Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This one just dropped today. The Rolling Stones featuring Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder. Sweet Sounds Of Heaven…

You can’t have a light without a little shadow

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Pritzker administration vows to temporarily fill spending gaps if federal government shuts down and programs run out of money

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough…

In the likely event that Republicans in Washington cannot get their act together to fix the mess they’ve created, the Pritzker administration is prepared to do whatever is possible to maintain critical state services. If the government shuts down and the federal programs we rely on were to run out of money, the state would temporarily fill in spending gaps. Upon reopening, we would then immediately apply for federal reimbursement for programs that do not have a state/federal funding split.

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Bulk goes to Chicago, but Joliet, Elgin, Lake County, others to share in $41.5 million state asylum-seeker grants

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I told you this was coming earlier today. Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker announced today $41.5 million in awards to local governments in the Chicago region that are welcoming asylum seekers. The funds will make it possible for municipalities to provide direct services to migrants who have fled their homes to escape violence and other threats. The funds will be used for shelter and housing support, food, wraparound services, legal support, and health care.

“Illinois is a welcoming state, and we have stepped up to aid asylum seekers who have undertaken a dangerous and trying journey to try and build a better life for themselves and their families,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Although we will still need significant federal support as this crisis continues, these grants will empower local governments to build out services and supports for new arrivals so we can successfully transition them into our state and give them the opportunity to complete their legal immigration process.”

“In Illinois, we recognize the humanity of everyone and reject fearmongering and cruelty toward those seeking asylum,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. “Through this funding, our administration is reaffirming our commitment to being a welcoming state because our diversity makes us stronger.”

It has been more than a year since Illinois started to receive buses from Texas governments, transporting migrants from the southern border who are seeking asylum in the United States. Since August 31, 2022, without notice, Illinois has welcomed over 15,000 new arrivals, primarily from Central and South America. To date, the state has contributed $328 million overall to support asylum seekers.

The Illinois General Assembly and Gov. Pritzker appropriated $42,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to provide support to local municipalities for the provision of basic services to new arrivals. To distribute the funds, IDHS is partnering with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC), which provides management oversight in the form of a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity process. MMC aims to work past geographical boundaries to build collaboration around public policy issues, with a common goal of improving the quality of life for the millions of people who live in the region.

“We were honored to play a role in this process, so that the recipients can receive much needed funding,” said Executive Director of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Neil James. “We understand the importance of providing support services for this vulnerable population.”
Municipalities receiving funding include:

• City of Chicago: $30.25 million
• Joliet Township: $8.6 million [Updated]
• City of Elgin: $1.27 million
• Lake County: $1 million
• City of Urbana: $250,000
• Village of Oak Park: $150,000

“The commitments announced today will strengthen the support provided to asylum seekers in Illinois,” said Grace B. Hou, Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services. “We are grateful to every municipality that applied for this funding. Today’s awards demonstrate our commitment to assisting recent arrivals from the southern border with the resources that they need to be successful.”

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Tribune | Ford workers walk out as UAW expands strike to Chicago Assembly Plant: ‘It’s our time’: The Chicago Ford plant has about 4,600 workers on three shifts making the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Police Interceptor SUVs, the automaker said Friday. In 2019, Ford spent $1 billion to transform the nearly century-old Torrence Avenue facility, which phased out production of the Taurus sedan to focus on building SUVs.

* SJ-R | Springfield to receive $100,000 in grants for police hiring: Springfield will get $102,523 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to aid in the hiring of new Springfield Police Department officers and retention of current police employees. U.S. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) of the 13th Congressional District announced the grant recipients Wednesday, with Springfield being one of six cities in her district to receive money. Departments in Champaign, Decatur, Alton, Belleville and Edwardsville also received funding.

* Sun-Times | Teachers will have ‘strong demands’ in contract talks — even with one of their own on other side of bargaining table: With the old contract due to expire next summer, Davis Gates has started “talking turkey” with her members about their priorities for any new deal. They include smaller class sizes; more bilingual support staff to serve the children of asylum seekers; building time into the elementary school day for teachers to collaborate; and more “sustainable community schools.”

* Tribune | What’s the impact on Illinois if the federal government shuts down?: “We are truly heading for the first-ever shutdown about nothing,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank. Strain has started referring to the current GOP House-led impasse as “the ‘Seinfeld’ shutdown,” a reference to the popular sitcom widely known as “a show about nothing.” “The weirdest thing about it is that the Republicans don’t have any demands. What do they want? What is it that they’re going to shut the government down for? We simply don’t know.”

* WaPo | Amid GOP confusion, U.S. braces for ‘first-ever shutdown about nothing’ : House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s last-ditch plan to keep the federal government temporarily open collapsed on Friday as hard-right holdouts rejected the package, making a shutdown almost certain. McCarthy’s right-flank Republicans refused to support the bill despite its steep spending cuts of nearly 30% to many agencies and severe border security provisions, calling it insufficient.

* Daily Herald | DuPage County judge ousted over 2017 gun incident found guilty of aggravated assault: O’Shea, you may recall, has been in trouble with guns before. In 2017, while he was still on the bench, O’Shea was charged with reckless conduct after authorities said he fired a handgun in his Wheaton apartment.

* Crain’s | Walgreens eyes ex-Cigna executive for CEO: Walgreens Boots Alliance is considering former Cigna Group executive Tim Wentworth to be its next chief executive officer, according to people familiar with the matter. A final decision hasn’t been made and Wentworth may not wind up in the job, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private information. Wentworth and a representative for Walgreens both declined to comment.

* Shaw Local | Troubled DeKalb County nursing home’s future again in state hands: It’s been 14 months since the DeKalb County Board decided to sell the DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to a private buyer, but this week a unanimous decision by elected leaders stalled the sale yet again.

* Tribune | After no victim or witnesses found, COPA closes investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving CPD officer, migrant: The investigation was opened in early July after a text message, circulated among police officers and other city employees, alleged that a 29-year-old CPD field training officer assigned to the Ogden District had engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16- or 17-year-old female migrant who was housed at the police station, 3315 W. Ogden Ave. The text message further claimed that the teen was impregnated by a CPD officer.

* Tribune | Migrant teens from Venezuela jumped after school in Rogers Park: A group of students from Venezuela were punched and kicked by local teens near Sullivan High School in Rogers Park Wednesday afternoon, said Ricky D’Gucci, an activist who spoke to the students after the altercation […] According to D’Gucci, the Venezuelan teens walk about 30 minutes to school every morning from a city-run shelter at a Super 8 motel on the Far North Side. He said the fight was likely race related, and that the perpetrators were older than the Venezuelans. “The only reason they got them was because they were Latinos,” he said. “They got pretty beat up.”

* Block Club Chicago | Chicago Public Schools Says $3.1 Billion For ‘Critical’ Building Repairs Needed: The $3.1 billion in costs identified as the most urgent work includes repairs to windows, roofs, masonry, and heating and cooling systems. Another $5.5 billion would go toward repairs in the next six to 10 years, according to the facilities plan. Beyond that, the district wants money to build labs “to support STEM education,” accommodations for students with disabilities, new auditoriums, new fields for sports, and classrooms “outfitted” for career and technical education — programming that [CEO Pedro Martinez] wants to expand, according to the plan.

* Pitchfork | Man Arrested and Charged in Tupac Shakur Murder Case in Surprise Breakthrough: Nevada police detained Duane Keith “Keefe D” Davis today (September 29), and a grand jury indicted him in the killing of Shakur, The Associated Press reports. Davis, who has long been known to investigators, has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, that he was in the Cadillac with Shakur’s shooter. He is now the first person to be arrested in direct connection with the killing.

* Daily Herald | ‘It is pumpkin guts galore’: Jack O’Lantern World takes over Lake Zurich’s Paulus Park: “Not only do we have this huge conglomerate of jack-o’-lanterns, we have pumpkins which people took 30 hours on,” Starykowicz said. “Every one is hand-carved, it’s one-of-a-kind, you can’t go anywhere else and see another version of this.”

* Sun-Times | Clearer college financial aid offers promised by hundreds of colleges, including some in Illinois: Northern Illinois University, Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University have signed onto a new commitment to standardize financial aid offers so students can more easily compare costs and understand what they will owe after graduation. Other Illinois schools that have signed on include both campuses of Southern Illinois University, Oakton Community College, Waubonsee Community College and Rockford University.

* WMBD | Honor Flight co-founder and former Boys and Girls Club head found dead at West Bluff home: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria’s board of directors and staff are profoundly saddened by the passing of their former CEO, Lesley R. Matuszak. During Lesley’s tenure at the Clubs, thousands of local under-served youth benefited from her tireless devotion to provide them with one-of-a-kind educational and life experiences. Her belief that every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in life has created a legacy that will continue long into the future.

* The Atlantic | Trump Didn’t Go to Michigan to Support Autoworkers, So why did so many news outlets report he did?: There’s an expression reporters use, that you’ve “reported yourself out of a story.” That is, you had a hunch or a tip about something, but when you checked the facts, the story didn’t pan out. Sometimes, though, reporters stick to the narrative they’ve decided on in advance, and they don’t let facts get in the way.

* Block Club | Dorm Room Picassos? UChicago Students Can Borrow Rare Pieces Through Art Loan Program: “Everybody doesn’t have exposure to art in their daily lives,” said Lauren Payne, the university’s associate registrar of art and public spaces. “Having time to live with a piece can change the way you experience it over time. It’s an invaluable experience for [students] to have an opportunity to live with these pieces.” Students receive the pieces for free and must hang the art in their dorm bedroom. They sign loan agreements requiring a certain level of care for the pieces, and Smart Museum staffers check on the works’ condition throughout the year, UChicago spokesperson Rachel Hatch said.

* SJ-R | ‘A beautiful woman inside and out:’ Wenonah Bish turns 111 and shares secrets to longevity: Bish’s daughter, Delores Hughes, who lives in Bolingbrook, turns 90 later this year. Wright joked that Bish also has said: “Never let a man control your life,” as her secret to longevity.

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Lawsuit over 2016 Illinois abortion referral law finally goes to trial

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

The same federal judge who is hearing a case challenging an Illinois law that targets anti-abortion health care providers for defrauding patients is also hearing a case against a similar state law passed years ago. […]

Conservative Chicago law firm Thomas More Society said in a statement that it filed the lawsuit on behalf of obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Ronald L. Schroeder and pro-life pregnancy help ministries 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services and Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs challenging an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which passed into law in 2016.

The amendment, Thomas More Society said in the statement, is meant to require health care providers to provide referrals of abortion providers to patients, regardless of the provider’s own beliefs about abortion. […]

“Health care professionals should provide patients with information on all their medical options in a timely manner,” Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said in a statement. “Challenging the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act is another attempt to deprive people from accessing essential reproductive care like abortion services. Everyone should be aware of all their options in order to make the best decision for themselves without discrimination or coercion.”

* Hannah Meisel at Capitol News Illinois…

When Illinois Democrats passed the 2016 law, its sponsors’ rhetoric was focused not on crisis pregnancy centers, but Catholic hospitals, which do not provide elective abortions and often bar doctors from prescribing contraceptives and sterilization.

In extreme cases, like to save the life of the mother, Catholic hospitals may terminate a pregnancy, but sponsors pointed to the story of a woman who was made to wait five weeks during her prolonged miscarriage until she was bleeding enough to justify the procedure. Then, as now, roughly 30 percent of hospital beds in Illinois are in Catholic-affiliated institutions.

But negotiations over the bill in 2015 and 2016 were able to neutralize opposition from influential organizations like the Illinois Catholic Hospital Association and the Catholic Conference of Illinois, and arguments against the bill evolved to prioritize the First Amendment concerns of CPCs. During debates over the bill in the House and Senate, Republican opponents warned the law would violate both the facilities’ rights to free speech and religious liberties.

Those comments turned out to be a preview of the legal battle over the Health Care Right of Conscience Act’s amendment; last week’s trial involved no plaintiffs associated with Catholic hospitals. Instead, plaintiffs are a handful of CPCs in Illinois, one doctor who volunteers as a medical director for a CPC, and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, a Virginia-based nonprofit that offers resources, training and legal advice to CPCs across the U.S. Out of the roughly 100 CPCs in Illinois, 81 are members of NIFLA’s network.

Go read the whole thing.

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Exelon, ComEd, Anne Pramaggiore charged with fraud by SEC

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The complaint is here. Exelon and ComEd paid a civil penalty and is now in the clear. But the SEC is going after Pramaggiore. Press release…

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Exelon Corporation, electric utility company Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), which is Exelon’s subsidiary, and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore with fraud in connection with a multi-year scheme to corruptly influence and reward then-Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan. Exelon and ComEd agreed to settle the charges, with Exelon paying a civil penalty of $46.2 million. The charges against Pramaggiore will be litigated.

According to the SEC’s order against Exelon and ComEd, from 2011 through 2019, ComEd arranged for various associates of Madigan to obtain jobs, subcontracts, and monetary payments, all with the intent to influence Madigan regarding legislation favorable to ComEd. The order finds that ComEd arranged payments to Madigan’s associates through third-party vendors to conceal the size of the payments and to assist ComEd in denying responsibility for oversight of Madigan’s associates, who in some instances did little to none of the work for which they were hired. The order finds that ComEd made indirect payments totaling more than $1.3 million to Madigan’s associates. In a deferred prosecution agreement entered into with criminal authorities, ComEd acknowledged that Madigan’s support of legislation favoring ComEd resulted in reasonably foreseeable anticipated benefits to ComEd of more than $150 million.

The SEC’s complaint against Pramaggiore alleges that she participated in, and in some instances directed, the bribery scheme. The complaint alleges that Pramaggiore did not disclose the bribery scheme and instead misled investors when she characterized ComEd’s lobbying activities as legitimate. The complaint also alleges that, as part of the scheme, Pramaggiore lied to Exelon’s auditors and filed false certifications.

“As alleged in our complaint, Pramaggiore’s remarks to investors about ComEd’s lobbying efforts hid the reality of the long-running political corruption scheme in which they were engaged,” said LeeAnn G. Gaunt, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s Public Finance Abuse Unit. “When corporate executives speak to investors, they must not mislead by omission.”

Exelon and ComEd consented to the SEC’s cease-and-desist order finding that they violated antifraud and books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the federal securities laws. Exelon agreed to pay a $46.2 million civil penalty.

The SEC’s complaint alleges that Pramaggiore violated antifraud and books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the federal securities laws and that she aided and abetted Exelon’s and ComEd’s violations of books and records and internal accounting controls provisions. The SEC seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement plus prejudgment interest, a civil penalty, and an officer and director bar against her.

* From an Exelon filing…

On September 28, 2023, Exelon Corporation and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison Company (the “Companies”), reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), concluding and resolving in its entirety the SEC investigation previously disclosed by the Companies, which related to the conduct identified in the deferred prosecution agreement that was entered into by Commonwealth Edison Company in July 2020 and successfully exited in July 2023. Under the terms of the settlement, the Companies have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $46.2 million and to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of specified provisions of the federal securities laws and rules promulgated thereunder. Exelon recorded an accrual for the full amount of the penalty in the second quarter of 2023, which was reflected in Exelon’s financial results reported in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023.

The Companies fully cooperated with the SEC over the course of its investigation. The SEC’s administrative order recognized the remedial measures promptly undertaken by the Companies, including the significant enhancements made to the Companies’ compliance program.

[Hat tip: WTTW]

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Some Gotion-related news (Updated)

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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State, city, mutual aid groups outline asylum seeker/migrant assistance (Updated)

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the governor’s office…

Asylum Seeker/Migrant Assistance

Since August 2022, Illinois has provided or committed over $328 million in funding to address the humanitarian asylum seeker crisis with direct funding to the City of Chicago, State-operated asylum seeker services, and additional State-supported services.

In addition to direct funding, the State has partnered with municipalities across the state, elected officials, community-based providers, and the federal government to coordinate, develop, and implement the infrastructure and coordination required for comprehensive, responsive, and strategic planning.

This $328 million investment is on top of the State of Illinois’ ongoing programming as a welcoming state for all immigrants and unhoused residents, including Illinois Welcoming Centers; VTTC (Victims of Trafficking Torture & Other Serious Crimes) medical, food and cash assistance; Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP); New Americans Initiative(NAI); and Home Illinois, Illinois’ plan to prevent and end homelessness.

Direct Funding to City of Chicago

• $51 million in direct funding from the State to the City of Chicago for general asylum seeker support services
• $19 million passthrough funding from State to City in accessing federal Shelter & Services Program (SSP) appropriation

Direct State Asylum Seeker Support

• ~ $90 million in IEMA emergency support services ($3M Federal and $87M State)
• $51 million in State direct support to asylum seekers

o Hotel Supports (Rooms + Staffing)
o Transportation
o Medical

State-Supported Services

• $64 million in comprehensive State-supported services for asylum seekers:

o Asylum Seeker Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ASERAP)
o Move-out Supports (Catholic Charities, New Life)
o Wrap-around Services (ICIRR, Coalition of Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH))
o Food (Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD))
o Legal Services

• $43 million in funding to municipalities to support asylum seekers statewide
• $10 million to stand-up Interim Congregate Housing (ICH) facility on behalf of City of Chicago

The city has applied to receive all of the “$43 million in funding to municipalities to support asylum seekers statewide,” but Chicago Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas said at a city council hearing today that she doesn’t expect the city will receive all the money. In fact, she said, the city has asked the state to identify Latino communities throughout the state. You can click here for a list. [ADDING: The state will announce soon that it is sending the city $32 million out of that $43 million.]

* Slide from the city’s presentation to that city council hearing about its costs…

No word on how much of that came from the state beyond the $70 million listed by the governor’s office (although the state’s outline goes back to last year, while the city’s is year to date).

…Adding… The city is reportedly planning to ask the state for an additional $200 million appropriation during the veto session. Not sure where that’s gonna come from.

* The city is laughably under-staffed. There’s no excuse for this…

Vasquez asks Ponce de León how many total staffers she wants the city to provide her office of immigration in the next budget. She has one paid staffer currently. She answers she wants between 6 and 10 individuals, for communication, policy specialist, project managers

— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) September 29, 2023

That’s Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights.

* Volunteers are really stepping up, despite the lack of help and direction from the city. They estimate they’ve spent $6.1 million…

How the city can tell volunteers "there will be 20 migrants dropped of at Police station X tonight" but then they can't even get it together to have someone from the city show up with blankets and water is mind-blowing. Totally dependent on the backs of volunteers.

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) September 29, 2023

This is how much mutual aid groups estimate they've spent stepping up where the government has failed. pic.twitter.com/rJ4tc7XVMB

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) September 29, 2023

* Also from today’s hearing…

Deputy COS Cristina Pacione-Zayas notes migrants can't get proper health care at CPD stations, ambulances called 365 times in Aug. Last wk alone, same #. “At some point it becomes an ambulance run … Our EMTs are not able to attend to the rest of the city”

— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) September 29, 2023

Izquierdo says about the 3yo girl who died en route to Chicago last month: “I keep thinking about, what if she got here, what if my team had seen her? What if we were able to do something?” Says she has also seen women who miscarried at detention centers south

— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) September 29, 2023

Wow.

* Not only is the federal government paying to fly some migrants to Chicago, they’re also doing this…

WHAT! The feds charge asylum seekers "upwards of $500" to apply for work authorization permits under Temporary Protected Status, according to DCOS Pacione-Zayas.

— Jim Daley (@jimdaleywrites) September 29, 2023

At least some waivers are available, but still. Ridic.

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Ford’s Chicago assembly plant hit by UAW strike

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last week, UAW President Shawn Fain said, “Ford is showing that they’re serious about reaching a deal,” and exempted them from the expanded strike. Something apparently changed…

The United Auto Workers strike that began Sept. 14 at limited locations for the Detroit Three automakers spread to Chicago on Friday as the union sent workers at the Ford assembly plant to the picket lines.

Union President Shawn Fain made the announcement about the expanded strike action on Facebook Live. He said it would also begin a walkout at a General Motors plant in Lansing, Mich. The strikes are to start at 11 a.m. CDT. […]

Ford’s Chicago assembly plant at 12600 S. Torrence Ave. has about 4,800 workers. The new walkout does not include a Ford stamping plant in Chicago Heights.

Ford’s Chicago plant produces the popular Ford Explorer as well as the Lincoln Aviators SUV.

* Stellantis was spared this time…

Fain said Chrysler-parent Stellantis was spared from additional strikes because of recent progress in negotiations with that company.

“Moments before this broadcast, Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 cost of living allowance, the right not to cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments and plant closures and outsourcing moratoriums,” said Fain, who was delayed nearly 30 minutes in making the online announcement. “We are excited about this momentum at Stellantis and hope it continues.” […]

Unlike past strikes, UAW leaders opted for targeted strikes at select plants instead of initiating national walkouts. It’s calling the work stoppages “stand-up strikes,” a nod to historic “sit-down” strikes by the UAW in the 1930s.

The strategy is in an effort to keep the automakers on edge in an effort to pit them against one another to achieve better contracts, according to private messages leaked last week involving the UAW’s communications director.

The messages, which described a strategy to cause “recurring reputations damage and operational chaos” for the companies, were heavily criticized by the automakers.

* Why is the UAW on strike? These are their contract demands as they negotiate with the Big Three: The UAW also wants the Big Three to reinstate annual cost of living adjustments, arguing that inflation is eating away worker paychecks. For decades, the Detroit automakers offered a COLA, but stopped after GM and Chryslers went bankrupt following the 2008 financial crisis. Adjusting for inflation, autoworkers have seen their average wages fall 19.3% since 2008, according to Adam Hersh, senior economist at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. That’s because autoworker “concessions made following the 2008 auto industry crisis were never reinstated,” Hersh said in a recent blog post, “including a suspension of cost-of-living adjustments.” … Currently, UAW workers who were hired after 2007 don’t receive defined benefit pensions. For years, the union gave up general pay raises and lost cost-of-living wage increases to help the companies control costs. “The majority of our members do not get a pension nowadays. It’s crazy,” Fain complained while speaking to Ford workers last month at a plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

* UAW expands strike against Big 3 automakers: Sticking points in negotiations were wage increases and the length of the workweek. The union is demanding a 46% pay increase combined over the four-year duration of a new contract, as well as a 32-hour workweek at 40-hour pay. So far, GM, Ford and Stellantis have each put forward proposals that offered workers a 20% pay increase over the life of the agreement but preserved a 40-hour workweek. … On Thursday, Fain accused GM and Stellantis of enabling violence against striking workers, pointing to incidents that occurred in Michigan, Massachusetts and California. Both companies denied the allegations and cited an escalation in behavior on the picket line.

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Coverage roundup: Pritzker defends state’s response to migrant housing, has ‘concerns’ about Chicago’s tent plan

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* NBC Chicago…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday said he continues to have concerns about Chicago’s plan to set up winter tent basecamps for an increasing number of asylum-seekers from South America and suggested officials may seek to offer shelters in unused buildings instead.

After Mayor Brandon Johnson announced last week a one-year, $29.4 million contract with GardaWorld Federal Services to set up a camp, Pritzker’s office said it addressed concerns around “cultural competency” by holding meetings with officials from the company and city.

Pritzker said the city could instead create shelters in existing, unused buildings. He said the federal government could offer buildings, but the state and federal governments haven’t yet identified any.

“I have concerns about it, and we continue to have conversations about it,” Pritzker told reporters after his keynote address at a cannabis business conference in downtown Chicago.

* Sun-Times…

After Mayor Brandon Johnson announced last week a one-year, $29.4 million contract with GardaWorld Federal Services to set up a camp, Pritzker’s office said it addressed concerns around “cultural competency” by holding meetings with officials from the company and city. […]

“With a lack of existing buildings to put people in, I know the city has looked at this as one of its options. But I don’t think this is the only option,” Pritzker said.

The state has a contract with GardaWorld through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, but it’s never been used at the state level, Pritzker said. However, the contract can be used by counties and cities, as Chicago has.

Although GardaWorld is a controversial choice — the company has been accused of mistreating migrant children at the border and labor trafficking — the state has few options for companies that provide emergency services and can construct shelters on short notice, Pritzker said.

* ABC Chicago…

A few blocks up the street on South Halsted Street in Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s ward, a big empty warehouse is about to become another Pilsen shelter. Members of City Council say it’s time for the state of Illinois to do more

“The state has been very slow, and, in my opinion, negligent on their response, and I think the leadership of the governor is critical right now,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

Pritzker defended his response to the migrant crisis.

“The city has received not just resources from the state, but people, personnel and a whole lot of effort during the last year,” he said.

Pritzker said the state has given the city close to $330 million to help with the crisis, but Council members say more than money is needed. While the state was putting migrants in hotels at the beginning of the crisis, it is no longer.

* WGN…

Gov. Pritzker responded to democratic mayor of El Paso sending migrants to Chicago:

“[He] needs to listen to the cities that he’s sending folks to and start thinking about whether or not this should be spread across the country. Why is he not sending anybody to Idaho, Wyoming?” […]

The state said it’s working on one shelter. The governor’s office stated it had plans for that shelter dating back to the Lightfoot administration, but the city didn’t take the state up on its offer until a few weeks ago.

The Illinois governor also stated that he has spoken with the Department of Homeland Security and the White House to seek assistance.

* Center Square…

At an unrelated event in Chicago Thursday, Pritzker blamed Republican governors, but was confronted with even Democratic El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser sending migrants.

“You know that they’re sending, nope, they’re doing it because they’re sending them to areas where they think that people will take care of them and where people will put the resources forward because this is a humanitarian crisis,” Pritzker said. “But the reality is that states that are controlled by Republicans ought to be offering the same services.” […]

At an unrelated news conference Thursday, Pritzker asked other communities from throughout the state to volunteer.

“I hope that cities will raise their hands and offer assistance,” Pritzker said. “We have provided grant opportunities for cities that will do that.”

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Rate the NRCC’s hit on Bailey

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This came in over the transom from the National Republican Congressional Committee last night…

Hey Rich,

Hope this email finds you well! I recently saw your report on Mike Bost and Ukraine and I wanted to see if you were interested in covering some examples of Darren Bailey moderating his previously conservative positions when he ran for statewide office. I don’t think these positions would play well now that he is in a primary challenge against Bost. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Government Waste:
Darren Bailey claimed to support fiscal responsibility, opposing wasteful government spending. However, he reportedly took nearly $570,000 in PPP loans and since 1995, his farm has taken $2.1 million in federal subsidies. Additionally, his family members received millions from the Pritzker admin.

Wouldn’t Stand For Life:
Darren Bailey claims to be pro-life. However, he also claimed abortion laws in the state would not have be changed should he had won his gubernatorial race, stating “Illinois has the most permissive abortion laws in the nation. Nothing’s going to change when I’m governor.”

Second Amendment:
Darren Bailey claims to support the second amendment. However, while running for Governor, Bailey called for a special session to strengthen the Firearms Restraining Order Act, red flag law legislation that allows judges to take away firearms.

Chose to live in Chicago:
Darren Bailey claims to be anti-Chicago, supporting measures for separation and calling it a “hellhole.” However, he chose to live on the miracle mile in the John Hancock center, while campaigning for Governor, claiming he wanted to “immerse [him]self in the culture” of the city.

* As noted above, we talked yesterday about how Mike Bost flip-flopped on his previous votes in favor of funding the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Bailey had whacked Bost and US Rep. Darin LaHood for their past votes in favor of Ukraine funding. “We can’t secure our border, but we continue writing blank checks to Ukraine? We need to get our priorities straight and put America first. How any member of Congress can vote for this while our border isn’t secure, families are suffering, and we have veterans living on our streets is abhorrent,” he wrote.

This morning brought another bit from the NRCC. It’s a Sun-Times report from February of 2022…

Pritzker’s Republican rivals have found a rare patch of common ground with him on Ukraine, with candidates in the GOP primary field for governor summarily denouncing the Russian invasion.

“Russia’s actions are unconscionable and we should place extremely strong sanctions on Russia,” state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said in a statement. “Ukraine has made clear it can fight for itself but we should provide the resources they need to defend their sovereignty.”

* Bailey’s response…

“I have always been against sending blank checks to Ukraine. My position hasn’t changed. Unlike career politicians like Bost, I would have demanded accountability with every penny and cut it off a long time ago. And I would not have joined a never-Trumper like Adam Kinzinger to push new gun control laws, and I would never vote to send millions to planned parenthood. I’m a conservative fighter who has been in the fights against Pritzker’s lockdowns and more while Bost has been sitting on his hands and playing politics.”

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Drip, drip, drip

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tom Schuba…

Fifty minutes after two women were somehow wounded by gunshots Aug. 25, [the now-former commander of the CPD’s patrol bureau John Spellman] informed Sox staff that Patrol Chief Brian McDermott wanted to “stop the game for public safety reasons,” according to a police report.

Spellman had been serving as a security supervisor for At Your Service LLC, the company that guards Sox park and is controlled by team executives, according to law enforcement sources.

There was concern that Spellman might have prioritized the interests of the team over the department and stalled in delivering McDermott’s request to pause the game, a source said. He also didn’t have the superintendent’s approval to work the security job, as required by a departmental order. […]

In an appearance last week on the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman Show, [former acting police superintendent Fred Waller] wouldn’t comment on whether Spellman had been given approval to work for At Your Service. He also sidestepped a question about whether Spellman had disobeyed a direct order from McDermott.

Spellman was demoted and sent to the Morgan Park District on Waller’s last day in office, according to the report.

Also, points to Schuba for calling it “Sox park.”

...Adding… Related…

* White Sox ballpark shooting victim breaks silence, speaks exclusively with ABC7: “I heard a loud pop,” the victim said. “I felt an impact on my leg, and I looked down and I did not see anything. I thought somebody, you know, in the crowd had thrown a beer can or thrown something, bottled water or something, and there was nothing there.” But then, someone nearby noticed a lot of blood, and she looked down and saw her right leg was bleeding. “It wasn’t until a couple moments later that somebody mentioned that there was a bullet found a couple of rows down,” she said. “And at that moment was when I realized I had been shot. I panicked. I completely went into panic mode, knowing that there was a bullet fired nearby us. And at that point I didn’t know if it was there was going to be more gunfire. I didn’t know anything. I was terrified. I wanted to get out of that area because I knew somebody in the immediate area had a gun on them.”

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

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s goin’ on in your part of Illinois?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Here you go…

Sun-Times | Pritzker says Chicago could house asylum-seekers in unused buildings, not winter tent basecamps:

* Tribune | Tension between city and state over migrant crisis on the rise — as are cost estimates: During a briefing with reporters, Johnson’s deputy chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, said the latest estimate of costs associated with migrants arriving in Chicago from August 2022 to the end of the year could reach $361.3 million, a whopping $58 million more than the previous projection.

* ABC Chicago | SEC files fraud charges against COMED and Former CEO, found guilty in Madigan bribery case: The Securities and Exchange Comission charged ComEd and its former CEO Anne Pramaggiore Thursday with fraud in connection to the alleged corruption scheme involving former house speaker Mike Madigan. Commonwealth Edison and its parent company Exelon agreed to settle, paying a penalty of more than $46 million. However, charges against Pramaggiore will move forward.

* WAND | Illinois police, fire leaders urge lawmakers to eliminate Tier 2 pension system: “We’re about 12 years into this two-tiered system - a system quite frankly that our members find not fair, immoral and wrong,” said Chuck Sullivan, President for the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois.”AFFI was one of several organizations speaking on behalf of first responders during a House Personnel & Pensions Committee hearing Thursday afternoon.

* Benzinga | Illinois Is Paving The Way For Cannabis, Pritzker Says: ‘Here In The Land Of Lincoln We’re Trying To Do Things Differently’: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted the importance of that initiative Thursday in a keynote address at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago. […] “We couldn’t just legalize cannabis and say that our work was done. We had to address the trauma inflicted by the war on cannabis and the war on drugs more broadly, which incarcerated thousands … and tore apart families and neighborhoods in the process,” he said.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois child care providers face “cliff” with pandemic funds set to expire: Several daycare owners told CBS 2 the funding was the only reason they survived the pandemic, and without it, parents and staff are going to face a serious dilemma. The American Rescue Plan funding has helped thousands of child care centers across Illinois pay their staff, upgrade their facilities and keep cots lower for parents. But it’s set to expire on Sept. 30.

* WSPY | Chief of Staff for current 76th District State Rep. now running for the job: Amy “Murri” Briel, who is the chief of staff for current 76th District State Representative Lance Yednock, is announcing that she’ll run for the job in 2024. […] DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes has also announced that he will also seek the Democratic nomination.

* Tribune | Chicago Housing Authority could continue to redirect funds under controversial HUD program extension: Called Moving to Work, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program allows CHA and other public housing authorities to use money allocated for housing vouchers and public housing for other purposes, such as providing free meals to seniors and youth and helping residents find jobs.

* WBEZ | A politically connected Chicago Park District manager got a light punishment after mishandling a sexual harassment allegation: Maya Solis — a daughter of disgraced former Ald. Danny Solis — continues in her $126,072-a-year post as one of three region directors for the Park District, despite an internal investigation that found she learned about the sexual harassment allegation in 2018 and did not report it to the human resources department.

* SJ-R | Shipman trustee accused of collecting and spending village funds for personal use: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said that through payments to herself and on personal costs, Robinson spent anywhere from $10,000 to $65,000 in village money. According to the AG’s office, she paid herself by forging signatures on unauthorized village checks and used village funds to pay personal utilities and the rent on personal storage units.

* WGN | Evanston residents protest Ryan Field renovations for 2nd straight day: The $800 million project would rebuild Ryan Field, but also rezone the area to allow for six concerts at the stadium, a major sticking point for many neighbors. The Evanston Chamber of Commerce released a statement Tuesday, saying they support the planned renovations, citing an economic impact study to back their stance. That study found the new stadium would generate $1.3 billion in economic impact to Cook and Lake Counties.

* Aurora Beacon-News | Ceremonial lease signing marks milestone in development of VNA Health Care facility at old Copley Hospital site in Aurora: The development includes an independent living community for people with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disabilities, senior citizen residences, the East Aurora School District administrative headquarters, a five-acre park and playground and a soon-to-be VNA Health clinic.

* WIRED | US Justice Department Urged to Investigate Gunshot Detector Purchases: Justice Department (DOJ) is being asked to investigate whether a gunshot-detection system widely in use across the US is being selectively deployed to justify the over-policing of mainly Black neighborhoods, as critics of the technology claim.

* Block Club | City Drops Citations Against Migrant Barbers Arrested For Cutting Hair Without License: Chicago’s municipal code states it’s illegal to operate a business and exchange money without a proper license. People can be fined at least $250 for violations, according to the code. The men were not fined and have since stopped operations, one of the barbers previously told Block Club.

* Crain’s | Art Institute again under fire over disputed ownership of artwork: The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office earlier this month issued a series of warrants for art created by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele believed to have been stolen by the Nazis during World War II. While five museums and collectors in the U.S. voluntarily returned seven pieces of art from the stolen collection, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of three museums digging its heels in over ownership of the remaining three items.

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Live coverage

Friday, Sep 29, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ScribbleLive is still down. Twitter has stopped allowing people to embed list feeds on websites. So, click here or here to follow breaking news.

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Afternoon roundup

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Another “Driving While Black” story from WBEZ…

Last year, Black drivers accounted for nearly 30.5% of all traffic stops statewide, even though the state’s adult population is only 13.6% Black.

Beyond the number of drivers stopped, the data reveal why police initiate contact in the first place.

Last year, for the first time on record, more than half of Black drivers pulled over by police statewide were stopped for non-moving violations, like talking on the phone, not wearing a seatbelt or expired tags. Conversely, white drivers were stopped mostly for moving violations, like speeding.

Joshua Levin, an attorney with the ACLU of Illinois, said these encounters are rife for potential “pretextual stops,” where low-level traffic violations are used as an excuse to make contact with drivers – at the expense of their civil rights – in an effort to identify more serious crimes. Amid a recent surge in traffic stops by Chicago police, the ACLU filed a lawsuit earlier this year alleging that the department’s practices racially profile, harass and demean law-abiding citizens.

The data also show a fivefold increase in the number of Black drivers stopped for non-moving violations and let go with a warning. Latino drivers experienced a fourfold increase since the state began collecting the data. White drivers, by comparison, have seen little change in the number of non-moving stops resulting in a warning. […]

Search rates show disparities, too. In 2022, Chicago police were four times more likely to request a “consent search” from Black or Latino drivers compared to white drivers. While infrequent, legal experts say this type of search – where officers ask permission to search a driver, passenger or a car without probable cause – deserves scrutiny because they suggest that officers don’t have much evidence of criminal activity.

And Chicago police were more likely to turn up contraband during consent searches involving white drivers, one out of every two consent searches, versus Black drivers, one out of every three.

* I always direct Springfield types to the Klein and Mason facility because not many people seem to know about it…

The Secretary of State Driver and Motor Vehicle Facility (DMV) located at 316 N. Klein St. in Springfield will close temporarily on Friday, September 29, for remodeling, including a complete overall of the plumbing system. The facility is expected to reopen in late January 2024.

“This is an important renovation project, and while it is underway the Springfield Wabash DMV will serve customers from Springfield and nearby communities,” said Giannoulias.

The Wabash DMV, located at 1650 Wabash Ave., is an appointment-only facility for select services. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Appointments are required for REAL ID, driver’s license and ID card services, and in-car driving tests. Those seeking vehicle-related services, such as title and registration or renewing their license plate sticker, do not need to make an appointment and can just walk in

* Press release…

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) have issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Small Business Storefront Activation Program. Through this RFP, the City will select community and economic development organizations that will be responsible for identifying vacant storefronts in their respective community areas, negotiating short-term leases with landlords, sourcing local small businesses for storefront activations, managing preparation and operations for the space, and providing ongoing support to small businesses operating pop-up stores. These activations will boost local spending and draw additional foot traffic to commercial corridors across all 77 neighborhoods. […]

RFP grantees will negotiate short-term leases for move-in ready vacant storefronts, and partner with local small businesses to launch pop-up stores, community markets, or other commercial activations that support local businesses. The grantees will also assist the businesses with business coaching and support them in managing a storefront.

* I get emails…

In the wake of nationwide UAW strikes and Presidential candidates in Michigan, labor strife continues in Rockford where Mayor Tom McNamara has been the target of the Local 150 rat patrol.

In July, McNamara broke a tie against an amendment requiring a Project-Labor Agreement on a local development deal, angering local trade unions. Adding to the drama was the fact that 6 of 10 Democrats on the Rockford City Council voted against the pro-labor amendment but 3 of 4 Rockford Republicans supported it. Union members have been active in picketing at City Hall since the vote.

Accompanying photo…

* The White Sox can barely even give tickets away…

We’re live at the $1 White Sox Game. Attendance is low. https://t.co/phR0jJDqQY pic.twitter.com/a6obbScrPs

— WBBM Newsradio (@WBBMNewsradio) September 28, 2023

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…

* Injustice Watch | Chicago man becomes first in Illinois to get reduced sentence under new law: On July 19, Patton left Dixon Correctional Center in his wheelchair four years earlier than he expected. The Gulf War combat veteran and music producer, known for his work with Lupe Fiasco and other Chicago hip-hop artists, had served more than 17 years of a 44-year term following his conviction for heroin trafficking. His 2007 conviction relied on testimony from a cooperating witness who later recanted. Still, all his appeals failed, his clemency petition was denied, and he was refused medical release, despite his failing health and paralysis from a serious fall while in prison.

* WGN | ‘Violations have continued’: Illinois AG alleges Trump Tower underreporting water discharges into Chicago River: “Even after the state of Illinois took steps to hold Trump Tower accountable for violations of state and federal environmental laws, violations have continued — underscoring a disregard for the laws and regulations that are in place to protect our waterways and aquatic life,” Raoul said. “I am committed to enforcing our environmental laws and ensuring that all entities are held accountable for violations of those laws.”

* WTTW | The Physical and Mental Toll of Living With Long COVID: ‘I Feel Like We’ve Been Abandoned and Forgotten’: “People see me, they’re like, ‘Oh, you don’t look like you’re in pain,’” said Sasis, who lives in Berwyn. “I act like it because I don’t want it to be a burden to anybody else. My life is so much about preparing and planning and then anticipating the consequences.” Those consequences can present themselves as debilitating fatigue, muscle pain and memory issues.

* Sun-Times | 2 Chicago cops acquitted of shooting that wounded unarmed man in Pilsen: A Cook County judge on Thursday acquitted two Chicago police officers accused of shooting an unarmed man last summer in Pilsen and then lying about how it happened. Judge Lawrence Flood ruled the officers were within their rights to protect themselves when they opened fire, wounding Miguel Medina twice on July 22 last year.

* Daily Herald | Pat Fitzgerald is close to filing a mega-million lawsuit against Northwestern: Any hint of all’s quiet on the Northwestern legal-and-athletics front is about to end. Former football coach Pat Fitzgerald is working toward finalization of a lawsuit against the university alleging breach of contract. The action has an estimated potential gross recovery nearing $100 million. Dan Webb — Fitzgerald’s lead attorney and a partner in the Chicago-based Winston & Strawn — will announce the filing. Webb’s statement is expected no later than Oct. 14 and could come sooner.

* WICS | EIU suspends men’s swim team competition amid hazing investigation for fall 2023 : Eastern Illinois has suspended competition for the men’s swim team for the fall 2023 semester for reports of hazing. The University and Intercollegiate Athletics immediately initiated a formal investigation, led by EIU’s Office of the Dean of Students.

* Block Club | Portage Park Center Gets $335K From State To Launch Homelessness Outreach Program: The Lutheran Social Services of Illinois received $335,000 to hire four people who will be based out of the nonprofit’s Portage Cragin Counseling Center, 4840 W. Byron St. The organization is hiring three full-time outreach case managers and a housing locator who will work with homeless communities in Portage Park, Old Irving Park, Jefferson Park and Belmont Cragin and develop relationships with landlords to increase housing opportunities for those in need.

* WMBD | Union workers express support for CO2 pipeline at Tazewell County Board meeting: Those against the pipeline have concerns about health and safety. Wolf Carbon Solutions has already filed an application with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in June. Patrick Brierley, VP of Engineering for Wolf Carbon Solutions, said the ICC has to approve each parcel the company crosses. There’s more than 600 in Illinois and more than 300 in Iowa.

* Daily Southtown | School bus driver involved in death of Park Forest second grader found guilty of driving with canceled license: Darryl Downs, the school bus driver who struck and killed a second grade student in Park Forest Jan. 20, was found guilty Thursday of a misdemeanor offense and sentenced to 12 months of court supervision.

* Daily Herald | St. Charles seeking court permission to raze Pheasant Run Resort: On Thursday, Judge Bonnie Wheaton appointed a city-suggested receiver, giving him permission to install security fencing, order an environmental conditions report and obtain bids for demolition. The receiver estimates it may cost about $2 million, said Andrew Acker, the city’s attorney. “I think everybody is sad to see this institution is going the way of the dodo,” Wheaton said at the end of the hearing.

* Capitol B | A Gas Storage Plant and New Pipeline Disrupt Life for This Black Community: Southwest Crossing is an aging community in Houston where nearly 20% of residents are over 65. They know, as it is, the average American is expected to live only a decade after retirement. It’s even less for Black people, and much of the disparity concerns the daily stress of racism. […] Residents say they became aware of the plan to build the new pipeline only after noticing company employees surveying their property without permission. Because the pipeline is for gas distribution to CenterPoint customers from a CenterPoint-owned gas facility and not a transmission line between two facilities, it does not require a new operating permit from the state of Texas.

* Alabama Political Reporter | Huntsville library director orders mass relocation of LGBTQ books: APR’s review of the list shows 70 titles in the juvenile section that would fall under that order for immediate relocation. That list includes a graphic novel based on the highly popular Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series that has experienced a resurgence after being picked up by Netflix—and which doesn’t have any apparent cross-section with any of the parameters that the search seems to be based on. However, the sequel series Legend of Korra includes a lesbian relationship which is shown in the graphic novel, which also appears on the Huntsville list to be moved.

* Peoples Fabric | City Settles Lawsuit Against Ald. Gardiner, CPD For $100K: The lawsuit alleges Sikanich told Gardiner that he had lost his cellphone, but Gardiner directed him to report it as stolen. The two then allegedly went to the man’s home, harassed his roommate, and later conspired with Chicago police officers to have George falsely arrested. George was detained overnight, despite one of the officers allegedly saying, “I believe you, and I wasn’t going to arrest you. But you pissed off a guy with power and my bosses have bosses!”

* NBC | NFL issues statement in response to placement of its ads on white nationalist Twitter/X pages: One of the accounts belongs to a streaming host who has suggested that Bills safety Damar Hamlin died from a reaction to the COVID vaccine, and that he’s currently being portrayed by an actor. That same host has also, per MediaMatters.org, called for the execution of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift over Kelce’s recent promotion of the COVID vaccine.

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After Bailey attack, Bost flips on Ukraine support

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Darren Bailey’s Facebook page five days ago…

The Bailey campaign pointed to this roll call (Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022) as the source and this article (”Here are the 70 House Republicans who voted to cut off all US military aid to Ukraine”) about another vote on the same topic in July of this year.

* Today…

We’re fighting to restore fiscal sanity here at home and preparing for a potential government shutdown in a matter of days. It would an insult to send billions more to Ukraine with no accountability for how it’s spent. I will always put AMERICA FIRST. (2/2)

— Mike Bost (@BostForCongress) September 28, 2023

Roll call is here. US Rep. Darin LaHood remained consistent.

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County clerks being “inundated” with voting-related FOIA requests here

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Votebeat…

In North Carolina, Local Labs wanted obscure voter records that would take weeks, or even months, to prepare. In Georgia, the company requested a copy of every envelope voters used to mail in their ballots. And in dozens of counties across the U.S., Local Labs asked for the address of every midterm voter.

Local election offices across the country are struggling to manage a sharp rise in the number of public records requests, and extensive requests coming from Local Labs in at least five states have stymied election officials, according to a Votebeat review of hundreds of records requests, as well as interviews. The requests are broad and unclear, and the purpose for obtaining the records is often not fully explained, leaving officials wondering in some cases whether they can legally release the records.

Local Labs is known for a massive network of websites that rely mainly on aggregation and automation, blasting out conservative-leaning hyper-local news under names such as the Old North News, in North Carolina, and Peach Tree Times, in Georgia.

Local Labs CEO Brian Timpone told Votebeat the company is using records requests in an attempt to expose election fraud that he is sure exists. The company is sometimes getting paid by GOP-backed clients to do so, Timpone acknowledged, characterizing the work simultaneously as both political research and journalism.

Ugh.

* I reached out to Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections to ask if this was happening here as well…

Illinois election authorities have received many if not all of the same records requests named in that article.

These kinds of requests and others – along with the more general theme of combating election disinformation — were the impetus behind a series of press conferences many central Illinois county clerks and election officials held on Tuesday and Wednesday. John Ackerman, clerk of Tazewell County, organized this and would be a good person to contact if you want some detail on the issue of these kinds of FOIA requests causing work flow problems for local election authorities:

* I wasn’t able to reach Ackerman (I’ll let you know if he calls me back), but a Capitol News Illinois story on the press conferences didn’t mention the FOIA issue. Neither did WCIA, WEEK and the Pantagraph.

So, I watched the press conference online.

* Ackerman told reporters that clerks were being “inundated” with FOIAs (although he said they have tapered off somewhat lately). “It’s the exact same message from the exact same person,” Ackerman said, without identifying the person. Clerks are being asked for “items we don’t have here in Illinois. They’re asking for data and for log books that don’t exist because they’ve gotten the information from out of state sources rather than sources within the state.”

“I do feel sorry for some of my smaller counties,” Ackerman said. “I have staff that can help get that stuff prepared.” Many of the smaller counties, he said, only have one or two employees handling the inquiries. “That’s really taking a huge amount of their time to answer the same amount of questions as a larger county.”

…Adding… I was able to connect with Clerk Ackerman, who told me he hasn’t received any FOIA requests that he knows of from Timpone’s Local Labs. Most all of the FOIA requests were anonymous, he said, so he couldn’t rule it out. His office did receive a request for early voting envelopes, which was denied for being overly broad.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to yesterday’s edition

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Taxes are for the little people

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Greg Sargent at the Washington Post…

Nearly 1,000 tax filers who earn more than $1 million per year have still not filed federal tax returns for at least one year from 2017 to 2020, according to IRS data provided to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

What’s more, the 2,000 people who represent the highest-income non-filers in one or more of those years owe a total of more than $900 million in federal taxes, the data shows.

More excerpts from that IRS report…

1,465,067 high-income non-filers for tax years 2017-2020 have not yet satisfied their filing obligations with the IRS. The total amount of unpaid taxes potentially owed by this population is $65.7 billion.

As of May 2023, there were 10,272 high-income non-filers with at least $100,000 balance due looking back to tax year 2017, at least one return reporting adjusted gross income (AGI) of $200,000 or more for Tax Years looking back to 2017, and who had multiple years of unfiled returns between 2015 and 2020. These taxpayers owed $68,658,459,724 in total unpaid assessments (tax, penalties, and interest) as of May 2023. There were 981 high income non-filers in this population with AGI of at least $1 million. These taxpayers owed $34,277,321,852 in total unpaid assessments (tax, penalties, and interest) as of May 2023. There were 58 high income non-filers in this population with AGI of at least $10 million. These taxpayers owed $16,685,980,639 in total unpaid assessments (tax, penalties, and interest) as of May 2023.

SB/SE Collection does not record how many cases have been refereed to DOJ for criminal prosecution, however, we can report that of the 10,272 taxpayers, 154 were under criminal investigation at one time and 31 were in active criminal investigation as of May 2023.

8,729 high-income non-filers for tax years 2017 – 2020 have a potential balance of unpaid taxes in excess of $500,000.

The amount of unpaid taxes owed by the top 100 high-income nonfilers for each tax year 2017 – 2020 (2,000 taxpayers) was $991,124,861 after deducting non-enforcement payments. As noted above, $67,481,404 has been collected, leaving $923,643,457 owed.

Of the top 500 high-income nonfilers for each tax year 2017-2020 (2,000 cases) the IRS has pursued a levy in 27 cases and a lien in 31 cases.

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*** UPDATED x3 *** Pritzker says he’s ‘expressed concerns’ about the city’s proposed migrant tent camps: ‘I don’t think this is the only option’

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker was asked today about Chicago’s highly controversial contract with GardaWorld to house large numbers of asylum seekers in tents over the winter…

I’ve expressed my concerns about it and we continue to have conversations about it. I think it’s something that the city, with a lack of existing buildings to put people in, I know the city has looked at this as one of its options, but I don’t think this is the only option.

And again, we’re attempting to identify other facilities that are already built where we could house migrants. [cross talk] If we have existing facilities, we ought to use all of those that are willing to do it. Including, by the way if there are federal opportunities to do that, great. There are federal buildings that don’t have anybody in them, we haven’t identified any yet and the federal government hasn’t yet, but we’ve asked them even if, you know, even if it’s something that’s a bit inconvenient for the federal government, they need to step up to the plate and I’ve said that repeatedly to the Department of Homeland Security.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

The state has a contract with GardaWorld that the city is piggy-backing on. Pritzker told reporters today that the state has “not yet used that contract.”

* Pritzker was also asked about his conversations with people in the federal government about what he wants them to do…

Well, they have the ability to help us and they’ve offered to help and so we’re going to accept whatever it is that they can offer. I will say that it’s not just about money, though. Frankly, we do need reimbursement for the dollars that have already been put forward because we’ve done an awful lot already without a lot of help from the federal government. [crosstalk] It’s not just about money, right? It is also about making sure that we get personnel from the federal government. Because this process. and you can see a little bit of it in New York, we’re doing it here in Chicago and organizing it. It involves immigration attorneys. It involves filing paperwork for people that haven’t already filed paperwork. It involves making sure that we’re identifying peoples’ skills and the jobs that they can fulfill when they get the work authorizations. So there’s a lot that the federal government can help us with along the way. We’re doing it on our own now, but we’ve asked, I have asked the Department [crosstalk] and the Department of Homeland Security and the White House have both heard from me on this subject.

* One press conference attendee asked why the state wasn’t opening up McCormick Place East (Lakeside Center) to the migrants like was done during the pandemic.

What a bizarre question. McCormick Place was shut down during the pandemic. Nobody was going to conventions back then, so they had plenty of room. If you click here, you’ll see that McCormick Place Lakeside Center has several scheduled events.

*** UPDATE 1*** Chicago Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa sent me a text in response…

In addition to opening and operating their own state migrant shelters, New York state reimburses NYC for a third to half of all their migrant-related expenses, we wish we were getting that level of support in Chicago. Would help tremendously.

His tweet was more blunt…

This is particularly ludicrous coming from JB given that lack of meaningful support from the State of Illinois has pushed the city in this direction.

New York state has opened multiple migrant shelters. The State of Illinois operates ZERO shelters. ZERO. Open some shelters JB! https://t.co/HTHQDN7JAR

— Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (@CDRosa) September 28, 2023

*** UPDATE 2 *** Pritzker spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh called to say “We have offered to open shelters,” going back to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s tenure. Neither Lightfoot nor Mayor Johnson have taken the state up on the offer, she said, adding that the state has already provided $328 million in state funds.

More in a bit.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Abudayyeh followed up by saying that the city has finally agreed to the state’s turn-key shelter plan for a vacant CVS facility in Little Village.

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Good luck, Henry!

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Henry Haupt called me earlier this month and, for some reason, as soon as I saw his name on my phone I figured he was gonna tell me he was retiring. Sure enough, the longtime Illinois Secretary of State spokesperson was planning to leave. He’s going to take it easy for a bit and then check out some other opportunities.

I have known Henry forever. He started out at the SoS as an administrative assistant way back in 1992. He became a deputy press secretary in 2007 and then moved up to press secretary in 2019. The man has an incredible amount of institutional knowledge and is extremely accessible. He’s also one of the nicest people around and has always made it abundantly clear that he’s always available to talk, day or night. As just one example, I texted him recently at 9:30 at night about something. It wasn’t really an urgent matter, but he responded, saying his dad was in the hospital and he’d forward my question to a colleague. I was horrified that I’d interrupted him at such a difficult time and apologized, but he waved it off. I got the info I was looking for.

* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias called today and asked if I’d put something on the blog about Henry. I asked him to send me something, but I told him I didn’t want a canned statement. I wanted it to be as sincere as what he had just told me on the phone. He said he’d write it himself and here it is…

Henry is not just one of the finest public servants I know, but also one of the finest people. He is flawlessly kind & considerate and is a tirelessly hard worker. I call him at 11 & 12 o’clock at night and he always answers; I call him on Saturdays & Sundays and he always answers (and he’s usually in the office when I call!). He is enthusiastic, truly loves the work and has been incredibly valuable to me not just as a colleague & advisor, but also as a dear friend. I’m gonna miss Henry a lot and the state will miss his dedication, deep knowledge and service. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Illinois, Henry - sorry if I drove you nuts!

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Jimmy Weiss asks for leniency, claiming his corruption would have eventually benefited the state and that he can no longer ‘bribe his way back into business ever again’

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Let’s go back in time to this June story from Capitol News Illinois…

(T)he federal government’s case against politically connected businessman James Weiss, ended Thursday with a jury convicting Weiss on seven counts, including bribery and lying to the FBI.

Federal sentencing guidelines dictate a maximum of 20 years in prison for the most serious of the charges, though those convicted of public corruption have faced wildly different sentences.

* Now, let’s move forward to today in the Sun-Times…

Lawyers for James T. Weiss asked U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger to give him a prison sentence of less than 27 months, arguing in part that the bill Weiss wanted to pass would have generated at least one penny in tax revenue on each transaction on so-called sweepstakes machines. […]

“[Weiss’] unlawful actions were designed to protect his business, the legitimate income that provides for his family, and to institute clear regulation of the sweepstakes industry,” [Weiss’ attorney Ilia Usharovich] wrote. […]

Weiss, husband of former state Rep. Toni Berrios and son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, is due to be sentenced by Seeger on Oct. 11.

Seeger is the same judge who last year handed a nearly five-year sentence to [Rep. Luis Arroyo], calling him a “dirty politician who was on the take.” Ahead of that hearing, Arroyo’s defense attorneys argued that sending him to prison would be “no more effective than draining Lake Michigan with a spoon” because it wouldn’t end Chicago corruption.

An October 2020 indictment against Arroyo and Weiss alleged that Arroyo served as Weiss’ bought-and-paid-for member of the Illinois House of Representatives. In exchange for $32,500 in bribes from Weiss, Arroyo agreed to vote for and promote sweepstakes legislation in Springfield.

* More from the memo…

The Defendant’s unlawful actions were designed to protect his business, the legitimate income that provides for his family, and to institute clear regulation of the sweepstakes industry. Part of this regulation required the payment of a “One Cent” tax on all sweepstakes transactions in The State of Illinois. This tax would have benefited the Public with additional tax revenue. The Defendant would have also suffered a determinant in that his business, which was already legal, would be subject to additional taxation and state regulation. There was no actual theft of federal funds, improper transfer of federal funds, and there was no financial loss to the United States or the State of Illinois. […]

As to Defendant, Specific deterrence is not a strong factor. This is because Louis Arroyo and Terry Link are unlikely to hold office again. Also, on 2/1/2023, Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita, who testified at trial, introduced HB1603 which would make Defendant’s sweepstake business illegal. On 2/7/2023 SB1504 was introduce by Sen. Bill Cunningham which would also make Defendant’s sweepstake business illegal. Finally, introduced on 2/17/2023, by Rep. Cyril Nichols, was HB3850 which would also make Defendant’s sweepstakes business illegal. Hence, it is very unlikely Defendant will remain in business or be able to bribe his way back into business ever again. [Emphasis added.]

Hilarious.

* You may recall that Weiss’ attorney Ilia Usharovich had a bizarre dustup with Judge Seeger, who scolded Usharovich about his disrespectful behavior in court. And then this happened…

The judge told Weiss’ defense team to take five minutes to cool down. But it didn’t help. Usharovich tried to explain the reasoning behind their appeal, but Seeger wound up telling him “you may not speak again without permission.”

That led to multiple episodes in which Usharovich raised one hand, or both, to signal that he wanted to speak, including once to use the bathroom.

Late in the hearing, Usharovich claimed he’d thrown up into a cup and complained that he’d been restrained unlawfully in the courtroom. He told the judge “here’s my vomit in a cup.”

When Seeger questioned whether Usharovich had really thrown up, Usharovich insisted to the judge, “Look at the cup!”

Seeger told him that “the transcript will never fully convey the contemptuous air that I’m getting from you, and I don’t like it.”

[Rich Miller contributed to this post.]

26 Comments

More misinformation from Bloomberg

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here and here if you need it. Bloomberg: “Illinois risks budget cuts when pandemic aid ends, report says”…

Twelve states in the US, including some of the country’s largest economies, are at risk of cutting or scaling back programs in essential areas like education and public safety when the federal government’s historic stimulus package expires in 2026.

California, New York, and Pennsylvania, alongside nine others, used federal stimulus money to cover recurring costs that totaled 2.5% or more of their general fund expenditures in fiscal 2022. They could face budgetary gaps because of that spending, forcing government leaders to rethink certain programs and jobs, according to an analysis of disclosure filings as of July 2022 released Tuesday by The Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit research group. […]

“A lot of states have major issues. Illinois is dealing with refugees and wanting to provide health care for them,” said Beverly Bunch, a professor at the University of Illinois Springfield and author of the report. “That’s coming at the same time that some of these federally funded programs are being exhausted, and that makes it even more challenging.”

So much misinformation. Where to begin? Let’s start with an easy one.

* I was under the impression that asylum seekers qualified for a federal healthcare program, so I checked with the governor’s office. Jordan Abudayyeh..

Asylum seekers are in the U.S. with documentation and therefore qualify for federal healthcare programs.

The HBIA/S programs that cover healthcare for undocumented people are separate from spending on asylum seekers.

It is unfortunate the reporter used the quote and did not fact-check it to ensure the accuracy of their reporting.

*facepalm*

* OK, let’s move on to the budget aspect. From the Volcker Alliance’s actual report…

In at least two states—Illinois and New York—the use of SLFRF [Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds] for operations appears to have freed up own-source recurring revenues that were then applied, at least in part, to one-time purposes: debt repayment (Illinois) and rainy day fund contributions (Illinois and New York). Those states may be able to use those state revenues in the future to cover costs that were temporarily financed with SLFRF.

Emphasis added.

Also, according to the report, Illinois has already allocated all of its federal SLFRF funds. That means the alleged “fiscal cliff” period has already come and gone.

* Back to Abudayyeh…

It’s time “budget experts” and the press catch up with the times and stop using the old assumptions that Illinois is on the brink of fiscal calamity at all times.

The Volcker author was using an outdated 2022 report and making assumptions from that about what the state of Illinois could claim in revenue loss, but not what we actually claimed, which was less. Illinois did use $1.8 billion of ARPA recovery funding for revenue replacement as allowed by Congress and federal rules for use of the funds during fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 – two years that are already in the past. FY24 General Funds budget is balanced and does not use any of these federal recovery dollars in the budget. So Illinois is already beyond the theoretical ‘cliff’ and the hypothetical situation analyzed by the Volcker report did not occur.

Additionally, Illinois used approximately half of its recovery fund dollars ($4.06 billion) for repayment of Unemployment Insurance trust fund advances – a one-time expenditure to help stabilize this critical fund that was hit hard by the pandemic. Illinois was wise in its use of federal funding, funded one-time expenses, and took fiscally responsible steps during a time that devastated economies worldwide.

Yeah, that’s a bit over the top. But when a national news media outlet quotes a proclaimed budget expert getting so much wrong, including about her very own group’s report, I’ll allow it.

13 Comments

Open thread

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on with y’all?…

14 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Here you go…

Crain’s | Pritzker, GOP trade barbs in fight over Gotion’s battery plant:

* WAND | Illinois lawmakers, health care leaders discuss unreasonable license processing delays: IDFPR officials told lawmakers that they have spent months trying to find a replacement for the state’s outdated licensing system. Secretary Mario Treto Jr. said the department recently landed a master contract, but the deal is no longer on the table.

* WTVO | Illinois considering making driving tests mandatory at 79, not 75: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said Wednesday that the state is recommending making driving tests for seniors mandatory at age 79 instead of the current 75. Giannoulais said Illinois is the only state in the country that requires elderly drivers to be tested on a regular basis.

* 25 News Now | State Rep. Bill Hauter voices stand on CO2 pipeline hours before demonstration at Tazewell County Board: In a long statement sent out to a Facebook group organized around proposing the pipeline, State Rep. Bill Hauter (R - Morton) said he is skeptical large-scale CO2 capture and sequestration will actually mitigate climate change and its effects. “While I have many concerns, I feel the need to tell you that, realistically, I think it will be very hard to stop the transportation of captured CO2 across the district to the Mt. Simon hub,” the statement read. “In short, it’s not going away.”

* Sun-Times | Gov. Pritzker, Mayor Johnson host fundraiser for Chicago Democratic convention host committee: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday will hold their first joint fundraiser for the Chicago Host Committee, which promised to raise at least $84.7 million for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The luncheon will be at the United Center. That arena and the McCormick Place complex are the main venues for the convention, scheduled for Aug. 19-24. The fundraising pledge was part of the city’s winning bid to land the convention, beating out Atlanta and New York.

* Capitol News Illinois | Welch introduces bill to allow legislative staff to unionize: House Bill 4148, creating the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act, comes in response to a monthslong effort by Democratic staff in the speaker’s office to unionize and negotiate wages, hours and other working conditions. “For a while now, I had some staff approach my office seeking voluntary recognition as a union,” Welch said in an interview Wednesday. “And my legal advisors advised me that Illinois law currently specifically prohibits that. So as someone who believes in workers’ rights, this legislation is my attempt to create a legal path for them to have that right.”

* Sun-Times | New ATF boss in Chicago setting up ‘intelligence center’ to solve more gun crimes: It’s part of a burgeoning ATF effort built on its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and eTrace programs, each designed to help law enforcement quickly track the history of firearms used to commit crimes. The Justice Department touted the opening of a similar center in central Ohio just last week. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said they “have proven to be uniquely effective tools for solving violent crimes, bringing repeat shooters to justice, and reducing the rate of gun violence.”

* Chicago Mag | What $500 Means to Zinida Moore: In an experimental program, 5,000 Chicagoans received monthly cash payments from the city for a year, no strings attached. Here’s how the money changed one woman’s life — and how it didn’t.

* Tribune | 27 buses carrying migrants arrive in Chicago since Saturday as city moves forward with tent plan: While the number of buses sent to Chicago by Abbott has ebbed and flowed over the past year, the two buses that arrived from El Paso, Texas, over the weekend — the first from that city since December 2022 — could indicate that border crossings are at one of the highest rates in recent history and the city could see an increase in buses in the coming weeks. “Why can’t we send 1,000 people to Chicago?” asked Ruben García, director of Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, where numbers of migrants are also soaring. “Obviously Chicago isn’t equipped, but we need to rise to the occasion. … We should be prepared for whatever comes our way.”

* Sun-Times | Confirmation for next U.S. attorney in Chicago gets tougher with anonymous senator blocking a vote: The senator or senators who are blocking a confirmation vote for April Perry are not known. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said he would lift his hold on Perry if she got an up-or-down vote.

* WMIX | Judge dismisses tow company’s lawsuit against city of Centralia: Judge Staci Yandle said in her ruling that the City of Centralia and its police department’s desire to provide effective police services – not perceived as racist or biased – outweighs the interests of Jerry and Sons Towing in symbolizing their “redneck heritage.” In 2021, then Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson announced that due to the placement of a Confederate flag at their home where excess vehicles had been towed, Jerry Patten, owner of Jerry and Sons Towing in Central City, had been advised the company had been removed from the City’s tow rotation list.

* WIRED | The Maker of ShotSpotter Is Buying the World’s Most Infamous Predictive Policing Tech: PredPol was one of the first, and perhaps the most widely used, predictive policing algorithms in the United States. Its name, a portmanteau of “predictive policing,” became synonymous with the practice. The software was developed in 2011 and uses historical crime incident reports to produce daily predictions for where future crime is likely to occur. For years, critics and academics have argued that since the PredPol algorithm relies on historical and unreliable crime data, it reproduces and reinforces biased policing patterns. In December 2021, Gizmodo and The Markup analyzed millions of Geolitica’s crime predictions that were discovered on an unsecured server and found that the software disproportionately—and often relentlessly—targeted low-income communities of color for additional patrols.

* WBEZ | A handful of Illinois colleges commit to making costs for students more clear: Chicago State University, Northern Illinois University and Northeastern Illinois University have signed onto a new commitment to standardize financial aid offers so admitted students can more easily compare costs and understand what they will owe after graduation. But three big-name schools in the state – Northwestern University, University of Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – were absent from the list of the more than 300 colleges that have signed onto the College Cost Transparency Initiative, announced Tuesday.

* Tribune | Hyzon Motors, which is building a Bolingbrook hydrogen truck fuel cell plant, agrees to pay $25 million to settle SEC fraud charges: The civil charges and settlement, announced Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission, allege Rochester, New York-based Hyzon misrepresented its potential customers and sales before and after going public through a special purpose acquisition company in July 2021.

16 Comments

Live coverage

Thursday, Sep 28, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ScribbleLive is still down. Twitter has stopped allowing people to embed list feeds on websites. So, click here or here to follow breaking news.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A relative drop in the bucket compared to need, but at least it’s something…

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will receive nearly $140 million in grant funding to help get lead and other contaminants out of the state’s drinking water.

The federal tax dollars will help Illinois remove and replace lead water pipes. Illinois leads the nation in the number of lead service pipes. The funds will also help remove and prevent contaminants, including forever chemicals known as PFAS in the state’s drinking water.

* AP…

Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing. […]

The showcase Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is cited as an example of how Trump allegedly undervalued property if it would save him money and overvalued property if it helped him get bigger loans. When he needed collateral, he and his team placed a high value on the property. When he wanted a tax break, he called the property worthless, according to James’ lawsuit.

The lawsuit said the downtown Chicago property, owned officially by 401 North Wabash Venture LLC, was appraised at $133 million in recent years by Deutsche Bank, which lent Trump money for the project, but he gave a different story — saying it was worthless — when reporting his taxes.

* Meanwhile…

Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus along with Manteno residents will have a press conference Monday to outline their concerns with a company with ties to the communist government of China building a lithium battery plant in the community.

The Chinese company Gotion High-Tech Co. wants to construct a $2 billion battery plant in Manteno. Gotion High-Tech Co. has been promised $7.5 billion in federal tax credits over five years, and an additional $536 million in subsidies from the state despite the company’s strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Jed Davis (R-Newark) and David Friess (R-Red Bud). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability and integrity in government.

Who: Legislators with the Illinois Freedom Caucus and Manteno Residents

What: Press Conference with Manteno residents pushing back against the construction of a Chinese Communist Party Company, Gotion, Lithium Battery Factory

When: Monday, Oct. 2nd at 5pm

Where: Hasset Center, located at 211 N. Main St. in Manteno, IL

The press and media are invited to attend.

* Former ILGOP Chair to serve on Personal PAC board…

Personal PAC, one of the strongest abortion rights organizations in Illinois, announced the addition of three new board members: Pat Brady, Art Mitchell and Claire Pinkert on Thursday.

“This board is ready to go to bat to make sure Illinois remains an oasis for reproductive rights in the Midwest,” said Sarah Garza Resnick, President and CEO of Personal PAC. “We are excited to introduce Pat Brady as a new board member alongside Claire Pinkert and Art Mitchell, three incredible additions to our board.”

Personal PAC is a non-partisan organization that welcomes support from 100% pro-choice Democrats and Republicans.

The new board members include:

Pat Brady
Pat Brady is the founder of Next Generation Strategies, a bi-partisan Government and Public Affairs firm. He is a former member of the Republican National Committee and former Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. He is an attorney who previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. He has joined the Personal PAC Board because of his belief that the right of women to control their own health care decisions is one of the most important freedoms we as a society should strive to protect.

* Speaking of organizational leadership, check out the buried news in this IML job posting. Brad Cole is apparently leaving in a few years or so..

The Illinois Municipal League, Springfield, IL (IML) is seeking a dynamic, resourceful, and collaborative leader to fill the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). […]

It should also be understood that the current CEO is expected to retire in no less than three (3) years and no more than five (5) years. At that time, it is the expectation of the Board of Directors that the COO will ascend into the CEO position.

* Isabel’s roundup…

NBC Chicago | Illinois Sec. of State responds to complaints over DMV appointment system:

* WGLT | McLean County’s top election official says county has never seen fraud, aims to keep : Kathy Michael joined officials from 25 counties in a series of news conferences Tuesday in Tazewell, McLean and LaSalle counties. Speaking to members of the public and media at the Government Center, Michael said disinformation and outright falsehoods about the electoral process have been on the rise since 2016.

* Sun-Times | Chicago Park District pays nearly $2 million settlement to former lifeguards alleging misconduct, hazing: In the biggest of the settlements, the park district agreed in May to pay $977,250 to a woman whose lawyer had asked for $2.5 million to avoid going to court, records show. According to a letter from attorney Bridget Duignan to the park district, her client was a victim of Mauricio Ramirez, the Humboldt Park lifeguard manager who pleaded guilty after being charged with sexually abusing two underage female employees he had supervised.

* Sun-Times | What federal shutdown would mean for Chicago and Illinois: While Medicare and Social Security checks will still be sent out, other programs will be impacted the longer a shutdown takes place, including those related to disability claims. And federal agencies will halt all work deemed nonessential. There are 42,637 federal employees in Illinois as of March 2023, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. That number includes federal law enforcement and 22,600 active duty military members. Under a shutdown, all active duty service members and some law enforcement officers would remain at work but receive no pay until funds are appropriated.

* Daily Herald | ‘I’m preparing for absolutely the worst’: How a government shutdown could impact Illinois: There’s also a personal and economic toll on more than 42,000 Illinoisans, mostly from Chicago and the suburbs, who are federal employees. If no agreement is reached by midnight Saturday, many would be furloughed or required to stay on the job without drawing a pay check in either case.

* Center Square | Illinois Department of Corrections audit shows lack of sex offender oversight: The compliance audit looks at IDOC for two years ending June 30, 2022. In total, there were 46 findings and 40 repeat findings. The findings include a failure to notify victims and local law enforcement after releasing sex offenders, including those who committed a predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, certain offenses of aggravated child pornography or manufacture or dissemination of child pornography.

* Daily Herald | Naperville to reliant on coal? Environmentalists tell council don’t renew with utility so quickly: Naperville gets nearly 80% of its electricity from coal. Led by The Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force, which hosted Monday’s discussions, some residents are trying to change that. The city is locked into an agreement with its power supplier until 2035, but with negotiations to extend that contract looming, advocates are urging the city council to consider other options.

* Block Club | Larry Snelling Confirmed As Next Chicago Police Superintendent: After over three decades with the Chicago Police, Snelling now graduates to its highest position after serving most recently as the department’s counterterrorism chief. Snelling was previously a commander of the Englewood (7th) District and a sergeant at the police academy, and has long been an expert voice on the department’s use-of-force policies at police trials.

* Pioneer Press | Oak Park police chief says carjacking, robberies likely tied to Chicago crime sprees: “These incidents appear to be related to a series of armed robberies that have recently occurred in Chicago. I assure everyone that the Oak Park Police Department, in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, is actively investigating these events as we remain wholly committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors at all times,” Johnson wrote in the statement.

* Block Club | DePaul University Requiring Everyone To Carry ID On Campus After Robberies Targeting Students: Starting Oct. 2, everyone will need to show IDs to enter any campus buildings at the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, according to a statement from DePaul University President Robert Manuel. Students will have to carry their university ID with them at all times, and security officers can request to see their IDs at any time, officials said.

* Tribune | Another CTA Blue Line closure is coming, but the end of construction is in sight: The closures are part of a $268 million project to rebuild track and upgrade the power system, which is expected to remove about 3 miles of the slow zones that plague the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line. But trains will continue to crawl down the highway median for much of the rest of the route, as about 80% of the 17.8-mile branch had slow zones before construction began.

* Daily Herald | Willowbrook Corners residents seek answers three months after fatal mass shooting in June: People had gathered in the parking lot at Somerset Plaza near Honeysuckle Rose Lane and Route 83 around 6 p.m. June 17 for what was billed as a Juneteenth celebration. Miller and Meadows had been at the celebration a short time when shots rang out. […] “It’s been (more than) 90 days and we still don’t have answers,” Miller said.

* Sun-Times | West Chicago’s Latino residents say they don’t want trash from Naperville, Wheaton and other white communities: West Chicago is home to the county’s only garbage-transfer station — an in-between location before waste is hauled to a landfill. Earlier this year, city officials gave the green light to add a second facility that would be run by trash hauler LRS and bring 650 tons of solid waste a day and air pollution from hundreds of large garbage and semi-trailer trucks weekly to the city of 25,000. […] The Illinois Pollution Control Board has the final say in the matter, and a panel of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appointees will be asked to decide whether the city of West Chicago met all the criteria to determine that the new garbage site will not harm the health of nearby residents. That final decision is expected early next year.

* Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools says it is mailing out transportation stipends this week – a month after school started: The stipends — offered to students with disabilities who have bus service in their Individualized Education Program and those in temporary living situations — will be mailed to schools via the postal service this week, officials said.

* WCIA | Decatur receives $750,000 federal grant for tree planting: The grant will go toward the 21st Century Decatur’s Urban Forests Project. City officials said Decatur has been designated a “Tree City USA” for 42 years and the grant reflects their commitment to increasing Decatur’s tree canopy.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in… (Updated)

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Bloomberg moves from out of town stupid to openly hostile

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Bloomberg keeps beating the drum about a financial transactions tax that ain’t going anywhere…

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has his eyes on Chicago.

The Republican leader said he’s spoken to CME Group Inc., the world’s largest futures exchange, about relocating to the Lone Star State. […]

Abbott’s remarks follow reports that CME and other financial firms in Chicago, including CBOE Global Markets Inc. and IMC, are alarmed by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s idea for $800 million in taxes, including a levy on financial transactions.

* Also from Bloomberg…

Chicago’s top trading firms are questioning their commitment to the city in the face of proposed taxes and rising crime. That’s not stopping some of them expanding their footprint.

Optiver, a market maker employing about 400 people in the city, has just moved into One Prudential Plaza in downtown Chicago. The space — a third bigger than its previous office — can house as many as 600 people, allowing the Dutch firm to grow and host 70 interns in the city every year. […]

Trading firms currently occupy more than 3.5 million square feet in the city, equivalent to 60 football fields. In the past three years, they’ve added about 700,000 square feet, and that doesn’t include the trading divisions of large banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. […]

[Johnson’s] administration has proposed new levies, including higher real estate transfer taxes and a financial transaction tax, prompting a reaction from Chicago’s trading community to push their case to the city. […]

[Optiver] also wants to keep growing in the city with plans to add another 100 people within three years, according to Brinkhuis.

How does Bloomberg deal with firms which take actions counter to the narrative Bloomberg is promoting? Lie. Johnson’s administration has not proposed a financial transaction tax. They’ve jumped into blatantly false propaganda mode.

Does this mean that companies won’t ever leave? Nope. Anything is possible and the mayor isn’t exactly inspiring a lot of confidence. But I got whiplash reading that article. They’re leaving while they’re expanding!

Ridiculous.

6 Comments

Today’s must-read

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, which worked with WBEZ on a story Isabel posted early this morning…

- In Chicago, where Black, white and Latino populations are roughly equal, traffic stops of Black drivers in 2022 were more than four times that of whites and more than twice that of Latinos.

- Beyond Chicago’s city limits, traffic stops also disproportionately affect Black drivers. Last year traffic stops involving Black drivers made up 21% of all traffic stops throughout Illinois (excluding Chicago).

Statewide, the 2020 Census showed that 13.56 percent of Illinois’ population was Black. That population percentage is significantly lower outside Chicago, so 21 percent of all traffic stops in the suburbs and Downstate is way more than the Black population percentage. In other words, don’t pat yourself on the back too hard if you live outside the city. It’s still bad.

* One reason for the Chicago numbers…

But critics say traffic stops of Black drivers continued to rise in Chicago after the ACLU and the Chicago Police Department settled a 2015 lawsuit that resulted in a decline in pedestrians being “stopped and frisked” by police.

“Chicago moved then from a racist strategy of stopping people on the street to an equally racist strategy” of stopping them in their cars, said Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago law professor and director of the school’s Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project. “Telling police officers as a matter of standard procedure to stop lots and lots of people … to address violent crime has long been known by researchers to be not just an out-and-out racist tactic but one of the most unsuccessful tactics and counterproductive tactics when it comes to reducing violence.”

* The year after Barack Obama passed a bill through the Illinois legislature to require locals to compile and report racial data on traffic stops, 17.54 percent of those stops statewide were of Black people. Last year, that number had risen to 30.55 percent statewide. Also…

Between 2004 and 2022, stops of white drivers dropped by 44.7%, while stops of Black drivers grew by 40.6%. Stops of Latino drivers increased 26.5% in the same period.

Go read the whole thing.

20 Comments

IDFPR head says months of work on improving antiquated state licensing system just went down the drain

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. testified today at a committee hearing we told you about yesterday…

State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, Chair of the House Health Care Licensing Committee, will continue the process of addressing the ongoing delays in licensure processing by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), by holding a public hearing of his committee on Sep. 27 at 10:00 a.m. in room C-600 on the 6th Floor of the Michael A. Bilandic Building on LaSalle St. in downtown Chicago.

The delays have led to many professionals, including nurses and other health care workers, as well as their employers, having to worry about their ability to keep working should their licenses lapse.

* Secretary Treto dropped a bombshell about IDFPR’s efforts to fix the problem by replacing an antiquated system from the previous century…

Procurement is not an easy process, particularly one of this magnitude. It requires oversight and cooperation from other agencies. We have been working hard with DoIT, with the Chief Procurement Office and many others. We have had an extraordinary amount of back and forth over the past several months in an effort to purchase licensing software through a joint purchase master contract.

Unfortunately, as we drill down into the very specific needs that have to be met, and how we may go about the process to obtain them, we have reached a point where we don’t think the joint purchase master contract will work. That has a development that happened this week. Just this Monday. And candidly we were quite disappointed with the news.

However, we are not going to rest with this urgency to act upon us. As such, we immediately pivoted to very quickly assess the most efficient options. Fortunately, the work that we have done over the last several months to spell out how to best address all the needs of our licensees is not wasted at all. We will build on that using a different procurement method. While I’m going to be limited in the details that I can provide until the procurement process is over, due to legal concerns. I would be happy to give updates as I can.

Emphasis added and please pardon all transcription errors.

…Adding… Remember how we talked about the dire need for workforce development today? Well, getting these licenses to people is an absolutely crucial piece in the puzzle. Not good!

26 Comments

Audit: IDOC didn’t supply local law enforcement with mandated sex offender reports because, it says, some LEOs didn’t want them

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois Auditor General…

FINDING (Noncompliance with extended supervision of sex offender requirements of the Unified Code of Corrections)

The Department of Corrections (Department) failed to report individuals’ progress under the extended supervision of sex offender requirements of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code).

During Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2022, there were a total of 446 and 498, respectively, individuals released under extended mandatory supervision of sex offender requirements. These individuals are defined by the Code (730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(d)(4)) as including those who committed the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, certain offenses of aggravated child pornography, or manufacture or dissemination of child pornography after specified dates, whose terms of mandatory supervised release range from 3 years to life.

During the examination period, the Department did not submit the required progress reports to the chief of police or sheriff in the municipality or county in which the offender resides and is registered.

The Code (730 ILCS 5/3-14-2.5(b)) requires the Department to supervise sex offenders placed on mandatory supervised release in accord with the conditions set by the Prisoner Review Board pursuant to the Code. The Code also states “Commencing 180 days after the offender’s release date and continuing every 180 days thereafter for the duration of the supervision term, the supervising officer shall prepare a progress report detailing the offender’s adjustment and compliance with the conditions of mandatory supervised release including the offender’s participation and progress in sex offender treatment. The progress report shall be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board and copies provided to the chief of police and sheriff in the municipality and county in which the offender resides and is registered.”

Department management stated they did not send the semi-annual progress reports for sex offenders under extended supervision because some Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs indicated they did not want copies of the reports. Management also indicated they believed legislative changes are needed.

Failure to timely prepare and report required information to a sex offender on mandatory supervised release’s local Chief of Police and Sheriff may reduce the effectiveness of governmental monitoring and oversight to identify and manage risks posed to public safety.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend the Department comply with the sex offender progress report requirements of the Code. We further recommend the Department pursue legislative change if they do not believe the current statutory provisions are reasonable and appropriate.

DEPARTMENT RESPONSE

Recommendation implemented. The Department is in the process of seeking legislative remedy.

I’ve asked IDOC for the list of sheriffs and police chiefs who did not want its semi-annual progress reports for sex offenders under extended supervision, as well as the details of its “legislative remedy.”

10 Comments

It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Speaker of the House Chris Welch filed HB4148, a first step for staffers that want to unionize…

Creates the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act. Authorizes legislative employees to bargain collectively through the representatives of their choosing on questions of wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. Specifies that the General Assembly is not required to bargain on specified matters of inherent managerial policy. Establishes the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations. Directs the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations to manage the interests of the General Assembly in collective bargaining with legislative employees. Grants the State Panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and the General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Contains additional provisions concerning the following topics: the duty to bargain collectively; fair-share agreements; grievance procedures; election and recognition of labor organizations as exclusive representatives; unfair labor practices; mediation; fact-finding; exhaustion of nonjudicial remedies; strikes during session periods; and multiyear collective bargaining agreements. Specifies that the Open Meetings Act does not apply to collective bargaining negotiations and grievance arbitration proceedings under the Act. Sets forth definitions. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012, the State Lawsuit Immunity Act, and the Workplace Violence Prevention Act to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

* Politico…

Welch says the issue is personal as his office employs nearly 200 people. “Legislative employees in the House and Senate have the right to organize and collectively bargain. It’s important that they have equal opportunity,” he said in an interview with POLITICO, ticking off workers in a range of departments that would be affected, from the janitorial crew to the law department.

Illinois Democratic lawmakers have a long history of supporting labor, but their Springfield staffs have never been allowed to form a union because current law prohibits it. That would change if Welch’s legislation is passed by the Democratic-led Senate and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, who like Welch is a Democrat. […]

Few other legislative houses have unionized, but California is in the process of seeing its legislative staffers go union, and New York is watching, Welch noted.

Subscribers know more.

* HB4145…

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a restaurant shall clearly and prominently disclose all fees outside of food costs and taxes that are added to a customer’s bill, including administrative fees, at the beginning of the ordering process. Provides that a restaurant that violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

* Rep. Tarver introduced HB4147 on Monday…

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that if a defendant is found guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof where the violation has resulted in the death of another, the court shall order the defendant to pay an amount reasonable and necessary for support of any child of the victim. Sets forth factors the court shall consider when determining a reasonable and necessary amount of child support. Allows the Office of the Attorney General to enforce a child support order issued under the provisions. Makes a corresponding change in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

* The bill is very similar to a Texas law. CNN…

A new law in Texas requires convicted drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian, according to House Bill 393.

The law, which went into effect Friday, says those convicted of intoxication manslaughter must pay restitution. The offender will be expected to make those payments until the child is 18 or until the child graduates from high school, “whichever is later,” the legislation says.

Intoxication manslaughter is defined by state law as a person operating “a motor vehicle in a public place, operates an aircraft, a watercraft, or an amusement ride, or assembles a mobile amusement ride; and is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake.”

If someone is unable to pay the restitution because they’re incarcerated, they’re expected to make payments no “later than the first anniversary of the date,” of their release, the law says.

21 Comments

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WBEZ…

Currently, the city uses a national staffing firm to oversee existing brick-and-mortar shelters, but has issued a request for proposals to replace that firm with local organizations.

Pacione-Zayas said the city has received “pretty significant interest” in that opportunity, which could allow them to award contracts for existing shelters as well as the forthcoming tents.

“If we have enough interest of local community-based staffing for all of our shelters plus these tents, we will see if we can plug in to the tents,” she said. “We’re just making sure that we have the baseline staffing period. Usually with GardaWorld they offer the staffing. We need to see if we can negotiate — if we have enough interest of community based and social service agencies — to be able to staff up those tents.” […]

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward, who serves as Johnson’s floor leader, said using local community organizations rather than GardaWorld staff will be imperative

On the surface, this sounds like a great idea. In the real world, though, it risks causing major problems. The reason? Social service agencies are woefully under-staffed as it is. This idea would stretch them even thinner. And that could very well take those agencies away from their core functions.

That’s why workforce development is key. To his credit, Gov. Pritzker seems to recognize this and has supported funding of workforce development programs in several different employment areas.

But there is currently no magic workforce spigot that you can turn on and off at will.

* Just ask the nursing home industry…

Following the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ release of its proposed nursing home staffing rule, an Illinois long-term care association is calling it unrealistic.

The proposal calls for Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes to provide a staffing equivalent of three hours per resident, per day. The rules also call for facilities to have a registered nurse on staff 24 hours a day, daily.

Angela Schnepf, president and CEO with the nonprofit LeadingAge Illinois, said COVID-19 decimated workforce numbers in long-term care facilities and they haven’t recovered.

“The challenge we had, particularly in the state of Illinois but also nationwide, is nursing homes in particular lost about 15% of their workforce population over COVID, and they have not been able to recover that,” Schnepf told The Center Square.

In Illinois, Schnepf anticipates communities will need to find and hire between 820 to 968 RNs and 7,500 to 8,039 certified nursing assistants. […]

The Biden administration announced plans to launch a national effort to bolster nursing home staffing, including allocating $75 million for initiatives such as scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs.

That ain’t gonna be nearly enough.

11 Comments

DCFS hit with yet another blistering audit report

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Man, when an Illinois Auditor General report summary begins this way, you know there’s big trouble afoot…

Because of the significance and pervasiveness of the findings described within the report, we (the accountants) expressed an adverse opinion on the Department’s compliance with the specified requirements which comprise a State compliance examination. The Codification of Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (AT-C § 205.74) states a practitioner “should express an adverse opinion when the practitioner, having obtained sufficient appropriate evidence, concludes that misstatements, individually or in the aggregate, are both material and pervasive to the subject matter.”

The department, in this case, is DCFS.

* More…

* The Department did not immediately communicate the investigation reports of child abuse and neglect for a newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance to the State’s attorneys’ offices for 17 (28%) of 60 reports tested. Specifically, we noted the State’s attorneys’ offices were notified between 218 to 920 days from report date.

* The Department notified the Directors of DPH and HFS of the report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child alleged to have been abused or neglected while receiving care in a hospital 34 days to 885 days from the investigation date for 15 of 15 (100%) reports tested. […]

* The Department did not timely notify the children’s school of its final findings from an indicated report of child abuse and neglect within 10 days of completing an investigation of alleged physical or sexual abuse for 40 of the 40 (100%) indicated reports tested. Specifically, we noted the schools were notified 129 to 890 days late.

* The Department did not timely notify the local enforcement personnel and the office of the State’s attorney of the involved county for 5 of 25 (20%) reports tested. Specifically, we noted the local enforcement personnel and the office of the State’s attorney were notified of a report alleging the death of a child, serious injury to a child, torture of a child, malnutrition of a child, and sexual abuse to a child 5 to 43 days after the required 24-hour timeframe. (Finding 5, pages 27-32) This finding has been reported since 2012.

* But wait, that’s not all…

During our testing of 25 alleged incident of sexual abuse investigations, we noted that for 24 of 25 (96%) indicated investigations tested, the Department did not timely notify the relevant schools when an investigation of an alleged incident of sexual abuse was completed. Specifically, we noted the notifications were sent to relevant schools between 431 to 908 days from the investigation report date. […]

The Department could not provide documentation demonstrating it had conducted monitoring of its non-substitute care service provider agencies. The non-substitute care provider agencies provide services which include, but are not limited to, counseling, habilitation, advocacy centers, system-of-care grants, and other child specific services. Specifically, we noted the Department was unable to provide documentation it had conducted monitoring, as specified in the contracts, for 12 of 60 (20%) contracts tested. Total grants expended for the 12 contracts during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 totaled $15,593,544. Due to the Department being unable to provide documentation to demonstrate it had conducted monitoring, we cannot determine whether annual reviews required to be submitted by 9 of 12 grantees were performed by Department staff. (Finding 11, pages 47-48) This finding has been reported since 2012.

Unreal.

* CBS 2…

In the most serious cases involving child death, injury, torture, malnutrition, and sex abuse, it is DCFS’ job to notify - within 24 hours - local authorities like the state’s attorneys of credible cases.

DCFS failed to do so 20 percent of the time - in some cases waiting five to 43 days.

“The fact that they’re waiting more than almost five days to almost month out before they’re coordinating is highly concerning,” [Cook County Chief Deputy Public Guardian Alpa Patel] said, “because a lot of info on the wellbeing and safety of those children is lost during that period of time.”

The report says this has been happening since 2012.

“A huge sense of in terms of lack of urgency in terms of what the department needs to be doing,” Patel said.

* The pervasive misstatements were about internal financial statements. The department’s response…

The Department agrees with the recommendation and has implemented a corrective action plan. Due to unprecedented vacancies in the Division of Budget & Finance, review procedures in place were not able to be followed to catch the misstatements identified in the auditor’s review of our financial statements. The Department uses a consulting firm to assist with compiling their financial statements and has since been able to fill its CPA position. To further ensure the accuracy of future financial statements, the Department added senior management positions to its approved headcount to provide duplicity and support to be better able to manage the ebbs and flows of staffing levels and add expertise to ensure the accuracy of Departmental financial statements.

…Adding… Leader McCombie…

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement after the Illinois Auditor General issued a scathing report on the Department of Children and Families Services:

“Under this DCFS Administration, children continue to be at risk and workers are still not safe. Protecting children in the state’s care should be the most important job we have. Unfortunately, children continue to suffer due to perpetual mismanagement by this agency. Billions of dollars have not fixed the problems; the agency needs to take into account the common-sense proposals pushed by House Republican lawmakers, to give this the attention it demands.”

Click here for the rest of it.

29 Comments

Drivers Sign Up To Drive With Uber As A Flexible Way To Manage Rising Costs

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

In a recent survey, nearly 90% of new rideshare drivers cite flexibility and financial need as key factors in their decision to sign up. And over 70% of drivers joined Uber to help fill financial gaps caused by inflation.

Whether it’s to supplement earnings or tackle unexpected expenses, Uber offers a flexible way to achieve financial goals.

Watch and learn how drivers earn what they need to make ends meet.

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Caption contest!

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* AP…

During his momentous U.S. Senate campaign against Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln sat for a photograph after politicking in western Illinois and presented one of the copies to a man severely injured while testing a cannon for Lincoln’s campaign rally.

As a small measure of compassion, Lincoln presented one version of the image to the injured man, Charles Lame, who overcame a deadly infection in an arm torn up by the blast with the help of flesh-eating maggots.

The tale provides an unlikely, ghastly background to the original 1858 ambrotype created during the future nation-saving Civil War president’s ascendancy, an image which the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has added to its collection, officials said Tuesday.

“Original images of Abraham Lincoln are extraordinarily rare, and images with a fascinating back story like this are even more rare,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the library and museum. “Lincoln fans everywhere should thank Charles Lame’s descendants for this generous donation.”

* The photo…

30 Comments

Durbin finally calls on Menendez to resign

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Duckworth finally came around yesterday. Now it’s Durbin’s turn…

Leaders in New Jersey, including the Governor and my Senate colleague Cory Booker, have made it clear that Sen. Menendez can no longer serve. He should step down.

— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) September 27, 2023

Was that so difficult?

25 Comments

Big kudos to Schuba

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I chatted briefly with Sun-Times ace reporter Tina Sfondeles yesterday while the Republican congressional forum at the Chicago FOP headquarters was playing itself out. Unlike myself, Sfondeles was listening to the forum and said she hoped somebody did a fact check.

Well, her Sun-Times colleague Tom Schuba did just that yesterday and his story is definitely worth a read. A taste…

Fox News commentator Gianno Caldwell was called to testify about his brother Christian, who was shot and killed last June in Morgan Park.

But Caldwell also used the platform to offer a warning about the state abolishing cash bail last week, falsely claiming that suspects accused of second-degree murder and arson couldn’t be detained under provisions of the controversial SAFE-T Act. […]

Carlos Yanez Jr., a Chicago police officer who was wounded in a shooting that killed Officer Ella French, testified that the SAFE-T Act doesn’t live up to its “beautiful name” and actually puts crime victims in danger.

But Yanez did not mention that the bail reform law allows even people charged with misdemeanor crimes to be detained until trial – a fact praised by advocates for victims of domestic and sexual violence. […]

No one mentioned that the department’s foot chase policy was implemented as part of a federal consent decree mandating sweeping reforms, or that the vehicle pursuit policy was revised amid a mountain of settlements stemming from crashes.

Go read the whole thing.

Look, Chicago should most definitely be subjected to robust, accurate criticism. It deserves nothing less. But the city’s reporters shouldn’t amplify the nonsense.

18 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

17 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Here you go…

* CBS Chicago | Illinois DCFS report card for past two years shows more failures than last review: Last time the state Auditor General updated us, there were 30 major failures by DCFS. This time, it’s 33. […] “You can see some of these findings are on repeat dating back more than 25 years,” said Cook County Chief Deputy Public Guardian Alpa Patel.

* WSIU | State Rep. Paul Jacobs announced his re-election bid: In his written release, the Pomona republican says Southern Illinoisans deserve a conservative they can trust as their State Representative. Jacobs says his voting records show he supports tax cuts, opposes out of control spending, is 100% pro-life and supports the rights of law abiding gun owners to exercise their Constitutionally guaranteed 2nd Amendment rights.

* Michael Frerichs | Illinois’ secret weapon in job creation is investing in tech companies: So far, the fund’s investments have been a catalyst for creating at least 19,000 jobs, according to 50 South Capital, a Northern Trust subsidiary that administers the program for our office. For every direct job created, another 2.2 jobs are indirectly created through a multiplier effect, according to a study conducted by the Illinois Venture Capital Association. By that group’s metric, our investments have resulted in 36,000 indirect jobs through suppliers and service providers.

* WJBC | Illinois Senate Public Health Committee hears about long covid: Everyone seems to have moved on. Wrongly, said Chicago ob-gyn Dr. Melissa Simon. […] Among the recommendations: to return the level of public education about covid to the levels seen early in the pandemic.

* Capitol News Illinois | In joint effort, election authorities try to tamp down misinformation: Officials from 25 counties scheduled a series of news conferences Tuesday in Tazewell, McLean and LaSalle counties. At the Tazewell event, the election officials said accusations of vote tampering and other misinformation campaigns have proliferated in each of the last two presidential election cycles, and they fear it could get worse in 2024.

* WBEZ | Illinois traffic stops of Black drivers reach a 20-year high: Twenty years ago, a state senator from the South Side of Chicago sponsored groundbreaking legislation to combat racial profiling by police. The 2003 law required law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois to compile and report data on traffic stops in their jurisdictions, including the race of the driver, the circumstances of the stop and the outcome.

* Tribune | Age for required behind-the-wheel testing would remain 79 under secretary of state’s recommendation: The law raising the age was passed in 2021 and was set to expire Oct. 1. A study compiled by the secretary of state’s office showed the rate of traffic crashes in Illinois in 2022 involving motorists age 75 and older was nearly identical to the year before, indicating there is no reason for the state to return to the minimum age of 75 for mandatory road testing.

* WBEZ | Energy assistance in Illinois may fall short without a federal boost: This past month, in Englewood alone nearly 3,000 customers received disconnection notices and over 500 were disconnected outright. LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to utility providers on behalf of low-income households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four. The program also provides funds for weather proofing homes and crisis assistance. All of this is available regardless of immigration status. In Illinois, the state supplements federal appropriations through a surcharge that’s built into utility rates on customer bills — but it’s remained unchanged since 1999.

* WBEZ | Michael Madigan’s name is stripped from the property tax firm he helped found: The clout-laden Madigan & Getzendanner law firm is no more after nearly 50 years as the place Chicago’s mighty and powerful went to have their property tax bills slashed. Its website is dead, and paperwork filed with Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office in June legally renamed the firm, Holland Hicks Law. That company is headed by two long-time Madigan & Getzendanner partners, Jeffrey Holland and Harold Hicks.

* Sun-Times | Police board rejects push to move misconduct cases behind closed doors after arbitrator’s decision: The ruling prompted rebuke from FOP President John Catanzara, who said the union is “going to encourage these officers and maybe even assist them in suing the city, the police board and everybody.”

* Block Club | 2 Aldermen Want Voters To Decide If Chicago Should Remain A Sanctuary City Amid Migrant Crisis: The resolution from Ald. Anthony Beale and cosponsored by Ald. Anthony Napolitano would put the sanctuary city question as a March 2024 referendum, potentially increasing restrictions on migrants and refugees arriving in the city.

* Sun-Times | ‘Is Chicago savable?’ GOP congressional hearing in Chicago marked by partisan attacks, false claims: The GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee held the hearing at Fraternal Order of Police headquarters to discuss violence in the city, but it was dominated by sharp partisan attacks, false claims and factual omissions. “The left has implemented pro-criminal policies that have allowed dangerous criminals to remain on the street,” Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said. “The left has attacked law enforcement and has sought to defund the police. And then when crime goes up, they act shocked.”

* Tribune | In Shawnee National Forest, a debate swirls around how to best protect trees amid climate change and wildfires: “It’s impossible to take our hands all the way off. We’ve caused this climate change. We’ve introduced invasive species. We’ve put out historic wildfires. We’ve carved up the forest with roads. So, our influence on our forests is inescapable now,” said Chris Evans, a forest research specialist at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

* CNBC | Retail theft isn’t actually increasing much, major industry study finds: External theft, which includes organized retail crime, was again reported as the largest source of shrink last year at 36.15%, but that was slightly below 37% in 2021. Internal theft, or goods stolen by employees, rose slightly to 28.85% from 28.5% in 2021. Process and control failures and errors made up 27.29% of shrink in 2022, up from 25.7% the year prior.

* Tribune | Lakeview resident reports invasive spotted lanternfly, a threat to fruit trees, other plants; state confirms pest has reached Illinois: Environmentalists across the state have long dreaded the arrival of the nuisance species, notorious for its spotted red and brown wings and the threat it poses to the more than 70 types of fruit trees and other plants it is known to consume. The East Asian insect was first identified in Pennsylvania around eight years ago and has been making its way west with rides hitched on railroad cars, semitrucks and other vehicles.

* Daily Herald | Continued growth: Community colleges’ enrollments rise again, like ECC’s at 7.8%: Elgin Community College’s fall enrollment of 9,616 students increased by 7.8% over last fall’s enrollment. Early figures indicate ECC saw one of the larger enrollment increases in the suburbs. “Students are more aware of what community colleges offer, and the stigma of what used to be associated with going to a two-year school or junior college is slowing going by the wayside,” said Lauren Nehlsen, associate dean of recruitment, outreach services and global engagement at ECC. “We do a lot for the community. And every student is an educational dream, not just a number.”

4 Comments

Live coverage

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ScribbleLive is still down. Twitter has stopped allowing people to embed list feeds on websites. So, click here or here to follow breaking news.

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Even Taylor Swift has her limits

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Earlier this summer…

Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field shows help set new, ‘all-time’ Chicago hotel record, agency says

* Last week…

Taylor Swift fans solve 33 million Google puzzles to unlock new song titles

* Today…

The surprise attendance of pop superstar Taylor Swift at Sunday’s Kansas City Chiefs game also brought an unexpected surge in sales of Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce’s jersey, according to sports retailer Fanatics.

“Yesterday, Travis Kelce was one of the top five selling NFL players and saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com,” said a spokesperson for Fanatics, the NFL’s official e-commerce partner.

* Last week…

When Taylor Swift speaks, her fans listen.

On Tuesday morning, the singer posted a short message on Instagram encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. Afterward, the website she directed her fans to — the nonpartisan nonprofit Vote.org — recorded more than 35,000 registrations, according to the organization.

* I reached out to the Illinois State Board of Elections the other day to ask if they’d seen any uptick in voter registration since Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to register. Matt Dietrich…

There’s so much fluctuation in the statewide total that it’s really not possible to attribute changes to any one thing.

The statewide total actually went down a bit from before she did that Instagram post on Tuesday. It was 8,111,267 million on Sept. 13 and 8,038,939 million on Sept. 20. Those reports are run and posted weekly on Wednesdays. As of [Sept. 22] the statewide total is 8,038,367.

* Related…

* Missed Taylor Swift live? No worries, concert film to hit the big screen in Springfield: Swifties unite! “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Concert Film” will hit the Route 66 Twin Drive In, 1700 Knights Recreations Dr., and AMC Theatres in Springfield beginning Oct. 13.

10 Comments

Afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Media advisory…

State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, Chair of the House Health Care Licensing Committee, will continue the process of addressing the ongoing delays in licensure processing by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), by holding a public hearing of his committee on Sep. 27 at 10:00 a.m. in room C-600 on the 6th Floor of the Michael A. Bilandic Building on LaSalle St. in downtown Chicago.

The delays have led to many professionals, including nurses and other health care workers, as well as their employers, having to worry about their ability to keep working should their licenses lapse. Morgan and other lawmakers on the Committee will hear from health care providers, representatives of health systems, pharmacies and IDFPR. Hearings of this kind are often among the first steps in crafting policy in response to a given problem, and typically determine the direction that future legislative or regulatory efforts will take.

* AP…

Amazon is being sued by U.S. regulators and 17 states over allegations that the company abuses its position in the marketplace to inflate prices on other platforms, overcharge sellers and stifle competition. […]

They allege the company engages in anti-competitive practices through anti-discounting measures that deter sellers from offering lower prices for products on non-Amazon sites, mirroring allegations made in a separate lawsuit last year by the state of California. The complaint says Amazon can bury listings that are offered at lower prices on other sites.

The complaint also says the company degrades the customer experience by replacing relevant search results with paid advertisements, biasing its own brands over other products it knows to be of a better quality and charging heavy fees that forces sellers to pay nearly half of their total revenues to Amazon. […]

Last quarter, Amazon reported $32.3 billion in revenue from third-party services. According to the anti-monopoly organization Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the fees cost U.S. sellers 45% of their revenue in the first half of this year - up from 35% in 2020 and 19% in 2014.

Ugh.

More here and here. Illinois, by the way, is not among the plaintiffs.

* Illinois isn’t on this list, either…

Target said Tuesday that it will close nine stores in major cities across the country, citing violence, theft and organized retail crime.

The company will close one store in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, two locations in Seattle, three stores in the San Francisco-Oakland area and three more in Portland, Oregon. The discounter said it will shutter the stores for good on Oct. 21.

Speaking of Target…

Theft has been a major problem for a lot of retailers, and the Lowe’s CEO sees a straightforward answer. […]

While Lowe’s uses technology to prevent theft, [Lowe’s Chief Executive Marvin Ellison] made clear that having people on its store floors helping customers leads to less theft. Lowe’s had a roughly 1% shrink rate in its most recent quarter, which is below industry averages. […]

The CEO called his company’s results “a differentiated performance relative to the other major retailers.” But he also quietly placed blame on retailers like Target, Walmart and Walgreens for simply not investing in the people needed to serve customers.

Yep. Hire more people. They can help keep an eye on things. The last time I was in a Target a few months ago, it was almost like they had no employees at all.

* Buried deep within this Chicago Tribune story entitled “As migrants clash near high-volume shelters, neighbors and businesses grow alarmed: ‘We don’t feel safe’”…

(C)rime stats don’t show a marked difference in and around the areas of high-volume shelters from prior years

Hmm.

* Crain’s…

For the third month in a row, home prices grew faster in the Chicago area than in any other major U.S. metro area, according to new data from the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices released this morning. Chicago-area single-family home values rose 4.4% in July compared with the same time last year.

The report echoes one that came from Illinois Realtors last week, showing that Chicago-area home prices are growing at twice the speed of the nation’s. The two reports differ on their timeframe and type of measurement — today’s is an index, while last week’s is a simple mathematical calculation — but the message is similar: Home prices in Chicago are growing fast compared to other big cities.

Chicago had the strongest price growth among 20 major U.S. metros that the Case-Shiller Indices track. Chicago first took the top spot in the index’s report for the month of May, which was released in late July.

* Crain’s…

A New York real estate firm is betting $50 million that two of its downtown Chicago office buildings can win over tenants at one of the toughest times on record for landlords.

AmTrust Realty announced it will pour the new equity into renovations at its 41-story office tower at 1 E. Wacker Drive and 25-story building at 33 N. Dearborn St., two of seven office buildings the firm owns in the heart of the city. The investment is a long-delayed first part of a $100 million plan that AmTrust laid out nearly two years ago to reinvest in its local portfolio.

* Letter to the editor…

As President of the Pope County Historical Society, I’d like to address the recent article by Capitol News Illinois regarding Governor Pritzker’s expanding cultural protections for Native Americans and Mandating History Lessons. Our historical society applauds this action especially since our county seat, Golconda, was the first stop where the Cherokee crossed into Illinois on their Trail of Tears. As you know, our history and treatment of our Native American brothers and sisters was not always positive, but this is a step in the right direction to healing that relationship.

I would like to address the Governor’s reference to the significance of the Buel House in his remarks. He is correct that this historic property is rich in history for Native American Nations, the State of Illinois, and our community. Yet, since 1996, we have pleaded for funding to maintain and repair this historic landmark. The building is in disrepair and getting worse with every weather event. At one time, the Buel House was also an important part of education for schools and visitors alike to learn about our local history and the Trail of Tears.

We respectfully ask Governor Pritzker to authorize funding for the repair of this historic site and open the Buel House to the public, again. This will be another important step in expanding cultural awareness and honor to Native Americans while preserving a piece of local history and tourism.

Respectfully,

Charles Cossey, President
Pope County Historical Society

* Press release…

This week, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that over 24,000 young people were employed through the One Summer Chicago (OSC) program during the summer of 2023, representing a 19% increase from the previous year. The OSC program is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Family and Support Services, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, community-based organizations, corporate partners, and local companies to offer employment and internship opportunities to young people ages 14 to 24.  

“The data from this summer is an encouraging start and a tremendous step forward for youth in our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “My administration is committed to investing in our young people, and I am pleased that we were able to reach over 24,000 of them in the first few months of my administration. In the years ahead, we will continue bringing together our City partners, business partners, community organizations, faith, labor and all other stakeholders to significantly expand these programs to create pathways for our young people to thrive, during the summer and beyond.”
 
The OSC program consists of three interconnected programs:  

1. Chicago Youth Service Corps (CYSC): Employs youth ages 16-24 year-round through programming focused on leadership development and local/civic engagement.
2. Chicagobility: Employs youth ages 14-15 through project-based learning and skill-building experiences.  
3. Summer Youth Employment Program: Employs youth ages 16-24 through job placement or training programs to provide work experiences and develop skills for career pathways.  

The total number of participants in this summer’s program marks an increase of over 4,000 young people in comparison to last year’s total. Of the participants engaged in this summer’s programs, 1,771 youth have disabilities, 13,903 are attending Level 2, Level 3, or Option schools, 2,698 are English as a Second Language Learners, 755 are young people who are experiencing homelessness or are unstably housed, 233 are in the foster care system, 219 are justice-involved, and 2,494 are youth who are out of school and out of work. Across all OSC partners, youth completed 2.43 million hours of work experience and project-based learning. Youth earned over $33.9 million in wages.  
 

* Heh…

Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th Ward) violated the First Amendment by blocking six critics from his official Facebook page in 2021, and now faces a trial to determine whether he should pay those critics damages, a federal judge ruled Monday. […]

In response to a request for comment from WTTW News via text message, Gardiner initially responded with a phone call before saying he had called back by mistake “after hitting the wrong button.” He hung up without comment.

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…

WCIA | Central Illinois counties continue navigating end of cash bail one week after new system takes effect:

* WCIA | Scherer calls for drastic measure to crack down on Blue Cross Blue Shield: Scherer and representatives from Springfield Clinic count 92 of the clinic’s doctors that remain on the Blue Cross Blue Shield directory, despite the clinic and the health insurance company splitting more than a year and a half ago. Scherer wants the Department of Insurance to stop Blue Cross Blue Shield from taking on any new clients until they fix the issue.

* WICS | Forever chemicals found in several Illinois drinking water locations: IEPA put together a study from 2020-2022 that sampled drinking water throughout the state of Illinois. Among those areas, these chemicals showed some kind of detection in Decatur, Lincoln, Athens, and Peoria. According to the most recent study in August of 2023 by the Environmental Working Group, chemicals were detected in several Illinois locations including Macoupin and Christian counties.

* Sen. Patrick Joyce | Joyce: New energy in 40th Senate District from battery plant announcement: With production beginning next year, Gotion will build state-of-the-art electric vehicle batteries at the new plant. That will help meet the expected demand for electric vehicles across the country, with a focus on lithium-ion battery cells, battery packs, and energy storage system integration. The state of Illinois will fund a new manufacturing training academy near the plant site, and award grants to workforce providers to expand training and prepare employees for their new jobs at the plant directly from our region. This historic investment will create more than 2,6000 new jobs in Manteno.

* WICS | Champaign and Vermilion counties receive over $800,000 for local revitalization efforts: The Illinois Housing Development Authority recently approved $19 million to support affordable housing and community revitalization efforts across Illinois. Awarded under the Strong Communities Program, the initiative will provide funding to 68 units of local governments and land bank authorities for the acquisition, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of abandoned residential properties in their communities.

* Farm Week | Summer farm visits strengthen rural, urban ties: Heading into fall veto session, state Rep. Mary Beth Canty plans to look for ways to address rural fire protection staffing shortages and maternal care deserts after her experience with Illinois Farm Bureau’s Adopt-A-Legislator® program. Canty, D-Arlington Heights, who was “adopted” by the Bureau County Farm Bureau, recently spent the day in Bureau County, touring ag facilities, driving a tractor, meeting FFA students, discussing rural EMT services and touring a grocery store to talk about combating food deserts in rural communities. She was joined by Cook County Farm Bureau and state Sen. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City.

* Rockford Register Star | Freeport sales tax proposal falls short again: The city is a seeking a sales tax increase to raise money to help fix the city’s roads. The council rejected a proposed 1% sales tax hike last week. Aldermen James Monroe and Don Parker proposed a .75% sales tax increase instead and asked for a special council meeting to vote on it.

* JG-TC | EIU’s Burge a co-lead on largest-of-its-kind national religious research project: Last month, Eastern Illinois University launched a new project titled “Making Meaning in a Post-Religious America,” led by political science professor Ryan Burge and independent scholar Tony Jones. The Making Meaning Project will complete the largest-ever survey of Americans who are not religiously affiliated. The results of that survey will then guide Burge, Jones, and other team members in studying how these American ‘nones’ explore, identify, and embrace meaning, purpose, and transcendence in their daily and collective lives.

* Chicago Mag | Glenn Poshard: Let’s Emphasize Commonalities Between Chicago and Downstate: Glenn Poshard is one of the great “what ifs” of Illinois politics. If Poshard had won his race for governor in 1998, the state would have been spared the leadership — and the prison terms — of George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. (“I wouldn’t have gone to jail,” Poshard once said.) As Poshard relates in his new memoir Son of Southern Illinois, written with journalist Carl Walworth, he lost that race because he was pro-life on abortion — not a position a Democratic nominee for governor would take today. Poshard swept his native Southern Illinois, but lost the collar counties, and even some socially progressive lakefront wards in Chicago — not an electoral map a Democratic candidate for governor would produce today. We talked to Poshard about the politics of abortion, and what the Democrats can do to win back Southern Illinois.

* Chicago Reader | Dying while in the county’s care: Tyler Spratt was among 15 people who’ve died this year while detained at the jail. Loved ones of those who lost their lives and advocates who work with people imprisoned in the jail tell the Reader they’ve largely been kept in the dark. In some cases, they say investigations dragged on for months with little or no communication. In others, they say jail officials waited hours before telling them their loved ones had died. And above all, they say there’s no public accountability for the violence and death meted out behind bars.

* News-Gazette | Five new drones give UI police eyes in the sky: “People think that if law enforcement gets these, there’s going to be clouds of drones hovering over us and always looking at us and watching what we’re doing. That’s not the case,” Lt. Robert Benoit said. “We don’t have the ability, manpower or resources to constantly fly these things just to watch people.” At large events, the drones can be used to monitor traffic patterns and keep an eye out for disturbances in crowds, but even then, they must primarily stick to the edges.

* Block Club | ‘Merch Cuts’ In Chicago? Outcry Sparks Closer Look Into Venues Taking A Cut Of A Band’s Merchandise Sales: Earlier this month, punk musician Jeff Rosenstock derided the practice in a Twitter thread, and shared a spreadsheet of which venues on his upcoming tour required him to fork over part of his merch profits. […] Then last week, indie musician Tomberlin shared her experience online about being asked to pay 30 percent of t-shirt profits to a venue outside Washington, D.C., where the singer-songwriter opened for Ray LaMontagne.

* The Southern | The little high school that could: Cobden continues to rack up wins: The small-town school, deep in southwestern Illinois, has faced several challenges over the years, but one of the most recent and the biggest was seeing their historic gym condemned — no more cheering fans filling it to its 800 capacity.

* Miami Herald | Florida now leads the country in book bans, new PEN report says. How did that happen?: The nonprofit, which advocates for freedom of expression, recorded 3,362 instances of bans in public school classrooms and libraries from July 2022 to June 2023 across the country. Out of these, about 1,400 — or 40% of the national total — took place in Florida.

* AP | New cars are supposed to be getting safer. So why are fatalities on the rise?: Roadway deaths in the U.S. are mounting despite government test data showing vehicles have been getting safer. While the number of all car-related fatalities has trended upward over the last decade, pedestrians and cyclists have seen the sharpest rise: over 60% between 2011 and 2022. It coincides with a steep increase in sales of SUVs, pickup trucks and vans, which accounted for 78% of new U.S. vehicle sales in 2022.

* Bloomberg | Mansueto turns to Messi to boost his struggling bet on the Chicago Fire: From free tickets to see superstar Lionel Messi to synchronized LED bracelets, billionaire Joe Mansueto is pulling all the stops to boost his struggling, multimillion-dollar bet on Chicago soccer. Mansueto’s Major League Soccer team, the Chicago Fire, is counting on an upcoming match against Messi’s Inter Miami to help break with years of stagnant valuations for the club and some of the lowest attendance rates in the US league.

23 Comments

Question of the day

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The setup…

But when it comes to political campaigns and politics, the misuse of artificial intelligence could threaten our very democracy.

“Deepfakes” use AI to create images, sound clips and videos that appear very real but are simply manufactured. They aren’t the Photoshop photos that swap out one person’s face for another in a photo, but technology that can take anyone’s likeness and voice and create virtually any video the creator wants.

A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, which would ban the distribution of “materially deceptive” AI-generated political ads relating to federal candidates or certain issues that seek to influence a federal election or fundraise.

It’s a good start but doesn’t go far enough. AI has become easy to use and available to anyone, including state and local politicians and their staff.

Congress should require any political ad or politically related content that uses AI to be clearly labeled as being AI generated, whether they are deceptive or not.

* The Question: Should the Illinois legislature vote to require any political ad that uses AI to be clearly labeled as being AI generated? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

online polls

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*** UPDATED x1 *** After calling on Al Franken, Mike Madigan and Mary Miller to resign, Duckworth remains silent on Menendez

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

Breaking: Sen. @SenDuckworth calls on Sen. #Menendez to resign…making her 21st Dem senator asking the indicted NJ senator to quit. https://t.co/SAXJZrdb7r

— Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) September 26, 2023

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* We did a similar post on Sen. Durbin yesterday. Now it’s Sen. Duckworth’s turn. December of 2017…

Both of Illinois’ Democratic senators on Wednesday joined the list of lawmakers calling on U.S. Sen. Al Franken to quit. […]

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, in a statement Wednesday afternoon, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the Minnesota senator’s behavior.

“I am deeply disappointed by Sen. Franken’s behavior. He must step aside,” she said. “To all those across America who have come forward to share their stories over the past few months: thank you. Your courage and strength in driving this long-overdue national conversation is awe-inspiring.”

* November of 2020…

Hours later, Sen. Tammy Duckworth echoed Durbin’s and Pritzker’s concerns — and took it a step further — in calling for Madigan to step down from his two leadership roles, party chair and House speaker.

Illinois’ junior U.S. senator said the federal investigation swirling around the Southwest Side Democrat is an “unnecessary distraction” and the party should “consider new leadership.”

* January of 2021…

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today is calling for the resignation of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL-15) after Miller said at a rally yesterday that “Hitler was right on one thing” in reference to the genocidal Nazi leader’s influence on youths.

“It is absolutely repugnant, obscene and unacceptable for any American – let alone a supposed ‘leader’ serving in Congress – to claim Adolf Hitler was right about anything,” Duckworth said. “To say that the perpetrator of the worst genocide in world history should be a model for any type of behavior, much less the indoctrination of children with hatred, racism and fascist ideals, is disqualifying for an American elected official. I cannot condemn in harsher terms Mary Miller’s despicable comments in the run-up to yesterday’s coup attempt, and I call on her to resign immediately so that someone who better understands the sacrifices our brave service members made during World War II can more effectively represent our state.”

* Today…

Ohio’s Sen. Sherrod Brown joined a growing number of Democrats calling for a member of their own party, New Jersey Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, to resign.

“Senator Menendez has broken the public trust and should resign from the U.S. Senate,” said Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, in a one-sentence statement Monday.

A federal grand jury in New York on Friday indicted Menendez on charges of corruption, alleging he and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold, mortgage payments and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for enriching the Egyptian government. Menendez has said he will be exonerated. […]

At least seven Senate Democrats have called for Menendez resignation by noon on Tuesday. In addition to Brown and [John] Fetterman, the others include Sens. Liz Warren of Massachusetts; Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin; Peter Welch of Vermont; Jon Tester of Montana; and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

Sens. Ed Markey and Mazie Hirono have since called on Menendez to resign.

* I have reached out to Sen. Duckworth’s office twice today about why she hasn’t yet called for Sen. Menendez to resign. I’ve heard nothing back.

Thoughts?

58 Comments

Fittin’ to get ready

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Analysis paralysis is, indeed, all too real and, unfortunately, not confined to transit or Chicago…

pic.twitter.com/kpCNNg3hLI

— 🚇🚍🚂 Bus bulbs on Western (@ChiTransitPlan) September 25, 2023

“Analysis paralysis” is real. We can make anything a pilot project. Just go out there and try something.

— Star:Line Chicago (@StarLineChicago) September 26, 2023

It is also worth noting that these studies are being done by Pace and CTA, rather than the RTA, the regional public transit planning agency. #PlanningSilos

— Thomas Bamonte (@TomBamonte) September 26, 2023

We plan ourselves to death and then make more plans for the funeral. /s

13 Comments

Better late than never: NIU student paper apologizes for spreading (and plagiarizing) 1969 ‘Paul is dead’ rumor

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a Northern Star article in September of 2014…

The ghost of Paul McCartney may one day haunt — or maybe it’s already haunting — the Northern Star office.

Rumors of McCartney’s death began in 1966 after the Beatles’ bassist was supposedly in a fatal accident and was replaced by a lookalike. Several journalists, including the Star’s Barb Ulvilden, wrote about the rumors in September 1969, causing international controversy. The rumors spread to the point that Life magazine sent reporters to Scotland to interview and take a photo of McCartney.

Ulvilden’s column, which was published 45 years ago today, spiked popularity about the topic and has been cited by conspiracy theorists and authors when perpetuating the urban legend.

Ulvilden’s column describe how the cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” featured a left-handed guitar (McCartney was the only lefty in the band) on a grave in front of the Beatles. She also said three of The Beatles attended a Bob Dylan concert but “Paul was conspicuously absent” and playing “Revolution 9” allowed listeners to hear someone saying, “Turn on, dead man.”

It was “Turn me on, dead man,” but whatevs.

* From a Northern Star editorial a couple of days ago…

The Northern Star Editorial Board would like to sincerely apologize to Paul McCartney, a musical icon, for our false Sept. 23, 1969, print issue that unethically speculated that he was dead.

In 2004, the Star finally decided to yield to the truth that McCartney is not dead in an article covering the sordid history of the “Paul is dead” rumors.

However, it has recently come to light that our infamous 1969 article was plagiarized from a Times-Delphic article written a week prior to our article. The Times-Delphic is the student-run newspaper of Drake University.

To the Times-Delphic, we sincerely apologize for plagiarizing your journalistic efforts.

With our 1969 publication, we helped support the untrue, international conspiracy theory that McCartney had been replaced by a lookalike. For that, the Northern Star would like to apologize – even if it comes 54 years late.

We understand the annoyance that McCartney reported in multiple interviews regarding the rumor. We truly apologize for our contribution to supporting an unfounded conspiracy theory.

17 Comments

Circus comes to town

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

Chicago Democrats on Monday lambasted Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee for planning a crime forum in Chicago on Tuesday, rather than working to avoid a federal government shutdown.

Republican members of the committee plan to blame Chicago’s violent crime on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and what they say are her “pro-crime and anti-victim policies” at the forum Tuesday at the city’s Fraternal Order of Police office on the Near West Side, according to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan’s office.

Jordan went on social media Monday to criticize Chicago’s handling of violent crime, writing on the platform X that a string of armed robberies in Chicago is “what happens when Democrats run your city.” In another post, he wrote, “30 shot. 3 killed. One weekend. Democrat-run Chicago.” […]

Legislation that funds the federal government expires this weekend. Without intervention from lawmakers, the government will shut down Sunday. Federal agencies would have to stop all nonessential work, and would not be able to issue paychecks as long as the shutdown lasts. The impact would hit roughly 2 million military personnel and more than 2 million civilian workers across the nation.

Jordan isn’t looking for ideas to make things better. He’s coming here to troll Chicago. That’s it. Don’t fall for the goofy “smackdown” hype promoted elsewhere. It’ll be forgotten as soon as he leaves town.

48 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a story from Isabel

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…

8 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Here you go…

* WBEZ | Chicago’s migrant crisis tied to U.S. foreign policy: First of all, you have the inability of the local governments to deal with what is essentially a federal problem: The Congress and the federal government, since 2006, have been unable to reach a new immigration policy for the United States. […] For instance, as many Ukrainians roughly have come to the United States in the last couple of years, as have Venezuelans. There is no narrative in the media that the Ukrainians are creating a crisis. Why not? Because the government is quietly integrating them into the society, giving them work permits, giving them social benefits, and they’re in essence melting into the U.S. population. There are more Ukrainians that have come to Chicago in the last year than Venezuelans. But somehow we see the Venezuelans in the police precincts, we see them in the shelters, we see the government claiming it has no ability to deal with them.

* Tribune | As migrants clash near high-volume shelters, neighbors and businesses grow alarmed: ‘We don’t feel safe’: With the city buckling under the growing number of migrants — 12 buses carrying 560 more asylum hopefuls arrived this weekend — and no sign of the influx slowing down, tensions among migrants, residents and business owners are reaching a boiling point. The neighbors say they’ve witnessed frequent fights, loitering and other misconduct.

* Crain’s | Manteno battery plant is first coup in Illinois EV ambitions: The auto industry is set to make a massive and abrupt shift to battery-powered vehicles over the next decade. Any state with a piece of the auto industry has to make that shift, too. In the past two years, companies have announced plans to invest roughly $140 billion in EV and battery plants, compared with $20 billion in the previous two years, estimates Dave Gohlke, an energy and environmental analyst at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont.

* WTAX | State legislators turn to Illinois Dept. of Insurance in BCBS/Springfield Clinic standoff: The standoff between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Springfield Clinic continues, and now state legislators are getting involved. Springfield Clinic’s Chief Brand and Advocacy Officer Zack Kerker, appearing on the WTAX Morning Newswatch, says Illinois Senators Doris Turner and Steve McClure and Representatives Sue Scherer and Mike Coffey sent a request to the Illinois Department of Insurance asking the government to do more. He adds that Scherer and Turner have asked the IDOI to consider stopping the sale of the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan.

* WTTW | Federal Judge: Ald. Jim Gardiner Violated First Amendment by Blocking Critics from Official Facebook Page: “The record is clear that Gardiner engaged in both content-based and speaker-based restrictions on his Facebook page, according to the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. “He deleted and hid comments from disfavored constituents voicing opposing political beliefs and even went as far as to block some of those constituents. The Court thus finds Gardiner in violation of the First Amendment.”

* Daily Herald | Where local members of Congress went on lobbyist-funded trips: Six members of the congressional delegation serving the North, West and Northwest suburbs took trips abroad last year funded by special interest groups, federal documents show. Destinations included Honduras, Israel, Spain and Egypt. The hosts included groups that oppose U.S. activities in Central America, two that promote pro-Jewish policies in Congress and others focused on different domestic and global issues.

* Daily Herald | Duckworth has earned more than $1.6 million from memoir sales, documents show: Last year alone, the book — titled “Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir” — netted Duckworth $462,500 in royalties — more than double the $174,000 annual salary she receives as a senator. The income was detailed in Duckworth’s latest annual financial disclosure report, which she filed with the Senate in early August. Illinois’ other senator, Springfield Democrat Dick Durbin, disclosed he owns stock in Pfizer — the pharmaceutical giant that makes a COVID-19 vaccine, Viagra and other popular drugs — and has money in mutual funds, retirement accounts and other types of investments.

* WTAX | Dillard: GOP is right of me: Out of the Capitol for more than eight years, former longtime State Sen. Kirk Dillard doesn’t miss the process. “It’s a people business to be in politics and government, and I miss my colleagues,” said Dillard during a visit to Springfield last week. But today’s Republican Party, particularly in Illinois, may not have room for a moderate such as he.

* BGA | Growth of “Finance General” Category in Chicago’s Budgets Obscures Departmental Costs; Reflects Rising Pension and Borrowing Expenses: As they are each year, these hearings are designed to hold each department accountable for its budgeted expenditures. But one pot of city money isn’t held to the same scrutiny: a catch-all category called “finance general” for budgeted expenditures not assigned to a specific department. A Better Government Association policy team analysis has found that over the past three administrations, an increasing number of appropriation items has been added to this category, significantly growing the portion of the city budget without direct departmental accountability from about one-third to nearly half of the overall city budget.

* Sun-Times | Democrats blast House Republicans for planned forum on Chicago crime instead of working to avert a government shutdown: Foxx — who is not seeking reelection — told the Sun-Times Jordan is coming to Chicago rather than fulfilling his obligations to his constituents as the nation is on the verge of a “Republican sponsored government shutdown.” She also took aim at Chicago FOP President John Catanzara, who last year apologized for comments he initially made in defense of Jan. 6 insurrectionists. […] Speaking at Ald. Emma Mitts’ West Side office, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., called the GOP forum “unbelievable” and a distraction from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s struggles to gather enough votes to pass a short-term spending plan.

* Tribune | Even as Chicago Bears open season with losses, Arlington Heights Village Board working to bring stadium to suburb: Trustees identified nine strategic priorities for the village over the next two years during a goal-setting session late last month. That was used by village staff to help create the 2024-2025 strategic priority list that was presented for approval at the Sept. 5 Village Board meeting.

* Sun-Times | As Red Line extension advances, a cheaper way hides in plain sight: “The oft-stated goal of the Red Line extension is to do right by the underserved residents of the Far South Side. At some point the realization ought to have dawned: There’s already a railroad down here!” Zotti wrote. “We don’t have to build another one! We could massively improve service without waiting 20 years!”

* The Climate Brink | Visualizing a summer of extremes in 7 charts: Global surface temperatures have dramatically spiked since the start of June, with the past four months (June-September) breaking prior monthly records by a large margin. This extreme global heat has made it virtually certain that 2023 will rank as the warmest year on record, and means that there is a chance it will emerge as the first year exceeding 1.5C above preindustrial levels – at least in some datasets.

* NYT | America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow: Groundwater loss is hurting breadbasket states like Kansas, where the major aquifer beneath 2.6 million acres of land can no longer support industrial-scale agriculture. Corn yields have plummeted. If that decline were to spread, it could threaten America’s status as a food superpower. Fifteen hundred miles to the east, in New York State, overpumping is threatening drinking-water wells on Long Island, birthplace of the modern American suburb and home to working class towns as well as the Hamptons and their beachfront mansions.

* NYT | ‘Monster Fracks’ Are Getting Far Bigger. And Far Thirstier.: Along a parched stretch of La Salle County, Texas, workers last year dug some 700 feet deep into the ground, seeking freshwater. Millions of gallons of it. The water wouldn’t supply homes or irrigate farms. It was being used by the petroleum giant BP to frack for fossil fuels. The water would be mixed with sand and toxic chemicals and pumped right back underground — forcing oil and gas from the bedrock.

* Crain’s | Mayors press Congress for big expansion of affordable housing tax credits: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and several other local and state leaders are urging Congress to pass legislation that would turbocharge a tax credit that spurs affordable housing development nationwide. They say changes in the tax credit program could lead to an additional 2 million affordable rental units coming online nationwide in the next decade, on top of the roughly 1.25 million units that would get built without the changes.

* AP | Joe Biden will join the UAW strike picket line. Experts can’t recall the last time a president did that: Biden’s trip to join a picket line in the suburbs of Detroit is the most significant demonstration of his pro-union bona fides, a record that includes vocal support for unionization efforts at Amazon.com facilities and executive actions that promoted worker organizing. He also earned a joint endorsement of the major unions earlier this year and has avoided southern California for high-dollar fundraisers amid the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood.

* Crain’s | Instant Pot and Pyrex maker draws interest from Citadel, Centre Lane: Citadel has offered to purchase loan holdings from existing lenders at around 7 cents on the dollar, said the people who asked not to be named because the details of the matter are private. It’s asking those who don’t want to sell to team up in a potential bid for certain assets, such as the housewares business, some of the people said. That would allow lenders to use debt they’re owed toward purchasing the company’s assets out of bankruptcy.

* WAND | Illinois’ first lady to speak at Lincoln Presidential Library about Gov.’s mansion: The first lady will share stories about some of the mansion’s renowned residents and visitors – including Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt – and explain how the building has changed with the culture and style of the times.

* The Atlantic | Lincoln’s Lessons: It’s not that he greatly changed his critics’ beliefs, nor that they greatly changed his. Rather, he learned how to make his beliefs actionable.

18 Comments

Live coverage

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ScribbleLive is still down. Twitter has stopped allowing people to embed list feeds on websites. So, click here or here to follow breaking news.

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