* ICYMI: Senate President Harmon appeals $10M fine for improper campaign contributions. Capitol News Illinois…

- The Illinois State Board of Elections fined Harmon’s campaign $9.8 million earlier this year following Chicago Tribune reporting that Harmon accepted $4 million more than was allowed during the 2024 election.
- Harmon is appealing the board’s decision, and his lawyer argued in a hearing on Wednesday that the self-funding exemption should have remained in place, because Harmon’s name was not on the ballot in 2024.
-Though Harmon began self-funding his campaign in the middle of an election cycle in which he was not on the ballot, Harmon’s attorney Mike Kasper said reestablishing caps either after the 2024 primary or general election would establish new limits on fundraising in the middle of Harmon’s term.

* Related stories…

• Tribune | State board’s $10 million fine against Senate President Don Harmon for fundraising is ‘ridiculous,’ lawyer says
• CBS Chicago: Illinois election officials say Senate President Don Harmon accepted campaign cash over limit

* At 6:30 pm, Governor Pritzker will accept the James Monroe Smith Founder Award from the Legal Council for Health Justice recognizing the state’s efforts in advancing health equity and defending the rights of LGBTQ+ Illinoisans. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Streetsblog Chicago | Illinois House Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado thinks Springfield can solve the transit fiscal crisis during six days in October: Streetsblog caught up with one of the key players in the current Springfield drama, House Majority Leader Eva-Marie Delgado, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Chicago’s Northwest Side. Along with fellow Chicago Democrat Rep. Kam Buckner, she’s co-leader of the House’s Public Transit Working Group, which is trying to solve this very tricky legislative puzzle.

* Sun-Times | AI’s latest feat: Depleting drinking water sources around Illinois, Midwest: Large data centers, many devoted to researching artificial intelligence, are expected to use more than 150 billion gallons of water across the U.S. over the next five years, according to the advocacy organization Alliance for the Great Lakes. That’s enough water to supply 4.6 million homes. The data centers, which also use large amounts of power, need water for cooling and because of the size of the large operations — sometimes more than 10,000 square feet — an enormous amount is needed for each site. […] Illinois state lawmakers tried to address the issue of increased power demands from data centers during their legislative session in the spring, but business groups beat back the effort. A bill proposing that data center energy and water usage information be made public was introduced in the same session but was sent to committee and never debated.

*** Statehouse News ***

* ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker says he supports independently drawn legislative maps if done on national basis: “I think having an independent commission is a good idea. It has to be done on a national basis, though; it can’t be done state by state. We’d be unilaterally disarming as Democrats if we did that, but I think we should make it happen,” Pritzker said. The governor’s comments came one day after former President Barack Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley and former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood kicked off “Fair Maps Illinois.”

* WGIL | Retired State Police officer Brad Beekman launches bid for Illinois 36th State Senate district: Brad Beekman, a recently retired Illinois State Police master sergeant from Bushnell, officially launched his Republican campaign for the 36th State Senate District on Wednesday, bringing over 20 years of law enforcement experience and a focus on family and economic concerns. Democratic incumbent Mike Halpin is seeking another term in the Illinois Senate 36th District.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois Secretary of State pledges to address spiking car insurance rates: “A safe driver with a poor credit score will pay more — about $862 per year more — than a driver with excellent credit who has a DUI,” Giannoulias said. “Let that sink in.” The Illinois Secretary of State’s Driving Change campaign is aimed at preventing insurance companies from using socioeconomic data such as credit scores, ZIP codes, and age to charge Illinoisans higher auto insurance rates.

* Daily Herald | ‘How do we get there?’ State reps weigh transit rescue options ahead of fall veto session: “There’s a lot of opposition” to the delivery fee, and “the mayors are against the transfer tax,” said Democratic state Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines, chair of a House transportation committee. He said it would have been “a lot easier” to get a measure approved in the spring session, when only a simple majority was needed as opposed to veto session. “Because if they want it effective immediately, you need 71 votes,” he added, “or you have to wait until next session in January.”

* Shaw Local | State rep nixes Sauk Valley Chamber membership over prayer wording at fundraiser, DEI statement on its website: The chamber’s Board of Directors on Wednesday said the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is reaffirming its mission of enhancing the economic climate and quality of life in the Sauk Valley area, “through its commitment to being a non-partisan and non-denominational organization that serves the entire community without bias or affiliation to any specific political party or religious denomination.” “As a civic and economic development organization, the Chamber exists to support local businesses, foster community engagement, and promote inclusive growth across all sectors,” according to an email the Chamber sent to Shaw Local in response to Fritts’ announcement. “Our mission is rooted in values of respect, diversity, and unity. We welcome individuals and organizations of all backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions, and we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and represented.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Johnson to unveil budget plan mid-October, starting months of tension over $1B gap: Johnson is tentatively scheduled to deliver his 2026 proposal on Oct. 16, according to a schedule provided to some members of the City Council obtained by Crain’s. The address will land two weeks earlier than last year, when Johnson delayed the speech to the frustration of some on the council who wanted more time to amend and craft a final spending plan.

* ABC Chicago | Giannoulias plans to reestablish emissions testing in Chicago, starting with South Side mobile unit: It’s rolling out a mobile testing site on the South Side, as part of a pilot program. The mobile unit is slated to become one of several new emissions testing sites in Illinois. It’s all part of the secretary of state’s plan to reestablish emissions testing in the city of Chicago.

* Tribune | Borrowing, pensions and TIFs: What’s fueling the CPS budget standoff?: Chicago Public Schools’ fiscal road map, backed by interim CEO Macquline King, runs counter to the agenda of Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer, who has advocated both now and in the past for borrowing to address budget woes. The standoff illustrates two entrenched sides — the mayor, Harden and their allies who support borrowing, against board members and advocates who don’t — digging in just over a week before the district is required by law to balance its budget.

* Sun-Times | CPS prioritizes facility repairs, IT upgrades in building maintenance budget: The CPS capital budget, which funds construction and building maintenance projects for this school year, is about 9% smaller than last year at $556 million, down from $611 million. Nearly all of it is paid for through borrowing, while there’s some help from the city through tax increment financing, or TIF, dollars and state funding. CPS is the only district in Illinois that has no way to raise new revenue for building construction or maintenance, so taking on new debt year after year becomes necessary to fund most projects.

* ABC Chicago | Chicago’s legal community buzzing about U.S. Attorney Boutros’ recruiting e-mail: More than a dozen former federal prosecutors, even current sitting judges, told the I-Team they, too, received this same unorthodox email, and found it concerning. “You have people who come to the office, give what they have to give, and then leave. By and large, there is turnover by design,” Safer said. Safer hasn’t worked in the Northern District of Illinois office in more than 25 years.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere charged with computer tampering: Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere faces three counts of computer tampering, according to a complaint filed this week in Will County Circuit Court. Traynere, a Bolingbrook Democrat, allegedly accessed the email account of board member Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican, in March 2024 without Ogalla’s authorization, according to the charges. The misdemeanor charges filed by special prosecutor William Elward state Traynere forwarded emails from Ogalla’s account to herself and others.

* Lake County News-Sun | Lake County Treasurer’s office employees move to unionize, with support by outgoing head: “The right of workers to organize and bargain collectively is an American right,” Kim said in a brief statement. “God bless America.” According to a news release, earlier this week, the 13 employees filed a majority interest petition with the Illinois Labor Relations Board, which will certify the union. The employees are responsible for processing and accounting for county revenue and assisting the public in paying and assessing property tax bills.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Emily Rosen appointed Geneva city treasurer, after no candidates ran for seat in April: Geneva officially has a new treasurer, after Emily Rosen’s appointment by Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns was OK’d by the City Council at its meeting Monday evening. After no candidates ran for the seat in the April 1 election, the treasurer post was left unfilled, according to past reporting. In July, the city opened applications for Geneva residents to apply for the role through Aug. 7.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Batavia City Council considers energy policy for future of electric utility: As discussions continue about cost, reliability and sustainability goals, the Batavia City Council is considering adopting an energy policy to guide how it provides electricity to residents in the future. Currently, the city has its own municipal electric utility, according to Batavia City Administrator Laura Newman. The Batavia Municipal Electric Utility gets its energy via a power sales agreement with the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency, or NIMPA, a joint action agency made up of Batavia, Geneva and the city of Rochelle.

* Daily Herald | ‘I am Team Naperville’: Allison Longenbaugh stepping down from city council: In what she called a “gut-wrenching decision,” Naperville City Councilwoman Allison Longenbaugh will step down from her seat after more than two years in the role. An emotional Longenbaugh said she is taking a private sector professional opportunity that does not allow her to serve in public office. Her resignation becomes official Monday. Longenbaugh routinely asked questions of city staffers as part of written Q&A’s posted with council agendas. She appeared to relish her research.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora committee discusses lifting ban on backyard chickens: While no official ordinance has been drafted, aldermen who sit on the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee have spent time at the past two meetings discussing the possibility of allowing backyard chickens within city limits and the logistics of how that may work. No decision has been made yet, but aldermen seem to agree that, if the ban is lifted, there would still be restrictions against roosters, along with other requirements. Currently, the city’s ordinance bans people from keeping dangerous animals, bees or farm animals within city limits. However, special permission can be given to things like pony rides and petting zoos.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | Mark Jontry retiring after this term as Regional Superintendent of Schools, endorses assistant superintendent for the role: The regional superintendent of schools for McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan counties will not run for re-election. Mark Jontry has served in his role for the Regional Office of Education [ROE] #17 for 17 years, after serving as assistant regional superintendent for four years. The ROE provides various resources and support to educators, students and families.

* KSDK | Police arrest 3 law enforcement officers accused of assaulting man at Illinois bar: Three law enforcement officers are facing charges after they were accused of assaulting a man at a Staunton, Illinois, bar over the weekend. A press release from Staunton Police Chief Jeffrey Doerr said two men who work for the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department and one man who works as a Bunker Hill police officer were arrested. The release said the arrests were related to an incident that happened at Skeeter’s Pub early Saturday morning.

* WCIA | 250 U of I students in temporary housing to start semester: More than 6,000 students have moved into their new rooms so far; 250 of them will be placed in temporary housing. “Temporary housing means students are paying half what they would normally pay,” said University Housing Marketing Associate Director Christ Axtman-Barker. “There are more students in those rooms because they are temporarily converted study lounges.”

* BND | East St. Louis school bus drivers say unresolved issues could impact students: Several former and current drivers for Illinois Central’s Caseyville facility gathered outside the district administration building Monday with megaphones and signs, alleging several issues with the bus company ranging from unfair pay to grievance procedures not being followed. The demonstrators said they do not plan to strike; their current union contract prohibits it. But Marsha Jones, a former employee at Illinois Central and the Caseyville site’s union steward and representative, said the issues could result in students spending more time on buses if they’re left unaddressed.

* WGLT | Trained weather spotter grows online community of weather watchers in Central Illinois: Bessler said he would like as many people, specifically members of the Facebook group, to receive the same NWS spotter training that he did. For accurate reporting, Bessler uses a radar app on his phone to track storms, which he then posts on the Current Central Illinois Weather Facebook page. Bessler said he makes sure to address specific counties with warnings of approaching storms.

*** National ***

* AP | The Texas House OK’d GOP-favored redistricting. California intends to counter with map of its own: The national redistricting battle enters its next phase Thursday as California Democrats are scheduled to pass a new congressional map that creates five winnable seats for their party, a direct counter to the Texas House’s approval of a new map to create more conservative-leaning seats in that state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has engineered the high-risk strategy in response to President Donald Trump’s own brinkmanship. Trump pushed Texas Republicans to reopen the legislative maps they passed in 2021 to squeeze out up to five new GOP seats to help the party stave off a midterm defeat.

* Former President Barack Obama…

Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas. But since Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House and gerrymandering in the middle of a decade to try and… https://t.co/6YeqWg6Zv3

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 20, 2025

* Sun Sentinel | DeSantis targets Florida congressional districts, seeks changes that could aid Republicans: The governor repeatedly cited the Broward-Palm Beach County district represented by U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick as the one that he believes is unfairly drawn, and should be changed. He acknowledged that any changes to Cherfilus-McCormick’s district would involve changes to neighboring congressional districts — likely including the one represented by another Broward-Palm Beach county Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.

* NPR | Some Florida farmers reduce crops as deportation fears drive workers away: “You just never know where agents are,” F. says, lowering his voice, even though no one is around. And as a farmer, that has meant having to reduce his workforce by nearly half. “A lot of the migrants have left,” he says. “The rest are hiding.”

* The City | Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips: The failed payoff — a wad of cash in a red envelope stuffed inside an opened bag of Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion ripple potato chips — was made by Winnie Greco, a longtime Adams ally who resigned last year from her position as the mayor’s liaison to the Asian community after she was targeted in multiple investigations. She resurfaced recently as a consistent presence in his re-election campaign.

* NBC | Japanese American groups blast use of Fort Bliss, former internment camp site, as ICE detention center: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, which opened this past weekend, will be able to hold as many as 5,000 detainees upon its completion in the coming months, making it the largest federal detention center in U.S. history. Japanese American advocates, however, say that the facility, which once imprisoned people considered “enemy aliens,” is a chilling reminder of a dark past. “The use of national security rhetoric to justify mass incarceration today echoes the same logic that led to their forced removal and incarceration,” said Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.