Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

CTA chief of staff Nora Leerhsen will become the interim president of the transit agency, taking over after Dorval Carter’s retirement at the end of January.

Leerhsen will, for now, take on leadership of an agency that has faced rampant complaints from riders in recent years, with another challenge on the horizon as a massive budget gap looms and lawmakers in Springfield prepare to debate the future of the region’s four transit agencies in a move that could have significant repercussions for the CTA’s authority. Leerhsen will be paid an annual salary of $278,703.73.

This is from Block Club’s 2023 story on how many times CTA officials used public transit…

Nora Leerhsen, chief of staff for the CTA president, did not swipe her work card in 2021 [to ride a bus or train] and then used it on five days in November and December 2022.

* The Illinois Freedom Caucus…

The Illinois General Assembly has once again wasted time and taxpayer resources to push through yet another gun bill that will most certainly not withstand a Constitutional challenge, according to members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus.

“Radical leftists are congratulating themselves for ramming through yet another gun bill, but their victory today will be a short-lived one and they know it. House Bill 4144 mandates police seizure of firearms from anyone subject to an order of protection or “red flag” order and includes ex parte orders in which there is no notification of a hearing or any due process rights. Furthermore, there are no provisions for the return of firearms should the ex parte orders be dismissed.

No one wants criminals to use firearms to commit acts of violence, but the way to stop violent acts from happening is to punish those who break the law and to increase the penalties for those who violate orders of protection. There are solutions that actually work. Unfortunately, the Democrats chose the least effective path by passing a bill that will most likely be ruled unconstitutional, proving that the priority of the radical left is not to solve problems but rather to make political statements. Illinois needs solutions and real leadership not more political slogans and activism.”

Several members of the freedom caucus boycotted the vote for minority leader.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | While deficit looms in next year’s budget, current-year revenues remain on track: Pritzker is slated to give his budget address on Feb. 19, facing the largest projected deficit entering a spring session since 2021, when the pandemic hurt state income – though federal stimulus funds and a strong economic recovery helped erase the gap that year. Since then, the state has enjoyed more robust revenue with little need for new revenue-generating policies – until the current-year budget that passed in May with about $1 billion in new revenues through a tax hike on sportsbooks and businesses among other changes.

* Block Club | Hemp Loophole Causing Chaos In City Hall, Springfield — But Smoke Shop Owners ‘Ready To Fight’: While negotiations in Springfield stall, Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) is quickly advancing a local ordinance to not only ban the sale of “cannabinoid hemp products” but compel the city to not renew any retail tobacco licenses in a part of the Southwest Side he calls the “Midway Residential Area.” That would all but force Race to close two stores near Midway Airport this year. The ordinance is expected to be up for a vote before City Council Wednesday.

* KARE | Minnesota, Illinois attorneys general sue John Deere company alleging ‘repair monopoly’: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued agricultural manufacturer John Deere Wednesday, alleging it has used unfair practices to drive up equipment repair costs for farmers. AG Ellison, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Federal Trade Commission filed the lawsuit, claiming that Deere & Company practices have made it difficult for farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere products. The lawsuit alleges this has forced farmers to rely on Deere’s dealers for repairs and pay heightened repair fees for decades.

*** Madigan Trial ***

* Tribune | Former chief counsel for Madigan’s office testifies as closer for ex-speaker’s defense team: The former top legal counsel to House Speaker Michael Madigan testified at Madigan’s corruption trial Wednesday that key legislation being pushed by ComEd and AT&T came amid a “political war” with then-Gov. Bruce Rauner and only passed after months of negotiations and compromise. … Wier Vaught also testified there was a strong vetting process to identify any potential conflicts of interest between his private legal clients and state legislation.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Johnson blasted for failing to deliver on environmental promises: Despite promising to fix city policies, Johnson has made no progress in a number of areas, all requirements laid out in a binding agreement with federal officials, the South Side groups said in a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday. The civil rights complaint was filed with HUD in 2020 in response to the city’s multiyear involvement in moving the scrap metal operation General Iron from white, affluent Lincoln Park to East Side, a low-income Latino-majority community. The relocated metal-shredding operation was fully built at East 116th Street along the Calumet River, but the city — under pressure from community organizations and other advocates — ultimately refused to issue an operating permit. That permit denial is still being fought in court.

* WTTW | Key City Panel Advances Measure to Ban Sale of Intoxicating Hemp in 2 Southwest Side Wards: The Chicago City Council’s License and Consumer Protection Committee advanced an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of “cannabinoid hemp products” that are “capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it” in Ald. Marty Quinn’s 13th Ward and Ald. Silvana Tabares’ 23rd Ward. If approved by the full City Council, violations of the ordinance could trigger fines of at least $2,000 and no more than $5,000. A final vote on the measure could come at the City Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 15.

NEW: Chicago will not change it's sanctuary city law today.

Aldermen voted 39-to-11 to block an effort to allow for Chicago police to cooperate with ICE in deporting people arrested and convicted in the city. The roll call: pic.twitter.com/BdHTV0qLQ5

— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) January 15, 2025

* Crain’s | Bally’s seeking lucrative property tax break for Chicago casino: Chicago regularly approves property tax incentives to developers, including recently inking a deal with the developers of the Southeast Side quantum campus, reducing their taxes by over $175 million for the life of the 30-year incentive. But the request from Bally’s — coming right as the company appears ready to begin construction of a permanent casino that City Hall is banking on to shore up its police and fire pensions — may rankle some in the City Council who have been skeptical of the project since it was approved in 2022.

* SCOTUS Blog | Supreme Court considers Chicago alderman’s “false statement” charges: The Supreme Court on Tuesday grappled with the case of Patrick Daley Thompson, a former Chicago alderman and member of Chicago’s most storied political dynasty. Thompson served four months in a federal prison for making false statements to bank regulators about loans he took out and did not repay. He contends that the federal law under which he was convicted does not apply to statements – like his – that are misleading but not false. But after just over 75 minutes of oral arguments, it wasn’t clear whether the justices would actually decide that legal question, or whether a majority of the justices believed that a ruling on that question would even help Thompson.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WTIP | Cook County sells land to HRA for future Hamilton Habitat project: After several weeks of discussion and working to create a legal description, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 14 to convey a parcel of public land to the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA), earmarked for a future Hamilton Habitat project. The sale has been part of the board discussion for the past several weeks. It is located at the intersection of the Gunflint Trail and Creechville Road. While the final board of commissioner meetings of 2024 included discussion of transferring the land to the HRA, a lack of a legal description of the plot caused some delay.

* Daily Herald | Officials: Fires at Elgin homeless encampment were accidental and unrelated: The Elgin Fire Department’s investigation into the three fires, which took place Dec. 4, Dec. 12 and Jan. 11, found no evidence of suspicious activity in any of the incidents. In a press release Wednesday, the fire department said the use of heating equipment near combustible materials was a common factor in the three fires.

*** Downstate ***

* KWQC | Inquest: Dead man’s DNA found on off-duty Carroll Co. deputy’s truck: The DNA of Jackson Kradle was found underneath the vehicle of an off-duty sheriff’s deputy in July, according to testimony during a coroner’s inquest. […] In November, Carroll County Coroner Matthew Jones said Kradle died from blunt trauma to the head after he was hit by a vehicle.

* Daily Journal | Gotion buys more land around its plant: Since buying the former Kmart distribution center in Manteno in 2023, Gotion has continued to purchase land surrounding the plant at 333 S. Spruce St. is transforming the 1.5-million-square-foot facility into a lithium battery manufacturing plant.

* WMBD | Hundreds of tires popping up across Woodford and Peoria County: Amy McLaren with the Peoria County Highway Department said it’s likely more than one person who’s behind this. “If you have this many tires, it can’t be just one person. You have multiple vehicles. If we fill up our large snowplow trucks with tires, it is more than one person. It’s a larger operation that’s just trying to dispose of these.” said McLaren.

*** National ***

* Streetsblog | Alarming Report Shows that Two Auto-Braking Systems Can’t See People in Reflective Garb: The worst systems were on two popular models made by Honda and Mazda. The alarming finding by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will likely shock millions of American pedestrians … and maybe even force change among the governmental agencies that lay the onus on them for their own safety.

* Fortune | Walgreens CEO describes drawback of anti-shoplifting strategy: ‘When you lock things up…you don’t sell as many of them’: he company plans to close approximately 450 additional stores in 2025, noting that the stores that remain open outperform the ones designated for closure by approximately 250 basis points. Wentworth also acknowledged the ongoing struggle with shrink as a “hand-to-hand combat battle.” After reporting a 52% increase in shrink, or lost inventory, in 2020 and 2021, Walgreens invested in increased security that proved to be “largely ineffective.” And while many drug stores have taken to locking up commonly looted goods, Wentworth admitted, “When you lock things up…you don’t sell as many of them. We’ve kind of proven that pretty conclusively.”

* WSIL | 140 Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to assist with Presidential Inauguration Security: Information from the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office detailed the Soldiers and Airmen which includes 100 Military Police Soldiers from the 933rd Military Police Company out of Fort Sheridan and about 30 Security Forces Airmen from the 183rd Wing based in Springfield, the 126th Air Refueling Wing based at Scott Air Force Base, and the 182nd Airlift Wing based in Peoria.

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New RTA transit proposal called ‘too little, too late half-measure that puts holding on to power above the needs of riders and taxpayers’

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WTTW…

The Regional Transportation Authority is pitching what it calls a “historic restructuring” that would grant the agency authority to more aggressively coordinate fare policy, service standards and capital projects among CTA, Metra and Pace — reforms the RTA said could create both cost savings and a vastly improved rider experience.

The proposal comes as the Chicago region’s transit agencies are facing down an estimated $750 million fiscal cliff next year when COVID-19 relief money runs out — and amid conversations in Springfield about tying increased transit funding to major changes to the existing public transit structure. Some lawmakers have floated merging RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace into a single agency, coupled with an additional $1.5 billion in annual funding.

The transit agencies have cheered the proposed funding boost, noting that Illinois invests far less in transit than other states — but have thrown cold water on the idea of a merger, arguing it won’t create the efficiencies or service improvements backers hope.

RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden said the new proposal, set to be outlined by RTA Board Chairman Kirk Dillard in a Wednesday speech at the City Club, is the culmination of more than two years of work that can serve as a roadmap for lawmakers debating transit’s future during the General Assembly’s spring session.

* From the proposal…

• RTA leads a one-stop-shop contact center for all rider issues, including Ventra/ticket purchasing, free and reduced rider certification, and ADA paratransit certification
• RTA manages and sets all fare policy, including unified fare products
• RTA leads development of a universal app for all fare payment, consolidates special fare programs, and expands Access pilot for riders experiencing low incomes region-wide
• RTA sets uniform customer information design standards and centralizes deployment of real-time tracking information

It also wants a lot of control over capital spending. But there’s nothing in there about coordinating schedules between the systems beyond setting some minimum performance standards for buses and trains to cut rider wait times “by as much as 50%.”

* The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is not happy…

In response to the Regional Transportation Authority’s announcement of their plans to “transform transit” today, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition released the following statement:

“Illinoisans deserve and want a transformed transit system outlined in the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act (CETA) that coordinates smooth, accessible and equitable service, connects folks to affordable, active modes of transportation, and mitigates air and climate pollution. Today’s announcement from RTA reminds riders of many failed promises over the last decade, and is another too little, too late half-measure that puts holding on to power above the needs of riders and taxpayers. Legislative leaders in Springfield have made it clear there is no new revenue to improve transit without major reforms.”

Its membership list, which includes the Illinois Environmental Council, is here.

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ISP reports 71 percent decrease in expressway/interstate shootings since 2021

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

For the third year in a row, the number of shootings on Illinois interstates has dropped. The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting interstate shootings statewide decreased 31% in 2024, compared to 2023. Since a record high in 2021, there has been a decrease in interstate shootings every year:

• 31% decrease from 2023 to 2024
• 53% decrease from 2022 to 2024
• 71% decrease from 2021 to 2024

“The continued dedication of resources, including personnel, license plate readers, Air Ops, K9 units, and investigations, has allowed ISP to reduce crime on interstates and make roads safer,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Although our strategies for crime reduction continue to evolve, ISP’s commitment to protecting the public remains unwavering.”

In 2024, through patrol enforcement and special violent crime reduction missions, we saw a 7% decrease in fatal crashes, a 3% increase in illegal firearms seized, and a 24% increase in vehicles recovered.

The use of ISP Air Ops and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) has been a game changer in identifying and tracking those committing crime, as well as reducing crashes. ISP uses its Air Ops to help track vehicles and individuals fleeing from officers, reducing the risk of a high speed pursuit that can result in a fatal crash. ISP also uses ALPRs, not only to assist in apprehending individuals in real time as the crime occurs, like a vehicle hijacking, but also during investigations. Special agents can use ALPRs to identify vehicles that may have been involved in or witnessed an interstate shooting and follow up with those individuals.

ISP’s crime fighting strategies will continue to evolve as crime evolves and we are committed to reducing shootings and fatalities, getting illegal guns and drugs off the streets, and preventing fatal crashes.

“Injury-related shootings” have dropped 87 percent since 2021.

Thoughts?

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It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WAND…

Illinois Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced a plan to improve gun storage across the state. The legislation also includes requirements for reporting lost and stolen firearms.

Senate Bill 8 could ban people from storing or leaving a gun outside an owner’s possession or control unless it is unloaded and secured in a lock box. This proposal specifically notes that minors, at-risk people and those prohibited from using guns should not be able to access firearms in the home.

“We need to ensure that all of our gun owners are responsible and they know what they need to do to keep everybody safe, including our youth,” said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). “I want every youth regardless of the community they live in, but especially those communities that have been disinvested in, to feel safe.”

Gun owners could face a fine of $500 to $1,000 if someone prohibited from accessing guns obtains their weapon. The legislation could also create a $10,000 penalty if a minor or at-risk person uses someone else’s gun to injure or kill people.

Rep. Bob Morgan filed HB1365 yesterday…

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act, and the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Establishes temporary licenses for social workers, professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, music therapists, and clinical psychologists whose license application is pending and creates termination conditions for such licenses. Removes good moral character standards as qualification requirements for the licensing of social workers and music therapists. Creates procedures for placing a license on inactive status for social workers and professional counselors. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must allow reasonable exam accommodations for licensed marriage and family therapists and clinical psychologists whose primary language is not English if a test in the therapist’s or psychologist’s primary language is not available.

* 13 co-sponsors were added to HB1226 yesterday…

State Representative Patrick Sheehan (R-Lockport) announced that he is sponsoring new legislation aimed at reducing burdensome requirements for some Illinois motorists. House Bill 1226 would raise the age for mandatory behind-the-wheel tests for older drivers renewing their licenses from 79 to 87 amongst other changes to the Illinois Vehicle Code. The bipartisan legislation builds upon House Bill 4431 introduced by Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) in the 103rd General Assembly and seeks to do away with the discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors based on age as the sole factor.

“House Bill 1226 is a much-belated change to our state’s driving laws and, beyond that, a sign of respect for our seniors,” said Sheehan. “This legislation would align Illinois with the rest of the nation in no longer requiring road tests based on age and would cut costs for drivers in the process. I would like to extend my thanks to the Secretary of State and Representatives on both sides of the aisle for coming together so that we may remove unnecessary requirements such as these and ensure our license renewal process is fair to everyone.”

Today, Illinois requires drivers aged 79 or 80 to take behind-the-wheel tests in order to renew their licenses. Drivers aged 81 to 86 are required to take behind-the-wheel tests every other year and, at age 87, must take the test each year. If signed into law, House Bill 1226 would no longer require road tests for those renewing their licenses at age 79 or 80, only vision exams taken at the DMV. The same standard would also apply to motorists aged 81 to 86 completing their biyearly license renewals. If passed and signed by the Governor, the new law would go into effect on July 1, 2026.

House Bill 1226 was originally filed on January 9 and awaits further discussion in the House Rules Committee. You can track House Bill 1226 here.

* HB1328 from Rep. Robyn Gabel…

Creates the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. Authorizes a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient’s life in a peaceful manner. Contains provisions concerning: the procedures and forms to be used to request aid-in-dying medication; the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians; the referral of patients for determinations of mental capacity; the residency of qualified patients; the safe disposal of unused medications; the obligations of health care entities; the immunities granted for actions taken in good faith reliance upon the Act; the reporting requirements of physicians; the effect of the Act on the construction of wills, contracts, and statutes; the effect of the Act on insurance policies and annuities; the procedures for the completion of death certificates; the liabilities and penalties provided by the Act; the construction of the Act; the definitions of terms used in the Act; and other matters. Effective 6 months after becoming law.

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Roundup: Madigan ends testimony

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

Before he left the witness stand Tuesday after nearly 12 hours of testimony over four days, ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan explained why he kept meeting with then-Ald. Danny Solis, even though Solis had caused him “a great deal of surprise and concern.”

Madigan told a jury he thought he’d effectively delivered a message to Solis “that there would be no ‘quid pro quo’” in 2017. He said he gave the 25th Ward City Council member “the benefit of the doubt” after that, given their lengthy political relationship.

But Madigan, who was regarded as Illinois’ most powerful politician before Solis helped the FBI with the historic corruption investigation that ended Madigan’s reign, also told the jury that “we all have regrets in life.”

“One of my regrets is that I had any time spent with Danny Solis,” Madigan testified.

* WGN…

Defense attorney Dan Collins asked Madigan why he continued interactions with Solis.

“Because I thought I had made it clear to him there would be no ‘quid pro quo,’” Madigan answered. […]

Amid Tuesday’s cross-examination, prosecutors say the former Illinois Speaker of the House should have known better.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu: “Sir, you actually voted on bribery laws in the past during the course of your tenure as a public official, right?”

Madigan: “Yes, that’s right.”

* Tribune…

Bhachu ended his cross-examination by asking about the effort to get a job for state Rep. Jaime Andrade’s wife, and a recorded call where Madigan asked McClain about possibly putting her on “retainer” with ComEd consultant Jay Doherty.

Madigan testified last week he suggested Andrade’s wife be retained by Doherty’s firm so nobody would know Madigan was behind the move.

“When you didn’t want folks in the General Assembly to know who was behind payments to Jaime Andrade’s wife, the person who came to mind was Jay Doherty?” Bhachu asked.

“I thought of Doherty, yes,” Madigan said.

* WTTW…

After Madigan concluded his testimony, jurors heard from his longtime legal partner Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner, who similar to Madigan testified that their law practice had guardrails in place to prevent any conflicts of interest with the speaker’s legislative positions. […]

Specifically, Getzendanner said that potential clients who’d had business with the General Assembly or the House of Representatives would be flagged so the firm would not contract with them. […]

On cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker focused on Getzendanner’s testimony that Madigan was a “big driver” of their firm, focusing on business and client acquisition.

“Fair to say Mr. Madigan was the rainmaker for the firm?” she asked.

“Yes,” Getzendanner answered, adding that Madigan brought in more business than any other single attorney at the firm.

* Federal Courts Reporter Jon Seidel…

Lawyers for Mike Madigan co-defendant Mike McClain are formally seeking a severance tonight. They note that they've previously predicted that Madigan's lawyers would serve as "second prosecutors" against McClain — and now they say "Mr. McClain's prediction has become a reality." pic.twitter.com/kYg44ggonH

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) January 14, 2025

* The Tribune’s Jason Meisner…

McClain is also not happy about the Jeffrey-Rush-had-sex-with-a-parolee evidence.
"Madigan’s job recommendations for someone convicted of crimes involving breach of public trust and sexual misconduct will undoubtedly spill over and taint the jury’s view of Mr. McClain"

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) January 14, 2025

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Open thread

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of the world?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: RTA Wants Lawmakers to Boost Its Authority to Oversee, Coordinate Chicago-Area Transit. WTTW…

* Related stories…

∙ Daily Herald: Making its move: RTA proposes universal fares, more trains, cost cuts to counter merger plan
∙ Tribune: RTA proposes more bus and train service, fare hikes and stronger central agency as lawmakers prepare to debate future of transit

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WBEZ | Young adults with developmental disabilities face a ‘cliff’ after they graduate high school: When families leave school, they are stopped in their tracks by a patchwork system involving multiple government agencies, service providers and nonprofits — as well as mounds of paperwork, phone calls and convoluted state websites filled with jargon and missing links. “It’s just a lot,” said Lynn Dancy, recalling the years after Adrien graduated from high school. “It’s hard to get answers — just trying to go to this person, this person, this person, and then go right back where I started from in the first place.”

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | What’s in Giannoulias’ plan to end road test for drivers 86 and younger? Let families report at-risk drivers: “The right to drive should be based on ability, not age,” AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent said. Current law requires drivers aged 79 and 80 to take a road exam when their four-year license renewal is up. For drivers aged 81 to 86, it’s every two years, and for those 87 and older, it’s yearly.

* Mark Harris | Oh, say, what will we see on the new Illinois state flag?: That’s where you come in. The commission did get around to picking 10 proposed flag designs and putting up a website — apps.ilsos.gov/stateflag/ — where you can vote for your favorite. There’s even a choice to retain the existing flag. Personally, I think the option of “Nah, let’s skip it,” should be added to more Illinois ballots in the future.

*** Statewide ***

* Center Square | Illinois Supreme Court asked to toss law prohibiting open carry of firearms: The Illinois Supreme Court is considering whether to find a state firearms statute prohibiting open carry unconstitutional in the case Illinois v. Tyshon Thompson. Thompson was found guilty of violating state law for having a firearm in a vehicle without a permit in 2020. Despite having a Firearm Owners ID card, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Tuesday, Eric Castaneda with the Office of the State Public Defender urged the Illinois Supreme Court to find Illinois’ aggravated unlawful use of a weapons statute unconstitutional.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Ratings Agency Downgrades Chicago’s Credit, Pointing to ‘Structural Budgetary Imbalance’: S&P, one of a handful of major ratings agencies, downgraded Chicago’s credit one notch to BBB with a stable outlook on Thursday. A credit rating of BBB indicates a government agency has “adequate capacity to meet financial commitments,” but is susceptible to “adverse economic conditions.” It is two notches above a junk rating. “The downgrade reflects our view that the 2025 budget leaves intact a sizable structural budgetary imbalance that we expect will make balancing the budget in 2026 and outyears more challenging,” S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Scott Nees said in a statement.

* WTTW | Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez on His Firing, Ongoing CTU Negotiations: On his working relationship with Johnson: “We haven’t spoken since last summer when this whole ordeal started. By the way, self-inflicted. When you look at all the work we’ve done, nobody is invested more in our neighborhood schools than myself and my time.”

* Sun-Times | Council faces two more close votes — on 25 mph speed limit and empowering CPD to cooperate with ICE: Stalled proposals to reduce the default speed limit on Chicago streets to 25 mph and restore exceptions to the city’s Welcoming City ordinance face potentially close votes after parliamentary maneuvers to revive both. The speed limit vote could be the more comfortable of the two.

* Sun-Times | U.S. Supreme Court hears appeal by former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson: Thompson, heir to the Daley political dynasty, asked the justices to take a narrow reading of the term “false statement” in the law used to convict him over unpaid loans. A jury found Thompson guilty in February 2022 of two counts of lying to regulators but also five counts of filing false income tax returns. U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama sentenced him to four months in prison, a sentence he has already served.

* Sun-Times | Imagining the ‘next big thing’ in arts and culture in downtown Chicago: Calling themselves “Team Culture,” the group wants to re-imagine major parts of downtown — filling vacant, often shadowy spaces with light and art. “There have been two things in recent history that changed downtown. One was the Theatre District and the other was Millennium Park. It’s time for culture to do it all over again,” said Lou Raizin, president and CEO of Broadway in Chicago, speaking to a Tuesday lunchtime gathering at the City Club of Chicago at Maggiano’s Banquets downtown.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Election finance reports a mixed picture in south suburbs; Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard paying own way in bid for 2nd term: Campaign finance reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections show incumbent mayors in Orland Park and Tinley Park with large sums available to spend as election season heats up. Reports show Henyard hasn’t received a campaign contribution since the spring of 2023, and recorded no money coming in for all of last year from outside sources apart from loans she has made to her committee.

* ABC Chicago | High-stakes Thornton Twp. meeting abruptly ends in chaos, blindsiding Henyard: ‘Call the police!’: “The board meeting is over with, so please get out. Do not walk up on me!” said Supervisor Tiffany Henyard. “Call the police! Call the police because we don’t have a board meeting!” For the first time in months, the board of trustees had a quorum, with Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle in attendance. The two had been skipping meetings in order to block Henyard from filling a vacant trustee position.

* Daily Herald | Schaumburg has big plans for parcel at Algonquin, Meachem road: “The village is in the process of relocating the facility to 2222 Hammond Drive (in Schaumburg), where a new facility will be constructed,” Dailly said during his annual state of the village address to the Schaumburg Business Association. “Eventually the Meacham Road property will be annexed into Schaumburg, which will allow for future commercial development that will enhance this key gateway near Algonquin and Meacham roads,” he added.

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Processing, Slaughtering company investing $2.5M in Effingham Co. expansion project: On Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker, Frichtl Processing and Slaughtering, LLC and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) for Startups agreement for the $2.5 million investment.

* WCIA | City of Decatur receiving nearly $10M to expand transit: Decatur is receiving a large gift in the new year in the form of $9.9 million. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and now the city will use it to add a micro-transit system on Jasper St. This system will operate similar to Uber, but instead of using a private service, users can go on an app connected to the city and order rides there.

* WCIA | Champaign City Council considering Downtown entertainment enhancements for 2025: One of the biggest changes has to do with the plaza near Main and Neil Streets in front of Big Grove Tavern. It’s been under construction for the last several months, and the city has potential plans to put it to use once the work is completed. At Tuesday night’s council meeting, leaders will walk through the highs and lows of last year’s entertainment in the downtown area. That includes discussing and reflecting on Friday Night Live, The Beat, and even the Farmers Market on Tuesdays.

*** National ***

* WSJ | Nearly Half of Adults Worldwide Hold Antisemitic Views, Survey Finds: The study surveyed more than 58,000 adults from 103 countries and territories representing 94% of the world’s adult population, and found that 46% of them—which when extrapolated to the global population would equal an estimated 2.2 billion people—display antisemitic attitudes. A fifth of the respondents haven’t heard of the Holocaust, during which six million Jews were killed, while 21% believe it has either been exaggerated by historians or it never happened.

* NYT | Capital One is accused of cheating customers out of $2 billion: For years, Capital One held interests artificially low in the high-yield product, to 0.30% annually last summer, for instance, even as the Federal Reserve raised rates above 5%. Banks are generally permitted to pay as little in interest as their customers will permit, but Capital One went too far, according to the lawsuit, by deliberately confusing its customers about its products. The bank operated two separate, nearly identically named account options — 360 Savings and 360 Performance Savings — and forbade its employees from volunteering information about or marketing 360 Performance Savings, the higher-paying one, to existing customers.

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

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.