* You gotta figure there’s gonna be a constitutional challenge to this if it becomes law. Half the city will be disenfranchised by appointed board members for two years. Press release…
The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus today introduced legislation outlining the electoral process for the new Chicago Elected School Board and establishing ethics requirements and conflict of interest provisions for members.
Under the attached proposal, 20 districts will be created for the 2024 election. Of those, 10 districts will be up for election in 2024, and 10 districts plus the Board Chair will be appointed by the mayor. A map detailing which districts will be elected and which districts will be appointed is available here and online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. Beginning in 2026, the 10 districts with appointed members will be up for election.
The public is encouraged to review the proposed district boundaries and provide additional feedback via the website or through email at ChicagoERSBCommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov. School board districts must be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act, which ensures districts are crafted in a way that preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power. The draft map, its demographic data, and shape files can be found at www.ilsenateredistricting.com.
“During public hearings, we heard concerns about ensuring the Board represents all of Chicago’s unique and vibrant communities,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “By establishing 20 districts for the 2024 election, our goal is to maximize diverse representation in a way that would not be achievable with just 10 districts.”
In addition, the legislation establishes ethics requirements for Board members which mirror those for other school boards across the state, as well as conflict of interest provisions in line with the state’s existing Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. The measure also calls for the creation of Black Student Achieve Committee within the Board, following feedback from education advocates, parents and community members about the need to focus on the disparity in academic performance among Black students.
“These ethics provisions establish important guardrails for Chicago Public Schools leadership, adding an extra layer of accountability,” said Sen. Robert Martwick, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board and sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. “Our communities deserve leaders who always place the best interest of the people first.”
“These changes are a reflection of the insight offered over the course of numerous public hearings,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “Just as we want a new Board to be responsive to the community, we must also adjust to provide more equitable representation for all of Chicago.”
#BREAKING Finding that “even the most important personal freedoms have their limits” the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the state of Illinois in the pending appeal on the state’s assault weapons ban. More info to come. pic.twitter.com/hExCeyRo8x
The Second Amendment to the Constitution recognizes an individual right to “keep and bear Arms.” Of that there can be no doubt, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008); McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010); Caetano v. Massachusetts, 577 U.S. 411 (2016) (per curiam); and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111 (2022). But as we know from long experience with other fundamental rights, such as the right to free speech, the right peaceably to assemble, the right to vote, and the right to free exercise of religion, even the most important personal freedoms have their limits. Government may punish a deliberately false fire alarm; it may condition free assembly on the issuance of a permit; it may require voters to present a valid identification card; and it may punish child abuse even if it is done in the name of religion. The right enshrined in the Second Amendment is no different.
The present cases, which we have consolidated for disposition, relate to the types of “Arms” that are covered by the Second Amendment. This presents a line-drawing problem. Everyone can agree that a personal handgun, used for self-defense, is one of those Arms that law-abiding citizens must be free to “keep and bear.” Everyone can also agree, we hope, that a nuclear weapon such as the now-retired M388 Davy Crockett system, with its 51-pound W54 warhead, can be reserved for the military, even though it is light enough for one person to carry.3 Many weapons, however, lie between these extremes. The State of Illinois, in the legislation that lies at the heart of these cases, has decided to regulate assault weapons and high-capacity magazines—a decision that is valid only if the regulated weapons lie on the military side of that line and thus are not within the class of Arms protected by the Second Amendment. Several municipalities have done the same. The plaintiffs in these cases challenge that conclusion. Using the tools of history and tradition to which the Supreme Court directed us in Heller and Bruen, we conclude that the state and the affected subdivisions have a strong likelihood of success in the pending litigation. We therefore affirm the decisions of the district courts in appeals No. 23-1353 and 23-1793 refusing to enjoin these laws, and we vacate the injunction issued by the district court in appeals No. 23-1825, 23-1826, 23-1827, and 23-1828. […]
We conclude with a few remarks about several additional issues in some of these cases that do not require immediate attention, and a reminder about the limits on our ruling.
First, we briefly comment on Herrera’s challenge to the constitutionality of the registration requirement that implements the grandfather exemption. He regards it as a burden on his Second Amendment rights, and he worries that it may in the future lead to confiscatory acts on the part of the state. If we are correct in our prediction that the state will prevail in its defense of the Act against the Second Amendment arguments, then the registration requirement will be valid as long as it can withstand rational basis review. At this juncture, we see nothing particularly onerous about it, though as with everything we have said, this is a preliminary assessment. Herrera has until the end of 2023 to file the necessary forms, and if he does so, he may retain all of the covered weapons he already owns; the Act will prohibit only his acquisition of additional assault weapons or high-capacity feeding devices. For its own reasons, the dissent agrees with us that the registration requirement should not be enjoined.
Second, in this court none of the parties has developed any coherent argument that would distinguish restrictions on possession, on the one hand, from restrictions on sale or manufacture, on the other. One of the parties in Bevis is a gun store, but the implications of that have yet to be addressed. We thus have no comment on it.
Finally, we have no need to decide whether an alleged Second Amendment violation gives rise to a presumption of irreparable harm, and if so, whether any such presumption is rebuttable or ironclad. Given our decision that the plaintiffs have not shown that they have a strong likelihood of success on the merits, we think it best to save this point for another day. We also have no comment on the other two parts of the Winter inquiry: where the balance of equities lies, and what the public interest dictates.
We close with an important reminder. Nothing that we have said here indicates that any state or municipality must enact restrictions on the ownership of assault weapons or high-capacity magazines. Unless preemptive federal legislation requires otherwise, this is an issue for the political process in each jurisdiction. The people of some states may find the arguments in favor of a lack of restrictions to be persuasive; the people of other states may prefer tighter restrictions. As long as those restrictions do not infringe on the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear the Arms covered by the Second Amendment, either choice is permissible. In the cases now before us, however, the plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits, based on the fact that military weapons lie outside the class of Arms to which the individual right applies.
In Nos. 23-1353 and 23-1793, we AFFIRM the district courts’ orders denying preliminary injunctive relief. In Nos. 23-1825, 23-1826, 23-1827, and 23-1828, we VACATE the district court’s order granting preliminary injunctive relief. We also confirm that the stay we issued in these appeals will remain in effect until our mandate issues.
…Adding… React…
Today, Protect Illinois Communities President Becky Carroll released the following statement in response to 7th Circuit Court ruling upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act:
“Today’s 7th Circuit Court decision on the Protect Illinois Communities Act is another critical legal affirmation of both the law as well as common sense – assault weapons are designed for use on the battlefield, not on our streets or in our communities. We are grateful for their decision and to the work of AG Raoul in representing the State of Illinois on this matter.”
* Rep. Morgan…
State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), the chief sponsor of the Protect Illinois Communities Act, celebrated this important decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the Illinois assault weapons ban that was signed into law on January 10, 2023. The 7th District Court was responding to six consolidated lawsuits challenging the ban.
“This ruling is a huge win for anyone committed to reducing gun violence. With the 7th Circuit upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act, this common-sense gun reform law continues in full force despite the efforts of the gun lobby,” said Rep. Morgan. “As mass shootings in the U.S. are on a record pace in 2023, this law has already prevented the sales of thousands of assault weapons and high capacity magazines in Illinois, making our state safer. We must renew our calls for a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines in order to make mass shootings a thing of the past.”
The Protect Illinois Communities (PIC) Act bans the sale of assault weapons, which have been the lethal instruments used in multiple mass shootings, as well as large capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun or more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns. Prior to today’s Seventh Circuit ruling, the Act had already survived multiple constitutional challenges. On May 4, 2023, the Seventh Circuit Court blocked a temporary injunction that a lower court judge in East St. Louis issued on April 28. This most recent defense of the PIC Act’s constitutionality comes on the heels of an Illinois Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban.
On May 17, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court also declined to block the law in Illinois.
Morgan, who is the Chair of the House Firearm Safety & Reform Working Group, is recognized as a legislative champion of gun safety in Illinois and is working with other national leaders to reduce gun deaths. Morgan witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that gun violence can have on a community. Highland Park, IL is a part of his 58th District, and he was present at the July Fourth mass shooting with his wife and children, during which 83 rounds were fired in less than 60 seconds, killing seven and injuring 48 people.
* Gov. Pritzker…
Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement concerning the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act:
“The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed what gun safety advocates have said from day one—the Protect Illinois Communities Act is a commonsense law that will keep Illinoisans safe. Despite constant attacks by the gun lobby that puts ideology over people’s lives, here in Illinois we have stood up and said ‘no more’ to weapons of war on our streets. This is a victory for the members of the General Assembly who stood alongside families, students and survivors who worked so hard to make this day a reality. Now Congress must act so Illinois is not an island surrounded by states with weak protections.”
* LG Stratton…
Today, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Illinois is on the right side of history when it comes to protecting our communities from the dangers of gun violence by upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act. Upholding the ban of assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, and more, we are continuing on our promise of building safer, stronger communities. I thank Governor Pritzker, the General Assembly and the thousands of advocates who came together to say, “enough is enough.”
There is more work to do, and while we acknowledge the significance of this ruling, may we never forget the countless lives lost and disrupted by senseless gun violence. In Illinois, we will continue to look forward, reinforcing this common-sense law and I hope that Congress will do the same
* AG Raoul…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit’s decision in the consolidated cases challenging the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
“I am pleased with the 7th Circuit’s decision in these critically-important cases, which means my office has now successfully defended the Protect Illinois Communities Act in appeals before the 7th Circuit and the Illinois Supreme Court. Assault weapons were intended for military use, and the Protect Illinois Communities Act is a tool to prevent them from being used to cause devastation in our schools, places of worship and recreation spaces. This decision is the result of many hours of work by the staff of the Attorney General’s office, and I thank them for their dedication and service to the people of Illinois.”
* Mayor Johnson…
“I welcome today’s decision by the 7th Circuit Court to uphold the Protect Illinois Communities Act. This landmark legislation is an important step for our communities, providing common-sense gun control measures that have been so desperately needed in our city and throughout the state.
This decisive measure will aid in keeping weapons of war out of our neighborhoods and off our streets, creating safer communities for all.”
Our Congressman, Mike Bost. A steadfast conservative, Mike voted for the Secure the Border Act to increase the number of border patrol agents and complete the border wall. A budget hawk who has saved taxpayers by voting against a $1.4 trillion debt limit increase. Bost reigns in out of control spending to secure a stronger future for our families. Mike Bost stands with our farmers to take on the Biden administration’s Waters of the US policies that would put family farms out of business. An advocate for Southern Illinois families, Mike Bost voted for the parents Bill of Rights Act so parents have a say in their children’s education. A leader, Mike introduced a law ensuring veterans who appeal for their benefit, get them more quickly. Congressman Mike Bost. Southern Illinois’ conservative leader who gets results.
Paid for by official funds. Authorized by the House of Representatives.
I am disheartened and profoundly disappointed by the actions that took place on November 2nd at city council, led by Floor Leader Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, against Councilwoman Emma Mitts.
Alderman Ramirez-Rosa physically obstructed Alderwoman Mitts and other council members from entering the chamber to carry out their duties as elected representatives on behalf of their constituents.
This repeated behavior by Alderman Ramirez-Rosa in city council is unacceptable and requires immediate action. No one should be prevented from fulfilling their elected responsibilities on behalf of their constituents. No one should endure disrespect, threats, or have to live in fear of intimidation or retaliation while simply doing their job.
True leadership involves uniting others with transparency and finding common ground, even in the face of disagreements. Those in positions of leadership should not misuse or abuse their power.
Furthermore, no woman should ever be made to feel uncomfortable due to a colleague’s abuse of power, regardless of their position or title.
Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must be held accountable for his actions. This behavior calls for his resignation as Floor Leader. I hope this matter is resolved immediately.
I’ve asked the alderperson for a response.
…Adding… Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus…
The bullying by Floor Leader Ramirez-Rosa to Chairwoman Emma Mitts, City Council’s current longest-serving woman, was unprofessional and unbecoming of his role. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa’s actions of physical and verbal harassment have let down our council and the people of Chicago. In our roles, we must uphold the values of respect and collaboration.
It is disheartening that we find ourselves in this situation, and we hope that all City Council members focus their efforts on solving this issue and maintain mutual respect for each other.
Additionally, this matter is an unfortunate and direct reminder of the decades of challenges that African-American women serving in City Council have had to overcome in our combined efforts to enhance the upward mobility of our collective communities.
Chairwoman Mitts is a pillar of strength, courage, and inspiration to many black women who aspire to become responsible and effective government leaders. We strongly condemn this blatant mistreatment and disrespect towards Alderwoman Mitts and demand a full apology from Alderman Ramirez-Rosa.
Our caucus put forth the following recommendations to create a more inclusive and respectful environment for all members.
1. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa resign as Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards
2. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must publicly acknowledge what he did, apologize to Chairwoman Mitts, and commit to better his behavior as a member of this body
3. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must take steps to remedy his actions with Chairwoman Mitts and other city council members
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (7th) held his annual Senior and Veterans Resource Fair at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park, on Oct. 28.
The Fair drew a crowd of several hundred and featured dozens of vendors and free resources like COVID-19 vaccinations and flu shots, but the biggest development to come out of this year’s event was a visit from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who talked about the expanded driver’s license services his office implemented last month to accommodate senior citizens. […]
Last month, Giannoulias’ office implemented a “Skip-the-Line” program for senior citizens at DMV facilities, increased the number of available appointments at Chicago area DMVs by over 40%, added a call center for seniors aged 70 and over who require a road exam, and opened two “senior-only” driver services locations inside SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview and the Evanston Civic Center. Seniors at those locations won’t need appointments.
“The plan is to build the next one somewhere in the 7th District,” Welch said on Saturday.
Leadership has its privileges, I suppose.
* This is what the governor gets for siding with the Illinois Policy Institute on the bill…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is more scared of the Chicago Teachers Union than voters.
He said he’d extend Illinois’ sole school choice program if a bill reached his desk – but now he’s flip-flopping.
This week he locked low-income students out of his Chicago office.
These kids are from families who rely on the Invest in Kids Act for an exit option from the CTU’s failed public school monopoly.
He’s not even pretending to care about them.
So we’re going to make sure the whole world knows what the Illinois Democratic Party, under his leadership, did to them.
We’re protesting the 2024 National Democratic Convention in Chicago.
We’re inviting all the students, families and community leaders he let down, so everyone watching knows him as the governor who killed school choice in Illinois.
* Staying with the IPI for a moment, this means nothing because the rest of the coalition pushing renewal has offered up a compromise plan. The train is moving on. All they’re doing is attempting to divert attention from the GOP’s split…
This follows a pledge from the Illinois Senate Republicans to support Invest in Kids.
There is now full Republican support of the bipartisan effort to protect school choice scholarships for 9,600 low-income students in Illinois. (2/2)
* I’ve seen more than a few statements like this. NRCC…
“By refusing to help Israel, Brad Schneider is perpetuating the growing antisemitism rotting the Democratic Party to the core. Israel has a right to defend itself and America has an obligation to stand alongside the Jewish people – but not according to Brad Schneider.” – NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella
Schneider’s response…
Speaker Johnson's First Act:
1. Add $27 Billion to Debt 2. Condition Aid to Israel 3. Reward Tax Cheats
I cannot support the terribly flawed, weak and dangerous bill Speaker Johnson and the Republicans have on the floor today. pic.twitter.com/mAIbH6Ve2e
* Crain’s | Illinois Institute of Technology is opening a life-sciences lab in Fulton Market: Illinois Tech, whose main campus is in Bronzeville, says it plans to house faculty, researchers and students in the Fulton Labs building. Although the small, private university is well known for engineering, computer science, and architecture and design, it also has biomedical and biological engineering expertise. For many years, its Bronzeville campus was one of the few places that startups could find lab space.
* WAND | State reports reveals number of pregnancy related deaths in Illinois: “A woman who is in rural areas, whether she is of color or not, might have to drive 30 minutes or longer to get to a healthcare provider or to get to a facility that can actually deliver her baby,” said Dr. Dona M. Perry, Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. “Access is a big problem and barrier to good healthcare and maternal outcomes.” The report also found that pregnancy-related deaths increased by 40% from 2015-2017 to 2018-2020. Discrimination was present in 40% of deaths among Black women.
* Crain’s | IDPH launches phone line for doctors to address babies born with syphilis: The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging health care providers to conduct more testing for the sexually transmitted infection in advance of birth. To help, IDPH has launched a phone line to provide clinical consultation to providers who treat pregnant patients and newborns. It is dubbed the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline, with a phone number of 800-439-4079.
* WTTW | Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms: Lake County prosecutors have alleged Crimo Jr. took a “reckless and unjustified risk” in December 2019 when he signed his son’s application for a FOID card. At the time, Crimo III was only 19 years old and could not legally obtain a FOID card or purchase a firearm without his father’s assistance. Highland Park police had two previous interactions with Crimo III in 2019. One occurred that April after he allegedly attempted suicide. Months later, in September, Crimo III allegedly threatened family members, saying he was “going to kill everyone,” according to prosecutors.
* Crain’s | As winter looms, migrants’ lack of reliable shelter could become a public health crisis: Meanwhile, community groups are collecting donated winter clothing and supplies for migrants. But until people are moved off the streets and into real housing, their health and well-being are at heightened risk, providers say. “Sleeping under tents outside in the Chicago winter — it’s super dangerous,” says Dr. Alejandro Clavier, a pediatrician and site director at Esperanza Health Centers’ West Lawn location. “Lives will be at risk if people stay outside.”
* WMBD | Illinois Supreme Court ends Auditor Jessica Thomas’ battle with Peoria County: The legal saga by Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas came to a conclusion on Nov. 1 when she worked her last day as an elected official. Thomas, who had battled the county for more than a year, ran out of legal options in late September when the Illinois Supreme Court declined to hear her case after a lower court threw it out. … A trio of appellate court justices said Thomas had no “clearly ascertainable right to serve as county auditor because her ‘rights to the office ceased’ once the voters passed the referendum to eliminate the office.”
* Chicago Mag | Is “Sweet Home Chicago” Actually About Chicago?: Robert Johnson probably had not visited Chicago when he recorded what became our city’s unofficial anthem in 1936. “Oh, baby, don’t you want to go,” the Mississippi blues legend croons, “back to the land of California, to my sweet home, Chicago.” Huh? Last time we checked, Chicago was not located in California. Perhaps to avoid geographic confusion, when Chicago-based pianist Roosevelt Sykes covered the song in 1955, he changed the lyric to “that bright light city, sweet old Chicago.” The Blues Brothers, of course, sang it differently: “back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago.”
* NYT | A Climate Change Success Story? Look at Hoboken.: Across the river, the same storm drowned several of New York City’s subway lines and forced Brooklyn residents to wade through thigh-deep water. But in Hoboken, the fire department only towed six cars, and by that evening there were just a few inches of standing water at three of 277 intersections. An arts and music festival, the city’s biggest cultural blowout and moneymaker, remained on course for the weekend. Television crews, returning to Hoboken early Saturday to film the usual aftermath, left empty-handed. The city’s flooding was no longer news.
* Belleville News-Democrat | US declares species once found in Illinois extinct. What does it mean for water quality?: The tubercled-blossom pearly mussel was native to Illinois, as well as seven other states across the nation. It was one of the first to be placed on the Endangered Species Act in 1976, but had not been seen for years prior to its recent delisting. “We haven’t seen it in Illinois or in the United States in quite a few decades,” Illinois Department of Natural Resources aquatic ecologist Brian Metzke told the News-Democrat recently.
* Again, it’s time to give Oak Park the $8.7 million in grant money that was rejected by Joliet Township. CBS 2…
The Village of Oak Park is lending a helping hand for the migrant crisis in Chicago, agreeing Thursday night to house even more people.
The Oak Park Village Board on Thursday evening approved a measure to offer more support – to shelter asylum seekers as the weather gets colder. More churches in Oak Park are also heeding the call to action. […]
On Thursday, the Oak Park Village Board declared an emergency disaster resolution to ensure the migrants can stay longer. […]
The board voted unanimously to allocate $300,000 in response to the migrant crisis. Much of that will be used to provide language interpreters and medical services to the migrants already there.
Half of those funds will come from the village, the other half from grant money.
Yesterday the mayor said they were "still assessing" the property at 38th and California, but I FOIA'd the city and it turns out they actually signed a contract **last week**
Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about the status of the site near 38th and California during a Wednesday news conference.
Johnson said the city was “still assessing. So I think this was raised before – there are a lot of environmental dynamics that have gone on in the city of Chicago that have gone unaddressed for a very long time.” […]
When pressed by NBC 5 Investigates Thursday about why Johnson did not mention the contract to reporters, a spokesman for the mayor said he did not address it because he was not specifically asked about it.
NEW: Representatives of Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration tell participants in virtual community meeting requested by Ald. Julia Ramirez that they have yet to make a final decision on whether to build a base camp at 38th & California in Brighton Park. @WTTW
* Sun-Times | City signs lease for site of potential Brighton Park migrant tent camp — leaving local alderperson ‘frustrated and disappointed’: In a community meeting Thursday night, a city official said the environmental assessment began last week and all the necessary samples had been collected. Test results were pending, said Deputy Mayor Lori Lypson. The city does not have a timeline for when the camp would open, Lypson said. It would host 500 families to start and potentially hold up to 2,000. If the site “is deemed viable,” Lypson said the tents would likely be there for 180 days. The lease also includes an option to renew for two additional six-month periods.
* ABC Chicago | Chicago City Council meeting on sanctuary city referendum spirals into chaos: “That is what is frustrating about the ‘debate,’ because people who are attacking the Sanctuary City Ordinance don’t know what they are talking about,” said Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. “It has nothing to do with the refugee resettlement or the current crisis.” Ald. Ramirez Rosa said the Sanctuary City Ordinance only refers to law enforcement and government officials not cooperating with ICE. He said providing resources to migrants is about the city’s values; it’s not written in the ordinance.
* Crain’s | Chaos at City Council as Ald. Lopez attempts to take over meeting after lights turned off: Although the so-called Welcoming City ordinance does not impact whether or not the city chooses to provide shelter, food and care for asylum seekers, the supporters of the resolution are seeking to use the referendum to make clear to Mayor Brandon Johnson the city should reconsider how much money is spent to care for migrants if voters approve the measure.
* AP | Volunteer medical students are trying to fill the health care gap for migrants in Chicago: The migrants’ health problems tend to be related to their journey or living in crowded conditions. Back and leg injuries from walking are common. Infections spread easily. Hygiene is an issue. There are few indoor bathrooms and outdoor portable toilets lack handwashing stations. Not many people carry their medical records. Most also have trauma, either from their homeland or from the journey itself.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago school launches winter supply drive for migrants in Rogers Park: “It’s been a little exciting to see them react,” said Vivian Solis, a family support specialist at Lake Shore Schools in Rogers Park. She has been working with migrant families since August 2022. The school has taken in as many as 50 migrant children to date, helping asylum seekers with childcare. With the recent dip in temperature, concerns are now growing for migrants.
Stellantis plans to spend nearly $5 billion over the next four years expanding its Belvidere operations to include electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. […]
The company will invest $3.2 billion in a battery plant with a joint venture partner that hasn’t yet been disclosed. The plant is expected to open in 2028, according to the briefing materials.
Stellantis also will spend $1.5 billion to repurpose the Belvidere plant to assemble a new model electric midsize truck, starting in 2027. The union predicts the plant will make 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles per year.
Another $100 million investment will create a larger regional parts-distribution hub in Belvidere, consolidating work from facilities in Michigan and Milwaukee. Stellantis also will increase stamping operations to supply parts.
Read the rest, but they’re reporting that the agreement would mean 4-5,000 jobs at the expanded plant.
Two Republican state legislators from Wisconsin, Representative Jon Plumer and Senator Cory Tomczyk, introduced a resolution on Oct. 18 making the brandy-based old-fashioned the official Wisconsin state cocktail. (This is not to be confused with Wisconsin’s official state drink: Milk.)
“If you go to any other state in the country and order brandy anything, they look at you funny,” Mr. Plumer said in an interview. “But I just thought, ‘How has this never been done?’ It’s a tongue-in-cheek resolution. And I’ve had a couple of calls from people: ‘Don’t you have more important work to do?’ But I don’t think we do. This is what makes Wisconsin unique.” […]
Brandy old-fashioneds have a long history in Wisconsin, the resolution notes. The state accounts for at least half of the brandy maker Korbel’s annual sales in the United States.
* The Question: Your nomination for an official Illinois state cocktail? Explain. And be passionate about it.
Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) released its fall enrollment report for the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year showing Illinois, again, beat national trends. Total fall 2023 undergraduate enrollment at Illinois public universities increased 0.3 percent compared to the previous year, reversing several consecutive years of decreases, and freshmen enrollment at Illinois public universities increased by a noteworthy 1.5 percent compared to the fall semester of the 2021-22 academic year. This bucked freshmen enrollment at the national level which decreased 6.1 percent at all public universities. Fall 2023 marked the third consecutive year of growth in freshmen enrollment.
Enrollment of African American and Latino students increased in Illinois while enrollment of the same key groups dropped nationally. In Illinois, enrollment of African American freshmen increased by 2.9 percent, and African American undergraduate enrollment was up 0.5 percent year-over-year. This is in stark contrast to the national decrease of 5.1 percent for African American freshmen and decrease of 0.4 percent for African American undergraduate enrollment. Latino freshmen enrollment in Illinois increased by a robust 6.9 percent while it decreased by a sizeable 6.3 precent nationally. And, Latino undergraduate enrollment increased 4.1 percent year-over-year at Illinois public universities, which was higher than the national 2.5 percent increase reported.
“Once again, Illinois is bucking national trends and exceeding expectations with the third consecutive year of freshman enrollment growth at our public universities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our state’s higher education systems are bouncing back better than ever—a testament to smart fiscal management and a state budget that includes the largest increase for higher education in twenty-years and an all-time high for in-state scholarships totaling more than $750 million. College affordability and equity go hand-in-hand, and I couldn’t be prouder of the strides we are making to ensure that every student, especially those who have been historically locked out of higher education, has the opportunity to earn a degree.”
“We are making Illinois the best state to get an education, which is evident in the increase in both undergraduate and freshman enrollment numbers. Illinois is delivering on our commitment to see a more inclusive and equitable education system and the increase in BIPOC students is only the beginning,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We know that access to quality education is our greatest return on investment and our administration has made historic investments in MAP grant and public university funding. Investing in our young people is in an investment in our future.”
“African American and Latino freshmen enrollment in Illinois again beat national trends, which tells us that statewide strategies like efforts to simplify admissions processes through the Common App and the governor’s commitment to affordability through investment in MAP grants are making an impact,” said IBHE Chair Pranav Kothari. “These enrollment patterns demonstrate our relentless commitment to equity and to changing the trajectories of all Illinoisans’ lives.”
“The enrollment increases of African American and Latino students are direct results of the equity work the state’s higher education system as a whole is doing to attract more students of color,” said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “We are excited for what is ahead for our state’s higher education system as we continue to work with the state’s public institutions to implement strategies from the equity-centered strategic plan.”
* What are your thoughts on getting rid of daylight saving time?…
In 2019, the Senate passed a bill by @AndyManar that would've kept Illinois on permanent summer time and end pre-5 p.m. sunsets. But that was the last vote on the issue. Morgan's bill hasn't gotten a committee hearing 2/2 https://t.co/Z1WQQsYo07
A new bill authored by a pair of House Republican lawmakers aims to prevent battery parts manufacturer Gotion Inc. from receiving federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act because its parent company is a Chinese firm.
The lawmakers, U.S. Reps. John Moolenaar of Caledonia and Darin LaHood of Illinois, said their legislation is in response to Gotion Inc., an American subsidiary of a Chinese-based company, planning to build EV battery materials factories near Big Rapids and in Manteno, Illinois, that would potentially qualify for the tax credits under the IRA.
The bill is notable in part because the Inflation Reduction Act’s pot of nearly $200 billion in advanced manufacturing credits is considered a major reason why foreign-owned companies such as Gotion are investing in U.S.-based factories.
The legislation is named the No Official Giveaways Of Taxpayers’ Income to Oppressive Nations (NO GOTION) Act, and would disqualify from green energy tax credits “any entity created or organized in, or controlled (in the aggregate) by, one or more countries of concern,” defined as China, Russia, Iran or North Korea.
* Rep. Marty Moylan…
State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, recently introduced a bill that would help promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) among owners and operators of vehicle fleets.
“Illinois is going electric, and I’m proud to be part of the movement to make sure our state remains a leader in the EV revolution,” Moylan said. “A huge part of that is encouraging a transition from fossil fuels to EV technology when it comes to the vehicle fleets that Illinois businesses use to move goods and services throughout our communities. That’s why I’m working to create a program to reward businesses that embrace innovation and help keep Illinois moving forward.”
Introduced in the House on Oct. 25, Moylan’s House Bill 4196 would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to establish a program to provide grants to owners and operators of vehicle fleets to cover up to 80% of the purchase price of eligible electric vehicles. Grants would be awarded on a competitive basis according to available funding.
The IEPA would be required to consider the potential environmental impact of a given applicant switching to electric vehicles, based on geographic location and service routes. It would also be required to set aside 20% of the total funds appropriated specifically for applicants purchasing electric school buses. The program would be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
“Electric vehicles are safe, increasingly effective and sustainable. The economy of the future will be based on EVs and it’s important for Illinois to stay ahead of the curve,” Moylan said. “Promoting the adoption of EV technology by commercial fleets is a crucial step forward. I’m hopeful that this legislation can help us to take that step.”
Plainfield Democratic State Representative Harry Benton is proposing a bill that would restore tax breaks for union members on things like union dues and equipment.
Benton says the tax breaks previously were in place:
“Some years ago we ended up losing all the tax breaks for all union members. So union dues, work assessment and even simple write-offs for mileage, work equipment, tools. That all went away. So what I’m trying to do is right a wrong. And try to implement this at a state-wide level so they can write this stuff off.” […]
The bill could be discussed during the spring legislative session next year, when many new bills are introduced.
House bill 4088 has been filed and is currently assigned to the House Rules Committee.
* Another bill from Rep. Benton…
State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, is working to help ease property taxes for older adults by introducing a bill to ensure they remain eligible for a key tax exemption amidst continued inflation.
“A person’s home is, perhaps, their most precious possession, and it is easy to understand why anyone, older adults especially, would wish to continue living in their home,” said Benton. “Unfortunately, many older adults in Illinois have been struggling with the demands of high property taxes and inflation. Increasing access to this program will help more of them remain in their homes with the dignity and security they deserve.”
Benton introduced House Bill 4202, which would raise the annual income threshold for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program to keep up with rising inflation. Since 2018, the deferral has been available to senior taxpayers earning less than $65,000 per household. Benton’s bill would increase eligibility to $85,000, to ensure older homeowners do not lose access to this program because of inflation and cost of living adjustments.
“It is heartbreaking when anyone is forced into selling their home because of property taxes,” Benton said. “Anything we can do to help older adults to stay in the homes they’ve worked for their entire lives, I think we have a moral duty to look into doing that.”
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Requires the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission to meet 2 weeks after the effective date of the amendatory Act and quarterly thereafter. Extends the repeal date of the Act’s provisions concerning the Commission from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful to take wild turkey with a shotgun smaller than 410 gauge with shot density equaling tungsten super shot (rather than smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4).
* Keep in mind when reading this report from the legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability that total General Funds revenues had been projected to decline 2.9 percent this fiscal year. To date, General Funds revenues are up 3.8 percent over where they were as of the October, 2022 report. That doesn’t mean they’ll hold at that level. They could still decrease or even increase. But it’s still a big swing so far…
Through the first third of the fiscal year, total General Funds receipts are up $611 million. From a base revenue perspective, when accounting for both the removal of $764 million in one-time revenues from last year’s ARPA reimbursements and this month’s $633 million in one-time delayed federal matching funds, “base” revenues are up a net $742 million through October.
Personal Income Taxes are up $624 million so far this fiscal year, or +$516 million on a net basis. Corporate Income Taxes, however, are down slightly on both a gross basis [-$28 million] and a net basis [-$13 million]. Sales Taxes have risen $98 million through the first four months of FY 2024 [+$56 million net].
All Other State Sources are collectively $154 million higher through October. This is mainly due to the $153 million increase in Interest on State Funds and Investments. In addition, as mentioned previously, the Inheritance Tax is outpacing last year’s levels with a year-to-date increase of $44 million. Insurance Taxes are also $13 million higher. The growth in these areas have offset losses from several other State sources, including Other Sources [-$24 million]; the Public Utility Tax [-$22 million]; the Cigarette Tax [-$9 million]; and the Liquor Tax [-$1 million].
The category of Transfers In will be a volatile category throughout the year due to the timing of transfers into the State’s General Funds. After last month’s Income Tax Refund Fund transfer, receipts for this category were up a combined $233 million through September. However, when accounting for October’s activity and the lack of transfers this month from both the Income Tax Refund Fund and Gaming, the growth turns into a year-to-date combined deficit of $5 million. This is despite the $85 million rise in Lottery Transfers through October. This spread will worsen throughout the year, particularly in January, once the remaining $987 million from last year’s Income Tax Refund Fund enters into the equation.
Despite the $531 million rise in Federal Sources this month, overall federal dollars are still $96 million lower than last year through October. This is because the FY 2023 four-month totals include $764 million in one-time ARPA reimbursements that did not repeat in FY 2024. From a Federal Sources base perspective, if these one-time ARPA revenues are removed from the equation, along with the $633 million in prior-year federal matching funds receipted in October, year-to-date base growth for Federal Sources is +$35 million (as shown in the following table).
* There’s also some good news in the monthly data. The state was able to pry $633 million from the feds after missing out on the money earlier in the decade…
In August 2023, it was announced that, after a comprehensive internal review of federal revenue reimbursements in the State’s Medicaid related programs, the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services identified a computer programming error that led to incomplete federal Medicaid match claims for service dates between the end of 2020 and June 2022. The State was able to retroactively submit claims for this period of activity, resulting in a “one-time” federal match deposit of approximately $633 million in October. While this money would have been part of previous fiscal years’ General Funds “base” total if not delayed, for the purpose of evaluating FY 2024’s overall revenue performance, the Commission will separate these funds from “base” federal source dollars in its revenue tables. With this adjustment, “base” federal dollars actually fell $102 million in October.
Friday, Nov 3, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
We’ve been listening carefully to the governor, legislative leaders, and many members of the legislature about how to make the Tax Credit Scholarship better – and we now have an amended program proposal that does exactly that. Thousands of vulnerable kids are counting on us to put them before politics.
In response to direct feedback, our bill offers substantive improvements along with good-faith compromises which justify extending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program:
1. Add a new priority level of scholarship recipients from the most under-served areas of Illinois to create opportunities for thousands of primarily Black and Latino children. Donors will be incentivized to prioritize helping this new “Region 7” beyond the thousands of other kids who qualify based on financial need.
2. Reduce the overall size of the program to $50MM (down from $75MM) and reduce the individual giving cap to $500,000 (down from $1MM).
3. Reduce the tax credit for donors to 55% (down from 75%).
4. Encourage more middle-income donors by crediting donations of up to $5,000 with a 100% tax credit.
Illinois, let’s do the right thing. It’s about the kids, not the politics. Save the scholarships.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been found guilty on all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering following more than two weeks of testimony in one of the highest-profile financial crime cases in years.
The 31-year-old former cryptocurrency billionaire was convicted on all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, charges that each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which each carry a five-year maximum sentence.
“Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest frauds in American history, a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto,” Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news briefing following the verdict. “Here’s the thing: the cryptocurrency industry might be new. The players like Sam Bankman-Fried might be new. This kind of fraud, this kind of corruption, is as old as time, and we have no patience for it.”
The MIT graduate steadfastly maintained his innocence since his arrest late last year after the startling implosion of FTX, the crypto exchange he co-founded, amid an $8 billion shortfall in funds and allegations he had used customer money to prop up his struggling hedge fund, Alameda Research.
* US Rep. Jonathan Jackson probably owes his 2022 Democratic primary win to Sam Bankman-Fried. The Sun-Times broke the story in June of 2022…
Protect Our Future, a political action committee bankrolled by cryptocurrency billionaire Samuel Bankman-Fried, spent $914,944 to boost three Illinois Democratic primary candidates, including $500,065 for television ads to support Jonathan Jackson’s 1st Congressional District bid, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Protect Our Future spending is what the FEC calls an “independent expenditure,” with the PAC by law prohibited from coordinating or communicating with a candidate’s campaign.
* In addition to Bankman-Fried’s $500K, another crypto front, Web3 Forward, spent $491,250 on pro-Jackson media buys. The Texas Tribune reported that Web3 Forward “is affiliated with the longer-running GMI PAC, whose leading donors have included another top FTX executive,” and it put money into some other races that SBF’s Protect Our Future was involved with last year.
All told, that’s close to $1.3 million dollars in crypto spending on Jackson’s behalf.
The 17-candidate Democratic primary race last year was packed with under-funded candidates, so the independent expenditures were likely crucial to Jackson’s win. Jackson tallied just 28 percent of the vote.
Karin Norington-Reaves was the only other candidate who received major IE support. Forward Progress PAC spent $758,000 on her behalf. The Collective Super PAC spent another $65K. Reeves finished third with 14 percent of the vote, just behind Ald. Pat Dowell.
* Protect Our Future’s involvement in US Rep. Chuy Garcia’s primary made no electoral sense because Garcia didn’t even have an opponent. But Garcia eventually stepped down from the House Financial Services Committee and the independent expenditure haunted him in the 2023 mayoral race. The committee also did an IE for US Rep. Nikki Budzinski, but she won her race with almost 76 percent of the vote, so it didn’t appear to matter much, unlike that Jackson money, which was likely essential.
…Adding… From US Rep. Garcia’s spokesperson…
The Congressman did not step down from Financial Services. His membership was already “waived on” which meant he wasn’t earning seniority in the first place because he had other preferred committees (Transportation).
Because Republicans won the majority, Dems lost seats on the committee. Consequently, those who were ”waived on” were those who lost their places on the committee.
* ICYMI: Chicago signs land use contract to house migrants on vacant lot in Brighton Park. NBC Chicago broke the story…
- Chicago will pay $91,400 a month for use of the land.
-The city signed the lease before the environmental assessment was completed. Ald. Julia Ramirez said it was done without her knowledge.
-The contract states that the lot comes “as-is” and makes no guarantees about its conditions or “compliance with laws and regulations, including… those relating to health, safety and the environment.”
* Tribune | Calumet City officials ticket Daily Southtown reporter for ‘hampering’ city employees with questions: The Southtown, which is owned by the Chicago Tribune’s parent company, published a story online Oct. 19 and in print Oct. 20 in which Sanders reported that consultants had informed Calumet City officials that their stormwater facilities were in poor condition before September’s historic rains caused flooding. Calumet City is about 23 miles south of Chicago and home to 36,000 residents, most of them Black. A day after the story was published, Sanders continued to report on the issue, drawing complaints from city officials, including Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
* Crain’s | Chaos at City Council as Ald. Lopez attempts to take over meeting after lights turned off: The meeting will be remembered as one of the City Council’s most chaotic since the infamous Council Wars of the 1980s. It doubled as a message that a growing number of City Council members are frustrated over the city’s handling of providing shelter for the 20,000 asylum seekers who’ve arrived in Chicago since last August.
* Shaw Local | Gun rights advocates question proposed Illinois gun registration rules: About 50 people turned out for a public hearing Thursday in Springfield to comment on proposed rules to implement the registration portion of the law. One of those was state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, an outspoken opponent of gun ban, who asked what the state intends to do with people who refuse to register their weapons.
* Center Square | Illinois legislators address impacts of artificial intelligence on society: State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, said lawmakers should not take the same approach with AI as they did with social media. “Lawmakers decided to take a largely hands-off approach to regulation,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “We’ve seen the tangled web of societal ills that approach [that] was caused due to a lack of regulatory action.”
* Sun-Times | National Association of Realtors CEO Bob Goldberg resigns, replaced by former Sun-Times CEO Nykia Wright: Critics have been pushing for his departure for weeks after The New York Times investigated allegations that former president Kenny Parcell, who resigned from his post in August, sexually harassed current or former employees and members of the Chicago-based organization. The NAR is also facing a series of court challenges that could upend how agents receive commissions on the sale of a home.
* Crain’s | President and CEO of the Joyce Foundation will step down: Ellen Alberding, president and CEO of the Joyce Foundation, announced today she will be stepping down in 2024 after 22 years of helming the organization. The foundation said it will begin its next CEO search in January, with Alberding, 66, continuing to lead the organization until a successor is named.
* Illinois Times | City’s employee residency requirement could be suspended: Supporters of the measure say suspending enforcement of the requirement is needed – at least for a year – to fill job vacancies amid a dearth of qualified candidates and a lack of available housing in Springfield. Moratorium supporters say hiring challenges have been seen across the country because of employment trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic, retirements by members of the baby boom generation and high home mortgage interest rates.
* Tribune | Illinois man serving life for drug conviction under ‘three-strikes’ law is granted clemency, arrives in Chicago: He was one of three people in Illinois still serving life sentences for drug offenses due to the so-called “three-strikes” law, which allows prosecutors to seek a life sentence when someone is convicted of their third serious felony, according to data from the Illinois Department of Corrections and Lightfoot’s attorney. Pritzker granted clemency to all three prisoners who were released this week, turning a page in the history of mass incarceration in Illinois.
* WBEZ | Six plays written by teens take a hard look at gun violence a year before the elections: “Regardless of an audience member’s age … I think we can consider what it has been like for these young people to grow up in a post-Columbine world,” said Neena Arndt, one of the directors for the Goodman readings. “Their whole life, they’ve had drills in school and it’s been a part of daily life … in a way that it wasn’t for previous generations.”
* WaPo | In pain? Listening to your favorite music can provide relief, study says: After Michelle Yang pulled on a pair of headphones to listen to one of her favorite songs — Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” — she felt a flash of pain on her left forearm. Yang was participating in a study by researchers at a Montreal university to determine how listening to one’s favorite music alters perception of pain. After participants selected their top songs, researchers placed a thermal simulator on their forearms, which created a sensation similar to touching a hot cup of coffee.
* AP | Vaping by high school students dropped this year, says US report: In a survey, 10% of high school students said they had used electronic cigarettes in the previous month, down from 14% last year. Use of any tobacco product — including cigarettes and cigars — also fell among high schoolers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
* Reader | When Sly Stone fronted a Chicagoland bar band: Jack Sweeney was on tour with Sly Stone, and business was slow. His Chicago-based seven-piece, One Eyed Jacks, had accepted a job as the erratic pop star’s backing band in late 1982. Long past his Woodstock-era prime, Stone had all but abandoned live performance seven years earlier. He was now attempting a comeback via small club shows, playing a series of one-night stands.
