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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol City Now…

If Gov. JB Pritzker’s daughter were a victim of sexual harassment, as former State Rep. Harry Benton has been accused of, “I would want to wring this person’s neck.” Pritzker Wednesday responded to a reporter’s question of what the governor would do if he were the victim’s father. The governor held a news conference following an economic development announcement in Chicago.

Pritzker said Speaker Emanual “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) must be “utterly and completely transparent” about the investigation into Benton, as well as “to the extent that (Welch) made mistakes, to own up to those mistakes.”

Welch reportedly knew of the Benton allegations three years ago, but it was only this year that Benton suffered any sanctions, such as being expelled from the House Democratic caucus and being stripped of his committee assignments. What’s more, the former employee accusing Benton was an intern in the speaker’s office. Welch reportedly reacted to the woman’s social media post with smiling, starry-eyed emojis and also offered to discuss her future by inviting her to a bar.

Pritzker said he is “outraged” at the allegations against Benton, as well as the indictment of State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana), who is accused of using the state grant process to enrich herself and her family.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker says he doesn’t know details of deadly Jan. 4 shooting by Illinois State Police: “So, I have to admit that the details of the decision about that, I do not know. So, it’s very hard for me to have a reaction,” Pritzker said at an unrelated event in Chicago, though he later referred to the woman who was shot as a “victim.” He was specifically asked about the St. Clair County state’s attorney’s decision not to file charges against trooper Gary Blake Novack for shooting and killing Rachel Tarrence, a mother of three, during a traffic stop in East. St. Louis on Jan. 4.

* Press release | Gov. Pritzker Announces Zero Point Cryogenics Will Establish First U.S. Location at Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park: Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that Zero Point Cryogenics (ZPC), a leading North American manufacturer of ultra-low-temperature cryogenic systems to support quantum technologies, will establish its first U.S. location at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on Chicago’s South Side. “Illinois is building the world’s leading quantum ecosystem by bringing together the companies, researchers, manufacturers, and suppliers needed to turn breakthrough discoveries into real-world technologies,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Zero Point Cryogenics’ decision to establish its first U.S. location at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park is another example of that strategy delivering results. Their investment strengthens the supply chain that supports quantum innovation, creates high-quality jobs, and reinforces Illinois’ position as the global capital of quantum technology.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Chicago school board race tops $1.9 million in fundraising: Candidates in Chicago’s historic school board races have collectively raised nearly $2 million, with fundraising surging in recent months — even before many political players have entered the fray. The top spenders in the 2024 race, including the Chicago Teachers Union and pro-school-choice groups such as the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and the Urban Center, have yet to make major contributions. Some board hopefuls are still fending off ballot challenges, meaning the final list of candidates is not yet finalized.

* Tribune | Chicago watchdog finds no big issues with $630 million City Hall spent on migrant crisis: An audit of Chicago’s migrant response found no major issues with how City Hall spent more than $630 million to house and feed the asylum seekers, according to a report released Wednesday by the Office of Inspector General. Spanning August 2022 to the end of 2024, the review saw the city’s top watchdog analyze receipts on public spending for the at least 46,282 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, who were bussed to Chicago by Republican-led states. That crisis ultimately cost $639,654,965, though most of the money did not come from the city budget.

* Block Club | Emmett Till’s 85th Birthday To Bring ‘Radical Joy’ At Closing Of Bronzeville Art Exhibition: The free celebration, which allows attendees to take in music, spoken word pieces and dancing as they view the exhibition for a final time, takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 4445 S. King Drive. “From Memory to Movement” has aimed throughout its run to “humanize Emmett beyond martyrdom and show him as a boy — a kid from Chicago with hopes and dreams that were tragically taken away,” said Thomas, who curated and created artworks for the exhibition.

* Crain’s | First Financial expands Chicago push with $208M deal for Peoples Bank: First Financial Bancorp is buying Munster-based Peoples Bank — founded more than a century ago in East Chicago by the current CEO’s great grandfather — in a $208 million stock deal as part of its aggressive expansion in the area. The deal is Cincinnati-based First Financial’s third foray into the Chicago area in the past two years. The transaction feeds into the overall consolidation trend sweeping the industry as banks seek to capitalize on advantages provided by scale such as investments in their technology and the ability to offer a full suite of financial products.

* Crain’s | MHub is planning a massive West Side campus bigger than The 78: If the deals are completed, they would secure early pieces of a campus mHub has dubbed “M+” in the heart of the Kinzie Industrial Corridor and a few blocks north of the United Center, whose owners recently kicked off the $7 billion 1901 Project on the arena’s surrounding parking lots. The creation of the M+ district — which would have a larger footprint than The 78 megaproject emerging in the South Loop — would mark a new chapter in the Near West Side’s long history as a hub of light industrial businesses and bolster an advanced manufacturing sector Gov. J.B. Pritzker has prioritized as a centerpiece of economic growth for the region.

* WGN | What’s Chicago’s next big idea? Check out the 6 finalists: As city leaders drew up the ambitious “Chicago 2050” plan for economic growth, Clement realized Chicago craved more than budgets and business projections. It also needed to look out on the horizon and see its dreams rising with the sun. “The idea that you control your dreams and aspirations, are part of the mix,” he said. “That’s what makes a great city.” “Horizon Lines” — an open competition to develop Chicago’s next big idea — was born. The competition attracted more than 200 entries. It is now down to six finalists.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Naperville Sun | DuPage board followed law when approving salary increases, state’s attorney says: DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin says county board members didn’t violate the state’s Open Meetings Act in April when they approved salary increases for several countywide elected positions. Jean Kaczmarek, the DuPage County clerk, has filed a request for the Illinois attorney general’s office to review the board’s April 28 vote, which set what the pay will be for the county clerk, treasurer, county board chair, sheriff after the November election.

*** Downstate ***

* BND | State approves new $231 million hospital to replace Touchette in Cahokia Heights: The new, 108-bed Touchette hospital is planned on 35 acres of farmland at 1928 Sandy Ridge Road, near Interstate 255 and Camp Jackson Road. Construction is expected to begin in March 2027. Earlier this year, Touchette President Brad Goacher said the move would improve hospital access to help fill a gap in the region’s mental health system. Roads to the current hospital can be blocked at times by water from persistent flooding or by trains from three railroad tracks that surround the existing hospital at 5900 Bond Ave. The building is also more than 65 years old and in need of upgrades, according to Goacher.

* Press release | Illinois-Led Team Selected for DOE Genesis Mission Award: A multidisciplinary team led by U. of I. chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Huimin Zhao has received a Phase I award through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission to develop the world’s first foundation models specifically designed for metabolic engineering. Metabolic engineering enables microorganisms to produce value-added products such as renewable chemicals, fuels and materials. However, identifying optimal biological designs requires navigating a vast number of possible genetic and metabolic combinations. Existing machine learning approaches are often developed for narrowly defined tasks and depend on limited datasets, making it difficult to apply them broadly.

* WGLT | Bloomington will launch emergency notification system CodeRED: The free, voluntary program is called CodeRED. It launches Monday. Residents can sign up now. Residents will be notified of events including, but not limited to, severe weather, water main breaks, public safety issues and more through timely communications. Notifications can be chosen between a phone call, text message or email.

*** National ***

* AP | OpenAI blamed a hacking event on its AI models going rogue. Here are some things to know: University of Amsterdam social scientist Hannes Cools said the framing of the cyberattack as an AI agent acting on its own is an unnecessary anthropomorphization that takes some of the heat off the company. “It is a human decision to switch off specific safeguards,” said Cools. “It’s not an AI that goes rogue in that sense. It followed specific instructions based on the prompt that was given to that AI system.”

* Sun-Times | Women suffer more severe neurologic symptoms from long COVID than men, researchers find: The research is based on evaluations of 2,329 patients who sought care at Northwestern’s COVID clinic from May 2020 through August 2025. Women reported experiencing more neurologic symptoms than men — about 16 months, on average, from when the symptoms first started, according to the journal article. Some of the most common neurologic symptoms include brain fog, numbness, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear), blurred vision and muscle pain.

* WIRED | States Want ICE Agents to Show Their Faces. The Trump Administration Is Blocking Them: The Trump administration has sued at least five states and the city of Philadelphia over laws that supporters say would hold law enforcement—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers—accountable for misconduct on the job. The specifics of the laws vary, but the Trump administration takes particular issue with the fact that the laws would prohibit ICE officers from wearing masks during immigration raids, and require them to wear some sort of individual identifier.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - News Update (Correction)

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Women’s Caucus: “Simply referring a complainant to the Legislative Inspector General is insufficient”

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. Click here for more background if you need it. Chair of the Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus, Rep. Mary Beth Canty…

“I am troubled by Speaker Welch’s conduct toward the staff member described in the Tribune’s reporting. Legislators – especially those in leadership – must hold themselves to the highest standard of professionalism. The Speaker’s reported conduct fell short of that standard. I appreciate Speaker Welch’s willingness to engage in open dialogue with legislators about his conduct, and I look forward to that dialogue being matched with action.”

* The Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus…

The Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus released the following statement in response to Chicago Tribune reporting detailing the conduct and investigation of former Rep. Harry Benton:

“The culture of harassment and inappropriate behavior in Springfield has been documented since at least 2017. Legislators, staffers, lobbyists, and advocates have bravely and repeatedly come forward to shine a light on this behavior and demand accountability. The Tribune’s reporting makes clear that despite some progress, issues still persist.

“When anyone reports harassment or abuse, leadership must act swiftly to investigate the matter and support the person who came forward. Simply referring a complainant to the Legislative Inspector General is insufficient — and if the person who reported the harassment chooses not to pursue that route, leadership must take further action to protect others in the workplace.

“We support the calls to release the Benton LIG report, redacted to protect those who came forward. But releasing one report is not enough. We must expand and strengthen how harassment is reported and investigated and how victims are supported, and we must begin that work immediately.

“Above all else, anyone working in and around Springfield must be confident that they will be believed, supported, and protected if they report harassing behavior by any legislator. The House Women’s Caucus is committed to doing the work necessary to make that a reality.”

  31 Comments      


Pritzker says he knows few details about ISP shooting unarmed woman, says he hasn’t watched the video (Updated)

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. ..

Isabel: An Illinois State Police officer shot an unarmed woman in East St. Louis in January. Yesterday it was announced the officer will not face criminal charges. Do you think the family of Rachel Tarrence received proper justice?

Pritzker: So I have to admit that the details of the decision about that I do not know. So it’s very hard for me to have a reaction to you. I promise that I will make sure that I am ready to give a reaction to that. But I will say that that a tragedy occurred here. No one, no police officer, State Police, or any other police officer wants to have to pull a weapon out, be engaged in shooting in any way, and and of course the victim of that shooting is somebody that we should be thinking of, particularly this victim.

Isabel: Have you watched the video?

Pritzker: I have not seen the video.

Isabel: Should the trooper be fired?

Pritzker: I again have not seen all the information. But I will say that we have leadership at the Illinois State Police, in particular, that is of very high character, and I expect that they have done a thorough job in reviewing this, and that the matter has been made transparent within the department and within the adjudicators of it.

The governor has commented innumerable times about videos of fatal ICE shootings, including of an unarmed woman in a car. But an unarmed Illinois woman was shot to death by his own State Police force and he didn’t watch the video?

…Adding… From the governor’s office…

ISP’s Division of Internal Investigations completed a criminal investigation in February 2026 that was referred to the State’s Attorney. Upon conclusion of the criminal case, the ISP is conducting an internal investigation to assess any possible policy or rules of conduct violations.

…Adding… St. Clair County State’s Attorney…


On the morning of Thursday, July 16th, State’s Attorney James Gomric and his assistants met with the family of Rachel Terrence and their attorney. This meeting was scheduled through their counsel on July 1st and was scheduled at a time convenient for the family to meet in person. Out of respect for the family of Ms. Terrence, a meeting was held in advance of the release of the findings letter relating to the officer involved shooting from January 4th of this year.

The attached letter was signed by State’s Attorney Gomric on the morning of July 16th and submitted to Illinois State Police to inform them of our conclusions. The letter contains a summary of the more than 40 hours of audio and video reviewed, including radio traffic, dash cam footage, body cam footage, video surveillance, and witness interviews. The office additionally reviewed the reports and documents submitted by the Division of Internal Affairs for the Illinois State Police. These materials were reviewed by multiple senior attorneys within the State’s Attorney’s Office, ultimately reaching the same conclusion. Based upon the materials presented, the State’s Attorney’s Office will not be filing criminal charges against Trooper Novak in the death of Rachel Terrence.


Click here for the letter.

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Republicans go after Welch

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* House Republican Organization…

Tribune…

In his virtual caucus meetings, Welch also addressed reporting in the Tribune revealing his interactions with the former Benton staffer on social media — which included him responding with heart-eye emojis to images of her — as well as a request over the Signal messaging app to meet in the bar area of a suburban restaurant.

Lawmakers said Welch acknowledged he was wrong to send the emojis, since the former staffer told the Tribune they made her uncomfortable, but he said he often holds meetings at that restaurant. The former Benton staffer previously was an intern in the speaker’s office.

One lawmaker said the emojis were highly inappropriate.

“All you can say is, ‘I’m sorry. It’s not gonna happen again,’ or like, you need to take action, like, accountability of your actions, but not say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that … even an emoji was actually going to make her uncomfortable. If I would have known, I would have not done that,’” the lawmaker said. “If you leave that on someone else’s page that is significantly younger than you … as younger people, we know what that means.”

* House Republican Organization…

As questions continue to mount over what Speaker Chris Welch and his office knew about sexual harassment allegations against disgraced former State Representative Harry Benton, one question stands above the rest: Why did the Speaker spend more than $1.4 million to keep Benton in the House Democratic caucus?

It has now been five days since the Chicago Tribune reported that Speaker Welch’s office had been aware of allegations involving Benton dating back to 2023. Yet despite those allegations, Speaker Welch continued to support Benton’s reelection, pouring more than $1.4 million into his campaign to help keep him in office and in the Democratic caucus.

As Speaker Welch meets with members of his caucus this week, House Democrats should ask him the questions Illinoisans deserve answers to:

    • If you knew about the allegations, why did you continue spending more than $1.4 million to reelect Harry Benton?

    • Why did you fight to keep Benton in your caucus instead of protecting staff and holding him accountable?

    • What did you know, when did you know it, and who else in your leadership team knew?

    • Why did you tell the public the matter had been “handled” when Benton remained in office and continued receiving your political support?

    • If the latest allegations were serious enough to ultimately force Benton’s resignation, why weren’t they serious enough to stop your campaign from spending $1.4 million to keep him in office?

    • What message does spending $1.4 million to protect Harry Benton send to victims who come forward?

“Speaker Welch’s office knew about these allegations as early as 2023 and still spent $1.4 million to protect their political majority instead of protecting victims,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “Speaker Welch has given Illinoisans 1.4 million reasons to question his judgement and exactly what he was trying to protect.”

Speaker Welch owes Illinoisans answers. And every Democrat who serves under his leadership should demand them.

Subscribers know Welch was asked about this topic yesterday.

  35 Comments      


Principles before politics

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Shaw Newspapers on September 20, 2018…

State Rep. Jerry Long gave his account Wednesday of an incident that brought about harassment allegations, admitting he touched a former co-worker’s neck, but saying he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong.

A spokeswoman for the House Republican Organization said Long’s story doesn’t match what was found in an independent investigation and that the organization has a zero tolerance policy for harassment.

Last week, the House Republican Organization asked the Streator Republican to resign, and the organization, along with the Illinois Republican Party, withdrew support of his campaign. Other state lawmakers, including Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, and Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, who either share or have adjacent districts to Long’s 76th, have asked for his resignation.

Long said he will not resign. He is opposed in the November election by Democrat Lance Yendock, of Ottawa, in a race considered a battleground between the two parties.

Last month, state Rep. Nick Sauer, R-Lake Barrington, resigned following a report of accusations he sent nude photos of an ex-girlfriend to other men online. Both Sauer and Long were first elected to the House in 2016.

Durkin truly stepped up on Long and Sauer. And both of those guys represented targeted districts that the Democrats ended up winning in November.

I don’t care what the national “trend” is, principles should come before politics.

Just sayin…

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An inside look at Harry Benton’s district office - by his appointed replacement

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Nick Reiher at Farmers Weekly Review…

Jessica Dixon Heitman said she worked for then-state Rep. Harry Benton as an independent contractor in his office from January 2023 to May 2023.

“The reason that my stint was so short was that very soon after I started working for him, I realized it was not a good fit,” said Dixon Heitman in an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly Review.

Ironically, she recently was appointed by Democrat leaders in the 97th House District to fill the vacancy left by Benton who resigned under pressure due to allegations of sexual impropriety. She will face Republican Gabby Shanahan, whom Benton narrowly defeated two years ago, on the November 3rd ballot.

“There were a lot of red flags,” she said of working in Benton’s office. “And I felt like there was not really much focus on the district and getting things done. It was definitely disheartening, because I was very enthusiastic about some changes happening.

“And unfortunately, it seemed like his attention was more focused on other things versus the betterment of the district and the community.”

Pressed further on those red flags, Dixon Heitman said she saw Benton’s inappropriate behavior with one of his staffers.

“She was very young. She was very scared, and instead of focusing on myself, my whole entire focus was protecting her and being a support system to her. She was very opposed to filing any sort of report, which I can understand. I mean, if you ask any woman anywhere in the course of her life, if she has been in a situation like this, it’s a resounding, yes, usually multiple times.

“And more often than not, reporting doesn’t do anything. So her mindset was, ‘OK, I’m gonna report this, and then I’m gonna be blacklisted.’ And I feel for her; I still check in with her, and she has a brilliant mind.

“And she will never come back to the political arena, because of her experience. That is very unfortunate. We really lost someone that could have done incredible things.”

Go read the rest.

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ISP trooper won’t be charged in fatal shooting

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Beth Hundsdorfer on July 16…

On a Sunday night in early January, Rachel Tarrence stopped in the drive-thru lane of an East St. Louis liquor store to buy cigarettes for a friend who sat beside her. Her 4-year-old son was strapped in his car seat in the back.

Seconds later, she was dying.

Those few moments, caught on police and surveillance video, captured a chaotic scene as four Illinois State Police troopers surrounded Tarrence’s vehicle. She put the car in reverse, hitting the squad car behind her. Troopers emerged from their vehicles and surrounded a panicked Tarrence, shouting conflicting orders, guns drawn and pointed at her. One trooper perceived a deadly threat and fired three shots through the windshield, fatally striking Tarrence in the chest.

A review by Capitol News Illinois found this was the only time in more than a decade that State Police used lethal force against an unarmed woman. But six months after Tarrence died at a St. Louis hospital, the public still doesn’t know whether the trooper was justified in firing those fatal shots at the 40-year-old mother of three.

The shooting occurred on Jan. 4, three days before Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, died on a Minneapolis street after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fired into her fleeing vehicle. Good was attempting to disrupt the efforts of ICE agents in detaining people without legal status in the U.S. While federal agents said Good tried to run them over at a high rate of speed, video suggested otherwise. The killing sparked national protests and spawned multiple investigations.

Good’s shooting drew nationwide condemnation, including from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who criticized the Trump administration’s characterization of Good as a domestic terrorist.

“It’s clear that this woman who was killed, this mother who was killed, was moving very slowly, not attempting to go after anybody,” Pritzker said the day after Good’s shooting.

In contrast, Tarrence’s shooting received little or no attention. No one took to the streets. The governor didn’t comment on her death. And the only investigation was launched by the same state agency that employed the trooper who fired the fatal shots — the Illinois State Police.

Months after the completion of that investigation in February, there still is no definitive answer on whether the trooper so feared for his life or the lives of others at the liquor store that the only action he could take was to shoot.

* Video…

That… does not look good.

* Beth Hundsdorfer yesterday…

The Illinois State Police trooper who fatally shot an unarmed woman who was driving a stolen car will not face criminal charges.

St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric met last week with the family of Rachel Tarrence, who was shot while in her car in the drive-thru of an East St. Louis liquor store on Jan. 4, to inform them of his decision.

In a letter of declination to the Illinois State Police, Gomric identified the trooper as Gary Blake Novack, who joined the ISP on Oct. 8, 2022. He has been a certified police officer since 2018, according to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Novack fired three shots at Tarrence, who was not armed, striking her twice. She died several hours later at a St. Louis hospital.

The ISP’s Division of Internal Investigation completed its investigation in mid-February and turned it over to Gomric’s office to determine whether Novack’s use of force was lawful. The ISP’s Division of Internal Investigation reviews all officer-involved shootings by State Police personnel, according to ISP policy.

A thorough evaluation of the shooting included “a detailed review of more than 40 hours of audio/video encompassing radio traffic, dash cam, body cam, surveillance and witness interviews. Where video footage depicted the same moment in time from different angles, the videos were viewed individually and overlapped with one another for maximum clarity of the events in terms of time and space. In addition to the digital media, my officer reviewed the reports and documents submitted by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation,” according to Gomric’s letter. […]

Tarrence had a history of mental illness, substance abuse, running from police and taking or keeping vehicles without permission, but Troy Walton, the attorney for her family, maintained the shooting was unnecessary. Walton said he anticipated Novack would be named in a civil case.

“This is an officer that has a history of excessive force. We don’t agree with the state’s attorney’s decision not to charge him criminally, but it’s not the end of this,” Walton said Monday. “A jury of 12 of his peers will decide if his use of force was excessive.”

I encourage you to read both of Beth’s stories in full.

  9 Comments      


When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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

Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Matt from Woodstock are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Illinois Speaker Welch tries to contain fallout over handling of Harry Benton harassment allegations. Tribune…

    - Speaker Welch said his office waited three months after the female staffer notified his office of a lengthy list of harassment allegations before taking any action, because the young woman said she wanted the speaker’s office to wait until she had left her job.
    - But the former Benton staffer told the Tribune on Tuesday she did not recall telling the speaker’s office to delay taking action and, just weeks after filing her initial report of harassment allegations against the former Plainfield Democrat, she told the speaker’s office about additional inappropriate comments she experienced with Benton.
    - Female House members who attended Welch’s virtual meetings Tuesday said there were discussions on potentially strengthening policies and procedures on reporting sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior, as well as better training for lawmakers and staff.

* At 9:30 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will participate in a fireside chat with Kara Swisher at the Global Quantum Forum. At 11:10 am, the governor will host a press conference to announce a new company investing in Illinois at the Global Quantum Forum. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Watchdog report on Cook County tax tech contract: ‘Nobody’s hands are clean’: A “myriad of problems spread across all parties involved … created a ‘perfect storm’ and severely delayed the implementation” of the county’s new property tax system, which is still incomplete, Inspector General Tirrell Paxton’s office concluded. The office reviewed the original contracts with Tyler Technologies and spoke to leaders of the county’s property tax offices and company officials from Tyler and two other contractors later brought on to provide oversight and project management.

* Illinois Times | Solar company, landowner sue Sangamon County: For the second time in as many weeks, the Sangamon County Board was served a lawsuit seeking to overturn a Board zoning decision. In June, the board’s legal adviser and assistant state’s attorney, Joel Benoit, warned the board of potential legal action from Summit Ridge Energy. He said the petition for a 20-acre solar farm on Lenhart Road submitted by the Virginia-based company, which has more than 100 solar farms in Illinois, follows legal guidelines.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Politico | Data boom meets boundaries: Gov. JB Pritzker made clear Tuesday that he wants Illinois to remain open for data centers — but only if they don’t drive up residents’ utility bills or strain the state’s power grid. Speaking at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, Pritzker defended his decision to pause state tax incentives for new data centers, arguing that the industry has “taken too much advantage” of Illinois’ incentive program while contributing to higher electricity demand. His message: Data centers are welcome, but they should “bring energy with them.”

* Capitol News Illinois | Bailey seeks to classify any organization receiving $10K in state grants as a ‘public body’: In an interview with Capitol News Illinois on Monday, Bailey’s running mate Aaron Del Mar said the campaign is getting behind stalled Statehouse legislation that would make NGOs that receive at least $10,000 or 20% of their total funding from the state subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. “Every other level of government here in Illinois is subject to FOIA,” Del Mar said. “But we can’t see once that money leaves state coffers and goes to one of these NGOs or these vendors how they’re spending it. What is the actual outcome?”

* WGEM | Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial candidate makes campaign stop in Quincy: “There’s 102 counties in Illinois, 97 are ruby red Republican rural areas of Illinois. You need to go out there and govern for everyone and if you don’t actually put your boots on the ground, if you don’t go to these communities and talk to the people and see what the challenges are on that level, you can’t effectively govern,” Del Mar said.

* Press Release | Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus responds to continued escalation of ICE involvement: “We are also deeply concerned by the blatant violation of the Illinois Court Access, Safety and Participation Act, which prohibits federal immigration agents from making arrests at or near county courthouses. At the same time, ICE enforcement activity throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs has risen significantly. Data from the nonprofit Resurrection Project shows that calls reporting ICE activity have increased by nearly 50%.

* WMBD | IL State Treasurer returns a record $308 million to people, businesses, nonprofits: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says more than 567,000 residents, businesses, and organizations received their money back thanks to improvements through the I-CASH program. The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is tasked with safeguarding and returning unclaimed property, including safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, and forgotten bank accounts, and is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owner or heirs, no matter how long it takes.

*** Chicago ***

* ABC Chicago | Mayor Johnson talks CPD superintendent opening, teen takeovers: Superintendent Larry Snelling retired last week and was replaced by Fred Waller on an interim basis. “We are going to go through a thorough vetting process over the next few months,” Johnson said. “Right now, although I have absolute confidence in Fred Waller as the current superintendent as we work to build safe and affordable communities. ”

* Sun-Times | Chicago’s air quality has improved, but experts warn wildfires, wind can change conditions: As nearly 900 wildfires continue to burn throughout Canada, experts say any fluctuations in air quality in the Chicago area will depend on wind direction and other factors. “Based on the wildfire episodes our city has experienced in the summers of 2023, 2025, and this year, residents should expect periods of changing air quality, depending on Canadian and U.S. West Coast wildfire activity and weather patterns,” said Serap Erdal, associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health.

* Crain’s | After a $500M exit, this Chicago tech founder is back and building again: Now [Ed Bellis is] back at work, building another startup, Empirical Security, which just raised $25 million. He’s continuing the fight against hackers with his former Kenna colleague, Michael Roytman, and Jay Jacobs. […] The world is flooded with bugs, worms, viruses and all manner of malicious code that could exploit flaws or weaknesses in the myriad software used by companies to run their operations. Artificial intelligence only makes the problem worse. Empirical aims to pick up where Kenna left off in using sophisticated data analysis to sift through the potential vulnerabilities and zero in on the ones most likely to become threats for individual users.

* Block Club | Loyola’s Plan To Turn Closed School Into Student Housing Could Free Up Local Apartments, University Says: Loyola University Chicago and the Ignatian Mission Center are proposing a redevelopment of the St. Ignatius campus that would include housing for over 200 students and a social services center. The campus includes a church and rectory that have been empty since 2021, after the Archdiocese of Chicago announced it would merge with nearby parishes, and a school building that has been vacant for nearly 10 years.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | ‘Perfect storm’ of bureaucracy blamed for Cook County’s long-delayed property tax system overhaul: Paxton’s report suggests the county’s procurement office take a larger role in future contracts that involve multiple elected offices. “Additionally, the county would have benefited from hiring a dedicated project manager at the outset to identify foreseeable risks, coordinate stakeholder expectations, and ensure that both internal and external responsibilities were clearly defined,” the report states.

* Daily Herald | Prestige, neighbors finalize settlement in class-action suit: A settlement between Prestige Feed Products and neighbors affected by odors from the former Mount Prospect animal feed plant was approved in a Cook County courtroom Tuesday. It concluded more than a year of litigation between named plaintiffs Mary Beth Stillmaker and Sargon Merza of Des Plaines and Prestige Feed Products and Cereal Byproducts Co. The defendants, Prestige Feed and Cereal Byproducts will pay up to $900,000 into a settlement fund, while the agreement states the animal feed company, which closed its plant at the end of 2025, does not admit fault. Attorney’s fees are capped at $300,000 of the total settlement. Plaintiffs may apply for a service award of up to $10,000.

* Daily Southtown | Cook County judge thwarts effort by former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to dismiss village lawsuit: While Pekau sought to dismiss the village’s claims for declaratory judgment and breach of fiduciary duty, only the latter was successful. The lawsuit, filed almost a year ago, aims to block Pekau from disclosing confidential information about the village he gained access to as mayor and require him to return the records he obtained. “The village maintains that former public officials do not have the authority to unilaterally disclose confidential governmental information acquired through their public office,” according to a news release posted to the village website on Friday.

* Daily Southtown | Will County Republicans make early call for reduced county levy in 2027 budget: The Republicans’ request would reduce the property taxes collected by about $4 million. While nothing specific was indicated to be cut, the Republican Caucus said “reductions should begin with administrative and discretionary spending rather than frontline services.” “Will County government should not automatically increase its property tax collection simply because state law allows it to do so,” a letter from the County Board Republicans to County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant said. “The County should first examine its reserves, administrative costs, contracts, staffing levels, and nonessential programs.”

* Daily Herald | Roselle mayor gets ‘a seat at the table’ on powerful new transit board: “We’ve got a lot of work to do with my peers on that board to make sure that we come full circle and really find solutions that are going to address the safety, the reliability but also the connectivity that our system’s struggling with today,” said Pileski. A supply chain senior manager, Pileski takes Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line to work regularly.

* WTTW | This Cook County Pond Had a Water Quality Problem. Now a Floating Island Acts as a Kidney: The goal is to add another 100 or so of the plant-filled rafts over the next five years in order to achieve the 1.5% surface area coverage research suggests is necessary for such wetlands to be effective, Feldmann said. If the wetlands work as hoped, they’ll serve as a giant natural filter, removing the excess of phosphates and nitrates choking the pond and contributing to algae growth, a lack of oxygen and an impenetrable murk.

* Daily Herald | NU’s Braun bills new Ryan Field as ‘best stadium in all of football’: It’s intimate, with a capacity of 35,000; has great sightlines and is designed to generate noise. Wildcats head coach David Braun will not wait for the Oct. 2 opener to make a bold declaration. “We’re going to be playing in the best stadium in all of football,” Braun said Tuesday during a tour for reporters. “I think all of us that are standing here right now would agree this is something like we’ve never seen in college football before.”

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | Residents learn more about proposed Macon County solar project: According to the company’s timeline, construction is expected to begin in 2028. If approved, the solar farm will be operational by 2030. Leeward stated that the project will generate about $30 million over its lifetime. Leeward Public Affairs Manager Kristen Rosenberger said that money can be used to benefit local communities.

* WAND | Springfield City Council green lights IDNR’s Y Block development plan: IDNR plans to use $4 million in state funding to create an amphitheater, landscaping and a children’s play area. “I would think as a business owner in downtown, I would want a nice, beautiful park where people might come more than just once or twice a week for the Levitt. I know we have a few other events; we have Pride, we have a few other events down there, but it’s really underutilized property,” said Ward 1 Alderman Jeff Cox. Some aldermen were concerned about how to hold IDNR accountable if the agency pulls out of the project or changes its scope. An amendment to put guardrails in place was narrowly defeated.

* WGLT | $84 million science complex will create ‘new front porch’ where ISU meets Uptown: The current Science Laboratory Building [SLB] will remain. The former Center for Civic Engagement building at Fell and North streets near Uptown will be demolished to make room for a nearly 12,000-square-foot greenhouse. The rest of the complex will consist of a three-story annex to the SLB, and a five-story science, technology, engineering and math building.

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Good morning!

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Not long after I posted this video the first time, I traveled to San Francisco to see my brother and we caught the band at a Bay-area club…

You thought you was the cool fool
And never would do no wrong
You had everything sewed up tight
How come you lay awake all night long

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

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live coverage)

Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - News update

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Politico…

Americans’ attitudes toward data centers have grown increasingly sour and politically polarized in the past six months, a trend that signals trouble for the artificial intelligence industry and leaders of both parties, according to new results from The POLITICO Poll. […]

The poll also found that more people now oppose nearby data centers than support them — a reversal from the findings of an earlier POLITICO Poll in January.

The new poll found that 41 percent of Americans would oppose a data center being built within three miles of where they live, up from 28 percent in the January survey. The number supporting those projects dropped during the same period, from 37 percent to 24 percent.

* Crain’s…

​A state board voted this morning to give two Illinois hospital operators more time to keep services closed, granting extensions to health systems that shut down care without first seeking state approval.

The Illinois Healthcare Facilities Services & Review Board’s votes allow two health systems, Resilience Healthcare and Prime Healthcare, which are both dealing with financially strapped safety nets, to work through separate legal issues before entering a formal facilities review process.

Resilience said it is appealing a federal funding cutoff at now-closed Weiss Memorial Hospital and coping with state demands for recouped funding from the shuttered hospital.

Separately, Prime Healthcare, which owns St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, is facing a county lawsuit over abruptly closing its obstetrics and gynecological services last year.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Press release | NCSL Celebrates America’s 250th at the Legislative Summit in Chicago: As the nation celebrates its 250th year of independence, NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit will welcome more than 7,000 attendees to Chicago’s McCormick Place July 27-29 for a wide range of bipartisan policy sessions on a host of issues that both divide and unite us. […] Monday’s opening session, “How to Disagree Better: Leading in Polarized Times,” features two governors and two state House speakers in an examination of how authentic leadership can turn partisan argument into productive conversation. Panelists include Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R) and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D).

* WICS | Illinois launches statewide Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the program after legislation creating it was signed into law. The voluntary initiative will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The program allows drivers, passengers or vehicle owners to keep their driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance inside a blue envelope. Presenting the envelope during a traffic stop alerts officers that the individual may communicate differently or need additional time to respond.

* Bloomberg | Congressional Hopeful Advances Suit Against Illinois Ballot Rule: A congressional hopeful can pursue his claims that Illinois’ ballot-access requirements are unfair to independent candidates, a federal judge found Monday. Precedent “strongly suggests” that Randy Flowers’ lawsuit won’t succeed, wrote Judge Sara Darrow of the US District Court for the Central District of Illinois. But “the constitutional test for ballot access requirements is ‘fact-intensive,’” she wrote, so the case can proceed for discovery and further development of the record.

* Center Square | Illinois diversity certifications lag despite partial computer fix: By May 2026 the number of businesses had dropped to about 2,700, or half of its peak of about 5,400. This month the commission reported an increase of about 21 percent to 3,268. It was the first meaningful increase in certifications since the computer switch.

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | A ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ For Landlords? Challenge To Mayor’s Housing Plan Slammed By Tenant Groups: Ald. Anthony Quezada (35th) joined tenant advocates from the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Belden Sawyer Tenants Association, Law Center for Better Housing and Palenque LSNA on Monday outside City Hall to denounce the coalition’s FAIR proposal. “F-A-I-R is the Chicago landlord’s big, beautiful bill — a great name for something that actually takes away tenants’ rights,” Devon Carson, member of the Belden Sawyer Tenants Association, said to reporters Monday. “FAIR deregulates and removes accountability from the rich and powerful and increases the burden on working-class tenants.”

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Teachers and CTU tell Chicago Board of Education to reject proposed budget cuts, furloughs: During one of two required budget hearings, teachers discussed how the district’s proposed budget — which also includes staff cuts to help close a $732.5 million deficit — would hurt them and their schools and would exacerbate problems that educators are already facing due to recent budget woes. For example, a teacher in the Austin neighborhood said Monday that teachers across four grades at her school have already received layoff notices, meaning each of those grades would have just one teacher, and at least one class could have as many as 47 kids, based on current enrollment estimates, she said. That figure would violate the Chicago Teachers Union’s contract with the district.

* Block Club | South Side High School, College STEM Programs Get $250,000 From PsiQuantum: Recipients include George Washington and St. Francis de Sales high schools in East Side, Olive Harvey College and Chicago State University. The money is intended to prepare South Siders for jobs in quantum research and other scientific fields, company officials said. […] The funds include grants to Project SYNCERE, an organization offering education and internships to prepare South and West side kids for engineering careers; and Phalanx Family Services, a West Pullman-based group which has hosted a STEM lab alongside the Museum of Science and Industry and trainings in artificial intelligence.

* Crain’s | Chicago developer buys River North office building for conversion that would add two stories: Concord Capital paid $4.1 million for the 48,000-square-foot building at 226 W. Ontario St. and plans to convert it into 70 rental apartments, Principal Drew Millard said. Sixty of those units will be built within the existing building’s six floors, and 10 more are planned for a two-story addition Concord envisions on top of the 113-year-old property.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Crain’s | Locals put dibs on new houses in Elk Grove Village lottery: With husband Miharsh Patel, she had been through a round of house-hunting frustrations before Elk Grove Village’s mayor in June unveiled a unique plan to give the town’s residents a head start on buying homes in the first new subdivision within its borders in at least a quarter-century. On July 18 at the Belvedere banquet hall, the Patels, who both work in healthcare, were the first whose names Mayor Craig Johnson drew from a box onstage. They had five minutes to make their choice.

* Pioneer Press | Skokie business lawyer is first to enter race to become Evanston’s next mayor: Carpenter, a 2nd Ward Evanston resident and founding partner attorney at Zeidman & Carpenter PLLC law firm in Skokie, is the first to announce definite plans to run in what is likely to be a contentious race to finish out the remainder of current Mayor Daniel Biss’ term ending in 2029. […] Carpenter filed paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections earlier this month, the first candidate to do so and weeks before contenders in the municipal election are permitted to begin circulating petitions for the mayoral seat, which starts on July 28.

* Pioneer Press | La Grange Park eyes restructure of sales tax in business districts: “As part of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget process, the Village Board discussed various revenue options,” Trustee and Finance Committee Chair Bob Lautner told his colleagues July 14 at the monthly board work session. “One of the options presented was the implementation of a village-wide, non home-rule municipal retailers occupation tax and municipal service occupation tax, coupled with a corresponding reduction in the sales tax imposed within the village’s four business districts.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Champaign Co. Board member files resolution calling for Aaron Ammons’ resignation: The resolution was filed by Board Member Jeff Wilson, a Republican representing District 1 and the party’s nominee for the upcoming election in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. Wilson filed the resolution after Ammons was federally indicted for conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering. Ammons’ wife, State Rep. Carol Ammons, is facing charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

* WCIA | Former Sangamon Co. police chief accused of stealing between $10k-$100k: A former Sangamon County police chief who was arrested for driving under the influence and domestic battery earlier this year has now been indicted on new charges of theft, misapplication of funds and official misconduct. Daniel T. Ryan, the former Police Chief of Leland Grove, was unanimously terminated by the city council on Feb. 24, 2026.

* WGLT | McLean County Board chair addresses tax errors, delays in records overhaul: A no-interest loan to the Village of Hudson totals just over $81,000 to account for tax revenue it won’t see until next year. “I think I’ll be satisfied when we see the fruits of those efforts, and we see that there are no more errors being sent out officially on the tax documents,” said Elizabeth Johnston in an interview for WGLT’s Sound Ideas. “We do want to have those backstops. We do want to have these double checks to make sure that things are as they should be before they go to the printer,” Johnston said.

* 25News Now | Hundreds face furloughs at Liberty Steel & Wire’s Bartonville plant: Hundreds of workers at Liberty Steel and Wire in Bartonville are being furloughed because of a downturn in the market for industrial wire products made at the plant, a company spokesperson said on Friday. The spokesperson, Stephanie AlKhafaji, told 25News that the action is temporary and “we are looking forward to bringing all employees back.”

* Smile Politely | Building the dream of homeownership with Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County: Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County (HfHCC) is a HUD-certified (Housing and Urban Development) counseling agency that offers services to prospective homebuyers and current homeowners. It’s one the few certified programs in Central Illinois, and has held that certification since 2018. It’s an incredible slate of services, and they’re all free. The funding for HUD certification looks just as potentially bleak with recent funding cuts, but Habitat for Humanity has no worries about slashing their program.

*** National ***

* NYT | Why States Are Making It Harder to Save Money With Solar Panels: In Illinois, by contrast, lawmakers decided to let homeowners sell excess energy for about half the retail rate, and the transition took place over more than three years. “California got rid of traditional net metering, and Illinois got rid of traditional net metering,” said Amy Heart, vice president of public policy at Sunrun, the country’s largest residential solar and storage company. “You didn’t hear about it in Illinois because it was planned out.”

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Independent congressional candidates crash into legal realities

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

Two independent candidates vying for U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s Congressional seat will not appear on the November ballot after the Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday ruled that both did not submit the minimum number of valid petition signatures — 10,816 required to run as an independent candidate.

Both Mayra Macías and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) will not appear on the ballot, leaving Lyons Mayor Chris Getty as the only independent to make it to the ballot. There were no challenges filed against Getty’s petitions. Patty Garcia, Rep. Garcia’s chief of staff, is running for his seat after the congressman abruptly dropped out of the race and raised eyebrows by quickly helping her get enough signatures to make a tight deadline. […]

State Board of Elections general counsel Marni M. Malowitz said Mayra Macías submitted 9,758 valid signatures, which is 1,058 fewer than was required. In one instance, a petitioner provided a wrong home address, so 101 of the signatures she collected were tossed. In another, a petition circulator was also getting signatures from other Democratic candidates, which is not allowed for independent candidates. In other cases, signatures were not valid. […]

Macías, who was at the hearing, criticized the process, saying she was given just three days to prove many signatures were legitimate. She also said “the spirit of the law is being completely broken in this race.”

The spirit of the law was followed to a “T”. The whole point of these state ballot access laws is to hinder ballot access.

Sigcho-Lopez vowed to take his case to the Illinois Supreme Court.

If the idea of this bid was to set up a court case, then go for it, but I kinda think that isn’t the case. But if the idea was to actually qualify for the race and set up a 2028 primary bid, then they both should’ve worked harder and better because the rules were clearly stacked against them.

Sounds mean to say, but it’s just Illinois reality. And reality bites here for indies.

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Turning Promise Into Progress For Illinois Students

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Thank you, Governor Pritzker and members of the General Assembly for taking an important step forward for Illinois students with a $26 million investment in free, healthy school meals, a $17 million increase and the largest expansion in over a decade.

Your leadership is turning policy into meaningful action, helping schools provide nutritious meals that support students’ health, learning, and success every day. At a time when families and educators are facing growing challenges, this investment demonstrates a strong commitment to the well-being of Illinois children.

This significant progress begins to fulfill the promise established in 2023 to expand access to healthy school meals and shows what is possible when leaders prioritize the health and success of students.

While this investment marks an important milestone, more work remains to fully fund school meals and ensure every child has reliable access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum together to make that vision is a reality for every Illinois student.

Learn more at: https://www.healthyschoolmealsil.com/


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Maybe answer the question

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From an NBC5 interview with Gov. JB Pritzker…

Q: Everyone knows you’re wealthy. I want to know what is just one perk about being a billionaire? There have to be a bunch of them.

Pritzker: Oh, I’m extraordinarily lucky.

Q: I know, but there’s got to be, there’s got to be a like a little cool thing, a little cool or a big cool thing. Pick whatever you want. I’m sure there’s a bunch of them.

Pritzker: What do you mean? I mean, look, I, they’re obviously, I think one of the, you know, one of the things that I’ve been able to do is, frankly, to be of assistance to people who otherwise don’t have the resources. I mean that honestly has been a very valuable thing to me personally. It’s one of the reasons, in the end, that I chose to go into public service was you know I think there’s a whole lot that I can offer that, you know, because I could run for office without taking money from special interests, I have fought for the things that I knew were the right thing to do, and not been a fighter for some little special interest or for some big business.

Q: That’s, your generosity and values is great. Is there another little thing that people would be interested to know? Just there’s got to be there’s got to be…

Pritzker: What do you mean? Like something fun?

Q: Yes, I mean fun. We all know you can fly private if you want to, or have a meal at any restaurant. Like, is there any little cool thing?

Pritzker: I, again, I think the the biggest, most important thing has been, at least for me…

Q: [Laughs]

Pritzker: No, I mean, I really, I, I, look. Otherwise, otherwise, you know, life is just a series of you know stuff that you can own, right? And so I really don’t view it that way. I know you’re saying like, listen, it’s cool. I’ve got a really cool watch on. This is made by a company called Withings. It helps me track, you know, my steps. It tracks, it tracks my heart rate. It tracks, you know. I mean, these are you may have a watch like that too, but you know, this is something I could afford, right? It’s it’s a couple hundred, few $100

* Q: That’s not billionaire afford, but I got it. I got it. I’m just, I’m just, I didn’t know if you had anything that you…

* Pritzker: I mean, I really do. I feel extraordinarily fortunate, and I am also like, I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to give back in ways that maybe others can’t. But again, whatever money you’ve got, I think it’s your values that really matter, especially if you’re going into public service.

Maybe find a way to say how fun it is to be him instead of that rigamarole. Just saying

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Governor Pritzker, Fight For Us.

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Working families face rising costs and medical debt, while hospital systems continue to profit by exploiting the 340B program - making billions, while patients are paying the price.

Leaders in Kentucky, Virginia and California recognize that a program meant to help vulnerable patients shouldn’t become a profit stream for billion-dollar hospital systems and their business partners.

Governor JB Pritzker has the opportunity to lead the way. Illinois deserves better — veto 340B Profit-Grab (HB 2371).

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Rate the new Pritzker TV ad

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Press release…

Today, JB For Governor released a new TV ad called “Towns Like Ours,” highlighting how Governor Pritzker is driving state investments to uplift pharmacies and lower prescription drug prices in rural and medically underserved communities.

The 30-second ad features a pharmacy owner in Petersburg, explaining how Gov. Pritzker’s investments have helped his pharmacy stay open and provide medicine at a lower price.

Rural and independent pharmacies across the state, like the one featured in this video, are directly benefiting from the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, which Gov. Pritzker signed into law in July 2025. The legislation took on predatory pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and created a grant program to support the local pharmacies that were being hurt by PBMs’ shady practices. As a result of the program, 434 independent Illinois pharmacies will receive nearly $25 million.

This is one of Gov. Pritzker’s many initiatives to ensure access to affordable life-saving healthcare. He also capped the out-of-pocket cost of insulin to $35 for a 30-day supply, capped out-of-pocket inhaler costs at $25 for a 30-day supply, and erased more than $1.1B in medical debt.

The ad will air on downstate broadcast and cable television markets, as well as on digital platforms.

* The spot…

Script…

ILLINOISAN 1: In towns like ours, having a local pharmacy doesn’t just mean avoiding long drives.

It means having a trusted neighbor looking out for you.

DAVE BAGOT, Petersburg Pharmacy Owner: Because of JB Pritzker, pharmacies like ours have been able to stay open and sell medicine at a lower price.

ILLINOISAN 2: JB took on the insurance companies and cracked down on the middlemen getting rich off of high drug prices.

GOV. JB PRITZKER: Lowering your costs and helping small businesses.

That’s a big win for Illinois.

VOICE-OVER: JB Pritzker.

Standing for progress.

Fighting for you.

Rate it.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Democrats pick Jessica Dixon Heitman, late US senator’s granddaughter, to replace ex-state Rep. Harry Benton. Tribune…

    - A granddaughter of late US Senator Alan Dixon was appointed Monday to a far southwest suburban Illinois House seat left vacant by two-term state Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned earlier this month in disgrace amid sexual harassment allegations.
    - Jessica Dixon Heitman, who briefly worked in Harry Benton’s district office in early 2023 shortly after he took office, was unanimously chosen by Democratic Party officials in Will and Kendall counties to fill the seat and serve as the party’s nominee in the November general election.
    - “I worked for him for a short amount of time. It was not a great fit,” she said in an interview after her remarks. “The office environment was not something I felt was conducive to anything successful happening in the (legislative district) … It’s a hard thing to talk about.”
    - Beyond tougher ethics laws, Heitman said she wants to see public schools fully funded, ease the property tax burden on Illinois homeowners, advocate for workers’ rights and push for equity “to our broken healthcare system.”

* At 9:40 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will participate in a fireside chat at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois SNAP costs: State wins one-year delay on food aid penalty, but major costs still loom: In recent months, “Illinois has launched an aggressive, multi-year effort to improve payment accuracy,” IDHS’ Griffith said, including staff training, additional caseworkers and technology and communication improvements. The state is also lobbying Congress to push the cost-sharing penalties back even further to October 2029, she said.

* WGN | Where are Darren Bailey and the Illinois GOP?: Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month in the Chicago region. His team posted a picture of a meet-and-greet at a Pilsen restaurant last week that featured 12 people in the frame. We’re a little more than three months before the election. […] Bailey’s campaign said the farmer-turned-politician is currently focusing on energizing supporters downstate and will spend ample time in the Chicago region soon. The campaign contends voters aren’t yet paying attention to the November race.

*** Statewide ***

* Crain’s | Illinois cannabis demand grows despite falling prices: The amount of cannabis sold in Illinois rose 9.3% during the first six months of the year, showing demand is still growing six years after the state legalized recreational marijuana use. Retail shops sold 27.6 million cannabis products, ranging from smokable flower and vapes to gummies, the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation data shows. The rate of unit growth accelerated from 7.3% during the same period a year earlier.

* Tribune | In 1976, Illinois buried a ton of time capsules. What we’re digging up now is complicated, or sometimes weird: Some feel ironic. The Elgin High School Class of ’76 time capsule was opened in June. Gale Miller, who served on the school’s Bicentennial committee (though she was Class of ’77), was there to find… a JCPenney catalog, a copy of the school’s dress code. “Hair could only be so long, no sweatshirts — it’s hilarious since students dressed like (expletive) in 1976. There was a Pet Rock, with a homemade house, but I do wish (the capsule) had been more honest about what it was like then. There was nothing on all of the racial tensions in Elgin at the time. The principal then wouldn’t have allowed it. And so this time capsule reflects the times very selectively.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Tribune | Illinois AFL-CIO makes endorsements after putting Democrats on pause: “Last month, we sent a message that lawmakers must address labor’s unfinished priorities in the upcoming veto, lame-duck, and spring sessions and that the legislative process itself has fallen short of what working people deserve,” Drea said in a statement on Monday. “It is clear from recent conversations with state leadership that the message has been received, and that we can look forward to a more collaborative process in the months to come,” he said. “Union members are now ready to get to work for our endorsed candidates.”

* Center Square | Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political: Before Senate Bill 714 passed on the House floor on May 27, state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, argued that Giannoulias championed the legislation to help further his own aspirations. “And we shouldn’t be saddling the Illinois resident who has auto insurance, has automobiles, so that somebody else can pursue an additional political office,” Keicher said. […] Giannoulias said the insurance industry is powerful and Keicher is an insurance salesman, but the legislation passed in spite of their efforts. “He’s gotta do what he has to do. We were able to pass this bill against our auto insurance salesman who apparently is also a member of the House,” Giannoulias said.

* ABC Chicago | IL Board of Elections could rule Tuesday on ballot challenges in race to replace ‘Chuy’ Garcia: Two independent candidates for U.S. Congress could find out Tuesday if their names will be on the November ballot. Illinois elections officers said Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macías do not have enough petition signatures to be on the November ballot. Both candidates are running to replace outgoing Congressman Chuy Garcia.

* Crain’s | Illinois-led quantum effort lands $30M in federal funding: The Bloch — a partnership between Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin — is one of six regional tech hubs to receive $169 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The award underscores the growing base of quantum computing technology and research underway in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, as well as their manufacturing prowess. “This award is a powerful validation of Illinois’ vision to become the global capital of quantum – helping us accelerate innovation, strengthen supply chains, and create good-paying jobs,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a written statement announcing the funding.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Chicago Public Schools leaders say board must pass budget to make September payroll: Despite skepticism from some board members, Chicago Public Schools leaders said Monday that the district’s $9.88 billion budget must be passed this month or it risks missing payroll for its 45,000 employees. If the budget isn’t approved, “the immediate consequence … is we wouldn’t be able to make payroll in September,” CPS CEO Macquline King told the Tribune in an interview. “If we’re not able to make payroll, then it ultimately disrupts services for our students.”

* Crain’s | Save A Lot ending deal with Yellow Banana, putting seven Chicago stores at risk of closing: Seven Save A Lot stores in Chicago are at risk of closing as a result of the grocer terminating its licensing agreement with operator Yellow Banana, a city-backed partnership that aimed to expand food access in underserved communities. The supermarket chain has decided to end an arrangement with Yellow Banana that allowed the Cleveland-based company to operate stores under the Save A Lot name due to significant financial challenges, including cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Save A Lot said in a statement.

* Block Club | Chicago Police SWAT Team Officer, Woman Shot In Albany Park: ‘Absolutely Tragic’: The officer was wearing a bullet-proof vest when he was shot, authorities said. ABC7 captured video of the officer walking with assistance into an ambulance. […] “The officer right now is stable and is being seen by his family,” Waller said. ” … He’s expected to make a full recovery.” Waller said doctors at Illinois Masonic “did a great job.”

* Block Club | Officials, Neighbors Question If City Policies Aimed At Protecting Immigrants Are Being Followed: In a news release Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the Police Department is reviewing the Illinois Accountability Commission’s April report calling on Chicagoans to report crimes by immigration agents. The report details allegations of misconduct by agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Thr commission recommended local law enforcement investigate several shootings and violent incidents. Chicago police will review the report’s findings independently, evaluate all available evidence and decide “whether additional investigation or referrals are warranted under Illinois law,” according to the Mayor’s Office release.

* Sun-Times | Four beluga whales on way to Shedd from closed Canadian park: Two more whales were headed to SeaWorld in San Antonio Monday, according to The Canadian Press. It’s the first phase of a plan to move up to 30 belugas over the next few weeks from Marineland to several American aquariums as well as to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. Earlier this month, Shedd announced it could receive as many as 10 belugas from Marineland.

* Sun-Times | Kyle Teel likely headed back to IL after ugly ankle injury during White Sox win at Texas: Kyle Teel had to be helped off the field after suffering a left ankle injury in the White Sox’ series-opening victory Monday at Texas, likely sending the prized catcher back to the injured list less than a month after working his way back to the field. The second-year backstop, who missed most of the first half with hamstring and knee injuries, was in visible pain after diving to his left and landing awkwardly on his ankle while trying to tag out Ezequiel Duran at home in the second inning of a 10-3 win.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | District 214 faces ethics complaint for referendum-related polling: In a 14-page complaint delivered to the Arlington Heights-based district’s ethics officer, Americans for Prosperity — Illinois calls for an investigation into whether taxpayer-funded referendum activity crossed from factual information into prohibited polling, voter surveying, campaign strategy or referendum advocacy. The libertarian advocacy group, which has a regional office in Rolling Meadows, filed a similar complaint in June against Palatine Township Elementary District 15 related to that district’s successful $93 million referendum in 2022.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora invites resident feedback on budget, safety, infrastructure, sustainability during upcoming events: Aurora city officials have announced a series of town hall and workshop events that aim to gather resident feedback for the city’s 2027 budget and its long-term plans for public safety, infrastructure and sustainability. All four sessions in the series will be held at the Aurora Public Works facility at 2185 Liberty St. in Aurora.

* Tribune | Northbrook volunteers use old-fashioned scythes to clear invasive species: The task for the day was to remove sawtooth sunflower and tall goldenrod, said Rebeccah Hartz, restoration volunteer and assistant director of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves. Hartz indicated they “are not woody species,” like buckthorn. And the best tool for the job, she said, was the scythe.

*** Downstate ***

* WCBU | Morton Industries expands to East Peoria manufacturing facility in support of data center market: “We had some new prospectives [clients] reach out to us based upon our tube capability, and the data center market is going to have a lot of tubes inside of them,” said vice president of operations Troy Deiss. “As these things grow throughout the nation and the world, I think the tubular fabrication is going to be even more popular, especially for these that are being used as cooling tubes, cooling the processors and the chips inside the units.”

* SJ-R | Former Leland Grove police chief indicted on theft charge: A former Leland Grove police chief who was terminated over a driving under the influence of alcohol arrest earlier in 2026 was indicted by a Sangamon County grand jury July 15 for theft. The grand jury also indicted Daniel T. Ryan for misapplication of funds and official misconduct, according to the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk’s website. Ryan was the subject of an Illinois State Police investigation.

* WCIA | Illinois firefighters train for high-risk grain bin rescues in Philo: “If you’re buried into the grain to your waist, it would take roughly 600 pounds of force over your body weight to pull you out,” Newcomb said. […] “Farmers are constantly in and out of these bins, spring and fall. A lot of grain moves throughout Central Illinois,” said Firefighter paramedic Will Lannon.

* NPR Illinois | A look at this year’s State Fair Horse Show: Society Horse Show Session I is August 10-14, 2026 - 9am, Noon and 6:30 Monday - Wednesday 8/10-12, Noon & 6:30pm Thursday 8/13, and 9am - Noon Friday 8/14 Featuring American Saddlebred, Hackney Pony, Roadster, Shetland Ponies and Welsh Ponies […] The Morgan Jubilee, Monarch Horse Show, Youth Charity Horse Show, Mid-America Mane Event continue to showcase some great horses for the rest of the season through October this year.

* Fox Illinois | New Eastern Illinois Athletic Director, Mark Wilson, discusses state of programs: Now, his job is to help turn around panther football, a program with rich tradition has just one winning season since 2013. “I’m going to have to get shoulder to shoulder, lock arms with Coach Wilkerson, learn what his challenges are,” he said. “Because I know, and when I first arrived at Tennessee Tech, one of the programs we were chasing was Eastern Illinois football.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | UAW chief in feds’ crosshairs, jeopardizing union’s fight for self-governance: A grand jury has subpoenaed the union’s court-appointed monitor, according to Bloomberg, as it probes claims that Fain sought benefits for his fiancee and her sister. That revelation came in a report by the monitor, Neil Barofsky, who concluded that Fain unjustly demoted two top officials for refusing to follow his orders. The findings have thrown the UAW’s looming presidential election into chaos; Fain has denied wrongdoing and accused Vice President Rich Boyer, one of his five challengers, of trying to “steal the election” with false charges. Fain also claims the monitor holds a “political grudge” against him.

* NYT | The U.S. Is Pulling Back on Energy Efficiency: “The turn away from efficiency has been oddly timed,” said Christine Egan, executive director of the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program, a nonprofit group that works on efficiency policies worldwide. “Energy prices are going up, demand is going up, and you’d think we would want our products to be as efficient as possible.” The result is that consumers could end up using more electricity and burning more gas when electricity costs are rising faster than inflation and gasoline is averaging $4 a gallon. While more efficient cars or appliances can be more expensive, consumers often save money over time because they use less energy.

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Tuesday, Jul 21, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Emily Nenni…

This train steers itself

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* Illinois becomes 19th state to beat back DOJ on voter database seizure attempt
* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Rep. Kelly Cassidy: Speaker Welch has issued a 'series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings'
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* Speaker Welch statement (Updated x2 with Pritzker statement)
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* Legislative Ethics Commission still fine-tuning Benton report (Updated)
* Pritzker says he looks forward to seeing Welch's CPS funding plan
* Sean Grayson denied early medical release from prison
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* Today's must-read
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