Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Liberty Steel & Wire hopes to move their headquarters from the Lone Star State to Peoria County, but they want state financial incentives to do it.

Working with state lawmakers, the governor’s office, and state agencies, the company helped get legislation passed that will give them guidelines for the next steps on the process. […]

Liberty Steel said they need financial help because higher interest rates have slowed the construction industry. They dropped their prices, with significant investments already made in this area, part of why they are waiting to see what Illinois can offer.

The next step is for Liberty Steel and the state to sign a contract, with conditions like retaining jobs, and making investments in their local, Bartonville facility.

* The Governor’s office is hiring a new press secretary…

And only 37.5 hours a week! In theory.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Ex-GOP nominee for AG Tom DeVore temporarily loses law license over inappropriate client relationship: In mounting a defense to the ARDC’s case, DeVore claimed that his work as Riley’s attorney in her effort to get her salon reopened had ended by the time their romantic involvement began in late May or June 2020. The ARDC disputed DeVore’s timeline, pointing to continued attorney behavior in that case. But beyond that, DeVore went on to represent Riley in three other legal matters — including her divorce — that summer. That “demonstrated an unbroken continuation of his attorney-client relationship” with Craig, the ARDC ruled. The disciplinary panel began looking into DeVore’s behavior in 2021, and during that initial investigation, Craig said she was not a client when their sexual relationship began. She repeated that claim on social media while DeVore was running for attorney general in 2022.

* Center Square | IL governor on photo with wanted suspect: ‘No way to vet everybody’: “There’s no way, by the way, when you take a picture to vet everybody. Do you know how many pictures I took out there with people who were sitting in the audience? I do it all the time,” Pritzker said. Pritzker was told that McMiller had warrants in four states at the time the picture was taken. “That isn’t something that our [Executive Protection Unit] can know, and, honestly, we were invited into that environment. We know that people who are involved in community violence intervention are people who had a previous life of crime. Certainly, nobody knew that this person had warrants in other states if they were active at the time,” Pritzker said.

* WTVO | Illinois House Minority Leader: Pritzker’s budget executive order is way to raise taxes: McCombie said SNAP shortfalls could be corrected by correcting what she characterizes as a spending problem. “His own [SNAP] error rate since 2017 has gone up from 5.73 to 11.56%,” she said. “If he could go back down below that 6%, this is no anticipated cost to the state of Illinois. Do that.”

* Paulick Report | Late Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar’s Racing, Breeding Stock To Be Dispersed Oct. 11-12 In Indiana: Horses of racing age and breeding stock owned by the late Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar will be dispersed in Indiana Oct. 11-12. Six yearlings bred by Edgar and consigned by Breakway Farm, agent, will be in the main body of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Yearling Sale at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 11, with 13 horses of racing age to be offered in a paddock sale that follows, according to Brandi Steele, who formerly trained for Edgar and more recently boarded his mares.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson uses new Council committee chair line-up to appease critics and shore up progressive support: Replacing Burnett as chair of the powerful Zoning Committee is Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), who worked closely with the mayor in crafting a groundbreaking ordinance relaxing parking requirements for so-called transit-oriented developments. An avid cyclist, La Spata has also led the push for more protected bike lanes, and tried and failed to convince colleagues to reduce the default speed limit on Chicago streets to 25 mph.

* Tribune | Aldermen to consider plan to protect affordable housing around Obama center: Spurred by rising property values and rents in the neighborhood since the OPC was announced, organizers successfully passed a pilot program in the Woodlawn neighborhood to maintain affordable housing and give current renters the chance to buy homes that went up for sale. But a similar program just south of the presidential center site in Jackson Park has lagged. On Wednesday, after months of stop-and-start meetings with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, advocates are rolling out a proposal in the City Council Housing Committee that they hope will pass the full City Council before aldermen are mired in budget talks. But their proposal was quickly met with pushback from other neighborhood groups, including business interests.

* WTTW | Chicago’s Latino Communities See Surge in Grassroots Activism as Immigration Operations Continue: Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports more than 2 million people have left the country since Jan. 20. The agency said it is on pace to deport nearly 600,000 people by the end of President Donald Trump’s first year back in office. In response, organizations across Chicago have staged protests — including outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview — and launched resistance campaigns. Baltazar Enriquez, president of the Little Village Community Council, which operates in one of Chicago’s most densely populated Latino communities, said he and others have begun handing out whistles so residents can alert each other of ICE sightings.

* WTTW | Feds Accuse Chicago Police Officer of Straw Purchasing Firearms That Were Smuggled to Mexico: According to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, Officer Kevin Rodriguez has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and straw purchasing firearms as part of the alleged scheme. A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday said Rodriguez was immediately placed into no-pay status following the federal indictment and has been relieved of his police powers since July 3.

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago’s search for new schools chief narrows, source says interim CEO plans to apply: One of those soon-to-be applicants is the district’s interim CEO, Macquline King, according to a CPS official with knowledge of her plans who requested anonymity to discuss them openly. When asked earlier about her interest in the permanent job, the former CPS teacher and principal said she had not decided but was focused on her interim responsibilities. She declined to comment for this story.

* Crain’s | Cubs push back against claims of illegal biometric data collection at Wrigley: “The Cubs do not use this technology and these allegations are false,” Jennifer Martinez-Roth, senior director of communications for the Cubs, said in a written statement. “We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.”The lawsuits, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, claim the team violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA, by using facial recognition technology for security at games without receiving proper consent from attendees.

* Crain’s | Illinois has a new top school in the latest U.S. News rankings: The latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are out, and Chicago has a new top-ranked school. The University of Chicago has returned as the highest-ranked Illinois school after being dethroned for two years by Northwestern University. The Hyde Park-based school landed at No. 6 this year, up from No. 11 last year.

* WBEZ | For Jeff Tweedy, a new triple album proves there’s forever ‘a new song to sing’: Looking back at his childhood, a key moment emerges for Jeff Tweedy: the day his mother taught him how to play solitaire after sensing he spent too much time alone. “That explains a lot,” he said recently, laughing. To this day, at 58, the Chicago singer-songwriter and Wilco frontman says that his 30-year catalog of songs required a “sacrifice.” For him, it was “being conditioned to endure solitude and accept that that’s part of what it takes to do the thing that you want to do.”

* ABC Chicago | Mold count breaks record in Chicago, Loyola allergist says: On Tuesday, the area recorded a “very high” count of 82,121, breaking the 2014 record. On August 20, 2014, the area recorded 82,000. On Wednesday, Loyola reported the mold count was still “high.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Oath Keepers founder, Jan. 6 planner speaks at Elgin church after 3 other venues cancel amid outcry: The Three Headed Eagle Alliance was able to have Rhodes give his speech at Greater Grace Community Church in Elgin, a nondenominational evangelical church on the city’s west side. Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy in the planning of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump.

* Daily Herald | Suburban private schools were told they earned Blue Ribbon awards. Then the Department of Education axed the program: In its Aug. 29 announcement, the Department of Education said “the important work of identifying blue ribbon schools is done at the state level.” “State leaders are best positioned to recognize excellence in local schools based on educational achievements that align with their communities’ priorities for academic accomplishment and improvement,” the letter reads. “Awards conceived by those closest to the communities and families served by local schools will do more to encourage meaningful reforms than a one-size-fits-all standard established by a distant bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.”

* Naperville Sun | Naperville seeks clean energy bids as it awaits IMEA contract response: The request for proposals (RFP)comes about a month after the council voted to allow city staff to negotiate with IMEA on a number of key contract points, many of which revolve around lowering Naperville’s carbon footprint. One of the provisions would allow the city to seek bids for non-fossil fuel energy options. Naperville’s contract with its longtime power supplier IMEA expires in 2035, but the agency wants to extend its contract with the city and other municipalities until 2055. Critics say IMEA is too reliant on electricity produced by coal.

* Daily Herald | Aurora considers moratorium on new data centers: At a special meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, the city council will discuss enacting a 180-day moratorium, according to a news release. According to the release, residents have complained about “environmental issues” at existing data centers, including emissions, noise from normal and emergency operations, and vibrations from emergency operations. City code classifies data centers as a type of warehouse, according to the release.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora mayor names new interim head of HR, among other positions: Michele Clark, who has served as the city’s director of equity, diversity and inclusion for the past four years, was appointed to be the interim chief human resources officer, the city announced in a news release Monday evening. City officials said in the release that Clark has an impressive level of experience in HR that helped her rise above a group of other highly-qualified candidates.

* WGN | District 160 in Country Club Hills faces scrutiny over questionable spending, new hires: Tuesday night brought another switch-up on the school board, following the installation of two new interim superintendents in September, employed on a part-time basis, who WGN has learned will be paid $1,200 a day, each. Board member Barbara Swain takes over as secretary, replacing Jacqueline Doss, who has missed several of the last meetings. WGN has previously reported on the district’s woes, covering stories of questionable spending, the unapproved sale of a district-owned Ford F-150 to Doss, and $866,000 spent on one credit card in the district’s name between January 2023 and June 2025.

* WTTW | Northwestern University Lab Helps Shape the Future of Medical Monitoring: rom flexible electronic monitors the size of a Band-Aid to tiny pacemakers that dissolve harmlessly in the body when no longer needed — the work of the Querrey Simpson Institute of Bioelectronics at Northwestern University at times seems truly miraculous. What makes such breakthroughs possible is a new generation of flexible and at times dissolvable electronics pioneered by professor John Rogers and his team.

* Daily Southtown | Oak Lawn OKs downtown lighting upgrades, work for Polaris flood control project: While Oak Lawn officials in June said they expected the project to cost $13 million, with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago paying up to $6.5 million and the village covering the rest, the lowest bid from Acura was $14,996,055. The highest bid received was from V3 Construction Group, at $18.7 million, officials said.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | Sherman residents and leaders fed up with damage caused by utility provider: It has been months since Comcast subcontractors started work in the Village of Sherman, according to Mayor Trevor Clatfelter. He heard so many complaints from community members about their work that he completed a stop-work order and delivered it to the Comcast teams. “They are disregarding every rule and regulation that I’ve seen in place,” Clatfelter said. “They have cut cable lines, they have damaged sewer lines, they have backed up raw sewage into people’s houses, they are not fixing sidewalks.”

* WAND | Decatur city manager says councilmember breached employment agreement: Outgoing Decatur City Manager Tim Gleason said the actions of one member of the Decatur City Council represented a breach of his employment agreement. Gleason made the reference to Decatur City Council in his letter of resignation on Sept. 12. WAND News obtained the letter through a Freedom of Information Act request. “Regrettably, ongoing actions by one council member have undermined the professional standards and mutual trust necessary to fulfil my role effectively,” Gleason wrote.

* WTVO | Tourism boom in Stateline generates over $500M for Rockford: “We look at demand generators like our sports facilities, our concert venues, our big museums. Visitors who didn’t live here supported our economy by spending their money,” shared CEO and President of Go Rockford, John Groh. Rockford and Winnebago County visitors spent millions in funding, boasting over 4,000 jobs and millions of dollars in direct income and taxes.

* WTVO | New bus service from Rockford airport to O’Hare starts next month: This new “American Airlines Landline” service aims to combine the convenience of passing through security in Rockford with the extensive travel options available at O’Hare. Travelers can enjoy a more streamlined experience, especially beneficial for families and those with special needs.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Rivian faces auto safety probe over its electric delivery vans: U.S. auto safety regulators opened an investigation into Rivian Automotive Inc. over issues with the seat belts in its electric delivery vans that could introduce additional risk in the event of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it’s aware of six reports of potential failures with the seat belt anchorage system for the driver’s seat in Rivian’s vans. In multiple instances, the steel braided cable connecting the belt to the seat frame has frayed or broken, “leaving the occupants unrestrained in the event of a collision,” the agency said in a document posted to its website.

* CNN | Hunger Researchers Put On Leave After Trump Administration Cancels Food Insecurity Report: Days after announcing it was ending the government’s annual food insecurity report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture placed about a dozen researchers, supervisors and administrators on paid administrative leave on Monday. The employees, who include top officials with the USDA’s Economic Research Service, which produces the longstanding report, were told the reason was “unauthorized disclosure,” said Laura Dodson, vice president of American Federation of Government Employees’ Local 3403, which represents five of the workers.

* WaPo | What researchers suspect may be fueling cancer among millennials: Last year, researchers released findings from a 150,000-person study at the annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting that took the cancer community by surprise. They found that millennials — born between 1981 and 1996 — appear to be aging biologically faster than previous generations, based on biomarkers in blood that indicate the health of various organs. That acceleration was associated with a significantly increased risk — up to 42 percent — for certain cancers, especially those of the lung, gastrointestinal tract and uterus.

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Dabrowski holds press conference outside ICE facility, says Pritzker should ‘hand over criminals in handcuffs from local and state police directly to federal authorities’

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* ICE has blocked off a Broadview street with a massive fence outside its facility. ABC 7 screen cap…

* Sun-Times…

Broadview officials ordered the removal of an “illegal” fence that was erected Tuesday outside of a federal compound used to process detained immigrants following at times violent protests against the Trump administration’s deportation campaign in the Chicago area.

The Broadview Fire Department said village officials were reaching out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security “to demand the fence be removed immediately” because it was installed without a permit in the roadway outside of the facility at 1930 Beach St.

“In case of fire or other emergencies, at businesses located on that street, Broadview fire apparatus would be unable to use the road to accesss these businesses,” the fire department said in a statement.

For weeks, protesters have tried to block vehicles carrying detainees and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who are conducting arrests across the Chicago area.

In turn, federal officers have often pushed demonstrators and fired rubber bullets and chemical munitions into crowds to clear the driveway into the facility.

* But after today’s Texas shooting, we can probably expect even more barricades, and increased paranoia on all sides. From ABC News…

A sniper opened fire on the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office on Wednesday morning, killing two detainees and critically wounding a third, the Department of Homeland Security said. […]

Although only detainees were shot, the Department of Homeland Security called the shooting “an attack on ICE law enforcement.” […]

The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. […]

FBI Director Kash Patel released images of recovered unspent shell casings, including one engraved with the phrase “ANTI-ICE,” and DHS released a photo that appears to show a gunshot in an American flag display.

Just horrible and despicable.

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski held a press event outside the Broadview facility today. Click here to watch. He talked a bit about the Texas shooting, but the audio quality is really poor so there may be some errors in the transcription…

One other matter that pertains to everyone, including the protesters who surrounded this facility in Broadview over the last several days, there’s no justification for using violence to advance your politics, obstructing law enforcement in the commission of their duties, assaulting officers and vandalizing government property for all illegal acts. The people who commit these crimes should be arrested and prosecuted.

This is particularly important to restate today after this morning’s news of a shooting at the Dallas ICE facility that has claimed the life of at least one person. There has to be consequences when people cross the line of [what sounds like “peaceful”] protests.

Furthermore, the vulgar, profane and false aspersions that have been cast on law enforcement officers as well as ordinary citizens who want to see laws enforced, those things have no place, not if you want constructive dialog. Constructive dialog is my desire. When Governor Pritzker characterized federal immigration officials officers as terrorists whose only interest is being cruel to people he indicates that’s not his desire.

As we have seen in tragic fashion they’re disgusting words that people are free to speak and vile caricatures that people are free to make. But they’re not without impact. These moments of civil strife, political leaders show you who they are. Do they fan who claims to score political points with the extremists, regardless of the dangers they create, as Pritzker has done? Or have they called for reason, the rule of law and peaceful coexistence prevail. That’s a choice each of what each of us have to make. Governor Pritzker has made his unfortunate choice, and I have made a different choice, which is why I’m here today.

A couple of points that I want to make. All this chaos is going on here in Chicago, and the crimes that are going on are all preventable. Governor Pritzker could simply hand over criminals in handcuffs from local and state police directly to federal authorities in handcuffs. There would be no chaos, no crisis. But he’s not doing that. Instead, he’s protecting them, he’s harboring them. That has to change.

And then he went on to talk about how Florida cooperates, which, he said, is why you don’t see massive ICE operations there like in the Chicago region.

* WGN was at the event…

Dabrowski spoke on how if elected, his first call of duty is to repeal sanctuary city status across Illinois.

He criticized Governor JB Pritzker numerous times, claiming the state should hand over alleged criminals to federal enforcement.

The state does do that — if a criminal warrant is approved by a judge.

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Campaign stuff: Plumbers endorse Croke; Bailey announces tomorrow; List of CD9 candidates

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Rep. Margaret Croke nets a Labor endorsement…

Today, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA endorsed State Representative Margaret Croke in her bid to become Illinois State Comptroller. With over 6,100 members, Local 130 AU is one of the largest straight-line plumbing locals in the United Association (UA) which represents 350,000+ building tradesmen across the United States and Canada.

Rep. Croke has consistently stood with organized labor, championing policies that protect workers’ rights, expand access to good-paying jobs, and strengthen apprenticeship and training programs. She has worked to secure fair wages, modernize Illinois’ infrastructure, and support investments that grow opportunity for working families.

“I’m honored to have the support of the hardworking men and women of Local 130 UA,” said State Representative Margaret Croke. “These men and women are the backbone of our communities, and now more than ever we must stand strong with them. I could not be more grateful that they are putting their faith in me to serve as comptroller. I’ll work to make sure our state’s finances support strong infrastructure, good-paying jobs, and the fair treatment that working families deserve.”

Today’s endorsement comes on the heels of recent support Rep. Croke has received, including House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch and a broad coalition of 31 additional Illinois State Representatives, the Cook County Democratic Party, and the St. Clair County Democrats.

“The 2026 elections will be crucial for Illinois’ middle-class families. Countless working men and women across the state are facing unprecedented threats to their hard-earned livelihoods and financial security from out-of-touch politicians,” said James F. Coyne, Plumbers Local 130 UA Business Manager. “With so much at stake, the Democratic Party must have candidates with strong records of fighting for the middle class and preserving working families’ standard of living. Margaret’s record of standing with working families is why we are proud to stand with her for Illinois Comptroller in 2026.”

* Looks like a pretty decent crowd for a comptroller candidate…

This is what community looks like. After a difficult week, it meant everything to come together for our birthday…

Posted by Citizens for Karina Villa on Tuesday, September 23, 2025

* Darren Bailey is kicking off his campaign for governor tomorrow…

* Evanston Roundtable has a list of all 18 candidates in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary…

At time of writing, there are 18 active candidates who have filed to run for the Democratic Party nomination with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including 15 who are publicly campaigning, listed below in announcement order:

Content creator Kat Abughazaleh, Chicago, announced on March 24.
Public health professional Justin Ford, Chicago, announced on April 28.
State Sen. Laura Fine (9th District), Glenview, announced on May 6.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, announced on May 15.
Skokie School District 73.5 board member Bushra Amiwala, announced on June 2.
Evanston resident Bethany Johnson, announced on June 16.
Civil rights attorney Howard Rosenblum, Skokie, announced on June 23.
State Rep. Hoan Huynh (13th District), Chicago, announced on July 2.
Bruce Leon, Democratic committeeman for Chicago’s 50th Ward, announced on July 2.
State Sen. Mike Simmons (7th District), Chicago, announced on July 8.
Former FBI agent Phil Andrew, Wilmette, announced on July 8.
Former federal prosecutor Nick Pyati, Evanston, announced on July 16.
Former Niles District 219 school board member Jill Manrique, Evanston, announced on Aug. 4.
Army veteran and former Pentagon employee Sam Polan, Chicago, announced on Aug. 21.
Economist Jeff Cohen, Evanston, announced on Sept. 9.

The other three candidates are Chicago residents Mark Arnold Fredrickson, Lauren Million and Tamika La’Shon Hill, each of whom have filed initial FEC paperwork but haven’t publicly campaigned in any other way. Chicago resident David Abrevaya also filed to run in April but terminated his campaign committee soon after.

7 Comments

More like this, please

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’ve heard lots of positive things about this freshman Republican. From what I am told by several people, he’s genuinely interested in learning about how state government works and understanding legislation. Plus, as one person pointed out today, “54 meets is A LOT.” Yeah. It’s a lot for an entire term. In less than a year? That’s almost unheard of for a freshman.

Also, I don’t mind him trumpeting this effort. It shows his constituents that he’s engaging with government in a positive, curious way. And yeah, he got in a ding about out-migration, but whatever. He seems like a good fit for the Legislative Audit Commission…

Senator Balkema Meets with Dozens of State Agencies to Increase Transparency and Efficiency

SPRINGFIELD, IL- Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon) has been in office less than a year but has already completed meetings with leaders from 54 state agencies as part of a broad initiative to strengthen transparency and efficiency in Illinois government. Multiple agencies remain on the schedule, underscoring Balkema’s commitment to a thorough review.

“The objective is both simple and essential,” Balkema said. “I want to clearly understand each agency’s mission, budget, and leadership structure so Illinois families can be assured their tax dollars are being put to work responsibly.”

Senator Balkema emphasized that these reviews lay the foundation for stronger oversight, closer collaboration, and reforms aimed at cutting waste while improving the quality of services each agency provides.

Additionally, as a member of the Legislative Audit Commission, Balkema reviews all the financial audits performed by the Illinois Auditor General’s office.

“Our state must meet vital needs while respecting hardworking families,” Balkema said. “By reducing costs and increasing accountability, we can help reverse the flow of moving trucks that are currently taking people out of Illinois.”

Balkema reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring state government remains responsive, responsible, and focused on serving the people of Illinois.

He’s also on the administrative burden task force, which is looking at ways to reduce the administrative burden of Medicaid and behavioral health.

Anyway, discuss.

14 Comments

The crackdown is bad for business, and bad for state and local revenues

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Martin Cabrera of Cabrera Capital speaking at the City Club yesterday…

In Illinois, the US Latino buying power is about $101 billion every year. And when you see the neighborhoods - Back of the Yards, Little Village, Pilsen and suburbs who are contracting in business - there are fewer dollars spent and fewer taxes being collected at the State level. This will cause more of a budget gap for the State and decisions will get harder. Where are we gonna cut services? That will be difficult. So we need to band together, even the bipartisan organizations in the red states, to find solutions on a shorter term and longer term basis. We will feel it at the City level, state level and across the country.

* I called Cabrera’s office to ask about the $101 billion number, which would be about ten percent of Illinois’ trillion-dollar GDP. I was referred to a Latino Donor Collaborative study about the ten largest US Latino state GDPs in 2024. It actually had Illinois in fifth place at $145 billion.

A 2023 Sun-Times op-ed by Sylvia Puente and Daniel Cooper had Latino spending power in Illinois at $68 billion.

* Whatever the real number is, it’s a huge impact. And keep this 2022 story in mind…

The Little Village Arch also ushers neighbors and visitors through the commercial corridor known as the second-highest revenue generator in the city after the Magnificent Mile.

That’s huge.

* Block Club Chicago two weeks ago…

Local officials and immigrant rights advocates are calling on neighbors to shop local and support immigrant-owned businesses as threats of raids and reports of ICE arrests have brought foot traffic down in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. […]

Along Little Village’s commercial corridor on West 26th Street, businesses were open and some shoppers were seen visiting local grocery stores, restaurants and shops or walking past street vendors Monday evening.

However, foot traffic was “significantly” down and sales have been down since Friday, when many expected immigration agents to be fully assembled in Chicago, said Michelle Macias, daughter of Carnicería and Taquería Aguascalientes’ owner. The Mexican grocery store has been open in Little Village for 49 years and the restaurant opened in 1980.

“Everyone’s really afraid to come out to buy groceries, take their kids to school and just do everyday tasks,” she said.

Discuss.

35 Comments

RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments.

Retailers like Shayne in Joliet enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work.

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Pritzker won’t say whether ICE has broken any laws, but says it’s broken ‘what is a norm’

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a transcript provided by the governor’s office of Gov. JB Pritzker’s interview with MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski. Videos are here…

Brzezinski: The law’s being broken in your city with these ICE raids, yes?

Governor Pritzker: It appears to me that ICE is breaking what is a norm […] and we are watching to see that they are whether they are breaking laws. I can give you what I have told people to do in this moment is pull out your iPhone, pull out your Android phone, film everything that you see, because it’s clear to me that they are operating in an unnatural way, in a way that ought to be, they ought to be held accountable for. And indeed, we’ve seen that the way that they’re handling protesters in front of the Broadview ICE facility is a way that honestly, I don’t think Americans approve of, and I think you’re seeing that in the polling data, where Donald Trump used to be very popular on the issue of immigration is now becoming unpopular.

Brzezinski: And you don’t see any laws though, right now that are being specifically broken?

Governor Pritzker: Listen, we will prosecute. We will prosecute if the laws are broken, and we need information about the killing that took place on the streets of Chicago by ICE when somebody was driving their car. An ICE agent was injured and was in the hospital, and we don’t know all the circumstances because ICE won’t give it to us. And what has Donald Trump done, by the way? Got rid of all of the investigators for these very things, these independent counsels that usually will investigate these. Now they don’t exist because Donald Trump has done away with them.

Brzezinski: What do you do?

Governor Pritzker: We’re doing everything that we can. We’re giving people, we’re making sure that everybody knows their rights, so they know what they’re subject to, what they’re allowed to be subject to, what the laws of the United States say. Number two, we’re asking everybody to speak up, show up, and protest. And third, film, everything you see, because in the end, we’re going to win this because the average folks on the streets of the United States will not put up with what Donald Trump has done to the Constitution.

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What Illinois Can Learn From Texas On Battery Energy Storage

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

As Illinois confronts skyrocketing electric bills, legislators are on the hunt for solutions that provide relief as quickly as possible. Battery energy storage is our best and most cost-effective solution.

But last session— without evidence —opponents attempted to claim that battery energy storage wouldn’t work. Try telling that to Texas, where the rapid deployment of battery storage has already prevented blackouts and saved consumers billions.

Called “Ground Zero for the US Battery Boom” by Bloomberg, Texas added enough storage in 2023 to power 3 million homes and drop grid emergency risk during peak hours from 16% to less than 1%. The result? Storage saved consumers an estimated $750 million in 2024.

Texas has proven that storage is the quickest, cheapest, most reliable way to get consumers relief from skyrocketing, demand-induced price spikes. Storage is a nimble way to address growing populations, power-hungry data centers, and meet other electrification-related power needs. These are benefits Texas saw from storage even as the state reduced its gas generation capacity by 166 MW last year.

Illinois lawmakers should follow Texas’s lead and pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Act this fall to deploy 6GW of energy storage by 2035. Click here for more information.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Gov. JB Pritzker asks state agencies to reserve 4% of funds while blasting Trump economic policies. Tribune…

* Related stories…

• Sun-Times: Pointing finger at Trump’s ‘disastrous policies,’ Pritzker directs state agencies to find 4% in budget cuts
• CNI: Pritzker directs agencies to limit spending in response to Trump’s economic policies
• Capitol City Now: Blaming Trump, Pritzker orders agency heads to salt away 4 percent of current year’s budgets

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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 ***

* Evanston Now | Flock reinstalls cameras, city orders removal: But residents around Evanston noticed Monday that several of the previously removed cameras had been reinstalled. The city said Flock had reinstalled them and that the city’s legal department “immediately issued a cease-and-desist order to Flock” on Tuesday, demanding they be taken down. Flock subsequently agreed to remove the cameras this afternoon, the city said, but it’s unclear when they’ll actually come down or if they were ever activated by Flock.

* ABC Chicago | Illinois Department of Public Health issues guidelines for COVID-19, flu vaccines: When it comes to the COVID vaccine, IDPH says adults ages 18 and older should be vaccinated, as well as children between the ages of six and 23 months. For children between 2 and 17 years old, the department says they should get vaccinated if their parents want them to have it, and if they have special circumstances like underlying conditions or weakened immune systems.

* WSIL | Illinois fairs attract more than 1 million in 2025 attendance; Du Quoin State Fair shatters record: Gov. JB Pritzker announced the 2025 Illinois State Fair and Du Quoin State Fair saw a combined attendance of more than 1 million people. “Illinois state fairs are a part of a time-honored tradition for generations of families,” Pritzker said. “This year’s attendance figures are proof of the enduring value of state fairs as over 1 million attendees from across Illinois and throughout the nation joined in celebration of our state’s proud agricultural heritage.” The Illinois State Fair in Springfield welcomed 723,079 attendees, marking its second-largest turnout ever. Meanwhile, the Du Quoin State Fair set a new record with 282,202 visitors, surpassing last year’s record of 204,004.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | IL State Board of Education developing new math plan, seeking public feedback: The Illinois State Board of Education is looking for feedback on the first draft of a plan to strengthen math learning, and they’re planning a series of listening sessions across the state to receive this feedback. The aforementioned plan is the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. Modeled on the state’s successful and nationally acclaimed Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, the Comprehensive Numeracy Plan will provide guidance that supports educators, schools and districts in advancing student success in math.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | State lawmaker Howard to become DuPage County judge: State Rep. Terra Costa Howard is giving up her seat in the state House to become a DuPage County Circuit Court judge. The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday it is appointing Howard as resident circuit judge, effective Oct. 17. Her term will end Dec. 7, 2026. […] A spokesman confirmed Costa Howard is resigning, but said a date has not been set.

* Bloomberg | Pritzker Plans Illinois Spending Cuts in Wake of Trump Policies: The second-term Democratic governor and frequent critic of Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that asks departments to identify ways to put 4% of their budgets into reserves, limit spending and prioritize only essential hires in the wake of Trump’s tax and spending package. That legislation, along with tariffs and other policies, will erode health care, food assistance and other services for working families, Pritzker said.

* STLPR | Rep. Hoffman says Illinois needs to fix its pension system for public workers: It’s a critical time to fix Illinois’ pension program for public-sector employees hired after 2011 — but it may not happen this fall, state Rep. Jay Hoffman told pension-eligible employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Tuesday. “I don’t think there’s enough time to do it and do it correctly,” Hoffman said. Hoffman, D-Swansea, chairs the Illinois General Assembly’s Pensions Working Group that has led negotiations on reforms. Lawmakers have been trying to change the state’s Tier 2 pensions for a couple of years and a legislative proposal could be one of the bigger subjects addressed during the fall veto session, which starts Oct. 14. Tier 2 pensions cover local public employees, such as teachers.

* 25News Now | State senators address challenges across Illinois at Peoria’s legislator luncheon: The two senators did agree that DEI is important in providing equal opportunity, especially when it comes to business development. “When you think about over the last 10 years, the top 1% of wage earners have seen their wealth increase by 145%, but the bottom 90% have only seen their wages increase about 16%,” [Sen. Elgie Sims] said. “The focus has not been on making sure that everyone has the opportunity to have a seat at the table, but instead making sure that the same folks are receiving the opportunities over and over again. We need more folks at the table making sure that we’re facing those issues head-on.” “Why is there success here? Why are we not achieving success at a statewide level,” [Senate Republican Leader John Curran] said. “I think it’s probably something we need to take a very close look at and adjust, but ultimately at the end of the day we’re trying to make sure we have a fair, competitive, competent playing field for all business to succeed in Illinois.”

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Chicago Fire stadium set for City Council approval: The City Council’s Zoning Committee today approved the 22,000-seat stadium as part of a larger zoning overhaul for Related Midwest’s 62-acre site along the Chicago River south of Roosevelt Road. The vote came on the heels of Chicago Plan Commission approval last week and sets up a final decision in the full City Council on Sept. 25. Related Midwest and the Fire must still strike a financial agreement with the city over which infrastructure improvements will be ultimately covered by taxpayers.

* Sun-Times | Former Cabrini-Green site gets a new developer, with plans calling for apartments, condos and townhomes: The CHA approved plans for Cabrini New Vision to redevelop the vacant property at Clybourn Avenue and Larrabee Street. The company is a joint venture between Evergreen Real Estate Group and KLEO Enterprises. […] The housing authority had previously selected a team led by Texas-based firm Hunt Development Group. But Hunt withdrew from the deal in August 2024 after the team failed to secure financing, causing the CHA to go back to the drawing board. Developer Pennrose, also part of the former development team with Imagine Development Group, said it left the Chicago market after years of being passed over for tax credits at the Cabrini site.

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson calls more Chicago protected bike lanes ‘ultimate goal,’ touts milestone: “Real, secure, protected bike lanes throughout the city is the ultimate goal,” Johnson said, half his attention set on navigating traffic. “I don’t want there to be any section of the city that doesn’t have secure, dedicated bike lanes.” It’s a cause that has become an essential item for progressive politicians amid sustained political pressure from pedestrian and cyclist advocacy groups, which are key parts of Johnson’s base. But better protection for cyclists on Chicago streets has been a cause championed and funded for decades by Johnson’s less progressive predecessors.

* Tribune | Chicago White Sox up to 99 losses after a 3-2 walk-off defeat to the New York Yankees: “As a true competitor, you go out there and you try to win every single game and sometimes these things are going to happen,” Montgomery said. “It’s just all learning experiences for us. Everybody on this team’s a true competitor, and they’re all trying to win, and sometimes it sucks and doesn’t go your way.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Click here for some background. The Democratic Party of Illinois…

Tonight, a local extremist group led by a member of the ILGOP State Central Committee, the Three Headed Eagle Alliance, is celebrating political violence by hosting proud Jan. 6er and Oath Keepers founder, Stewart Rhodes. In response, Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois Lisa Hernandez said the following:

“It is remarkable that the Illinois Republican Party can brand themselves as the party of law and order while platforming a man who participated in a riot where a former Vice President of the United States was threatened to be hanged. A police officer was assaulted, suffered two strokes and died the next day, and over 100 law enforcement officers left with injuries. Since January 6, fourofficers have died by suicide. Anything the Illinois Republican Party says about violence or public safety should never be taken seriously.”

* Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has announced a bid against Sean Morrison, the lone Republican on the Cook County Board. Press release…

Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has formally announced her candidacy for Cook County Commissioner of the 17th District, pledging to bring a record of community-driven leadership and accountability to the County Board. Hoffenberg’s candidacy has already earned strong support from local Democratic leadership.

She was unanimously slated by the Cook County Democratic Committeepeople in the 17th District, underscoring a shared commitment to restoring trust, strengthening services, and ensuring ethical leadership at the County level. […]

Hoffenberg’s campaign will officially launch with the Grunge & Ghouls Gala, a fundraiser and celebration:
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 7 – 9 PM spirited evening of music, costumes, and community
American Legion Post 1941, 900 S. La Grange Road, La Grange

* SRP News | Cook County commissioner’s security firm faces new lawsuit alleging sexual assault by employee: The lawsuit also targets Morrison Security for negligent retention and supervision, alleging the company ignored prior warnings about Holmes’s inappropriate behavior toward minors. Another MSC employee reportedly flagged Holmes to company president Morrison as unfit to work unsupervised with young women. The complaint contends MSC’s failure to act led directly to Gant’s injuries.

* Daily Herald | ‘We will take care of people’: Conroy’s county budget plan responds to threatened federal cuts: Bracing for federal funding cuts to safety net programs, DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy has announced a balanced-budget plan that calls for new affordable housing efforts, supporting food pantries and a “stronger social service infrastructure.” The proposed budget totals $644.7 million for the upcoming fiscal year. “For the first time, we must plan based on threats to the very existence of the federal departments and programs our residents depend on for food, shelter, education, energy assistance and critical medical services,” Conroy said in her budget address Tuesday. “The programs that survive the threat of cuts will likely see funding sliced away, leaving gaping holes that will hurt the most vulnerable among us.”

* Daily Herald | ‘Conservation takes action’: How volunteers restored 589 acres at Palatine forest preserve: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle visited Palatine on Tuesday to praise the work of dozens of volunteers who’ve restored hundreds of acres at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve to their natural state. Their efforts, Preckwinkle said, restored almost double the amount of land that’s been lost to expansion of O’Hare International Airport. “We know that it’s not enough to simply acquire land and keep it from being developed,” she said. “To make the preserves amazing places where nature thrives, conservation takes action.”

* Daily Herald | Former Illinois public health director among speakers scheduled for TEDx in Arlington Heights: The third annual event, an invite-only presentation Oct. 4, at Rolling Green Country Club, is a local, independently-organized version of the internationally popular TED Talks. It operates under a license with the New York- and Vancouver-based nonprofit organization behind the big ideas conferences. The onstage speeches of Ezike and seven other presenters will be recorded and available online after the event at tedxarlingtonheights.com.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Decatur City Manager cites issues with council member as reason for resignation: “Regrettably, ongoing actions by one council member have undermined the professional standards and mutual trust necessary to fulfill my role effectively. In my view, these actions represent a breach of both the letter and intent of my employment agreement and have made continued service untenable,” Gleason wrote.

* WTVO | Housing and energy top priorities for Rockford area economic development: “One of the things I was happy to see was, number one, the participation was robust. Everyone’s working together in this region, and everyone wants to work to move not just Rockford, Winnebago County, Boone County, they all want to move Illinois forward,” said House Speaker Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D). Vella noted that his district is experiencing positive trends with projects like the Hard Rock Casino Rockford and efforts to reopen the Belvidere Stellantis plant.

* WTVO | Funding approved for Winnebago County’s vital tornado warning system: The Winnebago County Administration and Operations Committee unanimously approved over $100,000 in funding for all tornado sirens. “I have family members that don’t carry a cell phone. So, I believe these sirens are vital for public safety,” said vice chairman of the Winnebago County Board Public Safety Committee, Aaron Booker. More than 70 of the sirens are over 20 years old and have technological and environmental issues. Booker said less than half weren’t operational, and crews have fixed some, but not all.

* Pantagraph | Bloomington votes to maintain 1% grocery tax, rebate some sales tax: Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the continuation of the tax would generate $3 million annually for the city and would make a significant reduction in the $7.25 million budget deficit that was projected earlier this year. Assuming the average Bloomington household has 2.3 people and spends $9,474 on groceries a year, the city estimated that this would have a financial impact of $7.90 a month to those residents.

* WMBD | Congressman tours Liberty Steel as the company eyes an HQ move: Congressman Eric Sorensen toured the Liberty Steel and Wire Monday as the company explores moving its headquarters to Peoria County. State Sen. Dave Koehler and Rep. Sharon Chung were also on the tour. Koehler said it was to make sure the 17th District Congressman saw the Liberty Steel plant, all of the jobs at the facility and the moves that are being considered.

* WGLT | At first, the Pretrial Fairness Act reduced McLean County’s jail population. It didn’t last:
In an interview, Sheriff Matt Lane said occupancy was in the 150s per day shortly after the PFA was instated. He said the jail now hovers around 230-240 detainees per day. “We’re able to handle it,” Lane said, noting recent hirings that have brought them to near fully staffed. “There is some overtime it’s causing because the population is up, and we had to open another housing unit.” The increase has led to opening an additional 40 to 50 beds—but they’re nowhere near capacity. After a 2018 expansion and renovation, total capacity is 455 beds, including a women’s unit holding up to 74 people.

* WIFR | Rockford City Council passes agreement to improve public safety: The City will acquire a nearly 300-foot tower located on North Main Street. This public safety infrastructure was originally owned by Winnebago County. City council members explain because of where the tower is located, it will allow better communication access to emergency personnel. “Before, we would have to go through the county, then through the city, obviously, and so this will alleviate that process; we will have direct control of that tower,” explained Tuneberg.

*** National ***

* NYT | Jimmy Kimmel, Somber but Defiant, Defends Free Speech in Return to ABC: Not everyone in the country was able to watch the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Two large station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, pre-empted the episode from the ABC affiliates they own — and said they would continue to do so going forward. Those two station groups represent a little more than 20 percent of ABC’s national reach combined.

* 404 Media | We’re Suing ICE for Its $2 Million Spyware Contract: On Monday 404 Media filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the agency publish its $2 million contract with Paragon, a company that makes powerful spyware that can remotely break into mobile phones without the target even clicking a link. The sale of the spyware to ICE has activists and lawmakers deeply concerned about what the agency, which continues to push the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort, may use the technology for. The contract and related documents 404 Media is suing for may provide more information on what ICE intends to do with the spyware.

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Good morning!

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Steve Earle…

Everyone in Nacogdoches knew Tom Ames
Would come to some bad end
Well the sheriff had caught him stealin’ chickens and such
By the time that he was ten

And one day his daddy took a ten dollar bill
And he tucked it in his hand
He said, ‘I can tell you’re headed for trouble, son
‘And your momma wouldn’t understand’

So he took that money and his brother’s old bay
And he left without a word of thanks
Fell in with a crowd in some border town
And he took to robbing banks

What’s up?

3 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Sep 24, 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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