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Man arrested for threatening Rep. La Ha
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Steven Brady of Homer Glen has been arrested for threading a public official, Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen). From the Illinois State Police…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Avoq Senior Vice President Jeff Philips…
Click here and here to read the letters. * Catching up with the congressionals…
Morrison is running in the 8th Congressional District. * Fox Chicago | Raja Krishnamoorthi gains backing from suburban, downstate mayors in Senate bid: The list of 20 municipal leaders includes mayors from Krishnamoorthi’s home base of Schaumburg, as well as West Peoria, near where he grew up. […] Also on the list of municipalities: Oak Brook, Naperville, Addison, Bedford Park, and Moline. * WAND | Gov. Pritzker, IDOT award $139.2 million to enhance local transportation options statewide: 66 projects were approved through ITEP including bike and pedestrian paths and trails, streetscape beautification and other projects designed to encourage safe travel across various modes of transportation at the local level. During the competitive call for projects, Rebuild Illinois allocated an all-time high in funding, with approximately 74% directed towards improvements in communities demonstrating significant financial need. * Tribune | Responding to Crosetti Brand case, lawmakers pass bill emphasizing domestic violence training for Prisoner Review Board: The Democratic-led House passed the legislation Tuesday by a near party-line vote of 74-37 and it now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, who a spokesperson said Wednesday intends to sign the bill into law. The bill passed in the Senate last month, with three moderate Democrats joining Republicans in voting against it: Patrick Joyce of Reddick, Meg Loughran Cappel of Shorewood and Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs. The bill’s passage came 14 months after authorities say Crosetti Brand broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on Chicago’s North Side and attacked her before fatally stabbing her son, 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, when the boy tried to come to her rescue. The 39-year-old Brand is on trial for the attack and Jayden’s family has filed a lawsuit against the review board alleging negligence in the case. * Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois poised to end mandate that educator evaluations include student test scores: The House voted 92-21 to pass Senate Bill 28 on Tuesday. Most Illinois House Republicans voted against the measure, while a few others voted in favor with the majority of House Democrats. With the passage of Senate Bill 28, the state will allow school districts to decide whether or not students’ test scores evaluate teachers’ and school administrators’ performance in schools. The newly passed bill weakens the Performance Evaluation Reform Act, known as PERA, which was passed in 2010 and required schools to use student growth metrics to evaluate teachers, principals, and assistant principal evaluations. * Naperville Sun | Naperville councilman McBroom, DuPage GOP, Awake Illinois battle District 203 over transgender female athletes: Roughly two-thirds of the speakers voiced their support for the right of transgender students to compete in sports and criticizing those who would turn a child into a political pawn by spreading their image on social media * Daily Herald | West Chicago mayor and city council continue feud over staffing authority: During his first meeting on May 5, Bovey declared that the employment contracts for City Administrator Michael Guttman, city attorney Patrick Bond and Police Chief Colin Fleury expired when he took office. Bovey then appointed Assistant City Administrator Tia Messino as the interim city administrator and Jeffrey Jacobson as the interim city attorney. In addition, he reinstated Fleury on an interim basis. However, West Chicago City Council members did not vote on the staffing changes. And members of the 14-member council argued that Bovey can’t hire and release employees without their support. * Daily Southtown | Country Club Hills District 160 Board spent $25K on conferences last year; parents raise concerns over school conditions: Between January 2024 to 2025, the seven-member board and Superintendent Duane Meighan spent $25,209 on registrations, travel, lodging and meals for conferences in Washington, San Diego, Dallas, New Orleans, Las Vegas and downtown Chicago, records show. Over the course of the year, board members attended eight conferences including one each in January, April, September and October, and two each in February and November. Expenditure reports for all eight conferences show the district did not initially allocate any money for travel when the fiscal budget was approved. Later, the budget was amended to include $63,177 which the district spent about 40% of that with a remaining $37,967.94 left to spend. * WBEZ | What could cuts to SNAP mean for Chicago?: House Republicans are proposing an estimated $300 billion in cuts to SNAP spending and looking to states to fill the financial gaps. On top of that, they’re also looking to make working requirements for benefits steeper. * Sun-Times | Ald. Silverstein calls for investigative hearing on Uber overcharges: Silverstein on Wednesday said she would launch investigative hearings through the Committee on License and Consumer Protection, which she chairs, to uncover how Uber overcharged customers and determine how to prevent it from happening again. * Block Club Chicago | Will City Council Sign Off On ‘Snap Curfews,’ Allowing Cops To Make Up Curfews On The Spot?: The measure was approved by the council’s Committee on Public Safety by a 10-7 vote Tuesday and comes after a year of advocacy from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who has pushed for curfew-related legislation to curb teen takeovers. The latest version of Hopkins’ ordinance gives Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling the power to declare curfews for public places expected to be affected by large, unpermitted teen gatherings. In recent years, some of these “teen trends” — organized meetups of teens in parks, beaches and other public areas — have led to violence, sparking concerns from residents. * Zak Yudhishthu | Want more affordable housing? Start by ending parking mandates: First, parking requirements limit the amount of housing that can be built, even when the zoning technically allows for more units. At its core, parking creates a problem of geometry — cars simply take up a lot of space. For example, Serra recently worked on a project in Humboldt Park where the zoning would have allowed seven units by right. However, because the parcel could only fit five parking spaces, only five units of housing were built — unnecessarily limiting new housing supply. * Tribune | The sweeping art survey ‘First Homosexuals’ returns to Chicago, and a changed world: Visitors to the 2022 iteration will recognize works by Gerda Wegener, married to transgender artist Lili Elbe, and Konstantin Somov, a gay Russian artist. Others are new to this expansion, like doodles by author Federico García Lorca, a sculpture by actress Sarah Bernhardt, and the only full-length portrait of Oscar Wilde painted in his lifetime. “The reception in 2022 was just incredible,” said Chirag Badlani, executive director of the Alphawood Foundation. “Essentially, the day we closed, we said, ‘Let’s start planning.’” * WGEM | Potential Adams County solar farm will not have to pay city taxes: A new solar farm project by Virginia-based company Summit Ridge Energy might soon be coming to the outskirts of Quincy. In terms of paying Quincy city taxes, Summit Ridge may not have to. “It would pay county taxes and other taxing bodies in the area, but it is not within the corporate city limits, so it is not going to be paying city property taxes,” Quincy Planning Director Jason Parrott explained. * WCIA | Mahomet considering new, high-tech body cameras and additional license plate readers for police department: Jason Tompkins, village president, said the Village of Mahomet had a “great discussion” about the proposed license plate readers during the meeting. Now, the board will vote on them at their board meeting next Tuesday. Right now, 12 license plate readers are scattered throughout Mahomet. Michael Metzler, the police chief, said many are near I-74, Route 47, and 150. He knows they have helped catch people as they leave town, but hopes adding more and reversing them could catch others as they enter the area. * The Telegraph | Wood River City Council approves grocery tax: After the meeting, Stalcup said the tax generates about $800,000 for the city. Losing that money would probably mean some layoffs for the city. “That’s very significant for us,” he said. “It goes into the general fund and pays salaries and benefits and everything else.” * BND | ‘Off and out of sight’: Metro-east high school clamps down on cellphones: The new policy, which the district’s school board unanimously approved Monday, limits when and where high schoolers can use their phones. It requires students to have their cell phones off and put away during instructional time, including study hall, whereas the current policy allows students to use their phones in class for educational purposes with their teacher’s permission. Under the new policy, students also cannot use their phones during passing periods, another marked change from the current policy. * Wired | ‘A Billion Streams and No Fans’: Inside a $10 Million AI Music Fraud Case: Then, last September, Smith turned up at the heart of another music streaming incident, this one rather epic. The FBI arrested him and charged him in the first AI streaming fraud case in the United States. The government claims that between 2017 and 2024, Smith made over $10 million in royalties by using bot armies to continuously play AI-generated tracks on streaming platforms. Smith pleaded not guilty to all charges. (Through his lawyer, Smith declined to be interviewed, so this is very much Hay’s side of the story, corroborated by numerous interviews with people who worked with the two men.)
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340B Drug Discount Savings Help Patients In Need – Vote YES On SB 2385/HB 3350
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Every day, hospitals go above and beyond for their patients. Take the case of a critically ill patient who received 47 days of care at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for a serious brain infection. The patient had no insurance, so the hospital’s care team coordinated a Medicaid application. At discharge, the patient needed antibiotics and antiviral drugs costing $16,000 for self-pay, but which the hospital could offer for $12,000 through the federal 340B drug discount program. It was still beyond the patient’s means, so the hospital secured a donor to cover the cost. While hospitals are working to ensure the best possible patient outcomes, pharmaceutical companies are devising ways to limit access to lifesaving medications. The 340B program was created to increase access to care and enhance services for uninsured and low-income patients. In 2023, OSF HealthCare experienced a 31% decrease in drug discount savings because of drugmaker restrictions, such as limiting hospitals to only one contract pharmacy within a defined mileage radius. “The reduction in revenue directly impacts our ability to consistently fund programs aimed at improving access to healthcare in our rural communities or fund patient assistance programs,” the system said. Support Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350 to support optimal health for all. Learn more.
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Could legislators return later this year? Yes, they could
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * CCN…
I don’t know if they’ll return as early as this summer, but I’ve suggested to Isabel that she buy trip insurance if she makes any travel plans for the rest of the year. Also, if they don’t find a revenue solution for mass transit, then that could also trigger a possible return if layoffs and service cuts begin.
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When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Findings of a recent economic study were clear — the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product. Retailers like Jessica in Mahomet enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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The Atlantic takes a look at the Sun-Times AI fiasco
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for background. From Damon Beres and Charlie Warzel at The Atlantic…
Discuss.
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Today’s must-read
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * A City That Works in March…
Go read the rest and discuss.
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Illinois Medicaid: Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] ‘You showed up in my life at the perfect time’ On any given day, nearly 26,000 Illinois residents experience homelessness. Last summer, “Trinity,” a 33-year-old mom from central Illinois, was one of them. Trinity and her children had moved into an emergency shelter, which partners with a Medicaid health plan to host mobile clinic events at their facility. When Trinity showed up at an event, the scope of her family’s medical needs became clear. The family had visited emergency rooms twice in the past week. All of her children were overdue for well-child exams. And Trinity was 16 weeks pregnant—without any prenatal Practitioners acted swiftly, checking up on the kids and performing prenatal assessments on Trinity. She was prescribed medication for extremely high blood pressure and monitored at three subsequent clinic events. In November, Trinity delivered a healthy baby boy. And she brought him home to long-term housing she secured near the shelter—with assistance from her health plan. “You showed up in my life at the perfect time,” Trinity says. “You have helped me so much, and I don’t feel alone.” Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association…
* Subscribers know more. Sun-Times…
* Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…
* The Junk Fee Transparency Act unanimously passed out of the House Consumer Protection Committee yesterday. Director of Policy and Advocacy with Economic Security of Illinois Erion Malasi…
* Chief executive officer of Metropolitan Planning Council Dan Lurie…
* Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez…
* Student Borrower Protection Center…
* Fox Chicago…
* WAND…
* Rep. Katie Stuart…
* WAND…
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Seniors’ Lives Are On The Line
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] 20,000 seniors are going without home care because wages are too low to keep workers. Support HB 1330/SB 120 because Illinois seniors deserve quality care. Care can’t wait!
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Open thread
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Prisoner Review Board reform, changes to police hiring clear General Assembly. Capitol News Illinois…
- The bill would give victims the right to file victim impact statements ahead of hearings, provide them with additional notice when their offender is granted early release, and allow them to seek an order of protection against an offender who is incarcerated. - It would also create the Office of the Director of Victim and Witness Services, which would ensure the board complies with victims’ rights, and mandates the board provide victims with contact information for the State Victim Assistance Hotline. Sponsored by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Investigate Midwest | Lawmakers tried to reform Illinois’ food system. Here’s why it failed: State Rep. Sonya Harper, a Chicago Democrat and chair of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, said state officials had ample time to address issues with her and should not have waited until the eleventh hour to raise objections. “This bill has been out there,” said Harper, who was a sponsor of the House bill. “If you had an issue with it, you guys know how it goes. Send me some language that would make it better. Let’s have that conversation before the day that I come to committee.” * CBS Chicago | Windblown dirt from Illinois farm fields caused Illinois dust storm, expert explains: The dust that hit Chicago was windblown from farm fields in Central Illinois. Video shot by University of Illinois Extension farm management educator Kevin Brooks along Interstate 74 showed motorists cautiously pulling over before driving into near-blackout conditions. “Yes, it was dry. Yes, it was windy,” Brooks said. “But those winds weren’t that unusual.” Brooks has been cautioning the farming community about some of the factors that contribute to such powerful dust storms. “What’s changed in the last 10 years is the speed of farming,” he said. * Sun-Times | Tornado warning causes Illinois state lawmakers to take shelter: Despite the underground tunnels being packed, representatives and senators remained unbothered by the constantly whining alarm. “It’s part of the business, just got to accept it and move on,” state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, said. “Makes it an exciting day.” * Tribune | Sens. Durbin and Duckworth question Prime Healthcare after changes to Illinois hospitals: The senators sent a letter to Prime Healthcare founder, chairman and CEO Dr. Prem Reddy on Tuesday expressing concern about the changes and asking him to answer questions about the health system’s plans. “Prime Healthcare has only operated these eight Illinois hospitals for two months, and there are already profound concerns about patients losing access to care,” the Senate Democrats wrote in their letter. * Tribune | Illinois State Police website maintenance puts ammo sales on hold: The state police said the website will remain inactive until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Ammunition will not be able to be sold until the site is back up, state police spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said. The state police began alerting users May 7 that the system would be down for the 24-hour period, she said. Retailers depend on the website portal to determine whether a customer’s firearm owner’s Identification card is valid, making it legal to sell a gun to that person. * Daily Herald | ‘The worst emergency I’ve seen’: Crespo reflects on ouster by House speaker over budget plan: In 2024, Crespo said he was “very vocal about the budget,” because of concerns about unpaid bills and a projected $730 million public transit shortfall in 2026. He proposed budget reductions such as a salary freeze, but the plan “never got any traction.” “Fast forward and things are worse than last year,” Crespo said, citing Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projections for 2026 that revenues will be $536 million less than projected. * WCIA | Senior service providers lobby in IL Capitol for federal funding: llinois senior service providers are calling on Congress to keep funding the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act was put in place in 1965 to provide social services to help seniors stay in their homes and out of nursing homes as long as possible. Some programs the law includes are meal delivery, social opportunities and legal services, but the current federal budget proposal puts $53 million of funding in jeopardy. * Bloomberg | Chicago’s O’Hare Airport Seeks Up to $4.3 Billion of Muni Debt: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will seek approval from aldermen to sell as much as $4.3 billion of debt for O’Hare International Airport, according to a filing posted on the city clerk’s website. If authorized, proceeds of the bonds will fund infrastructure projects at the facility, as well as refinance outstanding obligations, the ordinance that the mayor is scheduled to propose Wednesday said. O’Hare is in the midst of a massive modernization plan that seeks to transform the aging hub into a global showcase. It includes a new terminal and the expansion of existing spaces. Last year, United Airlines Holdings Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. have reached an agreement to press ahead with the development plans. * NBC Chicago | Former CPS investigator says grooming allegations should have been prioritized: A former investigator who worked for more than 18 months looking into allegations of teacher misconduct inside Little Village Lawndale High School says she’s concerned about how long it’s taken Chicago Public Schools’ inspector general to investigate. Stephanie Brown, who worked in Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Inspector General’s Sexual Allegations Unit, told NBC 5 Investigates in a recent interview that her investigation into the matter was nearly completed when she was fired in August of 2023. * Tribune | Ethics board cites 7 aldermen for being late filing their annual financial interest forms: Ald. Lamont Robinson, 4th, faces a $250 fine for not turning in the annual form, which is required of most city officials and employees, according to the ethics board. The other City Council members who were called out — but not fined — for blowing past the May 1 deadline were Aldermen Stephanie Coleman, Derrick Curtis, Jim Gardiner, William Hall, Julia Ramirez and Monique Scott. Robinson was fined because the board said he still hadn’t turned in the paperwork, while the others have turned it in but didn’t do so by the May 1 deadline. * Tribune | AmeriCorps cuts leave Chicago programs serving kids facing diminished summer: AmeriCorps members are typically college students or recent graduates who are paired with service programs across the country and receive a stipend and an educational award for loans or tuition. It’s one of the many federal agencies to suffer massive funding cuts and program terminations as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to reduce government spending. The Trump administration in April eliminated state-administered grants for 28 AmeriCorps programs in Illinois, affecting more than 630 members statewide, according to a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, 23 other states and the District of Columbia. * Sun-Times | Syndicated content in Sun-Times special section included AI-generated misinformation: Buscaglia said he and others were trying to determine the full extent of the errors that made it into the special section. But he acknowledged using AI for other stories in addition to the list of books and could not guarantee he fact-checked those articles completely either, saying, “At this point, I’d expect anything.” * ABC Chicago | Chicago man charged after CPD officer dragged during traffic stop in West Garfield Park: Police said Harris was the driver who hit a Chicago police officer, dragging him down the street. Police said that when the officer fell, his weapon discharged. COPA confirmed it was investigating an officer-involved shooting at the location. * Tribune | Chicago Housing Authority hires former EPA staffer to lead new environmental safety division: Elizabeth Poole will lead the new division as the director of healthy homes after a nearly 15-year career at the EPA. Poole said she left her role as the children’s health coordinator in the EPA’s environmental justice office due to the change in administration. Billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and President Donald Trump have unleashed severe federal workforce cuts and rollbacks of environmental protections, including at the EPA. * ABC Chicago | Chicago restaurants feeling impact of struggling US economy: ‘Everything has gone up’: “It has changed dramatically, doubled in price. So, before, we were getting a certain coffee bean, like $3 a pound, and now, we are getting it close to $8 or $9 a pound,” said Back of the Yards Coffee Head of Culinary Operations Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez says they try to balance their growing costs and pay a living wage to employees. * CBS Chicago | Chicago Sky focus on sticking together as WNBA probes alleged taunts at Angel Reese: “Obviously, there is no place in this league for that. I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me. I’ve had communication from everyone — from so many people across this league — and being able to support me, and going through this whole process,” Reese said. “Obviously, it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone — and I think they’ve done a great job supporting us in this.” * CBS Chicago | Remembering George Wendt, who grew up in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood and trained at The Second City: The Second City notes that Wendt famously dropped out of the University of Notre Dame with a 0.00 GPA after moving to an off-campus apartment and not having a car to get to campus in the depths of winter. He did later earn a B.A. from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, according to published reports. […] After taking on a few film roles, he won that famous role on “Cheers” in 1982 — always occupying his spot at the end of the bar with a mug of beer in hand, talking about his life with Sam, Coach, and Woody, and of course, his best friend Cliff Clavin. He appeared in every episode of “Cheers” over 11 years. * Daily Herald | ‘It’s about fairness and justice’: New era in Wheeling Township starts with swearing in of Democratic slate: The ceremony attracted Democratic dignitaries, including state Sen. Mark Walker, state Rep. Nicolle Grasse, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is campaigning for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s seat. “I’m proud of the Democratic Party for flipping the township,” Biss said, calling it a sign of the area’s commitment to Democratic values. * ABC | Woman speaks out after alleged homophobic attack at McDonald’s in Illinois: The female victim, 19-year-old Kady Grass, told ABC News she and her 13-year-old cousin were grabbing food at the McDonald’s when Grass decided to use the bathroom. Both the restroom stalls were full, so she walked out right away, when one boy out of a group of three began calling her a derogatory name, she told ABC News. She said she “mumbled” under hre breath but walked away and told her cousin to “not give them another reason to talk to us.” One of the boys, the juvenile who was later charged, approached Grass again, saying they “wanted to fight” her and they should “take it outside,” she said. Grass said she then proceeded to go outside of the McDonald’s, but “no one came out.” * Daily Herald | Well water customers in Lake County near Buffalo Grove getting Lake Michigan water: Under a 20-year agreement, Buffalo Grove will sell the water, sourced through the Northwest Water Commission, to Lake County. Village Manager Dane Bragg said after receiving the money from Lake County, the village will pay the commission before netting an estimated annual $400,000 from the sale, to be applied to capital improvements. * Daily Herald | Federal judge halts Glen Ellyn’s ban on short-term house rentals: Last month, Glen Ellyn trustees passed an ordinance prohibiting the operation and advertisement of short-term rental properties. In response, the owners of a five-bedroom home that has hosted guests through internet-based short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to declare the village’s ban void and unenforceable. “We’re not some huge real estate investment company,” said Melissa Footlick, who with her husband are the sole members of Blakelick Properties, a limited liability company that owns the home. “The revenue and income that we generate from this property goes to pay for our daughter’s preschool and take care of our family.” * Daily Herald | ‘Like a jigsaw puzzle’: Researching history and working in local cemeteries a passion for retiree: Depending on the weather, retiree Vern Paddock often can be found weekday mornings at Volo Cemetery scrub brush in hand, patiently removing layers of dirt, lichen and the grime of time to reveal a clearer picture of history. Water, a nontoxic cleaning solution, elbow grease and patience are all he needs to refresh a headstone or monument that may have been in place well over a century. “You couldn’t read it initially,” he says of one of the many headstones he has cleaned in this out-of-the-way cemetery where there have been only three burials in the last 78 years, the most recent in 1974. * Sun-Times | Village of Dolton plans to take ownership of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home: Despite the current owner’s plans to sell the home to the highest bidder in an auction next month, the village “intends to purchase the home either through direct purchase or through eminent domain powers,” village attorney Burton Odelson wrote in a letter Tuesday. The pope’s parents purchased the home, at 212 E. 141st Place, new in 1949, paying a $42 monthly mortgage. The current owners purchased the home intending to flip it and sell it. They renovated the home last year and on May 5, put it on the market, listing it for $219,000. * SJ-R | ‘All hands on deck’: Petersburg arboretum faces loss of historic trees: A once towering Northern Catalpa tree that stood along a rural highway in Menard County snapped at its base and fell when a tornado tore through the area on May 16. The tree, part of the Starhill Forest Arboretum in Petersburg, was certified in 2006 as the Illinois State Champion of its species. Others have since surpassed it, but the 80-foot tall tree had remained a magnet for photo-hungry onlookers. * WCIA | Decatur high school’s request to block health clinic’s move dismissed: Four months after St. Teresa High School filed an injunction to block Heritage Behavioral Health Center from relocating next to the school, a Macon County judge has ruled in favor of the health center. Monday’s ruling means that St. Teresa’s injunction was dismissed. St. Teresa, located at 2700 N Water Street in Decatur, aimed to block Heritage from moving in next door to their recently acquired former North Gate mall space, located at 2800 N Water Street. * WICS | Fairview Heights officer shooting suspect charged with attempted murder: The incident unfolded at 9:44 p.m. when Fairview Heights Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious person near a residence. Upon arrival, officers encountered Thompson, who allegedly opened fire, injuring three officers. Thompson was apprehended without injury, and a firearm was recovered at the scene. * WSIL | Amtrak now fully operational at Southern Illinois Multimodal Station in Carbondale: Passengers can now enjoy various amenities, including a convenient drop-off and pick-up area, a spacious modern waiting room, and a pet-friendly outdoor area accessible from the platform. SIMMS Phase 1 will soon include space for Man-Tra-Con Corporation to offer no-cost employment services and a co-working space managed by Carbondale Main Street for local professionals, freelancers, and remote workers. * The Hill | Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX brand reputations tumble in new rankings: In 2021, SpaceX was ranked no. 5 and Tesla was ranked no. 8, with scores of 81.1 and 80.2, respectively. By 2025, SpaceX is ranked at no. 86 and Tesla is ranked at no. 95, with scores of 66.4 and 61.3, respectively. * WaPo | Earth may already be too hot for the survival of polar ice sheets, study says: But a group of scientists has demonstrated that if the world stays on course to warm up to 1.5 degrees — or even stays at its current level of 1.2 degrees above preindustrial levels — polar ice sheets will probably continue to quickly melt, causing seas to rise and displacing coastal communities, according to a study published Tuesday in Communications Earth and Environment.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
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Wellness check!
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tornado sirens are blaring. People are taking shelter. How are you doing?
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WBEZ…
* A small update on Madigan’s sentencing…
* WGLT | Regional Planning Commission helps conduct the first Illinois high-speed rail feasibility study: IDOT is exploring the possibility of constructing a high-speed rail system between Chicago and St. Louis, through the Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission. The study aims to give the commission and those studying the system an idea of what it could look like in the state and in McLean County. While there have been studies across the state before from various organizations concerning the possibility of a high-speed rail system, this is the first statewide feasibility study conducted by IDOT. * WIFR | More than 2 million Illinois residents will travel for Memorial Day, AAA says: AAA expects 50,000 more Illinois residents to travel for Memorial Day this year compared to last year, predicting 2.1 million traveling at least 50 miles away from home. Nationwide, AAA predicts more than 45.1 million people to travel, meaning 1.4 million more travelers than last year. * 25 News Now | Pritzker says every state faces financial challenges under Trump, but is optimistic Illinois will have balanced budget: The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget recently lowered revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2026 by $536 million compared to Pritzker’s budget proposal in February. Staff told lawmakers Thursday that the downward revenue projection was due to Trump’s impact on the economy, and Pritzker has heard many states are struggling. The Democrat said some states put one-time federal COVID-19 emergency funds into their operating budgets. “We were very careful in the state of Illinois to pay off debt and put it into one-time things that we knew we didn’t have to come back to,” Pritzker said. “The result is that our budget challenge is actually relatively small.” * WCIA | Illinois lawmakers hold hearing on transmission lines in hopes to lower energy costs: “We are an exporter of energy,” Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) said. “I think we have to consider is that the best deal for those of us in Illinois or does it make more sense for us to take a look at maybe setting up our own transmission organization.” Cunningham is expected to introduce a package of energy legislation at the end of this session. He said it will help to stop rising utility costs going forward. * Illinois Lawmakers | New Budget Projections and Committee Chairman Removal : As state lawmakers head towards their May 31 adjournment, House leaders sit down to discuss crafting a budget in a tight fiscal year. Meanwhile a Democratic lawmaker has been removed from his committee chairmanship with only two weeks left of session * WTTW | Mayor Brandon Johnson: ‘We’re Not Going to Be Intimidated’ By Justice Department Hiring Probe: “We’re not going to be intimidated by the tyranny that’s coming from the federal government,” Johnson said. “The diversity of our city is our strength.” Johnson, who has routinely touted his efforts to appoint the most racially diverse cabinet in Chicago history, did so again less than 24 hours after Assistant U.S. Attorney Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, launched a probe “to determine whether the City of Chicago, Illinois, is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race.” * The Trace | When Fatal Shooting Victims Are Black, Chicago Police Arrest Rates Drop: Using records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, The Trace analyzed 8,750 homicides between 2010 and 2024 and learned that Chicago Police made arrests in 27 percent of them. The majority of these cases were gun homicides. In the past 15 years, police arrested someone in 23 percent of fatal shootings. The rate of cases cleared by arrest fluctuated over the past decade, but the overall trend is downward, especially after 2022 — a time when gun homicides also began falling. In 2024, police made arrests in 16 percent of fatal shootings within a year of the incident, down from 23 percent in 2022, when The Trace last investigated this issue. * Block Club | As Chicago’s Domestic Violence Crisis Deepens, Victims Suffer In Silence: While failures involving law enforcement and orders of protection have made headlines, experts say many victims avoid the legal system entirely — suffering silently until it’s too late. A Block Club analysis of police and court records show most people killed in domestic violence incidents in Chicago last year had never taken out protective orders against their accused attackers. “The public health response has always been focused very much on: How do we help people once they get to a shelter, once they get to a police station or court house? But the reality is that the large majority of people are never going to get to those places,” said Sheerine Alemzadeh, co-founder of community organization Healing to Action. * ABC Chicago | Chicago youth leaders join mayor to discuss possible solutions for ‘teen takeovers’: During a press conference, youth leaders presented their work to support community safety and safe summer activities. “Maybe we create programs and give them jobs so we can send peacekeepers to those events to keep the violence down,” said James Robinson, a youth peacekeeper with Good Kids Maad City. A final vote on the “snap curfews” could take place as soon as Wednesday. * Tribune | As Chicago Bears pivot to Arlington Heights, Mayor Brandon Johnson says ‘I’ve done my part’: Following Tribune reporting last week that the team is pivoting its focus back to Arlington Heights and away from the city’s lakefront, Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that “there’s a long way to go still” — but hinted that he won’t be an active player in this next round of talks with state lawmakers. Asked whether he plans to lobby Springfield’s Chicago delegation against any legislation the Bears may seek for a new stadium development in the suburbs, the mayor said “That’s a decision that they’ll have to make.” * Press Release | Gov. Pritzker Visits Local Businesses to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Today, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Representative Hoàn Huynh visited two Asian-owned businesses in Uptown to meet with business owners and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The visits build on Governor Pritzker’s efforts to support small and minority-owned businesses, including the 23,000 AAPI-owned businesses and 87,000 AAPI-solopreneurs across Illinois. * WBEZ | Two key Latino theater events just paused. Are there stormier months ahead?: “There’s a lot happening,” said Jorge Valdivia, the executive director of the nine-year-old Latino Theater Alliance. “We’re all trying to make sense of it.” In no way, he added, are these circumstances unique to his group. On Monday, leaders of Latino arts groups around Chicago gathered to collectively discuss the emerging challenges faced by Latino arts organizations. For many people running theaters, this has been a tumultuous year. Executive orders issued in February changed the guidelines for National Endowment for the Arts funding. New stipulations restrict federal grants from going to groups that support “diversity, equity or inclusion” and “gender ideology.” * Chicago Mag | Summer’s Required Reading: From stories steeped in the rhythms of the city to a lighthearted romance, these new novels by Chicago-connected authors provide ample beach-chair fodder. * Borderless | Chicago’s Cambodian Heritage Museum Promotes Healing While Remembering Victims Of Genocide: “Remembering Killing Fields” exhibit, located in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood, is used as a moment of reflection from one of the “greatest crimes of the 20th century.” “The impact of that experience is still with them,” said Kaoru Watanabe, the museum’s associate director. […] In Illinois, April 17th is recognized as the historic day of remembrance after officials signed a proclamation earlier this spring. * Daily Herald | ‘We’ll see where he takes it’: Cleanup set to begin at old train depot site in Lake Zurich: “It’s hard to have the vision without clearing all this out and getting the lay of the land,” said Alex Jump, a real estate investor who moved to Lake Zurich about three years ago. That includes whether the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway depot on the west side of the tracks off South Old Rand Road is in shape to be renovated and/or moved and how the rest of the property fits. * Daily Herald | Geneva City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins announces retirement: After 17 years with the city of Geneva — the last nine as city administrator — Stephanie Dawkins has announced she will retire Aug. 15. “It has been a deeply fulfilling experience to contribute to our shared mission of creating a place where people are excited to live, work and play,” Dawkins said in a press release. “Over the years, I have witnessed and been a part of significant challenges and achievements within the city.” * WTTW | Northwestern Receives Anonymous Donation to Expand Jewish Studies Amid Federal Antisemitism Investigation: While the amount of the donation was not revealed, Northwestern President Michael Schill said the funding will be used to help promote “greater understanding around complex issues that fosters informed, respectful dialogue among students of all backgrounds.” “Recent events in our world highlight the urgent need for more education about Judaism and the experiences of Jewish people, and an emphasis on making sure Jewish students always feel a sense of belonging at Northwestern,” Schill said in a statement. “The thoughtfulness of the donor and the generosity of this gift will help ensure that is possible.” * Tribune | New DuPage County tornado warning system to deliver faster alerts, safety officials say: The DuPage Public Safety Communications, known as DU-COMM, has launched a new Fulton automated tornado siren system that provides a significant advancement in public safety technology for communities served by the agency, officials said. In the past, the siren system was activated manually at DU-COMM’s 911 Center. Now, the new automated system enables real-time activation of outdoor warning sirens directly from the National Weather Service. That ensures faster, more consistent alerts during tornado warnings. “The transition to automation enhances DU-COMM’s mission of providing efficient and timely emergency communications,” said Executive Director Jessica Robb. “By leveraging the Fulton system, we are strengthening our severe weather response and giving our communities the fastest possible warning when every second counts.” * WGLT | Normal council approves measures to address housing, homelessness: The entire development will add 477 units within 28 residential buildings — a mixture of one- two- and three-bedroom units. It will have a mixture of apartment buildings and townhomes. A two-story clubhouse will add parking, a gazebo, fitness center, a pool house area, co-working space with lounge and a rental unit leasing office. An internal trail system will encircle the development’s perimeter, maintained by Normal as part of Constitution Trail. * WGLT | Juveniles’ role in gun violence worries Bloomington-Normal police: To be clear, Bloomington-Normal is statistically safer than many other Illinois cities, including for gun violence. Peoria, Sangamon, Champaign and Macon counties all had over 50 firearm injuries each in 2024, according to a state database. McLean County had 15. “People are bombarded with the information so frequently that they think, ‘Oh my gosh, the city is going downhill,’” said Normal Police spokesperson Officer Brad Park. “But if you look at the numbers, it’s kind of level here and there and maybe a spike every now and again. But obviously, the goal is to make the community the safest it can be.” * MIT Technology Review | The data center boom in the desert: The corporate race to amass computing resources to train and run artificial intelligence models and store information in the cloud has sparked a data center boom in the desert—just far enough away from Nevada’s communities to elude wide notice and, some fear, adequate scrutiny. The full scale and potential environmental impacts of the developments aren’t known, because the footprint, energy needs, and water requirements are often closely guarded corporate secrets. Most of the companies didn’t respond to inquiries from MIT Technology Review, or declined to provide additional information about the projects.
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Sun-Times in AI flap (Updated x2)
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * 404 Media…
* OK, Buscaglia made the mistakes, but how did the articles make it into the Sun-Times?…  …Adding… Sun-Times Guild…
…Adding… The Sun-Times…
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Let’s play ‘Fun with Numbers’ with your host Juliana Stratton
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * This morning in another publication…
It actually doesn’t show that. And it’s not a new poll. It’s a poll that was released a few weeks ago and then the results were reconfigured in a way that benefits Stratton…
Agreed.
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Completely unclear on the concept (Updated)
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Freedom Caucus member and likely gubernatorial candidate doesn’t understand how numbers work…  The Chalkbeat story is here. * As we’ve discussed many, many times before, Illinois’ proficiency standards are higher than almost all other states…
We simply set the bar much higher for our kids. So, when those students don’t clear that high bar, they’re labeled as not proficient, but they would be labeled as proficient in lots of other states. * “Other states like Mississippi are getting better results,” Wilhour said. Nonsense! Not even close. That’s just plain ridiculous. From the National Assessment of Educational Progress…
* The NAEP did an apples to apples comparison and found that Illinois was third highest in the nation for 8th Grade math, while Mississippi was third from the bottom. According to the NAEP, Illinois was second highest in 8th Grade reading, while Mississippi was fourth from the bottom. Fourth grade math? Illinois was number one. Mississippi was 15th. Fourth grade reading? Illinois was fourth and Mississippi was 22nd. Stop insulting our school kids, Blaine. After all, they appear to be better at both math and reading comprehension than you. …Adding… Rep. Wilhour…
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340B Drug Discount Savings Help Patients In Need – Vote YES On SB 2385/HB 3350
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Every day, hospitals go above and beyond for their patients. Take the case of a critically ill patient who received 47 days of care at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for a serious brain infection. The patient had no insurance, so the hospital’s care team coordinated a Medicaid application. At discharge, the patient needed antibiotics and antiviral drugs costing $16,000 for self-pay, but which the hospital could offer for $12,000 through the federal 340B drug discount program. It was still beyond the patient’s means, so the hospital secured a donor to cover the cost. While hospitals are working to ensure the best possible patient outcomes, pharmaceutical companies are devising ways to limit access to lifesaving medications. The 340B program was created to increase access to care and enhance services for uninsured and low-income patients. In 2023, OSF HealthCare experienced a 31% decrease in drug discount savings because of drugmaker restrictions, such as limiting hospitals to only one contract pharmacy within a defined mileage radius. “The reduction in revenue directly impacts our ability to consistently fund programs aimed at improving access to healthcare in our rural communities or fund patient assistance programs,” the system said. Support Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350 to support optimal health for all. Learn more.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Christopher Wellborn and Bonnie Hoffman from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers…
* One Aim Illinois…
* Illinois Environmental Council…
* Sen. Graciela Guzmán…
Both bills — HB2503 and SB1556 — have missed deadlines to pass through committee.
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Wall interviews Pritzker
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * ABC7’s Craig Wall interviewed Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday…
Go read the rest and then discuss.
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Don’t Greenwash Discrimination: Demand Inclusive Labor Standards In Energy Storage Legislation
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] As Illinois charts its path toward a clean energy future, lawmakers must remember the promises made under CEJA—the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. CEJA was never just about clean energy; it was about equitable clean energy. That means creating good-paying union jobs for all workers, especially those from historically excluded Black and Brown communities. Yet today, a new energy storage bill threatens to undo that vision. Without strong, inclusive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) language, this legislation risks handing energy jobs to a narrow slice of the construction industry—jobs that will go disproportionately to white, politically connected workers, while locking out the very communities CEJA aimed to uplift. We can’t let Illinois’ clean energy transition be built on the backs of exclusion. Labor unity means every union has a seat at the table—not just the favored few. Ironworkers, roofers, painters, bricklayers, glaziers, boilermakers, cement masons, carpenters, millwrights and many other crafts helped build this state and deserve a shot at building its future. Lawmakers: don’t sell out working families. Reject any energy storage legislation that doesn’t include inclusive PLA language. Because when we say “green jobs,” we should mean jobs that are union, local, and equitable. This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about justice, too.
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Wall St. Journal paints grim picture of WIU, Macomb
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * WSJ…
The full story is definitely worth a read…
* Grim…
* And it’s probably not going to get any better…
Ugh. * Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford is a WIU grad. And that WSJ story gives additional meaning to her opposition to the governor’s community college baccalaureate bill…
Discuss.
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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Pope Leo might’ve put the kibosh on a White Sox move
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tribune…
* Visuals…
I just think there’s no way that Jerry Reinsdorf can move the team out of Sox Park and into the South Loop after this historic development. The place is almost like a shrine now. But, maybe it won’t last. Your thoughts?
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Repeal IFPA Now
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller [The following is a paid advertisement.]  IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities. “This would be the end of credit unions as we know it in Illinois.” Stop the Chaos for Our Hard-Working Credit Union Members!
Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Open thread
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * I was looking for something else on the blog last night and stumbled across this B-52s (pre-fame) live video. Confession: I have been obsessed with early B-52s shows for a very long time. But that video can no longer be embedded. So then I went down a rabbit hole and found this one for you, which was recorded after their first studio album was released… I hope y’all appreciate the hard work I put into these posts /s. What up, people?!
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Trump administration cuts may end federal scrutiny of Illinois school where special ed kids often got arrested. ProPublica…
- But the department’s Office for Civil Rights regional office in Chicago, which was responsible for Illinois and five other states, was one of seven abolished by President Donald Trump’s administration in March. - The district was to report its progress in making changes to the OCR by last December, which it appears to have done, according to documents ProPublica obtained through a public records request. - But the records show the OCR has not communicated with the district since then and it’s not clear what will come of the work at Four Rivers. Sponsored by the Illinois Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Tribune | Chicago’s Venezuelan migrants face uncertainty after Supreme Court allows Trump to strip protected status: When Ana Gil heard the news that the Supreme Court Monday allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections for thousands of recent Venezuelan migrants, she cried. The move means 350,000 Venezuelans in the United States, including some of the estimated 50,000 who arrived in Chicago over the last several years, could be deported. How or where? That is unknown, Gil said. She is co-founder of the Venezuelan Alliance in Chicago. Over the last decade, Gil has worked with other immigration advocates to provide resources and legal advice for migrants who have arrived here from Venezuela. * SJ-R | Bill with stricter enforcements for hiring police officers heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk: “This one hits me very differently,” Turner said then of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy on July 6, 2024, inside her home after placing a 911 call. Turner added she would do “everything within (my) power to ensure that Sonya receives the justice that she deserves.” * Daily Herald | Underwood to run for House again rather than U.S. Senate: Underwood has been actively fundraising for the seat and ended March with about $1.1 million in her campaign account, according to her latest finance report. In her statement Monday, Underwood said she intends to help “a new generation of changemakers” get elected and flip the U.S. House blue. She serves as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recruitment co-chair. * Capitol News Illinois | In the fight for youth transgender health care, Illinois remains at the forefront: A judge has temporarily blocked the order banning the use of federal funds on gender-affirming care, and Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a chief sponsor of Illinois’ shield law, said the Trump directive has not impacted access to care in Illinois. “I think that’s the most important thing people need to know: His signature on that paper changed nothing (in) regard to access to care in Illinois today or tomorrow,” she said. * Tribune | Rare Chicago dust storm reignites debates over the role of agriculture, experts say: Farm fields that are regularly tilled and left bare, without plant roots to hold soil in place, tend to be at greater risk of that topsoil being swept away by high winds or rain. Other methods don’t disturb the soil as much, making it less susceptible to erosion: One-pass tillage uses tractors with a special tool that turns over the soil once, and strip-tilling turns over just the row of soil where seeds are planted, leaving the rest of the field undisturbed and covered by residue from the previous crop. “It (isn’t) just the practices, it (is) that perfect storm. But the practices fit within the storm,” said Richard Lyons, who runs a 300-acre family farm in Harvel, about 40 miles south of Springfield. He strip-tills his corn but doesn’t till his soybean fields at all. * Crain’s | Johnson vowed last year to ‘cut the tape’ for developers. Here’s how it’s going: The city has completed 48 of the 107 items identified in the early stages of the initiative, according to a progress tracker. That has sped up how long large projects spend going through the Plan Commission process and made it easier for smaller projects without opposition to receive special permits from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Environmental reviews on city-owned lots without known environmental issues are no longer required. Developers can add minor issues that previously needed to be separately approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals to their applications for a zoning change in the City Council’s Zoning Committee, skipping an unnecessary step and lowering consultant and application fees. * Block Club | Trump Administration Says It Is Investigating Mayor Johnson Over What It Calls Race-Based Hiring: In a statement Monday, mayoral spokesperson Cassio Mendoza acknowledged being aware of the letter issued by the Justice Department but said the office was still awaiting official receipt of the letter. Mendoza said that the Mayor’s Office’s corporation counsel would review the letter when that happens. “Mayor Johnson is proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city,” Mendoza said. “Our administration reflects the diversity and values of Chicago. Unfortunately, the current federal administration does not reflect either.” * Block Club Chicago | Pullman’s Landmark Greenstone Church In Disrepair, Awaits City Funding To Repair Bell Tower: Greenstone pastor Luther Mason is hopeful the city will greenlight the funds for the rebuild in June, but he’s not ready to celebrate just yet. This will be the second time in five years the city has attempted to finance repairs for the 143-year-old church at 11211 S. St. Lawrence Ave. “It’s critical; it’s real critical,” Mason said. “To get that money and to get this project started before cold weather, Lord willing, that means a lot. Because then we can go into the winter … knowing that, come spring, there will be a new facade on” the bell tower. * CWB | Old Town bar sues concealed carry holder whose gun fired, putting liquor license in jeopardy: An Old Town bar is suing a concealed carry holder, saying they spent tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees to protect their liquor license after he unintentionally fired his gun inside the establishment. […] Despite signs warning that guns are prohibited within The VIG, the bar claims a man named Michael Davis had a pistol in his pocket and it fired, injuring another patron when the bullet ricocheted off the floor. Davis consumed alcohol during his time at the bar, did not have the gun’s safety on, and failed to secure the weapon properly, the lawsuit alleges. * Tribune | Lydia Cash peels back the layers of her own life to share rich, evocative Americana-inspired rock music: “I grew up knowing that I’m related to Johnny Cash, but it actually took me a really long time to realize the impact this man had,” Cash said about the famed country musician, her distant relative. “I grew up thinking that he was a cousin who picked up a guitar sometimes. I didn’t understand the weight of that until high school.” Yet despite the family connection, music performance was not modeled to Cash during her childhood. Having grown up in a conservative home in a small town outside of Birmingham, Alabama, writing and performance were things she discovered on her own.[…] In 2013, Cash moved to Chicago to pursue music and visual art. “It opened up my entire world,” she said about the city. “It’s honestly the best decision I’ve ever made, moving here.” Yet music didn’t always come naturally. Cash focused on visual art, her other talent, becoming a full-time painter by 2016. * Sun-Times | Beyoncé’s Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala’s Western Wear: “We were never expecting all the people, all the fans,” Richard Alcala said. “They’re very loyal, and they all want to be dressed from head to toe.” Loyal may be an understatement. Some shoppers, in search of the perfect bolo tie, were visiting the store from as far as Australia just for the concert. And they were willing to spend hundreds of dollars to dress the part. * Daily Southtown | Arlington Heights mayor: Bears stadium not done deal: “When and if the Bears do make an announcement that they are coming to Arlington Heights with certainty, there’ll be a process that is going to begin, and there’ll be an enormous amount of opportunity for every resident and business owner to become educated and participate in all the dialogue that’s going to happen,” Mayor Jim Tinaglia said during a village board meeting Monday night. “And this entire board — believe me when I tell you we’ll all have something to say.” * Sun-Times | Arlington Heights has the ball in Bears stadium sweepstakes, but it’s still far from goal line: A ton of things need to happen before the Bears’ quest for a new stadium reaches the end zone in Arlington Heights and, until it does, there’s at least a glimmer of hope for Chicago, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief negotiator. Senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee openly acknowledged that, for the foreseeable future, Arlington Heights has the ball and Chicago isn’t even on the field playing defense. Johnson isn’t on the sidelines either. He’s more like a spectator watching from the stands. * Chicagoland Journal | Eric S. France Launches Candidacy for Illinois Second Congressional District: Eric S. France Launches Candidacy for Illinois Second Congressional District (Lynwood, IL) Native Chicago resident and Businessman/Entrepreneur Eric France will officially launch his candidacy for the Illinois Second Congressional District seat on May 31, 2025. He is the first Democratic candidate to declare his bid for the seat. France, who grew up on the south side of Chicago (Hyde Park/South Shore), is a resident of Lynwood, Illinois. He heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm founded by his father. France has organizational and political DNA running through his veins. He is the son of the late Chicago political powerhouse Dr. Erwin A. France, who served multiple Chicago Mayors and government, dating back to the 1960’s. Dr. France spent nearly 20 years as a public servant before entering into private enterprise. * Daily Southtown | Napoleon Harris sworn in as Thornton Township supervisor, replaces Tiffany Henyard: Four months after the basement of Thornton Township Hall erupted into a brawl that included the township’s supervisor, hundreds of people packed the same space Monday in celebration of new leadership. The swearing in of new township officials marked the end of Tiffany Henyard’s short, tumultuous period of leadership in the south suburbs. Jason House in Dolton and State Sen. Napoleon Harris in Thornton Township have taken the reins from the former mayor and township supervisor, with both having campaigned on a clean slate for their communities. * Crain’s | Lawsuit claims neighbor ‘terrorized’ users of a Glen Ellyn short-term rental: The latest battleground over short-term rentals is Glen Ellyn, where a judge has temporarily prevented village officials from banning Airbnb-style offerings in the wake of a lawsuit alleging the ban violates constitutional rights of short-term rental property owners. The ban, passed in April and scheduled to take effect in July, has brought to light alleged “terrorism” from the neighbor of one short-term rental, a five-bedroom house on Arboretum Road that rents for upwards of $1,100 a night. * Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan Township offering emergency assistance when needed; ‘I was so grateful to them’: Now, Jones said Shields Township pays Waukegan Township a monthly fee to provide emergency services to residents from the neighboring township. The program expanded to the general assistance efforts in March. “We know the needs of our community members extend past any invisible boundary lines,” he said. “We are fortunate that Shields Township was willing to collaborate with us to make it possible to extend our resources to all of our neighbors south of 18th Street.” * Daily Herald | Yes, again: Long Grove’s covered bridge hit by box truck: Long Grove’s historic covered bridge was hit by a truck Monday, adding yet another to the bridge’s many accidents. The driver today was behind the wheel of a box truck, according to a video of the accident from the Facebook page of a nearby business, Chatter Box of Long Grove. This one follows the two that occurred just in April of this year. The Long Grove Covered Bridge Accident Tracker marks it as the 66th time the bridge has been hit since it reopened post-restoration in 2020. * WIFR | Goldie B. Floberg Center in Rockford calls on Pritzker to reconsider 2026 budget cuts: In February, Pritzker announced his budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, which includes $20 million towards a 50-cent hourly wage increase for DSPs. But some local legislators say the increase comes with a price. “It’s really no different than if I gave you 50 cents, but then at the same time, I pulled a dollar out of your wallet, how would you feel about that?” questions John Pingo, the president of Goldie B. Floberg Center. * BND | Is Sauget air pollution harming people? CDC suggests a deeper EPA probe: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has completed an investigation into whether air pollution in Sauget is harming people, with a particular focus on the emissions from a hazardous waste incinerator there. An estimated 878 people live within a 1-mile radius of the 35-acre Veolia North America-Trade Waste Incineration facility. The closest residential areas are about half a mile southeast of the facility in Cahokia Heights. * WGLT | Illinois program to increase faculty diversity in higher education is in doubt: Illinois State University has had between four and 11 DFI fellows in each of the last four years. Stacey Wiggins got a Ph.D. in social work from ISU with DFI help and is now part of the faculty. Would she have been able to complete a master’s degree and earn a doctorate without it? “Oh, no! [laughs] Now, miracles happen, and I am a believer that maybe another resource may have come, but I am grateful for this one,” said Wiggins. * WGLT | McLean County to observe Ride of Silence honoring victims of bicycle traffic incidents: According to Illinois Department of Transportation data provided by the McLean County Wheelers, the state totaled nearly 3,000 crashes involving bicycles in 2023, with 41 resulting in fatalities. Across the U.S., nearly 1,000 bicyclists were killed and 130,000 injured on the roadways that year. * WSJ | The Stark Math on the GOP Tax Plan: It Doesn’t Cut the Deficit: In designing a partisan plan that increases budget deficits, Republicans are mindful about what happens if their bill falls apart. The alternate path to preventing a tax increase on most households would require a bipartisan coalition with Democratic votes. That could further increase deficits. Democrats favor extending most tax cuts but would push to let tax cuts expire for top earners. They would, however, reject Republican spending cuts and seek extensions of expanded tax credits for purchasing health insurance. * Fierce Healthcare | Hospitals cheer judge’s 340B rebate ruling but still await HHS’ final say: The 340B program was enacted by Congress over 30 years ago to help subsidize safety-net care providers by manufacturer discounts on most drugs administered in the outpatient setting by covered entities. More than 60,000 total covered entities were participating as of February 2025 with federal and proprietary data from 2023 suggesting that the roughly $66.3 billion in discounted outpatient drugs purchased through the program would have hit $124.1 billion wholesale, according to a recent investigative report from Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-La. * AP | There’s an American pope, and he’s just like us. At least, we really, really want him to be: Why are we so focused on making sure the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church is also a regular guy from the Midwest? Some of it is pride, you betcha. But another answer lies in Americans’ peculiar and complex relationship with fame and power that goes way back to the founding of the nation itself.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
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