Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Illinois Education Association…

With great sadness, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) shares that IEA President Albert J. “Al” Llorens died Thurs., Sept. 26, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Llorens, who spent more than 30 years as a high school math teacher and head girls’ track and cross-country coach at Thornridge High School, had been an IEA member since 1985. Prior to that, he taught fourth-grade phonics and middle school reading in Champaign, and as a math and science teacher in Kankakee and Chicago.

He married the love of his life, Wanda, in 2018. He was the father of three children and two stepchildren.

Always leading with empathy, Llorens will be remembered for his kindness, his passion for public education and unions, his ability to put what’s best for students first, his dedication to the members of IEA and his devotion to his wife, Wanda.

Llorens always referred to Reginald “Reg” Weaver, IEA president from 1981 to 1987 and former NEA president, as his mentor. Weaver said he will miss Llorens and all he brought to his lifelong work.

“Al Llorens was a true friend and a man of the people. He believed strongly in public education and fought diligently for union members, their students, families and the community. Al believed in the power of sports and was an excellent coach. He will be deeply missed.”

Gov. JB Pritzker said Llorens was a caring leader who focused on what was best for IEA members and what was best for our state’s public school students.

“MK and I are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Al Llorens – a teacher and coach, an advocate for our children’s education, and a truly good man,” the Governor said. “Whether in the classroom or leading the Illinois Education Association, Al cared deeply about empowering the next generation and worked tirelessly to invest in their future. He molded the minds of countless students and leaves behind a more equitable, supportive, and enriching education system. May his memory be a blessing to us all.”

* Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery…

“I am profoundly sad at the loss of my friend, union brother, and longtime educator, Al Llorens. His passing leaves Illinois emptier and less whole. The labor movement has lost a fierce advocate, and those of us who knew him have lost a steady, compassionate pillar who made our lives and our schools better.

“Al was a passionate unionist and educator who dedicated his life to students, public service, and the teachers and staff in Illinois’ public schools. As president of the Illinois Education Association (IEA), he led with compassion and an unwavering commitment to making Illinois schools their very best.

“Al was not only a dear friend, he was also a remarkable leader and teacher whose legacy will live on in the students he taught, the classrooms he fought for, the educators he uplifted, and the movement he strengthened. The IFT sends our deepest condolences to Al’s wife, Wanda, his family, and all the members and staff of the IEA.

* Sun-Times…

Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation say a Friday meeting with the Chicago field office director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been rescheduled to a yet to be determined date — as they pressed the director to let them conduct oversight at the agency’s Broadview facility and answer detailed questions about President Donald Trump’s Chicago deportation operations.

Members of the delegation were scheduled to meet Russell Hott on Friday but were told the meeting had to be rescheduled to a later date. Sen. Dick Durbin and Reps. Delia Ramirez, Robin Kelly, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jan Schakowsky, Bill Foster and Mike Quigley had planned to attend the meeting in-person.

Led by Durbin and Ramirez, the delegation on Friday penned a letter to Hott, asking him to “promptly schedule a meeting” to discuss conditions at the ICE Broadview detention facility, which they say is “desperately needed as legal service providers and our constituents have raised concerns about the poor conditions at Broadview.”

* Daily Herald…

Huntley has officially replaced all lead service lines the village was aware of that delivered water to residences, the village has announced. […]

[T]he timeline the state gave municipalities is less strict and varies from 2042 for towns with fewer than 1,200 affected lines, which includes Huntley, to 2077 for towns such as Chicago, which have 100,000 or more lead lines. […]

Huntley officials say the village was among the first communities in the state to comply with the required phase-out of lead pipes and ensure safe water to residents.

Public water lines were already lead-free, Huntley officials said. The work to replace the lines going into homes took about a month, and there was a low volume of pipes, officials said.

*** Statewide ***

* IPM | As tick-borne illnesses rise, Illinois is taking steps to increase surveillance: A new study led by Becky Smith, an associate professor of entomology at the U of I, examined three different species of ticks in Illinois and found the black legged tick, the lone star tick and the American dog tick have been moving to different regions of the state when they used to be more consolidated. “It used to be that you would only find lone star ticks down in the Shawnee National Forest. I have colleagues up in Chicago who are finding them in the Chicago area,” she explained. “You would only find the black legged tick up in the Chicago area, up along the Wisconsin border, and now we’re finding them in the Shawnee National Forest. So they’re moving across the state.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Streetsblog Chicago | GOP State Rep. and Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens on solving the transit fiscal cliff: “This can’t be a city-versus-suburbs thing.”:” This can’t be a city-versus-suburbs thing. This isn’t about, “That wasn’t fiscally conservative enough,” or “That one they gave great contracts to this union.” That’s not what this is about. We’re where we’re at, at a place in time. We need to address it and figure out how we’re going to keep transit safe, clean, and at a level that it gets people to and from their jobs, to and from their leisure activities, still affordable, in a civil manner.”

* WGLT | During B-N stop, conservative governor candidate Ted Dabrowski vows to fight for economic change in Illinois: “One of the things we should do is move immediately to 401[k]s for all new workers. We should stop digging the pension hole,” Dabrowski continued. [Note from Rich: Moving newbies to 401k’s would mean Social Security payments and no employee contributions into the system.]

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Ald. Gardiner Rejects Apartment Building Pitched For Edgebrook After Tense Meeting: More than 200 people crowded into the Edgebrook School gym to hear Drexel Properties’ plans for the commercial property at 5500 W. Devon Ave. Speakers who opposed the apartment building said it didn’t fit with the character of the neighborhood, would worsen already-bad traffic and create spillover traffic. Supporters said the project could help revitalize the neighborhood’s struggling downtown, bringing more foot traffic to businesses.

* Sun-Times | Starbucks to close hundreds of stores, lay off 900 workers. Here are some stores closing in Chicago: The company’s Edgewater store, at 5964 N. Ridge Ave., is among the locations closing Saturday, according to Starbucks Workers United. The labor group represents 12,000 baristas and recently won its 650th union election. Workers picketed outside the Edgewater store on Thursday morning. The rally was planned before Starbucks’ announcement. Workers had aimed to press for a fair contract with the company.

* Crain’s | Chicago crypto software firm Zerohash valued at $1B in new funding round: The funding values the company at $1 billion, making it one of a handful of venture capital-backed “unicorn” companies in Chicago. The cryptocurrency sector is taking off, fueled by the Trump administration’s embrace of the industry and regulations that have paved the way for traditional banks to get involved.

* Block Club | South Side Hotels Near Obama Center, XS Tennis Center Get City Council Approval: The 303-foot-tall building will feature a fifth-floor swimming pool, green roofs and outdoor terraces on the fifth, 13th and 20th floors. The developer owns three parcels at the development site, while the other two are city-owned. The city intends to sell its properties to the developer “at fair market value,” Planning Commissioner Ciere Boatright wrote to Plan Commission officials in January.

* WBEZ | The man behind the organ at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel has been pulling the stops for 25 years: A great forest of zinc pipes — the longest of them stretching 16 feet — soars along the east chancel wall. All is quiet until Weisflog, hidden behind an oak console, goes to work, his fingers stroking keys and pulling stops. He reaches for a stop labeled “tuba mirabilis.” Thunderous notes fill the chapel, rattling the woodwork.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Arrests made after rooftop agents fire rubber pellets, tear gas at crowd outside Broadview ICE facility: Meanwhile, two people were led away in handcuffs as of about 11 a.m. and a black bus with tinted windows filled with apparent detainees left the facility around the same time. […] In turn, federal officers have often pushed demonstrators and fired rubber bullets and chemical munitions into crowds. Rubber pellets began flying through the air shortly after 8 a.m. A Sun-Times photographer was hit by one of the pellets and a window of a nearby business was broken by one of the projectiles about 9:45 a.m.

* Crain’s | Housing plan for long-vacant Solo Cup factory site in Highland Park advances: Seventeen years after the Solo Cup company closed its Highland Park factory, a plan to redevelop the 28-acre site with homes is headed for the city council next week. At 227 units, the Habitat Company’s proposal is less than half what another developer was proposing in 2018, initially 518 units and later increased to 534. It’s also less than the 262 units in the first-draft proposal Habitat unveiled in October 2024. The proposed units are all attached townhouses.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Oswego panel not in favor of residential project proposed for former site of Traughber Junior High School: The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission recently recommended denial of concept plans to redevelop the old Traughber Junior High School site in the village into a 239-unit residential project. The commission’s primary concern at its meeting earlier this month was the density of the proposed redevelopment project. Oswego officials said the developer is working on site plan modifications based on public feedback before bringing the proposal to the Village Board, which has the final say on the project.

* Tribune | Paul Noland, a former judge and attorney who represented Tylenol amid 1982 cyanide poisonings, dies at 91: Paul Noland was a DuPage County judge who in his earlier career as an attorney represented the makers of Tylenol in the aftermath of the still-unsolved Chicago-area poisoning deaths in 1982 that were caused by drug tampering. Noland became involved representing the makers of Tylenol because Dave Collins, the chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Products unit in 1982, had been close friends with Noland dating back to their high school days and also had been Noland’s college roommate.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | ISU president cites fiscal challenges, lauds campus achievements in annual address: “Institutional costs are rising at twice, twice! our rate of revenues,” said Tarhule, who called the situation “difficult.” Tarhule told the assembled crowd the financial pressures include state disinvestment in higher education, and a need for more affordable tuition, higher compensation, and new student support programs. He said cost containment, re-prioritizing funding, and improving student retention and graduation rates can all continue to help ISU address the pressures all colleges and universities face.

* STLPR | Illinois EPA says Bethalto water is safe, but residents want more done: After months of Bethalto residents dealing with brown water, tests by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency show the drinking water is safe. Three rounds of testing by the IEPA over the past few weeks found the drinking water in the Metro East community “meets all state and federal water quality standards,” according to a letter and subsequent results from the state agency. The early September letter addressed to state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Godfrey, and the latest results come as Bethalto residents have complained for months, or in some cases years, of brown water coming from their faucets and independent tests by concerned residents found elevated levels of manganese.

* WCIA | Ameren Illinois introducing new ‘smart switch’ devices in Vermilion Co.: On Thursday, Ameren announced it would be installing 69kV Viper®-HV reclosers, also known as “smart switches.” These devices detect problems on the electric system and help determine if power should be re-routed from another source. The introduction of these switches is aimed at modernizing Ameren’s electric grid in Vermilion County.

* WICS | University of Illinois homecoming draws over 60,000, boosting local businesses and economy: The University of Illinois will celebrate homecoming this weekend, and the Champaign-Urbana area is expecting thousands of visitors. The football game is sold out, and with FOX Big Noon Kickoff in town, events surrounding the game are also expected to be huge. From sold-out hotels to packed restaurants, this weekend is expected to bring in more than $4 million to Champaign-Urbana’s economy. It’s a sold-out weekend across the board.

*** National ***

* Crain’s | Medicaid cuts will deepen a growing strain on ERs treating gunshots: study: Annual costs for the initial emergency department and inpatient treatment of people injured by firearms nationwide ran about $1.2 billion a year from 2016 to 2019, but jumped to $1.6 billion in 2021. The 33% increase, researchers said, coincided with a rise in gunshot wounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, the annual cost of treatment for pediatric patients grew 54% from 2019 to 2021, the study said. The total cost of initial treatment of firearm injuries for U.S. hospitals was $7.7 billion from 2016 to 2021. Of those costs, more than half were billed to Medicaid.

* AP | Sinclair brings Jimmy Kimmel’s show back to its ABC-affiliated stations, ending blackout: “Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” Sinclair, which operates 38 ABC affiliates, said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.”

* NYT | Des Moines Schools Superintendent Detained by ICE, School Officials Say: Jackie Norris, the president of the board, she did not know why federal agents took Ian Roberts, the superintendent, into custody. Ms. Norris said that an associate superintendent, Matt Smith, would lead the system temporarily.

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Catching up with the congressionals

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Jesse Jackson Jr. is fundraising in DC as he explores running for the Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District. Politico…

* The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed Sen. Mike Simmons for the 9th CD…

Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ people at all levels of government, announces its endorsement of Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons in his race to represent Illinois’ ninth Congressional District.

“Mike Simmons is a proven leader and a time-tested champion for equality and for the communities he serves. His local, state and national work has driven change for communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, working families, and more” says Evan Low, President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. “We urgently need Mike’s voice in the U.S. House to combat radical-right-wing politics and anti-equality policy, and we know he will be a loud and proud voice for IL-09 in Washington.”

Simmons is a history-making elected official and an award-winning public servant. He is the first LGBTQ+ person elected to the Illinois State Senate. He has a long history of fighting for LGBTQ+ and other disenfranchised communities, including work on Capitol Hill and with the Obama Foundation. As State Senator, he has worked hand-in-hand with constituents and community organizers to pass over 50 pieces of legislation.

* Fox Chicago…

Federal agents used pepper pellets and gas canisters to disperse protesters outside the ICE facility in Broadview on Friday, where demonstrators were attempting to block operations tied to a recent enforcement sweep. […]

Bushra Amiwala, a congressional candidate who joined the protest, said she was struck by pepper pellets while attaching signs to a security fence.

“The residue that comes up makes it incredibly difficult to breathe,” Amiwala said. “There was nothing provoked on our side. The three of us were literally signing on the fence and we were the direct targets of the shooting.”

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who was also present, said agents fired without warning.

“We were standing here with a group of people literally doing nothing,” Biss said. ” There was no disturbance. There was no chaos. There was no effort to move a car in or out. They just shot at us as though for sport. They are trying to dominate and intimidate, and we are not going to be intimidated.”

* Fox Chicago also interviewed 2nd CD candidate Sen. Robert Peters outside of the Broadview ICE facility…

* Meanwhile…

Friendly reminder that Dan Proft lives in Florida. His little show airs in Chicago.

And for the record, ICE is taking people from across Chicagoland—including Evanston—to this facility, which is why we need everyone to speak out about it. https://t.co/okc0U8lGO6

— Daniel Biss (@DanielBiss) September 26, 2025

* Wired profiled 9th CD candidate Kat Abughazaleh…

Early in the campaign, Abughazaleh’s relationship with former reporter Ben Collins, who became CEO of the Chicago-based satirical newspaper The Onion last year, came under the microscope. When the Chicago Tribune reported that the couple had rented an apartment for $4,000 a month when they first arrived in the city, it was a mini scandal. How dare these coastal elites splash out so extravagantly while Abughazaleh fashioned herself a woman of the people! (She acknowledges that Collins provides her a financial cushion; he’s also one of the campaign’s largest individual donors.)

The pair have since moved to a modest walk-up near Abughazaleh’s office. In an effort to prove that she’s not rich, Abughazaleh posted a photo of what she said was her checking account to social media: $4,947. She demonetized her social accounts when she started her run for office, so her only income comes from a Patreon account she set up solely to sell subscriptions for photographs of her orange cat, Heater. It brings in around $650 a month.

* Related…

Starved Rock Media | US Senate Candidates Vying To Replace Dick Durbin Will Speak In Utica:

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Wirepoints’ deficit spending continued as assets were further depleted ahead of staff exodus

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Earlier this month, Wirepoints announced that its president Ted Dabrowski would leave the organization to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The website’s founder Mark Glennon said he, too, would stop writing for the website and said their research director was leaving to work on Dabrowski’s campaign.

As I told you last year, the organization has been in some fiscal hot water.

* And those problems have persisted in the group’s latest 2024 IRS filing…

Investment income has dropped from $12,600 in 2023 to $4,122 last year.

Wirepoints has managed to reduce its deficit spending, but it persisted last year at $194K (down from $394K).

“Net assets or fund balances” plunged to just $64K, down from $258K in the previous year.

“Savings and temporary cash investments” were listed as $233K at the beginning of 2024, but that fell to a mere $232.00 by the end of the year.

“Loans and other payables to any current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, substantial contributor, or 35% controlled entity or family member of any of these persons” were not reduced by the end of last year from the $68,400 claimed at the start of the year.

Dabrowski’s income was reduced to $85K last year, from $100K the year before. His average weekly work hours increased to a whopping 75 last year, from 40 the year before.

Discuss.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Softball

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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It’s just a bill

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Illinois Economic Development Corp Chairman John Atkinson…

Recently, Illinois has developed significant economic development momentum by targeting projects in future-defining sectors while strengthening our established industries. Our unmatched infrastructure, diverse workforce, top-tier education, central location and coordinated strategy are helping fuel impactful growth and rewrite the narrative on our business climate. This turnaround is also a testament to the creativity and effectiveness of Gov. JB Pritzker and the General Assembly in creating incentives — such as the REV program, MICRO Act and AIM Credit, to name a few — that give CEOs the confidence to choose Illinois.

But in today’s marketplace, we need every tool available to continue winning. That’s exactly what a new bill, introduced by Rep. Jay Hoffman, assistant majority leader, would provide.

Currently before the Illinois General Assembly, this legislation would give qualifying megaprojects — those investing at least $100 million and committing to stay for 20 years or more — the ability to negotiate long-term, predictable property tax agreements with local governments. These agreements would provide companies with stable costs as they grow in Illinois, while schools and municipalities would gain a reliable revenue stream they can plan around with confidence. […]

Crucially, there are no state dollars in play and no impact on our balanced budget. Instead, it gives control to local authorities and allows us to unlock investment that might not otherwise be possible.

Without this tool, Illinois is at serious risk of losing out to one of the 37 other states that already offer similar programs. In Ohio, New Albany granted Intel a 30-year, 100% property tax abatement to land a $20 billion semiconductor campus. In Texas, Samsung secured a package of long-term abatements for a massive chip plant. And in South Carolina, state leaders approved a 40-year tax abatement via the state’s FILOT (Fee in Lieu of Tax) Program to secure a new Scout Motors electric vehicle manufacturing plant.

* Evanston Now…

Four key Illinois legislators say that the upcoming veto session in Springfield will end with a solution in place for the $771 million “fiscal cliff” facing Chicago-area mass transit. […]

Rep. Kam Buckner, another Chicago Democrat, said “we got the bill at 11:47 p.m.” on the last day of session, making it impossible to bring it to a vote.

However, both Democrats [Rep. Buckner and Sen. Ram Villivalam] agreed that there will be a vote, and a positive vote, later this fall.

Buckner pointed out that “some people are saying we can wait, but for the sake of our transit systems we have to get this done now. I think we will do it.” […]

Both Metra and PACE leaders are now saying they should be able to make it through 2026 with no service cuts, and CTA may be able to avoid cuts until midway through the year, in part because of increased internet sales tax revenue, which helps fund transit.

But Villivalam said the long-term needs are still very real, and the projected 40% service reductions without a cliff resolution are out there, even if they’re a bit farther away.

* WAND…

State lawmakers are reviewing multiple proposals to help lower utility bills and increase energy capacity during veto session. Storage will play a key role in any plan lawmakers try to pass next month.

Illinois could create virtual power plants by having solar-powered batteries installed at homes and commercial buildings. People would receive rebates if they purchase a battery and agree to let the state access the stored energy during some of the hottest days of the summer.

“With the help of this legislation, we can get a lot of storage online fast,” said Bryan McDaniel with the Citizens Utility Board. “Large scale battery storage can be deployed very quickly compared to traditional sources of power. This speed to market attribute is really important, as we are already experiencing the cost of inaction.”

Advocates said the Storage for All program would run similarly to the state’s Solar for All program. The state would also establish consumer protection requirements to prevent misleading marketing and abusive practices by vendors.

This legislation also calls on the Illinois Power Agency to conduct procurement events to award incentive contracts to energy storage developers, aiming to bring three gigawatts of new storage projects online by 2030 and six gigawatts by 2035.

* It’s not a bill…yet. Legal Action Chicago, Catholic Conference of Illinois, Citizen Action Illinois, Woodstock Institute and others…

The Illinois Supreme Court yesterday let stand an Appellate Court’s decision upholding an arbitrator’s decision allowing an out-of-state company to charge an Illinois resident 483% APR to borrow money – more than ten times the State’s 36% rate cap. The Supreme Court declined to take up the case, effectively allowing Illinois residents to be subject to the laws of the state where an online lender does business: in this case Utah.

Utah is considered the Wild West in the world of consumer lending. Predatory lenders set up shop there to enjoy the state’s lack of an interest cap. By contrast, consumers in Illinois are protected – or were meant to be protected – by the Predatory Loan Prevention Act (PLPA) – which caps the interest rate on consumer loans at 36%.

In this case, Silver Financial, a company doing business in Utah, made a loan to Joseph Morgan, an Illinois resident, with an APR of 483% in April 2022. Under the PLPA, that APR is illegal, and the loan is null and void on its face. Silver Financial was able to get away with charging whatever it wanted through two legal mechanisms: (1) forced arbitration, and (2) choice of law. “Forced arbitration” is fine print buried in a contract forcing you, the consumer, to take any disputes to arbitration, instead of court. “Choice of law” means the company gets to choose which state’s laws apply. In this case, the company chose…. You guessed it… Utah!

On June 30, 2023, an arbitrator found that the PLPA and the public policy of Illinois were inapplicable, and the Illinois Appellate Court for the 1st District, on February 4, 2025, affirmed the arbitrator’s decision, finding that applying Utah law did not violate the public policy of Illinois.

“It has long been common knowledge that you don’t forfeit your rights when you log on to your computer and shop on the internet, but like so many other things these days, a new normal is descending upon us,” said Brent Adams, Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at Woodstock Institute. “The implications of this decision are not confined to consumer lending. We are routinely forced to sign arbitration clauses when deciding to receive goods or services from a particular company; cell phone service, internet, and credit cards, in addition to loans, are among the types of industries that use forced arbitration clauses. We are all at risk of being subject to an arbitrator who will enforce a ‘choice of law’ clause drafted by a company who wants to stack the deck in its favor.”

Illinois is not entirely powerless in this situation. The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued a cease & desist order on May 19, 2025. Silver Financial had ten days to request a hearing and refused to do so. If Silver Financial is still offering loans to Illinois consumers, the Attorney General’s Office may go to court seeking an injunction to enforce IDFPR’s order.

Today, Mr. Morgan’s attorneys filed a Petition for Rehearing with the Illinois Supreme Court noting that IDFPR’s order is in direct conflict with the Appellate Court’s decision.

Meanwhile, this coalition is working with policy experts to develop state laws to stop forced arbitration. Another possible reform is to create a Restitution Fund funded by fines paid by other licensees. The Restitution Fund would be used to pay restitution to consumers who are harmed by financial predators who fall outside the State’s reach.

Unfortunately, the final takeaway is buyer beware. When you buy a good or service or borrow money over the internet, you are taking a risk. If something goes wrong, you might find yourself in arbitration with an arbitrator selected by the company applying the laws chosen by the company. The laws could be the laws of Utah, the Virgin Islands, Isle of Man, or China, and, if you lose, you might have no remedy or recourse.

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Competition Works: Lower Bills. Reliable Power. Say NO To Right Of First Refusal

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Illinois families are sweating through heat and higher electricity bills this summer. Across the Midwest, some relief from energy inflation is in the forecast. Thanks to competitive bidding, dramatically lower costs have resulted compared to no-bid Right of First Refusal (ROFR) proposals.

Here’s the proof:

$87 Million Saved

Fairport to Denny Transmission Line (MISO – Missouri)

• Competitive bidding cut MISO’s initial estimate from $161 million to just $74 million – saving Missouri Customers millions!

$6 Million Saved

Reid EHV to IN/KY Border Transmission Project (MISO)

$14 Million Saved

Matheson–Redbud Transmission Line (SPP – Oklahoma)

In many cases, incumbent utilities won these bids, proving that when they compete with other qualified builders, consumers win. It saves money and drives better results.

Competition Works.

Legislators should choose competition and protect Illinois families.

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Isabel’s morning briefing (Updated)

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Republican Darren Bailey launches second bid for governor with strategy to connect better with Chicago voters. Tribune…

* Related stories…

• WGLT: Republican Darren Bailey visits Bloomington as he joins race for governor a second time
• WMBD: Darren Bailey launches 2026 campaign for Illinois governor with statewide tour
• CNI: Darren Bailey enters Illinois governor’s race, pledging new approach to Chicago area

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Sponsored by Ameren Illinois

The summer of 2025 has been a tough one for residents and businesses in the Ameren Illinois service territory. Supply constraints, extreme hot and humid conditions, and increased energy usage have led to a significant spike in electricity prices and higher-than-normal monthly bills for residential, commercial and industrial energy users. We appreciate and thank legislators, regulators and stakeholders who are working hard to address the energy challenge in Illinois. Energy policy is complex, and we’re encouraged that there are some creative ideas being proposed and a willingness to work together to find answers.

While Ameren Illinois cannot control the price or availability of energy, we can ensure that the system that delivers energy to homes and businesses — electric poles, wires, and technology; and natural gas distribution pipelines and storage fields — is equipped to operate at peak performance to withstand severe weather events, facilitate business expansions that grow local communities, and enable the transition to renewable generation.

We have an opportunity to build an energy system that is smarter, cleaner, reliable, resilient, and affordable for Illinois families and businesses. As discussions on short- and long-term legislative solutions occur this fall, we will continue to advocate for our 1.2 million customers.

If you know of someone who is struggling to pay their energy bill, please encourage them to visit www.AmerenIllinois.com/PathToSavings for information on available financial assistance and energy saving programs.

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*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Crain’s | Lead sponsor calls off vote to legalize video gambling in Chicago: Despite being advanced by the License & Consumer Protection Committee, Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, told Crain’s he was delaying a vote to amend the legislation to allow the terminals in taverns in the hopes of shoring up more support. The ordinance was approved in committee over the objection of Mayor Brandon Johnson and opposition from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

* Evanston Now | Lawmakers optimistic on transit funding: Rep. Kam Buckner, another Chicago Democrat, said “we got the bill at 11:47 p.m.” on the last day of session, making it impossible to bring it to a vote. However, both Democrats agreed that there will be a vote, and a positive vote, later this fall. Buckner pointed out that “some people are saying we can wait, but for the sake of our transit systems we have to get this done now. I think we will do it.” The “wait awhile” school of thought is surfacing because the fiscal cliff may not be as imminent as originally projected.

* Sun-Times | Illinois braces for more patients as Wisconsin Planned Parenthood pauses abortions over Medicaid cuts: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 22 other attorneys general took to the courts Thursday seeking to halt the administration from pulling the funding. “Without access to the medical care they receive at Planned Parenthood health centers, thousands of Americans will simply opt to defer or even forgo critical preventive care like screenings for cancer,” Raoul said in a news release.

*** Statewide ***

* WGLT | ‘Visionary leader’ Ryan Whitehouse remembered for his advocacy and service: Ryan Whitehouse, the Illinois Farm Bureau’s [IFB] director of national legislation, died Wednesday following an accident in Michigan. He was 43. “This is a tremendous loss, personally, of an amazing man. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and co-workers,” IFB President Brian Duncan said in a statement. “Ryan excelled in everything he did at Illinois Farm Bureau and throughout his work in the Bloomington-Normal community. He leaves a lasting impact and a true legacy of service.”

* Shaw Local | Illinois food banks worry USDA decision to stop tracking food insecurity will lead to people being overlooked: “Food banks and pantries rely on the USDA data to understand the scope and location of need,” Alex Hurd, executive director of the Kendall County Community Food Pantry in Yorkville, said in response to the USDA’s decision. “It may be harder to adequately prepare for and respond to an increase in demand.” The Kendall County Community Food Pantry serves not only Kendall County, but also DeKalb and La Salle counties. It serves an average of 450 families a week. “It may become more difficult for advocacy groups and nonprofits to demonstrate the need for increased funding or support for food assistance programs,” Hurd said. “When data is missing, it’s harder to make a strong case for investment in battling hunger.”

* Daily Herald | ISBE seeks feedback on first draft of numeracy plan: The Illinois State Board of Education will conduct a series of listening sessions across the state to gather feedback on the first draft of the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan, which will provide guidance to support educators, schools and districts in advancing student success in math. Educators, instructional coaches, administrators, regional offices of education, counselors, other education leaders and community partners are invited to participate in the listening tour.

*** Statehouse News ***

* The National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter…

At a time of deep division and growing threats to vital programs, the NASW-Illinois Chapter cannot afford to wait until petition season is over to act. The decisions made in the next few years will determine whether our state continues to support vulnerable families, protect critical services, and uphold our shared values.

That’s why the NASW-Illinois Chapter is taking the unprecedented step of making early endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. In this time of crisis, it is essential that we elect ethical leaders who understand the challenges facing our communities. There
is no better voice to lead that fight than a social worker. […]

As the only licensed social worker (LSW) currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, Senator Karina Villa has been a tireless advocate for social workers and the communities we serve. Her work has shaped policies that directly strengthen our profession and expand access to critical services across the state. […]

Join us in supporting Senator Karina Villa for Illinois Comptroller, a true champion for social workers and the communities we serve.

…Adding… Holly Kim for Comptroller…

Holly Kim, Lake County Treasurer and candidate for Illinois Comptroller, has been endorsed by four Illinois branches of the National Association of Letter Carriers – including two of the state’s largest, Branch 825 in Oak Brook and Branch 4016 in Tinley Park. As Treasurer, Kim is already doing the kind of fiscal oversight and accountability work that the Comptroller’s Office demands. Her experience is earning trust across the state with additional endorsements from Branch 2076 in Des Plaines and Branch 31 in Peoria.

“Coming out of the gate with strong union support is such an honor,” said Holly Kim, Candidate for Illinois Comptroller. “I’m grateful to the Letter Carriers for their endorsement. Together, we’re building a movement for working people of Illinois, and I’m ready to fight every day to make their voices heard.”

* Center Square | Illinois lawmaker, physician pushes back on Trump Tylenol announcement: State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, is pushing back against the Trump administration’s handling of recent claims linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism. He called the rollout “political” and “dangerous.” Hauter said the announcement lacked new evidence and contradicted established medical consensus. “There was no new evidence, only a rehashing of older studies that medicine has already addressed,” Hauter said. “If there was a true risk, the FDA would issue a black box warning. That hasn’t happened because the science doesn’t support it.” Hauter warned that telling women to avoid Tylenol during pregnancy could put mothers and babies at greater risk, since high fevers are a proven danger to fetal health.

* Press Release | Gov. Pritzker Joins Multi-State Launch of PJM Governors’ Collaborative to Increase State Representation to Address Electricity Affordability and Grid: “For far too long, PJM has made decisions with minimal input from the states, leaving families and businesses to bear skyrocketing energy costs and rising reliability risks,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan collective to ensure states have a meaningful voice in shaping the region’s energy future. Together, we’re sending a clear message that PJM must prioritize affordability, reliability, and accountability for the people it serves.”

* Crain’s | Pritzker forms panel to counter RFK Jr.’s autism data efforts: The group, created earlier this year by executive order, will provide the state with recommendations throughout next year. Pritzker’s order came in May following the first of what he referred to as concerning statements and proposals by U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including diminishing the abilities of people with autism and “the specter of a national autism patient registry.”

* The Southern | Brown pledges to represent Southern Illinois families on autism panel: “Honestly, I’m humbled and excited,” Brown said. “As a mom of a son with autism, this feels very personal. I want to make sure families like mine have a voice when it comes to protecting our kids’ information.” Brown, president and founder of the Autism Society of Southern Illinois, has been named to the advisory group established by Gov. JB Pritzker under Executive Order 2025-02. The panel will guide state policy on how autism-related data is used, with an emphasis on safeguarding privacy and protecting civil rights.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Chicago Fire net City Council approval for new South Loop stadium at The 78: The 22,000-seat stadium is being bankrolled by billionaire Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto, who pitched the new stadium project in June, but tens of millions of public dollars would still be needed to prepare the long-dormant site for development. City Council members, without debate, unanimously passed a zoning amendment allowing the new stadium to be built. Mansueto, a Chicago native who bought the Fire in 2019, hopes the soccer-only stadium will be ready in time for the 2028 season.

* Sun-Times | Veteran activist pleads for City Council’s help fighting pollution in Chicago neighborhoods: Johnson is pushing for an ordinance named after her late mother Hazel Johnson that would change the rules on how polluting businesses can locate in low-income communities of color. The proposed law would force the city to consider the health impact on neighborhoods, including Riverdale where Johnson lives, when new sources of pollution are added. The ordinance was introduced in April, is backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and is an outgrowth of a federal civil rights investigation that found the city has long discriminated against its own residents who live in neighborhoods overburdened by air pollution and other health threats.

* Crain’s | Environmental zoning ordinance back on track, but opposition remains: Since being introduced in April, the measure has faced stiff resistance from the business community and organized labor and has been stuck in the Rules Committee, which blocks it from a vote, ever since. The Johnson administration circulated an amendment last week seeking to address those concerns, but opponents say further tweaks are needed. Those changes included seeking to clarify that a new board to review applications for industrial projects is only an advisory body and would not supersede city departments.

* Tribune | US Border Patrol boats dock along Chicago Harbor Lock as part of immigration blitz: It was not clear how long CBP officials planned to dock at the Army Corps facility, nor what their purposes in doing so may be. Lake Michigan is located entirely within the United States and is the only Great Lake without a foreign border.

* Tribune | Lawsuit accuses Loyola University Medical Center of doing risky organ transplants to boost revenue: Patrek Chase, former executive director for Loyola’s Solid Organ Transplant Programs and Outpatient Dialysis Clinic, alleges in the lawsuit that Loyola had area hospitals transfer “their sickest patients” for transplants. “Loyola would then list these patients on the organ donor list as status 1A, meaning the patient was unlikely to live more than a few days without a transplant,” the lawsuit said. “This put the patient at the top of the donation list, and they were regularly able to match with the needed organ.” But the Maywood hospital did not properly screen patients before carrying out the transplants, according to the lawsuit. Instead, the suit contends the hospital focused on billing and profitability, noting that Medicare would reimburse the hospital for discharging the patient “even if the reason for discharge was death.”

* Daily Herald | Judge rejects American’s pitch to retain gates at O’Hare: In a letter to employees, United President Brett Hart called the decision “a powerful validation of United’s growth, investment and incredible workforce here in our hometown of Chicago.” Chicago Department of Aviation Department officials said the decision allows the city to move forward with reallocating gates at O’Hare as planned. “Ensuring that gates are allocated effectively is essential to keeping O’Hare competitive, fostering growth, and providing travelers with more choices and better service,” CDA Communications Director Kevin Bargnes said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Protest heats up again outside Broadview ICE facililty: A group of protesters has swelled from a handful to at least two dozen by 6:30 a.m. outside the 25th Street entrance the facility, 1930 Beach St.. A handful are standing near the new silver gate that was erected earlier this week, some yelling toward passing vehicles on the other side of the gate.

* Sun-Times | Cook County’s top prosecutor is pushing for pretrial detention for anyone charged with machine-gun possession: Soon after taking office Dec. 1, O’Neill Burke said her prosecutors would seek pretrial detention for anyone charged with possession of a machine gun or an extended magazine — asking judges to keep them in jail while they await trial. She pointed to a “15-fold” increase in recoveries of weapons with illegal machine-gun conversion devices since 2019 in Chicago. Forty of the devices had been recovered in 2019. That figure rose to 604 in 2024, according to federal statistics.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County Board panel shoots down strategic plan contract cancellation idea, amid budget shortfall talks: Originally, the $100,000 for the strategic plan contract, which is included in the county board’s proposed budget, was set to be paid from the county’s general fund. The general fund, however, is facing a multimillion-dollar gap that the county board is attempting to close. When Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog presented the board’s proposed budget for the coming year, the board discussed how it was going to reduce a deficit in its budget, with the strategic plan contract coming up as one possible expense that could be paid for with other funds or terminated.

* Daily Southtown | State denies Orland Fire Protection District’s request to bring back ambulance at half capacity:
The Orland Fire Protection District board’s waiver request to put a district ambulance back in operation for 12 hours daily, after the district took the ambulance offline in June, was denied by the Illinois Department of Public Health, said board member Tina Zekich, which a spokesperson for the board president later confirmed. The board unanimously voted on July 22 to resume 12-hour daily operation of the ambulance after public concern over the district’s ability to respond to rising call volumes without the vehicle.

* Daily Herald | Top flight: Gurnee police are on the leading edge of drone technology: So when the theft report came in, police quickly deployed the drone from its climate-controlled base atop Gurnee Fire Station 1, located the suspect pedaling away from the business on a bicycle and tracked him until an officer could drive there and make an arrest. “It can get us to a location before an officer can arrive,” Detective Shawn Gaylor told us this week. “It’s like another officer we can use as a resource, but from the air.”

* Daily Herald | Charging stations coming to downtown Mundelein after all: The village board this week voted to amend the 2026 fiscal year budget to come up with $473,610 for the equipment. The budget initially included $135,000 for the project. The difference will be made up with grant funds and property tax revenue, Trustee Kara Lambert said during Monday’s board meeting at village hall. The budget change comes two weeks after the board agreed to a deal with Vernon Hills-based Powerlink Electric that covers the purchase and installation of the equipment.

*** Downstate ***

* WQAD | Mercer County School District superintendent, employees make first court appearance following arrests: Law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that Superintendent Tim Farquer and IT employees Amberly Norton and Andrea Long were arrested after allegedly accessing student medical records illegally. Norton and Long are sisters. Each is charged with unauthorized access to medical records (class A misdemeanor), computer tampering (class A misdemeanor) and official misconduct (class 4 felony). According to court documents, Norton and Long allegedly gained access to the unauthorized records in question on July 19, 2019, while Farquer did not access them until Sept. 1 of this year. The documents further allege that Farquer “demanded a school nurse to disclose vaccination information to him, compiled it into a Google document, and shared with an unauthorized individual.”

* Pontiac Daily Leader | Illinois grain tour brings global buyers to Midwest farms: The Illinois Department of Agriculture is preparing to host its second Illinois grain tour of 2025. The event will welcome international buyers from six countries including China, Vietnam, Egypt, Jordan, Singapore and the island of Mauritius, according to a community announcement. The four-day tour, scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, aims to foster relationships that could boost export sales of Illinois agricultural products. Last month, buyers from Latin American countries participated in a similar tour. This year, the groups were split due to the program’s success and the high number of interested participants.

* WAND | State regulators unanimously approve OSF Healthcare cuts: The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board unanimously approved the plan 9-0 during a meeting Thursday. The cuts are part of OSF’s proposal from earlier this summer to merge its Urbana and Danville locations into one hospital with two campuses. State staff added that the services OSF plans to eliminate in Urbana are available at Carle Foundation Hospital, located one mile away.

* WAND | ‘We need so much food’: Northeast Community Fund counting on Decatur for WSOY Food Drive: “It’s a ton of food. I mean, we need so much food,” said Sharon Bunch, assistant director of the organization. “If every day was the 225 patrons coming through the door on the days we’re open, the market is only so big. [The market] is quickly depleted throughout the day as we have availability of products.”

* WCIA | Outgoing Decatur City Manager hired by Davenport, Iowa government: As the fallout continues in Decatur over the resignation of City Manager Tim Gleason, another city has announced it hired him for a position in its government. WCIA’s sister station, WHBF in the Quad Cities, reported that the City of Davenport, Iowa, announced its hiring of Gleason as its Interim City Administrator. He will serve in this capacity for six months starting in November, but Gleason has expressed interest in taking the position permanently.

*** National ***

* WaPo | Trump announces new tariffs on trucks, furniture and pharmaceuticals: In a post on social media, Trump said the new tariff for heavy trucks would be 25 percent and would seek to help companies such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner and Mack trucks. New import taxes of 50 percent will be imposed on “all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products,” Trump added. Upholstered furniture will be subject to a 30 percent rate, he said.

* Politico | ‘Let’s have a trial’: Comey proclaims innocence as Trump revels in grand jury indictment he demanded: Comey has selected as his defense attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, a longtime friend, former U.S. Attorney in Chicago and former DOJ special counsel. “Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom,” Fitzgerald said in a statement.

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Open thread

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Addendum to today’s edition

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Friday, Sep 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

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