Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* We’ve raised less than $700 today. We can do better!

We’re still at $28,705 total, and LSSI needs a whole lot more to make sure every foster child gets a Christmas gift this year. Every dollar goes straight to gifts, and the average one costs about $25.

So please, if you can give, click here and help turn this day around. We really need to pick it up. Thank you!

* Bloomberg…

A group backed by financier Michael Sacks has started funding ads against Chicago’s plan to bring back a tax on large corporate payrolls, drawing the ire of Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Common Ground Collective, which has raised $11 million to drive change at City Hall years before the next mayoral election, is financing six-figure digital and streaming ads, including one that characterizes the proposed levy as $100 million in new taxes. The group is backed by Sacks, chairman of asset management firm GCM Grosvenor and a prominent Democratic donor, and has more than 100 contributors.

Johnson, who is struggling to pass a budget before the Dec. 31 deadline, has proposed charging companies with at least 100 employees a tax of $21 per worker per month. The tax, once dubbed a “job killer,” would raise $100 million for community-safety programs.

“Frankly I think it’s beneath these so-called business leaders to lie to the public about the community safety surcharge,” Johnson said at a press conference this week, naming Sacks specifically. “My challenge to them is to just explain their reasoning and debate the pros and cons of this proposal.”

* Illinois Bankers Association CEO Randy Hultgren is retiring …

Illinois Bankers Association CEO Randy Hultgren has informed his board of directors he will be retiring from the helm of the statewide business group at the end of the 2026 Spring legislative session.

“The IBA is in strong financial shape. We’ve had record participation in recent conferences and we’re coming off legislative and legal wins to protect our members and their customers,” Hultgren said. “We’ve united as an industry to battle the ill-conceived Interchange Fee Prohibition Act that would cause financial losses to Illinois small businesses, hurt consumers and make Illinois banks an outlier in the nation’s banking system. We’ve invested in programs to build talented future leaders for the banking industry; and our organization helped draft the “Access to Credit in Rural Economies Act” which made it into federal law this year and will make it easier for farmers and rural homeowners to access low-cost credit. […]

The Board of Directors says a search will begin immediately to succeed Hultgren.

“While we would have preferred Randy stay, we respect his decision to step down next year and we’re thankful for his accomplishments on behalf of Illinois bankers. He has led the IBA through a period of unprecedented success and his legislative expertise as a former state and federal lawmaker made us the most effective voice for banks in Springfield, Washington, D.C. and Chicago,” said IBA Board Chair T.J. Burge, president and CEO of the Community Partners Savings Bank in Salem, Illinois. “We’re grateful for the time Randy is committing to our search process, participating in the spring legislative session in Springfield and helping the next leader transition into office. Randy’s successor will have big shoes to fill.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Greg Hinz | Who — and what — do voters want in the Legislature? Here’s a race to watch.: An interesting test of that proposition is shaping on Chicago’s North Side, where four contenders are vying in the March Democratic primary to succeed state Rep. Margaret Croke, a Democrat who is giving up her seat to run for Illinois comptroller. Such vacancies rarely arise in that part of town. Three contenders have more or less conventional political pedigrees, from activity in ward political organizations and local school councils to work in the Barack Obama White House and at City Hall. The fourth has little connection to the district beyond living there but is staked by a ton of family money. And to boot, in his college days a little over a decade ago, he headed Cornell University Students for Mitt Romney.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | CPS Board approves $17.5 million settlement for former student sexually abused at Little Village high school: The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday approved a $17.5 million settlement for a former student who was sexually abused by a former dean at a Little Village high school. It’s the largest settlement for a school sex abuse case in Illinois history, according to the law firm representing the former student.

* ProPublica | Chicago Promoted Two Police Officers After Investigators Found They Engaged in Sexual Misconduct: The officers’ promotions this spring were not due to an oversight. Department officials knew about their disciplinary records, but those records could not be considered as the department evaluated their fitness for promotion. The main qualifying factor was their test scores from a two-part exam That Chicago police officers can rise in the ranks in spite of significant problems in their records reflects a decadeslong failing that the Chicago Police Department has been repeatedly called on to fix, an investigation by the Invisible Institute and ProPublica found.

* Tribune | State/Lake ‘L’ station to close Jan. 5 for demolition, construction: Throughout construction, the city said, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express trains won’t stop at State/Lake. Riders can use nearby stations at Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake, the city said, as well as the Lake Red Line subway station, which will remain open. The rebuild will also impact Loop drivers. Starting Dec. 8, eastbound Lake Street between State Street and Wabash Avenue will have intermittent closures during off-peak hours, CDOT said. Starting Jan. 5, Lake St. will be limited to local traffic only between Dearborn Street and Wabash.

* Crain’s | Foxtrot is reopening its old Loop location: LaVitola seemed unfazed by downtown foot traffic being down and retail vacancies being up — dynamics that have prompted some business leaders to shy away from the Loop. “The building is doing really well,” he said of Willis Tower. “And the store was really starting to build a loyal following in that part of the Loop prior to everything that happened.”

* Crain’s | Coming soon to a screen near you: a documentary tracing Schwinn bike history: Schwinn, founded as Arnold, Schwinn & Co. in Chicago in 1895, served as a classic rags-to-riches-to-bankruptcy story through four generations of family ownership, while signaling the painful post-industrial transition of many Chicago firms hammered by overseas competition in the late 20th century. The book, “No Hands: The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, an American Institution,” by former Crain’s staff journalists Judith Crown and Glenn Coleman, was published in 1996.

* Block Club | Bucktown, Logan Square UPS Stores Reopening This Month Under New Ownership: A year after the city shut down two UPS Stores in Bucktown and Logan Square over licensing issues, a new franchise owner is reopening them. The UPS Stores at 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Bucktown and 2020 N. California Ave. in Logan Square will reopen this month, a company spokesperson confirmed. The stores have been shuttered since December 2024, when they were ordered closed by the city for operating without business licenses under previous franchise owner The Neely Group.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Forest Park Review | Hosty, former Forest Park leader, named RF township clerk: Former Forest Park Village Council member Mark Hosty was appointed River Forest Township Clerk on Nov. 18 to replace Margaret Detmer who resigned her post effective at the end of that day. Detmer, who was appointed Township Clerk in 2024 when the previous clerk John Becvar was appointed Township Supervisor. Becvar replaced Carla Sloan who had resigned her post. He was reelected to a full four-year term earlier this year. Detmer said that she resigned because of the time commitment of the part time job and the pressure of being the mother of three small children.

* Daily Herald | 178 single-family homes proposed in Crystal Lake where Amazon warehouse was planned: Atlanta-based Pulte Homes is proposing to build 178 single-family homes at 275 S. Main St., where Amazon originally planned to build a 180,000-square-foot distribution center on the 63-acre parcel. Amazon received approval by the city, but the company walked away from the plan in 2022 before it formally purchased the property. The residential plan, called Lakeland Farm, includes a center passive park area with walking paths throughout the development. Developers plan to have three access points off Main Street, Exchange Drive and Commonwealth Drive, said Karen Weber, attorney representing Pulte Homes.

* Naperville Sun | Naperville council passes new e-bike age restrictions, fines for parents: The new rules, proposed last month, were unanimously approved. State law already governs the use of such vehicles, but many suburban communities are adopting stricter rules to govern e-bike and e-scooter usage, citing issues with young people in particular not following the rules of the road. Similar to state law, Naperville has three classifications for e-bikes: Class 1 low-speed electric bicycles, which are pedal assist and can reach speeds of up to 20 mph; Class 2 low-speed electric bicycles, which are both pedal assist and throttle and have a maximum speed of up to 20 mph; and Class 3 low-speed electric bicycles, which are pedal assist and can reach speeds of up to 28 mph.

* Daily Herald | Geneva committee recommends $59.4 million police station referendum: A group of Geneva alderpersons has recommended that the city place a question on the March ballot that would ask voters to approve a plan to borrow $59.4 million for a new police facility. The alderpersons have also recommended asking voters whether they support the city becoming home rule in a referendum that could appear on a ballot within two years. At Monday’s Geneva Committee of the Whole meeting, alderpersons voted 7-2 in favor of pursuing the police facility question. Third Ward Alderperson Larry Furnish was absent.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Hearing on proposed Sangamon Co. data center brings hundreds of supporters, opposers: “We’re going to need every union trade that’s available to us locally. We’ve committed to signing a project labor agreement. It’s not lip service,” said Bradd Hout, CyrusOne’s director of location and power strategy. Union members dressed in orange were the project’s most vocal supporters at Wednesday’s public hearing

* Illinois Times | Sober living house for LGBTQ+ in the works: Casey Prather credits a sober living home run by Springfield resident Julie Benson to playing a part in the longest stretch of sobriety he’s experienced in his adult life. Prather calls Benson’s Home Sweet Home Sober Living home, which he began living at almost two-and-a-half years ago, “unlike any other” he’s experienced. Now, the pair are working together to find a new residence to create a sober living space for LGBTQ+ individuals.

* BND | Freeburg area farmer vows to resume egg sales after bird flu decimates flock: “I was shocked at how fast it went through,” farmer Joel Funk said Wednesday. “It’s devastating.” Funk noticed some chickens had died last weekend and initially thought the deaths were caused by the cold weather that had moved into the metro-east. By Sunday he suspected the deaths were due to something deadlier than low temperatures.

*** National ***

* Reuters | Chicago Fed sees November unemployment rate steady at 4.4% as alternate data shows job losses: The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged around 4.4% in November, the Chicago Federal Reserve estimated on Thursday, while closely watched data from a private provider added to the evidence that the U.S. labor market is slowly weakening. With official unemployment reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics still delayed following the government shutdown in October and November, the new reports could add weight to arguments at next week’s Federal Reserve meeting in favor of cutting the benchmark policy rate another quarter of a percentage point.

* Bloomberg | Trump’s AI Push May Hinge on Renewable Energy: The Trump administration is moving to fast-track the construction of power-hungry data centers as a matter of national security. At the same time, it’s adding roadblocks for new solar and wind farms. But the two policies could be at odds: Hindering renewable energy projects risks slowing the AI boom — and could exacerbate rising electricity prices, a slew of data suggests. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment right now to get the power to supply this,” said Robert Whaley, director of North American power at Wood Mackenzie, an energy consultancy. “In the next 10 years, there’s really nothing to replace renewables.”

* Automotive News | Rivian’s next phase hinges on mass-market R2 and advanced autonomy, CEO says: Four years after the California automaker launched its high-end R1T pickup and R1S crossover, Rivian begins a new growth phase focused on the more affordable R2 crossover, an evolving software-defined platform and self-driving. “Right now we’re just completely heads down, focused on the development of our technology platform sets,” Scaringe said in an interview on Dec. 1. “That’s the big tactical focus, and then the big product focus is R2.” The midsize crossover will have a starting price around $45,000 before shipping when it launches in the first half of next year, about half the average selling price of Rivian’s bigger R1 vehicles, Scaringe said.

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Pritzker on medical aid in dying bill: ‘It’s a hard issue… but most of all, it’s about compassion’

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. During yesterday’s press conference, Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about the medical aid in dying bill [End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act] that’s sitting on his desk…

I’ve been listening to everybody that has a view on it. I have not announced anything or decided anything.

You know, every time I talk to somebody has a little bit of an effect, you’re sort of cumulatively gathering information. And I know there are people who feel passionately on both sides. I have said before that I have friends who’ve gone through this with their relatives, and it’s painful for the person who’s experiencing the pain in the last six months of their lives, as well as for the entire family, and sometimes with the, you know, competent decision-making on the part of somebody who’s suffering. It feels like for them it was the right thing to do. I’m talking about a specific circumstance I can think of in another state.

And then at the same time, I understand people who have religious values that say that this is inappropriate and that we should just provide hospice care and maybe make it as comfortable as we possibly can for somebody who’s dying.

So it’s a hard issue. And I don’t want anybody to think that making up your mind about this is very easy. I think there’s a lot to consider, but most of all, it’s about compassion. And again, there’s evidence and information on both sides that leads me to think seriously about what direction to go.

* He was also asked if he discussed the bill during his recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV…

It’s actually something that I brought up, and we didn’t have a conversation about it, because we were just, you know, at the beginning of our conversation, I think he and I were both kind of dismissing to each other the things that we may disagree about, because there are very few, honestly. But kind of acknowledging that there may be things that we disagree about. Obviously, we are members of different religions. Don’t really disagree so much. It’s just had differences in that way. So we kind of it, was a kind of a brief part of a conversation in which we were dismissing all those things and then getting to the things that we really have so much in common. And I so much respect who he is and what he represents. And of course, the fact that he’s from the state of Illinois is a great point of pride for all of us. \

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Federal news coverage roundup: O’Hare raid warnings, Feds drop more charges, propaganda suit, hospitals’ safety-net fears

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune…

The city of Chicago ignored concerns raised by an advocate about immigration raids at O’Hare’s rideshare parking lots for weeks before federal agents swept up more than 70 people there, emails obtained by the Tribune show. […]

An advocate for rideshare drivers first emailed the city on Sept. 19, saying she was concerned federal agents might target a parking lot near O’Hare International Airport where rideshare drivers wait for ride assignments. But the city did not appear to take any action in response to her warning until U.S. Border Patrol agents first conducted a raid at the parking lot three weeks later, on Oct. 10. […]

In an interview, [Lori Simmons, lead organizer for the Chicago Gig Alliance,] said she had not received any communications from Stastny or other Aviation Department officials between the time of her first email and the day of the first raid on Oct. 10.

Simmons said she had been worried the feds would target rideshare drivers because she knew many of them were immigrants. “And sure enough they did,” she said.

The city, Simmons said, “did nothing” with her warning, “and then acted surprised when it happened.”

* Click here for some background. Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel…

JUST IN: The Trump administration responds to the bid to dismiss the case challenging Operation Midway Blitz in front of Judge Ellis.

It says plaintiffs seek to "throw in the towel" with "procedural gamesmanship," and insists a dismissal with prejudice prevents future claims. https://t.co/SjdP83CuLU pic.twitter.com/0I1C66lh3U

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) December 4, 2025

* Tribune…

Federal prosecutors moved Wednesday to drop charges against a comedy club manager accused of shutting a car door on a federal immigration agent’s leg in the Lakeview neighborhood, the latest in a string of dismissals in high-profile cases that resulted from the Trump administration’s so-called Operation Midway Blitz.

Nathan Griffin, 24, was charged in late October with assaulting, impeding or interfering with a federal officer during one of many skirmishes between federal agents and U.S. citizens that punctuated the Trump administration’s wave of illegal immigration enforcement in and around Chicago. […]

The motion to scrap the case against Griffin without prejudice follows prosecutors’ move to drop charges against Marimar Martinez, the 30-year-old woman who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Brighton Park who claimed Martinez “rammed” a federal vehicle with her own car in an Oct. 4 standoff.

In a nine-page opinion regarding another one of those cases, against a U.S veteran charged with assault, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes wrote he could not “help but note just how unusual and possibly unprecedented it is” for Chicago’s venerable U.S. attorney’s office to bring charges “so hastily” that, once more facts came out, they were unable to obtain an indictment in the grand jury or were forced to dismiss the case as not provable.

More from WTTW…

The incident began when two Border Patrol agents were searching for a body-worn camera near Broadway and Belmont Avenue that had been lost during a previous immigration arrest, according to court records.

Video captured by the agents’ body-worn cameras showed Griffin closed a car door on a U.S. Border Patrol agent’s leg as the agent was trying to get out of his vehicle, causing a “small gouge and scrapes,” according to the criminal complaint filed against Griffin.

But Curtis Flagg, the Laugh Factory’s president of operations, told the Chicago Tribune that Griffin was walking with his mother when he saw a man getting detained.

When Griffin intervened by asking the agents to leave the man alone, agents tackled him to the ground, triggering a melee caught on video by bystanders before Griffin was detained and taken away.

* Sun-Times…

President Donald Trump’s administration is facing a lawsuit seeking the release of all video footage filmed during the high-powered overnight immigration raid of a Chicago apartment complex in September.

The images captured by a government camera crew were later used in highly edited Hollywood-style videos — which experts called “propaganda” — that were published by the federal government to win support for its deportation campaign.

Democracy Forward, a Washington D.C.-based legal organization that has challenged the Trump administration, state and local governments and right-wing movements over the past decade, filed a public records request for all original footage from the raid in the South Shore neighborhood. That request has gone unfulfilled, the group said, so it filed a seven-page federal complaint in the U.S. District court in D.C. late last month. […]

A camera crew of at least nine people filmed the South Shore raid, according to security footage from a nearby elementary school that was obtained by the Sun-Times through a public records request. The photo and video team wore street clothing, some with neon Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs vests.

Click here for DHS’ social media video of the South Shore raid and here for the lawsuit.

* Crain’s…

Four Chicago-area hospital leaders laid out their fears that worsening burdens stemming from massive federal funding cuts will severely fray the health care safety net.

At yesterday morning’s Crain’s Hospital CEO Breakfast, executives said Medicaid spending cuts, combined with expired tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans and rising costs for employer-based insurance, threaten the quality and availability of care across the region — not just at traditional safety net hospitals. […]

[Dia Nichols, president of Advocate Health Care,] spoke of OBBA being just one “domino” that will fall. He said before impacts of Medicaid work/volunteer requirements and twice-yearly redeterminations kick in at the end of 2026, hospitals and health systems will already be feeling the pressure.

[Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health,] noted hospitals are finding that people are avoiding and delaying health care as a result of immigration enforcement activity and that some Medicaid recipients believe restrictions are already underway.

* More…

* CBS Chicago | Trump administration seeks detailed information on SNAP recipients from democratic states, including Illinois: States, including Illinois, have until Monday, Dec. 8, to formally respond to the federal government. It remains unclear how quickly or if residents or food banks might feel any impact. “The truth is the administration does not have the ability to do this, and I think it’s reprehensible to use food and food insecurity as a weapon to try to effectuate a policy that is completely unrelated to it. The courts have ruled such, and I believe if we have to take them to court again, we will,” Pritzker said.

* Block Club Chicago | How The Feds Used Propaganda To Frame Their ‘War’ On Chicago: ‘They’re Lying Constantly’: As Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz swept through Chicago this fall, federal leaders and agencies issued statements and social media posts that contradicted what reporters and witnesses saw on the ground. They’ve attempted to discredit journalists even after a federal judge ruled that Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, a face of the operation, lied and the federal government had deceived the public and made false claims. Experts who study propaganda and state media say the pattern goes beyond spin. In press releases and social media posts, the Department of Homeland Security has built a narrative meant to project control and valorize its agents, the experts said. At the same time, it has cast protesters and bystanders as threats or obstacles.

* Tribune | Federal funding cuts threaten Chicago Harbor Lock, one of the nation’s busiest: The Army Corps requested $3.85 million for the operation and maintenance of the Chicago Harbor Lock and Dam next year, Corps spokesperson Emily Helton said. But in his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, President Donald Trump allocated under $300,000 for the harbor, leaving a shortfall of more than $3.5 million, Helton said. In order to try to close the gap, Helton said, the Army Corps will use just over $1 million in leftover operating funds from this year. It will also reallocate some money it had previously planned to use for electrical rehabilitation work at the harbor.

* South Side Weekly | Fraudsters target immigrants seeking legal help: Sometimes, notarios defraud people in immigrant communities by trading on the names and reputations of upstanding organizations. The American Bar Association does not represent clients in court. […] Fear, lack of familiarity with the U.S. immigration process, and the acute need for affordable immigration services all make immigrants susceptible to fraud, experts say. And immigration raids by federal agents are likely to exacerbate the problem, as victims may be hesitant to seek help from law enforcement agencies. “With the aggressiveness of ICE and the apprehension that people have to come out and be public—these notarios are bottom feeders, and they make something bad worse,” Wildes said.

* WaPo | Illinois can set its own vaccine guidelines, bypassing Trump administration: State lawmakers say the new law is the first of its kind. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed it just days before a federal vaccine panel plans to vote on a major change to America’s childhood immunization schedule. Illinois is among several Democratic-led states developing their own systems to assess vaccines, an attempt to address warnings by some public health officials that the Trump administration has politicized vaccine science.

* The 21st Show | Breaking down Northwestern University’s $75 million settlement with the Trump administration: Northwestern University has announced an agreement with the Trump administration over a discrimination investigation. The university will pay $75 million to the federal government, and make commitments to comply with Trump preferences in admissions, hiring, campus protests policies, and trans health care. In exchange, the administration is dropping its investigations against the school and restoring federal funding.

* Tribune | Enterprise Rent-A-Car license plate revoked after immigration agents illegally swapped it out, records show: The penalties for displaying an unauthorized plate or obscuring or modifying license plates in any way include fines and potential jail time. License plates may also be suspended or revoked by the secretary of state. That’s what happened to an Enterprise vehicle, according to a revocation letter from Giannoulias’ office to the business’ parent company, EAN Holdings LLC, obtained by the Tribune. The company must now request a new plate, under state law.

* Tribune | Operation Midway Bliss redefines blitz with gift drive for families affected by immigration enforcement: The gift haul was coined Operation Midway Bliss as a way to reclaim the name from the federal government’s Operation Midway Blitz, which wreaked havoc on the city’s immigrant community. “When I saw those Angel Trees blowing up (on social media),” said McNiff, who lives in the Gold Coast, “an idea sparked of something I can do for my neighbors here in Chicago, aside from just yapping on TikTok or going to a protest, something that can actually have an impact directly.”

7 Comments

Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like the Hagers, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Question of the day: 2025 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager goes to Liz Moody…

She is always on top of everything, so quick to respond and offer help to anyone who asks. She always keeps her members organized, and handles all the daily chaos with kindness and a smile.

Honorable mention goes to Mike Wasielewski, who emerged as a late favorite.

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager is a tie: Amanda Daley and Brandy Loftus…

They do an excellent job managing the Leader’s schedule and assisting the staff and the many personalities that make up an average day in 316. They do it with smiles on their faces and can always get a laugh out of anybody, no matter how bad or long a session day it may be.

All of those folks above are top-notch. Congrats!

* On to today’s categories…

* Best Democratic State Senate Staff Member

Nominees can come from the government and campaign sides. Bill Schneider won last year and is not eligible. Mary Hanahan was the other winner, but she’s now with a law firm.

As always, please explain your nominations or they won’t count. This is more about intensity than numbers. Also, do your very best to nominate in both categories. If you can’t, you can’t, but please tell us why.

* After you’ve entered your nominations, please click here to contribute to our annual Christmas toy fundraiser for foster kids. We raised more than $6,000 yesterday, but Lutheran Social Services of Illinois has more than 2,500 foster kids in its care and they must raise more than $62,000 to buy all of them modest presents. As I write this, we’ve raised $28,455. That’s not bad, but it’s way below the threshold. Those kids count on us, so, please do your best to chip in whatever you can.

Let’s help spread some genuine Christmas joy as widely as we possibly can.

Thanks!

32 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Illinois unveils plans to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

• First Listen: The state of Illinois is ready to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday
• Tribune: Illinois to celebrate United States’ 250th birthday with public art, history initiatives
• Daily Herald: How Illinois plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

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* At 11 am Gov. Pritzker will attend an event to celebrate the 119th birthday of American Postal Workers Union Local 1.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Investigate Midwest | Pesticide drift is catching schools off guard. Lawmakers want to require notice before spraying.: House Bill 1596 would require certified pesticide applicators to provide written notice, 24 to 72 hours before spraying, to private and public schools, daycares, and public parks and playgrounds within a half mile of the application site. The notification requirement would apply only to large-scale operations over five acres that use boom sprayers, tractor-mounted sprayers and airplanes to apply weed killers — not residential applications. Violators would face a $250 fine, which increases to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for additional infractions. Bill sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Grayslake Democrat, said the bill could change during the next legislative session, which begins in January.

* Tribune | Federal funding cuts threaten Chicago Harbor Lock, one of the nation’s busiest: The harbor lock is one of the nation’s busiest for both commercial and recreational use; more than 900,000 passengers and 80,000 vessels traveled through it last year. But looming federal funding cuts have become a source of worry for boaters who rely on the lock. […] The Army Corps requested $3.85 million for the operation and maintenance of the Chicago Harbor Lock and Dam next year, Corps spokesperson Emily Helton said. But in his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, President Donald Trump allocated under $300,000 for the harbor, leaving a shortfall of more than $3.5 million, Helton said.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois State Board of Education extends timeline for public comment on school accountability overhaul: Sanders wrote in a weekly message on Tuesday that the Illinois State Board of Education will keep the current public comment window open until Jan. 7, instead of Dec. 7. There will also be opportunities for the public to weigh in on the proposal’s drafts between January and April. Under the new timeline, state board members would discuss the final plan during the March board meeting and vote on new accountability metrics in April, instead of discussing the plan in December and voting in January.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Former Sen. Roland Burris has endorsed Rep. Margaret Croke for comptroller. Press Release…

Today, former U.S. Senator, Illinois Attorney General and Illinois Comptroller Roland Burris announced his endorsement of State Rep. Margaret Croke in her campaign for State Comptroller. Burris, who made history as the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois when he became Comptroller in 1978, went on to serve in multiple statewide offices before being appointed to the U.S. Senate. He cited Croke’s steady leadership, strong fiscal judgment, and commitment to responsible, ethical government as key reasons for his support.

“Throughout my career and lifelong commitment to public service, I have seen firsthand what true leadership requires,” said former Senator Roland Burris. “Margaret Croke exemplifies the strength and fiscal discipline needed to serve as Comptroller. She is not only prepared to keep our state financially secure, she is prepared to move it forward. From my hometown of Centralia to the heart of Chicago and every community in between, I have absolute confidence that she will fight for every Illinoisan and lead with unwavering integrity and purpose.”

* Sun-Times | Illinois secretary of state bolsters REAL ID services to help residents avoid new TSA fee: State officials are partnering with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon’s office to streamline processes to obtain birth certificates, marriage licenses and the other additional personal documents needed to get a REAL ID. Clerk’s offices will have designated cashiers for REAL ID-related requests, as well as a new appointment system.

* Rep. La Shawn Ford | I survived prostate cancer. Without ACA tax credits, other Americans may not be as lucky: Black men are nearly twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men. In neighborhoods like Austin, Englewood, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale — where poverty, food insecurity and limited access to specialists already shorten life expectancy — this kind of policy failure isn’t just immoral. It’s lethal. I was lucky. I had insurance. I had a health care team that moved quickly. But I also had fear, and I some sleepless nights. I had to tell my daughter that I had cancer. And I had to fight — not just for my health, but for my peace of mind. No one should have to fight for access to health care on top of fighting for their life.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Council bloc urges Johnson not to brush off budget overhaul: A day after a bare majority of the City Council signed on to a letter outlining $441 million in potential alternatives to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $16.6 billion budget, it’s unclear if the defiant move will force the mayor back to the table. The alternative proposal stripped out Johnson’s proposed corporate head tax, reduced borrowing costs and increased an advance pension payment through a grab bag of increased garbage, rideshare and liquor taxes and $90 million in spending cuts that the mayor has argued are not feasible in 2026.

* Crain’s | Hospital CEOs warn health care safety net will begin unraveling next year: Endeavor’s O’Grady criticized OBBA, saying the legislation is anything but beautiful for hospitals. He said as emergency rooms fill with sicker, uninsured patients who have delayed care, all patients will face longer wait times and other disruptions. Hospital finances will take a hit from rising levels of charity care and bad debt, especially in Illinois where medical debt cannot damage a person’s credit rating, O’Grady noted.

* Tribune | Sweeping ban on hemp products in Chicago advances in City Council: Proponents argue the proposed ban would make Chicago safer by speeding up a pending congressional prohibition on the products that get users high. But Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has urged aldermen to rework the ordinance with narrower regulations. Hanging in the balance are dozens of small businesses like Rubina Mirza’s Ukrainian Village shop, Kizmah CBD. “This proposed ban on these products will put me out overnight and destroy all the hard work I spent with my family building a small business,” Mirza told aldermen as the meeting started in a room packed with hemp supporters.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools finds buyers for three vacant schools: The district is seeking the Chicago Board of Education’s approval at its next meeting on Dec. 18 to sell the old Bontemps Elementary in Englewood on the South Side for $75,000, the old Henson Elementary in North Lawndale on the West Side for $25,000, and the former Shedd Elementary, which last served as a satellite building for Bennett Elementary, in Roseland on the Far South Side for $25,000. All three buildings closed in 2013. The proposed sales come after CPS put 20 properties on the market in May. Stephen Stults, the district’s director of real estate, said they got bids for 12 properties.

* Sun-Times | Business concerns stall plan to let Chicagoans flag crosswalk, bus and bike lane parking scofflaws: Everyday Chicagoans will have to wait for the right to use their cellphones to provide recorded evidence of bus, bike lane and crosswalk parking violations, thanks to concerns raised Wednesday by business groups. First Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata initially proposed a measure that would allow citizens to report parking violations by both commercial and passenger vehicles.

* WTTW | Feds Drop Charges Against Laugh Factory Manager Accused of Assaulting Immigration Agent in Lakeview: Nathan Griffin, 24, is now the latest person to have been charged during what the federal government called “Operation Midway Blitz” in a blaze of publicity only to have prosecutors quietly dismiss the case after failing to get an indictment or determining that there was not enough evidence to go forward. Griffin was charged with one count of forcibly assaulting and interfering with a federal agent in the performance of his official duties in connection with a melee that occurred on Oct. 24, hours before a team of masked immigration agents tear gassed a crowd in Lakeview.

* Sun-Times | Museum of Science and Industry workers ratify first union contract: The contract with the Hyde Park museum covers roughly 120 employees, and includes an average 8% pay raise and 3% annual increase over the next two years, according to a Wednesday statement from the Museum of Science and Industry Workers United. The contract also adds holiday pay for part-time employees, policy changes on remote work, just cause for discipline, a grievance procedure and a joint committee on paid parental leave.

* Sun-Times | Killings of Black Panthers dedicated with plaque in Chicago 56 years later: It’s the latest of 12 plaques to be placed around Chicago, as well as another in Peoria, as part of the Black Panther Heritage Trail that denotes historic sites in Illinois. “We have to remember the people who stood up and gave their lives,” Nefahito said. “We see where we’re at now. … We can’t be complacent, we can’t take the liberties and rights we have for granted. We have to fight, work and be kind to each other. We always have to help others and look for opportunities to get involved.”

* Press Release | CTA and Chance the Rapper Team Up to Launch New “Enjoy the Ride” Campaign: “I think this partnership is so important because I grew up taking the Red Line train from 79th,” said Chance. “All of the train lines create a pathway to connection and an opportunity for people to build community, and that’s what STAR LINE is about. It’s about us forming together to fight anything that’s going against us. This is an important time in the city for people to stand up, be brave and protective of each other.”

* Crain’s | Ken Griffin’s last remaining Chicago condo lands a buyer: The last piece of Citadel chief Ken Griffin’s portfolio of Chicago condos went under contract to a buyer today, nearly two and a half years after he began selling his units in various downtown towers after moving his business empire and family to Florida. The condo, on the 67th floor of the Park Tower on North Michigan Avenue, was Griffin’s longest-held property in Chicago. He bought it in 2000, when the building was new, for $6.9 million, according to the Cook County clerk. That’s the equivalent of paying $12.98 million in 2025 dollars.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Will 2026 be the year for this stalled downtown Arlington Heights apartment project?: Facing rising interest rates, difficulty in raising equity capital and higher construction costs, a developer’s plan for a six-story, 135-unit apartment building with a ground-floor restaurant in Arlington Heights remains in limbo two years after receiving zoning approvals. But Joe Taylor of Barrington-based Compasspoint Development expressed confidence that 2026 will be the year to get shovels in the ground and transform the long-vacant office building site on the edge of the village’s downtown.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Geneva considering bond referendum in March for new police station, mulls vote on home rule by 2028: The possibility of selling bonds to construct new public safety facilities is not new in Geneva — the city had initially planned to put the question to voters last April, but pulled it from the ballot in January after discovering a calculation error that would have doubled the projected property tax payment. Now, the Geneva City Council is again considering a referendum — with a particular emphasis on constructing a new police station for the city.

* Daily Herald | ‘Vendors, volunteers and vibes’: Why Arlington Heights Farmers Market is ranked top in the state: The competition of 1,263 farmers markets nationwide tallied more than 60,000 votes by the public.“That is really something to be proud of, because I know a lot of people enjoy it, and it doesn’t happen easy,” said Mayor Jim Tinaglia, who recognized farmers market committee members at this week’s village board meeting. “These are people who work really hard to make it happen.”

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Sonya Massey’s family breaks silence following Sean Grayson’s request for new trial: Sonya Massey’s cousin, Sontae Massey, told me his family is not surprised that Grayson’s lawyers are filing for a new trial. Sontae said his family doesn’t want to make a big deal out of Grayson’s defense team trying to accomplish certain procedures at the last minute. He said Grayson is guilty and everyone saw the crime he committed through the body camera footage. Sontae said Grayson is now a convicted felon and he got the conviction he deserved.

* News-Gazette | Champaign council unanimously rejects ban on public camping: The city council unanimously voted down a proposed ban on public camping after hearing two hours of public comment on the ordinance, which Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth called “draconian and regressive.” Chynoweth, who also chairs the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless, said that the city broke trust by not communicating with its partners in the continuum about the proposal. “This is a reactive and uncollaborative approach,” she said at Tuesday’s lengthy Champaign City Council meeting. “That may seem an unfair accusation, but I looked up how many times I have met with staff members on your senior team and a council member in the last three weeks. Seven meetings, 10 hours of meeting with your staff members, and I did not know about this till I woke up this morning.”

* WGEM | SAFE-T Act, conservatism debated in race for 8th Judicial Circuit judge’s position: Over the years, Pratt has advocated for the change on the basis that it doesn’t let people without a large bank account sit in jail while only the wealthy walk free. […] Under the SAFE-T Act, judges are allowed the discretion on whether to allow a defendant in a case to be jailed or to be granted pretrial release. During a pretrial hearing, a defense attorney and a prosecutor can both make the case on why a defendant should or shouldn’t be detained. […] Bass voiced his displeasure with the SAFE-T Act.

* WAND | Sangamon Co. residents voice concerns over proposed $500 million data center: “We don’t know the effect that it’s going to have on our utility bills, but we do know that everywhere these things have been built. Utility bills have gone way, not just a little,” said community member Don Hanrahan. The county is partnering with a company called CyrusOne. The project includes six data centers on one large campus, which could take six to 10 years to complete. Illinois has multiple data centers. These facilities represent more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure investment. Many people are concerned their electric bill will skyrocket, but the rural electric cooperative says rates will not increase.

* PJ Star | What to know about East Peoria emergency alert system breach: The data taken from Crisis24’s systems includes people’s names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and passwords used to create their profile for CodeRED, which notifies people about emergencies such as boil orders, weather-related closures and police and fire events. The city said that the CodeRED system was immediately decommissioned, with a new platform being created through Crisis24 using backed-up data. Any resident signed up for CodeRED through March 31 was immediately transferred over to the new platform.

* WAND | Free skating returns to downtown Springfield: The rink, located in Union Square Park, opens for the season on Wednesday with a special grand-opening celebration featuring historic re-enactors portraying Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The event begins Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. and will include ALPLM leaders and special guests. According to the ALPLM unlike traditional ice rinks, this skating surface is made of artificial material, giving visitors an ice-like experience even in above-freezing temperatures. Guests can bring their own skates or borrow a pair at Union Station at no cost.

* SJ-R | Residents spent millions on these gaming machines in Springfield: 833 video gaming terminals live in Springfield, spread across 151 establishments. What establishments are most popular, and which pay out the most? Gamblers in Springfield wagered $596.4 million in 2024, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. The capital city wagered more than any other Illinois city in that year, winning $544.3 million.

*** National ***

* AP | Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records’ Booker T and the M.G.’s, has died at age 84: AP) — Steve Cropper, the lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter who helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics “Green Onions,” “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” has died. He was 84. […] Cropper’s very name was immortalized in the 1967 smash “Soul Man,” recorded by Sam & Dave. Midway, singer Sam Moore calls out “Play it, Steve!” as Cropper pulls off a tight, ringing riff, a slide sound that Cropper used a Zippo lighter to create. The exchange was reenacted in the late 1970s when Cropper joined the John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd act “The Blues Brothers” and played on their hit cover of “Soul Man.”

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Good morning!

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Keb’ Mo’…

Lift up your voice and sing

* We raised about $12,000 on Monday to buy Christmas presents for foster kids cared for by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. We raised about $10,000 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we raised less than $6,500.

Let’s be clear, these are not horrible numbers. But we’re at $28K and the total needed to buy presents for more than 2,500 foster kids is $62,500.

People, please, click here and dig deep. Thanks!

* Anyway, this is an open thread.

2 Comments

Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Thursday, Dec 4, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…

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