans with Disabilities Act for individuals whose primary language is not English. The measure would apply to licensure exams for social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.
According to the Behavioral Health and Economics Network, over 4.8 million Illinois residents live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area with only 13.8 behavioral health care professionals per every 10,000 residents.
“The need for more behavioral health professionals is clear,” said Villa. “By removing language barriers for licensure, we are ensuring that more qualified individuals are able to provide services to individuals in need.”
House Bill 5457 passed the Senate on Thursday.
* Rep. Dagmara Avelar…
Working to help disabled veterans modify their homes to better accommodate their needs, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, voted to waive local building permit fees under a plan supported unanimously in the House Wednesday.
“By waiving local permit fees for disabled veterans, we’re opening doors for those who fought for our country by recognizing their sacrifices and promoting their independence — most importantly, without the financial barriers that come with these beneficial renovations,” said Avelar. “This key piece of legislation serves such an important purpose, which is ensuring that these adults can adapt to their homes and improve their quality of life after serving our country.”
The Avelar-backed Senate Bill 2751 would provide a building permit fee waiver for veterans and their caregivers if the home improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Qualified veterans or their caregivers would need proof of their veteran status, as well as the improvements needed due to the veteran’s disability.
The bipartisan proposal has passed both chambers and awaits the governor’s action.
* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…
In an effort to recruit more nurses to work at Illinois medical facilities, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton passed a measure to extend the time nurses can practice while waiting for the review of their license application.
“Nurses should not lose out on work due to application waiting periods,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This initiative helps address the state’s nursing shortage, provides our nurses more experience with patients and ensures application delays do not affect their ability to work.”
House Bill 5047 would allow advanced practice registered nurses with pending applications to practice under supervision for six months while waiting for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s review of their application. Under current law, this status is revoked after three months. These nurses would need to have completed at least 250 hours of continuing education in their area of certification and have at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience to be applicable for this opportunity.
According to The Illinois Update, over half of registered nurses in Illinois are over the age of 55, with the state being projected to see a nursing shortage of 15,000 by 2025. Glowiak Hilton’s initiative would help combat this shortage and bring more nurses to hospitals within the state.
“We cannot afford to turn away accredited health care professionals,” said Glowiak Hilton. “There needs to be proactive steps taken to ensure these highly skilled nurses can contribute to patient care and medical facilities are not left understaffed.”
House Bill 5047 passed the Senate Thursday.
* Sen. Mike Simmons…
In direct response to growing concerns surrounding climate change and its impact on extreme weather events, State Senator Mike Simmons is sponsoring legislation that mandates weather radio installations in manufactured homes to prevent insufficient severe-weather alerts in Illinois.
“Those who are most vulnerable to severe weather must have alert systems in place that give them the best chance at remaining safe during a tornado, storm, or any other severe situation,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “With climate change having more adverse effects on our planet, manufactured homes need to be equipped with weather radios and prompt regular maintenance of safety equipment.”
House Bill 5238 would require that every newly installed manufactured home in Illinois be equipped with a weather radio, provided by the installer. This measure aims to make certain that residents have access to vital information during severe weather events, facilitating prompt action and potentially saving lives.
Under Simmons’ legislation, the weather radio must meet stringent requirements, including a tone alarm for prompt alerts, specific messaging for accurate information and public alert standard certification for reliability. The measure also encourages operators of manufactured home communities to provide written reminders to tenants reminding them to replace batteries in weather radios and smoke detectors each year during National Fire Prevention Week.
“This is a common-sense piece of legislation. When in the path of severe weather, every resident of Illinois should know they have alerts in place to give them enough time to seek safety and shelter,” said Simmons. “These proactive steps can enhance emergency preparedness, and in turn, save lives.”
House Bill 5238 passed the Senate on Thursday.
* Sen. Karina Villa…
A measure sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa, allowing a higher volume of native plant species to be grown, passed the Senate on Thursday.
“Illinois is home to hundreds of native plant species that are crucial to the health of our state’s biodiversity,” said Villa. “By cultivating more native plants, we are protecting wildlife and embracing the one-of-a-kind landscape our state has to offer.”
House Bill 5296 would allow residents living in a community with a homeowners’ association to grow native plant species in their yards as long as the area is maintained. Homeowners’ associations would be prohibited from imposing height restrictions or impairing proper maintenance of native landscapes.
About 30% of homes in Illinois belong to a homeowners’ association. This measure would allow native landscapes to be planted in an additional 1.5 million homes across the state.
“Native plants support pollinators, birds and soil which are critical to our state’s agriculture,” said Villa. “This initiative is essential to maintain the health of our communities.”
House Bill 5296 passed the Senate on Thursday.
* Sen. Julie Morrison…
Finding out your vehicle is totaled can be a difficult situation and the last thing you want to do is research the cost of each part of your car. State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to require vehicle insurance companies to do that work for you.
“I am committed to increasing transparency between insurance companies and consumers,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This measure will save people time and energy during an already trying experience.”
House Bill 5559 would require auto insurers to provide a description of how the total loss of vehicle determination was made, as well as include any available repair estimates, estimated vehicle salvage value, assessed market value of the pre-damaged vehicle and any other costs or calculations.
Even when a vehicle is determined to be totaled, there still may be repairs that could return the car to safe and street legal status. This initiative would ensure insurance companies offer these repair options when it’s feasible to do so.
“When finding out your car is totaled, it can be difficult to know what the next best step is,” said Morrison. “Having all the pertinent information will give people peace of mind about their decision.”
House Bill 5559 unanimously passed the Senate Thursday.
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Was the CTU lobby day over-hyped?
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WBEZ…
[CPS CEO Pedro Martinez] said he was happy to see so many teachers in Springfield meeting with lawmakers. CPS allowed for a paid day off for one staffer at every school district-wide — around 600 teachers and staff from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s former union. Around 250 went to the state capital.
That’s… not a huge lobby day.
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‘Re-renters’ tax in the budget mix?
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
Thus far, the [Statehouse budget] negotiations between the governor’s office and Democratic leaders have spawned at least one likely addition to the revenue mix that could raise another $30-$50 million beyond what Pritzker had planned.
Sen. Cristina Castro, a high-ranking Democrat from Elgin, told Tichenor she’s pushing a “re-renters” tax on third-party entities that resell large blocks of hotel rooms. Castro said those groups don’t pay the standard hotel operator’s room occupation tax, but they’d be required to do so under her plan, which she expects to be included in the final revenue package.
The bill is here. There’s another version in the House.
Thoughts?
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It’s just a bill
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Tribune…
The Illinois House passed legislation aimed at reining in the potential for runaway damages under the state’s biometric privacy law Thursday, more than a year after the Illinois Supreme Court suggested the legislature revisit the law.
Illinois’ biometric privacy law, which the state legislature passed in 2008, requires companies to gain consent before they collect and store biometric information such as fingerprints or retina scans. It’s considered the strictest such law in the country, in part because it allows individuals to sue over alleged violations. Companies that have been caught in the law’s crosshairs include Facebook, which paid out a $650 million settlement over its facial tagging feature, and Google, which settled a case over its facial grouping tool on Google Photos for $100 million.
Nine Republicans joined Democrats in the House supermajority to pass the measure in an 81-30 vote. After passing through the Senate last month in a 46-13 vote, the bill’s next stop is to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk for his consideration.
“Once it reaches his desk, Governor Pritzker will give the final legislation careful review,” said Alex Gough, a spokesperson for the governor, in a statement.
* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…
In an effort to recruit more nurses to work at Illinois medical facilities, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton passed a measure to extend the time nurses can practice while waiting for the review of their license application. […]
House Bill 5047 would allow advanced practice registered nurses with pending applications to practice under supervision for six months while waiting for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s review of their application. Under current law, this status is revoked after three months. These nurses would need to have completed at least 250 hours of continuing education in their area of certification and have at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience to be applicable for this opportunity.
According to The Illinois Update, over half of registered nurses in Illinois are over the age of 55, with the state being projected to see a nursing shortage of 15,000 by 2025. Glowiak Hilton’s initiative would help combat this shortage and bring more nurses to hospitals within the state. […]
House Bill 5047 passed the Senate Thursday.
* WAND…
The Illinois Senate passed a proposal Thursday to require school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans.
This comes as the state saw 109 cardiac events involving students under 18 during 2022 alone.
The legislation could require school districts to work with local paramedics to create an evidence-based plan to use AEDs in case of a cardiac event. Sponsors believe the response plan should be available on every school website and in paper from throughout school property. […]
House Bill 5394 passed unanimously out of the Senate and now moves back to the House on concurrence due to a technical amendment. The measure previously gained unanimous support in the House.
“With the passage of House Bill 5394, more than 20% of our state population that walks through the doors of thousands of schools each day - including students, teachers, administrators and support staff - will be equipped to act in a cardiac emergency,” said Lauren Peters from the American Heart Association.
* Center Square…
The Illinois General Assembly has advanced a measure that allows students to get the opportunity to take part in relaxation activities, including yoga, 20 minutes a week. Some warn it could lead to lawsuits.
Relaxation activities may include, but are not limited to, mindful-based movements, yoga, stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, guided relaxation techniques, quiet time, walking, in-person conversation and other activities. Senate Bill 2872 would allow a school district to partner with a local community-based organization to provide the activities. […]
After a rousing debate, the House passed the bill by a 71-40 vote. It now heads to the governor for his signature.
* WAND…
State lawmakers could pass a plan in the final week of session to address the rise of deepfake images and AI-generated nude photos of students.
Democrats and Republicans believe the Illinois school code should be amended to include sexually explicit digital depictions of students under the definition of cyberbullying.
Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) told the House Education School Curriculum & Policy Committee Thursday that teachers and administrators across the state are concerned about the amount of AI photos being created to humiliate young people in school. […]
House Bill 299 passed unanimously out of the House Education School Curriculum and Policy Committee. The proposal now heads to the House floor for further consideration.
* NBC Chicago…
Illinois lawmakers have passed new legislation that would issue citations to drivers who park on the shoulders of highways near O’Hare International Airport, and could utilize safety cameras to enforce the measure.
According to Senate President Don Harmon, the bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support, and is now headed toward the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. […]
According to the text of HB 5408, the bill prohibits drivers from stopping or standing their vehicles on shoulders of highways within a one-half mile radius of the eastern entrance to the airport. It also applies to the intersection of Interstates 90 and 294, according to the bill.
Anyone in violation of the law would be subject to a citation and a fine of $100, according to lawmakers. The bill also will permit the installation of cameras by the Illinois Tollway Authority for the purposes of enforcement, citing a need to properly allocate law enforcement manpower around the airport.
* WGEM…
A bill in the Illinois state Senate would shield physicians from lawsuits related to autopsies they contact for a county coroner’s office.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said there are currently only about 800 board certified forensic pathologists in the U.S. Only three of them are in Central and Southern Illinois. Coroner’s offices typically contract with them to perform autopsies. Only 80 doctors nationwide went into forensic pathology in the past two years.
The bill’s primary sponsor, state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, said many of the 800 board certified forensic pathologists currently serving are on the verge of retirement or already partially retired, which makes the issue even more pressing. […]
The bill would still allow someone to bring a lawsuit against a physician if they use “willful or wanton misconduct” when performing the autopsy and death investigation.
SB2779 heads to the Senate floor.
* Spectrum News…
It’s about to get more expensive for truck drivers in Illinois if debris from the rigs ends up littering roads and highways.
A bill heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would raise the fine to as much as $150. Four or more violations for the same driver in a single year would lead to a $150 fine for the trucking company.
The bill was sponsored by Metro East State Sen. Erica Harris, a Republican from Glen Carbon.
The money would end up back in the hands of local governments to pay the costs of cleaning up the roads.
* WIFR…
Senator Steve Stadelman’s legislation to lower the age of consent for blood typing services unanimously passes the Illinois Senate after previously having passed the House.
House Bill 4271 would amend the Blood Donation Act, lowering the age someone can have their blood typed to 17 years old as long as the donation is voluntary.
The change would make medical processes more efficient and improve the speed of healthcare services for young adults.
The Rock River Valley Blood Center was the first to take action. It uses blood typing to pique the interest of high school students to donate and educate them about the positive impact of donating.
The bill now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker to be signed into law.
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Open thread
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: Illinois School Districts Sent Kids to a For-Profit Out-of-State Facility That Isn’t Vetted or Monitored. Propublica…
Two years ago, Illinois lawmakers tried to help students with extreme needs who had a limited number of schools available to them.
They changed state law to allow public money to fund students’ tuition at special education boarding schools, including those out of state, that Illinois had not vetted and would not monitor. School districts, not the Illinois State Board of Education, would be responsible for oversight.
In solving one problem, however, Illinois created another: Districts now can send students to residential schools that get no oversight from the states in which they are located.
The facility that has benefited the most has been a for-profit private school in New York that’s now under scrutiny by disability rights groups. A ProPublica investigation uncovered reports of abuse, neglect and staffing shortages at Shrub Oak International School as it tries to serve a population of students with autism and other complex behavioral and medical issues. Shrub Oak has never sought or obtained approval from New York to operate a school for students with disabilities, which means it gets no oversight from the state.
The ProPublica investigation further found that some districts in Illinois have abdicated their own responsibility to monitor students’ education and welfare. Unlike some other states, Illinois law doesn’t require districts to visit the out-of-state facilities that students from Illinois attend, and some districts have never visited Shrub Oak. Records and interviews also show that districts in Illinois and other states have not always held Shrub Oak accountable for notifying them when students are injured or physically restrained, even though a provision in some contracts requires that the school let districts know.
Gov. Pritzker will be at Chicago Cut Steakhouse at 5 pm to appear in conversation with City Club of Chicago. Click here to watch.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* Tribune | More Illinois health care facilities would have to report patient abuse under new bill: Under current law hospitals must promptly report allegations of patient abuse, including sexual abuse by a health care worker, to the Illinois Department of Public Health, triggering an investigation into the hospital’s handling of the matter. But allegations of patient abuse that occur at doctors’ offices or clinics outside of hospital walls, even those connected with hospitals, are not currently required to be reported to the state’s health department. “This is just a simple commonsense fix to make clear that hospitals have responsibility for providers at any of their facilities,” said Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who is behind the legislation. “It kind of falls into that category, do we really need to tell somebody out loud that that’s what we expect of them? Apparently we do, so we are.”
* NBC | Fight over the role of library in small Illinois town: A culture war is playing out in the small town of Metropolis, Ill., where the public library and a church are battling over the library’s role. The issues include prayer in the library and the removal of thousands of books. NBC News’ Antonia Hylton reports.
*** Statehouse News ***
* WGIL | Frerichs: Optimism about state budget passage, and the state still has money: Frerichs, a former lawmaker himself, says he’s optimistic lawmakers will pass a budget before the self-imposed end of May deadline, but like many, isn’t completely sure. In response to a question about the recent memo the Governor’s budget office put out urging lawmakers to make cuts if proposed tax hikes increase don’t pass, Frerichs says the administration of then-Governor Bruce Rauner piled on debt, instead of trying to balance the budget. Most of the time Rauner was Governor, however, Democrats were still in control of the Illinois House and Senate. Frerichs does support a balanced budget. But, is the state broke? Frerichs says no. But, there is a caveat.
* NBC Chicago | Pritzker praises Justice Department move to reclassify marijuana: President Joe Biden discussed the decision in a social media post Thursday, criticizing the “failed approach” to regulations of the drug. Pritzker, who signed Illinois’ legalization of marijuana during his first term in office, had a succinct reaction to the news. “At last,” he said.
*** Statewide ***
* Crain’s | Here’s a global biz that Illinois still dominates: The days have largely gone by in which Illinois could boast of being No. 1 at anything. Printing and steel and skyscraper construction are all in eclipse. But there is one facet of the economy in which the state still stands virtually supreme: It is the nation’s top producer of soybeans, which have emerged as the bulwark of the regional farm economy. Illinois farmers typically trailed farmers in neighboring Iowa in the production of both corn and soybeans until about a decade ago, when the state surged ahead in soy (it sill lags behind in corn). As a nation, Brazil has risen in recent years to be the top-ranked soybean producer, but its transportation network is so outmoded that export opportunities are comparatively limited. The world’s biggest importers of soy — places like China and the European Union and Japan — now regularly send their trade delegations through O’Hare International Airport and then on downstate to visit farms, soy processors and farm equipment makers.
*** Chicago ***
* Crain’s | Chicago won’t give up nearly $50 million it’s owed under Bears proposal: But an overlooked provision in the state legislation authorizing the 2% hotel tax that funds the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority ensures that, while those looming payments would mean short-term pain for the city’s annual budget, all of the money will eventually be repaid, beginning as early as 2033. If a deal for the Bears materializes in Springfield, the tax structure would remain in place, city officials confirmed to Crain’s. That would ensure the city receives what it’s owed, but could push out the repayment beyond 2033.
* WBEZ | Chicago sees spike in Black teens out of school and work, study shows: “It seems that many teens are not successfully transitioning from high school to going out and getting a job, going to college, entering a trade or receiving any sort of education,” said Matthew Wilson, study author and an associate director at the Great Cities Institute. “Those pathways were disrupted by the pandemic.” […] Black 16-to-19–year-olds saw their rates of employment and school-going decline between 2021 and 2022, widening a gap that existed before the pandemic. Some 17.5% of Black teens were out of school and not working in 2022, up from 9.4% in 2021.
* Sun-Times | Kim Foxx wouldn’t prosecute gun cases tied to some minor traffic stops under new plan: The draft policy aims to undercut a dramatic rise in stops that disproportionately target people of color and rarely lead to arrests. “It felt like it was time to do something about it,” said Foxx, who is stepping down as Cook County state’s attorney this year.
* CBS Chicago | Spike in opioid overdoses in Chicago has officials concerned, preparing for summer: Chicago public health officials have sounded the alarm after a rise in drug overdoses this past weekend. […] This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an overall decrease in opioid overdose deaths across the country for the first time since 2019.
* Fox Chicago | Chicago alderman criticizes decision to only partially close Clark St. for outdoor dining: Downtown Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly is strongly criticizing the decision to close off a section of Clark St. in River North for outdoor dining while still allowing vehicle traffic. […] The 42nd Ward Alderman is urging the mayor’s office to reconsider the plan, which involves shutting down curb lanes for outdoor dining while leaving middle lanes open to vehicles. Reilly argues that a majority of his constituents are in favor of a complete closure of Clark Street between Grand and Kinzie to create a plaza for restaurants to offer outdoor dining.
* Sun-Times | Chicago Tribune journalists file discrimination suit against paper: Seven Chicago Tribune journalists filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday against the newspaper and its owner, alleging violations of equal pay based on sexual and racial discrimination. The lawsuit claims systematic pay disparities between female and male employees, as well as between Black and white employees under its current ownership of Alden Global Capital and dating back to its previous owner, the Tribune Publishing Co.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Sun-Times | PPP fraud investigation sees former Cook County correctional officer charged: Jareli Reyes, 32, is accused of fraudulently obtaining $41,666 in loans in 2021 through the federal Paycheck Protection Program that was established to provide relief to businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reyes, who resigned last year, is charged with theft, income-tax fraud and wire fraud.
* Daily Herald | DuPage County auditor on delayed reports: the buck stops with me: Outdated software and an ongoing controversy surrounding bills from the DuPage County clerk’s office have delayed quarterly audit reports for nearly four years. The last quarterly auditor’s report covered the third fiscal quarter of 2020, DuPage County Auditor Bill White, who took office in late 2020, told county board members on Tuesday.
* Daily Herald | ‘It won’t sit fallow’: Rolling Meadows forges ahead with zoning review near Arlington Park: Despite the uncertainty over the future of the Chicago Bears at Arlington Park, officials in nearby Rolling Meadows are still proceeding with planning and zoning studies on two key areas near the shuttered racetrack. Results of the first study — on the Kirchoff Road corridor — are due back from a consultant in October, Mayor Lara Sanoica said during the annual State of the City address Thursday morning. The so-called subarea plan will be followed in 2025 by a review of the city’s northwest industrial district, which is the area directly west of the old horse racing facility.
* Sun-Times | Benedictine monk at Marmion Academy pleads guilty to battery, still lands on monastery’s sex abuser list: Brother Joseph Charron, who taught theology for years at the Catholic high school in Aurora, initially was charged with numerous sex crimes involving a now-former student. He recently pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, and the sex crime charges were dropped. Still, his Benedictine abbey has now placed him on its list of credibly accused child sex abusers.
* Daily Herald | How did we do? Aurora police surveying citizens in first-of-its-kind initiative: The Aurora Police Department is now doing the same of its clients — citizens who call for assistance — through a survey sent to people who’ve had contact with its personnel. And in an initiative believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, the department is posting daily updated results on a public online dashboard.
*** Downstate ***
* SJ-R | Springfield’s PrideFest organizer hopes festivalgoers ‘enjoy the journey’: PrideFest, the one-day event in downtown Springfield is hosted yearly by the Phoenix Center, an LGBTQ center offering public health service, social education and various group activities to the greater central Illinois community. Typically, Pride parades are held in June during Pride month, but the capitol city does it a little bit differently. This year’s theme is “Enjoy the Journey”, which Williams says since Pridefest’s inception in 2010, the festival has grown to meet the bustling crowds.
* WCIA | ‘One of a kind’ dispensary opens in Danville: Seven Point just opened down the road from the Golden Nugget Casino in Danville. It’s casting a wide net of possible clientele. The store also sells vinyl records and art. They see possible advantages in how this new business can help the economy. They also say it might just be a solution to currently underfunded programs in town.
* WSIL | More Than $110,000 Donated to Fully Fund Next Honor Flight in Southern Illinois: The Allan and Wanda McCabe Family Foundation donated $112,000 to the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois. The Veterans Honor Flight recently completed their twelfth mission last week where 88 veterans were honored and welcomed home at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois.
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Get The Facts On The Illinois Prescription Drug Board
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The price-setting board proposed in HB4472 is not the solution for Illinois. It would give bureaucrats the power to arbitrarily set medicine prices, deciding what medicines and treatments are “worth” paying for. We can’t leave Illinoisans’ health care up to political whims. Let’s make it easier, not harder for patients to access their medicines. Click here to learn more.
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Live coverage
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich 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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