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Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WBEZ…

As many as 1,000 people who are still in custody could be eligible for immediate release if they received proper sentence recalculations, according to Alan Mills, executive director of the civil rights law firm Uptown People’s Law Center. […]

Many of the records used to recalculate people’s sentences only go back to when the corrections department switched to a new digital information system in 2010. But most of the people like Rogers who would benefit from the new law have been incarcerated since the 1990s.

The law, which took effect in January, builds on 2021 criminal justice reforms that increased the amount of credit someone could earn for participating in programs behind bars. […]

As of March 21, 1,750 individuals had received earned time through the new law, according to the state. Of those, 1,341 were still in custody and 409 have been released.

* It’s just a bill, the House committee deadline has long past and the Third Reading passage deadline is tomorrow. WGN…

After protesters blocked a major traffic artery into O’Hare International Airport this week, an Illinois State Representative has proposed legislation that would make similar demonstrations a felony. […]

On Wednesday, Rep. Dan Ugaste, a Republican from Geneva in Chicago’s western suburbs, filed legislation aimed at amending the Illinois Public Demonstrations Law. Ugaste represents Illinois’ 65th House District.

Titled Bill 5819, the legislation would create stiffer penalties for individuals who block “an exceptionally busy public right-of-way” for not less than five minutes, or when these actions prevent the free passage of emergency responders.

Individuals who engage in these actions would be subject to Class 4 felony charges.

* Sierra Club of Illinois…

Yesterday, the Illinois State House passed HB5277, which promotes equitable access to parks, public lands, and waters while also reducing climate pollution by encouraging increased use of public transportation. This monumental legislation, which was championed by State Representative Justin Slaughter, establishes the Transit to Trails Grant Program to allow eligible entities to apply for projects that facilitate travel by public transit to public outdoor recreation sites for activities like hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.

The Transit to Trails Program focuses on populations that are economically disadvantaged and underserved. In Illinois, 80% of low-income residents and 77% of people of color live in areas without or with limited access to nature. Transit to Trails aims to close this nature equity gap.

“Illinois’ parks and forest preserves have beautiful woods, wetlands, and prairies, and a day in nature does wonders for our mental and physical health,” said Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin. “Everyone can benefit from outdoor recreation, but too many communities cannot safely and easily access time in nature. By helping our transit agencies provide service to these beautiful places, the Transit to Trails program will reduce the “nature equity gap.” We urge the Senate to approve this legislation this Spring and move more Illinoisans closer to accessing public land and recreation across the state.”

“Everyone can benefit from enjoying our beautiful parks and forest preserves, but for many people transportation is a barrier to these healthy activities,” said State Representative Justin Slaughter, chief sponsor of HB5277. “The Transit to Trails program will help provide transit service to beautiful natural areas, helping more Illinoisans access outdoor recreation with safe and reliable transit service. This is an important step to providing more equitable access to nature, and all of its benefits, especially for communities that lack this access today.”

“We’re thrilled to see Illinois join states across the country taking action to close the nature equity gap,” said Gerry Seavo James, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors For All Campaign. “Ensuring access to nature and outdoor recreation will help all Illinoisans thrive, and this bill will help break down some of the barriers that underserved communities face when trying to explore and enjoy the state’s parks, trails, natural areas, and waterways.”

* Michael McDevitt…



* The Telegraph…

A resolution to place a nonbinding advisory referendum regarding separating Chicago and Cook County from the rest of the state of Illinois was passed 15-7 by the Madison County Board on Wednesday.

The vote came after numerous speakers both for and against, and sometimes intense discussion by board members.

Madison County voters in November will now be asked via referendum to answer this question, “Shall the board of Madison County correspond with the boards of other counties of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?”

* Here’s the rest…

    * The Telegraph | Board avoids explaining support for Illinois, Chicago separation: Most of the people voting in favor of the resolution gave no reason Wednesday night for their support of the resolution. Dickerson, R-Worden, and Eaker, R-Bethalto, both said voters in their districts were “overwhelmingly” in support of the referendum.

    * Illinois Times | Helping the Homeless. My journey and my blessing: “Miss Julie” retires from full-time volunteering on the streets of Springfield. […] I witnessed much in my eight years of being a boots-on-the-ground volunteer for my ministry, “Helping the Homeless in Springfield, Illinois.” I answered a call from God on Jan. 24, 2016, and became known as Miss Julie. Donations trickled in from Springfield and surrounding community residents individually, through churches, organizations and even functions with leftover food to help the homeless population. Back then I worked full-time at a private company and decided three years later to retire from there and be a full-time volunteer.

    * Press Release | Preston’s measure to ban harmful food additives passes Senate: Following the recently passed California Food Safety Act, Preston’s measure would ban specific, dangerous food additives from being used in the manufacture, delivery, distribution or sale of food products. These additives include brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No. 3. Additionally, the legislation calls for studies on the potential health risks of BHA and BHT, two chemicals commonly food in gum, snack foods and other common grocery items.

    * WTTW | Who Decides Which Chicago Sidewalks Get Repaired? Patchwork of Programs Creates Geographical Disparities, Rewards Most Complaints: The city uses a patchwork of programs to maintain its sidewalks. The responsibility is split between residents, the Chicago Department of Transportation and local ward offices. To better understand how and where sidewalks across the city get repaired, WTTW News examined data, permits and repair records and spoke with those affected by poor conditions about how sidewalks are kept in shape and what they say should be improved.

    * Crain’s | Hundreds of Walgreens pharmacists start monthlong protest all over Chicago: The workers, represented by National Pharmacists Association-Laborers’ International Union of North America, or NPhA-LIUNA, plan to host multiple demonstrations every day at various Chicago-area Walgreens stores, starting today through May 10, according to a statement from the union. […] “Despite the fact that we are essential workers that helped this country come out of the COVID crisis, Walgreens continues to exploit us,” Joe Pignataro, NPhA-LIUNA president and full-time Walgreens pharmacist, said in a statement. “We should be given a fair wage increase that reflects our contributions to the company. We also want more consistent and reliable scheduling and more staff support with proper training.”

    * Crain’s | Shedd Aquarium workers announce intent to form a union: The workers, who announced their plans to form a union in a public letter signed by 60 Shedd employees, seek to be represented by the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Council 31, or AFSCME, which has organized union victories at the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, among others.

    * Sun-Times | Ex-Citi VP in Chicago who bilked elderly clients gets 30 months in prison: Helen Grace Caldwell, 59, who until 2021 was a vice president working in the South Michigan Avenue offices of Citibank downtown, acknowledging only that she “fell short” in her duty to protect her clients. The judge had a much harsher view. “The only difference between Ms. Caldwell and a bank robber is that she didn’t have a mask and a gun.” U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly said before ordering her to prison for wire fraud. “And actually, in some ways, it was worse because they trusted her — and she knew they trusted her.”

    * Daily Southtown | Flossmoor responds to former police chief’s lawsuit, says performance reason for firing: Concerns over Jones’ performance began shortly after he started with the Flossmoor department in March 2023, the Chicago-based Sotos Law Firm writes in defense of the village, Mayor Michelle Nelson and village administrator Bridgette Watchel. “The 2023 Flossmoor Fest was beset with public safety problems including being forced to shut down early due to a ‘teen takeover,’” the response cites as one example of performance issues.

    * Daily Southtown | Former Harvey strip club operator sentenced to 20 months in prison in tax fraud case: According to a criminal complaint filed in 2019, the club’s owner had been making biweekly payments of $3,000 and later $6,000 to relatives of then-Mayor Eric Kellogg for years to protect a prostitution racket being run out of the business. Last December, Rommell Kellogg, brother of Kellogg, was convicted by a federal jury in a yearslong shakedown scheme in which thousands of dollars were extorted from the club.

    * Effingham Daily News | Illinois Deer Donation Program donates more than 12,000 pounds: Hunters came out in full force to harvest more than 300 deer, totaling 12,187 pounds of venison, for the 2023-2024 Illinois Deer Donation Program. The harvested deer were donated to more than 50 food pantries across a 16-county territory in east-central Illinois, providing 48,748 meals of nutritious protein to individuals and families.

    * Block Club | Oz Park’s Giant Underground Rat Colony Getting Evicted For New Playground: Construction began this month, and it couldn’t have come soon enough, Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) said. “The unsexy truth is that there is one of the largest rat beds in the city of Chicago under the turf of that playground,” Knudsen said. Park District officials were aware of the rat bed before demolition, Knudsen said. Part of the process includes abating the property for rodents. Contractors on site this week are working though that process, Knudsen said.

    * SJ-R | US Rep. urges Biden to make the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site a national monument: U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, is calling for the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site to become a national monument. During an April 16 press conference, Budzinski was joined by Monuments for All in front of the U.S Capitol, to urge President Joe Biden to invoke the Antiquities Act and recognize the race riot location as a monument. “Today I’m continuing my call on the Biden administration to invoke the Antiquities Act and give the site of this event the recognition that it rightfully deserves,” said Budzinski. “Both for the Springfield community but also for our nation.”

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Question of the day

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is working to keep families together by preventing children from being wrongfully removed from their homes due to an unfounded allegation of abuse or mistreatment.

“While we need to take child abuse and mistreatment seriously, we must also remember that kids will be kids and accidents happen,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Cases of abuse and mistreatment must be thoroughly, accurately and transparently investigated before making a decision to remove a child from their home.”

Families across the state have faced wrongful allegations of child abuse or neglect due to medical conditions, birth injuries and normal childhood accidents that result in findings that are misinterpreted as signs of abuse.

Lightford’s measure would set forth a number of protections that must be provided to a parent or guardian at the center of an abuse or neglect investigation. Under the measure, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services would be required to notify the parent or guardian of an investigation and give them the opportunity to submit a second medical opinion to be considered in the investigation.

Further, if a medical professional examines a child for the purpose of providing an opinion to DCFS regarding whether the child’s injury or condition is suspicious for child maltreatment, they must identify that intent to the parent or guardian and alert them that they may be required to communicate with law enforcement and provide court testimony.

Of the 142,000 investigations of possible abuse or neglect investigated by DCFS, 98,000 were not substantiated.

“As a parent whose child is in the hospital for medical treatment, you have the right to know when the doctor’s role shifts from caring for your child and providing you with information to the dual capacity role of examining and diagnosing your child and sharing information with a government agency that could potentially take your child away,” said Lightford. “At the forefront, the measure is about transparency and humanity.”

Senate Bill 378 passed the Senate Thursday and heads to the House for further consideration.

Emphasis added. Sen. Lightford’s numbers would mean that 69 percent of all investigations are found to be not substantiated. Then again, sometimes DCFS makes mistakes and those unsubstantiated findings are wrong.

* The Question: Could you support this concept? Explain.

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Migrant shelter population down more than a third since end of January

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chicago hasn’t updated its migrant dashboard since Tuesday, when it reported 9,137 people in shelters. That’s 34 percent lower than the 13,900 who were in shelters at the end of January.

* The governor debunked what may have been a rumor at his Decatur press conference today…

Q: I wanted to ask you for comments… about a recent situation with some migrants being sent from Taxes now on private planes coming into Chicago. [Garbled]

Pritzker: I don’t think we’ve seen any of those for many, many weeks now. And we worked hard when they we saw that happening. You know, there were a few aircraft that arrived at O’Hare Airport, Midway, Rockford airport. But since, as we worked hard to make sure that that was very difficult for the state of Texas to do.

As a result, I have not heard of any, unless something’s happened the last 24 hours that I’m unaware of. But they don’t seem to be coming by aircraft. You can always buy a ticket on a commercial aircraft but that’s a more expensive endeavor than what the state of Texas was doing before which is chartering a plane, filling it with people, landing it sometimes in the middle of the night.

Q: Is this something you’re watching carefully?

Pritzker: Well, yeah, because the state of Texas is trying to create chaos. Not just in Illinois, they’re trying to do it in a number of states, by shipping people on buses, on aircraft in any way that they can, with no notice.

And remember, the state of Texas is receiving a lot of federal money to care for the people who are coming across the border. The state of Illinois is not. And so they’re shipping people and expecting us to care for these folks. And we will because we’re a state that believes in acting a humanitarian fashion. So we’re gonna do what we need to do.

And as I’ve reminded many people my family arrived here many years ago with nothing. Refugees, threatened with their lives. And in one generation went from not speaking English and having absolutely nothing, in that same generation my great grandfather becoming an attorney, raising a family and our family becoming successful right here in Illinois. It’s good for the economy of the state of Illinois for immigration. But we need to have controlled immigration. We need to make sure we have comprehensive immigration reform. And I favor that.

* More from Isabel…

    * Crain’s | Johnson maintains migrant spending has not hurt relationship with Preckwinkle: In a post-City Council press briefing yesterday, Johnson insisted Preckwinkle’s lobbying effort wasn’t out of the ordinary. “As far as our relationship, our relationship is strong,” Johnson said. He added that he often talks across governments to state representatives, county commissioners and the governor. Johnson also pushed back on the assertion that because the city didn’t contribute its $70 million share months ago he had reneged on a promise to the county and state.

    * Chicago Catholic | Migrant families expected to move into former school in May: The archdiocese is leasing the building, which is on the St. Bartholomew campus of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, to the city of Chicago, which is, in turn, leasing it to the Zakat Foundation, who will be in charge of operations at the shelter at no cost to the city. Parishioners and other neighbors have, for the most part, been supportive of the shelter, and many have expressed interest in volunteering, Wollan said. “There appears to be an abundance of interest in terms of volunteers from the parish committee and the alderman’s office,” Wollan continued. “We want to be sure that we capture all of that. We don’t want to lose that momentum.”

    * Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools estimates between 9,000 and 17,000 migrant students are enrolled, depending on who is counted: Chicago Public Schools says the district is currently serving 8,900 students who arrived since August 2022, including those who passed through the southern border and were bused to Chicago from Texas. The district uses five criteria to identify this cohort: students who speak languages other than English at home, have been identified as students in temporary living situations, are new to the district arriving after August 2022, were born outside of the country, or are listed on the city’s Department of Family and Support Services shelter roster. The Illinois State Board of Education, on the other hand, says any student not born in the U.S. or Puerto Rico who has been attending school in this country for less than three years is eligible for the Immigrant Education Program. Chicago estimates roughly 17,000 students fit this definition. Chicago just started to collect this data in November 2023 and school staff are collecting the birth country and enrollment date of students.

    * Sen. Robert Peters | Chicago is ready for the Democratic National Convention: Like every other major city in America, Chicago faces its challenges — challenges that today’s Democratic Party is uniquely prepared to solve. We shouldn’t shy away from the problems we all know we face such as the migrant crisis and gun violence. The DNC is the exact moment Chicago needs to galvanize Democrats across the country to come together and nominate the only candidate who understands the complexity of these issues and is ready to help. Let us remember that Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is responsible for busing thousands of migrants to our city instead of rolling up his sleeves and finding sustainable ways to welcome migrants who’ve faced perilous journeys to get here. This is a political strategy in an election year that ignores human suffering for the sake of political jockeying on immigration policy, and it’s ugly, callous and un-American.

    * Rep. Martin McLaughlin | Intentions may be good, but city, state policies aren’t fixing migrant crisis: The desire to care for undocumented illegal immigrants may be well-intentioned, but our response to this crisis is the very essence of a bad idea. It is time to end the Sanctuary State and Sanctuary City policies. It is time for our leaders to demand that the federal government secure our borders. The actions taken to house, clothe and feed undocumented and illegal immigrants fails to address the problems we are facing in a meaningful way. These short-term solutions are simply not sustainable.

    * President of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Dorri McWhorter | Chicago faces a three-part humanitarian crisis. We can solve this for everyone.: At the historic Wabash YMCA in Bronzeville, local Y leaders welcomed and worked to empower Chicago migrants from the Jim Crow South through housing and job training for the newly arrived African American individuals and families. And no matter the country of origin, each wave of immigrants to the region since 1858 has been met with connection, resources and support from the Y. We are proud to continue that legacy through our partnership with the city of Chicago, assisting with sheltering our newest migrant arrivals since they began arriving in the summer of 2022. We have provided shelter to more than 1,500 individuals through this partnership, along with resources and referrals for many more. We are committed to doing so until a long-term solution is enacted.

    * Kansas City Star | ‘All are welcome’: Mayor Lucas invites migrants overwhelming other cities to work in KC: “All are welcome in Kansas City,” Lucas said Tuesday in a social media post in which he shared a Bloomberg.com article that quoted him saying the Kansas City area could use more workers for its burgeoning economy. “Proud to work with my fellow mayors like @MikeJohnstonCO and @NYCMayor,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, referring to Denver’s mayor and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, “as we work to ensure decompression of new arriving communities and collaboration among cities, labor, non-profits, and federal officials.”

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Tier 2 emails, calls inundating legislators

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Public employees are being encourage by social media posts and other ways to fill out an email form at the Illinois AFL-CIO’s website to “fix” the Tier 2 pension system. Here’s the pitch they get on that website…

In 2010, the Illinois General Assembly created a “Tier 2″ of separate, lower pension benefits for public employees hired after 2011, over the fierce opposition of a coalition of unions representing public sector workers. Since then, legislators have refused to act to fix the inequitable system they created, at a huge cost to our members and the communities they support.

During this legislative session, the General Assembly will be holding hearings in Springfield about the future of these “Tier 2” pensions. We must let legislators know how important it is that they fix this unfair system. By taking this action, you and other members of unions representing public sector employees can make your voices heard.

This action is the first step to push legislators in Springfield to ensure that all public sector workers have a fair, secure retirement after their service, and allow us to recruit and retain the essential workers who keep Illinois running.

According to the linked page above, 50,704 email messages have been sent to legislators as of 12:55 this afternoon.

They’re also being urged to call a patch-through number, and I’m told 4,275 calls have been processed so far.

Thoughts?

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Tax talk (Updated)

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Crain’s has a story up entitled “Jim Belushi nudges Pritzker to lower weed taxes”…

Jim Belushi, the actor and comedian whose latest role is gentleman cannabis farmer and entrepreneur, says he gave Gov. J.B. Pritzker a friendly nudge about taxes on weed.

The state tax rate has long been a hot topic in the weed industry, and Belushi addressed it during the Cannabis Innovation Summit yesterday at startup incubator 1871.

“I had a conversation with Gov. Pritzker, who I really think is on our side. He’s a good guy,” Belushi said. “I said, ‘Last year, you guys collected $417 million in cannabis taxes, and you collected $207 million in liquor taxes. There’s a lot more liquor stores and bars than there are dispensaries.’ ”

I asked Pritzker spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh if the governor supports a cannabis tax cut. Her answer…

No

Here’s how cannabis taxes are distributed…

    • 2% to public education and safety campaigns
    • 8% to the Local Government Distributive Fund, for prevention and training for law enforcement
    • 25% to the Recover, Reinvest, and Renew (3R) Program
    • 20% to mental health services and substance abuse programs
    • 10% to pay unpaid bills
    • 35% to the General Revenue Fund

This is not your usual tax. Lots of vital local programs directly depend on it.

…Adding… Belushi’s argument just doesn’t hold up…

Illinois’ adult-use cannabis sales for March soared to $148.9 million, marking a 9.81% increase from February’s $135.6 million, according to the latest figures released by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The combined total of adult-use and medical cannabis sales reached $174.8 million.

This growth stands as the second-highest monthly total since the state legalized cannabis in 2020 and is part of a consistent upward trend, with the number of items sold rising by 11.33% to more than 4 million in March from 3.6 million in February. While the IDFPR data signals robust demand from both in-state and out-of-state residents, a closer analysis reveals a decreasing trend in purchases by out-of-state residents.

The upward trend is not merely a monthly spike but signifies broader growth within the Illinois cannabis market. Year-over-year, adult-use cannabis sales surged by 10.45% from March 2023’s $134.8 million, indicating a maturing market and potentially expanding consumer base.

* Meanwhile, CBS 2 has a story on sports betting taxes…

A battle has been brewing over sports betting in Illinois.

On one side, Gov. JB Pritzker is trying to more than double taxes on the revenue from bets won by sports betting operators. On the other, the betting companies are now asking their customers to get involved to stop it.

Companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM have all come together to form the Sports Betting Alliance. The competitors are united against Pritzker’s proposed tax hike – which he estimates would generate an additional $200 million for the state. They have sent emails to users urging them to write to their legislators and oppose the tax hike. […]

Sports betting companies said if approved, higher taxes would mean worse odds, and fewer promotions for users – which they warn could fuel the illegal market. The companies also warn the tax hike may drive all but the top three sportsbooks out of Illinois.

The “adjusted sports wagering revenue” tax is on industry profits. And even though New York has a 50 percent tax (way higher than the proposed 35 percent tax here), it has 9 sports betting companies.

Maybe run fewer TV ads?

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That’s some brilliant strategy you got there, Bubba

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Fran Spielman…

A former technology salesman who lives in Lake View has formed a political action committee to raise money and at least begin the formidable challenge of putting a binding referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot asking Chicago voters whether they want the power to recall their mayor. […]

To get a recall referendum on the November ballot, he needs at least 56,464 valid signatures by Aug. 5. If it gets on the ballot, and the question is approved in November, Chicagoans would be empowered to recall any present or future mayor.

But Johnson still wouldn’t be removed. Boland would have to launch yet another petition drive, collecting at least 122,503 valid signatures . If he clears that hurdle, Chicago voters would be empowered to recall Johnson in the next regularly scheduled election — March 2026.

So, it’s not a recall referendum. It’s a referendum asking Chicagoans whether they want the power to recall mayors.

* Keep that explanation in mind when reading this tweet from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new “chief strategy officer”…

MAA’s tweet wasn’t fully accurate, but going full-on patronizing bully right out of the gate against a reporter with a large and loyal viewing audience ain’t exactly strategic.

Apparently, things aren’t gonna change on the Fifth Floor.

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Credit Unions: A Smart Financial Choice for Illinois Consumers

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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It’s just a bill

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Housing advocates are renewing a push to fund a $20 million state affordable housing tax credit in the upcoming state budget.

Supporters of the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act,” modeled after a federal tax credit program, claimed it would result in over 1,000 affordable housing units being built over its first six years. The push for the measure, contained in House Bill 4909 and Senate Bill 3233, comes one year after a similar to appropriate $35 million in tax credits failed to advance.

Its supporters said the money would replace federal pandemic-era funding that went to the Illinois Housing Development Authority over the last three years but has since run out. […]

This year’s push also has backing from the Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Laborers’ International Union of North America Midwest Region, two influential groups within the Statehouse.

* Tribune…

Lawmakers are moving ahead with a measure that would make mental health professionals who get sent on emergency calls alongside law enforcement eligible for the same benefits as other first responders if they’re also hurt in the line of duty.

Mental health advocates for years have pushed for a more holistic approach to many emergency calls by having police officers team up with social workers, clinicians or similar practitioners to help quell potentially volatile situations.

When that approach is in practice, mental health workers should be entitled to the same benefits as the police officers who are putting their lives on the line, said state Rep. Lilian Jiménez, the main sponsor of the bill in the House. […]

Under the legislation, the mental health professionals are defined as those persons “employed and dispatched by a unit of local government to respond to crisis calls received on public emergency service lines instead of or in conjunction with law enforcement.”

Jiménez’s bill passed through the Democrat-controlled House on a 80-27 vote and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

* Sun-Times…

Illinois lawmakers are advancing a bill that would prevent Chicago Public Schools officials from closing any schools or making major changes to selective-enrollment programs until a fully elected school board takes control in early 2027.

The proposed legislation is the latest and most significant backlash to a declaration in December by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Board of Education that it would no longer prioritize selective schools and would refocus resources to neighborhood schools that have faced years of cuts and under-funding. […]

Perhaps more consequentially, the bill would prevent CPS from changing the “standards for admission” to any selective school.

For instance, CPS reduced the length of the high school selective-enrollment test to an hour last year to improve accessibility, particularly for students with disabilities who may have had trouble testing for three hours previously. CPS would have to halt those types of decisions.

* Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz…

State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, and members of the House Democratic New Arrivals Working Group are seeking to curb inhumane, politically motivated busing of migrants from border states with new criminal and civil penalties for dropping off passengers at unsafe locations and at unscheduled times.

“This measure is the result of months of work by the New Arrivals Working Group in conjunction with stakeholders from across the political spectrum. This bill begins to address the most egregious abuses we’ve seen from politicians who want to ship people across the country like cargo,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “Unplanned, unannounced and uncoordinated long-distance busing of migrants is a practice that totally neglects their wellbeing, while imposing burdens on the communities receiving them. This issue affects us all.”

Gong-Gershowitz passed House Bill 588 through a House committee Wednesday. Under this bill, commercial bus operators would no longer be able to leave migrants in unsafe areas, or at unscheduled times. Buses would face stricter regulation of where riders could be left, ensuring local officials have control over where and when drop-offs could happen. The bill also lays out stronger safety regulations on these drop-off locations. Bus operators violating these regulations would be subject to misdemeanor charges and fines for a first offense, with escalating fines for subsequent offenses.

Many communities in Cook County and neighboring suburbs have already enacted similar ordinances, causing bus operators and the politicians directing them to seek unregulated areas for these drop-offs. Gong-Gershowitz’s bill expands these regulations statewide in order to more comprehensively crack down on these political games.

* WAND…

State representatives passed a plan Wednesday to improve network adequacy standards for health insurance companies.

The legislation could require insurance companies to notify patients of the anticipated date health care providers will leave their network and publish the information on their directories within 10 days. This plan also calls on insurers to provide contact information for patients to dispute inaccurate charges with a customer service representative.

Consumers would also have the ability to recoup their out-of-pocket payments if they were charged out of network costs for a provider listed in their insurance network. Insurance companies could be required to audit their health care provider directories every 90 days and make necessary corrections as well. […]

Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) explained her measure would also require the Illinois Department of Insurance to randomly audit at least 10% of the health care provider plans annually.

* WGEM…

Illinois state lawmakers are moving to ban dental insurance companies from denying coverage for procedures they’ve already approved.

The state House of Representatives passed a bill with broad bipartisan support Tuesday banning insurers from denying claims for procedures it already gave prior authorization.

Dentists say they’ll submit a treatment plan to a patient’s insurance company before performing a potentially expensive procedure. When they submit the claim to be reimbursed for their work, an insurance company will then deny that claim. […]

If the bill becomes law, insurance companies would still be able to deny a claim if the treatment is vastly different from the plan originally submitted, if a patient’s benefit limit is reached or if circumstances changed making the treatment no longer necessary.

* Rep. Barbara Hernandez…

A measure requiring the nursing assistant certification exam be offered in both English and Spanish, authored by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, recently passed the Illinois House of Representatives.

“This progress is the result of a very real case of a person who was only fluent in Spanish being denied the chance to become a nursing assistant because the exam was only available in English. At a time in which Illinois is facing a shortage of caregivers, we are turning away people who want to do that good work without good cause,” Hernandez said. “This legislation will help address that shortage, while promoting equity in an important field; one which often calls for Spanish as a valuable skill to help give the best care possible.”

Hernandez crafted House Bill 5218 in conjunction with the Health Care Council of Illinois, who came to her with the story of a person who was unable to pursue a career as a nursing assistant because the test was restricted to English. It passed with strong bipartisan support and is now going to the Senate for consideration.

* Center Square…

A measure prohibiting local news organizations from selling to out-of-state buyers without 120 days written notice of the sale to the state and their employees has passed the Illinois Senate.

State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, said in an effort to address what he said is a shrinking local media landscape, Illinois should pass the “Strengthening Community Media Act” found in Senate Bill 3592. One element of the bill requires 120-day written notice to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the company’s employees if a local media outlet is looking to sell. […]

“Private equity firms are coming and buying newspapers, consolidating them until they provide very little local news content with no local journalist and sometimes those newsrooms are shut down as what happened in southern Illinois not that long ago,” Stadelmand said Wednesday. […]

The measure, which also creates a journalism scholarship program through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, can now be sent to the Illinois House.

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Open thread

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

  14 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Illinois considers carbon storage, pipeline regulations. The Pantagraph…

    - New legislation was filed this week that would create a state regulatory framework for carbon capture, pipeline and storage projects.
    - Rep. Ann Williams’ measure has the backing of prominent environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Illinois Environmental Council and emerges just over a month after business organizations and labor unions unveiled their own proposal.
    - Under Williams’ proposal, all three aspects of the process — capture, transport and storage — would be subject to state regulations.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

    * Tribune | Stephen Colbert will bring ‘Late Show’ to Chicago during Democratic National Convention: The Democratic National Convention will have a new political commentator: Stephen Colbert is bringing his “Late Show” to Chicago and will broadcast from the Auditorium Theatre in the Loop from Monday, Aug. 19 to Thursday, Aug. 22, during the same days of the convention across town at the United Center.

    * Capitol News Illinois | Education leaders seek added state funding to help districts accommodate influx of migrants: Kimako Patterson, chief of staff at the Illinois State Board of Education, said that in the last two years, a total of 62,644 “newcomers” have arrived in the state’s schools. Those are people age 3 to 21 who were born outside of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico and have been attending school in the U.S. for less than three years. […] In January, ISBE submitted a funding request for the upcoming fiscal year totaling just over $11 billion, or roughly one-fifth of the state’s entire General Revenue Fund budget. That included $35 million in new funding to support migrant students.

* Lee Milner has passed…


* It’s been a busy week at the capitol…


Gov. Pritzker will be in Decatur with Innovafeed to celebrate inaugral North American Insect Innovation Center at 10 am. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest…

    * Illinois Review | Tim Ozinga Suffers Humiliating Defeat as Conservative Christina Clausen Dominates Will County GOP Chairman Race: A little over a week after Tim Ozinga’s shock resignation from the Illinois House of Representatives, the landscape of the Illinois Republican Party underwent a dramatic transformation during Wednesday night’s Will County GOP Convention after Christina Clausen secured her position as the new chairwoman of the Will County Republican Central Committee, garnering an impressive 12,220 votes to her opponent’s 6,234 – leaving Ozinga and his allies in shock and disbelief.

    * Crain’s | Illinois is no exception when it comes to racial health disparities: Ultimately, this year’s data confirmed what past reports and other research has long shown: Black Americans and American Indians are more likely to die from preventable and treatable conditions than other racial groups. […] Commonwealth researchers say they hope the report helps policymakers target solutions to state health care systems, such as expanding access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance, improvements to primary care, lowering administrative burdens for patients and providers, and investing in social services that help keep Americans out of severe poverty.

    * Center Square | State lawmaker under federal investigation reacts to Dolton officials being charged and accused: State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, who is also the mayor of Calumet City, was asked to react to the Henyard scandal and Freeman’s charges. Calumet City is 10 minutes west of Dolton and Jones’ house district includes the village of Dolton. “I heard Tiffany Henyard is down here in Springfield so ask her that question. I will just say let’s leave this to the authorities to investigate,” Jones told The Center Square.

    * WCIA | U of I sticks with high budget request from the state: President of the University of Illinois System Timothy Killeen called for a 12 percent increase in the funding provided from the state. The Board of Trustees approved this ask back in the Fall, but since then, the Governor proposed his own version of the budget, which only included a 2 percent increase to the higher education funding.

    * Crain’s | Stellantis avoiding plant shutdowns by paying Illinois supplier ‘under hostage threat’: Stellantis NV has avoided plant closures by making a $100,000 payment under protest to an Illinois supplier that threatened to stop shipping parts because of an ongoing cost dispute. It is the automaker’s latest disputed payment made to Mundelein-based MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions to keep pinions and gears flowing to a pair of plants in Kokomo, Ind., that build transmissions for the Ram 1500, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Charger, Durango, Pacifica and a dozen other vehicle platforms.

    * Capitol News Illinois | Solar investments take center stage as questions loom on state’s renewable future: But even as solar projects have boomed in Illinois in recent years, the head of the state agency responsible for approving renewable projects said changes to state law may be necessary to phase out fossil fuels by 2050. G&W Electric Co., which installed a “microgrid” at its Bolingbrook facility, captures energy from the sun using eight football fields’ worth of solar panels and stores the electricity generated in a vanadium redox battery built inside 20 shipping containers.

    * Crain’s | Advocates say a state tax credit would get thousands of affordable housing units built: Housing and labor groups say Illinois can spur the development of about 1,100 new units of affordable rentals each year by creating a state tax credit that mimics the long-standing federal tax credit. The federal government’s tax credit for affordable housing development, created in 1986, has funded development of an estimated 3.7 million affordable housing units nationwide. It’s usually a key piece of a developer’s funding stack.

    * Crain’s | Johnson maintains migrant spending has not hurt relationship with Preckwinkle:
    He added that he often talks across governments to state representatives, county commissioners and the governor. Johnson also pushed back on the assertion that because the city didn’t contribute their $70 million share months ago, that he had reneged on a promise to the county and state. “It’s not a strain. No one forced anyone to do anything,” he said. “This is a part of a collective operation and maybe it’s just something that some people are not accustomed to. But this is a part of our practice.”

    * Sun-Times | New Chicago intelligence hub aims to ‘squeeze every last piece of evidence’ out of guns used in crimes: But the most crucial part of the new Crime Gun Intelligence Center might be far more basic: Investigators, prosecutors and analysts from various agencies will be sitting in a conference room together, every day, making connections between crime scenes that might have otherwise been missed.

    * Crain’s | Why using ticket sales tax on new stadiums is a no-go for Johnson: On April 8, the two teams held a meeting with Johnson’s administration where the city’s chief financial officer, Jill Jaworski, rejected an idea that the city should give up a portion of its revenue from the amusement tax to help fund the new stadiums. “We rely on those dollars to make the necessary investments to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago,” Johnson said today at an unrelated press conference. “There are so many needs that we have in Chicago that it’s imperative that we do everything in our power to make sure that the lion’s share of those resources actually make it to the neighborhoods.”

    * WGN | Cook County judge delays ruling in Ryan Field re-zoning lawsuit: A Cook County judge heard arguments for nearly two hours where attorneys for the City of Evanston and Northwestern argued to dismiss three out of four claims laid out in a lawsuit filed by Evanston residents and a non-profit organization called “The Most Livable City Association,’ or MLCA for short. […] In the end, the judge presiding over the case decided to delay a ruling until Friday, and attorneys in court Wednesday said they would not comment on pending litigation.

    * Tribune | Uber rolls out blue checkmark system for rider verification in Chicago, 11 other cities: For accounts that aren’t immediately verified, the user can upload a picture of a government-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license or passport, and verify their account that way. Uploaded documents will be encrypted and not show up on a user’s profile. Heather Childs, chief trust and security officer for Uber, said in an interview Wednesday the new feature is “something drivers have been asking for” to promote safety on the platform.

    * Crain’s | Jim Belushi nudges Pritzker to lower weed taxes: The state tax rate has long been a hot topic in the weed industry, and Belushi addressed it during the Cannabis Innovation Summit yesterday at startup incubator 1871. “I had a conversation with Gov. Pritzker, who I really think is on our side. He’s a good guy,” Belushi said. “I said, ‘Last year, you guys collected $417 million in cannabis taxes, and you collected $207 million in liquor taxes. There’s a lot more liquor stores and bars than there are dispensaries.’ ”

    * Sun-Times | Early spring warming could be having an effect on bird migration: “A lot more, a lot earlier.”: Temperatures in March were six degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service. “On average, a lot of these species are arriving four or five days earlier than they were 40 years ago,” said Stephanie Beilke, the senior manager of conservation science at Audubon Great Lakes. “It’s a little tricky to necessarily notice.”

    * Block Club | Chicago Sky Games Against Caitlin Clark Should Be Moved To United Center, Fans Say: A new petition calls for the Sky to move its games against the Indiana Fever, led by former college star Caitlin Clark, from their home court at Wintrust Arena to the United Center. The Sky are scheduled to play the Fever June 23 and Aug. 30 at Wintrust Arena.

  13 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a campaign update

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Thursday, Apr 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Illinois Answers…

Last summer, as historic rain pelted down on Cook County, Buchanan was left standing in the basement of her childhood home with dirty water wading up to her knees. Every day since has presented a new problem: discovering black mold scattered throughout the basement, having to replace the water heater and then getting denied for federal emergency funds.

The July 2023 storm – one of the costliest weather events in Chicago’s history – hit hardest in the city’s West Side and nearby suburbs. The storm upended Chicagoans’ lives and exposed the city’s longstanding vulnerabilities to flooding. In the wake of the storm, FEMA inspected 63,000 homes, and distributed up to $375 million in federal aid to home and business owners.

It also provided a look into a concerning future: The grip of climate change unyielding, winter and spring are expected to be wetter in Illinois while summer becomes even hotter. The downpour of rain will likely continue to be more intense for shorter durations and the locations where these flash flooding storms hit are less predictable, said Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.

The Illinois Answers Project interviewed a range of experts on flooding, climate and infrastructure to examine how prepared Chicago and the state are to combat the growing environmental threats its residents face, particularly from the problem of severe flooding. In this series over the next several weeks, Illinois Answers will explore how Chicago is trying to improve drainage in neighborhoods, how a promising flood prevention project got mired in bureaucracy, and how a state buyout program is helping residents when they have nowhere else to turn.

* National Confectioners Association Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Christopher Gindlesperger on SB2637…

“It’s time to stop pretending that Illinois state legislators have the scientific expertise to make these very important regulatory decisions. Usurping FDA’s authority does nothing but create a patchwork of inconsistent requirements that increase food costs, create confusion around food safety, and erode consumer confidence.”

Sen. Willie Preston’s held a press conference today on SB2637. The bill is on Third Reading and has a Friday deadline to leave the Senate.

* Lobby days are taking its toll…



* Here’s the rest…

    * Post-Tribune | Organ donors’ families tell their stories at Northwest Health-Porter: For Stephanie Irving, of Palos Heights, Illinois, it was her first visit to the hospital since October, when her son died there. His driver’s license didn’t reflect a choice to become an organ donor but Irving made that decision on his behalf. “I feel my son is now a hero, being an organ donator,” she said. Irving is now raising her 5-year-old granddaughter, who insists on sleeping every night with a teddy bear that has a recording of her late father’s heartbeat.

    * WCIA | IDOT seeks council approval to make Champaign street safer: It’s a $10.6 million initiative to improve Neil Street over a three-mile stretch. It would be from Springfield Avenue to Windsor Road. The city would pay just short of $800,000 with IDOT paying the rest. Their goal is starting construction in August.

    * Crain’s | With baby formula lawsuits looming, Abbott CEO lays out game plan: Following an Illinois jury ordering Reckitt Benckiser Group to pay $60 million in damages over allegations that its infant formula led to the death of a premature baby, Abbott Laboratories CEO Robert Ford defended his company’s products as similar cases loom against the company. The verdict, which came last month from a jury in a St. Clair County court, ruled that Reckitt owed damages to a plaintiff for failing to warn her about the risks of necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, in its cow-milk-based Enfamil formula. Reckitt has said it plans to appeal the verdict.

    * WTTW | Top Cop Says CPD Tracks Accusations Against Officers — But Took No Action After 36 Complaints Filed Against Officers Involved in Dexter Reed Shooting: However, Snelling’s promise of accountability is contradicted by the fact that the five officers who stopped Reed had been the subject of at least 36 complaints in 2023 and 2024 that alleged they were improperly stopping Chicagoans driving through the city’s West Side, according to records provided to WTTW News by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, known as COPA, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

    * Tribune | Johnson’s $1.25 billion bond plan advances, then gets delayed by a mayoral ally: The high-dollar investment effort was then set to face a council vote Wednesday afternoon. But it was ultimately delayed by Johnson’s handpicked Finance chair Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, a supporter of the plan. Her move prevented opponents of the bond deal from using the parliamentary move to block it themselves. The hold-up will likely be brief: the ordinance is expected to instead face an up-or-down vote at a council meeting Friday.

    * WTTW | Ethics Board Urges Chicago City Council to Tighten Rules That Would Allow Enforcement of a Ban on Lobbyists Giving Campaign Cash to Mayors: The recommendation followed the unanimous decision on Monday by the Chicago Board of Ethics to dismiss an enforcement action against a City Hall lobbyist who donated to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign fund. Five months ago, the board unanimously found that a lobbyist violated a 2011 executive order issued by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel by contributing to Johnson’s campaign.

    * WBEZ | Chicago lobbyists escape serious punishment for improper donations to Mayor Johnson’s campaign: The Board of Ethics says it found probable cause that four lobbyists had violated the order when they contributed to Johnson’s political committee, but asked for a legal opinion about whether it could enforce Emanuel’s order. An outside law firm found the board can’t, saying the enforcement language isn’t codified in statute. Enforcing the order “exceeds the limits of the mayor’s, and the Board’s, authority,” read the opinion by Bethany Biesenthal with the Jones Day law firm.

    * Sun-Times | Petition drive launched to give Chicago voters power to recall mayor: To get a recall referendum on the November ballot, he needs at least 56,464 valid signatures by Aug. 5. If it gets on the ballot, and the question is approved in November, Chicagoans would be empowered to recall any present or future mayor. […] [Daniel Boland] also said he got pivotal help in “how to do this” from former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who led the drive to empower Illinois voters to recall their governor, a referendum that passed by a 2-to-1 margin.

    * Daily Egyptian | Southern Illinois University loses beloved professor: Southern Illinois University tenure professor Scott McClurg died Saturday after a long struggle with brain cancer. “Scott was a very good person. Very nice and considerate. Always positive and encouraging. His long fight with his illness was heroic. He will be dearly missed,” said Dong Han, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Advertising.

    * SJ-R | Owner of popular Springfield restaurant faces up to 3 years in prison: Omar Hernandez-Lopez, 39, the owner of El Tapatio de Jalisco Inc., a company doing business as La Fiesta Grande, 2830 Stevenson Drive, faces up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution as ordered by the court. The guilty plea is pending before U.S. District Court Judge Sue Myerscough. Sentencing for Hernandez-Lopez is scheduled for August 29 at the Paul Findley Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse.

    * Sun-Times | Obama Center gets skin in the game with fancy new granite cladding on its tower: The tower — which is about the height of the historic 16-story Monadnock Building at Jackson and Dearborn streets — will be the most prominent building on the 19-acre campus. Even as it rises, the structure is visible from blocks away. And the swirl-patterned granite panels will contribute much to the visual identity of the tower — while perhaps adding color and life to a structure that appeared cold and mausoleum-like in renderings.

    * Chicago Mag | A Drinking Tour of Harbor Country: If a pub crawl grew up, settled down, and invested in a nice little lake retreat, it would look a lot like southwest Michigan. Name the spirit, it’s got it. Name the vibe, it’s there. All nestled among quiet, walkable streets and charming boutiques and vintage lakeside cabins that make you feel a million miles (though actually only about 70) from Chicago’s hustle.

    * Tribune | Times change, but City News Cafe stays the course as the place with thousands of magazines: Unlike some other areas of town, dotted with shuttered businesses and shadowed in uncertainty, this slice of the city has a palpable vitality, ripe with possibility. One constant remains. Though City Newsstand has changed its name to incorporate City News Cafe, it sits at 4018 N. Cicero Ave., where it has been for decades and where, early last Sunday afternoon, a crowd packed the coffee shop at the store’s front, listening to the polished folk singing of guitarist Carey Anne Farrell.

    * Crain’s | Why Deere is hiring a ‘chief tractor officer’ to launch a TikTok account: John Deere has accumulated over 90,000 TikTok followers without posting a single video on its account. But now, the tractor maker is gearing up to make TikTok a foundational part of a new strategy to reach Gen Z and young millennials—and it’s on the hunt for a “chief tractor officer” to help make its agricultural and construction equipment relevant to young consumers.

    * Chicago Mag | The Sox Are a Historically Bad Team: I went to the White Sox game on Sunday. Beforehand, I asked my church congregation to pray for “the worst team in baseball.” But on the train ride to the ballpark, I succumbed to worldly considerations, opening my FanDuel account to bet $10 on the Cincinnati Reds to win by at least 1½ runs. In the first two games of the series, the Reds had outscored the Sox 16-1, so it seemed like a sure thing.

  4 Comments      


Showcasing the Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Gordon, who serve their communities with dedication and pride. For more info, click here - Whimsy Tea - We Are RetaIL (irma.org)

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Caption contest!

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Embattled Dolton Mayor and Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard getting into the back seat of a Chevy Tahoe near the Illinois Statehouse today…

Mayors from all over the state are in town this week for a lobby day.

  35 Comments      


Rep. Croke changes selective enrollment closure moratorium bill to ban all Chicago public school closures until elected board is seated

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I told subscribers earlier today about this development. Chalkbeat…

Illinois lawmakers want to extend a moratorium on school closures in Chicago and prevent changes at selective enrollment and magnet schools until 2027, when a fully elected school board is sworn in.

The proposal moving through the legislature first emerged in response to a resolution passed by the Chicago school board in December to develop a new strategic plan that would move away from school choice and invest more in neighborhood schools. That sparked concerns Chicago Public Schools could close or change admissions at dozens of sought-after selective and magnet schools, though board members continue to reiterate they do not intend to close those schools.

The initial bill sought to prevent the district from closing or changing admissions policies at any selective or magnet schools. Now, lawmakers are now also proposing to extend an existing moratorium on any school closures to Feb. 1, 2027. Currently, state law prevents Chicago from closing schools until January 15, 2025, when a partially elected school board is set to be sworn in.

State Rep. Margaret Croke, a Democrat serving neighborhoods on the city’s northern lakefront and sponsor of the bill, said in a committee hearing Tuesday the legislation is meant to delay any big changes until an elected school board is in place.

“These huge decisions, I believe, should be made by an elected school board because we, as a general assembly, voted for an elected school board,” Croke said.

Rep. Croke’s new bill is HB303. Amendment 3 was filed just today.

  4 Comments      


State tax credit for affordable housing development receives big push from labor, business, advocates

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Illinois’ affordable housing shortages have reached crisis levels in Chicago and other communities, fueling needed public policy discussions about short-term and long-term solutions. State legislators and housing advocates say one important piece of the puzzle is the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit, and they have a new, influential ally in organized labor.

The Illinois Housing Council has led the push in Springfield for the proposed state tax credit to drive new investment in affordable housing development, an issue that has new energy amid the migrant challenges facing Chicago and homelessness and under-housing growth elsewhere. The facts are staggering:

    • Illinois now has one of the nation’s highest housing deficits – with 64 percent growth in just the last decade
    • 20 percent of our low-rent apartments have vanished since 2011
    • Nearly 300,000 more affordable rental homes must be built to help those most in need across the state
    • Illinois has invested $225 million in federal funds since the pandemic into the development of affordable housing, but those federal funds have come to an end

Enter the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit, as proposed in Senate Bill 3233 by Sen. Robert Peters and House Bill 4909 by Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar. The legislation was introduced Wednesday at a Statehouse news conference by IHC leadership, the two legislators sponsoring the effort, and new support from the Laborers’ International Union – Midwest Region which runs the Laborers’ Home Development Corporation to build affordable housing in underserved communities.

“The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit fits well with our mission to create more quality, reasonably priced housing for working families and seniors, and we call on our leaders in Springfield to make its passage a priority as we make a strong investment in affordable housing,” said Sean Stott, Director of Governmental Affairs for LiUNA-Midwest Region.

The tax credit mirrors the highly successful federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which quickly runs out of money under high demand each year. The state credit would allow more affordable housing developments by giving developers credits to exchange with private investors to reduce mortgage debt and make the apartments more affordable for renters.

The best part? The proposed tax credit program limits the state’s annual out-of-pocket cost for credits and is structured as a “pay-for-success” model: investors only receive credits after construction is complete and qualified tenants move in. Under the current grant programs the state runs, the state’s costs are high up front, and developments can be put in jeopardy because of the uncertain nature of the year-to-year funding approach.

As proposed, the $20 million annual program over six years would generate up to 1,150 affordable homes and apartments, more than $650 million in economic benefits over a decade, and more than 7,000 jobs.

* Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the IMA is also supporting the bill..

Illinois is about 289,000 units short of the affordable rentals needed statewide, according to Housing Action Illinois. That is, for every 100 households making 30% or less of the average income, there are 36 affordable rental homes. […]

The shortage creates a barrier to employment, Mark Danzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, said in a statement emailed to Crain’s. “To ensure the continued strength of Illinois’ manufacturing sector,” Danzler wrote, “we must invest in our workforce. As housing costs continue to climb, it is essential that the state look for innovative ways to increase affordable housing.” […]

The groups are pushing for the Build Illinois Homes Act now in order to get the tax credit included in next year’s state budget. While the credit would not require any new state expenditure, it entails a loss of revenue, in the form of taxes not collected because of the credits taken by developers. Typically, developers sell the tax credits to investors in exchange for funds that build the project.

Thoughts?

  3 Comments      


Listen To Servers – Vote No On House Bill 5345

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Dominique Juarez, a server at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, said at the news conference she opposes the elimination of tip credit and that the bill “corners us into a no-win situation.”

She said that eliminating tip credit could lead to higher menu prices, which in turn would impact her relationship with regular customers, something she described as “the heart of what dining is all about.”

Dominique with some of her regular customers at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, IL


Tell your state legislators to VOTE NO on House Bill 5345 and Protect Illinois Hospitality

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Today’s must-read CTA stories, especially if you’re Gov. Pritzker (Updated)

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Block Club Chicago has a very good story about the death of a Chicago Transit Authority bus driver and the fact that it took the CTA an hour to figure out that she’d gone missing…

Antia Lyons, a 14-year driver for the United States’ third-largest transit agency, had suffered a medical emergency while she sat behind the wheel at the start of her bus route. The 63-year-old was later pronounced dead from complications with her heart.

A Block Club Chicago investigation into the circumstances around Lyons’ death raises questions about the safety of CTA drivers as the agency is touting improved working conditions in an attempt to bolster its staff.

Block Club’s reporting found Lyons sat in her bus unconscious for nearly an hour before someone eventually sought help. CTA supervisors neglected to check on her even though the bus never moved and subsequently failed to arrive at more than 50 scheduled stops.

The CTA failed to report the incident to the Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration despite a state law requiring it. The CTA wouldn’t explain why or answer Block Club’s questions about this incident, saying it was limited by privacy concerns. […]

The CTA also left information of the incident out of public records. For example, the agency provided Block Club with data showing CTA employees who were injured or died on duty over the past six years — but Lyons’ death was not included.

Kilgannon said the data didn’t include Lyons’ death because it didn’t meet the federal definition of “Major Incidents.”

The agency didn’t answer questions about whether it collected data on employee fatalities or injuries that happened due to medical emergencies on the job.

Lyons was also left out of records the CTA provided showing employees with a pension plan who have died in the past five years.

Go read the rest.

* Meanwhile, here’s another CTA story from Block Club Chicago…

The CTA’s new rail schedule aims to combat service issues reported by riders across the city — but it doesn’t add trains.

The new “dynamic” rail schedule for the spring and summer went into effect last week with a promise of “gradually increasing” service through the seasons as the agency looks to bring on more rail operators, according to a news release.

The CTA began adding some pre-pandemic bus runs back to its schedule last month, but its new train schedule shows no significant additions, transit advocates and a train operator said. […]

Yonah Freemark, a research director studying transit systems at D.C.-based think tank Urban Institute, said the CTA’s pandemic recovery still trails behind its counterparts in other major U.S. cities, which have increased staff and in some cases expanded rail service. […]

Data shows the CTA’s hiring efforts are being offset by rail operators who choose to quit or transfer to other departments within the agency. One rail operator told Block Club they’re interested in a less demanding role as a supervisor or as a switch or control tower worker.

* And here’s something you may not know…

If Mayor Johnson won’t act, then Gov. Pritzker needs to step up.

…Adding… It’s not quite half. He appoints three of seven members. Still.

  19 Comments      


Illinois residents can now easily access electronic notary services

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were told earlier today about this change. Press release…

Illinois residents will no longer need to have documents notarized in person under a new Electronic Notary system administered by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office.

Electronic Notarization, or “E-Notary,” will radically change the way people use notary services, Giannoulias predicted. Without leaving the home or office, an individual or business can have their documents notarized and signed electronically within minutes.

“In keeping with our ongoing effort to modernize the Secretary of State’s office, E-Notary serves as a game-changer for Illinoisans by now providing a convenient way to notarize documents without leaving their home or office,” Giannoulias said. “Enabling certified notaries to work virtually makes the process faster and more secure for individuals and
businesses alike.”

E-Notary allows both the customer and notary to sign with an electronic signature and to electronically attach both the notarial certificate and notary seal to a document. In 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to allow the Secretary of State to implement electronic notarization.

Upon taking office last year, Giannoulias made it a priority to gain state approval of administrative rules, create a new application reflecting the E-Notary requirements, review and approve E-Notary technology platform providers, and train staff to process the new E-Notary applications.

Illinois now joins 47 other states that allow electronic notaries to operate. Although, Illinois had allowed remote online notarization, it required all parties (the notaries, signers and witnesses) to be located in Illinois. With Electronic Notarization, only the notary is required to be present in Illinois. The other parties may be located outside the state.

Additionally, while someone could sign the document remotely by audio-video communication with remote online notarization, the notary had to sign the notarized paper document and apply the notary seal in ink. With E-Notary, the document, signing and seal are all electronically applied, dramatically reducing the time it takes to notarize a document.

To find a notary who offers electronic notarization, customers can visit ilsos.gov/notarysearch. Customers will need a computer, phone or other device that supports audio-video communication and a valid form of identification to complete the notarization electronically.

When getting a document notarized, the Notary Public or Electronic Notary will:

    • Require the customer to personally appear before them via an audio-video
    communication platform during the notarization.
    • Check over the document to ensure it is complete and verify the name on the
    document matches the customer’s ID.
    • Confirm the identity of the customer by examining their ID.
    • Once steps 1 through 3 are done, the customer will be permitted to sign the
    document electronically.
    • The Notary Public will then complete the notarial certificate and affix their seal.

The office has already received over 200 applications from existing Notaries Public applying to be E-Notaries.

Fees for services vary by provider but are capped by state law at $5 for any notarial act and $25 for any electronic notarial act. All Notaries Public are required to provide receipts and keep records of the fees they charged for services provided.

Thoughts?

  17 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WGEM…

The state House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday adding reproductive health decisions to the state’s anti-discrimination law.

It would ban people from discriminating against someone when it comes to employment, housing, public accommodations and financial credit.

Reproductive health decisions include prenatal and postnatal care, fertility treatments, including IVF, the use of contraception and whether someone gets an abortion.

“This bill enhances civil rights protections for Illinoisans at a time when we must affirmatively stand up to protect and ensure those rights,” said state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, the bill’s sponsor.

* WAND…

Illinois lawmakers passed a plan last year to require fentanyl education in every high school. Now, representatives hope to pass a bill to require this instruction in junior high.

Sponsors believe students in 6th through 8th grade should learn the differences between synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and illicit drugs as well as the variations of fentanyl.

Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) said Tuesday that young students should also know the side effects and risk factors of using fentanyl. […]

The legislation passed out of the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policy Committee unanimously. House Bill 4219 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

* Daily Herald…

House Bill 4431, which would eliminate senior behind-the-wheel exams, was introduced by state Rep. Jeff Keicher and has 34 co-sponsors so far.

“I think it’s more appropriate, instead of being ageist and deciding at a certain birthday that you’re no longer able — that we put a dynamic in place that allows for triggers,” the Sycamore Republican said.

Those could include physical or mental health conditions as well as tickets or accidents. They would be introduced later in separate legislation, Keicher noted. […]

AARP Executive Council member Candace Trees of Springfield said that as a widow, she safely drives herself everywhere she needs to go, whether it’s the grocery store, a medical appointment or to visit friends and family. […]

St. Charles Republican state Sen. Don DeWitte indicated he’d support the bill if it moves out of the House.

* AARP…

The right to drive should be based on ability and not age, state lawmakers, AARP Illinois and older adults said at a press conference Tuesday.

Senator Donald DeWitte (R-33), Representative Jeff Keicher (R-76), AARP Illinois Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach Ryan Gruenenfelder and older adults urged support for a bill that would end a mandatory extra road test for drivers over 75 years of age. Illinois is the only state in the nation that has this requirement.

“AARP Illinois has heard for years from our members about how this law disproportionately affects older drivers and perpetuates false narratives about their driving abilities,” said AARP Illinois Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach Ryan Gruenenfelder. “The research clearly shows that older drivers are the safest drivers on our roadways, and we believe that singling them out to take an extra test is a type of age discrimination and has to end.”

An Illinois Department of Transportation report released in 2022 showed virtually no change in crash rates for drivers 75 and older, with a crash rate of 24.39 per 1,000 drivers, which is lower than every age range of drivers between 16 and 69 years old.

HB 4431 calls for an amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code that would remove the extra road test requirement that applies only to drivers over 75. […]

HB 4431 heads to a vote on the House floor this week.

HB4431 is on Second Reading in the House.

* WGIL…

Illinois legislators are pushing for measures to help social workers deal with overdoses and to attract more people to the field.

Now in the Illinois House, Senate Bill 3779 would allow a clinical social worker or social worker to possess and administer naloxone, an opioid antagonists.

In the past decade, state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, said opioid deaths have increased by 3,341% in Illinois. One reason why there could be an increase in overdoses is the pandemic lockdowns. […]

Villa’s bill adds the administering power for naloxone is not within the scope of a social worker’s practice. Kyle Hillman, National Association of Social Workers Illinois legislative chair, said crisis response teams are currently saying the liability risk with social workers administering naloxone is too high.

* Center Square…

The Illinois Senate could consider a bill to address squatters. […]

[State Sen. Dave Syverson] said his Senate Bill 3658 would give police more authority to remove squatters. […]

Opponents of the bill included Sam Tuttle representing Legal Action Chicago. Tuttle said everyone needs housing and there is already an eviction law that can be used if necessary. […]

State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said the measure isn’t ready. Sims said there’s already criminal trespass statutes and Syverson’s bill may be too broad. […]

Despite those concerns, the measure advanced out of the Illinois Judiciary Committee unanimously Tuesday and awaits further action.

* Rep. Mary Gill…

State Rep. Mary Gill, D-Chicago, passed a plan out of the House Tuesday that would require health insurance plans for police and firefighters to include coverage for marriage and couple’s counseling.

“This idea was brought to me by a constituent who owns a private therapy practice and works with first responders and their partners,” Gill said. “It’s clear to me that there is a real need to expand access because it’s incredibly beneficial for our officers, firefighters and families. They experience incredible stresses in their line of work, and it’s important we provide the support network they deserve.”

Currently, insurance plans are not required to cover marriage or couple’s counseling as they are not considered a diagnosable mental health condition. While some insurance plans may offer coverage as an additional benefit, Gill’s House Bill 4460 would uniformly require the benefit. The measure would impact every level of police, including Illinois State Police, sheriff’s departments and municipal departments, as well as paramedics employed by a fire department. The proposal is not limited to married couples, it would also include partners who reside with the first responder.

House Bill 4460 passed the House with bipartisan support.

* WAND…

The Illinois House passed a plan Tuesday to ensure school vendors and learning partners follow the state’s new comprehensive literacy plan. […]

The Illinois State Board of Education introduced framework for the literacy plan in January. However, House Bill 4902 could ensure schools would not be limited by their vendors. […]

Some House Republicans argue vendors will already follow the new literacy standards and a new law isn’t necessary.

The proposal passed out of the House on a 91-19 vote with one representative voting present. House Bill 4902 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

* Scott Holland…

Consider Senate Bill 2751, which the Senate passed 59-0 Thursday and forbids counties, townships and municipalities from charging building permit fees to any veteran with a disability who needs to modify their home as an accommodation.

Proponents frame this as legislative thankfulness for those injured while serving our country. That’s a popular position, as indicated by a unanimous vote on legislation introduced by a Republican (state Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods,) and bipartisan sponsorship.

But opponents could argue this plan represents another attempt by state government to chip away at local control, obligating small governments to continue delivering services while barring them from collecting payment, which forces either budget cuts or an increase of fees elsewhere in municipal planning departments. […]

But the political fact no one will say these things makes them no less true. This plan does represent the state dictating to local governments. It’s the same way lawmakers nearly unanimously imposed rules on nonprofit animal shelters last year through House Bill 2500, forcing them to waive pet adoption fees for veterans once every two years. The General Assembly didn’t offer to make up those fees, nor does there seem to be compensation for the loss of building permit revenue.

* WAND…

Lawmakers are working on a plan in Springfield to improve the state’s Name Image and Likeness (NIL) law for college athletes.

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) told the House Higher Education Committee Tuesday that the law has put Illinois universities at a significant disadvantage in terms of recruiting and retention of players. […]

Buckner explained his plan could allow athletes to earn NIL compensation directly from their universities as permitted by the NCAA. The proposal would also block press or the public from requesting how much athletes make from their private NIL deals. […]

Buckner’s legislation could also allow universities to create athletic department incentives for fans to support student athlete NIL activities. For example, fans could potentially get better parking or seats at an arena if they donate to NIL funds. […]

House Bill 307 now moves to the House floor for further consideration.

* WSIU…

A constituent of State Representative Dave Severin, who has been teaching barber and cosmetology classes for 30+ years, was looking to get a cross-classification into a different specialty teaching.

But, she was told that in order to get that new specialty she would have to take the classes that she was teaching.

According to the Benton republican, 30 years of teaching a class was apparently not good enough to claim that she would pass her own class.

So the instructor reached out to Severin to see if there could be an end-around for teachers of courses to be exempted from having to take the courses they teach due to experience in the field.

HB4570, which helps make that change was given final approval in the Illinois House of Representatives Tuesday and now moves on to the Senate for consideration.

* Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez…

State Rep. Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez, D-Cicero, championed the right to accurate, professional court transcripts, passing critical legislation to protect the use of qualified shorthand reporters in the courtroom.

“Judges, prosecutors and especially system-involved individuals depend on quality court transcripts to make decisions that will impact people’s lives, so when technology breaks down and entire swaths of a proceeding are missing, that is a serious problem for our justice system,” Hernandez said. “There is no replacement for the in-person human element, and this legislation makes sure qualified stenographers stay in the courtroom. Serious challenges to our judicial system remain, but my legislation will keep records fair, transparent and accurate.”

As technology and other circumstances lead more courts to consider electronic transcripts as an alternative to trained transcriptionists, Hernandez’s House Bill 4426 ensures that the practice of maintaining in-person shorthand reporters in the courtroom continues.

Shorthand reporters complete strict training and education requirements in order to serve as a stenographer, providing a level of certainty in their work which can be critical to the parties in court cases. Following pandemic-era restrictions and social distancing guidelines instituted in Illinois courtrooms, many courtrooms opted to use digital recording equipment in lieu of in-person stenographers. However, technology error, machine malfunctions and a lack of technical training means this digital recording practice was unreliably communicating court information. In many cases, faulty equipment or incorrectly transcribed transcripts threatened the validity of court records used to determine criminal and civil outcomes.

Hernandez’s bill ensures in-person transcription continues while state officials establish concrete language on guidelines, rules and procedures for the future of the shorthand reporter industry.

House Bill 4426 passed the House on Monday, April 15.

  11 Comments      


Open thread

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

  3 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: In Chicago, Ukrainian prime minister seeks urgent military aid from Congress, Illinois investment. Sun-Times…

    -Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal joined Gov. Pritzker and White House Ukrainian envoy Penny Pritzker on Tuesday to help encourage American investment in Ukraine.
    -Later, the prime minister met with the governor and Penny Pritzker for a 30-minute meeting about what Illinois can do to help Ukraine’s economic recovery and how to help pressure Congress to send more aid.
    - Illinois has already helped provided aid to Ukraine. The state’s National Guard deployed to Poland to help Ukrainians seeking refuge, while the state and private businesses have sent a combination of body armor, face shields, helmets, ambulances and fire trucks.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association…

The Madison County Board will meet tomorrow to debate whether to put forth a referendum this fall for voters to decide if Madison County should secede from the state of Illinois. Madison County Democratic Party Chair Randy Harris and Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association Mark Guethle released the following statement opposing this plan:

“Madison County Republicans do not care about finding solutions to problems, they only seem to care about sowing divisions in our community and our state,” said Randy Harris, Chair of the Democratic Party of Madison County. “Illinois and Madison County are stronger together. This proposal for Madison County to secede from Illinois will send a signal to leaders in our state and in the business community that we as a county don’t want to be here and we’re not serious about helping people. It’s silly, reckless, and just plain dumb. The board should not even call this resolution for a vote.”

“Illinois is the greatest state in the nation. said Mark Guethle, President of the IDCCA. Voting to secede is unpatriotic, and damn near Un-American. This non-binding referendum won’t accomplish anything, and instead of working to better the lives of their residents, Republicans in Madison County are telling voters they want to ‘take their ball and go home.’ Board members should reject this proposal.”

Earlier this month the Madison County Board Government Relations Committee approved a resolution to submit an advisory referendum to the voters of Madison County regarding separating from Illinois to form a new state. The full board is supposed to meet on April 17 to debate and approve this resolution.

* Here’s the rest…

    * Sen. Dan McConchie | Illinois Senate should reject Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ICC appointments: As pending ICC appointees near the deadline for confirmation, members of the Illinois Senate must consider the potential impact of this commission’s actions to date — including decisions that pose real public safety risks. Fortunately, senators have a record of recent decisions by these board members to help inform their deliberations. The members of the Senate, as well as the general public, deserve to know why Pritzker’s hand-picked ICC is making questionable decisions that increase public risk rather than prioritizing safety and reliability. We can’t expect our state to grow when we have outdated and potentially dangerous utility infrastructure.

    * WTAX | Thousands attending Illinois March for Life Wednesday: Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, will celebrate Mass with other bishops and priests from Illinois and hundreds of Catholics, the vast majority being students. […] The Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 17 at 10 a.m.: Mass at the Sangamon Auditorium. 1,700 people are registered, which is the max the Auditorium allowed, followed by a noon Rally and a 1 p.m. march at the Lincoln statue area outside Illinois statehouse.

    * Rockford Register Star | ‘See orange, slow down’: Illinois sees nearly 150 work zone fatalities in four years: Of the 148 work zone fatalities between 2019 to 2023, six were worker fatalities. The rest were motorists. […] In recognition of Work Zone Awareness week, IDOT along with the Illinois Tollway, the Illinois State Police and Laborer’s Local 32 held a joint news conference Tuesday to officially announce the beginning of another year of road construction and to emphasize work zone safety awareness.

    * Cook County Record | Unopposed Cook County judge candidates appointed by IL Supreme Court to Cook bench early: All of the new appointees will take the bench, for now, under temporary terms that will end Dec. 2. Ten of the appointments will be effective April 29. Two of the appointments will begin June 11.[…] According to a statement from the Illinois Supreme Court, the appointments were made to address a shortage of judges needed to handle ever growing caseloads in Cook County’s courts.

    * Cook County Record | Judge: Title IX plaintiffs can use IL law to retroactively demand ‘emotional distress’ damages: In the ruling, [U.S. District Judge Marvin E. Aspen] specifically declared that the new Illinois law, known as the Civil Rights Remedies Restoration Act (CRRRA), should allow Pogorzelska and other similar plaintiffs to demand schools and other institutions which receive federal funding under Title IX pay damages for emotional distress. And the judge said those demands can be applied retroactively, to lawsuits filed before the law took effect, even though the law doesn’t specifically say they should.

    * Lake County News-Sun | Highland Park plans scaled-down Fourth of July celebration 2 years after shooting; ‘We are coming together on this special day’: This year’s schedule — which includes a remembrance ceremony, parade and community festival — is intended to, “balance the diverse needs of the community by providing space for remembrance and also familiar community traditions,” City Manager Ghida Neukirch said. City staffers sought feedback from the City Council, public, community and government partners, in planning the July 4, 2024 events.

    * NBC Chicago | Target hit with class-action lawsuit claiming it violated Illinois’ biometric privacy law: The lawsuit, filed March 11 in a Cook County Court, alleges Target’s surveillance systems “surreptitiously” collects biometric data on customers without them knowing. “Target does not notify customers of this fact prior to store entry, nor does it obtain consent prior to collecting its customers’ Biometric Data,” the lawsuit says, adding at the retailer is outfitted with “top of the line” facial recognition throughout its stores as part of anti-theft efforts.

    * Tribune | Referendum draft proposes bringing Forest Preserve District back under DuPage County Board control: The Village of Oak Brook has been a hotbed of conflict with the Forest Preserve District over the last couple of years; in 2020 the district approved the removal of the Graue Mill Dam near the Graue Mill and Museum, a National Historic Landmark of the Forest Preserve restored to operating conditions in 1934. According to Forest Preserve officials, the decision to remove the dam was made to improve water quality and biodiversity along the Salt Creek stream; the decision was met with ire from the Graue Mill Museum staff and board members, and of the Fullersburg Historic Foundation, who believe removing the dam would stop the water flow used to help turn the large outdoor mill wheel.

    * Crain’s | How Oberweis Dairy wound up in bankruptcy court: Joe Oberweis, son of former CEO and perennial GOP candidate Jim Oberweis, was named CEO in 2007 and oversaw the rollout of burger and pizza restaurants as companion brands to the Oberweis Dairy chain of stores, as well as the expansion of home delivery to Virginia and North Carolina. In 2019, the company also added a production line of organic milk. During his tenure, the company “made a series of business decisions that, viewed in hindsight, may have sown the seeds for its present financial distress,” the filing states, going on to describe insufficient investment in modernization of its manufacturing plant, reliance on managers who lacked industry experience, and “maintaining the books and records of the debtors in a suboptimal manner.”

    * Rockford Register Star | General Mills opens 1.3 million square-foot distribution center in Belvidere: General Mills held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to officially dedicate the facility at 1210 Irene Road, which is expected to employ 55 to 75 people. Phill West, senior director of planning, logistics and customer fulfillment for General Mills, said the distribution center is a key site for the company.

    * NBC Chicago | Legal troubles mount in Dolton as senior administrator charged in federal court: The indictment alleges that Freeman made several materially false statements and omissions in the document, including knowingly under-reporting income he derived from his employment as both the village administrator for Dolton and municipality manager for Thornton Township, as well as fees he received from his private consulting business.

    * Tribune | New leader of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH steps down less than 3 months on the job: The Rev. Frederick Haynes III told The Associated Press that he submitted a letter with his resignation as head of the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, effective immediately. […] Haynes, 63, said he felt it was “necessary” to move on in light of “challenges that continue to exist,” but declined to elaborate further. His resignation letter, written on Rainbow PUSH letterhead, also did not go into details about his decision.

    * Crain’s | As Vocalo preps to go off the air, some staffers lament what could have been: “I’m not surprised because they told me a year ago that they were looking into stopping the broadcast,” said Ayana Contreras, former content director, host and founding member of Vocalo, who acknowledges that the audience hasn’t been large — but she believes that is, in part, because management never made the fledgling, experimental station a high priority.

    * The Atlantic | The Myth of the Mobile Millionaire: The idea of millionaire flight is one of America’s most persistent beliefs. Expert consensus holds that “redistributive policies should be undertaken by the most central level of government rather than state or local governments,” as one academic summary puts it. In other words, rich people can’t avoid high federal taxes, short of leaving the country, whereas if a state tries to impose a progressive tax code, its millionaires will decamp for lower-tax jurisdictions. And, indeed, state tax codes, which bring in about one-third of U.S. tax revenue, largely reflect this received wisdom. Unlike the federal system, which is fairly progressive, state and local tax systems on average shift money from poorer households to richer ones. According to a recent report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, “forty-four states’ tax systems exacerbate income inequality,” with the poorest 20 percent of households paying the highest effective tax rates.

    * CBS Chicago | Rev. Walter “Slim” Coleman, Chicago activist and community organizer, dies at 80: The Rev. Walter “Slim” Coleman, a Chicago activist whose advocacy for Civil Rights and social justice causes dated back more than half a century, died Tuesday morning. Coleman was 80. His passing was announced Tuesday by Healthy Hood Chicago, the nonprofit community organization operated by daughter Tanya Lozano.

    * Tribune | Chicago Sky ticket sales soar after WNBA draft: ‘These women are worth the money’: With the No. 3 and No. 7 picks, the Sky added South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso and LSU forward Angel Reese to its roster. In the second round, the Sky selected Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell with the 13th pick. “If you’re not going to a Sky game this year, I don’t know what you’re doing,” said Karli Bell, the Chicago Sky reporter for Marquee Sports Network. “This is going to be that new generation that’s going to bring in those fans.”

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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