* Didn’t work for Vallas, so will it work for Davis?…

WHAT: Former Secretary of State Jesse White will endorse Congressman Danny K. Davis for reelection to the 7th Congressional District.
WHO:Congressman Danny K. Davis
Former Secretary of State Jesse White
Supporters
WHEN: Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. cst
LOCATION: Blessed Sacrament Youth Center, 3600 W. Cermak, Chicago

* The Democrats threw out a lot of red meat yesterday, and the Republicans did it today. One example…

McCombie says that Welch wants to expand Dems House majority from 78 to 84 seats. Plausible given the gerrymandered map + fundraising challenges for Republicans. Though acknowledging it’ll be a “challenging” cycle, she says “bring it on.” #twill https://t.co/kk39om1iF7

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) August 17, 2023

Here’s a clip…

* The Director’s Lawn on the Illinois State Fairgrounds has a problem. The area in front of the stage is in direct sunlight, so folks are content to stand or sit in the cool shady breeze. Both Governor’s Day and Republican Day had good-sized crowds, but you’d never know it because people don’t want to sit in the sun. Maybe the two parties need better crowd wranglers, but maybe also the seating could be made more comfortable for the people who schlep themselves to the events. Here’s Governor’s Day…

Republican day…

This was a problem even before they rearranged the Director’s Lawn to move the stage far away from the road (and potential protesters). But it was quite noticeable this year.

* Interesting…

With the departure/move of Sens. Pacione-Zayas and Van Pelt and Reps. Collins, Hurley, and Robinson, here's what the ol' ILGA tenure chart looks like.

Notably, your average Senate Republican has now served longer than the average member of any other caucus. pic.twitter.com/KaqP8m5g7O

— John Amdor (@JohnAmdor) August 16, 2023

* Press release…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul called for immediate action from the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant work authorization permits for immigrants who have been allowed to enter and remain in the United States temporarily.

Many new arrivals have been “paroled” into the United States, meaning that they are legally allowed in the country while their request for admission is reviewed. Those who have been granted parole are immediately eligible for work authorization, but processing delays have left many newcomers unable to support themselves and their families. This has also placed an increasing and unsustainable burden on states that offer support services to ensure these new arrivals do not go without food, shelter, education and medical care. Raoul joined a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in sending a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling for immediate action to ensure work authorization for new arrivals.

“People who come to America and are authorized to work should not face long wait times and burdensome bureaucratic hurdles,” Raoul said. “Giving immigrants the chance to work helps relieve overburdened safety net resources and provides them an opportunity to contribute to the country in which they have sought refuge.”

Processing delays have left many new arrivals eager to find employment waiting for ten months or more for work permits. Wait times are particularly long for those who require a fee waiver, as they cannot submit their applications online. Of those immigrants who have managed to secure employment authorization, many have lost their jobs due to the expiration of their work permits while renewal applications are pending.

Specifically, Raoul and the attorneys general are urging DHS to:

Grant work authorization upon issuance of parole, or allow parolees who have applied for work authorization to work while those applications are pending.
Address inconsistent lengths of parole and streamline renewal.
Automatically renew work authorization permits whenever parole or other immigration status is renewed, like the process for Temporary Protected Status.
Make work authorization applications with a fee waiver available online to streamline and expedite processes.

* Blasts from the past…

Bailey has finally arrived. pic.twitter.com/siD67cVeXm

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) August 17, 2023

* And…

He’s back: @DarrenBaileyIL was at the State Fair, though not part of the speaking program. Most Republicans didn’t want to talk Trump today, but Bailey said he’s seeking his endorsement over @BostForCongress. @SpeakerMcCarthy is fundraising downtown for Bost today #twill pic.twitter.com/eVpXMgvV2h

— Ben Szalinski (@BenSzalinski) August 17, 2023

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Sun-Times | Trump? Trump who? GOP focuses on rebuilding at State Fair — not party’s indicted presidential frontrunner: After humbling defeats across the state last year, Illinois Republicans on Thursday spoke of rebuilding and trying to gear up support in the Chicago suburbs ahead of next year’s elections — with most steering clear of delving into the effects of former President Donald Trump’s fourth criminal indictment. While Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy vowed the GOP must beat President Joe Biden in 2024 and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2026, he kept his focus on local elections and bashing Chicago as “a great city with lousy governance.”

* Tribune | CPD union pushes to remove 22 serious disciplinary cases from police board’s docket: The union’s request to move the cases was made days after an arbitrator ruled that CPD officers facing serious discipline should have a choice as to whether their cases are decided by the nine-person police board or by an outside third party.

* CST Editorial Board | Lawyers should be present when police interrogate minors: Research shows that 90% of children taken into custody waive their Miranda rights. Or, they might decline an attorney, as a 15-year-old boy did before confessing to a shooting he didn’t commit in Waukegan.

* Center Square | Illinois quick hits: State investigates cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases; Funeral set for migrant toddler; University of Chicago settles tuition-fixing lawsuit: The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a cluster of three Legionnaires’ disease cases. All three cases reside in Findlay and reported illness onset dates between July 30 and August 4. People at increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease are those 50 years of age or older, or those who have certain risk factors such as being a current or former smoker, having a chronic disease, or having a weakened immune system. There have been 215 confirmed cases in Illinois so far this year.

* Daily Herald | Kane County Democrats succeed in push for union labor in county construction projects: Trade unions have a near-monopoly on those apprenticeship programs, meaning any county construction contract worth more than $30,000 must use union workers starting in 2024.

* Illinois Times | CO2 pipeline stalled in Sangamon County: The Republican-controlled board voted unanimously on Aug. 8 to enact a moratorium through Dec. 31 on issuing any permits for future underground storage of CO2 from the proposed CO2 pipeline through the county.

* WICS | Aim high grant program: A bipartisan effort to retain Illinois’ brightest students becomes permanent law: Signed into law by Governor Pritzker, House Bill 301 will now officially make the aim high grant program permanent. “Really, it’s great because it helps kids, it helps families, parents, you know, and most importantly we want these kids to stay in Illinois, want them to invest in Illinois graduate you know work here spend their money here and it’s just a great program to try to help keep the best and brightest in Illinois,” said Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).

* Crain’s | Loop landlord files for bankruptcy in potential delay for office-to-residential conversion: The maneuver could delay a $178 million plan from a pair of local developers aiming to convert Tadros’ property into 247 apartments, one of five projects Chicago planning officials selected earlier this year for further review as part of the city’s LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative.

* SJ-R | Alderman hopes modifications for cannabis-related businesses can spur minority ownership: The resolution would lower the setbacks for such businesses operating in proximity to schools, houses of worship and residential areas. The current setback is 1,500 feet, but the resolution would lower it to 1,000 feet. The setback for businesses that grow cannabis will remain at 1,500 feet.

* Crain‘s | Citadel acquires Yellow debt owned by Apollo, other lenders : An affiliate of Ken Griffin’s Citadel has acquired roughly $485 million in Yellow Corp. debt previously owned by Apollo Global Management Inc. and other senior lenders to the bankrupt trucking firm, according to a person familiar with the matter.

* WBEZ | What to know about Chicago’s Air and Water Show: For the first time since 2018, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the show, along with the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

* Tribune | Chicago Air and Water Show 2023: Lineup, schedule, accessibility and where to watch US Air Force Thunderbirds: Just a few generations ago, flying was a marvel to most Chicagoans. They caught “aviationitis” and loved to watch fantastical flying machines soar over the lakefront. That love affair continued to 1959 when water skiers, games and a diving competition filled the lineup for the city’s first air and water show, which was a celebration for kids in the Chicago Park District’s day camp program. It was produced for just $88.

* Block Club | Here’s How West Siders Can Apply For Federal Flood Assistance: For those who suffered damage to their home and have insurance for their home or apartment, FEMA asks that those residents first file a claim with their insurance provider. Residents who did suffer damage and do not have insurance or have under-insured losses can contact FEMA to register for assistance, according to the federal agency.

* Daily Herald | Why the Northern Illinois Food Bank has not seen demand subside since pandemic: Volunteerism has about doubled since the operation relocated from Park City and nearly tripled in size at a repurposed building in a business park just east of Interstate 94 at Route 176.

* AG News | Governor’s sale of Champions brings in more than $280,000 for Illinois Ag Youth: Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker had the winning bid on the Grand Champion Steer for the 4th year in a row at $105,000 which tied the record the First Lady set in 2021. The steer will be donated to Feeding Illinois and sent to food banks across the state.

* SJ-R | Even minus bidding, grand champion steer ties record price; ‘It’s an incredible feeling’: “It was always a dream, to have the grand champion steer and walk in the Parade of Champions,” admitted Ellerbrock, 16, of Atkinston, Illinois. “I didn’t know if I would get that goal accomplished but it was always in the thoughts, and I was hoping to get there one day.