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Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As I write this, we have raised $57,524 since the week after Thanksgiving to buy Christmas presents for foster kids. That’s just amazing. It means we’ve helped Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy 2,301 presents. Wow. Thank you so very much! And, hey, if you’re a procrastinator, you can always click here at any time to donate. Even if it’s after Christmas, LSSI will use your donation to help those foster kids.

* Isabel and I will be back on January 8. We will try to update with any truly big news, but you will of course have our Live coverage and Live Ed Burke trial coverage posts to rely on, as well as all the feeds on the right side of the page if you need a news fix.

* And now it’s time for our annual tradition of Christmas songs loved by my mother when she was a child. Mom always gets a kick out of this. Here’s Frosty the Snowman, Suzy Snowflake and Hardrock, Coco and Joe…

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And the winners are…

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter goes to JS Mill…

JS Mill’s insights on education issues have provided us with a much needed dose of expertise to understand those often complex issues from the front line. Plus, his keen insights are not limited to just education but spill onto a multitude of other issues. I often find myself learning something new after reading comments by JS Mill.

Same. And the voting was not close.

* Congratulations to everyone who won this year…

    Best Place to Gather for Dinner During Session Weeks: Maldaner’s

    Best Place to Gather for Drinks, Etc. During Session Weeks: Boone’s

    Best Senate Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager: Lacey Stauffer

    Best Senate Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager: Barb Frobish

    Best House Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager: Liz Moody

    Best House Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager: Karla Dirks

    Best Democratic State Senate Staff Member: Selena Gorman

    Best Republican State Senate Staff Member: Brad Carlson

    Best Democratic State House Staff Member: Kendra Piercy and Kylie Kelly

    Best Republican State House Staff Member: Jen Passwater

    Best Government Spokesperson/Comms: Jason Rubin

    Best Statehouse-Related Public Relations Spokesperson: Monique Garcia and Becky Carroll

    Best Democratic Illinois State Representative: Rep. Lance Yednock

    Best Republican Illinois State Representative: Rep. Norine Hammond

    Best Democratic Illinois State Senator: Sen. Cristina Castro

    Best Republican Illinois State Senator: Sen. Sue Rezin

    Best Contract Lobbyist: Liz Brown-Reeves and Dave Sullivan

    Best In-House Lobbyist: Mark Denzler and Jen Walling

    Best Do-Gooder Lobbyist: William McNary and Nita Kelly

    Best Legislative Liaison: Allison Nickrent and Wendy Miller Butler

    Best State Agency Director: Heidi Mueller

    Best Statewide Staffer: Emily Miller and Andy Manar

    Lifetime Achievement: Susan Catania

    Best US Representative: Nikki Budzinski

    Best Statewide Officer: Gov. JB Pritzker

    The Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter: JS Mill

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*** UPDATED x4 *** Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

*** UPDATE 1 (by Rich) *** Hmm…



And here’s update 2…

Update 3…

Today, the 82nd District Representative District Committee selected Nicole La Ha as the new State Representative to fill the vacancy of Lemont Mayor John Egofske.

“I am honored to serve as the State Representative for the 82nd District,” La Ha said. “My experiences in public service and advocacy have prepared me for this role, and I am eager to work collaboratively to address the diverse needs of our community. Together, we can create positive change and build a more inclusive and vibrant future for the 82nd District.”

Nicole’s time in public service began in 2020 when she was elected to the Village of Homer Glen Board of Trustees. During her tenure, she demonstrated a strong commitment to lower property taxes and financial responsibility. Nicole is also Mrs. America 2022 and has a history of impactful advocacy for community accessibility and inclusive parks for children with disabilities. As one of the founders of the Ability Awareness Committee in Homer Glen, Nicole showcases her dedication to promoting inclusivity and education within the community.

Nicole’s personal experiences as the mother of a differently abled child have fueled her commitment to inspire a more inclusive world. She has actively participated in leadership roles supporting initiatives such as inclusive shopping carts and education programs for individuals with disabilities.

“Nicole La Ha brings an exciting blend of passion, dedication, and leadership to the 82nd District,” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie. “Her commitment to children, public safety, and advocacy for inclusivity is inspiring and she will be a great addition to the House Republican Caucus. Nicole is a problem solver and will work toward solutions that will bring positive change and economic growth to the 82nd District.”

Nicole resides in Homer Glen with her husband, Dr. Christopher Zwiercan, and their two children, Cristiano and Ashlynn.

Update 4…

Brandun Schweizer on Thursday was selected by the 104th Representative District Committee to fill the vacancy of retiring state Rep. Michael Marron, R-Fithian, in the Illinois House of Representatives.

“I am honored to be the new representative for the 104th District and serve the residents of Champaign and Vermilion counties,” said Schweizer. “Serving our community as state representative will allow me to prioritize real relief for taxpayers, entice businesses to build and grow here, and work to rebuild trust in government.”

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* WTTW…

Texas emergency management officials chartered a private plane and flew 150 migrants to Chicago Tuesday evening, the first time a private plane has been used by the state to bring migrants to the city from Texas. […]

After the plane landed without warning to Chicago officials, airport officials called the Chicago Police Department, according to a report shared with WTTW News. The flight originated in El Paso, Texas, and records link the plane’s tail number to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, according to the police log of the incident.

Two people, identified as “handlers” in the police log, fled the plane and “jumped into an Uber” before they could be questioned by officers, according to police.

* Crain’s…

With the city’s finances strained and a controversial tool meant to spur economic development set to shrink over the next decade, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is looking at borrowing more than $1 billion to fund affordable housing and development projects.

The move would be a remarkable shift in how the city pays for and subsidizes development projects. The bond issuance would begin the process of Chicago weaning itself off the special tax districts created in the last three decades to incentivize development.

With dozens of tax-increment financing, or TIF, districts expiring over the next decade — potentially returning hundreds of millions annually to the city’s tax base — city officials have been pitching the City Council on a plan to divert a chunk of that anticipated revenue to pay for the new debt created by the borrowing plan.

* Daily Herald…

McHenry County’s electoral board ruled Tuesday that Bob Nowak can stay on the March primary ballot, overruling his opponent’s objection to his candidacy.

Nowak, of Algonquin, is running for McHenry County Board in the District 3 Republican primary against incumbent Eric Hendricks of Lake in the Hills. Nowak previously held the seat but lost to Hendricks in 2022.

Hendricks filed an objection to Nowak’s candidacy last week, claiming Nowak ran as a “Republian,” omitting the “c” in Republican and putting a zip code in an incorrect field.

In Tuesday’s hearing, Hendricks cited case law to support his argument that Nowak should be booted from the ballot.

“It probably should have been rejected from the offset,” Hendricks said.

* As subscribers know, Coburn withdrew a week ago. SJ-R…

Kelvin Coburn, a Republican candidate running in Illinois House District 95, is ending his campaign after not receiving sufficient signatures.

Kelvin Coburn has ended his campaign for Illinois House District 95.
Required to collect between 500 and 1,500 signatures, Coburn received 561 per records shared by the Illinois State Board of Elections but several filing errors reduced that number below the minimum. Coburn, a Department of Transportation employee from Chatham, was challenging incumbent state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, in the Republican primary.

Objectors to his nomination papers included Patty Meyer and Collins Pieper, both Republican precinct committeepersons also seeking reelection. Their objections filed with ISBE and going public Tuesday, centered on the papers including non-genuine signatures and signatures from outside the district.

Coburn said Wednesday that some of his signatures did come from the Illinois House District 108, which includes portions of Chatham.

* Release the bloopers!…


* More…

    * Block Club | Bond Reform Has Reduced Jail Population, But State Data On Pretrial Detention Is 18 Months Late: The data will reveal how bond abolition affects pretrial detention, but most courts have never tracked this information. State officials are also struggling to streamline a system dominated by paper records. … Circuit courts use at least 17 different case management technologies that need to feed into the new state system, and most counties have never analyzed pretrial outcomes, Smith said. The vast majority of Illinois courts still use paper-based records, which is a serious hurdle to streamlining the data into a single system, Smith said. That makes it especially difficult to plug each county into a statewide system, she said.

    * WTTW | ‘It’s a Human Dignity Issue’: Data Reveals Racial, Economic Disparities in Access to Quality Nursing Home Care Across Chicago: An analysis by WTTW News and the Hyde Park Herald/South Side Weekly found that the disparity between access to quality nursing home care for Black and White Chicagoans is stark: Three of the city’s five-star homes, as rated by Medicare, house majority White residents and are concentrated on the city’s North Side. There is another five-star home on the North Side that did not submit demographic data for 2021 to the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board (HFSRB), the agency that collects this information.

    * ABC Chicago | UIC under federal investigation for discrimination by Education Department : The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was added to the list of schools a few weeks ago. Other newly added schools include Springfield, IL Public Schools District 186, MNIT, UC Davis and Drexel University.

    * Capitol News Illinois | High court says unless pavement markings or signs are present, cyclists are merely ‘permitted’ users: That distinction means the city of Chicago is not liable for damages sustained by a bicyclist who was injured after he hit a pothole on a city street that had no such signage.

    * Patch | Rosemont Medical Co. Accused Of Filing False Claims Settles For $14.7M: BioTelemetry Inc., headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and its subsidiary, LifeWatch Services Inc., based in Rosemont, will pay more than $14.7 million after being accused of violating the False Claims Act, authorities said. “Diagnostic companies, like other providers, are expected to bill federal healthcare programs only for medically necessary services,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division, said in a news release. “We will hold accountable those who misuse taxpayer-funded programs for their own enrichment.”

    * AP | Some state abortion bans stir confusion, and it’s uncertain if lawmakers will clarify them: [A] provision included in a law enacted by Congress in 1986 and signed by Republican President Ronald Reagan said abortion must be available when a pregnant woman’s life is at risk during a medical emergency. But a lack of clarity over how to apply that rule and other exceptions in state laws has escalated the trauma and heartache some women experience while facing serious medical issues but unable to access abortion in their home states.

    * Billboard | Mitski, Father John Misty & More Artists’ Online Shops Affected After Merch Company SCP Shuts Down: SCP Merchandising, an Illinois-based merch company used by artists including Mitski, Father John Misty and Carly Rae Jepsen, has shut down, according to a member of SCP leadership still on-site after the company laid off its staff over the weekend. Based on accounts from multiple former SCP employees on LinkedIn, the company’s employees were abruptly laid off on Sunday evening (Dec. 17).

    * ABC Chicago | Xfinity hack could impact 36 million customers: Xfinity concluded on Dec. 6 that usernames and passwords for some customers were stolen along with names, contact information, last four digits of social security numbers, dates of birth and/or secret questions. The company says it is still taking a complete stock of what was stolen.

    * Reuters | Tesla blamed drivers for failures of parts it long knew were defective: Wheels falling off cars at speed. Suspensions collapsing on brand-new vehicles. Axles breaking under acceleration. Tens of thousands of customers told Tesla about a host of part failures on low-mileage cars. The automaker sought to blame drivers for vehicle ‘abuse,’ but Tesla documents show it had tracked the chronic ‘flaws’ and ‘failures’ for years.

    * NYT | How College Football Is Clobbering Housing Markets Across the Country: “College athletics, in particular college football, have become so enormous in this country, particularly in the Southeast, that it has caused this phenomenon of short-term rentals,” said Adrien Bouchet, director of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. “On one hand it creates value, but on the other hand, it definitely hurts people that have lived in and around the university for a long time.”

    * Good Morning America | Chicago Christmas market shoppers find unclaimed money: ABC News’ DeMarco Morgan heads to the city’s Christkindle Market with members from the Illinois State Treasurer’s office to help holiday shoppers see if they have any unclaimed money.

    * Sun-Times | Chicago may get a ‘moist’ Christmas, but snow unlikely: forecast calls for rain, temps in the 50s: The forecast is likely to be “mild and moist,” according to Todd Kluber, a meteorologist with the NWS. The good news is weather probably won’t cause travel woes for those staying in the Midwest. “Temperatures are fortunately gonna be well above freezing through Christmas,” Kluber said. “Freezing precipitation is not an issue for us for that holiday period and around that holiday travel time.”

    * Dave Joachim | Great Outdoor Recipes For Christmas, Hanukkah And New Years: Nibble and nosh your way to New Year’s Eve with appetizers like homemade Boursin cheese spread. When it’s chilly, sip on hot Southern Comfort cider. And when it snows, make maple taffy on snow! The holidays are the best time to invite friends and family over for a get-together and celebrate the many blessings that you have.

  14 Comments      


Another population ‘estimate,’ another Krishnamoorthi response

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* An absolutely ridiculous story from the Center Square…

Illinois has lost 549,000 people in the past decade when adding up the annual population estimates from the U.S. Census, prompting some to look for policy changes to reverse the trend.

The latest numbers released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows Illinois’ 10th year of annual losses. In 2013, Illinois’ annual population estimate showed an increase of 12,700. The following year began the decade of decline. In 2014, the state lost an estimated 10,700. In 2015, that more than doubled to 25,000 lost in one year. Another 37,900 were estimated lost in 2016.

The losing trend continued in 2017 with Illinois having 41,800 fewer people than the prior year. In 2018, there were 55,200 fewer people, 57,700 fewer in 2019, 79,500 fewer in 2020, 100,000 fewer in 2021 and more than 107,800 fewer in 2022. For 2023, the U.S. Census shows Illinois lost an additional 32,800 for the year ending July 1, 2023.

Oh, for crying out loud.

* The actual 2010 Census full count showed Illinois had 12,830,632 people. The full 2020 Census count showed Illinois had 12,812,508. Therefore, on its face, those annual estimates were wildly wrong to the point of absurdity, even though they were loudly trumpeted every single year by the Illinois Policy Institute and its fellow travelers, including the Chicago Tribune editorial board.

And then, you’ll recall, this happened in 2022…

Following a review of 2020 U.S. Census Data, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today that Illinois was undercounted by nearly 2%. This means that Illinois’ population grew by nearly 250,000 people and is now above 13 million people for the first time in Illinois history.

* As you know, US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has been pestering the US Census Bureau for nearly two years about its inane annual estimates. I sent Krishnamoorthi the Center Square story and asked for a response…

The Census Bureau’s latest population estimates (and the opportunistic bashing of our state) only raise the question of why the Census Bureau’s own analysis in 2022 found that its projections had been wrong, and Illinois’ population actually grew to a new high. We continue to be interested in the answers because until we can figure them out, we will be left without a proper accounting of what went wrong in the 2020 Census, and how Illinois can get a fairer share of federal resources.

  7 Comments      


Some cause for concern, but hospitalizations are significantly lower than a year ago

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* CBS 2…

Respiratory viruses are spreading quickly right now and with more holiday gatherings in the next week, the Chicago Department of Public Health is urging people to get vaccinated. […]

On Wednesday, local nurses called on Governor JB Pritzker and the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to require masks again at all healthcare facilities.

Nurses from several groups planned to speak in front of UIC Hospital on Wednesday.

The group said last week the Illinois Department of Public Health recommended using masks in healthcare settings because of rising RSV and COVID cases.

The governor no longer has the authority to order masks at the healthcare facilities because his COVID disaster declaration is expired.

And if you click here and then click the Hospital Visits tab, you’ll see that emergency room visits and hospitalizations are lower than they were at this time last year (with COVID hospitalizations just a bit more than half of that mid-December 2022 number). The online data hasn’t been updated since Saturday, but hospitalizations were definitely trending downward at that time.

That being said, I know a whole lot of people who have COVID right now, but none are in the hospital.

* Here is what IDPH told me today…

IDPH has been in close communication with our healthcare partners in recent weeks and months as we have seen seasonal viruses increase across the state. Our goal is to monitor conditions and ensure that healthcare facilities have the capacity to deal with any increase in demand.

On December 14 we issued a health alert to hospitals and long-term care facilities recommending they take precautions to reduce the spread of viruses and protect their patients, staffs and visitors.

The alert shared CDC’s recommendation for facility-wide masking at healthcare facilities that are in counties rated at high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations or per facility discretion in areas where data shows elevated transmission of other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV, even if COVID-19 hospitalization levels are not high in those areas.

We applaud the many healthcare facilities around Illinois that have already put in place masking and other proactive mitigation measures as we contend with this seasonal surge in illnesses.

We will continue to closely monitor the health data and provide additional guidance to healthcare facilities if it is warranted.

More here.

* Meanwhile, in Springfield via Steven Spearie at the SJ-R…

Memorial Health has implemented temporary visitor restrictions at its five hospitals, including Springfield Memorial Hospital, to curb the spread of respiratory illnesses.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommended temporary visitor restrictions due to a statewide increase in respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV.

Memorial Health requires that hospital visits be limited to two visitors per patient and that all visitors be 18 years of age or older and show no signs of illness.

Masks are encouraged but not required at this time. Disposable masks are available for visitors upon entry.

Hospital Sisters Health System, which includes HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, is recommending there be a limit of two people visiting a patient at one time.

  11 Comments      


Chicago temp casino performing way below expectations

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Jennifer Shea at the Bond Buyer…

When casino developers were clamoring to run Chicago’s first casino, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration all but promised a windfall. City leaders predicted a “material improvement to revenues” from the Chicago casino, the result of 2019 legislation that grew Illinois gambling by nearly 50%.

And when Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corporation won the coveted casino license, Bally’s CEO Soo Kim estimated the finished River West casino would generate $200 million per year in tax revenue, with $50 million per year flowing from the temporary location opened on Wabash Ave. in the meantime.

The city did not budget for any revenue from the casino in 2023. But current Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 budget plans for $35 million in local tax revenue from the casino. To meet that target, the temporary casino – now located in the Medinah Temple, right off the Magnificent Mile and just north of the Chicago River – would have to bring in roughly $2.916 million per month.

Since the venue opened Sept. 9, the temporary casino has brought in between $694,913 and $778,964 per month in local tax revenue, according to Illinois Gaming Board data — about a quarter of what it needs to generate to keep up with budget projections, and a fifth of Kim’s more ambitious target.

* According to Illinois Gaming Board data, in November alone, video gaming machines produced $186,224 in tax revenue for Decatur, which was one of the highest in the state.

Chicago is about 38.5 times as large as Decatur. So, if Chicago had video poker machines, it had the possible potential of raking in almost $7.2 million in taxes during November.

* Joliet, which has two full-blown casinos in the area, pulled in $135,116 from video gaming taxes that same month.

Chicago’s population is almost 18 times that of Joliet. Extrapolating that out, Chicago could be expected to reap as much as $2.43 million in taxes from casinos in November.

Figure it’s somewhere in between. If so, that would likely cover the city’s budget for the coming year.

That somewhere-in-between number might possibly still be lower than the projections for Chicago’s temporary casino and would be much lower than the projections for the permanent casino site. However, are those Chicago projections realistic?

Well, Joliet’s two casinos generated $980.097 in tax revenues during November. Extrapolated out, that could be $17,641,738 for Chicago, or something like $212 million for the year, which is about what Bally’s projected.

* But, so far, Chicago is just sputtering along. And this is from the Civic Federation in October…

The Civic Federation has long had concerns over the City of Chicago’s proposed reliance on casino revenues as a major funding source for its Police and Firefighter Pension Funds. While a casino may generate some budgetary relief, gaming revenues can be unreliable, particularly over the long run, and should be budgeted with caution. Further, the State of Illinois currently has 15 casinos and thousands of video gaming locations. With six additional casinos enabled by the 2019 gaming expansion including the Chicago casino, the legalization of sports gambling and a growing number of video gaming locations, not to mention nearby casinos in neighboring states, there is greater potential for market saturation.

As noted, that money is supposed to shore up the first responder pension funds. If that doesn’t happen, the General Assembly could be asked to step in yet again.

* Back to the Bond Buyer…

This comes against the backdrop of a national slowdown in the growth of the gambling industry over the past five years, according to Gros. Georgia and Texas are now the only big states without casinos, he said, and growth at the others has been “incremental” and driven by a preoccupation with tax revenues rather than sustainability.

* The added bonus to local video gaming machines is that the drinking establishments are mostly (not all) locally owned.

I don’t gamble, I don’t encourage gambling and I don’t have any financial interest in casinos or video poker or anything else like that. But the bottom line here is that the city has left a ton of tax revenue on the table since video gaming was legalized in 2009. And it might have done better than an actual casino going forward. I guess we’re going to find out.

  26 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* 25 News Now…

National data shows a growing mental health crisis among children and young adults that was only made worse after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, Illinois State University Student Body President Eduardo Monk Jr., launched an initiative to get a state law on the books giving university students five mental health days. It mirrors a law already in place giving the same rights to K through 12 students. […]

Senator Dave Koehler is sponsoring the bill in the Illinois Senate. Representative Sharon Chung will sponsor the bill once it reaches the House of Representatives.

While Koehler was not able to speak on camera, the bill is in its early stages. As of right now, it is waiting in an executive committee. Currently, staffers are ironing out the details of the law and making it work around different attendance policies at different universities.

* Rep. Bob Morgan’s HB4282…

Amends the Genetic Counselor Licensing Act. Provides that application for licenses shall be made to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in writing or electronically (rather than in writing) as prescribed by the Department. Provides that all applicants and licensees shall (1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for licensure or renewal of a license; and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after the change either through the Department’s website or by contacting the Department’s licensure maintenance unit. Provides that no association, limited liability company, professional limited liability company, or partnership (rather than no association or partnership) shall practice genetic counseling unless every member, partner, and employee of the association, limited liability company, professional limited liability company, or partnership who practices genetic counseling or who renders genetic counseling services holds a valid license issued under the Act. Provides that every application for an original license under the Act shall include the applicant’s Social Security Number or individual taxpayer identification number. Removes a provision that authorizes the Department to maintain rosters of the names and addresses of all licensees and all persons whose licenses have been suspended, revoked, or denied. Defines “email address of record”. Changes references from the “American Board of Medical Genetics” to the “American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics”. Makes conforming changes. Makes grammatical changes. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to provide for the repeal of the Genetic Counselor Licensing Act on January 1, 2030.

* Rep. Travis Weaver’s HB4285…

Amends the Child Labor Law. Provides that a minor 14 or 15 years of age may work at an otherwise prohibited workplace if none of the minor’s job duties: (1) require any education, formal training, certification, or license; (2) involve the use of any equipment or machinery that poses a substantial risk of causing any serious bodily injury or death; (3) involve the use of or proximity to hazardous materials; or (4) require the minor to work hours past curfew. Provides that every employer of minors between the ages of 14 and 16 years shall record the name of the parent or guardian who gives the minor permission to work. Provides that any employer, upon termination of the employment of a minor, shall immediately send by certified mail notification to the parent or guardian on record that the minor’s employment has been terminated. Defines terms.

* HB4283 from Rep. Kevin Schmidt…

Creates the Gun Crime Charging and Sentencing Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that in a criminal case, if a defendant is charged with an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm and subsequently enters into a plea agreement in which the charge will be reduced to a lesser offense or a non-weapons offense in exchange for a plea of guilty, at or before the time of sentencing, the State’s Attorney shall file with the court a written statement of his or her reasons in support of the plea agreement, which shall specifically state why the offense or offenses of conviction resulting from the plea agreement do not include the originally charged weapons offense. Provides that the written statement shall be part of the court record in the case and a copy shall be provided to any person upon request. Provides that in a criminal case in which the original charge is or was for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm, if a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of the original charge or lesser offense or a non-weapons offense, in imposing sentence, the judge shall set forth in a written sentencing order his or her reasons for imposing the sentence or accepting the plea agreement. Provides that a copy of the written sentencing order shall be provided to any person upon request.

* HB4289 from Rep. Ryan Spain…

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Specifies that, as used in the Act, “official” includes specified officials of a unit of local government. Modifies “lobby” and “lobbying”, as used in the Act, to add illustrative examples and to provide that a person has not communicated for the ultimate purpose of influencing a State or local governmental action solely by submitting an application for a government permit or license or by responding to a government request for proposals or qualifications. Changes the definition “lobbyist”, as used in the Act, to mean a natural person who, on behalf of any person other than himself or herself, or as any part of his or her duties as an employee of another, undertakes to influence or lobby for any executive, legislative, or administrative action for State government or a unit of local government, and includes illustrative examples of lobbyists.

* Rep. Dan Caulkins’ HB4291…

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. In a provision permitting 2 or more mandated reporters from the same workplace to designate one reporter to make a single report concerning the group’s shared belief that a child may be abused or neglected, provides that the report made by the designated reporter shall include the name, business address, and telephone number of the mandated reporter; the capacity that makes the person a mandated reporter; and the information that gave rise to the knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect and the source or sources of that information. Provides that the report shall also include, if known, certain information on the child, the child’s parents and guardians, and the person or persons who the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects to have abused or neglected the child. Requires the designated mandated reporter to make a report even if some of the required information is not known or is uncertain to the reporter. Removes the requirement that the report include the names and contact information for the other mandated reporters. In a provision permitting any other person who is not a mandated reporter to make a child abuse or neglect report, provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall ask the reporter to provide in the report his or her name, telephone number, information that gave rise to the knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, and the source or sources of the information that gave rise to the knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Provides that if the reporter refuses to provide his or her name or telephone number, the Department shall make efforts to determine the basis for that refusal and advise the reporter that the identifying information will remain confidential.

  4 Comments      


Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best US Representative goes to Nikki Budzinski…

US Rep: the freshman phenom, Nikki Budzinski. She was everywhere in her district during the summer recess. Pretty sure she attended when my daughter had a wedding for her Barbie dolls. She’s also been laser-focused on issues that matter for her district, even though they’re not part of the DC culture wars- the farm bill, veterans affairs, and labor. Her team is top notch and Republicans couldn’t get a real challenger for her. If she survives for a few more terms, I expect to see her make a play for leadership.

Some of that was snark, of course, but Budzinski had a ton of nominations that couldn’t be ignored even though she’s just starting out. Let’s hope she can live up to the hype.

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Officer yet again goes to Gov. JB Pritzker…

I hate repeat winners, but it’s gotta be JB Pritzker. JB had a flurry of announcements this year- new businesses, new jobs, new investments. Basically, everything Rauner wanted to do, but could never pull off. It’s been a great demonstration that we don’t need to kneecap labor or defund social services to expand the economy in the state. This is JB Pritzker’s state right now.

We may have to retire this category until his poll numbers tank. /s

* On to our final 2023 category…

    The Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter

Remember to explain your nomination or it won’t count. Thanks.

…Adding… The winner will be announced at 4:30ish today, so get your nominations in now, please.

* I expressed doubt yesterday that we could raise a total of $55,000 by the end of the day to buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Instead, we surpassed $56,000. That’s so great! Thanks!

This is our final day of fundraising. I haven’t spoken with the folks at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for at least a couple of weeks, but I have to believe they’re thrilled with your generosity this year, because I sure am.

Because of you, LSSI can buy presents for 2,256 foster children in Illinois. You done really good, folks.

But we still have time to help more kids. LSSI serves a total of 2,530 foster children. So, if you haven’t yet done so or if you have a few extra bucks available ahead of the holidays, please click here. Thanks! Merry Christmas!

  24 Comments      


More new laws

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* NBC Chicago…

The state of Illinois is implementing a series of new laws designed to make changes to the way certain industries do business, and it could have an impact on consumers throughout the state.

One such law will come in the form of HB 2269, which will require that estate-planning documents be made available for electronic preparations. Previously, only wills were included in that list, but now the definition will expand under the legislation.

Speaking of the internet, licensed new and used car dealerships in Illinois will now be authorized to conduct sales activities over the internet, giving them an even playing field against online car merchants and sales sites.

Renters will also be protected by a series of new laws, including HB 1628, which will keep landlords from requiring their tenants to pay their rent via electronic fund transfers, including such transactions that are automatically debited from accounts.

* Sen. Loughran Cappel…

Reconstructive surgeries for trauma survivors and vaginal estrogen will be covered by insurance starting Jan. 1 thanks to two new laws sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“We can’t let residents continue to be buried by health care costs,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “People in Illinois should have access to the care and medication they need, regardless of cost.”

House Bill 1565 requires individual policy accident and health insurers to cover vaginal estrogen when it is medically necessary. The measure prohibits insurers from imposing a higher deductible, co-payment or any other cost-sharing requirement on vaginal estrogen than it would for a treatment for erectile dysfunction. […]

Loughran Cappel also sponsored House Bill 1384 which requires HMOs, Medicaid and individual and group health insurance policies to cover medically necessary reconstructive surgeries to restore a person’s physical appearance following trauma. […]

House Bill 1384 and House Bill 1565 take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

* QC Times…

HB 2100 says that anyone who takes advantage of an elderly person or a person with a disability financially is guilty of a Class 1 felony if the elderly person is 70 years of age or older, instead of “over 70 years of age”, and the value of the property is $15,000 or more. […]

HB 2389 says no vehicle can be stopped or searched only because of any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield that may obstruct the driver’s view. […]

HB 3326 outlaws the use of automated license plate reader data to enforce laws that interfere with a person’s right to obtain lawful healthcare services, including reproductive health care, or permit the detention/investigation of a person based on their immigration status.

HB 3396 says that a person who, with the intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede a picket, demonstration or protest or places any object in the public way, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $2,500, and a prison sentence of less than one year.

* Sen. Morrison…

Illinois is one step closer to becoming smoke free thanks, in part, to a new law from State Senator Julie Morrison set to take effect on Jan. 1 that bans e-cigarettes inside public places.

“E-cigarettes, in all of their many forms, continue to be one of the most addictive products readily available for purchase in gas stations, vape shops and online,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We have made solid progress toward de-normalizing the perception of tobacco, and I am proud that on Jan. 1, e-cigarette usage will be banned indoors.”

Passed in 2007, the Smoke Free Illinois Act prohibited smoking in most public places and within 15 feet of entrances, and required “no smoking” signs to be posted. However, this law took effect when people primarily smoked cigarettes and cigars.

In recent years, the use and popularity of e-cigarettes, or vapes, has increased – especially by middle school children – according to recent reports, leading Morrison to add such products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act through the passage of House Bill 1540, signed by Governor JB Pritzker on July 28, 2023. […]

House Bill 1540 takes effect Jan. 1.

* WTHI…

Also coming in 2024, a signed Illinois bill will allow non-U.S. citizens to become police officers.

“The goal of the bill is to allow DACA and permanent residents that are already able to work in this country legally well to apply to become police officers,” says Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez.

The bill’s sponsor says she hopes it’ll help remedy police office shortages.

Starting January 1 in Illinois, veterans will have easier access to adopting a pet. State legislators passed a bill requiring animal shelters to waive adoption fees for veterans living in the state.

“This gives our vets who have sacrificed so much, just an opportunity to have that extra support that extra comfort, that camaraderie that friendship with that we have and with our animals, with our pets that you know, become part of the family,” says Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

* Sen. Preston…

A law championed by State Senator Willie Preston requiring the Secretary of State to provide previously incarcerated individuals with an Illinois ID upon their release goes into effect Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

“We are offering a lifeline to individuals who have paid their debt to society,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Access to valid identification isn’t just about a card; it’s a key to unlocking opportunities, restoring dignity and rebuilding lives. This law ensures individuals aren’t faced with unfair barriers while reentering our communities.”

The new law requires the Secretary of State to provide individuals committed to the Illinois Department of Corrections or the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice with a valid ID after receiving the individual’s birth certificate, social security card, photograph and proof of residency upon discharge.

The corrections agencies are required to help the individual obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate and social security card. If, for any reason, an individual does not receive an ID, they must be provided with information on how to obtain an ID at least 45 days prior to their discharge.

* Sen. Preston…

Taking a step forward to ensure the safety and well-being of employees and incarcerated individuals, State Senator Willie Preston’s law addressing indecent exposure in correctional facilities goes into effect Monday, Jan. 1.

“We must ensure a safe and respectful environment for every individual held or employed in correctional facilities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Indecent exposure within these facilities is a violation of human dignity and a blight on our justice system. Women, especially, are targets of this inappropriate behavior. Through this law, we will be able to address and eradicate these gender targeted incidents, fostering a secure environment for employees and individuals in the state’s care.”

This law amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to create the offense of “lewd sexual display in a penal institution,” making it a Class A misdemeanor for incarcerated individuals to expose themselves with the purpose or effect of intimidating, harassing or threatening someone. Repeat offenders face more severe penalties, with subsequent violations being considered Class 4 felonies. The provisions will also allow for thorough review of annual reports provided by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority in 2028.

Brought forth by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the new law mirrors penalties for public indecency but changes the penalties given the context and motivation of the crime. It excludes juvenile detention facilities, individuals under the age of 18 and those living with a behavioral health issue.

House Bill 1399 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

* WAND…

A new state law will allow Illinois to start building small nuclear reactors in 2026. Democrats and Republicans hope the new technology can address the demand for energy with downstate coal and gas plants shutting down.

Illinois will start a new chapter by lifting the 1987 moratorium on nuclear construction on January 1, 2026. Democrats, Republicans and manufacturers want to take advantage of the new carbon-free technology. […]

The new law will allow the state to build 300 Megawatt reactors throughout central and southern Illinois. Sponsors know the Biden administration supports micro-nuclear projects and the U.S. Department of Energy is already trying to get small reactors online.

“Some people predict 5 or 10 years is when they’ll be rolled out in the commercial market,” said Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “It’s important because right now is when people are making decisions on the future direction of their energy needs.”

  3 Comments      


Open thread

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  12 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Officials investigating death of migrant child staying at Chicago shelter. Tribune…

    - The parents of Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero are devastated, said Matt DeMateo, executive director and pastor at New Life Centers.
    - Health care specialists have questioned both the conditions and coordination of care not only in the warehouse at 2241 S. Halsted St., but in the entire 27-shelter system.
    - Jean Carlos had been sick for a couple of days prior to his death, his parents told police.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

    * Shaw Local | Weitzel to discuss pros and cons of the SAFE-T Act at January forum: “There is no argument about the act. The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld it, it is the law and we must deal with it. During the public forum, I plan to discuss the SAFE-T Act, how it came to be and its effects on police operations and overall public safety. I strongly advocate for having an independent auditor monitor the SAFE-T Act bond procedure in the court systems in Cook County and throughout the state.”

    * Patch | 20 New Illinois Laws That Could Change Your Life In 2024: Employees of any local government entity, board of election commissioners or any private employer in Illinois with 51 or more employees will receive up to 10 days of paid leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor. (HB 3516)

    * Tribune | High schools in Blue Island, Crestwood embrace solar energy. Will it be as advertised?: Now, south suburban Chicago is reaping more benefits. The two schools in High School District 218 are in their first month of relying on solar energy following a monthslong installation process provided through the program. […] While yet to be seen, the transition to solar comes with the promise that such a move will reduce the schools’ energy bill by 90%.

    * WTTW | Chicago’s Natural Gas Pipeline Project Halted Amid Push for Cleaner Energy Investments: “The ICC defied federal safety regulators, their own engineering study, and all common sense when they put a sudden, complete halt to construction work that everyone agrees is needed for the sake of safety and reliability in Chicago’s heating system,” says Marc Poulos, executive director of the nonprofit Indiana-Illinois-Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting.

    * Sun-Times | Chicago police supervisor retires while facing demotion for failing to respond to fatal crash involving off-duty cop: Despite the serious — and potentially criminal — nature of the crash, Melean didn’t show up to assume control of the scene as required by a departmental order, according to law enforcement sources. That means he didn’t notify the Bureau of Internal Affairs, so no one from the department came to administer a Breathalyzer test to the other officer.

    * WBEZ | Two former lifeguards sue the Chicago Park District, saying they suffered sexual abuse when they were minors: The cases filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday could add to the legal tab from the sexual misconduct scandal for the park district — which already has paid out nearly $2 million to three other female lifeguards who have sued or threatened to take the taxpayer-funded agency to court.

    * Capitol News Illinois | Capitol News Illinois, ProPublica to continue award-winning reporting partnership: ProPublica announced the addition of five new partner newsrooms and local journalists to its Local Reporting Network, including another two-year partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Through the partnership, CNI reporter Molly Parker will serve as an LRN fellow, co-publishing investigations with the two news outlets.

    * AP | Thousands of lights at Chicago Botanic Garden illuminate tunnels, lilies and art: More than 22 light installations by various local and international artists light a path through established gardens that snake around the Great Basin in the core of the garden’s 385 acres. Highlights of the experience include passing through the “Electric Ribbon Tunnel” created by Culture Creative; “Sea of Light,” created by UK artist Ithaca, which has 4,800 individually controlled balls of LED light; “Lilies,” by UK artist Jigantics, with 22 illuminated 5-foot (1.5-meter) lilies that float in and around the darkness of the Great Basin; and “Laser Lake,” projecting a rainbow of light dancing across the Great Basin.

    * Tribune | Thursday is the shortest day of the year. Here’s what the winter solstice means for Chicago.: “The winter solstice has a pretty firm connection to astronomy,” said Hunter Miller, public observing educator at the Adler Planetarium. “There’s a whole lot of stuff going on out in space to explain what’s happening here on Earth.” The winter solstice is the moment the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun at about 23 degrees, Miller said. It’s easiest to understand, he said, if you imagine looking at Earth from far away and there’s a big stick that goes through the North and South poles.

    * Sun-Times | Popular MeTV horror movie host Svengoolie brings on sidekicks (and possible successors): Rich Koz, who’s been keeping the grandly eccentric tradition of the horror movie host alive on the Chicago TV fixture “Svengoolie” for decades, needed a hand — preferably an undead one. Koz, who plays the wisecracking, endearingly cheesy horror host, was tasked with filling 30 extra minutes of airtime when executives at Weigel Broadcasting’s flagship station MeTV expanded his show from two to two and a half hours.

    * AP | Minnesota panel chooses new state flag featuring North Star to replace old flag seen as racist: The star echoes Minnesota’s state motto of “Star of the North.” The commission’s chairman, Luis Fitch, said that to him, the light blue represents the Mississippi River, “the most important river in the United States,” pointing to the North Star. But he acknowledged it could mean other things to other people. Symmetry and simplicity won out over other versions, including ones that included a green stripe for the state’s agricultural heritage.

    * AP | States are trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire: A New York state-run veterans’ home was so deluged by PPE deliveries in early 2021 that it stashed them under tarps in a parking lot. By the time a warehouse was arranged four months later, between $560,000 and $1.6 million of supplies were too damaged to use — and cost another $21,000 to incinerate, according to a state inspector general’s office report. Another $779,000 in expired items have been discarded.

  19 Comments      


Live coverage

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Live coverage is back, sorta. This will be different than the old Scribble Live feed because Twitter broke itself and almost everything else it touched. These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of posting lagtime, but it’s much better than nothing. We are also limited to just 20 Twitter sources. The service may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees about this. You can still click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped Scribble Live from working…

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Live Ed Burke Trial Coverage

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of a lagtime and you have to refresh the page every now and then. The service we’re using may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees. You can still click here to follow the Ed Burke trial on Twitter. Posts without a Twitter author name below them are from online news sources via Bing…

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Press release…

The minimum wage in Illinois is increasing on January 1st, 2024.

Workers will see an increase of $1 per hour from $13 to $14. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $8.40 per hour and youth workers (under 18) working fewer than 650 hours per calendar year will see their hourly wage increase to $12 per hour.

“Since day one as Governor, I’ve made it my mission to put Springfield back on the side of working families,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With this new minimum wage increase, we are once again making Illinois a more affordable and equitable place to live for all of our residents.”

“We’re continuing to not only strengthen our workforce but sustain it by increasing the minimum wage. Leadership matters and we’re proud to see our administration’s sixth increase go into effect on January 1,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “As we continue our work to make Illinois the best state to live, work and raise a family, this new increase brings us one step closer to a more equitable Illinois.”

This will be the sixth increase in the state’s minimum wage since 2019 when Governor JB Pritzker signed historic legislation establishing a schedule of increases culminating in a $15 per hour minimum wage in 2025.

* Rockford Register Star…

Nearly 250 people attended the at-time pointed debate, held during the Northern Illinois Council of Governments Legislative Luncheon at Cliffbreakers in Rockford. […]

Republican and Democrat participants were given the opportunity to sound off on a myriad of topics from state funding for infrastructure, the Invest in Kids Act, health care for migrants and job growth.

Republican participants were on the attack for most of the session while Democrats defend state policies.

Republicans advocated for a fair map for drawing Congressional and legislative districts in the Democratic controlled state. But Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, said that reform is unlikely when states around the country have gerrymandered districts that favor Republicans.

* Tribune…

Jurors have begun their first full day of deliberations in the racketeering case of ex-Ald. Edward Burke, the longtime City Council powerhouse charged with abusing his substantial clout for his own personal gain.

The panel sent its first note to the judge Tuesday morning less than an hour after resuming its talks, asking for clarification about a count charging co-defendant Charles Cui with using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.

The jury instructions reference Burke accepting property from Cui “that he was not authorized by law to accept” and accepting “a fee or reward which he knows is not authorized by law.” In their note, jurors asked for a definition of the phrase “not authorized by law.”

After lengthy arguments from prosecutors and Burke’s attorneys, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall ultimately sided with Cui’s lawyers, who asked her to tell jurors only that the answers are in the instructions they already received.

* ‘Tis the season…


* More…

    * QCBJ | Illinois Chamber of Commerce deepens its legislative team: The Illinois Chamber of Commerce announced the addition of Keith Wheeler as senior legislative affairs advisor in a news release today, Dec. 19. He will join the chamber’s Government Affairs team effective Jan. 1, 2024. Mr. Wheeler is a business owner and former Illinois House of Representatives member who served the 50th District from 2015 to 2023.

    * WTTW | United, American Airlines Push Back Against Rising Costs of O’Hare Airport Expansion: United and American airlines want to ground — or significantly scale back — the massive O’Hare International Airport redevelopment designs. The change comes after the airlines signed an agreement to foot much of the bill through increased gate fees. But now the airlines say the project is over budget, and pandemic-era losses put them at a disadvantage. Will the elaborate Jeanne Gang-designed Terminal 2 ever take flight?

    * QC Times | Bureau of Prisons cuts retention bonuses at Thomson Prison: Staff at Thomson Prison learned Monday morning the Bureau of Prisons will no longer provide them a 25% retention bonuses after Dec. 31, 2023. Retention bonuses for Thomson staff, equivalent to about $16,000 annually, were approved in September 2021 after pressure from Illinois Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin and then- U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, according to previous reporting.

    * Crain’s | Plasma company settles Illinois AG lawsuit over donor discrimination: Plasma collection company CSL Plasma and its parent company CSL Behring have settled with the Illinois attorney general’s office, resolving a lawsuit alleging the company’s policies discriminate against people with disabilities, the AG’s office said in a press release Thursday.

    * Block Club | Chicago Police Make An Arrest In Only 20 Percent Of Fatal Shootings: The Trace filed a Freedom of Information Act request with CPD and learned that police made arrests in 21 percent of fatal shootings between 2013 and mid-October this year. That number has remained almost the same over the past decade, dropping slightly from 19.4 percent in 2013 to 18.6 percent in 2022, which is significantly lower than the national average for overall homicide clearance rates. In 2022, the most recent year for which the FBI’s national data is available, about 45 percent of homicides across the country were cleared by arrest.

    * The Beverly Review | Burke won’t seek return to Springfield: State Rep. Kelly Burke has decided not to seek re-election for the position she has held since 2011, a decision she made in the fall. “I still have a lot of enthusiasm; I love the job,” said Burke, who was also elected as mayor of Evergreen Park in 2021. “I had some health challenges during the year, and it made me think that it might be nature’s way of telling me it’s time to slow down a little bit.”

    * Sun-Times | IHSA announces that high school football district proposal has failed: Illinois high schools voted against the implementation of a district system for football the Illinois High School Association announced on Tuesday. The new format would have divided the state’s football-playing schools into 64 eight-team districts, eight per class. Schools would have played seven district games in Weeks 3-9 and would have been able to schedule any opponent for non-district games in Weeks 1-2.

    * The Bond Buyer | Citi’s exit carries costs for issuers, market liquidity, but industry expected to weather it: A tough year for Wall Street municipal underwriting firms culminated Thursday with Citigroup’s announcement it would exit the business, a stunning move that market participants warned would raise state and city financing costs and that Citi would come to regret as headwinds calm and business rebounds.

    * Daily Herald | Ski resorts tackle unseasonable warmth: Bartlett’s Villa Olivia resort plans to open its hills to skiers on Friday, but on the outset of another warm winter, managers are already sensing a trend becoming familiar in the Midwest’s ski industry. The Chicago area had an unusually warm winter last year — the 14th warmest on record going back to 1872 — and the season seems to be headed in a similar direction this year. Every day of December so far has seen average temperatures warmer than the region’s climatological normal for the day.

    * WAND | Retired ISP Colonel, Commander of Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center dies from cancer: Tad Williams, 57, a retired Illinois State Police Colonel as well as a retired Commander of Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, passed away on Saturday. Williams, who served in law enforcement for 33 years, died after a battle with cancer. His career with the Illinois State Police took him across the state before he settled back in the Decatur area, according to an obituary shared by his children. With the ISP, Williams became a colonel in 2015 to serve as Deputy Director of the Division of Operations.

    * Sun-Times | Prosecutors drop charges against man whose murder conviction was based on legally blind witness. ‘Best Christmas gift ever’: Earlier this month, a judge overturned Harris’ conviction but he remained in jail because prosecutors planned to try him again. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they had decided not to move forward with the case and dropped all charges against Harris. No physical evidence connected Harris to the shooting that left Rondell Moore dead and Quincy Woulard hurt. The case was largely based on the testimony of Dexter Saffold, who was legally blind and whose vision problems were documented in court records for years before the shooting.

    * SJ-R | The Southern Illinoisan was sold. Then the new owner eliminated its entire news staff: Brandhorst said he still hopes that Paxton’s management makes good on promises to maintain news coverage of the region. “But,” he continued, “in terms of watchdog, ‘capital J’ journalism, that’s not a thing that at the moment exists here. And I would hope that the new owners and those responsible for the Southern will try to really lift this place up, really do some investigative journalism, watchdog reporting and accountability within the community. … They seem to talk like they’re going to uphold those things. But who knows?”

    * Dallas Morning News | Brands see online content creators as key to shaping buying habits, especially Gen Z: Gen Z – generally defined as those born in the mid- to late-1990s to the early 2010s – now makes up 40% of all global consumers with spending power estimated to exceed $150 billion annually. How they shop is important to brands’ bottom lines.

  11 Comments      


As the old saying goes, simple solutions are usually neither

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune: “City has lost all communication about migrant drop offs since new penalties, official says”…

Migrants are no longer being dropped off at the city’s landing zone on buses from the southern border, causing people to wander with no direction looking for shelter, according to an aide to Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Johnson’s deputy chief of staff, said the lack of communication is directly correlated with the city’s harsher penalties for bus owners whose vehicles violate rules to rein in chaotic bus arrivals from the southern border. She suspects bus companies are finding other ways to get migrants into the city. As of Saturday, more than 25,900 migrants had arrived in Chicago since August 2022, according to city records.

Under revised rules Wednesday, buses face “seizure and impoundment” for unloading passengers without a permit or outside of approved hours and locations. Violators will also be subject to $3,000 fines, plus towing and storage fees. […]

On Friday, she said city officials found migrants in various locations around the city — City Hall, Christkindlmarket and Union Station. According to Pacione-Zayas, migrants reported that bus drivers bought them Ventra cards and Amtrak tickets to get to Chicago.

Many experienced a positive and visceral reaction to this new policy, but then reality intruded. I suppose you can’t expect people to just sit there and take it when you’re whacking them on the shins.

* Meanwhile, shouldn’t the mayor be informed about stuff like this?…

Unreal.

The full NBC 5 story is here.

* Seven months ago…

On May 23, local Chicago activist Ja’Mal Green tweeted about the upcoming Chicago city council vote on additional funding for the influx of illegal immigrants coming to the Sanctuary City.

“Chicago, please send a message to your alderman to vote NO tomorrow to approve another 51 million for the migrant crisis,” Green wrote. “We are already at 125 million dollars in 4 months. Call Joe Biden! Our communities need that money. 20,000 homeless youth. No mental health facilities. No grocery stores. Lead in our pipes. This is ridiculous!”

And this week, that same guy who helped hamper efforts to fund shelters had this to say…

“There’s a medical emergency at this shelter literally as we’re standing here,” former mayoral candidate Ja’Mal Green said. “Governor JB Pritzker needs to step in.”

Green held a news conference outside the shelter near 23rd and Halsted streets calling on the state and the federal government to investigate the health conditions at the shelter.

Not sure why anyone in the state or federal government would care what he demands, but whatevs.

Also, Ms. Cobb is right…

[Veteran political and media consultant Delmarie Cobb] said it’s impossible to separate the ongoing tensions between Black and Latinx communities from the city’s deliberate disinvestment in Black neighborhoods. However, these interactions in City Council and their consequences fundamentally highlight the need for Black and Latinx people to recognize their collective power and work collaboratively to get the necessary resources to thrive.

“If we were to work together, we could run this city, but as long as you keep a wedge between us, that will never happen,” she said.

Amplifying vacuous hate from publicity hungry failed politicos like Green is how the news media plays an irresponsible role in what she’s describing.

* From Isabel…

  15 Comments      


Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement goes to the late Susan Catania. Rep. Kelly Cassidy made the nomination…

For sheer “ahead of her time” fearlessness, I nominate the late former Rep. Susan Catania. If you look back at some of the big legislative advances in the last 10 years, you’d be hard pressed to find one that she wasn’t standing alone or nearly so pushing for when she served in the 1970s. Moms of young kids serving? Her daughters basically grew up on the House floor. LGBTQ equality, the Equal Rights Amendment, criminal justice reform, reproductive freedom…the list goes on and on and she was fearlessly in the forefront of issues that seemed impossible then and are reality now. She’s a hero and a role model to many who have followed.

* I have gone back and forth for the last two days on whether to shut down the blog today or tomorrow. We’re going with tomorrow, so that gives us two categories for today…

    Best US Representative

    Best Statewide Officer

As always, please explain your comments or they won’t count. Also, try to nominate in both categories. Statewide includes federal. Thanks.

* Donations have slowed because lots of folks have already given and people are on winter break. We’re at $54,248 right now to buy Christmas presents for foster kids, but it would be great to reach $55,000 by the end of today, although I’m not confident we’ll do that. Every little bit helps, however, so please click here. Thanks!

  31 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Today’s must-read

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As we’ve already discussed, the convicted ComEd Four defendants were able to delay their January sentencing date because of an Indiana corruption case which has made it to the US Supreme Court. Former Speaker Michael Madigan and his co-defendant Mike McClain are expected to ask to have their trials delayed for the same reason…

The developments come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a corruption case out of Northwest Indiana, in which questions revolve around a law at play in the ComEd and Madigan cases.

* The case in question is Snyder v. United States. From the SCOTUS Blog…

Whether section 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B) criminalizes gratuities, i.e., payments in recognition of actions a state or local official has already taken or committed to take, without any quid pro quo agreement to take those actions.

* From the New Republic…

The two sides in the case agree on some basic facts. James Snyder, the defendant, was elected to be the mayor of Portage, Indiana, in 2012. Portage is home to just under 38,000 people. While serving as mayor, he oversaw the bidding process for a contract to purchase new waste-management trucks for the town. Those contracts, which were worth more than $1.1 million, went to a local trucking company. In January 2014, one month after the final round of contracts was signed, the company paid Snyder $13,000 for “insurance and technology consulting.” […]

“Consistent with Indiana law, which does not forbid small-town mayors from pursuing other employment, Mayor Snyder began offering consulting services. [defense lawyers wrote]” The truck company in question simply took advantage of them.

The Justice Department saw things differently. The bidding process, from their description, had “significant irregularities.” It was overseen by one of Snyder’s personal friends who had no prior experience in such matters. The local truck company, Great Lakes Peterbilt, was also in financial trouble and needed the contracts to stay afloat. Bidding requirements were drawn up so that only the company could meet them: Only Peterbilt chassis were allowed, the city’s clerk-treasurer was cut out of the process, and alternative candidates were turned down for equipment demonstrations. Snyder communicated extensively with the Buha brothers, who owned the truck company, but not with any other candidates.

After it concluded, Snyder suddenly received a $13,000 check for consulting fees. “Neither [Snyder] nor the Buhas produced any documentation relating to any consulting agreement or services performed by [Snyder] for GLPB, and Snyder did not include the $13,000 payment on a form to disclose compensation he received from parties doing business with the city,” the government told the justices. “And at the time GLPB’s controller issued the check, Robert Buha told the controller that ‘they were paying [Snyder] for his influence.’”

Federal prosecutors charged Snyder with multiple tax and corruption–related charges. Two of the charges came from a provision in federal anti-corruption law known as Section 666. … That provision makes it a crime for state, local, territorial, and tribal leaders to “corruptly” take money “intending to be influenced or rewarded in connection with” government business. A jury found Snyder guilty and sentenced him to almost two years in prison.

Snyder, on appeal, sought to dismiss his conviction by arguing that Section 666 required prosecutors to prove quid pro quo corruption—in other words, that he explicitly took the $13,000 in exchange for official acts. Prosecutors had argued that the statute’s language allowed them to charge Snyder just for accepting the money as a “gratuity” as opposed to a bribe. They noted that Congress had previously amended the statute to add a guilty-mind requirement through the word “corruptly” to avoid including potentially legitimate business and personal transactions.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the prosecutors, joining the Second, Sixth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits in allowing gratuities to be prosecuted under Section 666. Not every federal appeals court that has considered the question agrees, however. The First and Fifth Circuits have instead held that gratuities do not fall under Section 666’s purview, instead reading the term “corruptly” to require some sort of outright quid pro quo. The Supreme Court is most likely to intervene in cases where the lower courts are sharply divided on how to interpret a federal law. […]

Snyder’s lawyers emphasized similar themes in the court’s previous anti-anti-corruption rulings. “Criminal laws must give ‘fair notice’ to avoid the risk of ‘arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement,’” they told the justices, quoting from the McDonnell ruling. “Yet, as above, the breadth of conduct potentially meeting the government’s definition of a gratuity is sweeping. As this case illustrates, any time a public servant accepts private employment (think: every ex-state legislator turned lobbyist), federal prosecutors might recast those payments as gratuities for actions taken in office.”

You should really go read the whole thing. The Seventh Circuit is in Chicago, and that’s where the Illinois defendants’ appeals will be filed, so that’s a big reason why this is so important.

*** UPDATE *** As expected…


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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Janice Jackson asks a very good question

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* For background, here’s a Sun-Times article from last week…

In its first steps toward reshaping Chicago Public Schools, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Board of Education is proposing shifting back toward neighborhood schools and away from the current system of school choice where students compete for seats in selective programs.

The board has limited time to set new ideas in motion ahead of next year’s first school board elections, but any concrete changes made before then could shape the district for years to come.

A resolution up for a vote by the board on Thursday lays out a framework for a five-year “transformational” strategic plan that the CPS CEO will present to the board in the summer. It calls for a “transition away from privatization and admissions/enrollment policies and approaches that further stratification and inequity in CPS and drive student enrollment away from neighborhood schools.” […]

This would be a radical departure for a school system built around allowing parents to choose where their children attend. Some 76% of high school students and 45% of elementary school students do not attend their assigned neighborhood schools. Chicago used to be a neighborhood-based school system, but has moved away from that model over the last 25 years. Just six years ago, CPS officials set up a new application system where they said they wanted every eighth grader to apply for high school, rather than automatically go to their neighborhood school.

* The CTU calls it “a step in the right direction”…

Though selective enrollment was originally designed to desegregate the school district, instead it has contributed to more segregation since a consent decree mandating racial diversity ended a decade ago. The Metropolitan Planning Council found that in 2000, Black students made up 24% of the enrollment at the top 5 selective enrollment high schools, and White students 27%. In the 2023-2024 school year, CPS data shows a deep inequity for Black students, who now make up just 10% of the enrollment at those five schools, while White students make up about 30%. This is especially concerning when white students make up less than 10% of students enrolled in the district.

* Former CPS CEO Janice Jackson wholly opposes the plan…

Should a student’s education be limited by their home address? Should ALL parents have the right to choose where their child goes to school? Does public school choice lead to better educational outcomes for all students?

Last Thursday, the Chicago Board of Education not only asked these questions, but prematurely and irresponsibly answered them when they adopted a resolution calling for —in plain English — phasing out Chicago’s network of selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools, and the policy of allowing students to attend non-neighborhood schools.

Regardless of where you stand on this issue (and it’s more nuanced than she describes above), Jackson does make a couple of good points about what’s known so far…

Project the impact on district enrollment and finances. Show how their plan will help or hurt student outcomes. Taxpayers also deserve to know where new revenues for promised neighborhood school investments will come from. Our communities are fed up with empty promises. […]

Who is managing community engagement, and who is accountable for the transparency, honesty and accessibility of that process to parents?

* But, to me, this is Jackson’s best question…

Lastly, why is this being done before the newly elected school board is in place? Why is an unelected board rushing through a decision that could profoundly impact present and future families in the district?

The CTU originally wanted a fully elected school board. With its former employee in the mayor’s office, it has since blasted the Illinois Senate President for trying to do just that, instead supporting a phased-in elected board. And now it’s supportive of a potentially huge systemic change before the first board members are even elected?

Fascinating.

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

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  17 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Jurors begin deliberating case against Ed Burke. Sun-Times…

    - Jurors heard from 38 witnesses over 16 days of testimony as the feds tried to prove Burke guilty of racketeering, bribery and extortion.
    - Members of the jury headed home for the night at 5 p.m. after more than 2 1/2 hours of deliberations.
    - To convict Burke of racketeering, jurors must be convinced he committed two “acts” as part of a larger pattern. There are five umbrella “acts” listed in Burke’s indictment, but each one contains multiple allegations that jurors will likely be allowed to choose from.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Planned Parenthood Illinois…

Today, Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is proud to open the doors of a new 11,200 square foot, state-of-the-art health center in Carbondale, Illinois. The Carbondale Health Center, 200 Emerald Lane, greatly expands access to reproductive health care services such as abortion and gender-affirming care for both Illinois residents and out-of-state patients.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Illinois has seen the highest increase in patients traveling from other states. PPIL has experienced a 54% increase in overall abortion care patients and has seen an unprecedented number of out-of-state patients traveling from 38 different states making up nearly a quarter of the abortion patients. […]

The Carbondale Health Center boasts five education rooms, four procedure rooms, three exam/ ultrasound rooms, a kids’ playroom, as well as a conference room and administrative space. The health center offers comprehensive reproductive health care services such as cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, gender-affirming health care, HIV testing and treatment medication, and abortion.

The Carbondale health center was made possible by PPIL’s RESOLVE Campaign, a $40 million fundraising effort to expand and improve access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for those in Illinois and those forced to travel for care.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

  2 Comments      


Live coverage

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Live coverage is back, sorta. This will be different than the old Scribble Live feed because Twitter broke itself and almost everything else it touched. These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of posting lagtime, but it’s much better than nothing. We are also limited to just 20 Twitter sources. The service may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees about this. You can still click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped Scribble Live from working…

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Live Ed Burke Trial Coverage

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of a lagtime and you have to refresh the page every now and then. The service we’re using may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees. You can still click here to follow the Ed Burke trial on Twitter. Posts without a Twitter author name below them are from online news sources via Bing…

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One problem may have been dealt with, but did the city create another one?

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Viral infections have shot up among children across the country. The shelter in question was supposed to hold 1,000 people, but more than twice that many are housed there now, possibly creating what we called during the pandemic a super-spreader environment. The city has emptied the police stations, but in doing so may have created a new problem by packing humans into shelters like sardines…



* Tribune…

Abhishek Dhar, a physician who helped migrants staying at police stations, said he is concerned about migrants living in close quarters contracting communicable diseases. Many migrants at the stations didn’t know the appropriate procedures for calling an ambulance or seeking medical care, he said. […]

The boy’s parents said their son had been sick for the past two to three days with a fever and was complaining of pain in his left leg. The day before he died, he took children’s Tylenol and a pill believed to be ibuprofen, according to a police report obtained by the Tribune.

Police said on Sunday morning he woke up hungry, and his family went out to beg for money. Juan Carlos complained that he wanted to go back to the shelter because he wasn’t feeling well. His father gave him electrolytes, and noticed he had vomited.

Juan Carlos’ lips turned purple when his family returned to the shelter, the report said. His father went upstairs to request an ambulance. Family members later told police that staff said the discoloration was “probably because of the cold,” the report said.

Go read the rest. Lots of disturbing details.

* Sun-Times…

The shelter is a converted warehouse that opened in early October and has since become the most crowded shelter in the city, holding more than 2,000 people.

It is run by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a Kansas-based contractor the city has awarded close to $100 million to run shelters since September 2022, shortly after the first buses carrying migrants began arriving.

[Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford] said the fire department sent a district chief to the shelter Monday “to see what’s happening,” and is awaiting his report.

* Press release…

Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement after a 5-year-old boy died on Sunday after becoming ill at a shelter for migrants in Chicago.

“The death of 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero is unacceptable and devastating. My heart and prayers are with his family. It is heartbreaking that substandard care, under-resourcing, and years of political inaction continue to steal bright futures and rob families and our communities of possibilities.

“Every shelter should be a safe, healthy space for families. Any facility that falls short of fulfilling that responsibility must be held accountable. I have spoken with the City of Chicago and we agree there must be a full investigation into whether Favorite Staffing can fulfill the important responsibility of providing safe and adequate temporary shelter for migrants and asylum seekers.

The Federal Government, including leadership at the Department of Homeland Security and the Administration, must grapple with the deadly consequences of inaction. The insufficient funding for cities like Chicago, which are actually welcoming and supporting asylum seekers, puts children at risk. Instead of negotiating and doubling down on ineffective draconian, Trump-era border policies, we must work together to secure adequate resources, improve intergovernmental cooperation, and expedite work permits for all. We all have a responsibility to ensure this never happens again, and we can and must do better.”

* The mayor’s response was mainly deflection and devoid of empathy for the dead child…

When asked about the situation, Johnson said that the matter is being complicated by the actions of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose busing program has led to nearly 26,000 asylum seekers being transported to Chicago.

“They’re showing up sick,” he said. “The issue is not just how we respond in the city of Chicago. It’s the fact we have a governor, an elected official in the state of Texas, that is placing families on buses without shoes, cold, wet, tired, hungry, afraid, traumatized, and then they come to the city of Chicago, where we have homelessness, mental health clinics that have been shut down and closed. We have people who are seeking employment. The governor of Texas needs to take a look in the mirror, with the chaos he’s causing for the people of this country.”

I mean, I get the mayor’s frustration, but at some point you have to start figuring this out.

* Meanwhile…

The site at 115th and Halsted streets set to become a so-called “winterized base camp” for migrants may be contaminated with pollutants from an underground fuel oil tank as well as from a defunct dry cleaners and a shuttered gas station, according to an environmental study released Monday by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office.

The report from Lisle-based A3E Consulting, dated Oct. 31, recommends “additional investigation” of the 6.5 acres of land surrounding a vacant Jewel-Osco grocery store on the border between Morgan Park and West Roseland once known as the Halsted Indoor Mall before it is used to shelter migrants. […]

[21st Ward Ald. Ronnie Mosley] said he was confused about why he just saw the environmental study Monday, if it was completed by the end of October.

*Sigh*

  10 Comments      


Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

A 5-year-old boy died Sunday after becoming ill at an overcrowded shelter in Pilsen that has been the subject of repeated complaints about unsanitary conditions.

Jean Carlos Martinez was transported from the shelter at Cermak Road and Halsted Street to Comer’s Children’s Hospital just before 3 p.m. Sunday, police said. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Police said detectives were investigating. Migrant advocates say the boy died in a bathroom after staff refused to call an ambulance, but this could not be confirmed with police.

“My heart and my prayers go out to the Martinez family,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement released Monday morning. “The city will continue to provide resources and support to them during this difficult time,” Johnson said in the statement.

Borderless Magazine…

On Sunday night, a Venezuelan migrant living at the shelter told Borderless the boy had a more than a 100-degree fever and was convulsing in the bathroom before emergency medical technicians and firefighters were called.

The death happened just three days after Borderless Magazine published an investigation revealing inhumane conditions inside the shelter, including a lack of medical care and the rationing of water. Interviews with those living at the shelter and videos Borderless reviewed of conditions inside the building show that the shelter fails to meet the basic standards for emergency shelter laid out by the U.N. Refugee Agency.

More here.

From Rich: Both Borderless articles rely mainly on reports from shelter residents, but a top city official says that Cook County Health is the health care provider for shelter residents.

* Press release…

The Johnson Administration has successfully transitioned nearly 4,000 asylum-seekers from emergency staging areas into temporary shelters in recent weeks. As of December 14, all police stations have been decompressed and retired as emergency staging areas. […]

The Chicago City Council implemented a bus safety ordinance on November 18 to ensure the orderly and safe intake of new arrivals to Chicago. The ordinance was amended on December 13 by the Council, enacting additional penalties, including the impoundment and towing of buses that refuse to comply with safety protocols set by the City. The safety protocols mandate that bus companies dropping off individuals in the City of Chicago must unload at the designated landing zone and must fill out the requisite paperwork to ensure an orderly process for intaking new arrivals. […]

The City has successfully resettled or reunited over 10,000 asylum seekers while providing shelter, food and wraparound services for more than 15,000 others.

* Jon Seidel…


* Mike Pries…

* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced several new laws initiated by his office that will take effect at the start of the new year. The initiatives were passed earlier this year by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law. They include:

Combating Distracted Driving

Giannoulias drafted this legislation to increase road safety by making it illegal to Zoom, watch or stream videos, or access social media sites while driving. […]

Expanding Voter Registration for Teens

Under this measure, teens obtaining their driver’s license or ID card may preregister to vote at a Secretary of State DMV.

Giannoulias’ office initiated a measure to expand voter participation by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote, so that, when they turn 18 and are officially eligible to vote, they are already registered to do so. [..]


Protecting Motorists’ Privacy

This first-in-the-nation legislation limits the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) to protect individuals seeking abortion care. It also prohibits this data from being used to criminalize a person’s immigration status.

* More…

    *
    Illinois Answers Project | ‘Heartbreaking’ trial in Peoria highlights failures of Illinois DCFS: Brandon Walker, 42, of Peoria, could face life in prison after a Peoria County jury found him guilty of murdering Navin in a “brutal and heinous manner, indicative of wanton cruelty.” The jury, made up of eight men and four women, took about 45 minutes to deliberate the verdict. Walker will be sentenced Feb. 28.

    * Daily Herald | Why some congressional candidates could get kicked off the March primary ballot: Two of the targeted candidates are Democrats running in the 5th District, where they hope to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Chicago. Two are Republicans running for the 14th District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Naperville Democrat. The fifth is a Democrat who filed to run for the 9th District seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston. That candidate said last week he will suspend his campaign because of the objection.

    * Chalkbeat | How much school are Illinois students in foster care missing? The state doesn’t track: Both the Illinois State Board of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) responded to open records requests from Chalkbeat seeking that information by saying they had no applicable records. In follow-up emails, department officials said that data exists for individual school districts.

    * Crain’s | Money starts to flow in transfer tax campaign: The Service Employees International Union Healthcare of Illinois/Indiana, an influential contributor to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mayoral campaign, contributed $200,000 to the “End Homelessness” campaign committee set up to fund support for passing the referendum question on the March 19 primary ballot.

    * Daily Herald | Elk Grove releases video of deadly police shooting: Elk Grove Village police released video and audio recordings Monday depicting the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man by officers on Dec. 1 and the circumstances leading up to the deadly encounter. The video, compiled from officer body-worn and dashboard cameras, shows Jack Murray walking along a sidewalk near his home while carrying an 11.5-inch knife in his right hand.

    * WBEZ | Colleges hand out scholarship money to attract top students — at the expense of kids in need: The number of Black students in Illinois enrolled in college has dropped by more than a third over the past decade, and Black students like Granville often cite money as the biggest hurdle standing between them and a college degree, according to research from Gallup. […] [B]oth public and private colleges have poured money over the last 20 years into so-called merit aid for students with high grade point averages and test scores, who may not need scholarships to get a degree.

    * Sun-Times | Controversial West Loop homeless encampment cleared for street cleaning: Workers from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office and the city’s Department of Family and Social Services coordinated with people to offer them shelter and resources. Seven people were given shelter by the Department of Family and Social Services in the last week, and five more accepted rehousing help Monday. When offered rehousing, 15 people declined, according to Conway.

    * Tribune | CPS teacher gave officials the wrong name of boyfriend after video showed him striking a student, records show: Records show the teacher sent an email to her principal shortly after Lancaster’s off-duty altercation and said her friend Craig “Wiliams” grabbed the teen because the boy disregarded her directions to line up and directed inappropriate words at her in response. She also told the principal her friend worked for a computer company, according to a redacted incident report obtained by the Tribune.

    * Tribune | Columbia College reaches tentative agreement with part-time faculty, ending historically long strike: The deal will be submitted for a ratification vote this week by the union. If union members approve, classes will proceed as planned for the short January term and the spring 2024 semester. […] Since Oct. 30, 584 adjunct professors have been protesting the administration’s decision to eliminate 53 already-enrolled classes weeks before the fall semester began and 317 course sections for the spring semester while increasing the size of other classes to cut costs.

    * CFVI | How 26 Cities are Using SLFRF Dollars to Support Community Violence Interventions: A Look at the Latest Treasury Data: Of the $164 million in planned CVI-CVP spending, cities have spent approximately $33 million (or 20%) as of June 30, 2023. Again, there’s wide variation between cities: Toledo has spent 77% of its budgeted $780,000 for its “Gun Violence Reduction Initiative” whereas Milwaukee reported no expenditures for its planned $4.25 million on violence prevention efforts. The table below lists the 14 cities, how many CVI-CVP projects they have, and planned versus actual spending for those projects as of June 30, 2023.

    * Farm Progress | Illinois Soybean awards ag leaders: Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, is recognized by ISA for his work advocating for policy and regulatory issues that affect agriculture. Bost represents 34 counties of Illinois’ 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Rep. Bost actively advocates for policies that address issues Illinois soybean farmers are facing,” Lumpe says. “Through his work on the House committees on Veterans’ Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Agriculture, Bost is truly making a difference for Illinois agriculture.”

    * CNN | Greyhound bus stops are valuable assets. Here’s who’s cashing in on them: Houston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Tampa, Louisville, Charlottesville, Portland, Oregon, and other downtown bus depots have shuttered in recent years. Bus terminals in major hubs like Chicago and Dallas are also set to close. Greyhound and other companies have relocated their stops far away from city centers, which are often inaccessible by public transit, switched to curbside service or eliminated routes altogether.

    * Bloomberg | U.S. Steel in deal to be bought for $14.1 billion: The deal caps months of uncertainty over the future of US Steel, an icon of American industry, which has been considering potential transactions since it rejected an offer from rival Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. for $7.25 billion in mid-August.

    * Governing | Is There a Place for Supermarket Socialism?: It might be called an experiment in supermarket socialism. What could it look like? Well, it’s not hard to imagine a few possibilities. As detailed by Talia Soglin, a diligent Chicago Tribune reporter, the city could own the stores and operate them as a sort of public utility. It could own the properties but contract out the operation to a private company. Or, less dramatically, it could provide generous subsidies to private firms unable to make a profit in low-income territory. The city is conducting a feasibility study and is expected to announce the results early in 2024.

    * CNBC | Musk’s X hit with first EU probe under new disinformation rules: The European Commission said it launched the proceedings under the DSA “on the basis of the preliminary investigation conducted so far, including on the basis of an analysis of the risk assessment report submitted by X in September, X’s Transparency report published on 3 November, and X’s replies to a formal request for information, which, among others, concerned the dissemination of illegal content in the context of Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel.”

  11 Comments      


ComEd Four sentencing delayed, and Madigan will file similar request

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Jon Seidel…

The sentencings of four people convicted of a lengthy conspiracy to bribe then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan for ComEd will not go forward as planned next month, but a judge declined Monday to put all proceedings on hold as defense attorneys hoped.

Meanwhile, a defense attorney for Madigan’s co-defendant said he will be making a similar request to stay proceedings in Madigan’s case, which is set for trial in less than four months.

The developments come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a corruption case out of Northwest Indiana, in which questions revolve around a law at play in the ComEd and Madigan cases.

Defense attorneys say the Supreme Court’s decision in the Indiana case could prove “fatal” to the verdict last May against the ComEd bribery defendants: Madigan confidant Michael McClain, ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty. […]

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah handled questions in the ComEd case as emergency judge Monday. He declined to enter a stay of proceedings but told attorneys the sentencing dates for the four defendants, which had been set for January, weren’t going to work.

Go read the rest.

  25 Comments      


Pritzker says forecasts can and do change, but still urges budgetary caution

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Two weeks ago today, we discussed my newspaper column about a mid-November revenue and spending forecast from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

The column, based on subscriber-only stories from November 20th and 22nd, talked about how GOMB was forecasting a $422 million net surplus for this fiscal year (even after factoring in the $160 million in new money for asylum seeker care) and an $891 million deficit for next fiscal year, with increased deficits in future years.

The column was partly about how the pandemic had thrown a monkey wrench into budget forecasting, requiring large changes even every few months. The conclusion…

So, again, can the latest projection be trusted? Not completely, but it should still be heeded. After a period of being mostly careful not to drastically increase the state’s base spending, and instead using much of the unexpected revenue bonanzas for one-time items, the legislature and the governor added a ton of money to base spending last spring. If revenues do fall off next fiscal year, base spending will likely have to be cut.

The governor’s budget address is three months away, so the budget-making process is about to begin. We’ve seen countless forecast adjustments during the past few years, so maybe this one will change, too. But, in the meantime, everyone should prepare themselves for some belt-tightening in the months ahead.

* Capitol News Illinois now has a story out that covers pretty much the same ground, but does include some quotes from the governor. You can read that story by clicking here, but this is what the governor said last week…

Well, it’s very hard to project, let’s start with that, any future years. They do their best, they use basically a set percentage increases in spending, a set percentage increase in revenues in order to come up with these numbers for future years, because it’s just so hard to predict.

You’ve even seen during the course of a budget year, where as we get closer to the end of a budget year we’re coming up with new estimates for the following year because things are changing as we go. So just as background. Why are they coming up with deficits projected for future years? Just like in the past years, if you look at the projection for last year, in the year before in the report, nobody projected a billion dollar surplus for this year.

Last year, I think the surplus there was actually a deficit projected for this year. If again, if you go back to that five-year plan, and that’s what you’re looking at.

So that five-year forecast we look at as a guide for how careful do we need to be as we move forward in the budget year Thinking about FY25. Hard to say about the rest of the years that are projected.

But I think it’s a signal to everybody. We need to be careful in Illinois, we have to balance our budget. We have to make sure that we’re making expenditures meet revenues. And so you know if that requires us to reduce the increases that may occur in certain programs, maybe that will be necessary.

But again, I think you’re gonna see different projections as we go forward just because the economy is changing. Heck, yesterday, I think, sorry, maybe this morning, we saw that interest rates have now been halted. At least the uptick of interest rates has been halted by the Fed. That’s already affecting the values on the stock market and affects whether people want to invest in things. You’re going to borrow money to buy a business, borrow money to buy a house. And projections on Wall Street that we’re going to see a down turn of interest rates that will help everybody that’s looking to buy a home I think, again, helps businesses decide that they’re gonna expand etc.

So it just kind of tries to tell you that you can look at the five year projections more as an indicator of how careful do we need to be, not as an exact number that we need to follow.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

  3 Comments      


Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best State Agency Director goes to Heidi Mueller with the Department of Juvenile Justice…

She has the toughest job in the state! She is constantly advocating for youth and seeks to eliminate biases surrounding youth. She does not back down! She is surrounded by an amazing team that works to push policies and programs that are trauma informed and evidence based.

Heidi maintains an open-door policy between her Juvenile Security Staff and is always present at the facilities. She ultimately seeks peace between DJJs opponents - she brings everyone to the table!

She has brought DJJ from the bottom and made them a national leader in trauma informed care

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Staffer is a tie. Emily Miller in the governor’s office…

She’s a do gooder actually doing good from the inside. She comes with principles but knows how to get to yes on some of the toughest issues. I’m glad to see her still on the Gov’s team after educating us on what the Rauner years meant.

* And Andy Manar in the governor’s office…

From Chinese mega corporations to tiny central Illinois villages, he works hard to make sure everyone can get what they need from state government. And while he doesn’t have time for everyone, he sure tries to find it.

Congrats to all!

We’re going to skip a few categories because we are quickly running out of time.

* On to today’s category…

    Lifetime Achievement

Make sure to explain your nomination or it won’t count. Thanks.

* As I write this, several of you have stepped up and contributed a grand total of $54,198 to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois purchase Christmas presents for foster kids. That’s pretty darned amazing. But in case you haven’t contributed yet or you think you might be able to give just a little bit more, please click here. Thanks to everyone!

  10 Comments      


Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A.D. Quig…

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s bid for reelection is being helped by political contributions from dozens of her government employees, many of whom donated within months of receiving raises from Martinez in their publicly funded jobs.

The first-term clerk won the office in 2020 after pledging to “adhere to the highest ethical standards” in replacing a scandal-scarred outgoing clerk, Dorothy Brown, whose tenure was marked by various controversies that included criticism she took campaign cash from her employees.

But a Tribune analysis of campaign finance and county payroll records shows Martinez repeating that same political fundraising tactic.

Since Martinez became clerk, 52 circuit court clerk employees have contributed more than $45,000 to Martinez’s three campaign funds. Of those employees, 22 received promotions or significant raises in their clerk jobs just months — sometimes days — before or after making those political contributions. Nearly all the raises were $10,000 or more, the payroll records show.

What’s more, 29 of the employees who contributed to her campaign funds also circulated petitions this fall that helped Martinez secure a spot on the March 19 primary ballot. A total of 86 clerk employees passed petitions for Martinez’s reelection campaign, collecting 831 pages, or 45% of the total signature petition sheets she turned in earlier this month. […]

Two of those petition circulators now work in the clerk’s inspector general’s office, whose mission is to “detect, deter and prevent corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, and misconduct.” The inspector general employees are hired by Martinez and her administration.

That last graf is wild.

* On to the state angle. Martinez is supporting appointed Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary. From one of Toro’s opponents…

20th District Senate candidate Graciela Guzmán issued the following statement in reaction to the recent Chicago Tribune investigation into the activity of public employees funding and staffing political campaigns for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez and her proteges, including State Senator Natalie Toro. Martinez had previously backed Natalie Toro’s unsuccessful 2022 campaign for Cook County Commissioner, and led the effort to appoint Toro as 20th district State Senator. Guzmán shares:

    “A recent Chicago Tribune article highlighted the troubling overlap between Iris Martinez’s government staff and her political campaign operations. The Tribune uncovered multiple instances of employees receiving promotions or significant raises shortly before or after contributing financially to Clerk Martinez’s campaign committees and/or performing political work for her. Fifty-two employees contributed a total of $45,000 to Martinez’s campaign funds, and 45% of petition sheets circulated by Martinez to put her on the ballot were circulated by employees of the public office she oversees.

    Martinez has put this old-fashioned patronage machine to work on not only her own re-election bid, but on the campaigns of her hand-picked State Senate appointee Natalie Toro. Until just one week ago, Toro’s campaign committee was chaired by a Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County making a six-figure salary working under Martinez. At least three other Clerk’s office employees under Martinez have circulated petitions for Toro’s current campaign for State Senate and her 2022 campaign for Cook County Commissioner, and Martinez has funneled money from her own campaign funds to Toro’s.

    The undemocratic appointment process Clerk Martinez used to elevate Natalie Toro to office over community objections is one and the same with the patronage scheme she uses to fund and staff her political projects. I am dismayed but unsurprised by these latest betrayals of the public trust from the Martinez-Toro machine. Despite appointed Senator Toro’s efforts to distance herself publicly from Clerk Martinez, her political mentor and ally, the evidence tells a different story. We trust the voters of the 20th District to reject machine politics once again.”

  42 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Dems avoid a fight as Daya drops out

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. From Ishan Daya, now a former candidate for 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeperson…

“After internal deliberation, we have decided that we’ll be sunsetting the campaign today. We were able to do in 15 days what those already in power weren’t able to do over 3 months – get signatures from over 2,000 people that wanted to see change for a more progressive and democratic ward. I’m wishing the best of luck to the candidates that file for their write-in candidacy for the March 19th election, and will continue to organize our neighbors to drive pressure towards our electeds on building a more inclusive ward.”

I was told that the basis of the petition challenge against Daya was that he didn’t number his sheets.

*** UPDATE *** Ald. Scott Waguespack…

“I am pleased that Mr. Daya has decided not to pursue this effort further. I am running a write-in campaign for re-election as 32nd Ward Committeeman on the March 19, 2024 Democratic primary election ballot. I’m proud to have the continued support of residents of our community to keep building a vibrant and strong local Democratic Party that supports progressive candidates up and down the ballot.”

  15 Comments      


Upcoming test for Eastern Bloc

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

A group of ultra-conservative Illinois House members known as the Eastern Bloc has been stirring up trouble with the establishment in both parties for years.

The Republican districts they represent stretch from north of Decatur, over to Tuscola and down to Mattoon, Shelbyville, Effingham and Vandalia.

They are the fellas (they’re all men) who demanded Chicago be kicked out of Illinois.

The most famous member you’d likely know of is Darren Bailey, who served in both the Illinois House and the Senate then ran for governor last year and is now running for Congress against fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost.

Those folks were so steadfast against pandemic mitigations they sometimes came off as almost pro-COVID. They love guns, they think abortion is an abomination, they’re up in arms about a Chinese company opening a huge electric vehicle battery factory in Kankakee County, and they rarely if ever pass any substantive legislation.

There are now a handful of primary races in that region that could tell us a lot about the future of the Republican Party in this state. Bailey vs. Bost is one of them. The race to replace retiring Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, is another. The father of the kick-Chicago-out-of-Illinois “movement” is Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, and he’s being challenged by an equally right-wing opponent because Halbrook broke his term-limit pledge.

The Eastern Bloc rebranded themselves as the Illinois Freedom Caucus and is gearing up to challenge Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, with one of their own. Severin is conservative but not sufficiently pure for them. He’s accepted a few union contributions, for instance.

The race we’re going to talk about today is related to the Severin battle. It’s in the 110th House District, which is currently held by Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City. He’s every bit of the fire breather that Bailey is but without the burning desire (so far) to seek higher office.

Wilhour has been fighting a behind-the-scenes war with House Republican Leader Tony McCombie all year. He’s also taken on the teachers’ unions, which are trying to reestablish ties to Republican legislators now that their wealthy anti-union benefactors like Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled to Florida.

Back in September, Reps. Wilhour and Chris Miller (who is married to U.S. Rep. Mary Miller) demanded the Illinois Republican Party change its rules to declare that Republican candidates who solicit money from teachers’ unions or refuse to return their contributions “shall be condemned and automatically disassociated from the Republican Party.”

Several weeks ago, Illinois Department of Corrections employee Matt Hall started quietly circulating petitions to run against Wilhour in the Republican primary.

The Illinois Education Association confirmed it had been looking for a candidate to challenge Wilhour. A union spokesperson said the IEA did not recruit Hall but said, “We are excited about his candidacy and believe our members who live in the district will be as well.”

Asked if he would accept union contributions, Hall said, “I will accept everyone’s support, and I expect to get everyone’s support.” He said he decided to run because Wilhour “quit doing what I think a state representative needs to do,” including being responsive to constituents.

“He just doesn’t do anything,” Hall said. “In my opinion, all he does is kick and scream and doesn’t get anything passed.”

Wilhour also hasn’t stopped any Democratic bills, Hall claimed. “We need to learn how to work together and get things done and care about this district.”

In response, Rep. Wilhour said: “A primary fight with the teachers’ union has been a foregone conclusion. It’s always been about them finding their tool willing to carry their woke agenda.”

People on Wilhour’s side are convinced House GOP Leader McCombie is somehow behind Hall’s race.

“I prefer not to speak of who I’ve had contact with,” Hall said when asked if he’d spoken with McCombie about his candidacy. A McCombie aide said the leader was focused on holding and picking up seats.

Hall ended up filing his petitions. They were solid, and he had help from the IEA.

Interestingly enough, a formal objection was filed against Rep. Wilhour’s petitions. “It looks like a concerned citizen filed the complaint, and we’re interested to see what comes of it,” said an IEA spokesperson.

Sure.

Anyway, if Hall manages to beat Wilhour, a shockwave will reverberate through the far right of the party. But, if nothing else, a barrage of union money aimed at Wilhour could divert Eastern Bloc resources away from their hoped-for battle against Rep. Severin.

  19 Comments      


Open thread

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  9 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: No migrants living in Chicago police stations for the first time since spring. Sun-Times…

    - There are around 190 new arrivals were still awaiting shelter placement at O’Hare Airport.
    - In mid-October, a peak of about 3,300 asylum seekers were living inside or outside police stations.
    - Nearly 14,000 migrants from the southern U.S. border are being housed at 27 city-run shelters.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

    * Sun-Times | Feds close corruption case against Ed Burke by telling jurors his words on secret recordings are ‘absolutely devastating’: Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said the words of the former 14th Ward alderperson are more significant than any testimony jurors would have heard if prosecutors called FBI mole Danny Solis to the witness stand. “Think about what’s the best evidence of defendant Burke’s intent?” Streicker said. “The words that came out of his mouth. … Those words were captured on recordings. That is why we didn’t need to call Mr. Solis to tell you what Mr. Burke was thinking.

    * Illinois Times | Haley suspended by NAACP: The news release also said NAACP branch presidents from throughout Illinois met Dec. 13 and “unanimously supported Haley’s quintessential leadership skills.” But the national NAACP, based in Baltimore, said in a statement Dec. 15 that it suspended Haley Dec. 13.

    * Sun-Times | Fermilab’s ‘muon shot’ could see suburban lab become site of revolutionary particle collider: They also called for exploring the possibility of building a revolutionary new particle collider more powerful than any ever created — a groundbreaking device they said would fit perfectly on the Fermilab campus. The P5 report also noted the critical computing might of Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, reinforcing the Chicago area as a hub for the future of particle physics.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

    * WSJ | Illinois Concedes on Pregnancy Centers: Illinois has been trying to use its fraud laws to target pro-life pregnancy help centers, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared this summer that he was “confident” the law was constitutional. If he still believes that, then Mr. Pritzker ought to explain why the state is backing down in federal court, unless he’s too embarrassed now by his role in this cautionary tale of Democratic overreach.

    * Patch | Committee To Appoint Replacement For 82nd District Representative: “John Egofske is a tremendous leader in the community, and we thank him for his continued service as Mayor of Lemont,” DuPage Republican Chairman Jim Zay said in a release from the House Republican Organization. “Our committee looks forward to a transparent and thorough process to fill this important position.”

    * Tribune | Cook County court clerk getting boost in reelection bid from her government employees: The first-term clerk won the office in 2020 after pledging to “adhere to the highest ethical standards” in replacing a scandal-scarred outgoing clerk, Dorothy Brown, whose tenure was marked by various controversies that included criticism she took campaign cash from her employees.

    * Jim Dey | High court action puts ComEd bribery case back in the news: Stop the sentencing hearings! So say the lawyers for the ComEd Four. They argue a case accepted last week for review by the U.S. Supreme Court could undermine legal ground on which their clients were convicted.

    * Patch | 2 Run For Elmhurst State House Seat: Elmhurst Alderman Marti Deuter is running as a Democrat to succeed Jenn Ladisch-Douglass, a Democrat who decided not to run again after one term. The Republican candidate is Elmhurst resident Dennis Reboletti, who is the elected supervisor of Addison Township.

    * Sun-Times | Ex-Cook County Land Bank Authority official gets a year in prison over secret land deals: Mustafaa Saleh, 37, resigned from the county government agency in June 2019 and pleaded guilty to wire fraud last March. In May 2021, a federal grand jury subpoenaed records from the agency on 24 properties, including an abandoned hotel in Harvey and other properties overseen by Saleh, and land bank contractors he secretly owned.
    Chi
    * Tribune | City to remove West Loop homeless encampment in order to clean area: The encampments near Union and Ogilvie stations are the subject of an ongoing debate between Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office and Ald. Bill Conway, 34th. Conway previously told the Tribune that a top Johnson adviser tied an offer to address safety concerns there to the alderman’s votes on two key City Council ordinances.

    * WaPo | Dozens of assisted-living residents died after wandering away unnoticed: Since 2018, more than 2,000 people have wandered away from assisted-living and memory-care facilities unnoticed or been left unattended for hours outside. Nearly 100 have died, and state inspectors frequently found evidence of neglect.

    * Rolling Stone | Elon Musk’s Big Lie About Tesla Is Finally Exposed: Out of all the scandals over the last decade or so of venture capital-fueled excess, Tesla’s dangerous and hype-happy approach to driving automation technology has been one of the most important but also one of the most hidden in plain sight. Just like the Mechanical Turk of 1770, everyone has been so focused on the technology itself that they’ve missed the human factors that power the entire spectacle. Just as worryingly, regulators have missed that forcing humans to babysit incomplete systems introduces entirely new risks to public roads.

    * Sun-Times | Richard Hunt, iconic Chicago sculptor, dies at 88: Abstract sculptor Richard Hunt, a lifelong Chicagoan who in 1971 became the first African American artist to receive a solo retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, died Saturday at age 88. Hunt “passed away peacefully” at his Chicago home, according to a statement posted to his website. A cause wasn’t released.

    * CBS Chicago | Chicago photographer Barry Butler captures beauty of city in new calendar, book: Renowned photographer Barry Butler’s 2024 calendar is available now. Images include a breathtaking winter sunrise at the Lincoln Park lagoon from January, Navy Pier fireworks taken from the Willis Tower in June, and for July, a bird on cue in the center of a glorious sunset.

    * NYT | With a Deadline Looming, the United Methodist Church Breaks Up: Until July, White’s Chapel was the second-largest United Methodist congregation in the country. The conservative-leaning church lost its status this year not because it shrank — it is growing, leaders say — but because it left the denomination.

  11 Comments      


Live coverage

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Live coverage is back, sorta. This will be different than the old Scribble Live feed because Twitter broke itself and almost everything else it touched. These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of posting lagtime, but it’s much better than nothing. We are also limited to just 20 Twitter sources. The service may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees about this. You can still click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped Scribble Live from working…

  Comments Off      


Live Ed Burke Trial Coverage

Monday, Dec 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of a lagtime and you have to refresh the page every now and then. The service we’re using may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees. You can still click here to follow the Ed Burke trial on Twitter. Posts without a Twitter author name below them are from online news sources via Bing…

  1 Comment      


Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Another reminder to click here and help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Thanks!

* The city’s aldermanic briefing on new arrivals just landed in my in-box. A total of 26 buses arrived in the previous seven days for a total of 1,111 people. But the number of asylum-seekers at police stations and O’Hare airport is down to just 339, from 575 last Friday and more than 3,000 earlier this year. Most, 228, are currently at O’Hare. According to the city, 767 people exited the shelter system during the past week, for a grand total of 11,069. The city also has a cost dashboard online, so click here for that.

* You can continue nominating in today’s Golden Horseshoe awards post throughout the weekend. I’ll still be able to see your comments.

* Elvis will play us out…

Got no sleigh with reindeer
No sack on my back
You’re gonna see me comin’
In a big black Cadillac

  Comments Off      


Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. Politico…

Jake Butcher, the chief of staff to Senate President Don Harmon, is stepping down to practice law. Moving up is Ashley Jenkins-Jordan, who’s been deputy chief of staff. She’ll be the first African American woman chief to hold the position in Illinois.

* The truth comes out!…

* A feel-good story for your Friday via Block Club…

Monique Cauley knows the life stories of more than 500 Logan Square neighbors, down to their dogs and children’s names.

As a beloved postal carrier who serves homes between Talman and Artesian avenues starting at Logan Boulevard, Cauley receives high praise from her customers — including the four-legged ones who have grown up seeing her every day. […]

The Bronzeville resident, who has worked in Logan Square with the United States Postal Service for 16 years, isn’t just popular for her kind attitude, big smile and impeccable memory. She’s also known for sharing mail tips, changes to deliveries and other important information for 60647 residents.

Cauley is active on the community Facebook page, which she started using during the pandemic as a way to keep in touch with her customers and share information, she said. She shares periodic mail advice, including a detailed annual Christmas post with useful tips to make sure everyone gets their holiday cards and gifts as postal workers prepare for a stressful season.

* Tribune…

Signaling a paradigm shift in a school system largely shaped by choice, the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday to prioritize neighborhood schools in Chicago Public Schools’ forthcoming five-year strategic plan — a document that will guide investments in the district through 2029 and is slated to be released in June.

Among a range of goals aimed at “disrupting cycles of inequity,” the resolution commits to “transition away from privatization and admissions/enrollment policies and approaches that further stratification and inequity in CPS and drive student enrollment away from neighborhood schools.” […]

The eventual impact could be seismic, with more than 75% of high school students and about 44% of elementary students attending schools outside of their neighborhood boundaries as of last school year. White and Asian students disproportionately attend CPS’ selective enrollment schools. Meanwhile, Black students face persistent opportunity gaps, disproportionately attending neighborhood schools long starved of investments, officials and community organizers said.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

    * Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools leaders want to move away from school choice: However, Todd-Breland did signal that the board might move to close charter schools. “If you are a privately-managed school, taking public dollars from our taxpayers that would otherwise go to the other schools that we know need to be invested in because they haven’t [been] for years, and you are not performing at a level that we find to be a high quality educational experience for young people, then why do you continue to exist in this system?” she said.

    * Sun-Times | Activists praise Board of Ed’s push toward neighborhood schools, away from school choice: Todd-Breland said the board recognizes that charter schools are part of CPS’ fabric and is “not proposing blanket non-renewals of all charter schools.” But the board wants to hold charter operators accountable. And she pointed out that magnet and selective enrollment schools, initially meant to desegregate schools, have more recently become more segregated. “[This] is not about closing selective enrollment schools,” she said. “It is about a shift towards emphasizing supporting neighborhood schools, particularly in those communities that have been historically disinvested in and where young people are furthest from opportunity.”

    * Rep. Edgar Gonzalez | Running for Office As a Young Person Means Dealing With Ageism. I Did It Anyway: As a young legislator, the motives that drive your decision to run for office consistently get put under a microscope, especially when compared to those who have spent decades in their political careers. On one hand, critics often view career politicians with cynicism, assuming their motives revolve around money and power. Meanwhile, inexperienced candidates face doubts about their ability to perform the job. This contrast underscores the challenges faced by young individuals entering politics, as their motivations and capabilities are frequently questioned.

    * Bond Buyer | Munis rally, new-issues from Illinois, NY see strong demand: Municipals rallied hard Thursday, playing catch up to the moves in U.S. Treasuries, which extended their gains for a second session following the Federal Open Market Committee’s clear communication of future rate cuts in 2024. Equities continued their rally.

    * Daily Herald | Back to the beginning: Project aims to return Libertyville-area site to its natural state: Given the amount of equipment and activity in the highly visible area north and east of Route 45 and Casey Road in Libertyville Township, it may appear the site is being readied for new homes or a big box store. Quite the opposite is taking place. Instead, the work is part of a $2.17 million project to restore nearly 178 acres to its natural state.

    * WBEZ | State’s attorney hopefuls back effort to require lawyers for kids in police interrogations: The pledge comes in response to video footage showing a detective in suburban Lake County steering a 15-year-old to falsely confess to a shooting. The video, obtained by WBEZ through an open-records lawsuit against the city of Waukegan, prompted a state senator to draft a bill that would raise the age at which a child must have an attorney present to be questioned in police custody. Now Clayton Harris III and Eileen O’Neill Burke, facing off in a March primary for Cook County state’s attorney, are vowing to help push the legislation into law.

    * Sun-Times | These are the voices of five survivors of Chicago’s violence: Each of their essays offers a peek into the ways violence rearranges a life. There are stories of loss and grief but also redemption, love, regret and shifting notions of justice.

    * Crain’s | After court order, CPS extends contract with Urban Prep charter schools: The extension comes more than a year after the board voted not to renew the contracts, with plans to take over those schools. The board’s decision was based on allegations that Urban Prep mismanaged finances and failed to comply with special education laws, as well as allegations that the school’s founder, Tim King, sexually abused a now-former student. King has denied those allegations.

    * Crain’s | Chicago Tribune union members taking contract fight to Tribune Tower: The “rally to save the Tribune” is planned to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday to protest “detrimental labor practices and profiteering-driven bargaining efforts” by Alden Global Capital, the investment firm that owns Tribune Publishing, according to the Chicago Tribune Guild. The rally will also include members of the DPS Guild, representing workers at Tribune Publishing’s Design & Production Studio, as well as the Suburban Chicago Tribune Guild and the Tribune Content Guild.

    * WBEZ | Little Village residents install air sensors to monitor neighborhood pollution: Residents say public officials aren’t doing enough to protect them so they are taking matters into their own hands — monitoring air quality themselves with nearly $200 sensors. Five are currently in operation with a goal of installing 10 in the neighborhood. Data collected could be used to understand the severity of pollution and inform environmental policy.

    * WaPo | She miscarried in her bathroom. Now she’s charged with abuse of a corpse: “Moving this over to the individual after a miscarriage just heightens the question, ‘What are they supposed to do?’ ” said Dov Fox, a national health law and bioethics expert at the University of San Diego School of Law. “If it’s already difficult for hospitals, for individuals facing difficult circumstances and navigating pregnancy loss to undertake the medical system is not just a tall order but a prohibitive one.” Watts later learned through her lawyer that the nurse who had reassured her had reported her to the police.

    * NYT | Behind the Scenes at the Dismantling of Roe v. Wade: The Supreme Court deliberates in secret, and those who speak can be cast out of the fold. To piece together the hidden narrative of how the court, guided by Justice Alito, engineered a titanic shift in the law, The New York Times drew on internal documents, contemporaneous notes and interviews with more than a dozen people from the court — both conservative and liberal — who had real-time knowledge of the proceedings. Because of the institution’s insistence on confidentiality, they spoke on the condition of anonymity.

    * AP | US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses: About 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness during the January snapshot. That’s the highest number since the country began using the yearly point-in-time survey in 2007 to count the homeless population. The total represents an increase of about 70,650 homeless people compared to January 2022.

    * Business Insider | I showed up to a GOP congressman’s 16-minute Christmas party. Here’s what it was like to watch Democrats and Republicans rub shoulders in his cramped Capitol Hill office: I also watched as staffers for progressive House Democrats rubbed shoulders with Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, who was there along with her husband Chris, an Illinois state representative who was censured by the state legislature for attending Trump’s rally on the Ellipse on January 6.

  4 Comments      


Campaign coverage roundup

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Oops…


* Speaking of oops. AP…

A county board incumbent in Illinois wants election officials to disqualify his primary opponent because he misspelled “Republican” on his nomination papers.

McHenry County Board member Eric Hendricks has filed an objection to primary opponent Bob Nowak’s candidacy, the Northwest Herald reported Wednesday.

Hendricks wrote in the objection that Nowak filed to run as a member of the “Republian Party,” omitting the “c” in “Republican.” Hendricks argues such a party does not exist.

Nowak said he had heard there was an objection to his candidacy but hasn’t seen a copy of it.

County officials have scheduled a hearing on the objection for Tuesday. The primary is March 19.

* Patch…

An Elmhurst alderwoman running for state representative on Monday praised Illinois’ achievements over the last few years.

“Illinois has made progress on important issues in recent years and is moving in the right direction as demonstrated by nine credit rating upgrades since June of 2021,” Alderwoman Marti Deuter, a Democrat, said in a news release about her candidacy. “There is more to be done, and we need legislators with a demonstrated ability to bring people together.”

A month ago, Patch reported on Deuter’s candidacy. That was after Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass, an Elmhurst Democrat, announced she would not seek a second term. […]

Deuter, an alderwoman for a decade, is set to run unopposed in the Democratic primary in March. The only Republican candidate is Dennis Reboletti.

* NPR…

Joe McGraw of Rockford and Scott Alan Crowl of Milan are both seeking the Republican nomination in the 17th congressional district. The winner of the primary will face Democratic incumbent Eric Sorensen next November, who’s unopposed in his party’s primary.

In the 99th state representative district, Republicans Kyle Moore of Quincy and Eric Snellgrove of Beardstown filed to replace Republican Representative Randy Frese, who isn’t running for a sixth term. No Democratic candidates have filed in that district.

Elsewhere in the region, several Republicans are running unopposed in their primaries — and in each case, no Democratic candidate filed.

They are Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, Ninth District Circuit Judge Nigel Graham, Congresswoman Mary Miller, and state representatives Norine Hammond and Dan Swanson.

* Subscribers know more…

An initiative designed to let Illinois voters truly make decisions when they go to the polls again succeeded in putting Illinois Statehouse candidates on the 2024 ballot.

Illinois Policy, a 501(c)(4) advocacy partner of the Illinois Policy Institute, helped usher 27 Illinois General Assembly candidates through the process, including collecting signatures on nominating petitions.

These candidates represent a significant share of the 2024 contested races. Without the new candidate program, Illinois would have seen a low number of choices and its more traditional list of unchallenged incumbents. According to an Illinois Policy Institute analysis, 207 candidates have filed to run for 118 Illinois House of Representatives seats in 2024. These include about 10 contested Republican primaries, 20 contested Democratic primaries and 53 contested general election races.

For over 20 years, less than half of all Illinois House races had just one candidate on the ballot – the least competitive rate in the Midwest and the seventh worst in the nation.

Among Illinois Policy’s recruited candidates:

    • 24 are Republicans and three are Democrats
    • 12 are women
    • 8 are non-white
    • 16 are running in districts that are wholly or partially in Chicago

Research shows contested elections help lower corruption, make government more responsive and increase voter turnout.

“Thanks to these candidates being willing to challenge entrenched incumbents, Illinois will experience real choice on Election Day and will be able to hold lawmakers accountable. That is good news that Illinois voters can feel proud of,” said Josh Bandoch, head of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. “It’s amazing to see candidates take on this responsibility, especially considering how partisan gerrymandering leads voters to feel powerless to foster change in the voting booth.”

The number of contested races will change during the next six months as candidacies are challenged and political parties “slate” candidates for races.

…Adding…Jake Lewis…



* More…

    * WLBK | Stage being set for 14th District Congressional race: Two years ago several viable candidates were gunning for the GOP nomination. This time around Jim Marter says he’s the only serious contender for the March Primary. Two other people filed as Republicans.

    * Pantagraph | 53rd Senate District candidate faces objection to nominating petition: An objection has been filed with the Illinois Board of Elections for one of the four candidates vying for McLean County’s state Senate seat. Joshua Belter of Pontiac, Matthew Snider of Benson and Brooke Uphoff of El Paso have filed an objection against Livingston County Board Member Mike Kirkton, who is running in the Illinois 53rd Senate District. All four candidates are Republicans.

    * Landmark | RBHS school board member Laura Hruska files to run for state representative: Hruska, a longtime resident of Brookfield, is running for state representative, challenging 2nd District incumbent Democrat Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, who is an assistant majority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives and the chairwoman of the Illinois Democratic Party. Neither Hruska nor Hernandez has a primary opponent, so Hruska is guaranteed to face Hernandez in the November general election.

    * Shaw Local | No primary election petition challenges in DuPage County: There were no primary candidate petition challenges filed for 2024 local races – the second major election cycle in a row with no ballot objections in the county, DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek has announced in a news release. “It was unprecedented in 2022 when no candidate petition challenges were filed here,” Kaczmarek said. “We just surpassed our own record.”

    * Patch | Will County Judge Anderson To Seek Seat On Illinois Appellate Court: Anderson, a former Will County Board member, has served as a county circuit court judge since 2010. He will be on the ballot for the March primary election to represent the 3rd District, which includes Will, Kankakee, DuPage, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, and Iroquois counties.

    * Journal and Topics | Local Reps In Congress, State Senate, House, Judicial Candidates Filing To Run In March 2024 Primary: A petition challenge period, where challenges to the validity of signatures will be adjudicated, and some candidates could be removed from the ballot, will take place in the coming weeks. Where there is no candidate in a given party for a given race, township political committeemen may later name a candidate. Candidates may also later mount write-in candidate drives.

  8 Comments      


More new laws

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Sims…

Children who are detained will no longer be able to be held in solitary confinement starting Jan. 1 thanks to advocacy from State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

“Sadly, across the nation, young people are being held in solitary confinement for unreasonably long periods of time, sometimes spending 22 hours or more alone each day,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “That is inhumane and can cause long-term grave psychological, physical and developmental harm.”

Sims’ law prohibits the use of solitary confinement on young detainees in detention centers for any purpose other than preventing immediate physical harm.

Young people in solitary confinement are isolated both physically and socially, often for days, weeks, or even months on end. Sometimes there is a window allowing natural light to enter or a view of the world outside cell walls. Sometimes it is possible to communicate by yelling to other inmates, with voices distorted, reverberating against concrete and metal. Occasionally, they get a book or bible, and if they are lucky, study materials. But inside this cramped space, few contours distinguish one hour, one day, week, or one month, from the next.

“For children, who are still developing and more vulnerable to irreparable harm, risks are magnified – particularly those with disabilities or histories of trauma and abuse,” said Sims. “Children should not be deprived of the services, programming, and other tools they need for healthy growth, education, and development. We should be helping children grow into productive and healthy adults, not harming them, this is particularly true when they have come into the criminal legal system. If we are going to have true safety and justice, we must invest in a criminal legal system that creates pathways to success not one that tears down our young people and creates a cycle of recidivism.”

House Bill 3140 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

* Sen. Morrison…

Illinois is one step closer to becoming smoke free thanks, in part, to a new law from State Senator Julie Morrison set to take effect on Jan. 1 that bans e-cigarettes inside public places.

“E-cigarettes, in all of their many forms, continue to be one of the most addictive products readily available for purchase in gas stations, vape shops and online,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We have made solid progress toward de-normalizing the perception of tobacco, and I am proud that on Jan. 1, e-cigarette usage will be banned indoors.”

Passed in 2007, the Smoke Free Illinois Act prohibited smoking in most public places and within 15 feet of entrances, and required “no smoking” signs to be posted. However, this law took effect when people primarily smoked cigarettes and cigars.

In recent years, the use and popularity of e-cigarettes, or vapes, has increased – especially by middle school children – according to recent reports, leading Morrison to add such products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act through the passage of House Bill 1540, signed by Governor JB Pritzker on July 28, 2023.

Morrison has been an advocate for putting an end to tobacco use by teens since entering the General Assembly. In 2019, she successfully passed a law that increases the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21 and last year passed a measure to place a number of restrictions on marketing e-cigarettes to children.

“Secondhand e-cigarette aerosol contains harmful and potentially harmful chemicals. The use of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed in recent years with tobacco companies targeting teens and young people with enticing flavors,” said Kristina Hamilton, Illinois advocacy director for the American Lung Association. “This expansion of the landmark Smoke-Free Illinois Act will reduce the negative effects of e-cigarettes on our communities.”

House Bill 1540 takes effect Jan. 1.

* Sen. Koehler…

Illinois residents who are victims of fertility fraud will soon be able to bring action against health care providers, thanks to a new law from State Senator Dave Koehler.

When Bloomington resident Curt Richardson got his DNA test results back from Ancestry.com in June 2021, his life – and those of his parents – changed forever when they learned they had been victims of fertility fraud.

Richardson’s story is similar to hundreds of others across the state and nation who have lived most of their lives thinking the very people who raised them were their biological parents. Koehler worked to bring awareness to fertility fraud and provide justice to the families who fall victim to the heinous act.

“The pain a person feels when they find out they are victims of fertility fraud is something no one should have to go through,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “These acts have gone unpunished for too long, and the health care professionals who commit such acts deserve to face dire consequences.”

Fertility fraud occurs when a health care provider knowingly or intentionally uses their own human reproductive cells during an assisted reproductive treatment without the patient’s informed written consent.

Koehler’s new law allows people to bring action against health care providers who commit fertility fraud. It provides a civil cause of action for donor fertility fraud against health care providers who treat patients for infertility using donated human reproductive material without consent. It also states that any child born as a result of fertility fraud is entitled to a qualified protective order allowing the child access to the personal medical records and health history of the person who committed the fraud.

“This crime has caused trauma for countless families across Illinois and the country,” said Koehler. “Under this new law, victims will be able to bring action against those who commit this heinous crime.”

Senate Bill 380 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

And in case you’re wondering, I haven’t yet seen anything from the House Democrats about their bills. Only Senators.

  3 Comments      


Illinois, Maine tied for highest Medicaid renewal rates

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

As the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) approaches the halfway point in resuming customer Medicaid redeterminations following the end of the pandemic-era continuous Medicaid coverage requirement, Illinois has the highest renewal rate among states, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker. The tracker relies on renewal data that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) collects from states.

Following the end of the continuous coverage requirement earlier this year, states resumed Medicaid renewals, or redeterminations, which are regular customer eligibility verifications.

According to the data tracker, at this stage of the unwinding process, Illinois and Maine have the highest renewal rates among all states, at 90%. HFS credits robust preparations and ongoing process improvements to being able to preserve health care coverage for Medicaid-eligible individuals across the state.

* From the Kaiser Family Foundation…

At least 12,573,000 Medicaid enrollees have been disenrolled as of December 13, 2023, based on the most current data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Overall, 34% of people with a completed renewal were disenrolled in reporting states while 66%, or 23.4 million enrollees, had their coverage renewed (one reporting state does not include data on renewed enrollees). Due to varying lags for when states report data, the data reported here undercount the actual number of disenrollments to date.

There is wide variation in disenrollment rates across reporting states, ranging from 62% in Texas to 10% in Illinois and Maine.

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Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Do-Gooder Lobbyist is a tie. I decided to break tradition by seconding the nomination of William McNary with Citizen Action…

I spoke at Will’s recent retirement dinner, as did the governor, both US Senators, several members of the congressional delegation, Chicago’s mayor, the two Democratic legislative leaders and others.

They all spoke of the big things Will did during his career. And that list is very long. I focused on the smaller things that don’t get a lot of notice, like putting a lid on payday loans, helping people pay their utility bills, etc.

Will is one of the smartest people I know. He’s also one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. He’s honest and he’s never sold his soul. He’s also a kind, sweet man who believes that his short-term legislative defeats are only temporary.

Chuy Garcia spoke after I did. He started by saying that the person sitting next to him leaned over during my speech and said “I didn’t know Rich Miller could be so nice.”

That got a good laugh. But I was nice for a very good reason: McNary truly deserved it.

And Niya Kelly at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless…

She is very smart, always prepared for the excepted and unexpected, she preps and supports her sponsors and their staff, she’s a resource for staff generally, does substantive and budget work on an issue that can sometimes feel like fighting an uphill battle. On top of that, she’s a good person. She takes the time to develop relationships with LA’s, security and staff around the Capitol, Stratton and Howlett, and can be a blast of sunshine and fun when you see her. She also shows up every day and gets the work done. There aren’t that many lobbyists who do the work on a consistent basis the way she does. All these years of committed EFFECTIVE hard work sure merits the best do-gooder designation.

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Liaison is also a tie. Allison Nickrent at IDPH…

Allison Nickrent at DPH is single-handedly one of the most talented professionals in the business. DPH is a behemoth of an agency and the level of institutional knowledge she has is impressive. Allison was tasked with negotiating the bylaws of a newly created board with its (*sometimes pushbacky*) membership and she handled it with precision, intuition, and class. She is no stranger to JCAR and knows her way around every square inch of DPH’s rules and regs. Allison’s unique skill set makes her a pleasure to work with. She takes a hands-on approach to mentoring her team and truly is one of the best.

And Wendy Miller Butler at CMS…

I love working with Wendy Butler at CMS. She’s super responsive and understands the extremely difficult machinations of procurement. She works with you to meet your goal in a way that will be effective.

Honorable mention to Kieran Fitzgerald at DHS.

Y’all submitted some very strong nominations in both of these categories. It was difficult to choose winners, hence the ties.

* On to today’s categories…

    Best State Agency Director

    Best Statewide Staffer

As always, please explain your nominations or they won’t count. Also do your best to nominate in both categories. Thanks!

* And here’s your daily reminder to contribute to our fundraiser so that Lutheran Social Services of Illinois can buy Christmas presents for foster kids. As I write this, we’ve raised $53,432, which is enough to buy presents for 2,137 children. LSSI helps care for 2,530 children, and while others are also raising money for this cause, LSSI needs to raise another $10K to help all those kids. So, please, click here and contribute if you can. Thanks!

  26 Comments      


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

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

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Open thread

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…

  2 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Regulators once again reject a record rate increase request from ComEd and Peoples Gas. Sun-Times…

    - The Illinois Commerce Commission rejected Peoples Gas’ request for “clarification” on its order last month that cut off spending for the pipe program pending an investigation into the project.

    - The order slashed a request from the utility to raise rates on its 884,000 Chicago customers by a collective $402 million, down to $301 million.

    - The panel previously noted it “will not remove any funding related to emergency response to leaks, pipe breaks, or other critical safety measures.”

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

    * WJBC | Candidates for March primary election in Illinois assigned their spots: The process of determining which candidates place where on the Illinois primary election ballot is high-tech enough to attract an audience on Zoom – and simple enough to require only Ping Pong balls and a wooden box. “I do think the lack of complexities makes it easier for us to have a transparent process,” said Brent Davis, director of election operations for the Illinois State Board of Elections. “Not much can go wrong with an empty box and a set of Lotto balls.”

    * Crain’s | Thompson Center assessed at more than double 2022 sale price: Kaegi’s office pegged the market value of the 17-story building at 100 W. Randolph St. at $222.8 million for tax year 2023, according to the assessor’s website. That estimate represents what the assessor thinks the property was worth as of the beginning of this year, which is the key number used to determine its next property tax bill. It also marked the first time the assessor’s office estimated the value of the Thompson Center, since it was owned by the state of Illinois and tax-exempt from its completion in 1985 until it was sold last year.

    * SJ-R | Haley issues apology; has backing of NAACP branch presidents: The one-minute-and-forty-eight-second video of Haley making the remarks during an NAACP state presidents’ meeting last month was recorded and made public by former NAACP DuPage County president Patrick Watson. It was a segment in a nearly two-hour-long video.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

  10 Comments      


Live coverage

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Live coverage is back, sorta. This will be different than the old Scribble Live feed because Twitter broke itself and almost everything else it touched. These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of posting lagtime, but it’s much better than nothing. We are also limited to just 20 Twitter sources. The service may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees about this. You can still click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped Scribble Live from working…

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Live Ed Burke Trial Coverage

Friday, Dec 15, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of a lagtime and you have to refresh the page every now and then. The service we’re using may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees. You can still click here to follow the Ed Burke trial on Twitter. Posts without a Twitter author name below them are from online news sources via Bing…

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