Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here for background if you need it. Tribune…

Chicago public school parents are calling on local radio personality Amy Jacobson to step down as head coach of Amundsen High School’s boys and girls varsity volleyball teams after she mocked Gus Walz, the son of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, last week. Gus Walz has a nonverbal learning disorder that affects one’s physical coordination and ability to read social cues, according to advocacy group, Child Mind Institute.

“That’s my dad!” the 17-year-old enthusiastically shouted as he sobbed and pointed at his father on stage at the Democratic National Convention last week accepting the party’s nomination for vice president. During his speech, Tim Walz described his family as “my entire world.”

Jacobson mimicked Gus Walz’s animated reaction and laughed as podcast co-host Dan Proft compared him to a Chris Farley character in a “Saturday Night Live” spoof on their weekday radio show, Chicago’s Morning Answer. The show and hosts are known for their strong right-wing commentary.

Amanda Griffith-Atkins, wrote a letter to Amundsen’s principal, Kristi Eilers, requesting an apology to the school community after listening to Jacobson and Proft’s August 22nd show. Her son, who’s in 10th grade and has Prader-Willi Syndrome, attends the high school as part of a cluster program designed for children with disabilities.

“(Amundsen is) definitely a place where there are lots of kids with disabilities in the building, and so I think when I heard about the podcast, I was just honestly shocked,” Griffith-Atkins, who is a licensed therapist, said. “This isn’t about what her political views may or may not be. It’s about the fact that she mocked a child with a disability or that she sat there silently while somebody else did it, and she didn’t speak up about it,” she said.

* Tribune…

Lake County prosecutors are seeking to introduce Robert Crimo III’s banking records at his upcoming trial to show his purchase of the rifle they say he used to fatally shoot seven people at the 2022 Highland Park July 4 parade.

The motion for banking records was filed last week, and it could be discussed at Crimo’s next court hearing. That hearing was scheduled for this week, but now is set for September because of scheduling conflicts.

In the motion, prosecutors argue that the banking records are relevant evidence that should be admitted at trial.

Crimo’s banking statement shows that he spent $544 to buy a rifle at an online gun seller on Feb. 7, 2020, and that he paid a $25 processing fee in order to pick up the firearm later that month at a Lake Villa gun store, prosecutors said.

* Stay cool out there…

It is unpleasant outside right now, to say the least. Dewpoint temperatures in both Peoria and Lincoln were 80° as of 1 PM! 🥵 Here is a look at heat indices across the region #ILwx pic.twitter.com/TJm8jXbEuf

— NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) August 27, 2024

*** Statewide ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Longtime Harris supporters do victory lap for their candidate at DNC: Five years later, [Sen. Mattie Hunter] last week watched as her party chose Harris as its first Black woman nominee for president of the United States at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago – the same city where Harold Washington’s 1983 campaign for mayor sparked a political hopefulness in Hunter that she hadn’t felt since – until now. “This is how I felt back in ‘83 when Harold was running,” Hunter said of Harris’ candidacy. “This is exactly what I felt.”

* WCIA | Illinois senators secure $1 million to remove lead pipes from schools, childcare buildings: Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced the state will get $1,093,000 to reduce the number of lead pipes in schools and childcare facilities in the state. […] The money comes from the federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. A federal grant has provided more than $150 million in funding to conduct testing and removal of lead sources in drinking water in schools and childcare facilities across the U.S.

* Crain’s | Tired of waiting for Congress, Illinois and other states crack down on health insurers: The American Medical Association, which opposes restrictive prior authorization polices, reported last week that 10 states — Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming — have approved broad prior authorization bills it supports. The new Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia laws are not yet in the National Conference of State Legislatures database. The use of prior authorizations, created to discourage unnecessary and costly care, have surged in recent years, to the consternation of providers and patients.

* Daily Herald | CUB report: Customers choosing ComEd alternatives losing millions: Illinois residents and businesses who have chosen electricity suppliers other than ComEd and Ameren Illinois have lost about $297 million over the last year and $1.8 billion since 2015, the Citizens Utility Board reported Tuesday. The report, which cites state data on electricity competition, warns that consumers should be aware of alternative suppliers offering their services door to door, via mail and over the phone.

* SJ-R | New study finds majority of tested Illinois lakes, rivers are too polluted to swim in: According to the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency, over 70% of freshwater lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands by acreage and over 42% of creeks, rivers, and streams are considered too polluted for swimming. […] For lakes and ponds, only 0.7%, or 2,404 acres of overall water have been assessed for the Clean Water Act, out of 321,296 acres. From the less than one percent assessed, 54.6% of all the water was found too polluted to swim in. […] While only 4% of Illinois running water has been assessed, roughly 4,755 miles, over 4,000, at 85.3% of those miles were found not suitable for recreational use.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | CPS CEO Pedro Martinez Says He Hasn’t Directly Talked With Mayor Since Reports That His Job is Under Threat: Martinez said he has not been told by anyone in the Johnson administration that his job is on the line, and in an interview on “Chicago Tonight” Monday evening, maintained there’s “never been better alignment between our district, our board … the city, the mayor, and I would argue even the unions” as they all know and want CPS to have more money. […] But Martinez admitted there is a “tension” over his desire to “protect the investments we have” while the district is “being pushed to add even more investments” when, he said, “the resources are not there.”

* Block Club | Chicago Tribune Freedom Center Demolition Begins, Paving Way For Bally’s Casino: The Freedom Center demolition could take five months with crews working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, city officials said at a community meeting in June. No explosives will be used for the demolition. Excavators will be used for most of the site, while other areas will require hand excavation.

* Sun-Times | Chicago may soon be largest city in Northern Hemisphere without an intercity bus terminal: The report, released Tuesday, analyzed the world’s largest 130 cities. Chicago ranks 114th in population with an estimated 2.6 million people. If Chicago loses its terminal, it will have the coldest weather of any city without an intercity bus terminal. Only two of the world’s 130 largest cities do not have intercity bus terminals, according to the report. Both cities — Nairobi, Kenya, and Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — have substantially warmer weather than Chicago. Chicago averages 26 degrees Fahrenheit in January compared with the African cities’ averages in the 60s and 70s during the same month, according to the report.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

NEW: Evanston Mayor @DanielBiss announced he's running for reelection in an email to supporters this afternoon. The incumbent will run Evanston's first mayoral reelection campaign in 12 years following a very dynamic first term. Story TK shortly. pic.twitter.com/sKhoBhD66X

— Alex Harrison (@alexhairysun) August 27, 2024

* Daily Herald | No decision yet on controversial South Barrington church plan: Many area residents have publicly opposed the project, citing ecological impact, traffic and other issues. Some have criticized the church’s practices, too. Eight residents sued the park district in March to stop the project, claiming the auction that led to the sale was illegal. The plaintiffs filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss their claims but now intend to move forward with the case, one told the Daily Herald in an email.

* Naperville Sun | Construction of the Islamic Center of Naperville’s new mosque expected to be done by October: Phase one work — the construction of a 28,400-square-foot mosque — is set to finish in October, according to Islamic Center President Anees Rahman. As of mid-August, Rahman estimated the mosque was about 90% to 95% complete. “Everybody is really, really excited about it,” he said. The mosque is the first step in a multiphase complex that will eventually include a school, a multipurpose hall, a gymnasium and a mosque expansion to be build on 13.3 acres at 3540 248th Ave. in southwest Naperville.

*** Downstate ***

* WBBM | Judge denies pretrial release for former deputy charged in Sonya Massey killing: “The judge made a decision at the outset of the case to detain Mr. Grayson,” said Mark Wyckoff, Grayson’s defense attorney. Wyckoff told reporters at the Sangamon County Courthouse that an appeal for pretrial release was denied. It may be months before hearing the results of a second appeal.

* Capitol News Illinois | Du Quoin State Fair begins with twilight parade: The Du Quoin State Fair kicked off with a twilight parade on Friday, Aug. 23, and will run through Monday, Sept. 2. Admission for the fair is free with parking ranging from $10-$15.

* SJ-R | ‘Back home’: After battle with ‘flesh eating’ strep virus, K.J. Reid returns to teaching: Aaron Graves, the president of the Springfield public schools’ teachers’ union, called Kenneth “K.J.” Reid “a living example of modern medicine.” […] Eyeing Bunsen burners, test tube racks and periodical tables around the lab, Reid, 41, admitted it was “a very emotional” homecoming, just days before students were scheduled to return.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | NFL set to vote on letting private equity buy stakes in teams: The NFL is taking a cautious approach by potentially allowing three individual firms and one consortium to buy stakes. The three pre—approved firms are expected to be Arctos Partners, Ares Management and Sixth Street Partners, while the consortium is comprised of Dynasty Equity, Blackstone, Carlyle and CVC Capital Partners, the people added, asking not to be named discussing private information. Former NFL running back Curtis Martin played a role in bringing the consortium together, a person familiar with the matter said.

* AP | Social platform X edits AI chatbot after election officials warn that it spreads misinformation: Top election officials from Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington sent a letter this month to Elon Musk complaining that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, produced false information about state ballot deadlines shortly after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. The secretaries of state requested that the chatbot instead direct users who ask election-related questions to CanIVote.org, a voting information website run by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

* KFF Health News | Medicare Advantage plans got ‘alarming’ break from the U.S. government a decade ago: Here’s why: Now, newly released court depositions show agency officials repeatedly cited concern about pressure from the industry. The 2014 decision by CMS and events related to i, are at the center of a multibillion-dollar Justice Department civil fraud case against UnitedHealth Group that’s pending in federal court in Los Angeles.

22 Comments

Meanwhile… In Opposite Land

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Georgia…

Democrats sued Georgia’s State Election Board on Monday, asking a judge to block new rules the party claims could cause “chaos” and allow local officials to potentially delay or even stop the certification of votes in November.

The suit — filed by the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic National Committee, with backing from Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign — comes after the election board voted to shift its rules regarding the certification process. In a 3-2 vote, the body gave local election officials the power to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying any results. A separate rule will also allow those officials to “examine all election related documentation created” during a race.

The rule changes do not define what “reasonable inquiry” means.

“At minimum, these novel requirements introduce substantial uncertainty in the post-election process and … invite chaos by establishing new processes at odds with existing statutory duties,” the suit says.

* Texas…

A Latino civil rights group is asking the Department of Justice to open an investigation into a series of raids conducted on Latino voting activists and political operatives as part of a sprawling voter fraud inquiry by the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organizations, said that many of those targeted were Democratic leaders and election volunteers, and that some were older residents in their 70s and 80s. Gabriel Rosales, the director of the group’s Texas chapter, said that officers conducting the raids took cellphones, computers and documents. He called the raids “alarming” and said they were an effort to suppress Latino voters. […]

The raids were carried out in counties near San Antonio and in South Texas. In a statement last week, Mr. Paxton, a Republican, said they were part of an “ongoing election integrity investigation” that began two years ago to look into allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting. His office has said that it would not comment on the investigation because it is still underway.

That investigation is being carried out by a unit in Mr. Paxton’s office, the election integrity unit, that was created after former President Donald J. Trump began making false claims of fraud in the wake of the 2020 election, and Republican-led states sought to crack down on supposed voter crime. Experts have found that voter fraud remains rare.

* Idaho…

Before students can get a Band-Aid or headache medicine, school nurses and staff in Boise, Idaho, must have permission from a parent after a new law was implemented mandating parental consent for non-life-threatening medical services.

Senate Bill 1329 went into effect in July and includes a section that states that “an individual shall not furnish a health care service or solicit to furnish a health care service to a minor child without obtaining the prior consent of the minor child’s parent.”

It defines health care service as anything that includes a diagnosis, care, screening, prevention, cure, examination, or relief of any physical or mental health condition, illness or injury.

The Boise School District recently sent out a memo to parents about the bill saying they updated its parental consent policy, according to an email from the district that included the memo. Among the things the district said it needed consent for was the use of routine first-aid, Band-Aids, mental health check-ins and over-the-counter headache medicine, the memo states.

* Tennessee…

Tennessee’s top Republican leaders on Monday threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in state funding from left-leaning Memphis should leaders continue with plans to place three local gun control initiatives on the November ballot.

Earlier this year, Memphis’ city council approved asking voters in November if they wanted to tweak the city charter to require permits to carry a handgun, ban the possession of AR-15 style rifles and implement a so-called “red flag” ordinance, which allows law enforcement officials to remove firearms from those found to be an imminent danger to themselves or others.

The city council had been discussing the ballot measures for more than a year, acknowledging at times that they were potentially risking the ire of the Republican-dominant Legislature since the measures likely conflict with Tennessee’s lax gun laws.

Regardless, city council members representing the state’s most populous and Black-majority region said they were willing to “roll the dice.”

* Florida…

A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth and restrictions on it for trans adults can be enforced while a lawsuit against it proceeds.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled 2-1 that the state is likely to win the case, known as Doe v. Ladapo, so the injunction against the law should be stayed. Doe is one of the anonymous plaintiffs who sued, and Ladapo is the Florida surgeon general. […]

The ban on gender-affirming care for minors was first enacted in March 2023 through the adoption of rules by the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine at the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Joseph Ladapo, and the Florida Department of Health. SB 254, which was passed by the legislature, signed by the governor, and took effect in May 2023, wrote the ban into state law, subject to a narrow continued-use exception for minors who had started treatment before the ban. SB 254 also created felony criminal and civil penalties for Florida medical providers.

It further added severe restrictions that effectively blocked access to essential medical care for trans adults and minors who would be eligible for the continued-use exception, including requiring that care be provided exclusively by physicians, barring telehealth, and requiring patients to complete unique, onerous, and misleading consent forms.

* Louisiana…

Louisiana is the latest red state to announce additional measures to ensure that non-U.S. citizens are not voting in elections, despite it already being illegal and there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Monday requiring all state government agencies that provide voter registration forms to include a written disclaimer that noncitizens are prohibited from registering to vote or voting. […]

States have also announced new policies. Earlier this month, Alabama officials announced that more than 3,200 registered voters — who have previously been identified as noncitizens by the federal government — will have their registration status changed to inactive. The list could include people who have become naturalized U.S. citizens and as such are legally eligible to vote. Those listed as inactive will have the opportunity to update their information, providing proof of citizenship. […]

[Secretary of State Nancy Landry] said 48 noncitizens have been removed from Louisiana’s voter rolls since 2022.

* Arkansas…

In a state that touts itself as “the most pro-life state in the country,” where abortion is prohibited except to save the life of the mother, timber country in southeast Arkansas is an especially dangerous place to give birth.

Arkansas already has one of the nation’s worst maternal mortality rates, and mothers in this area die at a rate exceeding the state average. Ninety-two percent of recent maternal deaths were preventable, a state review committee found. […]

This spring, facing pressure from business leaders and the medical community, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launched an initiative to address maternal health, an issue that she acknowledged “we’ve ignored for far too long.” Yet she declined to support extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to a year from 60 days, saying the state’s existing insurance system was enough. Arkansas will soon be one of only two states not adopting such coverage. […]

Though teen birth rates are falling nationally, federal data shows the statistic for Arkansas is almost twice the U.S. average. Lack of access to contraception is a major factor; the rate at which teens in Arkansas have unprotected sex is 75 percent higher, according to a report from the nonprofit Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

* Ohio…

A Republican representative in Ohio could be disqualified under an obscure name change law used earlier this year to target three transgender candidates.

Republican State Rep. Tex Fischer legally changed his name from Austin James Fischer to Austin James Texford Fischer in 2020, according to documents obtained by Cleveland.com. The 28-year-old, who is running in the state’s 58th District after being appointed to the vacant seat in June, did not disclose the change on his petition for candidacy.

The 1995 Ohio law mandates that candidates disclose any name changes within the five years in their petition for candidacy, only including an exception that allows women to omit their maiden names if changed after marriage. The law has bee used to challenge three transgender candidates so far this year.

Arienne Childrey and Bobbie Brooke Arnold were allowed to remain on the ballot by their local election boards, but could still be forced to vacate their seats even after winning their elections for being in violation of state election statutes. The third candidate, Vanessa Joy, was disqualified. […]

The Mahoning County Board of Elections is expected to meet in the coming weeks after a hearing on August 15 ended in a deadlock, with chairman Dave Betras noting the vagueness of the law.

“I hate being placed in this position, but the legislature and courts have placed us in this very position,” he said, according to local station WKBN.

* Georgia…

Kandiss Taylor hosts a program on the network led by “best friend” Stew Peters, a Holocaust denier who has attempted to portray Adolf Hitler as a “hero.” She has also promoted antisemitism, complaining that Jewish people are “controlling everything” and alleging that “we have some Marxist trash using our R who pander to the Jews.”

Taylor isn’t just a random commentator: She’s the District 1 chairwoman for the Georgia Republican Party. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein last year described Taylor’s elected position as a “key” post, noting that the state party “plays a role in mobilizing voters, marshaling activists and, most significantly, determining delegates for the presidential nomination.” […]

In addition to her activities on behalf of the Republican Party, Taylor is the host of the show Jesus. Guns. And Babies. on the Stew Peters Network. Taylor has called Peters her “best friend” and a “truth teller.”

Peters is a virulent antisemite and Holocaust denier who has promoted pro-Hitler propaganda.

10 Comments

ISP says DNC was ‘largest security detail in its history’

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

From the time Air Force Two landed at O’Hare airport on Sunday, August 18, 2024 to the time of “wheels up” on Friday, August 23, 2024, the Illinois State Police (ISP) successfully protected the safety and security of the democratic process with the largest deployment of ISP personnel to a single event in the agency’s 100 year history.

ISP worked with federal, state, and local agencies for more than a year and a half to coordinate security measures and responses for the United Center, McCormick Place, and other locations during this National Special Security Event (NSSE). The endless hours of planning and preparation allowed ISP to successfully protect those participating in and supporting the Democratic National Convention.

“The right of the people to peacefully choose their leaders is still one of the strongest guarantors of the freedom we enjoy as Americans, but freedom doesn’t work if it’s undermined by violence and lawlessness,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Along with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and the Chicago Police Department, I am incredibly proud of all the hard work the dedicated men and women of ISP put in to make this a safe event.”

ISP had multiple mission-specific roles to protect the safety of elected officials, dignitaries, Chicago residents, convention attendees, protestors, and critical infrastructure.

Numerous government leaders from across the country attended the DNC. To ensure their safety, ISP provided:

• 66 executive protection details for 27 federal officials, 25 governors, six members of Congress, one foreign official, seven Illinois officials
• Assigned security personnel for dignitaries attending approximately 500 events across the city
• 26 motorcades, including for the President of the United States, Vice President, and former presidents and first ladies
• ISP air assets to assist with high profile motorcades and civil unrest situations

In addition to executive protection details, ISP was charged with aiding in the safety of all participants during the NSSE. ISP helped protect the right to protest under the First Amendment, and the rights of delegates to meet and caucus, while ensuring the safety of the community. ISP assigned a SWAT Quick Response Force to McCormick Place where many DNC-related activities occurred, in addition to a Special Operations Unit stationed on the roof. More than two dozen ISP weapons of mass destruction team members and Secretary of State Police officers were assigned to respond to potentially hazardous substances, primarily at McCormick Place, the United Center, and Navy Pier, but ultimately responded to several other calls at various hotels and high profile venues in Chicago.

Three ISP Crowd Control Teams consisting of approximately 60 members each were staged throughout Chicago during the NSSE. One team was deployed to a demonstration at an event on August 20, all three teams were deployed to ensure no one unlawfully entered interstates or state facilities during a demonstration at the Israeli Consulate on August 20, and three teams deployed to ensure the integrity of the perimeter around the United Center on the last day of the convention.

Additionally, ISP was proud to support the Chicago Police Department by providing a uniformed presence in the Fulton Market area to ensure the security and safety of area residents and businesses. ISP officers conducted both vehicle and foot patrols in the area due to its close proximity to the United Center and other convention venues.

Protecting critical infrastructure is essential during NSSEs. ISP maintained safety and security responsibilities for all Chicago area expressways, as well as State buildings and offices, including 555 W. Monroe St., the Michael A. Bilandic Building, and the Chicago Central Secretary of State Office at 160 N. LaSalle Dr.

Crucial to ensuring the public’s safety during an NSSE is the ability to quickly identify and investigate potential threats. During the DNC, the ISP Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center, working with federal and local officials – U.S. Secret Service, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Chicago Police Department, and numerous other agencies – shared the latest intelligence and awareness of all types of threats. Using this intelligence process, two individuals who made threatening statements were identified and affirmed Clear and Present Danger reports allowed law enforcement to ensure removal of firearms from their possession.

Thoughts?

10 Comments

Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Monday was hot but Tuesday is expected to be even hotter in Chicago, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for all of Northern Illinois until 10 p.m. Tuesday with air temperatures across the area projected to reach 95 to 99 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

With heat and humidity, it could feel somewhere between 105 to 115 degrees outside, according to the weather service. […]

In addition to high heat, air quality Tuesday is expected to reach “unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.”

* The Question: How do you plan to deal with this week’s heat and poor air quality?

23 Comments

Open thread

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

14 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Attorneys for ex-Speaker Michael Madigan want sex harassment, other ‘controversial’ evidence excluded from trial. Tribune…

Click here to read the filing.

* Related stories…

∙ ABC Chicago: Lawyers for ex-House Speaker Mike Madigan ask judge to exclude certain evidence from upcoming trial
∙ Center Square: Madigan seeks to limit evidence from prosecutors in corruption trial

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* AP | Free COVID tests will soon be available again by mail via COVIDtests.gov: They’ll be available from the federal government at a yet-to-be-announced date in September. Though the numbers of deaths and serious infections have dropped dramatically since the coronavirus began spreading across the United States in 2020, the number of hospitalizations has started to creep up in recent weeks.

* WCIA | Trial begins for man accused of killing DCFS employee Deidre Silas: Benjamin Reed will stand trial Monday afternoon. He was charged with the murder of Deidre Silas back in 2022. […] Reed’s trial will be a bench trial, which means the judge will decide the case from the bench instead of a jury.

* Crain’s | DEA delays cannabis rescheduling until after election to hold hearing: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled a hearing on Dec. 2 for proposed rulemaking regarding the potential rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III from Schedule I, thus ensuring that the process will not be completed before the presidential election in November. The hearing date could put the entire rescheduling process in peril. Should Vice President Kamala Harris lose to former President Donald Trump in November, he could halt the process when he takes office in January, given that Trump has not committed to finishing rescheduling or staked out much of a platform at all on cannabis reform.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WGEM | Slated candidates to appear on Illinois general election ballot: The Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) ruled last Friday slated candidates can appear on the November ballot despite state lawmakers passing controversial elections reform legislation during the spring legislative session banning the practice that is typically used for down ballot state legislative races. The legislation did several things: It put three non-binding referendums on the November ballot, move the deadline to file petitions from 106 days to 134 days before the election and ban post-primary slating.

*** Statewide ***

* NBC Chicago | How ‘corn sweat’ helps make blistering heat wave worse in Illinois: All of northern Illinois will be under an excessive heat warning on Tuesday, but a phenomenon known as “corn sweat” will make the conditions especially oppressive in areas away from the city of Chicago. Heat indices could soar above 110 degrees and could even approach 115 degrees in some parts of the state on Tuesday, according to an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service.

* Farm Week | Farm helpline available in all Illinois counties: “I call it the chronic drip, drip, drip of stress because there are all these factors we cannot control, and that all adds to our heightened anxiety and stress levels,” said Karen Stallman, an ag resource specialist. In Randolph County, where she farms with her husband, they are in a “real dry spot” right now with a lack of rain adding to the pressure of low commodity prices. These kinds of issues are why the Farm Family Resource Initiative was created. It started as a test pilot in six counties and is available in all 102 Illinois counties, now.

* Citizen | OUTSafe Program Supports LGBTQ+ Seniors with Statewide Service Provider Training Sessions: OUTSafe: The LGBTQ+ Older Adult Violence Prevention Training Program is free training being offered across Illinois to law enforcement, health care, social service and other providers who support and interact with LGBTQ+ older adults. The need is strong. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in Illinois, hate crimes based on sexual orientation have increased by almost seven times (from 2020 to 2022) and hate crimes based on gender identity have increased by more than four times over that same time.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | A year after 2 women were injured by gunfire at Guaranteed Rate Field, one files lawsuit against White Sox and Illinois Sports Facilities Authority: Nearly one year after two women were shot in the bleachers of Guaranteed Rate Field, a lawsuit was filed against the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority alleging that negligent security practices allowed a firearm to be brought inside the ballpark last season. The complaint was filed last week in Cook County Circuit Court by one of the two women wounded by gunfire during the Aug. 25, 2023, White Sox home game against the Oakland A’s. The lawsuit contends that the gun was fired by someone within the confines of Guaranteed Rate Field.

* NBC Chicago | Demolition to begin Tuesday for new Bally’s Casino in River West: Demolition is poised to begin Tuesday for the new Bally’s casino and hotel complex at the former Tribune publishing site in the city’s River West neighborhood. […] The project consists of a 34-story, the 500-room hotel tower, 3,000-seat theater and a 2-acre public park. Within the casino itself, will be six restaurants, cafes, a food hall and space for 3,300 slots, 173 table games and VIP gaming areas.

* Block Club | First All-Girls Little League Baseball Team At Warren Park Starts This Fall: There will be two teams in the all-girls league fall, and games will take place Sunday evenings in Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave., and other local parks. Registration for the upcoming season has ended. Rachel Gansner, who was responsible for organizing the league and will coach one of the teams, said she chose the fall season so as not to conflict with the girls’ regular co-ed leagues from June to August.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Last hurrah: Schaumburg village hall to host final Septemberfest before demolition: The aging building’s planned demolition is not until next year, so employees will continue to work there and residents can still pay their water bills in person. But for many, the community’s annual Labor Day weekend festival has been the most consistent reason to visit the village’s headquarters, named for Schaumburg’s visionary second mayor.

* Tribune | Evanston officials consider law prohibiting landlords from not leasing to renters because of dog breeds: Pit Bulls have “a bad rap” that sometimes cost their owners housing and Evanston City Council member Devon Reid (8th) is trying to change that. Reid is sponsoring a law making its way to the Evanston City Council that would forbid landlords from denying housing to renters just because they have any dog including a pit bull. And he said that law could soon be followed by another initiative requiring people adopting pets to first take a test and get a license to ensure they’re able to properly care for the animal.

*** Downstate ***

* PJ Star | Cities in Illinois are criminalizing homelessness. What will Peoria do?: The ordinance, which was the top subject of debate at a six-hour Peoria City Council meeting on Aug. 13, would make it possible for the city to impose fines and even jail time on people sleeping on public property in tents, benches, stairwells and other outlets. […] The debate at Peoria City Hall was a first reading of the ordinance which meant it was the first time councilmembers could give public feedback to staff about the proposal.

* BND | Belleville opens four cooling sites during extreme heat, but do they really help?: The forecast will trigger the opening of four cooling sites in Belleville, but Jesse Arms, a local advocate for homeless people that has worked with others to establish shelters in the past, said cooling and warming sites were meant to be a first step for Belleville, not the answer to a growing need. […] Arms said creating a permanent, well-supervised, and always-open shelter would be more effective and help a greater number of people, even when the weather is nice. “(The sites) don’t provide enough service for the energy it takes volunteers to run them,” Arms said.

* WCIA | More Ford Co. mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus: The county recorded its first positive test result earlier this month, from a batch of mosquitoes collected on Aug. 8 in Piper City. 11 days later, another batch was collected from the same town that also tested positive for West Nile Virus.

* WSIL | Du Quoin State Fair honors Veterans: Veterans and their families received free entry into the fair on Sunday, plus access to a slew of special offerings. Fair organizers worked with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the Department of Agriculture to host a Gold Star Rose Ceremony, keynote speakers and a resource fair for vets. The theme for the 2024 honors was “Service Across the Generations.”

*** National ***

* Futurism | Elon Musk Tweets Plagiarized Article Bylined by Fake Writer: The article was published to Medium back in January of this year, under the byline of an alleged author named “Mark Higley.” Dozens of articles have appeared under that name for a Medium publication called The Savanna Post — but that’s it. He has no publishing history outside his Medium profile, and no social media footprint. A reverse image search for the headshot associated with his Medium profile returns a stock photo from Pexels.

* CBS | Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raids Latino Democrats’ homes, including those of LULAC members: Last week, Paxton’s office announced in a press release that it was launching undercover operations and investigation into reports alleging some organizations in Texas are unlawfully registering noncitizens to vote, in violation of state and federal law. LULAC officials told CBS News that some of the group’s Texas members were targeted and had their laptops and cell phones confiscated by Texas authorities executing search warrants. Some of the raids focused on Latino activists across the state.

* Crain’s | The IT meltdown that idled auto dealers this summer didn’t leak data, software maker says: CDK’s disclosure offers some good news for the 15,000 dealerships affected by the attacks, which forced CDK to shut down its DMS for two weeks. Dealerships scrambling to maintain operations relied on pen and paper and third-party software workarounds during the shutdown. They took hits to their second-quarter net income, as the shutdown happened toward the end of a crucial sales month and quarter. The company compensated its customers with a one-month rebate, dealers have said, but some thought the gesture was not enough.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Rep. Carol Ammons and Sen. Kimberly Lightford…

Right now, 68% of jobs — a percentage that is rising — require a post-secondary credential, and workforce data shows that Illinoisans with college degrees contribute more to our local and state economy. So it is critical that we ensure every interested student can pursue and earn a degree.

In 2021, with COVID disruptions wreaking havoc on schools and universities, Illinois created the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding to address significant disparities in the college-going experience across lines of geography, race, ethnicity and income. Despite Illinois’ efforts in recent years to increase higher education funding, this work was necessary and urgent after nearly two decades of disinvestment in our four-year institutions.

The 33-member commission of agency heads, legislators, university leaders and community partners was charged with developing a funding model for public universities that would be adequate, equitable and stable. Such an approach is fundamental to cultivating a healthier university system, where strong outcomes follow sufficient, equitable and predictable state investment. […]

Specifically, the commission recommends Illinois adopt a student-focused university funding formula. The proposed formula first calculates what each university needs to meet its unique mission and serve its unique student population. This involves acknowledging universities will need to invest in evidence-based strategies to better recruit and support some students — those who attended poorly-funded high schools, are returning to school as adults, are first-generation or low-income students, and other students from underrepresented groups.

The formula then identifies what each university can afford to spend, based on current state appropriations, a reasonable estimate of tuition and fees that a university can and should collect from its students, and other resources that may be available to them. The difference between what each university should be spending and its available resources represents how far each institution is from full funding – its “adequacy gap.”

* We warned you…

You're not the only thing sweating…look at the high blob of humidity in the Midwest. That's from corn sweat! Corn releases a lot of moisture in the summer and that means high humidity. pic.twitter.com/WJMrWlwINJ

— Payton Malone WWL-TV (@paytonmalonewx) August 26, 2024

For real though, stay cool out there.

*** Statewide ***

* WICS | Gas prices in Illinois drop more than 40 cents in a month: Prices in Illinois are 40.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 43.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois was priced at $2.93/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.99/g, a difference of $2.06/g.

* WTVO | Hard Rock launches online sports betting app in Illinois: Hard Rock Casino Rockford announced the launch of Hard Rock Bet on Monday, an online sports betting app that is now live throughout the state of Illinois. According to a press release, Hard Rock Bet offers an integrated New Jersey online casino-sportsbook platform and also operates a sports-only experience in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. The mobile app is available for download via iOS and Android.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | First day of school for CPS students: Mayor, CPS CEO greet students in person: The beginning of a new semester puts CPS an additional year removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a sign of students finding some stability, Martinez is touting preliminary data showing more kids are proficient in reading than before the pandemic. These new test scores come on the heels of a national study that found reading scores increased more than any other large urban district.

* Chalkbeat | It’s the first day of school at Chicago Public Schools: Officials touted the district’s momentum in undoing some of the academic fallout from the pandemic and welcoming a larger, more diverse teacher workforce. But the kickoff to the school year was dampened by news that almost 2,000 students with disabilities are still waiting for a transportation route. Meanwhile, Chicago Teachers Union leaders sharply criticized district CEO Pedro Martinez over what they see as too little progress in negotiations over a new contract for educators, ratcheting up tensions over the bargaining process as the district faces looming budget deficits.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police officer charged with attacking cop girlfriend during drunken rampage at police station: An off-duty Chicago police officer was charged with attacking his cop girlfriend during a drunken rampage last week at a South Side police station, pulling her out of a marked squad car by her hair while carrying a loaded gun. Officer Francisco Galvan, 30, from Hegewisch, faces misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and driving under the influence, as well as a citation for illegally transporting alcohol. A police report notes that his girlfriend declined to pursue felony charges.

* Block Club | Ald. Walter Burnett’s Rise To Power Between The ’96 And ’24 DNC: — In August 1996, two young Democrats joined forces to host a party for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: one a freshman alderman who grew up in public housing, the other a billionaire political hopeful. Nearly 30 years later, the pair joined forces again — this time as vice mayor of Chicago and as governor of Illinois, preparing the city and showing it off to an international crowd for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

* WTTW | From Politics to Performance and Everything in Between, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the DNC With WTTW News: WTTW News Director Jay Smith sat down with [WTTW’s] political team to reflect on the Democratic National Convention for a behind-the-scenes look at what covering the convention was like, and to help provide insights into the stories that emerged from the week.

* WBEZ | JD Vance called Chicago the US murder capital. Is he right?: Chicagoans are accustomed to hearing overblown descriptions of crime in their city, which has been plagued by the nickname “Chiraq” since Chicago rapper King Louie’s 2011 mixtape “Chiraq, Drillinois.” […] For years, Chicago has consistently led the nation in total homicides. In some years, like in 2018, Chicago witnessed more murders than both New York City and Los Angeles combined. But when it comes to the murder rate, Chicago ranks 15th, based on 2023 statistics from the FBI and the Chicago Police Department. Murder rates, or the number of homicides per capita, are more useful than absolute numbers for understanding residents’ chances of being murdered.

* WGN | ‘Skye the Lioness’ named new mascot of Chicago Sky: Skye replaces the longtime mascot Sky Guy. “Sky Guy, the team’s mascot since 2006, will share his experience and support Skye through the remainder of the 2024 season,” part of the release states.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Philanthropy has entered the race to save local news. Will it be enough?: These are tumultuous times at City Hall in south suburban Harvey. Last month, Mayor Christopher Clark ordered police to remove the audience from chambers after speakers critiqued the administration. In June, a preservationist and former planning commission member was arrested at a City Council meeting. At an earlier session, two local aldermen staged a walkout. You can read all about it in the Harvey World Herald, a young online publication started by town native and recent New York University graduate Amethyst Davis. An impoverished community 20 miles south of the Loop, Harvey has been without local news coverage for decades. “We’ve never really had any place for dialogue about policy issues, to be able to discuss the challenges faced in the community in a way and in a space where it doesn’t devolve into fighting,” Davis says. “So I decided to go out on a limb, quit my job in New York and come back to Illinois.”

* Shaw Local | Longmeadow Parkway completion to be marked with ribbon-cutting Thursday: The ribbon-cutting on the bridge will mark the completion of the 5.6-mile-long toll-free corridor that crosses through the northern section of Kane County from Huntley Road to Route 62 to the east. The corridor also includes a bike and pedestrian path that will connect to the Fox River Trail.

*** Downstate ***

* Capitol City Now | Grayson court hearing: Grayson and lawyer Dan Fultz appeared via video from the Menard County jail in Petersburg, where [Sean Grayson] is being held. One defense lawyer, Mark Wyckoff, cautioned reporters not to hold their breath waiting for the motions and appeals to be sorted out: “It’s a serious matter,” said Wyckoff. “No serious matter is going to be resolved in ninety days.” […] The next hearing is Oct. 21.

* BND | ‘She actually passed away,’ but a metro-east mayor brought her back, parents say: Thanks to quick thinking and a calm head, Cahokia Heights Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. was able to revive a 7-year old girl and give her a new chance at life. […] “I have been retired from law enforcement for 20 years and I received CPR training over 25 years ago. I never had to use it until now,” McCall said. “I am thankful, no. 1, that I received this training and that it kicked back in after all these years.

* Illinois Business Journal | Illinois Stewardship Alliance honors outstanding farmers: Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented two awards recognizing outstanding farmer leaders for their contribution to sustainable and local agriculture in Illinois. Breese, Illinois farmer Cliff Schuette received the second annual Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. The award is named in memory of Robert “Woody” Woodruff, a beloved conservation leader, Macoupin County farmer, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff member who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020 and recognizes a farmer who exemplifies Woody’s passion for soil, water, and community.

* STL Today | Illinois congresswoman fulfills goal of commemorating 1908 Springfield race riot: While the dust was still settling from several divisive political primary races in early August, one Illinois legislator worked on healing measures. On Aug. 16, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, saw the culmination of her ongoing efforts when President Joe Biden signed a proclamation designating the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. […] Budzinski, whose district takes in parts of St. Clair and Madison counties, has been pushing for the site designation since she was elected in November 2022.

* The Telegraph | Madison County raises public defender’s salary: A raise for Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland was approved by the County Board at its Wednesday meeting. […] The salary increase was required because by state law the public defender’s salary is set as at least 90 percent of the state’s attorney’s salary. State’s Attorney Tom Haine recently received a cost-of-living increase from the state, to $206,715.95. Approximately two-thirds of that is paid by the state. With the increase, the public defender’s salary is set at $86,044.36.

*** National ***

* Sun-Times | Rick Steves, travel writer and PBS host, reveals prostate cancer diagnosis: In a lengthy statement posted to social media last week, Steves, 69, announced his diagnosis and shared with his fans what lies ahead for him in the coming months. Steves said his doctor told him that “if you’re going to get cancer, this is a good kind to get,” and scans have shown so far there is no sign of it having spread.

* WaPo | Meet the megadonors pumping millions into the 2024 election: The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. The vast majority of money from top donors has gone to super PACs, which can accept unlimited sums from individuals and often work closely with campaigns despite rules against coordinating their advertising.

9 Comments

It’s just a bill

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ProPublica…

Although federal law requires insurers to provide the same access to mental and physical health care, these companies have been caught, time and again, shortchanging customers with mental illness — restricting coverage and delaying or denying treatment.

These patients — whose disorders can be chronic and costly — are bad for business, industry insiders told ProPublica.

“The way to look at mental health care from an insurance perspective is: I don’t want to attract those people. I am never going to make money on them,” said Ron Howrigon, a consultant who used to manage contracts with providers for major insurers. “One way to get rid of those people or not get them is to not have a great network.”

There are nowhere near enough available therapists in insurance networks to serve all of the people seeking care. And although almost all Americans are insured, about half of people with mental illness are unable to access treatment. […]

It is often the insurers, not the therapists, that determine who can get treatment, what kind they can get and for how long. More than a dozen therapists said insurers urged them to reduce care when their patients were on the brink of harm, including suicide.

* Vox last year…

A recent survey of nearly 2,800 US patients found that 40 percent of patients who had sought in-network mental health care had to make four or more calls to find a provider who would see them — compared to just 14 percent for physical health care. More than half of patients said they had had a claim for mental health care denied three or more times, compared to about one-third who had the same experience with physical services […]

According to a Milliman research report, US patients were five times more likely to use an out-of-network provider in 2017 for both inpatient and outpatient mental health care than they were for all other medical services. One in five office mental health visits was with an out-of-network provider. Reimbursement rates for primary care were 20 percent higher than they were for mental health care, on average. And those disparities actually got worse over the course of the 2010s.

All in all, the US has made it hard to find a mental health provider and hard to pay for their services. (Even if your provider does cover some of an out-of-network bill, the patient’s share will be higher than it would have been in-network). And this is with the parity law in effect.

* Sen. Karina Villa has a bill in Assignments that aims to address this issue in Illinois. From the most recent amendment…

Provides that for all group or individual policies of accident and health insurance or managed care plans that are amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, or any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, reimbursement for in-network mental health and substance use disorder treatment services delivered by Illinois providers and facilities must be equal to or greater than 141% of the Medicare rate for the mental health or substance use disorder service delivered (rather than on average, at least as favorable as professional services provided by in-network primary care providers). Removes language providing that reimbursement rates for services paid to Illinois mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers and facilities do not meet the required standard unless the reimbursement rates are, on average, equal to or greater than 141% of the Medicare reimbursement rate for the same service. Provides that, if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer or a contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer has violated a provision concerning mental health and substance use parity, the Department shall by order assess a civil penalty of $1,000 (rather than $5,000) for each violation. Excludes health care plans serving Medicaid populations that provide, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse the cost of any health care service for persons who are enrolled under the Illinois Public Aid Code or under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Act from provisions concerning mental health and substance use parity. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

The bill was referred to Assignments in April, but picked up five co-sponsors in the Senate this month.

1 Comment

Question of the day

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Block Club Chicago…

Park 578, located blocks from the United Center at 1919 W. Maypole Ave., was home to the free speech zone established by the city during the DNC. It was meant to appease protest groups battling the city over plans to march near the convention, giving protesters a stage and sound system and opening it to 45-minute speaking time slots.

The stage, however, hosted sparsely attended speeches throughout the DNC, which ended Thursday.

Bike cops scrolling on their cell phones, wandering reporters and political gadflies largely outnumbered registered speakers and attendees at the park. A police helicopter buzzing above it all drowned out those who took to the makeshift speaker’s platform, surrounded by fortified fences and security guards in bright vests.

* The Question: Should Illinois and Chicago push for another national political convention in 2028? : Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

online polls

34 Comments

Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Scott, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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Dan Proft removed from the board of Envision Unlimited (Updated)

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Envision Unlimited Board Chair Mary Kay Krupka and President Mark McHugh…

At Envision Unlimited we wake up every single day on a mission to support people with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities with quality services that promote choice, independence and inclusion for all. Our members (how our clients prefer to be known) and caregivers represent an extraordinarily underserved and underinvested community of people who not only struggle with financial and medical burdens, but with the challenges of living in a world that all too often does not treat or accept them as equals.

We value all people with disabilities. Our members are our peers and participate in every part of the organization. Everyone benefits when we recognize and celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives that people with disabilities bring to our lives.

It was brought to our attention that one of our board members made comments that were wholly inconsistent with our values and code of ethics as an organization and at their core insensitive and insulting to the very people and families that we serve. We immediately convened our board’s executive committee to discuss the situation and unanimously decided to remove this individual from our board.

This action has everything to do with ensuring that we treat others, especially those who live with disabilities, with respect, understanding and kindness. We are proud to have a diverse board and staff that come from a variety of industries, lived experiences, political affiliations and geographies, as there are no boundaries when it comes to living with disabilities or serving those who live with them. Our loyalty and commitment lie first and foremost with the members and caregivers we serve, and it is our proud privilege to do so with empathy, every time and everywhere.

I’ve reached out to Proft for comment. I was told he raises $100K or so a year for the group, which does a lot of good work.

…Adding… Proft goes on long rant in response.

75 Comments

Today’s must-read

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Chicago Tribune launched a series on political corruption in Illinois…

Illinois nurtured the nation’s greatest president in Abraham Lincoln. It is the birthplace of iconic Republican President Ronald Reagan and the state where Democrat Barack Obama, the country’s first Black president, developed his political chops.

But Illinois is far better known for a more notorious political legacy: constant and persistent corruption. Four of its last 11 governors went to prison. Chicago, its largest city, is home to sweeping federal sting operations that put busloads of judges, aldermen, state lawmakers and other officials behind bars.

Even the state auditor — Illinois government’s financial watchdog — was once caught looting and squandering $2.5 million in public funds. One secretary of state famously amassed more than $750,000, including a shoebox stuffed with cash, that was found stashed in a hotel room after his death. The largest municipal fraud in U.S. history is credited to a small-town treasurer in Illinois who embezzled $54 million. […]

In reporting a series we’re calling “Culture of Corruption,” the Tribune found numerous other factors contributing to Illinois’ shameful record: Loosely regulated big-money campaigns. Domineering mayors letting shifty aldermen run amok. Cozy interactions between lobbyists and public officials. A ballot process power brokers often use to exclude newcomers. The largest number of governmental bodies in the nation, offering endless opportunities for graft amid little oversight.

Of course, not all of the state’s politicians have been crooks, with many seeing government service as an honorable profession and a way to address society’s problems. But even they are tarnished by the misdeeds of those who view corruption as the end to their personal means.

Federal prosecutors have kept busy for decades putting Illinois officials on trial, sometimes after lengthy investigations with names like “Operation Haunted Hall,” “Operation Silver Shovel,” “Operation Board Games” and “Operation Greylord.” A federal prison in nearby Oxford, Wisconsin, has become such a regular destination for convicted Illinois politicians that, at one point, it housed four Chicago aldermen, a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board member and a state representative. When they bumped into one another, the six men would jokingly yell “quorum call!”

Go read the rest.

Click here for the next story in the series and here for more information on the convicted, indicted or generally notorious public officials the Tribune compiled.

Thoughts?

26 Comments

Stop calling up narratives from the past

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Since the 2022 election, far too many Illinoisans have been far too eager to pine for a repeat of the past.

It started with nonstop rumors about Gov. J.B. Pritzker running for president. Every word he spoke, every position he took, every out-of-state trip he made was examined for signs of what everybody thought they knew. And they played it up for all it was worth whenever they could.

For many, the talk brought back those heady years when Barack Obama captivated the nation and eventually won the presidency, taking lots of local folks with him to Washington, D.C. Turns out, he wasn’t even the Democrats’ “Break glass in case of emergency” guy.

Around the same time, we saw the Chicago Bears drag out its 30-year-old playbook to demand a new stadium and use a town outside Chicago (Gary way back when, Arlington Heights in late 2022) to put pressure on the city and state to cave in to the team’s demands. Lots of folks just assumed it would work again. Nope.

And then White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf decided to defend his state stadium subsidy against the Bears by promising to build a new ballpark as long as he kept receiving state welfare.

Too few people failed to see the members of the current General Assembly simply weren’t going to literally stop the clock again so the governor and the House speaker (or Senate president, for that matter) could twist enough arms to seal a new deal before a dramatic midnight deadline. Those days are over.

These days, it’s a half-billion dollars for quantum computing or an equal amount of state cash to spark investments by the electric vehicle industry.

And, of course, for months we were constantly reminded of the notorious 1968 Democratic National Convention violence as last week’s Democratic National Convention approached.

There were some valid concerns, of course. I mean, the Chicago Police Department doesn’t have the greatest reputation.

There was also no doubt that some protesters would come to town itching for a street fight with the cops, using the Gaza war as a pretext and trying to manifest the angry spirit of 1968 again this year.

And lots of young people throughout the nation have been angry about this war, as many were about Vietnam (without the added personal threat of a compulsive military draft, of course).

But while antisemitism has been intensely ugly since last October, we hadn’t seen any truly violent protests, even though Cook County has more Palestinian Americans than any county in the nation.

A smallish block-long protest the Sunday before the convention was intensely covered by the Chicago and national media, but the cops seemed to outnumber the protesters.

Still, references to 1968 dotted the coverage, both on social media and in subsequent news stories, including the protesters came near the General John Logan Memorial statue, which was the scene of an epic battle between protesters and law enforcement back in 1968. At one point, protesters chanted the old line, “The whole world is watching!” during a scuffle that didn’t actually involve the police. It was almost silly.

The comparisons to 1968 kicked up a big notch when the news media reported rumors that 150 members of the National Guard had been deployed to the city. The National Guard, of course, battled protesters in the streets in ’68. Those fights are a big reason why Chicago mayors have been super-reluctant to call out the Guard in the decades since.

It turns out that far more than that were actually called up, but most had nothing to do with protest violence. It was mainly about terrorism or other disruptions. Hundreds of cybersecurity task force members, communications experts, chemical and biological response troops and explosive device experts were activated. Even some veterinarians were called up to care for bomb-sniffing dogs.

“They’re not called up to beat up protesters in Grant Park,” said one exasperated state official.

One protest outside the Israeli consulate turned violent when street fighters attacked a police line. Just a couple of protesters claimed minor injuries. Dozens were arrested, about a tenth the number arrested on the single most violent day of the 1968 convention.

It just didn’t pan out as some people clearly hoped.

All I’m saying here is we need to live more in the present than in the past. Our aging president has dropped out of the race, and now our aging news media narratives need to do the same.

20 Comments

Open thread

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

4 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Members of Midwest farming community connect with shrimper, researchers in Gulf dead zone visit: Six members of Midwestern farming communities huddled around Louisiana fisherman Lance Nacio earlier this month as he showed family photos and spoke about the shrimping business he inherited from his father and grandfather. “It’s very much a culture, just like farming,” said Megan Dwyer, a fourth-generation farmer and the director of conservation at the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

* Sun-Times | Man charged in theft of laptops from Cook County state’s attorney’s office: A man has been charged in the thefts last month of laptops possibly containing confidential information on criminal cases from the Cook County state’s attorney’s offices at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. Jordan Jose Ocampo, 44, is charged with felony counts of burglary and theft after detectives identified him on surveillance video allegedly wheeling a cart out of the main lobby of the courthouse on the night of July 22.

*** Statewide ***

* Journal Courier | Illinois launches training initiative for those who help LGBTQ+ seniors: Free training known as OUTSafe is being offered by Springfield’s AgeLinc, the Area Agency on Aging serving central Illinois. The initiative is using state funds obtained by state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The training is an introductory course to educate groups including health care providers, caregivers and law enforcement officials. It is meant to be the start of continued education on violence prevention and improved competency on LGBTQ+ relations.

* NBC Chicago | What is Illinois’ official state pie? There’s a reason it is this very popular flavor: In 2015, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill making pumpkin pie the official state pie of Illinois. It makes sense given Illinois produces more pumpkins than any other state in the country. Ninety five percent of the pumpkin crop in the U.S. intended for processing is grown in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. If you buy canned pumpkin, chances are it was processed in Illinois too.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Nearly 20% of CPS students with disabilities have no bus ride on the first day of school: The district prioritizes busing for students with disabilities, as well as unhoused students, as required by law. Some 10,695 students with disabilities have requested transportation — an increase of 33% compared to last year, according to the district. The percentage of disabled and unhoused students enrolled in CPS has also been going up.

* Tribune | Some CPS parents take transportation into their own hands, as busing woes continue for 2024-2025 school year: Since busing was not provided for selective enrollment CPS students last year, the two-hour commute each way on public transit was the best option for Lichwick-Glesne, who has epilepsy and cannot drive her 7-year-old son Laike to school. Midway through the school year, a carpool relieved some of the stress. But, a year later, Lichwick-Glesne’s family found themselves in the same position. Still not guaranteed busing for this school year, the family was scared to repeat the same routine. After spending months on the waitlists of selective schools closer to home, Laike is switching to a new school this year, Beaubien Elementary School’s Regional Gifted Center in Jefferson Park, just a 12-minute CTA bus ride or 10-minute drive from home.

* Tribune | Chicago White Sox lose their 100th game — and now need to go 12-19 to avoid tying the most losses in a season: The Sox became just the second team in the modern era of Major League Baseball history to lose 100-plus times over the first 131 games of a season after falling 9-4 on Sunday in front of 16,928 at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox joined the ranks of the 1916 Philadelphia A’s — who were 29-101-1 after game 131.

* Crain’s | Want to catch a coastal cruise from Navy Pier? You can in 2025.: The two Victory Cruise Lines vessels, Victory I and Victory II, will return to Chicago after a yearlong hiatus. The 190-passenger vessels were out of commission in 2024 after their previous owners went bankrupt and were forced to sell the ships at auction in April.

* Sun-Times | Behind Kamala Harris’ DNC balloon drop was a tribute to a Chicago artist battling cancer: Balloon-industry titan Treb Heining helped gather more than 50 volunteers on short notice to ready 100,000 balloons for the big drop as well as to honor Tommy DeLorenzo, a local balloon artist who is fighting stage 4 cancer.

* Sun-Times | CTA L mapmaker Dennis McClendon, who found a calling in cartography, dead at 67: He also was a Chicago history expert tapped by WTTW-Channel 11 host Geoffrey Baer for answers. As a mapmaker, his vast output also included creating the Chicago Bike Map. His last project was creating the maps of the Near West Side that were provided to all delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Arlington Heights planning chief who prepped for Bears and reshaped downtown set to retire: The municipal planner who has shaped downtown Arlington Heights into a mixed-use entertainment destination and worked behind the scenes on the Bears’ now-stalled Arlington Park redevelopment plans will retire from his long-held position at village hall this fall. Charles Witherington-Perkins is a rare breed in suburban planning and community development circles, having spent nearly 35 years out of a four-decade-long career as department director overseeing the review and permit processes for projects large and small across the Northwest suburb.

* Daily Herald | Four already expressing interest in three Buffalo Grove village board seats: With the candidate filing period still months away, a contested race already is shaping up for three four-year terms on the Buffalo Grove village board. Incumbent village trustees Joanne Johnson and Lester Ottenheimer III have both said they will seek additional four-year terms in the April 2025 election. They’re expected to be joined on the ballot by Trustee Denice Bocek, longtime village volunteer Paulette Greenberg, and perhaps others.

* Tribune | Proposed dam removals on Fox River pit environmental groups against some residents: To improve water quality and habitat by restoring the river of its natural state, while lowering the risk of flooding, the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have recommended removing nine dams along the Fox River through the far western suburbs. […] [T]he corps has agreed to further study the impacts of dam removal, including how it would affect water levels and what sediments might be released. The environmental analysis will take longer, but the corps is not stopping its program. Officials aim to make a final decision on most of the dams in 2025 and start removal in 2027

* Daily Herald | ‘She is my wildest dreams’: DNC women delegates envision female president: “I think having a woman become our next president is historic for so many reasons but for me as an African American woman … she is my wildest dreams,” delegate and Hanover Park trustee Yasmeen Bankole said. “She inspires me to reach for the stars,” Bankole added Thursday, hours before the vice president accepted her party’s nomination.

*** Downstate ***

* STL PR | Green Party candidate did not qualify for U.S. House race in Illinois’ 13th: Chibu Asonye of Urbana did not gather enough signatures to appear before voters in the election for the congressional district that stretches from the Metro East to Springfield and Urbana-Champaign. Asonye gathered 1,557 signatures, according to the state’s top election authority. However, 12,710 is needed under state law.

* WSIL | Illinois asks for resident feedback on abandoned mines: The state of Illinois has asked residents for feedback surrounding recent funding from President Biden for abandoned mine reclamation. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) first announced the funding on August 6. This is the second year Illinois has received money through Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The IDNR says the $75.7 million awarded to the state will focus on 40 mines across Illinois that were abandoned on or before Aug. 3, 1977.

* WCIA | Monticello Railway Museum working to fix tracks: Right now, the tracks will lead you into a dead end. The plan is to connect them so trains can eventually run more efficiently. “It’ll give us another route that we can take with a museum or potentially what we have Railroad Days coming up,” Museum Ticket Agent John Downing said. “You could have one train heading to White Heath and another train coming back and pass each other then.”

* WSIL | Phineas and Ferb creator to appear at SIU Carbondale: SIU’s Student Programming Council has announced Dan Povenmire as the featured guest for Saluki Family Weekend 2024. is most well-known for the creation of the hit Disney Channel show, “Phineas and Ferb.” The cartoon ran for four seasons and a movie from 2007 to 2015. A reunion movie premiered on Disney+ in 2020, and the show is set to return for two more seasons on the streamer soon.

*** National ***

* NYT | Latino Civil Rights Group Demands Inquiry Into Texas Voter Fraud Raids: A Latino civil rights group is asking the Department of Justice to open an investigation into a series of raids conducted on Latino voting activists and political operatives as part of sprawling voter fraud inquiry by the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton. The League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organizations, said that many of those targeted were Democratic leaders and election volunteers, and that some were older residents. Gabriel Rosales, the director of the group’s Texas chapter, said that officers conducting the raids took cellphones, computers and documents. He called the raids “alarming” and said they were an effort to suppress Latino voters

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Monday, Aug 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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