Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here for some of the video. We’re going to end Black History Month with what I would contend is one of the top ten greatest live musical performances of all time. Turn it all the way up…

Higher!

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were told about this earlier. Daily Herald…

For the second time in a month, Barrington Hills Trustee Darby Hills on Friday was named the new state senator for the 26th District.

Republican Party leaders representing various parts of the district chose Hills to succeed Republican Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods, who resigned Feb. 2. […]

Plaintiff Brittany Colatorti also alleged Hills was ineligible to be appointed because she lacked qualifying GOP activity.

Lake County Republican Party Chair Keith Brin, who led the legislative committee that met Friday, subsequently appointed Hills to an open Republican precinct committee post in an effort to boost her GOP bona fides.

* I wrote a piece about this hearing for subscribers yesterday. Capitol News Illinois…

Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace, along with the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees some aspects of the Chicago area’s transit systems, collectively face a $771 million funding shortfall in 2026 as federal pandemic dollars run out. That includes inflation, according to the RTA, which previously said the shortfall would be $730 million. […]

The transit agencies were peppered with questions from lawmakers during a House hearing this week about their shortfalls in planning, organization and execution of services. Lawmakers have said for months the agencies will not receive new state funding without major reforms to their operations happening first.

In a particularly tense exchange, Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, ripped into RTA Chair Kirk Dillard.

“I think that we need to blow up the RTA, totally blow it up, get rid of everyone, because again, systemic incompetence for the last 50 years,” Mayfield said. “I don’t want to keep anyone other than the janitors and the basic clerical staff. Anybody in a leadership position needs to be removed.” […]

Current state law limits the power of the RTA to regional planning, setting standards for the service, developing performance measures, allocating funding, financial oversight, and capital planning. The three agencies that actually provide public transportation are left to determine levels of service, schedules and fares.

“What the RTA’s role is at best is the bully pulpit and trying to coordinate, convene and have conversations if there is no compelling mechanism — financial, statutorily or out of penalties — whereby the RTA can control that outcome,” [RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden] said.

*** Statewide ***

* Shaw Local | Illinois AG warns of ticket scams as festival, outdoor concert season nears: As tickets for spring and summer concert tours, festivals and sporting events begin to go on sale, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul cautioned about ticket scams. Buying tickets from a third-party vendor or private party increases the risk of fraud and Raoul warned residents to avoid paying for tickets with anything other than a credit card.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Discontinued violence-prevention program for struggling teens revived with $25 million: A Chicago non-profit received $25 million in funding Thursday to lead a previously discontinued violence-prevention program after the school board voted unanimously for its restatement. The program, called Back to Our Future, was designed to be a trailblazing initiative to prevent gun violence and reengage youth ages 14 through 21 who were disconnected from Chicago public schools. Armed with an $18 million grant, the joint effort between the city of Chicago, the state, the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab and three local non-profits aimed to reach 1,000 youth in 15 neighborhoods on the South and West sides who had stopped going to school 18 months prior or longer and re-enroll them in school.

* Sun-Times | Feds want hearing after expert finds ex-Ald. Carrie Austin unfit for trial on bribery charges: Indicted former Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) has been found not medically fit for trial by an expert appointed by the federal judge presiding over Austin’s nearly four-year-old criminal case. Defense attorneys say that should be enough to call off her trial, set for Nov. 3. But prosecutors say they still want an evidentiary hearing to gather “additional facts” from the expert “about her analysis and conclusion” so U.S. District Judge John Kness can make a more informed decision.

* WBEZ | Former Chicago Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot are helping Brandon Johnson prepare for DC testimony: Lightfoot, who is meeting with Johnson on Saturday, echoed that sentiment in a statement to WBEZ. “When Chicago leaders are given a national platform, it’s important to combat the cynical and false narratives about our city,” she said. “Anything I can do to help push back against the Trump Republicans and right wing media to tell the true story of this great city, I will do. I look forward to talking with Mayor Johnson.”

* Sun-Times | Fenwick High School is keeping secrets about teacher’s alleged sex abuse of female students: The suit accused the school of conducting a “sham” investigation seemingly designed to clear Dineen, and failing to notify authorities about the accusations — even though that was required under state law — or girls’ parents. Fenwick also didn’t document anything in Dineen’s personnel records — essentially white-washing matters so he would be able to get another teaching job, the suit says.

* Crain’s | American Airlines takes some of the hassle out of boarding at O’Hare: The carrier is deploying software at O’Hare International Airport that’s designed to keep passengers from jumping the line during boarding. The software sounds an audible alert to gate agents as passengers scan their boarding passes if they are trying to board before their group is called.

* Tribune | Two reputed Mexican cartel figures brought to Chicago in historic prisoner transfer: Norberto Valencia González, a financial guru affiliated with the once-powerful and notoriously violent Beltrán-Leyva cartel, was extradited to Chicago and made an initial court appearance Thursday on an indictment alleging he conspired to traffic kilogram quantities of cocaine and launder drug proceeds, according to court records. The trafficking activity took place between 2013 and 2017 in Chicago and nearby areas, including Arlington Heights, Morris and Plainfield, the seven-page indictment states.

* Tribune | Can a Chicago White Sox investor actually buy the team — or is it just a pipe dream for angst-ridden fans?: The light at the end of the long, dark tunnel suddenly seemed real. A savior would arise from these streets and start handing out nine-figure contracts like candy, changing the culture of the Sox organization and ending their seasonal pain. This sudden burst of optimism stemmed from a report in The Athletic that an anonymous investor and limited partner of the Sox was attempting to buy shares from other limited partners. That mystery investor, author Jon Greenberg wrote, was none other than Justin Ishbia, who co-owns the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury with his brother, Mat, and recently had pulled out of a plan to buy the Minnesota Twins.

* South Side Weekly | Traveling Exhibit at Chicago Public Libraries Honors History of Black Steelworkers: “When I moved to the Southeast Side, I became interested in the region’s steel history and began doing personal research,” said Bianca Milligan Garcia, Harold Washington’s library associate for exhibits. “I wanted to make an exhibit about my community and our contributions to Chicago’s labor history but couldn’t find a narrow enough topic to make into an exhibit. I saw an opportunity when ASALH announced its 2025 theme.” After pitching the idea to the Exhibits Team and the African American Heritage Committee (of which she is a member), Milligan Garcia began the time-consuming process of finding information about the Black labor experience in Chicago’s steel industry by digging through archives at the Chicago Public Library’s repositories and exploring articles by scholars across various disciplines.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* AP | Jury finds Illinois landlord guilty of murder, hate crime in 2023 attack on Palestinian American boy: Joseph Czuba, 73, was charged in the fatal stabbing of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen on Oct. 14, 2023 in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago. Authorities alleged the family — who were renting rooms in Czubas house — was targeted because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes over the crime that renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination in the Chicago area’s large and established Palestinian community.

* WGN | FBI drops new subpoena on Dolton: WGN Investigates has obtained a copy of the subpoena which is dated February 25… Election Day. A source says FBI agents hand-delivered the subpoena to Dolton Village Hall late Thursday. The subpoena seeks records related to the development of a restaurant and entertainment venue on land once reportedly owned by Henyard’s boyfriend. “They wanted to take our land,” Tiffany Kamara told WGN Investigates in a story broadcast one day before the subpoena was served.

* ABC Chicago | Northwestern among 10 schools to be visited by federal antisemitism task force: DOJ: The U.S. Department of justice announced the visit in a news release Friday. “The President, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and the entire Administration are committed to ensuring that no one should feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus because of their religion,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell said in a statement. “The Task Force’s mandate is to bring the full force of the federal government to bear in our effort to eradicate Anti-Semitism, particularly in schools. These visits are just one of many steps this Administration is taking to deliver on that commitment.”

* Shaw Local | Abraham Lincoln visits Morris to teach students the value of honesty: 16th US President Abraham Lincoln (R-Illinois) visited Morris on Thursday and Friday, first stopping in for a haircut with Dick Sohan Thursday before stopping in at Morris Elementary for a talk with third grade students. For Lincoln, it was a retreading of old ground: He last visited Morris in 1858, stopping for a haircut at about the same location as the Sanitary Barber Shop at 121 W. Washington St. and sleeping at an inn that was somewhere close to Corleone’s at 110 Liberty St.

*** Downstate ***

* WSIL | Senator Fowler provides updates on Cairo Port District project: “Planning for the Alexander-Cairo Port District has been ongoing for nearly a decade,” Senator Fowler said. “Local, state and federal officials have been working to secure funding and advance the next stages of the project, which are expected to generate economic development, as well as possibly establish the Port District as a National hub for river commerce.”

* WCIA | VA employees ‘scared to death’ over federal cuts, dismissals: The federal government is continuing its effort to cut government spending, with some coming through workers with Veteran Affairs. Since the beginning of the month, there have been almost 3,000 VA employees dismissed across the country, some of whom were let go at the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville. The VA Illiana in Danville confirmed a small number of probationary employees were dismissed this month. It put some employees who are within their first couple of years out of work.

* WCIA | Concerns over homeless prevention programs rise as cuts loom: Heartland Housed helps the homeless in the Springfield area, and they rely on Federal funds for a third of it’s funding, but that money isn’t just dropped in the organizations accounts. Josh Sabo says they have to work to get as much money as they can, and HUD staff is often very helpful with that.

* 25News | Lawyer proposes locally-owned cannabis dispensary in Pekin: A local lawyer specializing in cannabis industry law, Thomas Howard, proposed the business to the Pekin City Council on Monday. He said it would be the first and only locally-owned dispensary in the area. The business would potentially revitalize 359 Court St., the vacant, 12,000-square-foot historic Pekin Performing Arts Center. Howard said through the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the store would also be a licensed social equity dispensary in what the act defines as a “disproportionately impacted” area.

* WAND | Upgrades to the I-55 bridges over the Sangamon River: The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that a $29.5 million project to expand the Interstate 55 bridges over the Sangamon River north of Springfield is starting this week. […] “Improving these bridges is a major investment in the Springfield region and a big first step to modernizing a vital corridor for freight and travel for Illinois and the entire country,” said Lora Rensing, IDOT’s chief engineer and director of highways project implementation. “While we are busy working on I-55, we’re asking drivers to be patient, slow down and pay extra attention approaching and driving through the work zone.”

* Herald & Review | Decatur Public Library to celebrate 150 years of service to community: Activities are scheduled throughout the year, including a performance by folk artists Hungrytown on Saturday, March 1, a visit by PBS personality and social media library enthusiast Mychal Threets on March 22, and a 2-mile Color Run on April 12 that will have participants running/walking past previous library locations.

* WSIL | Upcoming event will commemorate 100th anniversary of Tri-State Tornado: The Tri-State Tornado stuck parts of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana, on March 18, 1925. In our area, impacted communities include Gorham, Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, Zeigler, West Frankfort, Eighteen, Parrish, Crossville. Murphysboro was one of the hardest hit, with nearly 300 people killed, and thousands of buildings destroyed.

* WICS | Gabby Barrett to headline Du Quoin State Fair: Gabby Barrett will take the stage at the Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand to close out the 2025 Fair on Monday, September 1. Barrett’s debut single “I Hope” ruled the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a record-breaking 27 weeks, making her the youngest artist with a #1 debut on country radio in over two decades.

*** National ***

* Democracy Docket | Democrats Sue Trump Over Attempt to Control Independent Election Agency: The Democratic Party is suing President Donald Trump over an executive order that could make it easier for him to tilt elections in the GOP’s favor. The lawsuit, filed Friday by Elias Law Group on behalf of the three national Democratic committees, challenges an expansive executive order Trump issued earlier this month that would give him unprecedented power over key regulatory agencies that were designed to operate without direct White House control.

* WaPo | Trump officials start dismantling civil rights offices, as part of DOGE’s secret plan: Leaders at the Labor Department are planning to cut by 90 percent the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which for decades has worked to ensure government contractors took affirmative action to end discrimination at their firms, documents obtained by The Washington Post show. The Federal Trade Commission, meanwhile, has halved its internal equal employment opportunity office to three employees from six, and similar moves have taken place at NASA, where most information about how to file complaints has been removed from its websites.

* CNN | Skype is shutting down after two decades: Skype will “no longer be available” to use starting in May, the company confirmed on X, telling users that their log-in information can be used on Microsoft Teams’ free tier in the “coming days.” Skype’s shutdown comes 14 years after Microsoft bought the service for $8.5 billion in cash, marking the company’s largest ever acquisition at the time. Microsoft integrated the service into its other products, such as Office and its ill-fated mobile operating service Windows Phone.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Updates to previous editions

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Pritzker: Cuts to Medicaid will be devastating to Illinois

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

Gov. JB Pritzker, joined by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and several members of the Illinois congressional delegation, spoke this morning about the devastating impact to Illinois Medicaid recipients the federal budget represents.

The House budget calls for $2 trillion in cuts focused on safety-net programs like Medicaid, though it does not specify exact measures on individual cuts.

Almost 3.4 million people, including half the children in the state, are covered by Medicaid, Pritzker said. Medicaid is the largest insurer of people in nursing homes, he noted.

Click here to view Medicaid enrollment by Illinois State House and Senate districts.

* The Governor was asked about the budget ramifications if Federal Medicaid funds were cut…

There’s no chance that the state of Illinois can make up for the dollars that we would lose if Medicaid is impacted in the ways that we believe that it will be because you’re talking about, if you just talked about the Medicaid expansion, which they’re talking about seemingly much more than that. But if you just talk about that piece, right, that’s about seven and a half billion dollars that the state of Illinois would have to come up with in order to extend that program and pay for it ourselves. There is not seven and a half billion dollars in the state of Illinois that we have to make up for that program. What would we have to do? I mean, we have contingency programs that we’ve thought up and put on paper that we want to put in place if, God forbid this happens.

But the reality is, it’s going to involve encouraging free care clinics, making sure that hospitals stay open as best we can, because they’re going to be layoffs across the state of Illinois. And Senator Durbin said earlier that he’s from Springfield, all across central Illinois, where he’s from, there will be closures. I mean literally, these hospitals cannot survive without they serve. They have populations, sometimes 60, 70, 80 percent of the population that they serve are Medicaid recipients, just like the safety net hospitals here in the city of Chicago. So I it’s it will be devastating.

There is not enough that the state can do to make up for the damage that Elon Musk, maybe I should say President Musk, and President Trump will do to the people of Illinois.

* From the governor’s press release…

Illinois Medicaid By-the-Numbers:

- Illinoisans Covered by Medicaid: 3.4 million. Approximately 1 in 4 Illinoisans
- Illinois Children Covered by Medicaid: 1.4 million
- Percentage of Illinois Births Covered by Medicaid: 44%
- Illinois Adults Covered by ACA Expansion: 770,000
- Illinois Nursing Home Days Covered by Medicaid: 68%
- Percentage of IL Community Mental Health Center Patients Covered by Medicaid: 80%
- Percentage of people in IL living with HIV covered by Medicaid: 50%
- Number of people employed by Illinois hospitals and health systems: 445,000 (11% of the state’s total employment)

Among the most vulnerable to Republican cuts are the 770,000 Illinoisans who are covered through the ACA expansion, who would otherwise be ineligible for Medicaid. The last time Republicans attempted to eliminate the ACA Medicaid expansion in 2017, it was estimated that Illinois could lose between 55,000 to 60,000 jobs statewide and $7.5 billion in annual economic activity.

Cuts to Medicaid will affect the most vulnerable people in our communities – low-income adults, children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, seniors with limited financial resources, and people living in rural areas. A reduction to Medicaid services would also have a devastating impact on hospitals and health systems. In fiscal year 2024, the Medicaid program in Illinois paid $10.8 billion to hospitals, $3.8 billion to Long-Term Care facilities, $4.5 billion to pharmacies, and $2.1 billion to physicians and clinics across the state.

Medicaid also plays a critical role in Illinois’ economy, supporting jobs and communities across the state. Illinois’ hospitals and health systems, most of which serve Medicaid enrollees, annually generate $117.7 billion for the state. This breaks down to $50.3 billion for payroll, $61.8 billion for supplies and services, and $5.6 billion in capital funding. Every dollar spent on these categories, generates an additional $1.40 in spending, ultimately contributing to the growth of local economies across the state. Illinois hospitals and health systems also support 445,000 full-time jobs, comprising 11% of the state’s total employment.

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A look at the history of Illinois’ health insurance program for undocumented residents

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Flashback to May 27, 2020…

Illinois will become the first state to provide Medicaid for undocumented seniors not only because of what state Rep. Delia Ramirez has heard from her constituents, but because of her own family’s experience.

Tucked in near the end of the 465-page budget implementation bill that passed the Illinois General Assembly late Saturday night was a provision giving Medicaid access to noncitizens over 65 years old and whose income is $12,670 or less, which is at or under the federal poverty level.

Gov. JB Pritzker said he will approve next year’s budget and its implementations. Medicaid services for qualified undocumented seniors will kick in July 1 when the 2021 budget year begins.

The expansion was a big win for the Legislative Latino Caucus, which Ramirez took lead on the effort through the health and human services working group leading up to the special session. She said the coverage will save the state money in the long run, costing about $2 million, which in her opinion, “is nothing to a $2 billion Medicaid bill.”

Emphasis added because cost and enrollment have always been extremely tough to predict, partly because not enough is known about the folks who are eligible and whether they’d even apply. That $2 million prediction was widely believed at the time, but the Fiscal Year 2021 cost for the senior program turned out to be $67 million and it doubled a year later and more than tripled by FY23.

* People ages 42-64 were added during the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. First-year costs were about $52.5 million. The following year, in FY23, costs rose 725 percent to $433 million. Total costs for all age groups was $644 million by that time, up from $187 million the year before.

And that’s when this happened…

On June 16th, 2023, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services abruptly announced that enrollment for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program, which provides vital health coverage for Illinois immigrants ages 42-64, will be paused effective July 1. The notice also permits co-pays and reduced reimbursements to hospitals. One of the largest parts about HBIA and HBIS was that this Medicaid-like health insurance provided access to healthcare coverage with $0 premiums and $0 co-payments. With the changes that have been made, no new applicants of HBIA or HBIS will be accepted and those who are currently covered by these programs will have $250 co-pays for inpatient hospitalization, $100 co-pays for emergency room visits and will be charged 10% of the department rate for hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center outpatient services.

Those changes were authorized by SB1298.

The actions stopped the rapid cost increases, and enrollment fell…

In FY21, 6,884 individuals were enrolled in HBIS (65+). HBIS (65+) enrollment increased to 11,362 in FY22, 15,831 in FY23, and decreased to 11,464 in FY24. The HBIA (55-64) enrollment increased from 6,675 in FY22, to 17,024 in FY23, before decreasing to 13,596 in FY24. The HBIA (42-54) enrollment increased from 5,823 in FY22, to 36,912 in FY23, before decreasing to 27,941 in FY24.

And by this past December, total projected costs for Fiscal Year 2025 were down to $558 million, with total enrollment plunging from about 70,000 at its height in FY23 to 41,505.

* Even so, the costs were still far too high. During his budget address, the governor proposed eliminating the program for everyone but the seniors…

Gov. JB Pritzker’s recently unveiled 2026 budget proposal includes a controversial cut.

It proposes to get rid of two programs that allow immigrants without legal status to receive healthcare coverage, specifically impacting undocumented adults aged 42 to 64. However, coverage for those 65 and older will remain intact.

The move has sparked backlash from the General Assembly’s Latino Caucus, as well as pro-immigrant advocacy groups.

If the HFS projected costs for this fiscal year holds up, getting rid of coverage for the 42-64 age cohort would save the state $419 million, leaving a $139 million cost for seniors, although that will likely fall too because entry is still cut off.

* The governor’s office undoubtedly knew the recent audit findings were published before he made those proposals. The Auditor General must submit his reports to agencies and allow them to respond. HFS responded on January 21st, so it had the report on-hand long before the governor’s budget address on February 19th.

The report focused on two things: Actual enrollment and costs far exceeded initial projections; And…

During a review of the enrollment data, auditors identified 6,098 enrollees designated as “undocumented” who also had a Social Security Number. Auditors provided the 6,098 enrollees to HFS asking whether enrollees classified as undocumented enrollees should also have a Social Security Number. HFS officials reviewed and provided responses for a sample of 94 enrollees. Auditors determined that 19 of the 94 should have been recorded in the system as lawfully present or as being a legal permanent resident, not undocumented. This is an important distinction as after five years in the country, legal permanent residents become eligible for Medicaid and thus the State would receive federal matching dollars.

Auditors identified 688 enrollees who were enrolled in the HBIS (65+) program who were not 65 years of age or above. These 688 exceptions were provided to HFS for comment. After HFS’s review of 151, it was determined that 79 were signed up in error. Many of the errors occurred from incorrect birthdates provided by the enrollee, which were later corrected when documentation was provided.

During a review of the enrollment data, auditors identified 394 enrollees who appeared to have been enrolled in HBIS or HBIA after they had been in the country legally for over five years. These individuals are eligible for Medicaid, thus the State would receive federal matching dollars. These exceptions were provided to HFS for review and comment. HFS reviewed a sample of 17 and determined that 13 were approved incorrectly. Allowing ineligible enrollees in State-only funded programs should be avoided when possible.

HFS pledged to strengthen its internal controls. We’ll see.

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When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Findings of a recent economic study were clear — the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product.

Retailers like Barb enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.

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If you won’t listen to me, Sen. Durbin, then listen to this expert and look at what got us here

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. From a Sun-Times op-ed by Seth Stern, the director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation and a First Amendment lawyer…

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin wants to sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites and apps from liability for posts created by users. Without it, the internet as we know it couldn’t function — the legal risks of interactivity would be too great.

Politicians often frame Section 230 as a gift to big tech. That’s incorrect. Big tech companies are the only ones that could afford to survive without it. Upstart competitors couldn’t. Independent news outlets that foster dialog certainly couldn’t. Illinois political blog CapitolFax.com says Durbin’s plan would put it out of business. […]

As was the case before Section 230, post-repeal platforms might be safer taking a completely hands-off approach to content moderation than risking negligence lawsuits for trying, but inevitably failing, to police speech. […]

Durbin’s disdain for censorship led him to support the PRESS Act. With a president eager to silence journalists, now’s not the time to risk silencing free speech. A two-year sunset period offers cold comfort absent a plan to mitigate the damage during that window. Even if Durbin had one, there’s no reason to believe our dysfunctional Congress can pass it.

Demanding the elimination of Section 230 is probably the dumbest thing that Sen. Durbin has ever done.

* Here’s what led to the original congressional passage of the Communications Decency Act of 1996…

In October 1994, an unknown user posted statements on Prodigy’s “Money Talk” bulletin board indicating that Stratton Oakmont, Inc., a Long Island securities brokerage firm, and its president, Daniel Porush, had committed criminal and fraudulent acts in connection with the initial public offering of Solomon-Page, Ltd. As a result, Stratton and Porush sued Prodigy and anonymous defendants in New York state court for defamation.

The plaintiffs argued that Prodigy should be considered a “publisher” of the anonymous poster’s statements. Under the common law of defamation, if Prodigy were considered a publisher, it could be held liable for the statements of the unknown user. Conversely, if it were found to be merely a “distributor,” it could not be held liable unless it knew or had reason to know about the allegedly defamatory statements.

“Money Talk” was, at the time, a widely read forum covering stocks, investments, and other business matters. Prodigy contracted with Charles Epstein to act as “Board Leader,” a position entailing, in part, participation in board discussions, board promotional efforts, and board supervision. In its argument that Prodigy was a publisher of the defamatory statements, the plaintiffs pointed to representations Prodigy had made in various newspaper articles representing itself as an organization that exercised editorial control over the content on its servers.

In making their case, the plaintiffs also pointed to Prodigy’s “content guidelines,” which stated rules that users were expected to abide by, a software screening program which filtered out offensive language, and the employment of moderators or “Board Leaders” who were responsible for enforcing the content guidelines.

In May 1995, on the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment, the court held that these representations and policies were sufficient to treat Prodigy as a publisher. In so holding, the court distinguished the case from an earlier one involving CompuServe, which was found merely to be an “electronic for-profit library” or repository and thus a passive distributor. In particular, the court pointed to Prodigy’s creation of an “editorial staff of Board Leaders who have the ability to continually monitor incoming transmissions.” The court noted, however, that bulletin boards should normally be considered distributors when they do not exercise significant editorial control, as Prodigy had done.

Prodigy moved for reconsideration of the May 1995 decision, but the party’s settled in October 1995, apparently before the motion was decided.

In passing the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which, among other things, established immunity for internet service providers for publishing “information provided by another information content provider,” 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1), the House explicitly stated its intent to overturn the result reached in the Prodigy case. See H.R. Conf. Rep. 104-58, at 194.

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Please, don’t do stuff like this (Updated)

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Daily Herald poses a campaign question to a government employee on state time…

Prompted by what he calls “radical” changes in Illinois’ criminal justice system, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is skipping a potential third term as the county’s top cop and setting his sights instead on the governor’s mansion. […]

Pritzker has not said whether he will run again in 2026. With a growing national profile as an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump, his name also has been floated as a possible Democratic nominee for president in 2028.

Press secretary Alex Gough said via email Thursday that nothing has changed regarding Pritzker’s reelection plans, and declined to comment on Mendrick’s announcement.

Apparently, Gough told him Pritzker had already spoken to this and then referred the reporter to the campaign side.

* I don’t have hard data, but I have decades of experience listening to state government spokespersons regularly complain about reporters asking them campaign questions during state hours.

Hey, I’ve done it sometimes without thinking. It happens. But it’s not right to put a government employee in that position.

People write stories all the time about ethics violations, etc., yet it’s reporters who might be committing the most common ethics breach.

* Anyway, here’s an announcement/background roundup from Isabel…

* WGN | DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announces GOP run for Illinois governor: DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick on Thursday announced a Republican bid to become the next governor of Illinois. Seeking the GOP nomination in 2026, Mendrick declared that he would not be running for a third term as DuPage County Sheriff. Mendrick endorsed Undersheriff Eddie Moore as his successor.

* Politico | Illinois Playbook: Mendrick doesn’t even have a campaign manager yet. His wife, a psychiatric nurse, filled the role in his two bids for sheriff, “but this will be too big for her to do alone so we’re going to figure all that out this weekend,” he said in an interview with your Playbook host. […] “I did not plan on running for sure,” Mendrick said. He made the surprise move after choosing not to leave Illinois because he didn’t like how it’s being run. He’s now staying put in Woodridge after his 25-year-old son said he wasn’t budging. Mendrick and his wife also have a 22-year-old son with autism and are active in the disability community, he said.

* FOX Chicago | DuPage County sheriff announces run for Illinois Governor: What’s next: Mendrick will need strong Republican backing to mount a successful campaign against Governor Pritzker, who has a significant financial advantage with $323 million spent on past campaigns. “The backing I’m already getting is more than I expected. Will I be able to match a billionaire? No, probably not, but I just watched a presidential candidate (Kamala Harris) spend $2 billion and get nowhere with it,” he said.

* Daily Herald | ‘We want our state back’: DuPage sheriff announces he will run for governor in 2026: Mendrick acknowledges that running for governor is a costly proposition, especially if he ultimately faces off with a self-funded billionaire like Pritzker. Even so, he said he didn’t make much effort to contact Republican leadership to line up support and fundraising before Thursday. “I think my message is strong enough that it will draw support,” he said, adding that he’s already been inundated with calls and messages from people offering support.

* Tribune | DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick seeking GOP bid for Illinois governor in 2026: “I don’t care if the Democrats hate me and the media hates me. Do you really think I’m gonna get their votes anyway? I mean, really. And this is the Republican problem. A lot will be, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. Let me join with …’” he told the GOP group. “No. Absolutely not. Hold firm. Do your job. Be a Republican. And don’t waver to these people just because they’re crying and screaming at you.”

* ABC Chicago, 2023 | Hundreds pack DuPage County Board meeting to criticize, laud sheriff over assault weapons ban: The large response comes after DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said he would not enforce the ban. He is one of more than 80 of the 102 sheriffs in the state who said they are not enforcing the new law.

* NCTV | No censure for DuPage Sheriff, agreement reached on weapons ban enforcement: On Jan. 23, U.S. Representatives, state legislators, members of the Illinois congressional delegation, and DuPage County Board members met at the Danada House in Wheaton for a press conference, speaking out against Mendrick’s stance. During it, Rep. Sean Casten called for Mendrick to either retract his statement or resign. After the announcement, Mendrick released a statement saying the legislators held the press conference “to admonish and berate me, your DuPage County Sheriff, for questioning their authority of a very poorly written piece of legislation that has no clear direction on who will be enforcing new gun laws.”

…Adding… The governor was asked about Sheriff Mendrick during an unrelated event…

Good luck. Everybody has the option of running for public office. I understand he announced yesterday on his Facebook page, and so I don’t really have anything to say more about that. And I have not made up my mind about whether I would run for re-election.

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There’s No End To Credit Card Swipe Fee Greed

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Credit card companies collect more than $172 billion in swipe fees from customers and businesses each year, but it’s not enough to satisfy their greed. As consumers and retailers continue to grapple with inflation, Visa raised swipe fees on January 1.

Gov. JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the General Assembly took a stand against swipe fee greed by passing the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which limits swipe fees from being charged on the sales tax and tip portion of transactions. This law will provide tangible relief to Illinois families and retailers of all sizes.

While Visa and Mastercard fight to protect their unchecked duopoly in court, Illinois policymakers have sent a clear message that enough is enough.

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It’s just a bill

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Senate Bill 148 would enable Illinois residents to open a special kind of savings account that could only be used to pay eligible costs for the purchase of a single-family residence. Deposits into those accounts would be deductible from state income taxes with some limitations.

The deductions would be limited to $5,000 per year for individuals and $10,000 per year for joint accounts, up to maximum aggregate amounts of $25,000 per individual and $50,000 for joint accounts over a 10-year period.

The accounts would be available to Illinois residents who have not owned or purchased, either individually or jointly, a single-family residence during the prior 10 years. That would include both first-time and “second-chance” buyers – people who may have purchased a home previously and now want to get into the ownership market again.

“When you look at the median sales price of a home in Illinois in 2024, it was almost $300,000,” Sen. Christine Castro, D-Elgin, said during a news conference Thursday. “That’s 8% higher than in 2023 and almost 40% then higher than in 2019. So you see the rapid (rising) cost of homes.” […]

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Revenue Committee and is awaiting further action.

* WAND…

Illinois Senate Republicans are renewing their calls for property tax reform.

Caucus leaders told reporters in Springfield Thursday that Illinois should raise the income eligibility for the low-income senior citizen assessment freeze homestead exemption to $75,000 and tie future increases to inflation. […]

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said lawmakers must pass a bill to cap the assessed value of properties at the rate of inflation. He argued Illinoisans should not have to see their property assessments rise higher than the rate of inflation. […]

Another proposal could allow taxpayers to receive a refund for any excess credit. In other words, people paying more in property taxes but less for income taxes would get a refund for the difference.

* House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie is providing an update to constituents in her 89th District on Chronic Wasting Disease, fatal disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk. Since its first detection in a northwest Boone County deer in 2002, state efforts to manage the disease have had a lasting impact—especially in Leader McCombie’s legislative district. As a result, McCombie has filed a legislative package to produce state-based solutions.

“Input from residents has been the driving force behind my efforts to address Chronic Wasting Disease. Because of this feedback, I have identified legislation that represents our community’s voice and will make significant change,” said McCombie.

Based on overwhelming feedback from residents, Leader McCombie is advancing the following measures:

- End the CWD sharpshooting program entirely (HB3858)
- Automatically phase out the sharpshooting program in any area that has not had a confirmed CWD case in three years (HB2339)
- Encourage responsible hunting by allowing special deer, turkey, and combination hunting licenses for landowners with at least 20 acres in counties where CWD has been identified (HB2340)

McCombie is urging constituents to stay involved on the issue. To date, two of the bills have moved forward, HB2339 and HB2340; they are assigned to the Agriculture and Conversation Committee in the Illinois House.

“Our community knows what is best, and I am relying on the voices from local residents to help me forge the path forward and ensure we reach a suitable outcome,” continued McCombie.

* WCIS…

Insurance could potentially look a little different in Illinois. Lawmakers are pushing to enact a new bill that will require gun owners to have insurance.

Illinois State Representative, Bob Morgan, told me this idea has been in the works for years, and the main goal is to make Illinois a safer state.

Morgan is in the early stages of getting a gun insurance task force approved to help this legislation come to life.

“It’s representation from the insurance industry,” Morgan said “ Those who are promoting gun violence prevention, and those who are focused on gun rights, gun owner rights. Basically, have a broad-based representation to have this conversation and figure out whether this is something we can, and should do in Illinois.”

* Rep. Jed Davis…

tate Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has filed two bills to improve teacher recruitment in Illinois.

“As the son of a teacher who spent over 30 years in the classroom, I know firsthand the value of promoting and supporting educators,” said Rep. Davis. “It’s why I filed these bills – to tackle Illinois’ teacher shortage.”

House Bill 1101 increases funding for the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program, encouraging students pursuing education degrees in Illinois to stay and teach in communities facing critical shortages.

House Bill 1112 updates licensing requirements, allowing individuals with extensive hands-on experience in Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, or Trade (METT) to earn an Educator License without a bachelor’s degree. This bill not only fills critical teaching gaps but also expands career pathways for young people choosing a route other than college.

“We desperately need more teachers to equip the next generation workforce,” Davis added. “These bills will help remove barriers holding back recruitment and bring more qualified educators into our classrooms.”

* Crain’s…

General Assembly members are also considering several bills involving abortion, as well as attempting to pass an assisted suicide bill, something that’s come up perennially in recent years.

HB 3279, sponsored by Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, would provide immigrants residing in Illinois, whether lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration & Nationality Act or not, the same family planning medical coverage that the state now provides U.S. citizens under its Medical Assistance Programs. This includes coverage of reproductive services, including abortion. The bill has been sent to the Rules Committee.

HB 2904 and SB 1679, called the Health Care Transparency Act, are designed for the state to identify health care facilities that, for nonmedical reasons, won’t provide services like abortion, transgender care and end-of-life care. […]

HB 3637 is meant to protect health care workers governed by an Illinois licensing board from disciplinary actions for health care actions that aren’t illegal in Illinois, such as abortion services.

* WAND…

A new bill in Springfield could require the state to provide funding for the mutual aid box alarm system to help first responders address disasters at large warehouses.

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) said many leaders quickly learned about the importance of MABAS after the 2021 tornado that killed six employees at the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville.

Stuart told her colleagues Thursday that fire departments deserve state funding for MABAS to alleviate difficulties instead of forcing small governments to pay the bill. […]

House Bill 1271 passed unanimously out of the House Police & Fire Committee Thursday. The measure now moves to the House floor.

30 Comments

Open thread

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

4 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa to lead Park District. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ Crain’s: At emergency meeting, Johnson’s pick for Park District chief will be unveiled
∙ Block Club: Park District CEO Rosa Escareño Stepping Down

* Governor Pritzker will be At UI Mile Square Health Center at 10:30 am to advocate against potential cuts to Medicaid. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Workers at big employers like Northwestern get protections from Evanston City Council: When big companies or institutions change contractors, workers can suddenly lose their jobs. But Evanston now is the first municipality in Illinois to give them some protections. The Evanston City Council passed the Workers’ Retention Ordinance Monday, requiring hotels, restaurants, cafeterias and educational institutions with at least 200 contracted positions to take steps to retain existing workforce. Currently, only Northwestern University meets the threshold.

* Tribune | Chicago faith and civic leaders encourage people to participate in nationwide ‘Blackout Friday’: Faith-based and community leaders from across Chicago urged the public to not buy from major retailers and companies on Friday as part of nationwide ‘Blackout Friday’ protest. The movement is a 24-hour economic blackout in which consumers are not supposed to buy from corporations, avoid all nonessential purchases and if necessary, only shop at local businesses.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Craft distillers call for updated spirit distribution laws in Illinois: Craft distillers in Illinois are trying to level the playing field when it comes to distributing their products. According to the Illinois Craft Distillers Association, while 47 states allow for the direct shipment of wine directly from winemakers to consumers, only 11 states currently allow distillers to ship their products directly to consumers and Illinois is not one of them.

*** Statewide ***

* WCIA | Illinois DNR encourages residents to buy fishing license, invest in conservation: When buyers purchase an Illinois fishing license, they’re paying for fishing privileges for the year. But, they’re also investing in conservation, education and economic activity throughout Illinois. Illinois fishing licenses go on sale March 1 and cost $15.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Chicago’s top film post vacant as production season kicks into high gear: Kicking off production season, Apple TV’s Dark Matter is opening up portals in Wicker Park, The Bear is cooking up drama downtown and the seemingly omnipresent One Chicago (Fire/Med/P.D.) is staging emergencies across the city. But who’s here to roll out the red carpet as those teams arrive? The city’s top film post has been vacant since December.

* Tribune | As distraught parents plead, school board votes to keep Acero charter schools open, despite financial warning: The Chicago Board of Education approved an amended resolution Thursday requiring Chicago Public Schools to keep open several charter schools slated for closure despite financial warnings that doing so would be unwise. After a protracted and often confusing debate on the feasibility and fine print of the amendment, the school board voted 16 to 3 with one abstention to keep five of the seven schools slated for closure in Acero Charter Network open through the end of the 2025-26 school year and incorporate them as district schools the next year. The board did not provide a concrete determination for the other two schools.

* WGN | Chicago drivers will face an additional 50 speed cameras this year: While locations for the additional cameras have largely not yet been determined, CDOT officials said they’ll consider crash data and requests from alders over the last three years. By state law, cameras can only be within 660 feet of a school or a park.

* Crain’s | CTA unveils plans for space beneath new Red and Purple Line el tracks: The design plans, developed in conjunction with Chicago-based Site Design Group, were presented to residents of Edgewater and Uptown at public meetings this week. The concept for the space includes a pedestrian trail, dog parks, playground, fitness area, benches and a plaza space for community events.

* Tribune | In Midway near-collision, NTSB chair cites business jet crew’s apparent ‘failure to listen’: “We don’t believe that this was an air traffic control issue,” Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said in an appearance Wednesday morning on “Fox & Friends.” “It appears this was a failure of the flight crew from Flexjet to listen and abide by the instructions of air traffic control.” The NTSB is continuing to investigate, as is the Federal Aviation Administration. But Homendy said the crew of the smaller plane, operated by private jet company Flexjet, was supposed to line up and wait short of the runway on which the Southwest plane was to land. The smaller plane failed to do so.

* WTTW | Have You Seen Little ‘Blue Lobsters’ Washed Up on Chicago Beaches? Congrats, You’ve Met One of the Great Lakes Most Successful Invaders: For an invasive species specialist like Reuben Keller, Lake Michigan is teeming with research opportunities. “Almost everything that we see in the lake that is alive is invasive,” said Keller, a professor at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability. “Any rocks are covered in zebra or quagga mussels, both of which are invasive. Most of the time that we dive, the only fish that we see are round gobies, which are an invasive fish.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Mundelein mayoral candidates spurn Trump on mass deportations, say police shouldn’t assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: The stance shared by Robin Meier and Tim Wilson aligns with current village policy and defies attempts by President Donald Trump to quickly purge the nation of immigrants living here illegally. The issue particularly is pertinent in Mundelein, where more than 36% of residents are Hispanic and more than 45% of residents age 5 or older live in homes where languages other than English are spoken, according to the latest U.S. census data.

* Daily Herald | ‘We want our state back’: Why DuPage sheriff says he’s running for governor in 2026: Mendrick, a Republican from Woodridge, announced Thursday he will run for Illinois governor in the 2026 election. He’s the first candidate to formally declare for the race. In a phone interview Thursday, Mendrick said he’s been thinking about running for governor for about two years, as he’s watched legislation like the state’s SAFE-T Act — which eliminated cash bail in Illinois — have what he sees as negative impacts on law and order.

* Daily Southtown | Homewood OKs new TIF district with eye toward redevelopment on Halsted: Homewood officials have approved a new tax increment financing district that takes in property along the Halsted Street commercial corridor and includes the vacant Walmart property, empty for nearly two years. Using increases in property tax revenue, the village hopes to spur redevelopment in that area of the community, which includes commercial businesses as well as empty office space at the northwest corner of Halsted and Ridge Road.

* Daily Herald | Honoring history: Elk Grove Village’s plan to revive a revolutionary relic: Elk Grove Village plans to annex the historic final resting place of a number of notable locals — including the only two known Revolutionary War veterans interred in Cook County — while launching a fundraising campaign to fix faded and sunken graves and make other upgrades. Elk Grove Cemetery — a 38,000-square-foot graveyard tucked in between Arlington Heights Road, the Jane Addams Tollway and a Nicor gas pipeline — is a relic of pre-suburban sprawl, when pioneers arrived from the east and found expansive land to till.

*** Downstate ***

* PJ Star | ‘Full of gratitude’: Peoria mayor comfortably wins primary: Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and at-large City Councilmember John Kelly have secured their spots as Peoria’s mayoral candidates in April’s general election after emerging as the top two vote getters in Tuesday night’s primary election based on unofficial election results. With 100% of precincts reporting, mayoral candidate Chuck Grayeb, a city councilmember representing the 2nd District, does not have enough votes to advance in the race.

* Rockford Register Star | Rockford elects 21 year old to City Council: Tamir Bell, 21, easily defeated a field of three opponents to win the Democratic primary election Tuesday. He is expected to appear on the April 1 consolidated election ballot unopposed. Bell said he entered the race to provide better leadership for the city’s westside and give its residents a louder voice in city government.

* BND | Former bookkeeper sentenced in theft of $135K from metro-east school district: A former bookkeeper for Dupo School District 196 has been sentenced to 15 months’ incarceration for embezzling from the district. Linda J. Johnson, 58, of Waterloo, was employed by the district from 1993 to 2022. She was accused of pocketing $135,566.80 in cash that she was supposed to deposit in a school district bank account to support student athletics, clubs and other extracurricular activities.

* WCIA | Danville resident reminisces about Gene Hackman after his death: But — many people in Danville still wanted to save the Fischer Theatre, a downtown staple since 1884. So, Norris and two other men started the Vermillion Heritage Foundation. […] Norris said they needed about $4 million for the project. So, in 1988 they hosted a fundraiser at the home of Julius Hegeler — and invited Hackman, Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Bobby Short and Donald O’Connor.

* WCIA | World’s oldest brewery is coming to Central Illinois: The world’s oldest brewery is coming to Central Illinois. Yuengling will be hitting shelves in hundreds of stores next week. An Effingham based company called Koerner Distributors will be handling the distribution in Central Illinois. The president of Koerner Distributors said they’ve been planning this launch for about a year now.

*** National ***

* LA Times | Mass firings across National Weather Service, NOAA ignite fury among scientists worldwide: The full extent of the layoffs across NOAA were not immediately clear, but Democratic legislators said hundreds of scientists and experts had been notified of terminated employment. NOAA — which includes the National Hurricane Center and the Tsunami Warning Center — is the latest in a string of federal agencies targeted for cuts by billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.

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