* ICYMI: State lawmakers want overhaul of legislative watchdog powers. WGN…

- The legislature’s top watchdog is stepping down later this month in the wake of complaints over his handling of sexual harassment investigations.
- House Republicans say the next Legislative Inspector General (LIG) should have subpoena power when investigating public corruption.
- State Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) is also calling for change. “A General Assembly is two years, and so it seems natural that that should be the bare minimum amount of time that folks have to come forward,” Rep. Canty said.

* At 6:30 pm, Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver remarks at the Democratic Party of Illinois’ Annual Gala.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Weiss Memorial Hospital loses Illinois hospital license in latest blow to reopening hopes: “Despite having over a year to make improvements at Weiss Memorial, hospital leadership has not demonstrated the necessary improvements to safely re-open the hospital to care for the community’s residents,” a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday. “Due to these shortcomings, the Illinois Department of Public Health will not be extending the hospital’s provisional license,” the spokesperson said.

* Sun-Times | NITA, Chicago’s new transit agency, is meeting for the first time: The Northern Illinois Transit Authority’s board meets for the first time Thursday, officially launching the agency tasked with transforming Chicago-area public transit. NITA replaces the Regional Transportation Authority, which had governed CTA, Metra and Pace since 1974.

* Capitol News Illinois | DCFS tells judge it will comply with records request in 2024 death of foster child: Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Haas on Wednesday told Sangamon County Judge Jack Davis II she believes DCFS has “substantially complied” with the judge’s June 12 order and the department is working to produce the personnel files request by Capitol News Illinois about two caseworkers and one supervisor who were responsible for monitoring Mackenzi Felmlee, a teenage girl who died in 2024. Last month, Davis issued an order requiring DCFS Director Heidi Mueller to appear at Wednesday’s hearing and explain why the agency has not followed the judge’s orders or appeared in court on the case at all this year.

* Tribune | Can state’s attorney take over some Burge-related cases? A judge will decide: But more than 30 years after Burge was fired from the Chicago Police Department as allegations of torture began to come to light, some cases may end up back under the purview of State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke – though not before a judge untangles knotty questions about whether a conflict of interest still remains. […] And Milan’s requested withdrawal has presented other thorny issues. In one case, attorneys have said they have unmet needs around evidence production. In another, a defendant is asking the judge to conduct an inquiry into Milan.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | IL lawmakers call for ethics reform following legislative inspector general resignation: “The LIG is an independent investigative body that doesn’t need to be commenting in the media about anything other than through official reports and official statements,” said Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). […] Republicans hope to pass a bill that would give the LIG subpoena power during public corruption investigations. They argue this change could increase an inspector general’s ability to conduct thorough investigations. GOP leaders are also pushing a bill to ban public officials from using campaign funds for criminal defense.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois attorney general reaches settlement with Nicor to cut $140 million from proposed rate hike: Nicor customers will get a break on their bills this fall after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul reached an agreement with the utility to cut $140 million from its requested rate hike. Nicor filed for a $221 million rate increase in January, a 14.5% increase over current rates, Raoul’s office said. The AG’s office opposed the hike, alleging significant portions of the forecasted spending program were overstated or unnecessary, and that Nicor was inflating a routine accounting mechanism to increase their profits. The settlement reached between the state and Nicor cuts the rate hike request by 63%, Raoul’s office said.

* ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker, candidate Bailey take competing messages to Dallas GOP midterm convention: “We’re working our tails off in Illinois, but we just we need more help. We need to get the message out,” Bailey said. “So that really is the prime focus of coming down here to Dallas to find those people and have those conversations who will understand and partner with us to help get this message out.” […] Pritzker appeared alongside Texas Democrats to counter the convention’s message and criticize Trump and Republican policies. “I care a great deal about what happens in Texas. Voters everywhere in the country should care about what happens in Texas,” Pritzker said. “So I’m pleased to be here for that reason. If I can advance the cause, that’s why I should stand here.”

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Southwest Side veteran Ald. Matt O’Shea will call it quits after four terms: O’Shea, 57, is the third Council member to choose political retirement over a reelection bid. Ald. Marty Quinn (13th), another outspoken mayoral critic, and Workforce Development Committee Chair Mike Rodriguez (22nd), a Johnson ally, are also leaving the City Council. […] “We spend a lot more time now down at City Hall and you can start to lose touch… You need to be in the neighborhood. You need to have eyes on things. You need to be visiting your schools and parks, driving your commercial strips, communicating with your business community — and you’re not able to do as much of that,” O’Shea told the Sun-Times.

* WTTW | Key City Council Panel Agrees to Tighten Chicago’s Ethics Law After ‘Problematic Incidents’: The new rules would require candidates to include a statement, either read by the candidate or clearly printed, that the candidate has approved the advertisement. Candidates for federal office have had to include similar statements in their advertisements since 2002, as part of an effort intended to discourage negative attack ads by making candidates claim personal responsibility for the content of their campaign ads.

* Sun-Times | Bally’s Council committee hearing turns into a political ‘circus’ with more questions than answers:
“The answer to that is neither,” Papanier said. “Our concern around the cannibalization of VGTs and what they can do… what they’ve proven to do across the state, is the true concern here and why we’re actually discussing a reset as opposed to delivering or over-delivering every component and then some that was required” by the host agreement. Reilly didn’t buy it. Reading from a recent earnings call, Reilly quoted Bally’s own lender as saying that potential competition from video gambling terminals in Chicago was already factored into the gambling giant’s earning assumptions. “We all know that you were struggling to cobble together money. You have an incredible debt load and you’re trying to blame all of this on…VGTs — where not a single machine is lawfully operating today yet there are thousands of [illegal] sweepstakes machines doing that,” Reilly said.

* Tribune | Aldermen blast Bally’s for construction halt, while casino says City Council sparked pause: And committee Chair Ald. Debra Silverstein said it was “very disappointing, very embarrassing, very insulting, any adjective you can think of, that we don’t have representation from the mayor’s office here today to answer our questions.” […] Aldermen asked throughout the meeting why top mayoral deputy Jason Lee wasn’t on hand to detail the Johnson administration’s handling of the situation, even as they pressed Johnson’s newly appointed CFO, Ashley Gabrysch, about the situation. Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, went so far as to request Lee be summoned from his office to City Council chambers to answer questions.

* ABC Chicago | Mayor Johnson touts summer violence reduction as Chicago reports fewer homicides: The ABC7 Data Team could not confirm summer crime data dating back to 1965. However, it confirmed that the Chicago Police Department reported 122 homicide victims between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026. During the same period in 2025, the city reported 129 homicide victims. Citywide violent crime also has declined over the past three years, according to figures presented by the mayor’s office. Year to date, Chicago recorded 18,759 violent crimes in 2024, compared with 15,099 in 2025 and 13,792 in 2026.

* Block Club | City Officials Promise Safe Mexican Independence Day Celebrations This Weekend, 1 Year After Midway Blitz: Mayor Brandon Johnson made it clear that this year’s festivities will be less muted than last year’s holiday, which drew smaller crowds due to widespread fears stoked by the deployment of federal agents conducting immigration raids throughout Chicago. “The first thing that we’re doing differently is that we’re actually coming outside and we’re celebrating, and we’re not going to allow the federal government to intimidate and stop us from celebrating Mexican heritage,” the mayor said Tuesday. “In terms of coordination, our police department has been working to make sure that we’re protecting the rights of the residents of our city … So we’ll continue to make sure that there is stronger coordination and better communication.”

* Tribune | University of Illinois Chicago sees record enrollment two years in a row: The University of Illinois Chicago reported its highest enrollment numbers in school history for the second consecutive year, recording over 37,000 students for the fall 2026 semester, according to data in a Wednesday news release. UIC’s total enrollment climbed by 3.7% to 37,199 students, according to official figures from the university’s 10th-day census.

* Sun-Times | Plantasia at Garfield Park Conservatory embraces its roots as a celebration of ambient and electronic music: While the first year of Plantasia was wholly devoted to recreating Garson’s soundscape, the program has since expanded to welcome ambient and experimental artists of all flavors performing original works. Music acts are co-curated by Sacred Bones, which continues to be involved in the event, and a part of the proceeds also benefits the Garson estate in homage to its namesake.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Gazette | Sterling council puts 180-day application moratorium on data centers, battery energy storage systems: The moratorium comes as the city has had numerous requests to locate BESS facilities within city limits, including in buildings in the downtown area, according to Amanda Schmidt, Sterling’s building and zoning superintendent. “We have definitely been getting the communications, the questions, the asks, so this will allow staff to get something under our belts and on paper to have something to back us up. Right now we don’t have anything, and it doesn’t do well for us,” Schmidt said.

* Sun-Times | Lincoln-Way East students walk out to denounce racism their classmates directed at Homewood-Flossmoor peers: The mood was somber and the halls were nearly empty at Lincoln-Way East ahead of the demonstration. But the students who remained said they were determined to make their voices heard. “We want to let people know that Lincoln-Way East is not just a predominantly white school that’s full of racist people,” said 14-year-old Teniola Omokaye. “There’s a big demographic of Black people that go here and we actually stand for something.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Second measles case of the year reported in Kane County, health department says: The second case of the year in the county, the health department says the person who was more recently confirmed to have measles was a contact of the county’s first case, which was reported late last month. There have been almost a dozen measles cases in Illinois so far in 2026, a year that has already seen nationwide numbers exceed the total tally for the year prior. The two cases in Kane County are its first since 2019, and two of only four cases reported in the county in the past roughly 30 years.

* Tribune | Hotel and major retailers springing up along the interstate at new Hollywood Casino Joliet development: One year after Hollywood Casino Joliet launched a $185 million land-based casino in the Rock Run Collection, the sprawling 310-acre mixed-use development is breaking new ground by the busy Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange. On Thursday, developer Cullinan Properties revealed five major retailers — Five Below, Maurices, Spencer’s, Buckle and Milano Nail Salon — which are set to join previously announced anchor tenant Dick’s House of Sport in opening next year.

* Daily Herald | Why a small piece of land will help protect egret and heron rookery in Antioch Township: Because of its sensitive features, Lotus Country will be owned and managed by the district but not be developed. “If we were to put a parking lot and trails on this property, it would have a negative impact on the rookeries,” Jones said. “At this point we have no intention to do any development, only restoration.”

*** Downstate ***

* WTVO | Belvidere residents oppose potential data center development, and Mayor Morris’s thoughts: Mayor Clinton Morris made a statement at the start of the meeting, confirming that an initial introduction between the city and developer DataWatt took place in early 2025. Morris stated that neither he nor city staff have held subsequent discussions with DataWatt regarding site development, though preliminary discussions regarding property management and utilities have occurred.

* Smile Politely | Champaign County uses cannabis tax money to fund Flock cameras: On August 20, Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman was grilled by the County Board after recent critical comments against Flock by the public. At a budget hearing the following week, Heuerman again faced questions in which a shocking admission almost slipped through the cracks: Champaign County uses the revenue from cannabis taxes to fund mass surveillance (39:30 minutes into meeting).

* Muddy River News | Contour Airlines to start rental car service at Quincy Regional Airport at the end of September: Contour said the number of cars in the fleet might increase if the demand is there. No exact rental prices were given. The airline is partnering with Ace Major Holdings, which will provide an employee to maintain the fleet. Cars will be picked up and dropped off at the airport. “We’ve had several cases where passengers thought they had a rental car with a local agency, and they were out of cars. It’s a way for people coming on and off the aircraft to have a guaranteed rental car,” Airport Director Bill Lantz said back in August when Contour first brought up the idea.

* Illinois Times | New ambulance for mental health crises: The new BEACON ambulance will be operated by SFD and with professional support from Memorial Behavioral Health mental health specialists. It represents a new approach for the city and a new service officials said will be available 24 hours a day to Springfield and the rest of Sangamon County for emergencies involving drug overdoses and behavioral health, Zummo said.

* WAND | Springfield 19th Street railroad corridor moves closer to redevelopment: Relief — that’s what dozens of people say they feel now that a feasibility study is being conducted. From annoying traffic to train noise, residents on the East Side say they’ve tolerated it long enough. “On Sunday morning. On Thursday evening. It interferes with our intercom system. We hear all these strange sounds coming through because of the feedback and the interference with the vibration from the trains crossing our tracks,” said resident Teresa Haley.

*** National ***

* CNN | An onslaught of midterm polling is coming. Here’s how to sort through it: As a starting point, look for pollsters who are transparent about what they’re doing. If there aren’t many details available about who conducted and sponsored the poll, how they carried it out or what questions they asked, that’s your first sign to be skeptical. For an idea of what that methodological information might look like, you can read more about how CNN conducts its own polling here or find detailed explanations of how outlets like the Pew Research Center or The New York Times conduct their surveys. The American Association for Public Opinion Research also has a helpful guide to the information you should be looking for.

* WIRED | Apple Doesn’t Want You to Worry About the New Apple Watch’s Listening Features: Apple announced on Wednesday that the two smartwatches come with four opt-in “audio intelligence” tools that are powered by audio gathered by the watches’ microphones. They include sound and music recognition, a conversation recap feature, and “Live Rewind” so a user can see a transcription of anything that was said in their environment in the previous 15 seconds. […] It’s hard to ignore that, in spite of all of these data protections, anyone wearing a new Apple Watch could be siccing “audio intelligence” on, say, your intimate vent session, private family update, or accidental slip-up about a secret. To try to mitigate blatant privacy violations, Apple says that the watch produces an audible chime when a watch owner initiates a Live Rewind transcript to alert other people in the area—even if it is on silent mode or paired with headphones.