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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Turn it up… Writ in fire across the heaven, plain as black and white
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WCIA…
* WGLT…
* Politico…
* Press Release | IDFPR Launches Another 18 License Types on New Licensing System: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 18 more professions are now available for licensure via the Department’s new online licensing system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). Today’s announcement marks the successful completion of CORE’s Phase 2.2, with all of Phase 2 set for completion in the coming weeks. The Department will announce when each part of Phase 2 is completed, including which professions are added to CORE. * Illinois Leaks | 62 Counties, Clerks, and Treasures Named In Lawsuit Filed In Federal Court – Alleged Property Tax Sale Violations: We noted in a prior Shelby County article that Shelby County is one of 62 counties now being sued in federal court, thanks to the State of Illinois’ failing to address the illegal property tax sale laws in the state. Illinois is the only state in the United States that failed to correct the law after the Supreme Court’s ruling on property tax sales and seizures of property 2 years ago. It is our understanding from multiple county officials that the Attorney General is not going to assist individual counties in this lawsuit, so each is on their own. In some cases, this is going to put a real pinch on funds as not all State’s Attorneys are able to practice law in the Federal courts without certain prior authorizations. Hiring outside counsel to handle federal cases can get really expensive. While most county insurance covers these types of suits, there comes a point where insurance companies are going to raise rates or drop clients. * WCIA | 46 deaths involving trains recorded in Illinois so far this year: The most recent two took place in Normal and Casey this past Tuesday. According to Operation Lifesaver, they’ve calculated 59 total deaths in the state involving trains last year. This year, there have already been 46. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said it’s not uncommon, but the problem needs to be addressed. He said most of the time, these deaths and incidents occur because people are in a rush, and one organization whose mission is to spread rail safety awareness agrees that’s part of the issue. * WAND | Illinois bill requiring paid break time for nursing mothers awaits Pritzker’s signature: Illinois employers are currently required to provide reasonable time to nursing mothers during the work day, but that time is not required to be paid. This plan clarifies that employee time pumping breastmilk has to be paid and that employees should not be required to use paid leave during breaks. “Some people want us to dictate a number of minutes or something,” said Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville). “But when you have a very young baby, you nurse them more frequently during the day. You may need more time. It lessens possibly as the year goes by. So, the idea of getting to a definition of the specific number of minutes is probably impossible.” * WAND | Safe gun storage bill arrives on governor’s desk despite Republican concerns: This legislation could require all guns to be put in a locked container if there are minors, at-risk people, or anyone ineligible to hold a FOID card nearby. Gun owners would be fined up to $1,000 if a minor or prohibited person gains access to a gun that is not safely stored. The fine could increase to $10,000 if the person kills someone with that firearm. * Capitol News Illinois | National speculation helps ‘get more for the people of Illinois,’ Pritzker says: Pritzker was asked whether he would have run had Trump not been elected last year. “I think I would, but I have to say that in this moment, it feels like walking away is the wrong thing to do given who is in the White House and given how this administration is attacking people all across this country,” Pritzker said. * Sun-Times | Molotov cocktails allegedly sparked fire in Austin that killed child, newspaper editor, alderperson says: West Side Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), whose ward includes the fire scene, flatly declared the fire an “arson.” Mitts told the Sun-Times it was triggered by “domestic violence” between a “young man and his girlfriend or ex-girlfriend.” “They had been arguing earlier and, the next thing you know, he was there at the building throwing a Molotov cocktail in the front, then one at the back door,” Mitts said. * Crain’s | Nerds meet suits at Chicago quantum conference: Chicago is hosting a two-day coming-out party for quantum computing next month, featuring a high-profile roster of executives from industry and the Chicago corporate community. Those taking the stage include leaders from quantum companies that already have a presence in Chicago, such as PsiQuantum and IBM, as well as global technology heavyweights Google, Nvidia, Applied Materials and SK Group. * Crain’s | Stockyards Cold brings modern refrigeration, and a dose of artistry, to Chicago’s former meatpacking district: The insulated warehouse will feature a 12-panel mural by Bolivian-born artist David Banegas on the building’s Ashland Avenue-facing wall depicting Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. The 100,000-square-foot cold storage space will be completed by late August, and if you walk past the site on 3815 S. Ashland Ave., you might catch Banegas painting the mural. The facility is designed to store food and other perishables in temperatures from -10 degree to 55 degrees and will be built on speculation, or spec, meaning it does not have a tenant or user lined up. Developer Karis Cold is actively marketing the building. * Sun-Times | Chicago Sports Network removes episode of Bulls podcast — and won’t say why: An episode of “By The Horns” appeared in subscribers’ podcast libraries before it disappeared. CHSN confirmed pulling the show, which covered executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas’ contract extension. Both the network and team told the Sun-Times the Bulls had nothing to do with the episode’s removal. The Bulls did inquire with the network about the show’s format, such as whether it was going to be driven by opinion. The team was seeking information about the show, not questioning the show’s content. The Bulls monitor how they’re covered, and they were surprised to learn the episode had been removed because it wasn’t controversial. * Block Club | Get Inked For A Good Cause At Chicago’s First-Ever ‘Tattoo Lady Fest’: Campione has now been inking Chicagoans and visitors for 11 years — seven of which have been as the shop owner of Good Omen Tattoo, 2009 W. Belmont Ave. To celebrate her many milestones in the business — and to uplift other talented women who tattoo — she’s hosting a first-of-its-kind convention called Tattoo Lady Fest this September. “Tattoo Lady Fest emerged from years of making connections with other women in tattooing,” Campione told Block Club. “I found power in the shared experience of navigating a male-dominated field.” * Block Club | Black Yacht Weekend Attendees Call For Stricter Safety Measures After Chaotic And Dangerous Event: Last Saturday’s high winds and waves led a few companies to cancel their charters or remain docked. Some customers vented their frustration on social media while others, including high-profile influencers, expressed outrage over what they described as a lack of safety and organization. Hundreds of visitors were in town for Black Yacht Weekend, which followed the Juneteenth holiday. Now in its fifth year, the annual event draws young Black professionals and creatives from all over the country for a weekend of “unparalleled luxury” with ticketed events on land and water, from VIP yacht parties to rooftop extravaganzas. Those who don’t own boats typically rent one from private owners or charter companies, with groups paying in advance. * Evanston Now | Friendly face-off builds in state senate race: Rachel Ruttenberg and Patrick Hanley worked side-by-side as political organizers in their respective communities long before they were opponents, but next March will face off against each other to fill State Sen. Laura Fine’s seat in Springfield, as Fine looks to secure the Democratic nomination for a seat in the U.S. House. Both candidates recently sat down with Evanston Now to talk about their campaigns, policy positions and visions for their party, and while neither had anything bad to say about the other, they both do see daylight between them as they craft their pitch to voters. * Aurora Beacon-News | Water rates to increase in Aurora starting in July: Aurora residents will likely see a slightly higher number on their water bill starting in July, after the City Council voted on Tuesday night to raise water rates by 6% for each of the next two years to account for operating and capital needs for the Aurora water and sewer system. For a household paying an average bi-monthly bill of $100.25, the rate increase would amount to about $6.60 more per bill in each of the next two years, according to the item voted on Tuesday. For seniors who qualify for the senior exemption, that increase would be an average of $1.64 per bill in each of the next two years, assuming, based on the city’s figures, that qualifying seniors use on average half the water that the average household uses. * Naperville Sun | DuPage officials hoping user will emerge to renovate Oak Cottage in Naperville’s Greene Valley Forest Preserve: It was listed as one of the most endangered historic places in Illinois by preservationist organization Landmarks Illinois in 2023. That same year, the DuPage forest preserve district approved the Greene Valley Master Plan, which called for a study to document the house’s history and condition and create a timeline for partnering with a third party to propose a use and long-term maintenance strategy for the structure. * Daily Herald | Aiming for success: Schaumburg teen becomes national champion in women’s shooting contest: Saanvi is no stranger to the shooting community. She began competing when she was 12, quickly making a name for herself as she claimed the Illinois state championships for 2022, 2023 and 2024. Saavni competes with Arlington International Airgun Club of Arlington Heights, where she is coached by Don Webber. * WCIA | ‘Heartbreaking’: U of I Extension weighs in on potential SNAP cuts under ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: If the bill passes, U of I Extension said it would effectively mean the end for their SNAP-educational programs. For 30 years, these programs have been helping low-income communities in Illinois across 102 counties make better and healthier food choices. McCaffrey said the millions of dollars per year that come to Illinois would be going to zero, and that zero would mean no more SNAP education programs out of the University of Illinois Extension Office. These programs work with 1,800 community partners statewide, equipping more than a million people with food-related skills like stretching food money, reading nutrition labels and making healthy meals. * IPM | How northern Illinois teachers are bringing indigenous stories into their classrooms for the first time: Donahoe is the history center’s executive director. That 180-year-old map shows the DeKalb County land stolen from Chief Shab-eh-nay which was returned to the Prairie Band Potawatomi just last year. This past school year, for the first time, Illinois schools were required to teach a unit on the experience and history of Native people in the state. So, when the news coincided with the launch of the state’s new indigenous curriculum requirements, Donahoe knew they had an opportunity to help teachers bring local history to their classroom. So, last summer, they hosted a multi-day training with teachers from every district in the county to show them how to teach with primary sources like the 1843 map. She says they also have old biographies about Shab-eh-nay and court records where the chief sues settlers for stealing his timber. * WGLT | City of Bloomington will work to assuage massage therapist concerns over new ordinance: Bloomington’s city manager says the newly-passed massage business ordinance will do more than help shut down illicit businesses. “We’re also going to be helping the people within that establishment and there are groups out there that are willing to do that and want to do that, and so that’s going to be a great thing for the community,” Jeff Jurgens said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. Jurgens said it is heartwarming to see the community focus on helping people who are being exploited. * WCIA | Decatur man who brought gun to daughter’s school, made threats gets 2 years probation: Evans was charged with intimidation by threatening physical harm, disorderly conduct and unlawful use of a weapon — all felony counts — as well as a misdemeanor charge of violating the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. In May, Evans reached a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon as well as the misdemeanor charge. * WCIA | $180M Champaign Co. rape liability lawsuit settled out of court: That minor was 13 years old when she was sexually assaulted at the Champaign facility of The Pavilion Behavioral Health System in 2020. The victim’s mother, represented by St. Louis-based Simon Law, sued the following year and originally won $535 million in damages. The award was later reduced to $180 million on appeal and was settled out of court. Judge Bohm said in a prior court ruling that that the evidence was overwhelmingly against The Pavilion that their staff’s negligence allowed for the victim to be raped by another teenage patient. * BND | Popular East St. Louis coach still doesn’t know if he’s been fired or not: “I just have no clue what’s going on,” Barry Malloyd said after leaving Wednesday’s East St. Louis School District 189 board meeting. He said he was told that the board would have a decision Wednesday if he would be fired from his job as the juvenile transition coordinator and athletic director at Mason Clark Middle School. As of Friday morning, nearly two days since that meeting adjourned — which was the second in as many days that involved discussion of his employment — Malloyd said he still hasn’t heard what the school board members decided. * WSIL | Firework vendor shares concerns following Marion’s new ordinance on firework use: But new this year for Marion, consumer fireworks are no longer allowed. Now local firework vendors are worried about how that impacts their bottom line. Sky Thunder Fireworks says in order to follow the new ordinance, they had to set up shop outside of city limits. Kelly Whitecotton is a sales clerk for the store. “So we’re out in the countryside,” Whitecotton said. * New Yorker | Did Lead Poisoning Create a Generation of Serial Killers?: Fraser thinks the master key is to be found in the fact that these serial killers disproportionately originated in the counties and milieu of her childhood. The area south and southwest of Seattle was home to massive ore-processing facilities, and she, her classmates, and her subjects were reared in their murky, particulate shadows. “Spare some string for the smelters and smoke plumes,” she writes of her crazy wall, “those insidious killers, shades of Hades.” The smelters caused a profusion of heavy metals in the region’s air and water, and toxins such as lead and arsenic were found in staggering concentrations in the blood of Tacoma’s postwar children. Some were merely dulled, or delinquent; a few became tabloid monsters. Bundy was the most famous figure in “a long line of outlandishly wanton necrophiliac killers who’ve lived, at one time or another, within the Tacoma smelter plume.” Fraser waxes in a self-consciously Lynchian register, with stygian and hallucinatory descriptions of the Pacific Northwest. In Tacoma, she writes, it was “as if someone had scratched through to the underworld and released a savage wave of sulfur.” * San Francisco Chronicle | Disposable vapes may be more toxic than cigarettes, study finds: Using a lab device to simulate 500 to1,500 puffs per product, the UC Davis researchers found that metal concentrations increased with use. Leaded bronze components and degrading heating coils were identified as major sources of contamination. “When I first saw the lead concentrations, they were so high I thought our instrument was broken,” lead author Mark Salazar said in a statement. * AP | Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s made promises about vaccines. Here’s what he’s done as health secretary: “I’m not going to substitute my judgment for science,” he said. Yet the Department of Health and Human Services under Kennedy has taken unprecedented steps to change how vaccines are evaluated, approved and recommended — sometimes in ways that run counter to established scientific consensus.
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Question of the day
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * It’s been kind of a grim day for some folks, so let’s try to lighten it up. From the Senate Democratic fundraiser last night at Navy Pier…  * The Question: Your own state political cocktail suggestions?
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Today’s must-read
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Peter Nickeas, Casey Toner and Tom Schuba at the Chicago Sun-Times…
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Last year’s Administrative Procedure Act opinion appears to remain intact after today’s Supreme Court ruling (Updated x2)
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for the ruling. Some background…
* From the ruling…
And the 6-3 majority did, indeed, rule that no such authority exists. * However, this is also in the majority ruling…
* Justice Kavanaugh’s concurrence…
* Why is this important? Because, as I explained to subscribers in April, the Administrative Procedure Act is at the core of most of the lawsuits filed by attorneys general against the Trump administration. Some context from last year…
From that landmark 2024 opinion…
* NBC News picked up on the use of the APA against President Trump back in February…
* Isabel and I went through Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s press releases and court filings at the time to see which legal actions invoked the Administrative Procedure Act. There was a lot…
* Jan 28: AG Raoul co-leads lawsuit to stop Trump administration from withholding essential federal funding * Feb 10: AG Raoul leads coalition defending funding for medical and public health research * March 5: AG Raoul leads coalition defending the integrity of the National Labor Relations Board * March 6: AG Raoul challenges federal termination of K-12 teacher preparation pipeline grants * March 6: AG Raoul secures preliminary injunctions in two lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies * March 7: AG Raoul asks court to stop mass firings and seeks reinstatement of federal probationary employees * March 13: AG Raoul issues statement on lawsuit to stop Trump administration from dismantling Department of Education * March 20: AG Raoul files lawsuit to preserve Illinois clean-energy grants * March 24: AG Raoul continues the fight to stop Trump from shutting down the Department of Education * March 25: AG Raoul takes action to stop Trump administration from withholding critical emergency funding * April 4: AG Raoul files lawsuit to protect libraries and museums * But, as Justice Sotomayor’s dissent explains, the majority failed to see that the Administrative Procedure Act is at the core of the universal injunctions beginning in the third quarter of the 20th Century…
Calvinball is essentially being alleged in this dissent. …Adding… Governor JB Pritzker…
…Adding… Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
…Adding… Click here for the amended complaint…
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Why Are Tax-Exempt Hospitals Getting Rich?
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Across Illinois, big hospital systems and PBMs are abusing the 340B drug discount program – making massive profits while patients drown in medical bills. One whistleblower called it “laundering money.” Here’s how the scam works: big hospitals buy discounted 340B drugs, bill patients full price, then split the difference with for-profit pharmacies and PBMs. 340B was meant to help Illinois communities in need. But there are no rules requiring hospitals and PBMs to pass savings on to patients. No transparency. No oversight. Just higher costs for working families, small businesses, and taxpayers. Meanwhile, tax-exempt hospitals cash in – and PBMs get a cut too.
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It’s just a bill
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * During spring session, the House failed to pass one of Governor Pritzker’s priorities that would restricted the use of cellphones in classrooms. IPM Newsroom…
* Earlier this month, the Tribune took a closer look at why the bill didn’t pass…
* Even so, Chalkbeat Chicago’s Samantha Smylie reported this week that sponsors say the bill isn’t completely dead…
Thoughts?
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Open thread
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * No song today because I want you to watch the absolute best sheep dog ever…
Nelson looks like Oscar when he was a little puppy. * Please keep your comments Illinois-centric. Thanks.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker hints at possible running mate in reelection bid during East Peoria stop. WGLT…
- “There are some qualified people across the state. There’s one right behind me,” Pritzker said, a nod to state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, a Peoria Democrat who serves as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House and who introduced the governor at the rally. - “When you win, you gotta represent everybody and I know Jehan Gordon-Booth has done that in her job as state representative,” Pritzker said. “Who would not want Jehan Gordon-Booth as a leader in this state?” * Related stories…
∙ Tribune: JB Pritzker: From political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois — and potential US presidential candidate ∙ PJ Star: Gov. Pritzker visits Illinois Central College on reelection tour ∙ Daily Herald: It’s Pritzker 3.0: Governor launches reelection campaign amid White House speculation * The governor is wrapping up his statewide tour today with a 10:30 am stop at SWIC’s Manufacturing Training Academy in Belleville, followed by a 2 pm visit to IBEW Local 702 in West Frankfort. * A City That Works | It’s time to start enforcing the rules on the CTA: Unsurprisingly, the CTA and City of Chicago’s approach to-date on this issue has been woeful. The CTA has spent more than $100M on unarmed security guards, who appear to be instructed not to confront bad behavior, and generally seem to stand around on their phones. And while the CTA is also paying for CPD overtime, sworn CPD officers on the Public Transportation Section are down by almost a third from 188 in May 2020 to 132 in May 2025. Communications are also woefully inadequate. There is still not a way to discreetly alert CTA or CPD personnel about an issue. In a fraught situation on a train, riders are expected to put themselves at risk by either calling 911 or pressing an emergency button and speaking to an operator via loudspeaker. Neither is a particularly appealing prospect while being trapped in a small metal can with someone who appears to be a threat to others. * WBUR | Reverse Course: Life after the levee breach in Dogtooth Bend, Illinois: In 2016, the Mississippi River punched a hole in the Len Small levee, built to protect farmland along an S-shaped curve in the river known as Dogtooth Bend. That hole was never repaired. Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports on how some farmers in the area have had to give up their land. And, John Ruskey calls the Mississippi River “a creative force” that sculpts the landscape and rejuvenates the people who experience it up close. But climate change is making that force stronger and more destructive. Bentley took a canoe ride with Ruskey and reports on the future of the river. * NPR Illinois | Nursing home lobbying group director says possible cut to Medicaid is “deeply troubling”: Ron Nunziato is the senior director of policy for the Healthcare Council of Illinois. It’s a lobbying group whose members represent about 70 percent of the Medicaid occupied beds in the state. He said the uncertainty of how much federal funding the state will receive for Medicaid puts nursing home operators in a bind. “We don’t know what DC will do, and we don’t know how that will impact the state,” Nunziato said. “If they (Congress makes) cuts to Medicaid, the state could look at all Medicaid providers and make a cut to them,” he said. “They could take more from one pot than they do another. And so, it’s deeply troubling to us in this industry.” * CBS Chicago | AIDS Garden Chicago honors trailblazer and former Illinois Rep. Greg Harris: With just days left in Pride Month, AIDS Garden Chicago took the time Thursday to honor former Illinois state representative and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Greg Harris. On Thursday afternoon, a plaque dedicated to Harris was unveiled at the entrance to the garden, located near the south end of Belmont Harbor. The space memorializes the early days of Chicago’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. * Tribune | Apparently fake clemency letter for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover sent to Gov. JB Pritzker: At first glance, the petition, which was stamped as received by the governor’s office on June 16, might seem to be a legitimate plea from Hoover himself, using similar language about atonement and redemption that the imprisoned gang leader has used in numerous previous requests for parole and clemency from the courts. But a closer inspection revealed some telltale signs that the document, first obtained by the Tribune through a public records request, is likely a fake. For one, it was purportedly sent June 5 from the “supermax” prison in Florence, Colorado, where Hoover, 74, had been housed for the past three decades. But Hoover had in fact been released from that facility days prior due to Trump’s clearing of his federal sentence on May 29. * WEBQ | Windhorst Announces Re-election Run for 117th House District Seat: Windhorst has risen through the ranks of House Republican leadership to be selected House Republican Floor Leader, leading debate and holding liberal Democrats accountable for radical leftist legislation. “I have voted against legislation that restricts 2nd Amendment Rights, dangerous legislation that ends cash bail and punishes police officers, all measures that expand taxpayer-funded abortion services, and I’ve fought to end Illinois’ Sanctuary State law that has cost taxpayers billions,” Windhorst said. “Liberal Democrats have gone too far in pushing our state and country’s politics to the left, and I’m fighting back.” * The Triibe | Who’s behind those texts slamming Mayor Johnson and some progressive alders for their ‘snap curfew’ vote?: The texts are being sent out by the Urban Center PAC, a political action committee launched in 2024 by former Chicago Public Schools CEO and failed mayoral candidate Paul Vallas. Juan Rangel, a former Latiné charter school operator, leads the Urban Center PAC. He’s also the CEO of The Urban Center nonprofit. * Tribune | Interim CPS chief Macquline King addresses first school board meeting, cites $730 million deficit as top priority: “Families, principals and teachers are counting on us to open schools in August with confidence and clarity,” King said. “I am committed to maintaining momentum and ensuring a smooth start to the school year.” King — who stepped into the position earlier this month — inherits a district long-underfunded by the state and plagued by years of financial woes. She previously served as the city’s senior director of educational policy. * Sun-Times | Chicago cop who inadvertently shot and killed his partner has a lengthy disciplinary record in a short career: Since joining the Chicago Police Department in December 2021, Officer Carlos A. Baker has faced three suspensions and two reprimands, records show, one stemming from a complaint that he failed to arrest a home invader on his first shift working the street. […] During his probationary period, Baker also was accused of flashing a gun at a woman he’d met online while she was on a date with another man at a North Side bar. The woman later refused to cooperate with investigators, and Baker faced no discipline, records show. * WTTW | Trump Administration Restores $1M in Frozen Anti-Terrorism Funds to Chicago, City Officials Announce: * Inside Climate News |How Do You Escape a Heat Wave When You Have Nowhere to Go?: Trivedi was one of a dozen Chicagoans seeking refuge at the Garfield Community Service Center, a resource hub doubling as one of the city’s designated cooling areas as the atmospheric heat dome encasing much of the country this week drove temperatures dangerously high. But the center would close at 5 that afternoon. Staffers there try to coordinate shelter beds for those who need them, but demand has been high. “You need to wait all the day and you’re not sure the beds are available or not available,” Trivedi said. Often, he ends up sleeping outside. He hoped he’d have more luck that night. * Block Club | South Side Alderman’s Push To Rename West Chatham Park Backfires: ‘Mistakes Happen’: The process of renaming a South Side Park after Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose — a suggestion that’s rankled some neighbors — appears to have unraveled before it even began. Ald. William Hall (6th), who initiated the renaming process, said he made a “clerical error” and has withdrawn his request to the Chicago Park District. […] “There was an error, and guess what? We’re human. And guess what? Mistakes happen,” Hall said at the meeting. “So in my interpretation of what I needed to do, I pushed the wrong button, and clearly it made little waves that it should not have made. But it’s good to know that we’re engaged.” * Crain’s | New York firm buys distressed Wacker Drive tower at massive discount: A venture of Great Neck, N.Y.-based Kohan Retail Investment Group paid close to $45 million last week for the 65-story office tower at 311 S. Wacker Drive, according to sources familiar with the deal. The sale price for the 1.3 million-square-foot building is a staggering discount from the $302 million it traded for in 2014 to an affiliate of Chicago-based Zeller Realty Group and Chinese investor Cindat Capital Management. * Crain’s | Indicted ex-Loretto exec pushes his health ventures — while facing a federal arrest warrant: Today, a press release purporting to be from Ahmed commented on “President Donald J. Trump’s recent remarks about conditions in Chicago,” saying Ahmed agreed there are “increasing concerns around public safety, homelessness, and the effectiveness of city-level policies.”The release also had Ahmed weighing in on sanctuary city policies and a call for “long-term, data-driven solutions and increased transparency in local decision-making.” It touts Ahmed’s involvement with reopening medical facilities and supporting job training and housing. * Tribune | At Albizu High School, migrant grads confront a future shaped by US policy: Federal immigration crackdowns have cast an even longer shadow over their plans. Despite the staff at their high school encouraging them to carry themselves with dignity, their path after graduation remains unclear. Amid it all, Juan and his friends from Albizu — George Pérez Pedraza, also from Mexico, and Jhonnalber “Jupiter” Mejías-Monteverde, from Venezuela — have found comfort in each other. Over the past few months, they’ve shared calls over heartbreak, celebrated birthdays at the beach on Lake Michigan and dreamt of forming a band. * Tribune | Chicago closes streets early to fix buckling pavement ahead of NASCAR race: On Wednesday evening, the city shut down Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue, which was originally scheduled to close Friday. It also closed Columbus from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road — five days ahead of schedule — to allow work crews to repair the pavement buckle. The rest of the course is “holding up fine” and the street closings ahead of the July Fourth weekend race event will remain on schedule, a NASCAR spokesperson said Thursday. * WGN | No fireworks in Chicago for Fourth of July holiday: Madeline Long, director of communication for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, told WGN News last year that “as has been the case for several years, the City does not host fireworks for the July 4th holiday.” WGN News recently compiled a list of Fourth of July fireworks displays and festivities spanning the Chicagoland area. Readers may view the entire list by clicking here. * Injustice Watch | Family sues Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart over ‘brutal’ jail death: The 73-page suit filed last week in the Northern District of Illinois by the stepfather of Cory Ulmer, who was 41 when he died, accuses Dart of having a “pattern and practice of covering up or turning a blind eye to the use of excessive force.” An additional 30 county employees are named defendants in the lawsuit. * Aurora Beacon-News | Kaneland School District files lawsuit against Sugar Grove over Crown development’s TIF district: According to an original proposal, 10% of the TIF funds were to go to the village for any improvements it needs to make in the area, but, in August, then-Sugar Grove Village President Jennifer Konen said Crown had agreed to give another 10% of the funds to be distributed among the other taxing bodies, of which Kaneland is expected to get $26 million. The original TIF agreement also included payments from TIF district funds to offset the cost of schooling for students living in the new housing at the development. * ABC Chicago | South suburban property owner finally gets house back, says squatters lived in his home for months: “They left it an absolute mess,” Goodman said. “They’ve destroyed the house. It needs at least $25,000.” Goodman is glad that the family who moved into his property is gone, but he is not celebrating. “Why? Because now I need money to fix the house, and it’s going to take several months for me to put it on the market,” Goodman said. * Shaw Local | Despite delays, Morrison hospital’s $14M expansion stays on budget and on track: Work on a $14 million two-story addition to Morrison Community Hospital continues despite slight delays. The project was expected to finish in January 2026, but Morrison Community Hospital CEO Pam Pfister said this week that utility work delays have pushed the completion date to May 2026. * Crain’s | NU sued over suicide of scientist targeted in federal China probe: The estate of a Northwestern University professor who died last year is suing the school, blaming it in part for her decision to take her life after she was evicted from her lab and hospitalized following a government investigation of her and other Chinese American scientists. Jane Wu was a tenured faculty member at NU’s Feinberg School of Medicine in neurology, molecular biology and genetics. She and other scientists of Chinese descent were targeted by a Justice Department investigation known as the China Initiative during the first Trump administration that looked into undisclosed ties to Beijing. * Daily Southtown | Art becomes part of the nature mission at Will County forest preserves: Throughout the year, the district’s visitors centers host exhibits of work by artists local and national, connecting people to nature in ways they may not have expected. “It’s another way of introducing our preserves and nature centers,” said Heather Van Zyl, facility supervisor for Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township. “There are visitors and community members who sometimes find their way to us for the first time because of an artist or an exhibition,” she explained. “They say, ‘Now that I know you’re here, I see all these trails and all these exhibits. I’m going to bring my family.’ … It can be a really great introduction.” * WGLT | ‘Outpouring of support’ for Humane Society in Normal after A/C breaks during heat wave: The organization said they now have enough fans and other supplies after donations poured in from Veterans Maintenance Solutions, R.P. Lumber Company, Home Depot, Meijer and individual community members. They urged those still wanting to help to make a monetary donation in the event that their air conditioning unit needs to be replaced. * 25News Now | Peoria Mayor Rita Ali delivers 2025 State of the City Address: She said Peoria is in a strong financial position, where of its almost $275 million budget, the city has $136 million in reserves and more than $49 million in the general fund. “We continue to pay down our general obligation debt,” Ali said. “Fortunately, we don’t have the excessive financial shortfalls that many cities are currently experiencing.” * WVIK | Illinois Housing Development Authority awards Aledo ten years of tax credits to fund housing project: Economic Growth Corporation President and CEO Brian Hollenback discusses the tax credits and what the century-old school redevelopment into housing will bring to the city of Aledo. * Illinois Times | City Council has a tiff over TIFs: The Springfield City Council engaged in a heated debate Tuesday over grants for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. Frustration mounted as supporters of the ordinances questioned why their fellow council members sought further discussion on this initiative but not others, suggesting that it came down to the demographics of those who would benefit from the money. TIF districts can be established by cities in areas that have been identified as economically stagnant or unlikely to attract private investment. TIFs are generally intended to revitalize those areas by funding public and private redevelopment projects and attracting private investment. * 25News Now | Residents can text their city government through service coming to Pekin: The service, called “TextMyGov,” allows residents to send text messages to their local government and receive automated assistance 24/7. This will allow citizens to engage more with their city’s government and will help residents find information and report issues via text message. Residents will be able to access information using keywords such as “AGENDA” or “GARBAGE” and to report issues using keywords like “TREE DOWN” or “POTHOLE.” * Illinois Times | Route 66: Monetizing the mother road: An exhibit of famed Route 66 nomad hippie artist Bob Waldmire’s work will open June 28 at the Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space and remain on display through December 2026. Then a quarter-mile stretch of original Route 66 concrete road at Carpenter Park will be uncovered and transformed into a trail with wayside exhibits, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for July 11. On the 100th birthday itself, a big bash will happen at Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, with visits from what Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl promises as “high-end” entertainment acts and other, yet-to-be-named dignitaries. * 25News Now | Peoria Blues & Heritage Music Festival announces second round of artists: Taj Farrant, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Maurice John Vaughn with Freddie Dixon & John Watkins, FrankBang and Brandon Santini join the lineup, including Ruthie Foster. Rock legend Gov’t Mule, blues rocker ZZ Ward, and Tommy Castro & the Painkillers. The music festival is Aug. 29-30 along the Peoria Riverfront. The festival will feature late-night events at Kenny’s Westside Pub, local food, craft beer and art vendors. * WaPo | Trump administration is preparing to challenge budget law, U.S. officials say: In both internal communications and interviews, more than two dozen current and former employees across multiple agencies said the administration appears to be readying to push the boundaries of the law meant to prevent the president from unilaterally overturning spending decisions made by Congress. Key White House aides have long argued that the law is an unconstitutional limit on presidential power and suggested that they will seek court rulings to overturn it, which could allow the White House to determine which spending to carry out. * Wired | ‘They’re Not Breathing’: Inside the Chaos of ICE Detention Center 911 Calls: A WIRED investigation into 911 calls from 10 of the nation’s largest immigration detention centers found that serious medical incidents are rising at many of the sites. The data, obtained through public records requests, show that at least 60 percent of the centers analyzed had reported serious pregnancy complications, suicide attempts, or sexual assault allegations. Since January, these 10 facilities have collectively placed nearly 400 emergency calls. Nearly 50 of those have involved potential cardiac episodes, 26 referenced seizures, and 17 reported head injuries. Seven calls described suicide attempts or self-harm, including overdoses and hangings. Six others involved allegations of sexual abuse—including at least one case logged as “staff on detainee.”
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jun 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Jun 27, 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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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WCIA…
* Shaw Local…
* Illinois Department of Employment Security…
* ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker announces re-election campaign for 3rd term: ‘Keep Illinois moving forward’: He is the first Illinois governor since the late former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson to seek a third consecutive term. The governor spoke at Chicago’s Grand Crossing Park Field House on the South Side. It’s the same location where he announces his first run for governor in April 2017. * Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker announces run for 3rd term to protect Illinois from ‘chaos and craziness’ of Trump: Pritzker isn’t expected to announce a running mate during his initial campaign tour, which includes more rallies later Thursday in Rockford, Peoria and Springfield, plus two additional downstate appearances on Friday. * Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker announces reelection campaign: The state GOP issued a statement saying Pritzker should be “fired not re-hired.” “He’s prioritized illegal immigrants over Illinois families, hiked taxes, and rammed through the largest, most bloated budget in state history,” ILGOP Chairman Kathy Salvi said in a statement. The governor’s political future has been the topic of significant speculation, especially since he was shortlisted for former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate search last summer in her campaign for the White House. That and his vocal and frequent condemnations of President Donald Trump have fueled speculation of a presidential run in 2028. * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker makes it official at South Side rally: He’s running for a third term to be Illinois’ chief executive: In the campaign video, Pritzker appears in the small town of Chestnut, which is the geographic center of the state, to make his case that Illinois is the middle of the national battle over politics and government. “These days, Illinois is standing at the center of the fight: The fight to make life more affordable, the fight to protect our freedoms, the fight for common sense,” Pritzker said, focusing on Trump before pivoting to what Pritzker describes as his successes as governor since he first took office in 2019, including balanced budgets, state credit upgrades and hiking the minimum wage. * NBC Chicago | ‘Ready for the fight’: Pritzker announces run for third term as Illinois governor: NBC News found Pritzker walking along Chicago’s lakefront just hours before the video was released Thursday. When asked about his upcoming announcement, the governor responded by jokingly asking, “What’s going on?” He said he was walking to “clear his head.” * WAND | Proposal calling for annual report on prison hospice, palliative care awaits Pritzker’s signature: Over 1,000 Illinois prisoners are 65 or older and a growing number of those people are in need of end-of-life care and support services. The Illinois Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison by prison basis. Sponsors and advocates said this has led to inconsistent care for prisoners diagnosed with terminal illnesses or who are expected to reach the end of their life. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a school cellphone ban – for now: State Sen. Cristina Castro, the chief sponsor of the bill, said in an interview with Chalkbeat that she did not hear strong opposition to the bill, but believes the language of the bill needed some “fine-tuning.” Teachers unions, administrator groups, and state lawmakers had expressed concerns about schools’ ability to enforce cellphone restrictions and what schools would do about cell phone access in emergency situations such as an active shooter scenario. * NBC Chicago | Universal is bringing a new year-round horror experience to Chicago, city announces: The new venue will mark the second location for the popular Universal Horror Unleashed brand, following one other location in Las Vegas, and a first for Universal in the Midwest. Universal Horror Unleashed: Chicago will transform a vacant commercial building, located across from the new Bally’s Casino at 700 W. Chicago Ave., “into a world-class horror attraction and entertainment destination.” * Crain’s | With old plan dead, city reopens Loop site to developers: Chicago planning officials are back on the hunt for a developer to breathe new life into a city-owned site in the southeast corner of the Loop after plans for a $102 million, 20-story apartment building fell through. […] The solicitation comes roughly four years after the city selected a 207-unit, all-affordable high-rise residential plan from nonprofit developer Community Builders as the winner of a green-building competition to redevelop the site. Dubbed Assemble Chicago, the project included a Rush University health clinic and a YMCA location as anchor retail tenants. But it didn’t land the necessary financing to kick it off as interest rates spiked and banks tightened up lending for new ground-up development. * Sun-Times | Water Tower Place owner pitches mall consolidation, lists upper floors for sale: MetLife engaged JLL about a year ago in an advisory role, Kirschbraun said, as the owner explored the option of consolidating mall space. If such a move were to happen, its retail space would shrink to the mall’s first three floors, according to a property brochure from JLL. “We’re open to anything that supports the rest of the complex,” Kirschbraun said. * WBEZ | Andersonville’s iconic pizzeria Great Lake has quietly returned, with more than pie: It’s understandable. The husband-and-wife duo learned what viral meant before viral was a thing, in 2009, after GQ writer Alan Richman told everyone the mortadella-topped pizza with earthy, bready crust at their tiny Andersonville shop with uncompromising standards was the best in the country. Then came the rest of the national media, the lines snaking down Balmoral Avenue, celebrities like Beyonce and Jay-Z, and frustrating three-hour waits for pizza (for everyone else). * Sun-Times | Damen Silos should be a concert venue, groups say: So far, property owner Michael Tadin Jr. hasn’t budged on plans to tear down the historic structures near South Damen Avenue along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Nor has he been swayed to sell the property. Preservationists and a community organization say the buildings should be saved and restored. They could be a backdrop for public park space that would be used as permanent music festival grounds, they argue. * Chicago Mag | How to Coexist With Coyotes: The odds are that some of these pups won’t survive for long. “Our research indicates that coyotes of all ages in the Chicago area generally have roughly a 60 percent chance of surviving each year, even juveniles in their first year,” wildlife ecology professor Stanley D. Gehrt reports in the 2024 book Coyotes Among Us: Secrets of the City’s Top Predator (written with journalist Kerry Luft). “Still, the survival rates of juvenile coyotes in Cook County are approximately five times higher than the 13 percent survival rate reported for rural juvenile coyotes.” * Sun-Times | Chicago Pride Parade 2025: Route map, street closings, how to get there, reader tips: The parade begins at 11 a.m. at West Sheridan Road and North Broadway — viewing begins at West Grace Street and North Broadway. It continues south along North Broadway, then to North Halsted Street and east along West Belmont Avenue to North Broadway. Finally south to West Diversey Parkway, ending at the corner of North Sheridan Road and West Diversey Parkway. * Daily Southtown | Air conditioning restored to some units at Park Forest apartment complex: Park Forest spokesperson Joshua Vinson said Autumn Ridge apartment management reported fixing the air conditioning at two of the complex’s four buildings and that they were on track to restore air in the rest of the building by Friday. “They give us an update, so this is what they’re saying,” Vinson said, noting the village is still working to determine who owns the 119 E. Sycamore St. apartments. * Daily Herald | Rolling Meadows buys strip mall space to expand social services: The city council this week inked a contract to purchase more than 5,300 square feet of long-vacant office space on the second and third floors of the shopping center at 2214 Algonquin Road, plus the first floor entry area, staircase and elevator used to access the upper floors. The location — in the center of a building that’s home to a number of shops — is highly visible and will be more accessible to residents in need of social services, city officials say. * Daily Herald | Trump store owner agrees to leave Huntley location after effort to evict her: Just before the store’s eviction trial was set to begin on Wednesday, the store owner, her landlord and their lawyers agreed to a settlement. Among the terms of the agreement are that store owner Lisa Fleischmann vacates the premises by 6 p.m. July 17 and that she pays the landlord’s attorney fees and court costs, which she has done, court records show. Fleischmann said she picked the move-out date and hopes to be in a new location by late September or October. She also would like to start selling merchandise online. * Press Release | Medill becomes the new home for the Illinois Journalism Education Association: The Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications has become the new institutional home for the Illinois Journalism Education Association (IJEA), after a unanimous vote of support by IJEA’s board. IJEA is a nonprofit organization that works with teachers and advisers across Illinois to promote high standards in scholastic media. “We’re excited to take on this role and to work closely with the dedicated board, students and advisers who are members of this storied organization,” said Medill’s Dean Charles Whitaker. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen and grow scholastic journalism and publishing here in Illinois.” * KFVS | “Y’all Rock Carbondale” to welcome public to camper showcase: The showcase will feature performances from bands that will be created during the 2025 Rock Camp. The camp will take place at the Eurma C. Hayes Center from July 7-11. 55 campers ranging from ages 3-12 will attend Rock Camp. During the camps, they will learn an instrument and participate in workshops. * WSIL | SIU helps aspiring pilots with disabilities take flight: Southern Illinois University is making strides in aviation accessibility for aspiring pilots with disabilities. The university is hosting the 2025 class of Able Flight, marking its second year in partnership with the nonprofit program. Since May, students have been engaged in intensive flight training, thanks to scholarships from Able Flight. They are working towards earning Sport Pilot certificates, which allow them to operate aircraft without physical disability barriers. * BND | AC goes out at metro-east animal shelter, so adoptions fees are being waived: “We have more than 80 animals in the facility, so identifying the ones that need immediate help is a little difficult with our staff,” Henke said. Both cat and dog rooms have been affected by the broken air conditioning. More than 12 rooms need new air conditioners, and with each costing more than $5,000, retrofitting the facility is too expensive. * AP | Key Medicaid provision in President Donald Trump’s bill is found to violate Senate rules. The GOP is scrambling: Guidance from the parliamentarian is rarely ignored and Republican leaders are now forced to consider difficult options. Republicans were counting on big cuts to Medicaid and other programs to offset trillions of dollars in Trump tax breaks, their top priority. Additionally, the Senate’s chief arbiter of its often complicated rules had advised against various GOP provisions barring certain immigrants from health care programs. Republicans scrambled Thursday to respond, with some calling for challenging, or firing, the nonpartisan parliamentarian, who has been on the job since 2012. Democrats said the decisions would devastate GOP plans. “We have contingency plans,” said Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. * AP | States can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court rules: “This is yet another shameful ruling that inserts the government directly between a patient and their doctor—just like Dobbs three years ago and Skrmetti last week. Intimate, personal decisions about health care shouldn’t require sign off from extremist politicians,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement in response to the high court’s decision. “Each and every action taken by anti-choice extremists threatens the life of someone you know. Eventually, the tides must turn—and we must protect health care for all.” * ProPublica | Fossil Fuel Interests Are Working to Kill Solar in One Ohio County. The Hometown Newspaper Is Helping.: Someone sent text messages to residents urging them to “stop the solar invasion” and elect two county commission candidates who opposed the solar farm. And one day this past March, residents received an unfamiliar newspaper that contained only articles attacking Frasier Solar, a large project that would replace hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans with the equivalent of 630 football fields of solar panels. * The Atlantic | The End of Publishing as We Know It: According to one comprehensive study, Google’s AI Overviews—a feature that summarizes web pages above the site’s usual search results—has already reduced traffic to outside websites by more than 34 percent. The CEO of DotDash Meredith, which publishes People, Better Homes & Gardens, and Food & Wine, recently said the company is preparing for a possible “Google Zero” scenario. Some have speculated that traffic drops resulting from chatbots were part of the reason outlets such as Business Insider and the Daily Dot have recently had layoffs. “Business Insider was built for an internet that doesn’t exist anymore,” one former staffer recently told the media reporter Oliver Darcy.
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Speech focused around building on past accomplishments rather than bold new plans
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * From today’s press conference following Gov. Pritzker’s announcement…
* He also talked about the country at large a lot. From his speech…
* Isabel asked what his big new ideas are…
Discuss.
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RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Retailers like Eva in Galesburg enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Pritzker reelection announcement react
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Again, click here to read the governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery and click here to watch the video. From Leader McCombie…
That came from her state account, by the way. Checking on why. This post will be updated. …Adding… RGA…
* DGA…
* ILGOP…
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Rate Pritzker’s re-election launch video (Updated with Pritzker’s prepared remarks)
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Here you go… * Press release…
…Adding… Click here to read the governor’s prepared remarks. Click here to watch it live. [Fixed link.]
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Why Are Tax-Exempt Hospitals Getting Rich?
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Across Illinois, big hospital systems and PBMs are abusing the 340B drug discount program – making massive profits while patients drown in medical bills. One whistleblower called it “laundering money.” Here’s how the scam works: big hospitals buy discounted 340B drugs, bill patients full price, then split the difference with for-profit pharmacies and PBMs. 340B was meant to help Illinois communities in need. But there are no rules requiring hospitals and PBMs to pass savings on to patients. No transparency. No oversight. Just higher costs for working families, small businesses, and taxpayers. Meanwhile, tax-exempt hospitals cash in – and PBMs get a cut too.
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Open thread
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Smile Politely…
* “Normalcy”… * Please keep your chat Illinois-centric. Thanks.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois Democratic lawmakers ask RFK Jr. to stop sharing Medicaid data with Trump deportation officials. Sun-Times…
- But the Democrats claim CMS “inappropriately and potentially unlawfully” used the audit to obtain personal data and shared it with Homeland Security. - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office is “closely monitoring this matter and evaluating our options,” according to spokesperson Jamey Dunn-Thomason. * Subscribers know much more. WQRL | Vercellino to challenge incumbent Windhorst for 117th House District: Vercellino, of West Frankfort, became the first Republican elected as County Treasurer since the 1950s and beat a sitting Democrat for the office in 2018. Since then, Vercellino has worked with Democrat and Republican boards alike to get county finances back on track to better position Franklin County for decades to come. Vercellino says he’s a proven leader who’s ready to bring his leadership abilities to a bigger stage. Vercellino says since 2017 he has seen an exponentially growing grassroots base of people willing to step up to help make Illinois a better place to live, work, and grow. * Illinois Times | The college crisis: When University of Illinois Springfield recently was designated Illinois’ top regional state university, it was a dose of good news on a campus that has seen its enrollment drop by more than 800 students during the last decade. UIS is reviewing programs and pondering whether they continue to serve student needs, Chancellor Janet Gooch told Illinois Times. It’s a situation almost all of the state’s regional institutions find themselves in. * STL Post Dispatch | Pope Leo XIV among 1 in 4 Illinoisans with unclaimed property: The amount the pope is in line to receive should he make a claim? $8.65, which equals about 7.45 euros. “I am happy to send $8.65 to the world’s most famous White Sox fan,” Frerichs said in a statement. “My office is truly committed to returning everyone’s missing money, no matter how long it takes or what elevated title they have taken.” * ABC Chicago | Illinois seeking to counter information from RFK Jr’s new vaccine panel doctors call untrustworthy: The head of the Illinois Department of Public Health told the ABC7 I-Team among the conversations underway are how to potentially stand up interstate vaccination programs. Those plans revealed as physicians and others were protesting Wednesday as the new advisory committee on immunization practices at the CDC met for the first time after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members and seated an entirely new board, with some vaccine skeptics like himself, to determine national vaccine policy. * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ soil conservation funding stagnates amid recent high-profile dust storms: On May 16, Chicago saw its first major dust storm since the Dust Bowl, which stretched from Texas to New York in the early 1930s and deposited 300 million tons of soil across the nation – 12 million tons of which settled in the Chicago region, according to the Bill of Rights Institute. The storm in May dropped visibility in the city to near zero as wind gusts blew over 60 mph at times, according to the National Weather Service. Taylor said the atmospheric environment that day was more characteristic of the dry environments in the High Plains or Southwest U.S., not the Midwest. As rain began to fall near Bloomington, it quickly evaporated and cooled the atmosphere, creating strong pockets of wind that began to move North. And as winds sped up, the storm began to pick up and move dry and loose soil from fields it passed over, which created the dust storm. * Capitol News Illinois | Attorney General Raoul joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s termination of federal grants: Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced this week he has joined another multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds that had previously been approved for states and other grantees. The complaint, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, challenges several actions the administration has taken since Trump returned to office Jan. 20 that involved terminating federal grants that had previously been approved by various agencies. * Tribune | Recent political violence in the United States has local elected officials concerned about the causes: State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-58) said he was “shocked and shaken” when he heard about the shootings, noting he was familiar with Hortman, but had not met her. Morgan mentioned he quickly contacted local law enforcement to see if there were any threats against anyone locally. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have had to go down this path and consider our own safety and safety of our colleagues,” Morgan said. * McHenry County Blog | Pastor Corey Brooks Declines $200,000 in Legislative Pork for Project H.O.O.D.: In his speech endorsing Jim Oberweis to replace Florida Congressman Bryon Donalds Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks stated that his Project H.O.O.D. would not accept government money. […] asked him about the $200,000 that was included in the pork-filled state budget. He remained true to his Florida statement; he said he had turned it down. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Chicago Public Schools budget for 2025-26 school year delayed: Chicago Public Schools’ budget for the 2025-26 school year, normally released in June, is delayed until at least late July, prompting uncertainty and anxiety for principals and schools — and potentially setting them up for cuts right before the fall. The district’s new fiscal year starts on July 1 and schools received their budgets for the coming school year in May, based on the assumption that the district would have just a $229 million deficit to close. Those school-level budgets were mostly flat, district officials said, though some schools already experienced some cuts. * Sun-Times | CPS school board to consider green schools pilot program: The proposal would use the cash-strapped district’s limited resources to invest in energy-efficient projects that proponents say could save money in the long run. If approved, the resolution would establish a healthy green schools pilot program at Chicago Public Schools with the goal of investing in at least 12 clean energy projects at neighborhood schools by the end of the 2025-26 school year. Those projects could include rooftop solar, heat pumps or geothermal systems that use stable underground temperatures for heating and cooling buildings. * Sun-Times | Funeral home gets Chicago’s lucrative $4.4M body removal contract: Current and former Chicago police officers question whether a single funeral home has the capacity to handle the citywide business. Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st), who has served the city as both a police officer and a firefighter, said he doesn’t “know if it’s possible.” […] The new contract includes a penalty for delayed transport of bodies. If the contractor fails to arrive at the scene within 75 minutes of the initial call-out by 911 dispatchers, the fee of $172 per body will be cut in half. * Block Club | Mosaic House, A New Coworking And Childcare Center, Wants To Help NW Side Moms Build Community: The coworking center is opening July 14 on the border of the Dunning and Montclare neighborhoods. The space, 7129 W. Belmont Ave., will feature structured child care in the back with a spacious work area in the front. Mosaic House plans to host events like resume-building sessions, peer support groups, wellness workshops, panels on motherhood and yoga classes. * WBEZ | Many Chicagoans likely to wait decades for dangerous lead pipes to be replaced: Now a senior policy advocate for the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council,Perry is part of a coalition that fought for stricter rules to force cities like Chicago to remove their toxic lead pipes faster. Last year, advocates celebrated a big win: The Biden-era U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated that all water systems across the country begin replacing their lead service lines by 2027. Under the new rule, Chicago would have about 20 years to replace its estimated 412,000 lead service lines, giving the city its most accelerated timeline yet for dealing with the public health crisis. Lead is especially harmful to children with developing brains and can cause a number of serious health conditions in adults. But Chicago is set to fall 30 years behind that timeline, according to the city’s replacement plan, submitted to the Illinois EPA in April and obtained through a public records request. It aims to complete 8,300 replacements annually for 50 years, wrapping up in 2076. * Sun-Times | Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus mourns loss of member in fatal hit-and-run in Lake View: Siddall joined the chorus in 2018 and “quickly became a vibrant and vital part of our community,” said Kevin Corbett, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus managing director. “A gifted performer, Brendan lit up the stage in several performances, sharing their talent and energy with joy and authenticity,” Corbett said in a statement. Siddall served as the president of the chorus’ membership council. * WBEZ | How Chicago drag designers are pushing the boundaries of fashion: “If you want something more eccentric, you might go to Eda Birthing or Mats,” said Chicago drag queen Miss Toto. “If you want pageantry, you’re going to Utica or Joshuan Aponte. It’s like you have the whole spectrum of what you could possibly get in Chicago. In a lot of other cities, you might not be able to even find someone to sew you one thing, but in Chicago you can find someone to sew anything.” * Shaw Local | Grocery tax here to stay in DeKalb: – When the state grocery tax lifts on Illinoisans in January, DeKalb purchases will continue to be taxed locally, the DeKalb City Council voted this week. The grocery tax, as passed in a pair of 5-2-1 votes, will take effect locally Jan. 1, the day the state grocery tax expires. * Sun-Times | Northwestern University undertaking a variety of cost-cutting measures amid financial pressure: On June 10, Northwestern University sent an email to staff and faculty announcing it would implement cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze and “decreases in the total number of staff positions.” It also said staff would not get bonuses next year, that the university was switching health insurance companies and there would be changes to the tuition benefits program, which provides employees with financial assistance toward the cost of courses. * Daily Herald | Skokie attorney joins race for Schakowsky’s congressional seat: Democrat Howard Rosenblum has joined the race in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. “This is a campaign to restore the foundations of our democracy,” Rosenblum said in a news release. “I know how important equality under the law and full opportunity through civil rights is. My legal experience fighting back is exactly what we need in Washington right now.” * Daily Southtown | Oak Lawn $13 million Polaris flood control project to begin this fall: Oak Lawn is moving forward with plans to build a detention basin for stormwater storage in the fields near Polaris Intermediate School after over a year-long delay. Village Board voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to split the cost of the estimated $13 million plan to alleviate flooding during major storms. More than 6,600 feet of storm sewers also will be replaced with larger pipes, ranging from 30 inches to 5 feet in diameter. * Shaw Local | ‘Reeks of a power grab’: Crystal Lake park board’s spate of controversial moves sparks public outcry: Recent actions by the Crystal Lake Park District board, with three newly elected members, have caused tension in the community, with many residents speaking out against a series of swift changes. Dozens of residents attended a park board meeting last week, with the crowd overflowing into two other rooms to view the meeting on TV screens. Some spoke in favor of the recent board actions, but many more criticized how the board speedily passed agenda items such as the removal of the diversity, equity and inclusion policy, claiming the board violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Other issues prompting criticism include the hiring of a previous board member as the new park district attorney for a substantially higher price than the previous attorney and replacing the members of a volunteer lake advisory committee with a lakeside homeowners association. * Daily Herald | ‘People rely on us’: Don’t fret, household hazardous waste collection to resume in July: “The program is continuing,” said Pete Adrian, recycling coordinator. “There’s no crisis here by any means.” The agency is permitted to hold a certain amount of materials, such as pesticides, motor oil, household cleaners and gasoline but relies on state funding to have them removed for recycling. “There’s a volume of material we have to move out of the facility to make space for the next batch coming in,” Adrian said. * The Telegraph | Manure trucks block anti-Trump protest at Macoupin County Courthouse: A weekly anti-Donald Trump protest held outside the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville was undeterred Tuesday when protesters showed up to find trucks and trailers containing manure parked where they normally protest. “They have trucks of manure in line of where we usually protest,” protestor Toni Leahy said. “It definitely stinks on the sensory level, not just on the idea of it.” […] Instead, they proceeded to “flip the script” by making impromptu signs, one of which said, “Trump’s policies stink.” * WCIA | Evidence of former Iroquois Co. Health Admin’s gambling will be allowed in court: Schippert, the former Administrator of the Iroquois County Public Health District, is facing 33 felony counts, including theft of government property, forgery and official misconduct. She previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office alleges that between May 31, 2020, and July 15, 2022, Schippert filed fraudulent timesheets, all while time-stamped video footage showed Schippert at various gaming parlors for at least 759 hours — 260 of which were during regular business hours. * WAND | Parents could owe hundreds in fines for kids who commit crimes under new Tolono ordinance: First-time penalties include a $250 fine. A second offense within 12 months of the first doubles to $500. A third offense within 12 months of the first offense is $750 with each incident following an additional $750. * WGLT | Deriva Energy proposes 300-megawatt solar farm in eastern McLean County: Deriva said the project represents about $563 million in direct and indirect investments in McLean County in jobs, construction output, tax benefits and earnings. The company estimates the project would generate $65.6 million in property tax revenue over the solar farm’s 40-year lifetime. The bulk of that money would to the Tri-Valley school district in Downs [$45.3 million]. The project is on track to begin construction in mid-2027 and start operation in late 2028. * WQAD | Karen Kinney retiring as Rock Island County clerk: Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney announced she will not seek another term in office after 26 years of service. She said in a statement that she believes that the time has come to allow new leadership to guide her office. “I am deeply grateful for the trust and support of my colleagues, the County Board, and the residents of Rock Island County. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated milestones, and worked diligently to serve the public with integrity and dedication,” Kinney said in a press release announcing her decision. * WCIA | New affordable student housing could be coming to Urbana: A new housing option could be coming to Urbana. It’s designed for students to spend their time on campus while staying somewhere affordable. Holton Bagley, the business owner who is trying to bring it to campus, said it’ll be the first one in Urbana. It’s in an old fraternity house with more than 20 rooms. But before it can open, the city has to give it the green light. * WCIA | Carle Illinois College of Medicine students, professor helping breast cancer patients with new prostheses: 3D printing and scanning can be used for a variety of reasons. At the University of Illinois, and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, a team of researchers is using it to help breast cancer patients. Dr. Victor Stams, a Carle Health plastic surgeon and professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, is working alongside his team of medical students to create custom-fit breast prostheses. * WCIA | Central Illinois HVAC repair companies swamped with demand: “I would say right now the most important thing we’re seeing is a lack of maintenance from a home ownership perspective,” said general manager Jeff Kenyon. “Maintenance is very important, it’s kind of like changing oil in your car. A lot of dirty filters, a lot of capacitors, just simple breakdowns.” Changing your filters and rinsing your unit’s coils helps maintain airflow in your unit and avoids exhaustion of the unit. * The Atlantic | Why Do Billionaires Go Crazy?: David Frum is joined by the author and editor Tina Brown for a conversation about the disorienting effects of extreme wealth. They discuss how billionaires often become detached from reality, how philanthropy is used to consolidate image and influence, and how Brown’s personal experience with Donald Trump shaped her understanding of his ego and evolution. * Philadelphia Inquirer | Two more patients say they faced questions around citizenship at hospitals in Philly and Abington: Both said they wondered why that information was being sought. Both are U.S. citizens, but feared the potential impact on those already wary of seeking treatment because they may be undocumented or have uncertain immigration status. At least five other people in the region responded to earlier Inquirer reporting on the issue by posting on social media that they too had been asked about their citizenship while seeking attention at area hospitals. * NPR | Former DOGE engineer says federal waste and fraud were ‘relatively nonexistent’: A former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency says that he found that the federal waste, fraud and abuse that his agency was supposed to uncover were “relatively nonexistent” during his short time embedded within the Department of Veterans Affairs. “I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was,” Sahil Lavingia told NPR’s Juana Summers.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jun 26, 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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