Illinois has one of the nation’s worst problems with child sex abuse at juvenile detention centers, attorneys representing more than 900 survivors who have filed lawsuits said Wednesday.
Dozens of complaints, including several filed this week in Chicago, allege decades of systemic abuse of children by the employees of detention facilities. Similar lawsuits have popped up in states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, but Illinois stands out for the volume of cases that began piling up last year and the lackluster response from state leaders, according to attorneys.
“The scale and the magnitude and the severity of these cases are some of the worst we’ve seen all over the United States,” Jerome Block, an attorney who has filed lawsuits nationwide, said at a news conference.
The latest Illinois complaints, filed Tuesday, represent 107 people who experienced abuse as children at 10 centers statewide. Some have since closed. The lawsuits allege abuse from the mid-1990s to 2018, including rape, forced masturbation and beatings by chaplains, counselors, officers and kitchen supervisors.
* Rep. Margaret Croke secured the Cook County Democratic Party’s endorsement for comptroller after a motion to make the race an open primary failed. We’re told New Trier Democratic Committeeperson Dean Maragos flipped his vote…
Croke is close to Gov. JB Pritzker. She worked on his 2018 campaign and was deputy chief of staff at @IllinoisDCEO before her election to the Illinois House. She’s also on the board of Pritzker’s abortion rights advocacy group @Think_Big_USA. #twillhttps://t.co/sIwTh7Hvxx
* Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles…
Cook County Dem Party decides not to slate anyone in the Senate race to replace Dick Durbin. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton spoke before the party; Rep. Robin Kelly had a surrogate after missing a flight amid late night House votes.
Please see statement from State Rep. and candidate for Illinois Comptroller, Margaret Croke, on earning today’s endorsement from the Cook County Democratic Party:
“I’m so very grateful to the Cook County Democratic Party for their endorsement and support as I seek to represent the people of our great state as its Comptroller. This is a critical moment in time and now more than ever Illinois needs a Comptroller who will lead with honesty, protect our most vulnerable populations, and bring fiscal responsibility to state government, which is exactly what I’ve advocated for throughout my time in the General Assembly. I’m ready to bring that same principled leadership to this office, serving as a watchdog for taxpayer dollars and ensuring transparency and accountability for every Illinois family.”
* The US Senate approved cuts to NPR, PBS yesterday. Illinois Times reporter Dilpreet Raju…
Here are the public news stations in Illinois that will experience the biggest hits from federal funding being cut, pulled from data compiled by Alex Curley of semipublic (https://t.co/1tjeLhELGJ) pic.twitter.com/9Amscjjp78
* Crain’s | UChicago Medicine suspends gender-affirming care for minors: “UChicago Medicine has reached the difficult decision that in response to continued federal actions, it will discontinue all gender-affirming pediatric care effective immediately,” the Hyde Park-based medical center announced. “We understand that this news will have a significant impact on our patients.” UChicago pointed to recent actions by the Trump administration to cut back Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements as a key factor in the decision. “We reached this conclusion in light of emerging federal actions which would place at risk our ability to care for all Medicare or Medicaid patients. These patients make up the majority of those we serve,” the statement read. “As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, this step is necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission. Our focus right now is working with affected patients to discuss options going forward.”
* Sun-Times | Trump to reverse environmental racism, housing discrimination cases in Chicago: ProPublica reported Friday that the two Chicago cases are among seven that the Trump administration is dismissing. There is no official word from HUD and the agency has not responded to multiple requests from the Sun-Times for comment. One high-profile case involved the General Iron scrap metal operation that was being relocated from white, affluent Lincoln Park to a low-income community of color on the Southeast Side.
* WTTW | Chicago’s Top Lawyer on Ethics Reform, the Cost of Police Misconduct Lawsuits: Mary Richardson-Lowry, corporation counsel for the city of Chicago and leader of the city’s Law Department, told WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” on Thursday that her office didn’t obstruct any probes. “It just wasn’t factual,” Richardson-Lowry said. “That was a mischaracterization, but I view it as an attempt to lift the issue to further evolutions in ethics reform. This structure gets us to a place where we don’t erode our obligations as lawyers, nor do we have an adverse impact on the Office of Inspector General — who’s also my client — and their ability to do their job.”
* Sun-Times | Damen Silos demolition underway as historic structures make way for new development: Just five days in, the smaller buildings surrounding the massive structures near South Damen Avenue along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are already torn down and destruction of the silos has begun, according to city officials and owner Michael Tadin Jr. The biggest portion of the demo project includes two sets of 80-foot concrete silos and a tower that’s about 110 feet tall. The demolition will take months.
* Tribune | Renovated Red Line stations on North Side to reopen Sunday: The four stations — Argyle, Bryn Mawr, Lawrence and Berwyn — were renovated as part of a $2.1 billion Red and Purple line modernization project paid for by a combination of grants, federal money, transit tax increment financing dollars and CTA funds. The CTA has operated temporary stations at Argyle and Bryn Mawr during the construction period, but the Lawrence and Berwyn stations have been shuttered for more than four years.
* WBEZ | Car, bike, public transit: What’s the best way to get around town?: In this episode, the Curious City team puts the different modes of transportation to the test in a good old-fashioned transit race. From the Garfield Park Conservatory to Navy Pier, who will win? Car, bike or public transportation?
* Sun-Times | Work-zone speed-enforcement cameras still not being used on the Kennedy Expressway: But the “photo enforcement” signs still carry that empty threat in spots on the Kennedy, the Edens Expressway, Illinois tollways and some state roads in the suburbs. The Illinois Department of Transportation — the agency overseen by Gov. JB Pritzker that’s responsible for the state’s highway system — says it’s required to place the warning signs in work zones if there’s a possibility cameras will be used to snare speeders in reduced-speed construction zones. IDOT says there’s so much traffic congestion in Chicago and close-in suburbs that speeders generally aren’t as much of a problem in work zones there as they are farther away from the city, so that’s where the camera-enforcement efforts are focused.
* Block Club | Chicago’s All-Girls Baseball Team, Full Of Barrier-Breaking High School Stars, Heads To Nationals: The Humboldt Park Gators, Chicago’s only all-girls baseball team, captured the hearts of locals on their way to winning a national youth championship on their first try in 2021. Now, the Gators have spun off into a new team — with many more girls playing baseball, too. Perfect Catch Chicago will take four teams to Sparks, Nevada, next week for the 2025 Baseball For All Nationals, the country’s annual all-girls baseball tournament.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Herald | Audio recording by District 203 school board member prompts police investigation: A Naperville Unit District 203 school board member is the target of a complaint after she claimed to have recorded a citizen’s finance committee meeting. Naperville police are investigating a claim that Melissa Kelley Black violated eavesdropping laws by recording a meeting of the advisory panel without approval. A police spokesman declined further comment. No criminal charges had been filed as of Wednesday.
* Daily Southtown | Will County approves solar farms in Crete, Lockport townships; deny two in Troy: The village of Homer Glen objected to the Lockport Township proposal; Crete Township voiced concerns over the solar farm proposed in its community and 10 agencies, including Shorewood, the Troy Fire Protection District and various school districts, objected to the solar projects for Troy Township. Concerns included the solar farms not being a right fit for the site, potential depreciation of nearby home values and concerns regarding soil and groundwater contamination.
* Evanston Now | Report: Housing, funding cuts among top city issues nationwide: A report released Thursday by the National League of Cities found that housing, economic growth and the impact of federal funding cuts are top of mind for municipalities across the country, mirroring concerns raised by leaders in Evanston. The NLC’s annual State of the Cities report found that 70% of mayors surveyed reported “challenges associated with the lack of housing supply in 2025,” with another 57% calling the availability of housing in their communities “poor” or “very poor.” Housing supply is top of mind in Evanston, too, as noted in Mayor Daniel Biss’ State of the City address on May 14, a speech in which he touched on zoning restraints that limit increases to housing supply.
* Tribune | Chicago-area nursing homes fined for ‘severe’ violations that led to patient deaths, Illinois health department says: One of the heftiest fines, at $50,000, was given to Cicero’s City View Multicare Center. IDPH found that the facility didn’t properly supervise a cognitively impaired resident’s eating, saying the 60-year-old man choked and died as a result. The resident was admitted to the facility in August 2023 with terminal illness under hospice services, the report stated. The man had diagnoses of dementia, diabetes and bipolar schizophrenia, and required supervision when eating. His name isn’t included in the report. Staff told emergency responders on Oct. 12, 2024, that the man — who was on a pureed diet — grabbed a turkey sandwich and began choking. Nurses said the resident clutched his throat and looked like he was “trying really hard to cough,” the report said. When the nurse opened his mouth it was full of saliva. Although staff and paramedics attempted the Heimlich maneuver, the man died that night around 7:48 p.m. at the hospital of “hypoxic cardiopulmonary arrest,” the report said.
* Daily Herald | Eviction suit added to dispute between Kane County horse rescue and landlords: The dispute between a horse rescue group and its landlords has taken another turn, with the landlords trying to evict the nonprofit organization from the rural Kane County farm it calls home. However, a Kane County judge has slowed the eviction process by ordering that it be merged with a lawsuit that Casey’s Safe Haven filed in March against the owners of the Maple Park property. The owners of the farm filed the eviction suit on June 3. According to court paperwork, the property owners gave a 30-day notice of termination on April 11. The eviction case was due to have its first court date on Tuesday, July 15, before Kane County Judge Elizabeth Flood.
* Daily Herald | ‘This is a blessing’: Suburban charity helps retired police dogs get health care: Hogyn, now 11 years old, has continued to live with his partner in his retirement, as do most police dogs. However, his police department no longer picks up the tab on the German shepherd’s health care and other needs. That’s all on Baron. And for older dogs that spent years chasing bad guys, searching rugged terrain for missing people and sniffing out drugs, explosives and other dangerous items, the aging process can be more difficult — and costly — than for the average family pet.
* Daily Southtown | Homewood ceremony pays tribute to nearly forgotten veteran who died in 1995 heat wave: Emilio Aguirre, a World War II combat veteran, died in his apartment in Chicago 30 years ago, not from illness, nor injury. Aguirre died just two weeks before his 82nd birthday from heat as temperatures reached up to what felt like 125 degrees during the 1995 Chicago heat wave. For nearly three decades, the Army veteran’s death stood lonely, unrecognized and forgotten. Despite being a Bronze Star recipient, there was no formal military funeral, no proper headstone or marker. That changed last month with a headstone placed at Aguirre’s final resting spot at Homewood Memorial Gardens, where he had been buried with 41 other heat wave victims and other unclaimed or unknown city residents. And on Thursday, 30 years to the day after his death, Aguirre received full military funeral honors.
*** Downstate ***
* WGLT | Bloomington mayor says reassessing sales tax sharing with McLean County hinges on what’s in it for the city: Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady said this week’s decision by the county board executive committee against approving a hiatus on sales tax sharing drives home the seriousness of the matter, as talks continue about the intergovernmental agreement to fund mental health and other services. “Those are … at the table, I don’t know if they convey it enough to elected county board members to understand the delicacy of this,” Brady said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
* WICS | Sangamon County Jail operations disrupted by infrastructure mishaps: The first incident occurred on Monday, July 14, 2025, when contractors from the City of Springfield, working on the rail project and new transportation hub, accidentally struck a water pipe in the alleyway behind the jail. This resulted in a disruption of the water supply to both the jail and the Sheriff’s Office. In response, bottled water was provided to inmates, and normal operations resumed by 8:00 a.m. the following day. The second incident took place around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, when the same contractors hit an underground power line in the same alleyway. This caused a power outage affecting the jail, Sheriff’s Office, and parts of the Courthouse. Backup generators ensured essential systems remained operational, and full power was restored by 2:30 a.m. Thursday, with normal operations resuming at 8:00 a.m.
* Muddy River News | Honoring its roots, Adams County Fair gears up for its 83rd year: Highlights of this year’s fair include a concert with country music icons Sara Evans and Mark Wills on the evening of Saturday, July 26, sponsored by Gem City Ford Lincoln and SIU Center for Family Medicine in Quincy. Other musical acts include “Silver Bullets,” “Stealin’ Copper,” “Mugshot Bandits,” and Fuedin’ Hillbillys. These acts will take over the Buss Ag Services stage inside the Beer Garden throughout the fair.
* SIU | SIU Carbondale police welcome public input in law enforcement accreditation: An IACLEA assessment team will arrive on Aug. 10 to examine all aspects of the department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, said Benjamin Newman, director of DPS and chief of police. Verification by the team that DPS meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of gaining a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence, Newman said. To achieve four-year accreditation, DPS must comply with 227 standards, Newman said. This is the first time DPS is seeking accreditation with IACLEA; the department is already accredited with the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
* WCIA | Paxton increasing video game machine fees by 900%: One Central Illinois city has worked hard to give their downtown a facelift. The same city has also increased fees for gaming machines by 900%. While these two things may not seem related — city officials said one eventually led to the other. Paxton revamped its downtown and plans on continuing the work. They realized gaming machines would be a part of it, but didn’t want them lining all of downtown. So, they created a plan to regulate it.
* KFVS | Concert to benefit Carbondale homeless shelter: Kevin Lucas will host the concert with guest Grant Maloy Smith. It’ll be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda. Organizers say there is no cover charge. All music costs and tips will go to the Good Samaritan House homeless shelter in Carbondale.
* World Atlas | Why This Illinois Town Deserves More Attention: Only 30 minutes from St. Louis, on the historic National Road, Lebanon, Illinois, presents one of the Midwest’s most vibrant small-town tourism experiences—without the crowds, gimmickry, and over-commercialization that can detract from more famous locales. Lebanon is a rare gem with its rich history, preserved architecture, lively arts scene, and strong connection to its natural and community heritage. This is a town where yesterday and today converge on brick-paved streets, and there is never a shortage of something worth exploring.
*** National ***
* CNBC | Travelers to the U.S. must pay a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ — what to know: The fee applies to all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter, and cannot be waived. However travelers may also be able to get the fees reimbursed, according to the provision. Details about the new requirement are scant, which has resulted in “significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation,” a spokesperson from the U.S. Travel Association told CNBC Travel.
* AP | Britain is lowering the voting age to 16. It’s getting a mixed reaction: There has been a mixed reaction in Britain to the government’s announcement that it will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 before the next national election. The Labour Party administration says it’s part of a package of changes to strengthen British democracy and help restore trust in politics. The opposition says it’s a power-grab by the left.
* NBC | FEMA records show Kerr County didn’t alert all cellphones as flooding began: The FEMA message archive shows that as the water began rising in Kerr County on July 4, the National Weather Service sent an IPAWS flood warning to cellphones as early as 1:14 a.m. However, weather service forecasters cannot issue instructions on whether to evacuate or wait for rescue; those messages are up to county or city officials. The FEMA archive showed that Kerr County did not send any wireless alerts through IPAWS on July 4, when the flooding began.
When I was a kid, my dad lost his income. Hard work, public housing and food stamps moved us into the middle class. That’s why in congress we built up job training and took down price gougers. But now Trump’s destroying opportunities like my family had. So every time Trump hurts working people, I fight back.
Because I’m an underdog too. I’m Raja Krishnamoorthi. Yes, the just call me Raja guy.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi just announced endorsements from Cook County Democratic Party leaders including Chicago Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), David Moore (17th) and Chris Taliaferro (29th) and some suburban committeemen, including Frank Avino of Norwood Park and Larry Dominick of Cicero, among others.
Lt. Gov. Stratton, meanwhile, has lined up support from House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Reps. Kelly Cassidy and Tracy Katz Muhl — all with seats at the slating table.
And Congresswoman Kelly has staked her claim, announcing support from Chicago Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), committeemen Bob Rita of Calumet Township and Vernard Alsberry of Bremen Township.
…Adding… Looks like Krishnamoorthi quietly took Dominick’s name out of a Facebook post after including his endorsement…
This might be related to Cicero paying a $675,000 settlement in a sexual harassment case involving Dominick — or Dominick calling for the death penalty. His name also came up during Sen. Emil Jones III’s bribery trial, when Omar Maani testified he paid $23,000 to attorney Michael Del Galdo to show his “appreciation” for the Cicero Town President.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton may have the endorsement of the state’s wealthiest politician, billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker, but she finds herself at the bottom of the major Democratic U.S. Senate contenders when it comes to how much available cash she has to campaign with as the candidates approach nine months before the primary.
Stratton’s two congressional rivals, U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Matteson, benefited from their existing federal campaign accounts and ended June with multimillions of dollars available in their bank accounts, campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission showed.
Stratton, Pritzker’s two-time running mate, on April 24 became the first candidate to announce she wanted to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Campaign reports covering the April-through-June second quarter of the year showed Stratton raised nearly $1.1 million, spent $417,286, and began July 1 with $666,416 in cash available. But a closer review of her fundraising shows that about $185,000 of that amount must be used for the Nov. 3 general election and is unavailable for her use in the March 17 primary. […]
Krishnamoorthi began April with nearly $19.5 million in his campaign account and raised more than $3.1 million from April through June. That left him with $21.1 million in cash available at the start of July. About $1.1 million of that total is reserved for general election spending.
[Robin Kelly] says money isn’t going to decide the race.
“They have a lot of money, but you know what, I’m just using every opportunity to tell my story and I don’t feel like I need the most money in the race to win the race because I feel like I have an excellent story to tell,” Kelly said.
Between her two campaign committees for her U.S. House seat and a new committee for her Senate bid, Kelly raised $565,775 from April 1 through June 30 and has $2 million in her campaign accounts.
Her donors include a lengthy list of corporate political action committees, many local officials in her 2nd Congressional District, and some notable names in Illinois government. They include former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt and Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon. Gordon also contributed to Stratton’s campaign.
[US Rep. Robin Kelly] said most people want a roof over their head, a job, health care, good education for their children.
“And they want to feel safe no matter where you live,” Kelly said. “I think most people want that.”
Kelly said what sets her apart from other announced Democratic candidates for the job is her ability to navigate Congress, where she’s been since 2013.
“So I’m the one that has passed federal legislation to affect urban, suburban and rural areas,” she said.
* Moving on to the 2nd Congressional District. Tribune…
Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. this week filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee for a possible run in the state’s 2nd Congressional District, the seat he held for almost 17 years before resigning amid a corruption probe.
Jackson said in a statement that “it is my intention to secure a place on the ballot” by circulating nominating petitions in the 2nd Congressional District. […]
Leading the way in fundraising so far is state Sen. Robert Peters, a South Side native who’s held a seat previously occupied by Attorney General Kwame Raoul and President Barack Obama since 2019. In the three months ending June 30, Peters raised more than $415,000, and he entered July with nearly $375,000 in his campaign account, Federal Election Commission records show.
The largest contribution to Peters, whose endorsements include U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is $10,000 from the Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee. He’s also received several contributions from current and former Illinois Senate colleagues. […]
The quarterly reports for others in the race show Adal Regis, who worked in Kelly’s district office on grants, raised nearly $22,000 and had almost $15,000 on hand as of July 1; while management consultant Eric France raised more than $13,000 and had more than $1,800 on hand. Yumeka Brown, the three-term village clerk of Matteson and a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board, had $500 in the bank at the end of June.
As he campaigns for a seventh term, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park is dramatically outraising and outspending the political neophyte challenging him in the 2026 Democratic primary, new federal records show.
Schneider reported collecting $512,985 in campaign contributions between April 1 and June 30. On the other side of the ledger, his campaign committee spent $301,429 during those three months.
Challenger Morgan Coghill, a business owner from Mundelein, started fundraising in May and reported collecting $10,366 through June — and that figure included $5,600 in loans to the campaign from the candidate. Coghill’s campaign reportedly spent $3,022 during the quarter.
TV advertising has already begun in Illinois’ 2026 Democrat primary for U.S. Senate, and new fundraising numbers released Tuesday show the race is shaping up to be expensive. […]
Six Republicans have filed as candidates with the Federal Elections Commission but did not raise substantial amounts of money. They include Casey Chlebek, a former IT professional who is active in Polish-American civic groups; Douglas Bennett, who ran unsuccessfully in the 10th Congressional District in 2018; Air Force veteran John Goodman; Pamela Denise Long, an occupational therapist and former political commentator for Newsweek; former Illinois International Port District board member Cary Capparelli, and Westchester resident Panagioti Bartzis.
On the Democrat side, four other candidates have filed with the FEC: Kevin Ryan, a Marine veteran and diplomat; Christopher Swann, a program manager for Feeding America; Carmi resident Stan Leavell, and Awisi Bustos, CEO of the Illinois Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.
Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, Christopher Swann, Kevin Ryan and Jump Shepherd are on the Cook County Democratic Party’s Friday slating schedule for Durbin’s Senate seat.
* More…
* Evanston Now | Boarini drains, Biss pads mayor race accounts: Biss, who announced in May he’s running for Congress in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, raised over $700,000 in the first months of his campaign to succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, federal records show. But back at home, in the three months since the April 1 municipal election that he won by a 24% margin, Biss raised another $41,376, leaving his campaign account in Evanston stacked with over $178,000 as of June 30.
* ICYMI: More than 900 people now say they were abused at Illinois youth prisons. Sun-Times…
- A new batch of complaints filed Tuesday include 107 new cases of alleged sexual abuse at Illinois Youth Centers and the Cook County juvenile jail.
- Attorney Jerome Block said his clients deserve compensation, though there is “no amount of money that can fully make these survivors whole.”
- In a statement, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice said it is aware of the recently filed lawsuits and cannot comment on active litigation.
* LSR | BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet Set IL Sports Betting Minimums: Starting Wednesday, BetMGM requires all Illinois sports betting customers to stake at least $2.50 on all wager types, including straight bets, parlays, Same Game Parlays, round robins, and bonus bets. BetMGM notified customers of the change earlier this week. Hard Rock Bet implemented a similar policy, requiring a $2 bet minimum that similarly applies to all bet types.
* Sun-Times | Governor JB Pritzker pens letter urging President Trump’s education secretary to unfreeze $6.8B in grants: Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday joined 13 Democratic governors in demanding that Education Secretary Linda McMahon release $6.8 billion in education grants that are being withheld by the Trump administration. The letter to McMahon comes just days after 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze in education grants for K-12 schools and adult education. States were notified that the grants were being withheld on June 30 — and more than 100 House Democrats also wrote a letter to McMahon last week, pressing for her to “follow the law” and release the funds ahead of the new school year.
* Press Release | AG Raoul sues Trump Administration for unlawfully ending disaster mitigation program: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 states, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempt to illegally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike. For the past 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities across the nation with resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. By focusing on preparation, the program has protected property, saved money that would have otherwise been spent on post-disaster costs, reduced injuries and saved lives.
*** Statewide ***
* WAND | IDFPR launches 24 additional license types to new licensing system: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has announced that 24 additional professions can now obtain licensure through the Department’s newly launched online licensing system, known as CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment).
This announcement signifies the successful conclusion of Phase 2.3 of CORE, with the final segment of Phase 2 expected to wrap up this summer.
* Press Release | Democratic County Chairs’ announce Party Builder honorees: Today, the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) announced the remaining members of the Class of 2025 Party Builder Award honorees to be honored at the 2025 Annual County Chairs’ Brunch on Wednesday, August 13th at the BOS Center in Springfield. The Party Builder Award was established eight years ago to thank those who have shown exceptional dedication to strengthening the Democratic Party. The newest Party Builder Award honorees are Terry Redman, Chair of the DeWitt County Democratic Party, the Vice President of the IDCCA, and the State Central Committeeman for the 15th Congressional District, and the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership (IWIL) Training Academy, an organization that prepares and trains Democratic, pro-choice women to run for elected office, seek public appointments, and govern at all levels in Illinois.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Sun-Times | Illinois leaders blast State Farm as it hikes home insurance rates: The Illinois Department of Insurance has the power to sue insurance companies over rate hikes once they’re in effect. But state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park, said that process could take a couple of years. He introduced a bill this year that would require insurance companies to get prior approval from the state insurance department for any rate increases of 5% or more, with a 30-day public comment period following a proposed rate increase of more than 10%. Hastings’ bill would have also capped rate hikes at 15% per year, unless the insurer could provide evidence of increased claims due to natural disasters. The proposal went nowhere.
* Civic leaders | Gov. JB Pritzker should veto bitter pension sweetener for Chicago: But now, the bill on its way to Pritzker’s desk would undo much of that work, making the city less affordable, putting its credit rating at risk and shifting the cost to future generations. Illinois politicians have been doing this to the city for decades, and we are hopeful that our governor will end this fiscally irresponsible practice. At a minimum, we should have an honest assessment of the short- and long-term costs and consequences.
* CNI | Comptroller Mendoza won’t run for reelection, opening up statewide office: While she didn’t commit to a run, she said she is “leaving the door open.” Several U.S. House seats are up for grabs, along with Illinois’ first open U.S. Senate seat since 2010. But when asked whether she was interested in a position in Congress, Mendoza laughed. “No thank you,” she quickly said Thursday, before moving on to questions about a potential mayoral bid.
* Others eyeing Mendoza’s seat are Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and Rep. Margaret Croke…
* Sun-Times | City Council adjourns for summer recess after approving ethics reform, but without authorizing ‘granny flats’: The City Council adjourned for the summer Wednesday after approving another round of ethics reforms and $35.2 million more in police abuse settlements, but punting on the thorny issue of whether to authorize “granny flats” citywide. Before heading off for the annual August recess, alderpersons also gave a royal send-off to retiring Zoning Committee Chair Walter Burnett (27th). If there was a vote for Mr. Congeniality, Burnett would win it hands-down. He is, by far, the Council’s most popular member.
* Crain’s | As Burnett exits City Council, Johnson’s in a bind to find a new Zoning chair: Johnson turned to Burnett last summer only after the post had been vacant for 10 months following Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, stepping down after apologizing for briefly physically blocking a colleague from entering the City Council chamber during a heated meeting. The normally routine elevation of a mayoral ally to a leadership position vexed the mayor’s office as it couldn’t round up the votes for the mayor’s desired pick, despite Johnson personally making calls on behalf of combative progressive ally, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th.
* Tribune | ComEd’s $10M relief fund running out after 60,000 customers apply in first week: “Based on the high demand seen, we anticipate the fund will soon close, and ComEd will make an announcement once funds are fully exhausted,” ComEd spokesperson Lauren Huffman said Wednesday. Exelon, the utility’s Chicago-based parent company, is donating the relief money for the fund, which is being administered through Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago and The Salvation Army. The application process began July 7 and the agencies are sorting through thousands of customer requests seeking a share of the $10 million, Huffman said.
* WBEZ | Mom sues CPS over alleged ‘extreme acts’ of racist bullying and sexual misconduct against daughter: The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages of at least $50,000 for the young girl, who expressed suicidal thoughts in the wake of the bullying. Sher’Ron Hinton, the girl’s mother, and her attorneys say they also want CPS to agree to systemic reforms, including the creation of an office to address bullying. A CPS spokesperson said officials do not comment on pending litigation, but noted that the district “is committed to the safety and well-being of our students.”
* Crain’s | Frederick Ford, who broke barriers as Union League Club’s first Black president, dies at 98: The beloved accountant was a pioneer among minority communities as the first Black member and first Black president of the prestigious Union League Club of Chicago, and a champion of its admittance of women. Originally from Missouri, Ford climbed up the ranks as an accountant in Chicago to become executive vice president and chief financial officer at Draper & Kramer, a real estate development and financial services firm, breaking the industry’s color barriers years before the civil rights movement took hold.
* Block Club | Artis Restaurant And Lounge Closes For Good After River North Mass Shooting: Owners Brandi Artis and Brittany Artis announced the closure Tuesday afternoon in a social media post. Their decision follows Ald. Brendan Reilly’s (42nd) call for the restaurant to be permanently shut down in the wake of the shooting. “Our curated space of love and acceptance was threatened by a senseless act of hate … We will continue to grow through the pain and find ways to heal, together,” the owners wrote in their statement.
* AP | Puppies rescued from flood-stricken Texas arrive at Chicago shelter: Nine puppies from parts of Texas submerged by catastrophic flooding that killed at least 132 people arrived Wednesday at the no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago, joining dozens of puppies that had already arrived. The critters landed by plane at Waukesha Airport in Wisconsin then made a three-hour journey by van to Chicago.
* WGN | Ryne Sandberg shares health update amid cancer battle: Beloved Chicago Cub and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg took to social media Wednesday to share an update on his health. Sandberg, 65, announced in December his prostate cancer has relapsed and spread. He shared the following update with fans on Instagram Wednesday.
* Tribune | Chicago Sky players voice solidarity as WNBA and union brace for a potential work stoppage in November: “There’s so much at stake right now,” Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere said. “We need to put pressure on the league. If that means sitting out, we’re ready for it. It’s empowering in the way that we have a voice to make a change in our league.” The current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don’t reach an agreement by then, a work stoppage could begin.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Daily Herald | Naperville may increase local sales tax to offset grocery tax repeal: Naperville officials are leaning toward a home rule sales tax increase to help offset the loss of revenue from the elimination of a statewide grocery sales tax. City council members on Tuesday voted 5-4 on a first reading of an ordinance for a 0.25% increase to the home rule sales tax with a two-year sunset clause. A final vote on the matter is expected in August.
* Shaw Local | Woodstock sales tax hike wins City Council approval: After a public hearing on the tax increase – which is allowed without voter approval because of the city’s home-rule status – the Woodstock City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the additional sales tax, as well as an upcoming bond sale to pay for part of the $9.3 million renovation. The change will bring the total sales tax rate that shoppers in Woodstock will pay to 8.5% when the increase in the local tax goes into effect Jan. 1.
* Shaw Local | Will County agrees to $85,000 settlement in lawsuit claiming violation of sanctuary laws: Will County reached an $85,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit claiming that county law enforcement violated sanctuary laws with the detention of an immigrant who was the key witness of a reckless homicide. The 2023 lawsuit filed by Norberto Salvador Navarro was dismissed in March in response to the settlement.
* Daily Southtown | Orland Park hits snag in replacing lead water lines; homeowners say no: Officials are trying to find a work-around that doesn’t involve going to court to force the homeowners to go along. For now it isn’t a big deal. Although the village has to report its progress in eliminating the lines, it could face fines come 2027 if it doesn’t reach the goal, according to Public Works Director Joel Van Essen. Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines. The village said it is expecting the per-home cost to replace the lines at $10,000 to $15,000, but is saying the total cost could be as much as $80,000 for the four homes.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora City Council to consider reorganization of various city divisions: Laesch told The Beacon-News in an interview earlier this month that the changes were made based on “common sense,” efficiency of operations and his own priorities as mayor. In Aurora City Council committee meetings, he has said the changes were made after talking with city staff. Likely the largest of the proposed changes is that the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs will no longer exist. The three divisions previously under that department will be spread out across the city: equity and engagement will each be made into their own sub-department under the control of the Mayor’s Office, while special events will be taken over by the communications department.
*** Downstate ***
* WCIA | ‘Lack of trust’; Mattoon community powering through second ‘do not drink’ order: Community members said while they know the city is working to combat this issue, they could also work on communication. Genna McCaslin said she and others who live slightly outside the city have gotten some emergency alerts to their phones, but not consistently.
* WCIA | Dozens still living in condemned apartment complex in Champaign: The 29 buildings at the Champaign Park apartments were all condemned in June, after years of neglect from an out-of-town landlord. “We think there’s 100 people here,” Danielle Chynoweth, supervisor of Cunningham Township, said. “Just standing here I’ve seen over a dozen people in the few minutes I’ve stood here.”
* Telegraph | SRO crowd complains about water at Bethalto Village Board meeting: Many brought bottles of brown water taken from their taps, while others brought articles of clothing damaged or ruined by the water. Others brought photographs and told stories about their added expenses for bottled water or filters, concerns about potential effects of drinking the discolored water or other health issues. While some talked about moving out of the village, others demanded that they be reimbursed for extra expenses, and suggested the village provide bottled water for them to drink.
* WTVO | Belvidere votes against 1% grocery tax. How much could you save?: The Belvidere City Council unanimously voted to drop the 1% grocery tax in 2026. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law eliminating the grocery tax in Illinois, leaving it up to local municipalities to choose to continue it after January 1st, 2026. “The city of Belvidere is going to do just fine without it,” said Mayor Clint Morris. “And, you know, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
* WAND | Lucky Horseshoes, Springfield Park District still at odds over stadium dispute: The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes and the Springfield Park District continue to battle over what to do with Robin Roberts Stadium, the home of the ‘Shoes. The stadium is controlled by the Park District, but the team wants it to be transferred to a non-profit organization called “Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium,” which is controlled by the team, citing a lack of upgrades and repairs.
* WTVO | Oregon school district releases strict discipline guidelines for cellphone ban policy: The Oregon School District announced this week that it would be partnering with the company Yondr for lockable pouches for students to stow their cellphones during classes. “Beginning August 13th, we will launch the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program – a proven, bell-to-bell approach that supports student focus, well-being, and connection by removing mobile phone distractions during the school day,” Principal Jen Speakes said in a letter to parents.
* WQAD | Carl Sandburg College building new agriculture incubator thanks to $1.8M grant: The State of Illinois has awarded $7 million to four colleges around the state to enhance tech incubator programs. Locally, Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg received $1.8 million in funding and will use the money to renovate a new agriculture incubator for students. The Sandburg Annex building, located in downtown Galesburg, was once used to host Sandberg’s dental hygiene program. In the next year, the space will be a beacon of mentoring and business development for anyone interested in agriculture.
* WTVO | Rockford gets a pro soccer franchise in MLIS: A couple local men want to take soccer in Rockford to another level, the professional level. Starting this coming winter, Rockford will have a men’s pro team in Major League Indoor Soccer. Fernando Rodriguez, a life-long Rockford resident and Raul Sanchez, a native of Cuba who played soccer for East High School have been a part of the Rockford soccer scene for many years as players, instructors and running youth teams. Recently, they were awarded an expansion franchise in Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS). It’s called the Rockford Thunder.
*** National ***
* AP | Senate passes $9 billion in spending cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid requested by Trump: The legislation, which now moves to the House, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the targeted spending, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad. It also could complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and even some Republicans have argued they are ceding congressional spending powers to Trump with little idea of how the White House Office of Management and Budget would apply the cuts.
* BBC | The atomic bomb marker inside your body: One of the earliest uses of the bomb spike was to assist crime investigators seeking to identify the age of unidentified human remains. Forensic scientists have found that they can measure bomb carbon-14 in teeth, bones, hair or even the lens of the eye to help them estimate how old a person was, or when they died, according to Eden Centaine Johnstone-Belford of Monash University and Soren Blau of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in Australia. In a 2019 review, Centaine Johnstone-Belford and Blau cite multiple examples where the bomb spike has informed police enquiries. For example, in 2010 investigators used it to confirm a body found in a northern Italian lake had been dumped there by the killer the previous year.
* The Atlantic | The States Are Going Full RFK Jr.: Though RFK Jr. has the power to enact monumental change, much of MAHA’s actual successes at reforming the American diet haven’t come from Washington. While states pass law after law cracking down on food, Kennedy’s own biggest action to date has been relatively modest: a campaign pressuring food companies to voluntarily remove synthetic food dyes from their products. The states are out-MAHAing the MAHA king, much to his pleasure.
