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Yes, things could still turn ugly, however… (Updated)
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s last week…
I reached out to CoStar and asked if they had any updated numbers. Turns out, those Crain’s numbers compared apples to oranges. Here is what CoStar told me about 2023 hotel occupancy in the Chicago business district for this year’s DNC dates…
The most recent 2024 numbers Costar has are for August 12…
Crain’s was comparing actual numbers last year to pre-booked numbers this year. However, if past is prologue, we can likely expect that the eventual “actualized” number to be significantly higher than the “on the books” number, which is from a week before the DNC began. * Meanwhile, this is from the Washington Post yesterday…
* But here’s the Washington Post today…
* More…
…Adding… Sun-Times…
Hilarious…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Tribune…
* Tribune | Largest planned protest of DNC week begins in Union Park as Chicago officials promise readiness: Demonstrators bearing Palestinian flags and signs had gathered by noon for what is expected to be the largest planned protest of the convention week, ending with a march early this afternoon. Organizers said more than 250 separate groups were part of the demonstration. Rally programming in Union Park kicked off around 12:30 p.m. before a crowd of about 2,000 people, including scores of credentialed journalists. * Sun-Times | Black-Palestinian solidarity has a long history: ‘We’re both extremely dispossessed people’: Chicago community organizer Nino Brown, who is Black, said his turning point to understanding the shared struggle was when Palestinians joined the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after the police killing of Michael Brown Jr. in 2014. “We had tear gas canisters being repelled back by Black people in Ferguson, and they were the same manufacturers, the same tear gas being used to attack Palestinians,” the 33-year-old said. “For me that cemented the idea that we have common oppressors. * Daily Herald | ‘Positive energy’: Democratic stars mingle with Illinois delegates: DuPage County Chair and delegate Deb Conroy said the enthusiasm about the ticket of Harris and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is “contagious.” And with several Midwestern states up for grabs, “a lot of people in Illinois are so excited they’re willing to go to Wisconsin and knock on doors.” * Politico | ‘Uncommitted’ delegates want to keep the pressure up on Harris: Leaders of the pro-Palestinian “uncommitted” movement are warning that Vice President Kamala Harris could lose votes — and, potentially, key swing states — if there is not an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel, something they acknowledge she does not support. “She is at risk of losing key swing states, especially in states like Michigan, where we have the largest concentration of Arab Americans and Muslim Americans — people who know firsthand the effects and the impact of American-funded bombing,” Layla Elabed, a leader of the “uncommitted” movement from Michigan, said in response to a POLITICO reporter’s question at a press conference this morning. Capitol News Illinois, the Sun-Times and Block Club have live updates all day. * Axios | Alexi Giannoulias hobbles into the DNC: Giannoulias showed up to the Illinois delegation’s breakfast meeting on Monday sporting a bulky leg cast and walking with crutches due to an injury from three weeks ago. What they’re saying: “I shattered my knee thinking that I’m younger than I am,” Giannoulias told Axios. “I tried to jump onto a fast moving treadmill and I got tossed like a rag doll. My kneecap ended up in my quad.” * SJ-R | Abortion could become legal in Missouri in November. What does it mean for Illinois?: “I’ve been working all over the country to make sure we have referenda on the ballot, even in Florida,” [Governor JB Pritzker] told a State Journal-Register reporter during an impromptu press conference following Governor’s Day. “That’s not only going to help women in those states, protect their rights, but also bring people out to vote who are going to vote Democratic.” * Tribune | Monarch butterfly numbers have dropped this summer in Illinois, Upper Midwest, experts say: At the national Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, which tracks the number of eggs the butterflies are laying, the counts are down, both in the Prairie State and the larger region, according to the project’s founder and coordinator Karen Oberhauser. […] The U.S. government has determined that the showy orange and black butterflies qualify for threatened or endangered species status, but has effectively waitlisted them. * Tribune | As DNC begins, nurses at nearby University of Illinois Hospital go on strike: The nurses, who are represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, say they want pay that’s on-par with other area hospitals, better staffing and more security at the health system, citing examples of nurses who’ve been attacked by patients. The nurses’ four-year contract expired Monday. More than 650 nurses had shown up to picket outside University of Illinois Hospital, as of Monday morning, according to the union. * Crain’s | Chicago AI-software firm ModelOp gets $10M from Baird: Software maker ModelOp raised $10 million in a deal led by Chicago-based Baird Capital. Its software is used by customers to make sure AI models for data analytics developed by companies comply with internal and external compliance rules. Customers include Fidelity Investments, Bristol Myers Squibb and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which regulates investment broker-dealers. Four of the top 10 financial institutions also are customers, says ModelOp CEO Pete Foley. * Tribune | Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Foster has ‘new appreciation’ after returning from Tommy John surgery: The recovery and rehab from Tommy John surgery was complete. All that was left was getting back on a big-league mound. “As soon as the (seventh) inning finished, I was like, ‘All right, it’s time to go. Get back on again,’” the right-handed reliever said Saturday in Houston. * Naperville Sun | Naperville police charge man with loaded gun at Topgolf lot — arrest no. 23 since August 2023: A convicted felon allegedly driving with open alcohol, cannabis and a loaded gun Sunday became the 23rd suspect to be arrested on an illegal firearm charge in the Naperville Topgolf parking lot, officials said. Courtney Bennett, 36, of Dolton, was taken into custody about 12:55 a.m. after Naperville police officers observed him and a female passenger drive an Alfa Romeo into the Topgolf lot, 3211 Odyssey Court, with a “gun in plain view in the center console along with two open cans of an alcoholic beverage, Spiked Minute Maid,” a Naperville Police Department/DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release said. * Lake County News-Sun | Rock the Ride event raises money, awareness about gun violence; ‘We want to bring the community together’: Laurie Levin, the chair of the Highland Park Community Foundation, understands firsthand the continuing necessity to raise money to help those who experienced trauma or worse at the Fourth of July parade shooting more than two years ago. Marching in the parade when a lone gunman fired 83 rounds in 96 seconds, “killing seven, wounding dozens and causing trauma for countless more,” she said she understood the lingering effects while at Ravinia listening to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” last month. * Lake County News-Sun | Hawthorn Woods opposes proposed Aqua Illinois rate hike: Hawthorn Woods officials formally approved a resolution and drafted a letter to the Illinois Commerce Commission objecting to a proposed rate hike by its private water utility supplier. Kankakee-based Aqua Illinois wants an increase of approximately $30 per bill to fund infrastructure upgrades and rising operational costs. * Daily Herald | Proposed beekeeping zoning change creates buzz in DuPage County: Before DuPage County Board members loosen beekeeping restrictions, some groups want them to consider the sting those changes may have on native bees. County board members recently delayed a vote that would have allowed beekeeping on smaller lots. Right now, beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated areas on lots that are an acre or larger. * Rockford Register Star | 89 faculty, staff lose jobs: What led to Western Illinois University’s most recent cuts: The announcement came just days before the beginning of a new fall semester at the Macomb, Illinois, public university and less than two months after 36 contingent faculty were informed that their contracts would not be renewed. WIU has found itself struggling with a shrinking student body, the fallout of the 2015-17 budget impasse and state appropriations that haven’t kept pace with inflation. Now, the university is trying to shrink its budget deficit and escape a cash crunch — and WIU officials say there aren’t many options left. * NPR | As Democrats meet in Chicago, Illinois’ role in abortion access is in the spotlight: At Hope Clinic in Granite City, Ill., Dr. Erin King and her staff have rearranged the waiting room for patients who’ve been traveling here from across the country. There are spaces for children to play and for families to relax or watch TV. “Most of our patients have kids, and so if they’re able to come, they can bring their kids with them,” King says. There’s also a supply closet stocked with diapers, snacks and hygiene supplies that patients and their families might need during their trip. King describes it as a “little, mini 7-Eleven — but all free.” * WIRED | Trump Shares AI-Generated Images Claiming Swifties Are Supporting Him: One of the screenshots Trump shared was from an anonymous pro-Trump account with over 300,000 followers that regularly posts AI-generated images. Following its post about Swifties for Trump, this account shared a follow-up post that said the original Swifties for Trump post was “satire.”
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Speaker Welch asked about staff union lawsuit during DNC breakfast
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * A reporter noted to House Speaker Chris Welch this morning that a status hearing is being held this week regarding the lawsuit filed by the Illinois Legislative Staff Association, a group of Welch’s employees who are trying to organize a union. Welch was asked how the lawsuit effects his message on workers’ rights…
Thoughts?
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Question of the day
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * US Sen. Tammy Duckworth was asked today what she thought about Gov. JB Pritzker running for a third term. He’s said in recent days that the decision was kinda up to his wife, MK. Here’s what Duckworth said…
Please pardon all transcription errors. Also, video is here. * House Speaker Chris Welch was asked what the legislature’s large Democratic super-majority and a third term for Pritzker would mean to the state and to his working relationship…
* The Question: Do you think Gov. Pritzker should run for a third term? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Also, I’m not asking if you think he will run, I’m asking if you think he should run.
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Roundup: Illinois delegate breakfast kicks off Day 1 of DNC
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Minnesota’s First Lady Gwen Walz was a surprise speaker this morning…
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Here are the districts where Speaker Welch claims he can pick up four to six House seats
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers know a lot more about these races, but here’s a quick overview via my weekly newspaper column…
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Open thread
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: The Democratic National Convention starts today… * Block Club | First DNC Protest Kicks Off Downtown Sunday As Hundreds March For Gaza, Abortion Rights: Sunday’s rally and protest Downtown was organized by the Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws coalition, which includes a wide range of pro-choice, LGBTQ+, pro-Palestinian and various left wing groups. The march came about a week after the group was issued a permit, which it had to sue the city to obtain. The rally was held a day before the DNC officially kicks off Monday and will run through Thursday night.
* Tribe | Organizers worry about mass arrests and police violence during DNC: “We have seen throughout history, from 1919 to 1968 to 2020, that the Chicago Police Department has used violence and other forms of police misconduct to quell protests, and particularly protests that are challenging the status quo,” Sheila Bedi said. She is a clinical law professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and director of the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic. “So there’s a real concern that some of those same strategies will go into play in response to protests for the Democratic Convention in 2024,” Bedi continued. * Mother Jones | Chicago’s Mayor Owes His Career to Activism. How Will He Handle Demonstrators at the DNC?: Johnson’s political beginnings weren’t that different from those of the activists supporting his candidacy. He started his career as a public school middle school teacher in a neighborhood once dubbed “the most dangerous” in the city. He went on to become a paid organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union, known for its polarizing yet successful teacher strikes in 2012 and 2019. In an effort to re-open a shuttered high school in 2015, Johnson joined a hunger strike and refused to eat solid foods for more than a week. Amid the racial justice protests of 2020, Johnson authored a resolution as a Cook County commissioner to “redirect funds from policing” to public services. (On the controversial concept of defunding the police, Johnson once said on a radio show, “I don’t look at it as a slogan. It’s an actual real political goal.”) * NBC Chicago | Pritzker confirms members of Illinois National Guard ‘on standby’ during DNC: During a press availability, Pritzker said that the Illinois Guard members in the city are trained as military police, but that residents shouldn’t expect to see them taking on an active role during the DNC. “They are really on standby,” he said. “They are at the perimeter. Nobody expects that we’ll have to use them for anything very serious. We also want to make sure we have additional law enforcement type folks who are in uniform, and who are trained to be police available.”
* Sun-Times | As DNC hits Chicago, Microsoft warns of deepfake artificial-intelligence attacks: President Joe Biden became a target of satirical, manipulated videos before he dropped his reelection bid. And a deepfake photo after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was altered to make it appear Secret Service agents smiled as they encircled him — apparently an effort to make the shooting appear to be a hoax. * ABC Chicago | Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants Chicago DNC to energize party, city: “Oh boy. Well, I have to say, if you look at the excitement level of the Democratic Party, and frankly, people all over the United States, independents and Republicans for the Harris-Walz ticket, you’ll see that this excitement is going to last all the way through the election,” Pritzker said. But the governor still expects the election will be close. * Lake County News Sun | Lake County Democrats looking forward to ‘historic’ DNC: ‘I don’t think Hollywood could have scripted it better’: State Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, a first-time convention delegate and attendee, said she is emotionally charged at the prospect of seeing a woman of color nominated to become president of the United States. Though the Democrats nominated former President Barack Obama as the first man of color in 2008, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the first woman in 2016, Vice President Kamala Harris could be the first to break two glass ceilings. * Sun-Times | DNC related events you can attend, no convention credentials needed: The party will be jumpin’ for five days straight in the heart of downtown, thanks to the city’s “Celebrating Chicago at Daley Plaza” event, spearheaded by Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). The schedule includes performances by House music DJs, youth tumblers and drill team members, and more. There will also be cultural activities, as well as local cuisine and unique items crafted by local vendors. From Aug. 19 to 23, Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. Admission is free. Visit chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca.html for the full schedule. * Block Club | More Parking Restrictions Near United Center Added Ahead Of DNC: Officials previously revealed the areas around the United Center and McCormick Place where pedestrian and vehicle access would be restricted during the DNC, which kicks off Monday. But parking in some areas outside the designated “security footprint” also will be affected due to “security and logistical needs,” officials said in a press release Thursday. Restricted parking and access for cars now extends as far north as Lake Street, while restricted access for cars now goes as far as Hoyne Avenue to the west. * Sun-Times | Democratic convention roll call to be transformed into a Harris-Walz rally with DJ, music and surprise guests: The vibe of the first-of-its kind roll call on Tuesday, Democratic convention planners say, is intended to be that of a celebration. The roll call comes before the prime time speakers take the stage, former President Barack Obama and, the Sun-Times has confirmed, former first lady Michelle. * Shaw Local | Trump supporters rally in Woodstock ahead of DNC, vow to fight ‘Kama-nism’: Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice spoke, calling Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, as “the most anti-parent candidate” and saying “there is no such thing as a transgender child.” Former Trump advisers Roger Stone and Michael Flynn were among those billed to appear but was a no-shows. Stephen Moore, an economist and visiting fellow at the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, spoke and referred to Harris and Walz as “fiscal pyromaniacs.” Moore also questioned how to pronounce Harris’ first name. * WBBM | Chicago church gets visit from Georgia senator ahead of Democratic convention: Ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) visited Bronzeville’s Apostolic Faith Church with a message to the congregation. Warnock, who’s been a pastor for decades, gave a sermon focused largely on what he described as a “precious exercise” in self-governance. * NYT | JB Pritzker Is Ready to Party at a Convention He Made Happen: In short, the city might be the mayor’s, but the party this week will be the governor’s. “I think his role can’t be overstated,” said State Representative Kam Buckner, an ally in the legislature and a rising star in Chicago politics. “The world is watching, and Governor Pritzker is acutely aware of that.” * Tribune | Former Mayor Richard Daley expected to be in Chicago for DNC but keeping it ‘low key’: Bill Daley said he also expects to attend some of this year’s DNC events along with his brother John, a Cook County Board commissioner. He didn’t detail when or where his brother the former mayor will appear this year but noted how important it was that Chicago pulled off a successful convention in 1996, adding a “debacle” back then would have made it tough for Chicago to land this year’s DNC. * NBC Chicago | Gov. JB Pritzker proclaims Malort the ‘unofficial shot’ of the Chicago DNC: Pritzker has been a proponent of Malört for some time now, and he proclaimed it the “Unofficial Shot” of the DNC this weekend. During an interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki, Pritzker described Malört as a drink that tests the “mettle” of the person consuming it. * USA Today | Gov. JB Pritzker was Biden’s man in the Midwest. Where’s that leave him with VP Harris?: “So here we sit, a few months out from the election, struggling with the answer to a profound question: How do we save ourselves?” Pritzker asked the Ohio Democratic Party faithful at their annual gathering on a sticky July afternoon. […] “If we stop worrying about whether they might call us woke and instead worry about whether we’re actually waking people up,” he continued. “If we stopped being so damned afraid of a little chaos and just embraced it as a path from here to there: we will win.” * Tribune | On the eve of historic DNC, Chicago named host city for NAACP’s 2026 convention: The NAACP National Convention will hold its 117th annual gathering in Chicago in July 2026, the civil rights organization and the city announced Sunday. Chicago was previously the site of the NAACP convention in 1926 and most recently in 1994, when some 40,000 attendees saw then-President Bill Clinton as a featured speaker. Two years later, Clinton would return to Chicago for the 1996 DNC, where he was nominated for his second term as president. * WCIA | ISP hands Heinz Funeral Home investigation to State’s Attorney: The Illinois State Police wrapped up their investigation to Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville and handed it over to the Macoupin County State’s Attorney. State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison told WCIA Friday that his office is reviewing the findings to determine if he should file charges. * Effingham Radio | Finalists And Winner Of 2024 Governor’s Hometown Awards Announced: Each year, these awards give formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life. […] Teen Turf is a year-round operation that operates a free after-school and summer program for children. They serve an average of 20-45 students from toddler to high school age with reading, creativity, and team building; additionally, they encourage community service through their “Clean and Green” program. * Journal & Topics | Aaron Del Mar Named State GOP Co-Chair: Aaron Del Mar, one of three in the running last month for Illinois Republican Party chairman, was appointed state party co-chair on Thursday, Aug, 15. Del Mar, Palatine Township Republican committeeman and Republican state central committeeman for the 5th Congressional District said he was “humbled and honored” to be given the co-chair role by the party’s new chair, Kathy Salvi. * Center Square | Wrongful conviction awareness now taught at all police academies: With Illinois being home to the top state in the country for wrongful convictions, the state agency that oversees police training has now signed off on a plan mandating Wrongful Conviction Awareness and Avoidance Training courses at all local police academies. Approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the first of its kind courses come as data shows wrongly convicted individuals have spent upwards of 21,000 years in U.S. prisons before being exonerated. * WTTW | Swarms of Dragonflies Are on the Move Across Illinois, Part of a Great and Mysterious Migration: “This is the time of year right now, this is the thick of it. It’s just so exciting to see hundreds of them aloft,” said Crosby, who coordinates dragonfly monitoring at Morton Arboretum and Nachusa Grasslands. “We’ll see 100, we’ll see 300 in a migrating swarm. You’ll see them move across interstates — I’ve seen them move across I-90.” * Sun-Times | Decayed State Street towers attract interest from Chicago developer betting on Loop turnaround: Federal officials, including judges in the U.S. District Court here, had deemed the buildings a security threat and Congress set aside $52 million to raze them. But because they are part of the Loop’s historic retail corridor, the GSA couldn’t act until it finished hearings about their future. In a surprising bureaucratic turn, the agency last week published its preference for renovation instead of wreckage, while attaching conditions that could scare off private sector interest. It said it must retain property ownership and it ruled out uses that could affect security such as creating residences, a hotel or worship space. * Daily Herald | Strike by drivers hits Chicago paratransit riders: Pace warned paratransit riders in Chicago Friday about delays and reduced capacity on vehicles after workers with contractor SCR Medical Transportation went on strike. The action came after SCR Medical Transportation drivers voted to authorize a walkout Wednesday, leaders with Teamsters Local 727 said. “Service will continue to be provided, but this will likely impact service in the city of Chicago, resulting in limited capacity and service delays,” Pace administrators announced in a statement on their website. * Sun-Times | For migrant kids in Chicago, a free soccer program offered a little summer fun: The Amigos Unidos FC, or United Friends, program mostly drew children who are from Colombia and Venezuela. Two friends at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign started it, aiming to reach migrant kids who love soccer. * Sun-Times | Mike Royko exhibit aimed at people who admired the columnist and people who never heard of him: For a certain generation of Chicagoans, it’s unimaginable growing up not knowing the name Mike Royko. But a lot of people in their 20s and younger who grew up as print media declined have never heard of the famed Chicago newspaper columnist. Northwestern English professor Bill Savage and a group of curators at the Newberry Library hope to change that with an exhibition that opened Thursday entitled “Chicago Style: Mike Royko and Windy City Journalism.” * Sun=Times | QB Caleb Williams flashes magic, eventually, in Bears’ victory: For 1½ quarters Saturday, Caleb Williams looked awfully similar to the ghosts of Bears quarterbacks past, stumbling through three consecutive three-and-outs, being flagged for intentional grounding and taking a sack. When he finally led the Bears to a field goal by Cairo Santos, he was aided in part by a 43-yard pass-interference penalty on a deep shot to Tyler Scott. * Block Club | The Onion Is Back In Print: The Onion is known for its satirical headlines, but the latest news to come out of the Chicago-based publication isn’t a joke: It’s back in print after more than a decade. The Onion is offering 12 monthly print editions for a limited-time price of $60, including a special issue for the Democratic National Convention available for those who subscribe within the next two weeks. The price will normally be $99. Learn more and buy a subscription here. * CBS Chicago | Chicago area corrections officer brought drug-soaked paper into jail, police say: The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said Jones was paid $1,000 to take the paper and deliver it to a man in custody at the jail. Testing revealed the paper contained synthetic cannabinoids. Jones was hired as a deputy in June 2019 and has been on “injured on duty” status since July 15, 2024, after she was injured while attempting to intervene in a fight between two individuals in custody. She was de-deputized on July 25 after she was interviewed by investigators related to the drug case. The sheriff’s office is conducting a separate internal investigation and Jones may be subject to disciplinary action including being fired as a result of the probe. * WGN | Dolton deputy police chief facing new lawsuit over overtime pay: Lacey is being sued by the Village of Dolton for overtime they say he paid himself but was never eligible to receive. The lawsuit alleges that between August of 2023 and July of 2024, Lacey submitted and approved nearly $140,000 in overtime for himself, even though he’s a salaried employee and not entitled to overtime pay. * Daily Herald | ‘It’s all about the bumblebees’: Dogs looking for nests help effort to boost pollinator habitats and population: “Today, it’s all about the bumblebees,” explained Kathryn McCabe, wildlife ecologist. More precisely, finding bumblebee nests generally located underground. Finding them helps researchers studying habitat preference and colony behavior. There are 12 species in Lake County, including the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee. * Crain’s | Activist investor takes stake in Portillo’s: Engaged Capital, an activist investor with a track record of targeting restaurant operators including Shake Shack, has taken a nearly 10% stake in Oak Brook-based Portillo’s and said it has been in discussions with management about “potential steps to unlock the intrinsic value” of the business. In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the Newport Beach, Calif.-based investment firm disclosed that those conversations have included potential changes to the company’s board of directors and a possible sale of the business. Citing unnamed sources, the Chicago Tribune reports management changes are not being discussed. * WCIA | Sangamon Co. announces commission to address systemic issues after Sonya Massey’s death; volunteers wanted: The announcement of the new group came Friday morning. County officials said the purpose for the commission is to “address systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses, and community relations” and come up with tangible solutions to implement in the county. County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said he has been working with Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) to come up with solutions since last month, and the latest board meeting affirmed the idea for the commission. * SJ-R | Senior housing locations across Illinois listed for sale following bankruptcy: Two Springfield area elderly assistance locations have been listed for sale according to their parent company, Christian Horizons. The St. Louis-based senior housing company, which operates and owns Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield and The Christian Village on South Seventh Street in Lincoln, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 16, according to Senior Housing News. The nonprofit company served 12 communities of independent living, assisted living and long-term health services for seniors across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri. The Christian Horizons website lists all of their locations currently operating. * PJ-Star | Police reports reveal evidence of embezzlement by former WTVP CEO Lesley Matuszak: The Peoria Police Department would have had probable cause to arrest the former CEO of Peoria’s PBS affiliate on embezzlement charges had she not killed herself, according to a recently completed investigation. Police reports obtained by the Journal Star indicate that both police and the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office agreed that there would have been probable cause to arrest Lesley Matuszak, who served as CEO for WTVP from 2019 to her resignation in September 2023, on charges of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the station’s coffers over a two-year period from 2022-2023. * NBC | Elon Musk’s rightward turn includes a fringe fascination: Civil war: Tech billionaire Elon Musk has repeatedly prophesied a future civil war related to immigration. Musk has posted about the subject on his social media platform X at least eight times in the past 10 months, according to a review of his posts by NBC News. And his posts usually include a specific prediction: He thinks that Europe in particular is headed toward a “civil war” due to the arrival of refugees from other continents. * Bloomberg | CVS defeat shows quiet ways drug middlemen try to influence care: A recent court defeat for CVS Health Corp. is shining a light on how health-care corporations wield their financial might over doctors and pharmacies in ways that can put profits over patient care. With more than a dozen similar cases still pending in private arbitration, the pharmacy giant has millions of dollars on the line. The most recent conflict got so heated that members of Congress cited it as an example of CVS’s overreach during a July hearing where pharmacy benefit managers faced bipartisan scorn over the power they exert over patient care.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Aug 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * See you Monday… They’d put us on a railroad
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Forbes…
* Prairie Farmer | Who owns the most farmland in Illinois?: Nearly 60% of all farmland in Illinois is owned by absentee landowners and farmed by someone else. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns the most farmland in Illinois, with nearly 54,000 acres. Farmland Partners comes in second; Bill Gates is a distant sixth, with less than a third of the Morman church’s acres. * Investigate Midwest | Corteva, Pioneer Hi-Bred settle lawsuit with farmworkers sprayed with pesticides: A group of migrant agricultural workers who were sprayed with pesticides while working in a central Illinois cornfield in 2019 reached a confidential settlement late last month with Corteva and its subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, ending a three-year lawsuit with the seed giants. The case against the companies that owned and operated the aircrafts that sprayed the workers is ongoing. * Tribune | DNC protest groups win concessions from city over stages, sound system for Union Park rally: A coalition of activist groups set for a massive protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week has won concessions from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration allowing them to set up stages and sound systems for rallies in a park near the United Center. The agreement, which was reached after hours of back-room negotiations between the parties, nullifies an emergency motion filed in U.S. District Court earlier this week alleging the city had violated protestors’ First Amendment rights by restricting how the rallies could be staged. * Bloomberg | Cops Vow to Avert Risk of Havoc From DNC Protesters Converging in Chicago: In preparation for the Democratic gathering, police studied the failures of 2020 and implemented enhanced training for about 2,500 officers. Chicago is also bringing in as many as 500 police from outside the city, who will be placed around the convention. Some will come from Milwaukee, where Chicago sent officers last month to help with the Republican National Convention. * WGN | Downtown Chicago businesses board up ahead of Democratic National Convention: Crews with a business called Chicago Board Up Services say they’ve boarded up at least a dozen locations around the West Loop, downtown and Daley Plaza and have plans to work on additional businesses weekend. “If you feel you’re in any type of line where you feel there’s going to be a lot of commotion — we’re not pushing it — we’re hoping the city will be comfortable and there wont be no unrest. But if you feel you want your doors boarded, it’s better to have them boarded up than have to wait and replace glass,” said business manager Vicki Fichter. * Block Club | Activists Fighting Protest Restrictions At Union Park As DNC Legal Battle Comes Down To The Wire: At a press conference Friday morning, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the restrictions aim to ensure the protesters can exercise their First Amendment rights in a safe environment “in an environment that allows their voices to be maximized and heard.” “As far as staging, microphones and all of that, that is being provided. We’re working out the details around porta potties,” Johnson said. “I’m going to make sure that these individuals have everything that they need to make sure that their voices are heard.”
* Tribune | List of officers recommended for firing grows to 50 as process to discipline Chicago cops in the most serious cases remains frozen : The Chicago Police Department concluded nearly two years ago that one of its officers sexually assaulted a woman in the back seat of her car while she was intoxicated and unable to give consent. […] The officer in the assault case was hired in 2019 and is now 28 years old. He has remained on CPD’s payroll, though stripped of his police powers and assigned to desk duty since July 2022. FOP President John Catanzara told the Tribune that the union did not provide any legal assistance to the officer because the alleged conduct was not related to any sort of police action and allegedly occurred while the officer was off duty. * Sun-Times | COPA releases video of Auburn Gresham police chase that caused severe head injury to man who died weeks later: As officers attempt to handcuff Curry, who is motionless on the ground, a witness off camera can be heard telling the officers “you didn’t have to slam him like that.” One of the officers replies “no, he tripped.” The man replies “He ain’t trip. You pushed him. I watched you.” * Block Club | Chicago Public Schools Says Teachers Union Proposals Would Lead To $4 Billion Deficit By 2029-30: Granting just 52 of the union’s 700-plus contract proposals would widen the district’s deficit from a projected $509 million next fiscal year, to roughly $3 billion, said Mike Sitkowski, the district’s budget director. That gap would grow by another $1 billion by fiscal year 2030, he said. Deficits are already projected for each of the next five years, without the cost of a new contract, CPS officials have said. In order to balance future budgets, the district will have to find more funding or will make cuts to staff and programs, they said.
* Block Club | On The Cusp Of Chicago’s Strategic Plan Release, Charter Schools Demand More Details: In December, the school board backed a resolution spelling out its intent of breaking with choice and privatization. Charter advocates read privatization as code for charter schools, which are public campuses run by private entities. They have demanded reassurance from the district and the board that the plan won’t be an assault on charters. District officials have stayed mum on details of the plan, which also has caused some anxiety among families at district-run magnet and selective enrollment schools. Officials have said they wanted to first gather community feedback at a series of public meetings and in other settings this past spring. * Sun-Times | Judge says Ed Burke got 2-year prison sentence for ’significant reasons’: Kendall cited Burke’s age — he’s 80. She said “prison will be more difficult” for him, and she mentioned his health problems. She said Burke “did not obstruct justice” like Cui. “He did not lie to the FBI.” And yes, she said, Burke “served in the military and the police.” The judge also said she documented “just dozens and dozens of good works” that “were not tied to the gravitas of [Burke’s] position,” but rather “acts of kindness and generosity that he did outside of his position as an alderman.” Then, she turned to Cui, ultimately giving him a higher sentence. * Daily Southtown | Calumet City aldermen skeptical of Mayor Thaddeus Jones plan to use TIF funds to abate property taxes: Jones has pitched a proposal to transfer $2 million from tax increment financing districts to the pockets of some residents. However, some aldermen are skeptical, saying the plan could face legal challenges and do more harm than good for the city’s long-term economic prospects. […] Jones’ plan, which he hopes to pass through the council once he drums up enough support, would transfer 80% of the city’s generated TIF funds to Cook County to offset some residents’ property taxes. An analysis by the Cook County treasurer’s office found Calumet City has the sixth highest municipal tax rate in the county, exceeding 20%. * Daily Southtown | Thornton Township trustees say they need more information on bills, residents slam bickering by board: Henyard, at Thursday’s township meeting, said she tries to make herself available to trustees if they have questions about how money is spent. “My line is open to any board member sitting here,” she said. […] [Trustee Carmen Carlisle] said she has been contacted by vendors who’ve done work for the township and submitted bills, but that in some instances the supervisor doesn’t include them on the list of bills for the board to review and approve. * WAND | Sonya Massey Commission established to address systemic issues in Sangamon County: Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter, and State Senator Doris Turner announced on Friday the formation of a citizens’ commission to address systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses, and community relations. “Since Sonya Massey’s death, I’ve been dedicated to ensuring our community trusts those elected to serve and those called to provide service,” said Senator Turner. “I hope the Sonya Massey Commission honors her life by finding solutions to advance our community.” * WCIA | Champaign Police Training Institute aims to improve process, involve community: For the Police Training Institute in Champaign, they have a routine cemented in an almost 70-year tradition. Now, they’re looking to make some changes. Since 1955, the Police Training Institute on the University of Illinois’ campus has trained officers from all over the state, focusing not only on physical fitness and tactical skills but also on legal, ethical, and psychological factors of policing. * The Southern | JALC construction projects look to revitalize and modernize campus: Dr. Kirk Overstreet, president of John A. Logan College, said that while the campus will see its fair share of dust in the short term, the projects will ultimately improve the college’s future outlook. “It would not be my first preference to be doing six projects all at once on campus,” Overstreet said. “But in the long run, it will have a whole new look on campus. It’ll freshen us up, and really bring us up to the 21st century.” * Illinois Times | Legislating gender: A member of Congress who represents portions of Sangamon County is sponsoring legislation to define, in federal law, what is a male and a female. The move by U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, stirred consternation among LGBTQ advocates and cheers from those skeptical of the concept of gender fluidity. * Nieman Lab | “AI reporters” are covering the events of the day in Northwest Arkansas: Each story on the site is bylined by an AI avatar. Together the avatars form a ragtag newsroom of faux beat reporters. “Arlo Artiste” is apparently on the pulse of the arts and culture scene in Northwest Arkansas, “Miles Rythmic” is the designated music critic, and “Sammy Streets” is your bootstrap “street-level reporter.” They are each visualized as a literal robot, most with a microphone in hand. * The Nation | California’s AI Safety Bill Is a Mask-Off Moment for the Industry: “Does SB 1047…spell the end of the Californian technology industry?” Yann LeCun, the chief AI scientist at Meta and one of the so-called “godfathers” of the artificial intelligence boom, asked in June. LeCun was echoing the panicked reaction of many in the tech community to SB 1047, a bill currently making its way through the California State Legislature. The legislation would create one of the country’s first regulatory regimes specifically designed for AI. SB 1047 passed the state Senate nearly unopposed and is currently awaiting a vote in the state Assembly. But it faces a barrage of attacks from some of Silicon Valley’s most influential players, who have framed it as nothing less than a death knell for the future of technological innovation. * Atlantic | America Has a Hot-Steel Problem: A basic fact of thermodynamics is coming to haunt every foot of train track in the United States. Heat makes steel expand, moving its molecules farther apart, and as hot days become hotter and more frequent, rail lines are at risk of warping and buckling more often. Any fix must deal with this fundamental truth of physics. Railroads can slow their trains down, which avoids adding more heat. Or they can leave gaps in a rail (or cut them as an emergency measure), which relieves pressure that causes track to bulge but means a potentially bumpier and slower ride. Painting tracks white would help deflect heat, but the paint would need to be reapplied frequently. Adapting to this reality will be expensive, and might ultimately just look as it does now: slow the trains, cut the track, issue a delay. * AP | Woman charged in brazen plot to extort Elvis Presley’s family and auction off Graceland: Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, falsely claimed Presley’s daughter borrowed $3.8 million from a bogus private lender and had pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan before her death last year, prosecutors said. She then threatened to sell Graceland to the higher bidder if Presley’s family didn’t pay a $2.85 million settlement, according to authorities.
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State Fair roundup
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WAND…
* Behold, “Dawn of the Cicada”…
* More fair moments from the app formally known as Twitter…
* WICS…
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has a live feed of piglets. * WGEM…
* More…
* News-Gazette | After more than 70 years, Fisher’s Seten still loves her annual State Fair excursions: The former Rose Denny got hooked on going to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield as a 15-year-old. It was 1954, and she showed horses. Seventy-one years later, she still gets a thrill from going to the fair. Every year. […] Rose, who switched from showing horses to entering items in the food competition until a few years ago, said the state fair is popular because “for the average person, it’s an introduction to agriculture in Illinois.” * WICS | Illinois State Police to slide with Abraham Lincoln at State Fair: On Friday, August 16 at 11 a.m., Illinois State Police troopers will join Abraham Lincoln as they hit the bright yellow slopes of the Illinois State Fair Giant Slide. The officers are pleased to offer an excellent security detail as they slide down the iconic structure with Lincoln. * SJ-R | Springfield-area ice cream shop’s special sweet treat wins award at Illinois State Fair: Chatham’s own Scoop Du Jour is the winner of the 2024 Golden Abe Fantastic Fair Food Contest, a hotly contested race every year at the Illinois State Fair. The winning item was a fair exclusive: the donut ice cream sandwich which consists of a sprinkle donut with a cookies and cream ice cream scoop wedged in between.
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‘We’ve made a lot of progress but we can’t never stop’ - 1908 Springfield race riot site is now a national monument
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * C-SPAN…
* Reuters…
* NPR…
* An excerpt of the 2008 story from NPR…
* Courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum…
* WAND…
…Adding… Sen. Tammy Duckworth…
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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.
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Rep. Harper complains her district is being short-changed by cannabis equity implementation
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * From Wednesday…
* Today from Rep. Harper…
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Terryl and Becky, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Your moment of zen
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Isabel and I took the pontoon boat for a ride last night. While I was putting the boat away, she let Oscar out of the house and he waited for me on the back deck…
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DNC Chicago coverage roundup
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WBEZ…
* NBC’s senior national political reporter…
* More…
* Semafor | Here come the Democratic National Convention protests: Protest organizers in Chicago expect between 30,000 and 40,000 people to join Monday’s march on the Democratic National Convention, and are asking the city for a permit that would get them closer to the event itself. “We’re going to march regardless, but we’re fighting for the best route possible,” said Faayani Aboma Mijana, a spokesperson for the March on the DNC coalition. “We’ve got our park permit, but the City has refused to allow us to use port-a-potties, a stage, and a sound system.” * Sun-Times | Poor People’s Army plans to march to ‘front doors’ of the DNC next week — but not ‘to cause a ruckus’: The Poor People’s Army was granted a permit to march during the DNC on a technicality. The city failed to respond to the group’s application within its own 10-day deadline. Its march kicks off at 4 p.m. Monday from the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts, 3015 W. Division St., in Humboldt Park. The 1.5-mile march will head east on Division Street and then south on Western Avenue. * Crain’s | Why the DNC could be a bust for Chicago restaurants: “We’re not seeing much of a change for our normal business,” said Jim Lasky, co-owner of Gold Coast steakhouse Maple & Ash. Reservations have remained relatively steady, he thinks, because DNC events are scheduled at night during Maple & Ash’s regular dinner hours. […] Lasky is one of many local owners who say the convention is not shaping up to be the business driver they initially thought. Other operators in River North, the Fulton Market District and the Loop said their reservations during DNC week are either on par with or slightly lower than last year during the same period. * Tribune | As the DNC looms, how will Mayor Brandon Johnson sell Chicago — and himself?: Johnson is slated to speak Monday evening at the made-for-TV event and plans to underscore the host city’s successes and significance in the Democratic Party, per sources close to the mayor. […] Monday evening will likely be the most visible moment Johnson gets inside the United Center, where dozens of speakers will be trotted out over four days to cheer on Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination. For his part, the mayor intends to seize the opportunity to pitch Chicago to party bigwigs, out-of-town politicos, business titans, everyday voters, naysayers and other observers — while connecting the city’s liberal values to Harris’ candidacy, per his political team. * WTTW | Illinois Democratic Party Chair on the DNC: ‘There’s Just So Much at Stake Right Now’: “This is an opportunity for us as a party,” [Rep. Lisa Hernandez] said. “… We have targeted in particular, two congressional districts, the 13th and the 17th, which is Nikki Budzinski, Eric Sorensen, and this is an opportunity within those districts, if there is any other targeted districts, from bottom ballot all the way up, to make sure that people are coming out to vote in this ticket is a way to use, for all races of all government levels. So really taking advantage of that moment.” * ABC Chicago | DNC volunteer appreciation rally thrown at Wrigley Field; Gov. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Stratton speak: “Our volunteers ages range from 16 to 102,” said JD Van Slyke, chairperson of the Chicago 2024 Host Committee. “I’m going to be at Chicago Midway greeting the VIPs coming in, greeting them off the airplanes,” said volunteer Crystal Flynn. “I’m going to be very proud.”
* WGN | 12,000 volunteers aged 16 to 100 will help with Democratic National Convention: At Thursday’s party, volunteers will have the opportunity to take photos with the 2016 World Series trophy, stand on home plate, and hear from Gov. JB Pritzker and Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. Another welcome party for delegate and media will be held Saturday and Sunday at Navy Pier. * Tribune | The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s half-century at the DNC: Landmark speeches and presidential bids helped reshape a party: “Reverend Jesse Jackson paved the way for many of us,” said convention Chair Minyon Moore in an email. A Chicago native, Moore’s extensive political resume includes work on Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. “He is a giant in the Civil Rights Movement and embodies the spirit of the more perfect union we strive toward everyday. The Reverend’s legacy isn’t just cemented in the work he’s done, it lives and breathes in each of the lives that he has touched, including mine. His invaluable work has played a key role in propelling us to this historic moment, and his legacy will be reflected in the faces and stories we see on the convention stage.” * Axios | The Dems ditching Chicago: The Senate’s three most vulnerable Democrats are skipping next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago — an effort to fence their campaigns off from the top of the ticket. Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Jon Tester (Mont.) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) all plan to campaign back home instead, Axios has learned.
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Open thread
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Banks file lawsuit challenging Illinois credit card fee law. Tribune…
- Illinois earlier this year became the first state in the nation to enact such a law, prompting outrage and an oppositional ad campaign backed by some of the largest financial institutions in the country. - The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, argues the law should not be enacted in part because it is preempted by federal law for national banks. Other existing laws say it shouldn’t be applied to Illinois or out-of-state banks, the complaint argues. Click here to view the lawsuit. * Related stories… ∙ Law360: Banking Groups Sue To Thwart New Ill. Swipe Fee Restrictions ∙ Bloomberg: Bank, Credit Union Groups Sue Over Illinois Swipe Fee Law ∙ Credit Union Times: Bank & Credit Union Groups File Lawsuit Challenging New Illinois Law * SJ-R | Days of continued licensing delays in Illinois could be coming to an end: With goals to modernize and streamline an archaic system, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation recently announced it had reached an agreement to secure a new professional online licensing system. The state agency, in charge of licensing for health care, occupational professionals and more than 100 other professions, will partner with NIC Licensing Solutions, LLC to create the new online system. The $9 million investment will be paid over the next three years, IDFPR said in a news release. * Tribune | Parking meter payoff for NASCAR cost Chicago $600K over two years: Parking spot closures tied to the race cost Chicago $348,306 in 2023 and another $273,665 in 2024, a Tribune records request revealed. The over $600,000 in so-called true-up costs covered by the city and owed to the parking meter system’s private owner further complicates the cost-benefit analysis of the race as the city and racing authority weigh its long-term future. * Crain’s | Another Illinois university stares down a huge deficit: Northern Illinois University reported a $31.8 million deficit for fiscal year 2024 and now faculty and staff brace for what’s next as the school year approaches. “Who is not going to be scared about that big of a deficit?” said Kerry Ferris, a member of the tenure-track faculty union who previously served as the unit president. “There is some anxiety among the faculty and probably also among the students about how the school will reduce that deficit.” * Crain’s | Illinois bans legacy admissions at public universities: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law banning legacy admissions at state universities and colleges, making Illinois the most recent state to pass legislation prohibiting the admissions policy. The law capitalizes on recent backlash against the preferential treatment of legacy admissions, a movement that picked up momentum following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the use of race as a factor in university admissions. * SJ-R | Illinois Republicans see Harris’ polling surge as ‘honeymoon period’ that’s destined to end: But Republicans at the fair insisted Harris’ surge in popularity will be short-lived. Among them was the keynote speaker at the rally, Matthew Whitaker, an Iowa native who served briefly as acting attorney general during the first Trump administration. “We’re in a honeymoon period with Kamala Harris,” Whitaker said. “The left is so excited that they have a candidate with a pulse. That’s a fairly low bar. I mean, we have a president in Donald Trump that not only has a pulse, he has a fire inside of him to save this country.” * Tribune | Illinois GOP urges focus on policies, not personalities during party’s day at State Fair: “So, taxes, cost of living, crime, corruption. The most corrupt state in the nation,” Illinois Senate Republican leader John Curran of Downers Grove said in an interview before the GOP’s afternoon programming at the state fairgrounds. “This is what Gov. Pritzker’s Democratic allies have brought to Illinois.” * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois Republicans see Harris’ polling surge as ‘honeymoon period’ that’s destined to end: Several people attending the Republican Day festivities at the fair acknowledged the dynamics of the 2024 race have changed markedly since the GOP convention. At that time, former President Donald Trump was leading in most national polls and in key battleground states, and Republicans were euphoric after he survived an assassination attempt just two days earlier. Meanwhile, many Democrats were openly questioning whether their presumptive nominee, 81-year-old President Joe Biden, was capable of serving another term in light of his weak debate performance against Trump in June. * Capitol News Illinois | Notes & Quotes: Illinois GOP needs ‘a little mothering’ as new chair walks familiar Trump tightrope: Kathy Salvi, the GOP’s new chair, took over position last month after former chair Don Tracy resigned. The mother of six and unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 once again referred to the ILGOP as her “165-year-old seventh child.” […] She takes over a GOP that holds no statewide elected offices and is relegated to superminorities in each chamber of the General Assembly. Her message has been one of healing from the party infighting cited in her predecessor’s resignation letter. * Sun-Times | Republicans admit ‘we got lazy’ in blue Illinois — but vow at State Fair to boost GOP turnout: Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, argued the party could snag several seats back from Democrats in November. But first, she said, Republicans need to acknowledge how they’ve ceded control to Democrats in recent years. “We are dealing with a party who wants to destroy small business, hurt our most vulnerable and make families feel that they need to be reliant on government for everything,” McCombie said of Democrats. “How did they do that? We let them. We got lazy. We believed the lie that our voice and our vote does not matter, but it matters.” * Sun-Times | Mayor says he wants a CPS leader who will fight for more funding as fate of current CEO hangs in the balance: A day after the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ reported that plans are afoot to push out Chicago schools chief Pedro Martinez, Mayor Brandon Johnson stressed that he wants a leader who will fight for more funding for the school district so it can hire more staff, such as librarians and art and music teachers. The mayor declined to comment specifically on Martinez, calling it a “personnel issue.” Johnson credited Martinez with implementing some of his agenda, including a more equitable formula to distribute money to schools. * Sun-Times | Under pressure from city’s watchdog, CPD reopens probe of cop who wore extremist symbol during racial justice protest: Officer Kyle Mingari was on duty and assigned to the protest when he was photographed wearing a face mask bearing the logo of the Three Percenters, a group allied with the anti-government militia movement. […] As the police department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs was investigating Mingari, reputed Three Percenters were charged in both the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 and a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s deadbeat migrant landlords get millions from City Hall despite tax troubles, other government debts: Remo Polselli went to prison for cheating on his federal taxes and then has had more tax problems with the IRS. Yet City Hall has spent $28 million to shelter migrants at two buildings owned by the Michigan landlord, the Sun-Times found. He’s one of two shelter landlords getting tax money despite owing the government. * Sun-Times | Traffic may ‘grind to a halt’ after transit COVID-19 grants run out, RTA warns: Commuters could be spending a lot more time in cars starting in 2026 when the federal COVID-19 dollars propping up Chicago-area transit agencies run dry, according to a dire assessment from the Regional Transportation Authority. “The dense North Side of the city … is likely going to grind to a halt because more people [will] rely on cars to make trips,” the RTA’s program manager Peter Kersten said Thursday at the agency’s board meeting. * Tribune | Dearborn Homes residents say their buildings are in disrepair; CHA says it is fixing the issues: Residents said at a news conference that tenants often get stuck in their units, unable to get groceries and attend doctor appointments, because the elevators are consistently broken. They also spoke about a rat infestation at the development, overflowing and inaccessible trash bins and safety concerns due to crime. […] The concerns from housing advocates and public housing tenants Thursday echo long-standing complaints from residents and their supporters for CHA to improve conditions at its properties and create more housing, as well as enduring calls for the agency’s CEO to step down or be fired by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Meanwhile, CHA said it is addressing the issues at Dearborn Homes. * Tribune | CTA Red Line extension price tag jumps as project takes a major step forward: The contract also offers a window into how the costs of the massive project are shaping up. The latest estimates put the project at $4.8 billion before financing costs, about $1.16 billion over earlier estimates. Some of the project costs are expected to be covered by a large federal grant, and Chicago aldermen previously approved a special tax district that enabled the grant and will raise additional money. But the CTA wasn’t awarded as much federal funding as the agency initially sought, and will have to finance significantly more through bonds than initially planned. * Daily Southtown | Illinois comptroller stops some state payouts to Dolton, threatens fines: Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Thursday she is immediately suspending what are called “offset” fund payments to Dolton for the village’s failure to turn over annual financial reports to her office. The money this year is on pace to total $135,000, and Mendoza said she is also threatening fines if Dolton doesn’t file the required reports. Those fines could total $78,600. * Daily Herald | Elgin officials suspect illegal dumping caused fuel slicks on Fox River: [Elgin Fire Chief Robb Cagann] said authorities are investigating, but it will be a challenge, saying the source could be someone dumping in the middle of the night or pouring something down a floor drain in the vicinity. “This is not going to end tomorrow,” he said. “If the source is stopped, then we still have residual all over the system in those pipes. And the only way for that to get out is over time as it flushes out with the rainwater.” * Daily Herald | After nurse scandal, District 25 implements new rules for how students get medication: Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 officials announced new procedures for how medication will be administered during the school day, after a nurse was fired for dispensing the wrong meds to students. Namely, prescription controlled substances that are dropped off at schools by parents must be verified not only by the school nurse, but by a witness. * Daily Herald | How police are using virtual training to handle real-world challenges: The department’s new Operator XR System will transform how the department prepares its officers, Chief Tom Stefanson said, especially when it comes to meeting state requirements for de-escalation training, or responding to active-shooter situations. To use the system, officers wear a VR headset that immerses them in a 360-degree environment — unlike older training simulations where they instead faced a large display screen. * NBC Chicago | Years-old attendance record broken at Illinois State Fair thanks to one artist: According to organizers, the record was previously set in 2011, when Jason Aldean packed 15,329 seats at the annual summer event. Aldean was followed by Florida Georgia Line, with 15,204 in 2014 and Reba McEntire with 14,823 in 2019. But in 2024, a new genre took the top spot as Lil Wayne brought 15,427 people to the fair Wednesday. * Rockford Register Star | Rockford leaders object to county solar farm proposal. Here’s why: At Monday’s Code and Regulation Committee meeting, Rockford City Council members voted unanimously to file a legal objection against the proposed 5-megawatt solar farm north of Rote Road. The solar farm would stand in the way of the city’s long-term land use and annexation goals as outlined in the city’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan, argued Scott Capovilla, the city’s planning and zoning manager. * Daily Herald | Stein out, Bocek, Richards in for Buffalo Grove trustee race: Buffalo Grove Trustee Andrew Stein said he will not run for re-election. Meanwhile, Kevin Richards, vice chair of the village’s planning and zoning commission, said he is running for a two-year seat on the board, to fill out the unexpired term of Gregory Pike. Pike stepped down and was replaced by Denice Bocek. * SJ-R | Chatham Township supervisor appointed to county board seat, will run in special election: The supervisor of Chatham Township was selected to serve on the Sangamon County Board. Justin Davsko, a Republican, will fill the District 26 seat vacated when John H. O’Neill III died on July 6. O’Neill served on the board 22 years. * Rockford Register Star | Five fun facts about that giant Hard Rock Casino Rockford guitar: The giant marquee guitar is a replica of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Nielsen’s famous checkerboard Hamer electric guitar. A similar checkerboard Hamer 1978 Explorer guitar he used as a backup instrument was on display at the temporary casino. Although the Cheap Trick rocker is known for sometimes using a five-neck custom job, the replica guitar is more traditional looking. * WCIA | Springfield man reaches finals for national mullet competition: Here’s how to vote: Patrick Sosman started growing his mullet hairdo half-a-decade ago when he became a Twitch streamer. He said he wanted to stand out from the crowd. According to Sosman’s contestant profile, he believes the mullet “should be the official haircut of the USA,” and that “there is nothing more American than a mullet.” * Herald-Tribune | New College of Florida tosses hundreds of library books, empties gender diversity library: A dumpster in the parking lot of Jane Bancroft Cook Library on the campus of New College overflowed with books and collections from the now-defunct Gender and Diversity Center on Tuesday afternoon. Video captured in the afternoon showed a vehicle driving away with the books before students were notified. In the past, students were given an opportunity to purchase books that were leaving the college’s library collection. Some discarded books included “Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate”, “The War of the Worlds” and “When I Knew,” which is a collection of stories from LGBTQ+ people recounting when they knew they were gay. Several books from the GDC were retrieved by local activists from the SEE Alliance and a few students before they could be taken for disposal.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated x3)
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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