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Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from freezing child care, family assistance funding
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Background from earlier today…
* US District Judge Arun Subramanian issued a temporary restraining order this evening. Press release…
* The Tribune…
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’ve had fun this week. It’s good to be back. Check out the brand new Bruno Mars video… But, first, may I just say that your facе got me so intrigued?
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Stateline | ‘Teaching us how to grow with our babies’: How prisons allow mothers and infants to nest for months: Across the country, fewer than a dozen states operate nursery programs that allow incarcerated mothers to live with their newborns. […] Newer programs — in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Ohio, Washington state and West Virginia — vary widely in size, eligibility and funding. Many rely heavily on nonprofit partners or donations to cover essentials such as diapers, cribs and parenting classes. * Crain’s | The alternative protein boom didn’t end. It just moved to Illinois.: Illinois is emerging as the nation’s alternative protein powerhouse. With more than 30 companies, millions in grants for research and a new state task force roadmap, the state is positioned to dominate the B2B side of a rapidly evolving industry. While plant-based burgers are losing shelf space at supermarkets, the alternative protein sector has quietly shifted upstream to ingredients, food inputs and industrial applications — a pivot that plays directly to Illinois’ strengths in agriculture, food manufacturing and fermentation technology. The state trails only California and New York in alt-protein companies and leads the nation in soybean production, the primary source for plant-based proteins. * Press release | Illinois leads Midwest in workforce development, ranks #3 in US: “Illinois’ rise to the top of workforce development rankings reflects our commitment to building the strongest talent pipeline in the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’re aligning education and training with the real needs of employers so people can get good jobs and companies can confidently invest and expand right here in Illinois.”[…] “As Illinois comes off a record year of economic growth, the latest economic development rankings are solidifying Illinois’ position as a global economic powerhouse,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “With continued investments in workforce development, record-breaking investments incentivized through DCEO programs, and a collaborative effort to target emerging industries, momentum is building in Illinois.” * Utility Dive | Illinois sets 3-GW energy storage target, requires utilities to develop virtual power plants: The state has developed 6 GW of renewable energy since passing the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021, and has another 6 GW in development, officials said. The new law will grow storage resources and directs utilities to develop virtual power plants. It also lifts a moratorium on large nuclear reactor development in Illinois and creates an integrated resource planning process allowing for state agencies to suggest adjustments to energy programs and targets. * WTVO | New Illinois bill would require sex offenders to register their drones: Rep. Katie Stuart (D-112th) introduced HB4332 this week. The bill would amend the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act and require sex offenders register drone ownership, including make and model, with the Illinois State Police. Individuals on the Sex Offender Registry are already required to give authorities a current photograph, address, employer, phone number, email addresses, and instant messaging identities, and identities related to all other Internet communications. * Sun-Times | Feds agree to halt proposed national youth gender care ban while court weighs motion: The federal agency agreed this week to hold off on communicating its new regulations — which had only been announced, not formally communicated to agencies and healthcare providers across the country — while the motion that could shut down the proposed regulations is weighed by an Oregon District Court judge, per documents filed in an ongoing suit from a coalition of legal representatives and officials from 20 states, including Illinois, and Washington D.C. The federal government has until February 3 to respond to the motion and file its own motion against it, according to court documents. * Block Club | Alderman Urged Riders Not To Use Public Transit After Dark, But Data Shows CTA Crime Is Down: W. Robert Schultz III, a campaign organizer with the Active Transportation Alliance, said that while there have been a number of tragic attacks on public transit this year, “those outlying incidents really stand out in our mind” and can have outsized impacts on our perceptions of safety. He said telling riders to avoid public transit after dark “just doesn’t make sense.” “We live in a northern city, if darkness is your criteria for using CTA, half the year you better be home by 3:30 p.m.,” Schultz said. * Sun-Times | AI-generated bomb threat shuts down St. Ignatius College Prep on Near West Side: Chandler said the voice recording of the threat was “very robotic sounding.” Local investigators told him they suspect the recording was apparently AI-generated. Chicago police responded to a call of service at the school and the FBI were in contact with the school and local law enforcement. * Block Club | Opioid Task Force Moves Office To West Side Corner That’s ‘Epicenter Of Fentanyl Crisis’: Last year, there were 15 opioid overdose deaths within a half mile of the Lake Street and Pulaski Road intersection, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s dashboard mapping opioid-related cases. The greater West Side also sees a disproportionate number of opioid deaths. The area near CTA stops have become hotspots for drug use, with the trains and their stations often providing shelter for people suffering from drug problems, task force members said. Narcan vending machines have been added to several CTA stations across the city through a 2023 city pilot program, which last year expanded to include the nearby Harlem/Lake station. * TV News Check | WGN News To Launch New Nightly Political Show, ‘The Point’: Nexstar Media’s WGN-TV Chicago will debut a new political show, The Point, hosted by Political Editor Tahman Bradley, on Monday, Jan. 26. The show will air weeknights at 6:45 pm and will inform viewers about stories in politics that affect their daily lives. “Through original reporting and in-depth interviews, The Point will give viewers direct access to elected officials, candidates for office, senior aides/strategists, and interesting voices,” the station says. * Sun-Times | The Art Institute’s new acquisitions include German oil painting, a rare Indian textile and a Richard Hunt sculpture : Among last year’s standout acquisitions is the Schad portrait of the 20th-century Austrian composer Josef Matthias Hauer, who helped introduce 12-tone musical composition. Oehler said this piece, which is already on view at the museum, is “tremendously exciting.” While Schad, who helped usher in the avant-garde New Objectivity movement in Germany, is more widely collected and known in Europe, the Art Institute says this is the first of his portraits to enter a U.S. museum. * Crain’s | Bears-Packers grudge match might be the NFL’s hottest-ever Wild Card ticket: According to several ticket platforms and analysts, the Bears-Packers game is set to be the priciest NFL Wild Card Round playoff game in history for fans, with average ticket prices soaring to more than $753 apiece, according to Victory Live. That breaks a record previously held by the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams game in January 2024, the firm stated in a press release. * Sun-Times | Record-breaking rainfall leaves hundreds of streets and basements flooded: As of 9:02 a.m. Friday, 94 water in basement and 209 water in street calls were logged for Jan. 9, the data shows. Including both water in basement and water on street complaints from Thursday through 9:02 a.m. Friday, the Chicago Lawn neighborhood ranked first in complaints with 65 total, according to city data. Ashburn, Lake View, and Austin had the next most complaints reported with 47, 46 and 44 respectively. * Sun-Times | How a mild-mannered suburban Chicago delivery driver transforms into Bearman: “I was a little bit of a shy guy years ago,” said Wachter, 63. “When I put the costume on, I can change into somebody.” […] “Chicago gets the moniker of blue-collar, hard working, tough, gritty … They can take adversity,” Wachter said. “This team fights to the end, they don’t care if they are down, we’re gonna beat you somehow.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County mulling regulations on short-term home rentals in unincorporated areas: Kane County is not alone in considering this sort of measure — Skokie has discussed regulations on them and Chicago aldermen have mulled giving themselves the power to ban short-term home rentals from opening in their wards. And Lake County, for example, has outright prohibited short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. VanKerkhoff noted that Kane County looked at regulations passed by area municipalities, and said the proposed additions to the county code do two things, broadly: require a rental to get a license from the county’s Development and Community Services Department, and allow for fines to be assessed if there are violations of the regulations on short-term rentals. He noted that all other aspects of the county code still apply to such properties. * Daily Southtown | Sports dome west of Brookside Marketplace moves forward; one of three planned in Tinley Park: The proposal from GK Development Properties LLC, approved last week by the Tinley Park Village Board, includes a 142,000-square-foot dome and a building that could house stores and restaurants on property where a 9-hole golf course once operated. Village Manager Pat Carr said construction on the dome could be underway in the next month. Trustee Michael Mueller said the property had been vacant for a while and that he’s happy to see the project moving forward. * Daily Southtown | Homicide rate dropped again in south and southwest suburbs, mirroring trends in Chicago and broader Cook County: The south and southwest suburbs saw a 35% decrease in homicides in 2025 compared to 2024, according to tracking by the Daily Southtown, reflecting a continuing downward trend in recent years. The same trend is apparent in numbers for Chicago and greater Cook County, according to a preliminary analysis published by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. According to that report, there were 541 homicides in Cook County as a whole last year, down from 792 in 2024 and 850 in 2023. Last year was the first year since 2014 that the medical examiner’s office handled fewer than 600 homicides in a year, the report said. * Crain’s | Amazon plans Walmart-style big box store in Orland Park: “We regularly test new experiences designed to make customers’ lives better and easier every day, including physical stores,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “The site in question is our planned location for a new concept that we think customers will be excited about.” Amazon also plans to sell prepared foods and have a “limited warehouse component” that will serve the store and not be a distribution center, according to village records. The store will sit on 35 acres that are currently home to a vacant restaurant. * Patch | Burr Ridge Mayor: Jan. 6 Riot ‘Stain’ On U.S. History: But Grasso, who is running as a Republican for chairman of the DuPage County Board, did not address President Donald Trump’s handling of the riot in his post. In a social media post, Grasso noted the rioters’ violence and property damage. In reflecting on the “historic ugliness” of that day, he said, some will undoubtedly grin. * STLPR | Draining water from Alton sinkhole has begun: Removing the water from the sinkhole, which formed in June 2024 after a limestone mine beneath the public park, is the first step the city government and mine company must complete to eventually fill and repair the massive pit. Video of the field collapsing went viral, and the city closed the entire park and nearby golf course for more than a month. The city wanted the water to be drained so its contracted engineers could inspect the sinkhole and double-check the proposed repairs by the mine company, New Frontier Materials. It will cost $35,000 to $53,000 to remove the water, and it’s not clear who will cover the initial costs. * WCIA | Ford, Iroquois Co.’s looking for mass transit solution after CRIS RMTD dissolution: WCIA’s partners at the Ford County Chronicle reported that the rural transportation committee that oversees Ford, Iroquois and Livington Counties met this week to discuss the matter. Officials said that while all options are still on the table, an intergovernmental agreement with Danville appears to be the most “streamlined” option. It was something Mayor Ricky Williams alluded to before that meeting. Right now, Danville Mass Transit does not have authorization to operate outside Vermilion County, but its director, Stephen White, seemed receptive to the idea. * WSIL | $170K grant aids SIU Carbondale in fight against harmful algae blooms: “Every year millions, if not billions, of dollars in recreational and health damage are caused by these microbes,” Hamilton-Brehm said. He explained that controlling these blooms could be as simple as spraying ponds, lakes, and rivers if their research is successful. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, can become harmful when they form high concentrations and produce toxins. Killing these blooms releases toxins into the water, posing a challenge for control. * WCIA | ‘We’re incredibly grateful’: U of I board chairman reflects on Killeen’s impact ahead of his departure: Killeen said being president at the University of Illinois was, “the honor of [his] professional life.” He added, “I am proud of the way we have been able to make world-class education affordable in a historically important time for higher education.” The chairman of U of I’s Board of Trustees, Jesse Ruiz, was with Killeen on Thursday. Killeen told Ruiz that he’s conscientious enough to know he’s had a good run, and that it’s also time for new leadership and to pass the baton. * WGLT | Peoria County sheriff urges Gov. Pritzker to revisit cashless bail: Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said in a statement the SAFE-T Act has seen court-appearance failures increase, reflected in updated data for the Peoria County Jail tracking jail bookings from 2022-2025. Total jail bookings for 11 types of nonviolent offenses plus domestic battery have increased by 1,699, or nearly 28%, from 2022 to 2025, according to data provided by Watkins. The failure to appear rate has increased by 339 cases, nearly 16%. A report released Monday by the Peoria Police Department indicates shooting incidents were down 18% and gunshot homicides were down by 61% in 2025. * AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler | ICE Actions Are Putting Working People in Danger: The Trump administration’s reckless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are trampling on working people’s fundamental rights and freedoms: to work with dignity and raise our families without the threat of violence from our government, and to safely return home to our loved ones at the end of the day. The horrifying acts of this administration’s militarized immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and cities across this country are not about safety. They are about power, and they are putting innocent working people in danger. * AP | Meta lines up massive supply of nuclear power to energize AI data centers: Meta has cut a trio of deals to power its artificial intelligence data centers, securing enough energy to light up the equivalent of about 5 million homes. The parent company of Facebook on Friday announced agreements with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra for nuclear power for its Prometheus AI data center that is being built in New Albany, Ohio. Meta announced Prometheus, which will be a 1-gigawatt cluster spanning across multiple data center buildings, in July. It’s anticipated to come online this year. * The Guardian | Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery: The tool had been used to manipulate images of women to remove their clothes and put them in sexualised positions. The function to do so has been switched off except for paying subscribers. […] That means the vast majority of users of the platform cannot create images using Grok. Those who do have their full details and credit card information stored by X, so can be identified if the function is misused. The public @Grok account has had its image generation capabilities heavily restricted. However, there is also a separate Grok app, which does not share images publicly, on which non-paying users have reported still being able to generate sexualised imagery of women and children. * The Guardian | No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool: Asked about the change, a Downing Street spokesperson said it was unacceptable. “The move simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service,” they said. “It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. What it does prove is that X can move swiftly when it wants to do so. You heard the prime minister yesterday. He was abundantly clear that X needs to act, and needs to act now. It is time for X to grip this issue.
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Attorneys general lay out case against feds on funding freeze
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Washington Post…
* Tribune…
* HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart…
* AG Raoul press release…
Discuss.
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ILGOP Chair Salvi: ‘The partisanship of Democrats has reached the level of undeniable insurrection’ (Updated x1)
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi…
Discuss. …Adding… Democratic Party of Illinois…
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Catching up with the federal candidates: More details emerge of efforts to push Leon, Amiwala out of CD9 race (Updated)
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Evanston Now…
* Evanston Roundtable…
* Meanwhile, Evanston Now’s Mathew Eadie found that Leon wasn’t the only candidate who was pressured to drop their bid for the 9th CD…
…Adding… Bushra Amiwala…
* Pastor Roosevelt Watkins claims he never endorsed Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi, despite Krishnamoorthi saying he did. From his Facebook page…
Click here for Krishnamoorthi’s original press release. * Politico…
* More… * Forest Park Review | Rep. Underwood endorses Dr. Fisher in 7th District Dem. primary : One key endorsement came on Jan. 8 from Rep. Lauren Underwood — who represents Illinois’ 14th district that covers an area southwest of Chicago, including DeKalb and Joliet — when she declared her approval of Dr. Thomas Fisher in the race for the 7th district’s Democratic primary. She cited his credibility on health care policy and eagerness to address national threats to democracy and public health. *Daily Herald | GOP congressional candidate falls one signature short, removed from ballot: A suburban congressional candidate’s name was struck from upcoming primary ballots Thursday after the Illinois State Board of Elections decided her petitions fell one signature short of the legally required 799. But Palos Park Republican Tedora M. Brown’s campaign in the 11th District may not be over. Thursday afternoon, her attorney announced he’s filed for a judicial review. * Shaw Local | Sorensen challenger officially removed from Illinois 17th Congressional District race: The Illinois State Board of Elections on Wednesday upheld an objection to Montez Soliz’s candidate petition and officially removed him from the ballot. Soliz filed his nomination papers Oct. 27. A Peoria resident filed an objection to Soliz’s candidacy Nov. 10, reportedly claiming Soliz’s petitions were not properly notarized and that several signatures were from people who either were not registered to vote at the listed address or by people who resided outside of the 17th District.
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It’s just a bill
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* CBS Chicago…
More on the bill from ABC Chicago…
* HB4334 from Rep. Rick Ryan…
* HB4281, sponsored by Reps. Lisa Davis and Michael Crawford, would let any Cook County municipality with at least 25,000 residents use speed cameras in school zones and parks. Synopsis…
* Rep. Curtis Tarver filed HB4262 earlier this week…
* HB4318 from Rep. Charlie Meier…
* More…
* Alton Telegraph | Illinois bill would require warning labels on non-vented natural gas appliances: A bill proposed by Democratic Illinois state Rep. Michael Crawford would prohibit a “non-externally vented natural gas appliance” from being sold or offered for sale without a properly placed warning label. The requirement would apply to appliances manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2027. […] “The label required shall be attached to the gas appliance in a conspicuous location. The label must be in a type size no smaller than the largest type size used for other consumer information on the product,” the language of Illinois House Bill 4272 reads.
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‘Juice’s’ Dabrowski fact-check is fact-checked by GOMB and he’s mostly right
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Earlier this week, the commenter known as “Juice” fact-checked Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski, who was bemoaning an $11 billion increase on spending for human services since Fiscal Year 2019…
* I asked the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to fact check Juice’s fact check. From the governor’s office…
* Yesterday, Juice posted this…
We may have an early leader for the 2026 Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter.
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Investing In Illinois
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois American Water is more than just a utility. We’re your neighbor, committed to the long-term health and vitality of the communities we serve. Our employees live and work locally, investing their expertise right where it matters most, to modernize water systems and strengthen water quality, reliability, and public health for the long term. Environmental stewardship is also central to who we are. Illinois American Water is committed to protecting the environment and using our most precious resource wisely. Across our footprint, our state-of-the-art treatment facilities and team of water quality experts help ensure we go beyond compliance, holding ourselves to standards that not only fulfill expectations but set new benchmarks for our industry. Community partnership and clean water go hand in hand. We’re dedicated to safeguarding both the resources and the places our customers call home, today and for generations to come. Our community is one worth investing in, and we are proud to spend every day working to help ensure the water we deliver is of the highest quality. Learn more about us.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Pritzker signs major energy reform bill amid projected shortages. Capitol News Illinois…
- The law grants new authority to the Illinois Commerce Commission, the state body responsible for regulating utilities. The ICC will now have the power to set long-term plans for managing energy supply and demand in the state through approval of an integrated resource plan. - It additionally adds new requirements for energy efficiency programs at electric and natural gas utilities and places new air regulations on backup generators used by data centers. * Related stories… * WTTW | After Fatal Minneapolis Shooting, Chicago Judge Raises ‘Concern’ Over Dismissing Lawsuit on Federal Agents’ Use of Force: “It doesn’t give me much comfort in reading news reports that someone who in some news reports was described as a legal observer was shot yesterday in Minneapolis,” Ellis said. “So that’s my concern.” […] The lawsuit was filed last fall after journalists, protesters and clergy members in and around Chicago claimed they had been targeted by federal immigration agents, who subjected them to a “pattern of extreme brutality” through their usage of riot control weapons without justification. * Tribune | Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey distances himself from President Trump but defends immigration crackdowns: Voters, Bailey said, are “going to have to get over the federal (Trump administration) situations. Then we’re going to understand we have our own problems in Illinois. I am my own person and I’ve proven that regardless of who I like, who I support.” “I’m running this campaign. I believe we’ve got an avenue to win. If it comes, great. If it doesn’t, fine. I’m here for Illinois,” Bailey said. “This (campaign) doesn’t revolve around Donald Trump and I want the people of Illinois to truly understand that. I want them to come and have a conversation with me. We’ve got our own unique problems and solutions and it’s time that we stop this political divisiveness. * Sun-Times | Can state officials prosecute the feds? Calls grow after Minneapolis shooting: Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office said in a statement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations “have resulted in unnecessary deaths, broken relationships between law enforcement and our citizens, and an untold amount of terror unleashed on communities.” Still, it insisted the office “does not conduct independent investigations into criminal conduct. We do not have jurisdiction over federal agencies or facilities.” Instead, it reviews “evidence appropriately collected by law enforcement” and makes charging decisions. […] Pathways exist for state-level prosecutors like Burke to file criminal charges against federal agents under certain circumstances. The key legal question is whether federal agents are acting reasonably in fulfilling their duties, experts say. * BND | IL reports child flu death as virus surges at ‘very high’ levels. There’s a new variant: “Illinois is facing a significant winter surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses with flu activity at very high levels,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a Jan. 5 news release. “Vaccinations remain the most effective tool to prevent severe illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Simple steps like covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands regularly, staying home when sick if you are able, and improving ventilation are also critical to preventing further spread. * WTTW | Four Illinois Sheriff’s Offices Ignored Sanctuary Laws by Transferring People Into Federal Custody, AG Report Finds: Despite that, in 2024, after receiving civil detainers or warrants, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported transferring 18 individuals into Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations custody; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported three; the Kane County Sheriff’s Office reported two; and the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reported one. * WaPo | Five Democratic-led states sue HHS over frozen welfare funding: Five Democratic-led states, New York, California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, are suing the Trump administration for freezing their share of federal food, housing and child care assistance dollars, saying officials failed to justify the sweeping actions that could strip billions in aid from needy families. * WAND | Pritzker signs Clean & Reliable Grid Affordability Act into law: Yet, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association argued the law will leave businesses and families with a $7 billion bill to pay for battery storage. “Rather than bailing out battery storage developers and their hedge fund owners, the bill should utilize the Illinois Finance Authority to fund these projects at below market rates so developers assume the risk, not everyday Illinoisans,” said IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler. * WTVO | DHS accuses ‘sanctuary’ leaders of fueling anti-ICE violence with rhetoric: DHS pointed to remarks from Democratic officials that compare ICE to a “modern-day Gestapo,” including comments from Gov. Pritzker that the United States is “essentially” becoming Nazi Germany as a result of ICE’s enforcement efforts. On Wednesday, Pritzker demanded the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, saying, “For months, Trump’s DHS has wreaked lawless havoc in our neighborhoods. Tear gassing infants, families, and police. Firing their weapons at peaceful citizens. Killing innocent people. It’s brutal, unconstitutional, and out of control. It must stop. Kristi Noem must go. Now.” * Crain’s | The other Medicaid cut: Illinois stares down as much as $1.5B less in provider taxes: Illinois faces a $239 million drop in hospital and managed care organization provider tax revenue, an important mechanism for funding the state’s Medicaid program, in 2028 and as much as a $1.5 billion cut over the next five years, according to a new assessment of looming budget challenges for the state. The issue of diminishing provider taxes and the somewhat-corresponding payments back to hospitals is another multiyear, cost-cutting change to Medicaid rules contained in the federal Big Beautiful Bill Act. * NBC Chicago | Utility costs, affordability messages dominate Illinois governor race: On Thursday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which aims to lower monthly utility bills. It’s expected to save customers $13.4 billion over next two decades, according to the Illinois Power Agency. […] On the Republican side, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey held his news conference Thursday outside of the governor’s office. He laid out his “Blueprint for Illinois,” which would freeze new utility rate hikes to help lower utility bills and offer property tax relief. * Capitol News Illinois | Bailey proposes ‘Illinois DOGE’ as Republican governor’s race focuses on spending: Bailey also announced a plan to address cost-of-living issues and other areas that relies on DOGE-style governing to achieve results. The commission under a Bailey governorship would be led by his running mate, Aaron Del Mar. Bailey and Del Mar did not specify any cuts they’ve already identified but stressed it would not be a tool to lay off large numbers of state employees or make cuts based on partisan politics — a difference from Trump’s and Musk’s approach. “We’re not going in here with a chainsaw,” Del Mar said. “We’re going in here with an X-Acto knife. We are doing this as a purely public policy effort. This is not politically driven.” * Illinois Review | Tax-Exempt Wirepoints Breaks IRS Rules to Smear Bailey and Boost Dabrowski’s Governor Run: The article, written by Mark Glennon, frames Bailey as the preferred opponent of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and portrays him as a weak candidate easily manipulated by Democrats. It goes further, suggesting Republican voters are naive for supporting Bailey. […] Wirepoints is not a private media outlet free to engage in partisan combat. It is a federally recognized tax-exempt nonprofit. Under IRS rules, 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from participating or intervening in political campaigns for or against any candidate for elective office. That prohibition is clear, strict, and well-established. Dabrowski appeared to recognize this reality in September 2025, when he resigned as president of Wirepoints, explicitly citing the need to comply with 501(c)(3) restrictions ahead of his gubernatorial campaign. * Jim Dey | Is Pritzker trying — again — to pick GOP opponent in November election?: Four years ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, working with the Democratic Governors Association, spent millions of dollars to promote a Republican gubernatorial candidate — Darren Bailey — whom he was sure he could defeat in the 2022 general election. With Pritzker’s help, Bailey won a contested GOP primary and then went on to sound defeat against Pritzker. Four years later, Pritzker is running for re-election while Bailey, again, is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge him. * Center Square | Signature shortfalls knock multiple candidates off Illinois ballot: Lamar Chapman challenged U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy, alleging he is not a citizen. Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, was born in India and his family moved to Peoria as a child. “The candidate filed a motion to strike and dismiss the objector’s petition, attaching a certificate of citizenship and a U.S. passport,” Malowitz said in a December 2025 hearing. * News-Gazette | Champaign County auditor fails to qualify for state comptroller’s race: But successful challenges to some of his signatures left him 657 short of the 5,000 minimum. Danos said he does not anticipate appealing the decision. “There is (an appeal process). But I’m not inclined to pursue it. I don’t think the courts want to overturn a decision by the state board,” he said. * Daily Herald | GOP race for governor tightens up after Severino removed from ballot: Board members removed Republican Joseph Severino from the ballot after finding that the Lake Forest resident and his lieutenant governor pick, Rantch Isquith, had insufficient signatures on their nominating petitions.“The candidates submitted 4,748 ballot signatures, which is 252 fewer than the minimum of 5,000 signatures required for ballot access,” board of elections general counsel Marni Malowitz said. * Tribune | Record property tax increases slam Chicago homeowners as downtown owners see cuts: The long-awaited second installment of Cook County property tax bills was mailed to property owners on Friday and is due Dec. 15. Across the county, residential and commercial property owners are being billed a total of $19.2 billion, a nearly 5% increase from last year. But the burden is falling unequally. Audrey Pierce, 71, last year paid about $3,300 in property taxes for the greystone three-flat she has owned on Christiana Avenue in North Lawndale since 2000. On Thursday night, she logged onto the treasurer’s website to discover her new annual bill now is nearly $7,000. * CBS Chicago | Police oversight commission hears from Chicagoans frustrated with CPD’s interactions with ICE: The Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability held the meeting after receiving a petition with at least 2,000 signatures demanding an investigation into how CPD interacted with the feds. People demanded commissioners hear the countless accountants of what Chicagoans have endured and witnessed during the immigration enforcement. “Why is it that CPD, who claim to protect and serve Chicagoans have engaged in crowd control for ICE?” one woman said. * Block Club | Before Feds Killed Minnesota Mom, They Killed A Man And Shot A Woman 5 Times In Chicago: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson voiced his support for Frey and the Minneapolis community Wednesday afternoon, calling the shooting “deeply disturbing and unfortunately all too familiar to incidents that have transpired here in Chicago.” “It is incidents like these that demonstrate why we have pushed back against reckless and racist militarized immigration enforcement in Chicago,” he said. * Tribune | Federal judge postpones ruling on detained father of sick teen: Attorneys for Ruben Torres Maldonado, a 40-year-old Portage Park man detained by federal immigration agents last Saturday while his 16-year-old daughter, Ofelia, is undergoing cancer treatment, petitioned the court for him to be freed as his deportation case works its way through the system. Federal Judge Jeremy Daniel heard arguments from Torres’ attorney and a lawyer with the United States attorney’s office but postponed a ruling until Friday. Torres’ lawyers argued for his immediate release due to the hardship his absence is creating for Ofelia; his wife, Sandibell Hidalgo; and their 4-year-old son, Nathan. * Daily Herald | ‘I will not back down’: DuPage clerk’s dispute with county board heads to appeals court: According to a notice of appeal filed on Wednesday, the clerk’s office is seeking the reversal of two rulings last year from DuPage County Judge Bryan Chapman that both sided with the county board. Chapman ruled in August that DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek and her office must follow the county’s accounting procedures. Then, in December, the judge denied the clerk’s request for summary judgment, in which Kaczmarek argued that two election-related contracts were exempt from bidding rules. * Lake County News-Sun | Officials continue push to remove Waukegan coal ash ponds: ‘I’m not giving up’: Shortly after NRG introduced its initial plan, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Gurnee, introduced legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to require the removal of all coal ash ponds and other deposits of the material along Lake Michigan. She remains five votes short of passage. “It would be 10 times worse than Flint,” Mayfield said in June 2022, referring to the lead contamination of the drinking water in that Michigan city in 2014. “We’re not looking for solutions for today. We’re looking toward tomorrow.” * Daily Southtown | Bill aimed at settling Ford Heights debt to Chicago Heights signed, though concerns remain: Signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Dec. 12, the legislation allows the state comptroller to collect debts between local governments if the entities reached an agreement or filed a court order. It takes effect June 1, according to the governor’s office. Ford Heights owes Chicago Heights, its water supplier, nearly $2 million in unpaid water bills. Chicago Heights has attempted to collect the money for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights. State Reps. Thaddeus Jones and Anthony DeLuca came together to revive the bill after it was pulled from the statehouse floor in April. Jones expressed concern state intervention could further hike water bills for Ford Heights, which already has some of the highest water bills in the south suburbs, after Chicago Heights threatened to turn off the water in 2018. * Elgin Courier-News | Angry, frustrated residents flood Elgin immigration forum: ‘We can’t ignore what is happening here’: Attended by about 250 people, the forum at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin was in response to a Dec. 6 incident in which a man escaped U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement custody and barricaded himself for several hours in an apartment on Maple Lane. A large group who gathered to protest the actions that day were sprayed with chemical weapons, residents said. “I was tear-gassed by ICE,” Zack Hislip said. “(ICE) is lying about everything that happened that day.” He refuted allegations that federal agents were hit by bottles and rocks in a riot-like atmosphere. * Daily Herald | ‘It just hurts’: Community members express anger, fear and frustration over immigration enforcement in Elgin: Hislip said his fear is that this is only the beginning. “They’re going to be more violent,” he said. “They’re going to kill people like they did today (in Minneapolis). They’re going to kill people in Elgin. They’re going to kill our neighbors.” * Daily Herald | Elgin police chief says changes needed to TRUST Act: Lalley told the crowd at the meeting that she’s working with Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and others to propose amendments to the Illinois TRUST Act, which restricts local law enforcement from collaborating or interfering with federal immigration enforcement. Lalley said she heard the disappointment from the community that officers did not stay on the scene longer during an immigration enforcement action at Maple Lane on Dec. 6, but explained that they had to deal with the gray areas of the TRUST Act. * Evanston Now | Women’s pro soccer team wants to play at new Ryan Field: Club president Karen Leetzow told a virtual 7th Ward meeting on Thursday night that “we view Ryan Field as a lifeline” as the team works long-term for a separate, soccer-only facility at an undetermiined location. The team says that a survey done by 2040 Strategy Group for the Stars “shows 82 percent of Evanston residents are in favor of the team playing at Ryan Field” … and “overwhelmingly believe the team would reinforce Evanston’s values, and promote gender equity.” * WICS | Danville steps in to provide critical rides after CRIS transit services halt operations: “For the entire Vermillion County, anyone who was being transported to their dialysis appointments by CRIS senior services as of starting last Saturday, they closed on Friday, on Saturday, my team was on it, and they’ve made sure that all their patients have been able to make their appointments,” said Rickey Williams, Mayor of Danville. Williams said city staff immediately stepped in, coordinating rides for critical appointments, some as early as 5:30 a.m. * Advantage News | Godfrey may purchase Geofencing software: The Village of Godfrey is considering the purchase of software that can help them see where people are spending time in the village. Called Geofencing, the program does not identify you or harvest your personal information but can tell the village where you came from by using Wi-Fi and your smartphone. Godfrey Economic Development Director Jim Mager says he and Park and Rec Director Chris Logan recently had conversations about such a product. No decisions were made at this week’s Village Board meeting, but trustees were asked to consider the possibility of such a purchase being brought up at a future meeting. This version of the software has a price tag of $10,000 per year, but there are other versions that are more costly. * The Telegraph | Alton’s Dan King wins ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ takes home $60,648: It was a busier-than-normal night in Alton Sports Tap as over a hundred gathered to watch King compete on “Wheel of Fortune.” With friends, family, customers, and even his personal hairstylist in attendance, King celebrated the big win with celebratory cheers. * 25News Now | Caterpillar, NVIDIA announce AI-powered collaboration: Caterpillar, celebrating 100 years, announced an AI ecosystem for machines, job sites, factories and supply chains in a collaboration with NVIDIA. “As AI moves beyond data to reshape the physical world, it is unlocking new opportunities for innovation — from job sites and factory floors to offices,” Creed said. NVIDIA‘s Jetson Thor platform enables real-time AI inference on Cat construction, mining and power equipment, laying the foundation for next-generation autonomy and intelligent in-cab experiences. Caterpillar said the platform would provide customers with personalized insights and use voice activation to enable settings, guide troubleshooting and connect users to the right resources across Cat apps and websites. * 404 Media | Inside ICE’s Tool to Monitor Phones in Entire Neighborhoods: Commercial location data, in this case acquired from hundreds of millions of phones via a company called Penlink, can be queried without a warrant, according to an internal ICE legal analysis shared with 404 Media. The purchase comes squarely during ICE’s mass deportation effort and continued crackdown on protected speech, alarming civil liberties experts and raising questions on what exactly ICE will use the surveillance system for. * Oregonian | ICE officers impersonating utility workers, Oregon lawmaker says: Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, on Tuesday posted on Facebook that the NW Natural notice came after he spoke to utility officials about the reports. Ruiz said he also reached out to Portland General Electric with the same concerns. Ruiz said members of a Gresham family told him that immigration agents wearing bright vests asked one of them to come out of their house to show him where the gas meter was. […] The person was released after several hours because he proved he has legal status, Ruiz said. The family members asked him not to release their names out of fear of retaliation, he said. * WaPo | After 25 days, ICE releases Maryland woman who says she is a US citizen: Slatton said the case against Diaz Morales has not yet been dismissed by the government and she could still face deportation proceedings. But Slatton is confident her client’s claim to citizenship has been established. “She is a U.S. citizen. She was born here. I think that we’ve presented more than enough evidence, but we will continue to fight it until every single court accepts and acknowledges it,” she said. * Mother Jones | Cops Are Taught Not to Shoot Into Cars. ICE Keeps Doing It Anyway.: Instead of shooting, law enforcement officers are taught to do something much safer for everybody involved: Get out of the way. But the federal agents enforcing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign seem not to be following this rule, and are taking a far more dangerous path. * Mother Jones | Grok Deepfaked Renee Nicole Good’s Body Into a Bikini: In several posts, Grok confirmed that the chatbot had undressed the recently killed woman, writing in one, “I generated an AI image altering a photo of Renee Good, killed in the January 7, 2026, Minneapolis ICE shooting, by placing her in a bikini per a user request. This used sensitive content unintentionally.” In another post, Grok wrote that the image “may violate the 2025 TAKE IT DOWN Act,” legislation criminalizing the nonconsensual publication of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. * Bloomberg | J&J Reaches Deal With Trump For Drug Discounts, Tariff Reprieve: Johnson & Johnson reached a deal with the US government to lower drug prices for some Americans, joining a cadre of major pharmaceutical companies to make price concessions in exchange for tariff exemption. The American drugmaker was one of 17 companies President Donald Trump called on last summer to lower prices, and among the last ones to announce a deal. The two remaining companies are AbbVie Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., which previously said they are in talks with the White House. * WaPo | A study offers a surprising reason for plunging U.S. overdose deaths: The paper suggests that the illicit fentanyl trade — which drove a historic surge in drug deaths during the past decade — experienced a large-scale decline in supply. Overdose deaths had surpassed 100,000 annually during the Biden administration but began to decline in mid-2023 and plunged further in its final year. They have kept falling under President Donald Trump, who invokes drug trafficking as he imposes steep tariffs on other countries and unleashes missile strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.
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Good morning!
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign news
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Jan 9, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
WTTW…
* Tribune…
* Crain’s…
* Press Release | SEIU Leading the Independent Expenditure Established in Support of Anthony Driver for Chicago’s 7th Congressional District: An independent expenditure has been established to support the candidacy of Anthony Driver, candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District. “Anthony represents a new generation of leadership focused on accountability, opportunity and effective representation for the diverse communities of the 7th District,” said Jeffrey Howard, Vice President of SEIU Local 73. “This independent effort reflects strong grassroots enthusiasm for a candidate who understands the district, is prepared to lead, and will bring prosperity to the entire 7th Congressional District - not just Downtown Chicago. * Press Release | Endorsements Show Latonya Mitts’s Momentum in 8th District State House Race : Latonya Mitts (D-Chicago), candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 8th District, announced a diverse array of endorsements that underscore her campaign’s momentum in the weeks leading up to the March 17th primary. Mitts announced endorsements from key community leaders and labor organizations including former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois AFL-CIO, the Chicago Laborers District Council (LIUNA), International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Riverside Township Democratic Committeeman Mike Zaleski, and Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman Steve Landek. * WBEZ | Child care funding freeze causes anxiety for Chicago-area parents: Child care providers across the Chicago area vehemently agree that the freeze would cause “devastating” ripple effects for businesses, their employees and the families they serve. The child care system has already been operating on thin margins, including underfunding, workforce shortages, low wages and rising operating costs, they said. “Rolling back policies that provided stability and predictability risks accelerating closures, reducing access for working families, and destabilizing care for young children — particularly infants and toddlers, who are the most expensive to serve,” said Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, executive director of Illinois Head Start Association, which provides services to low-income families. * Tribune | Feds’ statements after Minneapolis driver killed by ICE officer echo pattern from Midway Blitz in Chicago: In both cases, the feds alleged that the agents who fired at Marimar Martinez and Silverio Villegas González had been acting in self-defense. And in both cases, video footage and discovery materials later poked holes in officials’ claims about agents’ justification for lethal force. […] In late November, a federal judge dismissed charges against Martinez in one of the highest-profile criminal cases against protesters to disintegrate at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. * CBS Chicago | Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces ICE Accountability Project: “We are an independent initiative designed to be a centralized, public-facing repository for the collection of alleged criminal and abusive conduct by federal immigration agents during the so-called Operation Midway Blitz,” Lightfoot said Thursday morning. “We aim to preserve evidence, to facilitate transparency and accountability. We also intend to unmask those agents who have been alleged to have committed crimes or to have engaged in other unlawful conduct.” * Tribune | What we heard from Chicago White Sox, including ‘healthy competition’ for rotation with Sean Newcomb’s arrival: Newcomb and the Sox agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on Dec. 23. The 32-year-old is 30-30 with a 4.20 ERA, four saves, 25 holds and 529 strikeouts in 223 appearances (65 starts) during nine major-league seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2017-22), Chicago Cubs (2022), the Athletics (2023-24, 2025) and Boston Red Sox (2025). In 2025, he had a 2.73 ERA, two saves, four holds and 91 strikeouts over 48 combined appearances (five starts) with the Red Sox and Athletics. * ABC Chicago | Nationally recognized South Side artist to serve as Chicago Poet Laureate: Del Valle will serve a two-year term and receive $70,000 to commission new work and create public programming. Her first public appearance as poet Laureate is on Wednesday, Jan. at 6 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center. “Chicago has always been a city shaped by bold voices and powerful storytelling,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Mayda Alexandra del Valle’s work reflects the heart, soul and creativity of our city. Her appointment honors Chicago’s rich literary legacy while investing in a future where poetry continues to bring people together.” * WBEZ | High schoolers train to be election judges in March primary: The Cook County Clerk’s Office and Chicago Bears this week launched Defenders of DA’Mocracy, a program to train 150 high school juniors and seniors to serve as election judges during their schools’ early voting day on Feb. 26, before the start of early voting March 3, and ahead of the March 17 primary election. The clerk’s office announced the program on Wednesday at an event at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. No Chicago Bears players attended the training, but Chicago Bears special advisor to the CEO Ted Crews spoke to students and played a video of some players talking about the importance of voting. * Daily Herald | Naperville gears up for city’s 200th birthday celebration: The city’s 2031 Bicentennial Framework — last year, it came to nearly 50 pages — offers recommendations on fundraising, possible projects, special events and other activities for the birthday bash. Tucked in the report is a copy of a prescient letter written by Judge Win Knoch in 1931 — the city’s 100th year — to the future chairman of the city’s second centennial celebration. * Muddy River News | Quincy man who admitted to threatening alderman arrested again on a child pornography charge: It was a short taste of freedom for Benjamin Inman, who entered a guilty plea yesterday to making a phone threat against Quincy Alderman Jack Holtschlag (D-7th Ward). Muddy River News can confirm that Inman is back in custody at the Adams County Jail, awaiting a court appearance tomorrow on a child pornography charge. * WSIL | Southern Illinois Healthcare implements visitor restrictions amid spike in Influenza A cases: Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) is instituting temporary visitor restrictions at its hospital facilities effective immediately, citing a sharp increase in Influenza A cases throughout the region. The healthcare provider announced the new protocols to protect patients, families, and staff from the spreading virus. Under the temporary guidelines, visitation is strictly limited to individuals ages 18 and older. Additionally, each patient is permitted no more than two visitors at a time. * WMBD | More aid available to support families struggling with power bills: In December, the news release says Warm Neighbors Cool Friends made an additional $2 million available for Ameren Illinois customers. The program is funded through donations and serves Ameren Illinois customers who make too much to qualify for LIHEAP. * WGLT | Strong Towns Blono commissions public art to recognize Route 66 centennial celebration: Last May, the grassroots advocacy group commissioned an artist to paint 15 circus-themed murals connecting the Bloomington Public Library and the McLean County Museum of History. The organization will do the same thing this summer to celebrate the centennial of Route 66. “I thought it was really successful,” said Katherine McCarthy, who chairs Strong Town’s public art and safety committee. “We had 32 applications, really good applications. We had excellent finalists, three finalists, and the winning artist was Delia Kerr-Dennhardt, who did a circus theme.” * WSIL | Union County invites locals to plan 250th America celebration: The county has launched a sign-up sheet where participants can submit events, volunteer for activities, and contribute to the festivities. Highlights of the planned events include egg and spoon races, sack races, cornhole, horseshoe and badminton tournaments, and even a hot dog eating contest. Organizers encourage everyone to get involved, whether by competing, cheering, or volunteering. The celebration aims to make America’s milestone birthday unforgettable for Union County. * NYT | Trump Administration Deploying More Border Patrol Agents to Minnesota: The Department of Homeland Security plans to pause operations in Chicago — where Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official, has led controversial arrest efforts — to support the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. Border Patrol officials also plan to send all nonlethal weapons housed in Chicago to Minnesota, according to the documents. * AP | Trump’s ‘beautiful’ new law means states have big decisions this year on Medicaid, SNAP and taxes: New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, said the state has an obligation to help people access health care and food. But he said the magnitude of federal cuts — as much as a $36 billion reduction for New Jersey over the next decade for Medicaid alone, according to KFF, an organization that researches health policy — could make it hard to keep all the state’s social programs unchanged. “What there will be is a commitment to doing our level best to make sure that all of the people’s needs get covered,” Coughlin said. * Bloomberg | Musk’s Grok AI Generated Thousands of Undressed Images Per Hour on X: During a 24-hour analysis of images the @Grok account posted to X, the chatbot generated about 6,700 every hour that were identified as sexually suggestive or nudifying, according to Genevieve Oh, a social media and deepfake researcher. The other top five websites for such content averaged 79 new AI undressing images per hour in the 24-hour period, from January 5 to January 6, Oh found. The scale of deepfakes on X is “unprecedented,” said Carrie Goldberg, a lawyer specializing in online sex crimes. “We’ve never had a technology that’s made it so easy to generate new images,” because Grok is free and linked to a built-in distribution system, she added.
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Poll: Just 8 percent of Illinoisans think crime is most important issue, plus lots more
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * As usual with statewide polls, crime is way down the list of issues important to voters…  I wish they would’ve asked about property taxes. * On to other results. Darren Bailey leads the race in the Republican primary…  Lots of undecided voters, but he’s retained more than half the support he had four years ago, when he won the primary with 57 percent. * Gov. JB Pritzker’s approval rating…  Pritzker appears to be an outlier in the region. Ohio’s governor had a 26 percent approval rating while 45% disapproved last fall in another Emerson poll. Also last fall, Indiana’s governor had a 24 percent favorable rating with 43 percent unfavorable, “while 22 percent had no opinion and 11 percent had never heard of him.” Last summer, a Marquette poll had Wisconsin’s governor at 48 percent approval and 46 percent disapproval, but 55 percent didn’t want him to run for a third term. And I’m figuring the Minnesota governor’s numbers were deeply in the tank since he bowed out of the race. * President Trump’s approval rating…  * Some more… 
* The methodology…
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Poll: 58 percent oppose public funding to help build a new Bears stadium
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * WGN-TV/Emerson College poll taken January 3-5 of 1,000 Illinois residents with a MOE of +/- 3 percent… 
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Candidate roundup: Raja’s numbers may be dropping, but still leads; Nobody knows the GOP Sen. candidates; 3 Dem Sen. candidates want Noem impeached; Old Miller poll; More
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * [From Rich: This post glitched out on us, so I’m reposting it. I disagree with this assessment about Krishnamoorthi. Raja’s own poll a month ago had him at 42 percent. He’s not doing great, particularly after spending something like $13-14 million. Then again, the other two are in single digits and he is slightly leading Kelly among Black voters] WGN-TV/Emerson College poll taken January 3-5 of 1,000 Illinois residents with a MOE of +/- 3 percent…
* Meanwhile…
Sheesh. * All three Democratic US Senate candidates support Noem’s impeachment. US Senate Candidate Rep. Robin Kelly…
* Month-old polling from the 2nd Congressional District released by Democratic candidate Donna Miller…
Emphasis added because in the third quarter of last year, Miller only raised about $240,000 and reported having just $150,000 cash on hand. That’s not a lot of money and the election is less than 10 weeks away, with mail-in voting starting in about 4 weeks. Back to the release…
I’ve reached out to Miller’s campaign for the crosstabs. * 9th CD candidate Bushra Amiwala’s response to Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s endorsement of Daniel Biss…
* ONE People’s Campaign…
* Background is here if you need it. The Daily Northwestern…
* Raja Krishnamoorthi has been endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees. Press release…
* Politico…
* WMBD…
* WGLT…
* More…
* Press release | Senator Fine to File Legislation Barring ICE Officers Hired By Trump from State and Local Law Enforcement Jobs: In the wake of the unspeakable tragedy in Minneapolis, Minn., State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) will file legislation barring anyone hired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump from obtaining employment in state or local law enforcement positions in the State of Illinois. This proposed state law continues her efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable and rein in the lawlessness of federal immigration officials. “ICE is out of control and Donald Trump must be held accountable as communities like ours and across the country are torn apart by fear and violence,” Senator Fine said. “These officers are complicit in the President’s authoritarian campaign and we must do everything in our power to stop it while preventing further violence and loss of life. In Congress, I’ll lead the effort to hold every single person accountable for their role in Donald Trump’s lawlessness, including federal law enforcement officials who target American citizens exercising their first amendment rights. Enough is enough.” * WBEZ | Open Seat in Illinois: U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate: The University of Chicago Institute of Politics, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and International House are convening the three frontrunner Democratic candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois in advance of the March 17, 2026 primary elections. Join us in person, virtually or on air on Monday, January 26 for a free, live candidate debate at International House on the University of Chicago’s campus. The debate will be co-moderated by Chicago Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles and IOP senior director Jennifer Steinhauer and hosted by WBEZ’s In the Loop host, Sasha-Ann Simons. * Journal & Topics | All 8 Democrats Running In 8th Congressional Primary Agree To Debate: All eight candidates running in the Democratic Primary for the 8th Congressional District have confirmed their participation in a 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, debate at the National India Hub in Schaumburg. The event, co-organized by Indivisible Elk Grove Township, requires an RSVP to be completed in advance online. For those unable to attend in person, the event’s moderator, local Gen Z podcaster Ishaan Srivastava, will live-stream the debate on the Ishaan S. Show on his YouTube Channel. * NPR Illinois | Economics and energy take center stage in this year’s 13th congressional district campaigns: After an August meeting with constituents at the Champaign Public Library, Budzinski said she wants to continue focusing on economic policies in her next term. “It’s a tax credit for small businesses that hire apprentices, again, helping to make more opportunities a reality for young people who want to get into the workplace here in central Illinois,” she said. * Daily Herald | Democratic candidate for 3rd Congressional seat removed from ballot: The Illinois State Board of Elections decided Chicago Democrat Mark J. Pasieka Sr.’s name shouldn’t appear on ballots in the 3rd Congressional District. Conversely, the board ruled in favor of Naperville Republican Michael Pierce in the 11th District. An objection to Pasieka’s candidacy was jointly filed by Addison resident Maria D. Sinkule and Chicagoan Jason Christopher Dones. They said Pasieka didn’t get enough signatures of registered 3rd District voters to qualify and raised concerns about notarizations on the petitions.
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Tobey from Monticello who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Bailey, Pritzker comment on Minnesota ICE shooting
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Last August, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said he was generally opposed to ICE and other police officers wearing masks…
* When asked today about an apparent ICE agent who shot a woman to death in Minnesota this week, Bailey referenced the recent tragic deaths of his close family members in a helicopter crash..
But…
* Gov. Pritzker was asked today about what went wrong with the shooting…
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Bailey, Dabrowski, Pritzker talk about Elon Musk’s DOGE, ‘forensic audits,’ federal funding freeze
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here and here if you need it. Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and his running mate today unveiled their “Blueprint for Illinois,” which includes a “DOGE” component…
Please pardon any transcription errors. Click here to see why a forensic audit would be so time-consuming and expensive. And it’s totally fine that the feds suspect wrongdoing. But the government has provided no proof at all that it is happening in Illinois. * From Ted Dabrowski…
* From Gov. Pritzker’s press conference today…
That last question hugely over-simplifies what the feds are asking for…
And all that is due in about three weeks.
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Pritzker signs ‘Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act’
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * We’re going to use this app to cover the event…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois Democrats express outrage, seek full investigation into ICE fatal shooting of Minnesota woman. Sun-Times…
- U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he will be “demanding full answers and accountability from the Trump administration” over a “horrific loss of life.” - Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton called the shooting “horrific.” “Rejecting authoritarianism should not be a death sentence in the United States of America,” Stratton said. “We need answers and we need ICE out of our communities.” * Related stories… * Gov. JB Pritzker is scheduled to sign the Clean and Reliable Grid Act at 10:30 am at the Joliet Junior College Events Center. Click here to watch. * Tribune | Federal freeze of $1B for Illinois sows fear among child care providers, parents, draws backlash from state leaders: More than half of the day care’s children benefit from subsidies from the Child Care Assistance Program, said center administrator Lisa Griffin. That program is partly funded by federal dollars that President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday night it plans to withhold from Illinois and four other states with Democratic governors over concerns about fraud and misuse of the money. * Sun-Times | Feds won’t try to prove gang membership for man charged with putting a bounty on Greg Bovino: Federal prosecutors say they will not set out to prove that a Chicago man accused of offering $10,000 for the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino is also a ranking member of the Latin Kings if his case goes to trial later this month. Rather, they told a judge Wednesday they intend to show Juan Espinoza Martinez’s “affinity” for the gang, giving context to the social media messages he allegedly used to further a plot against the controversial immigration official. Defense attorney Jonathan Bedi called it a “big pullback” by the feds during the same hearing. He also accused prosecutors of tying Espinoza Martinez to the gang with “shockingly thin” evidence, amounting to little more than the location of his home in Little Village. * Daily Herald | Transit advocates outline what’s happening with reforms to Metra, Pace, CTA: Villivalam told the audience “we’re going to be working on a trailer bill.” He later noted, “as with every piece of legislation and law, we will meet with constituents and stakeholders to discuss any enhancements as well as technical edits that should be considered.” RTA Chair Kirk Dillard told the Daily Herald that minor changes to the bill are to be expected. * Press Release | Darren Bailey/Aaron Del Mar to launch ‘Blueprint for Illinois’: Illinois gubernatorial candidate and former State Senator Darren Bailey along with his running mate Aaron Del Mar will have a press availability in Springfield on Thursday where they will unveil their ‘Blueprint for Illinois’ policy agenda. The press conference starts at 10 am and will be live-streamed on BlueRoom. * Daily Southtown | Rep. Bob Rita to run unopposed in primary after opponents removed or withdraw: A Chicago Election Board removed one opponent in the 28th District race, Paris Walker Thomas, after finding 56 pages of her petition signatures were photocopies. Illinois law requires candidate nominations to be original petition sheets. The other two opponents, Dyvonna Moss and Nadeja Henry, withdrew from the race in late December after Walker Thomas was removed and did not respond to requests to comment. * Press Release | Civic leader Ahmed Karrar announces run for state Senate to unite communities and restore trust in representation: Today, Ahmed Karrar, a Sudanese-American attorney and community development advocate, launched his campaign for the 14th Senate Legislative District of Illinois: “I am in this race because the 14th District deserves ethical leadership that addresses our crisis of trust in government by putting working families first and promoting a politics of joy and community.” Karrar said. In his launch video, Karrar acknowledged that rebuilding that trust starts with tackling our affordability crisis, stopping the Trump/MAGA agenda, and restoring integrity and trust in our elected officials through consistent and thoughtful community engagement. Karrar is challenging Sen. Emil Jones III in the 14th Senate District Democratic primary. * Daily Herald | Two Republicans fall off the ballot in gubernatorial, Senate contests: Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Moore’s name also was removed from the ballot. Malowitz agreed with objectors that Broadview resident Moore had insufficient signatures and failed to identify a lieutenant governor in his nomination papers. The board will hear one more objection case in the gubernatorial stakes Thursday involving Republican candidate Joe Severino of Lake Forest. * WAND | Illinois House Speaker, GOP Leader highlight ideas for 2026 session: House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) told an audience at City Club Chicago that lawmakers need to address rising homeowner and auto insurance rates. State senators passed a bill in October to protect homeowners from excessive rate increases and ensure transparency for customers, but the plan failed to pass out of the House before the end of veto session. The plan would require insurance companies to give homeowners at least 60 days’ notice before nonrenewal, changes in coverage, or premium increases of 10% or more. * WNIJ | Illinois State Senator Karina Villa on the new ‘Safe Schools for All’ immigration law: “A lot of times there is legislation that is passed that doesn’t offer much in terms of remedies if something is not followed. This isn’t just “the school district didn’t follow something,” it’s that there was complete negligence and it was almost a sinister act of handing over information intentionally,” Villa said. * Sun-Times | U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley says he’ll launch mayoral run, fix a ‘city in crisis’: “When I ran for County Board, I ran in a crowded field. I didn’t have the most money, and I won. When I ran in a special election for Congress [in] a very crowded field, I was outspent 10-to-1, and I won. … I’m the best campaigner of people who are thinking about running for mayor. The No. 1 vote-getter among members of Congress in general elections. I’m ready to roll.” * Block Club | ‘Time And Place’ Curfew Proposal Advances To City Council Vote: It is a shift from Hopkins’ last proposal, known as a snap curfew, which would have allowed police to impose a curfew anywhere at any time with just 30 minutes’ notice. That measure was passed by the City Council but vetoed by Mayor Brandon Johnson in June. The council’s Committee on Public Safety on Wednesday voted 11-4 to advance Hopkins’ revised proposal to the next City Council meeting later this month, though it’s likely to face another veto from Johnson. * Tribune | New indictment ties gun to shots fired at immigration agents in Little Village: Hector Gómez, 45, was charged in the indictment with possession of a weapon by a felon as well as gun possession by a previously deported alien. An arraignment date was not immediately set. While the indictment does not allege Gómez actually fired the shots at agents, the charges for the first time connect the 9mm weapon allegedly found on Gomez to shell casings at the scene. * Sun-Times | Hundreds of apartments proposed at West Loop industrial site: The firm also wants to build a 27-story building next door with even more apartments — plus space for car and bike parking. The upcoming Plan Commission meeting could be a big step forward for the project, after the zoning application was filed just over a year ago. The firm purchased the building in 2023 for $12 million, property records show. * Daily Southtown | Orland Park Plan Commission endorses Amazon retail center, despite residents’ concerns: Amazon representatives and village staff said the site would not be used as a warehouse, a concern of some residents and members of the Plan Commission. “I think I’m satisfied that this is a retail center,” Commissioner John Paul said, checking with village staff to make sure Amazon couldn’t turn the building into a warehouse if its retail concept fails. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council considers financially supporting city-connected fiber network: Last year, Mayor John Laesch said that OnLight was nearly $1 million in debt after failed attempts to bring internet service to residents’ homes and “unregulated debit card expenses for marketing purposes” that took place before he took office. The city-owned fiber network managed by OnLight stretches for over 60 miles and provides internet access to city government facilities as well as other institutions, nonprofits and businesses in Aurora. The Aurora City Council next week will consider a proposal to give OnLight either a loan or a grant of $80,000. That money is expected to help the organization catch up on outstanding bills and give it a small amount of operating cash for the near-term, Aurora’s Director of Fiscal Integrity and Operations Management, Brian Caputo, told Aurora aldermen at a meeting of the City Council’s Committee of the Whole on Tuesday evening. * Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County panel recommends 3% raises for non-union department employees: All non-union employees working in county departments, including but not limited to department heads and Animal Control employees, would be getting the 3% pay hike, per the measure discussed and recommended for approval Wednesday. Employees whose pay is set by a collective bargaining agreement, statute, ordinance or employment contract would not be included, nor would employees who have been working in the county for less than 90 days. The Kane County Board is also set to vote Tuesday on a separate measure granting a 3% pay hike for non-union employees working in the County Board office. * Daily Herald | How a planned bike path will close a key gap in central Lake County: This segment will close one of two gaps in a 9.5-mile stretch from the Des Plaines River Trail to downtown Round Lake. “Having this east-west connection is huge for this area,” said Jennifer Clark, committee chair. Ongoing improvements along Washington Street at Hunt Club Road in Gurnee, entering its second year of construction, will fill the second gap. * WGLT | Firefighters’ union and Town of Normal continue differences over emergency response times: The union representing firefighters in the Town of Normal is continuing its campaign to keep the soon-to-close College Avenue fire station open — after a new station opens on the east side of town. The town insists there is no issue that needs to be addressed. The union has scheduled a series of town hall–style community presentations to discuss the findings of its community needs study, and how firefighters say the current station placement, staffing levels, and rising call volume are impacting emergency response times and community safety. * ABC Chicago | Kankakee elementary school abruptly closes after structural assessment: ‘We couldn’t take a chance’: “The wall itself has separated the foundation by about an inch and a half. So much more movement and we have a roof collapse. We couldn’t take a chance on that happening,” said Lyle Neal, assistant superintendent of business and operations for Kankakee School District 111. Cracks have been showing up in the nearly 70-year-old building for some time now. But, until recently, it was thought those did not pose an imminent danger. The school, which is also underused, had been slated to close at the end of the year. Now, its 185 students are on remote learning this week until everyone can be relocated. * 404 Media | Here is the Agreement Giving ICE Medicaid Patients’ Data: In June the Associated Press reported Medicaid officials unsuccessfully fought to block the transfer of data related to millions of Medicaid enrollees from California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington D.C. Emails showed two top advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the data transfer and CMS officials had 54 minutes to comply, the Associated Press added. At the time, the exact purpose of the data sharing was not known. Then the Associated Press reported on the agreement itself that said the sharing was for ICE to locate aliens in the country.
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Open thread
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, Jan 8, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Subscribers know more. The Tribune…
* We told subscribers yesterday about Dan Egler’s passing. From his obituary…
* Crain’s | Johnson warns of mid-year layoffs in wake of budget brawl: The mayor blamed his City Council opponents, who in December took the extraordinary step of passing their own $16.6 billion budget after his 2026 plan — built around reviving a corporate head tax and trimming an advance pension payment — failed to win enough support. Johnson neither signed nor vetoed the final package, an implicit concession after weeks of unsuccessfully trying to halt a rebellion by a rival bloc of aldermen. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Report: Sexual misconduct was widespread on campus where former dean sentenced to 22 years worked: The watchdog report, which was pending at the time, has since found employees groomed students for sexual relationships in person and via social media, and sometimes pursued them as soon as they graduated. One teacher, who also ran a legal aid clinic on the shared campus, presented himself as a protector of girls and women — only to make overtures to numerous former students months after they graduated and have sex with at least four of them, the watchdog found. * Block Club | ‘Missing Middle’ Housing Program Breaks Ground On 1st Project In North Lawndale: The first portion of the program will build seven two-flats on Douglas Boulevard as well as in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of Trumbull and Homan avenues. The two-flats are the first of a planned 115 market-rate housing units being built. The Missing Middle initiative looks to revitalize and repopulate neighborhoods by building new, for-sale housing attainable to families looking to own in areas where such housing stock has been hollowed out. The initiative sells city-owned lots in the program to developers for $1, with the city subsidizing up to $150,000 per unit to develop for-sale housing. * Sun-Times | Chicago History Museum’s top leader out after nearly five years: The head of the Chicago History Museum is departing his post after nearly five years, the museum announced Wednesday. Donald E. Lassere served as the museum’s president and CEO since April 2021. In a statement, the museum said the board will conduct a nationwide search for Lassere’s replacement. In the meantime, Michael Anderson, who is currently the museum’s vice president of external engagement and development, will serve as interim president and CEO. * Sun-Times | Grant Park Music Festival announces 2026 lineup, featuring Ben Folds and ample American music: The annual classical series features the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus and will bring 10 weeks of free music to venues such as Millennium Park from June 10-Aug. 15. The second season under Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero will feature a heavy dose of music from American composers, as the country marks its 250th birthday and programming around the semiquincentennial is expected to be widespread. * The Daily Northwestern | Border Patrol covertly filmed Dec. 17 protesters with Meta smart glasses, Daily analysis finds: A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol’s parent agency, told The Daily in an emailed statement that CBP “does not have an arrangement with Meta.” They added that personal recording devices are “not authorized,” though individual Border Patrol officers “may wear personally purchased sunglasses.” The spokesperson did not cite a specific policy, but a 2023 directive on body cameras issued by the Department of Homeland Security, parent agency of CBP, prohibits the use of personal cameras to record “official law enforcement activities.” * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan a finalist for solar panel plant, 500 jobs: ‘This will reverse our environmental legacy’: A factory employing 500 people making 2 million solar panels a year, adjacent to a 125-acre solar field and a 40-acre solar pond generating clean power, may be coming to Waukegan on land once a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site where the Johns Manville plant once sat. Waukegan and a location in Kansas are the two finalists competing to become the home of Netherlands-based Solarge’s first facility in the U.S., where lightweight solar panels will be made and solar energy generated. * NBC Chicago | Residents push back on plans for Amazon retail facility in Orland Park: Many residents overwhelmingly said they did not want the development because of conservation and transportation issues it would bring to the area. One resident said adding the facility would “bottleneck” traffic in the area, and another stressed how Orland Park could be left with costly challenges if it needs to repurpose and reforest the area in the future. * Evanston Now | County tax mess cost D65 more than $1 million: Cook County’s bungled property tax distribution system has cost Evanston/Skokie School District 65 “approximately $1.14 million in real, avoidable taxpayer impact,” the district’s spokesperson has told Evanston Now. The county’s delayed payment of property taxes owed to school systems forced D65 to borrow money “to meet payment obligations to employees and vendors/service partners,” according to district spokesperson Hannah Dillow. * Crain’s | Lincolnwood mall pitched as redevelopment candidate gets new owner: The sale comes after years of challenges for the aging mall, which had been marketed for sale as a redevelopment candidate. Kirsten Bowersox, president at Xroads, said the firm’s affiliate Prairie Ridge Development intends to remake the property, though there’s not a concrete plan yet. “The village is developing their vision along with ours, and we’re confident it’ll all make sense at some point and whatever it becomes, it’ll be useful to the community,” Bowersox said. * Tribune | Cook County clerk’s office teams up with Chicago Bears to launch inaugural student election judge program: Through the initiative, dubbed “Defenders of DA’mocracy,” students across the county will see the inner workings of the election system firsthand by becoming official election judges for their own peers ahead of this spring’s primary. Preparations for the inaugural venture started this week, with some 150 students from two dozen high schools across suburban Cook County learning the ins and outs of running a polling place at a series of training sessions. Students are training to ultimately run early voting sites at their schools for the March 17 election and, if they want, to officiate future elections, too. * Shaw Local | Gotion updates Manteno village on safety issues: Wheeler outlined what Gotion has completed since the issues were brought up and after a Dec. 8 special board meeting. The issues were the establishment of a fire brigade on site, having an emergency action plan in place, sprinkler holding tank inspection report, and a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system for emergency responder radio communications. Wheeler said a fire brigade is in place with experienced firefighters and a fire marshal. It’s waiting on final village approval. * Illinois Times | Public hearing on proposed project in Logan County draws questions, concerns: Electrical demand for the two data centers would be similar, as would the amount of farm ground to be purchased if the companies receive zoning approval from county boards in Logan and Sangamon counties, respectively. But CyrusOne has said it would spend about $500 million to construct the Sangamon County data center, while Hut 8 says in documents submitted to Logan County and in public presentations that its data center would cost $4 billion to $5 billion to establish. * WICS | Hut 8’s $4-$5 billion data center proposal in Logan County faces public scrutiny: Rachel, a Latham resident, raised concerns about noise, specifically the low-frequency hum that could affect residents’ well-being. “It is a noise that is felt, not heard,” she said. Hut 8 has committed to conducting a noise study as part of their planning process. […] Hut 8’s facility is designed to be a closed-loop system, primarily using air for cooling and recirculating water every four to five years. The company has not yet decided whether to use gas or diesel backup generators. * WAND | DACC board member censured for policy violations: According to a resolution of the board’s January 5 meeting, Trustee Dylan Haun shared information that was talked about during a closed session without permission, violating board policy. In the resolution, the board said the violation “undermines the board’s ability to engage in candid discussion and exposes the college to potential legal and reputational risk.”The resolution also said Haun met with the college’s Safety and Security Officer and Chief of Campus Security to “discuss matters relating to the college” without the board president’s permission. * Illinois Times | New manufacturer for Springfield: An international crane manufacturing firm is opening a plant in Springfield that will likely employ more than 100 people on the city’s west side. In addition to the blue-collar jobs assembling cranes, the firm will employ a host of professional positions as it plans to make Springfield its first manufacturing site in the U.S., Dominic Jolicoeur, REEL USA Corp’s vice president for North American operations, said. * WAND | Cyberattack under investigation by Coles County school district: In a press release sent to WAND News, Oakland Community School District 5 said hackers gained access to their systems and demanded payment to restore them. The district said they did not pay the criminals, working with cybersecurity experts and using backup systems to recover their systems before the end of the holiday break. * Muddy River News | Quincy task force eyeing zoning changes to ease housing crunch: “It isn’t just ‘we’re going to do this’,” task force co-chair Paul Havermale said. “That’s not how we’re going to operate. We’re going to try to educate, make sure everyone understands the recommendations we’re going to make.” When it comes to a comprehensive land-use zoning plan, Havermale acknowledges it costs money. Estimates are around $250,000. The last time the City of Quincy had one was when he was still on the council, sometime before 2010, meaning the data is outdated. * WGLT | Carle Health names new president of Bloomington-Normal service area: Carle Health has named Dr. Robert Cavagnol as its new president of the Bloomington-Normal service area. Cavagnol will assume the position on Feb. 2, replacing Colleen Kannaday after 15 years in that role. The healthcare provider said Cavagnol brings executive leadership experience and clinical experience needing to operate its health system. * WAND | Springfield City Council approves alcohol sales at Scheels Sports Complex: Springfield residents can soon buy alcohol during tournaments and events at the Scheels Sports Complex. Springfield City Council approved a new class of liquor licenses for the sports park Tuesday night, called Class P. Vendors will be able to sell beer, wine and liquor during designated hours. * Democracy Docket | Missouri officials reject one-third of signatures in anti-gerrymander referendum dispute: People Not Politicians submitted their status update to the court Monday, reporting that the Secretary of State’s office has deemed invalid 16,695 of the 49,763 pages of signatures. Numerous other legal challenges related to the Missouri gerrymander remain ongoing. Missouri voters are asking a court to block the state from using the new map until after the referendum vote takes place. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday on the plaintiffs’ motion to expedite the trial. * The Minnesota Star Tribune | ICE agent shoots, kills woman in Minneapolis: Gov. Tim Walz put out a call for calm. Frey said the woman killed was 37 years old. “To the family, I’m so deeply sorry,” Frey said. He also disputed Homeland Security’s version of what happened. […] Bystanders who observed the shooting from their own properties on Portland Avenue rejected Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s characterization of the incident, insisting the motorist was not attempting to ram anyone as she fled. “They’re whitewashing it; that’s absolutely not what happened,” said local resident Aiden Perzana, a data engineer for the state of Minnesota. “Somebody was trying to pull her out of her car. She was just trying to get away. There’s no way she was aiming for anybody. It’s just absurd.” * WaPo | The soaring price of youth sports: $50 to try out, $3,000 to play: A market report from business consultants Red Chalk Group in April said youth sports has become “a magnet for investment activity” as firms look “to capitalize on this growing demand.” Outside the hearing, Farrey said many of the problems with youth sports existed before private equity, “but it’s gotten a lot worse since then.” … Later this year, a youth sports megaplex is set to open in Springfield, Illinois, boasting the world’s largest air-supported dome, with room for more than 12 volleyball courts, six basketball courts and two softball fields.
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Investing In Illinois
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois American Water is more than just a utility. We’re your neighbor, committed to the long-term health and vitality of the communities we serve. Our employees live and work locally, investing their expertise right where it matters most, to modernize water systems and strengthen water quality, reliability, and public health for the long term. Environmental stewardship is also central to who we are. Illinois American Water is committed to protecting the environment and using our most precious resource wisely. Across our footprint, our state-of-the-art treatment facilities and team of water quality experts help ensure we go beyond compliance, holding ourselves to standards that not only fulfill expectations but set new benchmarks for our industry. Community partnership and clean water go hand in hand. We’re dedicated to safeguarding both the resources and the places our customers call home, today and for generations to come. Our community is one worth investing in, and we are proud to spend every day working to help ensure the water we deliver is of the highest quality. Learn more about us.
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Unsurprisingly, the feds appear to be getting way ahead of themselves
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Background is here if you need it. This is one of three copy and paste letters from Robert Kennedy’s Department of Health and Human Services…
The other two letters (here and here), were about the child care program and the Social Services Block Grant. The governor said yesterday that the impact on Illinois would be about $1 billion. * First problem. Here’s the federal law referenced above…
Except, the “specific conditions” law lays out the preconditions for imposing harsh penalties…
But Secretary Kennedy isn’t presenting any actual evidence or analysis, just vibes. * The federal government is demanding a ton of information about all three programs in just three weeks. Here’s the social services block grant list…
Emphasis added to show how much of a cut-and-paste job this thing really is.
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Commission wants state to pony up $55 million to fund pay raises for countywide officials (Updated)
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * The County Officials Compensation Task Force (COCTF) has released a compensation recomendation report as mandated by state law…
Um, maybe that’s because lawyers don’t wanna run for state’s attorney at such a low pay when they can make lots more in the private sector? I’ve not heard of a shortage of county clerk candidates, but maybe that’s just me. The average annual salary of state’s attorneys, according to the report, is $192,469. That’s about double the average salaries for auditors, county clerks and reporters. And it’s about two and a half times the average salaries for circuit clerks, supervisors of assessment, treasurers, and consolidated clerk/recorders. The state’s attorneys make almost four times as much money as coroners. A gender pay disparity exists within several countywide offices: “it was calculated that male officials in Illinois are paid on average 11% more than female officials.” * And so here’s the proposed solution…
They’re also recommending an immediate $3 million inflation-adjusted stipend, with cost of living increases going forward. Thoughts? …Adding… From Sen. Seth Lewis…
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Looks like yet another five-month session in two weeks
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not to mention that the two chamber leaders no longer coordinate their respective schedules, which is a real pain for a lot of us. The Senate is in next week, but the House doesn’t return until the following week, when the Senate is off. In February, the Senate is in for three weeks, but the House is in for just two. The Senate comes back at the beginning of March for two weeks, then leaves for a week before returning. The House doesn’t convene in March until March 18, the day after primary day, and stays for two weeks. The two chambers are in session together that month for just one week. In the past, the legislature would take off for two weeks for the Passover/Easter holidays. The Senate is doing that, but the House is in for the second week of Passover. That kills a needed spring break for those folks who have to be there whenever either chamber meets. And then comes May. Both chambers are in for four straight weeks. * It ticks me off to no end that Senate President Harmon and House Speaker Welch can’t get on the same page for something as simple as this. /rant
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Federal government withholding $1 billion from Illinois meant for child care, family assistance. Tribune…
- “Rather than making life easier and more affordable for our families, Donald Trump is stripping away child care from Illinois families who are just trying to go to work,” Pritzker said in a news release. - The frozen money comes from three areas: the Child Care and Development Fund, Social Services Block Grant funds, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. In Illinois, about 100,000 low-income, working families receive subsidized child care through the Child Care Assistance Program which is partly funded by Child Care and Development Block Grant, according to the governor’s office. * Related stories… * Tribune | Republican candidate for Illinois governor Ted Dabrowski fills news conference with contradictions: Dabrowski attempted to tie a rapid rise in spending for human service programs in Illinois under Pritzker to allegations of fraud that have surfaced in Minnesota, linked to the state’s large Somali immigrant community. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president, dropped his bid for a third term as governor on Monday amid the tumult. But, Dabrowski said, “I want to say here is I’m not making an accusation today of fraud in Illinois. I’m not doing that.” Later, he added, “I’m not making any accusations of fraud. I am saying that these kind of growth rates parallel the kind of stuff that could happen in Minnesota.” * Crain’s | Welch says Bears stadium bid collides with Springfield’s affordability agenda: The Bears aren’t the only ones who are at risk from Democrats’ renewed focus on affordability. Welch, like Gov. JB Pritzker, signaled an interest in insurance reform. “Everything’s going to come down around affordability issues. Folks are concerned about their homeowners insurance, their car insurance,” he said. * Crain’s | ComEd demands guarantees from data centers — and wins: Brad Klein, managing attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said the transmission agreements “are a step in the right direction but still leave ComEd customers on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars of data-center transmission costs.” The nonprofit advocacy group recommends that big users also be required to pay their own cost for the high-voltage lines required to deliver power directly to their facilities. * Tribune | Darren Bailey promises a DOGE for Illinois: Bailey, a former legislator from southern Illinois who is again seeking the Republican nomination, sent out a weekend fundraising e-mail, saying one of his first actions as governor would be to “launch DOGE for Illinois.” DOGE is the Department of Government Efficiency run by Elon Musk that promised to save the federal government $1 trillion but, by its own admission, achieved far less. Its job cuts, many of them in Republican districts, sparked a backlash and proved to be one of the more controversial steps of Donald Trump’s second term so far. * Politico | Giannoulias cash surge fuels City Hall buzz: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias raised more than $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 for his reelection campaign — no small feat, especially during the holiday fundraising doldrums. […] Giannoulias hasn’t decided whether he’ll take on Mayor Brandon Johnson, though the possibility remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in Chicago political circles. * Crain’s | After a bruising budget battle, Johnson’s CFO Jaworski leaves City Hall: The decision was made near the end of the year, but Jaworski wanted to stay on through the conclusion of the budget process, she told Crain’s. “I’m leaving because I have a great opportunity at Navy Pier,” she said. “I did delay in order to get through the budget and allow an appropriate time for the mayor’s office to be able to transition my position.” * Sun-Times | After problem-free ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,’ Mayor Johnson says he opposes revised curfew measure: “New Year’s Eve was a testament that we did not need an additional tool in order to ensure that our young people were where they need to be, and that our parents and adults who are part of these young peoples’ lives — that they are also held accountable for their whereabouts,” said Johnson, who vetoed the snap curfew ordinance that Hopkins muscled through the City Council after a violent teen takeover last year. Hopkins made the opposite argument about Chicago’s festive riverfront celebration “The mayor used my ordinance on New Year’s Eve… He declared a time-and-site curfew. He announced it and he publicized it. And he told parents, `Don’t send your unaccompanied minors to this event because curfew will be enforced’ and it worked,” Hopkins said. * Sun-Times | CPS Board is investigating two leaks of internal board information: The Chicago Board of Education has launched two investigations into how internal information got into the hands of the media. It is looking at whether a member is responsible for revealing the names of superintendent finalists to the media and how a reporter recently got an internal update that included information about plans to hold a special meeting to raise property taxes. The board president is so incensed by the recent leak that he is threatening to ask the guilty party to resign. * Sun-Times | Former CPS principal and network chief defrauded district of nearly $89K, watchdog finds: One such case involves former CPS principal and network chief Brian Metcalf. From 2012 to 2017, Metcalf worked with former CPS vendor Kimberly Maddox to generate fake invoices for goods and services that were never provided, splitting the proceeds after receiving payment from the district. Metcalf and Maddox admitted to the conspiracy as part of a plea agreement in a federal case against them involving a similar scheme to defraud a nonprofit organization and a charter school network in Indiana after Metcalf left CPS in 2018. * Tribune | Northwestern Memorial Hospital workers demand better staffing, ahead of expansion vote: The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board is slated on Jan. 13 to consider the hospital’s application to add 42 intensive care unit beds and a two-story connector between two pavilions, among other things. The board must vote in favor of the hospital’s application before the project can move forward. The project is partly intended to alleviate backups in the hospital’s emergency department due to a lack of intensive care unit beds, according to the hospital’s application for the project. Those backups have led to “excessive” emergency department wait times and many patients leaving without being seen, according to the hospital’s application. * Block Club | Did Chicago Police Help ICE? City Says No, But Watchdogs Hosting Public Hearing: The hearing is being held after police district councils submitted more than 2,000 signatures from community members last month that called for an investigation into how police and federal agents have interacted. A day before petitions were submitted, Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, in a social media post, thanked Chicago police for “their assistance” during an operation in December. * Block Club | Black-Owned Brewery, Little Village Visitor Center Among 58 Projects Getting $33 Million From City: The mayor and the city’s Department of Planning and Development selected 58 projects to receive Community Development Grants, announcing in a news release that the recipients were selected from a pool of nearly 400 applicants. The awards, ranging from $51,000-$5 million, will support costs such as construction, rehabilitation and planning for projects sparking investment on commercial corridors, Johnson said. The awards are funded through the mayor’s $1.25 billion Housing And Economic Development Bond, tax-increment financing and the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund. * Tribune | Chicago Bears preparing for intense atmosphere in playoff opener — on the field and in the stands: Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson hasn’t heard from a lot of old colleagues about making the playoffs as a first-year head coach, nor has he given himself a second to pat himself on the back for the achievement. It’s a short week before the Bears face the Green Bay Packers on Saturday for the third time in six weeks — and in a wild-card playoff game, no less. “Just really focused at the task at hand,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday at Halas Hall. “We’ll worry about the reflection, we’ll have plenty of time to do that when the season’s over. We’re not ready for that, you know? * Sun-Times | The future of Walgreens, an iconic Chicago drugstore, looks grim: First and foremost, according to Walgreens’ June 6 proxy statement, Sycamore financed its $18.8 billion leveraged buyout of Walgreens with 70.9% debt — a truly staggering amount, much higher than the average debt level of 41% used by private equity firms to acquire companies last year. The leveraged buyout model is a key driver of instability at private equity-owned companies: By saddling companies with substantial debt, resources that could otherwise be invested in innovation, workforce development or adapting to market changes are channeled toward servicing this debt, leaving companies vulnerable to financial distress and bankruptcy. … Since Staples was acquired by Sycamore in 2017, Sycamore has shuttered roughly one-third of its stores and laid off scores of workers. Meanwhile, Sycamore loaded Staples with debt and extracted a $1 billion dividend from the struggling retailer in addition to transferring Staples’ $150 million headquarters to itself. Mike Motz, the CEO who oversaw hundreds of store closures and tens of thousands of layoffs at Staples, has now been chosen to head up Walgreens. * Tribune | Barnes & Noble to open four Chicago-area bookstores, part of a national expansion: The bookseller will open a store this summer in the former Old Navy outlet at 150 N. State St. Another Barnes & Noble store will open in early 2026 in Hyde Park at 1524 E. 55th St. The company also plans to relocate its store within Skokie’s Westfield Old Orchard Mall to a new two-level space, and build out by late spring a new Barnes & Noble inside the former Borders Books in Oak Park. * Crain’s | Chicago’s mansion market had a blowout year in 2025: In the year that just ended, sales of high-end homes surged to a new record in the Chicago area, climbing past the old benchmark by almost 15%. As of Dec. 31, Crain’s running count of home sales at $4 million and up was at 156 for the year, head and shoulders above the previous record, the 136 homes sold in that uppermost price range in 2022. * Daily Herald | Railroads say freight merger application falls short; UP says rivals are grandstanding: Four of the nation’s largest railroads hope to throw a wrench in plans by rivals Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to merge into one huge freight carrier. Officials with BNSF, CPKC, CSX and CN railroads recently filed objections with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board charging that the merger application was incomplete and flawed. * Daily Southtown | Will County judge criticizes state delays, blocks tax return evidence in final Kee forfeiture case: Will County Judge Brian Barrett told Assistant State’s Attorney Dant Foulk Wednesday to sit down, calling Foulk’s attempt to appeal a ruling, which threatened to halt a case first filed against two New Lenox business owners in 2023, “a wrench thrown into the cogs of justice.” Barrett said the state cannot file an appeal every time they get a ruling that they do not want, calling the state’s continued delays “devious,” “ridiculous,” “absurd” and an abuse of the law. The exchange was a part of the final forfeiture case filed in 2023 against Greta Keranen and Jeffrey Regnier, owners of Kee Firearms and Kee Construction in New Lenox. * Daily Herald | Mount Prospect spent $700,000 on legal fight with malodorous animal feed producer: According to the information released this week by the village, it amounted to $707,919.97. The breakdown is $539,848.83 for in-house legal services and $168,071.14 for outside services. […] From the village’s perspective, the cost could have been higher — Mount Prospect and Des Plaines settled with Prestige in June. The settlement included Prestige’s commitment to shutter by the end of the year. Legal costs were projected to exceed $400,000, with the potential for appeals, Village Manager Michael Cassady said. * Crain’s | Chicago Stars FC plans 10-acre training center, HQ in Bannockburn: Chicago’s professional women’s soccer franchise is poised to build its first team-owned training facility in Bannockburn, a $30-million-plus project that would plant permanent roots for the club in the northern suburb and signal its growth ambitions as more money flows into women’s pro sports nationwide. The Chicago Stars FC today announced it is under contract to buy a 10-acre property at 1000 Lakeside Drive along Interstate 94 in Bannockburn, which the National Women’s Soccer League club plans to redevelop into a team performance center and the new hub of its operations. Pending completion of the deal and final zoning approvals from the village of Bannockburn, the Stars aim to break ground on the new facility in the spring and relocate next year from the team’s longtime practice home and office headquarters at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. * Daily Herald | Alexian Brothers labor and delivery unit shuts down: After months of debate over its closure, and a ruling by a state agency in favor of Ascension’s closing it down, the Alexian Brothers Medical Center’s labor and delivery unit in Elk Grove Village served its last patient Tuesday. Ascension confirmed it is no longer scheduling deliveries at Alexian Brothers Women & Infant Services. Operations have been consolidated at Ascension Saint Alexius Women and Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates. * Aurora Beacon-News | CTU President Stacy Davis Gates to be keynote speaker at Aurora event honoring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: “Davis Gates is a dynamic speaker who brings courage and clarity,” Aurora Deputy Chief of Staff Nicholas Richard-Thompson said in the news release. “Her fearless leadership and commitment to the ‘common good’ approach to organizing make her the ideal voice to help us reflect on King’s legacy of labor advocacy and our current struggle for structural justice.” In addition to Davis Gates’ keynote speech and performances by local choruses and artists, the event will also feature the presentation of the Donna J. Williams MLK Service Awards and the MLK Youth Liberation Awards, officials said. * WGLT | First non-congregate shelter village in McLean County to open in coming weeks: The McLean County Chamber of Commerce officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Home Sweet Homes Ministries’ 48-unit facility on Oakland Avenue. However, residents are unable to move in until city officials issue a certificate of occupancy permit, said CEO Matt Burgess. […] Burgess hopes the permit will be issued in the next few weeks after a fence is installed around the property and an electrical reinspection. * WCIA | Pre-apprentice program for at-risk people needs Champaign’s help: A program aiming to place people in trades is now going to the City of Champaign for some help. East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council started a pre-apprentice program more than a year ago. People get hands-on training, certifications, and exposure to different kinds of trades. They also get paid $13 an hour as a stipend. The goal is to help place members of the program with full-time apprenticeships. Now, they’re wanting to create a separate program only for at-risk individuals. * Herald-Whig | QPS projections better, but staffing shortage prompts concern: What sounds promising, QPS Chief of Business Operations Ryan Whicker said, potentially could be even more troubling for the school district. With 60 open positions for teachers and support staff, “when you factor in salaries and benefits for the folks we’re missing, we’re right back where we were,” Whicker said. “It looks better than it has, but we’ve had more openings this year than we’ve ever had. It’s a blessing from the finance side but a curse on the other side of harming the educational environment.” * Herald-Whig | Quincy man receives 30 months probation, GPS monitoring over threats: Benjamin J. Inman, 28, of Quincy entered a guilty plea to one count of threatening a public official. The charge, a Class 3 felony, carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. As part of the negotiated plea, Inman will serve 30 months on probation. He was also sentenced to 364 days in the county jail, with credit for 14 days served since he was arrested on Dec. 23 and the other 350 days stayed pending successful resolution of probation. * WCIA | Danville Mass Transit steps into void left by CRIS RMTD closure: Danville’s Mayor, Rickey Williams, said the city’s transit system had to step up and fill the void on short notice. But right now, they can’t help everyone who has been left out by the sudden closure. “We’re actually providing that for all of those Vermilion County patients now,” he said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the authorization yet to work outside of the county, but we are currently providing rides for all of those who need dialysis service that were previously provided transportation through CRIS.” * NYT | Warner Bros. Board Rebuffs Paramount’s Latest Buyout Offer: Warner Bros. Discovery announced a deal in December to sell much of its business to Netflix for $83 billion, shocking much of the entertainment industry. Warner said Netflix’s offer, for its TV and movie studios, was a better deal than Paramount’s proposal to acquire the full company. Paramount has since made a hostile bid, taking its case to shareholders. It has also proposed a deal for which Larry Ellison, a co-founder of Oracle, has personally guaranteed $40 billion in equity. * WaPo | X users tell Grok to undress women and girls in photos. It’s saying yes.: Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer, had just put her baby down for the night Sunday when she got a text from a friend that turned her weekend into a nightmare: People on X were using the app’s chatbot, Grok, to generate sexual images of her, including one based on a photo of St. Clair at 14 years old.
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Good morning!
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tell us what’s on your mind…
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SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign news
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for COGFA’s latest revenue report. Click here and scroll down to Page 8 for a comprehensive explanation of “true-up” reallocations. Click here to watch Speaker Welch’s City Club address. Click here for Joe DeBose’s announcement that he’s dropping out of the 118th House District race. * In other news, from Sen. Sara Feigenholtz’s campaign…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
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