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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Washington Post…
* Correlation does not imply causation…
[From Rich: Their exact location appears to have been first reported by Politico yesterday morning. And then that information ginned up the haters.] * US Rep. Quigley may be making a move for mayor of Chicago. Crain’s Greg Hinz…
* Subscribers were told this morning. WIFR…
Click here to view the full release. …Adding… Senate President Don Harmon is running for the same party slot…
* Shaw Local | Is your child ready for school? Illinois vaccine requirements for 2025: Illinois requirements apply to all public and private school students, but the IDPH said they should also be observed by students attending school virtually or by those who are homeschooled Illinois also requires students entering pre-school, kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grades, as well as out-of-state transfer students, to show proof of a physical examination. * Legal Sports Review | 50 AGs Ask DOJ To Fight Illegal Online Casino, Sports Betting Sites: The letter called DOJ enforcement actions against illegal online casinos and sportsbooks “extremely limited” since 2013. The letter noted the DOJ’s actions on Black Friday in 2011 and in April 2024 when it seized domains connected to a Russian cybercrime network. * Rep. Gregg Johnson, Rep. Will Guzzardi | Contrary to Trump’s rants, Illinois criminal justice reforms have been effective: Illinois is making progress. Crime is down, and our state leaders are funding programs that work. Our state has invested millions of dollars in violence prevention programs and bolstered the social safety net. These policy decisions stand in stark contrast to Trump’s reckless moves to gut funding for domestic violence victims, system-involved children, people suffering from addiction and those considering suicide. Rather than lashing out, the president should sit down and let adults get back to work improving the lives of marginalized people across the U.S. * WCIA | New law cuts ‘red tape’ from process of Illinoisans applying for disability driving placards: A new law in Illinois will make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain license plates and parking placards by cutting “red tape” out of the process. Senate Bill 1256 was passed unanimously by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly earlier this year, and it was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday. State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville), the primary sponsors of the bill, explained that the bill allows certifications for disabled individuals to remain valid for five years and allows licensed physical therapists to sign off on applications, which the legislators said will save families time and the cost of additional medical visits. * Rockford Register Star | Foundation names Freeport legislator as most conservative state senator in Illinois: State Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) has been officially recognized as the most conservative state senator in Illinois, according to the legislative scorecard recently released by the American Conservative Union Foundation, the non-profit educational arm of the Conservative Political Action Conference Foundation (CPAC), for the votes he cast in 2024. Chesney earned the highest score for conservative politics in the State Senate. The 2024 scorecard analyzed 19 key pieces of legislation, and Chesney’s record stood out for its firm opposition to what he calls “radical progressive overreach” in Springfield. * Tribune | Proposed law would expand the reach of personal injury lawyers when they file suits over toxic substances: Trial lawyers say the measure would offer fairness and convenience, primarily for Illinois residents who are injured in other states. Traditionally those plaintiffs have had to file suit in the state where they were hurt or where the company is headquartered. Critics warn the legal change would promote “venue shopping” — where plaintiffs look for the most favorable court in which to file suit — a practice that, in theory, is not permitted. If approved, Illinois would be one of the first states to adopt such an approach, said Mark Denzler, president of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. * ICYMI: The Council Office of Financial Analysis dropped its mid-year report last week…
* The Triibe | ‘I just wanted to see a change,’ Chicago youth reflect on their experience as peacekeepers: Reece Johnson, 21, spent the last six weeks as a Peacekeeper. Two summers ago, he lost his big brother in a shooting. He’s also lost friends to gun violence in Chicago. “It just kept happening,” Johnson said about his losses, “and I just wanted to see a change, and I knew I couldn’t see a change without seeing a change in myself, looking in the mirror.” He learned about GoodKids MadCity’s Peacekeeper initiative while being a member of the youth organizing nonprofit. The city’s One Summer Chicago employment initiative funded positions for GKMC’s peacekeepers program to address the root causes of violence and crime through a nonpunitive approach. Youth employment is one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s priorities; he recently celebrated hiring more than 30,000 youth this summer. * Block Club | West Side Alderman, Neighbors Reject Housing Development On ‘Congested’ Stretch Of Harlem: “We don’t know who’s coming into the neighborhood. We don’t know what they’re trying to do,” a neighbor said during the meeting. “If you’re trying to do this with 80 units, no. Take it to Oak Park because we have a plethora of problems, and nothing is resolving.” * Crain’s | Developers pitch 92-unit apartment project near Wrigley Field: The proposed development would replace the now-vacant Torstenson Glass facility on the site, according to the plans. It would include 51 two-bedroom apartments, 41 one-bedroom apartments and 25 parking spaces. About 15% of the units, 14 in total, would be marketed at affordable rates. The project adds to the pipeline of mid-rise proposals in the works for Lakeview as developers seek to add some new rental supply to the popular North Side neighborhood. Other proposals include residential redevelopments of the Stage 773 and Briar Street theater sites, as well as a 46-unit project at 925 W. Belmont Ave. Rental demand in Chicago has been boosted as high interest rates and construction costs have constrained the amount of supply being delivered. * Sun-Times | The Drive takes a dive? Latest vision for Grant Park’s future makes big plans: But suppose DuSable Lake Shore Drive could be sunken and capped-over to improve pedestrian access between Buckingham Fountain and the lake? Or adding green space — and reducing car-dominance — by shaving off some of the girth of the east/west streets that run through the park? All of this and more is part of the Chicago Park District’s Grant Park Framework Plan that’s now taking shape. * Block Club | Chicago Air Quality Expected To Improve Starting Wednesday After Days Of Hazy Skies: Some of the smoke should move away from the city throughout the day Wednesday, said Mark Ratzer, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Chicago office. “Some of the models here this morning are showing that some of the smoke, at least the nearest surface smoke that’s over our area, does look like it should be kind of lifting up to the north and northwest here, more into Wisconsin, as we go through the day today,” he said. * Sun-Times | Twisted Spoke bar is closing after 30 years in West Town: The biker-themed bar, at 501 N. Ogden Ave., will close Aug. 31, the co-owners Mitch and Cliff Einhorn announced Tuesday. “After 30 years of blood, grease, and bourbon, Twisted Spoke is grinding to a halt.” * WBBM | Tempers flare as Bears hold their most physical practice of training camp: ‘That’s what we should practice like every day’: The Bears held their most physical practice of camp Tuesday, a two-hour session in full pads that featured live tackling, a fast tempo and several scuffles. It was the type of practice that hasn’t been seen in the last decade during training camps for the Bears and one that was a departure from the prevailing philosophy across the NFL regarding being careful with live tackling. * WGN | Chicago to honor Bob Newhart with street renaming on his 96th birthday: Earlier in the year, the Chicago City Council approved an honorary street renaming for late comedian and sitcom icon Bob Newhart, who died July 18, 2024, at 94. The designation will take place on North Sheridan Road between Ardmore and Thorndale Avenues. Set for 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, the renaming ceremony coincides with what would have been Newhart’s 96th birthday. * Tribune | Park Ridge city leaders could ban single use plastic grocery bags or tax them. Business owners to weigh in.: “I would be interested in pursuing something like an all-out ban on plastic [bags] and leave paper [bags] as it is. And, target only the 5,000 square-foot stores so the small stores, they wouldn’t even be touched by this,” said Alderperson Joseph Steinfels. Based on the discussion, the council seemed open to ban the bags outright or tax them. But in both instances, the action would only apply to grocery stores over 5,000 square feet. Paper bags wouldn’t be affected. In addition, there would likely be carve-outs for prescription drug bags and for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – known as food stamps – users, similar to Chicago regulations. * Tribune | Lake Forest Caucus considering amending bylaws to allow electronic voting for residents: Caucus officials have scheduled a vote at its October 14 annual meeting to amend the organization’s bylaws and create alternative voting options, including electronic voting, Caucus President Regina Etherton said at a July 30 meeting. Currently, the Caucus only permits in-person voting at its meetings, where a main function often is to ratify a candidate slate for upcoming elections. Etherton said there are several groups of voters, including the elderly, physically challenged, and residents who travel extensively want to participate in Caucus elections, but can not do so now under the current requirements. * Daily Herald | Data center could land at former Alcatel-Lucent site in Naperville: The campus Karis is proposing is “almost like a boutique, as compared to something that Tesla or Google or Microsoft or Meta would build,” says Russ Whitaker, an attorney for the developer. “As a co-location facility, it will provide necessary infrastructure for businesses that serve customers in the Chicago metro region,” he said. “We anticipate that customers will be telecom-centric … matching the roots of the former Bell, Lucent and Nokia operations at the campus.” * Daily Southtown | Flood control project wraps up in Glenwood, another close to completion: The $1.39 million project — funded jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Glenwood — expanded a regional detention basin east of Halsted Street and south of 187th Street on village-owned land. The Corps provided $1.17 million of the funding and Glenwood the rest, and Mayor Toleda Hart said the work provides “critical drainage improvements” to an area of the village prone to flooding. * Daily Herald | Prospect Heights Library installs public EV chargers: EV drivers can locate and use the chargers via the ChargePoint network by downloading the ChargePoint app and creating an account. Charging is billed at $0.20 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). An additional $0.10 per minute idle fee after the first hour encourages turnover and ensures availability. The pricing was set to help the library recoup the cost of the installation while still offering a valuable community service. * WGLT | Koos: McLean County’s failure to approve sales tax pause would chill conversation about intergovernmental agreement: Normal Mayor Chris Koos says if the McLean County Board does not act on an amendment to pause sales tax sharing that lasts at least a year, it would chill conversation among the town, city, and county over potential changes to an intergovernmental agreement. He said the county board needs to have a public discussion on the proposed pause because the city and town have had public discussion and have acted. “It’s hard for me to say what needs to be clarified right now because the county hasn’t taken it up to have a discussion on it. So, we’re not sure. We think the minimum one-year suspension of payments is the key issue, but again they have not had a discussion, nor have we heard back on what their disagreement with the agreement is,” Koos said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. * WAND | Public broadcasting cuts to hit local PBS stations: The PBS station in Charleston, WEIU, is preparing for what may come. “WEIU and other PBS stations are going to stay open,” said Jeff Owens, WEIU’s General Manager. “We’re just going to have to learn to operate in a different manner.” WEIU is connected to Eastern Illinois University, offering a training ground for broadcast students. Owens said the cuts will lead to a loss of about $800,000 per year in federal funding. * WCIA | Funding for C-U at Home shelter approved by Champaign City Council: In Tuesday night’s meeting, council members unanimously voted 8-0 to approve a resolution to authorize a city manager to enter into a subrecipient agreement with C-U at Home for the rehabilitation of a mid-barrier homeless shelter. This plan will utilize Community Development Block Grant funding, in an amount not to exceed $408,555. * Shaw Local | State holds hearing on high-speed rail plan in Will County: The rail improvements are planned for an area between Braidwood and Elwood. They are part of the plan for high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis, the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a news release. An environmental assessment for a second track in the Braidwood-Elwood corridor has been completed, and the findings will be presented at the hearing, IDOT said. The additional track and related improvements would allow train speeds to increase to 110 mph, IDOT said. * WAND | Innovafeed suspends operations at Decatur facility: Economic Development Corporation of Decatur-Macon County President Nicole Bateman confirmed the suspension of operations to WAND News Tuesday. Bateman also shared that employees were relocated “when possible” to minimize the number of job losses, and the impact is said to affect a “handful of people.” The move will allow Innovafeed to continue bolstering its commercial operations, and the suspension should only last about “a year or two,” according to Bateman. * WSIU | Fairgoers are in for a special treat at the 2025 Illinois State Fair in Springfield: Country music powerhouse Randy Houser will take the Grandstand stage for a free concert on Monday, August 11. The free concert will also feature 80s rock band Night Ranger as the opening act. No ticket is required, though attendees must go through security screening prior to entering the Grandstand. * Brownfield Ag | Northern Illinois Farmer sees high potential: “We did have a wind storm come through a couple of weekends ago that lest some damage in the area.” He says, “Fortunately, we didn’t have that. June was a super dry month, but July tracked in about 5 inches of rain here, so we’ll see what August brings. We’re not out of the woods yet.” He tells Brownfield they’ve been busy spraying fungicides to protect the crop’s potential. * Crain’s | Rivian reports net loss of $1.1 billion, keeps 2025 delivery guidance: Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive reported a second-quarter net loss of $1.1 billion, an improvement over its $1.5 billion net loss in the same period last year. […] On the company’s earnings call, CEO RJ Scaringe said Rivian faces a more challenging business climate due to policy changes enacted during the Trump administration, including increased tariffs and cuts to federal support for EVs. * Reuters | Caterpillar warns of $1.5 billion hit as tariffs to hurt profit more in second half: Caterpillar warned on Tuesday U.S. tariffs would pose significant challenges in the second half of the year and cost the construction equipment maker up to $1.5 billion in 2025. Sweeping tariffs have pushed up costs across the company’s supply chain as it imports crucial components including sensors for its products, even as many firms rush to localize production. “Impact of tariffs was around the top end of our estimated range for the quarter and it’s likely to be a more significant headwind to profitability in the second half of 2025,” CEO Joe Creed said. * AP | Homeland Security removes age limits for ICE recruits to boost hiring for Trump deportations: Currently, ICE applicants must be 21 years old and no older than 37 or 40, depending on what position they are applying for. In an interview with Fox & Friends, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said applicants could be as young as 18. “We no longer have a cap on how old you can be or you can continue at age 18, sign up for ICE and join us and be a part of it. We’ll get you trained and ready to be equipped to go out on the streets and help protect families,” Noem said. * WSJ | Government Data Is Under Fire, but It Makes the World Go ‘Round: The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data does more than capture monthly job growth and inflation pressures. It plays a crucial role in Americans’ financial lives. The data influences how much people pay in taxes, receive in retirement benefits and even how much they earn on some investments. The consumer-price index, published each month, is used to update everything from 401(k) contribution limits to pension payments to income cutoffs for Medicare costs.
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Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Mediaite…
Maybe leave the comedy to the comedians.
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It’s a law
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Mashable…
* The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board…
* Sen. Robert Peters…
* Sen. Javier Cervantes…
Sen. Andrew Chesney…
* WVIK…
* Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…
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Barely, if ever, mentioned: That controversial pension bill unanimously passed both chambers
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s…
* Tribune…
* Wirepoints…
* OK, first of all, the bill didn’t just pass with a “veto-proof majority.” House Bill 3657 unanimously passed both chambers. Every single Illinois Freedom Caucus member - Reps. Chris Miller, Blaine Wilhour, Adam Niemerg, Brad Halbrook, Jed Davis, David Friess and Sen. Andrew Chesney (named the “most conservative Senator in Illinois”) - voted “Yes.” Some Republicans voted against the proposal in committee, but once a bill that benefits first responders hits the floor, it’s very difficult to vote against it, as evidenced by that roll call. All a veto would have likely accomplished was a delay. Maybe do a better job lobbying the Statehouse, Mr. Mayor. * Also, the new city casino is supposed to help fund first responder pensions. The mayor really needs to get moving on this. Yes, he was handed a mess by Lori Lightfoot, but a revenue stream is out there just waiting for him. Also, equalizing pensions was part of the deal that was cut to consolidate the local first responder pension funds.
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Tariffs Impact Everyone
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The increased costs associated with tariffs impact all of us, affecting millions of people. This includes backyard entertainment such as patio sets, swimming pools, spas, and barbeque grills, because retailers of all kinds across Illinois import many of the goods they sell. Tariffs have created more uncertainty for retailers than many have ever experienced. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association has found that while retailers are trying to hold-off on price increases, it’s impossible to absorb the extra expenses for numerous business owners who function on very small margins – which forces consumers to pay more. Retailers like Bob Jones of American Sale with locations throughout Chicagoland enrich our economy and strengthen our communities, even during the uncertainty of increased tariff expenses. IRMA is showcasing some of the many retailers who continue to make Illinois work.
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Some campaign stuff (Updated)
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Politico last month…
* Dabrowski on WMBD yesterday…
[From Rich: “Certain fiscal cliffs”? The reporter appears to be confusing mass transit funding with pension funding. Also, if you switch new hires to 401K programs, you have no new employee pension contributions. And considering that it won’t be all that long before most of the Tier One recipients have passed on, and that Tier Two recipients more than pay for themselves, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.] * Champaign County Auditor George Danos has officially filed for Illinois Comptroller. The News-Gazette last month…
* A little background on Danos…
[From Rich: Maybe hire somebody?] * Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman is running for Rep. Dennis Tipsword’s seat. 25News Now…
* ILGOP…
…Adding… Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton…
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Consumers Are Getting Slammed With Higher Electric Rates – Don’t Add Fuel To The Fire With ROFR
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois consumers are feeling the heat, both from triple-digit temperatures and soaring electricity bills. Ameren customers are seeing 18–22% rate hikes. ComEd has customers paying as much as triple-digit increases. And it’s going to get worse. In July, the PJM Capacity Auction hit another record high - a 22% increase on top of the record highs everyone just started paying. This will already lead to further rate increases next year! As frustration heats up, lawmakers must choose: support competition that drives prices down or fan the flames of electricity inflation with “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR) legislation. ROFR kills competition and boosts prices by giving incumbent utilities exclusive rights to build transmission lines. It’s so anti-competitive that both presidents - Biden and Trump - opposed it in 2020 and 2023. As the ICC has said, “The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) believes that competition among transmission developers spurs innovative results and helps control costs.”  ROFR would send electricity prices even higher. Springfield should focus on long-term strategies to lower electricity bills, not raise them. As ROFR may resurface this fall, legislators should reject it and stand up for cost-cutting competition that benefits consumers.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Brandon Johnson says city and state finances are at a ‘point of no return’. Crain’s…
- Without naming specific tax proposals, Johnson said the state must approve progressive revenue proposals to tax the rich and that he would lead the way on that front in his 2026 budget proposal, set to be released this fall. - The comment came on the heels of Gov. JB Pritzker signing a pension bill, easily approved by the General Assembly with a veto-proof majority, that increased retirement benefits for so-called Tier 2 police and firefighters who began work after 2011 when the state reformed how pensions are calculated. * Related stories…
∙ CBS Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson says Chicago finances have reached “point of no return” * At 3 pm Governor Pritzker will unveil this year’s Butter Cow at the 2025 Illinois State Fair. Click here to watch. * WGLT | Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman to run for state representative: Longtime Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman said Tuesday he will run for the Republican nomination for state representative in the 105th District. Ruestman’s announcement followed shortly after current state Rep. Dennis Tipsword decided not to seek re-election, pivoting to run for Woodford County sheriff. Ruestman has served as Woodford County coroner for over 30 years and said he “brings a record of integrity, public service, and deep-rooted community values to the race.” * Crain’s | RTA warns: Fare hikes are coming, one way or another: The Regional Transportation Authority has told budget planners for Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace to start coming up with a Plan A and Plan B for dealing with a $771 million shortfall when pandemic-era federal funding runs out next year. One scenario assumes state legislators will come up with funding later this year; the other assumes there is no new money. Budgets are due in early October. * WBEZ | Rapid response team helps families find trans health care in Illinois: Illinois has joined a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to limit gender affirming care for young people. This comes as the fourth major hospital in Chicago rolls back the kind of care offered to patients under 19. To fill in these gaps, a rapid response team of volunteers is working to connect families to alternate providers. * WTTW | Illinois Faces Looming Health Crisis as Medicaid Cuts Threaten Coverage, Hospitals and Rural Access: Recent figures estimate 330,000 Illinois residents could lose health coverage under the plan. Many who spoke with WTTW News said the law will lead more uninsured patients to seek emergency care, often with advanced conditions. Medicaid covers more than 3.4 million people in the state including children, seniors and adults with disabilities, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Estimates show 35.6% of Illinois residents had public health insurance in 2023, up 2.1 percentage points from 2019, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. * WIFR | Illinois representative Maurice West announces re-election campaign for 67th district: “Since I was first elected, I’ve worked collaboratively with anyone who is ready to invest in our region, grow good paying jobs, and make our community more vibrant,” said West. “Especially with the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C. right now, we need local leaders who are ready to step up and do what is right for our people. I would be honored to be reelected to continue this fight for this place I love so much.” * Sun-Times | Pritzker says Illinois remap is possible as DNC chair vows to fight Texas GOP efforts ‘tooth and nail’: An Illinois remap would reignite a war with the state’s Republicans, who have railed on the state’s redistricting process for decades. On Sunday, Pritzker vowed, “All bets are off. Everything’s got to be on the table.” By Tuesday, the governor said an Illinois remap was “possible.” * Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker riffs on his wealth and staying out of prison in Stephen Colbert appearance: The late night host held up a map of Illinois’ congressional districts, noting the unusual shapes of the 17th and 13th congressional districts, as the state becomes a focal point during the latest redistricting talks. Republicans hold just three congressional seats in a state that saw 43.8% vote for Trump last year. The maps Illinois Democrats approved in 2021 sealed in their political power for a decade. “It’s like the stinger on a scorpion down there,” Colbert said of the 13th District, which stretches from central to southern Illinois. “Is this common for all states to do?” “We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide,” Pritzker joked. “…That’s our independent commission.” * WAND | Pritzker signs bill addressing school, athletic events conflicting with cultural, religious holidays: The law will not allow for school closures or excused absences due to cultural reasons, but sponsors said it could assist districts with planning events around observances. “We’ve got wonderful models,” said Amy Zimmerman with Jewish United Fund. “Washington state has a very easily accessible list. Even Wilmette School District has a nice list as well. They not only have the date, they tell you a little bit about the holiday.” * Bloomberg | S&P Warns Chicago That Pension Cost-Hike to Pressure Budget: “With the passage of this legislation, the prognosis for Chicago’s long-term fiscal health has weakened,” S&P analysts led by Scott Nees wrote. “Chicago will now face a steepening outyear pension cost curve even as it currently faces a fiscal 2026 budget gap that we already expected would probably be the largest in the city’s history.” * Sun-Times | Strong O’Hare, tourism stats show Mayor Johnson is ‘pro-business’ and ‘pro-worker,’ he says: Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday cited strong tourism and O’Hare Airport travel numbers to promote himself as “pro-business, pro-growth and pro-worker,” even as he demands that businesses and wealthy Chicagoans “put more skin in the game.” Johnson’s weekly City Hall news conference began with an avalanche of statistics showcasing Chicago’s economic comeback on the travel and tourism fronts. Seven of the ten busiest days in the history of O’Hare Airport occurred this summer, culminating on June 20, when the Transportation Security Administration set a new record by screening nearly 116,000 passengers on a single day. * Sun-Times | Feds, Chicago police arrest 41 in probe targeting machine-gun conversion devices: The investigation resulted in the recovery of 64 switch devices and 171 guns, many of which were linked to shootings, killings and other “violent criminal activity” dating back to 2017. The switches, officially known as “auto sears,” are also called buttons on the street. Alec Chisolm-Blockton, 29, was on parole for fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy in suburban St. Louis when he was caught selling three guns to undercover officers this summer. He now faces a federal charge of possessing a gun as a felon, court records show. * Crain’s | Merchandise Mart hits the market as owner Vornado eyes N.Y.-only portfolio: Vornado Realty Trust is looking to sell the Merchandise Mart plus three office towers in San Francisco, CEO Steven Roth told analysts today. Those transactions, if struck, would leave the developer with a portfolio almost entirely in New York. The Mart, a sprawling 3.7 million square-foot building, is the largest in Vornado’s 26 million square-foot portfolio but is 22% vacant, a reflection of ongoing challenges for Chicago’s office market. The other property on the sale block, 555 California St. in San Francisco, is a three-building complex holding 1.8 million square feet with an 8% vacancy rate — low in a city where the average is 36%. The building is 70%-owned by Vornado; the rest belongs to President Donald Trump’s Trump Organization. * WBEZ | Chicago’s growing film industry brings a boon to local antique shops and prop houses: The Lost Eras antique shop overflows with old telephones, fedoras, uranium glassware and other items seen not only by patrons, but also millions of movie and TV fans. On a recent workday, owner Charlotte Walters pointed out the rug used in the death scene for Sean Connery’s character in “The Untouchables.” She also pulled out some lights from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. Hidden somewhere, she said, are shoes worn by a background actor on the set of “True Lies.” * WBEZ | What a failed robbery from 1951 tells us about Chicago crime: You’ve likely heard of big names in crime like Al Capone, Sam Giancana and the Chicago Outfit. And while the Butcher Smock Mob isn’t a household name, it is catchy, and their story is part of Chicago’s history of organized crime. Entangled in this history is that of Brink’s guard Emmett Ebert, a future Chicago police detective who would later investigate Chicago’s many mob figures. * Sun-Times | Chicago Abortion Fund to receive $2 million grant from Cook County: “These funds are meant to support women who live in Cook County, as well as those coming to our region in search of care that they’ve been unfairly denied in their own communities,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who also attended the news conference. The Chicago Abortion Fund was selected by Cook County to receive its $2 million grant, which was built into the county budget this year. The Chicago Abortion Fund was selected through a procurement process by the county, but it was the sole applicant for the grant. The Cook County Health Board of Directors will give a final vote on the grant this month, Preckwinkle said. * Legal Newsline | Aurora to face suit over allegedly coercing ‘warrantless searches’: An Illinois state appeals panel will allow the owner of an apartment complex and one of their tenants to continue pressing at least part of their challenge to a so-called crime free housing ordinance in the city of Aurora, as they accuse Illinois’ second largest city of allegedly illegally compelling landlords to coerce tenants into warrantless apartment inspections. DPH Aurora Properties and one of its tenants, Belén González, sued west suburban Aurora in March 2024 following a disagreement over whether tenants could deny access to apartment units. * Daily Herald | Board rebukes Wauconda trustee for comments made as a passenger during traffic stop: “On Sunday, July 13, I broke no laws,” she said. “After months of having my civil liberties trampled on, I did lose my cool.” She said she always separated her personal life from professional decisions and will continue to do so until the end of her board term in 2027. * Aurora Beacon-News | Geneva mayor taps former Aurora deputy chief of staff Alex Voigt for city administrator job: Former Aurora deputy chief of staff Alex Voigt is taking over as Geneva’s next city administrator. She’s replacing Stephanie Dawkins, who is set to retire later this month. Voigt’s appointment by Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns was approved unanimously by the Geneva City Council at its meeting Monday evening. […] She is expected to start as city administrator in early September, according to the city. * A Naperville woman has accused DuPage County GOP Chair Kevin Coyne of alleged bullying and sexual harassment… * Naperville Sun | Naperville D203 School Board opposes city renewing IMEA contract: As a major consumer of electricity in Naperville, District 203 School Board members say they are adamantly opposed to the city extending its contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency. On Monday the board unanimously approved a statement urging the Naperville City Council to explore cleaner and more flexible energy sources rather than signing on again with a group that’s largely reliant on coal to produce energy. * Naperville Sun | Naperville teachers say District 203’s dragging out contract talks: ‘I’m tired of every contract being a battle’: In July, the union initiated the public posting process with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, which is the first step toward a possible strike. Union leadership indicated they do not want to go on strike, but want to be transparent with the community. Several teachers said they have serious concerns about earning a competitive salary. Berkley said the district is falling behind other school districts, including Indian Prairie School District 204, Elmhurst District 204, St. Charles District 303, Wheaton District 200 and Plainfield District 202. Teacher workload has increased with the expectation of differentiated learning and increased student academic, behavior and social-emotional needs. * Naperville Sun | Naperville saw a 51.8% jump in DUI arrests in last year, AAIM reports: Naperville police made 258 drunken driving arrests in 2024, a 51.8% increase over the 170 made in 2023, according to the annual survey by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists. The number put the city at No. 4 on the list of top 10 municipalities with the most DUI arrests. In last year’s survey, Naperville ranked No. 15. * Elgin Courier-News | District U-46 superintendent to be paid nearly $300,000 under new contract: District U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson’s base salary will be nearly $300,000 in the first year of a new 5-year contract approved Monday night by the school board. […] Under the new agreement, Johnson’s goals will be to drive student attainment of literacy and math skills, develop a plan to increase attendance to 90%, enhance the climate and culture of U-46 schools, and prepare students for their lives and careers beyond school. * 25News Now | Tariff uncertainty ‘will not stop’ Central Illinois farmers as harvest season approaches: While tariff uncertainty remains in the agriculture world, Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Charlie Hensley said it will not stop farmers from completing the harvest season. “We want to see those markets continue to grow, and we want to provide ways for farmers to make the most out of what they grow,” Hensley said. He hopes the U.S. continues its expanded trade agreements, which will continue to grow and have better access to foreign markets. * WTVO | Boone County clerk resigns amid theft and fraud allegations: Boone County Clerk Julie Bliss resigned her position last week, the same day she agreed to a plea deal on accusations of theft, wire fraud, and official misconduct. Bliss was indicted by a grand jury in August 2023 and has been on administrative leave ever since. Her arrest came after a clerk’s office employee reported irregularities in two county bank accounts. * BND | Belleville withheld information on solar farm from public, opponents say: Belleville officials talked to local “partners” and submitted letters of support from eight civic leaders in preparing the city’s application for state incentives to build a solar farm at Mount Hope Cemetery. But they didn’t reach out to the hundreds of families with loved ones buried in the cemetery or 17 neighbors with property abutting it, according to solar-farm opponents. * WMBD | Morton joins other central Illinois cities to implement local grocery tax: The village Board of Trustees approved the 1% local tax at Monday night’s meeting. There was no discussion on the topic from Trustees, and the only no vote was from Trustee Steve Leitch. The local tax replaces a similar state tax that is set to expire at the end of this year. * WTVO | Rockford launches new initiative to tackle drug and mental health issues: The Northwest Illinois Deflection Initiative provides specialists who work with police officers and first responders to refer individuals to appropriate services. This approach is intended to offer support and resources to those facing challenges related to drug use or mental health. Program administrators highlight that officers are often the first to encounter individuals in need of help, making their role crucial in the deflection process. * WCIA | ‘It was kind of very sudden, very fast’: Proposed apartment complex in Rantoul sparks mixed reactions: A property management company is hoping to demolish a trailer park to put up an apartment complex. Village officials said the new apartments will bring in more revenue and help the neighborhood’s curb appeal. Board members talked about the possibility of a new apartment complex near downtown Tuesday night. “Any time you get new construction, but certainly when you’re replacing old trailer park residential living versus new professional apartment style rentals, I think makes a significant difference,” Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer said. * WCIA | Riggs partners with Farm Progress Show to launch exclusive lager: One Central Illinois-based beer company has launched an exclusive lager through a partnership with an annual farm show. Riggs Beer Company has introduced an exclusive American Lager in collaboration with the Farm Progress Show. The beer is available now at the brewery and select locations ahead of the show’s 20th anniversary at its permanent biennial Decatur site. * WGLT | Work begins on Route 66 Trail extension connecting McLean and Funks Grove: As drivers prepare for a cruise down Route 66 during next year’s centennial, a trail extension in southern McLean County will get bicyclists one step closer to a continuous safe path between Bloomington and St. Louis just beside the Mother Road. Local, county and state officials met Tuesday in the village of McLean to announce work is underway on a 4.5-mile path extender of the Route 66 Trail, connecting McLean to Funks Grove. That’s just southwest of Bloomington-Normal. It’s a significant stepping stone to connecting two trail systems in McLean County. * Capitol News Illinois | Budweiser Clydesdales to come to Illinois State Fair: Anheuser-Busch says the Budweiser Clydesdales will spend a few days at the fair, appearing first at the Twilight Parade Thursday, August 7. The appearances are part of a celebration of the company’s fifteen years of partnership with “Folds of Honor,” which gives scholarships to families of fallen or disabled U.S. Service members, and first responders. The appearance at the State Fair is part of a nationwide tour recognizing the partnership. * The Atlantic | Why the White House Backed Down From Its First Big Education Cuts: That an incoming official of the Department of Education was touting the importance of federal dollars for a heavily Republican state underscores the conundrum that President Donald Trump faces in his attempt to dismantle the agency. On the campaign trail, Trump’s promise to “send education back to the states” was often greeted with applause, and the Supreme Court has allowed the president to go ahead with his plans to gut the Education Department. But the four-week funding freeze—and the backlash it sparked—showed that cutting popular programs for schoolkids can be as unwelcome in Trump country as it is in coastal cities. * AP | RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted. […] The health secretary criticized mRNA vaccines in a video on his social media accounts, explaining the decision to cancel projects being led by the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, that offer protection against viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1. “To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we’re prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate,” Kennedy said in the video. * NYT | Uber’s Festering Sexual Assault Problem: From 2017 to 2022, a total of 400,181 Uber trips resulted in reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in the United States, court documents show. Previously, the company had disclosed 12,522 accounts of serious sexual assaults for that same time period, without indicating the total number of sexual assault and sexual misconduct reports it received. Uber has not released data for the years since then, though the court records indicate reports of incidents have increased.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
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