* Governor JB Pritzker…

Governor JB Pritzker today signed into law Senate Bill 3463, an amendment to the Juvenile Court Act, which creates a clear process for implementation of already existing juvenile expungement laws. ​

“It is no secret that the procedures of our court system can be difficult to navigate. People deserve to know what resources and rights are available to them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By cutting red tape and creating a process where expungement is more accessible, we can create more opportunities for more people who perhaps made a mistake when they were young, as we all have. This is a step in the right direction and I am proud to sign this legislation.” […]

SB 3463 is intended to automatically schedule expungement hearing date for juveniles. Additionally, eligible juvenile records can now be expunged two years after a sentence ends, to allow the court to schedule the expungement date when the sentence ends or when a young person is sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice. This will allow both greater flexibility and more accuracy, so that the judge has the most up to date information about the young person’s future eligibility upon setting a court date. This will reduce the likelihood of multiple court dates having to be scheduled.

Under current law, courts are required to automatically order expungement in certain juvenile cases, but statute does not require that the order is automatically put on the call, meaning that the juvenile must proactively follow a complicated process two years after their case has been adjudicated. After a case had been adjudicated and the sentence completed, the juvenile may not know or remember to seek expungement. As a result, they may no longer have representation. It is also possible that the individual may get a job that is not impacted by the adjudicated delinquent status and move forward. However, later in life, if they lose that job or seek to transition to another opportunity, that status may resurface as an issue.

Illinois now joins 22 other states with laws that automatically seal or expunge juvenile records in certain circumstances. This will help those juveniles who forget to seek expungement after their adjudication.

SB 3463 is effective January 1, 2025.

* Federal Communications Commission…

Federal Communications Commission today proposed new consumer protections against AI-generated robocalls and robotexts. The proposal seeks comment on the definition of AI-generated calls, requiring callers to disclose their use of AI- generated calls and text messages, supporting technologies that alert and protect consumers from unwanted and illegal AI robocalls, and protecting positive uses of AI to help people with disabilities utilize the telephone networks.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today proposes to define AI-generated calls and to require callers when obtaining prior express consent to disclose that the caller intends to use AI- generated calls and text messages. In addition, callers would need to disclose to consumers on each call when they receive an AI-generated call. This provides consumers with an opportunity to identify and avoid those calls or texts that contain an enhanced risk of fraud and other scams.

This item also proposes protections to ensure that positive uses of AI that already help people with disabilities use the telephone network can thrive without threat of Telephone Consumer Protection Act liability. In a Notice of Inquiry, the Commission seeks additional comment and information on developing technologies that can alert consumers to AI-generated unwanted and illegal calls and texts.

These proposed robocall rules are the latest in a series of actions taken by the Commission to protect consumers from AI-generated scams that mislead consumers and misinform the public, empowering consumers to make informed decisions. The Commission proposed new transparency standards that would require disclosure when AI technology is used in political ads on radio and television. The Commission recently adopted a Declaratory Ruling which made clear that voice cloning technology used in common robocall scams targeting consumers is illegal absent the prior express consent of the called party or an exemption. It also proposed significant fines related to apparently illegal robocalls made using deepfake, AI-generated voice cloning technology and caller ID spoofing to spread election misinformation to potential New Hampshire voters prior to the January 2024 primary.

Action by the Commission August 7, 2024 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 24-84). Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Gomez approving. Commissioner Simington approving in part and concurring in part. Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, Simington, and Gomez issuing separate statements.

* NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern…

* Another victory…

* WBBM | Illinois salon professionals training to recognize signs of domestic violence: In order to get or renew their licenses, Illinois law requires cosmetologists to receive one hour of training on how to recognize when their clients might have suffered domestic violence. “We teach them how to identify victims or potential victims and then [provide] them with the resources they can share,” Alcorn-Catena said. “We want to have a cosmetologist pass along to their client information about our agency so that that victim can make educated choices about how to seek help safely.”

* Capitol News Illinois | State now has blueprint for K-12 schools to teach dangers of overdose: The Illinois State Board of Education published the resource guides in accordance with a law passed in 2023. While a school’s use of any of the state’s resource guides is voluntary, some public health advocates consider the creation of the guides a step in the right direction. Administrators and educators can download age-appropriate presentations, lesson plans or fact sheets.

* Sun-Times | Why isn’t Chicago housing hotline working?: A taxpayer-funded Chicago nonprofit oversees a housing hotline to help people like Nayra. Homeless. In crisis. Needing help to navigate government and get on a waiting list for subsidized housing. And, because of her age, she should be able to get a spot on a priority list to get that housing through the Chicago Housing Authority and other government agencies. But, since the end of June, the hotline that’s been aiding hundreds of people in Chicago every month has been down. And it’s unclear when it might be back, leaving some of the city’s most vulnerable residents on their own.

* Crain’s | Kathy Byrne, mayor’s daughter and plaintiffs’ attorney, dies: Byrne focused on asbestos and mass tort litigation at Cooney & Conway, a plaintiffs’ law firm, where she spent her entire career. Soon after beginning as a clerk in the late 1980s during law school at Loyola University Chicago, her interest in asbestos and its connection to the cancer mesothelioma was stirred by a book based on a series of articles in The New Yorker about the asbestos industry’s legal exposure.

* Crain’s | Ford’s Chicago plant has withstood recessions and a pandemic. Can it survive what’s next?: No other factory in Ford’s portfolio has been in continuous operation longer than the one on Torrence Avenue at 126th Street. Along the way, the plant has produced everything from the Gran Torino and the Granada to the Thunderbird and the Taurus. “There aren’t very many (plants) that make it to this age,” says Kristen Dziczek, a veteran auto industry researcher who is a policy adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. “They’ve continued to invest in that plant. There are a lot of plants in the 60- to 80-year-old range . . . and a handful that are over 80.”

* WTTW | Transportation Officials Tout Massive Overhaul of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive – But Some Lawmakers, Advocates Aren’t Sold: Asked for their take on pushback from an array of elected officials – as well as advocacy groups like Active Transportation Alliance, Better Streets Chicago, Metropolitan Planning Council, Sierra Club and more – Redefine the Drive planners said Thursday’s meeting was an opportunity to address their concerns. “This is part of why we’re here today is to listen more and to gather feedback,” said CDOT’s Dave Miller. “We’ve been briefing a lot of the folks we’ve been hearing from, trying to help (them) understand — there’s a lot of counterintuitive aspects of this project. There’s a lot of non-intuitive things.”

* Block Club | Block Club Chicago Is Hosting Its First Block Party, With Live Music, Local Vendors And More: Our nonprofit newsroom is hosting a huge block party noon-8 p.m. Sept. 7 just off The 606 at the McCormick YMCA, 1834 N. Lawndale Ave. in Logan Square — and you’re invited. The block party will have all the elements of a classic Chicago block party or street festival, with live music, food, beer, local vendors, kids’ activities, games and more fun.

* Tribune | Got milkweed? Field Museum study shows how Chicago gardeners can help monarch butterflies: “The biggest thing is if you can, plant native milkweed species — ideally pesticide free,” said Karen Klinger, a geographic information systems analyst at the Field Museum and the study’s lead author. “The Illinois Native Plant Society has a great list of nurseries and plant sales. But also, very important too, is the range of blooming flowers that are blooming throughout the season. That will help monarchs as well as other pollinators.”

* Sun-Times | Alex Nunes, Eagle Scout who loved helping others, dies at 28: “He was quiet, thoughtful, way smarter than he would ever let on, a good kid, the kind of kid who you could always count on to help, like the old joke about finding out who your friends are when you ask them to help you move,” his father said. Mr. Nunes was a member of the National Honor Society while attending Notre Dame College Prep in Niles.

* Block Club | In The Cockpit With One Of Chicago Air And Water Show’s Newest Aerobatic Pilots: New participants in the annual air show include the Trojan Phlyers, “a group of aviation professionals dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American Aviation Company’s T28 Trojan,” according to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

* Lake County News-Sun | Lake County officials planning how to spend millions in opioid-abuse funds; ‘This is a very complicated issue’: With $3.4 million in hand and another $5.6 million anticipated from agreements reached, Liz Nelson, the county’s opioid coordinator, said data is being collected to help guide the development of a strategic plan. Along with the money going to the county, cities with more than 30,000 people in the county — Waukegan, Gurnee, Buffalo Grove and Mundelein — will also receive funds to help victims of unintended or intentional opioid use.

* Tribune | Former state revenue auditor latest charged in alleged PPP fraud: A Will County woman became the latest public employee charged in a sweeping investigation targeting Paycheck Protection Program fraud that has rocked several state agencies. The Illinois attorney general’s office announced the numerous felony charges against Shepale Hicks, of Monee, on Thursday, the same day she pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including money laundering, financial institution fraud, wire fraud and forgery. […] Authorities said that Hicks, who was then a revenue auditor for the state Department of Revenue, applied for two pandemic-era PPP loans meant to support struggling businesses, claiming she owned two businesses. She received payments in August 2020 and May 2021, totaling $41,665.

* Daily Herald | Park district outlines plan for closing down Palatine Stables: Based on its review of the Structural Condition Assessment Supplemental Report, the park board stands by its decision to cease operations at the stables, located near Northwest Highway and Dundee Road, by Nov. 30. The park district’s release also contains a timeline for phasing out activities at the stables, which the park district has owned for nearly 40 years.

* Western Illinois University | An Update on WIU’s Financially Sustainable Future: As part of the cost-containment strategy, 57 faculty (40 Unit A and 17 Unit B) and 32 staff positions will be eliminated, affecting a range of departments and roles. With a focus on maintaining high-quality academic programs, excellent services and engaging on-campus experiences, the University has made every effort to minimize the impact on students.

* Illinois Federation of Teachers | Union Criticizes WIU’s “Plan” to Lay Off Nearly 90 More Faculty and Staff: Merrill Cole, president of the WIU Chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI Local 4100), issued the following statement.

 “We are angry and deeply disappointed by this administration’s decision. Despite their lofty goals and compassionate rhetoric at Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Interim President Mindrup and her team have chosen to devastate futures, families, and communities rather than devise a real solution to address WIU’s fiscal challenges.

* NBC Chicago | Jail video shows ex-deputy charged with Sonya Massey’s murder making comments about charges: The new jail booking video, obtained by NBC 5 Investigates through a Freedom of Information Act request, was recorded on July 17 as Grayson is being booked into the Menard County jail, one day before his first court appearance on charges related to the fatal shooting. Nearly 90 minutes into the video, Grayson is talking with a Menard County deputy about the jail’s low inmate population – which is currently only 5 inmates – when he says: “Well, this whole SAFE-T Act bullsh*t … that’s why hopefully I’ll be out tomorrow,” referring to his initial appearance on July 18. Grayson has remained in custody.

* WCIA | Rantoul native turned NASA engineer speaks on Artemis mission: The Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society welcomed NASA engineer Ken Jacobs back to Central Illinois. […] Artemis One, which launched in 2022, is just one of the things Jacobs talked about. He used it to explain future plans down the road at NASA. The plan with Artemis is to eventually put the first woman and person of color on the surface of the moon. And eventually, put mankind on Mars.

* The 21st Show | Inside the Illinois State Fair: A conversation with manager Rebecca Clark: In the past few days, the State Fair got underway for another year. Today, we are talking with some of the leading forces behind the fair. The fair manager joined our host, Brian Mackey, to talk about what is new at the fair this year.

* Capitol City Now | The Mobile Museum of Tolerance is back at the Illinois State Fair: Director of the Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) Jacqueline Carroll talks with Joey McLaughlin about the MMOT’s appearance at the Illinois State Fair. The MMOT is the brainchild of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which fights hatred and intolerance globally.

* BND | Will Illinois get a permanent black bear population? Here’s what experts say: Illinois does not have a plan to reintroduce black bears to its wilderness, a state conservation police officer said, but he expects there will be a breeding population in the state “a considerable ways down the road” when female bears migrate to Illinois. For now, there are just lone males roaming southern Illinois like the bear seen in the metro-east this week and another one in southern Illinois in July, according to Illinois Conservation Police Officer Don Schachner..



* Powell Tribune | After getting caught fabricating quotes, Cody reporter resigns: A reporter at the Cody Enterprise resigned on Friday, after the Powell Tribune confronted him with evidence indicating that he’d fabricated some of the quotes that appeared in several of his stories. In an interview just prior to his resignation, Aaron Pelczar conceded that the quotes may have been made up by an artificial intelligence tool he was using to help write his articles. To date, seven people — ranging from Gov. Mark Gordon to the victim of an alleged crime — have indicated to the Tribune that they didn’t make the statements Pelczar quoted them as making. The Tribune also found a number of other quotes that were altered in some way or attributed to the wrong person.

* The American Prospect | Florida Invests in Catastrophe: As flooding persists with regularity and warming waters facilitate increasingly severe hurricanes, the state has pursued a deregulatory approach to resuscitate its death-spiraling property insurance market. Not only have carriers fled Florida in droves, but numerous others have become insolvent amid climate catastrophe. In a bid to entice insurers to continue providing property insurance coverage, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature have implemented a series of reforms aimed at protecting consumers and reducing insured losses by clamping down on social inflation, the name the industry gives to perceived cultural factors that drive increases in monetary awards in litigation.