It’s not the long, flowing dress that you’re in
Or the light coming off of your skin
The fragile heart you protected for so long
Or the mercy in your sense of right and wrong
* I’ve been hearing some rumblings about this as well. We could know lots more by next week. Greg Hinz…
The story is that, after serious flirtation with moving to the suburbs — and in particular to Arlington Heights, going so far as to purchase and demolish Arlington International Racecourse — the [Bears] team now has quietly but surely made building a new home in the central area of Chicago its focus.
If the team get its way under plans that could go public soon, it will get, on the parking lot just south of Soldier Field, a brand-new, state-of-the-art domed stadium, one capable of hosting not only the Bears but Final Four basketball tournaments, Super Bowls and other big events that have tended to skip Chicago for lack of a suitable venue. […]
According to Maurice Scholten, president of the Taxpayers Federation of Illinois, the clause was tucked without much notice into a state budget implementation bill in 2021. The clause would allow the agency to refinance debt and issue new bonds for sports projects above ISFA’s current cap of $150 million for ISFA-owned facilities and $399 million for other property owned by other agencies, such as Soldier Field-title holder the Chicago Park District.
With ISFA having $488.6 million in outstanding debt as of June 30, 2023 — and all of its debt scheduled to be retired by 2032 — the way could be cleared for hundreds of millions in new bonds. However, Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is reportedly eyeing that financing source, too, for a new baseball stadium in the South Loop. So it’s not clear whether ISFA funds from an existing 2% tax on Chicago hotel revenues would be sufficient to pay for both projects.
They will almost definitely have to come up with more revenues that don’t involve passing an unpopular tax hike for at least two unpopular teams in an election year.
A systems outage at Lurie Children’s Hospital that began Wednesday is a result of a cybersecurity matter, the hospital said.
“We are taking this very seriously, are investigating with the support of leading experts, and are working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. As part of our response to this matter, we have taken network systems offline,” the hospital said in a statement Thursday night.
The hospital is open and continuing to provide care to patients and is working to establish a call center, the statement said.
The outage is affecting the phone, email and electronic systems at all of Lurie’s 55 offices in the Chicago area.
A bill set to be introduced in the General Assembly next week by state Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, and supported by the One Fair Wage group, would go a step further and eliminate the tipped wage statewide by Jan. 1, 2025, effectively forcing restaurants across Illinois to pay their workers a higher minimum hourly rate than Chicago restaurants by next year.
Whether the bill can move through Springfield as written is another matter, but even if the language is changed to provide a longer phaseout period, the legislation would provide more parity between Chicago restaurants and others in the state, potentially alleviating a concern of moderates in the City Council that restaurants in the city would flee for the suburbs.
That the bill is being introduced by Hernandez could make it a higher priority for state legislators. Hernandez also serves as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, which fundraises for party-backed candidates, a position she obtained with the help of Gov. J.B. Pritzker after a protracted interparty battle.
“Tipped workers in the suburbs and across Illinois should not be paid a sub-minimum wage for doing the same job as workers in Chicago,” Hernandez told Crain’s in a written statement. “This legislation will help level the playing field for workers across the state while also ensuring all businesses can continue to attract employees in this tight labor market.”
* Daily Herald | Cavern excavation completed for Fermilab-based neutrino experiment: The three caverns, located a mile below the surface, are the core of a new research facility that spans an underground area about the size of eight soccer fields. Two caverns will house the detectors; the third will house utilities. Neutrinos will be sent from Fermilab in Batavia 800 miles west to liquid argon-filled detectors at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The goal is to have the first detector operating by the end of 2028.
* Sun-Times | CTU President Stacy Davis Gates was using ‘metaphor’ when she told teachers to ‘punch their principal in the face,’ union says: Hozian and Davis Gates did not respond to requests for comment, but a CTU spokesperson told the Sun-Times Thursday the case was closed and the report was marked as non-criminal. “We believe that this police report was filed in reference to a figurative comment made by President Davis Gates during impromptu remarks to union members … while talking about using the contract to challenge principals who bully our members,” an email sent out to CTU members said.
* Crain’s | Illinois getting share of $500 million opioid settlements: Illinois will receive $11.4 million of a $350 million national settlement with New York-based marketing and communications firm Publicis Health, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office announced Feb. 1. Meanwhile, Illinois will collect a slice of a $150 million multistate settlement with London-based opioid manufacturer Hikma Pharmaceuticals. The exact amount expected to come to Illinois was not disclosed.
* Block Club | Magnificent Mile Association Hopes To Bring New Businesses Downtown With Storefront Grant: Separately, the Magnificent Mile Association received two storefront grants from the city to activate two vacant stores. One was used in 2022 to bring in a four-month exhibition by Kavi Gupta Gallery at a vacant retail spot at 535 N. Michigan Ave. The other was used in 2021 to open Colores Mexicanos, an artisan Mexican gift shop, for a one-month stint at an empty store at 605 N. Michigan Ave, along Chicago’s high-end shopping corridor.
* Daily Herald | To combat climate change, Glen Ellyn couple helps fund solar projects: The couple has now supported 18 projects across the country, the majority in Illinois. With four still in progress, Jens estimates by the end of 2024, the developments will produce a total of 1,100,000 kW. The projects span a variety of groups, from churches to government organizations.
* WICS | Police clear Springfield High School from bomb threat: After investigating and searching the grounds, the SHS administration and Springfield Police and the Secretary of State Police who operate our security dogs have deemed the building clear and students are returning to the building to continue the school day as usual. Out of an abundance of caution we are also having all students re-enter the building through our metal detectors with law enforcement overseeing the return. Students will return to their second hour and then will begin the lunch shifts before continuing with their schedule.
* Sun-Times | Ex-Chicago gang leader’s third chance gets him an invitation to the White House: CeaseFire was launched in Chicago more than two decades ago on the West Side to address the city’s rampant gun killings. The concept — to treat violence like a curable disease — has since spread to New York, New Orleans, Baltimore and cities abroad. Many agencies have adopted the strategy.
* Block Club | Southwest Siders Call On Federal Agency To Preserve Damen Silos From Demolition: The permit process with the Army Corps of Engineers is needed because the site is positioned along the south branch of the Chicago River, and demolition could affect the “course, condition or capacity” of the water, Colin Smalley, a regulatory project manager with the agency, said at a Thursday meeting where neighbors voiced support for saving the silos.
* Tribune | University of Illinois police knew details about Terrence Shannon Jr. investigation but didn’t share with school officials, records show: Shortly after Lawrence police began their investigation in September and continuing throughout the fall, Whitman said the school’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics knew little about the allegations against Shannon. Any information relayed from Lawrence investigators to athletics officials via the University of Illinois Police Department was “verbal, unsubstantiated and vague,” he would later say in a court filing, and “not sufficient to trigger” a student-athlete discipline policy.
* WGN | The Great Migration: How a Chicago newspaper helped shape the nation: But in the nearly 100 years between the signing of the 13th Amendment and the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, something happened that would go on to shape the nation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, 90% of the African American population lived in the South, under conditions that can really only be described as oppressive.
* Press Release | Illinois Pork Producers Association Honors Retiring Directors: Jill Brokaw is a third-generation pig farmer and grew up on her family farm in Joy, Ill. Over the years she has had many industry experiences, including working with her family’s farrow to finish swine operation, management of their feeding and nutrition system and feed mill, as well as row crop farming. She is currently co-owner of Biddle Gilts, LLC., with her father, continuing their decades of partnership with PIC genetics in the sale of female breeding stock throughout the Midwest.
* CNBC | U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs in January, much better than expected: Wage growth also showed strength, as average hourly earnings increased 0.6%, double the monthly estimate. On a year-over-year basis, wages jumped 4.5%, well above the 4.1% forecast. The wage gains came amid a decline in average hours worked, down to 34.1, or 0.2 hour lower for the month.
* The Triibe | The settlement that DuSable built: Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable’s settlement at the mouth of the Chicago River is the heart from which the city of Chicago was built. As time passed, and ownership of the land changed, its history has been smudged, so much so that most people had no idea he lived there until the mid 20th century. DuSable, Kitihawa and their children first showed up in future Chicago during the 1780s. They built a five-bedroom home, a horse mill, a bake house, a dairy, a smokehouse, a poultry house, a workshop, a stable, a barn, an orchard, and huts for DuSable’s employees. The family lived and worked on this land for at least a decade. It is unclear why DuSable moved his family to St. Charles, Missouri, where he ended up living a modest life as a ferry operator.
* Alyssa Rosenberg | Opinion I’m pro-choice, but I’m grateful for what pro-life groups did this week: In today’s fractious political world, it’s important to extend credit where it’s due. And so, as a pro-choice liberal, I want to thank a group of pro-life organizations that spoke up this week in support of a congressional deal to improve the child tax credit. Antiabortion Americans United for Life hailed the bill, which will primarily help lower-income families and families with a larger number of children, as “a core part of an American pro-life and pro-family future.” Pro-choice Center for American Progress President Patrick Gaspard described the legislation as “an unmissable opportunity to reduce poverty among low-income children and families.”
* Sun-Times | A list of every known Illinois resident charged in the U.S. Capitol breach: More than 1,200 people have been arrested in connection with the attack in almost all 50 states. That includes Illinois, where at least 46 residents face federal charges. They come from all around the state and include a onetime CEO, a Chicago police officer and a member of the Proud Boys.
* NYT | Trump’s Tariffs Hurt U.S. Jobs but Swayed American Voters, Study Says: The findings contradict Trump’s claims that his tariffs helped to reverse some of the damage done by competition from China and bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs that had gone overseas. The economists conclude that the aggregate effect on U.S. jobs of the three measures — the original tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and subsidies granted to farmers — were “at best a wash, and it may have been mildly negative.”
* SJ-R | The IHSA basketball state finals host contracts are expiring. Here’s what could be next: The format of four enrollment class state finals spread across a three-day weekend, Thursdays through Saturdays, was first played two years ago. Previously, the boys and girls final fours were held over four consecutive weekends, on Fridays and Saturdays, in Peoria and Normal, respectively. [IHSA’s Matt Troha] says the overall anecdotal feedback has been positive on the single weekends. He anticipates the IHSA will continue with that format moving forward. The IHSA still wants to give the IHSA basketball advisory committee and its board of directors a chance to formally review and discuss, according to Troha.
* Sun-Times | Groundhog Day Chicago — ‘Woodstock Willie’ does not see his shadow, heralding an early spring: On hand for the festivities was beloved WGN chief meteorologist Tom Skilling, attending his very first Woodstock Groundhog Day event, according to the television station’s report. Skilling will be retiring from his longtime weather post at the station on Feb. 28. To honor Skilling, Woodstock Mayor Mike Turner officially declared Friday as “Tom Skilling Day” in addition to “Groundhog Day.”
A legal battle is underway after the City of Chicago denied activists a permit for a protest during the Democratic National Convention taking place in August.
The group said the Chicago Transportation Department denied them a permit to protest in the Loop the Sunday before the start of the convention.
“The city should not stand in our way they should be empowering us to march,” Kristi Keorkunian-Rivers, from Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws and the co-founder of the Chicago Chapter of Stop Trans Genocide, said. […]
“Whether or not we get rejected by this court we will be marching. Our march assembly will be at 5 p.m. at Water Tower Park on Sunday, August 18th. That much we know. What happens beyond that we will see,” Andy Thayer, from Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws and the co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network, said.
The attorney representing the group said the city is trying to push organizers to protest in Grant Park, a location they say will diminish their visibility.
The group accused “most Democratic politicians” of having allowed reproductive rights that had previously been “enshrined in Roe v. Wade to be eviscerated, ignoring or supporting legislation that made those rights a mirage for millions of people.”
They lost their court battle. The full decision is here.
A Chicago judge has sided with the city government and denied an abortion-rights group’s permit application for a protest along Michigan Avenue during this summer’s Democratic National Convention.
On Feb. 1, an administrative law judge denied an appeal from Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws, a coalition of reproductive and LGBTQ rights groups that is demanding expanded access to abortion in federal law.
Last month, the grassroots organizations filed for a parade permit to march downtown on Michigan Avenue on Aug. 18, the day before the DNC kicks off. The city denied that permit request, arguing the proposed route would interfere with traffic, and suggested an alternative route on Columbus Drive between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive. Coalition members balked at the city’s proposal, which they believed gave protesters little visibility to the convention’s delegates, and appealed the decision.
In his decision, Administrative Law Judge Dennis Michael Fleming upheld the city’s argument that the protest would substantially interfere with traffic and that the city lacked a sufficient number of on-duty police officers or other city employees who could regulate traffic, police and protesters.
* The group does appear to have another agenda as well. From a Sun-Times story on the coalition last month…
Abortion rights and LGBTQ+ advocates also expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. Tuesday’s news conference follows a rally by Muslim community leaders from across the country in Chicago Saturday urging voters to drop their support for President Joe Biden because of his administration’s refusal to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Keorkunian-Rivers said the Democratic Party will lose the support of trans, queer and abortion rights advocates if their demand for “solid, unwavering reproductive justice“ is not met. She added that legislators have also been silent about Palestinians who have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.
More than 21,900 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants among the dead.
“The Democratic Party has largely been silent on the rights of trans and queer people, the genocide of Palestinians, the right to access adequate health care, and has done little to nothing about the rise of fascism that plagues our country today,” she said.
* Fox News put dramatic music behind an interview of perennial Democratic candidate and Paul Vallas supporter Andre Smith…
“Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones: It’s already out of control right now. How much time do we have before there’s utter chaos in Chicago?
Andre Smith: When they release what’s in these buildings, when they release them out of these buildings, out of the clinics, out of the parks, that’s when the chaos is going to start.
Seems like an argument for keeping the shelters open.
But, hey, at least Fox has moved on (for now) from its hysterical stories about Chicago murders.
* This Pontiac Daily Leader story reminds me of the recurring rural-area freakouts when false rumors rapidly spread that BLM protesters were heading to town to cause trouble…
An unknown bus in Dwight created a stir the last weekend of December. It was thought that there were illegal immigrants on board and they were going to be dropped off there.
This proved to incorrect, according to Rep. Jason Bunting, it was just a party bus.
“Everybody was kind of nervous and concerned in the Dwight area when there was a bus sort of slow rolling down the road there,” Bunting told the Daily Leader recently. “It was just a limo bus, a party bus per se. It wasn’t full of immigrants, but there’s been a lot of concerns.”
Good on the Daily Leader for debunking that nonsense.
* Charlotte Alvarez, the Executive Director of The Immigration Project, explained on the 21st Show what’s going on in her part of Downstate…
What we’re seeing Downstate are individuals who have some sort of connection here or heard that there’s a safe place to land and have after those bused situations or after it during the border have made their way, kind of in trickles over time into Downstate areas. […]
So we think there’s probably around, maybe slightly less than 200 recent arrivals who have come [to the Bloomington area] in the last couple years.
* Sun-Times | Ald. Greg Mitchell accused of threatening building owner who housed migrants: That’s where a “screaming” Mitchell “threatened my life, threatened to terminate a Chicago Housing Authority contract my company, Manage Chicago Inc., has … and threatened” to block “a potential zoning change” Amatore had discussed with a deputy buildings commissioner.
* The Southern | Southern Illinois cities talk about the ability to care for an influx of illegal immigrants: In Marion, Communications and Market Director Rachel Stroud confirmed there is no policy or procedure in place for handling an influx of illegal immigrants. Stroud suggested The Southern Illinoisan contact the Williamson County Emergency Managment Agency (EMA), saying the agency might have a plan. When asked what Williamson County would do if buses of illegal immigrants were to start arriving in the county, with immigrants needing resources, the EMA Director Brian Burgess said, “The county believes this is more of a municipal issue.”
* WSJ | The American City With a Message for Migrants: We Want You: While many American cities are struggling with large numbers of newly arrived migrants, Topeka is inviting anyone and everyone with permission to work in the U.S. to come its way. Like a lot of smaller cities, the Kansas capital is grappling with near-stagnant population growth and an unemployment rate well below the national average, according to city and economic-development officials. Finding people to fill its roughly 6,600 open jobs has been a struggle, they say.
* Portland Press Herald | Feds deny request to accelerate work permits for Maine asylum seekers: Lawmakers last year passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, directing the Maine Department of Labor Commissioner to request a waiver, even though there is no waiver provision in federal law and no state has ever received one. Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman submitted the request in October and received a response on Jan. 30. That response was forwarded to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Labor and Housing on Wednesday.
* AP | Massachusetts turns recreational plex into shelter for homeless families, including migrants: [Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey] said about 75 individuals were expected to arrive at the Cass Recreational Complex, located in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood, before the end of the day. The complex can provide temporary shelter for up to 400 people, or about 100-125 families, as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants.
* 9 News | Denver tells migrants you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here: Next week, the city of Denver will start discharging hundreds of migrant families from its shelters again. Advocates for migrants worry that means many of those families will end up homeless on the streets. At a city council meeting Thursday, Evan Dreyer, the deputy chief of staff for Mayor Mike Johnston’s office, said the city doesn’t have enough room or money to house migrants indefinitely.
* AP | Biden is left with few choices as immigration takes center stage in American politics: The influx has strained social services in cities including New York, Chicago and Denver, which are struggling to shelter thousands of asylum seekers without housing or work authorization. Images of migrants with nowhere to go camping out in public have dominated local newscasts. Nine Democratic governors from all across the country sent a letter last week to Biden and congressional leaders pleading for action from Washington “to solve what has become a humanitarian crisis.”
Here at Data Skrive, we have been closing following the developments in Generative AI for the last several years, and we’re always researching and developing improvements to help us continually provide the best experience for our customers and sports fans. We use generative AI as a ‘co-pilot’ to create engaging and insightful sports content at scale so that fans can read about their favorite players, teams, leagues, and sports at any time, all the time.
The common concern with using generative AI for content creation is the quality and accuracy of the content. While it’s true that generative AI technologies have encountered challenges related to content inaccuracies and ‘hallucinations,’ it’s important to recognize that AI tools are only as good as what the human user is asking them to do.
Amends the Reimagine Public Safety Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall create a firearm and firearm ammunition buyback program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall purchase operable firearms and receive firearm ammunition from the owners of those firearms and firearm ammunition who wish to sell the firearms and transfer the firearm ammunition to the State. Provides that only Illinois residents are eligible to participate in the firearm and firearm ammunition buyback program. Provides that an Illinois resident who sells an operable firearm to the State at the buyback program shall receive $100 per firearm sold. Provides that permanently inoperable or antique firearms are ineligible for the buyback program, except these firearms may be transferred to the Office through the program without compensation. Provides that a person who transfers ammunition, inoperable firearms, or antique firearms to the State at the buyback program shall receive no compensation for transferring ammunition, inoperable firearms, or antique firearms to the State at the buyback program. Provides that firearms and firearm ammunition purchased at the buyback program shall be delivered to the Illinois State Police who may: (1) destroy the firearms; (2) use the firearms for training or other Illinois State Police purposes; or (3) transfer the firearms and firearm ammunition to municipal and county law enforcement agencies for their use. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that substance abuse programs and mental health or developmental disabilities facilities operating in the State shall provide verbal notice to the personal representative of the patient within 24 hours after the death of a patient and shall provide written notice to the personal representative of the patient within 5 days after the death of a patient. Effective immediately.
A new plan in Springfield could cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost for inhalers. People struggling with asthma and other lung diseases could pay just $25 for one prescription inhaler per month.
Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake) knows firsthand about the rising cost of inhalers as one of her sons has severe asthma. The suburban Democrat said her son uses a maintenance inhaler twice a day and needs Albuterol in case of emergencies. At one point, Faver Dias was paying $180 per month for a maintenance inhaler. […]
The bill could cap the monthly cost of prescription inhalers at $25. People needing multiple inhalers per month would only pay $50. This change will not prevent health plans that already allow people to pay much lower co-pays. […]
The proposal will not apply to inhalers available over the counter without a prescription. If signed into law, the price cap would take effect on January 1, 2025.
Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that public uses in such waters shall include boating, tubing, fishing, swimming, and wading. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to protect such public uses against interference or encroachment as provided in the Act. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, a violation of which shall be punished as otherwise provided by law, and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council’s rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the Communication and Actions in Public Schools Act. Provides that no communication by a public school entity, official representative thereof, professional employee, or guest school speaker may compel a person to adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess an idea that violates Title IV or Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 or adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess specified concepts. Provides that nothing in those provisions may be construed to prohibit the discussion of ideas and history of the described concepts or may be construed to prohibit the discussion of public policy issues of the day or ideas that individuals may find unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive. Sets forth provisions concerning a refusal to engage in any of the specified concepts. Provides that no public school entity may use funds from any source to engage in any of the specified concepts. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and make available to professional employees technical assistance, guidance, and professional development in accordance with specified provisions. Sets forth requirements for contractors with a public school entity. Provides that a parent, student, professional employee, or other person interacting with a public school entity may file a complaint with the school board of the school district alleging a violation of the Act by a professional employee or contractor. Sets forth other enforcement provisions. Provides that the State Board shall develop a policy on how a complaint may be filed. Provides that the policy shall be made available on the State Board’s Internet website. Provides that the State Board may adopt rules to implement the Act.
* Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid…..
Voters would be better protected from digitally manipulated political ads under a new bill introduced by state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, tackling the dangerous proliferation of deepfakes in campaign advertising.
“We must ensure that all of Illinois’ voters can exercise their fundamental right to vote without impediment from deceptive, deepfake-powered disinformation,” said Rashid. “It is absolutely unacceptable that political deepfakes are currently allowed in our elections. To maintain and ensure the integrity of current and future elections, I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation.” […]
Rashid’s House Bill 4644, also known as the Illinois Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, addresses emerging deepfake threats head on by requiring political messages to include clear disclosures of AI use. The legislation would bolster transparency regarding generative AI content in elections and bring an end to the current free-for-all on the use of deepfakes in the state.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Transportation Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission shall establish a statewide database in which any licensed tow operator may enter information regarding vehicles towed for safety or relocation purposes. Provides that the database shall allow each tow operator to have its own login in order to facilitate the entry of information via a mobile device; may integrate with existing law enforcement databases; may have a vehicle identification number validation feature to permit only valid vehicle identification numbers to be submitted to the database; shall include the name of the tow company that took possession of the vehicle; and shall be available to the public. Provides that, within one hour after a vehicle is relocated, a commercial or safety relocator shall notify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area from which the vehicle was relocated by electronically entering the information into the database. Provides that the commercial or safety relocator shall maintain records documenting the notification. Provides that a commercial or safety relocator in possession of a vehicle that has remained unclaimed for a period of 15 days after having been towed shall, within 5 days after the expiration of that period, report the vehicle as unclaimed by entering the information into the database. Provides that the notification shall include specified information. Provides that a commercial or safety relocator that fails to enter the information into the database as required may not (i) charge or collect any amount in connection with the relocation, processing, or storage of the vehicle or (ii) dispose of the unclaimed vehicle.
* ICYMI:Ambitious plan aims to raise $400 million to halve Chicago shootings, homicides in 5 years. Sun-Times…
- Leaders of the city’s business community and largest charitable foundations said the fundraising goal is roughly double the current spending on violence-prevention programs that serve the city’s most-violent neighborhoods.
- The target of 50% fewer murders from last year would put the city at less than 400
* Sun-Times | In Illinois politics, remaps keep the powerful in power: The Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and the University of Chicago are examining the challenges to American democracy as part of the Democracy Solutions Project. The state’s redistricting ritual — largely carried out behind closed doors — most recently led two downstate districts to elect more extreme candidates while protecting and enhancing Democratic powers in other areas of the state. And while the dust settles on the last remap, there are already advocates plotting the 2030 map and pushing for reform.
* WAND | Illinois lawmakers could cap monthly inhaler costs this spring: “We estimate that about 1.4 million people in Illinois have chronic lung disease, so asthma and COPD,” said Kristina Hamilton, Illinois advocacy director for the American Lung Association. The bill could cap the monthly cost of prescription inhalers at $25. People needing multiple inhalers per month would only pay $50. This change will not prevent health plans that already allow people to pay much lower co-pays.
* CNI | Democratic leaders poised to revisit Biometric Information Privacy Act after court rulings: State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, a high-ranking member of the Senate, said the proposal he filed this week strikes a balance between business groups’ concerns over the law and its original intent. “We think that the security restrictions embedded in (the law) are very important and we want to keep them in place, but we do want to address the way liability accrues so that businesses are not unfairly punished for technical violations of the act,” he said.
HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY: We are LIVE in Woodstock, IL this morning where Groundhog Day was filmed! Will Woodstock Willie see his shadow? The square is packed with people for the yearly celebration! ✨ pic.twitter.com/SXtB6pCGJv
* Sun-Times | Illinois incumbents in Congress have fundraising advantage over rivals heading into March primary: Once again — and this has been the case for years — the champion fundraiser among House members from Illinois is U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., who collected $5,529,137 in 2023 and who has a balance of $15,360,692. He’s one of the top fundraisers in the entire Congress. As I’ve reported previously, Krishnamoorthi is stockpiling cash for a potential Senate run. Krishnamoorthi faces no primary Democratic opponent in his northwest suburban 8th Congressional District.
* Block Club | The Strokes Playing Chicago Show To Benefit Kina Collins Campaign: The Grammy Award-winning rock band is performing March 8 at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Credit Union 1 Arena with local indie band Beach Bunny and musician NNAMDI, according to a news release. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday.
* Illinois Times | Doing more for the homeless: The police department “wants to be part of the solution,” said Newman, the department’s homeless outreach team coordinator. “We don’t want to criminalize homelessness.”Newman and Allen said much more needs to be done. For example, Newman said there needs to be two or three more homeless outreach officers and more social workers such as Allen so all shifts can be staffed.
* Sun-Times | Johnson’s clout on the line with Bring Chicago Home referendum: The stakes are high for Johnson. He campaigned on a promise to create a dedicated funding source to help 68,000 unhoused Chicagoans. It’s something his predecessor promised, but failed to deliver. That broken promise by Lori Lightfoot alienated her progressive political base, contributing to her defeat last year.
* Sun-Times | Ald. Greg Mitchell accused of threatening building owner who housed migrants: A finger-pointing Mitchell then “threw papers off his desk and stood up and looked down on me and screamed at the top of his lungs. [He said], `You better watch your f—-ing ass walking around my ward because you are no longer safe.’ Then, he said, `You have a f—ing CHA contract, don’t you? Consider that terminated. After I make one phone call, you can kiss that s–t goodbye.”
* Crain’s | 180 laid off from University of Chicago Medical Center: In a statement to Crain’s, University of Chicago Medicine, the operator of the hospital, confirmed the cuts, which represent about 1% of the organization’s total workforce. The health system declined to disclose specific roles affected but said the majority are not direct patient facing.
* Crain’s | Judge denies abortion-rights group’s protest permit ahead of DNC: Last month, the grassroots organizations filed for a parade permit to march downtown on Michigan Avenue on Aug. 18, the day before the DNC convention kicks off. The city denied that permit request, arguing the proposed route would interfere with traffic, and suggested an alternative route on Columbus Drive between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive. Coalition members balked at the city’s proposal, which they believed gave protesters little visibility to the convention’s delegates, and appealed the decision.
* AP | Indiana legislation could hold back thousands of third graders who can’t read: Republicans have balked at those who have labeled the measure a “retention bill,” saying students need the intervention now. “Retention is the absolute last resort if we’ve exhausted all other methods to help struggling readers,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Linda Rogers, told lawmakers.
* SJ-R | ‘Doc’ Temple at 100: Still writing, Lincoln historian is ‘a phenomenon’: Temple, one of the preeminent Lincoln historians, turns 100 on Monday. He will celebrate with a party his fellow Masons and some historians are throwing for him. A sought-after lecturer, Temple has written more than 20 books, mostly on Lincoln covering everything from his military service to his religious beliefs. Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln biographer, the late David Herbert Donald, called Temple’s “Abraham Lincoln: From Skeptic to Prophet” the “best book ever written about Lincoln’s religious views.”
* WGN | WGN names Demetrius Ivory as chief meteorologist: “I’m so excited for Demetrius,” commented Tom Skilling, current Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV. “Through weather stormy, sunny, and everything in between, Demetrius has delivered accurate, compelling forecasts. He has a huge rapport with the audience. I’ve been honored to have him by my side during severe breaking weather coverage over this past decade. I wish him my sincerest congratulations. He will be fantastic!”
* KFVS | World Shooting Complex in Sparta to host Grand American through 2036: “I’m thrilled we were able to extend this contract for another decade,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said in a release. “The ATA Grand is a premier event and an important economic driver for Randolph County and southern Illinois. It’s a privilege to host the Grand at the World Shooting Complex, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the ATA.” The Grand American is the largest and oldest shooting event of its kind. According to a release from the IDNR, it features more than 20 events and brings in more than 5,000 competitors and spectators from around the world.
* AP | Puppy Bowl turns 20: Puppy Bowl, the original and longest running call-to-adoption television event, is turning 20 and this year it will feature 131 puppies, 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories.
A boil order has been issued in Dixmoor following two water main breaks, according to the Village President, bringing more issues to the suburb frequently plagued by interruptions to water service.
According to Village President Fitzgerald Roberts, the breaks occurred near the intersections of 141st Street/Wood Street and 141st Street/Page Street.
The two breaks on Wednesday add to what has been a consistent issue for Dixmoor in recent days, with nine separate water main breaks occurring in the past week.
Governor Pritzker was asked about that during today’s press conference…
I haven’t been briefed, although the county commissioner from the area just walked up to me and told me about those water main breaks. And I assured her that we will work on that immediately.
Obviously, much of the infrastructure in the south suburbs, water infrastructure particularly, is so old and hasn’t been replaced. As far as I understand more than 60 years. So we’ve been doing it rapidly as we could within the context of our infrastructure bill. But obviously when you’ve got emergencies like this, we need to make sure that we’re assisting in every way we can.
Meanwhile, the village of Thayer, south of Springfield, has had at least five water main breaks in the last two weeks.
* Here’s the rest…
* WTTW | While Many in Illinois Prisons Need Medication for Opioid Use Disorders, Advocates Say System Slow to Provide: The medications have been found to have a 50% reduction in mortality rate for patients in long-term treatment, meaning people are less likely to die than when untreated. “Medication for opiate use disorder is one of the closest things we have to a miracle drug,” said Justin Berk, director of the Jail and Prison Opioid Project, a project that catalogs which facilities nationwide provide such medications.
* BND | 3 issues that may threaten student safety, according to metro-east educators and law enforcement: The presentations that followed focused on mental health, substance abuse, online exploitation and grooming. Donna Nahlik, director of prevention and community education at Chestnut Health Systems, spoke about substance use and how it affects students and schools as well as the myriad programs Chestnut provides for youth, which includes prevention curriculum in partnership with local districts.
* Bloomberg | Chicago’s wealthiest raise $66 million for fight against crime: Donors including the Crown and Pritzker family foundations contributed just over 30% of the $200 million the business community will need for an initiative to reduce gun violence. The fundrasing effort is being led by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, which includes senior leaders from companies including McDonald’s, Ulta Beauty and Morningstar.
* ABC Chicago | Former administrator sues suburban school district over alleged racial discriminationi: Administrators and teachers took photos with the doll, which appears to be based on rapper Snoop Dogg, with fake money and drug paraphernalia attached. […] Gibson alleges he complained and the administrator who actually brought the doll into the office was put in charge of Gibson’s review which led to the district not renewing Gibson’s contract.
* WBEZ | A new FAFSA setback means many college financial aid offers won’t come until April: This new, four-to-six-week delay puts schools in a difficult bind as colleges can’t determine what financial aid students should get until they receive the government’s FAFSA data. There is some good news: One big reason for the delay is that the department is fixing a $1.8 billion mistake in the FAFSA that could have especially hurt lower-income students. Proceeding without a fix would have, at best, confused many lower-income borrowers. At worst, it would have taken money out of their pockets and likely discouraged some from enrolling in college.
* Shaw Local | GOP congressional candidates in 11th District differ on immigration, gun control : The U.S. should end chain migration for families and eliminate the green card lottery, which formally is called the diversity immigrant visa program. Mercado said he also opposes amnesty “as a mass cure for this.” As for gun control, Mercado said he supports universal background checks for would-be firearms buyers.
* Crain’s | Chicago museums remove Native American items following new rules from feds: On Jan. 10, the Field Museum announced it had covered up several display cases that featured Native American cultural items. The Art Institute of Chicago told Crain’s that it will be removing “several” Native American archaeological artifacts currently on display in its galleries. The Museum of Science & Industry said it will not be affected by the new regulations.
* Daily Dot | Mark Cuban says X is ‘impossible’ to use, shares barrage of daily antisemitism his account gets: Cuban in recent weeks has drawn the ire of conservatives and far-right activists due to his support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a set of policies that aim to promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals in business regardless of factors such as age, race, or ethnicity. Cuban told the Daily Dot that the reposts represented only a small fraction of the hateful content he’s received on X, “the only platform” where he says he has experienced anti-Semitism.
The House voted on Wednesday evening to pass a $78 billion bipartisan tax package that would temporarily expand the child tax credit and restore a number of business tax benefits.
The bill will next go to the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson currently oversees a razor-thin majority, but the bill passed with rare bipartisan support. The vote was 357 to 70 with 188 Democrats and 169 Republicans voting in favor and 23 Democrats and 47 Republicans opposed.
Some issues remain in the US Senate, however.
* Press release from Economic Security Project Action…
In response to news that the House of Representatives has voted to pass an expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the latest tax deal, leaders and advocates in Illinois are spotlighting the need to pass a statewide Child Tax Credit in Illinois this year. Sponsored by State Senator Omar Aquino and State Rep. Marcus Evans Jr., the bill would create a robust Child Tax Credit, which would offer $300 for Illinois families who earn less than the median income. Such a credit would benefit 1.4 million kids and 2.8 million parents and generate over $1 billion in local economic stimulus.
Calls for a Child Tax Credit are growing across the state, with +40 organizations across Illinois currently signed on to this proposal.
“We are happy to see Congress is taking action to expand the Child Tax Credit, with the House of Representatives voting on a version of the deal,” said Erion Malasi, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Economic Security of Illinois. “While the Senate considers the proposal, we celebrate a small step towards addressing the needs of the lowest-income American families. At the same time, we know families here in Illinois still need more support from their government. We have an opportunity this year to create a robust CTC that would benefit half of all children throughout Illinois, and help families manage rising costs for housing and living expenses. We are calling on our colleagues in the Illinois Legislature to pass a CTC this year and help Illinois families thrive.”
“The House of Representatives did the right thing by moving forward with a tax deal that expands the Child Tax Credit; now it’s time to pass our own version here in Illinois,” shared State Representative Marcus Evans Jr. “By offering hard-working families more money at tax time, we can combat the affordability crisis that faces our families in Chicago and across the state, and help to bridge the divide in racial financial equality. If we pass this CTC, 60% of the children who would benefit are from Black and brown households.”
“Congress did the right thing, and now so should Illinois,” added State Senator Omar Aquino. “The Child Tax Credit I am proposing this year would put money back in working-class parents’ pockets. That money helps families stay afloat, provide a good education for their children, and re-invest that money right back into our local economy. It’s time for Illinois to join the 14 other states that have their own child tax credits as the fifteenth.”
* As we’ve already discussed, the $300 million price tag is worrying the governor because the state is looking at a significant deficit in the coming fiscal year. So, I asked the governor’s office for comment about the above press release…
The Governor looks forward to delivering his budget address in a few weeks and he has a demonstrated record of balancing our budget while investing in the people of Illinois. Working with the General Assembly, we’ve already invested historic amounts of money into early childhood education and childcare through Smart Start IL and we look forward to our second year of implementation. Whether it’s home visiting or making college more affordable, the state of Illinois has made enormous progress making Illinois the best place to raise a family.
Fewer buses have brought migrants to Chicago over the past few weeks, leading to a decrease in the number of people staying in temporary city-run shelters. […]
In the last week of December, there were as many as 14,900 migrants in 27 city-run shelters, with 45 people waiting at the landing zone and 255 people waiting at O’Hare Airport, according to data from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
As of Tuesday morning, there are about 13,900 people in 28 shelters in the city, with one person at the landing zone and 171 people at O’Hare, data shows.
Matt Doughtie, with the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said arrivals began to slow around the time Chicago had severe weather earlier this month, “anecdotally.”
Over the past week, Chicago has only received buses on two days, Doughtie said.
* Echelon Insights does polling for the Illinois Policy Institute and its affiliates. It scores a 2.6 out of 3 in FiveThirtyEight’s ratings system, ranking 27th.
Its latest poll is skewed White. 40 percent of respondents were White, compared to 31 who were Black and 22 who were Latino. Then again, turnout in Black and Latino wards last year was very soft.
New polling shows 69% of Chicago voters disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of the migrant crisis, with only 23% approving with 8% unsure.
Johnson’s handling of crime saw 66% of voters disapproving to some degree, with half strongly disapproving. The Illinois Policy Institute poll of 800 registered Chicago voters conducted from Jan. 16-21 by Echelon Insights also found a majority of voters disapproved of Johnson’s handling of all six issues surveyed.
Overall, 29% of Chicago voters approve of the mayor’s job, up slightly from 28% in October. The share of voters somewhat or strongly disapproving of Johnson’s job grew from 50% to 57% since October. Nearly half as many voters remained undecided about him.
* The benefit of the House Speaker creating a “working group” to address the migrant issue is that members can point to that group when approached by the news media…
State Rep. Mike Kelly (D-15th), whose district includes both Chicago and portions of suburbs just outside Chicago, has an existing migrant shelter in his district, which has not been problematic, a spokeswoman for Kelly said. The site is the former United States Marine Corps Reserve base off Foster Avenue. Kelly’s spokeswoman Katie Ali said the base is a unique site equipped with showers and other facilities to house large numbers of people.
She said Kelly is, “Excited to see what kind of solutions the working group comes up with.”
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch recently formed a House working group to craft a response to the recent spike in migrant arrivals, chaired by State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17th) of Glenview.
“As chair of the House Democrats’ New Arrivals Working Group, I am beginning our work with the understanding that this situation is affecting every community in our state,” Gong-Gershowitz said in an email to the Journal & Topics. Tuesday (Jan. 30). “We know that communities are affected in very different ways, and even within those communities historically disadvantaged areas are facing additional strain.
“While so much of what drives migration is outside of our control, we need to respond collectively to the things we can control. My focus is on bringing stakeholders together for discussions on how we can best meet our communities’ varied needs.”
* Gov. Pritzker was asked today about new shelters and whether they should be in Chicago…
Well, again, we have already identified one or two places with the Archdiocese, who have been willing to offer up some of their properties. And we’ve got to work through some details, but we’re close with one of those.
I have said to the mayor that if they will identify, and I’m talking about the city, identify places for shelters, we will fund them with the dollars that I allocated. And remember I made that decision that the $65 million that we could not put into the tent at the location where there was an environmental hazard, that we would dedicate that to other shelters so that we could accomplish the same thing, which is to have 2000 people that would be sheltered by virtue of state support.
However, we need the city to help out and and, on occasion, they have been willing to be a part of that recently. Obviously done a lot of work before that, but we need them to continue that work and even with Archdiocese sites, the city has been willing at least to let go of some of their normal processes in order to let us continue moving forward with the Archdiocese.
But still we need locations. We can’t just point at places and say you know, this is where we’re going. We need planning, zoning, we need to make sure that the communities the aldermen, etc. That’s all work that the city normally should do. And that’s what’s happening in places like Oak Park and elsewhere where there are shelters outside of the city of Chicago that the state is supportive of.
* More from Isabel…
* WBEZ | A Pilsen medical center that treats migrants is furloughing workers: Lately, many migrants arriving in Chicago have come to rely on [Alivio Medical Center] clinic in Pilsen. This area is home to the largest city-run shelter where about 2,500 people are staying. As of Jan. 19, about half were children, according to data shared by the city. […] [Spokeswoman Terri Rivera] said a host of factors fueled the furloughs, including supplies becoming more expensive, COVID-19 money that is running out and treating fewer patients. Alivio’s CEO Esther Corpuz was not available for an interview, nor was anyone who could discuss the health center’s financials. But Igoe said information Alivio shared with the union shows that patient visits have increased since at least the summer and as of November surpassed 6,000 visits that month.
* Sun-Times | 16-year-old asylum-seeker missing from West Loop found safe: CPD: A spokesperson with the police department didn’t disclose where Chiquinquira Iwa-Ruiz was found or who she was found by, but said she was “located safely.” Iwa-Ruiz was previously last seen on a CTA bus at Ashland Avenue near West Lake Street on Saturday.
* News-Gazette | Ford County Board to vote on ‘no-migrant’ declaration: Ann Ihrke, chair of the county’s zoning committee, said the measure was sent to State’s Attorney Andrew Killian to examine the wording. “If there are suggestions (for rewording of the declaration), it will go back to the full committee and from there to the full county board,” Ihrke said.
* NPR | For Chicago’s new migrants, informal support groups help ease the pain and trauma: Interviews with more than 30 people reveal the emotional toll migrants face, and the efforts of individuals and organizations that are trying to fill the gaps of a frayed mental health system. […] For many, their journeys here were terrifying. A young girl who fell into a river, her pregnant mother struggling to hold her small hand, so the current wouldn’t whisk her away. Women who were forced to have sex with gang members to get from country to country. People who walked over the dead in the jungle, or are wracked with guilt over the sick and injured left behind.
Democratic leaders in the Illinois General Assembly have met with Related Midwest, the developers in talks with the White Sox to build a new stadium on vacant South Loop land known as The 78. […]
Related Midwest met with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, on Jan. 24, while Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, held meetings with the developers on Jan. 25, according to both offices.
Developers did not ask for state money, but instead said they want the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) to be granted authority to “rearrange existing bonds.” They were also aware of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s disdain for using taxpayer funds for sports stadiums — which is viewed as politically unpopular despite its prevalence in other cities. […]
According to someone close to the talks, there have been no discussions about creating new revenue or tax increases to help fund the new stadium. The goal is to work creatively within the current system.
Sources familiar with the plan say the development would include residences, offices, a hotel and dozens of restaurants and bars.
* From House Speaker Welch’s office…
Speaker Welch was briefed by the developer, Related Midwest. He said it was a very interesting proposal and is looking forward to learning more.
* From Senate President Harmon’s office…
President Harmon has not been briefed by the White Sox but has been briefed on the proposed surrounding development of the area. He looks forward to learning more.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the potential project today…
I don’t really want to opine about it because I don’t know what financing they’re looking for. … You know, my view in general is the taxpayer shouldn’t have to pick up any bills for private businesses that are trying to extend their franchise in the city or the state, other than the normal things that we help businesses with, like infrastructure and so on. But, again, I don’t know what’s been talked about.
Teamsters, who have gone without a contract for 7 months and are angered by the course of negotiations, are preparing to vote on whether to vote to authorize a strike, said JP Fyans, president of Teamsters Local 916.
In the meantime, rallies are being organized in the state’s nine Illinois Department of Transportation districts, starting with one organized by union locals 330, 700, 916 and the union umbrella organization, Joint Council 25, that ran from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday in the District 1 office at 201 W. Center Court in Schaumburg. […]
“Mediators have been brought in, and we are following the process,” Fyans said, but “a vote to authorize a vote to strike is in the works.”
Negotiations have gotten contentious, with the state refusing to include pay raises, and insisting that the 4,500 Teamsters in 10 locals employed by IDOT switch back to the state insurance plan, which is more costly and effectively will mean a 25% loss in take-home pay, Fyans said.
A raw wind blew in Ottawa as members of the Teamsters union walked a picket line outside the District 3 office of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
It was the second picket outside an IDOT building on Wednesday, following a similar demonstration in the suburbs. Teamsters believe they’ve been left out of the significant investment the state is making in infrastructure improvements. […]
Fellow picketer Jon Woodyer says the state’s offer removes “good union insurance” and would cause a take home pay loss of 24 percent on average. He adds that the state’s suggestion of a starting IDOT salary of $32,000 a year is federal poverty level wages.
Jimmy Provenzano says the work he and other maintenance workers do is dangerous, whether it’s fixing potholes or blocking highway ramps.
“All these protests have been going on,” he said. “Our guys are put out there. In the majority of the time, there is no police backup. We’re on our own in these trucks and have to deal with irate citizens.”
Teamster Robert Cohn said the state’s proposal would move them out of their union health insurance, which include benefits they won in a prior contract in lieu of pay raises worth about $3.40 an hour.
The unions say despite plenty of bargaining sessions since their contracts expired, they are far apart from the state’s offer.
“Our members have sacrificed wages and other benefits in previous negotiations to maintain their Teamster healthcare and we are not going to just walk away from it now without a fight”, said Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Thomas W. Stiede. “These workers keep the Illinois traveling public safe, and it’s unfortunate to see their value being undermined by this administration. We are nearing the breaking-point and may be left with no other choice than to strike this winter.”
* From the governor’s office…
Over the past several months, the State has reached labor agreements with unions representing the vast majority of the State workforce, which were ratified by overwhelming majorities of State employees. Those agreements recognize the important work that State employees perform, and each of them includes fair wage and healthcare provisions that provide good compensation and healthcare benefits to employees while recognizing that the State must balance its budget. Contract negotiations with the Teamsters are ongoing, and the Governor is committed to ensuring a fair agreement for everyone involved, like those that have already been reached with other unions.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election, the State Board of Elections may furnish electronic voter registration records at a reasonable cost to any person who makes a sworn affidavit. Sets forth restrictions on the information that may be disclosed. Provides that voter registration records or data shall be limited to bona fide election purposes and shall not be used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, the intimidation, threat, or deception of any person or the advertising, solicitation, sale, or marketing of products or services. Sets forth penalties for violations of these provisions. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the Department of Children and Family Services Powers Law. Repeals a provision that grants the Department of Children and Family Services the power to appoint members of a police and security force to act as peace officers and have all powers possessed by police officers in cities and sheriffs under certain circumstances. Effective immediately.
Preserving family farms is the focus of two new bills filed with the Illinois General Assembly that seek to update language in the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act.
Democratic State Sen. Dave Koehler and State Rep. Sharon Chung last week filed identical pieces of legislation called the Family Farm Preservation Act in the House [4600] and Senate [2921] aimed at raising the exemption for family farm estates from $4 million to $6 million.
At a news conference Wednesday, both lawmakers said the change is meant to reflect the growing divide between farm estate valuations and how much money a farm actually makes. The disparity comes from the valuation of the farm estate that looks at the market price per acre of land — and not the income generated by the land.
About 96% of Illinois farms are family-owned. Data from the Illinois Department of Agriculture puts the estimated average size of farms at around 375 acres, although that figure does include hobby farms.
Farm operations around that size could pull in an income ranging from below or around $100,000 per year. But if that farm becomes an estate due to the death of its owner and operator, it could be taxed up to “almost $5 million,” said Koheler, leaving the remaining family members to figure out how to pay a sudden and large tax bill.
Creates the Megaproject Sports and Entertainment Facility Admission Tax Act. Imposes a tax of $3 for each individual admitted to a sports and entertainment facility located on megaproject property. Contains provisions concerning the distribution of the proceeds of the tax. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Revenue as containing a megaproject. Provides that a “megaproject” is a project with respect to which a company makes a specified investment during a specified investment period. Provides that the Department of Revenue may issue a megaproject certificate only for a megaproject in the Village of Arlington Heights. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located to make certain special payments. Creates the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Provides that the incentive agreement must be approved by resolution of the Arlington Megaproject Oversight Board. Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a megaproject is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act, the Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax Act, and the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that certain tax proceeds from megaproject property shall be deposited into the Arlington Megaproject Infrastructure Fund. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2024.
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring consumer education to be taught and studied, provides that, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028 school year, pupils in the public schools in grade 11 or 12 shall be taught and be required to complete a stand-alone, one-semester or equivalent course covering personal finance. Sets forth what topics must be included. Provides that the State Board of Education shall devise or approve the personal finance education standards for the course. Provides that the school board shall oversee implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a Financial Literacy Implementation Committee no later than June 30, 2024 to make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education concerning the implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Sets forth provisions concerning Committee members, meetings, and support. Provides that the State Board of Education shall present regular and timely reports to the Committee regarding the implementation of the course. Requires a pupil to successfully complete a course on personal finance education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma (rather than allowing a financial literacy course to be included as part of the social studies requirement). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten, coerce, use violence or force, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or use violence or force against an election worker with the specific intent to: (1) impede or interfere with that election worker in the performance or discharge of his or her election-related duties; (2) induce that election worker to violate or refuse to perform his or her election-related duties or violate or refuse to comply with any law regulating elections; or (3) retaliate against that election worker for the performance of his or her election-related official duties. Provides that any person who violates the provision is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000
Amends the Mobile Landlord and Tenant Act. Requires a mobile manufactured park owner to give written notice by first class mail or personal delivery to each mobile home in the park that the park owner intends to discontinue the use of the land as a park or to sell land if the transaction or sale will discontinue the use of the land as a park. Provides that the notice must be mailed or delivered at least 120 days before the discontinuance of the park or sale. Allows an association that represents 33% or more of the units in the park to notify the park owner that the association is interested in purchasing the mobile park. Allows the association 365 days after this notice is given to purchase the park as outlined in the Act. Provides that if the association and the park owner cannot agree upon a purchase price, the association shall have the right to purchase the property: (i) if the association matches the essential provisions of any existing bona fide offer to purchase the park made by another potential purchaser that the park owner is prepared to accept; or (ii) if there is no such offer, at a purchase price to be established by an appraiser chosen by the association and the park owner. Provides that if the 2 parties cannot agree upon one appraiser, either party may notify the other, in writing, of such disagreement, and the association shall choose an appraiser, the park owner shall choose an appraiser, and the 2 appraisers shall choose a third appraiser, and the 3 appraisers shall establish a value of the park. Voids any rights under this Act if no agreement for a sale signed by the association and the park owner has been filed upon the land records, or if the association has not filed a certified statement to purchase the park at the appraised value.
Amends the Mosquito Abatement District Act. Provides that the board of trustees of a mosquito abatement district shall have power to take all necessary or proper steps for the surveillance, monitoring, and extermination of mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and vectors within the district (rather than for the extermination of mosquitoes, files and other insects within the district), and, subject to the paramount control of the municipal or other public authorities, to abate as nuisances all stagnant pools of water and other breeding places for mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and vectors (rather than mosquitoes and other insects) within the district. Provides that a district may annex territory by ordinance whenever a mosquito abatement district operating within territory predominantly in a municipality or 2 or more municipalities that would become coterminous or nearly coterminous with the municipality or municipalities upon the annexation of additional territory within the municipality or municipalities (rather than whenever a mosquito abatement district contains over 90% of territory of a specific city or village, the mosquito abatement district may annex additional adjacent and contiguous territory within that city or village). Requires the ordinance to describe the territory annexed together with an accurate map of the annexed territory and that, if the ordinance becomes effective 30 days after the date of publication or is approved by referendum, a copy of the ordinance shall be filed in the offices of the county clerk and recorder of each county in which the annexation takes place. Removes a prohibition to annexing territory until more than one year after territory has first been included in a municipality unless the territory annexed is 50 acres or less. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Establishes the procedures required before conducting a prescribed burning. Provides that no landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager shall be liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burning or smoke resulting from a prescribed burning unless the landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager is proven to be grossly negligent. Effective immediately.
* ICYMI: The Chicago Tribune’s unionized newsroom staff are on strike. Sun-Times…
- Over 200 journalists and production workers at seven newsrooms across the country are participating in the 24-hour strike to demand fair wages and that management not eliminate their 401(k) match benefits
- It’s believed to be a first in Chicago newspaper history
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Sun-Times | Developers eyeing new White Sox stadium at The 78 meet with state Democratic leaders: Developers did not ask for state money, but instead said they want the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to rearrange existing bonds. They were also aware of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s disdain for using taxpayer funds for sports stadiums — which is viewed as politically unpopular despite its prevalence in other cities.
* Crain’s | New effort aims to advance trauma-informed care in Illinois: The Jan. 30 launch of the Illinois Healing-Centered Task Force by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has been a long time coming and provides much-needed legislative support to a concept that began in Illinois some 20 years ago by “five or six innovative organizations,” said Colleen Cicchetti, executive director of the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Governor Pritzker will be at the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago at 11 am to unveil an anti-violence initiative. Click here to watch.
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* Sun-Times | State-passed online privacy laws are inadequate, advocate group warns: “It’s super-alarming how tech companies and others that rely on our data have infiltrated state legislatures with industry-friendly bills that don’t do much to protect people,” said R.J. Cross, consumer policy director and report author for Illinois PIRG.
* Daily Herald | Suburban library adds political scientist to help patrons through 2024 elections: The Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire has brought in an expert to serve as a political scientist in residence for the election cycle. Alexandra Filindra, an associate professor of political science and psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago, will lead discussions with patrons, write articles for the library newsletter and recommend reading material concerning the election and important issues.
* Farm Week | Legislation introduced to change Illinois estate tax: Supported by Illinois Farm Bureau, Senate Bill 2921, introduced by State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and House Bill 4600, introduced by State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, are identical bills that if passed would change the state’s estate tax, specific to farms. “Illinois Farm Bureau is proud to support the Family Farm Preservation Act because our policy supports the preservation of family farms and this is a bipartisan effort to keep farm families on the family farm,” said Brian Duncan, IFB president. “We are grateful and excited to see members from all four caucuses (lend their support for the legislation).”
* WTTW | CPS Principal Files Police Report Saying Chicago Teachers Union President Made ‘Very Concerning’ Comments: According to a copy of the Jan. 26 police report obtained by WTTW News, William Hozian, principal of Stevenson Elementary School at 8040 S. Kostner Ave., reported that Davis-Gates spoke to attendees at a union meeting and said, “In talking to my Stevenson brothers and sisters, I told them they should punch their principal in the face.”
* WBEZ | A Pilsen medical center that treats migrants is furloughing workers: “No services have changed or hours changed,” Rivera emphasized. She added that no one has been laid off, but also confirmed some employees have quit over the furloughs. She would not say how many total people have been furloughed, but said Alivio still has about 250 employees across seven clinics.
* Crain’s | CPD chief aims to calm an anxious Chicago business crowd: Still, the LaSalle Street contingent remains unsettled by a continued spate of carjackings and robberies in Chicago. Just last week, masked gunmen shot and killed two high school students in the Loop at Washington Street and Wabash Avenue. Asked why Deputy Police Chief Jon Hein spoke to the media after the brazen incident and not the superintendent, Snelling explained that he wanted to report the facts as soon as possible in order to reduce the public’s fear that the shooting was a random act.
* CNN | House passes bipartisan tax bill that expands child tax credit: The deal would provide a larger credit in the first year to the low-income families of roughly 16 million children, or more than 80% of those who currently don’t receive the full credit because their families earn too little, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The package would lift at least half a million children out of poverty and improve the financial situation of about 5 million more children who would remain below the poverty line, once the proposal is fully in effect in 2025, according to the center.
* Jam Base | The Music Won’t Stop: Dead & Company Teases Return At Vegas Sphere: The confirmation of the band’s upcoming return comes on the heels of a New York Post report published earlier today indicating Dead & Company will perform a 14-show residency at the Vegas Sphere. Sources told the New York Post the run will begin in May with an announcement due this week. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reports the publication has confirmation Dead & Co. “will play at least 15 shows at the Sphere.”
* WTVO | Rockford Medal of Honor recipient on a mission to prevent veteran suicide: “Making sure that that are the values, that we fought for and that our buddies died for and were wounded for, stay our values. That’s our mission in life, to make sure that our friends did not die in vain. And we have to be here to do that,” he said.
* CBS | Five years ago this week: Lows plunge below -20 during Chicago’s polar vortex cold snap: Surface temps fell to minus 23 – and then we got snow! We endured 52 hours of below zero temperatures, the fourth-longest such deep freeze ever recorded in Chicago. It was so cold, that experts warned people that they shouldn’t talk too much—or breathe deeply outside “to protect your lungs from severely cold air.”
