In a hotly contested western suburban state House race, outgoing state Rep. Kelly Burke is raising eyebrows for a letter she wrote endorsing Rick Ryan, her pick to succeed her. Burke tells voters Ryan has “deep roots in our community” and that he’s a candidate that “we can trust.” And without naming Ryan’s opponent, Sonia Anne Khalil, Burke refers to the campaign as “outsiders” and “people outside the district pushing their own candidate.” The phrases are seen as racial microaggressions given Khalil, who has lived in the district her whole life, is Arab American. The 36th District covers the Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn and Palos Hills communities.
Burke called the claim “desperate,” saying she’s talking about outside political influences similar to what she faced in her own 2010 race. “Rick has been working in the district for 20 years, and he’s being supported by leaders from within the district.” His opponent is sending out mailers featuring Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and former County Clerk David Orr, “who don’t even live in the district.” Her letter, she told Playbook, makes “a clear distinction” between the candidate vs. her supporters.
* Press release…
The Illinois Supreme Court has received and approved the report and recommendations from the Pretrial Release Appeals Task Force (Task Force).
The Task Force was convened to thoroughly review pretrial release appeals and their impact on the caseloads in each of the five Appellate Court districts. The report notes the staggering increase in caseloads the appellate courts have faced since the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) began on Sept. 18, 2023, going from an average of 17 annual bond appeals to a projected 4,557 appeals under the PFA – a 268-fold increase.
The amendments are available here and are effective April 15, 2024.
“There is no doubt that the volume of PFA cases is a problem; that’s why the Task Force was created,” said Fourth District Appellate Court Justice Eugene G. Doherty, who Chaired the Task Force. “We think our recommendations can help address the volume while making the process of appellate review more meaningful.”
The full report with recommendations can be found here.
The Task Force’s creation was announced in January 2024 in response to the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) in September 2023 creating a dramatic increase in the number of appeals from pretrial release decisions by the circuit courts.
In its report the Task Force proposed amendments which are intended to streamline the PFA appeal process while ensuring meaningful review of decisions to detain, release, or impose conditions of release in the pretrial setting.
The National Association of Realtors will drop the long-held policy on broker commissions that has been the target of several lawsuits, the Chicago-based professional association announced March 15.
It’s the end of a Chicago-born standard of real estate sales, where the agents for buyer and seller agree to share a commission, most often dividing in half a commission of around 5% to 6%, although NAR’s rules say the split can give one party as little as zero. Lawsuits seeking to kill the standard have argued the sharing rule amounts to collusion to keep prices high by preventing buyers’ agents from competing against one another on price. […]
NAR will also pay $418 million over the next four years to settle the lawsuits, which revolve around the claim that its commission standards violate antitrust laws. Key among them is the Sitzer-Burnett case, where a Kansas City jury hit NAR and two big brokerages with a $1.78 billion verdict in October. With NAR no longer pursuing an appeal, only HomeServices of America, which in Chicago operates Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, is still defending, NAR’s release said.
* Yesterday’s early vote totals for Chicago…
The Early Vote total stands at 48,364 ballots cast (with 1,659 Same Day Registration, 32 Provisional votes).
48,583 Vote By Mail ballots have been returned to the Board – total VBM applications stands at 178,316.
The grand total is 96,947 ballots cast so far for the March 19, 2024 Presidential Primary Election in Chicago.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a news and politics junkie. Someone who reads multiple news sites a day, follows several news organizations on social media, and receives a few email newsletters.
Most people aren’t like this. A 2020 study found that news represents just 14 percent of Americans’ media consumption. Attention does pick up, however, during an election year. While roughly one-third of Americans closely follow the news in non-election years, 39 to 43 percent do so when there’s a presidential election, according to Gallup.
However, new research—and recent reporting about how artificial intelligence is changing the online information environment—suggests that even as people start tuning into the election, they could end up more misinformed, not less. The reason: People have greater faith in their own abilities to “fact-check” the news than they have in the news itself. In the past year, we have published two academic studies that suggest this faith is misplaced, and that it actually leaves people more likely to believe misinformation.
* WBEZ | Routine traffic stops have resulted in gun charges for thousands of Chicagoans: In 2014, about 60 unlawful use of a weapon cases stemmed from traffic stops in Cook County. In 2023, there were nearly 500 — an increase of more than 700%, according to an analysis of data from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in response to an open records request. During that 10-year span, more than 3,600 unlawful use of a weapon cases resulted from traffic stops, with 86% made by Chicago Police.
* PJ Star | Iconic folk punk band Violent Femmes will play unique show in Peoria: The Peoria concert will kick off with the group performing its second album, 1984’s “Hallowed Ground.” The band will then play its debut album, the self-titled “Violent Femmes,” which included the songs “Blister in the Sun” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” The show will conclude with a few tracks from later albums.
* Block Club Chicago | For 40 Years, The ‘South Side Irish’ Song Has Been A Neighborhood Anthem. Meet The Man Behind It: McEldowney, 77, a perennial performer and raunchy wisecracker at Irish pub Reilly’s Daughter, gets his own float in the South Side Irish Parade traveling through Beverly and Morgan Park. “He’s the guy with the neighborhood’s fight song,” said Skinny Sheahan, a former right-hand man to Mayor Richard M. Daley. “All the kids around here learned the words in basements of churches. They grow up and sing it at packed bars. It’s a rite of passage.”
* SJ-R | The IHSA has set a timeline for adding a shot clock to Illinois high school basketball: “I think we’re looking at probably three years, to be honest with you,” [Illinois High School Association assistant executive director Kurt Gibson] said in an interview with the Aledo-based FM radio station on March 9. “We’ve had a couple of really good years with this experiential phase. I think we’re going to talk about maybe allowing schools to transition into just using it during the regular season without having to have any approval.
* SJ-R | Thousands of dollars raised for families of fatal school bus, semi crash in Illinois: Since Monday, the GoFundMe has already raised over $39,000 in assistance to the families, with 552 donations. “Every contribution, big or small, will make a difference and show these families that they’re not alone during this incredibly difficult time,” organizer for donations Dominic Thurman wrote on the page. “Your support will help cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and other unforeseen costs, allowing these families to focus on healing without the added stress of financial worries.”
* Can you imagine the outrage if a Chicago landlord was callously dithering about whether to mass-evict 5,600 tenants, many of them children, some of them in quarantine?
Progressive alderpersons/legislators/activists/unions/etc. would be freaking out of their minds.
Well, that’s pretty much what’s been playing out in Chicago, only the dithering landlord is the city itself and the tenants are asylum-seeking migrants. And most (not all) of the progressives have remained unusually silent as a self-declared progressive mayor has cavalierly dangled a sword of Damocles over the heads of thousands of people, some of whom have been exposed to the measles virus.
“Pressed by reporters, Johnson said [Wednesday] he did not know how many migrants were on the verge of being evicted from city shelters,” WTTW reported last night. “A spokesperson for Johnson said conversations were ongoing Thursday morning about whether the limits would be enforced.”
This is what happens when a mayor tries to move on from a crisis before the crisis is actually over. Governments can’t just wish away reality. Sun-Times…
Evictions for migrants in Chicago shelters all around the city will begin Sunday, the city announced Friday.
The city clarified the rules of evictions and who will be impacted by them at a briefing Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the previously announced shelter exit dates.
The city will give a reprieve to migrant families with children under age 18 until the end of the school year but will carry out evictions of migrants in shelters strictly for adults, beginning with 35 individuals in total from the shelters on Elston Avenue near Goose Island, the former Wadsworth Elementary school building in Woodlawn, and the Gage Park Field House.
* However, it looks like the city may finally have a plan beyond mass, same-day eviction threats. They’re moving to much more manageable staggered evictions, which makes more sense. The “plan” they had would’ve unnecessarily flooded the landing zone. Tribune…
The mayor had told reporters Wednesday the city would move ahead with limited Saturday evictions, amid outcry from a group of aldermen opposed to the policy.
Instead, 35 migrants will get kicked out Sunday. Another 244 are set to be removed by the end of March, and 1,782 more are scheduled to be forced to leave shelters between April 1 and April 30, the administration said.
The late change comes as residents of a Lower West Side shelter currently grapple with a measles outbreak. As of Thursday, 12 cases of the highly infectious disease have been reported in Chicago — the first such cases in five years — ten of which are from the migrant facility that is in the midst of a lockdown.
It is unclear how many migrants would have been affected were the Johnson administration to have proceeded. While his team previously estimated as many as 5,600 migrants could be removed under the shelter limit policy, he hinted Wednesday that scores would have been spared thanks to exemptions granted by the city.
Those required to leave were going to be directed back to the city’s landing zone if they wished to restart the process of waiting for a shelter bed.
* Meanwhile, the Texas governor apparently hoodwinked that state’s taxpayers with a pie in the sky boast…
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott boasted shortly after he began soliciting private donations for his controversial migrant busing program that there would likely “be no cost to the state” given the outpouring of support from concerned citizens across the country.
But after nearly two years of fundraising to offset the program’s costs, Abbott’s operation has collected less than half of 1% of the roughly $150 million spent on busing migrants to sanctuary cities, according to a review of state records. And CNN found that the largest donation – $900,000 – never made it into the state’s coffers, either because it was a mistake or a prank.
Records show that at most, around $550,000 has been raised to date. [About 0.4 percent of the actual cost, if the number is even correct.]
The data provided by the state reflected donations submitted online or by mail through check, credit card or bank transfer, not funds actually received by the state — meaning the data could contain donations that were rejected by banks and credit companies during processing. Reporters tried to reach the woman behind the supposed $900,000 donation, but they could not locate the person with the name provided, and the phone number submitted to state officials was disconnected. […]
CNN also spoke with another donor listed in the data who confirmed he did not make the $2,000 donation listed under his name. Yet another donor showed reporters a letter he said he received from the state after complaining that his $1,000 donation to the state border wall fund had been instead allocated to the busing efforts.
* More from Isabel…
* Tribune | Cook County offers to chip in on food costs for migrants, approves delay to paid-leave mandate for schools, parks: If passed by the Cook County Board, the measure would not add to the county’s bottom line. Preckwinkle is asking county commissioners to reallocate money already set aside in an emergency fund for migrant health care in this year’s budget and instead use it to “reimburse the City of Chicago for food service or other new arrival operating costs throughout calendar year 2024,” according to the proposal.
* WCIA | State agencies now quarantining Chicago migrants exposed to measles: Since Monday, the state has put up almost 100 family members from 26 households who have been exposed but not tested positive for the virus in the hotel. Families will quarantine for three weeks. The hotel is being used as a temporary quarantine shelter solely and is not open to the public. It has a capacity of up to 110 families.
* ABC Chicago | Measles cases reported at CPS schools; migrants quarantined at hotel: State officials are moving families who have been exposed to measles from shelters to unnamed hotels, specifically pregnant women and babies who are not able to be vaccinated. Babies are recommended to get their first dose of the measles vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old, according to the CDC.
* Axios | What we know (and don’t) about Chicago’s measles outbreak: School-aged Pilsen shelter residents have been advised to stay out of school until the vaccination status of all fellow residents has been resolved. Over this week, every eligible Pilsen shelter resident has consented and received an MMR vaccination, Ige says. Officials are also now administering them to new arrivals at the landing zone.
* Sun-Times | Migrants improvise to re-create dishes that remind them of home: It’s always been Tomás Alvarado’s dream to own a restaurant. After crossing into the United States with his wife Carmen Ollarves, their 3-year-old daughter Grecia and Ollarves’ brother Luis, that dream is in reach now more than ever. Back in Venezuela, there were moments when the couple struggled to find food and make it last. … One dish, in particular, is a nod to the blending of cultures, thanks to the Italian colonial and migratory history in Venezuela: spaghetti with ground beef, plantains and garlic bread.
The governor proposed raising another $200 million by upping the tax rates paid by sportsbooks to 35 percent from 15 percent. When the General Assembly legalized sports betting in 2019, lawmakers dedicated all revenue from it to building infrastructure projects. But the governor’s plan would direct all extra revenue generated by the increase to the state’s General Revenue Fund.
Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, one of the architects of the original sports betting legalization plan, questioned the logic of the move.
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep this under the capital fund, so that we fully fund the projects that we’ve been trying to get out the door?” he asked.
Pritzker’s Office of Management and Budget Director Alexis Sturm responded that video gambling and cigarette taxes that also fund infrastructure have outperformed expectations.
“The revenues that are coming into the capital projects fund have been sufficient to cover the debt service needs out of that fund,” she said, adding that new casino licensing fees and other casino revenues fund “pay-as-you-go” projects that don’t require borrowing.
* The Question: Would you rather see this new $200 million go into the General Revenue Fund, as the governor proposes, or stay in the capital fund? Explain.
Today Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) announced plans to dedicate capital funds to rebuild Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, addressing critical infrastructure needs at both facilities. The funding is included in the capital proposal the governor presented the General Assembly as part of his FY25 budget proposal.
The capital investments will begin to address years of disinvestment in facilities built almost a century ago, saving the state hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance and annual upkeep costs. The capital investment plan will initially focus on rebuilding two facilities that have been identified as having the most significant deferred maintenance costs as the administration continues to assess the IDOC infrastructure and where additional investments might be needed.
“The capital funds dedicated to Stateville and Logan further demonstrate our commitment to continuing to rebuild and strengthen our state’s infrastructure,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These investments will allow staff to work in modern and safe facilities, ensure those who are incarcerated can safely serve out their sentences, and save taxpayers hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance costs from years of neglect.”
IDOC will work with the Capital Development Board and stakeholders on a timeline and next steps, with work to begin pending capital appropriations in the FY25 budget. Based on assessments of each facility and land availability, it is anticipated that Stateville will be temporarily closed and demolished with a new facility to be built on its grounds. The status of Logan in the interim is still to be worked through with various stakeholders, and the location of the new facility is still being finalized.
The plan estimates construction costs will total between $805 to $935 million. Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY25 capital budget included $900 million in new funds to demolish and rebuild these facilities. Long-term, the projects are expected to save the state an average of $34 million in annual operations savings, over the long term, by lowering overtime, maintenance, and utility costs on the facilities. Rebuilding these facilities will also save the state hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance costs that have accrued after decades of neglect. These facilities were selected based on a 2023 CGL report the state contracted to identify and prioritize IDOC facility needs.
In accordance with the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) process, construction will not commence until all requirements of the State Facilities Closure Act are met. The design and buildout of the new facilities is anticipated to be completed over the next three to five years. IDOC will coordinate closely with staff at these facilities, organized labor, individuals in custody, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth the rebuilding process and the department is continuing its work to hire for a number of open positions.
“This plan marks a pivotal moment in IDOC’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and the individuals in our care,” said Latoya Hughes, Acting Director of IDOC. “These investments underscore Illinois’ unwavering commitment to implementing modernized and secure correctional environments while taking a fiscally responsible approach to address aging infrastructure.”
“The Illinois Justice Project has an essential goal to reduce the number of people in prison. We also support the elimination of any and all conditions that are unsafe and unhealthy or put those housed in the Illinois Department of Corrections at risk,” said Illinois Justice Project Director Ahmadou Dramé. “We will continue to work with advocates and policymakers alike to reduce incarceration and create humane conditions for those who are incarcerated.”
Our union was only notified late Thursday of the Department of Corrections plan to demolish Stateville and Logan prisons and build new facilities in their place. The department did not seek or consider the input of frontline employees or the union in the development of this plan.
“We have grave concerns,” said Roberta Lynch, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, the state employee union whose members include some 10,000 corrections employees.
“Closing facilities even temporarily would disrupt and potentially destabilize the prison system, while bringing upheaval to the lives of affected employees and individuals in custody.”
While there is no question that state prisons are in dire need of tens of millions of dollars of deferred maintenance, the information released so far raises many more questions than it answers. For example:
• If both facilities are closed for reconstruction, where will offenders be relocated in a way that does not destabilize other facilities? Stateville primarily houses maximum-security offenders. Logan is one of only two facilities that house women and the only facility for medium- and maximum-security female offenders; placing this population at other facilities that currently house male offenders—or overcrowding the only other women’s facility—poses logistical and safety concerns.
• The plan would result in the layoff of all employees at both facilities. Although the department claims that positions would be available for these employees at other facilities, how far away would these positions be? IDOC is already finding it extremely difficult to hire and retain employees in the current environment. This plan could all too easily drive staffing levels so low that the entire system would be destabilized.
• Are there truly no other alternatives to razing these facilities and rebuilding on the exact same site? Stateville grounds encompass some 2,200 acres, Logan 150 acres. Why not build new facilities elsewhere on the grounds while utilizing the existing facilities in the interim? Could rebuilding on the exact location require remediating environmental hazards caused by demolition?
• Stateville is valued for its proximity to the Chicago area, allowing individuals in custody to more easily stay connected to their family members in the state’s largest population center. Logan’s central location offers efficient access to transport offenders to legal, medical and other mandatory appointment in any part of the state.
“We cannot support this plan unless and until the department provides satisfactory answers to these compelling questions,” Council 31 director Lynch said.
*** UPDATE *** Jordan Abudayyeh with the governor’s office…
The union’s grave concerns are unusual given their continued demands to increase the safety and security of the work environment of their members. This plan fully addresses those concerns at the two facilities facing the most serious and expensive maintenance issues. It will ensure that AFSCME members can do their jobs in modern, safe facilities. It is not fiscally responsible or feasible to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in a continuing effort to shore up facilities that have been neglected for decades and used for over a century. As we have assured the union, all of their members will continue to be employed at all times as we transition to safer facilities. As we move forward, transfers of incarcerated individuals will only take place with appropriate timing, in a way that minimizes disruptions to the greatest extent possible, and while ensuring the safety and security of all involved.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* From Logan County…
State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason), State Representative Bill Hauter (R-Morton), Logan County Board Chairman Emily Davenport, and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch released the following joint statement in response to the Pritzker Administration’s announced decision to close the Logan Correctional Center:
“The decision by the Governor’s Administration to close the Logan Correctional Center without any assurance of its reopening within Logan County is both devastating and infuriating. While we recognize that Logan Correctional is in need of repairs, it is only in its current state of disrepair because of neglect and the misplaced priorities of this Administration.
“Logan Correctional is an instrumental part of Lincoln and its surrounding communities. It provides more than 500 direct jobs, hundreds more indirect jobs, and immeasurable local economic benefits. We will continue to fight for each and every one of these jobs and ensure our communities get the answers they deserve from the Governor’s Administration.”
* Sen. Ventura…
— State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) released the following statement after the governor announced a plan for transformative capital investments in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities:
“There is no reason incarcerated individuals should be subjected to a facility that lacks basic human necessities — from clean water to outdoor recreational space. The quality of life at the Stateville prison is beyond repair. It’s imperative we build a new facility — but we must do so in a way that takes into account the needs of its residents, their loved ones and workers.
“Employees of Stateville have made Will County their home. A just transition must be put forward to ensure not a single job is lost. Further, conversations must be had to ensure families of incarcerated individuals have a feasible way to see their loved ones — be that an option to zoom or transportation services. It’s imperative we keep people as close to their families as possible.
“I will be monitoring the situation closely and working with state officials to ensure a fair and just transition plan is implemented. All stakeholders — from employees to families — should have a seat at the table to put forth tangible solutions to safeguard jobs and the humanity of incarcerated individuals.”
Today’s announcement by Governor Pritzker to shutter Logan and Stateville Correctional Centers in order to rebuild them recognizes that these prisons are decrepit, unsafe, and inhumane. Acknowledging that both Logan and Stateville are not fit for human habitation represents an important step towards respecting the dignity and rights of people who are incarcerated, and there is benefit to rethinking our carceral environments in order to move towards smaller, more rehabilitative, modernized spaces that are adequately equipped and staffed to provide people with individualized help and treatment and reduce the suffering and trauma so often experienced in our current prisons. However, this announcement does not address the fact that the Illinois prisons are currently well under capacity, with close to 12,000 excess prison beds throughout the system; we can and should also permanently close some of our worst prisons. This makes good sense financially and morally.
The Facility Master Plan Report, commissioned by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), authored by an independent consultant, and published in 2023 laid bare the unsafe and inhumane conditions that exist at Logan and Stateville Correctional Centers – as well as at many other Illinois prisons – as JHA has been documenting and reporting on for years. According to the report, billions of dollars are required to address the ravages of excessive deferred maintenance at many of the prisons, many of which – including Logan and Stateville – have infrastructure beyond fixing and could never be made to be appropriate spaces to treat, rehabilitate, or house people in custody. Most of Illinois’ prisons were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Prison Rape Elimination Act became law, making them out of compliance with legal safeguards that should be provided to every person and in violation of the civil rights of people who suffer because of this. Wheelchairs and assistive devices cannot be accommodated, and establishing sight lines and protections to stop or deter sexual victimization is not possible. Beyond these issues are the lack of technological infrastructure (making improved and increased communications, information access, and programming impossible) and the horrible conditions people incarcerated in these prisons contend with every day: mold; poor ventilation; discolored, odorous, and particle filled water in cells and showers; water damage that leads to ceilings and floors collapsing; roofs caving in; infestations of rodents and vermin; extreme temperatures; and sewage and sanitation system failures, all of which impact the safety, health, and well-being of the people who live and work inside the prisons.
It is long past time that Logan and Stateville be depopulated and demolished. In 2023, women at Logan who responded to a JHA survey commented that, “our water has legionella, our showers, have leeches, our housing units have black mold & asbestos, The housing units are falling in on us” and that, “Every day, all day, we breathe BLACK MOLD, ASBESTOS, AND COAL DUST”. According to the Facility Master Plan Report, “[o]ur review found the existing Logan Correctional Center to be inefficient, ineffective, and unsuitable for any population. The aging coal-fired power system, molding housing units, and facility layout all work in opposition to the mission and goals of the facility. IDOC should find a more suitable location for housing its incarcerated women” (pg. 44).
Conditions at Stateville are similarly horrible; in assessing this prison as part of the Facility Master Plan Report, it was found that, “[i]n addition to the extremely poor conditions throughout the facility (peeling paint, leaking roofs) the facility’s 100 year old design is reflective of 1800’s prison philosophy, with multitiered housing units. These units are poor for a maximum custody population, but even worse for a multi-custody re-entry mission. The units lack dayroom space or any adjacent program space. Cells are small and there is limited electrical connections resulting in extension cords ran from cell to cell. Due to limited line-of-sight, an intensive level of staffing is necessary to adequately supervise these units. Maintaining a constant ambient temperature is nearly impossible from the lower tier to the upper tier. Shower facilities are poor and create PREA issues. Overall, the facility can’t comply with ADA requirements” (pg. 46). In response to JHA surveys at Stateville in 2023, people incarcerated there wrote that, “Stateville should be overhauled or closed. No hot water for the past two months, legionella bacteria in our drinking water supply, also lead was found… infestation of roaches and spiders. I sleep with roaches crawling all in my bed and I keep myself and my cell clean” and that, “The drinking water is contaminated; people are developing cancer here at an alarming rate; the air circulation is very poor and we are developing upper respiratory problems from breathing in entirely too much dust/other unknown air pollutants on a daily basis for years on end; Black mold inside cells; very bad roach and mouse infestation…”
Removing people from immediate harm by taking them out of Illinois’ most decrepit and unsafe prisons is critical. Closing outdated, uninhabitable, redundant prisons is also critical in order to respect the human rights of all citizens and invest in strategies that will benefit everyone. We can reduce our reliance on incarceration and close the most inhumane prisons, while also considering new ways to house people who must remain that are safe, rehabilitative, and recognize and respect those who live and work inside our prisons. Investing in communities and social safety networks, increasing and improving educational and employment opportunities, and utilizing deflection and diversion more often will improve outcomes. Illinois cannot continue to house and employ people in prisons that pose a danger to everyone inside of them due to degraded and hazardous conditions; the costs are too high when measured in dollars, morality, and our humanity.
A full rebuild of Stateville will cause transfer of inmates and staff. There may be some challenges with this, but I am here to work with folks and be a voice through the transition. I am glad they are finally updating the outdated facility for safety and efficiency purposes, which will be good jobs for building trades, but feel terrible for staff that is temporarily transferred. Some staff has already been transferred there from permanent closures in the past.
The governor proposed raising another $200 million by upping the tax rates paid by sportsbooks to 35 percent from 15 percent. When the General Assembly legalized sports betting in 2019, lawmakers dedicated all revenue from it to building infrastructure projects. But the governor’s plan would direct all extra revenue generated by the increase to the state’s General Revenue Fund.
Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, one of the architects of the original sports betting legalization plan, questioned the logic of the move.
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep this under the capital fund, so that we fully fund the projects that we’ve been trying to get out the door?” he asked.
Pritzker’s Office of Management and Budget Director Alexis Sturm responded that video gambling and cigarette taxes that also fund infrastructure have outperformed expectations.
Senate Bill 1556 from state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, would mandate two state regulators, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Pollution Control Board, to establish a “clean transportation standard” and reduce the use of carbon-based fuels by Illinois drivers on the state’s roads.
The two agencies would assign state-mandated “deficits” to fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel.
The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, on behalf of more than 4,000 gas stations, convenience stores and truck stops across Illinois who serve millions of customers, opposes the proposal.
“Having the No. 1 gas tax in the nation, Illinois, my members and certainly motorists here can’t afford it,” IFRA CEO Josh Sharp said.
* Protect Illinois Restaurants…
[Deleted by Rich because the “poll” is highly suspect.]
Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) said his plan calls for a stewardship program to ensure proper handling, recycling and end-of-life management for used portable and medium-format batteries. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would be responsible for implementing, administering and enforcing the program.
“Having grandkids that have a lot of toys and things, you collect your used batteries,” Koehler said Thursday. “I used to take them to my local Lowe’s store. They took them for a while. Then, all of a sudden, they didn’t. What am I supposed to do with these?”
Producers selling or distributing batteries in Illinois would be required to participate in an approved stewardship plan starting January 1, 2026. Retail stores would also no longer be allowed to sell batteries unless their producer participates in the Illinois battery stewardship program by July 1, 2026. […]
“It’s a public safety bill to reduce the risk of fire and the risk of loss of human life to any fires at facilities and in trucks,” said Christina Seibert, Executive Director of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. “But also, it’s a mechanism to recapture these valuable materials and reproduce them into new batteries and reduce the mining of those resources.”
State lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would require Illinoisans to verify their age when clicking on pornographic sites. Those Illinois businesses that fail to enact verification methods would be subject to civil penalties.
State Sen. Erica Harriss’ Senate Bill 2590 is much like legislation that has been filed in 25 other states, and has passed in at least seven of those states. […]
Harriss has bipartisan support. State Sens. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, and Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, have co-sponsored the legislation. The Democratic lawmakers did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for comment. […]
Alongside Harriss at a news conference in Springfield Thursday was state Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia. He said he has a bill that would require school boards to put their curriculum on the school district’s website.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill Tuesday changing how liability is calculated under BIPA.
Under the current law, companies need to get written consent from customers and employees to use biometric information like fingerprints, face scanners and retina scanners. That part of the law would not change, though the bill would allow companies to obtain an electronic signature for consent. What would change is what happens when a company violates the law.
Currently, they can be held liable in civil court for $1,000 in damages for each violation. It means every time an employee uses their fingerprint to punch the clock or enter a restricted area, the company could be held liable if they did not get consent. If the proposal becomes law, damages would change to $1,000 per person.
“If anyone violates the law, whether it’s an individual or a company, they have to be held accountable, and this bill doesn’t change that. What this bill does is essentially ensure that the punishment fits the crime,” said state Sen, Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, the bill’s sponsor.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced legislation that would protect workers from retaliatory conduct by employers, strengthen current protections under state law and codify the authority of Raoul’s Workplace Rights Bureau to investigate and hold employers who retaliate or threaten to retaliate accountable.
“Currently, workers who want to assert their basic workplace rights risk losing their livelihood and ability to provide for themselves and their families. For some immigrant workers, asserting their rights means risking their ability to remain in the United States,” Raoul said. “We must encourage workers to step up and report dangerous or unlawful practices, and I look forward to continuing to work with members of the Illinois General Assembly to pass these needed reforms.”
Raoul’s legislation – contained in House Bill (HB) 5561 – would fill existing voids in labor enforcement that leave workers unprotected from often-devastating employer retaliation when they seek to enforce their rights or blow the whistle on unlawful employer practices.
Specifically, the legislation would:
- Broaden the scope of conduct protected under the Illinois Whistleblower Act to protect employees who report violations of the law or threats to public health and safety directly to their employer.
- Expand the definition of retaliation to include blacklisting an employee from future opportunities and immigration-based retaliation.
- Provide express statutory authority to the Attorney General’s office to bring suit against employers who retaliate or threaten retaliation against employees.
HB 5561 is sponsored in the Illinois House of Representatives by Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and passed the House’s Judiciary Civil-Committee on Wednesday.
* Sen. Kimberly Lightford…
The rise of co-branded alcoholic beverages – like Hard Mountain Dew and Spiked Sunny-D – has piqued the interest of children. Whether the marketing is intentional or not, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is working to put a stop to the issue by restricting the location certain alcohol items can be displayed and sold. […]
Co-branded alcoholic beverages contain the same or similar brand name, logo or packaging as a non-alcoholic beverage. Senate Bill 2625 would prohibit stores over 2,500 square feet – which primarily is anything bigger than a convenience store – from displaying co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water, candy, or snack foods portraying cartoons or child-oriented images.
Establishments that are smaller would be required to either not display co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, or equip displays of co-branded beverages with clearly visible signage stating that the product is alcoholic. […]
Senate Bill 2625 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
* ICYMI: Illinois’ high court reports ‘breathtaking’ rise in appeals following elimination of cash bail. WTTW…
- Justices on Illinois’ high court are pitching these changes; legislative sign-off on making an office dedicated to pretrial services into its own standalone entity, and the creation of a new office to support public defenders.
-Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis said the spike in appeals is the “biggest challenge” to the judicial branch’s implementation of the pretrial justice system.
- The Illinois Supreme Court is seeking $569.1 million in state general revenue funds — $30.9 million more than the $538.2 million proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
* Injustice Watch | Name-change law used to target women running for judge: Ashonta C. Rice’s name was removed from the Cook County ballot under a 2007 law intended to prevent candidates from using name changes to deceive voters. She’s not the first, and some say the law has been used as a political weapon against female candidates instead.
* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces plan to tear down, replace historic Stateville prison: Pritzker’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes $900 million to demolish and rebuild the correctional centers and the administration estimates the construction costs at $805 million to $935 million. Pritzker’s administration said it expects that once they’re completed, the rebuilt prisons will save the state an average of $34 million annually by lowering overtime, maintenance and utility costs.
* SJ-R | Why Pritzker holds ‘degree of skepticism’ on new carbon capture bill: “We’re going to be working through how if he would, we would implement carbon capture in the state of Illinois,” [Pritzker] said at the governor’s office. “Is it going to be safe for people who are living in areas where carbon capture will be taking place? How would we implement it to make sure that in the construction of that, that it would be safe?”
* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker agency heads questioned on $1.1 billion revenue proposals: “The idea is that they will not be able to use those losses to reduce revenue,” Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris told the House Revenue and Finance Committee on Thursday. “So they’re limited. And thus, since they’re limited in terms of using those losses to reduce revenue, that revenue is going to be now taxed.”
* Sun-Times | Fewer Illinois residents using payday lenders after state crackdown, study finds: In 2019, Illinois consumers paid $607.4 million in interest and fees — the fourth highest amount in the nation — on more than 1 million payday loans, installment payday loans, auto title loans and small consumer loans, according to Woodstock. In 2022, a year after the predatory loan act went into effect, borrowers took out 105 of those loans and the fees totaled $1,279.
* WBEZ | Nearly all of state’s attorney hopeful Eileen O’Neill Burke’s big funders are white men:Those 25 donors — venture capitalists, investment managers, traders, real estate developers, upscale restaurant chain owners, personal-injury lawyers, and so on — account for about half of the $3.1 million in campaign fundraising that O’Neill Burke had reported to the state by Thursday afternoon, just a few days before the end of voting Tuesday. Her Democratic primary opponent, University of Chicago lecturer Clayton Harris III, won the party’s endorsement but has lagged in fundraising. Harris, whose top 25 donors include nine African Americans and 10 women, has reported $1.2 million in campaign donations.
* Tribune | As U.S. Rep. Danny Davis seeks 15th term, opponents argue it’s time to move on: Emboldened by Davis’ close call in 2022, when he beat progressive activist Kina Collins by just 6 points, the second-term treasurer is mounting a challenge built on the argument that the South and West side neighborhoods comprising the core of the district have little to show for Davis’ nearly half-century in public office — with more than half of that time in Congress — that began when he was elected the 29th Ward alderman in 1979.
* Landmark | Rashid faces challenge from former cop in Democratic primary: This is the 62-year-old Vasquez’s second political race. In 2003, the resident of the southwest side of Chicago ran for alderman of Chicago’s 23rd ward, where he was trounced by former Ald. Michael R. Zalewski, the father of the former state representative. Vasquez received only 18.31% of the vote. Vazquez, who now works as an Amtrak police officer after a 32-year career with the Chicago Police Department, said that race soured him on running for office for some time, but now he has decided to make another run for office. Vasquez said that he is running against Rashid because he believes Rashid has not been active in the district and is more focused on Palestinian issues than the nuts and bolts work of being a state representative.
* Sun-Times | Illinois history has lessons on the politics of abortion: You may not know the names Rosemary Mulligan and Penny Pullen, but their 1990 race for a seat in the Illinois Legislature foreshadowed the role of abortion in politics today. Down-ballot races like this highlight the important work of state legislators on issues that affect people most.
* Sun-Times | Waukegan city clerk charged with misconduct, misapplication of funds: A 15-count indictment was returned Wednesday alleging Kilkelly gave thousands of dollars in credits to businesses that did not qualify for the financial support, the Lake County state’s attorney’s office said. Kikelly’s office and the Waukegan City Council had “repeatedly established” that the credits would solely go to businesses that were considered to be in “good standing,” the state’s attorney’s office said.
* Chicago Reader | Illinois made it easier for gun violence survivors to apply for compensation. Why aren’t more Chicagoans finding the program?: Yet, during the Trace’s recent survivor storytelling project, an initiative that helped victims write about their experiences, participants said they were still struggling to receive funding. Using records obtained through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the Trace analyzed nearly 23,000 claims between January 2018 and November 2023, almost half of which came from Chicago, to see whether the program had improved. The Trace looked at the outcome of claims opened within each calendar year, not the year when they were closed, to assess the timeliness of the program and how legislative changes might have affected application results.
* WBEZ | Toni Preckwinkle flexes her political muscle as she backs Democrats in Tuesday’s election: From presidential tarmac visits to lauded policy decisions during crises, Preckwinkle focused instead on the power and influence she already had in two of the most important political roles in the region. “She decided to step back, look at what she had and use what she had to show her power. That she was just as powerful as Lori Lightfoot, if not more,” said veteran political strategist Delmarie Cobb, who has known Preckwinkle for more than 20 years. “She didn’t have to flex her muscles publicly. She could go behind the scenes, use the tools she had at her disposal as the Cook County Board president and as the chair of the party, and still continue to amass power and to wield power. And that’s what she did.”
* Tribune | Cook County approves $17 million settlement for Jackie Wilson, exonerated in 1982 cop killings: The payout will resolve a civil rights lawsuit filed by Jackie Wilson that accused several former Cook County assistant state’s attorneys of railroading him for murders committed by his older brother. It is thought to be among the largest wrongful conviction settlements for a single defendant in county history.
* CBS Chicago | South suburban Chicago mayor sued by ex-employees claiming they were wrongfully fired: One lawsuit was filed by former Thornton Township human resources manager Sandra Tracy, who claimed she was retaliated against after she refused to put together a list with the “dirt” on township employees. Tracy also claimed she was retaliated against for taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – and was locked out of the township building and made to work out of her car in the parking lot for six months, attorneys alleged.
* Patch | IPHCA, IHA Welcome Prescription Drug Savings Court Ruling: The 8th Circuit’s decision upheld Arkansas law (Act 1103) prohibiting drug companies from restricting provider access to 340B discounts through contract pharmacies, and agreeing that state law isn’t preempted by federal law, but instead supports the 340B program. Of note, the Court found, “Pharmacy has traditionally been regulated at the state level, and we must assume that absent a strong showing that Congress intended preemption, state statutes that impact health and welfare are not preempted.”
* Slate | The Parents in My Classroom: My student was partly right. Emergencies happen. Parents want access to their kids. But this wasn’t an emergency. “When my dad texts and asks me how I am,” another ninth grader said, “he gets worried if I don’t message back immediately.” Her friend said: “My mom expects a text each class period so she knows what I’m doing.”
* Tribune | Chicago has a new ‘I voted!’ sticker. Meet the artist behind the bold and simple design: The artist behind the new sticker, Jane Ignacio, has designed everything for the board for more than 20 years, from its social media posts to its election judge handbooks. “Going to the polling place on Election Day is like my Super Bowl,” the freelance designer said in an interview Thursday.
Campaign mailers from candidates for the 20th state Senate District are inundating neighbors, trash cans and alleys, with many complaining that state Sen. Natalie Toro has sent more than her opponents and candidates in other races.
Neighbors told Block Club and shared on social media that Toro’s campaign has filled their mailboxes and doors with so many mailers and door-hangers that some are afraid to check their mailboxes. […]
Dave Seman, a political campaign consultant who runs Paladin Political and has worked on local and national campaigns using direct mail and digital media, said that even though neighbors are feeling overwhelmed with Toro mailer ads, frequency is key to boosting her platform.
“The mailer perspective is, we’re definitely persuading them and giving the voter an argument, but we are asking for their vote,” Seman said. “To the people who are offended that we asked them too many times for their vote … they probably weren’t our voters in the first place. This is a race where you have a millionaire, a lobbyist and a teacher — they’re going make that conversation as prevalent as they possibly can.”
Click here, here and here for Reddit posts from those swamped with Toro campaign mail.
An owner of a video gambling business. President of a political consulting firm. Owner of a private law practice. These are some of the outside jobs held by senior advisors in Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s office. […]
A People’s Fabric investigation shows senior advisors failing to report potential conflicts and outside income on required ethics disclosures. In one case, an advisor’s unreported income came from political work for Martinez and her close allies.
In her capacity as judge, Chevere faced several controversies, including an investigation that found her sunbathing in her backyard when she was supposed to be at work. She was later removed from the courtroom after several allegations of misconduct, including jailing defendants who wore baggy pants.
Chevere now serves as a Senior Policy Advisor to Martinez, receiving a salary of $175,044.
Next year, Illinois high school juniors could take the ACT instead of the SAT as the federally-mandated state test. The Illinois State Board of Education has started the process of awarding a three-year, $53 million contract to ACT Inc.
The College Board’s contract to administer the SAT for 11th graders and PSAT for ninth and 10 graders is set to expire June 30. The state board is required by federal law to administer accountability assessments to high school students. State law says that exam must be a nationally recognized college entrance exam like the SAT or ACT. All Illinois public high school students must take a college entrance exam in order to receive their high school diploma.
The ACT would be administered in school buildings starting with the school year 2024-25, but students will still be able to take the SAT if they want to pay for it.
Illinois’ plan to switch tests comes at a time when the SAT is going fully digital and will take two hours instead of three. (The ACT is three hours). The new SAT will also be adaptive, with test questions that adjust in difficulty based on how students respond to previous questions.
* Here’s the rest…
* WCIA | Illinois unemployment rate slightly increased for Jan. 2024: The Bloomington and Champaign-Urbana metropolitan areas had the largest increases of jobs since Jan. 2023, with a 3.8% and 2.1% increases respectively. The largest decreases of non-farm jobs over-the-year were the Springfield area with a 2.7% decrease and the Decatur area with a 2.5% decrease.
* Nieman Lab | A company linked to a large “pink slime” network is being hired by big publishers like Gannett: A Gannett spokesperson confirmed the company has a contract to produce “advertorial content” sourced from Advantage Informatics, a blandly named company founded by Brian Timpone, a conservative businessman and former TV reporter based out of Chicago. (Timpone’s name may be familiar to readers who remember the Journatic scandal of 2012, or to those who have followed the Tow Center for Digital Journalism’s extensive research on “pink slime” sites.)
* ABC Chicago | 3 former employees sue Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard for wrongful firing amid corruption accusations: All of them said they were terminated for refusing to do political campaign work for Henyard. Sandra Tracy is a former Human Resource Manager for Thornton Township. Karen Johnson is a former Dolton Public Works Department administrative assistant. Samysha Williams is the former director of Dolton’s Buildings Permits and License Department.
* WICS | Hundreds of FFA members advocate for Illinois agriculture’s future in State Capitol: These FFA members brought with them baskets full of Illinois agricultural goods so these state officials could see everything that Illinois agriculture has to offer. Items in the baskets included products that were provided by the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Association, to popcorn, and other goods made within the state.
* Sun-Times | 2 CPS students reported to have measles as new cases climb to 10, officials say: Two Chicago Public Schools students were among a handful of people reported to have measles, bringing the city’s total up to 10 as of Wednesday evening, health and school officials confirmed. Earlier this week, CPS learned of a positive measles case involving a student at Philip D. Armour Elementary School in Bridgeport and the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed another case at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy in Pilsen.
* CNN | All eligible people at Chicago migrant shelter have been vaccinated for measles in ‘unprecedented operation’: The Chicago Department of Public Health said Wednesday that everyone who is eligible for vaccination at the temporary shelter housing migrants at the center of a measles outbreak has now been vaccinated. The city learned that it had its first measles case since 2019 last week. Illinois is one of 17 states that have seen measles cases so far this year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first case in Chicago was unrelated to the shelter.
* Tribune | Looking for work, migrants turn to street vending: In recent months, other types of street vending have also become more visible. Men and women walk through CTA trains selling chocolates and candy out of decorated bins. On a recent afternoon, several women from Ecuador sat on street corners around the Loop, selling gum, M&Ms, Reese’s and Skittles.
* WBEZ | How Chicago’s long history of migrant influxes has shaped its population: To put this latest wave of migration into context, WBEZ identified three periods in Chicago’s history when the city experienced a similar — or larger — influx of newcomers: European migration at the turn of the 20th century, the Great Migration of Black Americans from the South and migration from Mexico in the 1990s and 2000s.
* Crain’s | Johnson urged to appoint commissioner to overlooked zoning board: When an application for an Uptown transitional shelter was submitted to the city’s quasi-judicial Zoning Board of Appeals it had several forces behind the project suggesting it would be approved. […] the application was rejected in a 2-2 decision after hours of testimony in a crowded 11th floor board room at City Hall. Opponents of the shelter included businesses that shared the building and nearby residents. Had Johnson bothered to appoint a fifth member to the zoning board during his first 10 months in office the outcome may have been different.
* Streetsblog | Contrary to neighbor’s concerns, Chicago Fire Department says they haven’t heard of any problems with new Dearborn protected bike lane: But not everyone is happy about the changes. We did hear from a neighbor worried that converting Dearborn, a relatively quiet, mostly residential street north of Chicago Avenue, from two northbound mixed-traffic lanes to one will cause problems for first responders. He argued the street redesign make it tough for other drivers to pull over to the right to make way for firefighters, EMTs, and police officers. […] But Barnes found nothing to back up that claim. “WGN News took their concerns to the Chicago Fire Department, whose spokesmen had not heard of any issues for firefighters,” She acknowledged. “Chicago police did not respond to our request for comment.”
* WBEZ | Stealing campaign signs is a Chicago tradition steeped in machine politics: Back in 2007, it was especially rampant in the 50th Ward, where the Wasmer-Brekke family lived. At the time, the family was locked in a heated sign war. Every time they put up signs for Naisy Dolar, they would get swiped. They brainstormed ways to catch the thief, including the one that woke Brekke up in the middle of the night: tying empty cans to a decoy sign, so they’d rattle if it was pulled away.
* Crain’s | How Chicago politicians lost the luck of the Irish: Once the St. Patrick’s Day event of the season where mayors and gubernatorial candidates endured cheers and jeers, there’s a conspicuous absence of political activity at this year’s parade. Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t march, nor will state’s attorney candidate, Judge Eileen O’Neill Burke. Rep. Sean Casten, the incumbent for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, is scheduled though he already leads his opponents in fundraising.
* Sun-Times | $45 million settlement offered for teen who can’t walk, speak after crash during police chase: The payment, one of the largest in Chicago history, would go to Nathen Jones, who suffered a massive brain injury in a traffic accident. Jones was a passenger in a car being chased by police after a traffic violation. The April 2021 pursuit violated a newly-revised CPD policy intended to rein in vehicular pursuits.
* Patch | How IL House Lawmakers Voted On The TikTok Ban: Supporting the bill were Democrat Reps. Nikki Budzinski, Sean Casten, Bill Foster, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley, Bradley Schneider, Eric Sorensen and Lauren Underwood as well as Republican Reps. Mike Bost, Darin LaHood and Mary E. Miller, according to The Washington Post.
* WCIA | Central IL farmers prepare for planting amid warm weather: For farmers in Central Illinois, the mild winter has set the stage for everything to go as planned. Pesotum farmer Chris Hausman said he’ll start around April 1 to protect against any potential frosts.
A state law that limits where lawsuits challenging state laws can be filed has been ruled unconstitutional as applied to a case from Madison County.
Approved last year and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Bill 3062 was opposed by Republicans who said limiting where people can sue the state to just two of the state’s 102 counties is “tyrannical.” The law limits where people can sue the state alleging constitutional violations from state laws or executive orders to just Cook and Sangamon counties.
In Piasa Armory’s challenge to the state’s firearm industry liability law in November, the state motioned to move the case to Sangamon County. Earlier this month, a Madison County judge found the court venue limit law as applied in the case is unconstitutional.
The law “does violate due process, as applied to persons who reside or were injured outside of Cook or Sangamon County,” Madison County Judge Ronald Forest, Jr. wrote. “The motion to transfer is Denied, as [the law] is unconstitutional, as Defendant seeks to apply it.” […]
In its motion to move the case to Sangamon County, the state said the litigants can remote in with video conferencing. Forest said the state could also video conference into Madison County.
“The Court is aware that Supreme Court Rule … allows broad use of video conference or telephone at an evidentiary hearing or trial ‘for good cause shown and upon appropriate safeguards’ or even as of right,” Forest wrote. “However, the availability of remote proceedings does not bolster the State’s argument. The State could also participate in Madison County using the same remote means.”
“Sangamon county is simply inconvenient to plaintiff, inconvenient to plaintiff’s witnesses, and defendant lists no witnesses that Sangamon County would be convenient for,” Foster wrote. “While hardly entitled to any weight, even the location of plaintiff’s counsel is in Madison County. While documents may be relatively easy to move, there is no showing that any relevant documents are anywhere other than Madison County.” […]
In his order, Foster relied upon the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in Williams v Illinois State Scholarship Commission, which is the only state court precedent addressing whether a statute fixing venue violated a litigant’s due process rights.
In Williams, Cook County was set as the “exclusive venue” for lawsuits brought against student loan borrowers by the state agency tasked with administering those loans.
The Supreme Court concluded that “the burden of an inconvenient forum, when combined with the indigence of the ‘borrowers’ and other factors, ‘effectively deprived the borrowers of any means of defending themselves in these actions’ and therefore constituted ‘a due process deprivation.’”
Similar to the student loan borrowers in Williams, Piasa Armory demonstrated that both Sangamon and Cook Counties are inconvenient forums.
“As applied to plaintiff in this case, as a practical matter, transferring this action to Sangamon County will deprive it of the ability to put up its best challenge to the constitutionality of [Firearm Industry Responsibility Act],” Foster wrote.
* The Illinois State Scholarship Commission was exclusively filing all collections lawsuits in Cook County against people who defaulted on Guaranteed Student Loans. A lawsuit was filed by a Madison County resident challenging the practice, and then the General Assembly passed a bill to codify it. From the Supreme Court opinion…
In its order granting summary judgment in plaintiffs’ favor, the trial court applied the balancing test set forth in Mathews v. Eldridge (1976), 424 U.S. 319, 334-35, 96 S. Ct. 893, 903, 47 L. Ed. 2d 18, 33, for determining whether a statute or governmental policy violates due process. This test calls for courts to weigh the costs of requiring a particular set of procedures against the benefits derived from the use of those procedures. In particular, the Mathews test consists of three factors: (1) the private interest that will be affected by the official action; (2) the risk of erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used and the probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards; and (3) the government’s interest, including the function involved and the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional or substitute procedural requirements would entail. […]
Because venue is merely a matter of procedure, courts generally cannot interfere with the legislature’s province in determining where venue is proper, unless constitutional provisions are violated. … This court, in fact, has never declared a venue statute unconstitutional. But we have stated that a law fixing venue could be so arbitrary or unreasonable as to deprive defendants of due process. Therefore, after considering the three Mathews factors in light of both the purpose behind the general venue rules in Illinois and general principles of statutory interpretation, we determine that the special venue provision of section 30-15.12 is such an arbitrary and unreasonable statute. […]
In contrast, the only purpose behind the special venue provision of section 30-15.12 is the convenience of ISSC’s legal department and the Attorney General. As we have already discussed, this is inapposite to the purposes of the general venue statute. Thus, the statute in question in the case at bar is not a logical extension of the legislature’s previous pronouncements regarding venue. Also, as we will discuss in the next section, the government actually has no logical reason, besides ISSC’s convenience, to change its venue rules. […]
When we balance our findings under each of the Mathews factors, we conclude that both section 30-15.12 and defendants’ practice of filing all ISSC collection actions exclusively in Cook County violate due process. We admit that, standing alone, requiring venue to be in a particular county does not necessarily infringe upon plaintiffs’ right of access to the courts. However, the burden of an inconvenient forum, when combined with the indigence of the class members, the combined evidence of ISSC’s lack of good faith in allegedly offering nonlitigious means of settling its claims *483 against student borrowers and defendants’ vigorous pursuit of default judgments against class members, and the statute’s lack of provisions for an alternative forum, leads us to conclude that section 30-15.12 and defendants’ practices effectively deprive plaintiffs of any means of defending themselves in these actions. This raises their personal interest to the level of a due process deprivation.
Not a slam dunk either way? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
My reaction is it’ll obviously run through the court system. I signed it. I think it’s something that makes sense for just organizing the court system. So there’s a lot of venue shopping going on by people who are just trying to find a friendly judge here and there. The experts that are in the two venues that have been designated, seem like they have handled constitution related cases, more than any others and so it makes sense to me that those cases run through there.
…Adding… Leader Curran…
Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement in response to this week’s ruling that Governor JB Pritzker’s law that limits individuals challenging the validity of state law in court unconstitutional:
“This is the second bill that Gov. Pritzker has signed into law over the last year that the courts have already found to be unconstitutional. As we get further along in this legislative session, this ruling should be a caution sign for the Governor and his legislative allies to stop with the power grabs that seek to suppress the constitutional rights of Illinois citizens.”
A coalition of business, labor and agriculture groups have united behind legislation that would provide a regulatory framework to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Illinois, helping the state reach its clean energy goals while simultaneously promoting job creation and economic growth. The proposal (SB3311/HB569) is the result of months of negotiations with a diverse array of stakeholders and includes strong landowner protections, support for local first responders, and numerous safety and accountability provisions.
Sponsored by State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, and State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, the legislation builds upon existing federal incentives and regulations, recognizing the state’s distinctive geology provides a unique opportunity to work toward Illinois’ goal of reducing greenhouse gases while also increasing economic development. As other states compete for investments, Illinois must seize the opportunity to provide clear policies to allow for successful project development.
CCS captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at the source, preventing their release into the atmosphere and storing them permanently deep underground. According to the Clean Air Task Force, CCS is a safe and proven technology that has been commercially applied to operations in the U.S. since the 1970s. International studies addressing the energy transition suggest that CCS is a necessary tool for rapid decarbonization, along with energy efficiency and electrification. […]
According to a study from the University of Illinois, CCS development and expansion has the potential to create 14,400 jobs, generating more than $3 billion more for the State’s economy over 10 years. This includes the creation of new employment opportunities in the construction industry as well as the operation of new CCS facilities.
“The economic impact of enacting this legislation will be seen for generations,” said Representative Hoffman, Assistant House Majority Leader. “Under this proposal, Illinois will remain competitive as industries look to utilize this technology and expand operations, growing jobs and ensuring Illinois meets its carbon reduction goals.”
“This bill presents a critical opportunity to further propel Illinois’ transition to a clean energy economy without leaving workers and families behind, creating thousands of jobs and instituting strong labor standards that ensure fair wages, safe working conditions and training to get the job done right,” said Joe Duffy, Executive Director of Climate Jobs Illinois.
“Illinois has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 26% by 2025 and set the goal of being at 0% carbon emissions by 2050. Establishing carbon capture technology in Illinois is vital to reaching these goals,” said State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago. “Changes must be made for Illinois to transition to a clean energy future. We don’t have time to delay.”
* Some good context from Patrick Keck at the SJ-R…
Sierra Club of Illinois however says the legislation is too limited, focusing solely on sequestration, and is instead backing legislation that would regulate CO2 pipelines and prohibit the use of eminent domain.
Denzler contended pipeline regulation is a federal matter for the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, currently crafting updated rules following a 2020 pipeline burst in Satartia, Mississippi causing over 40 people hospitalizations and more than 200 evacuations.
The bill would clarify that the owner of the surface estate would also own the beneath pore space, but would still allow for easements of the property. Securing easements proved to be difficult for the now cancelled Navigator Heartland Greenway — only receiving 13.4% of easements to construct its pipeline.
Local municipalities would also be eligible for grant funding, calculated by 1 cent for every ton of carbon dioxide injected into a sequestration facility for each fiscal year. The money could be used to cover emergency response plan expenses along with the purchase of new equipment.
I have not read and seen the proposal that was made. I understand, you know, we’re going to be working through how, if we could, we would implement carbon capture in the state of Illinois. Is it going to be safe for people who are living in areas where carbon capture will be taking place? How would we implement it to make sure that in the construction of that then it would be safe? But you know, I started out with a degree of skepticism, you know, as I do on the things that I think, where there’s significant interests on both sides, and wondering how are we going to be able to meet the needs of both sides of this issue.
Investigators seized a work cellphone belonging to the Waukegan city clerk and executed a search warrant at the Waukegan City Hall as part of a criminal investigation.
The Illinois State Police obtained the warrant on December 13 in Lake County Circuit Court. […]
Kilkelly told the aldermen the phone was seized as part of an investigation of former 4th Ward Alderman Roudell Kirkwood.
Turns out, Kilkelly was indeed a target.
* Press release…
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office brought charges of felony official misconduct and misapplication of funds against Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly after an extensive investigation by the Illinois State Police.
Kilkelly is accused in a 15-count indictment of illegally providing credits to Waukegan businesses that were applying for liquor and gambling licenses. The City Council and her own office repeatedly established that the credit would only go to businesses that were in “good standing.” Despite the express language of the ordinance and Kilkelly’s own recommendation to the City Council, Kilkelly gave thousands of dollars in credits to businesses that did not qualify for the financial support.
Kilkelly was indicted on March 13, 2024, when an Illinois State Police special agent presented charges to and testified before a Lake County State’s Attorney grand jury.
“The public must be able to trust that those who work in public service will follow the law and use our tax dollars as intended,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The ISP Special Investigations Unit will continue working to ensure accountability at all levels of government.”
After the indictments were filed in a Lake County court, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart stated, “Public officials must be held to the highest standards. I want to thank the Illinois State Police for their diligent, thorough, and fair investigation into this matter. Taxpayers lost a significant amount of revenue. The City Clerk violated the public trust when she ignored her own recommendation and the final decision of the Waukegan City Council.”
The case will be prosecuted by Chief Kevin Berrill and ASA Russell Caskey of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Financial Crimes & Public Integrity Unit. The Unit worked with the Illinois State Police on the case throughout 2023 and 2024.
In 2022, felony charges were brought against Waukegan Alderman Roudell Kirkwood related to his application for liquor and gambling licenses. Those charges were investigated and filed by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office because State’s Attorney Rinehart had previously represented a family member of Alderman Kirkwood. The Illinois State Police, Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Lake County State’s Attorney Office concluded that no conflict existed with Lake County charging Kilkelly.
Kilkelly’s first court date is April 2, 2024, in T-510, at 9:00AM.
Two measures, Senate Bill 3311 and House Bill 569, would create the Climate and Landowner Protection Act. During a news conference Wednesday in Springfield, the group claimed that this will help Illinois reach its clean energy goals. However, scientist Sallie Greenberg confirmed that the separation of other chemicals from the emitted carbon actually uses energy.
“Depending on where you are separating your carbon from dictates whether or not you need additional energy resources to do that,” said Greenburg, who conducted a study for the General Assembly.
Mark Denzler, the president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, is in support of the legislation. He acknowledged that carbon emissions may be emitted during the carbon “separation process,” but ultimately there’s going to be a significant reduction in carbon. […]
House Bill 4835, currently in the House Energy and Environment Committee, seeks a temporary statewide moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has adopted revised federal safety standards and the state has finalized a study regarding the safety setbacks required in the event of pipeline rupture or leak.
* Sen. Cunningham…
State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a measure that would add medical devices to the list of items that can be recovered from a towed vehicle and seeks to address over-the-top towing fees on stolen vehicles.
“I was shocked to find out that car owners are currently not allowed to recover medical devices, like hearing aids, from their vehicles – even if their vehicle is stolen and later towed,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This is a commonsense fix. I think we can all agree that private towing companies shouldn’t be able to hold medical devices hostage in a towed vehicle.”
The legislation was brought to Cunningham from a constituent of the 18th District. The constituent’s vehicle was stolen from outside their residence in Chicago and was eventually located by law enforcement and towed in Alsip. The constituent did not find out where their vehicle was located until a week after it was recovered, receiving a letter in the mail from a suburban towing company that was holding the vehicle. When the constituent went to recover the vehicle, they were told they would have to pay a fee of $1,500, and were not allowed to recover a hearing aid from the vehicle until the fee was paid.
Cunningham’s measure would not only add medical devices to the list of personal property items that can be recovered from a towed vehicle, it also seeks to address exorbitant fees levied by towing companies for individuals who have their vehicle stolen. The legislation would waive the car owner’s liability for any storage fee imposed on their vehicle that resulted from the vehicle being stolen or hijacked.
Under current law, the full list of items that can be recovered from a towed vehicle includes child restraint systems, eyeglasses, food, medicine, perishable property, licenses, cash, credit cards, checks or checkbooks, wallets, purses or other identifying documents.
“If a private towing company can hold a medical device hostage, then there is a serious problem with the way towing laws are written in Illinois,” said Cunningham. “It’s time to clean this up for good.”
Senate Bill 2654 passed the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday
* David Lloyd, Chief Policy Officer of Inseparable, on HB5395…
“More than two million Illinoisans have a diagnosed mental health condition, and it’s incumbent on our leaders to do everything in their power to ensure residents can get the care they need. That’s why Inseparable is grateful to Governor JB Pritzker for his leadership on Amendment 1 of HB 5395, which is a critical step to removing barriers to mental health and substance use disorder care in Illinois. This legislation includes important measures to make care more accessible and affordable, including banning Short-Term Limited Duration Junk Plans and step therapy and requiring coverage for an ongoing course of treatment. Inseparable is proud to have the opportunity to testify in support of HB 5395 and its swift passage in the General Assembly.”
* Sen. Michael Hastings…
A new law may soon be on the books to help ensure insurance coverage for certain infertility treatments, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.
“My daughter was born via in vitro fertilization, so this is near and dear to my heart,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “It is truly unfortunate that individuals or families that are already facing heartbreak due to infertility complications are being forced to fight their insurance companies in order to start or expand their family. Not only that, but it is problematic when a doctor recommends a course of treatment that’s beneficial to the family, that an insurance company has the ability to trump that doctor.”
Hastings filed Senate Bill 2639 in response to a constituent in his district whose physician had recommended that they seek in vitro fertilization treatment. However, when the constituent tried to access IVF care, they were told by their insurance provider that they had to complete other procedures before it would be covered by their insurance company, even with the recommendation of their licensed physician.
This measure will ensure that insurance companies will provide coverage for infertility treatments that are recommended by a physician without requiring them to complete treatments that were deemed ineffective by their doctor.
Senate Bill 2639 would also allow a licensed physician to immediately approve any of these procedures based on the covered patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, or diagnostic testing.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 10% of couples receive medical help to become pregnant.
“Medical decisions should be made between a medical professional and patient – not by insurance companies,” said Hastings. “This legislation moves us one step closer toward ensuring insurance companies do not have the ability to deny infertility treatments prescribed by medical professionals.”
Senate Bill 2639 passed the Senate’s Insurance Committee on Tuesday and moves to the full Senate for consideration.
A major initiative of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is one step closer to becoming a reality. The state Senate Executive Committee unanimously passed legislation creating a new Department of Early Childhood Wednesday.
It would streamline the administration of early childhood education and bring services currently spread across several state agencies under one roof. Right now, many of those services administered by either the state Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Family Services or the Illinois State Board of Education. […]
“The whole point of us being here today is to create an early childhood care department that would make it more simple, fairer and better for all families involved,” said state Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood.
“This is policy that both parties can get behind. It’s incredibly important and statistics and data show that it’s incredibly important to be investing in early childhood,” said state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris.
Legislators including Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, are working to increase research and monitoring of Illinois’ water resources, including the lake. […]
Ellman sponsored Senate Bill 2743, which would require the State Water Plan Task Force to meet every three months and publish a new State Water Plan including critical issues and recommendations every 10 years. Senate Bill 3716, filed by Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to regularly monitor the water quality of Lake Michigan and to publish an executive summary every two years. Both measures await a vote from the full Senate.
Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, and Laura Fine, D-Glenview, focus on contaminants in drinking water. Simmons’ Senate Bill 3450 would establish maximum levels of certain contaminants in drinking water, creating a state standard like the levels set by the U.S. EPA.
Senate Bill 2705, filed by Fine, would ban the sale and distribution of certain products that contain intentionally added PFAS, otherwise known as “forever chemicals,” starting in 2025. All other products containing PFAS would be banned by 2032 unless the product cannot be made without the chemicals. Senate Bills 3450 and 2705 both await a committee assignment.
* Press release…
In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie held a press conference yesterday to discuss the ongoing issues at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. McCombie stood alongside State Representatives Dave Severin and Bill Hauter to talk about the frustration IDFPR has caused residents, and discuss their legislative package to provide solutions.
The package includes McCombie’s License Convenience Act (House Bill 4855), which would require the department to accept electronic payments for licenses and fees.
“IDFPR is too often the barrier to people working,” said McCombie. “Significant delays, breakdowns in communications, lost applications, and just overall dysfunction has too often resulted in bipartisan frustration with this agency. We have written letters, reached out to the Director, and many of us have seen first-hand the pain this agency causes our constituents who want to work throughout the state. It is imperative this agency comes to terms with its own mismanagement and implements solutions. Not years from now, but now…. Where is the sense of urgency?”
Here is the video of the press conference: House Republicans Discuss Legislative Package to Address Failures at IDFPR (youtube.com).
* Sen. Robert Peters…
In an effort to safeguard the rights and well-being of the state’s youngest citizens, State Senator Robert Peters passed legislation out of the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. […]
Senate Bill 3646 provides more protection for children in the workforce by addressing various aspects of child labor, including working conditions, age requirements and sectors prone to exploitation.
Peters’ bill extends protections to minors who are not enrolled in traditional public or private schools with standard school hours to define when a student is permitted to work. Further, regulations add to the list of prohibited jobs for minors and jobs requiring adult supervision, and imposes increased penalties for violations.
Senate Bill 3646 heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
We work to get dangerous products off store shelves, end exploitative practices and ensure a level playing field in the marketplace.
- Stop unfair and excessive car insurance rates, HB4767, SB3214 (Guzzardi, Cervantes): Illinois is one of only two states whose regulators have no power to reject or modify excessive car insurance rate hikes. Insurers regularly use credit scores and other non-driving factors to set rates. It is time to establish rate review for car insurance and end the unfair use of non-driving factors to set rates.
- Ban junk fees HB4629, SB3331 (Morgan, Aquino): The Federal Trade Commission estimates junk fees cost consumers tens of billions of dollars each year. Transparency and upfront pricing help not only consumers, but also honest businesses.
- Don’t Sell My Data HB3385 (Rashid): Almost every company we interact with collects data on us – like what we buy and when. Some even collect data on what we do online, like our browsing habits and search history. Companies often sell this data to other parties, increasing the risk that our personal information will be a part of a data breach, fall into the hands of scammers, or used for invasive targeted advertising. It’s time to stop companies from collecting and using our data for purposes other than delivering the service we’re expecting to get.
- Stop Credit Repair Scams, HB4507 (Meyers-Martin): Consumers trying to improve their credit score, often turn to credit repair organizations, but too often, these businesses drain resources from consumers without actually improving their credit. This legislation would require sustained, documented improvements in credit scores before charging customers for credit repair services. […]
Healthy Living
All families and communities should have access to clean air, safe drinking water, and healthy and sustainably produced food.
- Stop the Overuse of Antibiotics, SB1891 (Koehler) HB3567 (N Hernandez): Livestock producers routinely give antibiotics to animals to make them grow faster or help them survive crowded, stressful and unsanitary conditions. Overusing these drugs—in humans or animals—breeds bacteria resistant to antibiotics, threatening the future effectiveness of these medicines, and putting our health at risk.
- Ban harmful food ingredients, SB2367 (Preston): We should be able to trust that the food we buy is safe, but unfortunately, some food additives contain harmful chemicals linked to health harms, including a higher risk of cancer, behavioral problems, harm to the nervous system, and even DNA damage.
* ICYMI: House panel opens hearings on Pritzker’s health insurance reforms. Capitol News Illinois…
- The reforms would limit the ability of companies to deny claims or steer patients toward cheaper, and possibly less effective, treatments.
- They include banning prior authorization requirements for people to receive in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility as well as all forms of “step therapy” for prescription drug coverage.
- Other changes in the plan include requiring insurance companies to publicly post the types of treatments and therapies that do require prior authorization.
* Center for Illinois Politics | Should We Change the Primary Process in Illinois?: Anyone familiar with the legendary ferocity of Illinois’ no holds barred politics should feel somewhat slighted that California claimed the title “Law of the Jungle” primary in its 2010 election reforms. Under that revamp, which voters approved by referendum, all candidates regardless of party labels competed on the same ballot in the March 5 nonpartisan primary. The top two vote getters, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey, will face off in November to fill the state’s open U. S. Senate seat.
* SJ-R | Supplemental spending: How Illinois could spend some of its $1.6B budget surplus: Broken down, the proposed spending calls for just shy of $1.2 billion from the General Fund, $350 million in transfers to meet one-time funding commitments and a $60 million change to lapsed appropriations. It also calls for an additional $205 million to the state’s rainy-day fund, a major initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza.
* WGN | Investigation into 30 explicit AI generated photos of suburban high school students underway: “I don’t know where it falls in the law. In my discussion with Richmond police last night they were still working with the McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office to figure out exactly how to lay out the charges for this,” Essex said. “In my opinion I think this is basically should be considered child pornography it’s unacceptable.”
* Here’s the rest…
* WGN | 4 candidates face off for the Illinois Senate seat for Chicago’s 20th District: The fundraising is extraordinary. Toro has received more than one million dollars from Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign operation while Guzman has gotten a quarter of a million dollars and counting from CTU. Guzman is also supported by Democratic socialist politicians Carlos Ramiez Rosa and Rossana Rodriquez Sanchez.
* WGN | Illinois Supreme Court candidate Jesse Reyes: ‘I bring a voice to the court that is needed’: Justice Reyes talks about his history on the bench in Illinois, what made him decide to run for a seat on the Supreme Court, why he considers himself a progressive judge, what he would say to people that say the justice system is failing law-abiding citizens, how he feels the No Cash Bail provision of the SAFE-T Act is working, why all courts need to be more transparent, his take on ‘right to life’ legislation, and his thoughts on the assault weapons ban.
* ABC Chicago | Rhysida ransomware gang claims it sold data from Lurie Children’s Hospital hack: The hospital confirmed it knows about the claims, saying, “We are aware that individuals claiming to be Rhysida, a known threat actor, claim to have sold data they allege was taken from Lurie Children’s. We continue to work closely with internal and external experts as well as law enforcement, and are actively investigating the claims. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate.”
* Crain’s | State evaluation of One Central development still hasn’t begun: Last year, the state’s Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, or DCEO, issued a request for proposals to conduct a feasibility study on the $20 billion project that would be built over Metra tracks just west of Soldier Field. The study was meant to provide hard data for state legislators as they consider whether there is demand for the giant office and residential center, if there is a need for the project to include a new transit hub and, most importantly, if it’s worth it for the state to agree to eventually purchase that transit hub for $6.5 billion from developer Bob Dunn’s Landmark Development.
* WTTW | Johnson Says He’s ‘Frustrated’ With City’s ‘Out of Control’ Overtime Spending: “Yes, I’m frustrated, yes,” Johnson said in response to a WTTW News story that was the first to report that the Chicago Police Department spent $293 million on overtime last year, 40% more than in 2022 and nearly three times the $100 million earmarked for police overtime set by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2023 budget.
* Tribune | Student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy reported to have measles, CPS confirms: Chicago Public Schools said the Chicago Public Health Department confirmed Monday that a student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy had developed measles. The confirmation follows several cases that emerged over the last week. In a statement, CPS said it is working closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health to respond to any unvaccinated students and two recently reported positive measles cases involving CPS students.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils plan to invest in neighborhood groups: The focus will be on the 10 specific block groups in four separate neighborhoods: Englewood, West Garfield Park, Austin, and Little Village. The goal is to get philanthropists, faith leaders, community organizations, and businesses to help revitalize neglected areas by building stores and services.
* Sun-Times | CTA Red Line extension to get $350 million in Biden’s proposed budget: But the funding is a long way from being approved — at least for now — as it still needs Congress’ approval before getting the president’s signature. The potential funding is a critical part of the Red Line extension project, which the CTA expects to cost $3.6 billion. Last September, the agency said it was in line to receive a total of $1.9 billion in federal funding. The proposed $350 million is part of that funding, the CTA said Wednesday.
* Crain’s | Chicago-area population loss slows: The population in the metro area fell to 9.26 million people in 2023 from 9.28 million in 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. However, the decline of 16,602 people was smaller than drops of nearly 80,000 in each of the previous two years.
* Tribune | Christine Geovanis, CTU communications director and social activist, dies at 64: “She loved people and justice, and she was inspired by how accessible that fight was to everyone, and she took full advantage of that opportunity,” said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. Geovanis died of complications from brain cancer on Feb. 12 in her Little Village home, said her sister, Janet.
* SJ-R | Springfield fine dining restaurant reopens weeks after closing: Loukinens’ on 4th reopened its doors on March 2 after a brief stint of closing down to the public in February. The reopening comes after a series of missteps for the casual fine-dining restaurant, which closed suddenly on Feb. 13 until further notice.
* KTVI | Olivia Rodrigo offers morning-after pills at show in Missouri, where abortion is banned: Volunteers with the Missouri Abortion Fund handed out the pills, condoms and stickers at Tuesday’s concert. The nonprofit aims to provide assistance to Missouri residents who cannot afford the cost of abortion care. Rodrigo, a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights, also promoted an initiative called “Fund 4 Good” around her St. Louis show. A portion of proceeds from the St. Louis ticket sales will go toward the Missouri Abortion Fund and Text Right By You, an organization that educates young people about reproductive health.
* RFT | Where to Live in the Metro East if You’re a St. Louisan Fleeing Missouri: If you like Kirkwood…. You should look at Edwardsville. OK, so it’s a little “bougie hoosie,” and your kids better brace themselves for Drive Your Tractor to School Day (yes, it’s a thing). But Edwardsville is the closest thing the Metro East has to St. Louis’ affluent Missouri suburbs.
* Sun-Times | Simone Biles shows love for Chicago (and hot dogs) after Bears sign her husband, Jonathan Owens: Beyond her excitement over Chicago’s stellar junk food, the four-time Olympic gold medalist seemed thrilled to move to a big city that will let her avoid connecting flights when seeing her husband play. Biles also declared her love for her husband’s new home, adding a new chapter to the age-old rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay.
* Tribune | Chicago White Sox trade Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres, ending the ace’s 5-year run on the South Side: “It’s exciting to people,” Cease said Wednesday morning at Camelback Ranch. “It’s good for the game in the sense of, it’s exciting to fan bases. People like seeing it, so I get it. It’s fun and exciting but it’s just not a main focus.” Cease learned his fate Wednesday evening as the Chicago White Sox traded the right-handed pitcher to the San Diego Padres, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The trade became official late Wednesday, with the Sox receiving right-handed pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson and outfielder Samuel Zavala.
*Block Club | Monarch Butterflies Are In Trouble. You Can Help By Planting Milkweed: But Chicago is an important summer breeding area for migrating monarchs — which means neighbors can help get their numbers back up. “It’s kind of our job here in the Midwest to build that population back as large as possible over the summer,” Derby Lewis said.
