Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton raised $57,181, spent $67,000 and has $295,000 in the bank.

Atty Gen. Kwame Raoul raised $354,000, spent $97,000 and has $941,000 cash on hand.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias raised $606,000, spent $29,000 and has $1.6 million cash on hand.

Treasurer Mike Frerichs raised $144,000, spent $58,000 and has $798,000 in the bank.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza raised $311,521, spent $39,000 and has $579,000 in the bank.

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) today announced the addition of 5,886 new preschool seats in preschool deserts—areas of the state with too few publicly funded preschool seats to serve 80% of low-income 3- and 4-year-olds in the area. As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s broader Smart Start initiative, ISBE originally aimed to add 5,000 new seats and exceeded the goal by 18%, expanding access to early childhood education to more than 5,800 additional children in preschool deserts statewide. ISBE also expanded services to families with babies and toddlers from birth to age 3, serving 1,130 additional children.

* Wieland announced a $500M expansion and modernization plan in East Alton…

A year ago today I sat with @GovPritzker & our team in Germany while he personally made the pitch to Wieland’s top leadership to stay in Illinois and invest in our future together and this is the result. Having a Governor who believes in the state matters. https://t.co/vmhgatQ7va

— Anne Caprara (@anacaprana) January 17, 2024

* Daily Herald…

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is planning to distribute $17 million to municipalities helping the state handle the influx of asylum seekers who are being sent here from Texas without any assistance. […]

The grants will be distributed through a partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. The group will issue $11 million to municipalities outside Chicago to “welcome and support recent arrivals living in their communities.”

The money must be used to support migrants within the municipality and can’t be used to transport them elsewhere, state officials said.

Another $4 million is earmarked for the creation of 13 Illinois Welcoming Centers, which will provide case management services for migrants seeking shelter, employment and other resources.

The final $2 million is intended for Immigrant Family Resources Program (IFRP) providers. These agencies provide new arrivals with interpretation and translation services, information about public benefits and advocacy as they settle into their new communities, state officials said.

* Here’s the rest…

* WTTW | Treasurer Conyears-Ervin Fired Employees After They Warned She Was Violating Ethics Ordinance by Using City Resources to Host Prayer Service: Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s determination that Conyears-Ervin violated the city’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance is the second time in six months that Witzburg has found probable cause that an elected Chicago official violated city ethics rules.

* Sun-Times | Illinois businesses must share ownership details under new federal law; here’s what you need to know: The Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 requires most companies doing business in the United States to file reports about the people who own them to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

* NBC Chicago | Texas bus company sues City of Chicago over migrant drop-off ordinance: A Texas bus company has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago alleging the city’s recent ordinance aimed at deterring buses from dropping off migrants unannounced is “unconstitutional” and “punishes” transportation companies who do business with Texas.

* Sun-Times | Hilco to pay $12.25 million in class-action lawsuit over Crawford coal plant implosion: Residents who were affected must submit a claim by March 26. Those who want to object to the agreement or opt out of the settlement have until Feb. 26. Opting out is the only way a person can seek any other lawsuit against Hilco and its contractors.

* WBEZ | Blankets, gloves, a tent and some propane protect some of Chicago’s homeless during ‘brutal’ cold snap: “Unhoused folks die from weather-related injuries. We understand that now is especially the time we want to be intentional about our work,” says Christian Zamarriego, director of Thresholds’ outreach program.

* Tribune | Harvey residents in boarded up apartments being aided by Cook County Housing Authority, mayor says city has tried to help: The authority couldn’t say how many people it is working with, but said options offered include apartments with rental assistance in other authority owned buildings in Harvey and Homewood, a spokesman said Tuesday.

* PJ Star | 11 WTVP board members resign amid financial crisis: WTVP-TV Board Chairman Andrew Rand and 10 other members of the WTVP Board of Directors announced their resignations Tuesday in yet another bombshell development at the embattled public television station. The board then accepted appointments of eight new members, including John Wieland, MH Equipment Company’s CEO, as the board’s new chair.

* Daily Herald | Rolling Meadows could owe Arlington Heights $1 million over taxes received in error: In a 2-1 decision issued Friday, the First District Appellate Court reversed a lower court’s decision that initially dismissed Arlington Heights’ lawsuit seeking more than eight years’ worth of back taxes.

* Crain’s | Dan McGrath: For Bulls fans, being cruel to Jerry Krause when he was alive just wasn’t enough: Jerry Krause could be a hard guy to like. That said, the booing that rained down on him during the Bulls’ “Ring of Honor” ceremony last Friday — on his memory, really, as Krause died in 2017 — was thoughtlessly cruel, an embarrassment to a city that fashions itself as classy, above the incivility that runs rampant in this country.

* WGN | Lawmaker wants to entice Chicago Bears to move to Indiana: Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) is looking to continue his late father’s dream of luring an NFL team to Northwest Indiana, and with the nearby Chicago Bears mulling the option of leaving Soldier Field, a short move across state lines might not be out of the realm of possibility.

* Sun -Times | Illinois saw the most tornadoes in the U.S. in 2023, National Weather Service says: About 120 tornadoes were reported in the state, more than triple the amount in 2022 when there were 39. “We had a significant number of days where just … all the ingredients you need for tornadoes all came together,” said Victor Gensini, a professor at Northern Illinois University.

* ABC Chicago | Chicago-area Tesla drivers stranded as charging stations not working in bitterly cold weather: At the charging station near 95th Street and Western Avenue in the Evergreen Park area, many Tesla owners were stranded with dead batteries from the cold. Drivers said there were not enough working chargers at that location.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Local Journalism Task Force releases report

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Considering that the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force’s new report reveals that “journalism jobs at Illinois newspapers have plummeted 86 percent” since 2015, this photo showing more task force report presenters than actual journalists is worth a thousand words…

Journalists covering a press conference about journalism. 📰🗞️ pic.twitter.com/RdjJwW3Qdk

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) January 17, 2024

* I do take some issue with the report’s analysis. For instance…

Newspapers have always described their three largest costs as people, paper, and distribution, including postage. Unfortunately, as postage, paper and gasoline prices have gone up, people have taken the hit.

One actual problem these days is that lots of large news media companies are leveraged to the hilt. Revenues are diverted to loan/bond payments. Another is that some companies are brutally squeezing every last dollar they can from the local papers before the outlets eventually die. And another is just plain old greed. Newspaper profit margins used to be pretty hefty. But with those margins vanishing, ownership is cutting into the marrow for their short-term profits.

* So, I’m very skeptical of these proposals unless taxpayers can be assured that the government isn’t throwing good money at bad-faith actors…

Subscription tax credits

Several types of tax credits can be utilized to benefit local news. The first, subscription tax credits, provide tax credits to state residents who subscribe to digital or print media. A bill involving subscription tax credits in Massachusetts, still in the amendment process, would offer state residents a $250 tax credit for digital or print media subscriptions to community newspapers. […]

Advertising tax credits

These credits are provided to small businesses that advertise in local news outlets. As a result, this type of tax credit provides benefits to local businesses, local economies and local news. These benefits were studied in the 2022 Colorado Market Study, which found that 85% of consumers believe a product is “right” for them if seen in a news product. The study also found that advertisements in newspapers produce a return on investment that is 20% higher than that generated from online search and 10% higher than social media. […]

Labor/payroll tax credits

These credits intend to incentivize hiring, retention and fair pay of local journalists. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, a proposed federal `of which Rebuild Local News is a strong advocate, includes payroll tax credits. […]

Tax exemptions

As passed in the state of Washington, a tax exemption will excuse local news outlets from state business and occupation (B&O) taxes, which are a tax on gross receipts. Illinois does not have such a tax, but a similar move would be an exemption from corporate income taxes. […]

Advertising set-asides:

A type of public policy that has proven beneficial for local news in New York City is the advertising set-aside, which mandates a percentage (often at least 50%) of government advertising dollars to be spent on ads in local news/media outlets. This program is considered beneficial because community media outlets are likely to reach the intended audiences of public information campaigns; thus, it helps the city reach the communities it serves.

There’s more, so click here to read the rest.

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Today’s must-read

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chris Teale at Route Fifty compiles all the reporting and online furor over Thornton Township Supervisor and Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. A brief excerpt…

But the self-proclaimed “super mayor” is also garnering attention from social media, online forums and local news outlets for her alleged misdeeds. Henyard has been sued for fraud, accused of misusing public funds, and criticized for flaunting the law and frivolous spending, in general. Just before Christmas, TikTok videos of the local lawmaker popped up discussing her latest controversy—a salary ordinance.

Henyard got a measure through the Thornton Township board that would reduce the salary of her potential successor in the event she loses her bid for reelection next year. Henyard, who makes $224,000 a year as township supervisor, drafted legislation that would cut her successor’s salary to just $25,000. If Henyard stays in office, her salary stays the same.

The editorial board of the Chicago Sun-Times denounced the move as “about as politically rotten and self-serving as it gets—a bid by elected officials to use tax dollars and the law to chase away political rivals.” Her colleagues on the Board of Trustees criticized the move in the local media, while municipal attorney Burt Odelson, who represents Henyard’s political opponents, called it “illegal in so many ways.”

There’s so much more. Click here.

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Yeah, no

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ve already talked about the first half of this excerpt, but the second part is new. Block Club Chicago…

City officials “paused” efforts to open additional migrant shelters as of Dec. 22, citing “budget constraints,” according to a briefing obtained by Block Club Chicago.

The city is switching its migrant housing strategy and has begun planning the “rightsizing” of its shelter system to help address budget concerns, according to the briefing. Officials are also working to fill available shelter space immediately when people are resettled, according to the briefing.

In a statement, mayoral spokesperson Ronnie Reese said the city is expanding its “outmigration and resettlement services” to free up more space at existing shelters.

The change in policy comes as new migrants continue to outpace available shelter beds, and after the city’s plans for large migrant base camps were halted. State officials, who are spending $160 million to help house and resettle migrants, will lead the way in establishing another 2,000 migrant shelter beds, Reese said.

That’s quite a policy change, especially considering that the state, not the city, is in charge of resettling new arrivals. Also, from what I can gather, the city hasn’t yet told the state that they’re shifting money toward resettlement.

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Harmon still waiting for “clear direction” from mayor on elected school board

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We talked about Greg Hinz’s story on the Chicago elected school board bill the other day, but not this part…

Harmon said he has not yet decided whether to push for a House vote on his bill, call the hybrid House bill for a vote in the Senate or pursue another course. One thing he’s awaiting before deciding: guidance from Johnson. So far, the mayor has given “no clear direction” on which bill should be approved. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taking a firm position could create a political risk for Johnson. A former CTU organizer himself, the mayor for years has advocated for a fully elected board. But doing so now would put him and his union allies on the opposite side of a big issue.

Taking a firm position could create a political risk for Johnson. A former CTU organizer himself, the mayor for years has advocated for a fully elected board. But doing so now would put him and his union allies on the opposite side of a big issue.

* The lack of any real guidance from the mayor’s office came up again in a recent Tribune story…

Heading into this year’s session, the issue remains under negotiation, Harmon said.

“We’re still wrestling with the best way to implement this to ensure maximum representation from all voters in the city,” Harmon said. “We’re waiting for clear direction from the city of Chicago, from Chicago Public Schools and from the Chicago Teachers Union as to how they think we should best proceed. We are open to all good ideas to get this done as quickly as possible.”

The CTU has said it prefers the hybrid system, so I suppose the mayor will eventually publicly fall in line. But that flip-flop would be Lightfootian in scope.

…Adding… I forgot to post this statement from Rep. Ann Williams, who heads the House Democratic CPS Districting working group…

An agreed map, strong ethics requirements, and an election process consistent with the negotiated framework paving the way for an elected, representative school board in Chicago can be finalized this week with a concurrence vote in the Senate. With the historic first school board election less than a year away, we hope the Senate will act now so that the transition to a fully elected school board can begin, prospective candidates can review district boundaries and Chicagoans will have the opportunity to vote for a representative school board for the first time this November.

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The IG really needs to look at this

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Leigh Giangreco at Crain’s…

Some civic leaders are calling for the city to re-examine its do-not-hire list practices after another former staffer in the mayor’s office said they were placed on the list in retaliation for complaints they made in the office.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration fired another employee in the mayor’s office and placed them on the city’s do-not-hire list late this summer, raising questions over whether the administration has gone too far in its use of the authority.

The episode marks the fourth reported incident of the Johnson administration wielding the do-not-hire list on holdovers from former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s term, following a Chicago Tribune story that identified three Lightfoot staffers who transitioned to the Johnson team and were later fired after complaining about alleged mistreatment by top officials in the mayor’s office. […]

Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, still shares those concerns, but he said the Johnson administration’s recent use of the designation also raises serious ethical questions. While the do-not-hire list is not advertised publicly, anyone can submit a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the list. That means the designation could have ramifications for workers seeking employment in the private sector as well.

That Tribune story is here.

Thoughts?

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Illinois House Democrats form new arrivals working group

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers can find Rich’s interview with Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz here. Press release…

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, has convened a “New Arrivals Working Group” to be led by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.

“The recent influx of migrants into our state provides challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful engagement and consensus building,” Speaker Welch said. “We know this issue will be an important part of conversations this session, which is why I’m putting together a diverse team with strong, relevant backgrounds ready to act as needed. Rep. Gong-Gershowitz has decades of experience understanding the complex issues related to immigration, and I’m confident she will lead this group with the skill, knowledge and compassion required.”

“I’m honored to work with a group of individuals who are actively engaged on this topic and can provide quality feedback,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “We come from a variety of backgrounds, but we share an understanding that this must be a human-centered approach that respects the real lives that are impacted. I look forward to the work ahead.”

Joining Gong-Gershowitz on the working group are:

- House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston
- Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria
- Assistant Majority Leader Kam Buckner, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook
- State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn
- State Rep. Hoan Huynh, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford

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It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* HB4462 was filed by Rep. Lance Yednock yesterday…

Amends the Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that no minor shall be sheltered in a temporary living arrangement for more than 48 hours (rather than 21 business days.)

* HB4453 from Rep. Anthony DeLuca…

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that if the minor (1) has previously been placed on probation for an offense that involves the possession or discharge of a firearm not causing any injury; and (2) is convicted of a subsequent offense involving the possession or discharge of a firearm not causing any injury, then the court shall require the minor to participate in social service programs offered through juvenile probation and comply with referral recommendations for no less than 3 months. Provides that if the minor does not complete the referral recommendations, the court shall commit the minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice to complete the recommended services. Provides that a minor convicted of a subsequent offense involving the use of a firearm causing serious injury, great bodily harm, or death shall be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice with the Department providing services, including, but not limited to, education, mental health services, drug treatment, and mentoring. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Reenacts the provisions of the Code that were repealed on January 1, 2024 concerning sentencing guidelines for individuals with prior felony firearm-related or other specified convictions. Deletes the repeal of those provisions. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

* Sen. Celina Villanueva filed SB2756…

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a distiller showcase permit and a class 3 craft distiller license. Provides that a class 3 craft distiller license, which may be issued to a distiller or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 100,000 gallons of spirits per year and shall allow the sale of no more than 5,000 gallons of spirits in the aggregate from the class 3 craft distiller’s in-state or out-of-state class 3 craft distillery premises to retail licensees, class 3 brewers, and class 3 craft distillers as long as the class 3 craft distiller licensee meets certain requirements. Authorizes a class 3 craft distiller to self-distribute subject to certain requirements and limitations. Provides that a spirits showcase permit shall allow an Illinois-licensed distributor to transfer a portion of its spirits inventory from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, and, in the case of a class 3 craft distiller, transfer only spirits the class 3 craft distiller manufactures from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; and to sell or offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, the transferred or delivered spirits for on or off premises consumption, but not for resale in any form and to sell to non-licensees not more than 156 fluid ounces of spirits per person. Provides that a distilling pub license shall allow the licensee to manufacture up to 10,000 gallons (instead of 5,000 gallons) of spirits per year on the premises specified in the license.

* HB4469 from Rep. Maura Hirschauer…

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act to include in the definition of “petitioner” an intimate partner. Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedures of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, if the petitioner seeks a court order prohibiting the respondent from possessing firearms, firearm ammunition, and firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm, the court shall immediately issue a search warrant directing seizure of firearms at the time an ex parte or final order of protection is issued, if the court finds, based upon sworn testimony, that: (1) probable cause exists that the respondent possesses firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm; (2) probable cause exists to believe that the respondent poses a danger of causing personal injury to the petitioner or child and that the danger is imminent and present; and (3) probable cause exists that firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm are located at the residence, vehicle, or other property of the respondent. Provides that a finding of probable cause for a warrant upon oral testimony may be based on the same kind of evidence as is sufficient for a warrant upon affidavit. Effective immediately.

* Rep. Anna Moeller filed HB4467…

Amends the Mobile Home Park Act. Provides that operating a mobile home park without a current license shall result in a fine of $10 per day per site. Provides that licenses issued under the Act are nontransferable. Provides that if a mobile home park is sold, the application for a new license shall be mailed to the Department of Public Health and postmarked no later than 10 days after the date of sale. Provides that delinquent licensing fees and reinspection fees of the prior owner or owners are to be paid by the new owner before a license is issued. Requires the current name, address, email address, and telephone number of the licensee and mobile home park manager to be displayed at all times on the mobile home park property in a location visible to the public and protected from weather. Requires the Department to conduct an annual inspection of each mobile home park. Provides that if violations are documented during the annual inspection and the Department is required to reinspect the mobile home park to ensure the violations have been corrected, the Department, at its discretion, may charge a reinspection fee of $300 per site visit due at the time of license renewal. Provides that licensing fees and reinspection fees are nonrefundable. Provides that a mobile home park whose license has been voided, suspended, denied or revoked may be relicensed once the park is in substantial compliance, all delinquent licensing fees are paid, all reinspection fees are paid, and the mobile home park submits an application and application fee. Increases fees to be paid for the annual mobile home park license, individual mobile home spaces, and late charges.

* HB4450 from Rep. Jackie Haas…

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Schedules Xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance.

Rep. Jaime Andrade filed HB4451…

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes that a municipality that operates an automated speed enforcement system shall set aside 10% of the net proceeds from each system that generates more than $500,000 in revenue for the respective school district or park district in which the automated speed enforcement system is located. Provides that the set aside proceeds may be allocated for any purpose designated by the school district or park district. Set forth home rule provisions.

* SB2763 from Sen. Laura Ellman…

Creates the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Restricts State money from being used to install or replace permanent outdoor lighting units unless certain conditions are met. Provides that specified lighting units that were installed prior to the effective date of the Act and that produce light pollution need not be replaced until the end of the life of the lamp. Provides that these requirements apply to all lighting on or in all newly constructed, renovated, and retrofitted State-owned, State-supported, State-funded, or State-related rights-of-way, roadways and sidewalks, spaces, facilities, properties, nonhabitable structures, monuments, and flagpoles. Sets forth exemptions. Effective January 1, 2025.

* Rep. Mary Gill filed HB4452 yesterday…

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Allows a grandparent to file a petition seeking visitation if there has been a complete denial of visitation, subject to specified criteria.

…Adding… PhRMA regarding Illinois House Bill 4472, filed today, to establish a prescription drug affordability board (PDAB)…

“Lawmakers seeking to lower prescription drug costs should know government price setting doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Legislation that fails to address health insurance companies and their pharmacy benefit managers makes lowering costs for Illinois patients impossible. Other states have spent millions of dollars establishing prescription drug affordability boards, but they have yet to save patients one cent at the pharmacy counter.” – Stami Williams, spokeswoman at PhRMA.

For additional context, please see:

* PhRMA’s background document on the problems with PDABs.
* PhRMA’s resource page on how states can help patients pay less for their medicines: https://phrma.org/States

* Rep. Nabeela Syed filed HB4472…

Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Requires the Attorney General to enforce the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.

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Open thread

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Legislators OK rules for maintaining, enforcing registry of guns covered by state ban. Tribune…

-While Republicans on JCAR failed to stop the rules from being put into place, their motion to object to the rules passed in a 6-5 vote along partisan lines, meaning the state police will have 90 days to address the objection.

* Related stories…

∙ Capitol News Illinois : Lawmakers clear path for assault weapon registration rules
∙ Center Square: Despite legislators objecting, Illinois’ gun ban rules remain in effect

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Axios | Texas paused sending migrant buses to Chicago during extreme cold: City data show no new buses brought migrants to Chicago over the past four days, when extreme cold created dangerous conditions across the region.

* WTTW | Emails Show Johnson, City Officials Notified About Sewage, Roaches and Illnesses at Pilsen Migrant Shelter Almost 2 Months Before Boy’s Death Highlighted Problems: However, emails exclusively obtained by WTTW News shine new light on the timeline of when Johnson and his administration were made aware of conditions at the shelter and what exactly those conditions were. The emails also raise questions about how the administration has monitored conditions at migrant shelters and the city’s oversight of outside vendor Favorite Staffing, which manages day-to-day operations at migrant shelters.

Governor Pritzker will be at Wieland in East Alton at 10:30 a.m. to announce new investments and then Ellis Elementary School in Belleville at 12:30 p.m. touting Smart Start investments. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* Journal Republican | Get to know Chuck Erickson, candidate 88th statehouse district: People have been asking me to run for a long time. But I am a public servant interested in serving, not a politician in search of a seat. In 2022, one didn’t have to live in the district in which one wanted to represent but could move their afterwards. I wouldn’t do it. I like where I live. Many encouraged me to run but I said no. I take the view if it is meant to be then it is meant to be. When this seat opened up, I decided to run. I want to serve.

* WAND | Illinois Supreme Court announces creation of Pretrial Release Appeals Task Force: The Task Force will hold its first meeting within two weeks and will issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Supreme Court within the next 45 days. The Chair of the Task Force will be Fourth District Appellate Justice Eugene Doherty.

* Center Square | New legislative caucus looks to improve one of Illinois’ largest industries: Lawmakers from both parties will form the first-ever Illinois Manufacturing Caucus, including state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex.

* Sun-Times | Family demands answers after veteran dies from self-inflicted gunshot inside Chicago VA hospital: “By the time I was getting ready to leave, again he said, ‘I’m gonna miss you guys,’” Donald Giddens said. “I’m thinking, I don’t have anything to worry about … because I can’t think of a better place for him to be.” On the drive home, Donald Giddens learned his brother might have access to a gun. Minutes later he received a call from the VA: His brother had shot himself.

* Sun-Times | Brutal cold claims four lives, but Chicago area hospitals don’t see rise in weather-related problems: The people who died had pre-existing health conditions, and their secondary cause of death was listed as cold exposure, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

* Tribune | Racial equity activist must pay at least $38,000 after judge dismisses her lawsuit alleging harm from Awake Illinois leader: Cook County Judge Daniel Kubasiak on Dec. 14 ordered Jasmine Sebaggala, who works as an assistant principal for Evanston/Skokie District 65 schools, to pay the $38,000 after he dismissed her lawsuit. Sebaggala had sued Helen Levinson, vice president of the board of the conservative group Awake Illinois and, according to her Facebook page, chair of Moms For Liberty Cook County, for defamation and intentionally causing her emotional distress in 2022.

* Sun-Times | Failing furnaces, frozen pipes, dead car batteries make surviving the cold no snap: Ben Jungman, the vice president of business development for Four Seasons, said his company has responded to about 2,500 service calls over the last three days, mainly from people who have lost their heat. “It’s been extremely busy,” Jungman said.

* BBC | ‘It hasn’t delivered’: The spectacular failure of self-checkout technology: While self-checkout technology has its theoretical selling points for both consumers and businesses, it mostly isn’t living up to expectations. Customers are still queueing. They need store employees to help clear kiosk errors or check their identifications for age-restricted items. Stores still need to have workers on-hand to help them, and to service the machines

* Sun-Times | Boos of Jerry Krause at Bulls’ Ring of Honor ceremony should have been expected: I know Thelma Krause, a kind and decent woman. And if I worked for the Bulls, I would have told her Friday to be prepared for boos ringing out at the mention of late husband Jerry’s name. The event was the Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor induction, and there were 21,153 people at the United Center. Some were going to boo. The Bulls should have been prepared for it. When alive, Jerry Krause had been booed at Bulls events before.

* SJ-R | Five places where it’s warmer–and five places where it’s colder than Springfield: Tuesday didn’t provide much of a reprieve, with below zero temperatures reported at 8:52 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport – 2 below zero to be exact – and wind chills at 23 degrees below zero. Things should warm up on Wednesday, with high temperatures expected to reach the upper 20s, moving towards something more like normal for this time of year, but still cold.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped ScribbleLive from working…

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were told about this last week…

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the Elm City Roastery coffee station is returning to the Capitol’s second floor for the General Assembly’s 2024 session.

Now in its second year, the station will now offer grab-and-go sandwiches in addition to coffee and other beverages.

“I can’t tell you the number of people we heard from who enjoyed the offerings at the Elm City Roastery station over the course of the 2023 session,” Giannoulias said. “The expanded food offerings this session make the Elm City Roastery station an essential stop for anyone working at or visiting the Capitol.”

The station is located on the second floor near Giannoulias’ office and Hearing Room 212. It will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on session days.

* Press release…

Members of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force had its first meeting where they selected State Senator Dave Koehler and State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin as co-chairs, and outlined its findings from the first meeting and goals for the coming months.

“This task force will bring a better understanding of how the Underground Railroad operated, as slaves escaped the south for freedom and a better life in Illinois,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “By giving Illinoisans a clear understanding of the past, we are creating a greater future.”

The Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force was created through legislation championed by Koehler last year – Senate Bill 1623. The task force will create a statewide plan to connect existing local projects and new projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois, while establishing new educational and tourism opportunities.

“The history of Underground Railroad is one of freedom, bravery and community. Because of its geographical location, Illinois has a robust history of sites, communities and individuals who helped on or used the Underground Railroad for a network of freedom,” said Jenn Edginton, interim director of the Illinois State Museum. “This task force will help explore more ways to bring this history to light.”

The task force – which held its first meeting Tuesday – is comprised of people from a number of organizations and agencies – like the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Following its introductory meeting, members of the task force held the press conference to highlight how it will determine historical sites, connections they have to one another, and create a picture to recognize the history of the Underground Railroad.

“It’s time we bring to light our history that led us to where we are today,” said State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield). “Illinois played a crucial role in freeing slaves and we need to recognize the pioneers who fought for the rights of African Americans, giving them the freedom and justice they deserved.”

The task force will continue to meet throughout the next few months and will submit a report and recommendations to the General Assembly and governor by July 1.

* Here’s the rest…

Chicago Mag | The 10 Pols Who Could Replace Dick Durbin:

* Starved Rock Media | No Vote Yet On Declaring La Salle County A “Non-Sanctuary” County: La Salle County on Thursday could have become the latest entity to declare itself a non-sanctuary location. But the measure presented to members of the La Salle County Board hadn’t come through a proper committee. So, down it goes until the Committee on Appointment, Legislative and Rules can iron out certain elements.

* Crain’s | Rovner steps into semi-retirement, opening a 7th Circuit seat for Biden: “Today, I am delighted to say, I am one of five women in active service on our court (one of six in total),” Rovner said in her Jan. 12 letter to Biden. “I know that, in choosing my successor, you will consider candidates whose life experiences, professional background, and worldview equip them to think critically, to give respectful hearing to points of view that may be unpopular or go unheard, and to pursue justice with an open heart and mind.”

* WGN | Suburban politician’s cancer charity fails to file financial records: Tiffany Henyard holds two elected offices and runs a charity for cancer patients. However, the Illinois Attorney General’s office says her namesake foundation has failed to file basic information about how it collects and spends money. WGN Investigates found the Tiffany Henyard Cares Foundation also benefited from money, manpower and promotion from the village of Dolton and Thorntown Township, two municipalities led by Henyard.

* Tribune | Judge bans Cook County prosecutors’ new Conviction Review Unit boss from courtroom, alleging conflict of interest: The order stemmed from a spat over Mbekeani’s connection to a business venture that connects defendants seeking to overturn their convictions with lawyers while serving as a prosecutor handling post-conviction cases for the state’s attorney’s office.

* WTTW | E-Learning or a Snow Day? Here’s How Illinois School Districts Decide: “It’s locally determined,” said Jackie Matthews, spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Education. “No one is required to have one. Some may feel it’s a good fit, and some may not.” ISBE did not immediately have an accounting of how many of Illinois’ approximately 850 districts have e-learning policies.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago Bears stadium updates: What Kevin Warren has said about Arlington Heights, downtown sites: The timeline for the Bears to break ground on a new stadium site is still unclear. Hell, they still haven’t officially announced where the new stadium will be. During the Bears end-of-season press conference, president and CEO Kevin Warren said that finalizing the location for the team’s next home is one of the most pressing steps for the Bears to take in the short term as they continue to work on their long term plans. But there’s more to it than just picking a spot.

* Tribune | CPS to buy green buses with federal grant, but driver shortage remains a challenge for worn-out parents: Since August, CPS has provided transportation only for students with disabilities who have Individual Education Plans or 504 Plans requiring transportation, and students in temporary living situations, for whom the district is federally mandated to provide transportation services. Parents advocating for busing recognized the importance of electric buses but questioned how the district would provide support to families currently without any busing.

* WICS | Federal court date set for Terrence Shannon Jr.’s motion for a temporary restraining order: Shannon is expected to plead not guilty to the charges on January 18th. But with the trial not expected to be resolved until this summer — after the college basketball season and NBA draft — Shannon’s legal team is looking to the federal court to pause the University’s suspension.

* ABC Chicago | Kankakee River ice jam causes floodwaters to surround homes in Wilmington: Chunks of ice built up along the Kankakee River banks in Wilmington on Monday night, giving rise to flood waters and concerns for neighbors. “About a foot off of this pipe right here is our seawall, so then the water is usually about 2 feet below that,” said Chris Krall.

* WBEZ | EPA to decide if foul-smelling, toxic Southwest Side waterway needs cleanup — and who would do it: The source of the odors is the collateral channel, about a quarter-mile stretch of water that connects West 31st Street, just east of Kedzie Avenue, to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The channel is not only foul-smelling but also toxic and a threat to human health, community members say.

* Tribune | ‘Grandmothering While Black’ takes a deep dive into how parents’ parents are coping with raising the next generation: The Northwestern University alumna collected data from nearly 100 women on Chicago’s South Side for four years through in-depth interviews with the women and ethnographic research via doctor’s visits, welfare offices, school and day care center appointments, and caseworker meetings.

* AP | Ground collision of two Boeing planes at O’Hare sparks investigation: Delta spokesperson Emma Johnson said Monday afternoon by phone that an All Nippon Airways aircraft clipped a Delta plane while it was parking at a gate after arriving at O’Hare from Detroit. “Customers deplaned normally at the gate and the aircraft is being evaluated by Delta’s maintenance technicians,” the company said in an emailed statement.

* Baltimore Sun | The Baltimore Sun purchased by Sinclair’s David D. Smith: Smith would not disclose how much he paid for Baltimore Sun Media. He purchased the newspaper group independently of Sinclair, which is known for its ownership of television stations and local news programming across the U.S. and a recent failed foray into regional sports network ownership. The Sinclair empire started with Baltimore’s WBFF Fox 45 television station.

* WBEZ | M&M’s guru mulls chocolate all day at Mars Wrigley headquarters on Goose Island: “I actually talk very little about what I do, I’m not big on going on about myself,” [Matthew Kradenpoth] said in an interview next to a wall of M&M’s dispensers in the cafeteria of the Mars Wrigley global headquarters on Goose Island. “I don’t know why because I have, like, the greatest job.”

* NBC Chicago | What should you do if your pipes freeze? Here are several steps you can take: It will likely take around 30 minutes for pipes to thaw. However, this may vary depending on how cold it is, how long the pipe has been frozen and its location. If you’re not successful with any of the above steps, you’ll want to call a plumber for help.

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* How are you and yours coping with the cold weather this week?

26 Comments

Rate Mike Bost’s second TV ad

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Congressman Mike Bost’s campaign has released its second television advertisement of the 2024 election cycle this week. The ad, titled “Secure America,” will air district-wide on cable, broadcast, and satellite television, as well as on streaming services.

* The ad…

* Script…

“Border agents are calling this the worst they’ve ever seen.”

“Not slowing down the surge of people walking in on foot. The situation just continues to get worse.”

ANNOUNCER: “Conservative Mike Bost is fighting to end the crisis.

Bost stands with President Trump to finish the wall.

Hire more agents to secure our border and provide them with the latest technology.

And stop the cartels’ flow of deadly fentanyl.

Conservative leader. Mike Bost. Gets results.”

BOST: “I’m Mike Bost and I approve this message.”

18 Comments

Welch says he has had no conversations about 2024 Bears legislation

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Let’s go back to the highly informative article from the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella…

Another issue that was left hanging last year involved possible financial incentives for a new Chicago Bears stadium.

Bills on that issue went nowhere, and the Bears are still flirting with a number of Chicago-area municipalities. The presumed site has been on land the team purchased in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, but team CEO Kevin Warren earlier this month talked about the possibility of staying in Chicago.

Pritzker has indicated that he doesn’t support taxpayer money going toward a new Bears stadium. [House Speaker Chris Welch] last week said he has not heard of any legislative action related to the team going into the new year.

“I have had no conversations regarding the Bears or any legislation that would be coming up in 2024,” Welch said. “No one’s brought that to my attention.”

Thoughts?

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Abbott publicly rejected Pritzker plea, but his buses aren’t showing up

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

Pritzker on Friday begged Abbott in a letter to show some mercy for the migrants sent to Chicago on planes and buses and dressed for warmer climates as the city and state scramble to find more shelters.

Pritzker said in the letter: “Please, while winter is threatening vulnerable people’s lives, suspend your transports and do not send more people to our state.”

On Friday, a spokesperson for Abbott said Pritzker’s request for a pause would not be granted.

Abbott may have publicly rejected a pause, but I checked with the city and the state this morning and no migrants have arrived in Chicago via bus since Friday and none are expected today. So, we’ll see. Maybe the companies didn’t want to risk the weather. More here.

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Harmon rejects stand-alone migrant appropriations bill

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella at the Tribune…

The state has already directed $640 million toward the migrant issue, a figure that includes $160 million Pritzker announced in November. That money was aimed at unclogging bottlenecks in Chicago’s shelter system that were hindering efforts to connect migrants with housing and jobs through the construction of a centralized intake center and more robust legal and employment assistance.

The $160 million came out of the Illinois Department of Human Services’ budget. Pritzker’s office has said it hopes the legislature will plug that hole in the agency’s budget with money from an estimated $1.4 billion revenue bump the state is expecting during the budget year. […]

But even among Democrats there is some reluctance to provide further funding for the migrant crisis without addressing long-standing issues involving poverty and the unhoused in Illinois, Senate President Don Harmon said.

“After saying for generations that we don’t have enough money to deal with real and similar issues affecting people here in the state, there’s no way we could advance an appropriation bill that dealt only with the newly arrived migrants,” said Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, echoing concerns that have been raised by some members of the legislature’s Black Caucus.

“If we’re going to provide funding to deal with that crisis, we’re going to have to provide funding for crises that have existed in our communities for generations,” Harmon said. “I don’t see an appetite to solve one problem while ignoring others that have been at the forefront of people’s agendas for decades.”

Except, as we’ve already discussed, the governor’s budget office is projecting a deficit next fiscal year.

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Don’t be like Ed

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Perhaps the weakest federal criminal charge against former Ald. Edward Burke (14th) was about his plot to extort the Chicago Field Museum because a friend’s daughter never heard back about an internship after Burke sent over her resume.

U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall seemed “unimpressed” by federal prosecutors’ reasoning in mid-December after Burke’s legal team moved to dismiss the charge ahead of closing arguments, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Jason Meisner.

Kendall ultimately decided not to dismiss the charge but said, “It certainly is an extremely odd attempted extortion count. I’m going to allow it to go to the jury, but I’m taking it under advisement,” Meisner reported at the time.

Burke’s lawyers had argued that to be convicted of extortion, the government must prove the defendant knowingly took a substantial step toward extortion with the intent to commit extortion.

Burke had already hired his old friend’s daughter by the time of his conversations with the folks at the Field Museum, his attorneys pointed out. “In fact, he specifically repudiated the Field Museum’s overtures” about working something out, they maintained.

Burke did snap at a governmental relations staffer who’d called to see if he was opposed to the Field Museum’s admission price increase proposal because Burke had earlier come out hard against another museum’s entry fee request with the Chicago Park District. Burke said he was angry the museum had dropped the ball on the internship application and asked, “So now, you’re going to make a request of me?”

“I’m sure I know what you want to do,” Burke said. “Because if the chairman of the Committee on Finance [Burke] calls the president of the park board, your proposal is going to go nowhere.”

The employee testified she perceived that as a “threat.”

But Burke didn’t try to stop the park district from ultimately approving the fee hike, and while the museum offered to find another spot for the young woman, she never acted on that. And Burke’s lawyers claimed the governmental relations person wasn’t a “decision maker” at the museum, pointed out that Burke had no direct control over the park district and that the museum’s CEO testified he didn’t believe he’d been shaken down.

“The requirement of proving a substantial step serves to distinguish people who pose real threats from those who are all hot air,” Burke’s lawyers quoted from an appellate court case, U.S. v. Gladish. Judge Richard Posner continued in that 2008 opinion: “You are not punished just for saying that you want or even intend to kill someone, because most such talk doesn’t lead to action. You have to do something that makes it reasonably clear that had you not been interrupted or made a mistake … you would have completed the crime.”

To be abundantly clear, this is in no way a defense of Burke. He bullied people for decades and, hey, what goes around comes around. And he was not only convicted on the Field Museum charges but on a whole lot of other, more concrete and straightforward charges, which might possibly have helped buttress the case that Burke did indeed make a “real threat” against the museum.

Instead, this is a warning to everyone else in the political business.

The federal government has now convicted a former elected government official for making an oblique threat that he never followed through on (the museum’s fee hike was approved soon after) over his personal embarrassment that an internship application of the daughter of an old and dear friend that he’d forwarded had been lost in a bureaucratic shuffle.

I’ve been around long enough to know this sort of thing is not a rare event in government at just about every level.

A lawmaker, for instance, feels insulted. So, in anger, the legislator makes a likely empty threat to retaliate on a bill, or an appropriation or whatever. And maybe the threat isn’t even all that empty.

Don’t do it.

10 Comments

Open thread

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

23 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: The General Assembly returns to Springfield. Tribune…

* Related stories…

∙ WBEZ: Illinois lawmakers are returning to Springfield. Here’s what we’re watching
∙ FarmWeek: General Assembly returns to Springfield
∙ Capitol News Illinois: Illinois legislators call for expanding vote-by-mail program

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Sun-Times | Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rebuffed his plea to pause migrant transports to Chicago area during freeze: On Friday, a spokesperson for Abbott said Pritzker’s request for a pause would not be granted. Pursuing the matter, over the weekend Pritzker personally paid for ads appealing to Abbott in five Texas newspapers: the Houston Chronicle; Dallas Morning News; Fort Worth Star-Telegram; San Antonio Express News and the Austin American-Statesman.

* Tribune | Out of work and running out of time, migrants struggle to find jobs in Chicago: Like countless other groups of migrants and undocumented workers across the city, Cuadrado has been getting up at 5 a.m. every day for the past month to stand in parking lots and wait to be picked for day labor jobs. When a vehicle drives by, he said there is a rush. People want to find work so badly they will push each other.

* Tribune | Park District closer to controlling state land in Tinley Park, hiring project manager: The Tinley Park-Park District could gain ownership before the end of this month of 280 acres of state-owned land that it plans to redevelop for recreational uses, according to a Park District official. At the same time, the district expects to get $15 million in state grant money to address environmental issues and move forward with initial steps such as removing underground storage tanks and clearing lead-based paint and asbestos from buildings before they are demolished, according to Lisa O’Donovan, a Park Board member.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* Tribune | After conviction, ex-Ald. Ed Burke gets pension bump; former Speaker Mike Madigan now in line for hike before new trial date: Burke, Chicago’s longest-serving alderman, stands to collect nearly $50,000 this year — half of his new $99,200 annual pension rate — because pensions aren’t cut off for City Hall officials convicted of corruption until they are sentenced, which for Burke isn’t scheduled until mid-June. As a result, Burke received his annual 3% bump right on schedule when the calendar turned to 2024.

* Tribune | Homeowner exemptions raising tax rates, undercutting savings in some towns, Cook County report finds: A new report from Cook County leaders comes with a warning about expanding property tax breaks for homeowners: What seems good for one taxpayer can backfire on a whole town. Countywide, those exemptions remove $1.6 billion in annual tax revenue by lowering taxes for specific categories of homeowners. But the report found that in some municipalities, they don’t provide as much relief as people think.

* Tribune | Illegal bribe or legitimate ‘gratuity’: How a $13,000 payment to an Indiana mayor could alter political corruption cases in Chicago: At issue in Snyder’s case is a nuance in the federal bribery statute that makes it illegal to “corruptly” offer something of value to reward a public official for an official act. Chicago-area defense attorneys have long complained that relatively vague language has been exploited by federal prosecutors to criminalize a wide range of normal political give-and-take, be it a steak dinner or the hiring of a political crony, even when there was no quid pro quo agreement.

* WTTW | Illinois Secretary of State Says Updates Will Make Booking Previously Hard-to-Get License, Driving Test Appointments Easier: Giannoulias on Thursday blamed appointment hoggers: people who grabbed multiple appointments and never showed up without bothering to cancel the extras, and driving schools that he said hoarded appointments for students, locking up the program. Those issues, he said, should now be alleviated and his office is working with driving schools.

* Tribune | Drought that affected Illinois, other states was most expensive billion-dollar disaster in 2023, but extreme cold can be costly in other ways: Beyond concerns for the local unhoused population, the city is for the second year in a row contending with finding wintertime shelter for thousands of migrants. Because of the cold, Mayor Brandon Johnson postponed evictions until at least Jan. 22 for migrants staying in shelters who are due to leave the system. But with shelters at capacity, some migrants have had to find warmth in idling buses.

* Daily Herald | Radical course: What two villages are doing to transform beleaguered mall properties: West Dundee sees a mixed-use development with residential, office, retail and entertainment. Bloomingdale’s consultants have drawn up conceptual plans showing residential, commercial and recreational development in place of the mall’s former retail buildings and parking lots.

* CBS | Full interview: One-on-one with Mayor Brandon Johnson: CBS 2’s Sabrina Franza talked with Mayor Johnson about the migrant crisis, city spending, and other issues.

* Sun-Times | Six-figure skimming from city sticker sales, $200K in rogue debt collection fees highlight inspector general’s quarterly report: “People left with their stickers. But the employee was collecting money for themselves into the six-figures. … When people paid with cash, they manipulated the payment system so the system reflected the sale of the sticker, but not all of the actual cash went into city coffers.”

* Daily Herald | How data centers became the newest growth industry in the suburbs: A blend of several factors enabled this, with one in particular lighting the fuse, according to Josh Levi, president of the Virginia-based Data Center Coalition. “It was the tax incentive in Illinois that unlocked a lot of the growth you’re seeing now,” he said.

* Pantagraph | Illinois lawmakers created an arson registry. 20 years later, it’s still empty.: Nearly 20 years ago, survivors of one of the worst school fires in American history brought a novel idea to Illinois lawmakers: an arsonist registry akin to the long-established database of sex offenders.

* Sun-Times | Feds want a year in prison for Chicago police officer who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6: Insisting that he disregarded his oath as a “public servant of the City of Chicago,” prosecutors have asked for a year in prison for the Chicago police officer convicted last summer for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Karol Chwiesiuk and his sister, Agnieszka Chwiesiuk, ignored damage and violence outside the Capitol before pressing on into the building that day, according to the feds. Not only that, but prosecutors alleged that Karol Chwiesiuk lied on the stand during their trial.

* AP | Efforts to restrict transgender health care endure in 2024, with more adults targeted: LGBTQ+ advocates say that most of the states inclined to pass bans on gender-affirming care have done so, and that they now expect them to build on those restrictions and expand them to include adults. With legislatures in most states up for election this year, transgender youths and their families worry about again being targeted by conservatives using them as a wedge issue.

* KTSM | Migrant mother, children drown in Rio Grande; Congressman says Texas ‘bears responsibility’ for blocking border agents: “Border Patrol attempted to contact the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard, and DPS Command Post by telephone to relay the information, but were unsuccessful. Border Patrol agents then made physical contact with the Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard at the Shelby Park entrance gate and verbally related the information. However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants — even in the event of an emergency — and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation. Earlier today, Saturday, Jan. 13, the three migrant bodies were recovered by Mexican authorities,” he said.

* WSJ | The Gun Influencer Who Used Small-Town Cops to Import Machine Guns: Sawyer got a strange request, according to court documents. A man named Larry Vickers, who held popular firearms-tactics training sessions for law enforcement, needed a favor: Could Sawyer help him import a machine gun into the country? All he had to do was write a letter that would be submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives saying his one-man department was interested in buying the highly restricted weapon.

* The Atlantic | What’s Gone Wrong at Boeing: When, last week, a panel called a door plug blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane in mid-flight, leaving a gaping hole in the plane’s fuselage, air travelers everywhere no doubt felt a shudder of horror—even though the aircraft was able to turn around and land safely. But in a sense, the startling thing was how unstartling the news was. In the six years since the Max—an updated version of the long-running 737, Boeing’s most popular plane—made its debut, the aircraft has been plagued by quality problems. The most dramatic of these resulted in two catastrophic crashes, in 2018 and in 2019, which together killed 346 people.

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

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news the way we’ve done since Twitter stopped ScribbleLive from working…

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