Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Illinois Department of Employment Security…

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in December, up +0.2 percentage point from November, and down -0.3 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised November unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.4 percent.

Total nonfarm payrolls increased over-the-month in December, up +11,800 (+0.2%) to 6,159,300. The November monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -9,700 to -7,800. The December payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Leisure and Hospitality (+7,100), Private Education and Health Services (+4,000), and Government (+2,800). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-3,400), Manufacturing (-2,500), and Construction (-700).

Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs were down -1,700 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+17,800), Construction (+7,900) and Information (+4,500). The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-17,600), Manufacturing (-9,300), and Professional and Business Services (-6,000). In December, total nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged (0.0%) over-the-year in Illinois and up +0.4 percent in the nation.

*** Catching up with the Congressionals ***

* Evanston Now | Biss campaign denies he sought AIPAC support: According to a source with knowledge of AIPAC’s conversations with the candidates, AIPAC tried to reach out to Biss again in the late summer to “make a deal with Daniel” after a slow start to Fine’s campaign. But days later, Biss came out publicly with a more critical position on Israel, despite his familial ties to the country, calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state and endorsing the Block the Bombs Act, which would block offensive weapon sales to Israel.

* Jon Seidel…

NEW: Chicago's six Broadview conspiracy defendants, including Kat Abughazaleh, seek details about their indictment through a bill of particulars.

Their motion raises questions about the case and alleges their politics and criticism of Trump "are the only ties that bind them." pic.twitter.com/boZqvYf3Rx

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) January 23, 2026

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Chicago faith leaders recount harm from immigration agents: ‘Prayers and thoughts was not going to stop ICE’: Villarreal said he asked the students, all native Spanish speakers who have immigrant parents, what was wrong. A student, with her voice shaking, replied that federal immigration agents were in her neighborhood. She didn’t know what to do if they knocked on her door, Villarreal said. “I had no clue what to answer, because prayers and thoughts were not going to be enough,” he said. “Prayers and thoughts was not going to stop ICE from knocking and pounding down their doors. Prayers and thoughts was not going to change the situation.”

* Jason Meisner…

Attorneys Jonathan Bedi and Dena Singer, who represent Juan Espinoza Martinez, say his acquittal is “an example of the power of the Jury Trial.”

“Twelve ordinary citizens stood between an overreaching government and an innocent man. They demanded proof, not politics.” pic.twitter.com/RPc8i8XR15

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) January 23, 2026

* Sun-Times | 12 stunning photos of frozen Lake Michigan in Chicago’s deep freeze: Wrapped in four layers and armed with a drone, a Chicago Sun-Times photojournalist braved the brutal temps to capture delicate pancake ice swirling beneath the cold gaze of Chicago’s skyline.

* Sun-Times | Power restored to 1,500 on North Side, with another cold night ahead: Over a third of the outages were reported in West Ridge as of about 8 a.m., but power to the area has since been restored, according to ComEd’s website. A ComEd spokesperson said most of the outages weren’t related to the cold weather and that crews were on standby “around the clock.” Wind chills dropped as low as 36 degrees below zero at O’Hare Airport and 34 below zero at Midway as of 6 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. O’Hare recorded an official low of 8 degrees below zero as of the same time.

* Block Club | Commuters, Tourists — And Even A Few Swimmers — Brave Brutal Cold: But despite the conditions, Dan O’Conor, known as the Great Lake Jumper, still showed up early Friday to take a dip at Montrose Harbor. He was joined by George “Iceberg” Miller and several other brave souls.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Governors State University student scammed by caller threatening to report him to ICE: Governors State University notified students of scam that led an international student to pay $2,400 out of fear that he would be reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The university, through a campus notification, said the student was targeted by a caller who falsely claimed to be a member of the Governors State Department of Public Safety “and indicated that if the student did not pay a $2,400 fine immediately, he would be reported to ICE.” The student paid the fine before calling the public safety to verify the request, which the department confirmed was a scam.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Developer pitches 151-unit senior living project in St. Charles, citing demand in area: Cedarhurst Senior Living, a St. Louis-based owner and operator of senior housing communities, is looking to build a senior living development at the southwest corner of Dean Street and Peck Road, currently in an unincorporated part of St. Charles Township. The proposed project would have assisted living units and a memory care facility, as well as a number of independent living units. The project — which would be called Cedarhurst of St. Charles — is intended to meet a demand for senior housing options, said Nick Dwyer, the Director of Development for Dover Development, at the city’s Planning and Development Committee meeting on Jan. 12. Cedarhurst Senior Living is the management company for Dover.

* Crain’s | Empty suburban office space ended 2025 at new record high: The suburban office vacancy rate ended the year at a record high of 32.9%, up from 32.4% three months earlier and 32% at the end of 2024, according to real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle. The share of available workspace across the suburbs is up from 22.1% when the COVID-19 pandemic began and has now hit new all-time highs every quarter for five years.

* Evanston Now | Evanston home prices rose 5.7% in 2025: The value of midrange houses, condos and co-ops and Evanston were 5.7% higher at the end of 2025 than they were at the same point the previous year, according to data provided by Zillow. By comparison, home prices in Chicago grew 2.3%, below the 2.7% increase in the December consumer price index.

*** Downstate ***

* STLPR | Scott Air Force Base has a new job — hosting the HQ for the military’s moving company: Scott Air Force Base will soon have a new responsibility: hosting the new headquarters for the part of the military that’s responsible for being soldiers’ moving company when they are reassigned. […]The change is the result of a task force started last year to improve the relocation process, which more than 300,000 American soldiers across the globe undergo every year. Problems, including damaged furniture and poor packing, had plagued the current system, Hegseth said.

* BND | Freeburg mayor accepts plea deal on St. Clair County hunting violations: Kujawa dismissed three other charges against Speiser, including two counts of unlawful taking of a white-tailed deer with the aid of bait and one count of firearm deer hunting with the aid of bait. “There was a dismissal of three counts in exchange for a plea to one,” said Chris Allen, spokesman for State’s Attorney James Gomric. Speiser declined to comment this week, saying he didn’t want to interfere with the case of another defendant, Danny Cox, 66, his friend and neighbor, who formerly pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and managed the Gateway Grizzlies. Cox’s next hearing is set for Feb. 17.

* WGLT | Organizers launch Peoria-based Braver Angels chapter to ‘disagree better’ and ease political tension: Bill Poorman and David Pittman are co-organizers of the West Central Illinois Braver Angels, set to launch formally next week with a purpose of giving people tools for “disagreeing better.” “The ultimate motivation is just seeing all the polarization in our politics, seeing all this division and rancor,” said Poorman, who will act as the group’s moderator. “There is another way, right? We can find ways to work across differences and to get along, so to speak.”

* WGLT | Illinois State campus to add public art installation to revived arts complex: The Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Capital Development Board have partnered to commission an outdoor public art piece for display at the new Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts complex. It’s part of a larger push for public art in Bloomington-Normal that will now include a major opportunity on Illinois State University’s campus for an Illinois artist. In a news release, the Illinois Arts Council said artists have about 1,045 square feet of space within the Fell Arboretum, with a $195,000 budget to “utilize as they see fit and…draw inspiration from the cultural, historical and environmental contexts of ISU, the Fine Arts Complex and the Fell Arboretum.”

*** National ***

* Ken Klippenstein | ICE Making List of Anyone Who Films Them: The Department of Homeland Security has ordered immigration officers to gather identifying information about anyone filming them and to “send that information to Intel who will do a ‘work-up’ on them,” a federal law enforcement official directly involved tells me. “Meaning, trying to identify them via social media, running their license plates if available, and running a criminal history check,” the official explained.

* WaPo | ‘House burping’ is a cold reality in Germany. Americans are warming to it: Lüften, meaning “airing out” or “ventilation,” is dogma in German households. Rain or shine, hot or cold (which, in Berlin winters, can be bone-numbing), windows must be opened several times a day to exchange stale indoor air for the fresh outdoor stuff. Ventilation, of course, is part of life in much of the world. Germans, however, have codified it in an especially German way. Many apartment leases here contain a “lüften” clause, requiring tenants to open their windows multiple times a day, even - or especially - in winter. German courts have ruled that, absent specific landlord guidance, a tenant is required to open windows twice a day, morning and evening, for 10 minutes each.

* Electrek | Tesla didn’t remove the Robotaxi ‘safety monitor’ – it just moved them to a trailing car: When Musk says there’s “no safety monitor in the car,” he’s technically telling the truth, the monitor is in a different car, following right behind. But the implication that Tesla has achieved true unsupervised autonomy is misleading at best. True unsupervised autonomy means the vehicle can operate safely without any human backup ready to intervene. That’s what Waymo does, their vehicles operate genuinely alone, without chase cars, across multiple cities. They’ve accumulated over 100 million fully driverless miles.

3 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Addendum to today’s edition

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Indiana House Speaker to Bears: Put up or shut up

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As subscribers know, the Indiana Bears stadium bill is starting in the Senate, which, as we saw during re-remap, is quite an interesting group of folks.

But the Hoosier House Speaker has issued a message to the Chicago Bears even before his chamber takes up the bill…

The speaker of the Indiana House said yesterday he wants a commitment from the Chicago Bears that they will move the NFL franchise to Northwest Indiana before his chamber finalizes legislation to finance a stadium.

Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, told reporters he supports a bill moving through the Indiana Senate that sets the framework for financing a stadium for the team, which has been frustrated by a lack of action on a deal in Illinois. […]

[Indiana Gov. Mike Braun] told the Indianapolis Business Journal the stadium legislation keeps Indiana “in play” with the Bears and he “would hope that something more concrete develops here within 10 days to couple weeks.” […]

A spokesperson for the Chicago Bears declined to comment on the action in Indiana and Braun declined to be specific about his conversations with the team.

So, if Huston’s position holds (and things can change), the Bears will quickly have to decide whether Indiana is merely leverage or their real destination.

* From Gov. Pritzker’s office…

The Governor has always said he wants the Bears in Illinois while maintaining a hardline against using taxpayer dollars to fund a private stadium.

At the same time, the Governor has consistently supported other efforts like public infrastructure development and giving local governments reasonable tools to offer their own incentives on large economic development projects like keeping the Bears in Illinois, which has been made clear both publicly and privately for more than two years.

It is fair for any legislators to seek certainty and clarity before spending their constituents’ taxpayer dollars, especially if it subsidizing privately-owned stadiums.

14 Comments

Embattled power line company catches a break at Illinois Supreme Court (Updated)

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last July…

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday it was cancelling a conditional $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express, a planned transmission line designed to transport electricity generated by wind farms in Kansas across four states, including Missouri.

The loan, which was issued by the Biden administration in November 2024, is being cancelled because “it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting this project,” the department said in a news release announcing the decision.

What this means for the future of the project is unclear, though a spokesman for the company behind the transmission line, Illinois-based Invergy, sounded a positive tone.

“America is energy dominant and an AI powerhouse, and Grain Belt Express will be America’s largest power pipeline,” Martin Grego, the project’s spokesman, said in an emailed statement, adding that while the company is disappointed in the decision of the energy department, “a privately financed Grain Belt Express transmission superhighway will advance President Trump’s agenda of American energy and technology dominance while delivering billions of dollars in energy cost savings, strengthening grid reliability and resiliency, and creating thousands of American jobs.”

Missouri US Sen. Josh Hawley took credit for the funding cancellation.

Chicago’s Invenergy is the company behind the project.

But…

The Grain Belt Express is an approximately 800-mile high-voltage direct current transmission line that would take wind power generated in Southwest Kansas to Missouri and Illinois, ending at the Indiana border.

Jim Zakoura, an attorney who specializes in power issues, said the company behind the Grain Belt Express — Invenergy — appears to be moving forward with the approximately $12 billion project utilizing private financing.

President Trump has, of course, made it abundantly clear that he despises windmills.

* Also from last July…

An 804-mile-long transmission line in the Midwest appeared to be finally ready for construction after more than a decade of delays.

Known as Grain Belt Express, the $11 billion line would carry electricity produced by wind farms in Kansas across Missouri and Illinois all the way to Indiana, making it the very sort of infrastructure that experts say is needed to modernize America’s aging electrical grid.

But on Tuesday, the Missouri attorney general, Andrew Bailey, a Republican, opened an investigation into Grain Belt Express and requested that the state’s Public Service Commission reconsider its approval.

* The Illinois Farm Bureau has been trying to stop the project here. From FarmWeek this past November as the case moved to the Illinois Supreme Court…

Last year, the Fifth District Appellate Court reversed the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) granting of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to GBX. The order followed an appeal of the ICC order filed by Illinois Farm Bureau and landowner groups. The court ruled GBX failed to prove the required criteria that it is capable of financing the project.

At the crux of the Illinois Supreme Court arguments is interpretation of “capable of financing.”

“The reason we’re here is because a shell company wants to build a transmission overpass to Indiana with no service to Illinois customers,” Chuck Davis, the attorney representing IFB, said during oral arguments Nov. 12. “This case is about a quest for power — not electrical power, but governmental power.”

“The commission has granted a private company, GBX, the legal fast track to take land from Illinois citizens, not because it proved necessity or public use, not because it demonstrated financial readiness, but because it promised it might be able to finance it someday, on very scant evidence.”

WAND’s report on the Supreme Court hearing…

“There is plenty of evidence that there [are] years of building these sorts of projects—4,000 miles, $47 billion in projects,” said Grain Belt Express Attorney Adam Vaught. “This isn’t just somebody saying I have a rich grandpa and I’d like to get into the energy business. This is what they do.” […]

“The reason we’re here is because a shell company wants to build a transmission overpass to Indiana with no service to Illinois customers,” said Illinois Farm Bureau Attorney Chuck Davis. “This case is about a quest for power—not electrical power, but governmental power.”

State lawmakers addressed some of this concern by allowing non-utility companies to receive certificates for projects under the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Still, the Illinois Farm Bureau said farmers want energy for public use from responsible actors that comply with state and federal laws.

“Yes, the developer is not going to be putting up its own assets as collateral, but we did have testimony that they have billions of dollars in assets,” said Illinois Commerce Commission Attorney Christopher Turner. “They’ve already provided $60 million in funding for this project and will continue to provide it into the future. That was sufficient evidence.”

* The Illinois Supreme Court issued its opinion today…

When we review an administrative decision, we look at the final judgment of the administrative agency and not the appellate court judgment. The Act provides that ICC’s factual findings “shall be held prima facie to be true” and its orders and decisions “shall be held to be prima facie reasonable.” . A court will reverse an ICC order when the ICC’s findings are “ ‘not supported by substantial evidence based on the entire record of evidence.’ ” Courts are not bound by the ICC’s rulings on questions of law. Rather, we review an agency’s interpretation of an unambiguous statute de novo. […]

The ICC therefore correctly rejected Concerned Citizens’ narrow interpretation that GBX was required to establish it could finance the project “at present.” […]

The ICC’s correct interpretation of the plain and unambiguous language, “is capable of financing the proposed construction without significant adverse financial consequences for the utility or its customers,” not only aligns with the Act but also with the legislature’s express commitment to reduce the state’s dependency on fossil fuels and move to renewable energies. […]

Upon review, we find GBX presented substantial evidence in support that it “is capable of financing the proposed construction without significant adverse financial consequences” for itself or its customers. […]

The appellate court’s findings disregard the evidence presented before the ICC. […]

Lastly, we decline to address any of the constitutional and other statutory issues raised below. None of these arguments were addressed by the appellate court. Our decision is therefore limited to the question before us

…Adding… Grain Belt Express spokesperson…

Following a full review of the facts and ICC process, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a strong decision affirming the validity of Grain Belt Express’ Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in Illinois. We are pleased with the Court’s decision and remain focused on delivering more affordable, reliable energy in the Midwest and across the country through Grain Belt Express – America’s biggest power pipeline.

* Donovan Griffith, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association…

“This decision is a huge win for energy consumers and businesses across Illinois. As manufacturers continue to report energy usage at historically high levels, new transmission infrastructure like Grain Belt Express is vital to providing more low-cost electricity and supporting economic growth across the Midwest.”

13 Comments

Question of the day

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Tribune…

Polar vortexes are a year-round phenomenon. But Chicago-area residents only notice them when they collapse, experts say.

That’s what’s happening starting Thursday when dangerously frigid air from Siberia and the North Pole is forecast to plunge the Great Lakes region into subzero territory for multiple days.

* WSIL…

We’ve been closely watching the developing weather pattern, and I want to share what we’re seeing for our area. A Winter Storm Watch has now been issued for our entire region as we prepare for a significant shift in the weather. Today, we’re experiencing mild conditions with southwest winds, and any lingering rain this morning is pushing off to the southeast.

As we head into tonight, a cold front is expected to sweep through, turning our winds around to the north and northwest. Looking ahead to tomorrow, we’ll see cooler temperatures, with highs likely in the upper 30s to lower 40s, and we’ll remain under a broad cyclonic influence aloft, which will keep us unsettled.

* WGLT…

The National Weather Service [NWS] has elevated Friday’s deep freeze to an Extreme Cold Warning, with wind chills expected to fall to 25 to 30 degrees below zero.

The deep freeze is expected to be followed by accumulating snow over the weekend.

The warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to noon for McLean, Livingston, Woodford, Tazewell, Peoria, Marshall, Stark and Knox counties.

* The Question: What are your favorite go-to recipes when it’s really cold outside? Rich and I have both been using this leek and potato soup recipe lately, but with added touches (more cream, more potatoes, etc.). He made a big batch for my grandma (his mom) over the weekend. Anyway, we’re both looking for new ideas, so don’t just tell us what you make. We’re looking for how you make them, or at least your special touches. Thanks!

14 Comments

It’s just a bill

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Daily Herald…

With the approach of the second anniversary of 17-year-old Marin Lacson’s death at a Barrington railroad crossing, a proposed legislation named in her honor would mandate pedestrian safety gates at crossings near schools in Illinois.

MARIN’s Law, which would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to require railroad carriers to install, operate and maintain the gates at railroad-grade crossings within 1.5 miles of a school, was filed Thursday.

Lacson was struck and killed by a Metra train on the morning of Jan. 25, 2024, while crossing the tracks at Hough Street on the way to Barrington High School. She proceeded across the tracks after one train had already passed.

There are no pedestrian gates at the crossing. The Illinois Commerce Commission is currently considering a petition to install the gates at three Union Pacific crossings, including Hough Street.

MARIN stands for Measures Against Railroad Injuries Near Schools. It was filed Thursday in honor of Lacson’s lacrosse jersey number, according to a press release announcing the filing.

* Rep. Maurice West filed HB4531 this week…

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall exercise the powers to impose campaign disclosure penalties; to hear and adjudicate alleged violations of registration requirements; to revoke or suspend the raffle licenses of political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act; and to inform the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations.

* HB4544 from Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado…

Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Pricing Discrimination Act. Requires any person who knowingly advertises, promotes, labels, or publishes a statement, display, image, offer, or announcement of personalized algorithmic pricing using consumer data specific to a particular individual must disclose that this price was set by an algorithm using the individual’s personal data. Prohibits the use of algorithmic pricing under certain conditions. Provides that if there is a violation of the Act, the Attorney General may file a civil action requesting that an injunction be issued against the defendant to enjoin and restrain the continuance of the violation. Provides that notice must be given to the defendant of not less than 5 days, and the court may issue an injunction enjoining and restraining any further violation without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged. Authorizes the court to impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Exempts any insurer licensed, regulated, or otherwise authorized to do business in the State or any excess lines insurer, including any persons, agents, or affiliates acting on behalf of the insurer. Exempts financial services, including, but not limited to, financial institutions, financial institution affiliates, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, and entities that provide consumer credit products such as credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a violation of the Preventing Algorithmic Pricing Discrimination Act an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Limits home rule.

* Meanwhile, in Iowa…

An Iowa Republican lawmaker wants to pursue a study on absorbing counties in Illinois, where a secessionist movement has grown fueled by divisions over the Prairie State’s policy direction.

A proposal from Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, House File 2141, would establish an “Iowa-Illinois boundary adjustment committee” to consider whether to move the dividing line between the two states by transferring one or more Illinois counties along the Iowa border to the Hawkeye State.

Collins said the bill would primarily look at all counties that along the Mississippi River.

“As somebody that represents really a district that’s right along the border and along the Mississippi River, I know many folks on both sides of the river, and I know there’s a lot of folks in the high-tax state of Illinois that’s now basically supporting career criminals,” Collins said. “They would love to be Iowa residents, and many of them have taken the steps to actually move to the state of Iowa.” […]

Under Collins’ bill, the boundary adjustment study committee would be made up of:

- Six individuals from the state of Iowa who are not lawmakers or appointees of the governor.
- No more than four members of the same political party.
- Five individuals from Illinois appointed under Illinois state law.

Any redrawing of the border would require approval by the Illinois and Indiana legislatures, as well as Congress. So… this is not going to happen.

22 Comments

Investing In Illinois

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois American Water is more than just a utility. We’re your neighbor, committed to the long-term health and vitality of the communities we serve. Our employees live and work locally, investing their expertise right where it matters most, to modernize water systems and strengthen water quality, reliability, and public health for the long term.

Environmental stewardship is also central to who we are. Illinois American Water is committed to protecting the environment and using our most precious resource wisely. Across our footprint, our state-of-the-art treatment facilities and team of water quality experts help ensure we go beyond compliance, holding ourselves to standards that not only fulfill expectations but set new benchmarks for our industry.

Community partnership and clean water go hand in hand. We’re dedicated to safeguarding both the resources and the places our customers call home, today and for generations to come. Our community is one worth investing in, and we are proud to spend every day working to help ensure the water we deliver is of the highest quality. Learn more about us.

Comments Off

Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Judge dismisses Chicago-area use-of-force lawsuit at plaintiffs’ request. Sun-Times…

* Related stories…

• CNI: 1st Operation Midway Blitz-related trial ends in acquittal after other cases fell apart
• Courthouse News Service: Protesters’ case against Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois stalls

***************** Advertisement *****************

Sponsored by FanDuel

*************************************************

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois ramping up REAL ID campaign before TSA’s $45 fines begin Feb. 1: The Illinois secretary of state’s office will have its REAL ID supercenter in downtown Chicago at 191 N. Clark St. open for the next two Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make it easier to obtain the identification before the Transportation Security Administration’s planned $45 fine for all air travelers without one goes into effect. In addition, in partnership with the secretary of state’s office, the Cook County clerk’s office will extend its Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help Illinoisans get the documents they need to obtain a REAL ID, such as marriage or birth certificates. People can walk in or schedule appointments online with the clerk’s vital records office in downtown Chicago at 118 N. Clark St.

* Crain’s | Latest federal funding threat targets Illinois’ abortion referral law: The move is the latest in a series of funding threats from the Trump administration against Illinois, which along with other states has faced pressure from federal offices over issues from transgender care for minors to diversity, equity and inclusion policies and abortion rights, including threats to end Medicaid payments for non-abortion services to Planned Parenthood organizations. Yesterday’s action follows lawsuits challenging mandated physician referral for reproductive health services that include abortion, regardless of a provider’s conscientious objection to abortion.

* Tribune | State finds nearly $500 million in budget reserves amid federal funding uncertainty: Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Thursday announced it has identified nearly $500 million it will keep in budget reserves following the governor’s request last year that state agencies identify 4% of their budgets to hold back amid federal budget uncertainty. […] The governor’s fall executive order essentially codified his lack of confidence in Illinois’ ability to come out unscathed from Trump’s funding cuts and economic policies. The order applied to agencies that operate only under the governor and not the attorney general, secretary of state or other branches of government.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Post Tribune | Bill aimed at attracting Chicago Bears to Indiana passes committee: The bill offers a financial framework “that Illinois simply cannot match,” according to the press release. The bill “creates a pathway for the team to control its own destiny without the prohibitive tax burdens and stalled infrastructure talks currently seen in Illinois,” according to the release.

* Axios | Pritzker, Gallego head to Nevada: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego will headline a Democratic Party event in Nevada on Feb. 1 to celebrate the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a person familiar with the matter told Axios. […] The Illinois governor donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to back a successful 2024 [Nevada] ballot measure in the state as part of an effort to protect abortion rights.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Bally’s shooting for end-of-year opening for permanent casino in River West: A bill now pending in Springfield would extend Bally’s license to operate a tempoary casino at Medinah Temple until September 2027. But the Bally’s team assured City Council members Thursday that the mega-casino is “on track to speed through completion,” and that they have no intention of needing or using the entire one-year extension.

* Sun-Times | Chicago gets its first-ever LGBTQ+ affairs director, Antonio King: King was the first gay Black man ever to serve as LGBTQ+ health & outreach liaison for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Now he’ll help develop a policy plan to strengthen protections and opportunities for LGBTQ+ Chicagoans.

* Block Club | Chicago Crossing Guard Carries Students To Safety In Frigid Temps After Water Main Break: While WGN’s chopper was overhead filming the water main break’s aftermath, its camera also caught Joe Sass, longtime Jamieson Elementary school crossing guard, helping a student across the flooded street. […] Some of the children get to Jamieson pretty early, and once he realized they’d have to navigate the flooded street, Sass decided to help some kids by carrying them across the urban river on his back, he said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Postponed: Public hearing for data center in Lisle delayed due to large turnout: The village’s planning and zoning commission decided to postpone a Wednesday night hearing due to the size of the crowd. More than 300 residents showed up for the 7 p.m. meeting, exceeding the 250-person capacity in the village board chambers and an overflow room set up for the meeting, Mayor Mary Jo Mullen said. Cloud Centers LLC is proposing a 256,000-square-foot, 50-megawatt data center on the shuttered Lockformer property at 711 Ogden Ave. The 18-acre parcel on the south side of Odgen has sat vacant for more than 20 years. The Lockformer property was the center of a firestorm after a toxic chemical used in the plant had leaked into the drinking water.

* Tribune | Naperville D203 wants state OK to increase driver’s ed fee to $500 max: The D203 School Board this week approved the waiver request that would allow the district to charge up to $500 for driver’s education for the 2027 to 2031 school years. School districts are allowed to charge $250 under state rules, and anything beyond that amount must be submitted to the state school board for approval. […] In 2024-25, it cost the district $537,549 to run the program for 682 students but only received $279,500 in revenue through student fees and state funds, district documents said.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Responding to resident concerns, St. Charles makes immigration enforcement proclamation: ‘Of course we care’: Following requests from residents to address the federal immigration crackdown happening in Chicago and its suburbs in recent months, St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull and the City Council responded with a proclamation at its meeting on Tuesday. The proclamation comes months into President Donald Trump’s administration’s immigration crackdown in Chicago, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. Thousands were detained across Chicago and its suburbs — most of whom had no known criminal record — and fear and uncertainty have permeated work, school, Halloween celebrations and more.

* Evanston RoundTable | Emotions run high at first closure hearing for Kingsley Elementary: The first closure hearing for Kingsley Elementary on Wednesday was less than an hour long, but things got tense, resulting in an Evanston man being escorted from the meeting room during public comment.
The district is considering school closures because it needs to cut $10 million to $15 million to eliminate its structural deficit by fiscal year 2030 after running budget deficits for several straight years. Marc Bear, who identified himself as a former Kingsley parent, criticized board members Sergio Hernandez and Mya Wilkins, whose time on the board overlapped with former Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton.

* Sun-Times | In Kane County’s first bison herd, a chance for Native Americans to reclaim what’s lost: When Jay Young, a Citizen Potawatomi and co-executive director of American Indian Center of Chicago, heard about a chance to bring the bison back to the Midwest, he was intrigued but a little mystified. The Forest Preserve District of Kane County was seeking a partner for a prairie restoration project and was running out of time; it had promised residents that the herd would be in place for spring 2026, and a first candidate had fallen through. Young scrolled through the email for the deadline. “We’re a little nonprofit organization,” Young recalled thinking. “We’re not a tribe, we don’t have any land. What are we going to do with bison? That’s crazy. We live in the city.”

*** Downstate ***

* Crain’s | With new leader, U of I stakes out bold AI mission for Discovery Partners: The research institute — which aims to give downstate faculty, researchers and students a presence in Chicago — will focus on artificial intelligence and quantum computing. “We think the focus should be the future of computing, and the future of computing is AI and quantum,” said Rashid Bashir, dean of the Grainger College of Engineering at UIUC and vice chancellor Chicago partnerships. “To advance quantum you need advances in AI.”

* Shaw Local | Manteno rejects request for Gotion to file form on foreign investment: After a brief presentation by Gotion representatives during public comment and discussion among Manteno trustees, the board voted 3-2 against requesting that Gotion submit the form, which would have been voluntary. After the meeting, Manteno Mayor Annette LaMore said she was disappointed in the vote to not ask for the filing. “It’s not even mandatory, so even if we ask them to do it, they don’t have to do it,” she said. “It’s something that you have to be willing to do. But it would certainly show good faith if they said, ‘Yeah, we’ll be glad to fill that out.’

* WCIA | USPS changes could impact vote by mail; Vermilion Co. Clerk encourages early voting: Robyn Heffern said in late 2025, the USPS updated its postmark system. The postmark date will no longer be the date the item is placed in the mail; instead, the postmarks reflect the date mail is processed at a postal facility. Heffern added that ballots may receive a later postmark date than expected because of mail processing delays.

* WCIA | Central Illinois warming shelters open as extreme temperatures approach: In Hoopeston, the mayor said City Hall will open up its chamber as an unmanned warming center through the weekend. At Danville’s City Council meeting Tuesday, the city said it won’t open a city-sponsored emergency warming shelter because it simply wasn’t used enough in past years. But, there are several options in the city and county. One of them is The Dwelling Place, open Mondays and Fridays during the day.

* WSIL | Pinckneyville Community Hospital Ranked Among Nation’s Fastest Emergency Departments: Using 2024 data, the hospital achieved a median emergency department length of stay of just 56 minutes, placing it among the top 10 hospitals nationwide for emergency department efficiency. The performance is well below the national average of 161 minutes. Hospital leaders say the recognition reflects a sustained commitment to continuous improvement and patient-centered care. By identifying opportunities to streamline processes and eliminate unnecessary delays, Pinckneyville Community Hospital has improved efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and personalized attention for patients.

*** National ***

* WaPo | The abhorrent power of the photograph of a 5-year-old held by ICE: School officials in Minnesota say that the prekindergarten student was used “as bait” by ICE, in an apparent attempt to gain access to the adults inside the private house where he once lived. That act, the use of a boy too young to understand the political game in which he became a pawn, mirrors in a perverse and deeply disturbing way the power of the photograph. The photograph stirs empathy and compassion, the same emotions that ICE agents apparently used to entice adults into making themselves vulnerable to capture.

15 Comments

Good morning!

Friday, Jan 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gipsy Kings…