The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced major changes at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.
In a letter to staff dated Thursday, the agency outlined plans to reduce residential units serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to phase down mental‑health beds.
Forensic developmental‑disability operations will continue at the facility.
With the completion of the Choate transformation, there is less need for residential units to serve the intellectual and developmental disabilities general population at Choate. Because of this change, operations for the intellectual and developmental disabilities general units will end by September 30, 2026.
Another change for Choate operations is the need for mental health beds. The need for mental health beds is greater in Northern Illinois. To align service needs with state facility capacity, we will be phasing down the 75 civil mental health beds at Choate and adding civil beds at Madden Mental Health Center. The phase down is planned to be complete by March 2027.
The 40-bed forensic developmental disabilities unit will continue operations, as will the other IDHS administrative offices on the Choate campus. […]
We will work with our labor partners to support employees. This includes working closely with directly impacted staff who may be subject to the contractual layoff process so that those who wish to continue to serve may be offered opportunities at other State-operated facilities or other State employment.
* Sen. Bryant…
State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) issued the following statement following the announcement of significant staffing and operational changes at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna:
“This is a devastating blow to Southern Illinois. The state’s decision will cost our region hundreds of jobs, uproot vulnerable patients, and create chaos for families and employees who deserve far better than this.
“I have consistently advocated for Choate to continue serving our most vulnerable residents here in Southern Illinois, and I am disappointed to see those calls ignored through this announcement.
“Southern Illinois cannot afford to lose hundreds of jobs, and the people who depend on Choate deserve to be treated as individuals, not numbers on a spreadsheet.”
…Adding… AFSCME Council 31…
Today the Illinois Department of Human Services announced that it will be ending most operations at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, IL, where workers are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31.
For the past three years, IDHS has been steadily reducing available beds for individuals with developmental disabilities. While some of those impacted were placed with nonprofit disability agencies, most were moved to IDHS facilities throughout the state.
Choate serves a vital function in the Illinois Department of Human Services’ system of care for individuals with severe developmental disabilities or mental illness, including those who have been found guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to stand trial in criminal cases.
Now the department is planning to close all the beds at Choate that serve individuals with mental illness who have committed crimes, served their time and are preparing for release. That unit would be moved to Madden Mental Health Center in the Chicago metro area, which does not currently serve a forensic population.
In all, the department said it intends to lay off some 250 Choate employees over the coming months.
“AFSCME strongly objects to IDHS’s ill-conceived plan,” said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “The department should have consulted with our union to develop a more rational plan that would be fairer to Choate’s employees and the individuals in their care. Unfortunately, the department chose to forge ahead with a plan which will weaken services for the most vulnerable mentally ill individuals and upend the lives of hundreds of Choate employees and their families.
“During the recent legislative session, the Pritzker administration assured our union that the proposed FY 2027 budget would not include any layoffs,” Lynch continued. “Had we been aware of the planned layoffs, we certainly would have opposed the budget as introduced.”
IDHS points to job openings at other downstate mental health facilities to which Choate employees could transfer. However, those jobs would require extensive travel—as much as four hours daily—for many employees. That kind of travel time is especially dangerous in a department like this one where employees are routinely required to work several hours of overtime on any given day.
“The AFSCME collective bargaining agreement with the State of Illinois includes well-defined rights for employees slated for layoff and AFSCME intends to ensure that all such requirements are fully met if the department continues down this irresponsible path,” Lynch said.
…Adding…IDHS…
As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s vision for transformational change within the state’s support system for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) – operations at the Choate Developmental Center will be reduced.
The decision to reduce the services provided on the Choate campus was made following careful review of state-operated facilities, declining census in State Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs), increasing interest in community living arrangements, and changing service delivery needs across the state.
This decision aligns with the state’s commitment to reducing institutionalization across Illinois, enabling individuals to live in the least restrictive environment of their choice.
The census across Illinois’ seven SODCs is 1,413, as of July 17, 2026, down from 1,639 in March 2023 when the Governor’s transformation plan began. Choate’s general census of individuals with I/DD went from 199 in March 2023, to the 16 general census persons with I/DD there today.
In addition, there are 75 IDHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery beds at Choate, which will be phased down by March 2027, while capacity at the Madden Mental Health Center increases.
The 40-bed Forensic program will continue to operate at Choate.
IDHS, in partnership with CMS Labor Relations, will work with the labor partners representing the affected employees through the contractual layoff process to offer employment opportunities to Choate staff impacted by the change in operations, including opportunities at other state operated facilities, with the overall goal of limiting impact to affected staff.
For affected staff, there are available downstate vacancies across the system at state-operated facilities, including Murray, Chester, and Alton. These centers are expanding capacity and adding new positions to the Southern Illinois community.
Logan Correctional Center does not fare well in a new assessment from a prison watchdog group. A report from the nonprofit John Howard Association outlines what executive director Jenny Vollen-Katz says are unsafe and inhumane conditions, along with $116 million in deferred maintenance.
The list of problems, says Vollen-Katz, is long: “From the presence of black mold to lack of ventilation, the presence of rodents and pests inside the facility, crumbling infrastructure, ceilings that cave in, along with the lack of air conditioning in places that are very hot during the summer, which can lead to and also exacerbate existing health issues.”
Logan, near Lincoln, is slated for closure, with its all-female population to move to an as yet unbuilt facility in Crest Hill, near Joliet. Vollen-Katz says that brings an uncertainty which does not help the psyche of inmates or employees.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration’s continued efforts to use federal funds—specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds—to coerce states into complying with the administration’s political and policy priorities.
Raoul and the coalition’s lawsuit filed today challenges decisions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose unlawful conditions on billions of dollars in federal funds that Congress appropriated for states to use in preparing for and responding to emergencies and natural disasters, including acts of terrorism. The conditions challenged in the lawsuit would require the states to change the way they conduct elections, including by transmitting lists of all registered voters to DHS, and to assist DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. They would also permit DHS to terminate any federal grant at any time and for any reason.
Now, DHS and FEMA have established grant conditions for 2026 funding that again attempt to coerce the states into complying with the administration’s policy priorities. The conditions in total affect billions of dollars in funding, including over a billion dollars in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funding that states use to support security measures and protect residents from terrorism, cyberattacks and more. Illinois receives over $40 million in HSGP funding each year for state and municipal efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism.
In the lawsuit, Raoul and the attorneys general explain that DHS and FEMA will withhold counterterrorism funding if states do not change state election law to conform to the administration’s policy goals. The attorneys general assert that these requirements would force states to abandon years of work and millions of dollars of investments in their elections systems, all to obtain unrelated funding that Congress earmarked for the prevention of terrorist attacks.
July 25th will now be known statewide in Illinois as a Day of Reflection and Remembrance for Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley.
We understand here in our state that we cannot build a more just future if we are unwilling to confront the injustices of our past. pic.twitter.com/nNuoGy76tS
* Capitol News Illinois | Here’s how Illinois election authorities guard against noncitizen voting: “That’s 10 cases in 44 years.” Dietrich told Capitol News Illinois, referring to information published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank. “Every two years, you have approximately 5 to 6 million votes being cast. So, you’re talking really about hundreds of millions of votes cast, with 10 prosecutions.”
* Sun-Times | Blagojevich now seeking Trump clemency for former Indiana politician convicted in vote-buying scheme: Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is hoping to parlay his access to President Donald Trump into a moneymaking clemency ask for Frank Kollintzas, a former Indiana city councilman who allegedly fled to Greece after being convicted in a vote-buying scheme. Trump in February 2025 issued a full and unconditional pardon to Blagojevich after commuting his 14-year sentence for political corruption charges. Now, according to a federal lobbying disclosure form first reported by NBC News, Blagojevich is reporting income of $50,000 tied to lobbying activities for Kollintzas. According to the form, Blagojevich is seeking presidential clemency on behalf of Kollintzas.
*** Chicago ***
* WBEZ | CTU and SEIU back different candidates for school board president, widening rift between staff unions: Both unions have considerable financial resources, a state and local presence and tens of thousands of workers who can knock on doors. SEIU represents about 16,500 CPS employees and more than 160,000 workers across the state. CTU has 30,000 CPS members and its president, Stacy Davis Gates, also leads the Illinois Federation of Teachers with more than 100,000 members. In both of these unions, members can choose to deduct money from their paychecks to go to political committees, in addition to their dues to support union activities.
* CBS Chicago | Northeastern Illinois University to become first public university in Chicago to offer AI bachelor’s program: Beginning in the fall of 2026, Northeastern Illinois offer an AI major through its College of Business and Technology (CBT) under the Department of Computer Science. The university said the program is designed to balance “theory, application, and real-world relevance.” […] Curriculum highlights include foundational courses in programming, mathematics, and data structures; courses in subjects such as machine language and natural language programming; coursework in databases, operating systems, data analysis, and information processing; a writing-intensive software language course; and courses in ethical AI development and responsible tech use.
* ABC Chicago | Obama Presidential Center hosting WNBA summit ahead of all star game: There will be a host of big names in sports taking the stage, including Seven-time WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker, who got her roots playing at Naperville Central. The co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky Nadia Rawlinson said Thursday’s conversations will take women’s sports to the next level. “Chicago, as we know, has always been a city of big ideas and a city that understands the power of sports to bring people together. And today we have a chance of putting Chicago at the forefront of this important conversation about the future,” Rawlinson said.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago Fire Department hosts “Firefighter for a Day” event for girls: The girls learned fire safety procedures, went through interactive stations, and took part in a firehose exercise. Campers also learned CPR and how to stop bleeding. “If they can see us, they can be us, so the whole idea is for them to be able to touch tools and realize they can do a job forever men have done,” said Chicago Fire District Chief Betty Ortiz. “So we want them to understand it’s OK. We can do this. We can do this just as good as the guys do.”
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Herald | Lisle looks to consultant to help navigate fight against Illinois American Water: Village trustees this week discussed hiring Hanson Professional Services, a consulting firm with offices in Lisle, to help them navigate the complexities of the Illinois American Water system that serves about 600 Lisle homes, predominantly in the Oakview subdivision. “We’ve had a lot of conversations about this over the past year,” Lisle Trustee Meg Sima said, adding the village has spent time gathering resident input and reviewing the matter. “To me, this is the first practice step forward in what our realistic options are.”
* Daily Herald | Former Motorola building saved from demolition proposed for residential use in Schaumburg: The residential conversion of the last Motorola office building left in Schaumburg’s 225-acre Veridian development will be just the start of about $1 billion worth of further work on the former corporate campus suggested to village trustees Tuesday. […] While not easy to to do, Burk said the repurposing of the six-story, 360,206-square-foot former Motorola atrium building would be a poster child for the creative conversion of an office building to apartments. With a similar four-story building to be constructed beside it, the entire project would boast about 300 units and be accompanied by 18 row houses to segue into the adjacent D.R. Horton housing development.
* Daily Herald | Residents speak out on 57% passenger car rate hike for I-PASS users in Illinois: It was the 11th of 13 hearings at which the agency is pitching its $26.5 billion Driving Connections improvement plan. The initiative would be partly funded by raising passenger vehicle tolls for I-PASS users from an average of 7 cents a mile to 11 cents, beginning Jan. 1. Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog spoke in favor of the plan, noting that she represents “one of the fastest growing counties in Illinois.”
*** Downstate ***
* Illinois Times | New plan calls for bypassing Logan County Board, annexation into Latham: Hut 8 Corp. could avoid scrutiny from the Logan County Board if it convinces Latham Village Board members to annex the proposed site of the company’s planned 500-megawatt data center – two miles west of the village – and thus take control over the future of the $5 billion project. The five-member Village Board – in charge of a community with 350 residents, a handful of village employees, total annual revenues of $291,000, no stoplights and virtually no businesses – plans to meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 to hold a public hearing and vote on the plan at Village Hall, 220 N. Main St.
* WGLT | Bloomington High School expects improved graduation rates, more students graduating with college credit: The graduation rate is improving at Bloomington High School, with an estimated 89% of students in the 2026 school year on track to graduate. This is up from 76.5% in the 2025 school year. Nicole Rummel, assistant superintendent, told the District 87 school board the key has been the district’s focus on credit recovery. This is a chance for students who have failed a class to study the material again and recover those credit hours. Rummel said over 100 failed classes were recovered during the last school year.
*** National ***
* Reuters | Massive disconnect of power roils largest US electric grid: A massive amount of data center power abruptly disconnected from the largest U.S. electric grid on Wednesday, causing a voltage disturbance that could be felt from Washington, D.C., to Chicago, according to experts and data from grid operator PJM. The epicenter of the event was in northern Virginia, home to the largest collection of data centers in the world. When an area transmission line went out of service Wednesday morning, the data centers’ own control systems unplugged from the electric grid and transferred to backup power, Dominion Energy, the electric utility for the region, said in a statement.
* CBS | New Fed research suggests far fewer Americans own homes than widely believed: Only about 53% of U.S. adults own homes, far below the commonly cited 65% homeownership rate, according to new Federal Reserve research that paints a starker picture of access to homeownership. The traditional homeownership rate, tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau, measures the share of occupied homes in which the owner lives. The new measure from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, called the homeowners-to-population ratio, or HPOP, instead calculates the share of adults who own a home.
Thursday, Jul 23, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price.
Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners.
Jessica Dixon Heitman, the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator Alan Dixon, was appointed to replace Benton and will have her name instead of his on the November ballot. Questions have surfaced about not only why did it take Welch three years to call for Benton’s ouster, but also why did the Speaker of the House interact with that same former Benton staffer by liking her social media activity with heart emojis?
“If you are in a leadership position,” [Heitman said] “you shouldn’t be sending any sort of responses to any of your staff’s social media, whether you’re a male or a female.”
Governor Pritzker weighed in as well [yesterday].
“The Speaker has a responsibility to be utterly and completely transparent about the situation to make sure that he is letting the public know, as well as in particular his members know exactly what happened.”
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy today released a new statewide television and digital advertisement, Keep It Simple, contrasting his common sense approach to leadership with the costly consequences of Juliana Stratton’s extreme agenda.
This morning, the members of the Illinois General Assembly’s bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) voted unanimously to publish the report concerning the complaint against former State Representative Harry Benton (D).
Following the vote, Commission Chair State Representative Jeff Keicher released the following statement:
“After considering the matter before us for case number 26-005 concerning the complaint against former Rep. Harry Benton, we voted to publish the report pursuant to our statutory obligations. To protect the privacy of those involved in this case, the respondent and complainant will be given the opportunity to review the report for potential redactions, which the Commission will review.”
As Keicher stated, now that the LEC has voted to make the report public, the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act requires the respondent and complainant to be permitted to review the report, offer redaction suggestions, and provide a response to be published with the report, if they wish. The LEC intends to have this process completed by July 31st.
…Adding… House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…
After the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) voted unanimously to release a report detailing the sexual harassment complaint regarding former State Representative Harry Benton, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie issued the following statement:
“Thank you to the members of the Legislative Ethics Commission for doing the right thing: transparency is key for us to move forward, understand how we can improve, and to demand accountability for those who failed to uphold the integrity of our chamber. Unfortunately, we may never know what happened before this report due to the silence of leaders who have repeatedly chosen politics over principles.”
…Adding… Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
Today, the Legislative Ethics Commission voted unanimously to release the report of the Inspector General’s investigation into the allegations against former Representative Harry Benton. As noted in the statement from Chair Keicher, we now begin a five day period allowing the complainant and respondent to request redactions and provide any statements to be included with the published report. At the end of that period, the LEC will reconvene to complete our work and move to publish as quickly as is practical. Until publication is complete, members are still bound by confidentiality requirements as it relates to the contents of the report.
There has been a fair bit of discussion of the process related to the Legislative Inspector General and the Legislative Ethics Commission and possible changes to the law governing their work. I welcome those discussions in the months ahead. It’s important to note that the last major changes to the laws governing the LIG process were under former Speaker Madigan, who consistently fought efforts to allow the LIG to operate with true independence and left the role vacant for years. While important improvements were made in 2019, there is a great deal more that should have been done then to ensure that victims are able to safely seek justice. I urge my colleagues to be bold in their proposals to improve our response to misconduct, and take this opportunity to embrace best practices informed by the need to create a safe and equitable working environment for everyone who comes to our Capitol.
* Juliana Stratton campaign fundraising email from May 27th of 2025…
Hi friend,
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know the details.
On Friday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast. Why? We’re pacing behind our May fundraising goals, and time is not on our side.
My team walked me through the numbers and laid out a plan. They recommended expanding our digital outreach to help us grow our base, reach new supporters, and raise the resources we need to catch up. But there was one problem: the money wasn’t in our budget.
I spent the weekend thinking it over. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
It was a risk — but one I’m willing to take. Because I believe in the power of this team, and I believe in you. If we’re going to build a people-powered campaign that’s rooted in real connection, we can’t play it safe.
Right now, I’m betting on this grassroots team to help us close the gap and make this investment worth it. So on the heels of this difficult budget decision, I am asking:
Can you chip in $3, $25, or whatever you can today to help us cover this cost and keep building the momentum we need?
* Juliana Stratton campaign fundraising email from September 25th of 2025…
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know the details.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast. Why? We’re pacing behind our critical September fundraising goals ahead of our FEC deadline, and time is not on our side.
My team walked me through the numbers and laid out a plan. They recommended expanding our digital outreach to help us grow our base, reach new supporters, and raise the resources we need to catch up. But there was one problem: The money wasn’t in our budget.
I spent the day thinking it over. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* Stratton fundraising email from October 24th of 2025…
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know the details.
Last week, Q3 FEC reports were released, and my team and I sat down to look at our opponents’ reports. Soon after, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request.
We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast. Why? Because one of our opponents is outraising us right now. Not through grassroots support, but through big donors and corporate money. […]
I spent a few days thinking it over. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* Stratton fundraising email from November 23rd of 2025…
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know why.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast.
Why? We’re pacing behind our November fundraising goals, and with our final quarterly FEC deadline approaching before the primary, we cannot afford to come up short. […]
I spent a few days thinking it over. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* December 21, 2025…
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know why.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast. […]
So I spent a some time thinking it over. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* January 25, 2026…
I made a difficult decision this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to know why.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach — fast. […]
I spent a day thinking over whether we should take the risk and make the investment. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* February 16, 2026…
I made a tough decision this morning, and as a core part of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it directly from me.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent need: We have to scale up our digital outreach — and fast. […]
I spent a long day weighing the risk. And this morning, I said yes.
* March 9, 2026…
I made the toughest decision of this entire campaign this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it from me.
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital and TV outreach — fast. […]
So I spent a day thinking over whether we should take the risk and make the investment. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* April 22, 2026…
I took a big risk this morning, and as a member of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear why:
Yesterday, my campaign team came to me with an urgent request. We needed to expand our digital outreach across the state. […]
So I spent a day thinking over whether we should take the risk and make the investment. And this morning, I gave them the green light.
* May 23, 2026…
I made a difficult decision recently, and as a core part of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it directly from me.
My Republican opponent has been pummeling me with attacks and smears. He’s calling me extreme. Inexperienced. Claiming I’ll protect criminals. Saying I’ll raise costs on working families.
None of it is true. I know that. He knows that. And I believe you do too. But he’s using his personal wealth to fund and run with these attacks.
So my campaign team decided we needed to respond. We decided to scale up our digital outreach to combat these attacks and make sure Illinoisans know who I am and what we’re fighting for. But there was a problem: the funding wasn’t in our budget.
I spent a long day weighing the risk and ended up giving the green light.
* May 26, 2026…
I made a difficult decision recently, and as a core part of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it directly from me.
My Republican opponent has been pummeling me with attacks and smears. He’s calling me extreme. Inexperienced. Claiming I’ll protect criminals. Saying I’ll raise costs on working families.
None of it is true. I know that. He knows that. And I believe you do too. But he’s using his personal wealth to fund and run with these attacks.
So my campaign team decided we needed to respond. We decided to scale up our digital outreach to combat these attacks and make sure Illinoisans know who I am and what we’re fighting for. But there was a problem: the funding wasn’t in our budget.
I spent a long day weighing the risk and ended up giving the green light.
* June 13, 2026…
I made a difficult decision recently, and as a core part of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it directly from me. […]
I spent a long day weighing the risk and ended up giving the green light.
* July 23, 2026…
I made a difficult decision recently, and as a core part of our grassroots team, you deserve to hear it directly from me. […]
I spent a long day weighing the risk and ended up giving the green light.
State Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) released the following statement regarding workplace protections in response to the Chicago Tribune article about former Rep. Harry Benton and the lack of accountability in the district offices of representatives in the IL House.
“The Illinois House has begun another review of policies in response to the allegations involving Representative Harry Benton. I am concerned with this pattern that is affecting women, such as the individuals impacted by the alleged behavior. In the past, we have seen similar situations which resulted in similar reviews of policies. This is nothing new nor do I believe any adjustment in policies or the law will bring about the meaningful change that is needed. Every employee deserves to work in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, or fear of retaliation.
The question before us is not how we respond after workplace harassment occurs. The question is why do legislative and district office employees continue to lack the workplace protections we believe all workers in the state of Illinois deserve.
Legislative staff are at-will employees. When someone’s livelihood depends on those in positions of power, reporting misconduct can feel like risking a career. No employee should ever have to choose between personal safety and a paycheck. This dynamic again unfolding now is far too common.
I have always supported the right of our staff to organize and have introduced legislation in the past to allow legislative staff to organize and collectively bargain, including House Bills 4587 and 646 in the 101st and 102nd General Assemblies and HB 4148 in the 103rd General Assembly. I believe they deserve the same workplace protections as other Illinois workers. Unfortunately, the efforts to unionize ultimately did not become law and we are again seeing why this vital legislation needs to be passed and lift the anti-union law that is preventing it.
During a recent discussion with the Speaker and members of the Illinois Legislative Women’s Caucus, one point became clear: we cannot wait until someone has been harmed before addressing the conditions that allow misconduct to persist and no amount of legislative action will prevent future occurrences except allowing workers the right to join a Union.
Collective bargaining is about more than wages and benefits. It creates independent grievance procedures, clear workplace standards, due process, and a protected pathway for employees to report misconduct without fear of retaliation.
Policies alone cannot change workplace culture. Lasting change requires enforceable protections. If we are serious about preventing workplace harassment, we must give legislative and district office staff the right to organize and collectively bargain. They deserve the same dignity, protections, and voice that we expect for workers throughout Illinois.”
* The Question: In the wake of recent developments, do you think legislative staff should be given the right to collectively bargain? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
Illinois is set to implement a groundbreaking 0.2% transactional tax on cryptocurrency transfers, effective January 1, 2027, under its new Digital Asset Tax Act (SB3019). Unlike traditional capital gains taxes, this levy applies every time crypto is moved, irrespective of profit, even between a user’s own accounts or to a self-custodial wallet. Centralized exchanges serving Illinois customers will be responsible for collecting this tax, which could lead to double taxation on routine movements. Experts advise Illinois residents to minimize unnecessary transfers and maintain meticulous records before the law takes effect, as it establishes a unique precedent in crypto regulation.
Most crypto tax laws target what you earn. Illinois is targeting something different: the simple act of moving your own crypto from one place to another. Under Illinois SB3019, which adds a new “Digital Asset Tax Act” to state law, Illinois residents could owe a 0.2% tax every time they transfer crypto, regardless of whether they made a single dollar in profit. This is not a capital gains tax. It is a transactional tax.
[T]he Chamber of Digital Commerce, an organization that says it represents more than 250 members of the global digital asset industry, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Sangamon County Circuit Court seeking to block implementation of the new tax. The group argues the tax violates due process rights protected under the state and federal constitutions, along with state and federal provisions protecting interstate commerce and uniform taxation.
The Washington-based organization alleges in its 32-page complaint that the Illinois law imposes a tax on “economically identical property solely because ownership is recorded and transferred using blockchain technology,” the globally dispersed digital ledger.
The chamber argues that cryptocurrency and other digital assets differ from cash, stocks, bonds and other financial instruments only in the way they are exchanged, recorded and stored. Rather than taxing “a new kind of property,” the lawsuit contends, Illinois is taxing “an old kind of property recorded in a new way.” […]
In seeking to overturn the law, the chamber argues that it is riddled with vague definitions and that the Department of Revenue had yet to provide any regulations or guidance on issues such as “when blockchain operations constitute one or multiple taxable occurrences, or prescribing how customer location is to be determined.” For example, the lawsuit alleges, a single customer could be taxed multiple times for transferring the same asset among different digital wallets without the asset ever changing ownership.
* ICYMI: Power grid serving northern Illinois faces breakup risk as feds weigh fate. Bloomberg…
- The White House has grown increasingly concerned that PJM Interconnection LLC, which serves 67 million people from Virginia to Illinois, can’t ensure adequate electricity supplies at reasonable prices amid the boom in demand from new data centers.
- Last week, a PJM auction failed to secure enough future supply commitments to guarantee reliable electric service in the coming years — the third such failure in a row.
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a one-day conference to consider the best path forward. Senior White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all options should be on the table, including breaking up PJM, letting some states withdraw from it, or restructuring the organization and its governance.
* At 9 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will sign a law to designate Emmett Till Day in Illinois. Click here to watch.
*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* CBS Chicago | Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission to decide whether to release probe of former Rep. Harry Benton: The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission on Thursday will decide whether to release a report that led to the resignation of state Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) over reported allegations of sexual harassment. It would be the first time authorities reveal details of the allegations that led to legislative leaders stripping Benton of his committee assignments and calling on him to step down.
* Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker urges Illinois House Speaker Welch to be transparent on Harry Benton harassment allegations: The governor declined to say whether he still supported Welch as House speaker in light of a Tribune investigation that raised questions about how the Hillside Democrat’s office handled the 2023 allegations by a young female staffer. Those claims surfaced after at least one other person came forward this year with more recent harassment allegations against Benton, a Democrat from Plainfield, sparking discipline from Welch and an investigation by the legislative inspector general.
* Shaw Local | Write off hospital bills? Lawmakers are working on it: Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, told a midday assembly Wednesday in La Salle that she has sponsored legislation that would let taxpayers deduct their health expenses as a way of recovering some of the costs of health care. “Many people are opting not to even carry insurance because the cost is so high,” Rezin said. Rezin’s counterpart was successful in pushing through legislation (effective Jan. 1, 2027) that prevents hospitals and subsidiaries from placing liens on the primary residences of patients who cannot pay their medical bills.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Gateway Journalism Review | AP’s Springfield closure reflects national decline in statehouse journalism: AP changed their news strategy throughout the years from generalizing their focus as the demand for statehouse reporting has decreased. According to a YEAR report by the Pew Research Center, the number of full-time statehouse reporters has decreased by 34% in the United States. They also found that “despite the decline, newspapers continue to employ more full-time statehouse reporters than any other kind of news organization.”
* Crain’s | Pritzker praises Trump’s quantum funding while blasting research cuts: Gov. JB Pritzker riffed on the importance — and limits — of federal funding in the broader economy during an on-stage conversation yesterday at the Global Quantum Forum in Chicago. More than $150 million in federal funding was announced during the forum events this week that will benefit the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park being built on the Far South Side, one of Pritzker’s key economic-development efforts during his two terms as governor.
* Obituary | Thomas Michael Patrick Nolan: As president of Thomas M. Nolan and Associates and later The Nolan Group, Tom became a preeminent specialist in government relations for over 40 years, specializing in human services and health care. His work significantly improved the lives of untold thousands of needy Illinois residents. He was remarkably erudite, an expert in government and political machinations and a consummate storyteller. His charm and personality put smiles on all who encountered him. He fought a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis for the last 13 years and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Referendum battle highlights tension between Mayor Johnson, City Council: The same bloc of conservative Democrats that rejected Johnson’s corporate head tax in favor of an alternative budget rammed through their own carefully crafted ballot questions. But not before a contentious back-and-forth between the warring factions that saw the mayor appear to lose his cool. It happened during debate about a February ballot question that seeks to ask Chicago voters whether the City Council should have its own legal counsel.
* Crain’s | Aldermen move to force Johnson’s hand on $130M pension payment: The group of aldermen that approved the 2026 budget over Johnson’s objection introduced an ordinance today requiring the second half of a $260 million advance pension payment to be made by Oct. 31. “It is imperative that we as City Council hold the administration’s feet to the fire in terms of making the full advance pension payment,” said Ald. Bill Conway, 34th.
* Sun-Times | The Art Institute of Chicago faces backlash amid decision to outsource custodial staff: The cultural institution announced it will no longer employ 23 custodial workers on June 29, according to the union, Art Institute of Chicago Workers United. The employees’ last day is Aug. 14, but a museum spokesperson said they will have the opportunity to re-apply for their positions with the new company, GDI Integrated Facility Services, based in Canada.
* Sun-Times | Drew Thorpe hopes to rejoin White Sox for playoff push after long road back to mound: The right-hander threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his biggest step yet back to the Sox since being sidelined since July 31, 2024, with a slew of elbow issues, Tommy John surgery and an appendectomy to boot. “It has been what feels like forever,” Thorpe said. “It was good to touch the mound again in somewhat of a game.”
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Patch | Darien To Use Phone Location Data To Identify Speeding Problems: Darien officials agreed Tuesday to spend about $25,000 for a year’s subscription to a program that they said would track where speeding problems occur. But a resident advocating for privacy rights argued against such a program, calling it an “AI-driven surveillance mechanism.” Recently, the city has been using Florida-based Urban SDK’s system on a trial basis in a small area of town. […] City Administrator Bryon Vana added that Urban SDK already has the data, regardless of any agreement Darien enters.
* Pioneer Press | Oak Park officials move toward restricting police stops for minor equipment infractions: fficials in Oak Park are eying a policy that would restrict police traffic stops related to vehicle equipment violations and other non-safety related reasons such as broken tail lights, missing or expired registrations, and license plate tags that are not completely visible. The Oak Park Village Board on July 21 directed staff members to work with the village’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission and Pivot Consulting Group to draft a policy within 60 days that would limit what it called pretext traffic stops, which often are used by officers as an way to investigate for more serious crimes.
* Daily Herald | Kitchen closed: Arlington Heights changing longstanding requirement for liquor service: In a town that’s long required food to be served alongside drinks at local establishments, Arlington Heights is changing municipal code to allow liquor license holders to end food service at 8 p.m. nightly. Mayor Jim Tinaglia, who also serves as the local liquor commissioner, said most downtown restaurants already flout the rules, which require kitchens to be staffed and remain open until 11 p.m., after which a limited late-night menu must be available until closing.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora-area residents voice their opinions on proposed tollway rate hikes: Over 100 people, including area residents, labor union members and politicians, packed into the Prisco Community Center in Aurora Wednesday to discuss the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s first proposed passenger toll hike since 2012. Some area residents, who said they take the tollway to work, medical care and other locations, worried they would not be able to afford increased tolls while other costs such as gas continue to rise.
*** Downstate ***
* Illinois Times | “Justice was denied”: The unusual criminal case of Earl Moore’s death continues to impact the community: Through her sobs, the mother of Earl Moore Jr. told a Sangamon County judge how the death of her 35-year-old son at the hands of two ambulance company workers in 2022 has affected their immediate and extended family. “The ripple effect of this loss will be reflected for generations,” Rose Washington told Circuit Court Judge Robin Schmidt at the June 23 sentencing hearing for Springfield resident and former emergency medical technician Peter Cadigan, 53. “No matter what sentence is imposed today, he is still dead. … He deserved dignity. He deserved humanity.” The sentence Schmidt handed down at the end of the hearing – two years’ probation and no prison time, one of the lightest sentences Cadigan could have received after his guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter – angered and disgusted a family that feels like it’s in a “horror movie,” according to community activist Teresa Haley.
* WGLT | One Bloomington yard sign speaks on the other side of resident data center debate: Lee figured the sign could at least prove to anyone passing by it that the vocal opposition to data centers is not necessarily unanimous. He also hoped speaking up about the sign could lay off some of the heat of the debate and clear up online rumors. “Everyone’s assuming that the mayor or big data are paying me directly, which would be great. I’d love a little help with the mortgage, but no,” he said.
* WGLT | Donors gave Illinois State University a record $52 million last budget year: ISU’s endowment fund topped $270 million last fiscal year, an increase of roughly $75 million since FY 2021. The current endowment size was above the median of $254 million for 657 higher ed institutions that reported results in the annual National Association of College and University Business Officers [NACUBO] Common Fund study of endowments.
* WCIA | Four new EV chargers open in Casey, more coming to Central IL: Officials from the Illinois Department of Transportation joined local leaders and industry partners in unveiling the chargers at the Mach 1 gas station at Illinois Route 49 and Interstate 70. They are the first chargers in the state to be built through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.
*** National ***
* Worse On Purpose | Your Cookware Got Worse On Purpose: Once you understand the brand licensing structure, you see it everywhere, and the pattern is always the same: one company owns the name, a different company makes the product, and the factory that earned the name is liquidated. Chicago Cutlery began as a knife shop in Chicago and later made its knives in Wauconda, Illinois. Centre Lane owns the name today, and every knife under it is made in China. Sabatier, the storied French knife name, was never one company to begin with, and today more than 30 unrelated firms have rights to it. The Sabatier on American shelves is rented by Lifetime Brands and made in China. Revere Ware rode along in the same Corning spinoff as Pyrex, lost its Illinois plant in 1999, and was discontinued so quietly that the enthusiasts who sell replacement parts had to break the news.
* NYT | Three airports plan to ditch TSA amid push for private security: In the wake of recent government shutdowns, which left TSA agents unpaid for months and led to long lines, airport officials in Tampa and Des Moines said they hoped using the program would reduce the risk of disruptions while allowing airports to access new screening checkpoint technology that they say would otherwise take years to obtain through the traditional federal process.
