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Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Talk with you Monday…

Be careful making wishes in the dark
Can’t be sure when they’ve hit their mark

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Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

A legislative inspector general’s investigatory report released Friday found disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton violated state law by engaging in sexual harassment, and also revealed the existence of a third female victim, a staffer for another state legislator who said Benton’s “creepy” behavior in a Springfield bar last year made her feel uncomfortable. […]

The former Benton staffer sent [House Speaker Chris Welch’s] office a lengthy list of allegations, many of a sexual nature, against Benton in April 2023, followed by an additional list weeks later, the Tribune has reported. But Welch’s office did not address Benton until that July. By then, the staffer had quit Benton’s office, saying she feared for her mental health.

“The Chief of Staff and the Ethics Officer for the Speaker’s Office decided to confront Benton with these allegations after the district employee resigned in June 2023 to avoid retaliation by Benton if he found out who filed the complaint,” McCuskey wrote.

That statement is at odds with what Welch has said at various Democratic caucus meetings as he has tried to contain criticism over his handling of the Benton situation. In those meetings, Welch has maintained that it was the former Benton staffer who asked his office not to pursue questioning Benton until she had quit. The staffer told the Tribune she did not recall telling Welch’s office that.

The former Benton staffer rejected Welch’s office’s suggestions that she file a complaint with the legislative inspector general’s office at the time because she did not want to become a pariah and jeopardize a future job in politics and government, she told the Tribune. She instead thought the matter could be handled internally. […]

In a statement, Welch maintained the report “reaffirms confidence that our office acted responsibly–following legal guidance, respecting the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as additional information established a pattern of misconduct.”

But in the report, McCuskey made no judgment on the speaker’s office’s actions. Additionally, the report makes no mention of whether Welch ever spoke to Benton following the former staffer’s allegations.

* Gov. JB Pritzker signed a heap of bills today. Click here for the full list and click here for our live coverage of press releases.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Ammons investigating committee member says work to be timely: As that federal case continues in the courts, state Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterch, said the House Special Investigating Committee will look into the charges. “It’s very important because we have a culture of corruption that’s been going on for many, many years here in Illinois,” Niemerg told The States by The Center Square. Niemerg said among the committee’s first actions will be to approve a letter asking the U.S. Attorney’s Office to outline more about their investigation that produced the charges.

* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs law regulating how social media platforms interact with children: House Bill 5511, known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, imposes a series of requirements on social media companies and how they are to interact with users under 18 years old. The law, which will take effect in 2028, was one of Pritzker’s top priorities during the spring legislative session and received unanimous support in both chambers. “Big social media companies have intentionally designed their platforms to keep kids online for as long as possible,” Pritzker said before signing the bill at an event in Chicago. “Their algorithms learn what captures a child’s attention, which most often seems to be anger and euphoria, and then the algorithm keeps feeding them more of it. Why? The almighty dollar. They feed our kids an unrealistic picture of life and sell them products and agendas to achieve it.”

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | As School Year Approaches, South Side Students ‘Sick Of Waiting’ For Peace Room Partnerships: Hyde Park Academy administrators abruptly ended partnerships with the community groups in May, as the partnerships no longer aligned “with the specific needs of the school community,” Chicago Public Schools officials said at the time. Since then, students and organizers pushing to restore the partnerships say the room has existed in name only, without the programs that established it as a needed “safe space” at Hyde Park Academy. That safe space was especially needed last school year, when three classmates were killed in crashes and a shooting, they said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Cook County Health projects $100M spike in charity care as Medicaid rolls shrink: CCH is projecting its uncompensated payer mix will rise by 30% in 2027. Charity care costs are projected to increase by $100 million, reaching an estimated $485 million. To maintain access to care, the $4.7 billion preliminary budget includes a $40 million increase in support from Cook County coffers, bringing the total county budget support up to $208 million.

* Daily Southtown | Orland Township among defendants in First Amendment lawsuit brought by Supervisor Paul O’Grady: The lawsuit names former Orland Township Clerk Cindy Murray, the township, state. Sen. Michael Hastings, the village of Orland Hills, Orland Hills Mayor Kyle Hastings, Orland Hills Village Board member Kyle Hastings II, unnamed Orland Hills police officers and “as-yet unnamed co-conspirators,” as defendants, according to the complaint. O’Grady filed the lawsuit in December 2025 with help of three people who ran alongside him on the Orland Township Together slate during the April 1, 2025 township election: Reem Odeh and former board members John Lynch and Patrick Feldner. […] Defendants in the lawsuit, including Orland Township, filed three separate motions to dismiss the case based on the plaintiffs failing to state a claim. U.S. District Court Judge Andrea R. Wood is considering those motions, with the next hearing in the case scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 22 via phone.

* Crain’s | Alcohol distributor Republic National cutting nearly 300 jobs in Illinois: The Texas-based company, which distributed brands such as Gallo wines and Jose Cuervo tequila, told the state of Illinois it is cutting 280 jobs at facilities in Niles and Romeoville, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice Filing. Republic National filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the weekend. Its Illinois joint venture — like those in several other states — was not part of the bankruptcy filing. But the company said in its WARN filing: “The company has been exploring various strategic alternatives that would secure capital to avoid liquidation of its Illinois facilities. Unfortunately, there currently is no financing available to continue operations of the facilities.”

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights uncorks drinks-to-go downtown social district: Nine businesses — Beer on the Wall, Big Shot Piano Lounge, Cortland’s Garage, Hey Nonny, Mago Grill & Cantina, Metropolis Ballroom, Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant, Salsa 17 and Scratchboard Kitchen — are selling to-go drinks from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 26. Anyone 21 and older who shows an ID and wears a wristband can purchase one drink at a time from a participating business. Beer and cocktails are poured in 16-ounce plastic cups with a village-designed label identifying the establishment and date of sale.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | Madison County Board Chairman Slusser defends Fauci hanging post as ‘rhetorical hyperbole’: Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said Friday that a comment he made on Facebook calling for the “public hanging” of Dr. Anthony Fauci was “rhetorical hyperbole.” Slusser’s comments were posted in the replies to a post that appears to have since been deleted. Slusser, from his personal account, made the comment around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. “He should receive a public hanging,” Slusser wrote of Fauci.

* Press release | Rep. Katie Stuart Condemns Hateful Comment by Madison County Board Chairman, Demands Retraction and Apology: “This rhetoric is harmful and disgusting. Political violence is always wrong, and we should all be able to denounce political violence no matter our party affiliation. The recent rise in political violence has taken lives on both sides of the aisle; we should work to end this dangerous cycle, not fuel the fire. From county board members to the President, elected officials should not resort to threats of violence just because they disagree with or dislike someone. I am calling for Chairman Slusser to retract this comment and publicly apologize for his appalling choice of words as a public official. No matter our political party, we can all agree that violence and hatred of this kind is always uncalled for, unacceptable, and unbecoming of a public official.”

* WCIA | Massey family reacts to Prisoner Review Board’s denial of Sean Grayson’s release from prison: Shortly after, the Massey family began speaking in opposition to Grayson’s release. The four were administered under oath before Sontae Massey began speaking first. “I’m not sure that I can write, speak or articulate anything that can encompass the devastation that Sean Grayson has created for our family,” Sontae said. “We should all be in agreement upon one simple concept: no one is above the law. It is noteworthy that I believe he received a compassionate sentence from the jury because of his condition.”

* Press release | SIU Carbondale researchers name new microbe after the university: Scott Hamilton-Brehm, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, discovered a novel microbe and named it Caldatribacterium inferamans strain SIUC-1. This translates to “the mysterious hot-living bacterium that loves the underworld.” And it has the potential to unlock mysteries about life beyond Earth. Hamilton-Brehm was working in Nevada’s Desert Research Institute on a NASA-funded project called Life Underground when he discovered the microbe. He plunged a fishing line nearly 2,500 feet into the Earth’s harsh environment via a borehole, collecting water samples where microbes could colonize a sponge.

*** National ***

* CNN | New York sues prediction market Kalshi alleging it’s an illegal gambling operation: Attorney General Letitia James alleges Kalshi failed to obtain a state gambling license and pay related taxes. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York State court early Friday, is seeking an order enjoining Kalshi’s operations, plus fines, restitution and the forfeiture of profits. “New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple.”

* NYT | Plug-In Solar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in U.S. Backyards: Utah became the first state to legalize plug-in solar systems last year. Nine others, including New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado, have joined it, and lawmakers in California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and several other states are considering doing so. Colorado enacted one of the broadest plug-in solar laws this year. The sponsor of the bill, State Representative Lesley Smith, a Democrat, said she had first seen the technology during a trip to Germany, which has pioneered its use. When she discussed plug-in solar systems at a town hall, she said, “everyone started clapping.” (From Isabel: A bill to bring plug-in solar to Illinois stalled in the Senate. Click here for more on the bill if you’re interested.)

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Rep. Kelly Cassidy: Speaker Welch has issued a ’series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings’

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Kelly Cassidy…

The Legislative Inspector General’s report tells a disturbing story of a persistent culture of sexual harassment in Springfield–and of the utter failure of our system of accountability. Based on this report, it is even more clear that Rep. Benton’s resignation was just–but he should have been forced to leave our workplace far earlier, before he was able to do so much additional harm to more women.

Then, there is the matter of process. The Speaker’s staff were made aware of egregious sexual harassment at the hands of former Rep. Benton. The victim understandably declined to follow the guidance to take her case to the Legislative Inspector General. The process can be intimidating, as I know firsthand. But the Speaker’s explanation that his office did nothing more to pursue accountability for or reduce potential further harm from Rep. Benton because the victim did not want to go to the LIG is insufficient. There were other steps available to the Speaker to protect other staff and ensure accountability for Rep. Benton that we have seen employed in cases of other members over the years. We know that, because the Speaker has now, three years later, pursued those steps, and has done so apparently without the victim’s express permission.

From the LIG report, here is what is clear:

● The Speaker’s Office filed a complaint in March 2026 regarding Rep. Benton’s behavior after making initial contact with the LIG’s office in February.
● That complaint did, apparently, include the former Benton staffer’s experience, despite her reported insistence that her case not be brought before the LIG. We can debate whether or not her wishes should have been respected–but the argument the Speaker has been making, which is that he took no action for nearly three years out of respect for her wishes, does not hold up to scrutiny.
● The LIG filing from Speaker Welch’s Office also included two other complaints about Rep. Benton’s behavior toward women. It is unclear whether those two women agreed to have their cases included in the LIG complaint, or whether the Speaker’s team even asked them what they wanted. The Speaker should clarify this, and what his office’s standard procedure for such complaints will be going forward.
● Had the Speaker intervened meaningfully in 2023, he may have been able to prevent the victimization of the other two women, who were harassed in May 2025 and January 2026, respectively. Instead, $1.4 million was spent to reelect Benton to his seat in 2024.

Just as important is the question of what was not addressed in the report, which is the matter of Speaker Welch’s inappropriate conduct toward the former staffer of Rep. Benton.

The woman came to the Speaker for advice, and he told her to move their communication to an encrypted app, where he asked her to meet him at a bar. Even if the Speaker did not intend to send flirtatious signals, or to generate pressure on a young woman he had already indicated he found attractive, the effect of his behavior was to make her uncomfortable. I encourage the Speaker to acknowledge that publicly and apologize to the woman for his conduct. If we are going to be able to move forward in earnest, that is a necessary step. This young woman, like so many before her, chose to leave our workplace entirely. We should all view that as a loss not just for her–but for all of us who want what’s best for our state.

The Speaker must demonstrate a sincere desire to repair the harm he has done, and to correct the broken system in which we are all operating. To date, that has not been the spirit of his response. Instead, we have heard a series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings. That has been disappointing. Efforts to make changes to the laws and procedures around inappropriate behavior in the Capitol must center the experiences of victims. Unless we examine these policies through the eyes and experiences of the people we’re intending to protect, we will continue to fall short.

Finally, I am alarmed by the rebuttal to this report filed by the lobbyist who was sexually harassed by Rep. Benton in January 2026. She lays out numerous errors written into the account of her experience by LIG McCuskey. The LEC has made clear that the summary report is the result of interviews with at least two dozen individuals, and there may be variations in their recollections. But we can not disregard her concerns and should begin from a place of believing a victim’s account.

Ensuring that victims feel safe coming forward, whether to their Ethics Officer or the LIG, requires us to create mechanisms that protect their stories, their confidentiality, and their belief that they have access to recourse in the face of abusive behavior in the workplace.

26 Comments

LIG initially recommended no expulsion proceeding against Benton - One complainant claimed ‘inaccuracies’ in the report

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Legislative Inspector General’s conclusion…

I do not recommend that disciplinary proceedings be taken against Rep. Benton pursuant to Article XII of (House Rule 91) of the ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY because the proceeding in the House would be lengthy and require a Special Session.

* One of the complainants had some objections…

July 29, 2026 RESPONSE TO REPORT

There are inaccuracies in the Legislative Inspector General’s report that must be addressed. It is likely that these errors stem from the fact that LIG McCuskey did not record our one-on-one interview or take contemporaneous notes.

The inaccuracies in the LIG report on my experience are as follows:

1. I did not report the incident to the Speaker’s office. The incident was reported by someone else without my knowledge.

2. Harry Benton never said to me, “You want to get out of here and have some fun?,” as the LIG report states. I never claimed that Benton made this statement to me. What Benton did say to me was the following: “I look like a five, but I f*ck like a ten,” “I am not hitting on you, unless you are interested,” and “Let’s just say you are too hot to be a lobbyist.” I shared this directly with the LIG throughout the interview and in multiple subsequent phone conversations.

3. I did not “immediately” turn to the other male state representative, as the LIG report states. Rather, I called him the next day to share what had happened the night before. I did so in the hopes that the state representative would address the problem directly with Benton to attempt to prevent him from addressing women in this manner in the future.

4. The other state representative did not respond: “What do you want me to do about it?” as depicted in the LIG report. I never claimed that and do not know why this is stated in this report. Rather, the state representative listened to my story, shared my concern and indicated to me that what Benton said to me was not an isolated incident.

5. In his supplemental response letter to Speaker Welch dated July 24, 2026, LIG McCuskey said that another victim and I both stated that we “had no objections or redactions and thanked [McCuskey] for preserving” our confidentiality. In fact, I raised the inaccuracy noted in item (3) above to LIG McCuskey in that conversation, and he responded to me that it “doesn’t matter.” It is also important to note that he did not read me the report, but only gave me a high-level summary in advance.

6. Despite the LIG’s statement that he was unable to substantiate any claims that Benton had shown people photos of women on his phone, I did inform the LIG that Benton showed me photos on his phone of women that he claimed to be sleeping with. I do not know why the LIG disregarded this information, and thereby concluded that the allegation is unfounded.

While the errors in the report are concerning, the underlying facts remain the same. Harry Benton did make inappropriate sexual comments to me despite my protestations, and his resignation was appropriate.

I request that the Legislative Ethics Commission correct these inaccuracies and ensure that the record accurately reflects the information I provided during the investigation.

Respectfully,

Lobbyist as referenced in Item 2 on page 6

The LIG forcefully denied any inaccuracies.

* Back to the report…

The Only Claims from the Complaint Which Are Founded

1. A district director of a [redacted] district office filed a complaint with her [redacted] that Rep. Harry Benton had sexually harassed her in a bar in Springfield following the [redacted] Latino Unity Day Festivities. While the district director was at the [redacted] Rep. Benton approached her and leaned over her and put his hand on her back. She said that made her feel very uncomfortable. He began a conversation by lamenting that [redacted] County elected Officials disliked him. He continued to lean over her while touching her back. She then backed away from him because he made her feel uneasy; She said he was creepy. An individual came to intervene and stood between the district director and Benton. When interviewed Rep. Benton, he denied that any of this ever occured. I found the district director to be credible; Both leaning over someone and leaning in too close are considered sexual harassment when it is unwelcomed conduct. This late-night bar encounter with Rep. Benton touching her back caused the district director to feel Benton was acting creepy and caused her to pull away and require the assistance of an individual to step in between her and Benton. This, example of unwanted behavior is clearly taught in sexual harrassment training and was ignored by Rep. Benton. I find this claim of sexual harassment to be founded.

2. I will now address the final allegation in the March 4, 2026 complaint against Rep. Harry Benton. A registered female lobbyist reported this incident to the Speaker’s Office and it has been referred to me for investigation as the LIG. I interviewed the lobbyist, Representative Harry Benton and a male state representative. All three were present and talking together in a bar in early January or February of this year. The lobbyist when interviewed, told me that Representative Benton said to her “You know, I might be a 5, but I f*ck like a 10. You want to get out of here and have some fun?” The lobbyist said that comment made her shocked and disgusted. She said she immediately turned to the male state representative nearby and said to him “What are you going to do about your boy?” The state representative responded, “What do you want me to do about it? He is always like this.” When I interviewed the male state representative, he said he was a friend of Rep. Benton and a friend of the lobbyist and was present at the bar. He confirmed what the lobbyist said to him and what he replied to her. He told me that she appeared very angry because of whatever Harry said to her. He told me he could not confirm what Benton said word for word because he wasn’t that close to their conversation. When I confronted Rep. Benton during our interview on May 29, 2026, he denied the entire incident and said it didn’t happen. Moreover, he threw in this statement, “I don’t hit on lobbyists.” My veteran investigator who was present with me during the interview said, “‘I believe he lied.” I responded that I know he lied as well because I have interviewed all three individuals in person and I believe the lobbyist and the bystander are truthful. Accordingly, this allegation in the complaint is founded.

* Regarding the 2023 incidents…

On April 14, 2023, a district office employee of Rep. Benton sent a lengthy email to Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s Chief of Staff detailing acts of sexual harassment by Harry Benton. The email started in part as follows; “I do want this documented as several women work for him if something were to happen in the future.” The employee further said “I am leaning towards just getting this on the record and not doing much more with it.” The email would thereafter detail many odd statements made to the employee as well as many statements of direct sexual harassment.

During the first week of employment, Rep. Benton said to her ‘’The reason I ran for office was to get away from my wife.” During her three-hour job interview Rep. Benton “asked me to be vulnerable.” In early February 2023, Benton said to the employee the following dress attire comment “make sure you don’t forget to wear something underneath that.” On February 9, 2023, she documented this conversation “asked to stay at my friend’s condo with me in the city, put me in an extremely awkward situation having to say no to him.” Also in February, 2023, she said Benton “sent me a picture of an OnlyFans model on accident? He asked me to send it back.” Benton than said, “Makes me feel better now I have this on you.” My investigation revealed that OnlyFans is a well-known social media platform for pornographic content. When the employee requested a webcam for district office zoom meetings, Benton responded “why, so you can double dip in the office?” His comment refers to using a webcam for pornographic content which is what women on OnlyFans offer to subscribers. Undeterred, in early March, Rep. Benton told the employee, “See, I’m doing a good service, I am keeping you off the pole with this job.” This comment references the pole dancers at a strip club. At a dinner with a lobbyist during this same time frame, Benton said about this employee, “She will do, she was the cheapest.” In Springfield, in front of staff, employee stated a conversation in March; “I said my boyfriend was taking me to the gun range. He responded (referring to Rep. Benton) ‘Wow, you’re going to let him take you instead of me?’”

It doesn’t take but a cursory reading of the April 14, 2023 E-mail documentation from the complaining district office employee to see a very early pattern and practice of sexual harassment by Rep. Harry Benton. The Chief of Staff and the Ethics Officer for the Speaker’s Office decided to confront Benton with these allegations after the district employee resigned in June 2023 to avoid retaliation by Benton ifhe found out who filed the complaint.

The Zoom meeting to discuss the former district office employee’s complaint was conducted on July 20, 2023 or on a date close to that date. On July 19, 2023 the employee emailed the Chief of Staff indicating that Rep. Benton had invited the employee to join the Zoom meeting. It is very interesting that Benton did this even though he had always taken the position that the complaint did not come from his office staff and was only based on rumor. The employee did not participate in the Zoom meeting and wrote in the July 19th email ‘’I want to note that! will not pursue any further actions beyond this. The reason l reported this was for the protection of the other women in the office.'’

On July 20, 2023 the Chief of Staff emailed the complaining employee the following; “I would still encourage you to consider filing a report With the LIG; n:ote thatthe.statute of limitation is 1 year after the most recent alleged violation or of a series of alleged violation. So, while there is SOL (Statute of Limitations), there is still time if you do change your mind after further distance after leaving the Office. Know that we reiterated the severity of retaliation and/or intimidation and will continue to do so. As promised to you, your name or identifying situation will never be used (unless you tell me otherwise). As always; reach out any time.'’ […]

Even though the one year statute of limitations has passed on this portion of the March 4, 2026 complaint, I include it as a matter of pattern and practice of sexual harassment occurring during the entirety of Harry Benton’s career as a member of the General Assembly. This statement is made in this summary report because as L1G, it is my opinion and the opinion of my veteran investigator that Harry Benton was not credible during the entirety of our interview with him at his lawyer’s office in Springfield on May 29, 2026.

* From a supplemental LIG letter to the House Speaker…

To my surprise this week, Harry Benton’s tirst employee who he had sexually harassed called me. It was our first conversation. She wantedto know if I had obtained the emails she had sent to from April through July 2023. I told her I believed I had all of the emails and I explained how I had referenced them in my report. I told her I related only the facts from her emails in my report, as well as emails to her. Also, I told her that I used her account of Benton’s sexual harassment to show his pattern and practice of sexual misconduct over the years. Finally, I told her that I could not act on his misconduct because of the statute of limitations which she said she understood. I did not discuss with her anything printed in the press because it cannot be part of my report which was completed on June 30, 2026. She seemed satisfied with how I prepared the report and thanked me for preserving her confidentiality.and requested no redactions of the part of the report which mentions her.

11 Comments

Speaker Welch statement (Updated x2 with Pritzker statement)

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch released the following statement:

“I thank the Legislative Ethics Commission for releasing this report and the Legislative Inspector General for conducting a thorough, independent investigation. The report reaffirms confidence that our office acted responsibly—following legal guidance, respecting the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as additional information established a pattern of misconduct.

“We know that even when established procedures are followed, we have a responsibility to ask whether those procedures are strong enough, clear enough, and responsive enough to protect people—especially women who may fear that speaking out could jeopardize their careers, relationships, or standing within this institution. This report must represent more than an accounting of what happened. It must serve as a catalyst for meaningful, structural change. If there are gaps in our policies, our laws, or our workplace practices, then it is our duty to close them. The work has already begun. My office will work with all members of the House to explore creating a centralized human resources office to assist all members as employers and support their district office employees, and we will bring in an outside expert to review this case and make additional recommendations. We look forward to bringing together legislators, advocates, workplace experts, and other stakeholders to identify stronger protections, streamline reporting processes, improve support for those who come forward, and ensure greater clarity and accountability at every level. Women are leaders championing issues that move us all forward, and when women thrive in the workplace, we all thrive.

“We will work together to strengthen our laws, improve our policies, modernize our practices, and continue building a General Assembly worthy of the trust placed in it by every employee, every legislator, and every Illinois resident we are privileged to serve.”

…Adding… From earlier this month…

Welch previously said McCuskey’s report will provide “a full and accurate account of the steps my office took to support those who came forward.

Um, I didn’t actually see much of that in the report.

…Adding… Gov. Pritzker’s office…

“Governor Pritzker believes the release of the Legislative Inspector General’s report on former Representative Benton’s actions is the first step toward transparency and accountability, but that it is clear the General Assembly has more work to do. No one should fear any form of harassment in the workplace, and everyone deserves access to resources and recourse if they are faced with inappropriate behavior. The House now has a responsibility to resolve any unanswered questions, strengthen its harassment prevention and reporting procedures, and hold itself to the high standard the people of Illinois expect and deserve.”

5 Comments

LIG report released

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ll add more in a bit, but click here and find the links under “LIG Case No. 26-005.”

LIG Founded Summary Report

Response from Speaker as UJA

LIG Statement to LEC

UJA Supplemental Response

LIG Supplemental Response to UJA

Complaint Statement 1

Complaint Statement 2

Statement from LIG

7 Comments

Legislative Ethics Commission still fine-tuning Benton report (Updated)

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Confirmed that this is being pushed back. Stay tuned…

I have word that the LEC's redactions and upload of the Benton report/subsequent related documents are taking longer than expected.

Times listed below are in the process of being pushed back. More to come… #twill https://t.co/3POwAhCElF

— Sean Reed (@SeanReedPress) July 31, 2026

…Adding… Click here for the Zoom link. Click here for the BlueRoomStream link.

Comment

Pritzker says he looks forward to seeing Welch’s CPS funding plan

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Gov. Pritzker was asked about House Speaker Chris Welch’s pledge to lead the charge on sending more state money to CPS during veto session…

The funding that we provide at the state level is a known quantity for schools all across the state of Illinois. And I would say, you know, I think it’s of course challenging to face a budget that you know where there’s revenue that’s expected that the Speaker is planning to have a plan for, but we don’t know exactly how. […]

The Speaker must have mentioned it for a reason, so he may have a plan, and I’m unaware that he’s done a roll call about that plan. […]

Again, as I understand it, I mean, I only heard what the Speaker said, and he seems to have a plan or is planning to put something together, and so I look forward to seeing that.

I want to be clear. I have advocated for and accomplished higher education funding throughout my term in office by almost $3 billion a year. We’ve increased education funding across the state of Illinois. I want to do more, and we’re not yet where we need to be. I want to do more, and at the same time, I’m a big believer in, and I think you’ve seen this: balanced budgets. You have to balance the budget, try to run a surplus, make sure you have priorities in order to fund the things that we really need for the people of the state of Illinois. I came into a hollowed-out state government, and we now have, we are running surpluses. We’ve every year balanced the budget, but I want more to go into education. Again, always looking for a way to do that.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* Meanwhile, Chicago Board of Education member Michilla Blaise put up a Facebook post celebrating the passage of a new CPS budget, which includes an assumption that $150 million in new money will come from the state. She was asked about this assumption in comments…

That’s a heckuva plan. /s

25 Comments

Sean Grayson denied early medical release from prison

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* First, some background from Capitol News Illinois…

The ex-Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in her kitchen is asking for medical release from a state prison — and maintaining that Massey “attacked” him.

Sean Grayson’s case will go before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Friday, less than six months into the 20-year prison sentence he received after being convicted of second-degree murder in October.

He filed for release under the Joe Coleman Act in May, citing symptoms of advanced colon cancer.

In his hand-written application, obtained by Capitol News Illinois via the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson did not show remorse in his description of the shooting, maintaining that Massey attacked him with a pot of boiling water. He also did not check a box stating his condition was likely to lead to his death in the next 18 months.

It’s standard process for the Illinois Department of Corrections to conduct a medical examination following the receipt of an application for release to determine eligibility. In this case, the medical professional, whose name was redacted, did fill in the box that said Grayson was likely to die within 18 months.

Click here to read Grayson’s application.

* WAND…

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board decided today Sean Grayson will not be released from prison. The decision was made by a three-member panel from the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

It was a 3-0 vote to deny the petition. Grayson can request early release again if he would like.

Before the review started, more than two dozen demonstrators stood outside the Prisoner Review Board building, asking that Grayson stay behind bars.

More than twenty members of the Massey family and supporters attended the hearing. This included Sonya Massey’s cousins, children, father, and uncle.

6 Comments

Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Thank you, Governor Pritzker and members of the General Assembly for taking an important step forward for Illinois students with a $26 million investment in free, healthy school meals, a $17 million increase and the largest expansion in over a decade.

Your leadership is turning policy into meaningful action, helping schools provide nutritious meals that support students’ health, learning, and success every day. At a time when families and educators are facing growing challenges, this investment demonstrates a strong commitment to the well-being of Illinois children.

This significant progress begins to fulfill the promise established in 2023 to expand access to healthy school meals and shows what is possible when leaders prioritize the health and success of students.

While this investment marks an important milestone, more work remains to fully fund school meals and ensure every child has reliable access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum together to make that vision is a reality for every Illinois student.

Learn more at: https://www.healthyschoolmealsil.com/

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Color me highly doubtful

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last night…

Nah

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) July 31, 2026

Finding three fifths super majorities in both chambers to spend money the state doesn’t have on a Chicago only bailout would require a magic wand the size of the Hancock Building. And those don’t exist

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) July 31, 2026

* News coverage roundup from Isabel…

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Seeking to reverse layoffs, Chicago school board approves budget, assuming more state money will come: Bucking warnings from Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King, the school board amended and narrowly passed a roughly $10 billion budget proposal Thursday that assumes the district will receive $150 million more in state funding than projected. Eleven board members voted to reverse hundreds of school-based staff layoffs included in King’s proposal, heeding the demands of the Chicago Teachers Union and the principals union.

* WBEZ | Chicago School Board approves budget that reverses layoffs, but counts on shaky state funds: Emila Zoko, the district’s acting chief budget officer, issued stark warnings in her presentation to the board about the consequences of approving a budget that includes more money from the state than has yet to be appropriated. She said the budget would not be seen as balanced, which is required under state law, and could result in a credit downgrade. That could, in turn, make it more expensive for the district to borrow money and pay off debt. And if state lawmakers don’t come through soon, the school district would have to cut spending midyear.

* Tribune | After divisive debate, Chicago school board passed $9.96 billion budget banking on uncertain state funding: CPS CEO Macquline King warned the budget amendment may leave the district vulnerable to midyear school cuts if the money doesn’t come through. Lenders will also “not look favorably” at unconfirmed revenue, which could lead to credit downgrades and higher borrowing costs, officials said. “We need to learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them,” King said.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago School Board approves amended budget that relies on more state funding: Board members debated the amendment proposal for hours after Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told CTU members that he would fight for the additional funding in November’s fall veto session. “I strongly support in the veto session committing to a supplemental funding bill,” Welch said. Welch is trying to shore up his own political base and facing calls to resign his speakership because some members question how he’s handled sexual harassment allegations against disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton.

* WGN | Chicago Board of Ed votes to pass amended $10 billion CPS budget: “If we are not including the state in this conversation, then we are fooling ourselves and we are robbing our kids of opportunities,” Board Member Michilla Blaise said. Many of those who supported the amended budget proposal that passed on Thursday have demanded a special session in Springfield, where the district’s woes could be ironed out while pressing state lawmakers to fully fund the district. “The only way this works is if Springfield figures out how to meet the state law and fund Chicago Public Schools by 20% more,” Chicago Teachers’ Union President Stacy Davis Gates said on Thursday.

* Chicago Teachers Union | What Today’s Vote REALLY Means: For the First Time Ever, CPS is Budgeting for A Piece of What Springfield Owes: As incredible as it is to see people on the board standing up for children outnumber individuals who are there to cut, the reality is that anything done today is magical thinking until Gov. Pritzker joins the team. Gov. Pritzker has been in office for eight years and owes the state’s students $6.4 billion dollars from pre-K to PhD. CPS is owed $2 billion by Springfield’s own formulas. Today, the board voted today to assume the legally required funding from the Illinois General Assembly.

* Press release | Statement from the Civic Federation on Chicago Public Schools’ Budget: “We strongly support the CEO’s objection to this amendment and commend her commitment to presenting a budget grounded in realistic financial assumptions. “By adopting a budget that relies on uncertain State revenue, the Board has increased the District’s financial risk. If these funds do not materialize, CPS will likely need to enact mid-year cuts and layoffs and further delay the long-term reforms needed to restore the District’s financial stability. Ultimately, it is Chicago’s students and their families who bear the immediate consequences of today’s decision.”

38 Comments

Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price.

Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners.

Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).

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Today’s must-read

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click: For Chris Welch, is past prologue? - Facing ethical questions, house speaker has history in Proviso

Ouch.

14 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Trump administration stops work on Great Lakes Asian carp project near Joliet. Sun-Times…

* At 10 am, Gov. JB Pritzker sign the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Sean Grayson, seeking medical release from his murder sentence, still maintains Sonya Massey ‘attacked’ him: In his hand-written application, obtained by Capitol News Illinois via the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson did not show remorse in his description of the shooting, maintaining that Massey attacked him with a pot of boiling water. He also did not check a box stating his condition was likely to lead to his death in the next 18 months.

* CBS Chicago | Columbia College Chicago launches first scholarship for students who experienced foster care: Columbia College Chicago is now the first private college in Illinois to offer free tuition and wraparound support to students who have experienced foster care. […] “It’s giving students that need a little bit more from foster care a little more support and development to say, ‘We believe that you are just as valuable and that you can cross the finish line,’” Kirk said.

*** Statehouse News ***

* CBS Chicago | Former Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg takes focus statewide as top aide to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul: Now serving as Raoul’s top aide, she’s turning her focus to the state of Illinois. “I think there are opportunities to apply that kind of efficiency lens to the work of the office,” she said. […] As for landing Witzburg as his chief of staff, Raoul said he tried to hire her in the past, but this time was a fit.

* Gov. Pritzker’s spokesperson reacts to Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez saying “we’re going to find you, governor” at yesterday’s CPS Board hearing…

"We're gonna find you. We're gonna find you in Springfield or anywhere. We're gonna find you, governor." https://t.co/qLEA3hAlk4

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) July 30, 2026

*** Chicago ***

* ABC Chicago | Social media influencers helping boost Mayor Johnson’s online presence; some question transparency: Hennessy reviewed Johnson’s recent social media activity after he stated that those posting about him were not paid but acting organically. She said she noticed “a significant uptick in the number of influencers,” including some from out of state, “trying to humanize, trying to make Brandon Johnson seem cool.” “As our sort of communications environment emerges and changes, I don’t see why at some point that type of disclosing wouldn’t be necessary. I think that there’s some value in people knowing who’s responsible for what,” Johnson said during a news conference Wednesday.

* Block Club | Ald. Bill Conway Launches Reelection Bid, Ending Speculation About Mayoral Run: The alderperson who represents parts of Downtown and the West Loop made the announcement to supporters via email Thursday afternoon, saying he spent the past several months reflecting on how he could best serve the city. “After serious consideration, I’ve concluded that the best place for me to continue making a difference is right here in the 34th Ward, serving the residents who put their trust in me,” Conway said in the email.

* Crain’s | Push to sideline Johnson from picking new police chief draws mixed response: Johnson’s office declined to comment on the letter. The mayor previously said on WBEZ he supports the current selection process and it shouldn’t “wait based upon a political cycle or calendar.” Driver argued in a letter to the City Council the timing of the search coinciding with the mayor’s race could lead to a lesser-quality crop of candidates because veteran police leaders are hesitant to put their names forward for what ultimately could be a months-long job if Johnson is not reelected. Driver told Crain’s a potential new mayor “will more than likely want their own police superintendent.”

* Crain’s | Illinois Tech to lay off 160 as enrollment, financial woes force restructure: The Illinois Institute of Technology will lay off 160 faculty and staff members as part of a sweeping financial and academic restructuring, a move that reportedly prompted a faculty senate vote of no confidence in the school’s top leadership. […] The science and engineering-focused Bronzeville university is particularly vulnerable to the Trump administration’s foreign student measures, as the school depends on international students for about half of its enrollment and is in the middle of extending coursework abroad — targeting students who may not immediately, or ever, come to the U.S.

* Sun-Times | Art Institute of Chicago workers’ union pushes back against museum’s pending custodial contract: “We’re out here to say it’s not fair,” said Cameron Day, staff representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, the union’s bargaining unit. “We want to have a conversation. Let’s keep these workers in-house here at the Art Institute of Chicago.” […] The decision to outsource the jobs through third-party contractor GDI Integrated Facility Services is “better for daily operations” at the cultural institution, the spokesperson said.

* WBEZ | After decades behind bars, Ivy Kelly was given a choice: Walk free, or keep fighting to clear his name: Kelly has always insisted he’s innocent of the 1999 killing that led to his decades-long prison sentence. In 2014, an appeals court raised doubts about his trial’s fairness. Eventually, prosecutors made Kelly an offer: He could walk free — if he just admitted guilt. We’ve spoken a couple times online, but I’ve come to the jail to ask in person about his response to the offer — a response that has weighed heavily ever since.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Safety or surveillance? Debate over license plate cameras in the suburbs heats up: Rolling Meadows council members agreed this week to hold a special public session in August to address citizens’ concerns about the use of the cameras on city thoroughfares. That comes days after the police chief in the small McHenry County village of Holiday Hills was charged with unlawfully accessing reader data to track six people from his personal life, including three women he dated. In DuPage County, three men appeared in court Monday facing charges they stole or vandalized at least five cameras in and around Lisle. They’ve since become folk heroes to some, with one collecting nearly $8,000 in an online fundraiser to support his legal defense.

* Pioneer Press | Oak Park board advances possible changes to single-family zoning: In the proposed changes, single-unit dwellings would still be allowed in all districts where they’re already permitted and multi-unit buildings would no longer be grouped into just one category, but would be divided into subcategories based on the number of units up to five. Those with six units and more would constitute another category.

* Daily Herald | ‘Something I can do to help’: Suburban donors respond to blood shortage crisis: “My husband has been going through cancer treatments, so he has been getting blood at Condell (hospital),” said Glass, of Libertyville. “So I feel like I need to give back.” Glass was among a handful of donors who saw an announcement about the blood drive Thursday afternoon at Club Five Health clinic and wellness center on Milwaukee Avenue. The event was prompted by the Red Cross’ declaration on Monday of a “national blood crisis” — only the second time the nonprofit has made such a public statement in its 145-year history.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | CUB challenges Ameren Illinois over rate hike and questionable grid spending: “Everybody agrees that Ameren needs to maintain its system, but they should do it in a way that doesn’t bankrupt their customers. That’s why consumer advocates get involved, to weed out wasteful, unwarranted and unnecessary spending,” Chilsen said. Chilsen said hearing directly from customers could make all the difference in how the ICC rules on these cases.

* Illinois Times | Wyndham hotel up for sale: Affiliated told Rajabi in a letter in August 2025 that the vandalism in the early morning hours of March 27, 2025, “was intentionally caused by Mr. Rajabi, Mr. Rajabi colluded with others to cause the damage, and/or the damage was caused by other individuals with the knowledge of Mr. Rajabi.” Affiliated also said Rajabi filed a fraudulent claim related to a purported March 2024 lightning strike on the hotel building that resulted in Affiliated paying Rajabi $4.05 million.

* First Alert 4 | Multi-studio film complex on the way to Wood River, Illinois: President and CEO of Hollywood River Studios Christopher Breakwell explained to me the Metro East is a great location, “It really is the centerpiece of being close to St. Louis, for us St. Louis has kind of been undershot in the Hollywood community not a lot of movies have been here, there’s just beautiful architecture and beautiful landscapes that we can take advantage of.”

* WCIA | Thomasboro Mayor resigns, cites ‘personal and professional reasons’: The Mayor of Thomasboro submitted a letter of formal resignation on Thursday. The letter obtained by WCIA states the resignation of Jeff Roberston is effective as of 5 p.m. on July 29. Roberston states that the decision came after careful consideration, and that he decided to step away from his position for personal and professional reasons.

* WTVO | Rickie Traeger says he’s a ‘political prisoner’ in letter from Winnebago County Jail: Traeger, 46, has been lodged in the Winnebago County Jail since April after authorities accused him of threatening Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. Court records allege Traeger sent an email to the mayor that included statements such as “hold your family close you never know when today could be your last” and “you’re never gonna forget me.” Prosecutors also alleged Traeger later told police he was going to shoot the mayor.

* Daily Egyptian | Carbondale’s painted hay bale tradition ends as family farm changes hands: What began as a hobby slowly became one of Carbondale’s most recognizable roadside landmarks. Drivers would honk as they went by. People stopped to take pictures. One visitor traveled from Canada just to photograph the display, Jim said. Even schoolchildren — riding the bus that Jim drove as a secondary job — would often ask him what he was going to paint next.

* Capitol City Now | Justice Miller’s big bequest: The Community Foundation of the Land of Lincoln says Miller’s trust has given it $3.2 million, of which $1.2 million has already been granted to seven women- and children-focused charities “He shared with me he saw so many people come before him in court where there were troubles with young people, especially,” said the foundation’s president and CEO, John Stremsterfer. “Oftentimes he witnessed that many of these young people were raised by single mothers, and he had great empathy and sympathy for women in those situations.”

*** National ***

* 404 Media | Data Centers Are Easy to Build. Powering Them Is Complicated, Slow, and Expensive: On Wednesday the power flickered in homes from Washington DC to Chicago. The cause was a data center disconnecting from PJM — a massive power grid that connects 13 states including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan, a span that covers 67 million customers. The incident points to a larger problem with the compute warehouses fueling the AI boom: It’s physically and economically impossible to build power infrastructure fast enough to meet the demands of AI data centers and when problems occur, everyone will pay the price.

* AP | Anthropic says its AI models hacked 3 organizations during testing: Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI company behind Claude, posted on its website Thursday that it discovered the three incidents after reviewing more than 141,000 evaluation runs. It had launched a “large-scale” cybersecurity review which specifically looked for evidence whether its AI models were able to access the internet from within testing environments that should have been sealed off, in response to the OpenAI incident, Anthropic said.

6 Comments

Good morning!

Friday, Jul 31, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Um…