Afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ISP…
For the second year, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting a decrease in the number of shootings on Chicago area expressways. At the midway mark for 2023, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting the total number of Chicago area expressway shootings is down 23% compared to this time last year. The number of non-fatal injury expressway shooting in the Chicago area is down 50% compared to this time in 2022.
“The Illinois State Police’s dedication of additional resources has reduced shootings on Chicago area expressways for the second year in a row,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This year’s reduction in the number of shootings, on top of the decreases we saw last year, shows our actions to reduce violence on the expressway are effective and we will continue tackling shootings head-on to make the expressways safer.”
Expressway shootings have dropped from 109 in the first six months of 2021 to 59 so far this year, but that’s still more than two per week.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today highlighted Illinois’ top rankings in CNBC’s 2023 Top States for Business publication - an annual report that ranks states based on 10 broad categories of competitiveness. This year, Illinois ranked in the top 10 in the nation for four categories of competitiveness, and six categories in the top 20. Illinois is ranked 17th best state for business, rising ahead two spots from the 2022 ranking and up from 30th in the 2019 ranking.
Highlights include:
• #2 in the nation for infrastructure (up from #3 in ‘22)
• #2 in the nation for education (up from #6 in ‘22)
• #6 in the nation for access to capital (up from #8 in ‘22)
• #9 in the nation for cost of living (up from #20 in ‘22)
Not mentioned is that CNBC ranked Illinois 39th for business friendliness, 33rd for the economy, 32nd for cost of doing business and 28th for workforce.
Minnesota ranked 5th overall, Michigan ranked 10th, Ohio was 12th, Indiana was 13th and Pennsylvania was 15th. Illinois, as mentioned above, was 17th.
* Can Illinois get some of this?…
Florida Republican Governor and 2024 presidential contender Ron DeSantis quietly rejected hundreds of millions of dollars in federal energy funding, as the Biden administration touts the benefits of its marquee climate law on the campaign trail in battleground states.
The funding, totaling about $377 million, included hundreds of millions of dollars for energy-efficiency rebates and electrification as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as money from the bipartisan infrastructure legislation that became law in 2021.
* Some of this is a bit of a stretch…
EXCLUSIVE — A freshman House Democrat may have violated federal law due to his “improper” Twitter usage, according to a right-leaning ethics watchdog group.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust is demanding that the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent and nonpartisan body that reviews misconduct allegations against lawmakers, “immediately investigate” if Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL) “has abused official resources for political purposes” by using the Twitter account for his campaign to post content from his congressional office and the House floor, according to a Wednesday ethics complaint obtained by the Washington Examiner. […]
Sorensen, a former weatherman who was elected in 2022, links on his campaign Twitter account to his official social media account. The congressman’s campaign account, as of this writing, also has a pinned tweet linking to “all of his official accounts” for social media, the watchdog noted in its complaint.
The complaint cites several Twitter posts from Sorensen’s campaign account that purportedly use official resources, including one from May 25 that shows the House floor with the caption, “It’s not even 11 o’clock on Thursday morning and every Republican left the House and went home.”
I reached out to Sorensen’s DC office and haven’t heard back. I’m not quite sure why someone can’t link to government accounts from a campaign account. The other way around would definitely be a problem.
* Background is here if you need it. From Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois…
“This is a sad day for Iowa residents who are facing a draconian 6-week abortion ban, a time when many people are unaware they are even pregnant. Abortion bans and restrictions do not stop people from having abortions, it just creates unnecessary and burdensome barriers to those most vulnerable like young people, immigrants, people living in poverty and people facing domestic violence. Already Illinois is welcoming more abortion patients than any other state; our doors are open and we are actively preparing for the waves of pregnant Iowans fleeing their home in search of care. We continue to fight for everyone to access the health care they need and deserve.”
* StudyFinds…
To find out who is currently dealing with crippling amounts of stress, the WalletHub team compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics, looking at everything from unemployment rates and household income to health and divorce rates.
Chicago ranked 32nd most stressed, but Aurora was 147th out of 182.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Bloomberg | Inflation at 3% Flags End of Emergency, Turning Point for Fed: At 3% last month, consumer-price inflation is now just one-third of the level it reached a year ago, which was the highest in four decades. And the details for June were also better than expected, with key measures of underlying inflation coming in below forecasts.
* WTTW | Battle Lines Drawn in Northwest Side State Senate District as Progressives Look to Consolidate Power: In next year’s primary, Toro is likely to face Graciela Guzman, who has the support of the political movement that not only elected Johnson in April but also notched a series of victories in the 2022 Democratic primaries, winning six of seven contested races.
* WTTW | Chicago Officials Seek Community Input on Environmental Issues Facing Neighborhoods: Chicago Department of Public Health Managing Deputy Commissioner Megan Cunningham said that identifying neighborhoods that experience the greatest combined impact of environmental exposure, along with health and social stressors, is important so the city knows which areas might require additional protections and investment when it comes to decisions related to zoning, permits and planning.
* In These Times | Meet the New Leader of Chicago’s Progressive Political Powerhouse: Kennedy Bartley is taking over as the next executive director of United Working Families, the group that helped elect Chicago’s new left-wing leadership.
* Shaw Local | Joliet City Council not in agreement on limiting City Hall contacts: The Joliet City Council had a mixed reaction to a presentation advising how much influence elected officials should have at City Hall.
* Crain’s | Could a union have protected Northwestern football players?: In the wake of the scandal, former University of Minnesota regent and college athlete advocate Michael Hsu has filed a new complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Northwestern. His goal: to help athletes gain employment status — partially so they can better protect themselves in the future.
* Crain’s | CEO of med tech giant joins Walgreens board: “Tom is a strong addition to our board,” Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens, said in the statement. “As the health care landscape continues to evolve, his extensive industry and technology experience will be a great benefit to delivering on our consumer-centric health care strategy and driving long-term shareholder value.”
* SJ-R | Disaster proclamation sends city workers scurrying to submit report: Tuesday’s meeting had the added attraction of former Mayor Jim Langfelder addressing what he called “misstatements” by Buscher about technology which might have better aided City Water, Light and Power in the aftermath of the storm that caused widespread damage across the city and knocked power for more than half of its customers.
* KMOV | 3 dead, 14 injured in Greyhound bus crash along I-70 near Highland, Illinois: Illinois State Police told News 4 the Greyhound bus hit three semi-trucks that were parked in the off-ramp on a rest stop on westbound I-70 just before 2 a.m. Officials told News 4 the Greyhound bus was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis.
* Sun-Times | Northern lights unlikely to illuminate Chicago skies this week: Though Chicago didn’t get lucky this time, some best practices to see the northern lights include avoiding city light and downtown areas. Light pollution can make it more difficult, especially since the aurora borealis is dim to begin with, said Adam Miller, an astronomy professor at Northwestern University.
* CBS Chicago | More than 500 flights delayed, 200 canceled at Chicago airports due to weather: As of 11:30 a.m., 415 flights were delayed at O’Hare International Airport. There have been 243 flight cancellations. At Midway International Airport, 217 flights were delayed. Two flights have been canceled.
* WCIA | Illinois-shaped pollinator garden coming to Champaign: “I hope that when people visit the pollinator garden, they, number one, recognize the importance of pollinators to agriculture,” said Farm Manager Sophia Hortin. “But number two, the agriculture commitment to pollinators. Farmers really do care about the role that pollinators play and are committed to preserving them and having a role for them in the environment. And that’s what we’re trying to showcase here.”
* AP | A Biden plan cuts student loan payments for millions to $0. Will it be the next legal battle?: Starting this summer, millions of Americans with student loans will be able to enroll in a new repayment plan that offers some of the most lenient terms ever. Interest won’t pile up as long as borrowers make regular payments. Millions of people will have monthly payments reduced to $0. And in as little as 10 years, any remaining debt will be canceled.
* Art News | Illinois State Museum Returns Stolen Artifacts to Kenyan Officials: The Illinois State Museum has returned more than 30 stolen artifacts with ties to the Mijikenda peoples, who are native to modern-day Kenya, to the country’s network of national museums. The memorial statues, known as “vigango,” are considered spiritual objects commemorating deceased ancestors.
* Block Club | A 7-Year-Old’s Mullet Made Him Stand Out. Now, His ‘Chicago Cascade’ Could Win A National Championship: Evan Hall, of Gladstone Park, wanted to highlight that city kids can rock a mullet just as well as country kids. You can vote for him in the USA Mullet Championships.
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* Jason Meisner and Ray Long…
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s attempt to suppress the dozens of wiretapped calls and secret recordings that form the backbone of the government’s bombshell racketeering case is a “flimsy effort to create an air of impropriety where none exists,” federal prosecutors said in a motion Tuesday.
* From the federal filing…
Defendant Michael Madigan was the leader of a corrupt criminal enterprise, the tentacles of which extended from the Office of the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield, to the Thirteenth Ward Democratic Organization on the south side of Chicago. For approximately eight years, through the operation of this criminal enterprise, Madigan exploited his position as a high-ranking public official to manipulate the levers of State and local government for the purpose of illegally enriching himself and his associates. Madigan, together with his loyal lieutenant Michael McClain—a self-described soldier and faithful agent for Madigan—arranged for a flood of corrupt payments and perks to be doled out to Madigan and his associates in exchange and as a reward for Madigan’s abuse of his official powers.
Major corporations handed out more than one million dollars in bribes to Madigan’s cronies to secure Madigan’s assistance and favor with respect to the passage of legislation worth hundreds of millions to the companies. Madigan was sure to line his own pockets as well through the abuse of his official position. Without batting an eye, time and again Madigan stood prepared to take official action in his capacity as an Illinois Representative and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, at times with the connivance and assistance of his confederate McClain, in exchange for legal work being steered to his private law firm. Indeed, Madigan was prepared to exploit the official positions of others, including Chicago Alderman A, in order to personally benefit himself.
* Prosecutors justify the personal benefit argument by relying on an alleged attempt by Madigan to pick up a new law firm client in Chinatown by transferring property ownership from the government to private hands…
Here, Madigan’s and McClain’s scheme was designed to facilitate the transfer of public property to private hands—exactly the scenario contemplated by the Kelly Court. Moreover, unlike in Kelly, the Chinatown parcel did not play “some bit part in a scheme.” The entire object of the scheme was to transfer the real property and to allow Madigan to privately benefit from the transfer by cashing in on the associated real estate tax work.
* Back to the Tribune’s story…
The [defense] motions have focused largely on an Aug. 18, 2014, meeting at Madigan’s law office where developer See Wong, who was secretly cooperating with investigators due to his own misdeeds, met with the speaker, [then-Ald. Daniel Solis, who was also cooperating and wearing a wire], and a Chinese real estate magnate who wanted to build a hotel in Chinatown.
The roughly half-hour meeting formed the basis of future wiretap requests for Solis and was also included in later applications to tap a phone belonging to McClain, which led to numerous recordings of Madigan himself.
The defense motion said prosecutors improperly “theorized” in their original 2014 application that Madigan and his law partner had conspired with Solis, who at the time was the head of city’s Zoning Committee, to threaten to withhold Solis’ approval of a zoning request unless the developer hired Madigan’s law firm. […]
It wasn’t until 2018 that the government, in a footnote “buried” in the McClain wiretap application, acknowledged Solis’ statements denying any quid pro quo at the meeting. But the footnote also tried to “spin” Solis’ comments by adding he’d admitted “an independent observer would interpret” what was said at the meeting as pressure to hire Madigan’s firm.
But even that alleged Solis admission has been challenged because he would only tell prosecutors “I see (your) point.” Also, the Chinatown deal was never consummated because no bill was passed.
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Choate management blasted in new IG report
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an IDHS Office of the Inspector General report entitled “Reducing Abuse and Neglect at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center”…
Although changing a facility’s culture is by no means a simple task, the first step in that process is recognizing that there is indeed a problem. Stated plainly, the status quo at CMHDC is not acceptable. Every CMHDC employee has to understand that the reporting of misconduct is one of their fundamental responsibilities and that not reporting misconduct is what could lead to their discharge. That message is clearly not getting through right now. CMHDC must take steps to identify how it is that certain CMHDC staff are so effectively able to indoctrinate and intimidate new staff and counteract the training that is being provided regarding reporting.
It is also imperative that CMHDC staff feel safe and secure when reporting abuse and neglect. If current CMHDC staff are worried about possible negative reactions if they do the right thing and report misconduct, an important oversight component is removed and abuse and neglect, even when witnessed, will not be punished.
* From a ProPublica story in conjunction with Lee Enterprises and Capitol News Illinois entitled “Illinois Leaves Three Administrators in Charge at Choate Despite Troubled History of Resident Care”…
The inspector general’s report raises new questions about the management and administration of Choate, as well. Employees at the facility “raised concerns that CMHDC administration played favorites and was biased in their decision making,” the report said. “Another CMHDC employee stated that abuse and neglect occurred at the facility due to the systemic tone from the administration and nursing staff.”
The report also found “some indication that substandard work performance is seen and accepted by CMHDC supervisors and management.”
The findings about Choate administrators are particularly notable because Pritzker’s administration decided to retain the facility’s top three administrators in March when announcing a plan to reduce the size of Choate and move some residents to community settings or other state-run facilities.
All three administrators were previously indicted on felony charges in connection with their handling of an abuse allegation at the facility. Facility Director Bryant Davis and Gary Goins, who has served as quality assurance and improvements director, were both charged with official misconduct in 2021. Assistant Director Teresa Smith was charged twice with official misconduct and obstruction of justice, in 2020 and 2021. A judge dismissed the first case, finding there was not probable cause to sustain the charge. The prosecutor dismissed the most recent charges against the three administrators. Smith, Goins and Davis did not respond to requests for comment.
In explaining her rationale for keeping the administrators, IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said in March: “We’ve weighed a lot of different perspectives, but I think we need a leader who knows Choate inside and out, who has relationships with the residents and the parents and the staff to lead us through this challenging transition.” Pritzker publicly backed Hou’s decision at the time. […]
In her official response to the report, Hou wrote that her agency had hired new leadership, including Tonya Piephoff, the new director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and a chief resident safety officer, to oversee patient care at the state’s seven developmental centers. […]
The status-quo approach to facility leadership has drawn criticism, including from a southern Illinois state senator and longtime proponent of reforming Choate but also keeping it open. Sen. Terri Bryant, a Murphysboro Republican, has said keeping the same leadership demonstrates a lack of commitment to Choate’s long-term success.
“This is a no-brainer. How do you change the culture of the facility and leave the people in place who allowed the culture to grow and flourish?” Bryant said in an interview. “This plan is a setup for failure. I don’t care how much money you are going to put into the buildings, you will change nothing without removing the leadership.”
* From IDHS…
Earlier this year, IDHS announced a system-wide transformation aimed at providing better care and resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This system-wide transformation includes appointing new division-level leadership, improving safety, employing new staffing strategies, and planning and implementing resident transitions. IDHS believes these changes will bring Illinois in closer alignment with nationwide, research-informed best practices and advance the State’s commitment to equity and civil rights of people with disabilities, and meet the State’s legal duty to ensure that residents with disabilities have a full opportunity to live in the least restrictive environment of their choosing. IDHS knows that strong, effective leaders at State-Operated Developmental Centers are imperative to carrying out this system-wide transformation. IDHS leadership is constantly working with and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of facility administrators to ensure alignment with IDHS’ mission and priorities.
I’m hearing that some top administrators at Choate may be moved out soon. But this “trust us” stuff just isn’t gonna fly.
Also, the old saying “fittin’ to get ready” comes to mind after reading that IDHS statement. As with much of government, it’s time to conclude those things and get on with the taking action stuff.
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* Danny Parkins at 670 The Score…
In his first season leading the Northwestern baseball program, coach Jim Foster created a toxic environment that has run off coaches, broken the spirit of his team and led to a human resources investigation by the university regarding his alleged bullying and verbally abusive behavior, nine sources told 670 The Score.
As part of the toxic culture, Foster discouraged players from seeking medical attention for their injuries, made racially insensitive comments and made an inappropriate comment to a female staff member. Northwestern’s internal investigation didn’t find enough evidence to corroborate all of the allegations, but the university didn’t speak with players on the team while looking into the allegations, sources said.
Northwestern pitchers, in particular, hid their injuries from Foster this past season due to his demanding nature, and they instead sought treatment from trainer Josh Kuester away from the field, sources said. One Northwestern player had an elbow injury and pushed too hard to return because Foster wanted him back by a certain date. That player ended up needing Tommy John surgery. Foster also told multiple upperclassmen that they should quit if they didn’t return from injury sooner than expected, sources said. […]
One player detailed to 670 The Score how he was the subject of a punishment run for nearly the entirety of a 2 1/2-hour practice last fall. After that, in November, the HR complaint was filed against Foster, and the university began monitoring him more closely, though toxic culture didn’t stop, sources said. […]
This isn’t the first time that Foster has found himself in a concerning situation regarding his players’ physical well-being. Foster was the head coach of the Rhode Island program from 2006-’14. In October 2011, a player on his team died following a strength and conditioning workout outdoors. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university, and it was settled for $1.45 million.
Other Northwestern baseball coaches and staffers made repeated attempts to meet with athletic director Derrick Gragg to detail the toxic culture and medical mistreatment, but they were repeatedly denied a chance to meet with him, sources said. […]
Foster was hired in June 2022 by Northwestern, which went 10-40 this past season. The Wildcats have about 15 players who plan to transfer, sources said. […]
The nine sources that spoke with 670 The Score were comprised of former coaches, current and former players and others close to the program. [Emphasis added.]
Foster denies everything. Go read the whole story.
* More on athletic director Derrick Gragg in the Tribune…
The last week of turmoil surrounding Northwestern’s football and baseball programs has thrown a spotlight on one key administrator — athletic director Derrick Gragg.
The university fired longtime football coach Pat Fitzgerald on Monday in the wake of a hazing scandal. Now, the department is facing a similar choice after accusations of a toxic workplace and problematic behavior were levied against head baseball coach Jim Foster. […]
When Northwestern announced Jim Foster as the new head baseball coach last June, Gragg cited Foster’s “combination of on-field success and student-athlete development” at West Point as the deciding factor in the hire. He added that “the future of Wildcats baseball is exceptionally bright with Jim at the helm.”
But within months, the program had begun to fall apart. A collection of current and former players, alumni and people close to the program told the Tribune they reported problematic behavior dating back to last fall to the university, which prompted an HR investigation. Complaints of Foster’s behavior detailed to the Tribune included an intimidating workplace environment, expletive-filled tirades directed at staffers, and pressure on players to forego medical advice on injuries to maintain their roster spots.
* In related news…
* Two Northwestern recruits have decommitted from the football program since the scandal broke. NBC Sports…
According to social media, Greenville, South Carolina offensive lineman Julius Tate was the first to decommit from the school on Tuesday: […]
A short time later, Payton Stewart, an offensive tackle from Kelso High School in Washington, followed suit.
“After talking with my parents and coaches about the news that has broke, I have reconsidered my decision and decided to decommit from Northwestern,” he said.
* An open letter from a group of Northwestern women faculty…
We are a group of tenured Northwestern women faculty who have worked together for several years to improve the university. We have built careers here and care about what happens on campus. In 2021, we drew attention to abuses on the Northwestern cheer squad and to the misguided promotion of Mike Polisky to athletic director after he was implicated in Northwestern’s failure to adequately respond to the cheer team’s experiences of race and gender discrimination and harassment. […]
The athletics department desperately needs long-term institutionalized oversight. Though staffed by professionals who care about athletes’ well-being, the potential for abuse in such high-pressure environments is immense. Students have been paying the price. […]
Is Northwestern Athletics ready to be “showcased”? The university should halt the marketing and focus attention on reforming the athletics department first. The evidence of harassment and abuse across several programs – and high-level efforts to minimize these problems – suggests that we need to get our existing house in order before we expand it. And if the Ryan Field project does go forward, the university must ensure that we invest in our athletes equitably, supporting our women’s teams and ensuring that all athletes can thrive in an atmosphere of gender equity, free of abuse and harassment, as we pointed out in an open letter on May 17.
My colleague Isabel Miller collaborated on this post.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Poll: Bost leads Bailey 43-37
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE *** Some limited crosstabs are here.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Cor Strategies has polled the GOP primary race between US Rep. Mike Bost and former legislator Darren Bailey…
More in a bit.
…Adding… Bailey’s name recognition is actually a bit higher than Bost’s…
* They also polled by region. Bailey is doing well in areas he represented in the General Assembly…
* Trump is polling at 53 percent in the district, with DeSantis at 16 and Pence at 9…
* If Trump were to endorse one way or another, would that impact your decision?…
I think people tend to be reticent about questions like that, but here’s the breakdown of how a Trump endorsement would help each candidate…
Thoughts?
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* Background is here if you need it. Press release from yesterday…
Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi continued his efforts to correct the Census Bureau’s undercounting of Illinois in the 2020 Census and its resulting loss in its fair share of federal funding by urging the Department of Commerce’s Office of the Inspector General (COIG) to address ways to improve the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program (PEP) as part of its ongoing audit of the Census Bureau’s Post-Enumeration Survey (PES).
The PES is a tool used to evaluate the accuracy of the decennial census and the PES of the 2020 Decennial Census found 14 states had been undercounted or overcounted, including Illinois which was undercounted by an estimated 1.97 percent.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s new letter requests that, as the COIG audits the 2020 PES, that it also addresses how PES findings can be used to improve the PEP’s annual population and resulting federal aid allocations as a means to ensuring Illinois receives its fair share of funding from Washington.
* The letter…
Assistant Inspector General Scott,
I am writing regarding your June 14, 2023 announcement that you had initiated an audit of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) to assess the validity of the 2020 PES results as they relate to overcounts and undercounts. Those results included the estimate that 14 states had an undercount or overcount, including my home state of Illinois, which was undercounted by an estimated 1.97 percent.[1]
As part of your audit of the PES’s validity, I urge you and your office to specifically address not only the quality of the PES, but also the applicability and transferability of those results and any methodological findings to immediately improve the accuracy of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program (PEP) and the resulting federal funding allocations, in addition to improving the 2030 Decennial Census.
As you know, Census Bureau data determines the allocation of $1.5 trillion of federal funding over the course of a decade, and Illinoisans rely on roughly 100 programs, such as health care and education programs, for which federal funding levels are determined by such allocations. Because of this funding structure, the undercount and flawed projections are not simply questions of statistical theory and data practices, but of the health and wellbeing of millions of people.
Given the high stakes inherent in Census-based funding allocations and thus the accuracy of the Decennial Census, the PEP, and other Census Bureau programs that rely on it, I sincerely ask that your audit of the PES addresses not only the validity of the PES, but also how it can be most quickly and effectively used to improve other Census Bureau data.
Sincerely,
Raja Krishnamoorthi
Member of Congress
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* An official with the secretary of state’s office told me yesterday that they specifically looked at your comments on this January post during the process of revamping their website. From a press release..
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office launched a redesign of its website, making it easier to navigate and adding new functions for services that users can access remotely, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today.
“The revamped website is more intuitive and prioritizes our most popular programs and services so customers can find the information they want and need faster and more conveniently,” Giannoulias said. “Whether it’s renewing your driver’s license, searching for information about a business or looking for a job, making these changes and adding new functionality to the website reflect our commitment to residents and understanding their needs.”
Along with creating a new and consistent look throughout the website that is easier to view and navigate, other enhancements include:
• Simplifying the homepage to prominently feature key services and most frequently sought information.
• Consolidating the process of renewing a driver’s license or ID card online by eliminating unnecessary and confusing steps.
• Developing a job portal allowing people to search and apply for available Secretary of State positions.
• Adding new functionality to Businesses Services that allow users to submit more filings online, including terminating an LLC.
• Creating a new Business Entity search function that details more information about all Illinois corporations, LLCs, and other businesses and allows the entity to perform transactions such as ordering a certificate of good standing or filing an annual report.
• Enhancing the search function to allow for detailed searches and a reformatted page to display more information about lobbyist activities.
• Streamlining the search functions for business entities and lobbyists to allow the user to use the back button on the browser to return to the list of entities generated by the user’s initial search entry. The old website feature took the user back to the original blank search page.
• Uploading essential lobbyists’ information maintained by the office to the State of Illinois Data Portal.
Giannoulias emphasized that his office will continue implementing new features on the website in conjunction with the efforts to modernize the office’s antiquated IT infrastructure.
“This is only the beginning,” said Giannoulias. “I hope people explore ilsos.gov to see what services they can conduct online. We will continue modernizing the website and adding capabilities to ensure customers can access the resources they need. We look forward to feedback from the public about their experience with the new functions on the site and incorporating more updates and improvements in the future.”
Giannoulias has spearheaded efforts to modernize the office since taking office in January, and this represents another step in the ongoing process.
* The Question: What do you think of the new ilsos.gov?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Here you go…
* Sun-Times | Pritzker proclaims disaster after record-setting area rainfall, downstate tornadoes ‘to mobilize every available resource’: The Democratic governor’s proclamation also extends across a swath of central Illinois that fell in the path of a June 29 derecho, a massive wind storm that raked much of the central Plains and spawned at least five tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
* Sun-Times | Ex-top aide to Madigan kept the former House speaker’s lawyer informed about meeting with FBI agents, prosecutors say: Details about the case against Timothy Mapes were revealed in a 65-page document filed by prosecutors early Tuesday morning, four weeks ahead of Mapes’ trial on perjury and attempted obstruction of justice charges.
* Center Square | Illinois law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent or sell property to undocumented migrant: Illinois landlords will soon be required to rent or sell property to undocumented migrants. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, protections go into place in the Illinois Human Rights Act for housing regarding immigration status and discriminatory advertising. The law will add immigration status as a protected class.
* Sun-Times | Residents, organizations weigh in on preliminary Cook County 2024 budget: The preliminary budget shows a projected gap of $85.6 million for next year. At a public hearing, speakers representing various organizations advocated for continued funding of their programs.
* Tribune | Fired NU coach Pat Fitzgerald exploring breach-of-contract claims, lawyer Dan Webb says: “Northwestern University made some unusual, bizarre decisions in the past week that seriously have damaged Pat Fitzgerald’s reputation,” attorney Dan Webb told the Tribune. The university initially handed Fitzgerald a two-week unpaid suspension after an outside investigation that confirmed hazing among teammates but did not implicate Fitzgerald. Then on Monday, Fitzgerald was ousted altogether.
* Tribune | Northwestern University had many anti-hazing tools in place before the football scandal. So what went wrong?: Northwestern University’s anti-hazing policies and prevention tools are extensive, including an online hazing education course all incoming undergraduates are required to complete during their first term of enrollment.
* Chicago Mag | As the city spends millions of dollars to house bused-in migrants, many Black residents worry about getting pushed aside again: “No one should be surprised over tension between migrants and Black Americans,” says Adrian Norman, a member of the Black leadership network Project 21, which is affiliated with the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research. “There are destabilized communities across the entire country that have produced horrible outcomes for Black folks for decades, and there is a case to be made that those communities should be prioritized over individuals who forced their way into the country unlawfully.”
* ABC Chicago | Alderman calls on COPA to expedite investigation into CPD, migrants: ‘We have to resolve this’: The Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents the rank-and-file police officers, is questioning the validity of the allegations, suggesting that if there was anything to them, the suspected officers would have been taken off the streets pending the investigation.
* Tribune | Arlington Heights downtown area needs a distinct identity, especially if Bears come to town, merchants say: Group members at a July 10 Village Board committee meeting said they’d formed the alliance to improve the village downtown overall and support its growth as an entertainment destination. Many downtown business owners have been discussing how to maintain and grow the central business district with village officials since the onset of the pandemic, which led to the village’s outdoor dining and entertainment program Arlington Alfresco.
* Tribune | Former Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin sells Western Springs home for $1M: The Durkins previously tried selling the house several times. They first listed it in 2018 for $1.15 million and reduced it to $1.05 million and then to just under $1 million before taking it off the market late that year. They then had it on the market for several months in 2021 at $1.19 million. Finally, they relisted it in March for $1.09 million, and the house went under contract within two weeks.
* Jim Dey | Cash continues to pour into Illinois’ coffers: “The record levels of revenue are despite the volatility of General Funds receipts throughout much of FY 2023. Through the first two-thirds of the fiscal year, General Funds base revenues were $2.2 billion above” FY 22’s level, reported Eric Noggle, revenue manager for the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability
* CBS Chicago | Amid worker shortage, Chicago hotels want to be able to hire migrants more easily: Leyva said other Chicago hotels are struggling to hire for housekeeping roles. If only some of the rooms get cleaned, not all the rooms can be available. That means lost hotel revenue and less hotel tax for the city.
* CBS Chicago | After several years Chicago’s water arc is still off, so when will the fountain be back on?: “It should be alive. It should flow,” said Centennial Fountain architect Dirk Lohan. The water was flowing here since 1989 but it came to a halt in 2020. Broken and in need of repair, it’s been off ever since.
* Sun-Times | One of stars of Lightfoot’s cabinet moving on: Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara announced her resignation Tuesday after a four-year sprint that included leading Chicago through a pandemic that shined an even more glaring light on the city’s 120,000-unit shortage of affordable housing.
* Tribune | City Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara leaving Mayor Johnson’s administration: Novara announced her resignation Tuesday after leading the department for four years and through a time when the city saw mounting concerns over gentrification and homelessness as well as a pandemic. She was appointed in 2019 by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot after serving as vice president of the Metropolitan Planning Council.
* Tribune | Wrigley Field in the mix to host the 2025 All-Star Game — its 1st since 1990 — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says: The Chicago Cubs haven’t held the Midsummer Classic at their historic ballpark since 1990, with all but two teams — the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays — hosting since then. Six teams have received two All-Star Games in that span: the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
* Chicago Mag | The Bear Understands That Chicago Makes Room for Class and Comfort: This season makes explicit the ways in which people like Carmy, who’ve endured family trauma, fall into this work environment. The sixth episode of this season, “Fishes,” takes us in flashback to a dinner in the Berzatto family home. We meet Carmy and Natalie’s mother Donna, an alcoholic with a borderline personality disorder who is staging an elaborate Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve for a full house of family and friends. Between forensic shots of tomato-sauce-shmutzed timers screaming like harpies, we spend a grueling hour in this domestic hellscape. If the terse and claustrophobic “Review” from the first season was like Das Boot with sweet or hot peppers, “Fishes” is more like the overstuffed metaverse of Everything Everywhere All At Once collapsed into a black hole of family dysfunction.
* Sun-Times | Jamie Foxx, out of view for months, resurfaces on Chicago River boat: The public outing comes two months after his daughter Corinne Foxx revealed Foxx is out of the hospital and recovering at home following a medical complication.
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Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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