Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* From Rich: Congrats to DeShana Forney, who was just elected the new Third House Speaker!

* From Rich: The candidate ballot-position lottery was held today. If you click here and scroll down to “Link: More Information,” and then click that link, you’ll bring up the pre-lottery’s pdf report. Today’s lottery sequence is: 1, 3, 4, 2. So the “1″ candidate on the pre-lottery report will appear first on the ballot, the “3″ will appear second, and so on. As an example, Darren Bailey is a “1,” so his name will appear at the top of the ballot. Mike Bost will be second.

* Press Release…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that IDOT has reached an agreement to provide $10 million to Chicago to help the city expand its network of safety cameras along both state routes and city streets. The increased presence of cameras will be a valuable tool to help ensure the safety and effective movement of traffic through Chicago during special events and emergencies as well as in typically busy areas. […]

The intergovernmental agreement will increase the city’s ability to monitor traffic, manage incidents and assist in increased enforcement and safety along rights of way in Chicago.

The $10 million from IDOT will cover the costs of equipment, permitting and labor associated with the purchase and installation of the cameras. The city, under the terms of the agreement, will own and manage the physical and technological infrastructure and data as well as use a vendor to provide the required supplies and services, including equipment, installation, maintenance and any repairs.

The city also will determine the specific locations of the cameras and coordinate best practices for sharing information with law enforcement agencies.

* Lake County News-Sun…

The father of the alleged Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooter was released from jail Wednesday morning after serving less than a month of his 60-day sentence due to “good behavior,” according to the Lake County sheriff’s office. […]

Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, and public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said the charge to which Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to is served at 50% for good behavior, meaning he received a day-for-day credit for his behavior. […]

On the day he reported for his jail sentence, Crimo Jr. arrived at the Lake County Courthouse wearing a white shirt that read, “I’m a political pawn,” in black letters. On the back of his shirt were the words “laws,” “facts” and “reality.”

* Senate Democrats…

As the new year starts, a number of new laws will take effect. Over 300 new laws will officially be on the books Jan. 1 – from one that makes Illinois the first state in the nation to prohibit the banning of books, to another that waives pet adoption fees for our nation’s heroes.

The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus outlined 10 of the most interesting laws that will take effect Jan. 1. Those include:

· House Bill 2789: Prohibits state-funded libraries from banning or removing materials due to religious or partisan disapproval
· House Bill 1541: Prohibits utility companies from discontinuing gas or electric services for residential users due to nonpayment of bills on days when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees or there is a heat watch, advisory or warning
· House Bill 2389: Clarifies that no vehicle can be stopped or searched solely on the basis of any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield that may obstruct the driver’s view
· House Bill 2245: Requires Illinois car manufacturers to establish a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles via their existing global positioning systems
· House Bill 3924: Requires high schools to teach students about the dangers of fentanyl in all state-required health courses
· House Bill 1540: Prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and within 15 feet of entrances
· House Bill 3516: Allows employees up to 10 days of paid leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor
· House Bill 2431: Provides people operating a motor vehicle may not use an electronic device to participate in video conferences or access social media sites
· Senate Bill 380: Provides a civil cause of action for fertility fraud against health care providers who knowingly or intentionally use their own human reproductive material without the patient’s informed written consent for assisted reproductive treatment
· House Bill 2500: Requires animal shelters and animal control facilities to waive the adoption fee for military veterans in Illinois

Dozens of other laws will also take effect Jan. 1, 2024. A full list can be found at https://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/2024NewLaws.

* Tribune…

Four City Hall lobbyists apparently donated improperly to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political fund, the Chicago Board of Ethics found this week.

The board found the registered lobbyists appeared to violate a mayoral executive order by giving money to Johnson, according to probable cause findings issued at a recent meeting. […]

[A] Tribune analysis of campaign finance records identified four registered lobbyists who donated to Johnson’s candidate committee after he was sworn in as mayor in May.

Those donors include former 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore, who now has his own lobbying business; John Dunn, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s director of intergovernmental affairs who now works for Cozen O’Connor; Michael Cassidy with Zephyr Government Strategies; and Anthony B. Bruno, a politically connected business and government consultant in the west suburbs who was previously convicted of tax fraud.

* Block Club’s Colin Boyle captured some chaotic City Council moments …

NOW: City Council meeting has been recessed amid disruptions during the discussion for arbitration for CPD. Supporters of Palestine were pounding on the gallery windows and chanting. Mayor Brandon Johnson commanded Sergeant-at-Arms Starks to have them removed before Mayor left. pic.twitter.com/77vHa0WpwR

— Colin Boyle (@colinbphoto) December 13, 2023

* Press release…

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $20,927,748 in new federal funding for the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Ogden Avenue Improvement Project in the North Lawndale neighborhood. This federal investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All program will support improvements along Ogden Avenue to reduce crashes and create a safer and more comfortable corridor for people walking, biking and driving.

“Improving street safety and increasing multimodal transportation infrastructure makes for safer, more active and more vibrant communities,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to announce this important funding to help the City of Chicago to make much-needed improvements to catalyze economic development, enhance community connectivity and improve quality of life for the North Lawndale community.”

“A smoother, more streamlined transportation network allows residents to more readily and safely access opportunities, and fosters an environment where businesses can thrive,” Durbin said. “Whether it’s getting to work, school, or exploring all that Chicago has to offer, this investment will unlock new possibilities for the North Lawndale community.” […]

“Thanks to the leadership of Senators Durbin and Duckworth and all our federal partners for securing funding to support this transformative project in North Lawndale,” said CDOT Acting Commissioner Tom Carney. “CDOT will continue working closely with the community to bring this project to life and ensure that people using all modes of transportation can more safely and comfortably travel along Ogden Avenue.”

* Governor Pritzker named this week Dog and Cat Adoption Week in Illinois during a press conference today…

This is Koko she’s 2 years old and has the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen someone PLEASE take her home 😭 https://t.co/viBOCsMoHV pic.twitter.com/osfVpgZR4z

— Olivia Kuncio (@Olivia_Kuncio) December 13, 2023

* Holiday season is approaching, so take a moment to listen to this certified holiday classic from Tom Irwin…

* Here’s the rest…

* Tribune | Federal judge hears arguments on gun ban registry, while legislative panel considers rules for implementation: A federal judge in southern Illinois who earlier this year put a hold on the state’s gun ban — a decision that was reversed on appeal — on Tuesday heard arguments on a challenge to the registration process for guns grandfathered in under the law. U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn indicated he was not inclined to issue an injunction that would put off the Jan. 1 deadline for Illinois residents to register guns covered by the ban with Illinois State Police.

* Daily Herald | Big upgrades coming to Union Station; more trains to Midwestern cities planned: A massive revamp of Chicago’s Union Station plus potentially more trains to Midwestern cities including Milwaukee are among the projects Amtrak is eying with over $101 million in new federal grants. The lion’s share of the funding, nearly $94 million, is earmarked for Union Station renovations.

* Sun-Times | Another call for mistrial in FBG Duck murder trial — this one sparked by YouTuber’s removal from courtroom: While mainstream media outlets have largely ignored the federal murder and racketeering trial, the extraordinary events unfolding at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse have repeatedly spilled onto YouTube channels and rap blogs. In a motion filed on behalf of all the defense attorneys, lawyer Steve Greenberg said Aleta “Mickey Truth” Williams was pulled out of court last week after she falsely claimed that Rakeem “FBG Butta” Wilton had been paid to work with the feds.

* WaPo | Pregnant women take a leading role in new legal battles over abortion: Kate Cox caught the attention of the nation last week when she asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy. Three days later, a pregnant woman filed suit anonymously in Kentucky, arguing that the state’s near-total abortion ban violates her constitutional right to privacy and self-determination.

* Crain’s | As U.S. EV market flattens, some brands perk up and gain on Tesla: Notably, luxury kings BMW and Mercedes-Benz are carving out bigger numbers of new EV registrations, according to the latest data from Experian. BMW more than quadrupled its EV sales from January through October, with Mercedes and Volkswagen close behind. And newcomer EV brand Rivian, freed of the production problems that held it back earlier in the year, nearly tripled its new registrations for the period.

* AP | Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles sold in US to fix system that monitors drivers using Autopilot: Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the update will increase warnings and alerts to drivers and even limit the areas where basic versions of Autopilot can operate. The recall comes after a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.

* Reuters | Meet Ashley, the world’s first AI-powered political campaign caller: Ashley is not your typical robocaller; none of her responses are canned or pre-recorded. Her creators, who intend to mainly work with Democratic campaigns and candidates, say she is the first political phone banker powered by generative AI technology similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. She is capable of having an infinite number of customized one-on-one conversations at the same time.

* Daily Herald | A hero is born: Drucker’s buzzer-beater lifts Prospect over Glenbrook North: Prospect senior Jerry Drucker’s last shot Tuesday night was the kind a player might pull out to win a game of horse. But Drucker’s driving and fading 18-footer from the right baseline over three defenders had much bigger implications at Jean Walker Field House. When it swished through the net at the buzzer Drucker had given the Knights a dramatic 40-38 nonconference victory and Glenbrook North its first loss in 9 games.

* Sun-Times | Obama surprises South Shore pre-K class with presents and a story: Obama, who was joined by Parkside Principal Tori Williams-Hughes, CPS Chief Schools Officer Felicia Sanders and CPS Network 12 Chief Shenethe Parks, made the surprise holiday visit as a way of spreading holiday cheer in the community ahead of winter break. And he came bearing gifts. Each student in the classroom received toys, and every student at the academy got winter accessories.

* WCIA | How three men saved Christmas in Champaign Co.: It took a few good men and an idea. It all started in December 2022, when a Toys for Tots trailer was broken into. Thieves stole hundreds of children’s toys and items — including bikes. […] “I made contact with these guys and said, ‘Hey, well we’ll get the bikes back. Tell me how many you had,’” Peeler said. “I rounded up a bunch of guys that I know and we just went out shopping and replaced them.” But replacing last year’s stolen bikes wasn’t enough. This year, “the guys” delivered 110 bikes, eight scooters and a big wheel — all going to kids in need this Christmas.

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Pritzker says GardaWorld will eat the state’s costs of canceled Brighton Park tent city

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A reporter asked Gov. Pritzker today about what payment arrangements have been made with GardaWorld now that the tent city it was building has been canceled…

So, from the state, the understanding with GardaWorld is that they will do other work with us. And they knew as they were building this shelter, before the environmental report came in, that it was possible that the environmental report wouldn’t allow the completion of the shelter.

And so they understood that and they were willing to take that liability on through the state’s contract. I can’t speak to what may have pre-existed or been in place with the city. Meanwhile, they are going to be involved and have been working to help us stand up other shelters. Remember, even the bricks and mortar shelters that already exist need work. And GardaWorld is helping us to complete that work very quickly so we can get people sheltered in the right places.

* Asked what else was happening as far as site building goes…

We’ve been working together with the Archdiocese of Chicago. They have a number of buildings that they’ve made available over time. And so we’re continuing to look at the sites. A few of them are better than others. But I want to compliment the Archdiocese and especially the Cardinal because they’ve worked from the very beginning to assist the migrants, the asylum seekers here. There are lots of other organizations that have stepped up, but I just wanted to highlight them today. And I thank the Cardinal and the church for the work that they’re doing. And there are many other faith leaders, let’s be clear, who’ve come together. I think the mayor held a press conference with some of them. We’ve also talked to a number of others and people have stepped up to do the right thing to help out and especially in this holiday season, that’s heartwarming.

* Any announcements imminent?…

Not yet, but I promise you that the city will be announcing as those shelter sites are available. I think they’ve stood up one shelter site roughly every eight or nine days during this challenge, and during the mayor’s term. And so I’m sure that there will be others announced.

* More from Isabel…

* Crain’s | Oak Park helped Chicago house migrants. It can’t take any buses: Although no new buses have arrived in Oak Park since October, the village is currently housing roughly 180 asylum-seekers between its West Cook YMCA, the Carleton Hotel and local churches. Scaman said Oak Park is providing “wraparound services,” including daily meals and some legal support.

* Block Club | City Paying Well More Than Typical Rent For Migrant Shelter Buildings — And Keeping Details Secret: A picture has emerged through interviews and public records: As the new mayor and his team grew desperate to find housing for the migrants, the emergency offered lucrative opportunities to some city contractors and well-connected property owners, Block Club Chicago found. In the West Loop, Johnson aides ultimately approved deals to convert three former office buildings into migrant housing at a cost to the city of as much as $1.3 million a month, according to information provided by the city.

* ABC Buffalo | ‘Diversity is the future’: Working to recruit migrants to help restaurant industry staff shortage: “Diversity is the future. I mean we shouldn’t have waited this long to diversify the workplace,” says Kailey Gyorffy, vice president of WNY Chapter NYSRA. “Getting these people that have worked so hard in their countries and they’re completely overlooked by other major corporations in the area and we’d like to offer them an opportunity to show their skills and use their skills.”

* Seattle Times | A year into crisis, Tukwila church struggles as 500 asylum-seekers face winter: Local and state officials were first notified by the church of the situation in the spring, a few months into people arriving. The state said it has prepared for crowds as large as New York or Chicago, but that hasn’t happened yet, meaning a full emergency response isn’t warranted. Because the crowd that does exist is outside Seattle limits, Seattle-specific agencies say they can’t help. King County has said that it’s mainly Tukwila’s problem, while Tukwila says it can’t solve this problem alone.

12 Comments

Chicago FOP’s new contract includes more money, looser disciplinary rules

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Better Government Association…

The BGA analysis found costs totaling at least $76.8 million above the budgeted position costs for 2024 passed by City Council in November, including:

• $27.7 million from the change from a 2.5% raise to a 5% raise
• $10.6 million from salary step changes
• Potentially $11 million or more from stipends paid to officers with medical, crisis intervention, or bicycle officer training certifications, depending on the number of officers who opt for training and fulfill the stipend eligibility requirements.
• $27.5 million for one-time retention bonuses paid to every FOP-represented officer

[…] As announced previously by the administration and analyzed by the BGA, the contract includes 5% pay raises for FOP-represented officers in 2024 and 2025, up from the 2.5% and 2% raises in those years previously contained in the union’s bargaining agreement with the Lightfoot administration. […]

In addition to the across-the-board raises, the contract contains new language increasing the salary grade of multiple CPD titles. […]

The contract includes new stipends of $1,000 annually for officers with emergency medical, crisis intervention or bike officer training certificates. […]

Referred to in the summary sheet presented to city council as a “signing bonus,” the contract language includes a one-time, non-pensionable bonus of $2,500 for all FOP-represented officers. At the 2024 budgeted headcount of 11,013 FOP-represented officers, this would cost the city $27.5 million, the BGA analysis estimates.

* So, did the city’s progressive mayor promise to spend money the city clearly doesn’t have to leverage stronger disciplinary procedures in order to prevent those multi-million-dollar settlements and weed out the bad apples? According to the BGA, nope…

In addition to its financial impacts, the contract adds significant new protections for officers facing discipline for misconduct, including time limits on how long internal investigations can take before invalidating any potential discipline, expedited and off-the-record arbitration for suspensions of thirty days or less, and new restrictions on when and where body worn cameras can be active and whether body worn camera footage can be used in disciplinary proceedings. […]

A separate amendment allows officers who have been fired to cash out all their unused compensatory time in the same manner as officers who resigned, retired or died. Previously, fired officers had only been entitled to comp time accumulated as a result of earned overtime for hours worked in excess of 171 per 28 day period. […]

One of the most significant disciplinary changes in the new contract is a stipulation that if an investigation takes more than 18 months to conclude, measured from the date on which the investigation was opened, the union can request arbitration to determine whether there is a reasonable basis for the investigation to take more than 18 months.

In such cases, the Police Department would bear the burden of demonstrating reasonable cause for delay. If the arbitrator deems reasonable cause does not exist, the hearing on the merits of the discipline cannot proceed.

* The contract does include this, however…

New language adds requirements that the department … provide officers with “appropriate training” on use-of-force rules that are consistent with department policy.

FOP President John Catanzara told me last year that he didn’t believe his members were receiving enough and proper training. He’s right.

Man, if Johnson does this with the FOP, just imagine what he’s gonna do with the CTU.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign updates

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Who thumbs it better?

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Starting off with Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton)…

* On to Rep. Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago) who has regularly posted thumbs-up photos since he started running for the House…

* Back to Severin…

* Huyn’s got a whole crew…

* Trust me, this post could have hundreds of images…

* Vote here!

online polls

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Unclear on the concept

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WEEK TV…

An appeals court finds a Livingston County judge must abide by Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act even though she’s strongly opposed to ending the cash bond system for people awaiting trial.

Three justices on the Fourth District Appellate Court found that Brandin Atterberry, charged in Livingston County with indecent solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child, is entitled to a second pretrial detention hearing applying the new law’s provisions.

In early October, Judge Jennifer Bauknecht ordered Atterberry jailed before his trial, claiming he’s a threat to Livingston County children and that the new law has taken away her authority to set bond in the case.

* Here’s some of what Judge Bauknecht said…

Here I do find that the proof is evident and the presumption is great that the Defendant has committed a qualifying offense for which he is eligible for detention under the dangerousness standard. I do believe that the State has shown by clear and convincing evidence based upon the nature of the charges and the probable cause statement that the Defendant poses a very real and present threat to the safety of all of the young children under the age of 18 living in Livingston County, and I do find that at present there are no conditions of pretrial release or combination of conditions that could mitigate the real and present threat of safety to the endangered persons in Livingston County. […]

As I stated earlier, before the Pretrial Fairnesses [sic] Act, I would have given the Defendant a reasonable monetary bond that would have taken into consideration the factors that I have just enumerated here that raise concern about the Defendant having contact with any child under the age of 18 within this community; and I believe that that monetary bond would have taken into consideration his ability to pay. The Defendant may or may not have been able to post that. However, that would have served as a very strong deterrent for the Defendant; and the risk of losing that bond money has historically proven to provide a good incentive for people to not continue to engage in criminal behavior.

And since I do not have that incentive because the legislature, governor and Illinois Supreme Court have taken that discretion away from me and because the Defendant meets the dangerousness standard by clear and convincing evidence, I am ordering that he be detained pending trial.

Um, what? She’d be willing to release him on bail even though she believed he was a threat to the community?

* More from the judge…

I would note that although I have not formally incorporated this into my notes, that while the legislature has funded this brand new department [Office of Statewide Pretrial Services] with over five layers of bureaucratic management, we continue to see an inordinate amount of people with mental health disorders in our jail awaiting transfer to the Department of Human Services; and I would further note that I am aware of at least one county, that being Sangamon County, that is also concerned that we have individuals who have been found to be unfit by courts sitting in our jails for months at a time while we have this brand new department with all this money and all of this bureaucratic oversight to deal with people who have been charged with crimes.

So I point out that we have at least one individual in the Livingston County Jail who’s been there since June 23rd awaiting transfer to the Department of Human Services for mental health treatment. I have found that person to be unfit for trial and in desperate need of mental health treatment, yet he sits in our jail waiting to be transferred.

I received a letter from DHS today indicating that they have 180 people waiting for admission to a mental health facility and that it will be at least another four to five weeks before this individual will be able to obtain his mental health treatment, yet we have spent not only our time but also our very valuable resources setting up this nice, new Pretrial Fairnesses [sic] Act with a brand new department with five layers of bureaucratic oversight.

Publicity hounds gonna publicity hound.

* Yadda-yadda-yadda, the appellate court sent the case back to the judge…

Accordingly, we remand the cause with directions to hold a new detention hearing applying the proper statutory criteria. Specifically, the trial court shall make express findings, based on defendant’s individual circumstances, as to whether any condition or combination of conditions allow for defendant’s pretrial release. As judges, our role is not to choose the law but to faithfully apply it; that is, in fact, the sole object of our oath. Where a law is passed by the legislature and upheld by our supreme court as constitutional, the role of the judge is to apply the law as it is, not as the judge might wish it to be. On remand, it is the trial court’s obligation to give this case the individualized attention it deserves.

18 Comments

Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Democratic Illinois State Senator goes to Sen. Cristina Castro…

She runs the exec committee efficiently, but ensures every opinion is heard. She quickly picks up on issue specifics, and can articulate key points in hearings and floor debate. She is also a political animal, and does the work needed to win, and to help her colleagues win.

* The 2023 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Republican Illinois State Senator goes to Sen. Sue Rezin…

Republican Senator Sue Rezin was impressive in efforts to pass the nuclear bill. She worked with Democrats to get the legislation through both Chambers and find a compromise with the Governor. She’s an experienced, solid lawmaker who knows how to get things done even though her party is in the super minority.

They’re both highly deserving, but congratulations to everyone who was nominated yesterday.

* On to today’s categories…

Best Contract Lobbyist

Best In-House Lobbyist

Please fully explain your nominations, and please do your best to nominate in both categories. Thanks!

* Here’s your daily reminder about buying Christmas presents for foster kids. So far, we’ve helped Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy presents for 2,087 children who don’t have a lot going for them in life right now. LSSI, their foster families and people like you who help out every year are their lifelines.

Isabel and I will be closing up shop next Wednesday or Thursday, so we’re running out of time. If you haven’t yet done so, please click here to contribute. Also, if you’ve already contributed but think you can give just a little bit more, click here.

45 Comments

Google releases renderings of Thompson Center’s new look

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s…

Google’s long-awaited overhaul of the Thompson Center will begin next year, the tech company says, providing the first glimpses of what it might look like.

The iconic downtown Chicago building, which has inspired legions of both passionate admirers and detractors, will maintain a distinctive glass exterior and soaring atrium inside.

But the glass will be newer and more energy efficient. The three exterior rings where the layers of the building come together appear to feature outdoor terraces. […]

The tech company says fencing will go up around the perimeter early next year, followed by construction work. Retailers already are clearing out, with the last departure expected in mid-January.

* Here’s the renderings from Google…

* Google Chicago Site Lead Karen Sauder posted a blog update this morning…

At Google, we’ve set an ambitious goal to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030. This means running our offices and data centers on clean energy, every hour of every day. One of the important steps we can take to achieve this goal is to make our offices require less energy in the first place. That’s why last year, when we announced our intent to purchase the Thompson Center, we also pledged to upgrade it to a LEED Platinum, all-electric building.

For a building like the Thompson Center, this isn’t easy. In order to achieve the efficiency gains we’re targeting, the building’s facade and internal systems have to be completely replaced. The new triple-pane glass exterior will improve both the thermal performance of the building and the comfort of those inside by requiring less energy to heat and cool. Additionally, it will modernize the way the building looks, and maximize natural daylight and views. We’ll also replace outdated heating and cooling equipment with high-efficiency systems that are capable of managing Chicago’s famously varied seasons.

Covered terraces along three levels of the southeast perimeter will offer new greenspaces. With more natural light, access to greenspace, and biophilic design elements that borrow from nature, the original design’s ode to transparency and openness will live on.

Not to be preachy, but I wonder what precautions are planned for migrating birds? Especially since 1,000 birds collided with McCormick Place in October.

* More…

WTTW | Google Unveils New Rendering of Thompson Center Renovation, Says the Atrium is Staying:

* Block Club | Here’s A Look At The Thompson Center’s New Design: In July 2022, Google announced it would buy the center for $105 million and received city approval for redevelopment this October. Google plans to begin work in early 2024, and residents will start to see construction fencing going up soon. Sauder said the full redevelopment will take “several years” to complete.

* Tribune | Google will reconstruct the Thompson Center starting early next year, but will retain the building’s atrium:One unknown is how the internet giant’s arrival will impact the Central Loop. The submarket was hit hard by the rise of remote work, which leaves downtown quiet several days each week. Many property owners hope Google will ignite a revival, much as it did for Fulton Market by opening in 2015 its Midwest headquarters in a former cold storage building renovated by developer Sterling Bay.

* Sun-Times | Google releases new renderings of planned Thompson Center makeover: Google officials offered no details on what changes in color or material might be made to the atrium. The Sun-Times reported last October that Google received city permits to remove the atrium’s current metal and glass skin. The new glass exterior facade would also allow the atrium to be visible from inside outside of the building.

26 Comments

Open thread

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

4 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: NAACP IL President called to resign after comparing asylum seekers to ‘savages’. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ SJ-R: Former leader of DuPage County NAACP calls on Teresa Haley to resign as state director
∙ WGN: Calls for NAACP Illinois conference president to resign after racist remarks
∙ WCIA: Springfield NAACP president called to resign after racist remarks in meeting

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Capitol News Illinois | As deadline looms, assault weapons registration rules still unresolved: Firearm owners in Illinois will have to wait at least another month before knowing exactly what items they must register with the Illinois State Police under the state’s assault weapons ban, even as the deadline for submitting those registrations is less than three weeks away.

* Center Square | Federal judge ‘inclined’ not to pause Illinois’ Jan. 1 gun ban registry deadline: In Chicago, JCAR took no action on revised rules, opting to continue reviewing the proposed changes at January’s meeting in Springfield. The original emergency rules filed by Illinois State Police on Sept. 15 remain in effect. When questioned by state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, at Tuesday’s JCAR meeting, ISP attorney Suzanne Bond said the reason they didn’t produce rules for months after the law’s Jan. 10 enactment was because of pending court action.

* Tribune | Driven by global warming concerns and encouraged by generous incentives, Illinois homeowners turning to solar power like never before: Residential solar is having its best year ever in Illinois, with 170 megawatts of power added in the first three quarters, compared with 125 megawatts in all of 2022, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association and research consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

Governor Pritzker is holding a press conference to encourage Illinoisans to adopt shelter animals at 11:15 am. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* WICS | First set of data released related to pretrial legislation: The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services (OSPS) released the first sets of data following the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act. […] Since Sept. 18, OSPS has completed 4,375 investigations and 2,318 defendants have been ordered to OSPS supervision. There were 1,496 petitions for detention filed in OSPS involved cases filed on or after Sept. 18, with 976 petitions granted, 469 petitions denied and 51 petitions waiting to be heard.

* The 21st Show | Illinois’ First Lady MK Pritzker takes us inside the Governor’s mansion: In Illinois, the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield serves as the residency for the governor and their family, and the hub for the state’s social settings. The 168-year-old building has a very rich history, dating back to before the Civil War. The mansion’s history and its renovations have been documented by Illinois’ First Lady, MK Pritzker, through a new coffee-table book called A House that Made History: The Illinois Governor’s Mansion, Legacy of an Architectural Treasure.

* NPR Illinois | Illinois anti-hate commission calls for unity, decries bias crime and builds helpline: A recent report by the Anti Defamation League found that “Illinois has seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years. In 2022, the number of incidents increased by 128% from 2021 levels, rising from 53 to 121. The state’s total was the seventh-highest number of incidents in the country in a year when ADL tracked the highest-ever number of antisemitic incidents nationwide.

* Tribune | ‘I was working under the direction of the government’: Calm and cool former alderman and FBI mole Daniel Solis heats up Ed Burke corruption trial: The last time Daniel Solis and Edward Burke were in the same room together was November 2018, when the two powerful longtime aldermen talked about Solis’ future. Solis said on the secretly recorded video that he planned to retire in the middle of his next term, maybe become a consultant and “go off into the sunset.” He told Burke he’d still bring developers his way, looking to hire Burke’s private law firm for tax work, “as long as, you know, you remember me.”

* The Landmark | Two Chicagoans file to oppose Rashid in March primary : The Rashid campaign filed the maximum number of signatures, 1,500, allowed on nominating petitions, while Synowiecki and Vasquez each filed about 650 signatures. A minimum of 500 valid signatures are needed. The challengers to the nominating petitions include former Berwyn mayoral candidate Brendan O’Connor. The petition challenges will be heard by a hearing officer appointed by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

* Landmark | RBHS school board member Laura Hruska files to run for state representative: Laura Hruska has never been one to avoid a challenge. But the longtime Riverside Brookfield High School District 208 school board member is taking on a big one in the upcoming year. Hruska, a longtime resident of Brookfield, is running for state representative, challenging 2nd District incumbent Democrat Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, who is an assistant majority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives and the chairwoman of the Illinois Democratic Party. Neither Hruska nor Hernandez has a primary opponent, so Hruska is guaranteed to face Hernandez in the November general election.

* Sun-Times | City Council set to alter paid leave ordinance, but not enough to satisfy business leaders: The quick fixes teed up for approval at Wednesday’s City Council meeting include a six-month delay — until July 1 — in the requirement that businesses give their Chicago employees 10 paid days off per year, including five sick days and five vacation days. The changes would also give businesses 16 days, or “one pay period,” to remedy a problem with paid leave. But the so-called “cure period” would last only one year. After that, employees who believe they have been denied paid leave would be free to sue their employers.

* Crain’s | The City Council will revisit migrant issues that sparked chaos in October: But a committee vote on the resolution supporting the referendum set for Tuesday was canceled and several members of the body have instead called for a City Council meeting to vote on their own non-binding referendum question asking voters if Chicago should remain a “sanctuary city.”

* WBEZ | After swift backlash, Chicago drops restrictive new rules to public seating in city council chambers: The Chicago City Council Sergeant-at-Arms has “postponed until further notice” a controversial change to seating protocols for public meetings that sparked swift and significant backlash when made public just two weeks ago, according to a notice on the City Clerk’s website.

* WTTW | CPS Security Guard Charged With Sexual Assault of Student Previously Cleared Backgrounding Process Despite More Than 20 Arrests, 4 Convictions: There was the time he was accused of pulling a silver BB gun on a man he attempted to rob for marijuana in Chicago. Or the time an officer reportedly found a bag of cocaine after it fell out of Campoverde’s pant leg. Or when the members of a crew breaking into vehicles in the southwest suburbs, including Campoverde, were arrested in Bolingbrook and charged with felony burglary for breaking into a man’s car.

* WTTW | Family of 3 Boys Allegedly Abused by CPS Gym Teacher Suing School District: A family is suing Chicago Public Schools, alleging a gym teacher at a Northwest Side elementary school groomed and sexually abused three young boys. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of three minor, unnamed victims, alleged that Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School physical education teacher Andrew Castro was able to continuously abuse the boys despite prior complaints of similar abuse.

* Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools leaders want to move away from school choice: The move puts in motion Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign promise to reinvigorate Chicago Public Schools’ neighborhood schools. On the campaign trail, Johnson likened the city’s school choice system to a “Hunger Games scenario” that forces competition for resources and ultimately harms schools, particularly those where students are zoned based on their address.

* Sun-Times | CTA Yellow Line operator knew plow would be on tracks before crash but not where, federal report says: The National Transportation Safety Board is focusing on CTA rail signals, railcar brakes and track conditions as it tries to determine why the train couldn’t avoid hitting the snowplow near the Howard Street station.

* Streetsblog | Woman, 57, fatally struck by hit-and-run SUV driver is third pedestrian killed near one-mile stretch of Congress in Garfield Park in three months: The crash report says a witness told officers she was driving in front of the SUV, heading west from Pulaski Road (4000 W.) on Congress, when she noticed the SUV driver was speeding towards her. She pulled over to the side of the road, presumably to avoid a crash, and saw the SUV driver strike the victim and flee north on Kildare Avenue (4300 W.) The witness said she was unable to identify the driver because of tinted windows.

* Daily Herald | Judge injured in explosion at Wheaton home: DuPage County Judge Kenneth Popejoy is recuperating after suffering injuries Sunday in a fireplace explosion at his home in Wheaton. […] Brill said a man was injured when a wood-burning fireplace with a gas log igniter exploded. Per department policy, Brill did not give out the name of the victim. The Daily Herald learned it was Popejoy from other sources, and confirmed it with office of the 18th Judicial Circuit.

* Sun-Times | In strip club extortion case, brother of ex-Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg found guilty: Rommell Kellogg was found guilty Monday of charges that accused him of collecting bribes from the since-closed Arnie’s Idle Hour in exchange for keeping keep officials in the south suburb from closing the strip club.

* Tribune | Republican National Committee backs effort to block mail-in ballots received after Election Day: The RNC, which is promoting a “bank the vote” program to get Republicans to pledge to vote by mail, joined with the National Republican Congressional Committee in filing a court brief in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the effort to nullify ballots received by Illinois election authorities after Election Day.

* WaPo | Pharmacies share medical data with police without a warrant, inquiry finds: The nation’s largest pharmacy chains have handed over Americans’ prescription records to police and government investigators without a warrant, a congressional investigation found, raising concerns about threats to medical privacy. Though some of the chains require their lawyers to review law enforcement requests, three of the largest — CVS Health, Kroger and Rite Aid, with a combined 60,000 locations nationwide — said they allow pharmacy staff members to hand over customers’ medical records in the store.

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Live coverage is back, sorta. This will be different than the old Scribble Live feed because Twitter broke itself and almost everything else it touched. These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of posting lagtime, but it’s much better than nothing. We are also limited to just 20 Twitter sources. The service may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees about this. You can still click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped Scribble Live from working…

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Live Ed Burke Trial Coverage

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* These new feeds do not update instantly. There’s a bit of a lagtime and you have to refresh the page every now and then. The service we’re using may also not last long. We just can’t give you any guarantees. You can still click here to follow the Ed Burke trial on Twitter. Posts without a Twitter author name below them are from online news sources via Bing…

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