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Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Saw these folks last weekend at the Salt Shed. They still have it

Entertaining passers-by

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times | UAW strike spreads to GM, Stellantis parts sites in Bolingbrook, Naperville: Two auto parts distribution sites in the Chicago suburbs are striking Friday, after the president of the United Auto Workers expanded its action against major automakers by walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts centers in 20 states. Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain. As a result, Ford’s Chicago operations are not included in the new walkouts.

* Tribune | Blood suppliers warn of potential rationing at hospitals if donors don’t step up: ‘We need it now’: “We don’t ever want to be in a situation where we have to start making a decision on who does and doesn’t get blood,” said Versiti’s area vice president, Amy Smith. “We need it now.” Versiti seeks to have 10,000 units of blood in its inventory. Instead, inventory has dropped to 2,800 units for the nonprofit, which supplies blood to 85 nearby hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Edward-Elmhurst Health and Silver Cross Hospital.

* WCIA | Scherer files bill to give Dennis Lab students their summer back, but at a cost: Dennis Lab students started the school year two weeks late. The two Dennis Lab buildings in Decatur were found to be structurally unsafe this past summer and the district set up modular classrooms for students. But they were not ready by the official start of the school year. Since they started two weeks late, the students are also scheduled to go two weeks longer in this summer.

* Press Release | Governor Pritzker joins U of I System board in roundtable discussion: “Affordability really matters,” Pritzker said. “Scholarship money and financial aid is the most important thing, at least from the General Assembly and the governor, that we can do for you.” U of I System President Tim Killeen said the governor’s participation in the meeting was a reflection of the state government’s extensive commitment to and support of higher education, as well as the role that the system plays in the state’s overall well-being.

* WTTW | Debate Continues Over Plan to Raise Real Estate Taxes on High-Priced Homes to Fight Homelessness in Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson recently announced a new proposal dubbed “Bring Chicago Home,” which would raise about $100 million dollars to fight homelessness by raising taxes on all sales above $1 million, and then an additional hike on sales of more than $1.5 million dollars. The proposal would also slash the transfer tax on real estate that sells below $1 million.

* WCIA | Drug company announces move into Decatur using former Akorn building: Rising Pharmaceuticals, based in New Jersey, announced its move in the community earlier this week. Company officials said they plan to use the former Akorn building to make and package sterile products. Back in February, Akorn announced that it was filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and laying off its hundreds of workers. It sparked outrage from local politicians and prompted a state investigation. […] Rising Pharmaceuticals said the move into Decatur is expected to improve the company’s portfolio and boost the country’s supply chain.

* CBS Chicago | Hundreds turn out in Chicago suburb’s municipal court to pay tickets they didn’t know they had: “At first, I thought it was $50 – and then I had to put my glasses on,” said Elizabeth Watson. Watson quickly saw an extra zero for a total sum of $500 – if she did stand in the line to appear in court.

* Crain’s | Chicago’s hospitality business hasn’t seen this bullish an outlook since 2019: Travel and hospitality in Chicago continue to make a comeback from the depths of the COVID pandemic, when at a point in 2020 hotel occupancies sank to a low of 26%. Travel industry consultant HVS, employing research from STR Inc. as well as its own surveys of hotels and restaurants, recently released its most bullish assessment of the Chicago market since 2019.

* STLPR | Barges are very efficient. Does that make them a good climate alternative for shipping?: It would take more than 1,000 semitrucks to carry the same load as 15 barges and a single tow boat, the standard for this part of the Mississippi River, he said. That’s significant given that the transportation sector accounts for about 28% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. But only about 2% of that sector is ships and boats, Rohde said.

* Block Club | The Voice Of The CTA Hits 25-Year Milestone Of Telling Us Where We Are: The polished voice actor, now 64, drives down to Chicago two or three times a year to record updates to the transit system. Most recently Crooks told Chicagoans about detours due to the Blue Line’s West Side rebuild, laid down sharper recordings for the new 7000-series trains and gave folks a reminder to give up their seats to “people who are pregnant.”

* SJ-R | Sangamon County home prices rose 8.2% in August, with houses listed at a median of $194,800: Sangamon County’s median home was 1,885 square feet, listed at $108 per square foot. The price per square foot of homes for sale is up 4.5% from August 2022.

* SJ-R | A memorial service for trailblazing SIU physician to be held on Saturday: Robinson-McNeese was best known for his work in diversity and inclusion initiatives at SIU, helping to found the Office of Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs, serving as the system’s executive director of diversity initiatives, and for collaborating with Springfield Public Schools District #186 to create the Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program (P4).

* Daily Southtown | Homer Glen mayor nixes parade request as strife between village, township mounts: The village of Homer Glen has declined Homer Township’s application to conduct its annual Independence Day parade as political tensions between some local leaders were heightened during meetings this month. Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said she felt the parade, which usually takes place in late June in conjunction with HomerFest, has become too political when she and village staff declined the township’s request to use village streets. The application was not voted on by the Village Board.

* Commercial-News | Tilton cannabis dispensary now open; cultivation center construction underway: It had a soft opening Friday and Saturday. An official grand opening will be Saturday for the dispensary and the two other businesses of the 14,500-square feet building. The site also includes Molly’s Joint, cannabis consumption lounge with couches and tables and chairs; and a bar/restaurant area with video gaming machines and an outdoor patio and grass area for bands and food trucks.

* WTTW | Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks Chicago, His PBS Roots and the Return of ‘Hamilton’: Lin-Manuel Miranda made a stop in Chicago to commemorate the official return of “Hamilton.” Arts Correspondent Angel Idowu sat down with Miranda to get his take on why the show’s return to Chicago is so special.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Another supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ve all seen the amusing back and forth over the US Senate’s relaxing of its attire rule. But the Illinois Senate also has a rule

No person is entitled to the floor unless appropriately attired.

It’s generally defined as “business attire.” Men must wear a jacket and tie, for example. Masks are considered to be “attire,” and that’s how they enforced their mandate during the pandemic.

* The Question: Should the Illinois Senate drop its attire rule? Make sure to explain your answer and stick to Illinois, please. Thanks.

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Illinois State Library closed after emailed bomb threat

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Illinois Secretary of State’s office…

At approximately 9:30am, a bomb threat was emailed to the Illinois State Library. Out of an abundance of caution, the library was evacuated, and the building swept for explosive devices. There were none. An all clear was issued by SOS police at approximately 11:30 and employees have returned to work.

…Adding… I’m told there are no suspects as of now. But the incident “will be investigated and the FBI will be notified.”

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Illinois *not* spared from expanded UAW strike

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois has just 5,621 UAW members in the auto industry, according to a recent analysis by Fitch Ratings. All those members work for Ford. The Stellantis plant has been at least temporarily shuttered. From the AP today

Another 5,600 additional workers joined the strike on top of the 13,000 of the 146,000 members that began the strike one week ago.

Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain.

“We’ve made some real progress at Ford,” Fain said during an online presentation to union members. “We still have serious issues to work through, but we do want to recognize that Ford is showing that they are serious about reaching a deal.”

* Meanwhile, Fitch also looked at the effects of a UAW strike on state budgets

A forecast prepared by the University of Michigan’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE) estimated roughly $180 million of tax revenue losses for Michigan resulting from a 10-week strike involving all UAW members across OEMs, would be well within the state’s ability to manage without credit deterioration. Assuming the UAW strike remains limited, Fitch anticipates state tax and local income tax revenue losses will be substantially less than the RSQE’s initial forecast. In addition, UAW has $825 million in a strike fund that could pay wages and health benefits for all UAW workers for about 11 weeks, according to the RSQE. [Emphasis added.]

*** UPDATE *** Welp, turns out Illinois wasn’t spared after all. The headline has been changed as a result. From the Illinois AFL-CIO…

Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney Issue Statement on UAW Strike Expansion to Illinois

“Today’s announcement of UAW members striking at parts distribution centers at General Motors and Stellantis in Chicago and Bolingbrook is a significant turning point in the union’s ‘stand-up strike.’

The ‘stand-up strike’ movement is not just about the Big Three automakers – it is about working people standing up to corporate greed.

These fights are rooted in the same struggle that workers all over this country are engaged in—and they are making it clear that it’s time to put an end to an economy that has been rigged against working people for decades.

The Illinois AFL-CIO stands with the UAW every single day until they get the fair contract they so justly deserve.”

* From ABC 7, the impact is pretty small

Among the facilities joining the strike are a GM facility in Bolingbrook and a Stellantis facility in Naperville.

Approximately 5,625 additional workers will join the strike, with about 100 workers at the Bolingbrook facility and 100 at the Naperville facility.

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Bailey back to his election-denying ways

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Darren Bailey on Nov. 10, 2020

All this fraudulent activity is absolutely disgusting. It’s wrong, it’s—in my opinion—almost the highest form of treason in our country, so we pray that that will be dealt with.

Bloomberg

After the election, Bailey said on social media that he stood with Trump and that he found the idea that he should concede “appalling.”

* After Bailey won the Republican gubernatorial primary with Trump’s help, he moved away from the former POTUS. From an October, 2022 Sun-Times editorial

Here in Illinois, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said there is no doubt Biden won the election fair and square.

* Now that he’s running for Congress


It was an honor to sign this hat, especially when you hear the story.
It will be a greater honor to serve with President Trump representing Illinois!
Thank you Paul Fomerly Phil Shifly
#MAGA #baileyforcongress

Posted by Darren Bailey on Friday, September 22, 2023

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Today’s quotable

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Craig Wall at ABC 7

Chicago’s embattled city treasurer spoke publicly Thursday for the first time about allegations of possible illegal and unethical behavior leveled against her. […]

Among the allegations is that [Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin] used her assistant to run personal errands, including grocery shopping and planning her daughter’s birthday party.

“This allegation is absurd,” Conyears-Ervin said.

But Conyears-Ervin repeatedly evaded questions about whether she engaged in such activity.

“According to the allegations, employees were doing personal errands on city’s time. That did not occur,” Conyears-Ervin said.

[Craig Wall: “Did they do personal errands for you on their own time?”]

“Craig, I am going to speak to the allegations, and the allegation spoke to employees doing work for me on city’s time; that did not occur.”

Her response was troubling for the head of the Better Government Association.

“There ought to be a complete separation of one’s public life and private life, and there’s no such thing as asking a favor of somebody who works directly for you, whether it’s on their personal time or on company time,” said David Greising, president of the Better Government Association.

There’s more, so go read the whole thing.

* It would also be nice to know why the Inspector General didn’t do anything about this for years. I reached out to former IG Joe Ferguson several days ago, but have not yet heard back.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* It’s Friday! What’s going on?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Here you go…

    * NPR Illinois | Drug addiction and the end of cash bail: Illinois this week became the first state to end cash bail. Advocates say it will bring more fairness to the criminal justice system. But allowing drug offenders to leave custody may prevent them from getting the help they need, according to some local officials. In many smaller, rural areas, there are few rehab facilities. “If you want to go to drug rehab, you have to call you get on a waiting list. And sometimes the only chance you get to wants to get them in and the day they’re wanting to go, that may be the time you can’t get them in that day, then they may never go,” Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn said.

    * Inside Climate News | Pritzker’s signature climate law has seen slow progress on clean energy, green jobs promises: Today, renewable sources make up only 10.5% of power. That includes not only current projects but also others planned with promises they will soon come online. On the promised new “equitable” jobs in clean energy industries, the state has yet to train or help place even one worker, though training programs are being set up to be in place by next year.

    * WIFR | Trial over Illinois abortion referral law begins in Rockford: Attorneys are arguing the 2016 an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act that requires medical and counseling personnel to promote abortion regardless of their ethical or moral views. The act became law seven years ago but it’s not in effect because it’s hung up in court. Lawyers who are trying to stop it say requiring someone to go against their personal and religious beliefs violates the First Amendment of the Constitution

    * Tribune | National Association of Realtors takes additional steps to address alleged workplace issues: A new member task force will work with outside legal counsel, whose attorneys will conduct an independent assessment of company policies and practices and then make recommendations “to improve our procedures, trainings, and systems to prevent inappropriate behavior, encourage reporting of alleged misconduct, and promote an environment of transparency and accountability,” according to Goldberg’s email.

    * Daily Southtown | Indicted Orland Park pastor requests to have case severed from Trump, other defendants: Lee’s legal team, led by Illinois-based lawyer David Shestokas, has similarly filed a severance request and is waiting to hear back, Shestokas confirmed“We are of the opinion that, on a couple of levels, Pastor Lee will be prejudiced by having his trial take place with everybody else,” Shestokas said. Shestokas is working on the case with Georgia-based lawyer David Oles.

    * Chicago Daily Law Bulletin | Illinois Supreme Court disbars 12 attorneys, suspends 11: The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred 12 attorneys and suspended 11, including former ComEd CEO Anne R. Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain, in lawyer disciplinary orders since its last term.

    * ABC Chicago | Chicago treasurer denies wrongdoing in exclusive interview after IG launches ethics investigation: Conyears-Ervin repeatedly evaded questions about whether she engaged in such activity. “According to the allegations, employees were doing personal errands on city’s time. That did not occur,” Conyears-Ervin said. “Craig, I am going to speak to the allegations, and the allegation spoke to employees doing work for me on city’s time; that did not occur.”

    * WCIA | New dispensary planning for future changes to state’s marijuana law: Constructing a business plan is all about planning for the future, but what if your plans are illegal in the present? The owners of Share. — Springfield’s newest dispensary — don’t think that’s a problem.[…] The owners are already building a drive through window on the building. Drive throughs are not allowed by law now, but lawmakers have already considered the change in the past.

    * WBEZ | ‘A good place:’ Queer youth seek acceptance at state’s first foster home for LGBTQ+ teens: Nationally, about one-third of foster care youth identify as LGBTQ+, and according to researchers, they are at significantly higher risk of experiencing homelessness, physical harm and exchanging sex to meet basic needs. “It’s important that they’re doing this,” said Charles Golbert, a court-appointed lawyer who advocates for children in DCFS custody and a vocal critic of the department. But now, Golbert said, “it needs to be expanded for more than just five beds.”

    * Sun-Times | My fault Sox game not stopped after stadium shooting, interim police superintendent says: Interim Chicago Police Supt. Fred Waller told the Sun-Times the game was allowed to continue without interruption due to “miscommunication” on the protocol for notifying Major League Baseball. That issue has been addressed and won’t happen again, he said.

    * WBEZ | Johnson administration defends contract with private defense firm to prop up migrant ‘base camps’: In a brief interview with WBEZ, Johnson’s deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas said the city had limited options as it seeks to move people out of police stations as quickly as possible. “There’s not many companies that have this type of capability of literally standing up prefabricated structures driving 50 foot poles, creating flooring, and then staffing 24/7,” Pacione-Zayas said.

    * Tribune | Cook County chips in to help buy hotels in Evanston and Oak Park for people who are homeless; also approves water bill relief: The board voted to award a $7 million, no-interest, fully forgivable 30-year loan to Connections for the Homeless Inc. so the nonprofit can buy the Margarita Inn in Evanston. It also approved a similar $6.5 million loan to Housing Forward LLC and the Oak Park Residence Corp. for the purchase of the Write Inn in Oak Park.

    * Tribune | Chicago Plan Commission approves Fulton Market apartment tower that will reserve 30% of its units as affordable: The original plan called for reserving 20% of the units as affordable housing to comply with the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance, but after a last-minute push by 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, city planners hammered out a new agreement with the developers, boosting that to 30% using tax increment financing dollars from the local TIF district.

    * Sateline | States and cities eye stronger protections for gig workers: Roughly 1 in 6 American adults have engaged in gig work for platforms such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash, according to a 2021 report by the Pew Research Center. But while those jobs promise flexibility and a low barrier to entry, they often pay less on an hourly basis than the prevailing minimum wage and lack basic protections such as overtime, sick pay and unemployment insurance.

    * Crain’s | Oscar Mayer is renaming its hot dog vehicles, again: Just four months after rebranding as the “Frankmobile,” Oscar Mayer is calling its iconic six-car fleet of hot dog-shaped vehicles the “Wienermobile” once again. “It was a franktastic summer celebrating our 100% Beef Franks with the Frankmobile from coast to coast,” Oscar Mayer Associate Director Kelsey Rice said in a statement. “Though, like many of you, we miss our original icon. Starting this week, we’re welcoming back the Wienermobile.”

    * Sun-Times | Acorns galore: ‘Mast year’ for oak trees means massive seed production across Chicago: An abundance in acorns this fall is the result of a “mast seeding event,” a phenomenon that only happens once every few years, when oak trees produce a much larger amount of acorns than normal.

    * Crain’s | Portillo’s expansion plans just got even more aggressive: Portillo’s is boosting its growth goals by more than half, aiming to open at least 920 restaurants around the country in about 20 years. It’s the first time the Oak Brook-based hot dog and Italian beef chain has updated its growth goals since going public in 2021, when it was targeting 600 restaurants in 25 years. Portillo’s also increased its annual growth target to 12% to 15% annually from 10%.

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Live coverage

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ScribbleLive is still down. Twitter has stopped allowing people to embed list feeds on websites. So, click here or here to follow breaking news.

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