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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Talk with you Monday…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign stuff
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…
Click here for a complete list of the communities receiving principal forgiveness funding. * Governor Pritzker…
* Brownfield AG | Illinois farmers own 24% of the land they farm: A new study from Illinois Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) shows the state’s farmers only owned 24% of the land they farmed in 2021. Brad Zwilling, vice president of data analysis at FBFM, says it’s not a new trend. “Crop share was at 27% and cash rent at 48%,” he says. “That trend has continued to increase on the cash rented side and lower on the crop shared side primarily due to more and more absentee landlords or just wanting to not have to worry about marketing grain.” * Tribune | Climate bill rebates for electric appliances and upgrades coming to Illinois in 2025: They are some of the juiciest consumer incentives in President Joe Biden’s 2022 climate bill: rebates of up to $8,000 for a heat-pump air conditioner and heater, up to $4,000 for an electrical panel, up to $2,500 for electrical wiring, and up to $1,750 for an electric heat pump water heater. And they’re coming to Illinois. The state plans to roll out its home energy rebates in the first quarter of 2025, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said in a written response to questions from the Tribune. * My Journal Courier | State spreading awareness of Firearm Restraining Orders: The Illinois Department of Public Health, Brady: United Against Gun Violence and the Ad Council have released a public service announcement video advocating an end to gun violence. The agencies are promoting “Pause to Heal,” a multi-state campaign to bring awareness to Firearm Restraining Orders, or “red flag laws” designed to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. * Crain’s | How the quantum and United Center projects could spark action in investment-starved neighborhoods: The quantum and United Center projects — which have their own anchor users lined up, unlike other planned megadevelopments in the city — set the stage for more real estate investors to follow into neighborhoods they don’t frequent. But the proposals also put pressure on city officials to ensure they are properly leveraged as a launching pad. “They shouldn’t just be seen as little dots on the map, and that’s the only planning that happens,” said city planning department veteran Eleanor Gorski, who is now CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center. “These are dots with ripples, and the city needs to step up and produce the ripples.” * WTTW | Gage Park Man Who Spent 21 Years in Prison Now the 45th Person to be Exonerated After Being Framed by Disgraced Ex-Detective: Edwin Ortiz, who is now 51 and lives in Gage Park, was 14 years old when Jose Morales was shot to death in Humboldt Park alongside his friend Marvin Taylor, who was wounded. Ortiz was convicted in connection with the shooting in 1993 after being investigated by Reynaldo Guevara, a former Chicago police detective accused of routinely framing suspects. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office did not oppose Ortiz’ request to have his more than 30-year-old conviction vacated. * Tribune | Three charged with murder, arson and financial crimes in connection with death of Chicago firefighter: Martez Cristler, 22, of Hammond, Indiana, and Nicholas Virgil, 37, of Riverdale, are charged with murder and arson. Anthony Moore, 47, of Blue Island, is charged with wire fraud, insurance fraud and forgery. […] Moore’s arrest report lists State Farm Insurance as the victim in the incident. A Tribune reporter spoke with Moore last year shortly after the fire, and he said he was in the process of rehabbing the property as a rental unit. * WTTW | Is There an Alligator in Lincoln Park’s North Pond? Witnesses Say Creature They’ve Dubbed ‘Muddy Waters’ Is Lurking But Confirmation Scarce: Tom Hildum knows people aren’t going to believe him. But the Auburn resident swears he’s seen an alligator in Lincoln Park’s North Pond. Not once, but twice. “I was skeptical too,” said Sheba Heard, Hildum’s wife of 16 years. Then she got a look at the creature herself, “tip to tail, skimming across the top of the water.” * Sun-Times | Suburban Chicago lab lied to Medicare, billed millions of dollars for COVID-19 tests on dead people, federal probe finds: Abdul Wahed’s company, Pro Diagnostics in Bridgeview, is suspected of using a suburban doctor’s credentials without her knowledge to approve the tests, according to court papers filed in the federal investigation. Tens of thousands of Medicare claims for tests in Illinois and other states showed the same doctor ordered them, which aroused suspicions, according to the court filing. Pro Diagnostics billed Medicare for 48,552 claims on Dec. 6 and for another 35,585 claims the next day, according to the affidavit, which says law enforcement officials were alerted because of the “extraordinary spike in billing.” * WSIL | Kristin Bayer Selected as New Williamson County Circuit Clerk Republican Nominee: Bayer was selected the nominee after Justin Maze resigned the Williamson County Circuit Clerk seat earlier this year. Bayer will be running unopposed on the November ballot. “I am excited for this opportunity and looking forward to serving the people of Williamson County,” said Kristen as she spoke to several supporters at the Administration Building Thursday afternoon. * WPSD | Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Illinois reach fundraising goal to reopen: BGCSI’s reopening campaign sought a goal of $200,000 to relaunch the clubs after closing last summer. The organization is aiming to open up around the time that school starts, but that step hinges on the hiring of a new CEO and staff. * WSIL | Herrin Animal Control deemed “no kill” shelter: The center posted to Facebook on Friday morning to announce it received a “No-Kill Status” from the Best Friends Network. This recognition goes toward shelters that manage a 90% save rate for the animals. “We are extremely happy to have received this prestigious accomplishment helping the City Of Herrin animals get a second chance on life,” wrote the center. “We cannot possibly save them all, but we can save most.” * WCIA | Daughters of Central IL Olympian celebrating his legacy 100 years later: he 2024 Olympic Games in Paris kick off Friday. The last time the “City of Love” played host was a century ago when an athlete from Central Illinois went for gold— twice. Now, the University of Illinois is celebrating Harold Osborn’s life and legacy ahead of the games. The university welcomed back two of Harold Osborn’s daughters to give a webinar about their father Thursday morning. They said he is a reminder that humble beginnings can lead to global success. * WGEM | Illinois Treasurer Frerichs shows off unclaimed property ahead of State Fair auction: Items include a Rolex Oyster watch, Mike Singletary and Troy Aikman football cards, uncut sheets of money and many rare coins and other collectables. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs holds the auction each year at the fair. His office auctions off unclaimed property, including items left in abandoned safety deposit boxes, if they go unclaimed for at least 10 years. All proceeds are held by the Treasurer’s Office and paid to the property’s owner or their heirs if they are located. * The Grio | The ‘Kamala ain’t Black’ conspiracy theory explained: While it is easy to dismiss this claim by using the age-old method of genetic testing called “eyesight,” theGrio decided to investigate this hilarious hypothesis seriously. […] To effectively debunk this allegation, we must first agree on what people are saying. While there are numerous stories and tweets claiming Harris descended from a white slaveowner, those stories just prove people’s ignorance of America’s true history. Slavemasters often raped their human property, which explains an American Journal of Human Genetics study showing the average African American’s genome is nearly a quarter European. Loving vs. Virginia didn’t cause that; the sexual violence of racial terrorism did. As one teenager wrote: “It is fair to remember that almost the total of race mixture in America has come, not at Negro initiative, but by the acts of those very white men who talk loudest of race purity.” * Sun-Times | ‘Illinoise’ superfans are seeing the Broadway show over and over: If theatergoing were an Olympic sport, then Matthew Dodson would be Michael Phelps. This year alone, the Manhattanite has already attended 160 performances on and off Broadway. In the past, thanks to rush and lottery ticket options, as well as last-minute deals on SeatGeek, he’s racked up head-spinning numbers for shows like “Company” (50 times), “Shucked” (60 times) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (100-plus visits). * KFVS | Boar’s Head recalls more than 207,000 pounds of deli products over possible listeria contamination: The nationwide recall of about 207,528 pounds of products was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Friday and includes several varieties of its deli products that were produced on the same day as the liverwurst. The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were produced between June 11 and July 17 and have a 44-day shelf life.
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FOP Labor Council wants indicted murderer reinstated to job with back pay (Updated)
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Nexstar Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief…
…Adding… The grievance was filed by the FOP Labor Council, not, as posted in that tweet, the ILFOP. * They’re calling for Grayson’s full reinstatement and back pay…
That Facebook post is here. * Sonya Massey’s autopsy was released today. A.P.…
* WAND reporter…
* Invisible Institute and Investigative Reporting Workshop…
* Sangamon County’s response…
* SJ-R…
…Adding… WCIA…
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If wishes were fishes…
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Tribune on the new CPS budget…
The “easy route” is pretending that the state and federal governments are gonna bail out the CPS budget this fiscal year, which started on July 1, by the way. * WBEZ…
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Meanwhile… In Ohio
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * A.P.…
* Justice Michael P. Donnelly wrote in dissent…
* Ohio Dems response…
* Ohio State Rep. Elliot Forhan emailed colleagues with this co-sponsor request this morning…
Thoughts?
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Open thread
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker downplays VP talk, denies call with Harris campaign. Sun-Times…
- The Sun-Times stands by its story. - Asked directly about the call, Pritzker responded, “I don’t want to talk about any private conversations that I’ve had, but I will say that I have said directly to the vice president that I’m going to do everything and anything that is necessary to make sure that we beat Donald Trump and JD Vance.” * Lincoln Presidential Library…
* WBEZ | As the DNC returns to Chicago, Illinois’ dean of the delegation, Dick Durbin, basks in the moment.: There is no shortage of Democrats parsing Durbin’s every move, trying to suss out if this term might be it for the No. 2-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate. He has this advice for those already quietly jockeying for his job in 2026: Cool your heels. “I’ll make up my mind and decide whether I’m going forward or not after the first of the year, and people on the bench then have to make decisions accordingly,” Durbin told WBEZ from his Chicago office overlooking the Loop and Lake Michigan. * AP | Chicago police chief says out-of-town police won’t be posted in city neighborhoods during DNC: As many as 500 officers, mostly from Illinois agencies, will travel to Chicago to boost DNC security. They’ll be directing traffic and working at the numerous checkpoints around the convention sites of the United Center and McCormick Place. “This will free up our officers, our Chicago police officers, to be in more volatile areas,” Snelling said at a news conference with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and city leaders. “We can’t have a successful Democratic National Convention, if we’re not protecting the entire city as a whole.” * Crain’s | Pritzker touts Illinois’ cannabis social equity program: Poised to be ‘national standard’: Pritzker said that the study, which was authored by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office, reported that Maryland had the second most diverse cannabis industry, with 37% of business permits held by minority or women owners, followed by New Jersey with 36%, Colorado with 34%, Michigan with 25%, and Massachusetts with 24%. * Play USA | FanDuel Pleads With Legislators To Keep Online Gaming Tax Rates Reasonable: This year, Illinois lawmakers increased a 15% online sports betting tax rate to as high as 40% at a graduated rate. Brandt Iden, vice president of government affairs at Fanatics, said despite threats made to leave the Illinois market if the tax rate increased, operators are going to stick it out. “Illinois wasn’t quite as bad as New York, but Illinois has been bad from a sports betting perspective,” Iden said. “I mean, they raised the tax rates overnight, a very difficult progressive tax rate structure, and it doesn’t make sense. * Tribune | Chicago Board of Education passes $9.9B budget, withstanding pressure from Mayor Brandon Johnson and teachers union: While the vote may have settled the debate over addressing CPS’ $505 million deficit, the plan doesn’t account for future collective bargaining costs resulting from ongoing negotiations, with the approximately 30,000-member Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Principal Administrators Association of over 1,200 members. * CBS Chicago | Businesses concerned about effect of Chicago DNC security restrictions: Brent Bashier owns Doc’s Smokehouse in Milwaukee and said he did not expect to be surrounded by fencing during the Republican National Convention there earlier this month. The feds’ map for the RNC showed Doc’s right by the hard perimeter but technically in the pedestrians-allowed zone. “We didn’t know that our side street would also be fully restricted. What was not depicted in any of the maps was that there was only one way to get to us,” Bashier said. * Sun-Times | Judge rejects motion to dismiss weapons, misconduct charges against former 45th Ward superintendent: A Cook County judge on Thursday rejected a motion to dismiss weapons and misconduct charges against a former 45th Ward superintendent who allegedly tried to sell a World War II- era machine gun to an undercover federal agent while working a city job. […] Defense attorney Jim McKay, his voice rising to an impassioned shout, told Judge Kenneth Wadas that if the court allowed the case against Charles Sikanich to continue, authorities might as well start charging veterans at VFW halls too. “What about all of the cannons out in front of every VFW hall in the United States?” McKay asked. “If that’s the case, then everyone at that VFW hall should be charged too. This is insane.” * Tribune | Cook County judge unlawfully banned exoneree turned law clerk from courthouse over a phone, lawyers allege: a motion alleges, Judge Peggy Chiampas “began screaming loudly from the bench ‘bring him in, bring him in, bring him in.’” After questioning him in chambers, Chiampas wrote an order that banned Robert Almodovar, who was issued a certificate of innocence in 2018, from the Leighton Criminal Court Building, an unusual move in a public building with a mandate for transparent court proceedings. Now, Almodovar, through his attorney, is contesting the ban and asking that a judge other than Chiampas hear the matter, which has spurred a bizarre, monthslong process in which the matter has been tossed around to multiple judges who seem reluctant to touch the issue and roped in assistant state’s attorneys, even though there are no criminal or contempt of court charges. * Capitol News Illinois | In the suburbs, proposed water rates spark outrage from residents, advocates: At Monday’s hearing, area residents lodged often passionate complaints, with all but one speaker opposing the request. Pat Smith, a nearby resident, said her family installed new insulation and upgraded windows to reduce energy costs, but struggled to reduce its water bill. […] Cindy Zacharias, a registered nurse from Bolingbrook, noted the number of people, particularly older people on fixed incomes, who spoke before her and described struggling to pay their water bills. * Tribune | Longtime OPRFHS history teacher departs the school citing ‘the continued toll of antisemitism’ there: In the letter, a copy of which Pioneer Press obtained through a public records request, Soffer, also a 2003 graduate of the school, said the last few years at OPRFHS have been “incredibly trying”. He said that antisemitism at the school – which enrolls students from the neighboring towns of Oak Park and River Forest – and the district’s lack of response to it, created “an untenable climate” for him. * Daily Herald | The DuPage County Fair is back with a full-scale carnival, sheepherding dogs and loads of ice cream: Along with the county fair staples, the Mama Coco Mobile Cuisine food truck has al pastor and steak tacos with fresh chopped cilantro and onion. Nearby, The Roasted Cob stand serves whole corn cobs with the charred husks still attached. Gyro meals spill over the plate. And on the sweeter side of things, a pie-eating contest is set for Friday afternoon on the west lawn. * Daily Herald | Going for Gold: Here are the suburban athletes on Team USA competing in Paris: Twelve athletes who attended suburban high schools will compete for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which kicks off Friday, July 26 and runs through Aug. 11. […] Korbin Albert, Grayslake, Classical Consortium Academy, women’s soccer A midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Albert is making her Olympic debut. The U.S. women began group play Thursday with a 3-0 win over Zambia. * Herald-Review | Former Decatur council candidate sues mayor, city: In a Monday court filing, Marty Watkins, a U.S. Army veteran and a chaplain at the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, alleged that both former City Manager Scot Wrighton and Public Works Director Matt Newall “gave the directive” for the removal of his campaign signs in March 2021 while other candidates’ signs, also allegedly in unauthorized areas, were untouched. Watkins also alleges that Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe was “informed” about the signs being removed. […] Watkins is seeking $400,000 in damages to compensate for emotional harm, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Reached by Herald & Review Thursday afternoon, Watkins said his “claim basically speaks for itself.” * SJ-R | Accusations of sexual abuse of a minor leveled against former Springfield Catholic bishop: A former Springfield Roman Catholic bishop has been accused of sexually abusing a minor according to one of several lawsuits brought against the St. Louis archdiocese and current Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski this week. Archbishop George Lucas, who served in Springfield from 1999 to 2009, was a priest and the dean of education at the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary School in the late 1980s when the alleged abuse occurred. * WCIA | Deja vu? Canadian wildfire affects being felt in Central Illinois: Canadian wildfires are burning thousands of miles away, but the affects are starting to be felt here in Central Illinois. Air quality is getting worse from the smoke, and some people may want to be careful over the next few days. * The Telegraph | The secret deal that plunged Rupert Murdoch into a family war: Although Succession has ended, the real-life battle for the Murdoch empire rages on: a decades-long tale of power, money, and internecine family rivalry that would make the Ancient Greeks blush. This week it has been revealed that Rupert Murdoch is embroiled in a secret legal battle with three of his children over the future of the business. At 93, it seems the old tycoon has lost none of his appetite for a fight, nor his willingness to line up with one of his children against the others. * BOLTS | For Thousands of Georgians, Freely Traveling Across State Lines for an Abortion Is Not an Option: The near-total ban will severely constrict the reproductive choices of Georgians on probation and parole. Residents in this category who need an abortion will be faced with an impossible choice: giving birth and caring for a baby they do not want and likely cannot afford to raise, or traveling out of state for an abortion and risking a violation of their parole or probation conditions, which could land them back in prison.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Jul 26, 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)
Friday, Jul 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* C-Strategies…
* WBEZ | The hope, the worry and the surreal that Illinois Black female Democratic delegates see in Kamala Harris’ moment: Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th Ward and currently the most-tenured woman on Chicago’s City Council, said it’s a milestone she’s excited to witness. “Wow, wow. My inside quivers, chills to just the thought of it. Chills go over your body,” Mitts said. “It has always been difficult for a woman, and particularly a Black woman. To have one in the White House — know that there’s still hope for women in the world. We can still be that leader. We can be the top leader, as it should be. We’ve been leaders all our life.” * Tribune | Ascension selling 9 Illinois hospitals to California-based Prime Healthcare : Ascension plans to sell the hospitals, along with four of its post-acute and senior living facilities, to Prime Healthcare. Neither Prime nor Ascension disclosed the sale price Thursday. The hospitals slated to be sold to Prime include: Ascension Holy Family in Des Plaines, Ascension Mercy in Aurora, Ascension Resurrection in Chicago, Ascension St. Francis in Evanston, Ascension St. Joseph in Joliet, Ascension St. Joseph in Elgin, Ascension St. Mary in Kankakee, Ascension St. Mary in Chicago and Ascension St. Elizabeth in Chicago. Other facilities involved in the sale include Fox Knoll Village in Aurora, Villa Franciscan Place in Joliet, Heritage Village and Heritage Lodge in Kankakee, and Resurrection Place in Park Ridge, all now operated by Ascension Living. * WTTW | How Will the Democratic National Convention Impact Downtown Chicago? Here Are the Security Zones: The security perimeter was drawn to allow the convention to take place from Aug. 19-22 without disruption and without impacting the daily lives of Chicagoans more than necessary while allowing protestors to exercise their First Amendment right to demonstrate, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. * Sun-Times | With Chicago casino on the horizon, Bally’s accepts $4.6 billion buyout, merger: Bally’s announced Thursday it accepted the $18.25-per-share buyout from Standard General, the New York hedge fund led by Bally’s chairman Soo Kim. That’s a premium over the $15-per-share offered up in March by Kim, whose fund currently owns about a quarter of Bally’s stock. * Crain’s | Gas prices around Chicago surge after tornado shuts refinery: Exxon’s Joliet power outage “has driven up prices across the board in the Great Lakes region,” Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy said in an email. “Jet, diesel and gasoline are all higher.” Retail gasoline prices this week are up 26 cents in Michigan, 22 cents in Illinois, 14 cents in Wisconsin, 13 cents in Indiana and 10 cents in Ohio, he said. * Chalkbeat | Union members assail Chicago Public Schools budget plan ahead of board vote: At Tuesday’s hearing, more than a dozen union members addressed the board to demand that the district back union proposals for smaller class sizes, a librarian in every school, more special education support staff, updated curriculums, substitute-teacher pay increases, and other investments. * Sun-Times | CPS developing ‘transportation hub’ bus system for general education students: District officials are looking into creating a so-called transportation hub program, where general education students could go to a school near their home to catch a bus to their assigned school and be dropped back off there, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said at Thursday’s monthly Board of Education meeting. But the details are still being sorted out. “This option will not be available for our general ed students on the first day of school,” Martinez said. “We hope to open our first hub stops during the first quarter and continue to expand them throughout the school year.” * Chalkbeat | Summer child care can be a puzzle. For parents of children with disabilities, it’s even more complex: Chicago Public Schools currently serves over 52,000 students with Individualized Education Programs, but only 9,019 students are eligible as of July 12 for the district’s summer program for these students, also known as Extended School Year. For students who aren’t eligible for the Extended School Year program, families look to Chicago Park District’s summer day camps for kids between 6-12 years old and special recreational programs for children and teens between 8 and 17 years old. These programs run for about six weeks and can cost $160 or more, but financial aid is available for families. Many of these programs have limited spots and parents say they fill up quickly in the spring. * Sun-Times | CPS students issue the grades in cafeteria taste test: The tastings, held as often as four times a month, help CPS figure out which items to include on the next season’s menu, said Ariana Luster, school nutrition specialist at Chicago Public Schools. Luster also uses the feedback to improve dishes or determine which should be cut from the menu. “Notoriously, school food isn’t seen in the most positive light. So we try to do whatever we can to be responsive to the feedback, give them the things they like but also meet the standards that we must meet,” Luster said. * Block Club | A Chicago Restaurant Was On The Brink Of Closure. Then, Keith Lee Showed Up: “Hey y’all, he got something,” Lee said after taking his first bite of the birria arancini. “It’s spicy, it’s flavorful. This is delicious — and I love the ingenuity of it.” After tasting the arancini, Lee went into the restaurant, met Sciacca, paid $3,000 for the tabs of future customers — and left a $1,000 tip. * Tribune | Chicago Sky announce plans for a $38 million training facility in Bedford Park: ‘It’s not shared. This is ours.’: The $38 million facility will be built in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park and located next to the Wintrust Sports Complex just south of Midway Airport. The Sky expect construction to be completed by December 2025 and the 40,000-square-foot facility to be fully available for the 2026 WNBA season. […] The new facility will have two regulation-sized courts, an improvement from the single court at the team’s current training facilities at Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. The new building also will include amenities such as individual lockers, strength and conditioning equipment, player lounges, recovery and film rooms and a private kitchen. * Tribune | Portillo’s argues that NLRB is unconstitutional in labor board filings: Portillo’s filings come after labor board officials issued a complaint against the fast-expanding hot dog giant earlier this month, alleging it violated labor law before and after a union election at its Addison food preparation facility last year. Workers at that facility voted 28-20 to unionize in an April 2023 election that remains contested as the company has repeatedly challenged the results. Oak Brook-based Portillo’s is one of a number of companies that have recently raised challenges to the labor board’s constitutionality either in lawsuits, labor board filings or hearings. Other companies that have raised constitutional issues over the board’s structure include Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks and SpaceX, which has filed two lawsuits against the NLRB in federal courts in Texas. * Daily Herald | Charges pending against Schaumburg shooting suspect as victim remains in serious condition: Charges were pending Thursday against a Schaumburg resident who surrendered to police late Wednesday after an hourslong armed standoff that followed the shooting of a tree trimmer. The victim was listed in serious but stable condition Thursday at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Schaumburg police Cmdr. Christy Lindhurst said. * WCIA | ‘We don’t have any info and nobody will tell us’: Dispatch records detail confusion after Sonya Massey shooting: New records of scanner traffic the morning of Massey’s death show that it was more than just her family that was confused in the aftermath of the shooting. […] In another recording released by Sangamon County Dispatch, a dispatcher calls the Illinois State Police Dispatch line. “We don’t actually know what happened; he just screamed shots fired. Somebody heard — one of the dispatchers heard the gunshots and said female shot in the head, but we don’t know if she shot herself or if a deputy shot her,” the county dispatcher said. * WSIL | Southern Illinois Family Devastated by Flooding, Memories Washed Away: One week ago, severe flooding turned Nashville, Illinois, into a temporary island. Since then, nearly 70 homeowners have reported flood damage. One of those residents, Jami Lane, says it’s a week later and her family is still trying to process what happened. “It was rushing through the house, and it was really traumatic for them, my 6-year-old, for several days after,” Lane said. * WJBD | Discover Downstate Illinois begins bracket contest to find Best BBQ Joint: There are a number of local BBQ places in the competition including Smoked to the Bone in Iuka, Big Daddy’s in Centralia, Yellow Rose in Wayne City, Curly Tail in Flora and White House in Du Bois. The Facebook contest is set up the same way as past competitions to select the best burger, ice cream, and coffee shop in the region. * NYT | Newsom Orders California Officials to Remove Homeless Encampments: Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, called on state and local leaders to “humanely remove encampments from public spaces” in an urgent manner, prioritizing those that most threaten health and safety. His executive order could divide Democratic local leaders in California, some of whom have already begun to clear encampments while others have denounced the decision from conservative justices as opening the door to inhumane measures to solve a complex crisis. * AP | An Olympic-sized fight erupts among anti-doping officials, and it’s just getting started: The stream of threats, recriminations and anti-doping innuendo flowed freely again Thursday when tensions over a U.S. law designed to combat drugs in sports escalated on the eve of the Paris Olympics. […] After details emerged about 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance - Chinese authorities blamed it on contamination from a hotel kitchen - but none were suspended and some went on to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. launched an investigation. The latest round of backlash played out in a trio of news conferences in Paris, the highlight of which came when leaders at WADA suggested they might sanction one of their biggest critics, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, over the law.
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Corrections officer put on administrative leave for mocking murder victim (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Earlier today… 
People who live around Logan Correctional Center are trying keep it from being shut down by the state. * Response from the Illinois Department of Corrections…
* Angeli has had problems before, so the department’s “education” program apparently didn’t work for him. From 2019…
Maybe he figured his union would save him again. ..Adding… The US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled just this week that IDOC employees can be fired for this behavior…
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Showcasing the Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Thursday, Jul 25, 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 Darvin Furniture, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Republican chair claims Pritzker ‘desperate’ to leave Illinois (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * ILGOP…
Thoughts? …Adding… DPI… 
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Former South Works steel site will be transformed into a massive quantum campus (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Crain’s…
…Adding… Press release…
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Open thread
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Kamala Harris campaign considering J.B. Pritzker for vice presidential candidate. Sun-Times…
- CNN’s Jake Tapper asked the governor if he is being considered as Harris’ running mate, he responded that he was unable to comment on “private conversations.” - Asked by Tapper if he would accept the No. 2 slot on the ticket if it was offered, Pritzker said, “Well, I think you know, I love being governor of Illinois. * Related stories…
∙ CNN: Gov. JB Pritzker was asked if Harris has contacted him to be VP nominee. Hear his response ∙ CBS: Kamala Harris vetting about a dozen possible VP candidates Governor Pritzker will be at the Secret Service Chicago Field Office at 11:30 am for the DNC security briefing. At 1 pm the governor will announce a new business investment. Click here to watch.
* Tribune | Chicago announces ‘transformational’ quantum computer commercial development at fallow South Works site: Mayor Brandon Johnson, who met with top PsiQuantum executives several months ago to pitch the site and the city, said it is significant that a revolutionary new industry is set to spring up on grounds that built the material to create Chicago’s skyline during the last century. “We were the first to shift the economy when steel was being used to grow industry,” Johnson told the Tribune. “Now here we are. I think it’s very fitting that Chicago is upfront and on the cutting edge of what it means to transform our global economy.” * WTTW | Men in Stateville Prison Fear Ongoing Poor Conditions, Threat of Heat a Month After Man Dies in Custody: The nailed-shut windows and broken industrial fans mean there’s little ventilation inside Stateville Correctional Center. Old floor fans face toward the building’s higher levels in a failed attempt to circulate air on the top galleries as heat stays trapped inside. […] Men inside the facility were hoping for change after Michael Broadway, 51, died in custody on June 19, but “that’s the problem, nothing has [changed],” wrote Muhammad. * ABC Chicago | Protestors hold rally after inmate Michael Broadway dies at Stateville Correction Center: Broadway had served 18 years on a murder conviction, but he had filed a claim of innocence. He got an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University while incarcerated. His family told ABC7 he was asthmatic and was housed on the ninth floor of Stateville with a broken fan and a sealed window. On June 19, a 90 degree day, they said he collapsed and was later pronounced dead. The Will County coroner’s office said Broadway’s autopsy report is still pending. * Chronicle | Greenwood maintains fundraising lead in 114th House race: Greenwood started the second quarter with $106,514 and finished with just $111,344, largely on the strength of a $15,000 contribution from SEIU HealthCare IL IN PAC. She received no individual donations in the quarter. On July 12, she got a cash infusion from fellow Democratic state Rep. Jay Hoffman of the 113th District. Hoffman, who is running unopposed, transferred $48,500 from his campaign to Greenwood’s. Added to two other July transfers totaling $3,500, Greenwood has $160,000 on hand. * WGEM | Proposed Illinois bill would make it easier for people to apply for rental properties: If you are in the process off applying to rent an apartment, you know it can be a daunting process that includes collecting information and application fees. However, a bill sent to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s’ desk aims to make applying for apartments easier for tenants and landlords. The proposed bill would allow a tenant to use a reusable tenant screening report when applying to rent a property, which would include important background information such as tenant income, credit score, and rental and eviction history. * WBBM | Over 500 Illinois workers say promised raises have not arrived: Teamsters Local 916 said the Illinois Department of Central Management Services [CMS] is not paying workers at the Illinois Department of Transportation the negotiated wage increases in the collective bargaining agreement. The union said that, as of July 1, more than 500 IDOT Teamsters have not received the wages they are legally owed. * People’s Fabric | Tactical team who killed Dexter Reed under investigation for over two dozen unjustified stops and searches: In one complaint, a man described “a pattern of harassment and intimidation” by 11th District tactical officers outside of his residence, including multiple stops and searches. In the other complaint, COPA lists 28 locations where “the accused officers allegedly engaged in a series of unjustified traffic stops and searches in the 11th District.” * WBEZ | Democrats expect Republican leaders to send more buses of migrants to Chicago before the DNC: “The city is maintaining sufficient bed capacity in our existing temporary shelters and preparing sites in the event that new temporary emergency shelters need to be activated on short notice,” said a city spokesperson. Since August 2022, more than 45,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have been flown and bused to Chicago, mostly from Texas, leading to a humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold. * Tribune | Pioneer Arcade receives city, state support to be developed into affordable housing: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced the 2024 low-income housing tax credit awardees Tuesday, and the Hispanic Housing Development Corp.’s plan to construct 61 affordable housing units for older adults at the former bowling and billiards hall was one of 16 projects statewide to receive funds. Without the city support needed to receive the low-income housing tax credits, the Hispanic Housing Development Corp. would have left a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the table, as well as the potential for an additional $24 million in federal rental subsidies to help the developer maintain affordability for the proposed building over a period of 40 years. * Crain’s | Could the Field Museum get that Stegosaurus Ken Griffin just bought?: Supporting a dinosaur exhibit in Chicago also wouldn’t be a first for Griffin. In 2017, he donated $16.5 million to the Field Museum to support upkeep on Sue and to exhibit a touchable cast of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered, a long-necked titanosaur called “Maximo.”“The Field Museum’s never-ending goal is to offer the best possible dinosaur experiences. Ken Griffin’s longtime support is a major step forward in achieving that goal,” then-Field Museum President Richard Lariviere said at the time of the donation. * Daily Herald | Funding for Wheeling Twp. mental health board hits another snag: Funding for Wheeling Township’s community mental health board, stalled for more than 18 months, now faces a new obstacle. Township Supervisor Kathy Penner said Tuesday that an attorney has spotted a flaw in state legislation intended to clear the way for the township to levy a voter-approved property tax to fund the 708 board. * Daily Herald | Longmeadow Parkway nearing completion in Kane County, with no tolls attached: “It’s going to be a game changer for people,” Carpentersville Village President John Skillman said. Longmeadow Parkway is expected to ease congestion on other nearby bridges. Currently, drivers in the area cross the Fox River via bridges on Route 62 in Algonquin, Route 72 in East and West Dundee or Main Street in Carpentersville. * Tribune | ComEd issuing months of renewable energy credits after computer snafu, but thousands of customers still facing sticker shock from solar providers: Nearly a half year after a bungled ComEd computer billing system upgrade all but shut down the Illinois community solar program, thousands of impacted customers began receiving long-delayed renewable energy credits on their July bills. In some cases, the credits totaled $600 or more worth of solar energy generated since February. * SJ-R | Records: Sheriff’s office knew about Sean Grayson’s DUIs. Were there any other red flags?: Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff’s office knew about both DUIs. […] Campbell, in a statement emailed Wednesday afternoon, said the sheriff’s office “understood that the serious misconduct referenced (in Grayson’s Army personnel file) was a DUI.” * WIFR | Northern Illinois counties implement Safe Streets for All Action Plan: Leaders in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson and Whiteside counties are putting their communities first by implementing the Safe Streets for All Action Plan. In collaboration with Blackhawk Hills, the plan is designed to guide future infrastructure plans and avoid vehicle-related fatalities and severe injuries. From 2019 to 2021, road deaths across the nation increased by 17.4%, with a 32.1% increase in Illinois alone. Within the six participating counties, a 7.1% increase of deaths has affected these areas. Blackhawk Hills submitted a grant to address these concerns, ultimately receiving the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) gran to support the Safety Action Plan. * WIFR | Eye on Politics: One-on-one with Adam Kinzinger: Adam Kinzinger has been called a country-first man of conviction. Some call him Illinois’s biggest RINO, or Republican In Name Only. WIFR anchor Mike Garrigan sat down with the former Republican congressman turned CNN commentator to cover a variety of topics.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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