Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Justice Mary Jane Theis announces retirement from Illinois Supreme Court

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court effective January 29, 2026. Justice Theis has served on the Supreme Court since 2010 and retires as one of the most prolific judges in Illinois history, having served in all levels of the judiciary in 40-plus years on the bench. She served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 2022 to 2025. Justice Theis’ full statement on her retirement is available here.

“I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to serve,” Justice Theis said. “It has been my foremost goal to further the Court’s mission of providing access to equal justice, ensuring judicial integrity and upholding the rule of law.”

The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and has appointed First District Appellate Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor to fill Justice Theis’ seat.

Justice Tailor, whose term is effective January 30, 2026, through December 4, 2028, will be the first Asian American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court.

“I am grateful to Justice Mary Jane Theis and the other justices of the Illinois Supreme Court for their confidence and trust in appointing me Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court,” Justice Tailor said. “I also look forward to continuing the work of the Illinois Supreme Court to ensure that our system of justice serves all people fairly and equitably.” […]

Justice Sanjay Tailor has been a judge for 23 years, sitting on the trial and appellate courts. His appointment today makes him the first Asian American to serve as a justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was first appointed to the bench as an Associate Judge in 2003 and won election as Circuit Judge in 2022. He served in five different divisions of the Circuit Court including as Presiding Judge of the County Division. He also served in the Chancery, Law, Domestic Relations and Municipal Divisions.

For the last three years he has served by assignment as a First District Appellate Court justice, including as Presiding Justice of his division. Before joining the bench, Justice Tailor served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He also practiced law as a senior attorney at the First National Bank of Chicago, and associate at Chapman and Cutler LLP.

Thoughts?

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Sun-Times…

Illinois is on track to have slightly fewer people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act marketplace this year following the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies that were at the center of last year’s federal government shutdown.

On Monday, Get Covered Illinois announced it was giving residents two additional weeks to enroll in health plans, pushing back the enrollment deadline to Jan. 31 with coverage starting Feb. 1. […]

The 4% decrease in enrollment is, so far, less severe than what many experts and advocates had anticipated, especially since enrollees in Illinois were expected to see an average increase of 78% in their monthly premiums. Anywhere from 2 to 4 million people across the country were expected to become uninsured if the tax credits weren’t extended.

As of Jan. 4, Get Covered Illinois, the state-run marketplace, reported 445,335 Illinois residents had signed up for an Obamacare health insurance plan. People had to enroll in a plan by Dec. 31 so coverage could start by the first of the year.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Suburban Chicagoland | Candidate Harrell joins regional Pastors to demand “freeze and rollback” of Cook County Property Taxes: John Harrell, a candidate for the 8th Illinois House District, joined a coalition of Pastors, mostly from the region’s south and West Sides and representing minority and low-income communities to demand that Cook County officials and the Illinois Legislature “freeze and rollback” the most recent property tax hikes. The pastors said that as a result of Assessment increases just in the past year, property taxes have skyrocketed more than 150 percent, and in some cases as much as 500 percent, choking the economies of local residents and making it “difficult for them to survive and put food on their tables.”

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Pay Family of Man Killed Struck by Driver Being Chased by Police $22M, City Lawyers Recommend: The City Council’s Finance Committee on Wednesday is set to consider the proposed settlement, which calls for taxpayers to pay $20 million and the city’s insurance company to pay $2 million. A final vote of the City Council could come Jan. 21. Angel Eduardo Alvarez Montesinos, 25, died in the crash that ended the chase launched by Officer Michael Spilotro just after 6 p.m. June 16, 2023, records show.

* WTTW | City Lawyers: Pay $875K to 25 People Who Accused CPD Officers of Misconduct During 2020 Unrest: In all, Chicago taxpayers have already paid more than $6.8 million to resolve 59 lawsuits identified by WTTW News that were filed by Chicagoans who said they were the victims of misconduct by CPD officers during the protests and unrest, according to federal court documents and records from the Chicago Department of Law. An additional $5.1 million went to pay private lawyers to defend the conduct of CPD officers from late May until mid-August 2020, one of the most tumultuous periods in Chicago history, according to records obtained by WTTW News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools unveils calendars for the coming two school years: A tentative calendar for the following school year is also out, with an Aug. 23 start date and June 9 end date. As in the current school year, both calendars include 176 student attendance days, four professional development days, four Teacher Institute days, four school improvement days, and two parent-teacher conference days. Also in line with this year’s calendar, students and staff will be off for the entire week of Thanksgiving. They will get a two-week winter recess and a week off for spring break in late March.

* Crain’s | Croke Fairchild bucks office downsizing trend in wake of hiring spree: A Chicago law firm that has grown quickly over the past few years with high-profile hires is expanding its workspace and moving it to a Loop office building overlooking the Chicago River. Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres has signed a lease for about 40,000 square feet on the fifth floor at 222 N. LaSalle St., the firm’s top partners confirmed. The new space will allow the practice to grow its downtown office footprint from the roughly 25,000 square feet combined it leases today and will leave behind at 180 N. LaSalle St. and 191 N. Wacker Drive.

* Block Club | Want A Cheese Grater Hat? Wait List 10,000 Deep After Bears Comeback Over Packers: Houston-based Foam Party Hats received 2,000 orders for the hats in 24 hours — with over 10,000 prospective customers also put onto a waitlist, co-owner Manuel Rojas said Sunday. The company had to put a notice on its website Sunday saying the “overwhelming viral demand” has its production plant at “full capacity.” But the operation is scaling up, Rojas said. “We’ve hired four new people today,” he said. “We started doing overtime and overnight shifts just to keep up with everything. The challenging part is that if you look on our Instagram, you can see how we make the products. These are really handmade, so it’s really difficult to scale up, especially because we all know the manufacturing process.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | One Democratic Will County Board candidate removed from ballot, another reinstated: A Will County Electoral Board ruled 2-1 Wednesday that Homer Glen resident Kevin Koukol cannot appear on the ballot for County Board District 4 after he incorrectly listed the wrong district on his statement of candidacy. He is considering appealing that decision. A Will County judge ruled Friday Bolingbrook candidate Tyler Giacalone should be reinstated to the ballot for County Board District 11 after an Electoral Board removed him last month. Eight out of the 11 County Board districts, with two representatives each, are up for election next year. Challenges have been heard during the last month to see which names will appear on the primary ballots for a chance to run in November.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora earns statewide award for fleet sustainability: The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation, a statewide nonprofit that promotes environmentally-friendly vehicles and cleaner air, announced that Aurora had won its 2025 Clean Transportation Leadership Award for fleet suitability at its annual program and holiday reception on Dec. 11, where the organization also gave out other awards. “We are honored to receive this award,” Aurora Superintendent of Fleet Maintenance Chris Linville said in a city news release. “We will continue to modernize our fleet, working hard to reduce emissions and support our sustainability goals.”

* Aurora Beacon-News | Some Geneva residents still pushing to save structure at old Mill Race Inn site, with demolition vote looming: In a last-minute effort to save a landmarked structure along the Fox River from being torn down, a group of Geneva residents is proposing the structure be turned into a visitor information center. On Monday evening, the Geneva City Council is expected to vote on whether the limestone structure, formerly part of the Mill Race Inn, can be demolished. Last month, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission unanimously shot down a request by Dave Patzelt, the president of Geneva-based Shodeen Group, to demolish the structure.

* Daily Southtown | Faithful gather to bid farewell to Bishop Ronald Hicks in Joliet, as he heads to New York: Joliet Diocese officials say there is no announcement for neither an interim bishop nor a replacement and said those decisions are up to the Vatican. Hicks has been Joliet’s bishop since 2020. During Hicks’ final homily as Joliet bishop, he talked about how throughout the years, he has asked people to pray for him, and he always prays for them. “I have taken that commitment seriously each and every time,” he said. “Please know that your prayers for me are one of the greatest gifts you have given to me.

*** Downstate ***

* BND | Metro-east families fear possible funding freeze could end their child care aid: If the freeze ultimately goes through and funds are not released, the effects will be far-reaching, said Janice Moenster, Brightpoint’s director of programs and operations for the southern region of the state. If families cannot pay for child care, child care businesses will close. Without accessible child care, parents may be forced to leave the workforce, causing local economies to suffer, Moenster said. She added that for some, not working is not an option, and that could lead to children being left alone or in otherwise unsafe situations.

* WMBD | Peoria Fire Department receives $3M from FEMA to hire firefighters: The grant was received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, Sorensen said. Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said the department is very excited about the grant and that it is a “much-needed award.” “With the SAFER grant, the City of Peoria is able to hire eleven firefighters and sufficiently staff our three aerial trucks,” he said. “Thank you to all of our federal legislators, especially Congressman Sorensen, for keeping the FEMA SAFER and AFG grant mechanisms properly funded.

* 25News Now | Tentative contract with Peoria firefighters includes higher pay, changes in residency rules: The Peoria City Council will vote Tuesday on the deal that calls for a 5% pay increase the first year, a 4% raise the second year, and a 3% pay boost the third and final year of the contract. Pay for paramedics would increase the first year by 3.5% and 4% in each of the final two years. Field training instructors would see a 4.5% increase in 2026 and a 5% hike in 2027 and again in 2028.

*** National ***

* WIRED | Right-Wing Influencers Have Flooded Minneapolis: These creators have focused much of their content on how protesters are allegedly using personal vehicles and blocking traffic to obstruct ICE operations. In one video posted on Friday, Kevin Posobiec, a creator for the far-right Human Events website, highlighted how protesters seemingly shut down traffic in downtown Minneapolis. […] Once these clips are posted to platforms like X, right-wing aggregation accounts, like End Wokeness and other influencers, including Matt Walsh from the Daily Wire, repost them to their millions of followers. These clips then become talking points across social media, sometimes making it to cable television channels where they become primary evidence in attempts to justify the Trump administration’s surge on American cities.

* NYT | E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution: The change could make it easier to repeal limits on these pollutants from coal-burning power plants, oil refineries, steel mills and other industrial facilities across the country, the emails and documents show. That would most likely lower costs for companies while resulting in dirtier air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, refers to particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Ozone is a smog-causing gas that forms when nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds are emitted from power plants, factories and vehicles and mix in the air on hot, sunny days.

* ABC | The Trevor Project receives $45M from MacKenzie Scott after federal funding cuts: In July, the Trump administration stopped providing specific support for gay, trans and gender nonconforming young people who called the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Trevor Project was one of the organizations staffing that option and lost $25 million in funding, the nonprofit said. The Trevor Project continues to run an independent hotline for LGBTQ+ young people that Black said reaches about 250,000 young people annually, but they served another 250,000 callers through the 988 Press 3 option, which was tailored for LGBTQ+ young people.

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In sweeping new lawsuit, Illinois and Chicago demand end to widespread ‘lawless’ behavior by feds (Updated)

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The state of Illinois and city of Chicago have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, US Border Patrol and Gregory Bovino “in his official capacity as Senior Officer of the Department of Homeland Security and Illinois tactical commander.” From the introduction…

The Trump administration has unleashed an organized bombardment on the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, causing turmoil and imposing a climate of fear. Though Defendants describe this assault as “immigration enforcement,” the reality is that uniformed, military-trained personnel, carrying semi-automatic firearms and military-grade weaponry, have rampaged for months through Chicago and surrounding areas, lawlessly stopping, interrogating, and arresting residents, and attacking them with chemical weapons.

The perpetrators include federal agents under the leadership of United States Border Patrol, an arm of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”). At the direction of Defendants Kristi Noem and Gregory Bovino, a force created, trained, and equipped to defend the United States border against smuggling and trafficking has unleashed sweeping raids and indiscriminate violence against Illinois’ residents, particularly those living in Chicago. Their leaders condone this activity and demand more of it.

The occupation of Illinois and Chicago is intended to coerce Plaintiffs to abandon their policies, which value and respect the State’s immigrants, and devote their resources to further the immigration policies of the current administration. Illinois and Chicago have refused to do so.

It goes on and on like this for close to 100 pages, providing lots of detailed information and accounts of “lawless” federal government actions on things like the “Roving Patrol Policy,” the “Biometric Scanning Policy,” “Warrantless Arrests,” “Deployment of Riot Control Weapons,” “Arbitrary Enforcement Policy at Sensitive Locations,” “Concealing License Plates” and “Private Trespass.”

* The conclusion…

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Under 5 U.S.C. § 706 and 28 U.S.C. § 2201, Plaintiffs are entitled to a declaration that Defendants lack authority to impose the Roving Patrol Policy, the Biometric Scanning Policy, the Warrantless Arrest Policy, the Tear Gas Policy, the Arbitrary Enforcement Policy, the Private Trespass Policy, and the Conceal Plates Policy, vacatur of those policies, and an injunction barring Defendants from conducting themselves in accordance with those policies.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request that the Court enter judgment against Defendants and award the following relief:

a. Absent express Congressional authorization, enjoin Defendant CBP from conducting civil immigration enforcement in Illinois;
b. Declare that the Roving Patrol, Biometric Scanning, Warrantless Arrest, Tear Gas, Arbitrary Enforcement, Conceal Plates, and Private Trespass policies violate the APA as set forth above;
c. Declare that Defendants have violated the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution as set forth above;
d. Vacate the Roving Patrol, Biometric Scanning, Warrantless Arrest, Tear Gas, Arbitrary Enforcement, Conceal Plates, and Private Trespass policies;
e. Enjoin Defendants from implementing or enforcing the Roving Patrol, Biometric Scanning, Warrantless Arrest, Tear Gas, Arbitrary Enforcement, Conceal Plates, and Private Trespass policies, or engaging in such conduct that comprises the policies;
f. Award Plaintiffs their reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412; and
g. Award any such additional relief as this Court may deem just and proper.

The 10th Amendment claim for relief starts on page 76. Here’s some of the claim for relief on using the Border Patrol in Illinois…

Finding individuals within the interior of the United States who lack authorization to remain and initiating removal proceedings are not duties that Congress authorized Border Patrol to undertake.

Defendants acted without statutory authorization when they deployed over 200 Border Patrol agents to engage in removal operations in Illinois and Chicago. The continued deployment of Border Patrol for removal enforcement in Illinois and Chicago is ultra vires executive action.

Go read the rest.

…Adding… The press release just hit my in-box…

Raoul assert that the federal government has attacked Illinois’ ability to carry out its core sovereign functions — to regulate public health, uphold a system of education for Illinois residents, support the state’s economy, provide public safety and administer its judicial system, enforce state statutes, implement state programs, and ensure that Illinois residents receive the full benefits of state and federal law.

Raoul argues that this assault on the state’s sovereignty is a violation of the Tenth Amendment and violates the Administrative Procedure Act many times over.

Raoul also argues that DHS adopted illegal enforcement policies that harm Illinois residents, including:

• Rather than utilizing targeted removal policies, using roving patrols of teams of agents to interrogate residents without reasonable suspicion that they are unlawfully present.
• Deploying biometric scanning to capture and store the photographs and fingerprints of residents who are not entering or exiting the United States.
• Arresting people without warrants or probable cause.
• Indiscriminately deploying riot control weapons, including tear gas.
• Conducting enforcement at sensitive locations including courthouses, schools, social service organizations and medical facilities without appropriate reasoning.
• Trespassing onto private property without authority.
• Concealing and switching vehicle license plates in violation of federal and state law.

Raoul is asking the court to order federal agents authorized to enforce immigration law in Illinois to stop using tactics that exceed their statutory authority granted by Congress, including dispersing tear gas and other noxious chemicals without warning against persons who are not resisting, scanning the biometric information of Illinois residents, and entering private property without a warrant or permission of the owner. Raoul is asking the court to require written documentation of the basis for questioning Illinois residents regarding their immigration status and the basis for the conclusion that agents were authorized to make warrantless arrests.

Raoul is also requesting a prohibition on enforcement activities in or near courthouses, schools, hospitals and other sensitive locations, except in extenuating circumstances and with safeguards. In addition, Raoul is asking that the court require that all CBP and ICE vehicles have visible, accurate license plates, and only the plates properly assigned and registered to each vehicle.

If Raoul’s request for judgment is granted, he is asking that the court monitor the defendants’ compliance.

* From the governor…

“We have watched in horror as unchecked federal agents have aggressively assaulted and terrorized our communities and neighborhoods in Illinois, undermining Constitutional rights and threatening public safety,” said Governor Pritzker. “In the face of the Trump Administration’s cruelty and intimidation, Illinois is standing up against the attacks on our people. Today, Illinois is once again taking Donald Trump to court to hold his administration accountable for their unlawful tactics, unnecessary escalations, and flagrant abuses of power.”

* From Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…

“This lawsuit sends a clear message: Illinois will not stand by while federal agents disregard our laws and compromise public safety,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “We have a fundamental responsibility to protect our residents, and we intend to uphold that authority. Tampering with license plates is illegal and dangerous, and we will hold anyone accountable who breaks our laws and engages in these practices. We are committed to transparency, accountability and keeping our roads safe for everyone.”

On October 22, the Secretary of State’s office launched the Plate Watch Hotline to give residents a clear way to report suspected license plate tampering. The hotline was announced following reports that ICE agents were modifying state-issued plates to carry out their military-style deportation efforts. A widely circulated video on social media captured an ICE agent telling a bystander: “You can record all you want. We change the plates out every day.”

Through the hotline, the Secretary of State’s office received hundreds of tips, including one that led to an investigation confirming ICE agents had switched out license plates on a rented vehicle, which the office immediately revoked. On December 4th, Secretary Giannoulias’ office sent a formal letter to rental car companies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, reminding them that swapping or altering license plates is illegal under Illinois law and warning rental companies can be held liable if their vehicles are used in this manner.

Giannoulias also posted a video.

6 Comments

Today’s chart: Pritzker spent far more time on national news, podcasts in 2025 than ever before

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

A detailed list is here.

* From the story…

Ben Epstein, a DePaul University professor who researches political communication, said the diversification of Pritzker’s media portfolio reflects the increasingly fragmented media landscape but also the importance of the methods of delivery.

An appearance on a late-night talk show or podcast matters in its own right, Epstein said, but “they’re more important when they’re cut up into splices and then spread through social media or rebroadcast.”

Anne Caprara, Pritzker’s longtime chief of staff, told Capitol News Illinois more bluntly that the change reflects the reality that people “go home at night, lay in bed and start scrolling through Reels or TikTok.”

“It’s the only way to reach people anymore because the truth is, they just don’t sit down and watch the evening news (and) they don’t wake up in the morning and fold open a newspaper that got delivered to the doorstep,” Caprara said.

Pritzker’s engagement in new media increased after the 2024 election, she said, acknowledging that Trump’s dominance in those spaces was a major factor in his victory and his gains with younger voters.

“If you’re not willing to engage in that environment, then you’re not really engaging in the campaign and political world as it is today,” she said. […]

Nationally, Pritzker appeared on CNN and MSNBC about two-dozen times apiece. His next most-frequent stops were 15 times with The New York Times and 14 times with the Washington Post. Reflecting his sensitivity to the financial markets, Pritzker was interviewed by Bloomberg a dozen times.

7 Comments

ISP: No fatal interstate shootings last year, and all interstate shootings down 80 percent from 2021

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois State Police…

For the fourth year in a row, the number of shootings on Illinois interstates has dropped. The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting interstate shootings statewide decreased 31% in 2025, compared to 2024, with zero fatal interstate shooting in Illinois. This is the first time in roughly a decade there has been zero interstate shooting fatalities. […]

Since the post-pandemic spike of 2021, there has been a decrease in interstate shootings every year:

• 31% decrease from 2024 to 2025
• 53% decrease from 2023 to 2025
• 68% decrease from 2022 to 2025
• 80% decrease from 2021 to 2025

“When faced with a surge of violence on Illinois interstates, ISP took immediate action, dedicating personnel, technology, Air Operations, K9 units, forensics, and investigative expertise, successfully decreasing the number of shootings,” said ISP Director Bredan F. Kelly. “Our multifaceted approach has proven to be effective, but as crime evolves, so will we in order to keep our communities safe.”

The use of ISP Air Operations and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) has been instrumental in identifying and tracking those committing crime, as well as reducing crashes. ISP uses its Air Operations to help track vehicles and individuals fleeing from officers, reducing the risk of a high speed pursuit that can result in a fatal crash. ISP also uses ALPRs, not only to assist in apprehending individuals in real time as the crime occurs, like a vehicle hijacking, but also during investigations. Troopers and Special Agents can use ALPRs to identify vehicles that may have been involved in or witnessed an interstate shooting and follow up with those individuals. ISP has installed ALPR cameras on interstates in counties across the state as part of the Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act, enacted in 2020.

* Accompanying graph. The blue line represents all shootings, the orange line is for injury-related shootings and the gray line is for deaths…

This was a big issue in the past. Interstate shootings rose from 51 with three fatalities in 2019 to 310 with 28 fatalities in 2021.

8 Comments

It’s just a bill

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Daily Herald…

A Schaumburg family whose daughter inspired Illinois’ Ashley’s Law to retain access to her seizure-preventing medical marijuana in school is now facing losing it altogether when their current supply runs out in a week.

But both federal and state legislators have offered Maureen and Jim Surin hope of a solution for 19-year-old Ashley now that the patches are no longer made in Illinois and bringing them from neighboring states is illegal. […]

[Maureen] said Illinois State Rep. Bob Morgan of Deerfield and State Sen. Cristina Castro of Elgin have also reached out to help. […]

Morgan has filed House Bill 4306, which would require all Illinois dispensaries to carry medical marijuana and create a patient reporting portal to notify the state of inadequate supply, according to his Outreach Director Dominik Bronakowski.

Though not an interstate commerce law, the bill addresses another of the Surins’ top wishes for reform, Maureen said.

* Rep. Yolanda Morris filed HB4369 last week…

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. In provisions concerning an application for a license, provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may establish, by rule, fees to be charged for the purpose of implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Act, including the fees necessary to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that, on or after the effective date of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Department may set the required fees to apply for a multistate license, upgrade from a single state license to a multistate license, and renew a multistate license. Provides that the initial application fee for a multistate license shall be no less than $150 and the biennial multistate license renewal fee shall be no less than $125. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that an employer who employs nurses, as defined in the Article, shall provide the nurses under its employment with the opportunity to obtain the required continuing education hours. Requires that nurses subject to the Nurse Licensure Compact complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per every 2-year license renewal cycle. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse. Adds provisions concerning employer attestations.

* HB4366 from Rep. Hoan Huynh…

Creates the Billionaire Hedge Fund Fee Act. Imposes a fee on each covered transaction occurring on or after July 1, 2026. Provides that the amount of the fee shall be the base amount with respect to the covered transaction, multiplied by 0.002. Provides that the term “covered transaction” means: (1) the purchase by a United States person of a security if the purchase occurs on, or is subject to the rules of, the Chicago Board Options Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; or (2) the purchase by a United States person of a derivative if the derivative is traded on, or is subject to the rules of, the Chicago Board Options Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Specifies that, for purposes of the Act, “United States person” includes controlled foreign corporations, hedge funds, and private equity funds and their officers and employees. Exempts from the provisions of the Act the purchase of a security or a derivative by an individual for that individual’s personal investment account or personal investment portfolio. Provides that the proceeds from the tax imposed under the Act shall be deposited into the Reducing the Cost of Living Fund. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants emergency rulemaking powers to the Department of Revenue. Amends the State Finance Act. Create the Reducing the Cost of Living Fund. Effective immediately.

Rep. Huynh is currently running for congress in the 9th Congressional District.

* Click here for some more background. NBC Chicago…

Nearly six years ago Illinois lawmakers granted Hawthorne Race Course in southwest suburban Stickney the rights to build a casino at the track, and they also received veto power to turn down other tracks within a 35 mile radius of Hawthorne.

However, the ‘racino’ has yet to come to fruition. […]

[Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association President Jeff Davis] pointed to House Bill [2724], which he hopes will be called in the next House session, as a lifeline for the industry.

In part, it would take away the exclusivity of Hawthorne’s veto power to pave a path for other companies to build a race track in the area.

“It’s not an immediate fix, we still have to rely on Hawthorne for the near future, but it puts us on the right path going forward,” he said. “If we want to save this industry they need to pass that bill.”

* Last week, the Illinois Water Justice Coalition and Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker urging him to support using the Medicaid 1115 waiver to fund lead-reducing water filters for Medicaid households…

I’m writing to you on behalf of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL). IEC is a statewide network of over 130 organizations and 500 individuals, working to advance public policies that protect Illinois’ people, plants and animals, and the natural systems we all depend on. SOUL is an independent grassroots, multissue, power organization that addresses community issues on Chicago’s South Side and South Suburbs. We respectfully urge your administration to pursue and support the use of Illinois’ Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver to provide lead-reducing water filters to Medicaid-eligible households with lead service water lines.

Lead exposure remains a silent public health crisis in Illinois, especially in communities that have borne the weight of both disinvestment and environmental racism. Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state in the nation, and the majority of those lines are concentrated in low-income, Black, and Latino communities. These are the same communities that have long faced higher risks of chronic disease, barriers to care, and other cumulative environmental burdens. Expanding the Illinois Medicaid 1115 Waiver to cover lead-reducing filters is a practical, immediate action that would:

● Reduce lead exposure in the most vulnerable homes, particularly where children and expectant mothers live, without waiting years for full lead service line replacement.

● Deliver environmental justice in real, tangible terms by prioritizing investment in the communities most impacted by environmental harm.

● Offer a proven, low-cost public health intervention, aligned with CDC and EPA guidance on preventing lead exposure.

● Supplement lead service line replacement efforts, giving families protection now, while infrastructure work remains underway.

A modest investment today will yield dramatic cost savings later. The medical costs associated with untreated lead exposure, including cognitive impairments, behavioral issues, cardiovascular impacts, pregnancy complications, and long-term chronic illness, far exceed the cost of providing certified water filtration devices. According to a study by Environmental Health Perspectives, every dollar spent on lead exposure prevention is estimated to return at least $17–$221 in future savings, depending on the model. This is precisely the type of preventive, equity-driven use of Medicaid that Section 1115 waivers were designed to support.

IEC and SOUL believe strongly that no child in Illinois should have to wait years for clean water simply because they live in a low-income household or a neighborhood with aging infrastructure. By leveraging Medicaid resources, Illinois can lead the nation in pairing environmental justice with innovative health policy, ensuring that those most at risk receive the strongest protection.

* WTVO…

New legislation introduced in the Illinois House would require sex offenders to register ownership of a drone.

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-112th) introduced HB4332 this week. The bill would amend the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act and require sex offenders register drone ownership, including make and model, with the Illinois State Police.

Individuals on the Sex Offender Registry are already required to give authorities a current photograph, address, employer, phone number, email addresses, and instant messaging identities, and identities related to all other Internet communications.

* ABC Chicago…

There is confusion over Illinois’ new squatter law, after it went into effect last week. […]

One property owner thought she could finally have the alleged squatters removed from her home. But, on Friday, she learned it’s not that simple. […]

[Property owner Mary Welch] said, ultimately, police informed her there was nothing they could do. That’s when she learned about the new squatter law going into effect Jan. 1. […]

[Rep. La Shawn Ford] says he’ll be addressing this in Springfield.

“Talking to Chicago PD and the alderman, we know there’s work that needs to be done to improve this law,” he said. “Today is an example of us needing to do more with law enforcement to educate them on what the intent of the law is.”

11 Comments

Will changes actually be made to SAFE-T Act?

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Gov. JB Pritzker set off a chain reaction last November when he told reporters he’d be open to changes in the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and replaced it with a new pre-trial release/retention system, among other things.

Pritzker was asked about the case of a woman, Bethany MaGee, who was horrifically set ablaze while riding on a Chicago commuter train.

No direct link between the crime and the SAFE-T Act actually existed, but the news media pounced on Pritzker’s statement that he’d be open to changes, and several downstate county sheriffs and others jumped up with their own suggestions (although it seemed like at least some were mostly upset about the loss of revenues from cash bail).

A Pritzker official told me back then that state laws are tweaked all the time, and the governor was merely saying that if legislators wanted to make some tweaks, he’d be open to it as well.

Before we go forward, it’s probably also important to note that while the news media (particularly television news) and some major “influencers” on social media tend to put crime front and center, a recent poll showed that fewer than 8% of Illinoisans put crime at the top of their list of the most important issues facing the state.

The results are from a Jan. 3-5, 2026, Emerson College poll of 1,000 likely Illinois primary voters. The statewide poll was commissioned by Chicago’s WGN TV.

“What do you think is the most important issue facing Illinois?” respondents were asked.

Just 7.6% identified “crime” as the most important issue.

That’s lower than “Immigration” at 10.4%; “Threats to democracy” at 12.7%; “Healthcare” at 12.9%; and “Economy (jobs, inflation, taxes)” at a whopping 40.4%.

That doesn’t mean crime isn’t important, of course. It is without a doubt. You cannot have a functioning society with high crime rates (which, by the way, have been falling fast).

But the poll does help show how the yearslong and constant drumbeat of crime stories, tweets, Facebook posts and YouTube videos pales in comparison to what voters are saying they really want to talk about: Their personal economic well-being (add health care and housing affordability to that economy category and the number rises to 59%).

But I digress.

Regardless of all that, the SAFE-T Act questions keep coming.

About a month ago, new Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach formed a committee to look at some of the problems with the county’s electronic monitoring program for detainees. The court system runs that program, which used to be operated by the county sheriff. But there have been numerous problems reported, including officials not fully knowing what is going on with the electronically monitored population, and that has led to some tragic outcomes, like the one on that CTA train, which helped prompt the new committee’s formation.

The SAFE-T Act included a provision granting those on electronic monitoring part of two days a week for “essential movement” — things like doctors’ appointments and job training, which many judges had been denying before. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has claimed those folks are not tracked during those two days, but the Cook County Public Defender says that’s not traced to the SAFE-T Act, which doesn’t explicitly require eliminating tracking.

The change ball moved forward a bit more last week when Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch was asked at a Chicago City Club luncheon what sort of changes he’d like to see in the SAFE-T Act.

Welch said that the Legislature should “always try to find ways to do better.”

Then he pointed at Judge Beach, saying he wants to wait and see what’s in Beach’s report, which is scheduled for release toward the end of January.

“I think we should give him an opportunity to come to us and make some recommendations to us,” Welch said.

Perhaps more importantly, Welch also said his House Democratic Public Safety Working Group should “probably listen to some other folks from across the state and get their input.” Working groups meet in private and are invite-only.

Welch strongly defended the state law throughout his comments, insisting that the SAFE-T Act “is working” and that judges and police officers “will tell you that the bad guys are in jail because judges are locking them up. The SAFE-T Act is allowing judges to do their job.”

I dunno about judges, but one doesn’t hear many, if any, cops say such a thing. That doesn’t mean they’re right, of course.

13 Comments

Rate the new Dabrowski ad

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. This aired during the Bears vs. Packers game Saturday…

The difference between @GovPritzker and Ted Dabrowski: Dabrowski will fight to get rid of the SAFE-T Act and Illinois' sanctuary policies.

Joe Abraham's story on the loss of his daughter captures why that difference matters.

Vote for change. Vote @TedForIllinois #twill @ILGOP… pic.twitter.com/uUN9qyMWiT

— Ted For Illinois (@TedForIllinois) January 11, 2026

36 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Illinois, 4 other states targeted for $10B child care funding freeze win restraining order. Capitol News Illinois…

* Related stories…

• Sun-Times | Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from freezing child care funding in Illinois, 4 other states
• STLPR: Trump administration freezes funding for child care providers in Missouri
• ABC: Trump administration can’t block child care, other program money for 5 states: Judge

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Oversight panel OKs rule on digitized prison mail in Illinois with new changes: The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which oversees administrative rulemaking, issued an objection to the rule in September, telling the department it needed to implement feedback from incarcerated people, families, attorneys and other stakeholders if it wanted to adopt the rule permanently. After a period of public comment and engagement with stakeholders, the department introduced amended rules, including some exceptions for photographs and used books, as well as clarifications for legal mail. Photographs must be unopened and sent directly from a vendor. Those in custody can also receive a physical printout of their mail upon request, at no cost to the individual, under the amended rules.

* Sun-Times | As ACA tax credit debate continues in Congress, Illinois sees slight decrease in enrollment: The 4% decrease in enrollment is, so far, less severe than what many experts and advocates had anticipated, especially since enrollees in Illinois were expected to see an average increase of 78% in their monthly premiums. Anywhere from 2 to 4 million people across the country were expected to become uninsured if the tax credits weren’t extended.

*** Statewide ***

* Rockford Register Star | Gamblers lost $1.9B at Illinois casinos in 2025: Gamblers lost $1.9 billion at Illinois casinos in 2025, a 15% increase from the previous year. Newer casinos, including Wind Creek and Hard Rock Rockford, contributed to the state’s revenue growth. The casino industry generated over $408 million in state taxes and $121 million for local governments in 2025.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol City Now | Harmon preps for new Senate year: A 2025 lowlight for Harmon: an accusation that he raised too much campaign cash in too little time, for which he was recommended for a $10 million fine. “It is fairly nuanced and, really, the result, I think, of a lack of clarity in how a couple of different provisions are supposed to work together. I’m gratified that that has been resolved as I expected it would be. I’m gratified the final vote to take it off the agenda was bipartisan.”

* Crain’s | Illinois hospitals now on the clock to report policies on dealing with law enforcement: The Illinois Department of Public Health will begin notifying any general acute care hospitals who haven’t submitted their policies as part of the Illinois Health Care Sanctity & Privacy Law. A hospital that misses the deadline could face penalties of up to $500 a day if they don’t comply within seven days of hearing from IDPH. Other hospitals in the state have until March 1. Spokespeople for Endeavor Health and Rush University System for Health said both hospital systems have law enforcement policies in place and had complied with state reporting requirements as of the Jan. 1 deadline.

* CBS Chicago | Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore to report to prison: Former ComEd chief executive officer Anne Pramaggiore is scheduled to report to federal prison Monday. Pramaggiore was one of the “ComEd Four” who were convicted in 2024 of charges of conspiracy, bribery and falsifying documents.

* Tribune | From AI to immigrant rights, here’s what to know about Illinois’ new education laws in 2026: The Illinois State Board of Education is now required to provide guidance to districts and educators on the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 settings. That includes explaining what AI is, how it works and how it could be used in classrooms. The state board must also include guidance on the impact AI systems and applications could have on student data privacy, including providing best practices for teaching students about responsible and ethical AI use.

*** Chicago ***

* Chicago Mag | Who Will Be Chicago’s Next Mayor?: Quigley hasn’t been shy to criticize the mayor’s fiscal management by calling for payroll cuts and union concessions to solve the city’s budget deficit. And his work in Congress has allowed him to position himself as a nemesis of Trump. Quigley holds the same congressional seat Rahm Emanuel did, but he’ll have to expand his appeal beyond the North Side in this race, the way Emanuel built relationships with Black voters as an Obama insider.

* Bloomberg | Chicago mayor is losing grip on city as rivals build war chest: Illinois Representative Mike Quigley, a Democrat, has said he will run, as has Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who had nearly $1.5 million in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, has been cited as eyeing the mayoral spot. They are all Democrats. Tech executive Liam Stanton is also considering a run.

* WBEZ | Chicago Education Alliance seeks to bring clarity to CPS’ toughest issues: Rivera, a former top official at CPS, is stepping into that fray with the launch of the Chicago Education Alliance, a new organization that’s seeking to help shape CPS policy. The organization will eventually hire more staff to conduct research and issue policy briefs and recommendations. But first he’ll go around the city listening to what issues parents, teachers and community members think are most important to tackle. His goal is to help board members understand both the short-term and long-term potential impact of their decisions.

* Tribune | After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in the Chicago area face difficult choices: “People are afraid to stay and people are afraid to return,” said Ana Gil, founder of the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance. She said Maduro’s capture has further destabilized the country. Because of that instability, many Venezuelans in the Chicago area do not feel safe returning home, but also fear detention and deportation in the U.S.

* Crain’s | Diana Rauner stepping down from helm of education nonprofit Start Early: Rauner began her lengthy career at Start Early in 2003 as a board member before being named executive director of the organization in 2007 and then president in 2011. She was also Illinois’ first lady while her husband, Bruce Rauner, was governor from 2015 to 2019. […] In an interview with Crain’s, Rauner said she’s not fully sure yet what’s next for her. But she said it’s time for her to clear the way for “new blood and new leadership,” in the form of her successor, Start Early’s current executive director, Celena Sarillo.

* Block Club | Bears Beat Packers In Dramatic Playoff Comeback As Storybook Season Continues: It was the Bears’ largest postseason comeback and the largest comeback against the Packers in what is one of the most heated rivalries in the NFL. It was also the Bears’ first playoff win in 15 years. The game sent the city into a frenzy, with fans at The Staley, the South Loop sports bar owned by former Bear Israel Idonije, erupting in cheers of “GREEN BAY SUCKS!” as the game ended.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Horse Racing Nation | Hawthorne cancels harness racing for 2nd straight weekend: For the second straight weekend, Hawthorne has canceled harness racing. The track, located in the near southwest Chicago suburb of Stickney, hosts a fall and winter harness meet as well as a Thoroughbred meet that runs from early spring through early fall. In a text sent to harness horsemen on Saturday, Hawthorne said that “Hawthorne racetrack and the IHHA have mutually agreed that during this difficult situation, it would be best to vacate our races this weekend. These postponed days will be made up going forward.” A similar post was made by the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association to its website and its Facebook page Friday evening, adding that the organization is “hopeful this issue will be resolved soon.”

* Daily Herald | Transforming Touhy: Gridlocked and hazardous, major suburban thoroughfare is getting a redo: But a county transformation of the congested Touhy corridor in the Des Plaines/Elk Grove Village area is coming this spring. Highlights include a grade separation at the railway tracks, revamped intersections and access to I-490, currently under construction by the Illinois tollway. […] The $87.2 million, two-year overhaul is being done in coordination with the tollway, plus other stakeholders, including federal, state and local agencies, and utilities.

* Crain’s | Short-term rental owners suing over Glen Ellyn ban get a reprieve: It’s not clear from the short-term rental sites how many other offerings there are in Glen Ellyn, but last year Coleman wrote that short-term rentals represent about 1% of the overall rental pool in the village of about 28,800 people 25 miles west of the Loop in DuPage County. […] In granting the injunction, Coleman wrote that Blakelick “will suffer irreparable harm” financially if they can’t operate the property while awaiting resolution of a legal battle where they are “substantially likely to prevail” on at least some of the claims.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora considering loan program for sustainable upgrades to commercial buildings: The proposal, as heard by a committee of the Aurora City Council on Tuesday, would allow the city to participate in the Illinois Finance Authority’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financing program, commonly called C-PACE. This type of lending has been available statewide since 2017, but individual local governments still need to approve its use within their boundaries. “This really supports both economic development and sustainability at the city of Aurora,” Alison Lindburg, the city’s director of sustainability, said of the proposed C-PACE program at the Rules, Administration and Procedure Committee meeting on Tuesday.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | New Champaign Township Supervisor talks future plans: “One of my goals is attempt to rebalance culture — make sure we are all aligned and working together,” Murray said. She said one thing the township office is missing is meeting on a regular basis. “It’s important to have those touch points,” Murray said. “It’s important to check in with staff and understand where they’re at.”

* WCIA | Mahomet library launches new village website: After more than five years without a newspaper, people in Mahomet didn’t have a source for local information. So, the executive director of the Mahomet library, John Howard, came up with a solution. “What if we all worked together to provide one website that’s goal was to have everything you might need or want to know for people living in Mahomet,” said Howard. “Bring as much, aggregate as much information as possible into one place so people can go and find their one thing.”

* WGLT | Downtown Bloomington reboots First Fridays with anchor events 3 times a year: The City of Bloomington will support three of the most popular themed First Friday events, beginning with Tour de Chocolat in February. In a press release, the city said waning participation in monthly extended evening hours for downtown businesses and galleries led them to rethink First Fridays around the three most popular ones. In addition to Tour de Chocolat, July and December First Fridays themed around Route 66 and the holidays will continue with city-support.

* WCIA | New developments coming to Willard Airport in Savoy: here’s already progress being made in a new area of the University of Illinois Willard Airport. With more than five years of planning and a year of construction, the airport is months away from debuting its new TSA checkpoint. “That’s something we’re excited to have the capability to do, because today our checkpoint and where it is doesn’t allow for any expansion,” said the airport’s Executive Director, Tim Bannon.

*** National ***
* NYT | Federal Prosecutors Open Investigation Into Fed Chair Powell: The inquiry, which includes an analysis of Mr. Powell’s public statements and an examination of spending records, was approved in November by Jeanine Pirro, a longtime ally of President Trump who was appointed to run the office last year, the officials said. The investigation escalates Mr. Trump’s long-running feud with Mr. Powell, whom the president has continually attacked for resisting his demands to slash interest rates significantly. The president has threatened to fire the Fed chair — even though he nominated Mr. Powell for the position in 2017 — and raised the prospect of a lawsuit against him related to the $2.5 billion renovation, citing “incompetence.”

* Chalkbeat | Most teachers don’t have access to paid parental leave. These 2 states are leading the way: But more than seven years later, Delaware remains an outlier. Just 15 states and the District of Columbia guarantee any paid leave for teachers, according to a study released Monday by the National Council on Teacher Quality. Arkansas is the only other state that picks up the cost of substitutes. The United States is the only developed country without a national parental leave policy, and teachers aren’t alone in having to cobble together sick days, vacation time, and short-term disability when they have a baby. But just one-third of teachers reported access to any paid parental leave in a 2024 survey by the research group Rand Corp. — 14 percentage points lower than other workers. And even among those who had access to leave, fewer than half said the benefits were adequate.

* AP | Some flu measures decline, but it’s not clear this severe season has peaked: New government data posted Friday — for flu activity through last week — showed declines in medical office visits due to flu-like illness and in the number of states reporting high flu activity. However, some measures show this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history. And experts believe there is more suffering ahead. “This is going to be a long, hard flu season,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, in a statement Friday.

6 Comments

Good morning!

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bob on Bobby…

Bob Dylan writing about Bob Weir in The Philosophy of Modern Song pic.twitter.com/4pbq8Zl3DG

— Ray Padgett (@rayfp) January 11, 2026

Bobby’s guitar playing was almost amorphous. But he elevated the second guitar role into a work of art and found a way to do it without drawing attention to himself. You just had to be there, I guess.

* I have some Bobby stories that I’ll share this week. But here’s a long recording from The Mosque in Richmond many, many moons ago. If you don’t have a lot of time, just skip through it and you’ll see how right Bob was about Bobby…