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Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Hot Tuna…

Let us do our living
Right down here

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COGFA increases revenue forecasts, but FY26 prediction is still below Pritzker’s estimate

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s latest report…

When the Commission released its FY 2025 revenue estimate in March, it noted that “if income tax revenues come in strong during the upcoming final tax period, and if other revenue sources, such as the sales tax, continue to improve, the Commission could potentially make another upward revision in May.” As discussed earlier in this publication, April revenues did indeed come in above expectations. While the level of growth is only moderately above initial projections, the revenue gains were high enough that a modest upward revision could be made.

As shown in the table below, the Commission is increasing its overall FY 2025 revenue total by $317 million from $53.614 billion to $53.931 billion. Due to the solid performance of many of the State sources over the past couple of months, the Commission is increasing the FY 2025 revenue projection for most revenue categories, though the increases are relatively minor (between 0.4% and 2.1%). Combined, the upward adjustment for these State sources is $664 million.

However, offsetting a large portion of these upward adjustments is a negative adjustment to the Federal Sources line. As discussed on pages 2 and 6 of this publication, revenues from Federal Sources through the end of April are $354 million below FY 2024 levels. To reach GOMB’s February estimate for this revenue line (adopted by CGFA in March), Federal Sources would have to grow $623 million over the final two months of the year, which seems unlikely. Therefore, the Commission is lowering its revenue estimate for Federal Sources by $347 million to $3.750 billion for FY 2025.

The details of CGFA’s revised revenue projection of $53.931 billion are provided on the following page. This revised estimate is now $31 million above GOMB’s February ’25 FY 2025 forecast of $53.900 billion and $650 million above the $53.281 billion assumed in the FY 2025 Enacted Budget.

* Table…

* On to the coming fiscal year…

The revenue growth seen over the past couple of months in many of the economically-tied revenue sources has increased the base to which growth factors can be applied. A higher taxable base creates upward pressure on revenue estimates. In practice, a revenue adjustment for FY 2025 typically results in a similar upward adjustment to FY 2026. However, growing economic uncertainty suggests a more cautious approach to growth expectations should be adopted in the coming fiscal year. […]

Because of the more dire outlook of the economy in recent polls, the Commission is softening its growth factors for FY 2026 for many of the economically-tied revenue sources. To be clear, the growth in the tax base as a result of recent activity in FY 2025 provides a bump to the Commission’s estimates. However, the extent of the increase is diminished by weaker growth expectations. Therefore, the revenue adjustments for FY 2026, as shown in the table below, are less than those shown in FY 2025. A negative adjustment to Federal Sources is also included due to its recent performance and uncertainty in how Federal dollars will be handled by the Federal Government.

The Commission’s revised FY 2026 estimate is $54.490 billion, which is a $266 million upward adjustment from the March estimate of $54.224 billion. This figure remains $471 million below the Governor’s February 2025 “current law” estimate of $54.961 billion and $963 million below the Budget Book estimate of $55.453 billion (when including the Governor’s proposed revenue adjustments).

* Table…

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune…

Almost three years later, buses sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have stopped arriving from the more closely surveilled southern border. The city has closed down most of the facilities it scrambled to stand up to meet waves of asylum-seekers, mostly from Venezuela. Thousands have transitioned to permanent housing. Police stations, once overflowing with newly arrived people, are empty.

What remains is a new, merged shelter network officials have dubbed the One System Initiative, which houses anyone, from anywhere, who doesn’t have a place to go. The city and state were running 28 migrant-exclusive facilities at the peak of arrivals in January of last year, according to city census data. They have collaborated with nonprofits to run 51 total sites across the system, city officials said. […]

Challenges remain. The number of people who need a short-term place to sleep still exceeds the 7,400 beds available in the merged systems. Some facilities are still dealing with bilingual staff shortages. Even if Chicago’s emergency shelters were perfectly equipped to meet demand, advocates say that issues with homelessness will persist unless the city addresses its inadequate supply of affordable housing. And in Kenwood, some residents are pushing back and may take legal action to try to prevent a shelter that once opened for migrants from becoming a permanent fixture in their area.

Inside the shelters, residents and workers say there is empathy among the people staying there.

“Some come because their house burned down, others because they just arrived in the U.S. and have nowhere else to go, some are fleeing violence from places like Mexico, Venezuela, or Haiti,” said Marcos Sanchez, a Venezuelan migrant who now works at a state-funded shelter near Midway Airport. “People support each other emotionally.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Plan to overhaul higher education funding meets U of I opposition: Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 13, said it is designed to bring equity and stability to the state’s higher education system. “This bill does not just aim to increase funding,” she told a Senate committee Wednesday. “It tells us for the first time in our state’s history what students and universities need to succeed and how to adequately fund universities over time to actually meet that need. It defines what universities require to educate, support and graduate students successfully, and then it directs resources to do just that.”

*** Statewide ***

* Press Release | IDPH Issues Updated Sport Fish Consumption Advisories: IDPH maintains an interactive Fish Advisory Map that includes consumption advisories for more than 100 publicly accessible bodies of water across the state. The advisories detail how frequently certain types of fish from various waterways can be eaten without posing a health risk. While there is no known immediate health hazard from eating contaminated fish from any Illinois water body, there are concerns about effects of long-term exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and methylmercury in fish.

* NPR Illinois | Loving Lincoln author sheds light on the Great Emancipator’s work, relationships with women:” And I remembered an acquisition editor at SIU press had told me years ago to call her first when I was ready to write my book about Lincoln. And I did. I called her and the book that was written, it kind of just magically happened. Maureen, honestly, I sat down to write a collective biography of all these women, these stories of women’s mothers and sisters and friends of Mary Lincoln, of the women who Lincoln helped in his law practice … and the women who came to see Lincoln when he was president, asking him to help them with their sorrows, to get a loved one back from a battlefield, or to help them find a job in the government.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Group opposing Mayor Brandon Johnson and allies raises $10 million, progressives decry ‘sucker politics’: The Common Ground Collective has raised $10 million, according to its executive director, Chuck Swirsky. It’s a sum that’s sure to grow but that is already similar to the combined amount Johnson received in his 2023 campaign from his top funders, the Chicago Teachers Union, Service Employees International Union and related unions. The group, a nonprofit, is not required to publicly disclose its donor list, and Swirsky declined to do so. But he said the money came from around 90 donors, none of whom have contributed more than 5% of its total. And Swirsky said among the contributors is GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks, a Democratic donor and close friend of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Sacks declined to comment when contacted by the Tribune.

* Crain’s | Microsoft drops law firm that cut Trump deal — and turns to Chicago’s Jenner & Block: The move, first reported by The New York Times, gives Jenner a notable vote of confidence from one of the world’s largest companies at a time when the legal world is navigating intense political crosscurrents. The case involves Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard. According to court filings, Simpson Thacher lawyers told the Delaware Court of Chancery on April 22 it would no longer represent Microsoft. That same day, Jenner attorneys filed their appearance in the case, taking over legal duties in a shareholder lawsuit challenging the merger, the Times reports.

* Crain’s | Amid Trump attacks on higher ed, UChicago faculty want to see more from leadership: UChicago faculty have circulated a petition, which has now been signed by more than 260 members, that calls on Alivisatos to join other school leaders in publicly defending academic freedoms and opposing any effort by the government to undermine them. They implore Alivisatos to sign on to the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ letter, signed by almost 600 university leaders, including those at Northwestern and seven Ivy League universities, which opposes “undue government intrusion” by the Trump administration and its “coercive use of public research funding,” which has been used as a cudgel to force colleges to comply with its demands.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools’ second-in-command leaving in June: Bogdana Chkoumbova, the Chicago Public Schools chief education officer and outgoing CEO Pedro Martinez’s second-in-command, is leaving the district at the end of the school year. Chkoumbova’s departure could herald more high-profile defections from the district as Martinez prepares to leave CPS in June. In late December 2024, the school board fired him without cause, which gave him another six months on the job under his contract.

* Sun-Times | Solution for Chicago’s empty office buildings could be microapartments, study says: Converting vacant office buildings into residential co-living units — akin to dorm-style housing — would help solve a trio of real estate problems bogging down Chicago, as the city tries to revitalize its downtown corridor. That’s according to a study by architecture firm Gensler and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, released Monday, looks at the feasibility of flexible co-living spaces in Chicago’s Central Business District.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Man sentenced to 53 years in prison in hate-crime attack on Palestinian-American boy, mother: A former Plainfield Township landlord who murdered a 6-year-old Muslim boy and severely injured the boy’s mother in a vicious hate-crime attack days after the war in Gaza began was sentenced Friday to 53 years in prison. Joseph Czuba, 73, was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

* Daily Herald | ‘You have to get through Rolling Meadows’: Mayor stresses city’s place in Arlington Park redevelopment: The 326-acre Arlington Park property that could one day host a Chicago Bears stadium is within the village of Arlington Heights, but Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica is quick to remind people her town will be a key player in redevelopment discussions, too. “Anything that comes here is going to require cooperation with us, because no matter what happens, you have to get through Rolling Meadows to get there,” Sanoica said Thursday during the annual state of the city address.

* Tribune | 20 years of conversations beat money, big names in historic Skokie mayor race: In the historic election for mayor of Skokie, candidate David “Azi” Lifsics spent big dollar amounts and garnered big-name endorsements. When Election Night was over, though, he had lost to candidate Ann Tennes, who spent only a fraction of what he had shelled out. Her winning formula in the April 1 race? Twenty years’ worth of community involvement, volunteer service and face-to-face connections in the suburb of about 67,000. She worked as Skokie’s director of marketing and communications for two decades, had been elected to Oakton (Community) College’s Board, and had volunteered for Skokie civic and arts organizations.

* Evergreen Park | Evergreen Park teen turns trash into heat for homeless as nonprofit effort grows: Billy Duffner was just trying to warm up his family’s fireplace with some handmade paper bricks when the idea struck. What if these could help someone who didn’t have a home? That moment became the foundation for Heat4Homeless, a grassroots nonprofit that repurposes recycled paper and sawdust into fire bricks. Each one is a portable source of warmth for people living on the streets during Chicago’s coldest months.

* Daily Herald | ‘Groundhog Day’ inn gets another role, this time in upcoming Christmas movie shot in Woodstock: The film is “about an ambitious hotel manager who returns to her family’s B&B for Christmas to find all three of her high school exes staying there,” producer Chris Charles said. The movie has parallels with the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, said Eliza Toser, who co-wrote the film with her husband, Jake Jarvi.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Heartland Head Start ’shocked’ by proposed funding elimination but still hopeful: Heartland Head Start interim executive director Chuck Hartseil said it’s not clear what options they would have to sustain programming if Congress were to approve wiping out funding. “We are almost solely funded through the federal government,” Hartseil said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. […] The early childhood program that serves more than 200 low-income families in McLean and Livingston counties gets about $4.4 million annually from the federal government.

* KSDK | Hubbell-Wiegmann plant announces closure by 2026; 110 workers to be laid off: — More than 100 people in one Metro East community will soon be out of a job after their employer announced plans to close next year. Since 1958, the Hubbell-Wiegmann plant has been a staple in Freeburg. “They manufacture electrical boxes like disconnects for your air conditioner,” Freeburg Mayor Seth Speiser said. […] According to the WARN notice, those jobs will be split up between Hubbell’s Aurora, Illinois factory and a location in Juarez, Mexico. “If they can go to Mexico for $3 an hour versus Freeburg at $20 an hour it’s just business,” Speiser said.

* Edgar County Watchdogs | Nason, IL. Board Meeting Descends into Chaos: Resignations, Applause, and an Arrest –: The turmoil did not end with the adjournment. As citizens exited the building, a physical altercation reportedly broke out between incoming Alderman Alan Colle and current Alderman David Page. Sources indicate that Mr. Page allegedly assaulted Mr. Colle for filming the public meeting after it had concluded – an act constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene by Mr. Colle. According to witnesses, Mr. Page initially found the situation amusing until law enforcement arrived with a transport vehicle. Alderman David Page was subsequently arrested and taken into custody on unknown charges.

* WGLT | Brady sworn in as Bloomington mayor, with housing and infrastructure top of mind: Brady said housing and infrastructure are his day one priorities. He plans to pick up where the previous mayor — Mboka Mwilambwe — left off, advancing plans for a tiny home village for unhoused community members and the downtown streetscape project. “And then I think the next area you talk about, and you look at, is what we’re doing with the quality of life within Bloomington,” Brady told WGLT. “Meaning our water, our potholes, infrastructure — those type of things.”

* WCIA | ‘Significantly crossed the boundaries’: report details misconduct of former GCMS teacher: Through a FOIA request, WCIA received a redacted version of the statement detailing the charges against former Gibson City Middle School math teacher Robbie Dinkins Thursday evening. The report explains how Dinkins would send emotional text messages to confide in students about stressors in his personal life, including the deaths of people close to him. He also admitted to investigators he would sometimes be intoxicated when texting students.

*** National ***

* Crain’s | Rivian begins its first big marketing push — here’s a look behind the campaign: Rivian is tapping into this passion as part of its first full-fledged marketing campaign, called “Real Rivian Adventures,” which turns stories from real owners into ads. The Irvine, California-based automaker has a community engagement and content team dedicated to connecting with the owner groups. The team played an instrumental role in sourcing user stories for the campaign, which was handled by Mojo Supermarket. The agency won the assignment last year after a competitive review.

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Moody’s cuts Illinois GDP growth forecast by half, but its national jobs prediction is, so far, off the mark

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Crain’s…

Moody’s Analytics, which prepared a sobering long-term economic forecast for COGFA in February, already has been trimming its growth projections for Illinois and other states. Recently, Moody’s cut its forecast for Illinois GDP growth by half to 0.8% for 2025 and reduced its expectation for employment growth to 0.4% from 0.6%.

“Revenue growth is going to be weaker than we were expecting in previous forecasts, and state and local government hiring is going to slow because funds are going to be drying up,” says Sarah Crane, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. “It’s going to be a tight budget situation for most state and local governments.”

Job growth, which climbed modestly in the first quarter, “is going to flatten out for sure,” Crane says. “We already were expecting things to wind down in terms of job growth. Now we’re all but certain it’s going to happen. We’ve been surprised before by the strength of the U.S. labor market and job creation, but . . . we do think that things will go sideways for a few quarters.”

* So far, though, jobs are holding up…

The U.S. labor market remained resilient in April, with employers adding 177,000 jobs, a solid showing despite ongoing economic uncertainty that has caused many employers to put hiring plans on hold.

The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent, near historic lows, according to a jobs report released Friday by the Labor Department. Economists had largely expected growth to cool, following the addition of 185,000 jobs in March, figures that were revised downward.

The labor market has been a pillar of strength for years, helping to prop up the economy through a period of high inflation and elevated interest rates. Economists have been on high alert that surrounding weakness — including data this week showing the U.S. economy shrank in the first three months of 2025 — could drag down the labor market. But, so far, the slowdown has been gradual.

As I’ve noted before, jobs are the real issue here. If jobs crater, we’re in for a world of hurt. And the same applies if Congress approves huge cuts to Medicaid and other programs that the state relies on.

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George Ryan (Updated x2)

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* NBC Chicago…

Ryan, who served as Illinois’ governor from 1999 to 2003, passed away Friday morning after spending the last few days in hospice care, according to former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, a close friend of Ryan’s.

No cause of death was immediately given. […]

During a 2015 talk, Ryan said serving time on corruption charges gave him a new perspective on the criminal justice system.

“Justice is supposed to be blind, but the fact is most people are blind about the justice system,” Ryan said. “Those of us who have been there and are coming out of prison wondering what is going on. There are people concerned about what is going to happen to us, but I am not sure they care that much.”

People have and will say many bad things about him, but he got a lot of stuff done in four years.

…Adding… More coverage…

    * Tribune: Former Gov. George Ryan, who halted state’s death penalty but was imprisoned for corruption, dies at 91

    * Sun-Times: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan dead at 91

    * CBS2: Former Illinois Governor George Ryan dies at age 91, sources confirm; served prison time for corruption

    * ABC7: Former IL Gov. George Ryan dead

    * Fox32: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan dies at 91

…Adding… Brad Cole…

Below is a statement from Brad Cole, CEO of the Illinois Municipal League, regarding former Gov. George Ryan. Cole served as Ryan’s Deputy Chief of Staff:

“Governor Ryan was a very good friend of mine. He was also fundamentally a good man, and I wish more people knew that about him. He dedicated himself to helping people when others wouldn’t and did so quietly and out of the spotlight. I will always be grateful for our more than 25-year relationship and am comforted that he and Lura Lynn are now together once again.”

* Curran…

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement on the passing of former Illinois Governor George Ryan:

“I join the many Illinoisans who are remembering the contributions that Gov. Ryan made to our state. He was a bold leader who wasn’t afraid to reach across the aisle and bring people together for the greater good. His investments in infrastructure, technology, and education to help create a brighter future for Illinois will long be remembered. I am thinking of his family and those who loved him, and wishing them strength and peace as they say goodbye.”

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The last acceptable prejudice

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From CNN’s “Inside JB Pritzker’s public and private efforts to counter Trump and challenge fellow Democrats”…

Several party operatives working their way around the weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner events were gaming when to reach out about signing up with him, while focus group research has already quietly been passed around about whether the governor’s weight is a positive or negative with voters, according to people who’ve seen the findings.

* Therefore…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) went ahead and came up with his own nickname for President Donald Trump to use against him since the president has already mocked the governor’s weight.

Pritzker joined late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday to discuss his viral speech on Sunday in which he called for “mass protests” against the administration and for Democrats to “fight everywhere and all at once.” The governor called out “do nothing Democrats” in his talk as well, earning praises from others dissatisfied with the party’s efforts to date.

At a rally last year, Trump joked that Pritzker is “too busy eating” to be an effective governor. […]

Kimmel said he was shocked Trump hadn’t landed on a nickname — a longtime signature move for the president — for Pritzker and he pulled out a list of suggestions, all a play on Pritzker’s size.

The names included: JB Pizza, JB Back Ribs, JBiggy, JB the Hutt, JPritz His Pants-ker, Pritz Crackers, Gov. Big Shorts, and JB “The Refrigerator” Pritzker.

The governor revealed he’s already been mulling his own nicknames the president could use and he has a favorite.

The governor has obliquely referenced his size many times, but never like that Kimmel appearance. Click here to watch it.

* I found the interview uncomfortable to watch. But the online vitriol about the man’s weight has got to be addressed. I mean, it’s extreme stuff. Go read the comments on any of his posts. Vile.

But, as the headline says, it’s the last acceptable prejudice. Lots of people, even those who are open-minded types, often believe overweight people are “weak” and that it’s OK to make fun of them.

* Anyway, more from the Tribune…

“I have not even decided if I’m running for reelection as governor yet. So there’s, there’s a lot of time between now and where you’re suggesting,” he said in response to a question from Kimmel about his presidential aspirations.

Asked if he was deciding between a third term as governor or opting out to seek a presidential bid, Pritzker said, “No, none of that has anything to do with that.”

“I love the job that I have. It’s just a question of, you know, it’s a hard job, right? I mean, I’ve been doing it for six and a half years now. And the question is, you know, another, add another well, one-and-a-half plus four, right?” Pritzker said of a reelection bid. “That’s 12 years total, right? That’s an awful long time. But we have a lot to accomplish. We’ve done an awful lot in Illinois, and so those things weigh on me.”

People close to Pritzker say they expect the 60-year-old billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune to seek a third term after the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session ends, which is scheduled for May 31. But some top Democratic strategists have said Pritzker should opt out of a third term, particularly due to potential issues that could develop as the state copes with federal funding cuts being pushed by Trump and Republicans who control Congress.

Getting out while the getting is good has its advantages, but running away from trouble is not a very presidential look, IMHO.

Also, most “top Democratic strategists” in 2017 insisted that an overweight Jewish billionaire had no chance in an Illinois Democratic primary against Robert F. Kennedy’s son. That Pritzker team has never paid much attention to “top Democratic strategists.”

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Group rebuts, fact checks Comptroller Mendoza’s SAFE-T Act remarks

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice…

Today at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Springfield, Comptroller Susana Mendoza railed against the Pretrial Fairness Act, claiming that it “permits violent offenders accused of heinous crimes to be released on electronic monitoring.”

Comptroller Mendoza was referring to the murder of police officer Enrique Martinez. Our hearts continue to break for Officer Martinez’s loved ones, who undoubtedly feel the pain of their loss daily. We would like to leave our comments there, but because of the Comptroller’s weaponization of this tragedy, we cannot.

As Comptroller Mendoza undoubtedly knows, Darion McMillian, who fired the fatal shots, was on pretrial release for possessing between 300-500 grams of cannabis, an offense that falls under no definition of “heinous” or “violent” anywhere in the country. Nothing about the allegations against McMillian indicated that he would participate in a shooting that would result in an officer’s death.

We should always evaluate how we can make our communities safer, including reviewing data and research, which is exactly what underlies every aspect of the Pretrial Fairness Act. Mendoza also took aim at a policy included in the law that allows people on pretrial electronic monitoring two periods of movement each week to complete essential tasks like going to the grocery store and laundromat or visiting a doctor. These provisions were put in place because the Cook County Sheriff’s Office had created a human rights crisis by preventing people on his electronic monitoring program from doing those tasks as well as activities like taking out the garbage or getting the mail. The program was so impractical and inhumane that Cook County began sunsetting it last month.

Mendoza also repeated the false talking point that people on pretrial electronic monitoring have “two days a week off the monitoring grid.” This three-year old piece of misinformation has already been debunked through reporting and simple consultation of actual law and practice. People on pretrial electronic monitoring are under GPS surveillance 24/7, including during any periods of essential movement.

Since the Pretrial Fairness Act took effect, violent and property crimes have decreased in urban and rural areas across the state. While we are not claiming this is a direct result of ending money bail, it does make clear that the claims that this law has made our communities less safe are quite simply false.

In a moment where misinformation is being used by officials in Washington D.C. to undermine our most basic rights, we should put a premium on facts. We hope that the Comptroller will stop spreading lies to court conservatives and spread fear.

Background on Darion McMillian’s case:

    - On May 12, 2023, he was charged with Manufacture/Delivery/Possession with Intent to Deliver 300-500 grams of Cannabis, a class 3 felony. The Will County State’s Attorney declined to file a detention motion using the law’s Willful Flight standard.
    - McMillian was ordered to submit to drug testing as a condition of his pretrial release. A violation was filed on October 16, 2024, and McMillian was subsequently charged with attempting to defraud a drug test and ordered onto electronic monitoring.
    - On October 21, 2024, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion to revoke pretrial release based on the second charge. Instead of hearing that motion, the judge issued a continuance and allowed Mr. McMillian to remain on electronic monitoring pending the revocation hearing.

Background on Pretrial Release:

On September 18, 2023, Illinois implemented the Pretrial Fairness Act and ended the use of money bond. Pretrial release decisions are now focused on safety and not access to money. A study of the law’s implementation conducted by researchers at Loyola University found that:

    - Comparing the first six months of 2023 (before the law took effect) to the first six months of 2024 (after the law took effect), the statewide volume of reported crimes declined 11%. Violent crime declined 7%, and property crime declined 14%.
    - The number of people incarcerated pretrial decreased by 14% in urban areas and 25% rural counties after the law went into effect. While fewer people are being jailed now than before the Pretrial Fairness Act took effect, a significantly higher proportion of those who are jailed are facing violent or weapons-related charges than before the Pretrial Fairness Act.
    - Analysis of court data from 22 counties indicates that overall failure to appear warrant rates actually declined from 13.6% before the Pretrial Fairness Act to 12.5% after.
    - Detention hearings are longer under the Pretrial Fairness Act (median 10-30 minutes) than under the money bond system, when people were routinely jailed for weeks or months after very short hearings (median 4-6 minutes).
    - Detention hearings are now more transparent, with judges articulating reasons for their decisions, pointing to case-specific facts to support them, and establishing a record for appellate review.
    - Families were estimated to have paid over $140 million per year in money bond before the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act. An estimated $14 million was kept as administrative fees by counties, even for accused people whose cases were dismissed or who were found not guilty.

Discuss.

  29 Comments      


US DOJ: Illinois’ workplace privacy law impedes federal immigration authority

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Courthouse News…

The Department of Justice sued the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Labor, its director Jane Flanagan and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Thursday over a state workplace privacy law it says impedes on federal immigration authority.

The DOJ, in its lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois, says Illinois’ Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act — specifically recently-enacted amendments to the bill, which went into effect on January 1 — usurps the federal government’s control of employment eligibility verification. […]

Federal immigration legislation created the E-Verify program, which allows employers to determine that a prospective employee is legally authorized to work in the U.S, in 2003. The program electronically compares the information from an employee’s I-9 form to records already available to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If the records don’t match, the E-Verify program notifies the employer and prompts further action to confirm employment eligibility, which typically entails the employee contacting the Department of Homeland Security or the Social Security Administration. If an employee can’t correct the mismatched information, they could be terminated.

The amendments to the Illinois law prevent employers in the state from terminating employees if their information doesn’t match other forms in the E-Verify program, and require employers to notify employees of their rights under E-Verify programs and similar systems.

* US Department of Justice…

Based on its enumerated constitutional and sovereign powers to conduct relations with foreign nations, the Federal Government has broad authority to establish immigration laws, the execution of which States cannot obstruct or take discriminatory actions against. Despite these prohibitions, the employment of unauthorized aliens by United States employers remains a substantial problem and encourages illegal entry into the country. Indeed, employment is one of the primary reasons aliens choose to enter the country illegally.

The United States’ complaint alleges SB0508 violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, along with laws enacted by Congress to combat the employment of illegal aliens, including the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which prohibits employers from knowingly hiring, recruiting, referring, or employing aliens without appropriate work authorization.

Moreover, SB0508 imposes additional notification requirements on employers (at times delineating the time, place, and manner in which notification must be provided) and prohibitions that go beyond federal law. SB0508 also imposes sanctions on employers for failure to adhere to those requirements with civil fines as high as $10,000. Not only are these fines inconsistent with federal law, but such advance notice requirements could prompt an alien employee to not show up to work on the day of inspection or avoid detection by immigration authorities.

This isn’t the first time the DOJ has challenged Illinois’ immigration policies. In February, the Trump administration sued Illinois, the city of Chicago and Cook County over their sanctuary city laws.

* From the complaint…

As amended, SB0508 discourages the use of E-Verify, frustrates innovation of employment eligibility verification, and obfuscates E-Verify and Form I-9 inspection requirements by adding layers of protection for employees and imposing onerous and confusing notice requirements for Illinois employers beyond those required under the federal E-Verify program and the INA. Additionally, SB0508 allows the Illinois Department of Labor and employees to commence actions in an Illinois circuit court to enforce these new amendments. […]

In August 2024, Illinois enacted amendments to the state’s Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (“the Workplace Act”). 2 The SB0508 amendments: (1) regulate Illinois employers’ use of employment eligibility verification systems; (2) impose restrictions on use of those systems; and (3) provide civil and criminal sanctions for any violations of SB0508. These amendments, which took effect on January 1, 2025 (enacted under Illinois Public Act 103-0879 (SB0508) (“SB0508”)), are preempted and should be enjoined because they violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution in at least three ways.

First, certain provisions of SB0508 are expressly preempted by 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(h)(2), which disallows any state or locality from imposing civil or criminal sanctions on employers of unauthorized aliens (other than through licensing and similar laws). Second, the challenged provisions of SB0508 are field preempted because they provide additional regulation in the field of administrative processes governing (1) Form I-9 documentation and inspection, (2) and E-Verify even though Congress has occupied the field. Third, the challenged provisions of SB0508 are conflict preempted by IRCA because SB0508 stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of Congress—to root out unauthorized employment and to encourage an employer’s voluntary participation in E-Verify.

* The Lever in August…

This push for E-Verify aligns with mandates set by Project 2025, a nearly 900-page initiative for a second Trump presidency that seeks to reshape the federal government. The document argues that state or local governments receiving federal emergency aid should be required to use E-Verify to prove their employees’ documentation status. Additionally, the document states that “Congress should also permanently authorize E-Verify and make it mandatory.”

* SB508’s sponsor Sen. Javier Cervantes is working to expand the law to give more protections to immigrant employees. Press release…

“For many immigrant workers, the E-Verify system can be confusing and complicated,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This initiative will give people the option to utilize legal support in communications with their employer so they are not taken advantage of, and establish the rights they are entitled to as legal, hardworking employees.”

Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system, which compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees upon receiving this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.

Last year, Cervantes passed legislation that required employers to give employees time to correct documentation discrepancies, and bar employers from taking any adverse action against the employee because of a discrepancy. This year, he is expanding on the law with his new legislation, Senate Bill 2339.

The new initiative would ensure that employees’ rights are protected if an employer has received notice of E-Verify document discrepancies, including the right to be free from adverse action solely because of a receipt of a discrepancy notice from a federal entity, the right to receive notice from the employer within five business days after their receipt of the notification, and more. It also would establish a procedure to resolve violations of these protections, and would create pathway for the employee to take legal action against the employer should these rights be violated.

Additionally, the measure would enable attorneys or others to act as an employee’s authorized representative with written notice to the employer in discussions of their E-Verify status. It would also require employers to provide an explanation of the employee’s right to have legal representation present during any meetings between the employee and the employer in notices sent between them.

These additions intend to strengthen the legal protections for employees facing E-Verify no match notifications, which can be a confusing process enflamed by hostile actions from their employers.

“Even with the new protections in place, employees may still face retaliatory action,” said Cervantes. “This initiative will ensure workers have the opportunity to fight against unjust treatment based on their E-Verify status, and advocate for the rights they are entitled to as workers in Illinois.”

Sen. Cervantes’ bill is awaiting House action.

  6 Comments      


What the heck?

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This doesn’t make any sense to me. “Damaged goods”? How is that in any way an effective argument against US Rep. Lauren Underwood? How was she ever “damaged”? So why would the Pritzker people allegedly use that line against her if it cannot possibly be explained or proved?

This is just a weird and puzzling development…

One public poll released last month showed Underwood and Krishnamoorthi leading Stratton, and the Pritzker team, according to multiple sources, is focusing first on discouraging Underwood from a Senate run. […]

Multiple sources told NBC 5 Chicago Pritzker and his team are working behind the scenes, telling donors Underwood is “damaged goods.” […]

At a news conference Monday, Pritzker denied he was discouraging anyone from entering the Democratic Senate primary.

Pritzker was asked by the same reporter Monday whether he was telling any candidates that “it’s not their turn.” He said it was a “ridiculous” claim…

Remember, I ran for Congress when I was 31 years old, and there were an awful lot of people who said to me that ‘it’s not your turn.’ I ran anyway. I think in fact, we need, you know, more young people in the new generation. You know, we’ve had lots of people serving in public office when there’s an open opportunity, everybody who’s interested in running should step forward and do so. I would not dissuade somebody from running for public office.

Now we’ve moved on to “damaged goods.”

Also, the alleged “damaged goods” claim is never explained. Perhaps because it can’t be explained.

This whole thing is odd.

* And that poll? C’mon. The organization backing Underwood has yet to disclose who conducted its alleged poll despite repeated requests for disclosure, which never, ever happens…


Fishy as all getout. I refuse to believe anything out of that operation until I see the actual poll, if it really exists. Could that possible survey concoction be why Underwood is labeled as “damaged”? Seems like a stretch. She didn’t run the “poll.” And if it is the case, then why were the “poll” results prominently mentioned in the story?

* Underwood’s consultant made a very good argument that the alleged attack is nonsensical and wouldn’t work…

That post was deleted, by the way.

* Hey, maybe it’s all true. The Pritzker folks do have super-sharp elbows, after all. And three Black women (Robin Kelly, Lauren Underwood and Juliana Stratton) are interested in the job, so something may have to give. But if Team JB did say this, then they’re really stupid. They ain’t usually stupid. And I’ve not heard a peep about any Underwood oppo.

Something just doesn’t smell right here.

Gonna be a wild year, campers.

Your thoughts?

  43 Comments      


Healing Communities: UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Provides Free Physicals For Special Olympics

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

To participate in Special Olympics, aspiring athletes must first get a physical. Yet some children who want to compete don’t have insurance, a primary care doctor or transportation to get an appointment. That’s where UChicago Medicine AdventHealth comes in. For the past three years, at Special Olympics Screening Events held in Bedford Park, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth residents have provided the needed physicals for free.

“One of the things that drew me to medicine is to be able to give back,” said Dr. Sravani Sagireddy. “It’s really nice to be able to step into the community and help people who really need it.”

At the screening events, the residents perform vision, hearing and motor ability tests. They carefully assess each child for medical conditions that might make it unsafe for that child to participate in athletics.

Special Olympics President and CEO Peter Beale-DelVecchio said UChicago Medicine AdventHealth “has been an incredible partner for us” and that the four-hospital health system is “helping us do more and more all the time.”

Beyond the 24/7 care provided within their facilities, hospitals and health systems across Illinois are having a positive impact on communities by addressing community needs and providing accessible care. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities.

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Today’s must-read

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Steve Metsch at the Tribune…

East Leyden High School science teacher Víctor Gómez knew something was up Wednesday morning thanks to a maintenance worker.

Just before noon, the worker told Gómez he and his students had to evacuate their classroom and relocate to the band room because of a broken water pipe.

“I didn’t see any water. I thought, this is odd,” Gómez said.

Moments later, he was proven correct as he led his students into the band room.

Gomez broke into a huge smile when he walked through an archway made of yellow, blue and white balloons just inside the doorway.

Festive music filled the air, courtesy of Mariachi Estrellas De Chicago. And as Gómez walked in, school officials, teachers, parents, students and his family began applauding and cheering for the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year, as declared by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Go read the whole thing…

“You can give as many speeches as you want but if you’re not working with people, nothing will get done,” [Gómez] said.

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Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

‘You showed up in my life at the perfect time’

On any given day, nearly 26,000 Illinois residents experience homelessness.

Last summer, “Trinity,” a 33-year-old mom from central Illinois, was one of them.

Trinity and her children had moved into an emergency shelter, which partners with a Medicaid health plan to host mobile clinic events at their facility.

When Trinity showed up at an event, the scope of her family’s medical needs became clear. The family had visited emergency rooms twice in the past week. All of her children were overdue for well-child exams. And Trinity was 16 weeks pregnant—without any prenatal care.

Practitioners acted swiftly, checking up on the kids and performing prenatal assessments on Trinity. She was prescribed medication for extremely high blood pressure and monitored at three subsequent clinic events.

In November, Trinity delivered a healthy baby boy. And she brought him home to long-term housing she secured near the shelter—with assistance from her health plan.

“You showed up in my life at the perfect time,” Trinity says. “You have helped me so much, and I don’t feel alone.”

Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans

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Open thread

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Punk poetry…

When there’s no future, how can there be sin?
We’re the flowers in the dustbin
We’re the poison in your human machine
We’re the future, your future

“Guitar work and progression is like mine,” Chuck Berry said of the song. “Good backbeat,” As much as they claimed to be a filthy rotten break from the past, the Sex Pistols built on that past to create their sound.

The drum syncopation in the repeated lines “No future, no future, no future for you” just blew me away when I first heard it - and it still does today.

* Anyway, tell us what’s happening in your local world.

  15 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Bally’s halts Chicago casino construction over questions about waste hauler dogged by mob allegations. Sun-Times…

    - D&P Construction Co., Inc., is providing dumpsters for the Bally’s work site in River West.

    - Two decades ago, the company’s involvement in the construction of a proposed casino in Rosemont helped torpedo the project over concerns by regulators of organized crime influence.

    - The state government agency, which ultimately answers to Gov. JB Pritzker, released a written statement Thursday saying: “The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) issued an order to cease construction work on the Bally’s Chicago permanent casino in connection with a pending IGB investigation into the use of undisclosed and unapproved vendors at the construction site.

* Related stories…

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Illinois Answers Project | Gun Stolen From a Room Full of Chicago Cops Ended Up Being Used in a Series of Shootings: Last month, the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the stolen gun and how — 16 months later — the police appeared to have made little progress in finding out who stole it or how a type of gun notoriously used in street violence wound up in the hands of a teenage boy. Now, newly obtained police records show, it turns out that the gun is known to have been used in three violent crimes after it was stolen from the police station.

* Capitol News Illinois | ‘Never asked to be a part of this somber club’: Illinois honors fallen police officers: Treasurer Mike Frerichs also gave an emotional speech honoring his cousin, a California police officer who recently died. Frerichs’ office provides a college scholarship fund for children of first responders who died on the job. Former ISP Trooper Kim Cessna, who leads a nonprofit for family members of fallen police officers, gave a personal remembrance of her colleague Thompsen, who was killed in a crash last October. “We take these memories with us, allowing them to guide us, reminding us the beauty they brought into our lives,” Cessna said. “We carry their love in our hearts, and we let that love become a source of strength.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* WAND | Illinois House GOP strongly oppose potential tax hikes in FY26 budget: House GOP budgeteers told reporters in Springfield Thursday that they have ongoing discussions with Gov. JB Pritzker’s Office of Management and Budget. Although, the minority party has only participated in a few budget meetings with House Democrats. Republicans said some progressive Democrats are calling for a graduated income tax. The Illinois Revenue Alliance is also calling for multiple revenue enhancements which could raise taxes by $6 billion.

* Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker creates nicknames for Trump to call him, including ‘JBeefy,’ in Jimmy Kimmel appearance: Pritzker called Trump an authoritarian who is “tearing apart the things that really matter to working families across the United States.” And he urged Americans to show their displeasure in Republican-led districts. “We’ve got to be out there, loud, proud, stand up, speak out,” Pritzker said. Kimmel told Pritzker, “when you go to New Hampshire, it’s because you’re planning to run for president.” “Or you’re going skiing. There are other reasons to go to New Hampshire,” Pritzker said.

*** Statewide ***

* Sun-Times | Illinois’ most endangered buildings list includes Bernie Mac’s high school, a Frank Lloyd Wright home: Landmarks Illinois on Thursday included Chicago Vocational, at 2100 E. 87th St., on its yearly list of the state’s 10 most endangered buildings. The preservation group cited the school’s shrunken enrollment and its vacated and fenced-off Anthony Avenue wing, “which formerly housed the heavy industry vocational programs,” as reason for the listing. Designed by the school system’s chief architect, John C. Christensen, Chicago Vocational is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Restaurant group bets big on the Loop with new spots anchored to hotels: “Our bread and butter is the Loop,” said Chief Operating Officer Brad Alaoui. “We believe 100% in the neighborhood. It’s coming back. We’ve gone through the trenches of it, but I feel like there’s a bright future.” It’s not just optimism driving the restaurant group. As it expands, Roanoke is building a new kind of business model indicative of the post-pandemic reality for downtown restaurants. No longer able to rely solely on heavy five-days-a-week daytime traffic, restaurants must pursue other options. For some, that means relying more on catering or to-go orders than walk-in business, or shifting hours of operations.

* ABC Chicago | Woman accused of squatting in South Side home arrested, charged with burglary, forgery: The couple said when they arrived with police, the woman inside claimed she was the new owner and had so-called mortgage documents to prove her purchase. The couple said police wouldn’t arrest the woman because it was a civil matter. But after doing some digging, the couple said they got a call from a CPD detective informing them they’d be taking a closer look at the case. “I knew the ID was fake,” Marcia Lee said. I knew the documentation was fake. I’m just super excited that they finally got her out.”

* Sun-Times | Loss of longtime Uptown day care center leaves families devastated: Her troubles with the landlord began in 2015, when Parker began renovations and discovered leaks in the ceilings of some of the storefronts. Parker paused the remodel and contacted the landlord, but she said the problems weren’t fixed. By 2019 the conditions worsened. Water “rained” down walls from a plumbing problem in one of the apartments above the day care, damaging books and other supplies. A substance that appeared to be mold developed.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* ABC Chicago | Chicago doctors frustrated as measles cases spread into Cook County: ‘This is an effective vaccine’: “We’ve had 11 people hospitalized, three deaths, more than 800 cases throughout the U.S., a clear difference from years prior,” said Dr. Max Brito, an infectious diseases professor at University of Illinois Chicago. […] “The other thing that makes measles different is people can have long-term consequences; so, years later, they can get encephalitis,” Davis said. Infectious disease experts say over 90% of people who get measles are not vaccinated.

* Daily Southtown | Harvey Ald. Colby Chapman removed, arrested at council meeting, city says: A Harvey alderwoman has been charged with misdemeanor offenses after being forcibly removed by police during Monday’s City Council meeting, according to the city. It was the latest skirmish involving 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman, charged last year after a dispute with the city’s administrator, although the matter appears not to have advanced in court. Chapman did not respond to messages seeking comment on the latest arrest. She has previously said her vocal criticism of city affairs under Mayor Christopher Clark had resulted in retailiation by the mayor.

* CBS Chicago | Sentencing Friday for Illinois landlord convicted in hate crime murder of Palestinian boy: Joseph Czuba was convicted of one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime in the attack that killed Wadee Alfayoumi and seriously injured his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in 2023. […] Czuba could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sentencing is expected to start at 9:30 a.m. at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet.

* Daily Herald | ‘We need to voice our concerns’: Suburbs join in on global May Day rallies: As the work day concluded Thursday afternoon, hundreds of people lined both sides of Northwest Highway in Palatine to protest President Donald Trump’s policies as part of May Day, or International Worker’s Day, rallies held around the globe. With Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime” playing in the background, protesters carried signs, urged observers to “rise up/fight back,” waved flags and cheered drivers who honked their horns in solidarity.

* Naperville Sun | Water main replacement at Ogden and Washington in Naperville going to be ‘disruptive’: Work began last week and is expected to continue until about October, he said. It will be completed in stages. The existing water main along Ogden and Washington dates back to the 1930s, according to Parrish. It’s also undersized for what the city needs it to do, he said. Typically, water mains have a 100-year lifespan, Parrish said. Replacing them as they near the end of their useful life is important because it helps the city avoid leaks from aging infrastructure, he said.

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect relaunches downtown alfresco dining on Prospect Avenue: Once again, six on-street parking spaces will be converted into a protected outdoor dining area in front of the Lady Dahlia Tequila Bar, 127 W Prospect Ave., and the Patina Wine Bar, 133 W Prospect Ave. Outdoor diners will be sheltered within concrete barriers — village officials said Lady Dahlia and the Patina Wine Bar collaborate with the village on such beautification elements as planter boxes, umbrellas and decorative lighting.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Solar farm, energy storage facility proposed in Iroquois Co.: The project, estimated to cost $100 million, is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 8,000 homes each year while creating more than 100 local jobs. It is also supposed to generate economic benefits including an estimated $8-9 million in new local property tax revenue over the project’s life span to the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district, Buckley Fire Protection District, Parkland Community College, Iroquois County and Artesia Township.

* WCIA | Carle doctors testing out ‘digital intelligence technology’ in certain appointments: Some doctors now use Nabla, digital intelligence technology that transcribes the symptoms patients are telling doctors about. Dr. Ryan Porter, an ear surgeon, has been using it with most patients for about six months. He feels it helps him better connect with the person in front of him. Plus, it’s faster. “It takes the history of the patient at the same time I’m hearing it, so we essentially have two ears hearing the same story,” he explained. “When I get back to my office, I open that same encounter in Epic, which is all privately transferred, and I review that information.”

* KWQC | Lawmakers want answers from Army about future of Rock Island Arsenal: “They have a significant portion of our GDP in the region from the manufacturing they do there,” he said of the base. “And so, that’s always been a critical operation of the Quad-Cities, for the health of the economy, for keeping our residents employed.” The Arsenal is the Quad-Cities’ largest employer, with 7,500 workers. First Army’s headquarters is on the Island, as well as the Army’s only active foundry.

* KWQC | Illinois Lt. Governor, senate hopeful Juliana Stratton slams proposed job cuts at the Rock Island Arsenal: Stratton joins a bipartisan group of lawmakers from Illinois and Iowa who have tried to convince federal leaders to back off of cuts to the Arsenal. Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Chuck Grassley (R) along with Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) and Eric Sorensen (D).

* KFVS | Southern Illinois strawberry season now underway after historic rainfall: Co-owner Austin Flamm said strawberries do better in a drier environment, and the only effects to this year’s crop was a later start by about three weeks. “We were able to open on Saturday. We’re a few weeks later opening later this year. That’s due to the cool and wet weather we had early in the spring. We finally got some sunshine and warm days that really pushed the berries along. Typically when we open we are worried about the supply because we aren’t in full production yet. But it seems how late before we got started, production does not seem to be an issue right now,” Flamm said.

*** National ***

* USDA | United States and Mexico Reach Agreement to Resume Eradication Efforts on New World Screwworm: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced today that Mexico has committed to eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft, and waive customs duties on eradication equipment aiding in the response to the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). Due to this agreement the ports will remain open to livestock imports, however if at any time these terms are not upheld, port closure will be revisited. This agreement follows Secretary Rollins’ letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan on Saturday pushing for a resolution of the restrictions.

* ARS Technica | RFK Jr. rejects cornerstone of health science: Germ theory: It’s important to note here that our understanding of Kennedy’s disbelief in germ theory isn’t based on speculation or deduction; it’s based on Kennedy’s own words. He wrote an entire section on it in his 2021 book vilifying Fauci, titled The Real Anthony Fauci. The section is titled “Miasma vs. Germ Theory,” in the chapter “The White Man’s Burden.”But, we did reach out to Health and Human Services to ask how Kennedy’s disbelief in germ theory influences his policy decisions. HHS did not respond.

* Politico | Trump to rename Veterans Day as ‘Victory Day for World War I’: In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the move was needed to honor the unique U.S. sacrifices in both World Wars. Trump also announced he would rename Victory in Europe Day, which is commemorated on May 8, to “Victory in World War II Day” to recognize that “we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.”

* Sun-Times | Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR: The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and have been preparing for the possibility of stiff cuts since Trump’s election, as Republicans have long complained about them. Paula Kerger, PBS’ CEO and president, said in a statement last month that the Trump administration’s effort to rescind funding for public media would “disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.”

  20 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

  Comment      


Live coverage

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

Canadian electric bus and truck maker Lion Electric Co. is unlikely to survive as the Quebec government turned down an opportunity to put money into the firm along with local investors.

“We believed in Lion’s potential, but the recovery plan submitted did not justify the re-injection of significant government sums,” provincial Economy Minister Christine Frechette said in a post on X. “Unfortunately, it’s clear that providing Lion with additional funding would not be a responsible decision.”

The Quebec government had already lost $128 million on investments in Lion and the Canadian government $21.6 million. The company filed for creditor protection in December after it failed to repay some debts and couldn’t find a buyer for the business or its assets. It laid off hundreds of employees and suspended its factory in Joliet that same month.

An investor group involving real estate magnate Vincent Chiara created a plan to try to revive the company, but at a much smaller scale. Under that plan, Lion would focus exclusively on building electric school buses at its plant in Saint-Jerome, Quebec, and stop producing commercial and tractor trucks.

* Patch…

Two years after 600 dignitaries including Governor J.B. Pritzker, both Illinois Senators and members of Congress attended the grand opening ceremony for Joliet’s newly opened Lion Electric bus manufacturing plant near Channahon, the equipment inside the facility is being sold off on May 15 at a public auction, Joliet Patch has learned.

“Public Auction Due to closure of US EV Manufacturing facility – Short Notice!” the Workingman Capital website reads.

…Added By Rich… In case you’re wondering, Lion Electric wasn’t scheduled to receive any state money until early next year, and only if they had 608 full-time jobs by the end of this year and 1,228 jobs by the end of 2028.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Advocates press for continued funding to college test prep support program: Supporters of a state program providing free test preparation to students at public universities and some community colleges said Wednesday the effort has saved students over $8 million in just two months, but needs $10 million in state funding to remain in operation. Illinois launched the program in late February, becoming the first state to offer free comprehensive test preparation for college students and already serving more than 200,000 students statewide. The program, a collaboration between the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the educational service company Kaplan, allows students free access to more than 40 prep courses including graduate-level admissions exams such as the LSAT for law school, as well as courses in data analytics, cybersecurity and real estate.

* WAND | Juvenile justice: Bill providing nonviolent youth resources to succeed heads to House: This plan could require the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to provide employment opportunities, educational resources, and parental mentorship training for youth who committed nonviolent crimes. […] Trauma-informed behavioral health services and assistance applying for public health programs would also be offered starting July 1, 2026.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Illinois ranks 20th in the nation for hospital safety, with more hospitals getting A’s and D’s: It’s possible that some Illinois hospitals made changes in hopes of improving patient safety and boosting their grades in order to attract more patients, said Cheryl Larson, president and CEO of the Midwest Business Group on Health, which helps facilitate the Leapfrog hospital survey in Illinois. “That’s the whole point of this, is driving people to the best, safest hospitals in the state of Illinois,” Larson said. Though Illinois improved its ranking overall, the ratings were a mixed bag for individual Illinois hospitals, with more hospitals notching A grades but also more earning D’s than when grades were last released in the fall.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Proposal to Allow CPD to Impose ‘Snap Curfews’ to Stop Teen Gatherings Fails to Advance: After more than five hours of debate, the Chicago City Council’s Public Safety Committee took no action on the plan, backed by Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling but opposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), who crafted the measure after two high-profile shootings in Streeterville, a neighborhood popular with tourists and wealthy Chicagoans, will bring the measure back for a vote at 1 p.m. Monday.

* NBC Chicago | Residents protest hotel proposal near Obama Center amid nearly $500 rent hikes: Philon Green was forced to move out of Woodlawn because of skyrocketing rent prices. He wanted to stay at Jackson Park Terrace — down the street from the under-construction Obama Presidential Center — but his landlord raised the rent from about $800 to $1,300. […] Being priced out of the neighborhood was a concern shared at a protest Tuesday morning by other Woodlawn and South Shore residents, who now fear rental prices will rise if a proposed luxury hotel gets city approval.

* WBEZ | Mayor Brandon Johnson took your calls on crime, transportation and housing: Doug in the South Loop asked about traffic safety and the mayor highlighted his plans for bike- and bus-only lanes to move people through the city safely. Johnson also talked about the city recently joining a federal lawsuit that essentially seeks to preserve the jobs of federal employees targeted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency.

* Sun-Times | Deal in the works to loan Columbus statue removed from Arrigo Park to Italian-American group: The tentative settlement between the Chicago Park District and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans resolves a long-running lawsuit filed by the group after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot removed both Columbus statues from their pedestals after they became targets of vandalism during the civic unrest following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Both Columbus statues have been in storage ever since in a Park District warehouse on the South Side.

* Block Club | Deborah’s Place Marks 40 Years Of Helping Unhoused Women In Chicago: “I’d love for us to help put ourselves out of business,” said Wilson, CEO of the Chicago nonprofit, which has spent the past four decades working to end homelessness for women. “That’s the dream.” Wilson has seen a lot of other organizations come and go in that time. One of the main reasons Deborah’s Place has not only survived but grown is its culture of adaptability, she said. “As the world changes, we’ve been able to step back and ask, ‘How do we keep our mission and values intact while learning new ways of serving women?’” she said.

* WGN | City of Chicago, Jussie Smollett reach settlement in civil lawsuit, according to federal court documents: The city filed a civil lawsuit against Smollett in April 2019, seeking to recoup about $130,000 — the amount of money spent on overtime for CPD investigators who looked into Smollett’s initial attack claim. According to federal court documents, the parties contacted the courtroom deputy on Wednesday “to advise they have settled, but need more time to finalize documentation.” A status hearing in U.S. District Court was initially set for Wednesday but has been reset to Thursday, May 29.

* Vintage Chicago Tribune | The 40-year saga of State of Illinois Center: May 6 marks 40 years since the State of Illinois Center was dedicated. The pink-and-blue building with stunning atrium and walls made of glass, was championed by Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson as the catalyst for a revitalization of Chicago’s Loop. Thompson also approved its futuristic design and later the structure was renamed for him. The center, designed to house thousands of government workers from dozens of agencies, was initially touted as, “A building for the year 2000.” Not long after the dawn of the new millennium, however, cash-strapped state officials began looking for ways to sell it — or demolish it.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Naperville Sun | DuPage County shares little info on ransomware attack as investigation continues: “Thanks to extensive planning and preparedness efforts, we have been able to ensure the continuity of operations for the residents of DuPage County,” Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton, Circuit Court Clerk Candice Adams and Sheriff Jim Mendrick said in a joint statement Wednesday in response to questions over where the situation stands. Asked whether any sensitive information was compromised by the attack, county spokesman Evan Shields declined comment, citing an active investigation.

* Daily Southtown | Park Forest water ranks 4th in state contest, but quality comes with high cost: After consistently winning the title for the best drinking water in the south suburbs, the village of Park Forest is celebrating a fourth place ranking across Illinois for its water’s taste, appearance and aroma. Public Works Director Roderick Ysaguirre and chief water plant operator Wendy Schafer, who represented the village at Illinois Watercon in Peoria, said what makes Park Forest’s water special is its independent treatment plant as well as the water itself, which the village retrieves from underground wells.

* Daily Herald | As Schakowsky decision looms, another Democrat announces run for her seat: Chicagoan Justin Ford this week announced he’ll seek the Democratic nomination for the congressional post Schakowsky, of Evanston, has held since 1999. “I think we need not just new faces but a new type of leader,” Ford said in an email Thursday.

* Daily Herald | Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard opening burger spot at Hollywood Casino food halls in Aurora and Joliet: The Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will offer a fresh dining experience at the new casinos, including an all-new burger concept from celebrity chef Stephanie Izard, and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, according to a news release. Izard is best known as the first female chef to win Bravo’s reality cooking competition “Top Chef,” taking the title during the show’s fourth season.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | State Police provide updates on Chatham after-school tragedy: While there, Akers submitted blood and urine samples and was then released. Kelly said that testing has since indicated that she was not under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances. […] Kelly said investigators have taken data from Akers’ car. While some evidence indicates Akers may have suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel, Kelly stressed this evidence is not conclusive so far. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.

* NPR Illinois | Larger driver’s services office to open in Springfield; smaller ones are closing: The former driver’s services facility on Dirksen Parkway will reopen as the Springfield Secretary of State’s Flagship Center. The change also means several other sites in the city will close. Secretary Alexi Giannoulias said it will showcase the efficiencies generated by modernization initiatives. “Our continued effort to modernize the office allows us to not only improve the customer experience, but consolidate operations, which allows us to provide better service to residents,” he said.

*** National ***

* NYT | How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding: Rohrer’s work was published around the same time that other researchers were finding, in high-quality and replicated studies, that even fleeting social interactions could improve happiness. Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder, researchers both then at the University of Chicago, conducted an experiment in which they asked people to interact with strangers on public transit — to try to have a moment of connection — and found that the commuters seemed to get a mood boost from the exercise. Epley and Schroeder’s research and other studies have found that people underestimated both how much they would enjoy the experience and how open the strangers would be to it.

* Politico | RFK Jr.’s politically explosive search for autism’s ‘root cause’: Kennedy’s grim depiction of the most profound cases of autism — many “will never use a toilet unassisted,” he said in April — sparked condemnation from several groups devoted to championing autistic people. They said his remarks perpetuate stigmas associated with a condition that has a broad spectrum of manifestations — and, coupled with his well-known vaccine skepticism, color any attempt by the agency he leads, the Department of Health and Human Services, to conduct further autism research.

* NYT | Trump Administration Cancels $1 Billion in Grants for Student Mental Health: The Trump administration has halted $1 billion for mental health services for children, saying that the programs funded by a bipartisan law aimed at stemming gun violence in schools were no longer in “the best interest of the federal government.” Lawmakers authorized the money in 2022 after a former student opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers and injuring 17 others. The measure, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, broke a decades-long impasse between congressional Republicans and Democrats on addressing gun violence by focusing largely on improving mental health support for students.

  7 Comments      


Musical chairs (Updated)

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Politico looks at possible candidates if US House members and others decide to run for US Senate…

The most competitive of the three races will likely be for the 8th District seat now held by Krishnamoorthi. Branding expert Christ Kallas has already jumped into the race, and Junaid Ahmed, who primaried Krishnamoorthi in 2022 (and got 30 percent of the vote that year), is looking to jump in, too. Others lining up campaigns or considering it are state Sen. Cristina Castro, state Rep. Anna Moeller, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and businessman Neil Khot.

[Robin] Kelly’s 2nd District seat is being eyed by Cook County Board Commissioner Donna Miller and state Sen. Robert Peters.

In Underwood’s 14th District, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant has been quietly assembling a campaign team should the seat open up. Bertino-Tarrant had served as a state senator and as Will County regional superintendent of schools.

And get this: Chicago Ald. Timmy Knudsen is looking into running for state treasurer if Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs joins the Senate race. Knudsen is a two-term Chicago alderman and former lawyer for investment funds. He would be the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected statewide.

Additions, subtractions, other thoughts?

…Adding… Daily Herald…

With veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky expected to announce Monday if she’ll run for reelection in Illinois’ 9th District, another newcomer has launched a campaign for the seat.

Chicagoan Justin Ford this week announced he’ll seek the Democratic nomination for the congressional post Schakowsky, of Evanston, has held since 1999.

“I think we need not just new faces but a new type of leader,” Ford said in an email Thursday.

  29 Comments      


Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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Comptroller Mendoza points to SAFE-T Act provision, says it’s time to ‘get rid of policies that have not made our communities safer and have in fact, put officers and residents at risk’ (Updated)

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s remarks as prepared for delivery today at the 2025 Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Springfield…

Good morning officers, families, dignitaries and everyone present today to honor the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and members of law enforcement, including for the first time ever, our furry heroes, the K-9 honorees. Thank you for coming. A special thank you to Dave Johnson – for your leadership and the invitation to join you all here today.

Here we are again. And again. And again. Brought together to support each other and grieve together. Again, adding more names to the list of fallen officers. A list we all wish was empty. But it’s not. It’s got so many names on it. This year, it has 9 more. Nine families joining the club that no one ever wants to join – the Gold Star Families. My heart goes out to each of you. I’m so sorry for your loss. And I wish I could say, never again. Not one more name. But we all know there will be more. And we will meet here again. And again. And again.

I consider it a huge honor to have the privilege every year to get to share some words with all of you. But how do I put words together that will do justice to our heroic officers who sacrificed their lives in service to others. How do I do right with my words, to honor those of you thankfully still with us, who continue to put your lives on the line for us every day? How can my words ever be enough to bring even the tiniest comfort to families who have jagged holes in their hearts?

Words don’t really matter. Actions do.

When we tell the police that we love them and respect them but enact policies that hurt them and make them less safe, we’re not loving or respecting them.

Even though I don’t make law enforcement policy in my statewide comptroller position, as the sister of a police officer and as an elected official with a voice, when I reflect on whether I’ve done enough to speak up for you or speak out against policies that put you at risk, I recognize that I could have and can do more.

PLATE OF BUTTONS

I have a big piece of furniture, a big wine buffet at the entrance of my house. Ironically enough, there’s no wine in it, but that’s not the point of my story. The point is that when I first put that piece of furniture there, I put a really pretty decorative glass plate on top in the middle of the buffet. I thought it looked nice. One day I came home from campaigning, and I took my political button off my coat and threw it on the plate. I was city clerk of Chicago at the time. Over time, it became a collection plate for political buttons – every year, adding new ones from different candidates running for other offices.

As an elected official, I have attended many funerals for fallen police officers. It is now common to get a button of the fallen officer, at the wake or visitation service. I started putting those buttons on the plate with my political buttons. The sad truth is that the buttons of the fallen officers whose services or funerals I’ve attended, are now overtaking my political button collection. The most recent buttons added to that collection were Officer Luis Huesca and Officer Enrique Martinez’ buttons. I was at Mrs. Huesca’s home, and I saw the collection that her own son had of his colleagues, of his friends who had died in the line of service, the first most tragic death for him starting with his friend and fellow officer Eduardo Marmalejo, followed by Officer Conrad Gary. Imagine that his collection as it grew – and it did grow – ended with his own button being added to that collection. I’ve decided to keep the buttons of the fallen officers, top and center view, for me to look at their faces every time I enter or leave my home. They are a sad but stark reminder of the fact that the policy decisions made by the names on the political buttons beneath them, will have an impact on how many more police officer buttons are added to that plate.

When we give more rights to the criminals then we do to our police officers, we end up with dead officers and increased crime in our communities. That’ll mean more buttons on that plate.

Allowing people accused of violent crimes like murder, attempted murder, or predatory sexual assault to be released on electronic monitoring, with two days a week off the monitoring grid is terrible policy.

Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez would be with us right now, and not on a button or on the memorial wall, if the monster that murdered him was locked up instead of out committing crimes while on an electronic monitor.

So we can’t say we love the police and then fail them miserably – keep passing laws or policies that make their jobs harder and put them at greater risk.

I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating. It is wrong to show more concern for the cop killer than for the cop.

It is time to get rid of policies that have not made our communities safer and have in fact, put officers and residents at risk – like the provision in the SAFE-T Act that permits violent offenders accused of heinous crimes, to be released on electronic monitoring with two days off.

Besides offering condolences to Mrs. Martinez, let’s honor her son’s sacrifice by fixing this. There’s no shame in course correcting. But there is shame in not fixing mistakes.

MALISSA TORRES

In addition to the officers whose names will be added to the memorial wall today, there is one that will not, but I want to mention. My heart goes out to Chicago Police Officer Malissa Torres, her family, and her CPD family. She tragically took her own life just a few weeks ago. This is a reminder that police work is perhaps the most physically and mentally unhealthy of all professions. It has a culture of silence that prevents an officer from asking for help and instead carrying their pain and trauma, alone, until they can no longer bear it.

And as unsafe as it is out in the streets, police officers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

This job strains relationships. Stressors like work/life balance challenges, lack of support, being overworked, burnt out. These things lead to depression and worse yet, to making terrible decisions you can’t undo. Know that you are not alone. That no matter how impossible and hopeless your situation might feel, there is always someone who loves you and needs you to fight through those demons. There is help for you.

Last weekend, I visited Cornerstone Retreat in Orion, IL near the Quad Cities. Dan & Tammy Roach are building something truly special: a 40-acre retreat focused on emotional health & wellness for first responders and their families. This place isn’t just a retreat – it’s a lifeline. They are already saving lives.

So whether it’s at an incredible place like theirs that specializes in peer-to-peer support, or just confiding in a friend, please find the strength to let someone in and get help.

CLOSING

In terms of the officers still with us, let’s appreciate that these brave men and women put on their uniform and do so knowing that they might not make it home at the end of their watch – too often sacrificing their lives for absolute strangers. But these officers are not strangers. They’re human beings. They have feelings and families. They’re our brothers and sisters. Sons and daughters. Husbands and wives. Moms and dads. They chose a profession, a calling, to deal with the worst elements of society, so that we don’t have to. So that we can naively think that the world is safer than it is.

From the bottom of my heart, to all the brave men and women who wear the uniform to protect us: Thank you. I love you for it.

But as I said last year, these officers don’t need us to love them. What they NEED is for their elected officials, their command, and the public to let them do their jobs.

When criminals get the benefit of the doubt while police are second-guessed at every turn, we fail our officers and we fail to keep our society safe.

Let’s honor our fallen heroes by stepping up for those who are still alive, risking their lives for all of us in this most honorable but thankless job.

I thank you and pray that St. Michael protect you, God bless you, and may you always make it home safely at the end of your watch.

Discuss.

…Adding… Sen. Peters has been a champion of the SAFE-T Act…


  77 Comments      


Repeal IFPA Now

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Frank Padak, President & CEO of Scott CU:
IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities.
“It’s not going to work…this would be absolutely devastating.”
Stop the Chaos for Our Military Families!



Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Securing The Future: How Ironworkers Power Energy Storage With Precision And Skill

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

As Illinois accelerates toward a clean energy future, ironworkers are doing more than just supporting the transition—they’re making it possible with safe, skilled, and reliable rigging and equipment setting on some of the state’s most critical energy storage projects.

Thanks to bold investments by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly, energy storage—especially battery systems—has become a centerpiece of the state’s green infrastructure. Behind the scenes, union ironworkers are the ones rigging and setting massive battery units and essential equipment with unmatched precision. These are not just construction tasks—they’re mission-critical operations that demand expertise, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to safety.

From anchoring battery enclosures to securing large-scale energy storage units in place, ironworkers are central to ensuring these projects meet performance and safety standards. Their contribution is foundational to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which is reshaping how Illinois stores and delivers clean power.

Including highly trained union labor on these complex jobs not only protects workers and communities—it guarantees the success of each installation. When you see a battery system supporting solar or wind energy in Illinois, know that ironworkers had a hand in setting it safely, skillfully, and reliably.

In every bolt tightened and every rig lifted, ironworkers are powering a greener tomorrow.

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Judge blames mistrials on ‘confusing’ jury notes, moves La Schiazza retrial to next year

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* First, some background from the Sun-Times, published last December…

Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza will face trial again June 3 after his first trial ended in September with a hung jury, a federal judge said Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman had previously delayed rescheduling La Schiazza’s trial, saying he first wanted to hear arguments on whether to acquit La Schiazza. But Gettleman shot down the former utility executive’s long-shot bid for an acquittal last week.

That means La Schiazza still faces charges that he bribed Madigan in 2017 by paying $22,500 to former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo after Acevedo left the Illinois General Assembly.

* Today’s update from Tribune reporter Jason Meisner…

One of the issues was that the man La Schiazza is accused of bribing, former House Speaker Michael Madigan, is scheduled to be sentenced June 13, which would have been in the middle of La Schiazza’s trial.

AUSA Tim Chapman tells Judge Gettleman a delay until the fall would have them “more time to consider our position, especially with our new U.S. attorney (Andrew Boutros) coming on board…He’s basically drinking from a firehose right now in the first few weeks since his arrival.”

Gettleman says he’s still considering the jury instructions.

“I think we’ve seen juries hang lately — including ours– because these instructions are terribly confusing. …I don’t want another hung jury. And I don’t think anybody does. I want these to be as plain as possible”

The judge is moving La Schiazza’s trial to January 2026.

Thoughts?

  14 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* NBC Chicago…

An Illinois bill that would prohibit Dave & Busters customers from wagering in the company’s app passed a Senate committee this week.

According to State Sen. Bill Cunningham, House Bill 2724 passed out of the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday, marking a step toward prohibiting the company from offering wagering services in its arcades. In a press release, he described the practice as “unregulated gambling” and said that arcades shouldn’t offer the option to wager on games.

“We have been extremely careful with how we regulate gambling in Illinois, whether that is on sports, table games or video poker,” Cunningham said in a statement. “Arcades marketed as family fun shouldn’t be in the business of exposing minors to gambling.”

The bill would prohibit other companies from introducing similar games, according to the General Assembly’s website.

Dave & Busters unveiled the option for customers last year, allowing them to wager on various arcade games like Hot Shots basketball and Skee-Ball. The functionality is available through the company’s app, according to CNBC.

* Sen. Laura Fine…

To further mitigate the harmful environmental impact and potential health risks from disposable food packaging, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure to prohibit the sale or distribution of food containers containing polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.

“When you take food to go, you may dispose of the containers in several minutes. However, if the disposable container is made of polystyrene, it can remain in our environment for many years. Styrene food packaging contains harmful chemicals that can leach into food, especially if the food is hot or acidic,” said Fine (D-Glenview).

“Polystyrene food containers do not break down naturally in the environment, and pieces of these containers are often found in our waterways and aquatic life.”

In 2023, Fine passed the Degradable Plastic Act to ban state agencies and universities from purchasing or using polystyrene by Jan. 1, 2025. Building on these efforts, Senate Bill 1531 would prohibit the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam food containers across Illinois starting Jan. 1, 2030.

Polystyrene foam contains styrene, a chemical that has been classified as a carcinogen and is linked to vision and hearing loss, poor memory and concentration, cancer, as well as nervous system damage.

“Pollution from polystyrene food containers is one of the leading forms of litter in beach cleanups across Lake Michigan,” said Fine. “I look forward to moving Illinois closer to our clean water and environmental safety goals.”

Senate Bill 1531 passed the Senate on Wednesday.

* The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association on SB1531…

“This proposal would have a direct impact on jobs, as polystyrene food service container manufacturers and suppliers employ more than 1,000 workers throughout Illinois. This isn’t a hypothetical, as production facilities have shut down in other states that have passed similar bans,” said Donovan Griffith, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Lawmakers are risking jobs on the false promise that this legislation will curb plastic use. Polystyrene is 100% recyclable and is being collected in Illinois and turned into other products. Banning it will simply encourage a shift to other plastics that require more raw materials and more energy to produce.”

* WCIA…

An Illinois State Senator is proposing a new bill that’ll require specific facilities to have an AED on site.

Senator Doris Turner is hoping to get the lifesaving machines into nursing homes, assisted living centers, shared housing and other places. There’s a nursing home in Savoy that doesn’t have any AEDs, however the nursing director at Clark-Lindsey in Urbana said they have more than 10.

One patient who lives at the Urbana nursing home said that’s what sparked his interest in staying there. […]

Current state law says physical fitness centers, police departments, public schools and a few other places are required to have AEDs inside their buildings.

Sen. Turner’s HB1287 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the bill now heads to the Senate floor.

* Sun-Times…

[An Acupuncture] treatment, known as the “five-needle protocol” or auricular acupuncture, is used to help curb cravings for people dealing with substance abuse. The Black Panthers and Young Lords political organizations adopted the practice decades ago, and advocates now are calling for its expanded use as a tool for community groups. […]

The question over who should be allowed to perform the treatment was at the center of a recent bill in the General Assembly. The measure would have allowed people who aren’t licensed acupuncturists to apply the therapy. These people would undergo training to do auricular acupuncture, though they still would be prohibited from doing acupuncture in other parts of the body.

The Illinois Society of Acupuncturists, which opposed the bill, in a statement said the training that would have allowed people to perform the five-needle protocol isn’t equivalent to the level of training from a specialist. […]

Jiménez says the bill won’t advance during this legislative session, but she is requesting a hearing and will push to bring the bill back during the next session. She is working with a coalition of workers in the mental health and harm reduction fields.

* Center Square…

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, leaves little doubt about where he stands on a measure now being debated in Springfield that seeks to raise the age a child can be arrested in Illinois for perpetrating a crime from 10 to 12 years old.

Introduced by state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, Senate Bill 1784 would also establish that arrests involving such minors can only be carried out as a last resort, in such instances where probable cause that they committed a crime is apparent, or if they have repeatedly failed to appear at scheduled hearings on the matter.

“If a juvenile does something at the age of 10, I think we definitely need to have parental involvement as the priority,” Ford told The Center Square. “And if there’s going to be charges made, I think that parents should be involved from day one, almost as if they’re being charged with the crime.” […]

After passing the Senate by a 33-17 vote, the measure now heads to the House for debate.

* Sen. Laura Murphy…

State Senator Laura Murphy is championing a measure to crack down on unlicensed car dealers deceiving consumers with sales of defective cars.

“In our current financial landscape, consumer protection is more important than ever,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Unlicensed car sellers pose significant risks to consumers, not just financially but also by putting the lives of unsuspecting customers in danger with cars that are of questionable quality.”

The goal is to make the already illegal practice of “curbstoning” — a scheme where individual sellers draw car shoppers to places like parking lots and side streets to sell used cars without a license — more difficult. The cars are sold for more money than they are worth and typically have significant issues such as water damage, mileage rollbacks, mechanical issues, or salvaged titles — which are only issued if the car has sustained enough damage to be declared a total loss.

Under the measure, vehicle dealers would not be able to park and advertise cars on public streets or highways, public parking lots or public property. Law enforcement agencies would be allowed to authorize towing services to remove a car if it is displayed for sale with a damaged, destroyed, removed, covered or altered vehicle identification number.

In addition, the legislation would create the Unlicensed Motor Vehicle Dealer Enforcement Task Force to review unlicensed car dealership enforcement in the state. The task force would recommend ways to extend additional protections to customers, investigate online sellers, and explore enhanced penalties and enforcement mechanisms. […]

House Bill 2751 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

* WAND…

State lawmakers hope to pass a bill in the final month of session to create an evidence-based funding model for Illinois public colleges and universities. Although, the idea has been met with intense criticism from the University of Illinois and some Senate Democratic leaders.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) and Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) are leading the effort to shake up the funding process for the state’s 12 public universities, as they argue funding should be based on the needs of each college rather than a flat method of distribution. […]

Advocates suggested investing at least $135 million in public universities over the next decade could help shift the burden of college costs away from students and families. Some argue an evidence-based funding model could also lead to 15,000 more college graduates each year. […]

Lightford ended Wednesday night’s intense subject matter hearing by criticizing the University of Illinois for sharing what she called misinformation about the bill. She said millions of dollars of financial aid and student support would not be at risk under her legislation.

* Sen. Lakesia Collins…

To help address health care deserts and ensure mothers get the care they need, State Senator Lakesia Collins is moving legislation to give certified nurse midwives more independence and greater flexibility in care they provide.

“This legislation will give certified nurse midwives more opportunities to collaborate, lead and deliver care families can trust,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “By modernizing outdated rules, we are making health care more accessible across Illinois.”

Currently, certified nurse midwives often have to collaborate formally with a physician to practice at full scope, but this can pose a challenge as more than one-third of Illinois counties lack maternity care. Under Collins’ legislation, House Bill 2688, CNMs would be allowed to provide out-of-hospital birth services at licensed birth centers without the need for a formal collaboration agreement, as long as they have permission from the birth center’s clinical director.

The legislation would also allow physicians who do not provide home birthing services the ability to collaborate with a CNM who does, which could assist in rural areas where there are limited birth care options for thousands of women. Further, the measure would protect access to this care by ensuring collaborative agreements do not prohibit a CNM from providing home birthing services. […]

House Bill 2688 passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee on Wednesday.

  14 Comments      


Illinois Medicaid: Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

‘You showed up in my life at the perfect time’

On any given day, nearly 26,000 Illinois residents experience homelessness.

Last summer, “Trinity,” a 33-year-old mom from central Illinois, was one of them.

Trinity and her children had moved into an emergency shelter, which partners with a Medicaid health plan to host mobile clinic events at their facility.

When Trinity showed up at an event, the scope of her family’s medical needs became clear. The family had visited emergency rooms twice in the past week. All of her children were overdue for well-child exams. And Trinity was 16 weeks pregnant—without any prenatal
care.

Practitioners acted swiftly, checking up on the kids and performing prenatal assessments on Trinity. She was prescribed medication for extremely high blood pressure and monitored at three subsequent clinic events.

In November, Trinity delivered a healthy baby boy. And she brought him home to long-term housing she secured near the shelter—with assistance from her health plan.

“You showed up in my life at the perfect time,” Trinity says. “You have helped me so much, and I don’t feel alone.”

Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans

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Open thread

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* And now for something a little different. From Vietnam, here’s Suboi…

Why throwing stones at people who are happy?

What up by you?

  2 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Mautino ready to “come back home” after 30+ years in Springfield. Starved Rock…

    - After spending more than half of his life involved with state government in Springfield, Frank Mautino is ready to spend more time back home in the Starved Rock area.
    - Mautino says when his 10-year term ends at the end of this year, that’s it for him. Mautino says one term has always been the plan, saying “realistically you don’t want a 74-year-old auditor general.” He will stay on until the Illinois Audit Commission picks a replacement.
    - Prior to being Auditor General, Mautino served 12 terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, on top of finishing out his late father’s term in Springfield.

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

* The governor will be at the Illinois State Library at 11 am to deliver remarks at the 40th Annual Police Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WBEZ | Chicago hasn’t seen an April with fewer murders since 1962: The city’s 115 murders through this year’s first four months mark the lowest January-through-April tally since 2014. Even if the city’s violence intensifies during summer, as it traditionally does, Chicago appears on pace to hit Mayor Brandon Johnson’s goal for 2025 to have fewer than 500 murders, making it the quietest year in a decade.

* Crain’s | With Trump cuts looming, Johnson hits Springfield to plead for cash: The visit comes roughly a month before state legislators will vote on a budget, and Johnson defended himself against criticism his demands are coming in too late to be accommodated. Back in Chicago, the mayor’s budget team has been briefing members of the City Council on the need for more revenue from the state, the city’s first-quarter revenue, and how the budget will be affected as President Donald Trump cuts federal spending and dramatically downsizes federal programs.

* STLPR | More states are moving to scrap sales tax at the grocery store: In Kansas and Oklahoma, shoppers stopped having to pay a state sales tax on groceries in January and August, respectively. Now fewer and fewer U.S. states continue to charge the tax, including Missouri and South Dakota, and several states have proposed legislation to do away with it. Some worry about the lost state revenue without the taxes. But supporters on both sides of the political spectrum say the cuts are needed – especially as shoppers face expensive prices at the grocery store.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Stratton’s top priority in Senate campaign: Fighting back against Trump: “What people want, and need, is a stable leader in D.C.,” Stratton said. “Right now, with Donald Trump, we don’t have that. We don’t have someone who is focused on global issues overall and the impact.” Blocking Trump’s agenda must be the first priority, Stratton said, to allow congressional Democrats to move forward on proposals that address voters’ concerns. She said she didn’t know yet what her first bill would be should she win the seat.

* Capitol News Illinois | With 1 month left in session, lawmakers near deal on public transit reform: Villivalam, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said he and his colleagues are “continuing discussions” about the bill. “As we head into the remaining weeks of our spring legislative session, I look forward to working toward a solution that provides safe, reliable, accessible, and integrated public transit to the northeastern Illinois region,” Villivalam said in a statement.

* Illinois Times | Illinois Republicans need diversity of views, a bigger tent: In previous conversations with political experts like UIS emeritus professor Kent Redfield and Illinois Republicans like former leader Don Tracy, there is a consensus that the gerrymandered legislative district lines within the state heavily contribute to the uneven distribution of political power. However, in the case of politics, power begets power. When an incumbent is in control, it makes it easier to remain in power, according to Redfield. “If I were Democrat, I would never agree to [independent map drawing] unless it’s on a national basis,” said Tracy. “What the Democrats have done to us in Illinois, we Republicans are doing to Democrats in other states where we have control. I’ve heard the Democrats make that argument, calling it unilateral disarmament, and I’m sympathetic to that.”

*** Statewide ***

* Sun-Times | Trump AmeriCorps cuts include grant terminations for $12 million in Illinois programs: Illinois nonprofits, government agencies and other organizations have seen $12 million in AmeriCorps grants terminated amid the Trump administration’s dismantling of the venerated federal agency for volunteer service. That includes grants administered to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, whose AmeriCorps members were told by the federal government on Monday to stop all grant activities and to stop reporting for service, according to a state of Illinois email obtained by the Sun-Times.

*** Chicago ***

* ABC Chicago | Thousands expected to march, rally in downtown Chicago: Tens of thousands are expected to hit the streets for a May Day rally commemorating workers’ rights, but organizers say issues like immigration, education and healthcare will also be issues at the core of the message demonstrators want to send home. […] Leaders said the march will be part of hundreds taking place nationally, bringing people together impacted by the Trump Administration.

* Crain’s | Civic heavyweights push CPD to rethink community policing strategy: Several civic groups are offering the Chicago Police Department some lessons on how to implement community policing: a key part of the six-year-old federal consent decree that requires the city to reform some of the ways it fights crime. The groups hired a consulting firm, which interviewed 17 police departments nationwide about their approaches to community policing, as Superintendent Larry Snelling prepares to finalize CPD’s community policing strategy. It is among four reports CPD released today on feedback about community policing. The keys to success include making community policing the department’s core strategy, rather than a tactic; having a strong commitment from the top; and providing resources to the rank and file to make it a reality.

* Sun-Times | Snap curfew proposal on hold after objections at marathon City Council hearing: Hopkins blinked after his powerful co-sponsors — Budget Chair Jason Ervin (28th) and Finance Chair Pat Dowell (3rd) — asked for more time to iron out the legal kinks. “I want to make sure that what we’re doing is constitutionally sound — and I believe that it is,” Ervin said. “This is much better than where we started. Might there be some smaller thing that can be done? Maybe.”

* Sun-Times | Lincoln Square road closure offers glimpse of car-free streets: ‘A nice little breather’: “[The closure has] actually increased our business,” said Sean Herron, general manager of Gearhead Outfitters, 4724 N. Lincoln Ave., which has placed a sales rack full of merchandise on the sidewalk since the road closed. “From a personal perspective, living here in Lincoln Square, I think it’s a fabulous idea and I love seeing people out here,” Herron said. “But from a business side, we’ve got to do more studies.”

* Tribune | American Airlines to launch service to 7 new destinations from O’Hare next winter: American Airlines will begin flying to seven new destinations from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport later this year, many of them warm-weather tourism spots. Nonstop service to Curacao; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten; Guatemala City, Guatemala; and San José, Costa Rica, will launch in November and December. The Guatemala City flight will operate year-round, while the others will be seasonal winter flights.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Two measles cases confirmed in Cook County: One case was discovered in a suburban Cook County resident who went to a local hospital for medical care on April 28, according to a joint press release from the Cook County, Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health. The individual was isolated after being evaluated, and their vaccination status is unknown. The other case was found in an adult Chicago resident who first noticed a rash on April 25 and has been isolated at home since being diagnosed. This individual had one prior dose of MMR vaccine.

* Evanston Now | New council heavy with homeowners: Although U.S. Census survey data indicates 43% percent of Evanston households are renters, the 10 policymakers for the city — the nine council members and mayor — include eight homeowners and only two renters, Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) and Ald. Bobby Burns (5th). That’s down from three renters on the last council, with the departure of Ald. Devon Reid (8th).

* Daily Herald | ‘This is totally different’: Itasca hotel offers rappelling experience: On Wednesday, Trujillo was among the first to experience the new “Altitude Zone” at the Westin Chicago Northwest. Launched in partnership with Meet Chicago Northwest and Over The Edge, Altitude Zone allows participants to rappel down the 12-story hotel with panoramic views of nearby lakes, neighborhoods and planes landing at O’Hare International Airport.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Trump’s AmeriCorps cuts kill legal help program at McLean County’s courthouse: Illinois JusticeCorps placed fellows and other helpers at courthouses in 17 locations around Illinois, including the Law and Justice Center in Bloomington for the past 12 years. JusticeCorps members helped self-represented litigants find and fill out the right forms and get procedural guidance. Divorce and family cases were about half of the work, one JusticeCorps official said. That all ended this week. Illinois JusticeCorps was shut down Monday after losing its federal funding, as part of the Trump administration’s broader unraveling of AmeriCorps. The agency canceled almost $400 million in grants on Friday. Illinois and other states have sued to stop it.

* Sun-Times | Former Jan. 6 defendant found guilty of reckless homicide – not first-degree murder – over fatal 2022 crash: That jury found Shane Jason Woods, a man once convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, guilty of reckless homicide for driving his GMC Sierra the wrong way onto Interstate 55 near Lake Springfield on Nov. 8, 2022, killing Lauren Wegner of Skokie. But the jury rejected a more serious charge of first-degree murder, as Woods’ defense attorneys had urged them to do.

* WCIA | Impact Life supports Chatham with blood donations after hospitals ask for extra help: After the tragedy, two hospitals they supply asked for some extra units — 30 bags of “O” positive and “O” negative blood, 13 plasma and three platelets,. “So grateful for the volunteer donors that come in to help provide those blood products in advance of an emergency,” Account Manager Sara Palacio said. “And we invite everyone to find a time at a mobile blood drive or donor center where they can give.”

*** National ***

* Axios | Trump on possible toy shortage: “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30″: His comments came amid growing concern that that the 2025 holiday shopping season will be significantly disrupted. Toy Association CEO Greg Ahearn told the New York Times this week that the industry is facing “a frozen supply chain that is putting Christmas at risk.”

* WaPo | RFK Jr. will require shift in how new vaccines are tested, HHS says: All new vaccines will undergo safety testing in placebo-controlled trials prior to licensure — a radical departure from past practices,” an HHS spokesperson told The Washington Post in response to questions about Kennedy’s comments on the measles vaccines and general vaccine policy. Vaccines for new pathogens are often tested this way. But for well-researched diseases, such as measles and polio, public health experts say it makes little sense to do that and can be unethical, because the placebo group would not receive a known effective intervention.

* Daily Herald | Ready or not, REAL ID enforcement begins next week at airports: It’s not a drill — the federal government will begin enforcing REAL ID at airports on May 7, U.S. Transportation Security Administration officials reminded travelers Wednesday. But there is some wiggle room, authorities noted during a briefing at O’Hare International Airport. Adults will be required to show REAL ID driver’s licenses or cards to board a domestic flight, although certain alternates like passports also are acceptable. The rule also applies to some federal buildings.

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* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
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* Big Beautiful Bill roundup: Pritzker says special session may not be needed, warns 330,000 Illinoisans could lose Medicaid; Planned Parenthood of Illinois pledges to continue care despite cuts (Updated)
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