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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * US Rep. Nikki Budzinski…
* WCIA…
A summary of the report is here. The full report is here. * PHYS | PFAS found in nearly all fish tested from four northern Illinois rivers: Scientists tested nine fish species from four northern Illinois rivers for contamination with per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals found in numerous industrial and commercial products and known to be harmful to human health. They found fish contaminated with PFAS in every one of their 15 test sites. Elevated levels of PFOS, one type of PFAS compound, were found in nearly all fish tested. * Sun-Times | Trump argues with moderator at Q&A with Black journalists in Chicago: ‘I think it’s a very nasty question’: The first question, from moderator Rachel Scott of ABC News, was prefaced with a recitation of Trump’s past statements, including Trump’s claim that former President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States, and Trump’s past treatment of Black journalists. “Why should Black voters trust you, after you have used language like that?” Scott asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump said. * WGN | Protestors flock to downtown Chicago for Trump’s appearance at NABJ conference: During his 2016 campaign, Trump canceled a rally in Chicago over safety concerns after protesters packed the arena. Sometimes there is no two sides, there’s the truth and there’s lies,” former Sun-Times columnist and past NABJ Chicago President Maudelyn Ihejirika said. “I do not see the reason to give him a further audience to continue to spew those lies.”
Click here for NABJ’s fact checker and here for the full Q&A. * Crain’s | Thompson Center developers buy LaSalle Street building for data center conversion: The real estate firms are eyeing a different kind of conversion at 400 S. LaSalle St. Looking to capitalize on booming demand for buildings that can house servers and other technology that stores and processes data — a particularly fast-growing sector with the advent of artificial intelligence in computing — Reschke confirmed in a statement that he and his partners are “focused on building a data center for LaSalle Street” in the former Cboe building. “The demand is high and the building is a great location for a new data center,” Reschke said in the statement. * WBEZ | What another six years of a Maduro presidency in Venezuela means for migrants and Chicago: “We’ve lost the hope of going back to our country,” Edwin Leal said this week in Spanish outside a city-run shelter on the Near West Side where he has been staying since arriving from Venezuela. “With the same president, the situation in Venezuela will most likely stay the same or get worse.” Under Maduro’s regime, Venezuela’s economy has plummeted and millions of citizens have fled over the last decade. The growing exodus of people has contributed to Chicago’s migrant crisis, with tens of thousands of asylum seekers bused or flown here since August 2022, primarily by the Texas governor. This has strained social safety nets not only in Chicago but in many other U.S. cities and countries in South and Central America, including in Colombia, Peru and Mexico. * Tribune | Your next O’Hare flight could be (partly) powered by leftover grease: Sustainable fuel is seen as key to meeting the aviation industry’s goals to cut emissions. The purchase was touted as a win by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who highlighted a recently-enacted state tax credit for sustainable jet fuel. United purchased up to 1 million gallons of fuel from producer Neste to be delivered to O’Hare this year, with the first delivery expected Saturday. The sustainable fuel will go into a centralized system at O’Hare where it will be mixed with traditional jet fuel, and the mix will be available to all carriers at the airport. For now, sustainable fuel must be blended with conventional fuel for use in commercial aircraft. * Block Club | Bike Lanes, Speed Bumps And More Coming To A Dangerous Portage Park Road: Painted bike lanes and plastic posts are being added this week to Long Avenue between Irving Park Road and Grace Street, Ald. Ruth Cruz (30th) said. The lanes are being added to both sides of the road and are part of a two-phase improvement project. The second phase involves repaving Long Avenue between Belmont Avenue and Grace Street. The alderwoman has also introduced an ordinance to lower the speed limit along Long between Belmont Avenue and Irving Park Road to 20 mph. The legislation is being considered in the City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. * Tribune | Pierogi fest, a 115-year-old tradition in Palos Park, highlights Ukrainian culture: One of the biggest changes is what happens with the money raised. Previously, it went toward parish activities, but after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, proceeds have been devoted to Ukrainian causes. But even that focus has evolved. “We used to send a lot of money to aid and cover the cost of shipping (supplies) to Ukraine. People would donate bandages, for instance,” Sendeha explained. “Now we’re focusing more on the people who are here. A lot of people have come, especially to Chicagoland. We’re helping people here in terms of helping them with rent financially or if they need supplies. They come with just a suitcase sometimes or a backpack. They have nothing.” * Slate | The Chicago White Sox Are Making History Now. Terrible, Horrible History: In the whole history of Major League Baseball, only the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, with 86, lost more of their first 110 ballgames than these White Sox. Chicago is tied with the 1932 Boston Red Sox for second-most losses to this point in a season, and the ChiSox are now solidly outpacing any recent team. (The 2003 Detroit Tigers, who lost 81 of their first 110, are next on the list.) Chicago’s .245 winning percentage does not quite touch a handful of teams from the late 1800s, when seasons were shorter and there weren’t as many teams. But in the modern-ish era, just those 1916 A’s would be worse at .235. * Sun-Times | New life for Cook County medical examiner’s office at $15.5 million West Loop site?: The request to purchase the buildings on Ashland and Fulton was referred to the county’s asset management committee during the board’s July 25 meeting. Committee meetings will resume in September. “After more than 40 years of operation at its current location, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) is working with the County’s Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) to acquire a new location to accommodate a larger, modern facility that can meet the current requirements and evolving needs of the MEO for decades to come,” a spokesperson said in a statement. * Daily Herald | Bremer Team launches 30 Days for 30 Vets program: Thirty deserving McHenry County military veterans will receive the gifts of a lifetime this fall as part of the 30 Days for 30 Vets program coordinated by The Bremer Team Keller Williams Success Realty. Nominations will open Thursday, Aug. 1. Sought are stories of veterans whose lives would be vastly improved by receiving a much-needed home renovation, said Dawn Bremer, owner and president of the McHenry-based Bremer Team. She added that, already, home repair, appliance and improvement firms have stepped up with more than $200,000 in pledges of services and materials. * Daily Herald | Ribfest is done: High costs cited as reason for its demise: “It is with great sadness that we will not be able to continue on with Ribfest in the future,” organizers said in the statement posted Tuesday. For decades, Ribfest reigned over the suburban summer festival season with trophy-winning barbecue, star-studded concerts from the likes of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and Hootie & the Blowfish, thousands of volunteers and the grand finale: a Fourth of July fireworks show over Naperville’s Knoch Park. * NPR Illinois | Illinois State Museum to close until fall: The facility will close to visitors beginning Thursday, Aug. 1. A plumbing project that will involve asbestos removal and construction. The project is expected to last three months. According to the museum, staff who ordinarily work at the main facility adjacent to the statehouse will be based at the Research and Collections Center in Springfield until it reopens. Objects and artifacts that could be damaged by vibrations or proximity to the construction work have been covered or removed for storage and proper care. * SJ-R | Two Sangamon County Board members call on sheriff to resign in wake of Massey shooting: Tony DelGiorno and Marc Ayers, both Democrats on the Republican-dominated board, called on Campbell, who has been sheriff since 2018, to step down. They said they were swayed by public comments Campbell made at a Department of Justice Community Relations Service listening session at Union Baptist Church Monday that resigning “would resolve nothing.”"(Asking for Campbell’s resignation) was the easiest decision I ever made,” said Ayers, reached Wednesday. “We’re human beings before we’re county board members and if this doesn’t rattle you to your core, I don’t know what will.” * WGLT | McLean County Center for Human Services tapped as new regional homeless services lead: McLean County has been a leader in homeless services for years, with the Bloomington-based nonprofit PATH Crisis Center leading the region’s Continuum of Care [CoC] dedicated to ending homelessness. The U.S. Department of Urban Development runs the CoC program nationwide, and the Central Illinois Continuum of Care [CICoC] covers 11 counties, including larger counties like McLean and smaller ones like Kankakee. PATH announced it was stepping down as the collaborative applicant for the CICoC in April, and the CICoC board voted in the McLean County Center for Human Services [MCCHS] as the new lead at the end of June, keeping the role local. * NYT | Trolls Used Her Face to Make Fake Porn. There Was Nothing She Could Do.: Most mornings, before walking into City Hall in Hallandale Beach, Fla., a small city north of Miami, Sabrina Javellana would sit in the parking lot and monitor her Twitter and Instagram accounts. After winning a seat on the Hallandale Beach city commission in 2018, at age 21, she became one of the youngest elected officials in Florida’s history. Her progressive political positions had sometimes earned her enemies: After proposing a name change for a state thoroughfare called Dixie Highway in late 2019, she regularly received vitriolic and violent threats on social media; her condemnation of police brutality and calls for criminal-justice reform prompted aggressive rhetoric from members of local law enforcement. Disturbing messages were nothing new to her. The morning of Feb. 5, 2021, though, she noticed an unusual one. “Hi, just wanted to let you know that somebody is sharing pictures of you online and discussing you in quite a grotesque manner,” it began. “He claims that he’s one of your ‘guy friends.’” * AP | Stephen Nedoroscik waited his whole life for one routine. The US pommel horse specialist nailed it: Nedoroscik will soar into the event finals Saturday with a chance to put another medal in his carry-on before he heads home. His 15.200 qualifying score tied Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan for the tops among the eight finalists. He is ready to ride the wave as far as it will take him. Yet whatever happens on Saturday or for the rest of his life for that matter, it will be difficult to top Monday night, when the guy with the curly hair and the glasses that made him the kind of social media sensation only the Olympics provides struck a blow for his sport, his teammates and himself. “I’m really proud of these guys,” he said while sitting alongside the group that became U.S. men’s gymnastics royalty. “I love you boys.”
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Wednesday, Jul 31, 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 Barbara, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Today’s timeline: State employee headcount
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability…  Headcount has grown by 3,289 since the nadir of the Rauner impasse.
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Pritzker signs IL AFL-CIO’s ‘top priority’ into law (Updated)
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sen. Peters…
* Illinois AFL-CIO…
…Adding… Center Square…
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Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
Emphasis added. Some legal arguments shouldn’t be used by a government. That’s one of them.
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So many ways to describe how horrible this White Sox team is
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Steve Greenberg yesterday…
* The White Sox ended up losing yesterday, of course…
Part of me hopes they break the Mets’ loss record to make absolutely sure that all the people involved with running this team are permanently stained with shame. Your thoughts?
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Illinois is an island on yet another issue
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Yesterday, Governor Pritzker beefed up Illinois’ child labor regulations. Tribune…
* So, what’s going on in Iowa? CNN last year…
* Last week from Iowa Capital Dispatch…
* Here is a side-by-side from Des Moines Register…
* More… * The Gazette | Feds fine North Liberty restaurant after state child labor law conflicts with U.S. rules: A North Liberty restaurant is among several in Iowa facing steep fines of $50,000 up to $180,000 from the federal government for following a new state law loosening work requirements for teens that conflicts with federal child labor regulations. […] The Iowa Restaurant Association heralded it as a “legislative win” for its members. Now, it’s warning members to revert to following the stricter federal regulations for workers under 16 as federal regulators have levied hefty fines on establishments. * WaPo | America is divided over major efforts to rewrite child labor laws: Labor experts attribute the spike in child labor violations — which, a Post analysis shows, have tripled in 10 years — to a tight labor market that has prompted employers to hire more teens, as well as migrant children arriving from Latin America. In 2023, teens ages 16 to 19 were working or looking for work at the highest annual rate since 2009, according to Labor Department data. That has led to the largest effort in years to change the patchwork of state laws that regulate child labor, with major implications for the country’s youths and the labor market. At least 16 states have one or more bills that would weaken their child labor laws and at least 13 are seeking to strengthen them, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute and other sources. Among these states, there are 43 bill proposals. * Governing | What’s Driving the Changes to Child Labor Laws?: Last week, the Kentucky House passed a bill that would abolish the state’s child labor laws, in effect replacing them with looser federal standards. The bill would also increase the number of hours that 16- and 17-year-olds can work on school days from six to eight. They’d be able to work up to 30 hours per week during the school year, or even more if their parents approve and they maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. Several Republican lawmakers joined with Democrats in opposition, including GOP Whip Jason Nemes, but the bill passed easily. “Our current statutes and regulations unnecessarily restrict the number of hours needed to work, often preventing them from seeking an opportunity to help them pay for college, learn new skills and prepare for the future,” said bill sponsor Phillip Pratt, who owns a landscaping and lawn care company. * AFL-CIO | Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Wisconsin Gov. Evers Protects Child Labor Law with Senate Bill 436 Veto: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers delivered remarks Monday at the Wisconsin State Council of Machinists’ 2024 spring conference in Madison and vetoed S.B. 436, which would have eliminated the requirement that employers obtain a work permit in order to employ 14- or 15-year-olds. The work permit process keeps young workers safer at work through parental oversight and gives critical information about where kids work and what jobs they’re doing to Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development, so it can better enforce child labor laws. In 2017, then-Gov. Scott Walker, a national disgrace, signed a bill passed by fellow Republicans in the state Legislature that eliminated the work permit requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds. The bill Evers vetoed would have expanded and built on this exemption. * WVIK | Center for American Progress says Project 2025 will hurt child labor protections: Senior Director for Workforce Development Policy Veronica Goodman at the Center for American Progress says corporate influence in Republican states is weakening child labor protections. “So what we’ve seen is that it’s really a result of sustained lobbying from certain industries like restaurants or hospitality, companies that view working minors as an opportunity for cheap labor to boost profits,” Goodman said in a phone interview with WVIK on July 24th. * New Republic | Louisiana Republicans Love Child Labor, Hate Lunch Breaks: Nobody expects to find good government in what A.J. Liebling famously termed “the GRET Stet of Loosiana,” but it surprised me to learn that the Louisiana state legislature, or its lower chamber at any rate, recently weighed in against eating. Eating is a sort of religion in Louisiana, land of gumbo and shrimp etouffee. But the state House of Representatives last week voted 61-37 to repeal a law requiring employers to provide a 20-minute meal break to any minor who works more than five hours, or pay a $500 penalty. * Kentucky Lantern | House GOP approve bill loosening Kentucky child labor law: House Bill 255, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, repeals Kentucky’s existing child labor laws and aligns them with federal laws, which are less restrictive for minors aged 16 and 17. Kentucky law currently limits the number of hours that 16- and 17-year-olds can work on a school day to six. The limit increases to eight hours on a non-school day and up to 30 hours total during a school week, unless they receive parental permission to work more and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. Federal law doesn’t have any daily or weekly hour work limits for ages 16 and 17. * Missouri Independent | After a century, states are loosening child labor laws. Where’s the outrage?: Arkansas, for example, in March did away with the requirement that the state’s Division of Labor had to give permission or verify the age of children under 16 to be employed. Although those under 14 still cannot be employed, the ending of age verification requirements is an invitation to child labor abuses. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in signing the new law, said the change was about removing an “arbitrary burden on parents” that required state permission for their children to work. But let’s get real. This isn’t about the rights of parents, it’s about helping businesses cope with the labor shortages in the wake of the pandemic. If you visited any fast food restaurant in the last three years, you’ve probably experienced worse service than in the past and seen the “help wanted’ and hiring bonus signs. * LA Times | Opinion: Our failed immigration policy is causing a child labor epidemic in the U.S.: The U.S. government’s failure to pass significant immigration reform since 1986 is one reason children end up as workers. U.S. policies haven’t kept pace with the high rates of displacement from migrants’ countries of origin, nor our need for workers. Without pathways for legal migration, many families, individual adults and unaccompanied children have little choice but to migrate without authorization and remain so long term; 2019 data indicate that 62% of undocumented migrants have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years. * NPR | Amid a child labor crisis, U.S. state governments are loosening regulations:[New York Times investigative journalist Hannah Dreier] estimates that some 250,000 children have crossed into the U.S. without their parents in the last two years, and that the majority of them wind up working full-time jobs. “These are jobs working for household brands like Cheerios, Cheetos, Ford,” she says. “These are jobs that used to go to undocumented immigrants. Now they go to undocumented child migrants.”
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Open thread
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois underfunds public universities by $1.4B, report says. Is there a solution?. SJ-R…
- The legislation comes on the heels of a report from the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding which found the state needs to increase funding to universities by approximately $1.4 billion in current dollars to meet student needs. - As it is currently written, the bill puts the timeline for meeting that $1.4 billion gap and fully funding public universities within the next 10 to 15 years. The state would invest an additional $135 million per fiscal year if it commits to doing so in the next decade. * Related stories… ∙ WGEM: Illinois proposal would increase funding, change formula for higher education ∙ Inside Higher Ed: Illinois Bill Introduces Novel Higher Ed Funding Model Governor Pritzker will sign workers’ rights legislation at 11:15 am. At 1 pm the governor will be joined by President Don Harmon and Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch to celebrate the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel powered United Airlines flight. Click here to watch. * Sun-Times | In Chicago, civil rights leaders want Sonya Massey’s killing to be a catalyst for police reform: Enough is enough. That’s the message civil rights leaders the Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump conveyed during a rally Tuesday in West Garfield Park for Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman who was gunned down by a white sheriff’s deputy in her kitchen near Springfield. Speaking at a news conference at New Mount Pilgrim Church ahead of the rally, Crump and Sharpton called on Congress to pass national police reform legislation in Massey’s name. They blamed the same lawmakers for their inaction in the wake of past killings of unarmed Black people at the hands of police for Massey’s shooting. * Sun-Times | City lawyers say Dexter Reed was stopped by Chicago cops over tinted windows, contradicting earlier claim: The lawyers’ explanation for the deadly traffic stop was detailed in a court filing last week urging a federal judge to toss out key portions of a lawsuit filed by Reed’s mother after the March 21 gunfight in Humboldt Park. Andrea Kersten, chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, previously wrote an explosive memo informing Police Supt. Larry Snelling that COPA was told Reed was stopped because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. * WTTW | What Is Carbon Capture? A New State Law Puts Much-Anticipated and Controversial Plans on Hold — For Now: It’s a technology that’s been eyed by energy producers in Illinois for years, with multiple previous proposals and one that’s expected to resurface soon. And it’s a technology that landowners and environmentalists view with concern at best and fear at worst. […] But One Earth’s proposal to transport CO2 and bury it underground has left some neighbors queasy. While CCS in Illinois is on hold temporarily, the technology will again be under consideration when the moratorium lapses or once further federal rules are in place, subject to additional state regulations created by the new law. * Eye On Illinois | Lawmakers can push, but prescription drug ecosystem unlikely to budge: The Federal Trade Commission is conducting an antitrust probe of pharmacy benefit managers, the for-profit companies that negotiate drug purchase rules and prices with pharmacies and insurers. As those companies consolidate – the top six process 94% of the drugs American pharmacies dispense – consumer choice dwindles, both in the types of medication available and, more importantly, the places to buy those drugs. […] General Assembly members will keep investigating and may be able to effect some small, state-level reforms. But they’re facing billions in corporate money and Congressional stagnation. Don’t get your hopes up. * WBEZ | Abused Chicago lifeguards receive more than $6.5 million in legal settlements: The Chicago Park District’s legal tab for sexual misconduct at the city’s public beaches and pools now exceeds $6.5 million — including a record $4 million settlement for a woman who was underage when a supervisor at Humboldt Park sexually abused her. Officials said it was the largest legal settlement that the Park District has paid out since at least 2001. * Tribune | Donald Trump’s invitation to Black journalists convention in Chicago divides membership: Karen Attiah, a Washington Post columnist, said on Tuesday she was stepping down as co-chair for the NABJ convention. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format,” Attiah wrote on X. She didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for additional comment Tuesday. * Block Club | Trump At Black Journalism Conference ‘Makes Members Feel Unsafe,’ Some NABJ Attendees Say: National and local reporters blasted the decision on social media and questioned the timing of the announcement so close to the convention’s start. A convention dedicated to uplifting Black media members will now potentially draw a national crowd and protestors in an already jam-packed weekend in the city while spotlighting a figure who helped coin the phrase “fake news,” they said. * Sun-Times | For a hustling Chicago, the Democratic National Convention is all in a day’s work: Chicagoans can be hard to impress. That applies even to an occasion infused with intrigue and involving the nation’s highest office — the upcoming Democratic National Convention. On the one hand, the city is doing everything it can to present a well-scrubbed face for the four-day TV show. Security and traffic plans have been in the works, a progressive City Hall has cleared out a homeless camp to thwart prying TV eyes, and city crews are lavishing attention on streets that delegates are likely to encounter. * Tribune | City begins to clear out North Park homeless encampment Tuesday, leaving some residents unsure where they’ll sleep tonight: Advocates for the homeless say the only solution for homelessness is permanent housing. If it cannot be offered, they say the homeless should be left in their makeshift shelters until it can be provided, Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, previously told the Tribune. * Sun-Times | Firefighters union denied permit to protest during Democratic National Convention: The Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 wants to march near the United Center to light a political fire under Mayor Brandon Johnson to negotiate with firefighters and paramedics waiting more than three years for a new contract. The Johnson administration denied the permit, saying it was “too close” to the United Center. * Sun-Times | How abortion providers in Chicago are preparing for the DNC: Sometimes that’s dozens of people parading around the sidewalks outside Cowett’s clinic, Family Planning Associates, trying to persuade women on their way inside not to end their pregnancies. Cowett said the noise isn’t as loud since the Chicago City Council this summer passed an ordinance to protect the clinic from the booming loudspeakers and bullhorns that could be heard inside the building, making it hard to hear conversations with patients. But as Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention at the United Center about two miles from Family Planning Associates, drawing an estimated 50,000 people, it’s the unknown that Cowett said makes her nervous. * US Bets | Bally’s Chicago Posted 15% Hold On Slots In First Nine Months: Bally’s temporary casino in downtown Chicago posted a robust 15%-plus hold on casino slots and electronic gaming devices (EGD) spanning its first nine months, according to a fulfilled Freedom of Information Act request by the Illinois Gaming Board. That win rate against $396.1 million in coin drop spanning last September through May is the highest among its seven properties where drop and revenue figures are available from state agency reports. * Block Club | Lollapalooza Returns To Chicago This Weekend: Here’s What You Need To Know: SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, blink-182, The Killers, Future x Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex are among the headliners. There are 170 other artists performing at Lollapalooza; among them are Deftones, Zedd, Dominic Fike, Labrinth, Pierce The Veil, Friko, Sir, Tyla, The Japanese House, Reneé Rapp, Sexyy Red, Kesha and Hippo Campus. * Tribune | Dems choose former Ald. Michael Scott for vacant Cook County Board seat: Scott will serve in the role until December, and his name will be placed on the November ballot to complete the rest of Deer’s term through 2026. The Cook County GOP can also select a name to place on the ballot, but Scott is favored in a heavily Democratic district. * Daily Herald | A ‘concerned advocate’: Arlington Heights trustee who opposed initial Bears plans running for mayor: He said the team’s proposal for a mixed-use transit-oriented development — with restaurants, stores, offices, hotels, homes and more on 206 acres of the 326-acre property — would “negatively impact” what is already in downtown Arlington Heights. And like he told the Bears’ attorneys and consultants during an initial review of site plans in October 2022, Tinaglia said he’d still be a “no” vote. * Shaw Local | McHenry County judge accused of speeding 93 mph in 55 mph zone pleads guilty to lesser offense: Associate Judge Jeffrey L. Hirsch, 55, was accused of driving at least 35 mph over the speed limit, according to the citation and complaint filed in the McHenry County court. McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, which alleged that on June 10, he was driving his Harley-Davidson motorcycle 93 mph in a 55 mph zone north on Route 47 in Hebron Township, according to the complaint. * Naperville Sun | Wayfair planning to open first Illinois outlet store in Naperville this fall: Wayfair’s Naperville outlet will be about 23,000 square feet, the spokesperson said. It will sell returns from online purchases as well as discounted items in good condition across a large number of product categories. Customers will be able to browse the outlet inventory online, but products will only be available for purchase in-store. * SJ-R | Springfield residents seek reform as police chief speaks out after Sonya Massey shooting: Anupama Paruchuri, who lives in Ward 7, said she still wanted to see “thorough, genuine police reform.”Specifically, Paruchuri said, the city should start “a focused committee to develop and implement meaningful reforms. This committee should engage with community leaders and provide regular public updates.”Paruchuri cited two city officers dismissed from the force, Nicholas Renfro and Aaron Paul Nichols, proving it has “similar issues” as other departments. * WCIA | Former EIU athlete wins historic Olympic medal in Women’s Rugby: An Eastern Illinois University alumna and co-captain of the Team USA Women’s Rugby team earned a historic Olympic medal on Tuesday. Class of 2012 graduate Lauren Doyle and her team won the bronze against Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It marks the team’s first-ever Olympic medal. * WCIA | Maize Mexican Grill thanking community for memories after original building was demolished: A fan favorite around the Champaign-Urbana community, the original location of Maize Mexican Grill and has been torn down. Owner Armando Sandoval said the building had to be torn down due to the lease not being renewed by the land owners, the University Group. * AP | Find out which Olympic sport you could play, based on your height and weight: There’s an Olympian inside all of us. We’ll tell you what Olympic sport you might be able to play, based solely on your height and weight. Skills not included.
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Jul 31, 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)
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WCIA…
* Governor JB Pritzker…
* Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore keeping us up to date on the numbers… 
* SJ-R…
* Click here for an accurate representation of me watching this clip…
* Capitol News Illinois | Study: Illinois students still struggle with post-pandemic learning loss: A new study from the University of Illinois System says only about one-fourth of all public-school students are back to pre-pandemic performance levels in English language arts while even fewer have returned to pre-pandemic levels in math. Learning recovery has been especially slow at the high school level, where test scores have been declining, the study found. And recovery in math scores has lagged English language arts scores across grade levels. * WMBD | Boys & Girls Clubs receives state funding to expand in Illinois: According to a news release from the Boys & Girls Clubs, it will receive $4 million in state funding that was secured with help from State Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) and State Sen. Elgie R. Sims (D-Chicago). “Throughout Illinois, Boys & Girls Clubs provide vital youth development opportunities that contribute to academic success, enhance social-emotional growth, teach important life lessons and promote healthy outcomes,” Gordon-Booth said. “It’s critical that our state invests in smart community programs that prioritize our children and make a strong, positive difference that can last a lifetime.” * WBEZ | Family of Sonya Massey is in Chicago for a rally after “rough” listening session in Springfield: Sonya Massey’s family members will be in Chicago Tuesday evening for a rally on the city’s West Side hosted by Black clergy leaders. The rally is called “Remembering Sonya Massey.” The 36-year-old unarmed Black woman was fatally shot by white Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson after she called law enforcement to her Springfield home. * WaPo | Black journalists group announces Trump interview, sparking backlash: Karen Attiah, the 2019 NABJ journalist of the year, announced Tuesday she would step down as convention co-chair. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format,” she wrote on social media. (Attiah is a Washington Post columnist who works for the Opinions division of The Post, which operates separately from its news coverage.) Other journalists raised objections as well. TheGrio’s April Ryan — who clashed repeatedly with the then-president during her time as a White House correspondent — wrote that the invitation was “a slap in the face to the Black women journalists” who were verbally attacked by Trump. * Block Club | Alderman’s Englewood Campout Gave Violent Block Relief. Neighbors Say They Need Help To Make Peace Last: Ald. David Moore (17th) camped out on 73rd Place between Ada Street and Racine Avenue for a week last month, pledging not to leave until he saw a positive turn in what he called an “open-air drug market.” The alderman stayed on the block for several nights, including the days following a nearby shooting broadcast on his Facebook Live channel. He ended his camp-out June 21. The alderman and two neighbors told Block Club Moore’s effort had a positive effect. It brought attention to the market, drew the Police Department to host a roll call on 73rd Place and prompted neighbors and community leaders to show support, they said. Neighbors came out on their porches and watered their grass while children played on the block during the alderman’s camp-out. * Crain’s | U.S. Soccer to sell $200M of debt to finance Chicago-to-Atlanta HQ move: This will be the federation’s first national training center to operate fully under its control and it will serve as the home of 27 men’s and women’s US soccer teams, spanning various age groups. USSF has most recently been training at facilities owned by MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City, while most of its roughly 1,400 staff have been based in Chicago. The vast majority of US Soccer staff will move to the new center, according to USSF. * Block Club | Chicago’s Best Italian Beef? TikTok Star Keith Lee Weighs In: After one bite, Lee said [Al’s Italian Beef] sandwich was a “win in my opinion. It’s not even close.” “It’s spicy, it’s flavorful, it’s saucy,” he said. “I don’t even need to try the cheese sauce. This by itself is an 8.5 out of 10, and in my opinion, wins the Al’s versus Portillo’s war. In my opinion, the meat is way better, the bread is better, the sauce that it’s dipped in is better, the peppers are spicier.” * Naperville Sun | Naperville police make 20th gun-related arrest at Topgolf parking lot in just under a year: According to Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow, the officer was walking the Topgolf lot when they observed a black handgun in the rear passenger seat pocket of a vehicle. Officers set up surveillance on the vehicle and waited for its occupants to return, Krakow said. […] Online court records show the firearm that police spotted was a loaded Taurus 9mm Millennium G2 for which Cobbins did not have a valid Firearm Owner Identification card. * ABC Chicago | Cook County treasurer introduces free Payment Plan Calculator for property taxes: The calculator is designed to help taxpayers manage incremental payments over time, so that their tax bill is fully paid before the Annual Tax Sale. Last year, the Illinois General Assembly created a task force to recommend payment options to prevent tax-delinquent owner-occupied homes in Cook County from being sold at the Annual Tax Sale. The tool launches Aug. 2, the day after property taxes are due. The tool will be available at cookcountytreasurer.com. * Daily Herald | ‘You’re going to see me everywhere’: New Glen Ellyn Dist. 41 superintendent shares priorities: Jeffrey McHugh, the new superintendent of Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41, officially took the helm on July 1, but he’s already a familiar face. McHugh has been on a districtwide listening tour over the last six months. He’s met individually with principals and school board members. He’s visited all five of the district’s schools, spending about a half-day at each. And McHugh has plans to create advisory councils, one involving students and another comprised of both parents and households who don’t have children in the school system. * Tribune | The water that raised her: US sailor Maggie Shea of Wilmette set her Olympic course on Lake Michigan: This is the lake that raised her, that taught her how to sail in unpredictable waters and provided some of her happiest childhood memories. It’s where the Wilmette native sat with her grandpa and listened to him explain racing strategy. It’s where she first competed against rival sailor Stephanie Roble, who would later become her teammate and close friend. And it’s where, when Shea and Roble needed money to fund their Olympic dream, the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation stepped in to help. * Tribune | Deere reports 300 more layoffs, this time of salaried workers: Deere & Co said it will lay off nearly 300 employees at its Moline headquarters in a notice filed with the state Monday. The batch of layoffs comes after the tractor giant said earlier this month it would lay off nearly 600 workers across two factories in Iowa and one in Moline. Deere confirmed the layoffs in a statement to the Tribune, noting the new batch of layoffs were of salaried employees and not production workers. * SJ-R | Former UIS golfer confirms story from anonymous report, claims coach dismissed mental health concerns: A former member of the University of Illinois Springfield women’s golf team confirmed one of the anonymous allegations published this month against coach Michael Leotta and believes the only solution is to dismiss him. Lily Stanton competed last fall as a freshman for the Prairie Stars but said she left the team before the spring season due to Leotta’s conduct. The allegations were published by website 2aDays on July 9. She described the coach’s behavior as overwhelming and traumatic in a recent phone interview with The State Journal-Register. * WCIA | Power restored for thousands in Springfield after severe storms: Many of the power outages left by severe storms Tuesday morning in Springfield were restored, City Water, Light and Power announced shortly before noon. As of 11:40 a.m., only 315 customers are still experiencing power outages. The area with the majority of those outages is north of Lanphier High School from N 11th St. to N 19th St. between E Watch Avenue and E Converse Street. CWLP added that this outage was caused by a downed tree damaging power poles. * KFVS | Humane Society of Southern Illinois announces it is closing: In a news release, the shelter said there are several reasons leading to their closure, such as evolving community needs, operational challenges, increasing costs, lack of appropriate funding and continuing staffing needs. The shelter in Carbondale will stop taking in animals starting Wednesday, August 1, but HSSI hopes to find homes for the animals currently in their care through adoption or rescue groups. * Wired | Zombie Alt-Weeklies Are Stuffed With AI Slop About OnlyFans: “We’re seeing an ever-increasing part of old media be reborn as AI-generated new media,” says Reality Defender cofounder and CTO Ali Shahriyari. “Unfortunately, this means way less informational and newsworthy content and more SEO-focused ‘slop’ that really just wastes people’s time and attention. Tracking these kinds of publications isn’t even part of our day to day, yet we’re seeing them pop up more and more.” LA Weekly laid off or offered buyouts to the majority of its staff in March 2024, while the Riverfront Times laid off its entire staff in May 2024 after it was sold by parent company Big Lou Media to an unnamed buyer.
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What happens to schools when the pandemic money runs out?
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * We’ve talked about this topic before. Capitol News Illinois…
* In Chicago, the amount of pandemic money spent on salaries was about 50 percent. You may recall my recent newspaper column…
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Today’s must-read
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * This is the best drill-down into a pretextual stop I think I’ve ever seen in print. The piece, by Farrah Anderson and Sam Stecklow, looks into the background of former Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy Sean Grayson, who’s been indicted on three counts of murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey…
If that last paragraph sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. Lots more in that story, so go read the whole thing.
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Tuesday, Jul 30, 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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A local dive into the national numbers
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not so in Chicago, however…  Whew. * According to the data, 202 people were stopped out of every thousand Chicagoans…  One of the story’s authors tweeted that the Chicago Police Department “broke our scale” and has been “behaving unlike just about every other city we show.” * Likely a ton of pretextual stops because road deaths shot up by more than a third…  * And this is how the Illinois State Police compares to our neighbors…   
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CTU seeks to lower its property taxes, while union president escalates conflict with Gov. Pritzker
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Fox 32…
The school district will get its money because reductions like these are offset by other taxpayers. * The broadcast version of the story includes commentary from the Illinois Policy Institute…
People and organizations have the right to contest their property taxes. Lots of politicians even help their constituents object without having to hire a lawyer. And if you click here, you’ll see that the CTU routinely files property tax appeals. * Meanwhile, as we discussed yesterday, Gov. Pritzker responded to this tweet by the CTU’s president…
* Fox 32 then followed up with Stacy Davis Gates…
Discuss.
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DPI rolling out campaign plan to focus on down-ballot races
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Democratic Party of Illinois…
* WGLT…
US Rep. Nikki Budzinski raised $650,361 in the second quarter and ended with $2,093,508 cash on hand. Her opponent, Joshua Loyd raised $8,215 and had $2,883 cash on hand at the end of the second quarter.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Sheriff asks for forgiveness, declines to resign following Sonya Massey shooting. SJ-R…
- Responding to calls for his resignation, Campbell said he would “not abandon the sheriff’s office at this most critical moment.” - Campbell next stands for election in 2026. * Related stories…
∙ AP: With DUI-Related Ejection From Army, Deputy Who Killed Sonya Massey Should Have Raised Flags, Experts Say ∙ The Intercept: Past employers questioned integrity and conduct of deputy who killed Sonya Massey * Sun-Times | Feds swat argument that Supreme Court saves Madigan: ‘This dog will not hunt’: Prosecutors wrote that “Madigan accepted a stream of more than $700,000 in benefits from ComEd over the course of eight years, knowing the payments were made to influence and reward Madigan’s official action with regard to legislation that impacted ComEd’s financial interests.” They wrote that the Supreme Court’s Snyder decision “did not discuss, and certainly does not disturb, the continued viability of bribery prosecutions that target ‘schemes that involve a stream of benefits over time, not just singly negotiated deals,’ where the government can establish an intent to engage in a quid pro quo.” Click here to read the full 113 page filing. * Crain’s | Illinois expects even more abortion seekers as six-week ban goes live in Iowa: Planned Parenthood of Illinois reported on the second anniversary of the federal Supreme Court ruling that its clinics have seen a threefold increase in patients traveling from Iowa for abortion care. Before the six-week ban, Iowa already had Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers, or TRAP, laws in place, such as a 24-hour waiting period for an abortion and parental notification for minors. * ProPublica | Federal Law Thwarted Chicago’s Attempt to Sue Gun Makers. But Now It Has a New Strategy.: Chicago’s suit reflects not just concern over a stubborn public safety issue but also a shift in legal efforts against the gun industry. Cities, shooting survivors and the families of shooting victims are taking on the gun industry in new ways. The claims in these newer lawsuits show plaintiffs are not trying to take on the whole of the industry but instead are “trying to find the right pathway within the law,” said Andrew Willinger, executive director of the Duke Center for Firearms Law. * The Trace | Illinois State Legislators Introduced Three Violence Prevention Bills. Why Didn’t They Vote on Them?: Gun violence prevention advocates and bill sponsors are hopeful that the setback is just a delay, and that they’ll be heard and signed during the fall veto session, but they plan on keeping pressure on officials until then. It’s common for bills to be delayed, said Democratic State Representative Kam Buckner. Sometimes, he added, it takes time to finalize and pass legislation, regardless of the issue. “It’s just the way that Springfield works,” he said. “But we got to stay on it and do all we can to get it over the finish line.” * Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker says it would be ‘near impossible’ to get Bears stadium deal done this fall: “I made it clear to the Bears leadership that it would be near impossible to get anything done — if there was a proposal put on the table that could get done, you couldn’t actually get it done, probably, during the veto session and would have to wait until next spring,” Pritzker said, referring to the year’s final legislative session in November, during an unrelated news conference in Chicago. “But in reality, there isn’t a proposal on the table right now that would be acceptable to anyone that I know in the legislature,” he continued. * Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker signs birth equity initiative into law, celebrates Medicaid expansion: The law requires insurers that provide state-regulated health care plans to cover pregnancy and postpartum services for covered individuals, including midwife services, doula visits, and lactation consultants for up to 12 months after the end of a pregnancy. Licensed or certified midwives will need to be covered by insurance providers starting 2025, while all other outlined services must be covered by January 2026. * WBEZ | Federal government gives Illinois $430 million to fight climate change: The money comes from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, which awarded $4.3 billion federal funds to a mix of 25 state, local and tribal entities. It’s funded through President Joe Biden’s climate legislation. Illinois was awarded the full amount requested, which it will receive over the next five years. Illinois has already made progress on some of the goals in part through the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The sweeping statewide legislation effectively tied Illinois’ clean energy targets to the Paris Climate Agreement — which means Illinois will be fully powered by clean energy by 2050. * Sun-Times | Donald Trump to attend national Black journalists convention in Chicago on Wednesday: The event will be moderated by Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News; Harris Faulkner, anchor of “The Faulkner Focus” and co-host of “Outnumbered” on Fox News; and Kadia Goba, politics reporter at Semafor. Trump decided to appear at the NABJ annual gathering in the wake of a 2024 presidential campaign that has been upended since President Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he would not seek another term. Trump is making the stop at the convention as part of his bid for Black votes. * Block Club | DNC In Chicago: United Center Neighbors Brace For Restricted Access, Traffic, Police — And Confusion: Officials hosted meetings and canvassed the Near West Side to prep neighbors, but confusion remains, with some mistakenly believing they won’t be able to enter or leave their homes during the convention. * ABC Chicago | El Chapo’s son Joaquin Guzman Lopez to appear in Chicago court, El Mayo still held in Texas: Zambada’s attorney claimed over the weekend that his client was tricked into flying into the country, saying he was “forcibly kidnapped” by Guzman Lopez. El Mayo, as he is known, was already a wanted fugitive in Chicago with a $15 million bounty on his head. Allegedly, Guzman Lopez convinced the elder cartel boss to board a plane for an airstrip inspection in northern Mexico. Instead, they kept flying into the U.S, where they were arrested by drug agents. * Sun-Times | ‘Ring of fire’ conditions expected as heat, humidity create weather like ‘air you can wear’: Chicago will once again face a “ring of fire” pattern of storms this week, though it’s less likely to be as severe as the one that spawned more than two dozen tornadoes earlier in the month, the National Weather Service said. Heat indices of more than 100 degrees are also expected later in the week. * Tribune | Oak Park moving to be a ‘certified’ welcoming town for immigrants, residents: At a recent Village Board meeting, trustees heard a presentation from Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Danielle Walker, who outlined steps she and her team have taken since March when they were notified that the village was selected by Welcoming America to participate in the nonprofit certification group’s tailored program. According to the organization’s website, Welcoming America, which started in 2009, helps provide communities with “the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can thrive.” * Tribune | Lion Electric’s Joliet plant operating significantly below capacity as US and Canadian subsidies lag: Lion Electric executives won’t say how many workers the Saint-Jerome, Quebec-based company employs in Joliet or how many buses it is building. But after three companywide layoffs, they say the plant is operating significantly below the 200-bus-per-month capacity they advertise on their website. In an interview, they attribute the slowdown to the complex and still-incomplete rollout of government subsidy programs in the United States and Canada. * Daily Herald | Lawmaker suggests “bad faith diversion” by township leaders on mental health funding: State Rep. Daniel Didech said he is willing to explore additional legislation to validate a referendum Wheeling Township voters passed in 2022 to fund mental health services. […] “Five townships and one county (that) approved referenda at the same time in the same way are all successfully levying the tax,” the Buffalo Grove Democrat said. “So, this is likely more bad faith diversion from them.” * Herald-Review | 17th District challenger Joe McGraw named ‘Young Gun’ by national GOP: The party’s congressional campaign arm on Monday announced that their candidate in the northwestern Illinois-based district, retired judge Joe McGraw, was one of more than two-dozen selected for their “Young Gun” program. The program mentors and supports candidates across the country and provides them with “the necessary tools to run successful, winning campaigns against their Democratic opponents.” * WAND | IL FOP says other organization responsible for deputy’s grievance in Sonya Massey case: ILFOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood has issued the following statement regarding the labor contract grievance that was filed by a separate organization, not the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police: “We are the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, strictly a fraternal organization. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge is not the labor organization that filed the grievance on behalf of the former deputy who is jailed on murder charges. That dubious distinction rests with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, which is a completely separate organization with different leadership, a different organizational structure and a different mission. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge had zero involvement in this grievance and yet we are bearing the brunt of the public outcry and hate communication for that action just because we share a common first name with the FOP Labor Council.” * TSPR | ‘He was a ball of light:’ Mother seeks justice in Macomb police shooting of four-year-old child: Anthony George, 57, and Terrell Miller, 4, were killed by single shot as police responded to a violent domestic dispute in the 900 block of North Charles Street on March 16. But a lawyer for the child’s mother is asking for the Appellate decision to be reviewed and plans to take civil action against the Macomb Police Department. “We intend to hold the Macomb Police Department accountable for or Terrell’s tragic death,” said Marleena Menendez Suarez of Fairmont City at a press conference Monday outside the Macomb Police Department. * PJ Star | Video shows moments before man, boy killed by officer responding to stabbing in Illinois: George, a knife visible in his left hand, refuses to comply with requests to drop his weapons, according to police. The video then shows him lunge out of sight and return holding a knife in each hand, including one to the throat of a 4-year-old boy, later identified as Terrell Miller, son of the stabbing victim. An officer discharged his firearm once, killing both George and Miller. * KHQA | Protesters gather at Macomb Police Department following fatal officer-involved incident: After the protest, around 2:00 p.m., KHQA went to the front office of the Macomb Police Department for a comment but was asked to contact Chief Jef Hamer. Over an hour later, at 4:00 p.m., the Macomb Police Department shared in part quote: “While the decision to release this footage is supported by our commitment to transparency, our hearts and thoughts remain with the families affected by this tragedy. We will provide further updates at regular intervals until the internal investigation is complete.” * WCIA | Correctional officer accused of ‘inflammatory’ Facebook comments arrested on weapons charge: Records from the Sangamon County Jail and Circuit Clerk show that Thomas Angeli was booked into the jail Sunday on a misdemeanor charge. That charge was formally filed against Angeli by the State’s Attorney’s Office the following day. He is accused of possessing a gun with an expired FOID card, a Class A misdemeanor. Records also show Angeli residing in Sherman, Ill. * Herald-Review | Judge will decide if lawsuit against Decatur police continues: It’s up to a judge to decide whether a jury will ever see a lawsuit claiming Decatur Police Department officers acted unreasonably and unconstitutionally when they pulled over Quartus Stitt and ordered him out of his car and detained him at gunpoint. Lawyers for the police and city of Decatur have filed to have the federal civil rights case dismissed. A jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Urbana had been penciled in to start this week but that’s now on hold while Judge Colin S. Bruce considers whether to grant summary judgment against Stitt. * Illinois Times | Downtown’s festival dilemma: Downtown Springfield has been facing some difficult hurdles lately. In addition to the devastating fire which damaged several businesses on Adams Street in June, the Jaycees’ annual Fourth of July Capital City Celebration, with its popular downtown fireworks display, didn’t happen for the second year in a row (the derecho nixed it in 2023). AbeFest, a downtown festival held in July to highlight both local and national music acts, has also canceled for a second time. The Legacy of Giving Music Festival reported low turnout last month and may or may not be returning in the future. More recently, it was announced that the popular Old Capitol Blues & BBQ festival won’t be providing Springfieldians with its usual combination of sweet grooves and tasty ribs next month. * Tribune | Several hundred U of I students trade in dorm contracts for incentives amid campus housing shortage: According to UIUC University Housing spokesperson Chris Axtman-Barker, “several hundred” students have opted to trade-in their campus housing contracts for an incentive package of $2,000 and 100 free meals that the university is continuing to offer eligible students for each cancellation. “While we normally have a small number of contracted students without housing assignments in July, this year we have more students than normal without an assigned space,” Axtman-Barker, said in an emailed statement Monday.
* Tribune | ‘Why can’t that be me?’ Chicago-area native Paul Juda shines in Olympic debut for Team USA gymnastics: Paul Juda’s story begins with his father, Jozef, who grew up one of six kids on a small farm in southern Poland. With steady, decent-paying jobs hard to find, he decided to move to Chicago, a city with a vibrant Polish population and a reputation for welcoming Eastern European immigrants. […] “Paul did not make it by himself and he knows this,” his mother said. “He’s not at the Olympics because we moved to the United States. He’s at the Olympics because we moved to the United States and met wonderful, wonderful people who helped us.” * BND | Here’s how Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham can boost the St. Louis Cardinals: The St. Louis Cardinals made a major move to reshape their starting rotation for this and next season as well as shore up their right-handed outfield depth on Monday, acquiring right-hander Erick Fedde and outfielder and returning Cardinal Tommy Pham from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade which saw injured utility ace and former Gold Glove winner Tommy Edman sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the teams announced. * Block Club | Track & Field Center In Pullman Helped 2 Chicagoans On Path To Paris Olympics: The $54 million athletic center in Pullman opened in 2021 and has already helped level the playing field for the city’s budding track athletes, and it has turned the Far South Side into a national track and field hub. Two Chicagoans at the 2024 Paris Olympics — triple jumper Tori Franklin and hurdler Shamier Little — have trained at Gately, Collins said. The Olympics’ track and field events start Aug 1. * Press Release | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hires Former Congressman Rodney Davis to Lead Government Affairs: “As a five-term member of Congress, Rodney Davis earned a reputation as a champion of free enterprise and pro-growth policies and effective legislator who was deeply respected on both sides of the aisle,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark. “His deep relationships, policy expertise, and proven track record as a consensus builder around the toughest issues will be invaluable as the Chamber continues to advocate for businesses and for a growth and opportunity agenda that benefits all Americans.” * Rolling Stone | These Swing State Election Officials Are Pro-Trump Election Deniers: In the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Rolling Stone and American Doom identified at least 70 pro-Trump election conspiracists currently working as county election officials who have questioned the validity of elections or delayed or refused to certify results. At least 22 of these county election officials have refused or delayed certification in recent years. * NPR | Washington Post CEO accused in court of deceiving police about U.K. hacking scandal: In court, the lawyers submitted a statement arguing that Lewis “fabricated a fake security threat” in January 2011 to justify the deletion of millions of emails dating from the start of 2008 through the end of 2010 — an act that those suing the company suggest is part of a wider coverup. The Murdoch newspaper company, now called News UK, denies those claims. Lewis has broadly denied any wrongdoing but declined to comment to NPR today.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Jul 30, 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, Jul 30, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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